The Fook Yoo Chronicles, V1

Address continuation sheet
If necessary, this sheet should be used in conjunction with an AccessNI Disclosure Application Form.
Please complete the details at Part A and add (at Part B) the remaining 5year address history details
for which there was insufficient room on the Disclosure Application Form.
Please ensure you sign and date this sheet at Part C.
PART A
A1 Surname
Applicants details
A2 Forename(s) A3 Date of birth
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
PART B
B1 Address
Address history (continued)
B2 Town / City B3 County B4 Postcode B5 Lived at this address from B6 Address
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
B7 Town / City B8 County B9 Postcode B10 Lived at this address from B11 Address
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
B12 Town / City B13 County B14 Postcode B15 Lived at this address from
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
PART C
Applicants signature
C2 Date of Signature
C1 Signature of Applicant (please sign in box)
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
Access NI PO Box 1085 Belfast BT5 9BD
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: ENHANCED DISCLOSURE APPLICATION FORM

Please complete this Application Form in CAPITAL LETTERS, using black ink. Applicants must complete Parts B, D, E, F and G and return the Form to the Registered Body for completion of Part A, H, I and J. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed.
PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION

Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. A1 A2 A3 A4 Please indicate which disclosure you are requesting, X one box only Enter Registered Body Name Enter 10 digit Registered Body Number Enter 10 digit Countersignatory Number (this should not be completed until after the Applicant has completed their details onto the Form)
PART B PERSONAL DETAILS

B1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. B2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. B3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. B4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. B5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc. B6 Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes, complete E1- E4, if no, go to B7. B7 Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes, complete E5 - E8. B8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice.
B9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/ YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. B10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. B11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. B12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). B13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to B17, if yes, you must complete B14, B15 and B16. B14 Passport number - enter passport number. The passport should be valid. B15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. B16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. B17 Do you have an ISA registration number - Do not complete. B18 ISA Registration number- Do not complete. B19 Do you have a Scottish Vetting & Barring number - Do not complete. B20 Scottish Vetting and Barring Number - Do not complete. B21 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary.
PART D - APPLICANTS CURRENT AND DELIVERY ADDRESS

D1-D6 Current Address - please note that this will be the delivery address of the Disclosure Certificate. It should be your home address or, where this is not possible, Halls of Residence or temporary lodgings. Also include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D6. If the date is within the last 5 years you must complete additional addresses to cover the full 5 years in Part E. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. D7 D11 Delivery Address (if different) - this is the address to which you would prefer AccessNI to forward the Disclosure Certificate to. If it is the same as your current please leave blank.
PART E - ADDRESS HISTORY

E1-E12 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni. gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf.
PART F - NAMES HISTORY

Only applies if you have any previous surnames or forenames not recorded in Part B6 and
B7. This should be completed if you have answered yes to B6 or B7. There must be no
gaps in the dates; overlapping dates are acceptable.
F1-F4 - Insert any additional surnames used, and dates.
F5-F8 - Insert any additional forenames used, and dates.
If necessary, please use an additional page, clearly writing your current name and date of
birth at the top of the page.
PART G DECLARATION BY APPLICANT

Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date and where you are informed that AccessNI will use the information supplied to verify your identity against information held on Police and Government data bases. If necessary information provided may be used to update or perfect records already held within such data bases. In addition AccessNI may pass the information provided on this form to Police, Government Organisations and law enforcement agencies for the purposes of the protection and detection of crime. All Sharing of information with be in accordance with section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and AccessNIs Information Charter (see guidance on website for this http://www. dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/about-ani/accessni_information_charter_-_sept_2012.pdf). G1 G2 G3 G4 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. Date of Signature.
Insert your name in CAPITALS.
PART H REGISTERED BODY INFORMATION

Is the applicant applying for an AccessNI disclosure - must be Yes.
Position applied for - please ensure the position applied contains clear evidence for
the request. It must be obvious the position qualifies for an enhanced disclosure. H3 Organisation name - the description you enter here will be recorded on the certificate H4 Will the work be carried out at the home of the applicant? - if Yes, this will determine whether further checks on others in the household are required. One box must be X.. H5 Is the disclosure required for the purpose of asking an exempted question? Enhanced Disclosures can only be provided if the position applied for H2 is exempt from the provisions of set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 - it is the responsibility of the Counter Signatory to ensure this is the case. If No, is marked with X then the form will be returned unprocessed. H6 Is the disclosure required for a prescribed purpose - this must be X Yes. If you are unsure a list of prescribed purposes can be viewed on our website. H7 Does this position require a check of the Childrens Barred List (Regulated Activity) Insert X at No unless applying for Enhanced with Barred List Check at A1. Insert X at Yes if appropriate. H8 Does this position require a check of the Vulnerable Adults Barred List (Regulated Activity) Insert X at No unless applying for Enhanced with Barred List Check at A1. Insert X at Yes if appropriate H9 Have you established the true identity of the applicant by examining a range of documents as set out in AccessNI guidance, and verified the information provided in Parts B, D, E & F. This box must be X Yes or the form will be returned. H10 Application Type - please indicate if the post is for an New Post Holder, Existing Post Holder, Re Check of existing post holder. H11 Your reference number. If you require a number which you would like to appear on the certificate please enter it here i.e. an internal recruitment code. Do not use Countersignatory number. H7 & H8 - IF APPLYING FOR ENHANCED WITH BARRED LIST CHECK AT A1 AT LEAST ONE OF THESE BOXES MUST BE YES. H1 H2
PART I PAYMENT
I1 Please X the appropriate box.
Account
Invoices will issue at the beginning of each month and will include charges for Disclosure
Certificates issued during the previous month. Acceptable payment methods can be found
on page 1 of the invoice.
No Payment (Volunteer)
Access NI will provide free disclosure services to volunteers who meet the AccessNI
definition. Further details can be found on http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/whouses-ani/volunteers.htm.
PART J DECLARATION
Please read the declaration and sign. This is the Registered Body statement that all documentation has been supplied and checked in accordance with AccessNI guidance. J1 J2 J3 Signature of Registered Person - this must be an original signature. Date of signature - must always be within 3 months from the date received by AccessNI. Name in CAPITALS
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: ADD COUNTERSIGNATORY

The Registration Form must be completed by an appropriate person in the organisation who wishes to become a Countersignatory with AccessNI. Please complete this form using black ink only and CAPITAL letters. If you would like your certificate to be delivered to a different address other than that held for your organisation please complete B7 B11. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed. PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. PART B PERSONAL DETAILS A1 Initial Registration A2 Modify Registration details A3 Add Countersignatory A4 Modify Lead Countersignatory A5 Remove Lead / Countersignatory A6 Change Designated Lead Signatory PART B ORGANISATION DETAILS B1 Registered Body Number - this does not need to be completed for initial registration but for all other modifications this section must be completed with the Registered Bodys reference number which was provided by AccessNI. B2 Organisation name - this is the name of your organisation B3 Umbrella body - mark the box if you will be acting as an Umbrella body for other organisations for the purpose of countersigning Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications and/or ISA Registration Applications. B4 and B5 Regulated / Controlled activities - one or both these must be marked if the organisation is entitled to ask the exempted question (refer to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 for clarification on definitions or contact the ISA helpline on 0300123 1111. B6 This organisation is classed as non-profit making and non-statutory. It is essential that AccessNI is informed of the organisations status in this respect. One box must be X. B7-B11 Office Address this is the address where any correspondence from AccessNI will be sent.
B12 Organisation Telephone Number - enter the Registered Bodys telephone number with the STD code at which AccessNI will be able to contact a Countersignatory if necessary. Please note that if this is left blank it could result in delaying processing your registration. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B13 Fax Number - enter the Registered Bodys fax number with the STD. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B14 Organisation Website Address - please insert your organisations website address. B15 Purpose of the organisation - this should be a summary of the aims and objectives of the organisation. Additional pages may be used if necessary. B16 Charity/Company number - this is the unique Charity/Company number of your organisation - if applicable. B17 Exempted Questions - this is the confirmation that the organisation will be asking exempted questions. It is important that the organisation thoroughly check they have an entitlement to ask this question. B18 Part V of the Police Act - this is the confirmation the organisation is likely to countersign Disclosure Applications under Section 113A and/or 113B of Part V of the Police Act 1997 at the request of bodies or individuals asking the exempted questions (Umbrella Bodies only). B19 Code of Practice - this is the declaration that the organisation will comply with AccessNIs Code of Practice and will address issues raised by AccessNI to ensure adherence to its policies. This box must be marked to enable AccessNI to proceed with the registration. Details of the Code of Practice and the Explanatory Guide can be found at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/support/code-of-practice.htm. B20 Number of Disclosures - please estimate the number of each type of service listed the organisation is likely to countersign per year. PART C - PROPOSED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR DISCLOSURE APPLICATIONS C1 Please indicate here if Standard or Enhanced Disclosure Applications or ISA Registrations will be paid for. You must X one box. C2 If you have answered yes above please indicate the proposed method of payment. PART D LEAD / COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS D1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. D2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. D3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. D4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. D5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc. D6 Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes please insert names and dates.
Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes please insert names and dates. D8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice. D9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/YYYY e.g. 04/03/1960. D10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. D11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. D12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers) D13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to D17, if yes, you must complete D14, D15 and D16. D14 Passport number - enter Passport number. The passport should be valid. D15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. D16 Country of issue - enter the Country your passport was issued in D17 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary. D18 Business E-mail Address - enter the email address you wish to be contacted on. D19-D24 Current Address - include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D24. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. D25-D36 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf. PART E DECLARATION BY APPLICATION Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date. You must provide your signature and ensure that you print your full name and enter the date on this section of the form. E2 Do you have any convictions - Have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. E3 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. E4 Date of Signature. E5 Insert your name in capitals.
D7
PART F VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY Please see the Guidance Notes or AccessNI website for acceptable means of identification. Photocopies of identification documents must be included with the registration form when applying. Do not send original Identification Documents. F1 Please X this box to indicate the appropriate documentation has been submitted PART G DECLARATION This is the declaration that you can ask an exempted question under the terms of The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 and that the checks requested are in accordance with the relevant sections of Part V of the Police Act 1997. The proposed Countersignatory must sign and date this section. G1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. G2 Date of Signature. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. PART H AUTHORISATION Do not complete this section for Initial Registration. H1 H2 This is the name and reference number of the Lead Signatory in the organisation who will approve countersignatories and validate identity. H3 Please X this box to confirm the identity of the proposed Countersignatory has been checked in line with the AccessNI identification documents. H4 This Lead Signatory must X this box to confirm the information and changes requested are necessary to maintain an accurate and up-to-date AccessNI registration for the Registered Body. H5 H6 The Lead Signatory must sign and date this section to confirm that identification has been validated. PART I PAYMENT FOR REGISTRATION The cost for initial registration is 150 this includes the Registration of the Lead Signatory. The cost of Registration for additional Countersignatories is 10. There is no charge for Registration Body Modification, Countersignatory Modification or Countersignatory removals I1 I2 Method of Payment for Registration - you must mark (x) one box only. If paying by cheque please insert the cheque number. Please make cheques payable to AccessNI. If paying by card please complete I3-I9.
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: BASIC DISCLOSURE APPLICATION FORM

Please complete this Application Form in CAPITAL LETTERS, using black ink. Applicants must complete Parts B, C, D, E and F (G and I if you are an individual applying for the Disclosure) and return the Form to the Responsible Body for completion of Part A, H, I and J. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed.

Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. A1 A2 A3 A4 This Box is pre-completed Enter Responsible Body Name Enter 10 digit Responsible Body Number Enter 10 digit Countersignatory Number (this should not be completed until after the Applicant has completed their details onto the Form
Responsible Bodies Only

B9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/ YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. B10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. B11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. B12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). B13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to B17, if yes, you must complete B14, B15 and B16. B14 Passport number - enter passport number. The passport should be valid. B15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. B16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. B17 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary.
PART C - APPLICANTS CURRENT AND DELIVERY ADDRESS

C1-C6 Current Address - please note that this will be the delivery address of the Disclosure Certificate. It should be your home address or, where this is not possible, Halls of Residence or temporary lodgings. Also include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at C6. If the date is within the last 5 years you must complete additional addresses to cover the full 5 years in Part D. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. C7 C11 Delivery Address (if different) - this is the address to which you would prefer AccessNI to forward the Disclosure Certificate to. If it is the same as your current please leave blank.
PART D - ADDRESS HISTORY

D1-D12 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet. pdf.
PART E - NAMES HISTORY

Only applies if you have any previous surnames or forenames not recorded in Part B6 and B7. This should be completed if you have answered yes to B6 or B7. There must be no gaps in the dates; overlapping dates are acceptable. E1-E4 - Insert any additional surnames used, and dates. E5-E8 - Insert any additional forenames used, and dates. If necessary, please use an additional page, clearly writing your current name and date of birth at the top of the page.
PART F DECLARATION BY APPLICANT

Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date and where you are informed that AccessNI will use the information supplied to verify your identity against information held on Police and Government data bases. If necessary information provided may be used to update or perfect records already held within such data bases. In addition AccessNI may pass the information provided on this form to Police, Government Organisations and law enforcement agencies for the purposes of the protection and detection of crime. All Sharing of information with be in accordance with section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and AccessNIs Information Charter (see guidance on website for this.http://www. dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/about-ani/accessni_information_charter_-_sept_2012.pdf). F1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. F2 Date of Signature.
F3 Insert your name in capitals.
PART G BASIC DISCLOSURE IDENTIFICATION CHECK

Part G should only be completed if the Applicant is processing the application themselves (and not through a Responsible Body). The Applicant should take this form, along with appropriate ID documents (see guidance on website for this http://www.dojni.gov.uk/ index/accessni/applicationforms/ id-validation-form.pdf) to a PSNI station where identity will be verified and Form completed accordingly. The PSNI stamp must be dated within the last 3 months.
PART H RESPONSIBLE BODY INFORMATION [ONLY]

H1 Position applied for - this will not appear on the Disclosure Certificate. H2 Organisation name - this will not appear on the Disclosure Certificate. H3 Have you established the true identity of the applicant by examining a range of documents as set out in AccessNI guidance, and verified the information provided in Parts B, C, D AND E? - this box must be ticked yes or the form will be returned unprocessed. H4 Application Type - please indicate if the post is for an New Post Holder, Existing Post Holder, Re Check of existing post holder. H5 Your reference number - if you require a number which you would like to appear on the certificate please enter it here i.e. an internal recruitment code.
PART I PAYMENT
Please select appropriate method of payment. Applications through Responsible Bodies must be ON ACCOUNT.
PART J RESPONSIBLE BODY DECLARATION [RESPONSIBLE BODIES ONLY]

Please read the declaration and sign. This is the Responsible Body statement that all documentation has been supplied and checked in accordance with AccessNI guidance. J1 J2 J3 Signature of Registered Person - This must be an original signature. Date of signature - must always be within 3 months from the date received by AccessNI. Name in CAPITALS.
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: STANDARD DISCLOSURE APPLICATION FORM

Please complete this Application Form in CAPITAL LETTERS, using black ink. Applicants must complete Parts B, D, E, F and G and return the Form to the Registered Body for completion of Part A, H, I and J. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed.

Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. A1 A2 A3 A4 Please indicate which disclosure you are requesting, X one box only Enter Registered Body Name Enter 10 digit Registered Body Number Enter 10 digit Countersignatory Number (this should not be completed until after the Applicant has completed their details onto the Form)

B9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/ YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. B10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. B11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. B12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). B13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to B17, if yes, you must complete B14, B15 and B16. B14 Passport number - enter passport number. The passport should be valid. B15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. B16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. B17 Do you have an ISA registration number - Do not complete. B18 ISA Registration number- Do not complete. B19 Do you have a Scottish Vetting & Barring number - Do not complete. B20 Scottish Vetting and Barring Number - Do not complete. B21 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary.
PART D - APPLICANTS CURRENT AND DELIVERY ADDRESS

D1-D6 Current Address - please note that this will be the delivery address of the Disclosure Certificate. It should be your home address or, where this is not possible, Halls of Residence or temporary lodgings. Also include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D6. If the date is within the last 5 years you must complete additional addresses to cover the full 5 years in Part E. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. D7 D11 Delivery Address (if different) - this is the address to which you would prefer AccessNI to forward the Disclosure Certificate to. If it is the same as your current please leave blank.
PART E - ADDRESS HISTORY

E1-E12 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni. gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf.
PART F - NAMES HISTORY

Only applies if you have any previous surnames or forenames not recorded in Part B6 and
B7. This should be completed if you have answered yes to B6 or B7. There must be no
gaps in the dates; overlapping dates are acceptable.
F1-F4 - Insert any additional surnames used, and dates.
F5-F8 - Insert any additional forenames used, and dates.
If necessary, please use an additional page, clearly writing your current name and date of
birth at the top of the page.
PART G DECLARATION BY APPLICANT

Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date and where you are informed that AccessNI will use the information supplied to verify your identity against information held on Police and Government data bases. If necessary information provided may be used to update or perfect records already held within such data bases. In addition AccessNI may pass the information provided on this form to Police, Government Organisations and law enforcement agencies for the purposes of the protection and detection of crime. All Sharing of information with be in accordance with section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and AccessNIs Information Charter (see guidance on website for this http://www. dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/about-ani/accessni_information_charter_-_sept_2012.pdf). G1 G2 G3 G4 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. Date of Signature.
Insert your name in CAPITALS.
PART H REGISTERED BODY INFORMATION

H1 H2 Is the applicant applying for an AccessNI disclosure - must be Yes.
Position applied for - please ensure the position applied contains clear evidence for
the request. It must be obvious the position qualifies for an standard disclosure. H3 Organisation name - the description you enter here will be recorded on the certificate H4 Will the work be carried out at the home of the applicant? - one box must be X. H5 Is the disclosure required for the purpose of asking an exempted question? Standard Disclosures can only be provided if the position applied for H2 is exempt from the provisions of set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 - it is the responsibility of the Counter Signatory to ensure this is the case. If No, is marked with X then the form will be returned unprocessed. H6 Is the disclosure required for a prescribed purpose - this must be X No. If you are unsure a list of prescribed purposes can be viewed on our website. H7 Does this position require a check of the Childrens Barred List (Regulated Activity) this must be X No. Standard disclosures do not contain a check of the barred lists. H8 Does this position require a check of the Vulnerable Adults Barred List (Regulated Activity) this must be X No. Standard disclosures do not contain a check of the barred lists. H9 Have you established the true identity of the applicant by examining a range of documents as set out in AccessNI guidance, and verified the information provided in Parts B, D, E & F. This box must be X Yes or the form will be returned. H10 Application Type - please indicate if the post is for an New Post Holder, Existing Post Holder, Re Check of existing post holder. H11 Your reference number. If you require a number which you would like to appear on the certificate please enter it here i.e. an internal recruitment code. Do not use Countersignatory number.
PART I PAYMENT
I1 Please X the appropriate box.
Account
Invoices will issue at the beginning of each month and will include charges for Disclosure
Certificates issued during the previous month. Acceptable payment methods can be found
on page 1 of the invoice.
No Payment (Volunteer)
Access NI will provide free disclosure services to volunteers who meet the AccessNI
definition. Further details can be found on http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/whouses-ani/volunteers.htm.
PART J DECLARATION
Please read the declaration and sign. This is the Registered Body statement that all documentation has been supplied and checked in accordance with AccessNI guidance. J1 J2 J3 Signature of Registered Person - this must be an original signature. Date of signature - must always be within 3 months from the date received by AccessNI. Name in CAPITALS
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: MODIFY LEAD/COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS

The Modify Lead Signatory Details must be completed by the Lead Signatory who should insert the appropriate amendments. Please complete this form using black ink only and CAPITAL letters. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed. PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. A1 Initial Registration A2 Modify Registration details A3 Add Countersignatory A4 Modify Lead Countersignatory Signatory Number A5 Remove Lead / Countersignatory A6 Change Designated Lead Signatory PART B ORGANISATION DETAILS B1 Registered Body Number - this does not need to be completed for initial registration but for all other modifications this section must be completed with the Registered Bodys reference number which was provided by AccessNI. B2 Organisation name - this is the name of your organisation B3 Umbrella body - mark the box if you will be acting as an Umbrella body for other organisations for the purpose of countersigning Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications and/or ISA Registration Applications. B4 and B5 Regulated / Controlled activities - one or both these must be marked if the organisation is entitled to ask the exempted question (refer to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 for clarification on definitions or contact the ISA helpline on 0300123 1111. B6 This organisation is classed as non-profit making and non-statutory. It is essential that AccessNI is informed of the organisations status in this respect. One box must be X. B7-B11 Office Address - this is the address where any correspondence from AccessNI will be sent. B12 Organisation Telephone Number - enter the Registered Bodys telephone number with the STD code at which AccessNI will be able to contact a Countersignatory if necessary. Please note that if this is left blank it could result in delaying processing your registration. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number.
B13 Fax Number - enter the Registered Bodys fax number with the STD. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B14 Organisation Website Address - please insert your organisations website address B15 Purpose of the organisation - this should be a summary of the aims and objectives of the organisation. Additional pages may be used if necessary. B16 Charity/Company number - this is the unique Charity/Company number of your organisation - if applicable. B17 Exempted Questions - this is the confirmation that the organisation will be asking exempted questions. It is important that the organisation thoroughly check they have an entitlement to ask this question. B18 Part V of the Police Act - this is the confirmation the organisation is likely to countersign Disclosure Applications under Section 113A and/or 113B of Part V of the Police Act 1997 at the request of bodies or individuals asking the exempted questions (Umbrella Bodies only). B19 Code of Practice - this is the declaration that the organisation will comply with AccessNIs Code of Practice and will address issues raised by AccessNI to ensure adherence to its policies. This box must be marked to enable AccessNI to proceed with the registration. Details of the Code of Practice and the Explanatory Guide can be found at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/support/code-of-practice.htm. B20 Number of Disclosures - please estimate the number of each type of service listed the organisation is likely to countersign per year. PART C - PROPOSED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR DISCLOSURE APPLICATIONS C1 Please indicate here if Standard or Enhanced Disclosure Applications or ISA Registrations will be paid for. You must X one box. C2 If you have answered yes above please indicate the proposed method of payment. PART D LEAD / COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS D1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. D2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. D3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. D4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. D5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc. D6 Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes, please insert names and dates. D7 Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes please insert names and dates. D8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice.
Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. D10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. D11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. D12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). D13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to D17, if yes, you must complete D14, D15 and D16. D14 Passport number - enter Passport number. The passport should be valid. D15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. D16 Country of issue - enter the Country your passport was issued in. D17 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary. D18 Business E-mail Address - enter the email address you wish to be contacted on. D19-D24 Current Address - include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D24. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your form will be returned unprocessed. D25-D36 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf PART E DECLARATION BY APPLICATION Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date. You must provide your signature and ensure that you print your full name and enter the date on this section of the form. E2 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. E3 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. E4 Date of Signature. E5 Insert your name in capitals. PART F VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY Please see the Guidance Notes or AccessNI website for acceptable means of identification. Photocopies of identification documents must be included with the registration form when applying. Do not send original Identification Documents F1 Please X this box to indicate the appropriate documentation has been submitted.
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PART G DECLARATION This is the declaration that you can ask an exempted question under the terms of The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 and that the checks requested are in accordance with the relevant sections of Part V of the Police Act 1997. The proposed Lead Signatory must sign and date this section. G1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. G2 Date of Signature. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. PART H AUTHORISATION Do not complete this section for Initial Registration. H1 H2 This is the name and reference number of the Lead Signatory in the organisation who will approve countersignatories and validate identity. H3 Please X this box to confirm the identity of the proposed Countersignatory has been checked in line with the AccessNI identification documents. H4 This Lead Signatory must X this box to confirm the information and changes requested are necessary to maintain an accurate and up-to-date AccessNI registration for the Registered Body. H5 H6 The Lead Signatory must sign and date this section to confirm that identification has been validated. PART I PAYMENT FOR REGISTRATION The cost for initial registration is 150 this includes the Registration of the Lead Signatory. The cost of Registration for additional Countersignatories is 10. There is no charge for Registration Body Modification, Countersignatory Modification or Countersignatory removals. I1 I2 Method of Payment for Registration - you must mark (x) one box only. If paying by cheque please insert the cheque number. Please make cheques payable to AccessNI. If paying by card please complete I3-I9.
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: MODIFY REGISTRATION DETAILS

The Modify Registration Details must be completed by the Lead Signatory who should insert the appropriate amendments. Please complete this form using black ink only and CAPITAL letters. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed. PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. PART B PERSONAL DETAILS A1 Initial Registration A2 Modify Registration details A3 Add Countersignatory A4 Modify Lead Countersignatory A5 Remove Lead / Countersignatory A6 Change Designated Lead Signatory PART B ORGANISATION DETAILS B1 Registered Body Number - this does not need to be completed for initial registration but for all other modifications this section must be completed with the Registered Bodys reference number which was provided by AccessNI. B2 Organisation name - this is the name of your organisation. B3 Umbrella body - mark the box if you will be acting as an Umbrella body for other organisations for the purpose of countersigning Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications and/or ISA Registration Applications. B4 and B5 Regulated / Controlled activities - one or both these must be marked if the organisation is entitled to ask the exempted question (refer to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 for clarification on definitions or contact the ISA helpline on 0300123 1111. B6 This organisation is classed as non-profit making and non-statutory. It is essential that AccessNI is informed of the organisations status in this respect. One box must be X. B7-B11 Office Address - this is the address where any correspondence from AccessNI will be sent.
B12 Organisation Telephone Number - enter the Registered Bodys telephone number with the STD code at which AccessNI will be able to contact a Countersignatory if necessary. Please note that if this is left blank it could result in delaying processing your registration. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B13 Fax Number - enter the Registered Bodys fax number with the STD. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B14 Organisation Website Address - please insert your organisations website address. B15 Purpose of the organisation - this should be a summary of the aims and objectives of the organisation. Additional pages may be used if necessary. B16 Charity/Company number - this is the unique Charity/Company number of your organisation - if applicable. B17 Exempted Questions - this is the confirmation that the organisation will be asking exempted questions. It is important that the organisation thoroughly check they have an entitlement to ask this question. B18 Part V of the Police Act - this is the confirmation the organisation is likely to countersign Disclosure Applications under Section 113A and/or 113B of Part V of the Police Act 1997 at the request of bodies or individuals asking the exempted questions (Umbrella Bodies only). B19 Code of Practice - this is the declaration that the organisation will comply with AccessNIs Code of Practice and will address issues raised by AccessNI to ensure adherence to its policies. This box must be marked to enable AccessNI to proceed with the registration. Details of the Code of Practice and the Explanatory Guide can be found at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/support/code-of-practice.htm. B20 Number of Disclosures - please estimate the number of each type of service listed the organisation is likely to countersign per year. PART C - PROPOSED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR DISCLOSURE APPLICATIONS C1 Please indicate here if Standard or Enhanced Disclosure Applications or ISA Registrations will be paid for. You must X one box. C2 If you have answered yes above please indicate the proposed method of payment. PART D LEAD / COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS D1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. D2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. D3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. D4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. D5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc. D6 Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes, please insert names and dates.
Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes, please insert names and dates. D8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice. D9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. D10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. D11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. D12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). D13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to D17, if yes, you must complete D14, D15 and D16. D14 Passport number - enter Passport number. The passport should be valid. D15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. D16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. D17 Preferred contact number enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary. D18 Business E-mail Address - enter the email address you wish to be contacted on D19-D24 Current Address - include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D24. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. D25-D36 Previous Address(es) - If you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf. PART E DECLARATION BY APPLICATION Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date. You must provide your signature and ensure that you print your full name and enter the date on this section of the form. E2 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. E3 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. E4 Date of Signature. E5 Insert your name in capitals.
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PART F VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY Please see the Guidance Notes or AccessNI website for acceptable means of identification. Photocopies of identification documents must be included with the registration form when applying. Do not send original Identification Documents. F1 Please X this box to indicate the appropriate documentation has been submitted.
PART G DECLARATION This is the declaration that you can ask an exempted question under the terms of The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 and that the checks requested are in accordance with the relevant sections of Part V of the Police Act 1997. The proposed Lead Signatory must sign and date this section. G1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. G2 Date of Signature. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. PART H AUTHORISATION Do not complete this section for Initial Registration H1 H2 This is the name and reference number of the Lead Signatory in the organisation who will approve countersignatories and validate identity. H3 Please X this box to confirm the identity of the proposed Countersignatory has been checked in line with the AccessNI identification documents. H4 This Lead Signatory must X this box to confirm the information and changes requested are necessary to maintain an accurate and up-to-date AccessNI registration for the Registered Body. H5 H6 The Lead Signatory must sign and date this section to confirm that identification has been validated. PART I PAYMENT FOR REGISTRATION The cost for initial registration is 150 this includes the Registration of the Lead Signatory. The cost of Registration for additional Countersignatories is 10. There is no charge for Registration Body Modification, Countersignatory Modification or Countersignatory removals. I1 I2 Method of Payment for Registration - you must mark (x) one box only. If paying by cheque please insert the cheque number. Please make cheques payable to AccessNI. If paying by card please complete I3-I9.
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: REMOVE LEAD/COUNTERSIGNATORY

This can be completed by either the Countersignatory to be removed or the Lead who should insert the appropriate amendments. Please complete this form using black ink only and CAPITAL letters. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed. PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 Initial Registration Modify Registration details Add Countersignatory Modify Lead Countersignatory Remove Lead / Countersignatory Number Insert the signatory number you wish to remove Change Designated Lead Signatory
PART B ORGANISATION DETAILS B1 Registered Body Number this does not need to be completed for initial registration but for all other modifications this section must be completed with the Registered Bodys reference number which was provided by AccessNI. B2 Organisation name - this is the name of your organisation B3 Umbrella body - mark the box if you will be acting as an Umbrella body for other organisations for the purpose of countersigning Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications and/or ISA Registration Applications. B4 and B5 Regulated / Controlled activities - one or both these must be marked if the organisation is entitled to ask the exempted question (refer to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 for clarification on definitions or contact the ISA helpline on 0300123 1111. B6 This organisation is classed as non-profit making and non-statutory. It is essential that AccessNI is informed of the organisations status in this respect. One box must be X. B7-B11 Office Address - this is the address where any correspondence from AccessNI will be sent.
B12 Organisation Telephone Number - enter the Registered Bodys telephone number with the STD code at which AccessNI will be able to contact a Countersignatory if necessary. Please note that if this is left blank it could result in delaying processing your registration. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B13 Fax Number - enter the Registered Bodys fax number with the STD. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B14 Organisation Website Address - please insert your website address. B15 Purpose of the organisation - this should be a summary of the aims and objectives of the organisation. Additional pages may be used if necessary. B16 Charity/Company number this is the unique Charity/Company number of your organisation - if applicable. B17 Exempted Questions - this is the confirmation that the organisation will be asking exempted questions. It is important that the organisation thoroughly check they have an entitlement to ask this question. B18 Part V of the Police Act - this is the confirmation the organisation is likely to countersign Disclosure Applications under Section 113A and/or 113B of Part V of the Police Act 1997 at the request of bodies or individuals asking the exempted questions (Umbrella Bodies only). B19 Code of Practice - this is the declaration that the organisation will comply with AccessNIs Code of Practice and will address issues raised by AccessNI to ensure adherence to its policies. This box must be marked to enable AccessNI to proceed with the registration. Details of the Code of Practice and the Explanatory Guide can be found at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/support/code-of-practice.htm. B20 Number of Disclosures - please estimate the number of each type of service listed the organisation is likely to countersign per year. PART C - PROPOSED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR DISCLOSURE APPLICATIONS C1 Please indicate here if Standard or Enhanced Disclosure Applications or ISA Registrations will be paid for. You must X one box. C2 If you have answered yes above please indicate the proposed method of payment. PART D LEAD / COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS D1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. D2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. D3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. D4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. D5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc. D6 Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes please insert names and dates.
Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes, please insert names and dates. D8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice. D9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. D10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. D11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. D12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). D13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to D17, if yes, you must complete D14, D15 and D16. D14 Passport number - enter Passport number. The passport should be valid. D15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. D16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. D17 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary. D18 Business E-mail Address - enter the email address you wish to be contacted on. D19-D24 Current Address - include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D24. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your form will be returned unprocessed. D25-D36 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf. PART E DECLARATION BY APPLICATION Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date. You must provide your signature and ensure that you print your full name and enter the date on this section of the form. E2 E3 E4 E5 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. Date of Signature. Insert your name in capitals.
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PART F VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY Please see the Guidance Notes or AccessNI website for acceptable means of identification. Photocopies of identification documents must be included with the registration form when applying. Do not send original Identification Documents. F1 Please X this box to indicate the appropriate documentation has been submitted. PART G DECLARATION This is the declaration that you can ask an exempted question under the terms of The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 and that the checks requested are in accordance with the relevant sections of Part V of the Police Act 1997.The proposed Lead Signatory must sign and date this section. G1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. G2 Date of Signature. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. PART H AUTHORISATION Do not complete this section for Initial Registration. H1 H2 This is the name and reference number of the Lead Signatory in the organisation who will approve countersignatories and validate identity. H3 Please X this box to confirm the identity of the proposed Countersignatory has been checked in line with the AccessNI identification documents. H4 This lead Signatory must X this box to confirm the information and changes requested are necessary to maintain an accurate and up-to-date AccessNI registration for the Registered Body. H5 H6 The Lead Signatory must sign and date this section to confirm that identification has been validated. PART I PAYMENT FOR REGISTRATION The cost for initial registration is 150 this includes the Registration of the Lead Signatory. The cost of Registration for additional Countersignatories is 10. There is no charge for Registration Body Modification, Countersignatory Modification or Countersignatory removals. I1 I2 Method of Payment for Registration - you must mark (x) one box only. If paying by cheque please insert the cheque number. Please make cheques payable to AccessNI. If paying by card please complete I3-I9.
QUICK GUIDE FOR COMPLETING: CHANGE DESIGNATED LEAD SIGNATORY

This can be completed by either the Countersignatory or the Lead who should insert the appropriate amendments. Please complete this form using black ink only and CAPITAL letters. Please nominate a current signatory to become the new Lead and specify if the current lead is to be removed or changed to a Countersignatory. Please write this in the box on page 1. Text in RED indicates fields that are mandatory on the Form - failure to complete the relevant information will result in the Form being returned unprocessed. PART A TYPE OF APPLICATION Indicate the type of Disclosure being requested by marking X in the appropriate box. If you are unsure speak to your Registered Body who will advise you. A1 Initial Registration A2 Modify Registration details A3 Add Countersignatory A4 Modify Lead Countersignatory A5 Remove Lead / Countersignatory Signatory Number Insert the signatory number you wish to remove A6 Change Designated Lead Signatory PART B ORGANISATION DETAILS B1 Registered Body Number - this does not need to be completed for initial registration but for all other modifications this section must be completed with the Registered Bodys reference number which was provided by AccessNI. B2 Organisation name - this is the name of your organisation. B3 Umbrella body - mark the box if you will be acting as an Umbrella body for other organisations for the purpose of countersigning Standard and Enhanced Disclosure Applications and/or ISA Registration Applications. B4 and B5 Regulated / Controlled activities - one or both these must be marked if the organisation is entitled to ask the exempted question (refer to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 for clarification on definitions or contact the ISA helpline on 0300123 1111. B6 This organisation is classed as non-profit making and non-statutory. It is essential that AccessNI is informed of the organisations status in this respect. One box must be X.
B7-B11 Office Address - this is the address where any correspondence from AccessNI will be sent. B12 Organisation Telephone Number - enter the Registered Bodys telephone number with the STD code at which AccessNI will be able to contact a Countersignatory if necessary. Please note that if this is left blank it could result in delaying processing your registration. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B13 Fax Number - enter the Registered Bodys fax number with the STD. Do not leave any spaces when entering the number. B14 Organisation Website Address - please insert your organisation website address. B15 Purpose of the organisation - this should be a summary of the aims and objectives of the organisation. Additional pages may be used if necessary. B16 Charity/Company number - this is the unique Charity/Company number of your organisation - if applicable. B17 Exempted Questions - this is the confirmation that the organisation will be asking exempted questions. It is important that the organisation thoroughly check they have an entitlement to ask this question. B18 Part V of the Police Act - this is the confirmation the organisation is likely to countersign Disclosure Applications under Section 113A and/or 113B of Part V of the Police Act 1997 at the request of bodies or individuals aski.ng the exempted questions (Umbrella Bodies only). B19 Code of Practice - this is the declaration that the organisation will comply with AccessNIs Code of Practice and will address issues raised by AccessNI to ensure adherence to its policies. This box must be marked to enable AccessNI to proceed with the registration. Details of the Code of Practice and the Explanatory Guide can be found at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/support/code-of-practice.htm. B20 Number of Disclosures - please estimate the number of each type of service listed the organisation is likely to countersign per year. PART C - PROPOSED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR DISCLOSURE APPLICATIONS This section should only be completed if you will be paying for Disclosure Certificates or ISA Registrations that you will be requesting from AccessNI. C1 C2 Please indicate here if Standard or Enhanced Disclosure Applications or ISA Registrations will be paid for. You must X one box. If you have answered yes above please indicate the proposed method of payment.
PART D LEAD / COUNTERSIGNATORY DETAILS D1 Title - mark X clearly in the appropriate box. Examples of other may be Reverend, Sister etc. D2 Surname - enter your current Surname or last name. This will be the name that appears on your Disclosure Certificate. D3 Forename(s) - please write your full first name not just initials. Include all your forenames if you have more than one. D4 Name usually known by - use this section to include abbreviations, nicknames, etc by which you are more commonly known. D5 Surname at birth (if different) - if your surname at birth was different from your current surname please provide details and the date during which the names were used. This would only be applicable where your surname is different from your current surname i.e. changed by marriage, deed poll, etc.
Any other surname(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all other previously used surnames you have used during your lifetime e.g. previous marriages, previous deed poll changes. Please also supply dates of changes. If yes, please insert names and dates. D7 Any other forename(s) used? - one of the boxes must be completed. This applies to all previous forenames you have used during your lifetime and the dates when these names were used. If yes, please insert names and dates. D8 Gender - mark on the appropriate box. If you are transgender and do not wish your employer to know of your previous gender, please contact AccessNI for advice. D9 Date of Birth - enter the day, month and year you were born in the format DD/MM/YYYY - e.g. 04/03/1960. D10 Place of Birth - enter the name of the town and the country where you were born. D11 National Insurance Number - enter in spaces provided. This can normally be found on your payslip or any personalised Customs and Revenue Documents. D12 Driving Licence Number - enter the full Driving Licence number as found on your UK driving licence (point 5 on your driving licence refers). D13 Do you hold a valid passport? - if no, go to D17, if yes, you must complete D14, D15 and D16. D14 Passport number - enter passport number. The passport should be valid. D15 Nationality - enter your nationality as indicated on your passport. D16 Country of issue - enter the country your passport was issued in. D17 Preferred contact number - enter the number you would prefer AccessNI to contact you on if necessary. D18 Business E-mail Address - enter the email address you wish to be contacted on. D19-D24 Current Address - include the date from which you have been a resident at this address. Each section must be completed. It is essential you supply a date at D24. Please give full address details, including postcode and dates of residence. If you do not provide a full 5 year address history your Form will be returned unprocessed. D25-D36 Previous Address(es) - if you have lived at your current address for less than 5 years you will need to provide your continuous address history for the last 5 years. You should include addresses outside the UK where appropriate. There must be no gaps in the dates provided; overlapping dates are acceptable. Please give full address details, including postcode. If your address history does not fit in the spaces provided you should use the approved Address Continuation Sheet which can be downloaded at http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/accessni/application-forms/addresscontinuationsheet.pdf. PART E DECLARATION BY APPLICATION Please read this section carefully as it is where you declare that all the information provided is correct and up to date. You must provide your signature and ensure that you print your full name and enter the date on this section of the Form. E2 Do you have any convictions - have you ever been convicted in a court of law. Place a cross in the relevant box. E3 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. E4 Date of Signature. E5 Insert your name in capitals.
D6
PART F VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY Please see the Guidance Notes or AccessNI website for acceptable means of identification. Photocopies of identification documents must be included with the registration form when applying. Do not send original Identification Documents. F1 Please X this box to indicate the appropriate documentation has been submitted.
PART G DECLARATION This is the declaration that you can ask an exempted question under the terms of The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 and that the checks requested are in accordance with the relevant sections of Part V of the Police Act 1997. The proposed Lead Signatory must sign and date this section. G1 Signature of Applicant - place your signature ensuring it stays within the box provided. G2 Date of Signature. By signing the box below you are agreeing to the above conditions of Registration. PART H AUTHORISATION Do not complete this section for Initial Registration. H1 H2 This is the name and reference number of the Lead Signatory in the organisation who will approve countersignatories and validate identity. H3 Please X this box to confirm the identity of the proposed Countersignatory has been checked in line with the AccessNI identification documents. H4 The Lead Signatory must X this box to confirm the information and changes requested are necessary to maintain an accurate and up-to-date AccessNI registration for the Registered Body. H5 H6 The Lead Signatory must sign and date this section to confirm that identification has been validated. PART I PAYMENT FOR REGISTRATION The cost for initial registration is 150 this includes the Registration of the Lead Signatory. The cost of Registration for additional Countersignatories is 10. There is no charge for Registration Body Modification, Countersignatory Modification or Countersignatory removals. I1 I2 Method of Payment for Registration - you must mark (x) one box only. If paying by cheque please insert the cheque number. Please make cheques payable to AccessNI. If paying by card please complete I3-I9.
ID VALIDATION FORM
It is standard good recruitment practice for employers to satisfy themselves as to the identity of those applying for positions. Although AccessNI may in some cases conduct its own checks to confirm identity, there is no substitute for thorough identity checks by employers. Larger Registered Bodies that delegate responsibility for ID checking, or Umbrella Bodies who are assisting smaller organisations through the checking process, should ensure documentary evidence is validated, and that they indicate on the Disclosure Application Form (Part H), the checks have been made. Employers should seek to comply with the Guidance below. Organisations must also ensure they comply with Section 3 of the AccessNI Code of Practice.
Valid Identification Documents

Three documents must be produced in the name of the applicant; one from Group 1 and two from Group 2 (see overleaf). If this is not possible, then five documents from Group 2 must be produced. It is preferred that at least one of these documents includes photographic identification. Please use the attached form and tick the appropriate boxes to indicate what ID has been checked. Approved Counter Signatories must ensure that H9 of the Disclosure Application Form is completed. This ID Validation Form should be made available to AccessNI on request.
Name of applicant_________________________________ Date ID check carried out: ID checked by: ________________________
_________________________________
I confirm I have seen the original ID documents as indicated on the attached sheet
Signed:__________________________________________
THIS FORM SHOULD BE RETAINED WITHIN YOUR ORGANISATION. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IT TO ACCESSNI
THIS FORM HAS BEEN CREATED TO ASSIST YOUR ORGANISATION WITH ROBUST ID CHECKS
GROUP 1
Valid Passport UK Driving Licence Full or Provisional England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland/Isle of Man; either photocard or paper (a Photocard is only valid if accompanied with the paper counterpart) Original UK birth certificate (issued within 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable) Valid photo identity card (EU countries only) UK Firearms licence HM Forces ID card (UK) Adoption Certificate (UK)
GROUP 2
Marriage certificate/ Civil Partnership Certificate Non-original UK birth certificate (issued after 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable
P45/P60 statement
Utility bill (electricity, gas,water,telephone including mobile phone contract/bill) Valid TV licence Credit card statement Store card statement Mortgage Statement Valid insurance certificate Certificate of British nationality British work permit/visa ** Asylum Registration Card AccessNI Disclosure Certificate Personal correspondence or a document from a Government Department * Bank or Building Society Document ** Financial statement e.g. pension,endowment,ISA ** Valid vehicle registration document Mail order catalogue statement* Court summons Valid NHS card Court Claim Form Addressed payslip* National insurance number card Examination certificate (e.g. GCSE, NVQ) Letter from a Head Teacher* Child Benefit book Smartpass
* documentation must be less than 3 months old ** documentation must be issued within the last 12 months
THIS FORM HAS BEEN CREATED TO ASSIST YOUR ORGANISATION WITH ROBUST ID CHECKS
Names history continuation sheet

If necessary, this sheet should be used in conjunction with an AccessNI Disclosure Application Form. Please complete the details at Part A and add [at Part B or Part C] the remaining names for which there was insufficient room on the Disclosure Application Form. Please ensure you sign and date this sheet at Part D.
PART A
Applicants details
A1 Current surname A2 Current forename(s) A3 Date of birth
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
PART B
Previous surname(s) (continued)
B1 Previous surname B2 Date used from B3 Previous surname B4 Date used from B5 Previous surname B6 Date used from
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
PART C
Previous forename(s) (continued)
C1 Previous forename C2 Date used from C3 Previous forename C4 Date used from C5 Previous forename C6 Date used from
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
to
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
PART D
Applicants signature
D2 Date of Signature
D1 Signature of Applicant (please sign in box)
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
Monday 29 March 2010
Volume 508 No. 65
HOUSE OF COMMONS
OFFICIAL REPORT
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
(HANSARD)
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Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: licensing@opsi.gov.uk
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House of Commons
Monday 29 March 2010 The House met at half-past Two oclock PRAYERS [MR. SPEAKER in the Chair]
Hon. Members: Wake up. The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): My apologies: I think the problem is deafness rather than sleep. As General McChrystal has said, the situation in Afghanistan is serious, but it is no longer deteriorating, and the international effort will make real progress this year. Already Afghan forces and ISAFthe international security assistance forcehave successfully delivered improved security to the population of central Helmand through Operation Moshtarak. Working closely with our Afghan allies, the international communitys next step will be to strengthen governance and security in Kandahar city. Mr. Jones: Security in Helmand province has for years been the responsibility of British forces, many of whom have lost their lives in the process. What effect does the Secretary of State think it would have on our forces in Helmand if they were to be told, as has been suggested in The Sunday Telegraph, that they are shortly to be replaced by United States marines? Mr. Ainsworth: There has been a substantial increase in forces going into Helmand. Some of those have been ourswe have increased our forces in Afghanistan by about 1,200 in a yearbut the biggest single inflow has been from the United States of America. We have been very happy to work alongside US forces, and they now operate in the south of Helmand provincewe very recently handed over Musa Qala to them. What we are involved in is a coalition effort: we have to work alongside our coalition partners, and that does not mean just the United States of America. In Helmand we have Danes and Estonians working in our area of operation alongside our forces, as well as those of the Afghans of course, so I do not think that there is a problem among our armed forces in recognising the need to work with others. Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton, South) (Lab): Concern has been expressed about the impact of Taliban and al-Qaeda training camps in the North West Frontier province of Pakistan. Can my right hon. Friend say what assessment has been made of those camps, how effective they are, and to what extent the Americans now have a controlling impact on them, so that they cannot undermine the work being done by NATO and UK troops in Afghanistan? Mr. Ainsworth: The overwhelming improvement that we have seen on the Pakistan side of the border over the past year or so has come about as a result of the efforts of the Pakistani Government and the Pakistani armed forces. Those forces have suffered great losses in some of the operations that they have conducted against insurgents in the FATAthe federally administered tribal areaand Waziristan. Those forces are bearing down on the insurgency on their side of the border, and we should recognise that and congratulate them. Of course we work with the Pakistani Government, as do the American Government and American forces. Sir Menzies Campbell (North-East Fife) (LD): But in his carefully crafted answer, the Secretary of State declined to deal with the point that was raised a moment or two ago. Is there a proposal that British forces should be withdrawn from Helmand? Yes or no?
Oral Answers to Questions

DEFENCE The Secretary of State was asked Compensation (Shoeburyness) 1. Mr. Douglas Carswell (Harwich) (Con): What representations he has received on provision of compensation to people whose properties have been [324443] damaged by explosions at Shoeburyness. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): The work at Shoeburyness is directly linked to saving the lives of service personnel on operations in Afghanistan, providing, among other things, essential pre-deployment training in the safe and controlled disposal of improvised explosive devices and similar ordnance. In 2009, I received three representations, with a further two so far this year, from people claiming that their properties had been damaged by noise and vibrations caused by activities at MOD Shoeburyness. Mr. Carswell: Everyone accepts that our armed forces need to train at Shoeburyness. However, many of the explosions are caused not by our armed forces training, but by commercial waste disposal from which big corporate interests profit. Will the Minister give an undertaking for full transparency, so that local people are made aware of which explosions are being caused in the interests of our armed forces and which in the interests of crony capitalists? Mr. Jones: I know that the hon. Gentleman is not a great supporter of our defence industries in this country, but let me tell him that the amount of ordnance exploded at Shoeburyness that is not related to trainingthis is, the disposal of ordnance that is out of date or that the MOD needs to get rid of in a controlled waycomes to 5 per cent. That is done in partnership with QinetiQ, a world-beating company that we should be proud of. As for trying to hamper us and put more in the way of our training, I am sorry, but that would be a misuse of the MODs time. Afghanistan 2. Mr. David Jones (Clwyd, West) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in [324444] Afghanistan.
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Mr. Ainsworth: Look, let me say to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that, as a result of the huge inflow of forces into the south of Afghanistan, there are a number of proposals as to how we approach the issue of command and control, and how we divide up our forces in order to ensure that all can be successful and that there is no gap in the security that we are providing. Those discussions are ongoing Sir Menzies Campbell: So the answer is yes. Mr. Ainsworth: There may be people within the coalition, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman has read in The Sunday Telegraph, who believe that it would be a good thing for us to remove ourselves from Helmand to Kandahar. I would have to be persuadedand I would take some persuadingthat that was a good thing. We have developed a level of understanding of the situation in Helmand province over a period of time which should not be thrown away lightly. We have invested a great deal in terms of money and infrastructure, as well as of losses. This is something that we would have to be very concerned about before we would agree to doing it. However, we should not set our face against things as some kind of knee-jerk reaction; we should be prepared to discuss these issues with our coalition partners. Mr. Speaker: Order. If we are to make proper progress down the Order Paper, as I always seek to do, we need to make progress a little more quickly. Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring) (Con): On 19 April, during the likely general election campaign, the Government are likely to face a court case relating to the ability of UK forces to hand prisoners over to Afghan authorities. The case, brought by peace campaigners, could have major implications for our commanders in Afghanistan as a result of international and European human rights law. It is bad enough that our troops have to deal with warfare; now they have to worry about lawfare as well. Will the Government place before the House, before the Dissolution of Parliament, consolidated Ministry of Defence guidelines on the detention of personnel in Afghanistan, so that Parliament and the British people can make a judgment about the Governments position ahead of the court case, which many will regard with outrage? Mr. Ainsworth: We do detain people in Afghanistan. Detention is an important part of the operations that we undertake there. Our forces are threatened by people in that country, and detention is therefore necessary. We also hand people over to the Afghans, and we have a clear memorandum of understanding about when and how we do that and about the safeguards that we seek to put in place. I will do as the hon. Gentleman asks and place in the Library a copy of our policy on detentionI had intended to do that anyway. I will do it as soon as possible; if not today, then tomorrow. Defence-Related Employment (Tyneside) 3. Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne, Central) (Lab): What steps he is taking to maintain levels of defence-related [324445] employment on Tyneside.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Quentin Davies): There are many companies on Tyneside and in the related travel-to-work area doing important work for defence, and we are extremely grateful to them for the skills and dedication of their employees. Good examples include A & P, which is building sections for our two carriers on the Tyne. I have visited it twice, and on the last occasion was privileged to cut the first steel. I also visited Astrum in County Durham the other day; it is producing tracks for our armoured vehicles. I have visited BAE Land Systems, which has produced the Challenger, the Warrior and the Panther and is now working on the Terrier. BAE Systems is also opening a new ammunition factory in Washington, Sunderland. Jim Cousins: The workers at BAE Systems armoured fighting vehicle factory on Newcastles Scotswood road have loyally backed up the efforts of our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they now face job losses, and the run-down and possible closure of the plant, because of the loss of the specialist vehicle order. Was this because Tyneside was politically outgunned by Wales and Scotland, or because the management at the plant were incompetent? Will the Minister come to Tyneside to explain how this decision was made, and what the way forward for the workers will be? Mr. Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman allowed himself three questions. We do not begrudge him that, but one answer will do. Mr. Davies: It was neither of those two things. The contract award was made on value for money, which was a function of performance reliability and cost. I understand my hon. Friends disappointment about the decision, but we have to make such decisions on the basis of value for money. I would certainly be happy to accept his invitation to come to Newcastle and to meet the management and the work force again. Improvised Explosive Devices 4. Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): How many soldiers have been issued with protective equipment against improvised explosive devices; and if he will [324448] make a statement. The Minister for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell): All our deployed personnel in Afghanistan are equipped for the tasks that they are asked to undertake. This includes a range of protected vehicles, including the Mastiff and the Ridgback, which offer world-leading protection against improvised explosive devices. Comprehensive training is provided prior to deployment and on arrival, and a very large part of that training concentrates on IED avoidance and recognition. Miss McIntosh: In pausing to remember the bravest of the brave who have made the ultimate sacrifice in dealing with IEDs, will the Minister tell us how many people on active deployment in Afghanistan are trained to find IEDs, whether there is a shortage of such personnel, and how many have left the service prematurely on return from duty? Bill Rammell: No, I cannot and will not give that detailed information because if I do that publicly, I give it not only to the hon. Lady and our media, but to our
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enemies in the form of the Taliban. What I can say is that nothing has been given a higher priority in our efforts in Afghanistan than countering improvised explosive devices. That is why we established a 200-strong force last April and why, as recently as December, we committed and reprioritised 150 million towards tackling the lethal threat we face from the Taliban in respect of IEDs. Service Veterans (Mental Health) 5. James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend, East) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of long-term mental health support for armed forces veterans. [324449] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): Initial results from the six NHS mental health pilot schemes are encouraging, with evidence that veterans feel able to access and use the services with confidence. The evaluation of these pilots will be complete later this year, with a view to all NHS mental health services rolling out special provision for veterans during 2011-12. Additionally, the medical assessment programme at St. Thomas hospital in London continues to prove an important resource to veterans with mental health problems. James Duddridge: I thank the Minister for that reply. What assessment has the Minister made of the number of veterans in prison, the number of them homeless and the number that, sadly, commit suicide? What more can be done for those groups of people? Mr. Jones: We have completed studies on those three groups. On homelessness, we conducted a study with York university on the figures in London that showed 4 per cent. homelessness among the veteran population. As for the prison population, we have just completed a review of our data along with those of the Ministry of Justice, which showed that the prison population of veterans is about 4 per cent. We are subjecting those findings to more scrutiny to find out exactly what more can be done in mainstream services in prisons to support veterans. Mr. James Arbuthnot (North-East Hampshire) (Con): A year ago, the Minister was good enough to meet Piers Bishop of Resolution, which has done groundbreaking work on mental health issues among our armed forces. Does Resolution still have a part to play on this issue, to which I know the Minister has given a great deal of his own personal attention? Mr. Jones: We are always looking to work not only with the NHS but with third sector providers. Two or three weeks ago, together with the Department of Health, I was pleased to sign a partnership agreement with Combat Stress, which is now going to embed its mental health professionals in NHS trusts to act as champions for the mental health of veterans. We will consider any proposals on their merits. Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con): The mental health pilots to which the Minister referredI have visited one of themare most welcome, but even if they were rolled out in a definitive programme, it would still mean that the majority of cases of combat stress
would be undiscovered and untreated. The Minister is probably not aware that the medical examinations people are given when they leave the armed forces have not been updated for many years and they certainly do not reflect the level of service-related mental illness generated since 2003. Why has he allowed this obvious missed opportunity to endure, and will he partially redeem himself by offering to support our proposal to screen veterans for service-related mental illness both at the point of discharge and at intervals thereafter? Mr. Jones: I am sad that the hon. Gentleman does not pay more close attention to what I am doing in my portfolio. A few weeks ago, I announced a new initiative whereby the medical records of those discharged will be transferred more seamlessly to the NHS. We also now have an agreement with the NHS whereby older veterans can have the fact that they served in the armed forces flagged up on their GPs records. We continue to support the work and research of the defence study conducted at Kings College, which is about to produce a report that will show the true effects of service not just on those who are serving now but on those who served many years ago. Defence Spending (Commitments) 6. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the balance between UK defence spending and UK defence commitments.
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The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): In our planning rounds, we ensure that our plans deliver defence capability, that they are sound and that resources are allocated in line with defence priorities. I announced the main elements of the 2010 planning round on 15 December 2009. This included a package to spend 900 million more over three years on enhancements to support operations of the kind that we conduct in Afghanistan, on top of operational costs paid for by the reserve. In taking this decision, however, we had to prioritise rigorously and recognise that tough choices were required better to match the defence programme to the available resources. Michael Fabricant: Given that the Treasury claims to scrutinise every capital project and reserves the right to intervene in such projects, may I ask who was responsible for the 1.4 billion cut in the helicopter programme? Was it the former Secretary of State for Defence, or was it the former Chancellor of the Exchequer? Mr. Ainsworth: I think the hon. Gentleman is referring to decisions made in 2002-03 or 2003-04. He must accept that those decisions were made by the Ministry of Defence, not by the Treasury, and also that the position then was very different from the position now. We had 400 troops in Afghanistan at that time, and they were in the relatively benign area of the north, not in Helmand province. Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth) (Lab): When my right hon. Friend speaks of defence procurement, is he bearing in mind our defence industrial strategy? Can he promise the House that, as far as possible, we will always secure supply in this country in order to maintain our skills base and the sovereignty that we require?
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Mr. Ainsworth: I cannot go as far as that. The aim of our defence industrial strategy is to ensure that elements of defence supply are secured in this country when we consider that to be important to the maintaining of our sovereign capability, and to ensure that we are able to continue to produce those elements. What I will not do is sacrifice, on a wider basis, capability and value for money when to do so is not appropriate, and is not justified by a clear need for that sovereignty. Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con): On 17 March, the Prime Minister said that UK defence spending had fallen in real terms on one or two occasions. I think that once or twice was the term that he used. According to everyone else, it has certainly fallen twice, and has possibly fallen three or four times. Was what the Prime Minister said about its having fallen once true? Mr. Ainsworth: Defence spending has risen substantially during the present Governments time in office. It has risen in real terms by 10 per cent.just short of 1 billion a year, on averagewhich contrasts markedly with the massive reductions that took place during the last two years of Conservative government. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): in the light of the agreement between Russia and the United States last weekend as part of the strategic arms reduction treaty, would this not be an appropriate time at which to reconsider the strategy of replacing the Trident nuclear missile system, which would both contribute to nuclear disarmament and save us all a great deal of money? Mr. Ainsworth: My hon. Friend and I disagree in one fundamental respect. I believe in multilateral nuclear disarmament: I think that we should make every possible effort to bring about the reduction and, hopefully, the eventual elimination of nuclear arsenals throughout the world. I do not, however, believe in unilateral nuclear disarmament, and I do not believe that if we did as my hon. Friend suggests, we would add greatly to efforts to reduce nuclear armaments at this time. Nick Harvey (North Devon) (LD): Last week the Chancellor committed more than 4 billion from the Treasury reserve for operations in Afghanistan. Given the increasing number of urgent operational requirements driving equipment spending to its highest level yet, what discussions has the Ministry had with the Treasury about eventual recovery of UOR funding, and what effect will that have on the longer-term defence budget? Mr. Ainsworth: We have not had to repay moneys granted to us for urgent operational requirements. [Interruption.] We have not had to do that in any year. The full costs of operationsnot just urgent operational requirementsare paid from Treasury reserves which are in addition to our budget. Mr. Ian Davidson (Glasgow, South-West) (Lab/Co-op): Does the Secretary of State agree that there is a contradiction between the arguments of those who say that not enough money is being spent on defence while also saying that the break clauses in the contract for the aircraft carriers must be examined? [HON. MEMBERS: Ah!] I note that my view is supported by Opposition Members.
May I also ask whether the Secretary of State has received any communications from either of the main Opposition parties stating whether they will support the Governments proposal to proceed with the next stage of the type 26 shipping order, and whether he thinks that the placing of that order was excellent, very excellent, or simply magnificent? Mr. Ainsworth: It is clear that there are dilemmas in the Conservative ranks, and that they run wider than just the carriers and naval capability. Conservative Members say on the one hand that we are behaving in a profligate manner and signing contracts unreasonably, and, on the other, say that we are underfunding defence. They cannot have their cake and eat it; they must come clean about their policies and proposals. Mr. Speaker: Order. May I very gently say to the Secretary of State that we must, of course, stick to the subject of Government policy? Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring) (Con): On 15 March the Secretary of State told the House that 5 billion was earmarked for Afghanistan next year, but on Budget day the Chancellor said that there was 4 billion from next years reserve to fund operations in Afghanistan. Why the difference? Mr. Ainsworth: There is 5 billion potentially from the reserve next year. Service Personnel (Welfare) 7. John Howell (Henley) (Con): What recent progress has been made by his Department on improving the welfare of service personnel. [324452] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): The Ministry of Defence has robust welfare provision that is kept under continual review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. We have a responsibility to our service personnel, their families and veterans, and we take it very seriously. Recent improvements include the provision of extra facilities in Afghanistan to help service personnel keep in touch with their families, the creation of the Army recovery capability, and the review of the armed forces compensation scheme. We also published the service Command Paper on the nations commitment to the armed forces, their families and veterans. John Howell: At a recent surgery I held at RAF Benson there was a stream of criticisms of the MOD and MODern Housing Solutions, ranging from a family with a small child being left without hot water, serious gas leaks to walls running with mould. Given that in a written answer to me on 25 March the Minister admitted that there is not even a breakdown of complaints by location to better manage such problems, is this not symptomatic of the shameful disdain with which the Government treat the issue of service housing? Mr. Jones: I am sorry, but I am not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives about investment in armed forces housing. At RAF Benson, 99 per cent. of the accommodation is either in grade 1 or grade 2 standard condition, which means that it either exceeds
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or meets the Governments decent homes standard. In respect of MHS, I have put in place people who act as equivalents to estate managers, who do a very good job of dealing with individual problems. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular problem relating to the work of Defence Estates at Benson, or that of MHS, he should get in touch with me. Nick Harvey (North Devon) (LD): The Public Accounts Committee report, Treating Injury and Illness Arising on Military Operations, concluded that although the MODs care of the seriously injured had to date been highly effective, there were concerns about whether it could cope with a significant increase in the number of casualties. What steps will the Minister take to formalise the current voluntary arrangements with the NHS to handle overflow military patients, and how might he ensure that there is a suitable environment for military personnel in civilian hospitals? Mr. Jones: As the hon. Gentleman rightly says, the care our servicemen and women are getting at Selly Oak and Headley Court is second to none, and may I put on record our thanks to the dedicated staff that do that job? The NHS and Defence Medical Services put in place robust handling arrangements to deal with our surge of last summer, and we also put in place similar arrangements this year, although, thankfully, they were not needed. In April, health services will move to the new hospital at Selly Oak in April, which will have a state-of-the-art, military-dedicated ward for our servicemen and women who are injured on operations. Dr. Fox: On leave back home during their deployment in Afghanistan, a growing number of service personnel have been refused entry to pubs and clubs because some local authorities refuse to accept military identity cards, which have date of birth details, as proof as age. It is scandalous that our troops can die in Helmand but be refused a pint in their local. The Government have known about this problem for some time, so why has nothing been done? Will they now, in their last days, do something about it? Mr. Jones: That is an issue for local authorities, but may I say that a number of public houses and businesses not only welcome our servicemen and women, but give them discounts and support the production of the military ID card? I would like the hon. Gentleman to let me know of any specific examples that he may have of where people have been turned away, because I agree that this is not an acceptable way to treat these brave servicemen and women. Iran 8. Mr. Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the security threat [324453] posed by Iran. The Minister for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell): We keep the security threat posed by Iran under continual review. Iran possesses conventional military capability that is both defensive and offensive in nature. We also remain concerned about Irans intentions with regard to its nuclear programme. Iran should be under no illusion that without progress in addressing the international communitys concerns tougher sanctions will be imposed.
Mr. Jackson: I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he believe that the Iranian Government are serious in their undertaking in respect of uranium enrichment abroad or does he believe that they are just playing for time? Bill Rammell: A substantive offer of engagement has been made by the international community, which has been led, in particular, by the President of the United States. I regret that Iran has failed yet to embrace that offer of engagement. Iran needs to be in doubt that this is a matter of serious and real concern for the international community and that if there is not movement and engagement on the part of Iran, there will bewe will argue for and achieve thismuch tougher sanctions. Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Do the Government agree with the statement made at the weekend by the NATO Secretary-General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, that Europe now needs to develop a missile shield system to protect against a future Iranian missile one with or without nuclear warheads? Bill Rammell: There is a strong case for the missile shield, which is why the Government have supported the technology; the threat that the Secretary-General outlined, and to which my right hon. Friend refers, is one of the reasons for that. Mr. Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con): With Iran undertaking a major submarine-building programme, which military experts say could cause havoc in the Gulf, and Russia continuing its incursions into United Kingdom waters, why have the Government decided this week to scrap the Nimrod long-range maritime patrol aircraft? Who will provide the long-range search and rescue capability so lost from this week and who will protect our shipsat home and in the Gulfnow rendered vulnerable by Labours cavalier approach to the defence of these islands? Bill Rammell: On long-range search and rescue, the introduction of the MRA4 means that there will be substantially more capable aircraft than the MR2 in the RAFs fleet. In the period of transition until the MRA4 enters service we intend to use other assets, as available, in a long-range search and rescue role. The reason why we take the decisions that we do is because we are responsible for these budgets and for prioritising Afghanistan as our main effort. As we have repeatedly made clear, the Conservative party is not committed to spending one penny more on defence than this Government arein fact, the reverse is true because the Conservatives are not even prepared to commit to next years spending. Until they do so, their words are simply hollow. Afghanistan 10. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): If he will make it his policy for UK forces to encourage the replacement of poppy cultivation by the growing of pomegranates in Afghanistan. [324455] The Minister for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell): The UK is supporting alternative livelihoods programmes in Afghanistan, which provide practical advice and support to farmers, to enable them to move away from
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poppy cultivation. In Helmand, we are supporting Governor Mangals counter-narcotics plan, which distributes wheat seed, fertiliser, saplings and seeds for summer crops, and the establishment of an agricultural school. Pomegranates are one option available to Afghan farmers. Bob Russell: I thank the Minister for that response. I think there is agreement across the House that the solution will not just be a military one; it must be political and economic. On that basis, will his Department try to support the British charity POM354, which believes that the growing of pomegranates is more profitable for Afghan farmers than the growing of either wheat or opium poppies? Bill Rammell: I know that the hon. Gentleman has taken a real interest in this issue and I agree with him that there cannot be an exclusively military solution in Afghanistanthere has to be a political one, too. In respect of the particular proposal to which he is referring, James Brett, the founder of the charity POM354, met my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development. At that meeting, it was recommended that Mr. Brett should produce a detailed business plan that will not only help to maximise the programmes chances of success but help conversations with potential donors. I reiterate that advice and DFID officials are willing to provide advice on such a plan. Alan Simpson (Nottingham, South) (Lab): I welcome the proposals to support the growing of pomegranates, wheat, raisins and alternative crops that have been proposed by Afghan farmers over many years, but does the Minister understand that for them the key issue is not what they will be encouraged to grow but who will be a secure buyer of what they grow? Has the Minister any plans to step in and at least recognise that the starting point for what they grow at the moment is the poppy crop and that we ought to be looking at ways in which that can legitimately be used for the production of diamorphine? Bill Rammell: I genuinely disagree with my hon. Friend. I think that if we followed the path that he is advocating, in circumstances in which it is not possible to provide security across the board, we would simply be creating a second market for poppy cultivation. That is whyacross Government, with our international partners and supporting the Afghan Governmentwe must create an environment in which it is possible for alternative crops to be produced. I genuinely do not believe that the course set out by my hon. Friend would help us to achieve that. QinetiQ 11. Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD): If he will visit Kyle of Lochalsh and Raasay before resubmission of proposals on the future of QinetiQ operations to discuss the effects of those operations on [324456] that area; and if he will make a statement. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Quentin Davies): I would be delighted to visit Kyle of Lochalsh and the Raasay ranges. As the right hon. Gentleman will know, the proposals put forward by QinetiQ to rationalise those ranges have now been
withdrawn. If in the future those proposals are resubmitted or if other proposals are made I shall certainly visit the ranges before taking any decisionsas I did, as the right hon. Gentleman will recall, in the case of the Hebrides ranges last year. Mr. Kennedy: I thank the Minister for that characteristically courteous reply and for his earlier letter to me on the matter, which will cause a good deal of reassurance locally. I hope that when a new report comes forward, if any doesit is rumoured that that might happen in the autumn, and perhaps he could give us an indication on that pointany such visit would involve all relevant community groups and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Mr. Davies: I cannot give the right hon. Gentleman any indication of any timing or, indeed, predict any particular proposals that might come forward in the next few months, but I repeat my offer. Defence Spending (Commitments) 12. Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the balance between UK defence spending and UK defence commitments. [324457] The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): For some reason that I do not fully understand, the hon. Gentleman has asked exactly the same question as the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) and I refer him to the answer to that question. Mr. Heald: It is an important question. The Secretary of State will know that in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2007 the defence budget fell in real terms. As for the following years, in Kosovo, our boys had to go out and buy mobile phones because the radios did not work; in Iraq, the boots melted and their equipment and clothing were not right for those conditions, so they had to go and buy their own clothing; and in Afghanistan, there have not been enough helicopters, there have not been the right personnel vehicles and there have not been enough spares, so they have had to cannibalise equipment all over the world, causing chaos. Does not the Secretary of State accept that it is time first to admit that this system of logistics and procurement has been hopeless and secondly to apologise for putting lives at risk? Mr. Ainsworth: It is a travesty that the hon. Gentleman should so describe the situation that is faced by this countrys very capable armed forcesone of the most capable armed forces in the world. I would say to him that we spend above average on defence, that there has been a substantial continuing increase in spending on defence and that we, in marked contrast to the party that he supports, guarantee that there will be an increase next year. I do not know what he intends to do about that, if he holds the views that he does. Armoured Vehicles 13. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): What his most recent assessment is of progress in the light protected patrol vehicle programme; and if he will make a [324458] statement.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Quentin Davies): Two contenders for the light protected patrol vehicle requirement are being assessed as part of the concept vehicle evaluation trial. It is expected that the trial will be completed in April. Ann Winterton: In evaluating the two contenders for the new light protected patrol vehicle that will replace the Snatch Land Rover and, I hope, the Pinzgauer Vector, will the Minister ensure that, as well as having in-built blast deflection, it will retain the most valued attribute of the Snatchenabling soldiers to exit quickly from the rear of the vehicle to defend and counter-attack with maximum cover? Mr. Davies: I assure the hon. Lady that the tests to which the two contenders are being subjected are very thorough. They certainly involve blast protection and blast deflection and, indeed, rapid exit from and entry to the vehicle. She has put her finger on two absolutely vital points in the characteristic way that she does when she talks about military equipment. Helmand 14. Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West) (Con): What recent progress has been made in military [324459] operations in Helmand province. The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): UK forces continue to work hand in hand with Afghan national security forces to build and maintain security in Helmand province. Progress on Operation Moshtarak grows, with insurgents being displaced from key district centres. Stabilisation activity continues apace, and increasing freedom of movement on key routes is aiding economic development. As I announced on 11 March, security responsibility for Musa Qala is transferring to US forces. This enables the redeployment of UK troops to the heavily populated areas of central Helmand, where the majority of UK troops are operating. Mr. Swayne: The population of Helmand is overwhelminglyindeed, almost exclusivelyPashtun, but the Afghan army, with which we want ultimately to replace British forces, is overwhelmingly made up of the Tajik minority. Is that a problem? Mr. Ainsworth: It is one that President Karzai and his Ministers are seeking to address. Training has been stepped up quite considerably in terms of numbers, but he has to do everything, both in the police service and in the army, to get a representation of the whole country. Resource Accounting System 15. Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): What resources were allocated to his Department under the Governments resource accounting system in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.
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directly comparable figures, because the MOD did not have a non-cash Treasury departmental expenditure limit in 2002-03. Robert Key: Does the Secretary of State agree that it is always a case of lies, damn lies and statistics, and that it is a matter of great regret that, since the Prime Minister lost his way on defence statistics, it has done nobody any good that we cannot trust the Government on their defence statistics? Does he agree that we really have to stop that, and that we have to have a perfectly straightforward, simple way, on which everyone can agree, of deciding exactly how much a Department is spending? Mr. Ainsworth: I do agree, but I do not believe that it helps when issues are blown out of all proportion, sometimes deliberately, to disguise the overall situation. I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman, knowing him as I do, would sit there and deny that there has been a substantial increase in the defence budget throughout the life of the Labour Government. He knows that to be true, and I do not think that he should try to suggest that the case is otherwise. BAE Systems (Samlesbury) 16. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): When he next intends to visit BAE Systems in Samlesbury.
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The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): I have no plans to visit BAE Systems in Samlesbury; the Minister with responsibility for defence equipment and support, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies), did so on 24 February 2010. Mr. Evans: I am glad to hear that. I am sure that while the Minister was there, he would have seen more than 5,000 people working in one of the top-class work forces of the world. Given that BAE Systems in Samlesbury works as a magnet for more than 6,500 other jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises, does the Secretary of State agree that when we are procuring, we ought to procure from the very best, which happens to be in the United Kingdom? Mr. Ainsworth: Often that is so, and the north-west region, never mind the hon. Gentlemans constituency, plays an important part in our defence capability. We need to ensure that we maintain such capability in vital areas. If we are going to provide capability for our armed forces in the long term, we cannot afford to take short-term and short-sighted decisions. Sometimes we need to ensure that industrial capability remains in place, and that is what the defence industrial strategy is designed to doI hope that the hon. Gentleman supports it. Defence Spending (Commitments)
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): The total Ministry of Defence near cash budget was 26.8 billion in 2002-03 and 27.9 billion in 2003-04an increase of more than 1 billion. Those are the only
17. Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the balance between UK defence spending [324462] and UK defence commitments.
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The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): Aha! Another hon. Member appears to have asked exactly the same question as the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant). Tony Baldry: The Secretary of State might be aware that Lord Guthrie has recently observed that, because of the Prime Ministers attitude when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the military wanted to do many things but was unable properly to fund the 1998 strategic defence review, which the Cabinet had approved. Does the Secretary of State think that Lord Guthries comments are fair criticism? Mr. Ainsworth: No, I do not, and I refer to the substance of the answer by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the Chilcot inquiryno one has been able to say otherwise. Every request that was made in regard to urgent operational requirements was met, and in every spending round while my right hon. Friend was Chancellor of the Exchequer, there was a real-terms increase in the defence budget. When those things are taken together, they add up to almost 1 billion a year. Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): If our troops had as much armour on their vehicles as the Secretary of State has in his defence of indefensible statistics, they would be very safe indeed. However, even if we include the money from the Treasury reserve, is it not a fact that, as a proportion of gross domestic product, defence expenditure has declined over the lifetime of this Government? This is the last question that Opposition Front Benchers will be asking of Defence Ministers, so may I point out that, during this sitting, there have been twice as many Conservative Members present as Government Members, with a solitary three Lib Dems? Does not that show how the different parties rate the importance of defence? Mr. Ainsworth: I say to the hon. Gentleman quite genuinely that I am not dead certain about whether, after taking the urgent operational requirements into account, the fact that he cites is correct. The only thing that I would say to him is that, because of a Labour Government, the time that he mentions has been a period of unprecedented growth in GDP. [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker: Order. Even though the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) seems to have wound the House up, it now needs to calm down. Topical Questions T1. [324468] Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex) (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): My Departments responsibilities are to ensure that our country is properly defended now and in the future, and that our service personnel have the right equipment and training to allow them to succeed in the military tasks in which they are engaged, either at home or abroad. Mr. Jenkin: Pursuant to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones), what will be the arrangements to report changes in
deployments in Helmand, now that the Secretary of State has confirmed that such deployments are in flux and under discussion? Mr. Ainsworth: I want to keep the House as informed as I can about any developments but, fundamentally, these are military decisions. We have to try to ensure that we have the appropriate force density in the British area of operations, as we should in the American area, so that our troops and theirs have a good chance of success. I think that we now have the troop levels in Helmand province with which we can make real progress, and we have seen real progress under Operation Moshtarak. General Carter, who is in charge of not only Helmand province but the whole of the south, is of course always looking at how he deploys the forces available to him. T4. [324471] Mr. Don Touhig (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of States decision to award the specialist vehicle contract to General Dynamics a British companyis most welcome, as it will help to preserve 10,000 jobs across the United Kingdom and will create 200 new jobs in my constituency. Does the Minister believe that that is a perfect example of a Labour Government working to protect our troops, and to safeguard and defend British jobs? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Quentin Davies): Yes, I do; my right hon. Friend puts it extremely well.
[324469] Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): For a T2. while, it was said that the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency was going to lose its agency status, and thus its chief executive. I now understand that it is to keep its agency status, and thus its chief executive. Which is it, because local staff are getting a bit confused? It is a bit like the hokey cokey. What do Ministers intend to do with the DSDA?
Mr. Davies: I have asked the chief executive of the DSDA, in conjunction and in consultation with his work force and the trade unions, to produce a five-year plan. I originally expected that at the end of March; I have been assured that it is coming by the middle of April. I will take decisions in the light of that. Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton) (Lab/Co-op): May I welcome the signing of the terms of business agreement with Babcock Marine last week, which confirms Devonport as the lead dockyard for warship maintenance? Given that role, will my hon. Friend the Minister confirm that the sooner the carriers start to be assembled the better, not just for Devonport, so that it can receive further streams of warship maintenance work, but for the royal naval capability that it represents? Mr. Davies: I can assure my hon. Friend that under a Labour Government, the carrier programme is going full steam ahead. We are already working in five yards; work will start soon in the sixth and final yard in Birkenhead. We have made something like 1.2 billionworth of subcontracts. The only thing that would endanger the carrier programme is the Tories, with the Notting Hill set at their head, who do not care at all about defence or anything about it, taking over the government of this country after the election.
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T3. [324470] Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): In 2004, the then Chancellor slashed the helicopter budget by 1.4 billion. The Government recognised that that was a mistake, and ordered an additional 22 Chinooks. What guarantees can the Secretary of State give that we will not have a repeat of the delays suffered in the Chinook mark 3 programme, and that the Chinooks will get full release to service by 2013? Mr. Ainsworth: I just remind the hon. Gentleman that the mark 3 programme Chinooks were ordered under a Conservative Government. That was a disastrous procurement, and it took an awfully long time to sort it out. We are trying to make absolutely certain that we do not repeat the appalling mistakes of what is probably the worst ever defence procurement. T9. [324476] Laura Moffatt (Crawley) (Lab): In the light of difficult projections for spending on defence, will my hon. Friend ensure that companies such as Thales, which have consistently stepped up to the plate and made sure that we procure the best equipment for our armed forces, are remembered, even in the face of what may be difficult decisions? Mr. Quentin Davies: I agree totally with what my hon. Friend says about Thales, and that goes for all our major defence suppliers, on which we depend as a nation for our defence capability; we are extremely grateful for their efforts. As a matter of fact, I am visiting Thales on Wednesday. T5. [324472] Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): One of the flashpoints in the middle east is Irans desire to have its own nuclear capability. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is important that we encourage the Gulf states to use pressure and their influence to dissuade Iran from that ambition? The Minister for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell): I agree with that assessment. We are in regular discussion with partners in the Gulf states, and I think that there is a strong degree of consensus. We need fundamentally to understand that if Iran were able to go ahead and develop nuclear capability, it would inevitably invite a response from other countries in the region, and the last thing we need in the middle east is a nuclear arms race. Mr. Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): As we approach the general election, what provisions is the Ministry of Defence making to allow every single serviceman to have a vote that will be cast and counted? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): We have had an ongoing campaign to ensure that people register for service votes, and the figure is now at 67 per cent. We have also put in arrangements to ensure that, where possible, postal voters ballots are returned as speedily as possible. But overall, and for the longer term, I have had discussions with the Electoral Commission about possibly trialling e-voting. T6. [324473] Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): I believe that it was a triumph for parliamentary democracy when Members from all parts of the House came together and backed the Liberal Democrat motion on
the Gurkhas. Would the Minister care to reflect on and clarify the criticisms that have been levelled recently? In particular, will he withdraw, and apologise to Joanna Lumley for, the comments that he made? Mr. Jones: I already have, and any such comments were unintended. On the vote that took place last May, the Government have now put in place very robust procedures in Kathmandu to ensure that those Gurkhas who wish to settle here can do free of chargewithout being charged in any way. However, I would like to put on the record my wholehearted condemnation of those middlemen and unscrupulous operators who are charging Gurkhas. If the hon. Gentleman, like me, had visited Aldershot last week, as I know the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) did, in order to see Gurkhas many of them more than 60 years oldwho have come here with expectations that, frankly, will never be realised, he would be rightly angry. I certainly am on that point. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): May I ask the Secretary of State about an Unprinted Paper deposited in the Library by Group 4 Securicor, which calls it a concept paper? The firm invites the Government to outsource comprehensively the
Training Support and Regular Army Assistance Table
and the function that armed forces carry out in lieu of fire services when there is a pandemica term that is used in the paperor industrial action. Will he repudiate that paper, say that it is a non-runner and confirm that this Labour Government will simply not entertain what it outlines? It would be a bridge too far. Mr. Ainsworth: I have not read the paper, and I am not aware of the detail. I know that my hon. Friend has asked me a couple of questions, and, if he wants me to, I shall happily meet him so that he can expand on his concerns. T7. [324474] David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): We have learned that generals will now be forced to travel second class, along with MPsfor whom I fully agree with the proposal. But, will Defence Ministers and senior Ministry of Defence staff also be forced to travel second class, or will it just be the men and women who do the fighting? Mr. Kevan Jones: That is part of a review within the Ministry of Defence to ensure that, in terms of our travel, we get best value for money. For example, last week I travelled second class on two occasions. Clearly, there are reasons, such as security, why others have to travel first class, but we are looking throughout the Department at how we can get the best value for money not only out of rail travel[Interruption.] Hon. Members say Ministers, but I have travelled with easyJet on a number of occasions to ensure cost-effectiveness. The important point is that we ensure that we get value for money out of every defence pound that we put forward. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not object to that. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): Will the Secretary of State tell us when his Department plans to come to the House to seek spending authority for the replacement of the nuclear missiles in the Trident missile fleet, and how much has already been spent on preparatory work for the creation of a new missile system?
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Mr. Ainsworth: I know that my hon. Friend follows that issue closely, and he will therefore know that there has been some delay in our ability to reach a maingate proposition. That will now, I think, take place around about the end of the year. Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): Last Friday at RAF Kinloss, the Nimrod MR2 fleet was retired, and we pay tribute to all the personnel and families associated with the mighty hunter. But, given the importance of search and rescue top cover, will the Ministry of Defence provide some detailed assurances, stating that there will be no capability gap until the introduction of the MRA4? Bill Rammell: I reiterate to the hon. Gentleman what I said earlier: the MRA4 will bring a substantial enhancement of capability, and in the transition period until the MRA4 enters service we intend to, and will, use other assets, as available, in the long-range search and rescue effort. Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton, South) (Lab): Army, air and sea cadets deliver an excellent service within many of our communities in the UK. Is it not time that the House acknowledged this and that the team from the MOD initiated a debate so that we can all celebrate everything that they deliver to our communities? Mr. Kevan Jones: I congratulate the cadet force on its 150th year. I thank my hon. Friend for her involvement in her local cadet force. Cadet forces are a force for good in local communities. I also put on record our thanks to the thousands of adult volunteers who make the cadet experience possible. If she suggested a debate in the House, I would be very pleased to celebrate the fantastic job that cadet forces do. T8. [324475] Mr. Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): What progress is the Ministry of Defence making in negotiating a settlement with the atomic veterans claimant group before the Government return to the High Court on 4 May, at yet further vast expense to the taxpayer?
Mr. Jones: As the hon. Gentleman will know, I have announced a review into the health needs of nuclear test veterans. There is ongoing litigation. We have had talks between the two sides to see whether a settlement can be reached. Unfortunately, that has not been possible. However, I am determined to ensure that I continue to work with nuclear test veterans groups to ensure that the support that we can give to nuclear test veterans for their health needs, and generally, continues. Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): When I asked the Library about defence spending from 1997 to 2003, I was told that it had gone up by 17 per cent. in real termsan extra 7 billion. Is not the responsibility for how that money is allocated really with our commanding officers and senior MOD bureaucrats rather than being something to be blamed on the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, whoever he was? Mr. Ainsworth: As I have said, and as we have repeated a number of times over the past hour but received no effective response, the defence budget has gone up by almost 1 billion on average per yeara substantial real-terms increase under the Labour Government, in marked contrast to what happened in the last couple of years of the Conservative Government who preceded us. T10. [324477] Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Defence Ministers have rightly praised the work of doctors and nurses at Selly Oak. Ministers will know that the Defence Medical and Education Training Agency is about to move to Whittington barracks near Lichfield. Will someone please make a statement as to the progress on that installation? Mr. Kevan Jones: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for Defence Medical Services and the move to his constituency. Plans are ongoing. The budget as regards accommodation is in place for this year, and the plans should come to fruition at the end of this year to ensure that we have not only support for our injured servicemen and women but world-class defence medical services.
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3.33 pm The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the European Council held in Brussels last Thursday and Friday. First, I am sure that the whole House will join me in paying tribute to Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate from the Household Cavalry Regiment and Rifleman Daniel Holkham from 3rd Battalion the Rifles. They lost their lives fighting in Afghanistan. We owe them the greatest debt of gratitude for their courage and their service. Their sacrifice reminds us that terrorism is an ever-present danger which requires vigilance and the willingness to take tough action in all areas where terrorist groups operate. So I know also that the thoughts of the House and indeed our countryare with the Russian people today after this mornings terrorist attack on the Moscow transport network. I have written to President Medvedev this morning to send our condolences to the victims and their families. I pay tribute to the Russian emergency services and the people of Moscow as they have responded to this appalling attack. The focus of the European Council last Thursday and Friday was on actions needed to secure growth for the future and on Europes determination to bring new impetus and momentum to the international negotiations on climate change. Last weeks Budget set out our proposals for the next stage of economic recovery. It made it clear that the risks to recovery remain real and that we must avoid a premature withdrawal of stimulus measures, instead seeing through our commitment to halve the deficit over four years without choking off the recovery itself. The European Council agreed that
The economic situation is improving, but the recovery is still fragile.
and I am encouraged by the statement from the eurozone leaders that the eurozone will meet its responsibilities. There was no request for the United Kingdom to make any contribution to that programme, and none of the arrangements agreed by the European Council will see any powers being ceded from Britain to the European Union. One year on from the G20 summit in London, we also discussed Europes plans for the next G20 summit, which is to be held in Toronto. The Council agreed that rapid progressis now required on strengthening financial regulation and supervision within both the EU and the G20, while we also need to ensure a level playing field for financial centres worldwide. In particular, we agreed that progress is needed on the issues of capital requirements, systemic institutions, financial instruments for crisis management, transparency on derivative markets and the implementation of internationally agreed principles for bonuses in the financial services sector. The Council agreed to make rapid progress on those issues, concluding work on the new European supervisory framework in time for the European systemic risk board and the three European supervisory authorities to begin work in early 2011. We must also agree in Toronto a co-ordinated approach to levies on the banks to deliver a fairer balance of risk and reward in the financial system. That is something that I have been advocating for some months, and the Council agreed that as part of the G20s work:
The Commission will shortly present a report on possible innovative sources of financing such as a global levy on financial transactionsThe Council and the Commission will report back on these issues to the June 2010 European Council, ahead of the Toronto summit.
It concluded that while deficit reduction plans must go ahead, measures to reduce the stimulus should be taken only once recovery is secured. That is the position that we, like our European partners, will continue to follow. In our Budget, we also set out the actions that we must now take to secure jobs and growth by investing in the key growth sectors for the future. The Councils conclusions agreed that Europe needs
to deliver more growth and jobs
The Council also discussed climate change, ahead of the first meeting of the advisory group on climate change financing, established by the United Nations Secretary-General, which I am co-chairing with Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia. Our pledge on climate change finance is a vital first test of the commitment of the developed countries to meet the promises made in Copenhagen. The Council concluded that Europe would rapidly and unconditionally implement its commitment to provide 2.4 billion annually for fast-track financing for developing countries, and to that end the EU
will initiate consultations on practical ways
to boost European competitiveness and productivity. Before the financial crisis, the imbalances within Europe were at an all-time high. The Council agreed that
The EU needs to focus on the pressing challenges of competitiveness and balance of payments developments.
to implement that in specific areas. There will be a presentation on those commitments at the Bonn summit. The Council confirmed that Europes objective remains a
global and comprehensive legal agreement
It also agreed to develop a new strategy to deliver higher levels of long-term growth and recognised that the key elements of increasing productivity and growth include action on employment, on research and development, on reducing greenhouse gases to boost low-carbon industries and on education and social inclusion. The European Council will now, once a year through a leaders annual economic summit, assess the progress achieved at both national and European level in delivering those objectives. The Council also discussed the economic situation in Greece. Agreement has now been reached by the euro area member states on a set of guidelines for Greece,
and that Europe will strengthen its outreach to other countries to galvanise negotiations in the coming months. The euro areas economic growth is predicted to be just 0.7 per cent. this year and next, recovering to 1.5 per cent. in later years. By contrast, world growth is projected to be 3.5 per cent, so we need stronger European growth to help deliver stronger growth and new jobs here in Britain. Europe is the worlds largest trading bloc and also the worlds largest internal market. It offers 500 million consumers for British companies. With 3 million UK jobs linked to the EU, and still more than half our exports going to the EU, Britains livelihood is inextricably linked to the success of the European economy. Distancing ourselves from Europe makes no sense and would hold back our economy, our companies and people in work. It is by working with, not against,
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[The Prime Minister] our European partners to deliver jobs and growth for Europe that we will help to deliver jobs and growth for Britain. I commend this statement to the House. Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con): I join the Prime Minister in paying tribute to Rifleman Daniel Holkham and Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate, who have been killed in Afghanistan in the past few days. When one thinks of what Jonathan Woodgate had already been through, it is a reminder of what an exceptionally brave young man he was. It also reminds us that what we ask of our servicemen and women today is exceptional; we need to refresh and renew the military covenant in every way that we can. I also agree with the Prime Minister that we should send a clear message of sympathy and solidarity to the Russian people after the appalling outrage on the Russian metro. We are tragically familiar with such an event in this country, too. I want to ask about three issues that were discussed at the summitthe EU economy, financial regulation and climate change. First, on climate change, the summit rightly said that we must redouble our efforts to achieve the global deal that we all want and push ahead with practical action to cut emissions. The UK has the lowest contribution from renewable energy of any major EU countryjust 6.8 per cent. of our electricity and, in total, 2.5 per cent. of our energy comes from renewable sources. Why has so little progress been made? Secondly, on financial regulation, President Obama spoke about a tax on wholesale funding, but, as the Prime Minister has said, the summit conclusions referred to a transaction tax. Would not a tax on wholesale funding rather than a transaction tax be more likely to help keep business here in Britain? The summit conclusions mention the need for greater economic co-ordination. There was some controversy about whether we will end up with any new treaty changes. Should not the Prime Minister make three things clear today? First, any talk of economic government in Europe is wrong. If he agrees, can he explain why the phrase remains in the French version of the eurozone statement? Secondly, should not we rule out any new treaty change that increases EU control over our economic policies? Thirdly, should not we change the law in the UK so that any treaty that proposed handing over new areas of power from Britain to Brussels would automatically be subject to a referendum, as is the case in Ireland? It is good to see the Prime Minister smiling so nicely, as he does on all our postersit is good to see him in that sort of positive mood. There are plenty more where they came from. [Interruption.] If he will not put himself on posters, we have just got to do it for him. On economic policy, does the Prime Minister agree with the Europe 2020 strategy document, which says that
sound public finances are critical for restoring the conditions for sustainable growth and jobs?
Europes leaders talked about a bail-out for Greece, and Portugals credit rating is being downgraded. However, is not Britain borrowing more this year as a share of our economy than either Greece or Portugal? Did not the same agency that downgraded Portugals credit rating say last week that Britains finances are vulnerable? The European Commission says that a number of countries may have to start tackling their deficits this year. Given that Britain and Ireland have the worst budget deficits in the OECD, to which countries does the Prime Minister think it was referring? On unemployment, business closures and the decline of manufacturing, the UK clearly has some real problems. Why, therefore, does he propose to raise taxes on small businesses and hike national insurance on everyone earning more than 20,000 and on every single new job in this country? The Chancellor admitted in the Budget that there was 11 billion of waste in Government spending, but he proposes to do nothing about it until 2011. Why is not he tackling the waste this year rather than putting up national insurance for hard-working people next year? Have not the Prime Minister and his Chancellor created one of those great dividing lines that they like so much? Labour stands for waste and taxes, and the Conservative party stands for efficiency and aspiration. As the Prime Minister contemplates his national insurance increase on employees and employers, what on earth makes him think that the way to rescue an economy from the longest and deepest recession on record is a tax on jobs that hits every single business in the country? [Interruption.] He says that he wants to talk about EuropeI am talking about our economy in Europe and our failure in Europe. The Prime Minister used to go to European meetings to lecture others about their economic policies; now the reverse happens. He thought boom and bust had been abolished and that he could borrow with impunity; he never prepared for a rainy day. Were not those catastrophic misjudgments? Will not the British people be paying for those misjudgments for another generation? Is not his latest misjudgement to sit back and let the waste, the taxes and the debt pile up even more? Is it not the case that we need a Government who will get on with tackling the waste, stopping the tax rises and securing growth for the future? The Prime Minister: First, let me share with the right hon. Gentleman our sympathies, as I mentioned earlier, for those families whose loved ones have died in Afghanistan, and our sympathies for the Russian people as they face a terrorist incident of very substantial proportions today. Let me also agree with the right hon. Gentleman that climate change is an important issue that Europe and the rest of the world must continue to address, that we must move forward on the Copenhagen summit, and that we must get a worldwide framework for a climate change agreement. He asks that renewables should be at a higher level in this country, and I agree with him that we should have higher investment in renewables. That is why we are making plans for public investment in renewables at the same time as the Conservatives oppose them. If I may say so, that is why we are asking councils to approve wind farms, while just about every Conservative council is trying to hold back that policy.
Given that, will he comment on the serious news today that Standard & Poors has stated yet again that the outlook for Britains triple-A credit rating remains negative and that
additional spending measures will likely be required
to tackle the debt burden?
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The right hon. Gentleman mentioned the issue of a levy on financial transactions, which is something that we have been proposing for some time. Originally, the Conservatives opposed it; then they said they would support if it was at a multilateral level; then they said they would support it even if it was not done multilaterally; and then they retreated into saying that they would support it if it was multilateral. That is about a policy a day, but it is the same policy that is being reinterpreted every day. That is the reason that people have very little trust in Conservative economic policy. I come now to the European Council discussions on the economy. I just have to say this: why does the Conservative party want to attack the European Union all the time? Three million jobs depend on our European membership, more than 50 per cent. of our trade depends on Europe, and 750,000 companies depend on Europe, so why does the right hon. Gentleman want to go to the European Councilif ever he were electedto say that he wants to renegotiate our treaties in respect of membership of the European Union? Why does he want to repatriate the social chapter and employment legislation to Britain? Why does he threaten that he is going to have a sovereignty Act for this Parliament to suggest that the law affecting the European Union could somehow be modified and amended by doing so? Why does he resist the European advice that we should work together so that we do not put the recovery at risk? The announcement by the Conservative party today was first to withdraw 7.5 billion from the economy this year[Interruption.] The right hon. Gentleman says that it is good to hear that, but he also wants to withdraw the support that is necessary for the economy to have a sustained recovery. The first thing that the Conservatives have done today is make it more difficult for us to retain the jobs, businesses and industrial infrastructure that are necessary, despite the fact that every bit of advice that we are gettingand that he is gettingis that we must maintain the investment necessary for recovery. The Conservatives must explain why, at a time when people are worried about the recovery, they wish to withdraw support for the recovery. The second thing that they have got to explain is their panic measure today on national insurance[Interruption.] Mr. Speaker: Order. I gently say to the Prime Minister that I know he will want to focus his reply very specifically on the European Council[Interruption.] Order. The shadow deputy Chief Whip has got something wrong with his head and I am worried about him. He does not have to keep shaking it. The Prime Minister will talk about the Council and, of course, the policies of the Government. The Prime Minister: The policy of the Government is to make sure that we have a sustained economic recovery; the Conservative party policy, I am afraid, would put that recovery at risk. Then the Conservatives are going to spend nearly 30 billion on tax cuts in the next five years, which puts front-line public services at risk. People will understand that these panic measures by the Conservatives will not help a recovery, that they will mean public spending cuts and that they will put sustained investment in our economy at risk.
We are the party that believes in Europe: they are the party opposed to Europe. We can see that if the Conservative party had ever been willing to change, it would have changed on Europe. It has not changed on Europe, and it has not changed on anything else. Mr. Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam) (LD): I wish to add my own expressions of sympathy and condolence to the family and friends of Rifleman Daniel Holkham, from 3rd Battalion the Rifles, and Lance Corporal of Horse, Jonathan Woodgate, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, both of whom tragically lost their lives in Afghanistan this week. I also wish to join the Prime Minister in expressing our condolences to the families and friends of the dozens of victims injured and killed in Moscow. Londoners especially, given the horrors of 7/7, will feel a strong bond of sympathy for the families of commuters affected in Moscow. I thank the Prime Minister for his report from the European Council. It will most probably be his last European Union summit. I imagine that he will be feeling some relief about that, given that in a few short years he has gone from lecturing his colleagues in Europe on how not to run an economy to teaching them how not to run an economy by example. At last weeks summit, the Prime Minister called in some of the few favours he has left from his colleagues in Europe to delay a decision on the alternative investment fund managers directive. Instead of defensively trying to stave off damage to the City, why did he not take the chance to show real leadership on the reform of our banking system? Real leadership is breaking up the banks. Real leadership is imposing an additional levy on their profits until that is done. Real leadership is getting banks lending to small, viable companies that are going to the wall. Will the Prime Minister report on any conversations that he had with President Barroso, the President of the European Commission, as this summit was after all their first meeting since the Commission issued its damning verdict on the Prime Ministers handling of Britains huge budget deficit? No doubt the European Commission will today be equally dismayed by the shiny promises of tax cuts from the shadow Chancellor, who is not in his placehe must be preparing for the mauling that he will get on television tonight. He has no idea how he will pay for those tax cuts. Labour and the Conservatives seem to be competing to come up with the most ludicrous fantasy announcement paid for with bags of gold found through efficiency savings. I am not sure who is winning, but I am certain that no one is falling for it. On the bail-out for the Greek Government, as the Prime Minister knows, instability in the eurozone can and will rapidly turn to instability across the European Union, which will affect us too. Given that, I found the lack of details about the potential Greek bail-out a little concerning. Yes, Greece has not yet formally asked for help, but we have a deal on the table that is meant to calm the markets nerves but gives us very little in the way of detail. The Prime Minister is frowning, but can he tell me what will be the exact role of the IMF in this deal? How will the burden be broken up between the other eurozone countries? What is the maximum level of support likely to be given to Greece in the event that it asks for help and, crucially, what conditions will be put on Greece in return for this support?
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The Prime Minister: I will tell the right hon. Gentleman the facts. There is a limit on the amount of support that the IMF can give. It is limited by its constitution and how it has always done things. That is a matter that we will discuss with both the IMF and the eurozone at the right time. It is limited by the regulations that it has. On the right hon. Gentlemans other points, in the Budget last week we reached agreement with the banks about 92 billion of additional lending in the next year. We also reached an agreementand said in the Budget that proper supervision of that would be needed, so that the public and small businesses could be assured that the money was being paid to them. So we are setting up a small business mediator who will act on behalf of small businesses to try to resolve the issues that have left them without the funds that they need [Interruption.] An Opposition Member says that that is ridiculous, but we have to protect small businesses to ensure that they can grow. As far as the banks are concerned, we are taking the necessary action. As far as directives are concerned, we did not accept the compromise proposed by the European Finance Ministers. We will therefore renegotiate that over the next period of time, because we are determined both to have proper regulation of those industries and, at the same, to allow companies to have access to the full range of countries in the internal market, and that is what we are doing. As for ludicrous policies, the right hon. Gentleman would win the race any day. Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab): I prefer the Prime Ministers posters with a smile to the Leader of the Oppositions airbrushed images. There were reports in the press over the weekend that Angela Merkel is calling for economic government, which would require treaty changes. If that were to be the case, can I press the Prime Minister to make a commitment that that would also involve a referendum in this country? The Prime Minister: We made it clear a few months agothis was a decision that we asked the European Union to makethat there would be no further constitutional or institutional change of that sort over the next 10 years. We made it absolutely clear that the European Union should not be contemplating further constitutional or institutional change in the way that is suggested. As for improving the way the European Union works, there is a case for that improvement to be made, and we will join those forces at work in this taskforce to ensure better and improved governing of the European Union. Mr. David Curry (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Does the Prime Minister agree with the French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde that the eurozone has no hope of achieving sustainable recovery while the huge problem persists of a massive German trade surplus and persistently low consumer demand in Germany, and will he express those sentiments to the German Chancellor when he meets her? The Prime Minister: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his comments, which are, in essence, supportive of our economic policy. I am grateful for that, first, because in the European Council conclusions
we say that we have to look at the issues that have arisen from the severe imbalances in the European Union. Secondly, it is clear from what he says that he supports the maintenance of a stimulus and the public support necessary for the economy to have sustained recovery. In that, he is at odds with those on the Conservative Front Bench, who want to take 7.5 billion out of the economy, which would mean lost jobs, lost businesses and lost economic progress. Mike Gapes (Ilford, South) (Lab/Co-op): Did the Prime Minister have the opportunity, either in the meeting or at the margins of the meeting, to have any discussion with his colleagues about the issues of international terrorism to which he has referred? In particular, was there any discussion about the prospects for European Union involvement to try to reactivate the negotiations in the middle east or about the situation in Iran? The Prime Minister: I have talked about this on a bilateral basis with President Sarkozy and with Chancellor Merkel, and, outside the European Union, with President Obama. As far as the middle east peace process is concerned, we want the proximity discussions to move forward, and we want George Mitchell, the American mediator, to have all the necessary power to move them forward. As for the discussions in relation to Iran, Iran has not been prepared to accept the offer made by the major countries to help it get civil nuclear power without having nuclear weapons, which are a danger to the region and the world. We are contemplating what we must do next, and I believe that there will be pressure for a United Nations resolution. Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that following the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, despite his breaking of the pledge that there would first be a referendum on the subject, he assured us, as a sop, that there would not be another European treaty for at least 10 years, a pledge that he has repeated this afternoon? So how does it come about that we are now asked to contemplate the establishment of a super finance ministry for Europe, which would certainly require another treaty and would certainly lead to Berlin being able to dictate British tax policies? The Prime Minister: That is not the proposal. Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Does the Prime Minister recall any conversation at all by the other countries in respect of joining the euro? Because I have a good idea for a poster, which the Tories will never produce: Gordon Brown kept us out of the euro. Five conditions. Superb leadership. I think it would be a good idea for us to do that. The Prime Minister: That was a difficult decision, but it was the right decision. In other areas, such as the financial crisis, we have also made the right decision, even when the Tories have proposed the wrong one. Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): The Prime Ministers opening remarks on the casualties in Afghanistan and on the terrorist attack in Moscow will receive widespread support. At the European Council, did he
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raise the issue of the terrorist threat to Europe and the poor performance in Afghanistan by most of our European allies? The Prime Minister: This was a meeting to discuss two specific things: the economy and climate change. Of course, in the bilateral meetings that I had with President Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel and othersand with the President of the European Council, Mr. Van Rompuy, and with the presidency, in the form of the Spanish Prime Ministerthe issue of terrorism was uppermost in our minds. We have to persuade some of our allies that we need to increase the police presence in Afghanistan, and that we have to increase the number of police trainers to raise the number of effective, trained police there. I believe that President Sarkozy has been meeting President Obama to talk about exactly these issues. We have increased the number of trainers that we have made available for policing in Afghanistan, and we are looking forward to other countries doing the same. Mr. Doug Henderson (Newcastle upon Tyne, North) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend agree that any reasonable personand any reasonable political party that is interested in more than just appeasing its anti-European factions would recognise that a serious response to the recession requires common effective action at European level? Will he tell me whether the continuing problem of the higher unemployment among young people than among the population at large was discussed at the Council, and whether specific measures for tackling it were considered by our various European partners? The Prime Minister: There are more than 20 million people unemployed in Europe, and the attention of the European Council was on what we can do to raise growth in Europe so that we can get unemployment down. The way to do that at the moment is to ensure that we maintain the support for our economy, and that support is maintained for the European, American and other economies, until the recovery is fully secured. I am working with 27 countries in total26 and usand they all agree that we should maintain the support that is necessary for the economy. I can think of only one party competing for government in the whole of Europe that is against that, and that is the Conservative party. Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): We associate ourselves with the Prime Ministers comments about the loss of service personnel and the deaths in Moscow. We should also like to mark the funeral today of Billy Wolfe. Billy led the Scottish National party with distinction through the 1970s, and we pay tribute to his efforts to banish weapons of mass destruction from Scotland. The Prime Minister must have discussed economic best practice among EU and non-EU member states at the European Council over the weekend. Will he explain how it has been possible for Norway to have a sovereign wealth fund that is significantly larger than the UK deficit? The Prime Minister: I join the hon. Gentleman is his tribute to William Wolfe. I have to say to him, however, that when people talk about non-EU countries, they often refer to what was sometimes called the arc of prosperity, and the SNP often talks about the parallels between Ireland, Iceland and Scotland. That arc of prosperity collapsed a few months ago.
Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): May I disagree with the Prime Minister when he says:
Distancing ourselves from Europe makes no sense?
Surely it does make sense to distance ourselves from politicians who support the Waffen SS, who are climate change deniers or who have odd views on what happened to the Jews in world war two. Surely it makes sense to distance ourselves in particular from homophobic Members of the European Parliament. Listening to the Leader of the Opposition reduced to absolute speechlessness while trying to defend them last week was a collectors item. The Prime Minister: I think that the British people would be shocked if they heard what Conservative Members of the European Parliament were doing in that Parliament. Only a few days ago, a number of Conservative MEPs voted against proposals to support the automatic exchange of information needed to crack down on those seeking to hide their money from the tax authorities. So here in Westminster they are saying that they want openness and transparency, but in Europe they are voting for the very tax havens that we know Lord Ashcroft has been very much a part of. Mr. Douglas Hogg (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con): In the context of future changes to the governance of the European Union, of which the Prime Minister has just spoken, will he tell us whether he told his colleagues at the Euro Council that any proposal to transfer significant power from the United Kingdom to the European Union would have to be the subject of a referendum in the United Kingdom? If he did not tell his Euro colleagues that in the Council, will he please tell the House that now? The Prime Minister: I have already mentioned the agreement made a few months ago that there would be no further institutional or constitutional change in the European Union for the next 10 years. Any colleagues in the EU know precisely what the British position is. Unlike the Conservative party, however, I am prepared for Britain to be part of a taskforce to look at how we can improve the management of the EU; only people who are blinded by Euroscepticism would oppose any form of co-operation in Europe. Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh, South) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend give a cast-iron guarantee that he will reject the policies of Conservative Euro MPs who tour America denouncing our national health service? The Prime Minister: Those people who said that the national health service was a 60-year-old nightmare were completely wrong. The NHS has been for many millions of people a 60-year-long liberation from ill health and disease. I think the Conservative leader should be ashamed of some of the people he supports in the European Parliament. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Does the Prime Minister accept that the Greek and the Portuguese crisis demonstrates that the European Union is in systemic failure? Does he also accept that by collaborating with the proposals for economic government, which he has done under the surface and directly in agreeing to the
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[Mr. William Cash] statement, he is in fact betraying the British people? As President Barroso said, it is time for Europe to talk the truth. The Prime Minister: Every time the hon. Gentleman speaks on Europe, we hear that he wishes to see the European Union fail, and every time he talks about Europe, it is as if he has a visceral hatred of everything European. I am sorry that his views are shared so widely within the Conservative party. Mr. Ian Davidson (Glasgow, South-West) (Lab/Co-op): Pink and smooth like a babys bottom or A bit rough and grumpy. Which poster would the other European leaders prefer? The Prime Minister: The non-airbrushed one. Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Since this Government came to power, the burden on British businesses from EU regulation has risen from 6 billion to almost 6.5 billion a year. Is the Prime Minister proud of that record? Is it something he took the trouble to discuss with his European colleagues at a time when many British businesses are struggling and suffocating due to over-regulation? The Prime Minister: Of course we want to cut down on unnecessary regulation. We have made proposals in the EU, as we have in Britain, to do so. I would have thought that the hon. Gentleman would start his question by acknowledging that there are 750,000 companies trading with the rest of the European Union, that 3 million jobs depend on our membership of it and that we should support our exporters by co-operating in the EU. It is only the Conservative party that seems to think that having a permanent conflict with the EU is in Britains interests. That is not in Britains interest; co-operation is. Mr. Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby) (Con): The Prime Minister mentioned his pledge on climate change. Why, then, has the UK so abjectly failed to meet its obligations under the landfill directive and failed to follow the lead of many other EU countries in developing energy from waste projects? The Prime Minister: The landfill levy has been strengthened over these last few years. It is our desire to make sure that we do everything in our power to use our waste effectively. Unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman, again, is so blinded against the European Union that he cannot acknowledge that the way to move forward is through greater co-operation with the EU on climate change issues, that we should be pressing to reopen negotiations that failed in some respects at Copenhagen, that the Bonn summit is the way to do so and that we should support Chancellor Merkel in doing that. We
need co-operation on the environment if we are going to move forward in Britain, Europe or the rest of the world. It is global and European co-operation that we need, rather than conflict between us in Europe. Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Last year, the British taxpayer paid 3 billion to the European Union. Next year, the British taxpayer will pay 6.6 billion to the EU. Is it not strange, at a time when the Government are planning public expenditure cuts, that an additional 3.6 billion is paid to the EU? Does the Prime Minister agree that we cannot go on like this and that it is time for change? The Prime Minister: It is very interesting that every single question from the Conservative Back Benches has repeated the anti-European position of the Conservative leader. Is it not amazing that not one person has stood up and said, I support the European Union? Although the Conservatives have a Back Bencher who did so, he is not even bothering to stand again at the next election. The Conservative party is fundamentally Eurosceptic and anti-European Union. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): Did the Prime Minister discuss referendums at the summit so that British people could vote on the Lisbon treaty, which all three main parties promised them they would be able to do? Or does he think that the British people have simply got it wrong? The Prime Minister: We secured all our negotiating objectives, and made sure that the constitutional treatyas it was talked aboutdid not become a constitutional treaty in the end. As for the Conservative party, I accept that it gave an iron-cast guarantee that there would be a referendum on the European Union, but, like the Conservatives iron-cast guarantees on so many other things, it fell away. Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con): Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate served in the Household Cavalry in Windsor. I add my condolences in respect of Lance Corporal of Horse Woodgate and those who have gone before. We must never underestimate their contribution to our security. It seems to me thatwhether in a European Union or in a world contextthe Prime Minister has certainly led our country, but has led us into being the first into recession and the last out of it. Does he accept any responsibility whatever for the decisions that he made? The Prime Minister: We have talked about this many, many times in the House of Commons. We had a global banking crisis, and we had to deal with it. If we had taken the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, we would still be in recession. On every big decision, he and his shadow Chancellor got it wrong, wrong and wrong again.
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Points of Order
4.11 pm Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Nearly two weeks ago, at Prime Ministers Question Time, the Prime Minister assured me that he would look into whether a No. 10 staffer had taken part in a conference call discussing the suitability of Stephen Purcell in July 2008. Asked about that yesterday on the BBCs Politics Show, the Prime Minister said that he would investigate the matter, which seems to suggest that he had not looked into it at all. Given your recent ruling on the reasonable length of time that Ministers have in which to reply to Members, Mr. Speaker, could you guide me on how the Prime Minister can be encouraged to do what he says he is going to do? Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman has put his views, and indeed his dissatisfaction, fairly and squarely on the record. As he knows, however, and as the House is aware, responsibility for the content of answers is not a matter for the Chair. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. All directory enquiry services, including 118118, are giving my office number instead of the House of Commons switchboard number to people who ask for the telephone number of the House of Commons. Since 18 January this year, we have been fielding your calls and everyone elses calls. The various directory enquiry services will not change that number unless PICTthe Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology departmenttells them to do so. PICT has been on the case for several months, and has still not done that. Can you help, Mr. Speaker? It may be funnyI admit that it is amusingbut it is not good for the public image of this place if members of the public are passed from pillar to post, notwithstanding the charm and efficiency of my office staff. Mr. Speaker: I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who is obviously extremely perturbed about this important matter. It is, however, something that he should follow up with the director of PICT, and I have a feelingjust a hunchthat she will be hearing from him very soon.
Second Home Ownership (Regulation)

Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23) 4.14 pm Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall) (LD): I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to give planning authorities the power to require change of use planning permission before existing or new homes can become second homes; to require the Secretary of State to examine the options for using this power to limit the change of use of full-time homes to part-time occupation; to allow local councils to levy business rates on second homes; to provide for small business rate relief not to apply to second home owners; and for connected purposes.
It has been my honour to represent the people of North Cornwall, and I have consistently raised the proliferation of second-home ownership and its effect on rural communities. The problem is not limited to my constituents, of course; it affects many rural areas throughout the country. My hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) has referred to it, and Members on both sides of the House are aware of it. As my constituency includes the long stretch of coastline running from Crantock up to Morwenstow, it has a huge tourist industry, and we welcome the many visitors who come every year to enjoy the coastal scenery, as well as those who travel inland to see our wonderful towns and village communities across Bodmin moor. That large influx of visitors supports the local economy and brings many new perspectives, but increasing numbers of them want to grab a piece of the area that they can keep, and keep returning to, by buying a second home. In 2008, a parliamentary answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale included figures for second-home ownership broken down by local authority area. At that time, about one in 10 homes in the area covered by the former North Cornwall district council was a second home, but the real figure, arrived at if properties that have incorrectly been registered as holiday lets are taken into account, is probably much higher. In some areas, however, second homes meet other demands. That is particularly the case in urban settings, so I am especially concerned about the situation in rural areas, where homes that were previously residential are taken into holiday use and are ultimately left empty for much of the year. To find out why that is a problem, I encourage Members of all parties to come and talk to my constituents. They might want to stay in a hotel or at a campsite and enjoy the Cornish countryside, and thereby support the local tourist economy, but while they do so they might also discuss with local residents how this issue affects them. In many communities, it has inflated house prices, and the consequent decrease in the local population has led to declining school rolls and, ultimately, to the closure of small schools. It has also led to the closure of post offices because of declining business. It can pose challenges in the recruitment of retained firefighters, too, as those who protect their area by providing such crucial services are forced to move away from the communities where their families have historically livedto move further inland, perhaps, or into the towns. High house prices force local people out. Sometimes they are forced out of Cornwall entirely, or at least to areas further from the coast. They are often forced to
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[Dan Rogerson] travel further to work, therefore, and they are also forced on to the affordable housing waiting listbut, in common with other parts of the country, we already have a long waiting list. The Government have often sought to turn this issue into one that is purely about the need to build new affordable housing. That is a crucial issue, and I support the aim. My party has long supported community land trusts, and we now have them functioning in Cornwall. We have also supported many other ways of adding to the supply of affordable housing. The second home problem is a separate issue, however, and it is getting worse. Some have said to me that fewer people are investing in second homes in the current economic climate. Unfortunately, however, that is not the case. In an article recently posted on the propertycommunity.com website, Mr. Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, said that complaints from locals in second-home hot spots had been a long-standing issue and that the uplift in local pricing can be dramatic. He gave examples, saying that prices in one community in Cornwall were 131 per cent. higher than the local average. He also highlighted communities such as Rock and Trebetherick in my constituency and Bamburgh in Northumberland, where, he said, there were
second home price uplifts of between 90 per cent. and 100 per cent.
What can we do about this problem? The use of taxation is an option that has been suggested, but I am concerned about the basis on which some sort of punitive tax regime could be introduced. Use classes orders, such as those proposed in the Bill, have been proposed consistently by my party over a number of years as a means to tackle this problem. We are not the only ones to have done so; the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) has proposed a similar change. I referred to this matter in my maiden speech in 2005. I was thus delighted to give evidence to Elinor Goodmans Affordable Rural Housing Commission and to read its report when it was issued in May 2006. The report recommended using the planning system to deal with second home proliferation. The Government picked up on a number of the reports conclusions and although they moved to action those, they ran away from tackling the issue of second homes. In 2008, I served on the Public Bill Committee considering what became the Planning Act 2008 and tabled an amendment that would have allowed local authorities to suggest that the Secretary of State employ use classes orders, which were needed to tackle local problems. That may have had relevance in other areas, because the Department has picked up on the issue of studentification and has come back with possible change of use requirements in respect of houses in multiple occupation. The Department has looked at that approach, but just not in respect of second homes. More recently, my hon. Friend the Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) was invited by the Prime Minister to undertake an inquiry on the state of the rural economy. My hon. Friend took evidence from a wide cross-section of people and organisations, and produced an excellent and well-evidenced report, Living Working Countryside, which was published in July 2008. Yet again, the Government agreed to act on a number of key recommendations but, lo and behold, they refused to tackle the second home issue. My hon. Friends report had again proposed that the planning system ought to be used as a means of tackling it, and he suggested piloting such an approach in the national parks. The Government response was cruelly dismissive towards people in local communities, stating that the Government were
not persuaded that the problem, such as it is, could be tackled effectively through the planning system.
The article also states:

The number of second homes in England rose by 2.6 per cent. in 2009.
It added that that followed a small

fall of 0.4 per cent. in 2008
and that this

rise, which equated to 6,212 additional second homes, pushed the total to an all time record of 245,384.
Mr. Bailey further believes that that growth in demand will continue:
Early indications this year suggest that supply in the main second home hotspots is still 20 per cent. below the long term average.
So the pressure on prices will remain. It was reported this month in the Western Morning News that another estate agent, Savills, has said that the revival of big City bonuses and poor returns from other investments were continuing to drive the trend, that 43 per cent. of prime stock bought in Cornwall over the past four years was for use as a second home and that prices in Cornwall were just 8.5 per cent. off their highest watermark in 2007. We face a particular problem in North Cornwall, where the increase in house prices from 1999 to 2009 was 230 per cent., which compares with an average increase in rural Great Britain of 118 per cent. over that period, so the problem is continuing to get worse. Some people have said that that means that a lot of those properties will always be out of the reach of local people. Although that may be true, those properties fall within a housing a market and any influence at the top of a local areas housing market has a knock-on effect all the way down the chain, hauling up prices and making properties more unaffordable.
In other words, the Government were not persuaded that the planning system was a route by which the problem could be tackled, despite having said that it was possibly a route by which other issues, such as studentification, could be addressed. I and other hon. Members have repeatedly raised this issue, which is crucial to local communities such as those in North Cornwall. We need action to be taken to resolve the problem, and it seems to me, as it has seemed to those who have undertaken detailed study of it, that the planning system is the way that the problem could be solved. The Government could at least take that on board and explore ways in which such an approach could be applied. I hope that the Bill, if it progresses, will make a contribution towards tackling this problem, which is crucial to rural communities around the country. Question put and agreed to.
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Ordered, That Dan Rogerson, Julia Goldsworthy, Andrew George, Mr. David Heath, Mr. Elfyn Llwyd and Mr. David Drew present the Bill. Dan Rogerson accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 23 April, and to be printed (Bill 98).
Ways and Means Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW Debate resumed (Order, 24 March). Question again proposed,
That (1) It is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance. (2) This Resolution does not extend to the making of any amendment with respect to value added tax so as to provide (a) for zero-rating or exempting a supply, acquisition or importation, (b) for refunding an amount of tax, (c) for any relief, other than a relief that (i) so far as it is applicable to goods, applies to goods of every description, and (ii) so far as it is applicable to services, applies to services of every description.
4.25 pm The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. John Denham): This country has faced the deepest recession in living memory and the Budget outlines how we will secure the recovery and the future in a way that is sustainable and fair. The Budget is a new growth plan for the future. At its heart is a 2.5 billion one-off growth package to help small business, promote innovation and invest in national infrastructure and key skills. It is a Budget to secure the recovery, tackle borrowing and invest in our industrial future. It continues targeted support for businesses and families where and when it is needed and it sets out how we will stick to our plan to halve the deficit within four years. When the global recession hit, we faced a choice as a Government: to stand aside and leave the economy to the markets or to step in and protect people from the worst effects. The Opposition could have joined us, but they did not. They turned their backs on people up and down the country. Their do-nothing approach would have left communities to fend for themselves. They were wrong then and they are wrong today, and they would put the recovery at risk. There are signs of desperation from the Opposition. Two months ago, they said that not doing more on the deficit was moral cowardliness. We then heard from them about spending promises on the married mans allowance, tax give-aways for the richest estates, selling off the banks at a discount rate rather than getting taxpayers money back, and last week they implied that there would be billons extra to increase personal allowances. Today, it is national insurance contributions. They are promising the impossible: tax cuts, deficit cuts and spending commitments all at the same time. It is an incompetent economic plan that would put the recovery at risk. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor made the tough decision to put an extra penny on national insurance, but that will come into effect only in April 2011, after
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[Mr. John Denham] the recovery is secured, and 60 per cent. of the revenue from our fair tax increases comes from the wealthiest 5 per cent. We took action during the recession. We stepped in because we believe that it is Governments responsibility to help people during difficult times. That is why we have helped businesses, allowing them to spread more than 5 billion of tax over a more affordable period through the time-to-pay service. It is why extra job advisers and other measures are in place, so that unemployment is running at 500,000 less than that expected by independent forecasters last year. It is why we put in place help for people struggling with their mortgages, through which 330,000 families received help or advice over the past year. Government action has helped people get through the recession, and businesses and families have been prepared to tighten their belts and take tough decisions. A strong competitive global economy for the future cannot rely on only one area or business model, but should rely on a diverse economy where everyone can play their part and has the opportunities they want. The Budget outlines how the Government will build that new recovery. The Opposition do not have a growth strategy. We know that the shadow Business Secretary said a few days ago that the words industrial strategy send a shiver down his spine. Renewing our infrastructure is a vital part of the recovery. A strong country and a strong economy need a strong and modern infrastructure. Our transport, water, waste, communications and energy infrastructure needs to be built for recovery and to pave the way for a low-carbon economy. We need to invest in that modern infrastructure. We can renew regional economies, renew and reinvent the manufacturing base, and build new competitive strengths in technologies, services and creative industries by investing in the skills, research and technologies that support them. The Government have already invested heavily in infrastructure, with more than 150 billion invested in transport networks over the past decade, and we have now set out plans for a new high-speed rail network. The Strategy for national infrastructure, which was published last week, gives an overview of the current state of the UKs infrastructure. It identifies the challenges and opportunities, and sets out the areas for action. We will create a green investment bank to invest in low-carbon infrastructure, particularly in transport and energy, and we will invest an additional 250 million in making further progress on the managed motorways programme and other transport projects. The Government have always sought to ensure that all parts of the country benefit from economic growth. Their action and investment have helped to narrow the gap between the most deprived neighbourhoods and the national average on health, crime, education and worklessness. Ten years of public investment and the creation of the regional development agencies have paid huge dividendsrestoring our universities and science base to world status and closing a lot of the backlog in investment in Britains transport system and infrastructure. There has been huge investment in apprenticeships and skills, and we are a far stronger country because of that, as we work to secure the recovery.
Supporting strong regions and regional recovery is not the policy of the Opposition, however, who are committed to scrapping RDAs. That would threaten regional economic recovery, put at risk the strategic investment in jobs that the RDAs are helping to create, and bring uncertainty when every business group says that we need to build confidence. Every area of the country should share in the increased prosperity that will come with recovery, so Regional Ministers will have a bigger role in promoting growth to make sure that their areas benefit. They will be supported by a regional growth fund that is to be established by the RDAs to promote investment and support growth. Strong city regions will have more autonomy and freedom to promote growth, and accelerated development zones will be piloted to support projects that deliver key infrastructure and commercial development in our cities. The Budget will ensure that there are opportunities for all as we recover from recession, and no one will be left behind. We will support low-income households by increasing the national minimum wage to 5.93, and we will increase support for families. We will extend the young persons guarantee beyond March 2011 to ensure that young people continue to be guaranteed training, work experience or a future jobs fund job if they cannot find work within six months. Everyone should have the opportunity to work and to thrive in their job, and no one should be left to a life on benefits. Today, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has published a Command Paper that sets out how we will guarantee help for people who do not find employment after two years and how we will introduce more individual and personalised help to people who are looking for a job. In the recession of the 1990s, repossessions soared and the building industry took years to recover. Last year, we committed more than 2 billion to building an additional 20,000 new affordable homes for rent and low-cost sale and 20,000 homes on privately developed sites. The Opposition opposed the measures that will create and protect 45,000 jobs and 3,000 apprenticeships. When we made it a condition that apprenticeships should be created when public money is used to build new housing, the shadow Minister for Housing said it was ridiculous and counter-productive. Housing investment of 7.5 billion, over two years, will fund the building of up to 112,000 affordable homes to rent and buy and about 15,000 private sector homes. It will also support an estimated 160,000 jobs directly in the construction and related industries and will create 3,000 apprenticeships, as I have said. Dr. Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes, South-West) (Lab): My right hon. Friend will be aware that when the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government had a one-off sitting on housing and the credit crunch, all the witnesses from the house building and housing association sectors clearly welcomed what the Government were doing and said that it was not enough. Can he think of anyone from the house building sector who thinks that the Government should cut back their support for construction? Mr. Denham: My hon. Friend, who chairs that Select Committee, makes an important point. I am not aware of a single voice in the housing industry who believes that investment in housing should have been cut last
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year. It is fair, however, to point out that, in January 2009, the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), the Leader of the Opposition, called for a cut of more than 1 billion in my Departments budget, nearly all of whichabout 800 millionwould have fallen on the housing programme. If the official Oppositions policies had been followed, far from building more houses, as we have done, there would have been fewer houses. It would be interesting to find out whether any hon. Member believes that the country would be stronger today if those thousands of homes had not been started and if the thousands of people employed to build them had been out of work. I cannot see a single Member in the Chamber who thinks that the country would have been better off if we had not invested in those houses, yet the Conservative partys policy was that those houses should not have been built, that people should not have been employed and that apprenticeships should not have been created. All the rolling of eyes in the world cannot get away from the fact that that was, and remains, Conservative party policy. I am pleased that we have created jobs and that we are building homes for families in the future, and that has helped this country to get through the recession. Looking to the future, the need for new affordable housing has only been intensified by the recession, so we will need to ensurewe set out how we will do this in the Budgetthat local authorities allocate the land needed to support recovery in house building. That is in stark contrast to the approach of the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), who wrote to local authorities to urge them to resist plans to allocate land for housing, although that has been widely condemned by everyone associated with housing and the construction industry. Withdrawing the fiscal stimulus early, as the Conservatives propose, would cut house building by perhaps half, because 40 to 45 per cent. of all recent new-starts have depended on public investment. We need to take further measures to boost the housing market. We are introducing a two-year stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers for homes costing up to 250,000, which will help nine out of 10 first-time buyers. However, to pay for that, we will introduce an additional 5 per cent. stamp duty rate for homes costing more than 1 millionthat is a fair approach. By reforming the council house finance system, we will let councils fund and run their own local housing stock. Some 10 per cent. extra will be released for maintenance so that homes do not fall below the decent homes standard again, and capacity will be provided to build 10,000 new council homes a year by 2014-15. The Government believe that cutting the deficit does not mean damaging the front-line services on which people rely. The Budget continued our commitment to make 11 billion of savings a year by 2012-13 through greater efficiency and streamlining government, which includes 8 billion of savings set out in the operational efficiency programme. Local government can deliver savings of 2.1 billion towards that total in areas including greater collaborative procurement, increased back-office efficiency and the greater use of shared services. Up to 100 million can be saved by reducing energy usage in local authorities. My Department will identify savings of 200 million to be delivered in 2012-13, including through operational efficiency, work to reform our arms length bodies, and a new approach to the regional tier of government.
Our public services must be as efficient, responsive and citizen-focused as possible. Through Total Place we are establishing the most radical changes in the delivery of public services for many years. We have high expectations of our public services. We want higher quality services that are more tailored to individual needs but more cost-effective, but not the bleak vision of the Conservative partys proposals for Ryanair councils under which people pay once in council tax and again in top-up charges for a decent service. Mr. Michael Ancram (Devizes) (Con): The right hon. Gentleman spoke about efficiency savings. I quite see that savings can be made through greater efficiency, but why do we have to wait two years to start making those savings? Mr. Denham: The answer, of course, is that action to produce efficiency savings is already well under way. In the current spending reviewwe are about to enter its third yearthere is 35 billion-worth of efficiency savings. More than 5 billion of that will come from the local government sector, for which I am responsible. The programme of making efficiency savings is well established and will continue to develop; next year, we will continue to increase the savings that we make. Clearly, some savings take more time than that to be put in place. The development of greater shared services cannot be done on day one; these things have to be planned. That is why the Government have in place a credible programme of efficiency savings that we are delivering now, in this spending review, and we have set out further operational efficiency savings in the Budget. I think that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will give the Government credit for the consistency with which we have approached the drive for efficiency savings across local government and other public services. Total Place has demonstrated the great value that can be gained for citizens and taxpayers by putting the customer at the heart of service design, and by working together to improve the outcomes of services and eliminate waste and duplication. In the Budget report, we set out a reduction in targets and in ring-fencing, and further reforms to the inspection system. That will be for all local government, but we have also set out two ways forward for local areas, local government and other public services. First, there is the single offer, where we encourage local authorities and other public services to have a pooled budget and to look at the redesign of services right across their local areas. Secondly, there are areas where local government and other partners may want to take a different approach to, for example, the provision of services for children, offenders or elderly people; again, they will have greater freedom to deliver and design services locally. Those approaches will produce radical changes in service delivery. They will produce better services for people, and they will offer greater possibilities for efficiency savings. As we grow through recovery, the Budget sets out the Governments support for business. For expenditure incurred from April 2010, we will double the threshold for the annual investment allowance to 100,000 a year from 50,000. On capital gains tax, we will extend the entrepreneurs relief from the first 1 million to the first 2 million of gains made over a lifetime. We will work with industry on modifications to the enterprise investment scheme and venture capital trusts.
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[Mr. Denham] The Opposition are intent on scrapping capital allowances, but that would cripple the chances of advanced manufacturing developing here in Britain. No wonder the Engineering Employers Federation has said that the move would be a disaster, and today warned that it would mean businesses having
to think twice about investing in the UK.
We have supported small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the downturn, and will do more to support them in recovery. UK Finance for Growth will oversee more than 4 billion of SME finance products created by the Government to support small and medium enterprises. That includes the growth capital fund, for which 200 million of cornerstone investment has been raised so far from the private sector and Government. There will be a generous temporary increase to the level of small business rate relief. We expect more than 500,000 businesses in England to benefit, many by well over 1,000, and approximately 345,000 businesses will pay no rates. The Opposition have proposed postponing the business rates revaluation, which would increase business rates for 60 per cent. of businesses in this country from April. The Budget pledged to reduce the barriers to public procurement for SMEs. If the whole public sector increased the amount of procurement that went to smaller businesses through the supply chain by 15 per cent., it would mean up to an extra 15 billion of business. Of course, Britain is home to strong businesses and investment, and is a leading centre for research and innovation. The Government will support innovation in the UK even when finances are tight. The pre-Budget report announced that we would reduce the rate of corporation tax on income from patents to ensure that the UK remains an attractive place for innovative industries. We will invest up to 25 million in the university enterprise capital fund to provide crucial early-stage funding for promoting university innovations. The Budget confirmed 30 million of investment for an institute of web science, a joint venture that is to be based at Southampton and Oxford universities, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of internet development. The future economy depends on the students of today, and we are taking a long-term view of growth by investing in skills in the Budget. A 270 million modernisation fund will enable universities to identify and deliver efficiencies over the next four years and fund 20,000 extra undergraduate places on courses starting in 2010-11. The Budget also provides updates on wideranging improvements to enterprise education, including 15 million to extend it to further education colleges and primary schools. The future economy must be a low-carbon economy. Taking action on climate change will generate new business opportunities and highly skilled jobs in the sectors of the future, and modernising the UKs energy infrastructure will be the key to laying the foundations for sustainable growth. The green investment bank will support new energy projects, with an initial focus on offshore wind electricity generation, and we will help millions of people save money and energy by developing pay-as-you-save financing arrangements. That is a positive programme for our country, but the Oppositionwith their opposition to industrial activism, regional development agencies and regional investment,
and their plans to abolish allowances, reduce reliefs and penalise firms that want to make serious investment in the low-carbon industries currently developing here in the UKdo not share it. The Budget that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor introduced last week is realistic and optimistic. It is realistic about the challenges ahead, which is why it sets out a clear plan to more than halve the deficit over four years; and it is optimistic about Britains strengths, which have seen us through recession and will build a better economy through infrastructure and growth in recovery. That is why we will not heed the calls from the Opposition to cut now and risk recovery; to cut now and risk a double-dip recession; or to cut public spending, just as they did in the 1980s and 90s, when the recession was still under way, so that unemployment kept rising for months and years after the recession finished. We will not heed their calls to undermine business confidence and threaten jobs. That is the Conservative way, which failed the country before and would do so again. I have outlined the Governments plans for growth, and for supporting new jobs, businesses, families and the economy. We must secure the recovery, not put it at risk; we must support new industries and future jobs; we must protect front-line services, not cut them; and we must stand up for the many, not the few. I commend this Budget to the House. 4.47 pm Mrs. Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con): I am delighted to have this opportunity to debate the Budget. It is just a shame that the Secretary of State did not start with a moment of contrition and regret, noting that this country is more deeply in recession than its competitors, and that his Government have only themselves to blame for that. It would have been nice if he had opened with a slight reflex to all those who have suffered as a consequence. The important thingabsolutelyis growth, so the extent to which we successfully deliver growth throughout the country will define our ability to compete with other countries, which emerged from the recession stronger and earlier than we did. In turn, that success or otherwise will define the job opportunities for our children and the public services for our families. With almost half of all jobless people aged 18 to 25, my goodness we have a responsibility to provide that growth for the new generation. The Budget should have been the blueprint for securing growth and getting our country moving again; it should have been the chance to demonstrate that our country was open for business again, but it was neither: it ducked national debt and sidestepped stimulating growth. It was a missed opportunity, and one for which the country will not thank Ministers. Let us start with the business community. Mr. Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe) (Lab): Will the hon. Lady give way? Mrs. Spelman: In due course. If the hon. Gentleman does not mind, I shall develop the argument about the business community. The Secretary of State, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman heard, said that he had helped business, but all the Chancellor had to offer struggling business was a temporary increase in the small business rate relief. That year-long
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measure will be a tiny grain of comfort to small businesses, which have seen business rates soar as a result of the botched revaluation. The fact is that the burden of business rates is rising, not falling. It has driven many businesses to the wall, and when the new bills are issued it will sound the death knell for many more. Since Labour came to power the average business rate bill has risen, from 6,500 to more than 12,000. Even when that figure is adjusted to real-terms increases, it is still the case that the increase has by far and away outstripped retail prices index inflation. Measures such as ending empty property rate relief and forcing through questionable revaluations have all tightened the ratchet on struggling businesses. Is it not telling that, according to the Budget, business rate revenues are forecast to rise by 1 billionan increase of 4.2 per cent? How can that possibly be described as helping business? The cost of the temporary increase in rate relief is a fraction of that, coming in at 210 million. On that basislet us be very clearthis Budget was proof positive, were it needed, that this Governments priority is increasing tax on businesses. Just as the increase in national insurance is a tax on jobs, which we have pledged to reverse, so the business rate revaluation is a tax on growth. In just a few days time, the latest business rate revaluation will come into effect. It will send bills soaring through the roof because it is based on the peak of the commercial property market. It will make many businesses no longer eligible for small business rate relief. Mr. Betts: The hon. Lady mentioned national insurance increases. As far as I understood it, the Conservatives policy was to concentrate on, and say they were giving greater priority to, cutting the national debt. How does that square with the fact that since the Budget the shadow Chancellor has made one major commitment, which is that if the Conservatives get into power they will not go ahead with the national insurance increase, adding 7 billion to the cost of the debt? Mrs. Spelman: The hon. Gentleman will have heard the Secretary of State explain that he too, and his Government, would fund some of their priorities from efficiency savings. We recognise the damage that the increase in national insurance will do to our economy at a fragile time, and we have fully costed this proposal. Many businesses will no longer be eligible for small business rate relief, which, incidentally, we have proposed should be made automatic. The impact on businesses, particularly small businesses such as pubs, which in the rural economy may be the only business in a village, or petrol stations, the cause of which my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) has championed, will be disastrously affected, with, no doubt, many being sent to the wall. In Northern Ireland, the revaluation was postponed because it was accepted that it would be very damaging to economic growth, so why inflict it on England? Do Ministers believe that it will not harm growth prospects in England? They certainly cannot base that belief on any impact assessment, because they have not bothered to do one. Mr. Denham: I am sure the hon. Lady will be able to clarify this point. Sixty per cent. of businesses will see their bills fall as a result of the revaluation that she
wishes to postpone. How does she propose to assist those businessesthe majoritywhose rates would rise as a result of the policy that she has put forward? Mrs. Spelman: The rating revaluation was based on commercial property prices in April 2008pre-credit crunch. How can the Secretary of State possibly claim that its basis is fair or realistic in the difficult environment that we face today? Revaluations are designed to be tax-neutral, but our experience of the Governments implementing a rating revaluation in Wales was that it was not tax- neutral. I therefore stand by the reasons why we would oppose such a flawed revaluation. Mr. Denham: Will the hon. Lady give way? Mrs. Spelman: No; I have replied to the Secretary of States intervention. By retrospectively charging five years of back-dated business rates for struggling port businesses, Ministers are jeopardising firms, jobs, livelihoods and the very viability of many coastal towns. Labour Members will know that to be true if they have port businesses in their area. It is a disgrace. Ministers should stop squabbling among themselves about who is to blame for the mess, and get back to the drawing board and start again. A Conservative Government will call for an immediate halt to the process and consult industry about what steps can be taken to address the matter. I have to say that taxing jobs and businesses so that they are unable to compete is a very odd way of trying to stimulate economic growth, but is that not the logical consequence of a Government who have long favoured taxing enterprise rather than tackling waste? In few cases has the tax grab been felt more painfully than with the council tax. It was telling that the first announcement on Budget day was yet another increase in council tax, taking the average band D property up to just short of 1,500 a year. Let us be clear about the background to the latest rise in council tax. When Labour came to power, it inherited a local tax system that worked. As the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions put it in 1998,
it is working well, has been widely accepted and is generally well understood.
At that time, people paid 751 a year on a band D home. Now they are paying more than twice that, and it is one of the most unpopular taxes they have to pay. Since 1997 council tax has doubled, while front-line services such as bin collections have halved. Does it not stand to reason that people are furious about the extent to which Ministers have abused the council tax? All the eye-catching announcements in Whitehall have too often left council tax payers to foot the bill, one of the most recent and notorious examples being the unfunded and ostensibly uncosted personal care policy announced by the Prime Minister. It is small wonder that this years council tax increase went down so badly, although someone living in Scotland will benefit from yet another council tax freeze. That will mean that the average bill for a band D property in Scotland is nearly 300 less than for a similar property in England. I do not have a problem with Scotland having a council tax freeze, but
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[Mrs. Spelman] what confounds me and people up and down the country is why Labour Ministers will not let people in England have the same deal. We have pledged to provide funding so that people in England can have the same council tax freeze as people in Scotland, yet time and time again the Government rule that out. Why? The reason is set out clearly on page 193 of the Red Book. Council tax receipts are forecast to rise by 1 billion this year. That is an additional 1 billion being taken out of the pockets of hard-working families and poured into the gaping black hole of the Governments finances. What is even more frightening is that the 1 billion figure is just the tip of the iceberg. We know, Ministers know, and most importantly the public know, that Ministers are preparing for an intrusive council tax revaluation and rebanding exercise, which will punish people for making improvements to their homes or just enjoying a room with a view. It has already happened in Wales, where four times as many homes moved up a band as moved down one. Now, thanks to parliamentary answers that prove the point I am making, we know that the same is planned for England unless we have a change of Government. I say that with certainty as we have made clear our pledge to scrap the revaluation. The combination of our council tax freeze and aborting the revaluation could save up to 500 a year in tax on a typical family home. Mr. Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD): I was looking forward to a zero council tax increase in Harrogate this year from the Conservative council. In fact, the increase came out above the national average. Can the hon. Lady explain to me and the rest of the House how she will pay for a zero increase in council tax across the country? I am really quite intrigued about the figures behind that. Mrs. Spelman: As stated very clearly in our localism green paper, one of our three policy green papers, which I invite the hon. Gentleman to read so that he fully understands the matter, the council tax freeze is an important pledge that we have made. If a local authority pegs its council tax increase to 2.5 per cent. in the financial years April 2011 to April 2012, and April 2012 to April 2013, council grant will be increased from the centre by 2.5 per cent. so that the local authority can bring the council tax increase to zero. That is a fully funded policy. Mr. Willis: Where will the money come from? Mrs. Spelman: The hon. Gentleman obviously did not follow the significant exchanges in January, when the Government got egg all over their face for accusing the Conservatives of not being able to fund that pledge. We will fund the policy by cutting Government administration, including, but not solely, Government advertising and consultants. In January, the Treasury sheepishly admitted that its initial costings did not properly take into account the saving to the public purse from lower council tax benefit payment. As the Institute for Fiscal Studies pointed out, the attack on the Conservatives was spurious.
Mr. Denham rose Mrs. Spelman: I will not give way; I want to make some progress. Let us consider stamp duty. Two and a half years ago, we set out a policy to remove the obligation to pay stamp duty from nine out of 10 first-time buyers by raising the threshold to 250,000. Yet in last weeks Budget, a pale imitation of our policy was announced: it is limited to only two years. We can debate the merits of its being temporary, but how telling that the sister policy used to fund itan increase in stamp duty at the upper endis permanent. Once it is laid bare, the Budget gives struggling first-time buyers a guaranteed tax rise in two years, and some home owners, particularly those in London, will suffer an immediate, painful and permanent tax increase. The continuing increases in stamp duty as a result of fiscal drag overlay the increases on page 71 of the Red Book. Combined, the policies mean that the tax burden on home owners grows heavier every day. Is that the way to stimulate growth in our economy? Is a punitive fiscal regime, which serves uncontrolled public spending, really the way to get our economy moving? Our sharp decline in the global league of competitiveness suggests not. The monolithic, state-heavy approach is denying us the dynamism and flexibility we need to compete with other economies. It is holding our country backsome parts even more than others as the gap between south and north has widened. That has happened despite 17 billion being spent on regional development agencies. That prompts the question whether RDAs, as currently constituted, are the best, most effective and most efficient way of supporting local economies. Could we do better? We can and we must. We therefore believe that RDAs should be replaced with local enterprise partnerships through a series of important changes. Local enterprise partnerships will focus exclusively on delivering business growth and job creation. They will be accountable and take the form of genuine partnerships between local businesses, large and small, and local councils. Let us consider the geography of local enterprise partnerships. In many parts of the country, the geography of regions is arbitrary and makes no economic sense. We need a more grown-up, flexible approach so that local economic partnerships reflect natural economic boundaries and shared interests. Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton) (Lab/Co-op): What evidence has the hon. Lady got that local business wants those changes rather than the stability of a successful recipe, which has saved, for example, 2,000 jobs at Princess Yachts in my constituency? Mrs. Spelman: I have got evidence by asking the business community, of course. The hon. Lady comes from the south-west. If she turns around and speaks to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), I think she will find he would be prepared to point out that Gloucester is nearer the Scottish border than it is to Penzance, and the scale of the south-west region is almost unmanageable. Indeed, it might interest the hon. Lady to know that when I went on a fact-finding mission to the north-east, where, I have always been led to believe, there is the strongest appetite for a regional development agency, I discovered a distinct difference of view in the business
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community. People in Newcastle are quite fond of their RDA, because it is located in Newcastle, but the business communities in Sunderland and the Tees valley were quick to tell me that they do not see much activity to help them. Geography is important, and I reiterate that economic partnerships that reflect natural economic boundaries and shared interests will serve the community best. Those changes would offer an exciting opportunity to improve how we develop local growth. We have an opportunity to sharpen the tools at our disposal by giving the best support through focused, efficient and accountable enterprise partnerships. We do not have those at the moment; instead, we have a comprise, whereby RDAs are unwieldy, overburdened and unaccountable. The Governments last-gasp affection for them owes more to political scaremongering than to any desire to find the best way to support local economies. That is the old-fashioned politics of division, and it is holding us back. We need the economies in different parts of the country to be performing at the very top of their game. If our country is to stand any chance of catching up with our competitors, we need the engine of our national economy firing on all cylinders, and at the moment it is misfiring. Parts of the country are falling well short of their potential, and we should face up to that fact. We are seeing the impact of that on growth and aspiration. Under this Government, 26,000 fewer new homes a year have been built than under the previous Conservative Government; home ownership is at its lowest for 20 years; the number of first-time buyers is at its lowest since records began; and the rate of new housingboth social and privateis at its lowest since world war two. That is a symptom of our planning system being broken. The system lacks democratic accountability and environmental sustainability, and it is holding back growth and fostering political alienation. Members on both sides of the House will know that from their postbags. We believe that we can do better by reforming the planning system so that it is more accountable and efficient, and far more capable of delivering the new homes that our country so desperately needs. Dr. Starkey: I am having some difficulty in following the logic of the hon. Ladys argument. Does she accept that although house building has fallen in the recession, if it were not for Government funding there would be no investment in housing at all? That is not related in the slightest to the planning system, which has not altered as we have gone into recession. Does she accept that during that period, house building has decreased because private finance has withdrawn? Mrs. Spelman: The hon. Lady fails to understand that I was talking about the entire 13-year period that her party has been in power. Even before the recession and the credit crunch, the rate of house building was below what it was when the Conservatives were last in Government, and the rate of social house building was half what it was during the last 13 years of the Conservative Administration. This might be unpalatable, but for the hon. Ladys greater benefit I hope she will allow me to reiterate that peacetime house building is at its lowest since 1924; that there are now 26,000 fewer new homes a year than under the Conservatives, taken as an average
over the time that Labour has been in office; that home ownership is at its lowest for 20 years; and that we have the lowest number of first-time buyers since 1970. There may be a variety of reasons for those things, but I suspect that they are not entirely unconnected to the fact that we have had nine different Housing Ministers in the time that her party has overseen house building in our nation. The Conservatives believe that we can do better. To begin with, we will get rid of the arbitrary and meaningless targets that are conceived in Whitehall and forced on local communities. That top-down, one-size-fits-all approach has toxified the planning system, which has become a war zone in which communities are pitched against regional quangos, often resulting in deadlock. It has led to the green belt being torn up and urban green spaces, such as back gardens, being replaced with blocks of flats that are well beyond the pockets of the people on the housing list who so desperately need the housing. The number-chasing culture has failed to deliver the kind of affordable homes that young families desperately need. Instead, it has yielded a glut of unsold city- centre luxury apartments and tightly packed units of accommodation that lack the car parking and outside space needed for a young family. That is why the time has come for power to be returned to local people, with the help of those they elect, so that they can define the scale, location and type of new development. It is about drawing people into the decision-making process and giving them a proper platform to be heard. That has to be a more effective way of getting the right kind of homes built in the right places, but we need to give people a stake in local growth. Too often communities feel all the pain, but none of the gain to be had from growth. We want to change that by matching the council tax raised on new homes for six yearsand recognising how we need to increase social housing, we will match it to the tune of 125 per cent. for affordable housing. Mr. Betts: Is there a fallback position for the hon. Ladys new policy on house building and planning? What happens if these incentives do not work and not enough houses are built to meet housing need? Would a Conservative Government retain any powers to ensure a certain number were built, whatever the results of local referendums in areas throughout the country? Mrs. Spelman: I know that the hon. Gentleman is interested in local government, housing and planning, and I commend to him our recently published Green Paper on planning as it makes it clear that in the absence of a local plan, there will be a presumption in favour of sustainable development. I am confident that that will have the effect of getting the homes built that are so desperately needed. These substantial financial incentives, combined with national affordable housing programme grants to help to subsidise construction, and the introduction of local housing trusts, will deliver substantial amounts of affordable housing. The objective of reforming the planning system has to be to make it fairer, faster and more efficient. That is as important for infrastructure as for any other form of development. The current Infrastructure Planning Commission does not meet those criteria, which is why we will improve the system by turning the IPC into a
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[Mrs. Spelman] specialised infrastructure unit within the Planning Inspectorate. That will deliver real political accountability and ensure a smooth, efficient transition for infrastructure projects already in train. Without those changes, vital decisions that we need to enhance our countrys infrastructure risk being bogged down in legal challenges from judicial review in the High Court to the European Court of Justice. We also propose national policy statementsdebated herewhich will speed up the planning system, while reducing the scope for legal challenges. These statements will avoid planning inquiries getting bogged down on issues of policy, and focus on specific planning considerations such as scale and location. For projects with national significance, crossing many local authorities, such as High Speed 2, we would use hybrid Bills in Parliament. These reforms are vital to driving forward the pace of growth and infrastructure throughout our country. They will speed up the planning process to avoid planning inquiries taking years, and ensure that there are proper democratic checks and balances. The changes that we are proposing are the changes that will get our economy moving again. They are the changes that will kick start growth and development. They are the changes our country needs, and the sooner the country has the opportunity to vote for that change, the sooner we can get Britain working again. 5.14 pm Mr. Jeremy Browne (Taunton) (LD): I am grateful for the opportunity to make my final speech as a Member of Parliament before the general election. I wish to concentrate on three dominant themes of the Budget statement. The first is the recession, its consequences and how we can best ensure the recovery. The second is the massive budget deficit that we have as a nation and how we can try to get to grips with it. The third is what the Budget and the political debate say about what sort of society we wish to create. A Budget is not just a bloodless exercise in accountancy; it is also about creating the type of structures and the type of society that we think will make Britain a better place. I should like to address those three points in turn, but before I do soif you will momentarily indulge me, Madam Deputy SpeakerI want to talk about the one issue in the Budget that has been raised by far more of my constituents than all the rest put together. That issue is the highly invidious extra taxation on cider, which many of my constituents regard as little more than a tax on being a Somerset person. I know that the fashionable metropolitan elite who rise so effortlessly through the ranks of the Labour and Conservative parties do not regard this as a particularly serious issue. I readily concede that, contrary to the stereotype, there are some people employed in Somerset who do not work in the cider industry. Nevertheless, that extra tax is a serious matter for my constituents for two reasons. First, there is an economic case for the people who work in the industry. For instance, there is a small, family-run company in my constituency called Sheppys Cider, run by David and Louisa Sheppy, which employs about 10 people. It is part of the local economy, and we
would not wish to see those jobs or that enterprise put at risk. However, there is also a symbolic importance, which is perhaps equivalent to the importance that people from Scotland attach to whisky or that people from Ireland attach to Guinness. Cider is an emblematic drink that signifies Somerset and other parts of the west country throughout the world. For that reason, a number of people are upset by what the Government announced in the Budget, and we urge the Government to reconsider. Mr. Greg Hands (Hammersmith and Fulham) (Con): We certainly agree with the hon. Gentlemans sentiments on cider, but unfortunately for him last year the Liberal Democrats proposed a tax freeze on spirits, but not on cider. He also said that fewer of his constituents were drinking cider these days than they used to. Mr. Browne: Well, because[Interruption.] It is not a U-turn at all: one cannot infer from my views on spirits that I have opposite views on cider. I have just made it clear that I regard cider as an important industry not just in the west country, but it has a particular strength in the west countryand that it is an important part of the heritage of many parts of western England. Considering that the amount of money that will be raised by the Governments tax measure is so minute compared with the scale of our budget deficit, and given that the hurt and offence that it has caused is so disproportionately large, the Government would be well advised to reconsider. Let me turn to the three main themes that I wish to address. I start with the recession, which ought to beand isof concern to us all, although I sometimes think that people in this House, and perhaps the wider public, underestimate the scale of the recession that we have just gone through. Last year2009was the worst peacetime year for the British economy in terms of growth since 1921. Our economy shrank by almost 5 per cent. last year, and, as part of the international downturn, this country has been in a truly precarious position. I invite the House to think of our economy as a sickly and frail patient lying in the operating theatre in a hospital. In those circumstances, my party and I believe that the Government were right to try to administer all the different treatments at their disposal to ensure that the patient survived the severe shock to its system that it had suffered. The Government tried quantitative easing as part of their contribution. They also tried, and continue to try, extremely low interest ratesonly 0.5 per cent., and they have been at that level for a sustained period. We have also had a devaluation of the pound. Far less emphasis has been given to the relative value of the pound compared with other major currencies than would have been given a generation ago, but there has been a severe devaluation of our currency. We have also had, in different forms, the fiscal stimulus, and we have debated in this House whether that stimulus has had as much of the desired impact as we would like. Nevertheless, it has contributed to trying to keep the ailing patient in some form of health. We are still in an extremely precarious position, however, and we should not assume that that we are safely out of the woods just because the economy grew by an anaemic, minute amount in the last quarter of last year. We cannot turn the life support machine off until we are absolutely certain that the patient is alive, and at the moment, we do not have that certainty.
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I hope, and believe, that the economy will not dip back into recession later this year, but that remains a possibility. The growth figures in the Budgeteven the ones that were revised downare still optimistic, according to many assessments. We should therefore not assume that we are out of the woods. This is a challenge for the Conservatives, because the timing of deficit reduction is of paramount importance, and there are risks attached to cutting too soon, as well as to cutting too late. Mr. John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): That would normally be the case in a recession if we were talking about the cyclical part of the deficit, but what we have here is a structural deficit of 9 per cent. last year and 8 per cent. next year, if the figures are right. How long does the hon. Gentleman think we should take to eliminate that? Mr. Browne: The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting point, and I want to engage him directly on it. The deficit is always rolled into the 167 billion figure, but it has two component parts, and different economists take different views on the size of those parts. However, there is a deficit, and the country will have to get to grips with it, either by raising taxes or by cutting expenditure. My party has a preference for cutting expenditure, but there will have to be a mix of the two. The Government have announced large numbers of tax rises, although they are being much less specific about the reductions in expenditure until after the election. They are being more explicit about the tax rises. The other component of the deficit will, we hope, be dealt with by the economy returning to healthy growth and burning off the deficit in that way. That is why, when I caution the Conservatives, I am not just saying that there is a risk of going back into recession in relation to employment or to business failures, although those factors are obviously important. Healthy economic growth will also be crucial in making the numbers add up in our deficit reduction programme. We could have a debate about how we should best stimulate that growth, but I do not propose to go a long way down that avenue this afternoon. We need to ensure, however, that there remains demand in the system. So far as I can see, the Conservatives seemed to acknowledge that need this morning. We can achieve demand by spending public money, or by allowing private individuals to spend more of their money by cutting their taxes, which appears to be the Conservative shadow Chancellors policy. There would be a risk to the recovery itself, however, if we were to try to cut the deficit quickly by taking money out of the economy, whether from the public or the private sphere. The second subject that I want to talk about is the deficit. This country is still borrowing an additional 450 million every single day, and our budget deficit this year remains at more than 12 per cent. of gross domestic product. According to the ready reckoner, any country with a deficit of more than 10 per cent. of GDP in any financial year is in serious trouble. Well, this country has gone way beyond that point for two financial years, and our deficit this year is comparable to that of Greece, whose problems have been well documented. It would of course be fair and accurate to point out that Greeces cumulative debt is roughly double ours, which
is why we have not yet had the degree of difficulty that it has experienced. Nevertheless, our borrowing this year as a percentage of GDP is comparable to the worst cases elsewhere in Europe. We are going to have to deal with that, and that is a truth that all the parties will need to explain to the electorate. To varying degrees, I would say that none has done so sufficiently yet. The Government have gone into great detail in the Budget about tax rises. They are talking about roughly a third of the deficit being dealt with through tax rises, and two thirds being dealt with through expenditure cuts. Where they are very specific in terms of tax rises, however, they are very vague in terms of reductions in expenditure. That probably suits the Government as we approach the election in trying to create the right dividing lines, as they would see it, between them and the Conservatives on tax, while ignoring what they see as potentially disadvantageous dividing lines between them and the Conservatives and other Opposition parties on public expenditure reductions. Mr. Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): Does the hon. Gentleman regretand will he apologise forhis partys wholehearted support for a single European currency, given that if we were in the single currency, we would simply not have the flexibility in fiscal and monetary policy that we now have to deal with these issues, including the deficit? Mr. Browne: I had thought that the Conservative party was supposed to have stopped banging on about Europe. I do not remember having mentioned the single European currency in my speech. My view is that it is would not be right for Britain to join it now, but I would not rule it out as an article of blind faith for all time. It is not inconceivable, in my view, that there could be a time in the future when joining might be more advisable, but that point has not yet been reached. I was talking about the deficit, about what reductions in public expenditure would be necessary and about the Governments vagueness on that subject. It was somewhat depressing to hear the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) a few moments ago. When she was asked to identify how a particular policy initiative would be paid for, she dipped yet again into this pot marked administrative waste and said that there was so much money available in it that it could fund unlimited goodies. I remember being present at Treasury debates a couple of years ago, when all that administration was carried out in much the same way as it is now, where I was told by the Conservative shadow Chancellor and other Conservative Members that the Conservative party would match Labours spending commitments in every single Department. If the party was going to match all those departmental commitments when all that money was being wasted, why did they not raise concerns at that point about the need to reprioritise that money? I am sceptical of the ability of administrative trimming to pay for the largesse that the Labour and Conservative parties claim it will pay for. I readily acknowledge that there is a way to go, that my party has not spelled out every detail and that we need further policy development, but the reason why respected commentators readily acknowledge that the Liberal Democrats have gone further in this regard than both of the old parties is that we have been more
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[Mr. Jeremy Browne] specific and more detailed about the type of cuts in public spending that we think are necessary. So, for example, people who receive tax credits when they have salaries that would be the envy of most households will see a reduction in those credits. For another example, we have talked about child trust funds. Just over a year ago, I remember participating in a Statutory Instrument Committee on which I was the only person willing to say that child trust funds are not affordable in the current circumstances. Both the Labour and Conservative parties supported them at that time, even though we were already living in a different budgetary context from when the policy was first introduced. We have also talked about longer-term projects such as ID cards and aspects of our defence procurement. We have gone through such strategies in much more detail than the other parties, but this is a process that all political parties will have to face sooner rather than later. There is a conspiracy of silence before the general election, and I believe that people deserve better than that in a democracy. That brings me to the final feature of my speech. A Budget this close to a general election will, of course, inevitably be a political as well as an economic exercise. We are looking as politiciansand, I suppose, the wider public, insofar as they are following these matters in detailat what the Budget says about the values and policy priorities of the Government of the day and those of the Opposition parties that aspire to replace that Government. When I looked at the Budget in that regard, I found it wanting. I give some credit, however, insofar as there was something that came at least some way towards representing a vision on environmental-led growth, green jobs, environmental investment and so forthareas that my party has been keen to bring to the fore. As I say, there were some elements of that in the Budget speech. However, two other features of my partys policy platform to which I had hoped the Government would give more prominence were conspicuous by their absence. The first is a vision of a fairer, more equitable society in which, in particular, people on low incomes are more self-reliant, have more of their own money to spend and can forge their own way in the world with greater freedom and independence. That vision of taxation has been a central feature of our policy platform, in the form of our proposal to raise the starting point for income tax to 10,000 a year. What surprised me more, coming from a Labour Government, was the lack of a vision of how we could do more to increase social mobility, so that people could prosper and succeed in the world without the welfare or well-being of their parents being necessarily an accurate guide to their prospects. My party has given the greatest policy priority to the so-called pupil premium, which represents a direct attempt to target more money on improving the life opportunities of people who start at a relative disadvantage. I do not claim that Labour has done nothing in that regard; many Labour politiciansindeed, politicians in all partiestake the agenda seriously. Nevertheless, I think that it could and should have been a bigger and more explicit feature of the Budget.
Laura Moffatt (Crawley) (Lab): Will the hon. Gentleman tell me how he thinks his partys policy of abolishing child trust funds will help to increase mobility for young people and families? Mr. Browne: I can. All the researchI hesitated before I used that word, because it sounds as though I am contracting out my views to expertsall my instincts and everything that I and others have read suggest that children who start at a relative disadvantage in terms of parental income or exposure to knowledge and learning at a young age need assistance when they are three, four, five and six years old. Giving them a pot of money when they are 18 years old gives them an amount to spend, but it does not fundamentally address their relative disadvantages in terms of lifetime opportunities. If that money is to be spent, it would be better spent on targeting children from poorer and more disadvantaged backgrounds more precisely and at an earlier stage in their lives. Let me make a final observation about the bigger picture and the vision as a whole. When I mentioned, in passing, the two old parties, I heard some noises off scoffing at that description. However, I detect a sense in the country that if people keep voting for the same two tired old parties, they cannot expect anything other than the same two tired sets of policy proposals. There is a mood for change in the country. Back in the 1950s, 98 per cent. of the people who voted in a general election voted for either the Labour party or the Conservative party. We had a very tribal society, in which people knew what side they were on and voted accordingly. At the last general election, for the first time since the second world war, the proportion of votes for the two old parties fell below 70 per cent., to 68 per cent. We live in a more fluid, more mobile, freer society nowadays. A group of Conservatives to whom I was talking recently told me, When it comes to this Budget, we must make certain that we win the election by persuading people that the problems are the responsibility of Gordon Brown. I said, I think you are right: I think many people readily accept that the Prime Minister bears a large share of the blame for Britains economic woes. However, I went on to ask Why do you assume that people who identify the Prime Minister as being culpable should regard the Conservative party as being part of the solution? In order to be successful, someone who runs an Indian restaurant has to do more than just persuade people that they do not like Chinese food, because there are more choices out there than ever before. That is why it was so extraordinary that the shadow Business Secretary observed that he would prefer the current Prime Minister to stay in office at the head of a majority Labour Government than the Conservatives to be the largest party in a balanced Parliament. That was an extraordinary statement for a Conservative Front Bencher to make, and, although the shadow Business Secretary has become a national treasure in many ways, it shows how out of step he is with the mood of the time, because the old type of politics, under which Labour and Conservatives swapped between themselves, is no longer a reliable guide to the future. To say that we know what will happen if neither of the two old parties can convince the people that they deserve to govern alone because we
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saw what happened in 1974 is just like saying we know what is going to happen in 2046. We have no idea what will happen 36 years from now. This is the last Budget of an old era, because we will now increasingly find that we need a form of politics that addresses a wider range of public concerns than the current political parties can articulate. Mr. Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP): I am listening carefully to the hon. Gentlemans speech. Will he confirm that Scotland currently provides a great example of the new politics, in that the Scottish National party has formed a successful minority Government there? He might also like to dwell on the fact that in Scotland support for the Liberal Democrats has almost halved since 2005. Mr. Browne: I have always thought it an act of supreme charity by the Liberal Democrats that the electoral system in Scotland means that the Conservative party was saved from absolute extinction there. That just goes to show that we are motivated by a benevolent desire to look after ailing parties, not just by self-interest. The Budget symbolises the old politics, as does the debate between the two Front-Bench teams. In the coming election and the decades ahead we will find a new and more diverse type of politics that will both give people a greater range of opportunities and reflect the more varied and freer society we live in today. Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): Order. I remind Members that Mr. Speaker has imposed a 12-minute limit on Back-Bench contributions. 5.37 pm Mr. Richard Caborn (Sheffield, Central) (Lab): In common, I think, with several other Members who will contribute today, this will possibly be my last speech in the House, after 27 years of representing Sheffield, Central, and after five years before that as a Member of the European Parliament. I was first elected to public office, as an MEP, in 1979, having left school at 15 years of age to start my engineering apprenticeship at the company that is now Forgemastersa great company that has recently been in the news, and to which I shall return a little later. I warmly welcome the Budget, like many of us who have been championing manufacture and wealth creation for many years. We see it as a Budget that recognises the need for the economy to be rebalanced, with a greater proportion of wealth creation being achieved through manufacturing. Its measures will help us to continue to take the country along that rebalancing journey. The Budgets 2.5 billion one-off growth package is very important, particularly for areas such as Sheffield. There will be investment in the creative industries, digital communications, the medipark and the advanced manufacturing park. That is a reflection of recent policy, particularly the new industrial strategy introduced by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he returned from EuropeI think his experiences as a European Commissioner must have had an effect. I want to remind the House, however, that Sheffield has been modernising and repositioning its economy for more than a decade. We have been modernising to meet the challenges of the globalised world of the
21st century, with our two outstanding universities, a very strong further education college, industrial and commercial sectors that want to work in partnership, and the support of Yorkshire Forward, our regional development agency. We have developed, through those very strong partnerships, centres of excellence such as the medipark, the cultural industries, digital Sheffield and our advanced manufacturing park. The Budget will strengthen all four of those major activities, and those areas will be major centres of employment and wealth creation in the future. Let us consider just one of those, the advanced manufacturing park, which is closely linked to the university of Sheffield under the leadership of Professor Keith Ridgway. The project was set up 10 years ago to address the productivity and the competitiveness of our aerospace industry, which is a sector that has an order book of more than 40 billion and that employs well over 100,000 people, many of whom are employed in the skills sector. The park has grown to be one of the most respected advanced manufacturing parks in the world. The recent investment by Rolls-Royce and the Government in a nuclear manufacturing park, which is to be located alongside the aerospace facilities, will enable the techniques and innovation that have been developed over the years in the aerospace industry to be transferred to the nuclear sector, thus enabling that development to be a smart partner for the nuclear build programme. This is an area of great potential for British manufacturing and technology, addressing the green agenda not just here, but internationally. Twelve nuclear power stations could be built in the UK at the cost of about 60 billion. That is estimated to be about 4 per cent. of the worlds order book. Again, that development is encouraged by the announcement in the Budget. I said that we had been working on this project for more than a decade. In fact, it was 10 years ago that I had dinner in the Housein the Churchill Roomwith Phil Condit, then chief executive of Boeing, and Professor Keith Ridgway. From that dinner came the start of a 6 million investment to be made in the intellectual property of the university of Sheffield and the vision of Keith Ridgway. I facilitated that dinner and I am proud to have been involved in that project ever since. Today, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and many other companies involved in the supply chain are involved in the park, with some of the work being done on blue skies technology and research and development. As I said, the nuclear new build programme and developments in the industry have attracted a good partnership between the Government and Rolls-Royce, which has resulted in a 35 million investment in that nuclear development. In 2008, I organised another dinner in the House, which was similar to the one that took place in the Churchill Room 10 years ago. It enabled representatives of five universities, five captains of industryGraham Honeyman, chief executive of Forgemasters, was there and two Secretaries of State to discuss how universities, Government and industry could work together to exploit the nuclear renaissance for the UK for many years to come. On Sunday, The Sunday Times accused me of acting improperly in organising that dinnerthe dinner that brought together universities, Government and industry to discuss how we could act collectively in the best interests of UK plc. Throughout my 27 years in the House, I have been doing justacting in the best interests
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[Mr. Richard Caborn] of the UK, be it through my post as Chair of the Trade and Industry Committee, in my role for the past 14 years as trustee of the Industry and Parliament Trust or through my contacts with the trade unions, employers organisations and industrial groups. Those are all people who want British industry to grow and prosper. That is my record and I am proud of it. If it is wrong in the eyes of The Sunday Times, I plead guilty. A few years ago, the House passed the Freedom of Information Act. The press were rightly at the forefront of the demand for it, but now, when the press use misleading evidence obtained through sting operationsthis is evidence that could not be used in courtthey believe that it is their right to keep it from those whom they accuse. My lawyers twice requested the information that appeared in The Sunday Times, but they did not receive any response. What people read in The Sunday Times was a deliberate fabrication, which was designed to mislead. I do not believe that we have a level playing field, and when the House returns it ought seriously to consider the balance between freedom of information and what the press are doing through their sting operations and not allowing those whom they accuse in the newspapers, and the nation, to challenge information that cannot even be used in the courts of this land. Returning to the Budget, as I said, I started at Forgemasters as an engineer apprentice at the age of 15. Last week, on Friday, the MPs in Sheffield, the two vice-chancellors, the further education colleges and Yorkshire Forward met to discuss the skills agenda of the future, from our skill shortages, which could be an impediment to growth, to the quality of training needed to ensure that the aerospace and nuclear supply chains are up to scratch. We have concerns, although we warmly welcome the announcement of the promise on the skills agenda. The budget for this area should be increased, and we believe we need a clear focus on delivery. That is something we are working on as a result of that meeting, and we hope to produce some ideas about delivery, which we think is very important, and to remove some of the confusion around it. For the record, I shall continue to be involved in that when I have left Parliament. Finally, I want to conclude on the subject of a significant investment in Sheffield Forgemastersa 16,000 tonne forging press, which will be one of the largest forging presses, if not the largest, in the world. It has taken nearly three years to develop that plan and bring it to fruition, and I want to put on record my thanks to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, his Ministers and special advisers, along with Tim Stone from PricewaterhouseCoopers. They have worked very effectively to make this happen. As for Sheffield Forgemasters, it has been said that this would not have happened had it not been for the vision of people such as Graham Honeyman, Tony Pedder and Peter Birtles, but there was also strong support from the work force. Half of the company is now owned by the work force and the pride in those young people, particularly the 70 apprentices who work there, has to be seen to be believed. That has put us in a unique position at the beginning of the supply chain worldwide and for the nuclear new build. That, I believe, is very important if we are to capitalise and see an industrial renaissance coming out of that nuclear renaissance, particularly in engineering and manufacturing.
That was a great day, and it was great to be involved when that 160 million investment was announced by the Secretary of State a couple of weeks ago. The very first job that I completed while serving my time as an apprentice and coming out of that was the building of a 4,000-tonne forging press, so, having represented Sheffield, Central and Forgemasters for 27 years, it will be very pleasing to see a forging press four times greater than that and the investment that is being made. This is probably my last speech to the House, and I say with honesty that in my 31 years as an elected representative, I have never taken a single penny outside the salary that I have earned and been paid. It was only when I decided a couple of years ago to stand down and announced my retirement that a number of companies came to me and asked whether I would be a consultant and help them, probably as a non-executive director never as a lobbyist. I was approached as someone who has been in the national institutions and who has also been an engineer. I am proud to have done that and I will continue to work for the betterment of British manufacturing, and particularly engineering, in which I believe very strongly, having had a father and a grandfather who were in the engineering industryindeed, it runs through our DNA. It would be good to see the press talking this side of British industry up rather than talking it down. 5.48 pm Mr. Michael Ancram (Devizes) (Con): I, too, rise to speak in the House for the last time, after 36 years. I have to admit that this is not the first time that I have left the House, but it is the first time that I will do so voluntarily. It has been an enormous privilege to be a Member of the House. I have represented three wonderful constituenciestwo in Scotland and one in England, latterly the Devizes constituencyand I am grateful to all those who elected me and who have given me the chance to serve them in the House. I have been fortunate in the various roles that I have had here, which have been challenging and enjoyable. The most rewarding has been the ability to represent the myriad interests and concerns of ones constituents. Despite all the recent criticisms, I believe that the House is still one of the greatest democratic institutions in the world. I am proud to have been, for a time, part of it, and I will miss it. I am grateful for the chance to participate briefly in the debate on the Budget statement. Over the past few days, I have heard the detailed arguments for and against the Budget, but as this is my last speech to the House, I hope that I may be allowed to approach it more broadly. I believe that Governments have two inalienable responsibilities: first, the defence of the realm and its citizens, and, secondly, stewardship. I want to talk about the second for a few moments. Stewardship is a word that is used frequently, as it has been in this debate, to mean good and responsible management, but I believe that, in the context of the Budget, it should mean much more. To me, stewardship means handing over to the next generation what we in our time received from our predecessors in at least as good, if not better, condition than we received it. I want to deal with two aspects of that, the first of which is the economy.
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I do not think that anyone in the House could claim that the economy is in a better state than it was at the beginning of the Parliament. We are facing almost unimaginable debt and it is still growing. Stewardship requires urgent action, of which I see little sign in the Budget. That is not a political or economic question; it is a moral imperative. Our generationthis Parliament and this Governmentcreated the mess we are in, and our generation has the responsibility to clear it up. It is quite simply obscene to hand over to the next generation the cost of this generations mismanagement. We have no right to lumber them with our debts or to expect them to pay for our profligacy. We must rectify the situation not by fudging or finessing. This is a matter not for spin doctors or opinion polls, but for cold reality and stark truth, and the truth is that that will be painful. However, we must not shirk that pain. We must start immediately by cutting out inefficiency and waste not by tinkering with it, but by tackling it root and branch. It is not enough, year after year, to come and talk about inefficiency: if it is there, it must be got rid of. We must cut out the bloated bureaucracy that we have built in this countrythe over-regulation that costs so many of our companies so much. If services have to be cut as well, we must, in the end, face up to that, because services can be rebuilt, and the resolution of problems can help to do that. If we, as stewards, need to protect anything for the next generation, it must be those things that will never come again if undermined or destroyed. I want to touch briefly on this second aspectthe environment in which we livewhich has been touched on tangentially in the Budget, but which is not central enough. There is a native American saying, We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. To my mind, it is not enough to tip our cap towards wind power or green banking, as the Budget has done. We have to address the fundamentals. Both the natural and built environments in this country are under threat. If, as I fear, we begin to reduce the support for those areas to avoid pain in the here and now, we will be in danger of damaging permanently the world that we shall leave to our children. We need to take positive action now to preserve and conserve the environment and, where we can, to improve it. We need to recognise the coming challenges from over-consumptionthe growing demands for energy, water and foodand the lasting damage that they, too, could do to the environment we shall leave to our children. I see little recognition of that in the Budget. To me, stewardship needs a courage and a foresight that the Budget sadly lacks. I conclude my career in the House by having to say that I regret the failure of stewardship in this Parliament; we have to look to a new Parliament and a fresh Government to provide it. I hope that they will see their responsibilities more clearly than this Parliament and this Government have seen theirs in these last years. I end by wishing the next Parliament well. 5.54 pm Mr. John Hutton (Barrow and Furness) (Lab): It is a great pleasure to follow the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) and, indeed, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central
(Mr. Caborn). They are two fine Members of Parliament who have done a great job for their constituents and who command a great deal of respect on both sides of the House. The fact that they will not be here after the election will be a cause of great sadness for many who know those two fine, honourable Members well. Let me begin my remarks by congratulating my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer not just on the manner in which he delivered the Budget statement, but on its content. He has had to bear a very heavy burden of responsibility in the discharge of his great office of state. He did not have long to think about how to share the proceeds of economic growth. Instead, he had to think very carefully about how our country would emerge in good shape from the deepest, most savage and severe recession of three generations. In trying to set that course, he has earned a lot of respect on both sides of the House. His instincts are sound and his judgments have been right. I think that is what history will say of him. To borrow the medical metaphor that the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) used, the economy is at least now in the recovery position. Bearing in mind the stewardship argument that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has just deployed, it is incumbent on us not to do anything to jeopardise the economic recovery. That is the first and most important fact, principle or statement about the Budget. The flow of economic data is finally looking a bit more cheerful: unemployment is falling, inflation is falling and borrowing is down. Growth has returned to the economy. Those are all positive signs that there is now light at the end of what has been a very dark and long tunnel. As I have said, our big job is not to jeopardise that recovery. I therefore welcome in particular what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor said in his statement about targeting further and additional help and support at businesses and wealth creators. That is the right thing to do with any discretionary additional spend that we have, because it will be on the decisions that those businessesmainly small businessesmake in the next few years that prospects for substantial economic growth will depend. I therefore welcome the doubling of the investment allowance and the expansion of the entrepreneurs relief from capital gains tax. I particularly welcome the extension of the time to pay scheme for business taxes. Many right hon. and hon. Members will know that that scheme has become an important source of credit for many businesses. I understand that it is benefiting nearly 200,000 companies. There is a danger, of which the Treasury and the Revenue will be aware, that the scheme could be abused, and we have to be alert to that danger, but it is a very important new initiative. I also welcomeI am sorry that the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) did not do the samethe extension of council tax reliefs for small businesses. All those small measures together form a very useful and helpful package. I particularly welcome the focus that was evident in the Budget statement on the new policy of industrial activism. Many right hon. and hon. Members will probably assume the foetal position when anyone talks about a new industrial strategy, and I understand the nervousness that is felt about that policy, which is redolent of a bygone time when we got basically every judgment wrong and in the process wasted a huge amount of
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[Mr. John Hutton] scarce public resource. However, I do not detect a likelihood of our repeating those failures; I do not think that will be the case. When I was Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, it used to irritate me enormously to hear many commentators opine on the fact that Britain was somehow a post-industrial society. No, we are not. We are the fifth-largest economy in the world and a great trading and commercial power. We should aim to retain that position, but we have no prospect whatever of doing that if we do not, and we are not aware of the need to, support businesses, particularly the small companies that have the potential to be the great employers of the future. That should be our focus. We should keep capital allowances; it is a false economy to play fast and loose with that kind of business support. We should aim to remain a great industrial society. That is what I see in the economy and in my right hon. Friends statement. The new finance for growth investment corporation might also prove to be a useful development, and I note that Simon Walker says that it will be good news for British businesses. As many people will know, Simon is chief executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. I have to tell my Front-Bench colleagues in all honesty that it is probably just as well that I will not be here after the next election because I will take some persuading before I lend my support to the notion of the new credit adjudicator. It is hard to imagine how we could create a situation in which the banks are legally forced to lend. I do not understand that, and if we have learned one thing from the recession it is that we should all have a better appreciation of the level of risk, and we should let the banks decide what that is. I do not think that the proposal is a particularly good idea, and I hope that more work will be done on it. I agreed with the remarks that were made about the need to cut the budget deficit. That is, by some distance, the biggest challenge faced by the House, and the new House of Commons will have the task of beginning to address it. We have started to identify the things that must change, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government set out helpful measures that we could implement, such as tackling waste and inefficiency. It is probably common ground that the next comprehensive spending review will be the toughest for a generation; it will certainly need to be. When the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) said that the biggest challenge facing us in the next Parliament will be reducing the deficit, he was only half right, and the bit that he got wrong is the thing that worries me most. Yes, we must reduce the deficit, but we must do so in a way that does not jeopardise the recovery, compromise the quality of public services or lead to higher unemployment. I am afraid that everything that I have heard from the Conservative party suggests that if he forms a Government, the next House of Commons will make precisely those mistakes. Obviously, I am the first to say that we must have the right balance between levels of taxation and spending, and given the economic conditions that we have been through, it is hardly surprising that we are not in balancewe are a considerable way away. However, we
have been through extraordinary times that have called for vital additional public support for the economy, especially the banking sector. That is why I am worried about the 50 per cent. higher rate of income tax. Labour Members must emphasise that that is a temporary measure, because it is unhelpful and wrong to send people the signal that the state will claw back more than half their earnings. There is an argument that the rate can be justified in the short term, but it cannot be a defensible long-term position. There are no votes in it, and no moral high ground can be occupied by adopting a taxation policy with punitive elements. When we announced the 1 per cent. increase in national insurance a year or so ago, we rightly emphasised that it would be a temporary measure, and we must get back to that argument. It would be bad to load the increase into the long term. We should not be putting a tax on jobs, and although there is an argument for the approach in the short term, it is not sustainable and we must get beyond it. When one looks at all the numbers flying around in relation to the Conservative proposals set out today, one detects that there has been a huge dose of double counting. The arithmetic that has been set out to justify the changes does not stack upit would blow up in our faceand would risk increasing the deficit, not reducing it. The Conservative party has picked up the bad habits that we learned in opposition, as the joy of opposition is being able to spend the same pound several times over. Those in government only get to spend that pound once, and the Conservative numbers do not add up. We can only spend the money once and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has, essentially, already spent it. I want to make two points before I shut up for the last time in this place. We have all heard the arguments about efficiencies in public services, and those of us who have held ministerial office have carried out the tough job of trying to extract them from spending Departments that do not like to give up any resource. Getting the savings out is always harder than anticipated. I think that there should be more outsourcing, and there will need to be a much tougher approach on procurement and streamlining back offices. That is common ground between both Front-Bench teams, which is fine, but it will be harder than people think. That is why I conclude that the only way we can be confident that we can reduce the public deficit as quickly as possible without compromising the quality of public services is fundamentally to change the basic delivery model for some of the public services. For example, the health service consumes more than 120 billion of public resources, but we spend a large dollop of that money completely inefficiently by providing bad pathways of care, especially for people with long-term and chronic diseases. Those people end up being treated inappropriately in the most high-cost settings and they are not provided with especially good care. We must change all that, but it will be difficult and will require strong leadership from politicians. It fills me with regret that Conservative Members will go around the country saying that we cannot change this or that part of the health service, because it has to change if we are to save money without compromising quality and to deliver better outcomes for our constituents. My final point relates to better regulation, which was not something for which I thought that I would have ministerial responsibility. The subject has disappointed
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many Ministers who, like me, have struggled with the brief, such as my right hon. Friend the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skillsa fine Minister who is currently sitting on the Front Bench. We and the previous Government passed legislation in that regard, but better regulation is not about legislation. This place can pass umpteen Bills, but they will not make a haporth of difference unless the Government change the culture of how they set about imposing new burdens on business. I am a fan of regulatory budgets, and I hope that the next Governmentif they are a Labour Government, I hope that my Government will do thiswill, for the first time, put a real cap on the additional cost burdens that we ask businesses, and especially small businesses, to accept in our pursuit of public policy goals. There must be a limit, and 19th-century regulatory approaches cannot meet the needs of a modern 21st economy, so we need to do more. This is my last speech in the House of Commons. Many people will say, Thank God for that. It has been a great honour to serve my constituents and I have had a fantastic time in doing so. Our constituents probably feel disappointed by all of us in this Parliament, so we owe it to them to do a job of work to rebuild their trust. This is a great country and we believe in some great things. I hope that Members of Parliament in the next House of Commons will stand up for those great values that have made Britain such a great country in the world. 6.6 pm Mr. David Curry (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Since we are having a succession of valedictories, I shall try not to be sentimental, maudlin or moralistic. We are talking about the Budget, however, so perhaps I may begin by talking about the two great elephants in the room that have not been raised: the great debate about the value of the renminbi that is taking place in the United States and China, and Germanys role in assisting the European economy. Those two things will have more impact on growth in the United Kingdom than anything mentioned in the Budget, and we should occasionally put our decisions in the context of those wider questions. I want to talk about public services because I note that one of the Governments super-pledges relates to safeguarding public services. My party uses similar terminology, but my problem is that I do not know what that means. What a wonderful word safeguard is; it is rather like the word appropriate because it can mean anything. At best the word is misleading, and at worst it is probably mendacious, because no public services will be safeguarded in the sense that they will be immune from pressure over the next few years. The crunch for local government will come not this year but in 2011-12 and 2012-13, because the comprehensive spending review takes care of the present year. However, if there is a cut in grant of something like 5 per cent., which is not an unreasonable assumption, given the pressures that we are under and the fact that local government is not one of the safeguarded services, serious decisions will have to be taken and there will be serious consequences. Recession drives up demand. It drives up demand for free school meals. It drives up demand from self-carers who fall back on welfare because they can no longer finance their care, and it drives up the cost of home-school transport. Those are only three areas in which recession inevitably pushes up costs.
We must also consider demographic demandwe do not need to go into the familiar argument of what an ageing population meansand the fact that recession leads to income being constrained from things such as tourism, and car parking and planning charges. Many local authorities depend heavily on those charges to maintain a relatively modest council tax, or at least to mitigate its impact. However, the council tax is not a buoyant tax. We have already heard about house building, and a low level of house building means that there is no buoyancy in the council tax. Local government will therefore face a huge problem, even with the best will in the world. If one then looks at the longer term, however, and considers the three big factors driving costs, the situation becomes much more difficult. First, there are the consequences of what we might call the baby P issue. Whenever there is one of these ghastly episodes where a child has suffered appalling mistreatment and has died, the impact on the reactions of social services departments is bound to come through, in the sense of them playing safe and not taking risks, and that enhances demandand rightly so; one understands that. Secondly, there is the demographic time bomb of adult care, plus the special demands of high-dependency cases, which will now impact much more severely. Thirdly, there is the old question of the waste and landfill targets; as they are winched up, the costs for local government get higher and higher. Those are three huge, emotional, high-volume and high-cost issues. Add that to the recession and we see that local government is facing the perfect storm. We can talk until we are blue in the face about safeguarding public services, but they will not be safeguarded. Nobody can, and nobody will, safeguard them. Some services can be hit harder than others, but even then we have to be careful, because there is no point in saying, Were going to make a special case of the health service if the consequence is that social services get particularly badly hit. So many of the outcomes in health depend on effective social services. They have to be treated together. If we dislocate the pair of them, what is gained on the swings will be lost on the roundabout. It is easy enough to talk about co-operation between health and social services; it is easy to talk about primary care trusts and social services working together, and there are some outstandingly good places where that has happened, such as Hertfordshire, but it is much easier to talk about it than to deliver it everywhere. I was a local government Minister, and was regarded as a rather benign and tolerant one, compared with what came after. It is wonderful how, in retrospect, one gains an aura of tolerance. I hope that that continues throughout ones career. As we are in a reflective mood, I should like to make two points about which I feel very strongly indeed. First, we must not let the whole notion of devolution slide under the pressure of the recession and the recovery. The pressure on Government is always to try to keep controlto say that other people cannot be relied on to exercise the same sort of control that the Government can. Given the volume of local government expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product, it is understandable that that instinct seems to burn deeply in the heart of Government, but there are very good arguments against it. The main one is not ideological; it is that Britain is now the most centralised state in western Europe, and it does not work very well. It is an efficiency argument.
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[Mr. David Curry] If one sits on the Public Accounts Committee, as I have for a number of years, one sees, week after week, a parade of catastrophically bad spending by the state. It is all very well talking about the active state, or the benign state, but it is a jolly inefficient state most of the time. We need to look hard at passing that power down to elected representativesto representative government. We should be careful about empowering non-representative groups, because there can be tyranny on a small scale, just as there can on a big scale. Those on the receiving end do not care whether the tyrant is big or little; the fact is that the actions are tyrannical. Let us pass power down to representative government. I hope that when my party comes to look at regional structures, it will do what I think is a very conservative thing: invite local government to bid, with a price, for the powers that we want to remove from other organisations. Groups should get together and say, Yes, we could deliver the competences of the regional development agency, or We could deliver the competence in training and skills. I never understood why the RDAs were not given the competence of training and skills, given that economic development is supposed to be at the core of their purpose. Let us trust local government to bid for those powers, to say how it will deliver them, and to say how much that will cost. We should then let it get on and do that. That is an accountable system. My second reflection is perhaps somewhat more controversial. One of the reasons why I came into politics was a feeling that my generation had inherited a country that was in rapid transformation and, in many ways, had not come to terms with it. Britain was the sick man of Europe in my youth, when I was at university. When I was 18, in 1962, Dean Acheson, the American Secretary of State, made a speech in which he said:
Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role.
is something rather British about being able to put something together on an improvised basis that manages to carry on. We talk about punching above our weight, but a person can only punch above their weight for a certain number of rounds, and then they get flattened. I do not want us to punch above our weight. I want us to work out what our weight is and punch at it. I do not want to go a gram above our weight. We send our young soldiers to die in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we do not have the means to sustain over a long term the total support that means that we can carry through those missions with complete success. If we are honest, we ended up in Iraq, in Basra, not in a glorious episode, but in a somewhat humiliating one. When it comes to the intervention in Afghanistan, I want to be able to say that we will see things through, so that I can say that those young people did not die in vain. If we cannot sustain those operations in the long term, we should not embark on them. I would say to an incoming Government: look hard at the UK. Look at us from the outside as well as from the inside. Turn the telescope around sometimes, and look through both ends. What can we really do? What is it reasonable to ask our citizens to sustain? What is the effective power or weight of the United Kingdom in the modern world, where we spend all our time talking about the impact of globalisation? In the end, of course things boil down to budgets and economic performance, but we need to look honestly in the mirror of our national identity and national capability. If we do that, the next Government will perhaps be able to answer the challenge that Dean Acheson set 48 years ago, which, in many ways, has governed my political life. 6.18 pm Mr. David Clelland (Tyne Bridge) (Lab): It is a great honour, indeed a privilege, to follow the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry). He represents the acceptable face of conservatism in this House, particularly on issues of local government. He has proved one of Parliaments most effective speakers, and he will be greatly missed. Like him and colleagues who have preceded me in this debate, I, too, will be leaving at the general election. This is my 25th Budget, and my last speech in a major debate in the House of Commons. I spoke to some of my constituents over the weekend about the Budget, and although they did not feel that it was the most exciting one they had ever seen, they accepted it as sensible and right in the circumstances. It is a Budget for the economic times in which we live. It is responsible and designed to aid the recovery. It will also be the last Budget before the general election, and the 14th Budget of a Labour Government. There have been many memorable Budgets from this Government, including those that heralded the winter fuel allowance, family and pensioner tax credits, and free bus travelBudgets that have helped my constituency of Tyne Bridge, and the good people who live there: unemployment has tumbled since 1997; health services have improved; new schools and colleges have been built; educational standards and opportunities have improved for our young people; and housing has been modernised, and new houses provided. Although much more needs to be done, the Government have shown what can be done, given the opportunity, and what they will do in future.
I am leaving this House 48 years after Dean Acheson made that speech, and I believe that that dilemma for the United Kingdom remains unresolved. We cling to an increasingly asymmetric relationship with the United States. I would not want us not to have a particular relationship with the United States, but increasingly we cannot sustain it on the basis of that old idea that something very special is at its heart. The current President has less interest in that idea than someperhaps less than any otherof his predecessors whose roots went back to Europe. We are perennially reluctant Europeans, yet no sane party has come up with a plan B on Europe. I look forward to seeing, from the perspective of my greenhouse, the changed reaction towards Europe of Conservative Back Benchers if they sit on the Government Benches, as opposed to the Opposition Benches, given my party leaderships decision to have constructive engagement on Europe, and its extraordinarily elegant and, from my point of view, extremely welcome climbdown on the referendum pledge. I know that Europe has huge problems. In a sense, its bluff is being called: how can one create an economic union without the political union that goes with it? But the ability of the Europeans to cobble something together that works is absolutely astonishing. In a sense, there
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Only last Friday I attended the launch of the redevelopment of Newcastles west end, the scene of street riots in the early 1980s, where hundreds of new homes and community facilities will be provided thanks to a Labour Government. The redevelopment of Gateshead quays has seen an influx of new jobs and opportunities a cultural revolution that has seen a town once described as
a dirty back lane leading to Newcastle
rise to become internationally renowned for sport and recreation, and its arts and cultural development. All that has taken place under a Labour council and a Labour Government. With the Governments help, hundreds of new homes will be provided on the site of a former freight yard near Gateshead town centre, which itself is being cleared to make way for new shops and housing. Indeed, the only famousperhaps, infamous building left to view is the Get Carter car park, which still stands, but not for much longer. That story can be repeated right across the north-east, where the decline of heavy engineering and coal mining under the previous Conservative Government is being replaced with new opportunities. There are new industries, such as that of Nissan in Sunderland, which will soon develop the first generation of mass-produced electric cars. The production of offshore wind generators will, I hope, soon be boosted by Siemens, which plans a new manufacturing facility that would provide hundreds of new jobs. There is also the potential for clean coal technology and other innovative ideas, such as solid-state lighting systems, green technologies and so on, which are emerging in the region. One NorthEast, our regional development agency, is at the centre of that, working with our businesses to develop the north-easts economy. The hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) confirmed that a Conservative Government would abolish One NorthEast, but Conservative candidates on the ground in the north-east do not take that attitude, because they know about the RDAs popularity and tell us that, if the region wants it to remain, it will remain. They have not said how they decide on that, or whether they would have a referendum, but from candidates in the constituencies we hear a different story from that told by Opposition Front Benchers. There is still a lot more to do, and all that needs to be added to that is the candid recognition that there is always a lot more to do. Indeed, if there is one thing that we can rely on Governments to do, it is not enough. However, economic recovery and future progress will rely on the public and private sectors working together. That is what Labour has promoted and, to a large degree, achieved: public and private sectors working in harmony and, sometimes, in partnership to provide the services and the prosperity that we all want. First, however, we have to tackle the deficit that has built up during the crisis that we have come through, and it is right that the banks, which sparked the crisis, should now do more to help the recovery by ensuring that small businesses can survive and grow. It is right also that important public services are protected, and that the public sector is not expected to pay for the mistakes of the private sector. In the north-east, where the public sector accounts for 53 per cent. of GDP, we know only too well that threats of early and deep cuts in public spending would
spell very bad news and threaten the recovery. Although it is true that much has been achieved and improved since 1997, the disparities between the north and south of our country stubbornly remain, much to the frustration of those of us who live in the north. Life in some parts of the south is becoming uncomfortable, with growing congestion and over-population; at the same time, life in parts of the north is made more difficult because the emerging industries and employment opportunities in the south are inaccessible to people, unless they move there and add to its congestion. Attempts over the years to attract more business to the north have been frustrated by the concentration in London and the south-east of economic and political power, which is a magnet for development. One way to tackle the problem is to bring the north and south closer together by reducing the time it takes to travel between the two. The Labour Governments proposals to develop a high-speed rail network are a welcome contribution to that process. The development of high-speed rail on the continent has shown that cities that the high-speed network directly serves benefit financially and are advantaged in comparison with those that are not. So if high-speed rail is to contribute to efforts to tackle the north-south divide, surely the areas that are most in need and farthest from the centre of national economic and political influence should be included on the network. It is vital to the north-east of England that the proposed high-speed rail network, not just the proposed spur line, serves the region. It is disappointing, however, that otherwise forwardthinking and relatively young Transport Ministers find it so difficult to see beyond conventional rail systems. Surely we cannot be contemplating that, by the end of the 21st century, high-speed rail will still consist of hundreds of tonnes of metal trundling along on steel rails. Our continental competitors are ahead of us in the development of high-speed rail, so instead of taking one small step to catch up, why can our Ministers not take one huge leap, boldly go where none has gone before and develop a real high-speed network that is fit for the 21st century? I refer to maglev: a train carried on magnetic levitationa British invention, by the wayat speeds of up to 300mph. It makes a mockery of current proposals and would really put Britain ahead of the game for once. Indeed, I recommend that Ministers examine UK Ultraspeeds response to the High Speed 2 report, which makes enlightening reading. Other measures in the Budget are a little less headlinegrabbing but important to the social life of many constituents. I note that the Prime Minister recently announced the appointment of a pubs Minister, in recognition of the demise of too many local pubs. I had to point out to the new Minister that working mens and other private non-profit-making members clubs are also going through bad times, and that legislation such as the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005 and the smoking ban, however well-meaning, have had a negative and often damaging effect. As a consequence, clubs are struggling and many have either closed or are under the threat of closure. Those clubs are more often than not right in the centre and at the heart of our communities. They provide a venue for wedding receptions, funeral receptions, christenings, birthdays and so on, and it is disappointing that the Budget does not give any relief to such valuable
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[Mr. David Clelland] community assets. Indeed, increases in duties will aggravate the problem. I am pleased that the pubs Minister has announced that clubs will be included in his deliberations, and that a new inquiry, chaired by my very good friend, the noble Lord Bilston, will look at how clubs can be helped to survive and thrive. I look forward to its conclusions; it could not have a better or more knowledgeable chairman. As I said at the beginning of my contribution, this is probably my last speech in a major debate in this House, and I, like my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn), came here after serving 23 years on the shop floor in heavy engineering. My election to Parliament was a source of pride to my parents, who lived through the war years and the years of austerity. My father was a political animal. He took such a close interest in politics, particularly Labour politics, that he was nicknamed Clem, after Clem Attleea name that he liked so much he adopted it for the rest of his life. But he never aspired to political office. My parents were proud not just of me but of our country, where people of modest backgrounds as well as professionals and the wealthy can make it to Parliament. It is vital that we retain that characteristic in the years ahead. Too often these days, people become career politicians after leaving university, and they have little or no knowledge of the real world outside this House. I have had the privilege of representing the heart of Tynesidethe people I grew up with. When I go, owing to boundary changes, Tyne Bridge goes also, so it is probably an appropriate time for me to leave. I hope that I have been able to make my mark, however slight, on this place, and that those who arrive after the election not only find the job as fulfilling as I have, but are able to contribute effectively and passionately on behalf of their constituents. I thank my wife and family for their support over the years. It would not have been possible without that. Finally, I wish my successor and the new Parliament well. Being an MP has been a great privilege. I thank my constituents, my party and my union for giving me that opportunity. I hope that I have lived up to it. 6.29 pm Mr. John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): The hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) has just made an eloquent plea on behalf of the north-east. I agree about the importance of people entering this place with experience of real life and real jobs; whatever that experience may be, it is important that this place is not just filled up with professional politicians. However, I want to take him up on one pointthat the deficit built up over the recession. It did not: three quarters of it is entirely discretionary and entirely the result of Government spending decisions from about 2002 to 2008, when public spending ran out of control. According to the Treasurys own figures, which rely on pretty optimistic growth assumptions, the structural part of the deficit was 9 per cent. last year and 8 per cent. this year, and it will decline to 6 per cent., 4.5 per cent., 3.5 per cent. and 3 per cent. over the next five years. In five years time, if the growth assumptions in the Treasurys forecast are right, and if it is right about what the structural part of the deficit isthe error on
that could be in both directionswe will be running a deficit of 50 billion a year. That is entirely discretionary. This is money that our children are going to have to pay back. We are borrowing 3,000 a year for every man, woman and child in the country. By the end of the forecasting period in the Red Book, we are talking about a debt of 1.4 trillion. The interest on that alone will cost every man, woman and child in the country 1,100 a year. The idea that deficit financing is a responsible thing to do is simply wrong: it is stealing from the next generation. In a recession, one expects there to be a budget deficit as a result of natural stabilisers. Taxes fall and benefits for people who are unemployed rise. However, that is only about a third of the deficitthe other two thirds is entirely discretionary. I am afraid that I am one of those people who think it needs to be eliminated an awful lot faster than the Government plan. Holding spending still will not be enough. Even if we had growth of 2.5 per cent. a year, the process would take nine to 10 years. Mr. Jeremy Browne: I ask this entirely in the spirit of genuine inquiry: does the hon. Gentleman think that this mornings announcement on national insurance by his partys Front Benchers would make the situation that he describes worse, or does he hope that the stimulus effect would mean that it was more than compensated for in economic growth? Mr. Maples: The purpose of that was to try to do something to stimulate the creation of jobs in the private sector. I am concerned about the level of gilt sales that we are indulging in. Over the next four years, according to the Red Book, the deficit will be about 570 billion. Maturities are running at about 40 billion a year. For the last year, all the gilts that the Government issued were sold to the Bank of England, so that will have to be undone over the next three or four years. On the Governments own figures, we are looking at selling 920 billion of gilts over the next four to five years. That is not possible without a major increase in interest rates, a major fall in the currency, or both. Another reason why it is important to eliminate the deficit a lot faster is that the private sector cannot recover with these levels of borrowing and taxation, as well as inefficiencies in the use of people in the public sector. That will lead to a lower pound, higher interest rates, and, perhaps, inflation. We have been running an incredibly loose monetary policy alongside the fiscal policy, although that is partly to do with the problems in the banks. I got interested in politics in the 1970s because I thought we were getting into terrible trouble on the Governments finances. I came into this place when a Conservative Government were trying to grapple with an inherited deficit of 9 per cent. of gross domestic product, and it looks as though the next Government are going to have to start from a much worse position than that. I fundamentally believe in sound public finance and sound monetary policy. We all know, from our personal life or our business life, that if one is getting into debt and things are not getting any better, the sooner one faces up to the problem and straightens it out, the sooner ones life can get back to normal.
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Every business man knows this, and we all know it from our own lives. I am sure that we have all had periods when we have taken on debts that we cannot really afford and interest starts to catch up with us, which begins to mean that we cannot spend money on things we want to spend it on. The sooner one grapples with that problem and resolves it, the sooner one gets back to normal. Part of the adjustment to this process will fall on the public sector work force, and I am afraid that it will be a very painful time. However, the Government have increased the public sector work force from 5.2 million to 6.1 million during their period in office. The pay bill is a quarter of public spending, and last year it went up by 3.8 per cent. A lot of those people are not productively employed. Let me take just three examples. In 1997, the Arts Council employed 200 people and its overhead was 5 per cent. of its budget. It now employs 765 people, and its overhead is 11 per cent. of its budget. Giving away other peoples money has always seemed to me to be one of the easiest things to be tasked with in life, let alone public life. Why the Arts Council needs four times as many people to do the job as it did in 1997 beggars belief. In the national health service, most of the increase in numbers has been in health professionals. Of 290,000 employees, 172,000 have been health professionals, but 120,00040 per cent.have been management and support staff. The Office for National Statistics has just reported that productivity is falling in the NHS. That is not surprising, because one cannot throw at it the amounts of money that the Government have and get value for money from it. The NHS can make massive efficiency and productivity savings over the next few years on the basis of the very generous settlements that the Government have given it. As for schools, there have been 41,000 more teachers but 90,000 more support staff. There is a huge increase in bureaucracy from which we can make savings. These people will move into the private sector as it starts to recover when the Government get out of the mess that they are in. That will require a little bit of boosting on the supply side. I should like to make a couple of suggestions about how the unemployment that will inevitably be created gets picked up in the private sector more quickly than it might otherwise be. If I were Chancellor, I would have, for two years, 100 per cent. capital allowances and zero capital gains tax on business investment made during that period to try to bring forward business investment that will create jobs. That would mean a very significant tax increase. The Government have gone a little way towards it, because they have reduced capital gains tax rates a lot over the past few years, but a temporary measure like that would do what is needed. My other plea is that when public spending is cut, as it inevitably will be, we try to protect a couple of areas of the capital budget. The Government make two contributions to the productivity of the nation: in transport and in education. Although there has been a lot of investment in some aspects of transport, the investment in roads has been appalling under this Government. Many business men say that what they would like is not all the Governments programmes but a better road to the docks from wherever their factory happens to be. On higher and further education, raising the skills of people in the work force makes them more employable
and more productive, and I would like that aspect to be protected. Other areas of capital spending will inevitably come under pressure, but they are always the easiest things to cut. The banks have been one of the causes of the problems we have been experiencing, but, remarkably, they seem to fail completely to appreciate how unpopular they are, the problems they have caused or the need for any adjustment in how they are regulated and how they behave. They have gone back, remarkably quickly, to what seem to me to be their bad old ways. It is absolutely right for the Government, as the guarantor of retail deposits and the lender of last resort in terms of system risk, to say, Were never going to have this happen again. I think Members in all parts of the House are agreed about that. We have heard all sorts of ideas. Adair Turner has talked about micro-regulation by the Financial Services Authority. David Walker has talked about the reform of bank boards and moving regulation into the Bank of England, which is probably a good idea. We have heard about counter-cyclical capital ratios, micro-prudential regulation, and watching liquidity. I am sure that all those ideas have something to contribute. However, if the new regulatory framework is to work, it will have to involve some international co-ordination; otherwise, people will just go into regulatory arbitrage, as they did before. I would like to suggest something much more simple. The net assets and liabilities of the banking sector mirror the net assets and liabilities of the non-financial part of the economy. If bank balance sheets are growing at 10 per cent. a year but the economy is clearly not growing that fast, that tells us that there is a problem. That is mirrored, in turn, by the money supply. Throughout most of the previous decade, the economy was growing at about 3 per cent. a year and the money supply was growing at 10 per cent. That was a big red flag showing that there was a problem. One would not need to be a super-clever regulator to realise that banks were expanding their lending too fast and probably lending a lot of money to people who could not pay it back. Ultimately, in all such banking crises, there is one problemthe banks made bad loans, and they will not get that money back. In this case, they got it so badly wrong that the taxpayer had to step in to help them out. The industry is too bigit is worth four and a half times our gross domestic product. By that I mean that the banks balance sheets are too big, not that the financial services industry is too big. We must remember that for every fat cat banker with a 10 million bonus, there are probably 50,000 people working in fairly ordinary jobs in call centres or offices, processing transactions, in sales and marketing, or whatever. A very large number of people are employed in an industry that is a very important one for us internationally. I should like to make a couple of suggestions of my own. The Americans have suggested bringing back the Glass-Steagall division between investment banking and commercial bankingthe casino and the utility. I find that a pretty attractive idea, although I worry, on the other side, that big companies need banks that can do a lot of things for them. If we are not to go the whole hog, I do not see why we cannot put banks into silos. The bank could run its mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance business in one silo, with a certain amount of capital committed to it but not putting
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[Mr. Maples] deposits at risk. If it wanted to run a proprietary trading operationfrankly, I do not believe it should, because it would basically be betting against its customersthat should be in a separate silo. The only thing that the Government should guarantee is the retail deposits in a separate subsidiary of the banking group, and we should regulate very tightly what it did with that money. If a bank wanted to run its own internal hedge fund and lost money on that, it would lose a certain amount of capital, but it would not put the rest of the business at risk, as Lehman Brothers did. We have to stop people gambling. In insurance, one cannot have a reinsurance contract without having an insurance contract in the first placeone cannot insure something in which one does not have an interest. It ought to be the same with credit default swaps and associated derivatives. There are trillions of them floating on a tiny amount of real transactions, and they ought to be restricted to the amount of the real transactions. The big point that I wish to make is that the ethics and morality of the banking business need to change. When the closed shop of English gentlemen who ran the City for a couple of hundred years was broken up 30 years ago, we got an eat-what-you-kill philosophy from the Americans instead. It is pernicious, because it encourages an individual to take a very short-term view of what he or she does, in the interests of maximising his or her own bonus. Nobody is looking after the firm or much concerned about the customer. Bankers need to start thinking about the purpose of what they do, and they need to reintroduce strong ethics to it. They need to deal with conflicts of interest over proprietary trading, and they must put the good of the customer and the organisation that they work for much higher up their agenda. I believe that the idea of a transaction tax on banks is terrible, as it would just get passed on to customers. However, the idea of taxing the banks profits a bit more might be good. The reason why they are making so much money at the moment is that they can borrow it from the Bank of England for next to nothing. The argument for a windfall tax on the banks is pretty overwhelming, and if my party is in charge of these affairs in a couple of months time, as I hope it will be, I hope that it will take that on board. I came into this place when a Conservative Government were trying to sort out the terrible fiscal and monetary mess that a Labour Government had led us into, and I fear that I am leaving when the same thing is about to happen. In between, there was a period of pretty sound finance both under our party and under the current Government for their first five, six or seven years. I fundamentally and fervently believe that it is the job of the Government to run their finances soundly; otherwise, they are mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren, which is at worst immoral and at best not very intelligent. 6.42 pm Alan Simpson (Nottingham, South) (Lab): I came into the House 18 years ago frustrated by a Government who had sold the pass on manufacturing in favour of a dangerous flirtation with speculative and deregulated finance. So, a lot has changed in those 18 years.
We are where we are because of the mess that speculative and deregulated finance has taken the UK and global economy into. We currently hover somewhere between recession and recovery; with the good news being that unemployment is falling and the bad news being that employment is also falling. The fear is that, at the coming election, the public could be faced with a choice between the Tories, who would take Britain into a double-dip recession, and a Labour programme that could offer the prospects of jobless growth and kinder cuts. The House and the country need a bigger vision to be put on offer at the general election. I remind the House that it was not public services that took the UK into the economic crisis; it was bankers and speculators who played around with the casino economy at the expense of the real economy. As a Parliament, we have failed to remain focused on that. Instead, we have allowed the debate to be shifted into a narrow argument about whose cuts will be the gentlest. I agree with the Treasury Committee that Parliament and the Government have missed a huge opportunity in failing to take up the prospect of breaking up the banks in the way that the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) has outlined; by separating the retail, high-street functions of banks that deal with the receipt of our wages and savings from the banks that want to go into the more speculative parts of the casino economy. If they are going to gamble, let them gamble, but they cannot be underwritten by a public bail-out that has to be paid for at the expense of public services. We are asking the wrong people to pay the price of the crisis that we have been thrown into. I happen to believe in the value of a tax on speculative transfers, which would not necessarily be a tax on high-street banking. The idea was first introduced by the economist James Tobin in 1985. The great advantage of a 0.05 per cent transactions tax is that it would not harm long-term, serious investment in any way, but it would do tax damage to those who move money around by the hour, minute, second and microsecond. We ought to take a punitive tax view of such destruction of the real economy. The House needs to ask itself what has been achieved for the country by the 185 billion bail-out of the banks. The reality is that, in the current recession, there has been a contraction in the economy of 80 billion, 46 billion of which has been a cut in investment. It is right for us to ask ourselves whether throwing that quantum of money into bailing out the banks has done harm or good to the real economy. Another economist, the late John Kenneth Galbraith, described this approach as the horse and sparrow philosophy. It was the thinking that if one needed to feed both a horse and a sparrow, one could simply feed as many oats as possible into the mouth of the horse. Some of it would eventually pass straight through and feed the sparrow on the ground. Galbraith simply pointed out that there were better ways of feeding sparrows. The same message needs to be passed to the Treasury and the Government today. There are better ways of feeding the sparrows who keep our manufacturing economy going than throwing money into the banks. Despite what we say in the Chamber about interest rates, if we talk to companies that are trying to get access to credit, we hear that they are currently facing charges of 14 to
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15 per cent. There is nothing like a near-zero interest rate in the real economy in which they are trying to survive. Like the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, I believe that the focus needs to be on jobs, and I think it needs to be on green jobs. For a moment, I got really excited about the proposal to create a green investment bank. However, page 105 of the Red Book states that
the Government intends to create a Green Investment Bank, with a mandate to invest in low-carbon infrastructure. The Government will start by investing up to 1 billion from the sale of infrastructure-related assets and will seek to match this with at least 1 billion of private sector investment.
That amounts to not spend-to-save but sell-to-loan, and on a scale that is pitifully unambitious. We can look at the opportunities that were missed in the Budget. Since 1999, when the Government introduced individual savings accounts, 19 million people have put about 175 billion of their tax-free savings into ISAs. Yet we have never sought to direct what those ISAs could be used for. If we had made them conditional on green infrastructure investment, we could have had that 175 billion pot as a condition of the tax concessions we offered. We could have done exactly the same through conditions attached to pension tax relief. We could have said to the bank that we currently own, the Royal Bank of Scotland, that a defined percentage of its investments and lending had to be focused on the delivery of green infrastructure. The reality across the international landscape is that other countries are driving their economic recovery, and job generation programmes, by taking themselves into a different space, post the crisis, from the one that they occupied before it happened. The Budget fails to follow those leads. Many years ago, my father tried to explain to me, in simple terms, that life is an economic money-go-round. One simply has to ask oneself where the money gets on, where it gets off and who walks off with it. The Budget fails to have the courage to redirect the money-go-round. It is the task of Government not to retreat from the large challenge of redirecting the money instead of arguing who should make do with less. Let me give an example from Germany. Some time ago, I brought to the UK to meet UK Ministers a sophisticated, urbane politician called Hermann Scheer, the architect of Germanys feed-in tariff legislation. During the ministerial discussions, he was told, Thats all very interesting, but its a heck of an expensive interventionist policy to pursue. He politely gave a cameo example to show that the exact opposite was true. He pointed out that the average German citizen spent 3,500 on annual energy costs in the home and the workplace. So the average German Landera county or region of about 1 million peoplespent 3.5 billion each year on purchasing its energy. He said that most of the energy purchases came from external sourcesthird countries or multinationals. The money was thrown out of Germanys windows to enrich others. Scheer explained that all they did was to change the way in which they thought about the money-go-round. They realised that by simply spending 3.5 billion a yearthe same sumon themselves, they could find a way out of the recession rather than digging themselves deeper into it. That sort of fundamental rethink about the workings of the money-go-round needs to find roots in this country, this Government and this House.
Countries that pursue such a line find that they gain job security and economic security, that their Exchequer has increased tax revenues and that they get energy security. The same can apply to food policy and water security. However, it requires us to break away from the myth that interventionism is a pitfall for all Governments. I find it sad that we have inherited a fear of picking losers rather than winners. This has made us retreat behind an unstable and unconvincing belief that deregulated markets will take us out of, rather than drive us into, a crisis. Sadly, it is certain that Conservative proposals would plunge us back into crisis and that the Labour Budget will not take us out of it. We need something more; something which will break the hold that speculative finance has on the UK economy. We need something to break the power the energy cartel has to define the short-term nature of the UK energy market and make incessant demands for corporate subsidies. We need something that intervenes to break the power of multicommodity traders to undermine UK food security and define the basis of an unstable and unsustainable UK food policy. We need a Government who are unafraid to wrest power from the exploitative and unsustainable in favour of those who want their ecological footprint to be sustainable. Will we get that at the coming election? I suspect not. I will not be part of the next Parliament. I am simply following my mentor, Tony Benn, who said that he was leaving Parliament to spend more time in politics. As a parting promise, I say to the House that I shall seek to be part of the social movements that ensure I am as much of a pain in the backside to this place from outside Parliament as I have tried to be inside Parliament. I hope to bring constructive discomfort to all those who stand in the way of the future that Britain needs. 6.54 pm Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD): Unlike the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson), who has just concluded his contribution in characteristically robust and witty fashion, I will not follow the general trend of the debate by describing my speech as a valedictory addressI hope that it is not, as one who seeks re-election. Indeed, if God spares me for another 10 days or so, I can at least confidently state that this will not be my last contribution of the Parliament, because, for the first time in nearly 27 years, I have got Question 1 in Scotland Question Time immediately after the Easter recess. Reflecting on the many and varied valedictory addresses to which the Chamber has been privileged to listen this evening, it has struck me that ones maiden speech is heard with indulgence and some affection and good will, that ones valedictory speech is heard with gained and earned respect and also some affection, and it is just the bit in between that can be sheer hell on the Floor of the House. We should probably all bear that in mind; it is a good corrective. I want to contribute briefly, essentially from a constituency vantage point, and speak about one or two items in the Budget and their impact on my part of the country. In doing that, I recognise that the Budget is constrained through the financial circumstances and that its measures are liable to be frustrated because of
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[Mr. Charles Kennedy] parliamentary constraints. We all know that we will look for the real Budgetthe real measuresin the comprehensive spending review and the voting decisions that are made in the next Parliament, whatever its arithmetic. The Budget has therefore been presented in that shade and is subject to recessionary and banking pressures that have been generated globally, particularly in the past 12 to 18 months. Bashing the bankers has become as popular as bashing Members of ParliamentI say that on the day of a significant statement about the new expenses regime that will kick in for the next House of Commons. I believe that, even without the banking implosion, when this or any other countrybut certainly our country, which remains an island economy, however much we are enmeshed in a welcome way in the single European markethits tough times economically, although of course we need our banks and we need them to behave responsibly and properly, as they should have done, we essentially need to build our way out of recession. That means a viable and vibrant manufacturing base and an emphasis on construction, which can do so much to help kick-start or pick up the momentum of the economy in different parts of the country. That applies especially to a traditionally fragile economic area such as mine, which is on the periphery of the market and of the UK, as well as of the European Union, and is always destined to bethe highlands and islands of Scotland. One need only consider current unemployment and what sector those who are unemployed were in when they last had a job to realise that the proportion in construction or construction-related activity was enormous. Of course, as the Secretary of State rightly said when he opened the debate, the spin-off benefits of new build in the housing sector and the knock-on effects are significant. I therefore hope that the changes in the Budget, for example, on stamp duty, will help the Scottish economy as much as the English economy, perhaps particularly that of the south-east of England, and give a lift to a more buoyant housing market, which will assist the movement of money and people and help release an increase in the wealth passing hands across the economy for the construction of new housing generally. That will go a long way to help to lift unemployment in so many parts of the country, as will the more modest but much needed construction-related activity that has arisen not least because of the atrocious winter weather that we have suffered. I represent the second northernmost constituency on the mainland, and if I may say, those engaged in dealing with the severity of the snow that we faced this winter performed magnificently. That construction-related activity has arisen not only because of the recent weather, but there is a persistent problem because of underfunding, so I hope that the Scottish National party Government in Edinburgh will be constructive and responsible in their approach to the extra funding from the UK Exchequer. I hope that they will notas is so often their wontturn it into a political football between them and the Labour Government in London as to who can match whom for funding. The fact is that the road user and the individual citizen in Scotland, including in the highlands, is less concerned about who gives the stamp of approval for investment than about that investment getting through, so that there is a much needed improvement in infrastructure.
My second pointI am speaking wearing my informal hat as rector of the university of Glasgow, and I am perhaps not required to declare that as an interestis on the welcome increase in spending on higher education. Last year, Lord Mandelson made announcements about sudden, dramatic and unanticipated cuts, but he is in danger of ditching centuries upon centuries of British history with regard to the university sector. I did a TV programme with him on Budget day last week, when he simply lectured the universities on how they must cut their cloth accordingly, find savings, do what they were told and the rest of it. Even Mrs. Thatcher did not talk about the universities in quite that way. They may frequently have irritated her, but she accepted that under the workings of our unwritten constitution, at the end of the day, they are supposed to be independent institutions, despite the fact that they rightly receive public subvention. Lord Mandelson does not appear to feel constrained even to the extent that Mrs. Thatcher did in her most modest moments. Real-terms cuts have been announced for the Scottish universities. On the back of last weeks Budget, the Scottish Funding Council announced that 20 Scottish institutions will receive a 1.2 per cent. increase in funding for 2009-10, but, as the National Union of Students Scotland and the University and College Union say, that represents a real-terms cut overall, which does not match what the SFC said on 18 March, which was that there has already been a cut of 573 million from this years budget. Just as we need to invest in infrastructure, we need to invest in the future. There is a common consensus across the political spectrum that education, skilled training, innovation, science and research are going to be crucial for our country in the long term. The Government are therefore pursuing a false economy in the tertiary sector. An innovative approach to the economy is demonstrated by the interesting proposals for the green bank, which are worthy of support. That could help further to kick-start our exploration of alternative strategies for economic renewal and maintenance of the economy generally, and it pushes the boat out further, not least in the energy sector. Scotland, including the highlands and islands, has so much to offer on renewables. I hope that the beginnings represented by the green bank will help to place my part of the country even more at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies for further generations. Something else that helps to correct the inevitable geographic imbalance of my constituencyI referred to that earlieris the arrival of broadband. The steps that the Government are taking to extend the scope and coverage of broadband are welcome, and the Prime Minister recently said that there will be 90-plus per cent. coverage, but lo and behold, my part of the country is one of the areas that will not be covered soon. That is despite the fact that it is one of the areas of the country most in need of the opportunity that broadband and super broadband provides to help to alleviate the in-built difficulties that we face in access to markets and consumers, and to give us the ability to compete on a level playing field. Another feature of this Budget and so many before itLabour and Conservativeis that the playing field is grossly distorted by the way in which fuel duty is applied in this country. Although the Chancellor is
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phasing the increase in three instalments from this year to the next, there is stillafter years of reports, investigations and pleas from across the political spectrum no recognition of the pressing difficulties caused by fuel duty in rural areas, where public transport is all too often not available, and where the motor vehicle is not a luxury item, but an absolutely social and economic necessity. In that way, I am afraid to say, the Budget falls well short. The Budget will be a key issue in the coming weeks in our part of the country. Some measures are welcome, but there is so much more to campaign for. 7.6 pm Mr. Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe) (Lab): This will probably be the last speech I make in Parliament as the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe. I do not intend to lose in the general election, but unfortunately the Electoral Commission, in its wisdom, decided to rename my seat Sheffield, South-East, which is rather disappointing. Although that is a technically accurate geographical description of the constituency, the Sheffield, Attercliffe constituency has existed since 1885125 yearsand I like the idea of continuing to use historical names. I am slightly disappointed about that, but I nevertheless hope to represent the constituency under its new name after the election. There have been many speeches from right hon. and hon. Members who are leaving Parliament, and we wish them all well. I have enjoyed the companionship of my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson), who has just left the Chamber, and I value his friendship. We have not always seen eye to eye or been on the same side of arguments, but we have certainly always been on the same side in the parliamentary football team, where we have enjoyed several games together. I also want to comment on the contribution of the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry). Over the years, I have enjoyed many debates with him, both in the Chamber and in Committee. He did his best to argue the case for, and the cause of, local government when he was Local Government Minister. Many on the Government Benches have great respect for what he has achieved and how he has put his views forward, and for his great wealth of knowledge on local government, housing and planning. Unfortunately, his time as Minister was rather constrained by the yoke of Thatcherism, under which he labouredhe did not always agree with itbut we will be sorry to see him go. Before he does so, perhaps he could give a few tips on the real meaning of localism to one or two Conservative Front Benchers. I shall come to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) in a minute. At a recent meeting of the Select Committee on Yorkshire and the Humber, regional representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI and the Engineering Employers Federation were united in giving us two messages: first, that Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, is doing a good job in helping them through the recession, and that we should not get rid of it; and, secondly, that we should not start making cuts now, and that the recovery is too fragile and limited to run the risk of pushing them back into a double-dip
recession. Industry and business made that argument clearly and with a united voice, and we ought to pay heed to it. This morning, I visited a company called Birley Manufacturing. We talked briefly about the Budget, but also about the companys interest in the Governments long-term commitment to spending in certain areas. We often forget that public spending is not simply about jobs and service provision in the public sector; it is also important for private business. That company makes the skirts that go under high-speed trains and it has had a major programme of investment over the past few years, so it is important that it knows what the future holds for Government commitment to public investment in transport. Sheffield is clearly having a difficult time in the recession, like the rest of the country, but we are not experiencing anything like what happened in the 1980sthe scenes of devastation and destruction, with 40,000 people losing their jobs in steel and engineering over a decade in the Lower Don valley, in my constituency and that of my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central. Of course, there have been some redundancies, but there have also been some real success stories. My right hon. Friend mentioned Sheffield Forgemasters, which has seen a management buy-out with the workers owning a large percentage of the company. It is going from strength to strength, with 70 apprentices taken on. It is also making a multimillion pound investment in a major new forging press so that it can be a significant producer of parts for the new nuclear programme here and overseas. Some 80 million of Government assistance has been given. We should not return to old policies of supporting failure in business, but the Government should consider how we can enable successes, and Sheffield Forgemasters is a major success. I congratulate the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministers in that Department, but I especially congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central. He really underplayed his involvement, but if it had not been for his knowledge, understanding, commitment, drive and refusal to give up, that investment would not have been made and those jobs for the future in our advanced manufacturing sectornot only for Sheffield, but for the UKwould not have been secured. Advanced manufacturing is the way forward for Sheffield and the UK. We should not forget that we are the sixth major manufacturing exporter in the world. When I went the other week to the advanced manufacturing park that my right hon. Friend mentioned, it was put to me very simply: If the Chinese can produce goods with wage costs at 20 per cent. of ours, we have to be able to produce goods with a labour input of 20 per cent. of that of the Chinese. With ceramic cutting tools, machines can do a job in less than 20 per cent. of the time they used to take with the old tools, and that is how British manufacturing will move forward. The Government have to be part of that, and the advanced manufacturing park is supported by Yorkshire Forward with the university of Sheffield, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Japanese machine tool companies all working together. That is the future, so that when we start producing new nuclear plant in this country, much of it will be made here. It is also right that we should do more to ensure that parts, equipment and machinery for the green energy revolution are made in this country. I therefore welcome
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[Mr. Clive Betts] the commitment to a green investment bank and the decision by Siemensanother company with a base in my constituencyto start producing wind turbines here. That is another important step forward for advanced manufacturing and future industries. Sheffield now has a diversified economy, so I also welcome the help for the computer games industry, which is partly based in the city. We should think more about new industries. We do face a reduction in public expenditure, but I notice that the Conservatives have not undertaken to protect schools. I am pleased that this Government have done so. Since 1997, spending per pupil has gone up roughly 100 per cent. in secondary and primary schools in Sheffield. In 1997, we were spending 4 million on school buildings, but last year we spent 70 million. Does that make a difference to the pupils? Of course it does. Some 38 per cent. of pupils got five or more GCSEs at grades A to C in 1997, but 60 per cent. did so in 2009. That shows that the investment in education is working. Some 58 per cent. more young people in my constituency now go to university than did in 1997. Of course universities have to make efficiency savings like everyone else, but I caution Ministers to remember that it is vital to keep a thriving university sector, because it is universities and business working together that will create the advanced manufacturing industries of the future and ensure that we can sustain the cutting edge of efficiency and productivity that we need to survive. Local government will go through a difficult period, but over the past few years it has achieved 2 per cent. efficiency savings, and we should give it credit for that. We need to protect hospitals and health services, but it would be folly to protect the health service while forcing major cuts in social services. We have to take a more joined-up view of those services. We must learn from the pilot programme on Total Place. Efficiency savings can be found in overlap and duplication, but let us look at the services in totality instead of as separate entities in different silos. The public do not see those services that way, and we should not do so either. That will be a challenge, but I am sure that local government will rise to it. We have to give it greater freedom and the ability to connect and share budgets and resources with other government activity in the local area. I have a particular interest in housing, and I am pleased by the Governments efforts to help people through the recession, including help with mortgages to reduce the number of repossessions and the start of a council house building programme again. I welcome the housing revenue account reforms, which will guarantee 10,000 new build a year in the local authority sector, and provide 10 per cent. more money for management and maintenance to try to secure the future finances of social housing. But there is still the challenge of how to increase the number of social houses built. When the recovery comes in the housing market, housing associations will be able to do more, but we have to find a way to bring more private sector financing into arms length management organisations and more investment in longterm private rented housing of good quality. When it comes to cuts, it is often easy to cut long-term capital projects to protect ongoing revenue expenditure. That would be folly. The Government are right to commit to long-term investment in high speed rail and a
line from Sheffield to Leedsrather than the ridiculous suggestion of a link from Manchester across the Pennines to Leeds. Sheffield and Leeds are united in supporting the Governments proposals. The commitment to further electrification is right, and I want the midland main line to come as soon as possible. I also welcome developments such as tram trains. It is important to continue to invest in transport infrastructure not only because it is important for the economy directly, but because supplying the carriages, the locomotives and the infrastructure of the track should be done by British companies with a base in Britain. Those companies need certainty, not the swapping and cutting that often happens in recessions, when capital expenditure is the first to go. That causes real problems for the long-term plans of the private sector, which wants to be part of delivering those projects. I am still not sure about the Governments answer to binge drinking, which is to put alcohol duties up regularly. The supermarkets will still sell lager at a discounted price, and pubs will continue to strugglealthough I welcome the help that the Government have offered. This is a sensible Budget. It is not dramatic, but it is a difficult Budget given in difficult circumstances. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor is right to make support for business, skills and jobs his priority, because the long-term recovery will be based on those. 7.18 pm Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): It has been a great privilege tonight to listen to a series of impressive valedictory speeches, not least from the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) and the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts)one of which was semi vale and the other complete vale. I was especially taken by the words of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram), who spoke of the stewardship of the economya concept that has deep-seated roots in this country in terms of the land, the environment, wealth, possessions, the creation of wealth and the administration of the economy. He has served his party and his country with great distinction down the years and he made a powerful and important speech that will bear further reading. I also pay tribute to other hon. Gentlemen, including my great friend the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson), who has been an original, highminded and brave Member of the House. Other Members of Parliament to come could do well to follow his steps. I was also privileged to be in the House on Thursday night to hear the farewell speech of the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), who made a really remarkable speech. I am proud of the fact that I have served with him in the House of Commons, including alongside him on a number of occasions, which was a great privilege. He will be very much missed in the House, and to anyone wanting a rattling good read, I highly commend his book. This was the most assive Budget that I have heard in my 27 years in the House. I am not quite sure what it is for, except as a kind of semi colon before the general election. It seems to be an empty Budget. I do not propose to deal with it in great detail, because there is no great detail to deal with. However, I want to make one particularly important point in relation to my
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constituency. Before I do that, however, let me say that none of my remarks relates to the Financial Secretary, who I know is a good, straight soldier. However, he serves in a rotten Administration, and I want to say a few words about the Chancellor and the Prime Minister. I hope that they both understandbecause I am not sure that they dohow angry and distressed people are in this country at the financial situation that we have been dragged into. In particular, many people are angry that the Government could have done so much more to prevent the United Kingdom from finding itself in such a parlous situation, for we have truly gone backwards. It is to the Prime Minister that the blame for the most serious failings must attach. This is not an ad hominem attack on the Prime Minister; this is business. It was his failure to respond either to the massive inflation in house prices, despite the most earnest warnings, to personal debt spiralling out of all control, or to the grave regulatory errors in the banking system that lies at the heart of the failings of this economy. As the hon. Member for Sunderland, South said so wisely, it is difficult to see how the United Kingdoms economy can prosper when its main industry is shopping. As well as pillaging the pensions arrangements of many of our people, the Prime Minister decimated our reserves when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer by selling 395 tonnes of gold at an average rate of $270 an ounce. The price for gold now stands at more than $1,000 an ounce. That surely must be one of the most appalling errors of judgment of any Chancellor in the history of the office. He has misspent public money excessively and wastefully, and too often to very little effect. He was responsible for running up public debt when he should have been paying it off, yet he still has the nerve to come to the House and tell us that he has abolished the cycle of boom and bust. That is such a fantasy position that one almost wonders sometimes whether the Prime Minister is in full possession of his faculties. The House must remember that it was the Prime Minister, as Chancellor, who took all the big decisions on pensions, and who effectively wrecked one of the best financial systems of provision in the world. He destroyed the system of savings in this country and will have effectively impoverished generations of old people past, present and to come. However, what is so worrying and, I think, so sadis that the legacy that this Government will leave is that of a high-tax, essentially anti-wealth, anti-aspiration and now almost anti-hard work country that lags in almost every respect that matters. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Chancellor both made highly effective speeches setting out their critique of this phony Budget, but I would like briefly to mention a matter that most profoundly affects the enterprise culture in this country, and therefore reflects the entire system of wealth creation, which pays for absolutely everything. Like many hon. Members in all parts of the House, every year I carry out a simple pre-Budget survey in my constituency among businesses and business people. There has never been a year since this Government came to power when the main complaint has not been the quite astonishing level of bureaucracy and red tape that the Chancellor and his friends, most particularly the Prime Minister, have sought to impose on enterprise and strangle it
with. The truth is that the Government now stand in the way of an enterprise economy. They are, in themselves, an obstacle to progress. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I do not know whether you saw an excellent article in The Daily Telegraph today by Alistair Cox, chief executive of Hays, the recruitment company, but he makes this important point about what part of the problem is:
Many businesses would like to recruit more staff, either temporary or permanent, but often feel there are too many risks involved, too many barriers to make it worthwhile. Others are suffering chronic skill shortages in key roles. Some are even scaling back their ambitions because of the difficulties involved in employing people today The only way of creating long-term, sustainable employment is to create the right economic, legislative and social framework to nurture new businesses and encourage existing ones to grow.
In that, this Government have been a dismal and singular failure. The cost of Government regulation to business in the United Kingdom now runs at 80 billion a year. That is the equivalent of 5.7 per cent. of the United Kingdoms entire gross domestic product. Business people in my constituency spend about 13 hours a month administering the Governments red tape alone, while people in their work forces can sometimes spend more than 70 hours a month on administration. The truth is that the valuable concept of a low-regulation, low-tax, competitive economy, which came to fruition in the later years of Lady Thatchers Government, and subsequently under the Government of my right hon. Friend the former Member for Huntingdon, has been gravely eroded, as enterprise sinks further every day into a bog of regulation and higher taxes. We are in the midst of an enduring financial crisis, not just here but across Europe, and it has exposed our many weaknesses in coming to grips and competing in a global economy. Those failingsin competitiveness, productivity, training and educationwill all have to be fixed if Britain is to play a successful part in the world. With all the other difficulties that will fall to the next Government, in terms of public expenditure there will be the most vital job to be done in fixing our national competitiveness and productivity to prepare the British economy and all our people for the difficulties of the global challenges that we face. At the same time, we will have to defend free markets, free trade and global capitalism, all of which are bound to come under attack, as they do in times of great difficulty and hardship. This has indeed been a profligate and disastrous Government for the economy of this country. The Government have lost all credibilitythat, as you know Mr. Deputy Speaker, is a most vital asset for any Governmentand, much as I regret to have to say it, we are now seen as again becoming what we were in the 1970s: a political and economic backwater. With that disintegration of our financial and economic influence naturally comes a dissipation of our ability to change things in the rest of the world, because however good is our military, economics represents real power. The resolution of those matters will require iron resolve and huge couragequalities that I know my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Chancellor will put to good use in a new Government to fix a broken economy, deal with a budget deficit that threatens our recovery, boost enterprise and small business, get Britain moving and build an economy that really works for everyone.
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Laura Moffatt (Crawley) (Lab): It is an absolute pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) and, of course, it is not the first time that I have done so. I follow him in representing the fantastic constituency of Crawley, and I am sure that he will remember well the days when he did so. I was interested to hear him talk about the harm that the Government have apparently done to business. I remember that, when he represented Crawley during the recession of the early 1990s, companies were falling like ninepins and people were losing their jobs and homes day after day. They found that their homes were not worth half what they had been worth when they bought them. Nothing was done to help those people; no assistance was offered by the Government. I support this measured, quiet Budget. It is taking us on a journey, with its support for business and families. It did not make huge promises that could not be met, but it understands that our communities need support. We are debating infrastructure and growth today, and they are at the heart of my constituency, whose many companies are demonstrating innovation and entrepreneurship and offering employment. It is important for those companies to know that the Government understand their needs. It was interesting to hear the hon. Gentleman talk about red tape in the workplace. Many of the people I talk to feel that that red tape is about being safe at work, about having decent employment or about people having their disability recognised in the workplace so that they can give of their best. This is the argument about intervention versus leaving everything to market forces, and it is obvious from the debate that there are different views on that across the House. Most Labour Members believe that intervention is right, and that it was right, for example, to support the banksalthough not the bankers. The right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) was absolutely right in his assessment of those who led us into this appalling problem and who have no understanding of what they have done. Securing the economic well-being of our communities is achieved not only by the Budget but, day in and day out, by those who are keen to see their companies grow and keen to employ people properly. Those people understand how good companies can operate in our communities. That is why I was pleased to see the proposals for the development of the green investment bank. A company in my constituency, Ceres Power, is developing a fuel cell that will reduce our reliance on carbon energy by 50 per cent. It is important to support such companies and to help them to get investment, and it would have been helpful for that company to have had the green investment bank to turn to, because its only stated aim was to produce a product that would reduce our reliance on carbon and make the planet a better place. That was therefore an excellent Budget proposal, and I hope to see the project expand and grow. As we are focusing on investment and infrastructure, it is important to say how good it was to see the investment in the Thameslink programme reinforced. That will involve more than 5 billion of investment to improve the line between Brighton and Bedford, and all the stations in between. That is a crucial route, in that it brings work and investment to the area. It allows people
to live and work in an already overcrowded area by providing a decent means of travel and reducing their reliance on road vehicles. Those of us who serve on the all-party group on Thameslink were upset to see that the decision to appoint a preferred bidder for the rolling stock had been delayed. Speaking as one of the signatories to the early-day motion calling for that decision to be announced before the Easter recess, I hope that we will hear about that soon, although I accept that we are cutting it fine. That would demonstrate a real commitment and let us know that the programme, which is so important to us, was safe. If we are to attract business, it is vital to invest in our major infrastructure centres such as Gatwick airport. The redevelopment of the train station there is crucial to our businesses. That brings me to the reasons why I fully support the regional development agencies, especially the South East England Development Agency, which has done an enormous amount of good in attracting business to, and keeping business in, the south-east. There is often a tremendous pull to go elsewhere, and a business that is prospering can sometimes need help to remain in the area. SEEDA has been at the forefront of providing much of that support. I do not trust or support the notion that local authorities, alone or in partnership, will be able to do that work. I foresee all sorts of difficulties if a particular local authority were to take a leading role, to the disadvantage of others. The good thing about having a regional development agency that can take a step away from the political forum is that it can think about investment in a much more strategic way, and I hope that that will continue. Supporting our businesses by giving them time to pay their tax has been hugely welcomed, in my constituency and elsewhere. Through my role as assistant Minister for the South East, I have discovered that other businesses throughout the region have found that support extremely helpful. Small interventions can give confidence to businesses and companies, which can make all the difference to their business decisions. We should not underestimate how much such initiatives have helped. The use of programmes such as the mortgage rescue scheme might not always entail the buying of a home, but early intervention by the local authority is crucial. Crawley borough council, for example, has demonstrated that the system has been very helpful. It has not had to hand over vast sums of money to assist people, but it has intervened with good, early advice to mortgage owners to prevent repossession. We cannot underestimate the importance of that. We have all sorts of methods for promoting help and support in our communities. I have listened to the argument that we have no right to sell our future, as it is only on loan to us from our children. I believe, however, that every child whose parent did not lose their job because their company was given time to pay its taxes represents an investment worth making; every child whose parents did not lose their home, thanks to the intervention of this Government, represents an intervention worth applauding; and every young person who was taken on by a company through the future jobs fund and given an opportunity in the workplace will be thanking this Government for ensuring that they have a future. Of course, such intervention requires money. In this fragile economy, when we are gently coming out of recession and back into growth, and when companies
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are feeling just enough confidence to acquire new equipment and take on new staff, we have no right to put any of that at risk. We in this House have no right to throw caution to the wind in order to pay back debt, and to throw those people into turmoil once again. I hope that, when my right hon. and hon. Friends are back in their places on the Front Bench after the general election, they will understand that this investment needs to continue. The confidence and sense of security that the business community needs in order to do its job are greatly valued. I did not get lots of surveys back saying that people were fed up with red tape. The people in our communities are begging for more help and support. They are not saying that they do not want that to continue; they are asking for more to be done for them. After the general election, when I have left the House, I am going to be testingI hope so, if any trust will have mewhether investment in the NHS has been as valuable as I always hoped it was over the last 13 years, providing us with a health service of which we can at last be immensely proud and one that we can be sure is becoming a world-class system. I have decided to get back my registration from my nursing career and I intend to test that system to ensure that all that the Government and Labour Members have done and fought for in the NHS has been worth while. For me, supporting our health service in a way that makes me feel proud and delighted to rejoin it will be the true reward of having been in this House for 13 years. 7.41 pm David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP): It is a privilege to follow the hon. Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt). May I take this opportunity to wish her well when she leaves the House? The last Budget statement in the life of this Parliament has been made and we have had the usual post-match analysis from politicians, pundits and experts. The general opinion seems to be that the Chancellor was playing for a draw and that the real match will be held after May, although it may be under new managementonly time will tell. With that in mind, and given the fact that we are now heading for a general election, I was not entirely surprised by the Chancellors statement, although in fairness to him, he seemed to resist the temptation to indulge in pre-election giveawaysnot that there was, perhaps, much left to give away. Also in fairness to him, he has inherited a legacy that few of us would envy. Ruth Sutherland, writing in The Observer, said that the Chancellors predecessor
presided over an increasingly unbalanced and indebted economy in which the City grew over-mighty and our industrial base shrank alarmingly.
It is little wonder that the Budget was high in rhetoric and low in substance. Despite the Chancellors efforts, I find myself surprisingly in agreement with the leader of the Liberal Democrats when he said that the Budget was more of an obituary than a manifesto. Indeed, the opening sentences of the Chancellors statement set the tone of vagueness and ambiguity that permeates most of his Budget. Although I understand the reasons for this, I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson), who is also Minister of Finance and Personnel in the Northern Ireland Executive, when he expressed concern
about the lack of detail on future spending plans and how the Chancellor intends to reduce the level of public sector borrowing in the coming years. The Chancellor tells us that we are emerging from recession, and perhaps there are signs of that, but there is a wide variety of views on thatoften, it has to be said, from those who did not foresee the recession in the first place. Even if we are emerging from the recession, however, we are among the last of the developed countries to do so. The Chancellor says that borrowing is lower than forecast, but it is still worryingly high. We have heard many figures quoted in the debate. The deficit this year is 11.8 per cent. of gross domestic product; the Government have committed themselves to reducing it by half within four years, but that is based on growth figures that are open to challenge. Even if the deficit is halved by 2014and it is a big ifthe CBI and others have said that it will be too little, too late. Cutting the deficit appears to rely on spending cuts that remain vague and on extremely optimistic projections for the economy. The frightening level of the national debt must be tackled. Whoever occupies No. 10 and No. 11 after May will have some hard decisions to make. One of the Chancellors ideas on how to reduce borrowing is the encouragement of economic growth. He has rightly stressed that this is the key to genuine recovery. He has repeated the Governments commitment to find new ways to enable small businesses to grow, to invest in and improve our national infrastructure and to promote research, innovation and enterprise. Those are good aims. We should all do what we can to encourage the private sector and to reduce the public sector. We can help local British companies by reducing unnecessary red tape, as we heard earlier, and bureaucratic procurement procedures. I welcome the Chancellors commitment to developing traditional and new infrastructure. We can help by bringing forward some capital projects for schools, hospitals and roads. That is what we have done to good effect in Northern Ireland. I was encouraged by the fact that an extra 15 billion of Government contracts will go to SMEs. I was also encouraged by an announcement that entrepreneurs relief from capital gains tax will be doubled to 2 million and taxed at 10 per cent. This will be welcomed by small businesses. I was further encouraged that the investment allowance for small firms will be doubled to 100,000. If British businesses are to compete, we must be at the cutting edge in energy supplies and digital communications, for example. I fully agree with the Chancellors statement that access to finance is vital for small businesses. I am encouraged that the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds will provide a total of 94 million of new business loans, nearly 50 per cent. of which will go to smaller firms. Dr. William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Does my hon. Friend acknowledge, however, that while the banks will talk a good talk, the percentage costs to small businessesor, in other words, the rates imposed on themhave been exorbitant, so that if we are to see the growth that he wants, the banks need to acknowledge the seriousness of the recession and the need to finance small and medium-sized enterprises?
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David Simpson: I totally agree with my hon. Friend. I was just going on to say that we have all heard very distressing stories from business people in our constituencies who are in complete despair because of the attitude of banks. These constituents are solid, sound people, who have done business with the banks over many years and, in some cases, over generations, yet far from offering those people help at a time of need, the banks have put obstacles in their paths. That is totally unacceptable. Businesses also need to be encouraged to invest in innovation and skills and to increase their levels of exports. We should do everything possible to reduce the burdens on business. We need to move away from the culture of bureaucracy and red tape, as these things stifle business, especially small businesses, which are the very backbone of the British economy. Although I broadly welcome the small business and infrastructure initiatives in the Budget, I do not think that they go far enough to persuade the markets that we are on the road to recovery and at a fast enough speed. Because of the fragile state of our finances, coupled with the impact of the recession, I fear that there is little incentive for businesses to take risks of any sort. The Small Business Forum said that just 5 per cent. of its members believe the Chancellors proposals will create an environment for their businesses to develop, while 87 per cent. have said that the Budget will not increase business or consumer confidence. I am also concerned about unemployment. It is good that the recent national trend has shown a fall in numbers, but it seems likely that high levels of unemployment will be with us for some time to come. John Philpott, chief economic adviser of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has said:
Although a fall in unemployment is clearly better than a rise, this should not be read as a sign that the UK jobs market is recovering strongly.
those who are left in the Chamber this evening, that comparisons between that and my speech will be somewhat limited. At some stage in their lives, all Members will have been asked why they entered politics. It is worth recalling what was happening in this country in the 1970s, when I started working. We were beset by terrible strikes, national bankruptcy and a massive brain drain, and I decided that I never wanted to see anything like that again. Sadly, however, as we heard in the Budget statement only last week, our economic situation is dire yet again. Strikes have returned, and our international reputation has been hugely diminished. The echo from an earlier time is there for all to hear. It is true that in the current economic crisisalthough too many may have given upunemployment has not, on the face of it, risen as fast as might have been expected, although of course it remains too high. That is largely due to the flexible arrangements introduced by past Conservative Governments. Nevertheless, 54,000 people still leave the labour market each quarter. Far too often, the reason is that they have simply become discouraged. They have given up on the belief that they will ever find jobs, and have joined the legions who are already receiving the various worklessness benefits dispensed by the Government. Who can blame them, given that over the three months to January the ranks of those who had already been out of work for more than a full year had risen by more than 60,000, to 687,000? It is truly incredible that, on top of all that, the Government are proposing yet another tax on jobs. The proposal to force employers and employeesincluding those on below-average incomesto pay even more in national insurance contributions is a real economic and social misjudgment. We clearly have a jobs crisis on our hands, and the introduction of extra barriers to the creation of jobs makes no sense whatsoever. According to a report issued last week by Policy Exchange, the Treasurys own economic model suggests that a 2 per cent. rise in national insurance contributions could reduce GDP by a full 2 per cent. over three years. There is no point talking about job creation and then directly hitting the very businesses that could provide those jobs. That is simply crazy, and I therefore welcome the announcement made by my party this morning. The statistics on start-ups and business failures reveal part of the reason why our trade balance is so bad despite our massive currency depreciation, and why manufacturing has shrunk so dramatically in Britain. Nothing in the Budget really addressed that, and, inevitably, the business community has universally reacted negatively to the Budget overall. We have been in a recession on a first in, last out basis, according to any international comparison. Why has that happened, given that our fiscal stimulus has been smaller than those delivered in the American, French and German economies? Given that our actual budget deficit is so much larger than those of others, given that it costs so much more to insure our national debt, and given that people talk seriously about the threat to the sovereign credit rating of the United Kingdom, why would we not have been able to aid our economy as much as others even if we had chosen to do so? The reason is the Governments irresponsible spending at a time of strong worldwide growth.
I agree with that and I fear that chronic unemployment could well be one of the long-term effects of the recession. High unemployment reduces tax receipts, increases public spending, reduces consumer confidence and depresses the housing market. We must therefore target resources towards the creation and development of a well and properly qualified work force. Schools must give realistic career advice to pupils at an early stage of their secondary education. We churn out too many graduates in fields that often provide few opportunities in the workplace. This leaves many good young people unemployed or near-unemployable. There is an urgent need for those problems to be tackled. Let me end by quoting the words of Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors. He said:
Its the entrepreneurs and business leaders of the UK who will make economic recovery happen. But they need confidence confidence in their businesses and confidence in the Governments economic policy. So its deeply worrying that instead of boosting confidence, the Budget appears to have had the opposite effect.
7.50 pm Mr. Richard Spring (West Suffolk) (Con): I have read that the origin of the word swansong is the myth of the mute swan which, as it approached death, expressed itself with an extraordinary outpouring of noise in a very evocative way. I can only hope, for the sake of
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Why was the British economy driven into such a weak state that it was impossible for the Government to take measures that might have helped it? The Bank of England has printed as much money as it dared. With Government spending rising to 53 per cent. of GDP and 200 billion from quantitative easing flowing into our economy, we have two new and unwelcome national records to add to a growing list, both of which reflect the rapidity with which we have descended into the present financial maelstrom. Can anyone imagine circumstances in which, in each of the next two financial years, the Chancellor will be borrowing more money than the entire income tax take, and all that borrowing will be based on highly optimistic growth assumptions and the assumption that the markets will continue to allow us to borrow at historically high levels? All that was not enough to prevent the United Kingdom from suffering not only the worst recession in the G20, but the worst in living memory. The question that we must ask ourselves is Why? The true answer goes back to the year 2002, the year in which the then Chancellor of the Exchequer abandoned the prudent approach of the Administration who had preceded him and let rip. In the years that followed, the budget deficit did not fall below 30 billion annually. In the next five years, right in the middle of what the Governor of the Bank of England was calling the non-inflationary constant expansion or NICE decade, the Government borrowed 176 billion. The total irresponsibility of consistently leaving a gaping hole in the finances of the country broadly equal to the cost of the entire police and criminal justice system, in one of the most benign economic environments of all time, is the source of our present-day anguish. But then the Chancellor of the Exchequer had abolished the economic cycle, or so he absurdly said. The interest on the stock of debt that has built up is now 42 billion, 2 billion more than the entire defence budget, at a time when we are at war. The Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that by 2014-15 debt interest payments will climb to 73.8 billion, equal to our defence and transport budgets. The proportion of debt interest payments on total tax revenues will be 10.6 per cent. at that stage. Under the present Government, we have seen a growth in the divide between different parts of the United Kingdom. Because of a number of funding formula changes, my constituency has experienced a string of NHS budgetary crises. The simple truth is that NHS spend in the Prime Ministers constituency is materially higher than that in my constituency. There is no rational explanation for that, and it certainly has precious little to do with health outcomes. My constituents have a real sense that the spending differentials relating to public services have little to do with need, but plenty to do with the political colour of the area in question. Rural England has become the poor relation of this urban-obsessed Government. The Governments overspending has resulted in a high cost to the British economy. We have fallen from 11th to 23rd in the league of corporation tax competitiveness. We have slipped from fourth to 84th in the World Economic Forums global competitiveness reports rankings for the extent of tax burdens and evasion, and from fourth to 86th in its ranking for regulatory flexibility and efficiency of social programmes.
That is part of the reason 1,440 private-sector workers lost their jobs each and every day last year, while the number of state employees rose by 126 day in, day out. The problem goes back to 1998, when the Government introduced the comprehensive spending review. It had been promised by the Prime Minister, but he has since abandoned it. We must ask ourselves why he was willing to continue the practice before the two previous elections but is unwilling to do so on this occasion, as a result of which specific spending impacts remain a mystery. In fact, the Government are so scared of spelling out to the nation the extent of the crisisso terrified of admitting the true costs of a crisis of their creationthat they are determined to forgo a spending review, and we have had no honesty on the subject. One of the by-products of the collapse of our reputation abroad is how financial services regulation proposals have arisen in Brussels. For all its imperfections, the City of London is still the jewel in the crown of Europe, in that the range and depth of its financial expertiseand all the ancillary servicesare unmatched anywhere else, yet, through neglect and sheer incompetence, this Government have had to witness the growth of EU financial services regulatory proposals that are clearly not in our interest. It is clear that one of the main reasons for that is the catastrophic failure of our tripartite regulatory system. When the financial crisis broke, the system that was in place was like an animal immobilised in fear by oncoming headlights. I have heard many times from those from other EU countries that Britain simply has no credibility or authority to determine European regulatory architecture because our own has been such a failure, and yet, incredibly, the Government have no plans to reform it. That matches their unwillingness to reform our public sector, where there is both a decline in productivity and a total unwillingness to reform the system. Especially when reflecting on this Budget and the events that have led up to it, I leave the House on a bittersweet note. Despite the hugely negative view of Parliament and parliamentary colleagues, I for oneI know this sentiment is widely sharedregard it as a huge privilege to have been a Member of the House of Commons and to have represented my constituents in this place. Yet just as I commenced my working life at a time of economic collapse, sadly, I leave this place now with history repeating itself. However, just as before it took a Conservative Government to pull this country back from the abyss, I confidently predict that that will be the case again, some 30 years on. 8.2 pm Mr. Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD): It is interesting that I am following the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) because, unlike him, I do not have a rosy picture of what I inherited when I first entered this House in 1997. I had worked as a head teacher for some 20 years, mostly under a Conservative Government, and every single year there was a cut in my budgeta cut in staffing and in the resources being spent on young people. Therefore, although I agree with many of the hon. Gentlemans comments, I certainly do not believe we should be taking lectures from somebody whose party almost brought the country to its knees before 97.
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[Mr. Phil Willis] It is a pleasure to be speaking for the last time in the House of Commons. It is a pleasure to do so not because I am leaving but because, despite all the difficulties, the last 13 years have been an absolute pleasure for me, as someone who came to the House as a 55-year-oldand who had the satisfaction of defeating Norman Lamont at the 97 election. I leave having retained the support of the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough for the last three general elections. That support has been remarkable. It is interesting, too, that I should be leaving Parliament with my constituency having had very little support from this Government or, indeed, previous Governments. It is a place with a huge amount of residual self-support within it, and it is an entrepreneurial community that has bucked many trends, including the current recession, and long may it continue to do so. My greatest pleasure in my time in this House has come from chairing the Select Committee on Science and Technology for the past five years, and I want to focus on the future of UK science and engineering. Before doing so, however, I want to pay tribute to the other members of my Committee who are standing down at the election and who have served the House extraordinarily well during their time here: the hon. Members for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon), for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith), for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) and for Eccles (Ian Stewart). I should also, of course, pay tribute to Dr. Ian Gibson who, sadly, stood down before the end of the Parliament. I was in the Chamber for todays opening speeches, and I listened to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) praising the fact that an incoming Conservative Government would reduce national insurance contributions, paying for that with efficiency savings. I found that interesting because I picked up the following quote from 19 May 2008:
The Government efficiency drive is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The trouble is, its nearly always just that a trick. In fact its such a clich, there was an episode of Yes Minister about it.
Despite frequent references to innovation in the Budget, there was no reference to the science and innovation investment framework which, since 2004, has been one of the Governments most powerful measures in giving a long-term structure to science and innovation. Nor was there any reference to the Governments target of achieving expenditure on research of 2.5 per cent. of GDP. That seems to have been lost. In reality, therefore, despite being committed to science and innovation driving the post-recession economy, the Chancellor mentioned that only once, and, tellingly, he spoke about science in the past tense. It was not about the future: the Chancellor told the House that the Government had increased investment in British science by some 88 per cent. in real terms over the past 10 years. That is true, and they should be congratulated: this Governments commitment to science has surpassed that of any previous Government in my lifetime. However, the reality is that that is now in the past tense. This Budget should have been about the future, but sadly it was not. In respect of science and engineering, it appears that the job is done. The Government appear to accept that, at best, we have peaked in our efforts and that success is now to limit cuts rather than to make a case for future investment. Frankly, that is at odds with what the Government have been saying over previous years. In February last year, the Chancellor said in his Oxford Romanes lecture that
the bottom line is that the downturn is no time to slow down our investment in science.
Yet that is exactly what we now seem to be doing. There is to be 600 million of cuts in science, research and higher education precisely at the time we need to be investing more. Lord Mandelson said last week that we have drawn a line in the sand in respect of protecting our science spend. Sadly, if the height of this nations ambition is simply to draw a line and say that we are not going to increase spending in future, we will slip behind. We should take a look at what our overseas competitors are doing in terms of investment. President Obama said:
Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before.
That was written by the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), yet now, of course, that is his partys policy. It was interesting that the Chancellor said very little about science in his Budget speech. I welcome the Governments announcement of a green investment bank, as, I think, does the whole House. I also welcome the creation of technology and innovation centres, and the 25 million of investment they will bring, although it is rather curious that it is felt we need them when we have the Technology Strategy Board, which has been doing extraordinarily good work since it was set up. The Chancellor stated that he wants to promote research, innovation and enterprise, yet it appears that the research part of that has been rather overlooked in favour of innovation and enterprise. It is all well and good to concentrate on translating our excellent research into commercial activity, but unless we have investment in the basic research itself we will not have the raw material to develop the economy in the long term. We must guard against the nonsensical idea that fundamental and applied research are somehow different silos. They are not; they are part of the same continuum, and if we do not invest in both of them, we will lose out.
That was not just rhetoric, because he backed it up by pledging $21 billion of investmentthe largest commitment to scientific research ever seen in the Stateswith 5.7 per cent. of the US federal research and development budget to be spent on science by 2011. In Australia, science spending has increased by 25 per cent. In the same week as the UKs pre-Budget report announced a 6 million cut, the French Government announced a fresh 35 billion investment in the knowledge economy and in the green economy, some 11 billion of which is to be allocated to the top French universities. Countries such as Singapore, China and India are all investing huge sums, but what did we do? The Prime Minister announced a 15 billion economic stimulus package, but 12.5 billion of it went on a 2.5 per cent. VAT cut for people to spend in the shops purely on retail. That was not an investment in the nationone can imagine what that 12.5 billion could have done if it had been invested in our science base. In reality, what science is delivering for this country is beyond reproach. The Royal Society produced its major report last week and it was tremendous reading. It
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mentioned that over the past five years university spin-outs employed 14,000 people and had a turnover of 1.1 billion and that over the past decade university bioscience departments have generated more than 200 companies. Despite what the report says, without considerable investment in our science base the UK will face decades of slow economic decline. The report that my Committee published a week or so ago on the impact of cuts on the science budget concluded that a failure to increase investment in science is inconsistent with the Governments policy ambition of growth in the sector and undermines their previous good record. The UK risks losing its brightest academics to countries with demonstrable guaranteed investment for the future, and we cannot allow that to happen. The Council for Science and Technologythe Prime Ministers own think tanksaid:
The first step is for Government to continue to prioritise research funding against other competing financial pressures.
their childrens futures will not be sacrificed under the burden of this Governments debt. Yet the Budget is utterly lacking in the action needed to reduce the deficit. The Chancellor was content simply to make projections, when he should have been detailing plans, and to talk vaguely about an end point instead of precisely focusing on how we will get there. As such, this is a Budget of half measures, damaging delays and illusionary targets. Most worryingly, no effort was made to bridge the credibility gap. The director of the Institute of Directors noted:
The chancellors GDP forecasts are too optimistic and there is still no sign of a credible deficit reduction plan.
He went on to say that

we need to hear a lot more from the government on debt reduction.
Roger Bootle, economic adviser to Deloitte, said:

The Government has still put to put the flesh on the bones of its plans to cut spending.
Tonight, we have heard about lots of things being protected. The right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) was right to say that we cannot simply protect things for the sake of protecting them and that there must be a real long-term missionscience clearly can deliver that. Science is not a stop-go activity: Honda and Ford can suddenly say that they will close their labs for three months because the money is not coming in, but science is not like that. We know that if we close our labs and stop investing, our brightest and best scientists will go elsewhere. Interestingly, the Royal Societys report said that it was people who actually make the difference. These scientists are the people we need to invest in, but sadly it appears that that will not happen. The real opportunity, in response to this Budget, was for Her Majestys Opposition to say what they would have done about science, but we did not hear a word from them. The hon. Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie), who represents the Tories on science, said that there would be no extra investment until the current credit crisis was over and we had solved the current recession problemsthat is 10 years down the line. If we wait 10 years for that sort of action, our science base will be lost. The Government have had a terrific record so far on investing in science and it is very sad that when the country needs them most they have suddenly lost heart and failed to make that investment. Perhaps they will have a rethink if the Government are returned to office after the general election, but if anyone takes their place, I hope that they will put science at the heart of what they do. 8.14 pm Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): This Budget bears little relation to the times in which we live and comes from a Government who have run out of time altogether. After the deepest recession in generations, Governments, financial institutions and credit rating agencies around the world are reaching a new consensus that urgent action must be taken to reduce budget deficits. Only recently, the European Commission called for more information on how the Government would go about halving the deficit from 2011. Markets are crying out for the detail of how this will be achieved, and the British people are demanding to know that
Although the Chancellor has revised his figures, borrowing still stands at more than 10 times its 1997 level. I recognise that unprecedented action has been taken in the form of the fiscal stimulus, but the Government have ignored the unprecedented consequences in the form of drastically higher debt. Indeed, Britains national debt will hit an unprecedented 1.3 trillion by 2014-15, which is more than double the level of just a year ago and amounts to more than 50,000 per household. If we do not quickly get a handle on this, our triple A credit rating will be downgraded, investors will lose confidence and the recovery will stall, if not worse. This situation will not just sort itself out, it will not just evaporate and it cannot be left for future Governments or future generations to sort out; it is our moral duty to begin reducing the deficit now, and that requires action from the Government today. In the absence of a plan, the main positive in the Budget is that things are not quite as bad as expected: our borrowing is 167 billion, rather than 178 billion; the interest on the debt is slightly lower than expected; and the structural debt is predicted to be 75 per cent. of GDP by 2013-14, rather than 78 per cent. But saying that the situation is not quite as bad is not the same as detailing how it will get better. One cannot give a Budget, let alone run an economy, on happenstance and fortunate recalculations alone. Like the portrait of Dorian Gray, what beauty there is to this Budget is only skin deep. When we look below the surface, we see that the Chancellor utterly ducked making the tough decisions in the best interest of the country and instead chose to penalise the overwhelming majority of hard-working people. There is nothing stealthy about that. Although the Chancellor may coat it in the best intentions, it is plain that he chose tax hikes over public sector cuts. He made the wrong choice again on small businesses. When he should have cut the main rate of corporation tax, he instead chose to extend targeted tax relief for some businesses. That does very little to offset the 4.5 billion cost of the one penny rise in national insurance, which will be detrimental to all businesses. In the absence of any decisions on the deficit, the Chancellor took the wrong decisions on taxation. Cutting the deficit and getting the economy growing are one of todays defining issues. No doubt in the coming weeks all parties will be publishing their plans
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[Mr. Andrew Turner] on how to reduce the deficit while promoting growth, but the Budget was the Governments unique opportunity to reassure the markets, secure the recovery and, most importantly, to help the British people. They have comprehensively failed in every respect. Indeed, it is nonsensical to expect the same Government who caused the problem on the one hand to offer an effective solution on the other. So, we need an alternative. If we do not get a grip now on tackling the continued implications of the economic crisis, it will be superseded by a social crisis that will make the recession look like small change. We must also give people greater opportunity to invest their own money rather than restricting financial freedom through the higher taxes that the Government are so keen on imposing. 8.21 pm Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): I am delighted to take part in the Budget debate. Unlike a number of other hon. Members tonight, I hope that this will not be my valedictory speech, because I am standing at the election and intend to win. I intend to win on a slightly different programme from that on which other hon. Members are putting themselves forward. I am grateful that normal politics have returned and we are at least having a debate on aspects of the economy and economic growth that have perhaps been avoided for too long. My take on this, of course, is that the Budget falls against the background of a difficult and steep decline in our economic fortunes. The recession is here. Numerically, we might be just about climbing out the other side, but anyone who thinks that we are there and can put the flags out is, I think, completely optimistic and naive. I go around my local firmspeople are always surprised when I say this, but Stroud is a centre of manufacturing and some 25 per cent. of our jobs are in that sector, which is much more than twice the national average and means that Stroud is as close to a valley town in the north-west as it is to the traditional south-west town, so I have some knowledge of manufacturingand I would make three quick observations. First, the recovery is fragile and any attempt to jam on the brakes in terms of public spending has an impact on not only the public sector but the private sector. The two sectors are so inextricably linked that anything that effectively crunches the public sector will have a completely deleterious effect on the private sector. That matters, because the last thing that we want for those who work in both sectors is a rapid increase in unemployment. As we learned from the 1980s and 1990s, that is not a cost worth paying. More particularly, it leads to a cost that we have to pay through unemployment benefit and all the benefits that go with that. That is, I hope, a lesson that the Government have learned. Some of us take a position that it is wrong to cut, and it is certainly wrong to cut now and to cut some of the things that, sadly, the Front Benchers seem to be too intent on cutting in a race to the bottom. I have been struck by the words of Joseph Stiglitz and our own Danny BlanchflowerI tried to persuade my Government that he would be an excellent new representative of the Bank of England, because he has seen the recession both in terms of the causation and latterly in terms of
what we need to do. I am aware that, as colleagues have mentioned, we have a budget deficit and that we have to do something about it, but some of the schemes end up cutting jobs in the public sectorthe jobs of those who had no fault whatsoever in the financial collapse. Why should they be made to pay the consequences? Instead, we should be considering some of those vainglorious projects that Governments from my party and from other parties have too often seen as shibboleths but should be anything but. I offer Trident, ID cards, withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan as a starting point, if we are going to talk about budget deficit reduction. As much as I want to see some aspects of public spending reduced, I still think that we overdo and completely exaggerate the impact of the public debt situation. According to all the figures, Britain will remain in the middle of the Group of Seven if we carry through some of the changes that are being mooted. As I have said, I approach the matter from a completely different perspective. I think the most fascinating figures of all, which form a backcloth to all this, are those that show that until the 1970s, we spent roughly 5 per cent. per annum on gross domestic capital investment in the public sector, which went down to 0.9 per cent. in the 80s and 90s and which this Government have brought back up to 3.9 per cent. If we include the private finance initiativesI have my disagreements with themthe figure is substantially higher than that. I am proud of that. We have rebuilt schools and health facilities, and we have put money into the social infrastructure of our country. Why should we destroy all that because of other peoples faults? There is a way out of this recession. I make no apology for saying that I am an advocate of the green new deal. Let me make it very clear that that is not the Green party new deal, because many of the people who contributed to it are quite well-known Labour party people, as well as those of no party. Let me give in the time that I have left some of the ways in which I think we can grow sensibly, sustainably and even morally out of the problems that we made for ourselves. Of course, I am talking about investment in energy efficiency and microgeneration, the creation of thousands of green jobs, a windfall tax on the profits of the oil and gas companies, developing financial incentives for green investment and reducing energy use and changes to the UKs financial system, including a new way in which we calculate interest rates to advantage green investment in particular. We need to reconsider how we have treated financial institutions. I think that the Government are right to step in and help, if not to take over a number of the financial institutions, but I am exceedingly wary of having a Dutch auction in getting rid of them. Last but not least, there should be much more transparency in the way in which we demand financial reporting and a clamping down on tax havens. Of course, the one great cheer that came from the Government Benches when the Budget was announced was the announcement on what is now being called the Belize gambit, whereby this Government, for the first time, have begun to get serious about tax evasion, tax avoidance, tax loopholes and tax havens. At face value, looking at the notion of tax information exchange agreements, we now have a sensible way forward. Sadly, there are problems with TIEAs. They are termed in a pretty amorphous way, and they are not easy to operate because it takes
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two to tango and although the British Government might be willing to disclose certain information, that does not necessarily mean that those with whom we might wish to tango will give us the information that we want. I hope that my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will say something about how we are going to raise billions of pounds from those who have made little or no contribution. It is about time that they made a proper contribution, but we need to clarify how TIEAs will function in practice. That will rely on issues to do with the identity of the person under investigation or examination; what information is sought; the tax purpose for which it is sought; the grounds for believing that the information requested is held within the jurisdiction of which a request is made; andlast but not leastto the extent known, the name and address of any person believed to be in possession of the requested information. So, it is a question of knowing who has the money and for what purpose, and then making sure that they are willing to disclose the true financial picture. We are not talking about going into foreign jurisdictions. We are talking about people who, it is claimed, are either domiciled or, to some extent, resident in this country, but who exploit tax havens far too readily and easily. There is a history of TIEAs not working terribly well, so I hope that my right hon. Friend will give me some good news about how we will operate a much more robust and rigorous attempt to drive down what many of us feel are the worst excesses of capitalism, whereby people do not pay anything like the right rate of tax in this country, even though they derive many benefits from this country. This is about fairness, justice and the reality of the world today. If my right hon. Friend wants any help, he will be pleased to know that I am presenting a Bill tomorrowthe tax and financial transparency Billthat I hope the Government will take up. It looks very clearly at how they could take forward the measures that I have been talking about, and I hope that he will come and listen to me present the Bill tomorrow. It contains just the sort of thing that the Government are looking to find out about. It would release billions of pounds to the Exchequer from people who should be the most liable for the problems that they cause. To conclude, I very much hope for a proper debate not only on the Budget, but on the way in which we have got ourselves into an unholy mess, because of the way in which the financial sector has behaved. Let me give an example to show how serious the situation is. Today, when I visited a company that will remain nameless, it was made clear to me that it was in a parlous state, but that it had managed to see things through because of its ingenuity. That made me think about how interrelationships with the financial markets impact on ordinary manufacturing companies in this country. Two things had really hit that company. First, it had invested heavily in Iceland, from which it learned the awful lesson that those who pay higher rates of interest are not necessarily able, ultimately, to defend what they are doing. The second thing was the way in which foreign banks have shut down loans virtually overnight. That is why lending through British banks Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I am afraid that the hon. Gentlemans time is up.
8.33 pm Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), and it is a slight shame that he was cut short by Mr. Speakers instruction, given the paucity of Members on his side of the Chamber who are willing to support the Minister in the debate. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): Look at them all! Mr. Dunne: I can count only one, including the hon. Member for Stroud. Mr. Drew: There are not many on your side either. Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Dunne: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I was going to say that it is a pleasure to participate in a debate in which so many of the Members who are retiring from the House have spoken. I am sure that the hon. Member for Stroud will not be voluntarily retiring. If he did so involuntarily, the House would lose one of its more regular attenders, especially of these end-of-evening sittings, which would be a disappointment. I would like to raise a couple of macro-economic points before focusing on specific ways in which the Budget creates particular challenges for companies operating through the recession. First, however, I shall focus on the state of the economy. The hon. Member for Stroud was quite right to refer to the economic mess in which the country finds itself, but he and other Labour Members have not acknowledged that the financial services communitys role in the cause of the original economic crisis now bears little relation to the state of the public finances. The financial services crisis of two years ago that resulted in the Government having to bail out the banks is now part of this countrys economic history, but the structural deficit with which we have to deal, which will be the Governments legacy, has little direct relationship to that crisis. Although there are clearly indirect consequences, the structural deficit has ballooned under this Government, irrespective of the bail-out that funded the resurrection of the banks nearly two years ago. Labour Members do not acknowledge that fact, but it needs to be acknowledged so that we can recognise the measures that are required to start to bring the deficit down. Throughout their Budget projections, the Government rely on their measure of economic growth, but I would like the House to consider the plausibility of their projection. The Treasury has a track record of forecasting economic growth that any schoolboy economist would find somewhat embarrassing. It has rarely, if ever, got it right, and it has tended to veer on the side of optimism in each Budget presentation that I have heard while I have been a Memberlast weeks was no exception. The Chancellor admitted that economic growth was likely to come down, but only by 0.25 per cent. The reduction was from 3.5 per cent. to somewhere between 3 and 3.5 per cent., so if we are charitable and take the average, it looks like a reduction to 3.25 per cent. However, that projection remains above all external forecasts, or the average of them, and above the forecasts for all other major industrialised economies. It is also
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[Mr. Dunne] substantially above this countrys trend growth during the Governments tenure in charge of the economy, and above trend growth for the 31-year period of this Government and their predecessor. It is surprising that the Government base the largest component of their recovery programme on an estimated increase in this countrys activity for the next four years, and specifically for the coming year, that is significantly above their track record and what other forecasters think is likely. I am not trying to talk down the strength of the economy and I would, of course, like the economy to grow and rebound rapidly. I merely question the validity of the Governments forecasting methodology, which has also been questioned by the National Audit Office in its review of the figures. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): Will the hon. Gentleman reflect on the fact that although our forecast in last years Budget for the coming financial year was criticised in much the terms that he is using today, pretty much everyone now agrees that last years forecast of 1 to 1.5 per cent. in the coming financial year will be right? Mr. Dunne: We will have to see, will we not? That is another forecast. I concede that the Treasury has had the benefit of a slight upgrade to the figures for the last quarter of 2009 but, looking forward, I would not like to place much confidence in what it is saying. The situation raises questions whether the public debt will come down in the manner that the Government anticipate. We are looking at 167 billion of debt in the current year. That is a very difficult figure for ordinary peopleand Members of the Houseto get their minds around. It means, if my maths is correct, that the Government are borrowing 317,723 per minute of every day and every night this year. That figure is substantially greater than the average price of a home in this country, and when I give that figure on the doorsteps in my constituency, people find it quite astonishing that we could be borrowing at that level. Of course, it is completely unsustainable and that borrowing must come down. The Government have come up with very few plans to get that debt under control. That will wait until we have had a general election. Whichever party is in power thereafter will have to take the tough decisions that are necessary if we are to get a grip on the public debt and get the economy moving once more. The two specific points that I wish to make relate to Budget proposals where the Government have been short on detail, and which they have not described with enough frankness. The first has to do with the freezing of personal income tax allowances. In his Budget speech, the Chancellor did not make a single mention of the measure that will affect more people than any other freezing personal allowances at 6,475. Some 30 million people will be affected by that. With inflation having hit the somewhat giddy and unedifying heights of 3.7 per cent., there is direct erosion on the value of real, take-home pay for those in work. For all those taxpayers, freezing personal allowances will have a significant impact on their disposable income, yet the measure was not mentioned by the Chancellor.
There was another matter that the Chancellor failed to mention. When referring to fuel duty increases, he said with some pleasure that he would defer the escalator for this coming year, so that the rises will be made in three, equal tranches, and said also that he was therefore reducing the increase scheduled for April to 1p per litre. What he did not disclose is that he will increase duty in April not only by the equivalent of 1p through the escalator, but by a further 1.35p through the elimination of the biofuels duty rebate. When the VAT element is included, that means that petrol prices will go up by a further 2.35 per cent. from the beginning of next week. That, of course, will affect every motoristall those who rely on vehicles to drive themselves around. As the costs of motoring go up, there will be knock-on effects throughout the economy on the delivery of goods and on commerce. That was more sleight of hand from the Chancellor, and it was regrettable. The reason why I focus on fuel is the fact that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) said, since the Government introduced the business rates revaluation, I have been campaigning actively to try to correct some of the anomalies that are clearly apparent in the revaluation methodology that the Government have usedanomalies that they have sought to blame on the assiduity of the Valuation Office Agency. In particular, I have been looking at the retail of petrol at filling stations. One third of the 9,000-odd forecourts trading in this country face an increase in their business rateable value of more than 50 per cent., and 1,500 of them are looking at their rateable values at least doubling. Many of them will face the prospect of ceasing to sell fuel when the increases come through in full, because that will be the logical thing for them to do, economically. Most of them operate with very low margins on the sale of their fuel. The Government seem to think that because fuel stems from oil and the oil industry is making significant profits, that must flow through the vertical chain and down to the petrol pump. However, I must tell the Ministers present, as I have told other Ministers on the Treasury Bench, that such thinking betrays a lack of understanding of how that market works. As a result, the VOA itself is telling fuel station operators in my constituency that it would be in their economic interest to cease selling fuel, because if they do so the rateable value of the convenience store on their filling station site will then be calculated on the same basis as other retail premisesthat is, on the square footage that they occupy, rather than on their turnover. Some operators would see a tenfold reduction in their rates bills. That increase by the VOA is completely unjustifiable, and I urge Ministers at this very late stagebills are being sent out with effect from 1 Aprilto rethink the measure and review the methodology. I also urge that on my Front-Bench colleagues, and I am hopeful that a new Government will look favourably on it. We have already heard my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden say that we intend to review the revaluation, and I hope that such a rethink will take place as a consequence of that review. While I am on business rates revaluations, I cannot finish without bemoaning the fact that many pubs in rural constituencies face colossal increases. The Boyne Arms in my constituency is looking at an almost fivefold
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increasefrom 4,000 to 19,000, with no change in circumstances other than that flawed revaluation methodology. 8.46 pm Christopher Fraser (South-West Norfolk) (Con): It is a great pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne), who is an assiduous scrutineer of Government policy. More needs to be done to help the millions of families throughout the country. Under this Government, the gap between rich and poor has increased, and social mobility has decreased. Never before have so many young people faced what can only be described as a bleak futurecarrying the burden of the national debt, failing academic standards, increased demand for higher education places and a job market that causes only despair. Thousands of families cannot afford child care. In a YouGov survey, 28 per cent. of parents with children under 18 and a net income of under 15,000 said that they had been unable to get a job or continue with an existing job because the cost of child care was too great. The Government herald each opening of a Sure Start centrewhich, incidentally, the Opposition fully support, contrary to what is sometimes reported in this placebut, as Ofsted says, half of all Sure Start centres are not reaching out to the most vulnerable families. Conservatives support Sure Start childrens centres and believe that they will play a crucial role in making Britain one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe. Child care is deteriorating in poorer areas, however. In Britains poorest neighbourhoods, the proportion of nurseries that inspectors judge inadequate increased by more than one quarter in 2008, from 8.5 to 10.8 per cent. Why is so little being done to help those who need it most? We have already announced how a Conservative Government will strengthen Sure Start through a universal Sure Start health visitor service, which will be funded with money from health and from extra money that the Government have already set aside to strengthen outreach work to vulnerable families. The UK has more broken homes than almost anywhere in Europe, by far the highest proportion of lone parents in Europe and one of the highest rates of family breakdown. We have also become a country that penalises people who want to stay together and provide a loving and stable environment for their children. Of course we must help single parents, who undoubtedly have one of the toughest jobs in the world, particularly given that many are alone through no decision or fault of their own, but that should not be at the expense of, or instead of, married couples or cohabiting couples. A Conservative Government will recognise marriage in the tax system. Taxes and benefits should encourage families to stay together, unlike the current system, which encourages couples to live apart. We would also help parents by introducing flexible working for all parents with children under 18. That would be achieved via secondary legislation so as not to overburden businesses with more complex regulation. Flexible working means not only flexible or part-time hours, but a raft of ways to improve the work-life balance of parents, including compressed hours, flexitime,
term-time working, working from home, job-sharing or changes to shift patterns or work location. We must ensure that parents are available to drop off and collect their children from school if they wishan essential choice that they should have. More should be done to help grandparents, who, in todays society, are taking on a greater role. They are often the unpaid childminder, cook or taxi driver, being the only available resource left for parents who cannot find affordable child care. There are also the hundreds of thousands of people who act as carers, without whom the state and the NHS could not cope. The Conservative party has already announced several measures in support of carers that we will implement when we reach government. First, we shall ensure that every person who cares for someone else has the right to request flexible working so that they can manage their career and caring responsibilities in the best way possible. We have also outlined our plans to encourage regular, planned respite care. We will ensure that everyone who wishes to have an individual budget and direct payments can do so to ensure that they can get the support and assistance that they need and want instead of being forced to fit around the provision of the local authority. Thirteen years ago, this Government were elected on the promise, Education, education, education. Thirteen years on, more than 50 per cent. of pupils are still not obtaining five good GCSEs including English and maths. Given that those pupils have only ever been educated under a Labour Government, will the Government accept that their policies have failed, and that head teachers and teachers must be given the trust and freedom to raise standards? This years key stage 2 results were the clearest indication yet that the Governments policies for primary education have not only stalled but failed. Only 61 per cent. of pupils managed to reach the required standard in their key stage 2 tests in English, maths and reading, and 39 per cent. of pupils could not pass all three subjects to an adequate level. Only in the past week, figures have been published showing that truancy has risen by an incredible 44 per cent. since 1997, despite the Governments having spent more than 1 billion on combating it. One child in 10 misses at least four weeks school a year. Pupils on free school meals are three times as likely to be persistent truants, and truancy is six times higher in poor areas than rich. It is essential that we address the underlying causes of that. The Conservative party is committed to improving behaviour in schools and giving teachers the powers that they need to deal with disruptive pupils. We also need schools to insist on enforceable home-school contracts so that parents play their part in ensuring that their children go to school. It is so important for the health and the future of this country that we support the family unit. As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, I have taken a decision to put my family before my career. This has been a very difficult and painful couple of years for my wife and her health issues. It has put enormous pressure on my family, my children and me. At this time, they need my love and support, and I have decided not to stand at the next election. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the people of South-West Norfolk in the House. I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and your office for the faith that you put in me to serve on the Chairmens
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[Christopher Fraser] Panel. I would also like to thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), under whom I serve on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Finally, I would like to say to my colleagues from across the House a heartfelt thanks for the encouragement and support that they have given me, and the messages of good will and well-being for my wife that they have sent. I would also like to put on record my gratitude for the work that the staff of the House do to serve us in this Chamber. Without them, this place would not function. Without us debating difficult issues involving our priorities, be it in a Budget debate or any other debate, this country would not function properly either. At a very difficult time for me and for any other Member of Parliament who is leaving, I would like to put on record my gratitude for the time I have spent here, and I thank you. 8.55 pm Mr. Greg Hands (Hammersmith and Fulham) (Con): This has been a very fine debate, and possibly the best Budget Monday debate for some time, not least because of the number of final speeches from many retiring Members who, in most cases, have been here many more years than I. On the subject of final speeches, the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) made no mention of where his leaders savage cuts would come from. We agree with the hon. Gentlemans comments on cider, but it is unfortunate that last year he called for a freeze in duty on spirits but not on cider. Indeed, he said in last years debate, undermining his own case:
Cider is not as widely drunk in my constituency as it once was.[Official Report, 12 May 2009; Vol. 492, c. 778.]
The Conservatives strongly support cider making in this country, and we oppose the RPI plus 10 per cent. rise in duty across the board. Mr. Soames: Will my hon. Friend acknowledge the admirable work done by our hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), who is also a staunch supporter of the cider business? Mr. Hands: I certainly will, and I thank my hon. Friend for the intervention. I also acknowledge the work of my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Bill Wiggin), who made some very strong points about cider at Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions last Thursday. The voice from across the Conservative party has been unanimous in condemning the rise in duty. We should target strong, mass-produced products that, as they have such a low apple content, are barely cider at all. That is the Conservative approach. The right hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) also made his final speech. I rather enjoyed our debate on Newsnight last Monday about the role of the Unite trade union in taking over the Labour party. I found it interesting at the time that he failed to support the British Airways workers going to their jobs. I was in his constituency on Friday, as he knowsI will come to that in due courseand I have to say that the
Federation of Small Businesses in Sheffield takes a very different view on the Budget from the one that he described today. My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) made a lovely speech. He reminded us that he has represented three seats. I wonder whether he had the opportunity to make three maiden speeches. It is our loss that he only has the opportunity to make one farewell speech. He appropriately spoke of the responsibility that we all have through the generations, and in this case about the Governments appalling debt crisis and the moral imperative for us to find a solution. The right hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) is another Labour ex-Minister with whom I enjoyed a debate recently, at the Financial Times election forum. Tonight he gave a thoughtful speech that confirmed the very good reputation that he has had in the House. I agree with him that we are not a post-industrial society. In fact, to return to Sheffield for a moment, I made a very important visit on Friday to ITM Power, which is making zero-carbon, hydrogenpowered cars and was very impressive. The right hon. Gentleman, as is his wont, attacked the Government, in this case for their proposal for a credit adjudicator and the new 50 per cent. tax rate, as he did last year, to be fair to him. We wish him the best and hope that he has a double reason to celebrate on 6 May. Not only is it his birthday, but I believe he will celebrate and cherish the fact that it will be the last day of the current Prime Minister being in office. He was absolutely right when he said that the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr. Brown) would be an awful Prime Minister. My right hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), who is also retiring, made an elegant speech, which covered many broad intergenerational themes, including our role in the world. The hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) is standing down too, and he called the Budget unexciting. Perhaps he meant it as a compliment, but, as a do-nothing Budget, it is not what the country needs. However, he spoke well in support of our policy on high-speed rail and made some important points about the value of clubs and charges, with reference to amusement machine licence duty. My hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples), who is also standing down, spoke appropriately about our responsibility to the next generation on debt. He spoke powerfully about facing up to the implications of debt unless we get a grip on our public finances, and the need to boost business and improve skills in the work force. He made important points about improving ethics in the City. The hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) mentioned his support for the Tobin tax, which was the Governments position until the Obama Administration told the Prime Minister that it would definitely not go ahead. Instead, the Conservative party is in line with the US Administration in calling for a banking levy on leverage. In my short five years here, I have always found the hon. Gentleman to be a first-class parliamentarian and I wish him all the very best. The right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Mr. Kennedy) made some important points on behalf of his constituents. He talked about his support for Government spending, but left me wondering what he thinks of his successors pledge to make savage cuts.
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The hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) argued for high-tech value-added business in his constituency and praised the green investment bank, which was again a policy that the Conservative party first proposed. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) made a characteristically powerful speech, describing a disastrous Government. I entirely agree. The hon. Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt), who is also standing down, gave a characteristically loyalist speech, but I wish her all the best in her future career. The hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) gave various warnings about what would happen if we did not get policy on the economy right. My hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) talked about the noble reasons for his entering politics in the 1970s and his regrets that, thanks to the Government, we seem to have come full circle on many matters. I think he said that history is repeating itself. He rightly attacked the Governments tax on jobs through the big increases in national insurance and highlighted the work of Policy Exchange on the severe negative impact that the tax rise would have on growth. We will miss him greatly. He has been an invaluable help to our shadow Treasury team and I wish him all the very best for the future. The hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) also gave a final speech. He spoke well of the future of UK science and engineering and the importance of innovation. He said that the Budget provided little cheer. It is unfortunate for him that he will find it difficult to square his rhetoric with his leaders pledge on savage cuts. I am sure that the contribution of my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) will not be a final speech. He spoke well about our moral duty to decrease the debt and said that we cannot leave it to the people who got us into the crisis to get us out. The hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) claimed that he was standing on a different programme for the election from that of the Government, but I feel that his fate will nevertheless probably be the same. My hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) made some important points about growth and the Governments optimism, to which I will revert in due course, and also attacked the deficit and the cynical failure to spell out the consequences of freezing personal allowances and other Labour subterfuges, including the impact on petrol retailers. My hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Christopher Fraser) spoke strongly about the need to take measures to strengthen the family. We wish him all the best in his future career and send best wishes to his wife, too. I hope that this is not the last occasion on which I will address the House, although it will probably be the last time I speak as the Member for Hammersmith rather than the Member for Fulham. I am proud to have served as the first Conservative Member of Parliament for Hammersmith since 1966, and I greatly hope that Shaun Bailey will succeed me in that part of the constituency. He will be the first Conservative Member of Parliament for Shepherds Bush since Sir William Bull in 1918, and I shall return to Sir William later. First, I want to consider gold. When debating the last Labour Budget, we should examine the Labour Governments overall record under the right hon. Member
for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in the past 13 years. I was fascinated by the end-of-the-year investment review of the decade in The Sunday Times, which was published just before Christmas. The review featured the best and worst-performing investments in the past decadethat is, since 2000. It showed that the best-performing asset class was gold, and that the worst-performing shares in the same period were Royal Bank of Scotland shares. Whatever our Prime Minister intends to do after he is given the heave-ho, let us hope that he has no intention of becoming a fund manager. The Prime Minister told last years Labour party conference that the test of a Government is the quality of their judgment, but on gold and their economic record in general, their judgment has been calamitous. It is worth dwelling for a moment on the subject of gold, as my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex did, because the Prime Minister says that he has made the right calls throughout. We have noted that he is resisting freedom of information demands, and many of us know why. In May 1999, he first signalled to the market that he would sell 400 tonnes of gold at a 20-year low in the price. That is never a good time either to telegraph a big sale or to sell, and that became known as the Brown bottom. The Prime Minister sold off Britains gold for between $256 and $296 an ounce, raising around $3.5 billion. Since that time, the price has almost quadrupled, despite low inflation, and the total loss to the economy is independently reckoned to be a staggering $6 billion. That was the Prime Ministers version of black Wednesday. Unlike 1992, it was not partly driven by the force of circumstance; it was a decision taken by our Prime Minister entirely of his own volition and entirely at his own choice of time. I mentioned that the Budget has gone down very badly in my constituency, but to get a wider cross-section of views, on Thursday and Friday, I went to Leeds, Morley and Sheffield in Yorkshire. Judging by the mood at the Leeds chamber of commerce and the Sheffield Federation of Small Businesses, the Budget went down very badly there too. The mood in Morley, where the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families will be a candidate, was particularly hostile. Our candidate Antony Calvert and I launched our document, Getting Morley Moving, which went down very well in Morley high street and Morley market. Of course, the Budget is all about debt. Remarkably, Labour has embarked on a strategy designed deliberately to increase our debt. At Prime Ministers questions in December 2008, at the outset of this crisis, we were told that
we need debt to rise, we do not resile from that.[Official Report, 17 December 2008; Vol. 485, c. 1096.]
As we know, Labour has already doubled the debt and will double it again. Remarkably, in this Budget, the Chancellor presented as a triumph the reduction in the forecast borrowing from 178 billion to 167 billion. At that point, he rather reminded me of a football manager who praises the quality of his teams consolation goal after they receive a 5-1 drubbing. As various of my hon. Friends have pointed out, the amount of debt this year167 billionis more than the Treasury raises in income tax. Borrowing is almost 500 million a day, and in the 15 minutes of my speech, the Government will have borrowed another 4 million, which is more than most people could ever dream of
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[Mr. Hands] earning in their lifetime. As important as the new debt is the amount that we are paying as a country in interest on existing debt, which someone mentioned. This year, at 43 billion, debt interest will overtake the defence budget, and next year it will overtake the schools budget. The figures on debt interest are grim, but the main risksremarkablyare on the downside. There are two main risks. First, there is an assumption that interest rates will remain low. Most figures for debt interest in 2014 assume an average interest rate on that debt of 4.4 per cent. I hope that interest rates will remain low, and that is a big priority for an incoming Conservative Government, but clearly, the risk is that interests rates might rise, not fall. Secondly, there is an assumption that growth will be strong. As my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow pointed out, despite a small downgrade in the growth forecast in 2011, the Government are still forecasting growth of between 3 and 3.5 per cent., but independent forecasts are for 2.1 per cent. The Treasury forecasts growth rates of 3.25 to 3.75 per cent. in all years thereafter, but again, the risk is that we will undershoot thatthere is not much chance that we will overshoot it. Lower growth feeds through to a bigger deficit, which in turn leads to more debt interest. We have to take urgent action to prevent this perfect storm of high debt, high interest payments, downwards pressure on our currency, low growth and static or worsening employment from happening. On Thursday, The Sun said that this Budget and the Chancellor could be summed up in four words, spend now, pay lateronly he is spending now, and you will pay later. Budget day was a real throwback to the 1970s, not just with the size of the borrowing and a Government seemingly crying, Crisis, what crisis?, but with picket lines outside the Treasury and this very Parliament. There is better news for the countryI can report a return tonight to double digit poll leads for the Conservatives, just as happened in 1979. I conclude by returning to the subject of my predecessor as Member of Parliament for Hammersmith, Sir William Bull. He was once suspended from the House for calling the Prime Minister a traitor. I do not intend to make the same comment today, but I will say that with the Government borrowing 500 million a dayand borrowing more this year and next than all other Governments in history combinedand given how Labour has run the whole economy into the ground, it is the whole Government who have betrayed our country. 9.11 pm The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): We have had a good debate, on the whole, on crucial matters for the economy. We have come through the most severe and synchronised downturn since the great depression. Thanks to the action that the Government have taken, the damage suffered in the UK has been a great deal less than we suffered in previous recessions and were expected to suffer in this one. Now the world economy is returning to growth. We are in the early stages of recovery, but as we can see by looking around Europe, the recovery is still fragile. Germany returned to growth in one quarter and then went flat the quarter after that. Italy returned to growth, but went back into negative growth the following quarter. Spain is still to come out of recession.
As we forecast, the UK economy returned to growth at the end of last year, but the remaining uncertainties underline the need for support for the economy to continue until the recovery is secure. When we reduce our borrowingas we mustwe need to safeguard the front-line services on which people depend. We must ensure that future industries can grow, and promote innovation to provide opportunities and skilled jobs. In that way, we can secure strong and sustainable growth in the future. Throughout the crisis, the Government have acted to support the economy, families and businesses. Several hon. Members referred to the tremendously successful time to pay scheme, which has given more than 200,000 businesses more time to pay more than 5.2 billion in tax so far. That success has convinced us to continue to offer that scheme to viable businesses having difficulty in meeting their tax obligations, at least through the next Parliament. Some 900 million of support has been delivered to almost 9,000 small and medium-sized enterprises through the enterprise finance guarantee. The small companies rate of corporation tax will remain at 21 per cent. for the coming year. We can see the difference that all this support has made. Unemployment reached not 3 million but 1.6 million and it has come down in the last few months. Home repossessions are much lower than in the 1990s recession, and much lower than was projected at the beginning of last year. The rate of company liquidations has been a third of what it was in the 1990s recession. John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): On the question of unemployment falling, I presume that the Minister means on the claimant count basis. Constituents of mine have expressed concern that if one half of a married couple is in work but the other is unemployed, the latter falls off the claimant count after six months but is still unemployed. Mr. Timms: A lot of things have happened that have ensured that the claimant count has not reached the levels of the past. Part of that is undoubtedly because of flexibilitypeople being willing to reduce their hours and that has been supported to a significant extent by the tax credits system, which has ensured offsetting payments if income is reduced. The incomes of some 400,000 families have been increased through tax credits to offset a reduction in earned income. The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point about the operation of the means-tested system, which has been in place for a long time, but however we look at it, it is undoubtedly the case that, in employment terms, the damage from the recession that we have been through has been a great deal less than that from the recessions of the 1980s and the 1990s. Christopher Fraser: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Timms: I will give way, but then I need to make some headway. Christopher Fraser: Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that long-term unemployment has gone up, as has youth unemployment? Mr. Timms: No. Actually, we have been successful in avoiding the big increase in long-term unemployment that was such a damaging feature in the 1980s and the
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1990s. The hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to concerns about youth unemployment, which is the reason why we offered the six-month guarantee for 18 to 24-year olds, which we extended in the Budget for a further year. The hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) spoke on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Let me make a couple of points about cider duty, which is of course significantly less than duty on other alcoholic drinks. The two largest companies produce some 80 per cent. of cider in the UK; indeed, I noticed that the share price of one of them went up on Budget day. The majority of cider producerssome 400 smaller producers, producing less than 70 hectolitreswill not be affected at all. The duty rise was concentrated on the strongest industrial cidersthe hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) mentioned themwhich are those with the lowest apple content, such as Frosty Jacks and Diamond White, with which there has been a link with disorderly behaviour, as we all know. I take issue with one point that the hon. Member for Taunton made. Referring to the child trust fund, he said that having a pot of money does not have an impact on life chances. He is quite wrong about that: in fact, it is the casethere is clear evidence to show thisthat having a sum of money as one enters adulthood can make a big impact for the better on life chances. The child trust fund delivers that in an important way. Mr. Hands: I thank the Minister for giving way; he has plenty of time. Let me take him back to cider. He mentioned two brands of high-strength, industrial-type cider, which he pledges action on, but why has he raised the duty for all ciders by 10 per cent.? Mr. Timms: To address the anomaly that was the previous differential in the duty. However, as I have said, there is a continuing advantage for cider producers in the system as amended. My right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) rightly welcomed the Budgets impact on manufacturing. I have also visited the Advanced Manufacturing Park, to which he referred, and I have seen the work of Boeing and others that are based there. I join him in paying tribute to the work that Professor Keith Ridgway has done and welcome the announcement of the investment at Sheffield Forgemasters, with the establishment of perhaps the biggest press in the world. He is right to say that we in the UK want to be at the forefront of the global nuclear supply chain. The right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) also gave a thoughtful valedictory speech, the theme of which was stewardship, and demanded that the deficit be cut more quickly than we have proposed. He was followed by two speakers with whom I have worked closely. My right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) welcomed the measures for business in the Budget, pointing out that the Conservative arithmetic does not add up, particularly following todays announcements about national insurance reductions. He did a superb job as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and as Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. I first met the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) when I was a local authority leader and he was the local government Minister, and I was
struck by the tributes that were paid to his work on behalf of local government by two of my hon. Friends today: my hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) and for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland). Those tributes reflect the wide respect for the right hon. Gentlemans work as the local government Minister. It was characteristic that he spoke about local government today, as well as expressing a view on policy on Europe that was somewhat dissonant from that of some of his hon. Friends. My hon. Friend the Member for Tyne Bridge drew attention to the dramatic regeneration that is under way in the north-east, including the announcement of the new electric car being built at Nissan and todays announcement by Siemens of a big investment in offshore wind manufacture in the UK. He was right to draw our attention to those achievements. The hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) called for the deficit to be eliminated faster, but it was striking that he did not answer the question put to him in an intervention by the hon. Member for Taunton about how that would square with todays announcement from the shadow Front Bench of an almost 6 billion reduction in national insurance income to the Exchequer. That would leave a gaping hole in the Conservative partys calculations. My hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) supported the proposals for separating the different functions of the banksas, to a degree, did the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon. My hon. Friend wanted to see greater ambition in the proposals for a green investment bank. I know he will welcome the imminent commencement of the feed-in tariff arrangements for renewable energy. I pay tribute to him for being one of the first in the House to have called for that change. His campaign was successful, and he was an early champion of those arrangements, which will take effect in the next couple of weeks. I echo the tributes that have been paid to him today. The right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Mr. Kennedy) made a number of points about his constituency. I particularly agree with what he said about the importance of investment in broadband. The Governments commitment is, first, to ensure that at least a basic level2 megabits per secondof broadband service is universally available by 2012. I expect his constituency to be among the major beneficiaries of that investment, and we have identified some 200 million to support that commitment. Beyond that, we want to extend next-generation broadband services to every part of the UK. That is the reason for the 50p a month levy on phone lines, which I think he supports. He is right to do so, because that levy will generate 1 billion of investment between now and 2017, enabling us to ensure that at least 90 per cent. of UK households have access to next-generation services by that date. It struck me forcefully when I visited Scotland how strong the support for that programme was. There is widespread recognition of its importance to the rural businesses in Scotlandand, indeed, in Englandthat will benefit from its services, just as urban areas are already starting to do. Mr. Charles Kennedy: I am grateful to the Minister for returning to my point about broadband. He mentioned his recent visit to Scotland, and he is quite right to say that there is a great deal of enthusiasm for broadband
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[Mr. Charles Kennedy] there, for all the obvious reasons. I do not want to get into partisan point scoring, but has he found that his relationship with the Scottish Government in Edinburgh is constructive on this matter, or are they occasionally using this as an excuse to blame Westminster? Are they being co-operative and collaborative in pushing this issue forward? Mr. Timms: Broadly, I think they are. I must say that my disappointment is with the Conservative party, which professes to support rural areas but does not will the means to do so. The levy will allow us to achieve that. I enjoyed the speech made by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe who drew attention to investment in Sheffield Forgemasters and in Siemens. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his point about Government support for the computer games industry. We announced a new tax relief for computer games companies, recognising the inherent strengths and creativity of UK developers, while also recognising the impact of subsidies given to firms in Canada and elsewhere. I visited Abertay university in Dundee recently. In order to illustrate one aspect of the commercial significance of its work, I was shown how visualisation technology for games could be used for complex soil analysis. We are backing that kind of brilliant innovation being developed by companies and universities, including in Sheffield, as my hon. Friend rightly said. The hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) made an intemperate and, I thought, rather inaccurate attack on the Prime Minister. I know there is a market for that sort of perspective, but I hope the hon. Gentleman will take it from this straight soldier that what he said is inaccurate. I very much enjoyed the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt). Along with the whole House, I wish her well when she returns to her previous vocation. She made some forceful points about Thameslink and she was right to underline its importance for her constituents. The hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) spoke about his role as Chairman of the Science and Technology Select Committee, although I know him better as his partys former spokesman on educationa role that he filled with distinction. The hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) was among those who supported the Budgets measures to support new, small and growing businesses. He mentioned agreements with RBS and Lloyds to provide new lending, nearly half of it to small businesses. There is also the launch of UK Finance for Growth, which is responsible for overseeing the Governments stock of more than 4 billion of SME finance products. To incentivise business investment and to help small businesses expand in the recovery, the threshold for the annual investment allowance will be increased to 100,000 from next month, which means that in the first year 99 per cent. of businesses will be able to deduct from their taxable profits all their investments in plant and machinery. We are doubling entrepreneurs relief for capital gains tax. The economy we are now seeing is showing encouraging signs of improvement, but there is absolutely no room for complacency. We need to work hard to secure the
recovery, to rebuild momentum and to build on the return of growth at the end of last year. The Budget sets out a clear plan to achieve those aims, and I commend it to the House. 9.27 pm Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned. (Mr. Mudie.) Debate to be resumed tomorrow. PETITIONS Policing (Croydon) 9.28 pm Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I am pleased to present these petitions[Interruption.] Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Will Members leaving the Chamber please do so as quickly and as quietly as possible? Mr. Pelling: The petition states:
The Petition of people of Croydon declares that the London borough of Croydon requires a fairer share of police officers in London. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure a fairer share of Londons policy officers for Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000789]
Traffic (The Glade, Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of People of Shirley, Croydon, Declares that traffic on The Glade speeds and is dangerous to all road users. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure support from the relevant authorities for the introduction of road safety and road calming measures. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000790]
Traffic (Orchard Avenue, Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of people of Shirley, Croydon, Declares that traffic on Orchard Avenue speeds and is dangerous to all road users. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure support from the relevant authorities for the introduction of road safety and road calming measures. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000791]
Potholes (New Addington, Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of people of New Addington and Croydon, Declares that the road conditions of Parkway, New Addington has been left in such a poor state of repair that a proper repair needs to take place to the foundations of the road instead of patching repairs. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to secure Croydon Councils commitment to providing a thorough going long lasting repair of the major potholes in Parkway, New Addington. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000792]
605 Tram Overcrowding (Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:
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606 Featherbed Lane Pinch Point (Croydon)
Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of the people of Addington and Forestdale, Declares that the current highways arrangements at the pinch point at Featherbed Lane pose a danger to pedestrians and other road users and notes that narrow pavements put pedestrians at risk of collision with wider commercial vehicles and is concerned that current practice in Croydon on providing road safety measures requires fatalities and injuries before action is taken. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure an investment by Croydon Council in improving safety at the Featherbed Lane pinch point that slows traffic for the safety of all road users. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000796]
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that they face such overcrowding at peak times on Tramlink that it can be impossible to board the tram. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure funding for the provision of extra trams for Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000793]
Central Parade (New Addington, Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:
The Petition of the people of New Addington, Declares that that they seek a speedy improvement in the street environment so as to rid Central Parade, New Addington, of muddy paths from the bus stop to the shops, rotted posts, broken paving, collapsed kerbs and run down street furniture. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure a response from Croydon Council undertaking to invest in the improvement of the street environment at Central Parade, New Addington. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000794]
Mayday Hospital A&E (Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that Accident & Emergency at Mayday University Hospital should be protected and that the hospitals status should not be downgraded. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage the South West London Strategic Health Authority to maintain Maydays status and A&E unit. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000797]
Pear Tree Farm (Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:

The Petition of the people of Addington and Forestdale, Declares that the residents are concerned that there should be a regularisation of the planning arrangements for Pear Tree Farm, a waste transfer station nestled in the Green Belt on the borders of the London Borough of Croydon and Tandridge District Council. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to see Croydon and Tandridge Councils regularise the planning arrangements at the site and to see the Environment Agency review the Waste Transfer Licence for Pear Tree Farm. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000795]
Night Buses (New Addington, Croydon) Mr. Pelling: The petition states:
The Petition of people of New Addington, Declares that they would wish to see the current all night bus service maintained to serve all parts of New Addington. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Transport for London following the withdrawal of the N159 bus service to extend the 64 bus route during night running to serve all parts of New Addington. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000788]
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Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.(Mr. Mudie.) 9.34 pm Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): I am delighted to have secured this extremely important and timely debate on the planning process and accountability. I welcome the Minister, and I look forward to what I hope will be a positive, constructive response from him. The purpose of the planning system should be to balance economic, social and environmental priorities at national and local level. However, the planning system currently tends to create bureaucratic barriers rather than support communities in their future development. Many local politicians, councillors and planning authority officers have tried to make the current system work, however, and I take this opportunity to place on record my praise for the role they play throughout the country in taking these very difficult decisions. Since coming to office in 1997, the Government have taken power over planning away from locally elected representatives to a more centralised control, and have given decisions to Whitehall and regional government. As a result, during this period there has throughout the country been a growing mistrust of the planning system. The Government have transferred strategic responsibility for housing and planning from local councils to unelected regional quangos. Their policies have increased centralisation and further reduced local peoples say over planning decisions, and the abolition of the county structure plans has led to even more red tape. I would like to think that the Government have done one good thing, however, in recruiting a chief planner who has a better understanding than most hitherto of planning in rural areas, as his formative years were spent in a predominantly rural area. Over recent years, a pattern has evolved in planning applications; in my experience, that is certainly the case in the rural area I represent. A developer, business or promoter of an application makes a planning application to the local planning authority, and a half-hearted consultation exercise follows, prior to a final, formal planning application taking place. Arguments are rehearsed as to why that particular application for that particular project fills a particular need for that type of project, which is missing in that local community. The planning authority may well then turn down that planning application for good reason, such as that it is contrary to the local development plan. It is a fact that the planning system in England is currently a plan-led system, involving following a plan that sets out what can be built and where the development should take place. There are currently two main levels of plan. There is the regional spatial strategy. Each regional planning body such as the North-East of Englandor Yorkshire and the Humber, with which the Minister and I are more familiarprepares a regional spatial strategy setting out objectives such as how many homes are required to meet the future needs of people in the region or, perhaps, whether the region needs a major new shopping centre or airport. Also, each local planning authority should prepare a local development framework. There is a folder of documents that sets out how each local area may change over the next few years. There may be other
types of plan too, such as on how to deal with waste, which are usually prepared by county councils. There is a bewildering array of plans, and each different type of plan is usually available in the local library. The Government have passed further powers. They have passed powers over housing and planning to the unelected regional development agencies and the rebranded regional assemblies. Most recently, they have created a central planning quango, the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will strip the local authorities and Secretary of State of their say on major planning applications. The IPC will quickly be bogged down in legal challenges, coming from judicial review in the High Court to the European Court of Justice, which will be costly and time-consuming. The regional spatial strategy process is in disarray. The regional spatial strategies of the east of England and the south-east have been subject to High Court review, and Ministers have delayed the publication of the final south-west strategy to pre-empt similar legal challenges. This is nothing short of a fiasco, which has left the planning system in limbo. A huge number of councils and developers are unable to make progress on planning applications. Indeed, a survey of planners views on Labours planning regimethe local development framework processfound that 97 per cent. believed that it had not led to a quicker process. That survey was cited in Planning on 5 October 2009 and was undertaken by Cushman and Wakefield and the Town and Country Planning Association. I believe that local communities should be given the greatest possible opportunity to have their say and for there to be the greatest possible degree of local control. As for the role of councillors, the Local Government Association has issued guidance, which takes account of the Local Government Act 2000 and the 2001 national model code of conduct for councillors. The most recent 2007revision to the code does not affect these issues, but it covers lobbying, among other things. It says:
It is important to recognise that lobbying is a normal and perfectly proper part of the political process. Those who may be affected by a planning decision will often seek to influence it through an approach to their elected ward member or to a member of the planning committee.
It continues:
However, lobbying can lead to the impartiality and integrity of a councillor being called into question, unless care and common sense is exercised by all the parties involved. When being lobbied, councillors (members of the planning committee in particular) should take care about expressing an opinion that may be taken as indicating that they have already made up their mind.
These well-meaning codes of conduct remove the right of local councillors to form a view, to express a view or to listen formally to and consult those who are most affected by an individual project and planning application. As a result, the way in which the system works means that the electorate and those who live closest to the site involved in the planning application feel that their opinions on these applications and on the planning developments proposed are being totally ignored and that developments are being imposed on them without their views being heard. That sense of disfranchisement and of democratic deficit can lead to disenchantment and feelings of antagonism. Only radical change can possibly deliver the planning system that we need to secure in the years to come.
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Rather than having one planning structure determined centrally and then applied without variation across the country, would it not be better to have a planning system with a basic national framework of planning priorities and policies but where the local plan is truly local? Should it not be a local plan for local people? That is precisely what the Conservatives are proposing. We would like there to be proper democratic checks and balances that are seen and have to be respected in the decision making on any planning application, not a plan that can be so easily overruled by a higher tier. Therefore, we would not work with the IPC. We would abolish it, while retaining its expertise. We would abolish and replace the entire bureaucratic and undemocratic tier of regional planning, including the regional spatial strategies, the regional planning bodies and the national and regional building targets. We believe that those targets should be set locally, as it is the local people who have to live with the consequences of any planning decision. We would re-enable proper planning inquiries andyesgive back discretion to the Secretary of State. Surely the Minister agrees that we should create a planning system where for local people the decision-making ability is seen to be transparent and accountable to local councils and that local government should be able to produce its own distinctive local policies to create communities that are enjoyable to live in, sustainable and attractive. In my area, there are currently a number of very contentious applications at both district level, notably a residential community for the elderly, and county council level, where there are several proposals for energy-fromwaste facilities and, most recently, one for a wind farm. In each case, the code of conduct applies to those most affectedthose who live closest to each individual planning application. I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that Buckingham is no different to the Vale of York in this regard, and we can each point to a village or to several villagesif not every villagein our areas that have a proposal. It could be an affordable housing proposal, for example. Hon. Members on both sides of the House would like to see more affordable housing, and the decision should be about where it is most appropriate to put the housing and the number of houses that there should be. You will be familiar, Mr. Speaker, with the scenario in which residents write, We have nothing against affordable housing; in fact, we welcome it, but we do not think it should be next door to us. We know just the site for it at the other side of the village. So, the arguments are well rehearsed and I am sure that the Ministers constituency will contain many such examples, too. I am delighted that the Minister is here, as an outstanding alumnus of Lady Lumleys school in Pickering, and he is deeply familiar with those aspects across rural North Yorkshire. I am sure that he will echo my experience with the residents in these circumstances, whatever the nature of the planning application. I try so hard to explain the processes involved in making planning decisions rather than to engage in a discussion of the merits of the application when the decisions are rightly taken elsewhere. However, the residents feel aggrieved and that their concerns are not being heard, and they approach their MP to intervene. That reflects the confusion over the role of both local and national Government in the decision-making process on planning applications, as well as over the roles of the Planning Inspectorate, of the planning authorities and of an MP.
Common practice is, as the Prime Minister said as recently as 17 March, that
a planning decision is not a matter for this House but one for the planning authorities.[Official Report, 17 March 2010; Vol. 507, c. 877.]
In my view, MPs are best not taking a political decision on the merits of planning applications but can guide constituents and those who feel aggrieved by the planning process on where the decisions are taken and which authority is responsible. When Parliament has devolved power to a local authority, I believe that we should respect that decision of Parliament. Parliament has entrusted the local planning authority in each case to take responsibility for day-to-day planning decisions in its area. It is right that in general the authorities should be free to carry out their duties responsibly with the minimum of interference. May I take the opportunity to ask the Minister to give an unequivocal statement this evening on what the role of an MP should be as regards planning issues, at what stage an MP should rightly intervene, on what the role of the Planning Inspectorate is and on what his interpretation is of the code of conduct advising councillors on what their role should be? Does he agree that there is a democratic deficit, and does he believe that the planning process should be revisited? A Library note that was prepared for me, on 23 March, for this debate tells me:
A Planning Minister should not discuss a planning case with any interested party to a decision. This advice applies, in particular, to decisions on recovered planning appeals and called-in planning applicationsMinisters should decline requests for meetings from MPs, delegations of local people, parties to an appeal or a called-in application, pressure groups or any other party who wish to make representations about a particular planning matter. The same principle applies to other forms of contact with interested parties, including telephone calls.
As I felt that was not sufficiently clear, I was given further clarification from an earlier note, dated 29 January 2009, that
It is often the case that representations from MPs, pressure groups or other interested parties will be made to persuade Ministers either for or against the call-in of a planning application, rather than leaving the decision to the local authority.
Finally, I was advised:

Whilst such representations may be taken into account in the decision on whether or not to call in the application,
the law states that

ministers should act, and be seen to act, fairly and should not discuss the decisions with these parties.
With all such planning applications, there is a feeling of grievance and that peoples views are not being heard. People feel that, in most cases, a planning authority is perfectly capable of coming to a sound planning decision, but that such decisions are then overruled, called in or looked at on appeal. A planning inquiry then follows and a planning inspector overrules the views of the democratically elected councillors of that planning authority. That top-down approach to planning has led to a real sense of disfranchisement and disenchantment and a feeling of democratic deficit. There is a feeling that the views of the electorate and local residents on many current applications in the Vale of York are being ignored. We must restore democracy and accountability to the planning system, and we must rebalance power back in favour of our local communities.
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Every cloud has a silver lining. Since I called for this debate, much to the hilarity of the local papers and some of the national press, an aggrieved constituent of mine who felt that his views were not being heard chose to pour a perfectly good glass of local beer over his MP. I am delighted to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I have since received the sum of money required to cover the cost of dry cleaning the attire that I was wearing on that occasion. I want to convey to the Minister as forcibly as possible the message that there should be a local plan for local people and that sustainable development should be the key, rather than inappropriate development in inappropriate places. Regard should be had to whether functional flood plains form part of the site of such a planning application, whatever the project might be. Regard should also be had to green fields, green belt areas and the nature of areas that could be irrevocably changed for generations to come. The grounds for appeal against local planning permission should be limited either to the fact that the correct procedure was not followed in assessing the application or that a decision contravenes the local plan. The key tenets in planning policy should be restoring democratic and local control over the planning system, rebalancing the system in favour of sustainable development and sustainable communities and producing a simpler, quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic planning system. In sum, let the people speak and let their voice be heard. 9.55 pm The Minister for Housing (John Healey): I congratulate the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on securing the debate and taking full advantage of the early conclusion of the previous business. I know that she is an active local MP. She represents a constituency that, in large part, I sought to represent in 1992, although unfortunately I was not elected. It is my home area and, as she said, I spent many of my school days there. I was slightly disappointed that her speech was not rooted in constituency concerns but ranged more widely across planning policy, but let me try to deal with the points that she raised. The question of accountability is at the heart of the hon. Ladys concerns. Accountability must be at the heart of any planning system if it is to command confidence and if the decisions taken as part of it are to be sustainable and acceptable, even if they are not supported by all interests, because in many cases that simply cannot happen. Accountability was at the heart of the reforms that we put in place through the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and, particularly with regard to national planning decisions on nationally important infrastructure, through the Planning Act 2008. As accountability is a central tenet and requirement of the planning system, many of our reforms have been designed specifically to improve public accountability and public involvement. That applies equally to the tier of planning about which the hon. Lady was most concernedplanning at a local level, principally under the town and country planning networkas to the national planning system and the new Infrastructure Planning Commission. As an aside, may I say that her comments about the IPC spoke volumes about the
contradictions that run throughout her partys planning proposals? She says that her party proposes to abolish the IPC but retain its expertise, but that is a contradiction in terms. Such a statement simply creates uncertainty and a lack of clarity for the many people who are concerned about these matters and who want sound, clear and credible proposals from her party against which they may judge the policies that we have put in place. Let me return to the main substance of the hon. Ladys speech: local accountability for local planning decisions. The 2004 Act reformed the local planning system and the plan-making system. It introduced local development frameworks that would be prepared by local planning authorities. Whatever one might call local plans that have the democratic endorsement of an elected planning authority, they are at the centre of the system, so the local development framework is hugely important. We must have a policy and plan-led decisions, including decisions on specific applications, so that the necessary decisions, which are not always popular and easy to take, can be dealt with. The plan-making stage of the local development framework is therefore the time at which important decisions must be taken locally about such things as the need for local infrastructure and the need for additional land for housing, businesses and jobs, or a greater range of leisure activities for an area. Discussions need to be held about how necessary but perhaps unpopular developments are best planned for and provided in a local area. That, in my view, is the most important stage, where public views need to be made to count. 10 pm Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)). Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.(Mr. Mudie.) Miss McIntosh: I take great heart from what the Minister is saying. If I follow his logic, if a project is outside the local development plan that has been agreed, that is presumably grounds for the planning application to be turned down by the local authority, and for that decision to be respected by the Planning Inspectorate or the Secretary of State. John Healey: If a clear plan is in place, the planning authority will use it as a principal reference point from which to take guidance on the sort of decisions that are to be taken. It will also be relevant to, and a material consideration in, any Planning Inspectorate inquiry into an application. If I may say so, the hon. Lady characterised the planning system in quite an ill-informed and illegitimate way. The fact is that a large majority of planning decisions are taken by the local planning authority and are not challenged or taken to appeal, and do not lead to a Planning Inspectorate inquiry. The majority of cases that reach the Planning Inspectorate, where a judgment is made, are found in favour of the local authority, or are simply dismissed. In other words, the local authority makes a majority of decisions that hold, and wins the majority of cases that go to the Planning Inspectorate. It is much better placed to do so if it has done the job of putting a clear plan, and a clear set of local policies, in place, as a reference point for itself and as an important reference point for the inspectorate.
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The hon. Lady describes what is happening in her area as half-hearted consultation, and mentions outcomes that are uncertain. She should look hard at her local authorities and at whether they have done the job of making sure that local people are properly informed and know what is going on, and have done the job of putting together proper policies and plans so that applications can be considered properly. Applications have to be considered. They may not be popular, but decisions need to be taken; that is part of the responsibility of any elected council. The hon. Lady rightly described that as being at the centre of the planning system and planning responsibility. As she said, it is about balancing environmental, economic and social considerations. Before I finish on the hon. Ladys major concern about the role of local councillors and MPs, let me touch on four or five areas where we have taken steps, particularly over the past couple of years, to do exactly what she has been urging, essentially reinforcing the accountability and openness of the system and ensuring the involvement of local people. Each local authority, as part of their preparation of the local plan, has to prepare a statement of community involvement at the outset, so that the council can set out clearly the approach that it will take to involving and informing local communities from the outset. The statement covers the whole plan-making process, from early scoping and the options right up to the point at which any plans are submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination in public. I am happy to accept that, in the view of planners, there are still weaknesses in what the hon. Lady describes as Labours planning regime, but I have to say that there are fundamental flaws in the Conservatives proposed planning regime, and not just in the eyes of planners, but in the eyes of businesses, investors and house builders and in the eyes of local authorities that understand that their proper role is not simply to say no to anything that comes on to their desk. It is no surprise that a major national construction company described the plans as scary as hell; it is no surprise that the British Property Federation describes some of the measures in her proposed regime as a recipe for chaos; and it is no surprise that the British Chambers of Commerce says:
On balance, we question whether the Conservative proposals do enough to deliver a planning system that underpins short-term recovery and long-term economic development.
know also the role that it now plays in the overhauled system of decisions on developments that might be proposed in potential flood-risk areas. Miss McIntosh: On that point, I am delighted that, after kicking and screaming, the Government have allowed the Environment Agency to become a statutory consultee. Will they similarly allow water companies to be acknowledged as statutory consultees in developments that impact on SUDSurban drainage systemsand flood plains? John Healey: As we put in place that new system of sustainable urban drainage plans, which I think is what SUDS stands for, we would certainly consider that suggestion. So, there is the process of improving the influence that statutory consultees and organisations with expertise can bring to bear. Secondly, there is the process of improving planning application publicity for local people. Having consulted on that last summer, I decided to maintain the requirement that local authorities publicise certain planning applications in local newspapers. I stand by that, but I have also introduced a new requirement whereby, from 1 October, local authorities must publish on their websites specified information on all planning applications. That is one way in which we can ensure that more people are better informed about proposed planning applications in their area. Thirdly, we have to beef up involvement at the stage before an application is lodged with a local authority. The hon. Lady will be aware of the provisions that I put in place for that pre-application stagefor nationally significant investment projectswhen I led through the House what became the Planning Act 2008. We are looking to follow through that principle locally, because when developers and local authorities seek views, open up discussions and are ready to be informed and influenced by local views at an early stage, applications are likely to be better crafted and potentially more acceptable, if not universally popular. Fourthly, there is the role of elected councillors, and I know, as the hon. Lady said, that many local councillors feel hesitant about becoming too involved in planning applications. They fear the bounds of propriety, but we need to strengthen the support, advice and guidance to councillors on that issue, and that is why a recent Government-endorsed plain guide to the role of councillors was produced. I was not responsible for the title, because it is called Positive Engagementtwo words that I tend to avoid. Nevertheless, the sentiment behind it is clear, and the Local Government Association also recently updated its guidance on probity, planning and the role of local councillors. If the hon. Lady has specific criticisms or suggestions for improvements instead of the rather sweeping generalisations that she gave, I encourage her to write to me with them, because I do see an ability for local councillors to let their local residents, whom they are elected to serve, know about potential planning applications. I see as two sides of a very important coin their role in being able to represent the concerns of their electors and to serve their purpose and their proper role as decision takers as part of the local planning authority.
The hon. Lady does not speak for her party on those issues, but she is well informed and an expert on them, so I suggest that she takes a long, hard look at those proposals, because quite honestly they risk bringing down the shutters on the development and long-term prosperity that many areas, including hers in North Yorkshire, need to look forward to. I shall move on to improvements, which the hon. Lady may be interested to note. First, on the role of statutory consultees, we have set out and, following a consultation, now produced an updated and strengthened policy statement, so that we improve the arrangements regarding when and over what those organisations that either need to be consulted, or it is desirable to consult, should have influence. She will know about that issue in relation to the role of the Environment Agency, flooding risk and the important expert assessment that it can bring to any potential planning application. She will
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As for MPs, I am reluctant to follow the logic of the hon. Ladys argument in suggesting that we should somehow specify, at a national level, the precise role that MPs should play in planning applications. That has to be a judgment for the locally elected Member. All of us, as Members of this House, can play a part in and have an influence over these matters, but clearly, as constituency representatives, we are not the decision takers. None of this will work well in future unless local authorities, councillors and officersnot just officers in the planning departmentbetter understand the nature of the planning process and the nature of their responsibilities and act better to deal with the concerns of local people in consultation and information exercises. That is why when I published the new policy planning statement on climate change and renewable energy a couple of weeks ago, I also made available nearly 10 million in order that councils can step up and improve their ability to understand the responsibilities involved and conduct those responsibilities rather more effectively locally than we may have seen in the past. It is also because of this desire to reinforce the ability of the public to be well informed, to have an influence and to make their views count in the planning process that I have increased the funding available for planning aid. That is designed to support local community groups and residents groups who want to understand the
planning system better and want to use their position, and the planning system so that their views count. In the endperhaps the hon. Lady will pass this on to her Front-Bench colleagues who have prepared her partys policy proposalsit is simply not good enough to think that giving a green light to those who largely want to oppose any development in their area is the proper discharge of elected office or responsibility in the planning system. To design a planning system based on that type of reform would lead to the chaos that some of the concerned organisations talk of, but also to letting down the very people who need decisions to be taken about long-term development so that they can have the homes that their children or elderly parents need, so that businesses can bring them jobs and so that they can have leisure facilities that may improve their area and their life for the future. There are tough decisions to be taken, and as the hon. Lady said, the planning system has to be about decisions that balance often competing and conflicting interests, whether they are environmental, social or economic. In the end somebody has to take those decisions, and the principal people taking them should be the elected councillors on the local planning authority. Question put and agreed to. 10.15 pm House adjourned.
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values: universal; accessible; trusted and sustainable. The scale of the response showed a clear desire for the Post Office to do more. The Government response to the consultation, which is being published today, sets out the expanded role we want the Post Office to play:
Making affordable credit more readily available by working closely with credit unions. Increasing financial inclusion, by providing local access to more high street bank accounts. Giving children their own account to allow them to save at their local post office. Providing a way for people to manage their household bills, with a new account that will allow those on low incomes to take better advantage of direct debit rates for energy and water bills.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
Intellectual Property Office (Performance Targets 2010-11) The Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property (Mr. David Lammy): I have tasked the Intellectual Property Office with managing and shaping an intellectual property system which encourages innovation and creativity, balances the needs of rights holders and the public, provides support to businesses on managing and exploiting their intellectual property, and stimulates economic growth. I have set the Intellectual Property Office the following targets for 2010-11:
Be able by March 2011 to quantify the level of IP rights and estimate IPs impact on the knowledge economy. Demonstrable improvement in stakeholder perceptions of the impact of our international policy engagement compared with 2009-10 results. Review by March 2011 the UKs system of moral rights, by comparison with our international partners and by conducting an appraisal of any impact on our economic and cultural environment. Issue 80 per cent. of patent search reports within four months of request. Give good customer service in processing patent applications in 95 per cent. of quality assured cases. Clear all outstanding patent examinations older than 49 months by March 2011. Register 85 per cent. of correctly filed applications for trade marks, where no opposition has been filed, within four months, 90 per cent. within five months and 95 per cent. within six months. Make the correct decision on registration on at least 99 per cent. of trade mark applications. Register 95 per cent. of correctly filed design applications within one month. Our business outreach enables 80 per cent. of its recipients to improve the IP performance of their business or the businesses they advise. Achieve a return on capital employed of 4 per cent.
The document also sets out new measures on mortgages, access to business banking, and a Post Office current account which would be available in all of its 11,500 branches. These new products will add to the wide range of banking products and services already on offer at the Post Officecredit cards, insurance, loans, foreign currency, and savings. The measures the Government are taking mark a step change in banking at the Post Office. They also demonstrate the Governments ongoing commitment to the Post Office network. A commitment the Government are backing up with a 180 million of new Government funding for the network for 2011-12, beyond the 1.7 billion that is already being invested from 2007 to 2011. Copies of the Governments response to the consultation will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office and will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The consultation document will also be accessible online on the Departments website. CABINET OFFICE Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 (Delegations/Authorisations) The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith): During 2009, delegations were made to the Department for Energy and Climate Change and to the head of the home civil service. Delegations/authorisations are made subject to the condition that recipients comply with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code as amended from time to time. Copies of the Civil Service Management Code are available in the Library of the House and electronically at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/csmc/ index.aspx. TREASURY Tax Information Exchange - Belize The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): A tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) was signed with Belize in London on 25 March 2010.
Post Office
The Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Pat McFadden): The Post Office is one of this countrys oldest institutions, but the Government believe it still has a vital role to play in todays society, and in the future. In December 2009, the Government published a consultation on Post Office banking, setting out its vision for banking at the Post Office based around four
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The text of the TIEA has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and made available on HM Revenue and Customs website. The text will be scheduled to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House of Commons in due course. 2008 Credit Guarantee Scheme (Contingent Liability) The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): The credit guarantee scheme (CGS) was introduced as part of a package of measures to support the stability of the banking system and to protect savers and depositors. The scheme makes available, to eligible institutions, a Government guarantee of new short and medium-term debt issuance of up to three years maturity. As announced at the pre-Budget report in 2009, the CGS closed for new issuance on 28 February 2010. In consequence, the maximum amount currently outstanding represents the maximum contingent liability under scheme rules. On 24 March 2010 issuance stood at 125 billion. HM Treasury is therefore notifying a revision to the contingent liability to the maximum currently outstanding to reflect this and in addition is publishing a short report providing details of scheme use on 29 March 2010 on the Debt Management Offices website.
I welcome Professor Byrons report and, because UKCCIS was founded on the principle of shared responsibility, I agree with her recommendation that the UKCCIS executive board should decide on the best way to address her recommendations. The Home Secretary and I are therefore writing today to the UKCCIS executive board asking them to consider the report and agree a response covering all of the recommendations by 31 July 2010. I have placed copies of Professor Byrons report, my letter responding to her and the letter to the UKCCIS executive board in the Libraries of both Houses. They are also available online at www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Seaside Economies The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. John Denham): The Strategy for Seaside Success: securing the future of seaside economies was launched on Thursday 25 March. The aim of the strategy is to help ensure our seaside towns have the help they need to build on their heritage and take advantage of the new opportunities to develop strong economies and communities for the future. While many seaside towns have had to confront particular economic challenges in recent years, seaside towns have unique histories and retain a special place in the development of modern Britain. A renewed interest in these places, coupled with new possibilities to develop and use low-carbon economies and tap into the global digital economy, provides an excellent opportunity for seaside towns to become great places to live, work and visit. This strategy builds on support the Government have given to seaside towns since 1997 through a range of mainstream policies, together with targeted support to some of the most deprived seaside authorities. We have given councils more powers to tackle their own problems locally, through devolution, while the regional development agencies have given seaside towns significant support to promote economic development. The Northwest Development Agency has invested over 200 million in its seaside towns, and over 86 million has been invested in coastal areas by the East of England Development Agency. The Governments Sea Change initiative has put 38 million into improving seaside town infrastructure in 32 seaside areas since 2008. The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided over 234 million to 864 projects in English seaside reports to support their regeneration. Over 99 million has been targeted on 21 of the most deprived seaside resorts through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and New Deal For Communities. The new cross-Government strategy is directed at key areas where action is most needed. The package of support it outlines includes:
A new 5 million seaside towns grant fund to help the 25 most deprived seaside local authorities tackle long-term worklessness and drive regeneration;
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Safer Children in a Digital World (Progress Review) The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls): I am writing today to Professor Tanya Byron in response to her review of the progress made on improving childrens digital safety since the publication of her 2008 review, Safer Children in a Digital World. The pace of technological change since Professor Byrons 2008 review has been rapid. In recognition of this, in December 2009 I asked Professor Byron to review progress in keeping children safe when using new technology and report to the Government by the end of March. I am grateful to Professor Byron for the inclusive, consultative approach which she has takenincluding meeting hon. Membersand for her thoughtful analysis and conclusions which are, as ever, balanced, insightful and informed throughout by the voices and interests of children, young people and families. Professor Byrons report celebrates the world-leading precedent which has been set by the establishment of a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and the important advances that have been made, particularly around raising public awareness of how to keep children safe online and teaching children how to stay safe through improved digital safety education. As we move forward, Professor Byron is clear that the priority must be to deliver, without delay, what was set out in the UKCCIS strategy last December. She also makes recommendations on how we should respond to the developments that have taken place since her 2008 review alongside a set of helpful recommendations to improve the workings of UKCCIS.
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A pledge to extend the Sea Change programme to help improve seaside town infrastructure after 2011; The Heritage Lottery Fund to look at how more support can be given to iconic piers which are a unique part of many seaside towns historic infrastructure; New licensing rules for councils over houses in multiple occupation will help tackle problems around poor quality seaside housing, and we will look at what else is needed to prevent unsuitable landlords getting holiday caravan site licences; Support for a Seasiding campaign with festivals to attract cultural investors and strengthen non-seasonal economies to help them become year-round visitor destinations; Exploring options to exploit new opportunities on the coast to benefit seaside town economies, including taking advantage of their natural advantages and location to be at the forefront of the shift to a low-carbon economy. New UK offshore wind licences could be worth 75 billion and create 70,000 new jobs by 2020, many of which could be in coastal areas. Ensuring that communities across the UK, including seaside towns, benefit from the Governments commitment to extend new digital networks, including super-fast broadband, across the country. Regional development agencies and tourism boards to give maximum promotion to seaside towns in their region. Learning from the neighbourhood policing pilots in seaside and other areas on how to deal effectively with antisocial behaviour and crime in seaside towns. A focus on stronger co-operation across Government to improve regeneration outcomes in seaside towns, including Regional Ministers as seaside champions, and improved delivery of online personalised public services in seaside towns.
Seaside towns face complex economic and social issues so this strategy will evolve. It will help to ensure all our seaside towns to reach the standards of the best and become year-round economies that flourish and grow in the 21st century. I have placed copies of the strategy in the Library of the House.
DEFENCE Armed Forces Equipment The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): Further to my statements to the House on 22 and 25 March, Official Report, columns 3WS and 54WS, I am pleased to announce the next steps on a number of projects that will deliver vital equipment and support, particularly to the Royal Air Force (RAF), and will help sustain the aerospace and weapons sectors of the UKs defence industry. These announcements build on the package of adjustments to the defence programme I announced to the House on 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 801 and the emerging thinking on defence as set out in the Green Paper that leads in to the strategic defence review (SDR). The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has entered into an interim partnering agreement with MBDA (UK) Ltd to take forward the Governments strategy for the UKs complex weapons sector as originally set out in the defence industrial strategy. The agreement builds on the successful team complex weapons assessment phase that commenced in July 2008. As part of the agreement, the MOD has placed a contract valued at some 330 million to demonstrate and manufacture both the fire
shadow loitering munition which will be able to be used in operations by the British Army in Afghanistan and, using a development of the current Brimstone anti-armour weapon, the second element of the selective precision effects at range (SPEAR) programme for use by the RAF on Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 including on current operations. The contract also includes further work on the future local area air defence system and on future components of the SPEAR programme. This partnered approach is designed to meet the armed forces requirements through a modular family of weapons, with the agreement providing greater overall flexibility to meet evolving requirements, permitting shorter development times, and achieving significant efficiencies through life. It will also ensure the UK has continued access to industrial skills and capabilities that are critical for the ongoing provision of cutting edge complex weapons for our armed forces. The agreement represents a further significant investment in the United Kingdoms high technology industry and its wider supply chain, and helps to sustain the UKs key complex weapons skills base. I am also pleased to announce that this week we will sign a 120 million contract with BAE Systems for the in-service support of the Hawk T Mk2 (the advanced jet trainer), which will provide a modern fast jet training capability for the RAF. This contracted logistic support arrangement will see BAE Systems responsible not only for the number of aircraft made available for training flights but also for ensuring that the aircraft are able to carry out the training mission effectively, and covers all aspects of support including on base maintenance, fleet management, spares management and re-provisioning, repair and all other ancillary activities needed to provide the required aircraft availability out to 31 March 2014. This contract is sufficiently flexible to continue to deliver value for money for defence should the strategic defence review identify changes in the fast jet training requirement. Altogether the contract will sustain over a 100 jobs at BAE Systems and its subcontractors, Babcock Defence Division and Rolls Royce (all at RAF Valley in Anglesey). We are making excellent progress towards delivery of the 22 new Chinook I announced in December. The decision to buy more Chinooks is a reflection of operational experience over the past 20 years, especially more recently in Afghanistan where the aircraft has proven its value to commanders time and again. I am pleased to inform the House that a contract was signed with Boeing on 23 March, just three months after my announcement, for initial design and long-lead manufacture work, which will protect the critical path to delivery of the first 10 aircraft in 2012 and 2013. This demonstrates our commitment to delivering more capability to the front line as quickly as possible. It has been well publicised that the A400M transport aircraft, which will provide airlift support to operations, is proving to be a challenging programme, principally due to the technical complexity of this next generation military transport aircraft. Since 2008, MOD officials have worked tirelessly with the other partner nations, the Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation, and EADS/Airbus Military to find the best way forward for the UK. This process has involved difficult negotiations but I am pleased to announce today that the partner nations have reached an agreement with EADS/Airbus Military on a non-legally binding heads of terms agreement
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that will provide the basis for a formal contract amendment in the coming months. The in service date is now expected to be 2015, and it is our intention to see the A400M programme through to completion. It was very clear from negotiations that the programme would only remain viable with further investment from the partner nations. The UK contribution to this further investment will be achieved by reducing the number of aircraft to be delivered to the RAF so that we remain within our existing cost envelope. We expect that the cost increases, which for the UK represents a maximum reduction of three aircraft from the originally contracted number of 25, may be recovered in the long-term through a levy on foreign export sales of the A400M. I acknowledge that there have been significant programme delays, reflecting the complex technical challenges of this international project, and we may not receive the number of aircraft for which we originally contracted. Nevertheless, we will deliver the capability required and are greatly encouraged that a prototype A400M aircraft has now flown, with flight trials continuing. This, coupled with recent changes in governance structures that have led to greater transparency, means that the MOD has grounds for greater confidence in the A400M programme. The proposed way forward has been subject to rigorous internal scrutiny, and I am satisfied that the proposed heads of terms agreement is underpinned by a sound evidential base. As a result, I am confident that the A400M will remain value for money for the taxpayer, and will still deliver an outstanding capability for the RAF. The A400M programme will also sustain up to 8,000 British jobs, including cutting-edge wing design work. As a result of the measures I announced to the House in December, and despite the delay to the A400M programme, we expect to be able to meet the airlift requirements for current operations after the C130K goes out of service in 2012. We are bolstering our strategic lift capability by the procurement of a seventh C-17, which will enter service with the RAF in March 2011. We are also maximising tactical airlift capability by investing in a package of enhancement measures to maximise the use of the existing fleet of 24 Hercules C-130J. The completion of a second runway at Bastion, Helmand, in 2010 will also allow us to reduce tactical airlift tasking in theatre. Through these investments, the Department believes it can sustain anticipated intra-theatre airlift tasking on current operations until A400M comes into service. Finally, on 30 November 2009, the Minister responsible for defence equipment and support, announced the beginning of formal trade unions consultation on the future of defence support groups (DSG) Large Aircraft Business Unit (LABU) at St. Athan, south Wales, designed to achieve closure of the facility by June 2013 at the latest. Once depth maintenance on the VC10 ends in 2013 there will be no requirement to maintain RAF aircraft at St. Athan. The management of the DSG, the Government and the Government of Wales have explored exhaustively the prospects for replacing the contract with other work but no such opportunity has been identified. Therefore, our priority is to ensure that the redundancy and retraining schemes available to the workforce fully reflect our appreciation of the loyal,
reliable and very skilled work that employees of St. Athan have delivered for the benefit of the RAF and the country. We have written to the trade unions concluding the consultation process and setting out the redundancy terms that will give the workforce the opportunity to apply for redundancy on the current conditions available for compulsory redundancy. MOD will continue to work with other Government Departments and agencies to explore future job opportunities for DSG employees who will be affected by the drawdown and closure of the facility. The option of retraining and transferring LABU personnel to other DSG sites will be maximised where this meets business needs and individuals preferences. And DSG will work closely with external training providers and agencies such as Careers Wales, Jobcentre Plus and other advisory organisations to explore alternative training and job opportunities for any employees wanting to retrain for an alternative career. I pay tribute to the outstanding service of DSG St. Athan personnel, both past and present, in supporting the UK armed forces with the vital equipment needed on critical operations both at home and overseas. The series of announcements I have made underline this Governments commitment to provide our armed forces with the equipment and support they need. The decisions we have taken will introduce new and enhanced capability that is required now and in the coming years, and support, not-prejudge, future decisions in the forthcoming SDR.
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and DSTL (Targets 2010-11) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): The following key targets have been agreed with the chief executives of the UK Hydrographic Office and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) for the FY2010-11. UK Hydrographic Office KT1: Safety While aiming for 100, to achieve a safety index of 95 or higher. KT2: Defence To deliver the defence hydrographic programme achieving an index rating of 95 or higher while transitioning to a multi-year service definition annex incorporating incentivised pricing. KT3: Finance To achieve a return on capital employed of 9 per cent. on a three-year rolling basis. KT4: Organisational Excellence To demonstrate an improvement year-on-year across 10 measures of excellence while also achieving at least 75 out of 100. KT5: Improving Business Efficiency and deliver Value for Money To achieve at least 50 out of 70 against seven targets which together reflect a measure of efficiency improvements and value for money.
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Dstl KT1: Quality Deliver high quality outputs from Dstl-led projects that are assessed externally as impacting on customers priority issues, including the research and development (R&D) boards priorities. KT2: Timeliness and customer satisfaction Deliver at least 90 per cent. of all Dstl-led projects that complete in the financial year 2010-11 to time and to budget, and achieve at least 93 per cent. of customer feedback responses at a score of seven or above for overall satisfaction. KT3: Capability Dstl will sustain and develop its technical capability, independently assessing 10 capability groups chosen by the R&D board where Dstl needs to lead thinking either now or in the future. No more than three of these will be assessed as development needed. KT4: Business Performance To maintain strong business performance through:
Achieving an average ROCE of at least 3.5 per cent. over the period 2009-10 to 2013-14. Achieving an annual operating profit of 18.4 million while using the same charge out rates in 2010-11 as in 2009-10. Non-staff costs not exceeding 32.1 per cent. of net income.
climate challenges that Departments are working together to addressthrough delivery of their departmental carbon budgets and adapting to a changing climate in their planning and decision making. I will place copies of Climate Change: Taking Action Delivering the Low Carbon Transition Plan and preparing for a changing climate in the Libraries of both Houses on Wednesday.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Westminster Foundation for Democracy (2009-10 Review) The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): I would like to inform the House that the recent FCO-commissioned independent review of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy is complete. I have placed copies of the review in the Libraries of both Houses and it is also available on the WFD website. The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a unique organisation that carries out important work to support democracy worldwide. The FCO places great value on its work. The objective of the review was to assess the Foundations performance and its value for money. The review found that the WFD is well positioned to make a contribution internationally. It was broadly positive about the WFDs work with parties and Parliaments overseas. The WFD was found to be valued by both participants and beneficiaries. The FCO will continue to work closely with the WFD to ensure that the reviews recommendations are implemented.
KT5: Sustainability Embed sustainability into Dstls business ethics by achieving and, where these have already been met, exceeding government sustainable operations targets by:
Reducing carbon emissions from buildings by 15 per cent. relative to 2001-02 levels, by the end of 2010-11. Increasing energy efficiency per m2 by 17 per cent. relative to 2001-02 levels, by the end of 2010-11. Increasing recycling figures to 80 per cent. of waste arising by 2010-11.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Climate Change The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and I wish to inform the House that plans will be published on Wednesday 31 March by all major Government Departments to show how they are taking forward action on climate change. The carbon reduction delivery and adaptation plans set out how Government Departments will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their own estates and operations, and in the sectors that they can influence. They also show how Departments will cope with the impacts of climate change that we expect to face, including by improving awareness, capacity and skills within Government to respond effectively to a changing climate. These documents are being published alongside a single overview Climate Change: Taking Action Delivering the Low Carbon Transition Plan and preparing for a changing climate. This provides a view of progress across Government and identifies some of the main
HEALTH Social Care Reform Grant The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): The Department has today issued a local authority circular detailing the funding allocations for the Social Care Reform Grant. This is the final year of the 520 million Social Care Reform Grant which is ring-fenced to be used by local authorities to assist them with their partners in delivering the transformation of adult social care, as set out in Putting People First: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of Adult Social Care. In the first two years of the Social Care Reform Grant, significant progress has been made to deliver this transformation but this circular details what councils will need to do in the final year of funding. In September 2009 the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Local Government Association with the Department of Health agreed a set of milestones focusing on five areas of priority to help councils be clear about what good progress implementing
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Putting People First looks like and to prioritise their use of the final year of the reform grant. These priorities are:
effective partnerships with people using services, carers and other local citizens; ensuring everyone has self-directed support and a personal budget; ensuring universal access to information and advice; commissioning a range of services to ensure people have choice; and delivering services in a cost-effective and efficient manner to use the available resources well.
The final year of revenue money (237 million) has been ring-fenced by the Department, so that it should be used for supporting the process of transformation. In addition, non ring-fenced capital moneys have also been allocated this year. This includes:
30 million allocated to local authorities as a capital investment grant, to support delivering personal budgets and transformation in adult social care; and an allocation of 20,000 to each council with adult social service responsibilities to develop innovative strategies and approaches to extra care housing.
This years funding should enable local authorities to deliver the transformation envisaged in Putting People First.
HOME DEPARTMENT Police Pursuits The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism (Mr. David Hanson): I have launched today a public consultation on the management of police pursuits. To promote the efficiency and effectiveness generally of the police, section 39A of the Police Act 1996 empowers me to issue to chief officers of police codes of practice relating to the discharge of their functions. The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) will be leading a 12-week public consultation on the draft of a code of practice on the management of police pursuits. The draft has been produced following detailed discussions involving the Home Office (HO), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), NPIA and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). We have also consulted the Department for Transport, the Superintendents Association, the Police Federation, Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments. Police on-road pursuits typically involve around 35-40 fatalities a year. Not all of these involve the pursuit car. However, both ACPO and the HO agree with the IPCC that we need to ensure we have done all we can to ensure public safety in the process of preventing crime. I want to reduce the risk of casualties to the minimum and ensure that pursuits are undertaken as safely as possible, and only when a necessary and proportionate means of preventing crime and apprehending offenders. I want to ensure public confidence in the management of pursuits. In 2007, the IPCC published research on police pursuits. Its recommendations included the updating, development and codification of existing ACPO guidance on pursuit management. ACPO prepared new guidance
and recommended to Ministers that it should be issued as a statutory code. The Police Act requires chief officers to have regard to such a code. Its issue would therefore ensure more consistent good practice. Ministers agreed the ACPO recommendation. To help achieve earlier benefits from the guidance and speedier implementation of the code, a Home Office circular was issued last July to all police forces. This announced the planned development of a statutory code based on the guidance and HO and ACPO agreement that all forces should work towards full compliance with that guidance. The draft code clearly sets out over-arching requirements and principles, including the need to comply with the detailed ACPO operational guidance. The guidance will remain a separate document, subject to updating and amendment as necessary. Code and guidance together will reduce the risks of death and serious injury, enhance public confidence in pursuit management and promote the safe prevention of crime and apprehension of offenders. Following the consultation, we will consider the responses and feed these into a final draft. The Act requires me to lay before Parliament the code as finally issued. I intend to do this before the end of the year. NPIA is sending the draft code direct to the police and other key parties and it is available for public comment on the NPIA and HO websites. Copies are also available from the Vote Office and in the House Library. JUSTICE Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Jack Straw): I am very pleased to announce that the Chairman of the Law Commission and I have agreed a statutory protocol governing how Government Departments and the Law Commission should work together on law reform projects. The protocol is key to ensuring a more productive working relationship between the Law Commission and Whitehall. The protocol has been laid before Parliament today. The Law Commission Act 2009, which amends the Law Commissions Act 1965 to provide for the statutory protocol, also introduces a duty on the Lord Chancellor to report annually to Parliament on the extent to which Law Commission proposals have been implemented by the Government. The protocol is intended to improve the rates of implementation of Law Commission reports and its success in this respect will be highlighted in the annual reporting to Parliament. TRANSPORT Written Answer (Correction) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): I regret to inform the House that the answer I gave on 11 March 2010 to parliamentary question 318998, Official Report, c. 410-411W, about how many thefts from this Department have been recorded in the last two years was incorrect. The Department has checked the figures and the answer should read:
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Central records show that since 10 February 2008, 154 items have been reported stolen. Of these 54 were reported stolen from within Departmental premises.
EU Directive on Driving Licences The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark): The Department for Transport has published today a response to the public consultation which closed 5 February 2010. It outlines our proposals for implementing the third EU directive on driving licences (directive 2006/126/EC), adopted in December 2006. Most features of the directive must be transposed into national law by mid-January 2011 and come into practical effect by mid-January 2013. Implementing regulations will be laid before Parliament in order to transpose the directive into law in Great Britain by the due date of January 2011. Separate arrangements apply in Northern Ireland, where driver licensing is a devolved matter. After considering carefully views expressed by respondents, we intend to maintain the approach of making as little change to our current arrangements as is consistent with the directive and, where change is unavoidable, making it at least cost. Changes include:
A new European moped category AM which will include light quadricycles and tricycles. The minimum age for this category remains unchanged from current requirements at 16 years; The introduction required under the directive of a new motorbike category A2, providing in the future categories Al, A2 and A. Progress through these categories will be achieved by passing a test; direct access to a category, by passing a test, will also be possible. Direct access to new category A2 will be 19 years. Direct access for category A will rise from the current 21 to 24 years. Special provisions for moped and motorcycle riders with a physical disability; The need for new car drivers to pass a test to tow a medium-sized trailer; New conditions of approval for organisations with non-DSA driving examiners; Abolition of the separate category Bl (quadricycles) driving entitlements for new drivers; Five-year driving licence administrative validity periods for drivers of lorries and buses.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark): My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport has made the following ministerial statement:
On 1 February 2010, Official Report columns 2-4WS, I announced the initial deployment of security scanners at Heathrow and Manchester airports. This was part of a package of measures announced as a direct response to the attempted attack on Northwest flight 253 to Detroit on Christmas day 2009. The device used on that flight had clearly been constructed with the aim of making detection by existing screening methods extremely difficult. The safety of the travelling public is my highest priority and security scanners are a vital additional tool which give airport security staff a much better chance of detecting explosives or other potentially harmful items hidden on a passengers body. At the same time that I announced the initial deployment of security scanners I published an interim code of practice to reflect concerns about privacy, health and safety, equality and data protection and announced our intention to consult on it. Today we are in a position to begin that consultation. This provides an opportunity to influence the final code of practice. We will consider all representations carefully, and this consultation will run until 21 June 2010. We will inform stakeholders that the consultation paper has been published today. Copies of the consultation paper are available on the Department for Transports website at www.dft.gov.uk and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
WORK AND PENSIONS Employment Support The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette Cooper): Today, I am publishing Building bridges to work: new approaches to tackling long-term worklessness, which sets out the next steps of welfare reform and will ensure no one is left to a life on benefits. Historically too many people who were out of work were written off. In the 1980s and early 1990s long-term worklessness soared. We have had to deal with that legacy. Since 1997 worklessness has fallen, the number of people on working age inactive benefits has fallen by 300,000 and the action we have taken has prevented a big increase in inactivity during this recession. Today we are going further. In Building bridges to work: new approaches to tackling long-term worklessness we set how we will support the long-term workless back into work, and support disabled people and those with health conditions who are at risk of long-term unemployment and worklessness to make sure no one gets left behind in the recovery. We will do this by introducing more individualised help alongside stronger personalised conditions, including extra support for people who are newly assessed as fit for work but may have spent a number of years on an incapacity benefit. For those who are doing their bit but still struggling to get a job, the Government will step in and do their bit too. For jobseekers who do not find work after two years we will guarantee them employment or work placements and for people on employment and support
We have decided not to introduce a training route to progressing through the motorcycle categories or, for car drivers, to towing a medium-sized trailer. Although a training route was supported by many respondents, some did not consider that in the current economic downturn the proposals were financially viable. This is also our assessment. Many respondents opposed our proposals that riders should first take a familiarisation course on a more powerful category of motorcycle before being able to ride that category with a provisional licence before taking their test. They argued instead that riders wishing to ride category A2 or A motorcycles, who have not yet qualified for a full licence for the larger category, should be accompanied by an authorised trainer (AT) when riding on the roads. We agree with this argument and have amended our proposals accordingly. Copies of the response report are available on the DFT website at www.dft.gov.uk and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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allowance who do not find work after two years, we will provide a guaranteed place on our specialist disability employment programmeWork Choice. I am also today publishing the Governments response to the Social Security Advisory Committees consultation on the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations and laying these regulations before Parliament. Over the next three years health care professionals will assess current incapacity benefits claimants, looking at what they can do, as well as what they cannot, using the work capability assessment to move them to our more active welfare regimes, culminating in the abolition of old style incapacity benefits by April 2014.
To ensure people are directed to the right support to get into work we will amend the work capability assessment and our proposals for the revised assessment are also published today. The revised assessment will for example take better account of an individuals ability to adapt to their condition and introduce improved assessment of fluctuating conditions. These proposals involve a radical change in the way we use our resources to support people at risk of long-term worklessnessproviding more personalised help and conditions coupled with guarantees to prevent those who are able to work from spending a lifetime on benefits.
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Monday 29 March 2010 OBSERVATIONS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS Gaza The Petition of residents of Bristol and others, Declares that the Government should fulfil its responsibilities as a high contracting party to the Geneva Convention. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to immediately take steps to institute a war crimes investigation in the UK into Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip between 27 December and 18 January 2009, and for the UK prosecuting authorities to search out and prosecute (or extradite for trial elsewhere) all suspected war criminals identified by the investigation; and urges the Government to seek a binding resolution at the UN Security Council to establish an international commission of inquiry into the Gaza attacks and the referral of potential cases to the International Criminal Court. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Stephen Williams, Official Report, 26 January 2010; Vol. 504, c. 781 .]
[P000706]
in the Goldstone Report on the conduct of both parties during that conflict which is exactly what this resolution called for. JUSTICE Homosexuals (Right to Marriage) The Petition of residents of Bristol and others, Declares that the Petitioners disapprove of the fact that homosexuals do not have the right to a legal ceremony of marriage. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to bring forward legislation to give homosexuals the right to a legal ceremony of marriage. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Stephen Williams, Official Report, 26 January 2010; Vol. 504, c. 780 .]
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Observations from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Although under the Geneva Conventions Act the UK has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes in an international conflict, we consider that it is the primary responsibility of the parties involved to investigate such allegations. The Report of the UN Human Rights Council-mandated Fact Finding Mission on Gaza (The Goldstone Report) and the UN General Assembly also made clear that the parties should do. From the outset we have called for the very serious allegations about conduct of the Gaza conflict by both sides to be properly and impartially investigated by the parties to the conflict. On 5 February, the UN Secretary-General released a report outlining the progress of investigations by the parties. Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) contributed material to this report. The UN SecretaryGenerals report highlighted that the responsibility to investigate and prosecute alleged violations of international humanitarian law during a conflict falls first and foremost to the parties to the conflict. It is clear that Hamas have not conducted anything like the sort of credible, independent investigation required; however, we welcome the Palestinian Authoritys establishment of an Independent Investigative Commission. This and the Israeli 31 January 2010 update document outlining the progress of Israels investigations are steps towards the full and credible accountability we are seeking. However, concerns remain and we continue to follow progress closely. It was for this reason that the UK voted in favour of the General Assembly resolution on the follow up to the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza on 26 February. We have consistently called for full, credible and impartial investigations into the allegations
Observations from the Secretary of State for Justice, received 26 March 2010: The Government have no plans to legislate for same-sex marriage. It is important to recognise that marriage has particular historical traditions attached to it. The Government strongly believe that no one should be treated less favourably because of their sexual orientation. We feel that civil partnership provides an appropriate, secular approach to giving recognition to same-sex couples. The Civil Partnership Act 2004 was introduced to give same-sex couples the right to gain rights and responsibilities equivalent to those of married couples and as a way for lesbian and gay couples to show their commitment to each other in the same way that opposite-sex couples can through marriage. The main aim of the Civil Partnership Act was to address the injustices that same-sex couples faced because they had been unable to secure legal recognition of their relationships. Provisions in the Civil Partnership Act comprise both rights and responsibilities, which are on a par with those bestowed by marriage. These include, for example, a duty to provide maintenance to the other partner; compensation under the provisions of the Fatal Accidents Act; and the right to survivor pension benefits, to name a few. The Civil Partnership Act does not apply to opposite-sex couples as they have always had the opportunity to obtain a legal and socially recognised status for their relationship through marriage, whether through a religious or civil ceremony. The Government have always maintained that marriage itself is only between a man and a woman. This view has been upheld by the UK courts, most recently in the case of Wilkinson and Kitzinger 2006. Wilkinson and Kitzinger are a British lesbian couple who got married in Canada where same-sex marriage is legal. Under UK law, their marriage is recognised as a civil partnership, but they wanted the court to rule that it should be recognised as a marriage. However, the High Court decided in line with case law, that it could not be recognised as a marriage because they are not male and female. During the Lords Report stage of the Equality Bill on 2 March 2010, an amendment tabled by Lord Alli won a free vote. The effect of this amendment would be to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004, by removing the express prohibition on civil partnerships taking place in religious premises in England and Wales. The intention of this amendment would be to enable same-sex
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couples to register their civil partnership within religious premises assuming that the particular religious institution permitted this. This is not same-sex marriage, but would provide the opportunity for same-sex couples to register their civil partnership in a religious setting, accompanied by a
religious service if they so wished. The Government made their position clear during the amendment debate but is currently considering their position in light of this vote, and the further clarifying amendments that have since been tabled by Lord Alli.
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Written Answers Departmental Internet
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Written Answers to Questions

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 837W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign. [321926] Mr. Woodward: The cost for the redesign of the website was 4,185.94.
NORTHERN IRELAND Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in the last five [324354] years; and at what cost. Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not built any smoking shelters within the last five years. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department provides [324556] subsidised gym facilities for its staff. Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) provides some exercise facilities available for its staff at no cost in London and Belfast. The Department provides these facilities as part of an ongoing commitment to its Workplace Health Improvement Programme.
Date Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne May 2009 Venue Hillsborough Castle 72,231.64
Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) [324416] cost and (b) purpose was of each. Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible for hosting events, recorded as expenditure under hospitality, which acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. These include receptions at Hillsborough Castle for representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society. The five events hosted by the Northern Ireland Office over the past three years which have incurred the greatest expenditure are shown in the following table.
This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society. This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society. This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service abroad), to recognise their contribution to wider society. Royal Garden Party held to acknowledge the contribution made specifically by those living in the north and north-west of Northern Ireland. 2,000 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families. This event was held to specifically acknowledge the unique contribution made by those working in the Northern Ireland Prison Service throughout the years of conflict in Northern Ireland. The 2,000 guests were drawn from current and former employees of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and their families.
Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall Royal Garden Party attended by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne
May 2008
Hillsborough Castle
86,996.18
May 2007
Hillsborough Castle
73,698.35
June 2007
University of Ulster, Coleraine
73,902.33
May 2007
Hillsborough Castle
64,318.58
Hotels Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 653W, on hotels, for what reason his Department does not use the Expotel booking service.
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Northern Ireland which provides a comprehensive travel booking service, including hotel bookings. SCOTLAND Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in the last five years; and at what cost. [324347]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), in conjunction with other public sector organisations in Northern Ireland, has a contract with a travel agent in
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Ann McKechin: No smoking shelters have been built by the Scotland Office in the last five years. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.
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Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not currently use voltage optimisers or other equivalent technologies in its premises. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department were in the last three years; and what (a) the cost and (b) purpose of each [324660] was. Ann McKechin: The following were the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by the Scotland Office in the last three years:
Cost ()
Ann McKechin: No expenditure has been incurred in the last five years on rooms for staff leisure. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings [324970] occupied by his Department.
Event Secretary of States reception for Trooping the Colour, 2008 Secretary of States reception for Trooping the Colour, 2009 Reception for media attending the G20 summit of world leaders, 2009 Secretary of States reception for Trooping the Colour, 2007 Lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 2009
Purpose To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders To promote Scotland to the international media attending the G20 summit To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders To enable the Moderator to meet with Scottish MPs, Peers and lobby correspondents 6,477 6,311 5,065 4,605 4,123
All expenditure was incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Office for National Statistics: Publications Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements there are for the Office for National Statistics to provide information to his Department for inclusion in Departmental publications; what protocols apply to the use of such information by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [324854] Ann McKechin: Much of the information presented in Scotland Office publications draws on material published elsewhere, including both PESA, published by HM Treasury, and Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland, published by the Scottish Government, both of which are classified as National Statistics. Some material published in the Scotland Office annual report is derived from data collected for administrative purposes. In keeping with any information in the public domain, no protocols exist for the use of information published by other Departments and classified as National Statistics. Statistics: Scotland Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with the National Statistician on the (a) methodology and (b) presentation of national statistics in his Departments publication entitled (i) Scotland and Defence, (ii) Expenditure and revenue in Scotland, (iii) Tax and (iv) Scotland and Oil.
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Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office Background Papers in question all draw on existing National Statistics publications but were not themselves classified as National Statistics. Indeed they simply draw on already existing statistics, such as the Scottish Governments GERS result that Scotland had a fiscal deficit of 11.1 billion in 2007-08. Such analysis clearly underlines how Scotlands economic prosperity is best safeguarded as being at the heart of the UK. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT BBC Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many persons were employed by the BBC in each of the last three years; and if he will [324379] make a statement. Mr. Bradshaw: According to the BBC annual report and accounts, the number of staff employed by the BBC in each of the last three years is set out in the following table.
Number 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 22,874 23,101 23,037
Detailed information on the nature of the roles undertaken by BBC staff is not held by my Department. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent research he has undertaken on public opinion on the BBC and the licence fee as a means of funding it; and if he will make [324383] a statement.
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Mr. Bradshaw: The Government undertook extensive research on public attitudes to the BBC and the licence fee as part of the Charter review process, which ran from 2003-06. This research was taken into account in determining the current six-year funding settlement, implemented from 1 April 2007. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward proposals to allow commercial advertising on BBC channels; what recent representations he has on this issue; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years. [324672] Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department has not spent anything on interior design in the last five years. Departmental Contracts Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts [324793] let by his Department. Mr. Bradshaw: My Department does not have a policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts. Departmental Manpower Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grade 2 civil [324957] servants are employed in his Department. Mr. Bradshaw: My Department employs two grade 2 civil servants. Departmental Public Consultation Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) questionnaires, (b) statistical enquiries and (c) investigations have been carried out wholly or partly at public expense on behalf of or by his Department or public bodies for which he is responsible in each year since 1997; and what the (i) nature, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was of each. [324380] Mr. Bradshaw: The information requested on behalf of my Department can be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department does not hold this information in relation to public bodies. Information on the official statistics produced by my Department and its bodies can be found on the DCMS website in the DCMS Official Statistics catalogue at:
http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/research_and _statistics/ 4824.aspx
Mr. Bradshaw: Under the terms of the BBCs Charter and Agreement, the BBC cannot show commercial advertising on its licence fee-funded channels without the express approval of the Secretary of State. I have neither been asked for nor given such approval. I regularly receive representations on various aspects of the BBC. Whenever the issue of advertising is raised, my response is that I have no intention of amending the current arrangements. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the 2006 Agreement between the Secretary of State and the BBC; what discussions he has had with the BBC since January 2010 on broadcasting standards; what response he received from the BBC; if he will place in the Library a copy of the note taken of each meeting; and if he will [324386] make a statement. Mr. Bradshaw: I have had no discussions with the BBC on broadcasting standards since January 2010. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the (a) Chairman of the BBC Trust and (b) Director General of the BBC; what issues were discussed; whether a record of the meeting was kept; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Bradshaw: I last met the Chairman of the BBC Trust on 19 October 2009, when we discussed a range of current issues. I last met the Director-General of the BBC on 8 March 2010 when he provided a brief summary of the BBCs Strategy Review, which had been published on 2 March. According to standard departmental procedure, all ministerial meetings are recorded. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account he will take of commitments to ensure (a) efficiency savings and (b) the prevention of inflation of staff and talent costs at the BBC in determining the future level of the BBC licence fee; and if he will make a statement. [324422] Mr. Bradshaw: The Government will take all relevant matters into consideration in setting the future level of the licence fee. Under the terms of the BBC Charter and Agreement, it is the responsibility of the BBC Trust to ensure that the BBC delivers financial efficiency and hold the Executive to account for its performance in delivering value for money.
Television: Licensing Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many free television licences have been issued to residents of (a) Southend West constituency, (b) Essex County Council authority area and (c) England and Wales in each year since such [324376] licences were introduced. Mr. Bradshaw: My Department does not hold the information. Free television licences for people aged 75 or over are issued by TV Licensing as agents for the BBC. This is, therefore, a matter for the BBC.
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I understand that the BBC does not collate information on licence holders aged 75 or over by constituency, county or nation as this is not necessary for the purposes of licence fee collection. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the television licence fee was in each year since 1990; what plans he has to change the level of the licence fee in each of the next three years; what discussions he has had with the BBC about the licence fee since January 2009; and if he will [324381] make a statement. Mr. Bradshaw: Information on the level of the licence fee since 1990 is available on the BBC website at the following web address:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/ licencefee.shtml
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission what timetable the Electoral Commission has set for the publication of its guidance on counting ballots on general election night; and if the Electoral Commission will make it its policy to ensure that counting on general election night is the expected norm. [324724] Mr. Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that each Returning Officer is individually responsible for making arrangements for the count, and for complying with any provisions which may impact on its timing. The Commission further informs me that it published draft guidance for Returning Officers on the timing of UK parliamentary election counts on 16 March 2010 and will publish formal guidance when the relevant provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CRAG) Bill are commenced. The draft guidance is available on the Commissions website:
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
A six year funding settlement for the BBC was announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) in January 2007 and took effect from 1 April 2007. The settlement provided for annual increases in the television licence for the six years of the licence fee period, subject to the making of the necessary regulations setting the licence fee for the coming year. Under the terms of the settlement, the increase in the licence fee from 1 April 2012 will be between 0 per cent. and 2 per cent., subject to a review nearer the time. The Government remain committed to the settlement and do not intend to reopen it within the six-year period. This is because of the important principle that maintaining multi-year settlements helps to support the BBCs independence from Government and avoids suggestions of political interference. I have regular discussions with the BBC on a range of issues.
In its draft guidance the Commission has stressed to Returning Officers that they should be aware of the strength of support among Members of Parliament for overnight counts, although its policy remains that the accuracy of the result and confidence in the election result are of paramount importance. Political Parties: Finance Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1084W, on political parties: finance, what stage the Electoral Commissions research into the operation of the political levy and political fund has reached; and whether the Electoral Commission has met (a) the Certification Officer for Great Britain and (b) the Northern Ireland Certification Officer in [324626] the course of its research. Mr. Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1149W, its research was limited to the legislative framework and information on how the political levy and political funds currently operate. The Commission completed this work in 2008. The Commission further informs me that Commission staff met staff of the Certification Officer for Great Britain in the course of the research but that there were no equivalent meetings with staff of the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE Elections: Fraud Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission how many allegations of electoral malpractice have been reported to the Electoral Commission by police in each of the last [324546] 10 years. Mr. Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that police forces are not obliged to report allegations of electoral malpractice to the Commission. Since 2008, however, the Commission has worked with police forces to establish a mechanism for collating information about cases of alleged electoral malpractice reported to the police. In 2008, police forces reported 103 cases involving a total of 476 allegations of electoral malpractice in England and Wales; there were no elections in Scotland. In 2009, police forces reported 48 cases involving a total of 107 allegations of electoral malpractice in Great Britain. The Commission has published its analysis of these cases, including the outcome of investigations and prosecutions where relevant. Copies of its reports for 2008 and 2009 have been placed in the Library.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Beaches: Standards Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made in increasing the cleanliness of [324641] beaches.
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Written Answers Floods: Castle Point
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Huw Irranca-Davies: Local authorities have a duty to keep their relevant land, including beaches above the high water mark, clear of litter and refuse. While local authorities monitor cleanliness through the National Indicator 195 (improved street and environmental cleanliness), DEFRA does not ask authorities to specifically report on the cleanliness of their beaches. This makes it difficult to assess whether or not beaches in general are achieving higher levels of cleanliness. Through the Blue Flag Beach Award scheme, administered by DEFRAs delivery partner Keep Britain Tidy, beaches are assessed for litter, amongst other indicators. The latest awards will be announced in May of this year. Coastal Erosion Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department undertakes surveys of cliff and coastal [323994] erosion. Huw Irranca-Davies: Surveys of cliff and coastal erosion are undertaken by local authorities. The frequency of surveys is determined by the scale of the risk. Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed [321135] by his Department to assist special advisers. Dan Norris: The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that, in order to enable special advisers to work effectively, departments may allocate permanent civil servants to provide support of a non-political nature. In DEFRA, two members of the Secretary of States private office assist the special advisers; they are an executive officer and an administrative officer. Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that all households are able to have [323645] a weekly domestic refuse collection. Dan Norris: The Government believe that local authorities are best placed to make decisions for their own communities, so does not interfere in the waste collection decisions local authorities make. Electronic Warfare Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused (a) deliberately and (b) through solar activity on the critical infrastructure of his [321759] Department. Dan Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) on 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1282W.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the (a) likelihood and (b) potential effects of surface water flooding in built-up areas in Castle Point constituency; and if he will make a statement. [324588] Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has modelled areas susceptible to surface water flooding in Castle Point constituency and elsewhere. The model shows the effects of a single storm with a 1:200 annual chance of occurring, allowing for regional variations in rainfall. DEFRA carried out an assessment which ranked settlements nationally based on numbers of properties at risk. Castle Point settlements identified were: Canvey Island: 240th (1,700 properties), Benfleet: 316th (1,000), and North Benfleet: 1,411th (100). Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received from (a) Essex county council and (b) Castle Point borough council on the methodology used to allocate funding for the development of surface [324589] water management plans. Huw Irranca-Davies: My Department has received no formal representations from Essex county council or Castle Point borough council about the methodology used to allocate 9.7 million funding for the development of surface water management plans (SWMPs) announced in August 2009, or on the allocations for Early Actions bids announced on 19 March 2010. A formal process was put in place for local authorities to challenge the methodology used to allocate the 9.7 million funding for the development of SWMPs. This was not used by either Essex county council or Castle Point borough council. Castle Point borough council wrote to the Secretary of State on 16 March 2009 requesting consideration be given to funding a SWMP for Canvey Island and my reply of 14 May 2009 explained the funding arrangements available. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department received bids for funding for early actions to tackle local flood risk from (a) Essex county council [324648] and (b) Castle Point borough council. Huw Irranca-Davies: Essex county council did not bid for Early Action flood protection funding. Castle Point borough council bid for a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP). This was unsuccessful. We received bids totalling in excess of 20 million. Allocation was prioritised on the scale of risk reduction; number of properties within the SWMP; certainty of the risk being managed; and confidence of the proposal delivering by March 2011. Forests: West Midlands Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to protect woodland in the West [324277] Midlands.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: All tree felling is administered by the Forestry Commission in accordance with the felling regulations under the Forestry Act 1967 (as amended). Any felling carried out without a licence is an offence, unless it is covered by one of the exemptions specified in the legislation. Under the Forestry Act, the Forestry Commission usually attaches conditions to the felling licence to secure replanting of the area felled. Other measures to protect woodland, such as tree preservation orders, are available to local authorities in the West Midlands and throughout England. Landfill Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether local authorities will be fully refunded for costs incurred in complying with the proposed landfill ban under the [324625] new burdens principle. Dan Norris: A consultation is currently taking place on options to restrict the landfilling of biodegradable and recyclable wastes, including landfill bans. This is a first stage consultation on the principle of introducing such restrictions, and responses from this consultation will inform Government consideration of whether it is desirable, practical and affordable to introduce restrictions. The consultation is accompanied by an impact assessment which sets out the estimated costs and benefits of any potential landfill restrictions. Should Government conclude they wish to introduce restrictions, the specific proposals would be the subject of a second stage consultation. Depending on the nature of any proposal the Government may publish in a second stage consultation, the new burdens principle would apply to any policies which increase the cost of providing local authority services and impact solely or disproportionately on local government. Marine Conservation Zones Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps he plans to take to ensure scientific evidence is taken into account in identifying marine conservation zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
[324272]
Advisory Panel who will advise both the regional projects and Government on the science. In our statement of 11 March to Parliament, the Government set out the seven principles of ecological coherence it will apply. The development of the ecological guidance to be issued by the SNCBs is being informed by research that has been subject to peer review. It will be the responsibility of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, working with four regional stakeholder projects, to set out the rationale in its advice to Government on where to create MCZs and the conservation objectives to be achieved. A key part of this will involve assembling evidence, including scientific and socio-economic data. We consider that the concept of Good Environmental Statuswhich will be defined through implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directiveshould guide the minimum level acceptable for MCZ objectives, as far as that is an appropriate measure for a site-based conservation tool. Government expect that scientific uncertainty will be explicitly recognised in that advice. For example, our understanding of the connectivity principle is still evolving and while not unimportant it will be a secondary consideration. There will be choices to be made, for example between replicate features, or site management measures, or how to support both development and conservation policies. We expect socio-economic considerations to be taken into account at all stages to inform these choices. These considerations will include opportunity costs. The criteria to be applied will be ones that provide confidence that decisions will result in an ecologically coherent network that is well supported, understood and can be managed to contribute to our vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas. Nature Conservation: West Midlands Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to protect wildlife in the West Midlands. [324278] Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England is the lead delivery body for the Governments strategy to conserve wildlife in England. Examples of Natural Englands action in the West Midlands include:
Increasing the total area of the most important sites for nature conservationSites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)in the region in favourable or recovering condition; this being 20,000 ha or 89.75 per cent. of the total resource in the region. Getting 63 per cent. of the utilisable agricultural area of the region under an agri-environment agreement through 40 million of annual investment in environmental stewardship and classic schemes, which pay land managers to manage their land in ways that benefits biodiversity, the historic environment and the landscape. In particular through the Higher Level Stewardship scheme (HLS) bringing over 3,000 ha of existing wildlife habitats into favourable management and creating an additional 450 ha of new habitats across the region, and bringing an additional 800 ha of farmland under specific agreement to provide suitable feeding and breeding habitats for target species of farmland birds. Ensuring that 2,816 ha (97.3 per cent.) of the regions National Nature Reserves are in favourable or recovering condition. Providing funding of 186,000 in 2009-10 to regional and local biodiversity partnerships in the West Midlands, and supporting the local Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB on Wetland Vision, Lapwing Meadows and other projects, with more than 60,000 of funding in the same year.
(2) what socio-economic criteria will be taken into account in (a) the selection of individual sites and (b) the design of an ecologically cohesive network of [324273] marine conservation zones; (3) whether the seven principles of ecological cohesion will be adhered to in the designation of [324274] marine conservation zones; (4) whether the minimum conservation objectives for marine conservation zones will be a favourable condition used in designating sites of special scientific [324275] interest. Huw Irranca-Davies: Designations of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), by necessity, must be based on science to identify the case for conserving habitats, flora and fauna in accordance with the provisions set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act. The Government have established an independent Science
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29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers SOLICITOR-GENERAL Corruption
612W
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage recycling in the West [324280] Midlands. Dan Norris: Local authorities are best placed to make decisions on the waste management strategy for their communities, although the Government strongly encourage recycling through a range of measures. Local authorities are required by law to provide every household with a kerbside collection of at least two materials by December 2010 as part of a strategy to increase recycling. Through the Waste Resources Action programme (WRAP) we are providing tailored support to local authorities to facilitate and encourage recycling. Over the last five years, WRAP has provided advice and support to every local authority in the West Midlands. Three authorities (Stratford on Avon, Newcastle under Lyme and Shropshire council) are already signatories to the recently launched Waste Collection Commitment, developed by WRAP and the Local Government Association. This sets out the principles of a good recycling service, one of which is that local authorities should collect as many materials for recycling as possible and then explain clearly what happens to them. WRAP is working with the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, to deliver a 5.4 million programme to increase collections of waste material, develop recycling infrastructure and increase the use of recycled materials. The support will be a mixture of capital funding and business development support.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has classified MW Kellogg as a self-reporting company under the SFOs Approach to Dealing with Overseas Corruption issued in July 2009. [324647] The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office does not confirm or deny the existence of such classification in any particular case it may be investigating. Government Departments: Judicial Review Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Solicitor-General with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 1 March 2009, Official Report, column 943W, on Government departments: judicial review, in respect of what cases each Department was a first defendant and the judicial review was granted following a substantive hearing between 2007 and [323694] 2009. Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply. The cases where challenges by way of judicial review were upheld against Government Departments following substantive hearings, as set out in the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 1 March 2010, are as follows: 2007 Secretary of State for Defence
Challenge against orders of Secretary of State stopping up two footpaths and setting out replacement routes;
Secretary of State for Home Department (SSHD) PRIME MINISTER Building Resilience Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 2W, on community relations, when the paper was classified; what level of classification it has; what assessment has been made of that classification in the last 12 months; and what the reasons are for its [324578] classification. The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 2W. Tony Blair Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the memorandum written by David Manning on 30 January 2003 and (b) the minutes of the meeting which took place between Tony Blair and President Bush in Crawford, Texas, on [323269] 22 February 2003. Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply. The Government do not publish classified documents in the Libraries of the House.
Challenge to removal directions set by SSHD;
SSHD
Challenge against decision of SSHD to detain claimant following his release on bail;
Secretary of State for Justice (SSJ)

Challenge to decision to revoke licence and take claimant back into custody;
SSJ
Challenge against effects of Training Centre (Amendment) Rules 2007;
SSJ
Challenge against decision of Governor to handcuff prisoner while attending hospital for treatment;
SSJ
Challenge regarding failure to move prisoner to open prison following Parole Board decision;
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SSCLG)

Challenge against decision to allow appeals against dismissal of 2 Fire Officers pursuant to the Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations 1985;
SSGLG
Challenge against decision to dismiss an appeal against a determination made under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme (LABGIS);
SSCLG
Challenge against decision of Defendant to refuse to retrospectively review the claimants one year grant under the LABGIS;
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Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (SSTI)

Challenge to decision announced in July 2006 Energy Review Report deciding to support nuclear new build;
SSHD
Challenge against decision of SSHD refusing claimant leave to remain as a student;
SSTI
Challenge to October 2005 decision transposing into domestic law provisions of the Equal Treatment Amending Directive (CB2002/ 73EC);
SSJ
Challenge by category A prisoner serving life sentence against decision not to re-categorise him to category B.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Challenge to Defendants decision confirming overpayment of income support.
WOMEN AND EQUALITY Equality and Human Rights Commission: Industrial Disputes Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2010, Official Report, column 556W, on Equality and Human Rights Commission: industrial disputes, how much was paid out of public funds to settle the dispute [319749] in each of the 12 cases. Maria Eagle: EHRC is independent and it manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. Of the 12 cases concerned two have been settled for a monetary sum. The total amount paid in these cases was 25,000. The other 10 cases were settled without a monetary payment. Equality and Human Rights Commission Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2010, Official Report, column 68W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence (a) requesting the use of the Commissions buildings for non-Commission business and (b) (i) granting and (ii) revoking such [319741] permission. Maria Eagle: The EHRC is independent and manages its own affairs. I have placed the correspondence it has provided in the Libraries of both Houses. Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality for what reasons the Equality and Human Rights Commission pays travel and expenses rates to staff based on the rates paid by each of the [323049] Commissions predecessor bodies. Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. The EHRC has kept in place existing HMRC approved travel and expenses policy based on the legacy commission rates while it is in the process of finalising its new travel expenses policy that would apply to all EHRC staff. The new policy will be part of a suite of human resource policies which are due to be implemented in April 2010. Equality and Human Rights Commission: Databases Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 41W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: databases, what requirements there will be on local authorities to provide information for the Equality Measuring Framework database. [323031]
2008 DEFRA
Challenge against approach taken and policy adopted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the control of the use of pesticides in crop spraying;
HMCS
Challenge against defendants decision to issue a warrant of commitment to prison for a term of 1,190 days;
SSHD
Challenge to decision of SSHD not to treat further representations of claimant as a fresh claim pursuant to paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules;
SSHD
Challenge of decision of SSHD informing claimant that she had no basis to stay in UK following refusal of her application for leave to remain;
SSHD
SSHD
Challenge to decision of SSHD to continue to detain the claimant pending ongoing arrangements being made for his removal;
SSHD
SSJ
Challenge regarding failure to move prisoner to open prison following Parole Board decision;
SSJ
Challenge by category A prisoner serving life sentence against decision not to re-categorise him to category B;
SSCLG
Challenge against various decisions of Planning Inspector ordering council to pay an interested partys costs of pursuing her planning appeals;
SSCLG
Challenge against decision of Planning Inspector dismissing an application for costs on appeal under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
SSTI
Challenge of decision of Inspector to exclude certain evidence in respect of an application by the National Grid for wayleaves over the land of the claimant.
2009 SSHD
Challenge against decision of SSHD refusing claimant leave to remain in the country;
SSHD
Challenge against decisions of SSHD to: (i) remove the claimant from the country while he still had a valid appeal pending; (ii) to revoke his residence permit; and (iii) to arrest and detain him;
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Written Answers
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Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. The Commission advise that no increased burden will fall on local authorities as a result of the Equality Measurement Framework, as all the data for the tool will be taken from existing sources only. Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 41W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: databases, if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the procurement notice for the Equality Measuring Framework database and (b) the full [323032] specification for the database. Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. A procurement notice for the Equality Measurement Framework is expected to be published in April 2010 and will be made available in due course. The contractor will be asked to specify the structure of the database so it is not possible to provide a full specification at this stage.
received ministerial correspondence on this subject from MPs and members of the public. Other Departments have also received representations. The Government are currently undertaking a review evaluating the contribution which reporting makes to the achievement of the UKs climate change objectives, as required under the Climate Change Act 2008. The review is due to be completed by 1 December 2010. The conclusions of that review will help to inform decisions on whether to make reporting mandatory. Collaboration Agreements Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1493-4W, on collaboration agreements, on what date the Joint Meeting on Enhanced Collaboration will take place; where the meeting will be held; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of that meeting; and what (a) organisations and (b) individuals have been invited to that meeting. [322276] Mr. Kidney: The UK-India Workshop on Civil Nuclear R&D Collaboration is being hosted by the Energy and Physical Sciences Research Council [EPSRC], with assistance from officials within the FCO, on 22 to 24 March 2010. Whitehall officials from FCO, MOD, DIS, DfID, DECC and BIS have been invited as well as senior figures from Indias Department of Atomic Energy [DAE] and Indian industry representatives. The workshop is being held at the Cumberland Hotel, London. Stephen Elsby, senior sector manager for power at EPSRC, is leading the event. As this workshop has not been arranged by DECC I am unable to provide details of exact costs incurred or Indian officials attending. Departmental Recruitment Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in [315499] the last year for which figures are available. Joan Ruddock: For the financial year 2009-10 the Department has spent a total of 231,385 on external recruitment consultants. Energy: Conservation Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when energy efficient circulator pumps will be labelled Energy Saving [324288] Recommended. Joan Ruddock: The Department does not have information on when circulator pumps will be labelled Energy Saving Recommended. Responsibility for this issue rests with the Energy Saving Trust. Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when energy efficient circulator pumps will be included on the Energy Saving [324289] Trust website.
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Emissions Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what volume of carbon dioxide has been emitted from the UK in each year since 2007, reckoned on the environmental accounts [321276] basis. Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what volume of carbon dioxide has been emitted from the UK in each year since 2007, reckoned on an environmental accounts basis. (321276). I refer to my previous answer in Official Report, Volume 507, column 793 of 16 March 2010 to your question regarding carbon dioxide emissions since 1990 (320331) which details annual UK emissions up to and including 2007. These are the latest available figures on a national accounts basis. The scheduled release date for the 2008 figures, to be published as part of the UK Environmental Accounts, has been pre-announced as Friday 11 June 2030.
Carbon Emissions: Business Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on carbon reporting by large companies; and if he will make a statement. [323768] Joan Ruddock: This year I have received representations from the Aldersgate Group to introduce regulations requiring the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by large companies as soon as practicable. I have also
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Joan Ruddock: The Department does not have information on when energy efficient circulator pumps will be included on the website of the Energy Saving Trust. This is a matter for the Energy Saving Trust. Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average payback period is for each type of energy efficient technology commercially available, with particular reference to circulator pumps and technologies applicable to nondomestic properties, ranked by their payback period; [324290] and if he will make a statement. Joan Ruddock: Many of the energy efficiency technologies could be employed in both the domestic and non-domestic arena, so the information on payback periods provided in response to question 1088 may be relevant to some smaller non-domestic applications. However, information on the payback periods in non-domestic properties are much more difficult to determine because of the likely significant variation in scale, cost and use. The Department does not hold this information. Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) average
internal rate of return and (b) cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide not emitted was for each type of energy efficient technology commercially available, in the latest period for which figures are available, with particular reference to circulator pumps and those technologies applicable to non-domestic properties, ranked by their payback period; and if he will make a statement. [324291] Joan Ruddock: The Department does not hold information on the internal rate of return, as this information would be specific to each company and installed measure. The private cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide not emitted (avoided) under a CERT regime can be determined for a range of technologies from the information provided in the following tables 1 and 2. The cost can be obtained by dividing the total cost for the measure, shown in table 2, by the relevant carbon dioxide savings shown in table 1 (multiply the figures shown in table 1 by 1,000 to obtain kilograms of carbon dioxide). The Department does not hold this information for circulator pumps.
Table 1: Lifetime CO2 saving score per measure, in the priority and non-priority groups Lifetime CO2 savings per measure tCO2 (lifetime) Carbon saving measure Insulation Cavity wall insulation Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) Loft insulation (DIY) SWI external SWI internal Insulated wallpaper Tank insulationtop-up Glazing E to C rated Draughtproofing Lifetime (years) 40 40 40 40 30 30 30 10 20 20 PG 23.74 14.70 4.34 9.40 62.02 58.64 20.17 1.98 1.52 2.32 Non-PG 26.34 18.10 5.34 11.58 68.83 65.08 22.38 1.98 1.72 2.86
Heating
A/B rated boilers (exceptions) Fuel switching Heating controlsupgrade with boiler Heating controlsextra Wood pellet stoves (secondary) Log burning stoves Wood pellet boilers (primary) Solar water heater (4m2) Ground source heat pumps Air source heat pumps Wood chip CHP Community GSHP Community heating to wood chip Replacement of G rated boilers
12 20 12 12 20 20 20 25 40 15 30 40 30 6
3.95 74.97 0.38 3.09 11.10 3.99 95.84 8.14 95.97 42.57 96.48 20.42 106.41 5.44
4.47 84.94 0.44 3.57 12.58 4.52 108.60 8.14 108.75 48.23 107.07 22.66 118.08 6.17
Lighting
CFLsretail Efficient halogens LEDs
8 6.51 18
0.05 0.02 0.14
0.05 0.02 0.14
Appliances
A rated cold appliances A rated wet appliances
1 1
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Written Answers
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Table 1: Lifetime CO2 saving score per measure, in the priority and non-priority groups Lifetime CO2 savings per measure tCO2 (lifetime) Carbon saving measure iDTVs PC mains panels Energy saving kettles LNBs A++ cold appliances A++ wet appliances Lifetime (years)
1
PG
Non-PG
5 5 7 12 12 0.15 0.04 0.04 0.58 0.11 0.16 0.04 0.04 0.58 0.11
Microgen
Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) micro Wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) micro Hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec)
25 10 20 22.5 15
22.78 3.78 26.44 84.98 2.91
22.78 3.78 26.44 84.98 3.30
Other
RTDs Advice only
15 7.5 Table 2: Assumed costs of measures
0.996 0.6675
0.996 0.6675
No longer eligible Basic installation cost Carbon saving measure All 380 286 286 120 8,500 5,100 3,700 14 212 101 PG 356 268 268 107 7,969 4,781 3,469 14 199 94 non-PG 395 297 297 128 8,830 5,298 3,843 14 220 105 Administration cost PG 87 70 70 32 293 273 256 4 55 28 non-PG 71 57 57 28 225 210 198 3 45 24 Total cost PG 443 338 338 138 8,262 5,054 3,725 18 253 123 non-PG 466 355 355 157 9,054 5,508 4,042 17 265 128
Insulation
Cavity wall insulation Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) Loft insulation (DIY) SWI external SWI internal Insulated wallpaper Tank insulationtop-up Glazing E to C rated Draughtproofing
Heating
212 2,014 90 148 1,417 1,000 7,200 3,500 11,360 5,844 9,281 4,250 350 2,500
209 1,888 84 139 1,399 988 7,110 3,500 10,295 5,771 9,165 4,197 346 2,500
214 2,092 94 154 1,428 1,008 7,256 3,500 12,021 5,889 9,353 4,283 353 2,500
57 216 26 40 192 164 289 257 301 281 298 267 85 236
44 169 21 33 147 125 220 194 231 214 226 203 65 179
266 2,104 110 179 1,592 1,151 7,399 3,757 10,596 6,052 9,463 4,463 430 2,736
258 2,261 115 188 1,575 1,133 7,476 3,694 12,252 6,103 9,579 4,486 418 2,679
Lighting
1.10 2.50 8.00
1.10 2.50 7.00
1.10 2.50 8.62
0.36 0.82 2.29
0.27 0.62 2.14
1.46 3.32 9.29
1.37 3.12 10.76
Appliances
A rated cold appliances A rated wet appliances iDTVs PC mains panels
1 1 1
25 25 25 8 6 33 31
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Basic installation cost Carbon saving measure Energy saving kettles LNBs A++ cold appliances A++ wet appliances All 17 10 100 100 PG 17 10 100 100 non-PG 17 10 100 100 Administration cost PG 6 3 30 30 non-PG 4 2 23 23 Total cost PG 23 13 130 130 non-PG 21 12 123 123
Microgen
Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) Micro wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) Micro hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec)
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 600
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 563
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 623
285 251 216 315 119
216 190 163 239 96
6,623 3,451 2,106 21,315 681
6,553 3,390 2,053 21,239 719
Other
1
RTDs Advice only
20 35
20 35
20 35
6 11
5 8
26 46
25 43
No longer eligible
This information was extracted from pages 55 and 56 of the impact assessment for the CERT consultation and can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ cert_ext/cert_ext.aspx
Fossil Fuel Levy: Scotland Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the balance of the Scottish Fossil Fuel levy account was on 28 February 2010.
[324521]
31 December 2010 is 6.6 million. Of this, 3.75 million came from the public sectorthe Learning and Skills Council. The annual running cost of the academy in 2010 will be around 1.5 million. Of this, 311,000 will come from the Learning and Skills Council and the rest from employer/provider contributions and other revenue sources. In line with the Government policy, Skills Academies are required to move to a wholly industry funded model within three years. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear should be self financing by the three year deadline in December 2010. Nuclear Waste: Waste Management Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will break down by budget line of the funds allocated to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the development of a geological disposal facility for highly radioactive nuclear waste for the financial years 2010-15. [324265] Mr. Kidney [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for allocating its total funding between its activities. The NDAs budget for its Radioactive Waste Management Directorate for 2010-11 is 19 million. The NDA budget from 2011 onwards has yet to be determined. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding has been (a) allocated to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the development of a geological disposal facility for high level radioactive waste and (b) requested by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the same purpose for the financial years 2010-15. [324266] Mr. Kidney [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR07) settlement provided the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) with 1.7 billion direct Government funding for 2010-11. Together with its projected commercial income total funding will be around 2.9 billion. The NDA is responsible for allocating funding between its activities and allocated 19 million to its radioactive waste management directorate,
Mr. Kidney: The balance of the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy account as at 28 February 2010 was 180 million. National Grid Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking towards the deployment of a [325244] smart grid. Mr. Kidney: We published the document Smarter GridsThe Opportunity on 2 December 2009. We are ensuring that the smart meter rollout acts as an enabler to smart grids and are developing potential policy options to ensure the electricity infrastructure can meet future challenges in light of the Energy Market Assessment and the initial findings of the 2050 road map analysis. DECC also issued a press notice on Friday 26 March announcing the winning projects in the smart grids capital grants programme under the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. National Skills Academy for Nuclear: Finance Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse has been of the establishment of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear to date; and what the [325162] Academys annual operating budget is. Mr. Kidney: The cost of running and setting up the National Skills Academy for Nuclear for three years to
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which has responsibility for implementing geological disposal, for 2010-11. The NDA budget from 2011 onwards has yet to be determined. Personal Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to require all employees of energy companies who enter domestic properties to carry a personal carbon [322247] monoxide alarm. Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply. The Government have no plans at present to bring forward proposals in this area. The HSE is aware though that an energy supply company has provided its employees with personal carbon monoxide alarms and that they have been sharing their experience with other companies. HSE will continue to encourage this exchange of information on the practicalities of the use of different types of equipment in order to identify best working practices. HSE has also provided support to a scheme where personal carbon monoxide alarms are used by community-based services. UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many times the UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change announced in Poznan in December 2008 has met; what the membership of the working group is; and what the outcomes of the working group [324631] have been to date. Joan Ruddock: The UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change had its first meeting in June 2009. The second meeting will be held in July 2010. The core members of the working group are DECC, DEFRA and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment as the co-signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding. Representatives from other Government Departments and agencies from both the UK and Indonesia participate in meetings as appropriate. Outcomes of the working group to date include the exchange of information on the EU renewable energy directive; carbon capture and storage; sustainable palm oil; and forestry and land use issues. Under the bilateral agreement between the UK and Indonesia the UK also funded two Indonesian negotiators attendance at the June 2009 UNFCCC Intersessional and COP 15 in Copenhagen. In March this year we hosted a two-week placement for an Indonesian Government official at DECC and DEFRA. HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Advisory Body Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what criteria were used to select hon. Members to serve on the advisory body on the proposed day nursery at 1 Parliament street; which hon. Members were appointed to the advisory body; and if the Commission will publish [324759] the advisory bodys advice.
Nick Harvey: The Commission decided in December 2009 that there should be an advisory panel of Members for the nursery project. Mr. Speaker wrote to three Members in February to ask them to serve on the panel. The criteria in asking those Members to serve were that the panel should be small, that each of the three largest parties in the House should be represented, that the panel should otherwise be as representative of the House as a whole as possible, and that panel members should be broadly supportive of the project. The right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Mr. Kennedy), the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing) and my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, East (Jessica Morden) agreed to be members of the panel. The panel will convey its views informally to the Commission through the project board rather than in a form suitable for publication. Members: Email Mr. Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 563W, on Members: email, if the House of Commons Commission will take steps to allow hon. Members to list their Public PGP Key on the parliament.uk website by their [324304] entry and contact details. Nick Harvey: It is more appropriate for Members to list their public PGP keys on their own websites. Members can already choose whether there is a link from the Parliament website to their own sites. Nurseries Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the estimated gross loss of income to the Refreshment Department is in 2010-11 arising from the closure of its facilities at 1 Parliament street.
[324262]
Nick Harvey: It is estimated that the income (i.e. sales excluding VAT) from the facilities being closed in 1 Parliament street would have been approximately 225,000 in 2010-11. However, this reduction in receipts in 1 Parliament street is expected to be offset to a significant extent by an expected increase in receipts in other venues, such as Moncrieffs and the private dining rooms in the Palace. On the basis of historical figures, Bellamys bar would be expected to make an operating loss in the region of 10,000 in 2010-11, while the Astor Suite would be expected to contribute an operating surplus of some 80,000. These figures, however, do not take into account the costs of accommodation or equipment. Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 170W, on nurseries, on what date the nursery is planned to start operating; and on what date it would have been likely to open if the matter had been referred to the Finance and Services [324987] Committee.
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Nick Harvey: It is planned that the nursery will begin operating in September 2010, but the precise date has yet to be determined. It is not possible to give an exact answer to the second part of the hon. Gentlemans question, but the Commission decided to move ahead in order to achieve the opening date in September without further delay. Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what categories of costs will be included in the calculation of the full running cost of the nursery facility at 1 Parliament street, to be recovered from users under the terms of the Commissions decision of 14 December 2009. [324988] Nick Harvey: This has yet to be finally determined. Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when staff working on the site proposed to be used for a day nursery in 1 Parliament street will be informed [324989] about arrangements for their redeployment. Nick Harvey: Catering staff working at 1 Parliament street were told by the Director of Catering Services on 16 December 2009 about the Commissions decision to convert Bellamys Bar, the Club Room and the Astor Suite into a day nursery. Since then affected staff have had one-to-one consultations with managers to discuss options for their redeployment and the trade unions have been kept informed of proposals. Subject to their acceptance of their proposed redeployment, formal letters notifying staff of their new duties will be issued shortly. Security Mr. Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 953W, on security, what the private security firm was; and how much has been paid to that firm.
[324340]
Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 171W, on the Speakers adviser, for what reason the financial implications of creating a new post of special adviser to the Speaker were not (a) discussed by the House of Commons Commission and (b) referred to the Finance and Services Committee.
[324985]
Nick Harvey: The question of personal support staff for Mr. Speaker is a matter for him. No additional financial authority was required for the appointment of a special adviser as the costs are being met within existing budgets.
CABINET OFFICE Cancer Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average (a) one-year and (b) five-year survival rates for people diagnosed with (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate cancer and (iii) breast cancer has been in [324851] each of the last 10 years. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average (a) one year and (b) five year survival rates for people diagnosed with (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate cancer and (iii) breast cancer has been in each of the last 10 years. [324851] ONS does not publish site-specific cancer survival figures by single year of diagnosis. For statistical reliability, figures are published for three- to five-year periods, to avoid over-interpretation of random year on year fluctuations. The latest one- and five-year survival rates available for (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate and (iii) breast cancer arc for persons diagnosed in 2001-2006 and followed up to 2007. These figures arc presented below (Table 1), with figures for each preceding period back to 1998-2001 with follow-up to 2003.
Nick Harvey: Detica Ltd. undertook a piece of work, which cost 15,640 inclusive of VAT, in support of the internal inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of information about Members allowances.
Table 1: One- and five-year age-standardised1 relative cancer survival rates (percentage)2, for melanoma, prostate and breast cancer, adult patients3, England and Wales4, and England5 Cancer Melanomamen 1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England One-year relative survival (percentage) 94.2 94.5 94.4 94.5 94.9 Five-year relative survival (percentage) 79.0 80.5 80.4 80.6 81.1
Melanomawomen
1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England
96.6 96.9 97.0 97.1 97.3
88.2 89.4 89.4 89.5 89.6
Prostatemen
1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales
89.8
70.8
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Table 1: One- and five-year age-standardised1 relative cancer survival rates (percentage)2, for melanoma, prostate and breast cancer, adult patients3, England and Wales4, and England5 Cancer 1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England One-year relative survival (percentage) 90.9 91.2 91.6 92.1 Five-year relative survival (percentage) 74.1 74.4 75.8 77.0
Breastwomen
1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England
93 7 94.0 94.2 94.4 94.9
79.9 80.7 81.0 81.1 82.0
As cancer survival varies with the age at diagnosis, the relative rates for all ages (15-99) have been age-standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time, thus making them comparable with previously published figures 2 Melanoma is defined by code C43, prostate cancer is defined as C61 and breast cancer is defined as C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth edition (ICD-10). 3 Adult patients aged 15-99. 4 Survival rates for patients diagnosed in England and Wales are calculated up to the period 1999-2003 with follow-up to 2004. 5 Survival rates for patients diagnosed in England are available from 2002-2004, with follow-up to 2005.
Central Office of Information: Advertising Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated monetary value is of the contracts to be used under the Central Office of Informations framework for (a) recruitment advertising, (b) public notice advertising and (c) directories advertising over the lifetime of each framework agreement. [323447] Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member. The letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether any guidance has been given to the Central Office of Information on Government advertising in the period at the end of a Parliament and before the issue of writs for a general election; [323581] (2) what guidance has been issued to the Central Office of Information on Government advertising and marketing in (a) the period immediately before a general election and (b) during a general election [324021] campaign. Angela E. Smith: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Office issues guidance on the handling of departmental business during the pre-election period, including on advertising and marketing. Until the announcement of the general election, advertising and marketing will be conducted in line with the Propriety Guidance for government communications, a copy of which is in the Library of both Houses. It can also be accessed via:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/ government_communication/assets/guidance.pdf
Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member. The letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Departmental Advertising Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to her Department was of advertising to promote Backing Young Britain in the [323570] Metro newspaper on 5 March 2010. Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply. The cost of Backing Young Britain advertising in the Metro on 5 March was 212,000. The cover wrap ran in 19 cities with a circulation of 1,335,611 and readership of over 3.5 million. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many smoking shelters have been built for her Departments staff in the last five years; [324360] and at what cost. Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office built one smoking shelter in the past five years. The cost of the shelter and its installation was 5,500. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much her Department and its agency have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of [324432] the last five years. Angela E. Smith: Other than planned work to Cabinet Office buildings as a whole, no specific expenditure has been incurred on rooms for staff leisure. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether her Department provides [324568] subsidised gym facilities for its staff.
Central Office of Information: Video Recordings Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) title, (b) description, (c) purpose and (d) cost was of each video produced by the Central Office of Information for her Department [323449] in the last 12 months.
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Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office does have gym facilities but it is not subsidised. The running costs and equipment are paid for by an external provider through membership subscriptions. Departmental Computers Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1190W, on departmental computers, how many of the Cabinet Office computer keyboards replaced in the last 12 months were for [323652] computers located in Downing street. Angela E. Smith: None. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by her [324981] Department. Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office has installed voltage optimisation equipment into four buildings on the estate. No other voltage reduction equipment has been installed. Departmental Freedom of Information Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 603W, on departmental freedom of information, what target her Department has set to respond to correspondence (a) which makes a request for assistance under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (b) correspondence asking about the status of a freedom of information request which has already been submitted.
[322920]
The cost of these handsets cannot be provided as figures for the 2009-10 financial year will be available only when the Departments resource accounts have been fully audited and laid before Parliament. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 10 November 2009, Official Report, column 311W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to the inquiry line run by the Office of the Third Sector. [324111] Angela E. Smith: The inquiry line is staffed by Office of the Third Sector staff and no contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to it. Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many agency and temporary staff were [324367] employed in each of the last three years. Angela E. Smith: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1492W, on departmental temporary staff, how much her Department spent in total on temporary and agency staff in each of the last [324368] three years. Angela E. Smith: Expenditure on temporary and agency staff in each of the last three years was as follows:
2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 1,875,000 1,720,000 3,919,000
Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office responds to requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the detailed guidance available on the Ministry of Justices website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/foi-proceduralassistance.htm
Manufacturing Industries Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed in manufacturing in each constituency in each year since [324781] 1997. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in manufacturing in each constituency in each year since 1997. (324781) The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the Annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. Due to small sample sizes, accurate estimates of the number of people employed in the manufacturing sector in each parliamentary constituency are not available.
Requests must be responded to promptly or in any event not later than 20 working days following receipt. In certain circumstances this 20 working day deadline can be extended. Departmental Mobile Phones Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) BlackBerrys were provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in her Department in 2009; and at what [313176] cost to the public purse. Tessa Jowell: In 2009, six BlackBerrys were provided to Ministers, and five BlackBerrys were provided to special advisers. One mobile telephone is in use by a Minister. This covers the current ministerial team and special advisers and the ministerial team and special advisers prior to the reshuffle in June 2009.
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National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many manufacturing enterprises there were in each constituency in each year since 1997. [324783] Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many manufacturing enterprises there were in each constituency in each year since 1997. [324783] Annual statistics on business counts are available for 2000 onwards from the ONS release UK Business: Activity. Size and Location at: www.statistics.gov.uk The table provides parliamentary constituency estimates from 2003 onwards. Prior to this year it would only be possible to collate estimates for all constituencies at disproportionate cost. A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
The IPS operates at all significant ports of entry/departure in the United Kingdom. At smaller sites, where the operating procedures do not require it, or where conditions do not allow it, desks are not provided. The attached table shows a list of the number of shifts and typical staffing levels planned for 2010 at sites with desks. A shift is typically either AM or PM although this does vary across sites as does the mode of operation. An AM shift is normally 0600-1400 and a PM shift 1400-2230.
IPS locations with desksshifts per annum, number of desks and number of staff required Total number of staff required per shift 7 9 4 4 4 4 10 9 9 9 8 10 7 4 4
Site Heathrow Terminal 1 Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 1 Departures Heathrow Terminal 1 Transit Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 1 Transit Departures Heathrow Terminal 1 Irish Hub Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 1 Irish Departures Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 3 Departures Heathrow Terminal 4 Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 4 Departures Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 5 Departures North Heathrow Terminal 5 Departures South Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit Arrivals Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit Departures Gatwick South Arrivals
Shifts per annum 55 91 100 50 12 12 165 228 92 120 110 147 147 100 50
Number of desks 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 1 1
Ministerial Policy Advisers Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the written ministerial statement of 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 73W, on special advisers, what the cost was to the public purse of (a) National Insurance contributions and (b) other expenditure in respect of special advisers in 2008-09.
[322881]
Tessa Jowell: The cost of national insurance contributions and other expenditure in respect of special advisers is not held centrally. Office for National Statistics
55 82 54 80
2 1 1 1
9 10 8 10
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 1032W, on the Office of National Statistics, with what frequency each of the desks at each location are staffed; and how many full-time equivalent staff are [324692] allocated to staff the desks at each location. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for RuislipNorthwood of 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 1032W, on the Office of National Statistics, with what frequency each of the desks at each location are staffed; and how many full-time equivalent staff are allocated to staff the desks at each location. (324692) The size of the International Passenger Survey (IPS) operation at each air, sea and international rail site is determined by the volume of traffic. Therefore, the heavier the volume of traffic, the greater the number of IPS shifts operated. Also the higher the density of passengers passing through a particular site, the larger the team of interviewers required to undertake the work.
Gatwick South Departures Gatwick North Arrivals Gatwick North Departures Manchester Terminal 1 Arrivals Manchester Terminal 1 Departures Manchester Terminal 2 Arrivals Manchester Terminal 2 Departures Stansted Arrivals Stansted Departures
51 78 84 92
1 1 1 1
8 8 8 8
120 140
1 1
10 9
Unemployment Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area lived in households with no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are [324534] available.
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Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of people in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area lived in households with no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. 324534 The requested information is not available.
Mr. Vara: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people in (a) each constituency in the East of England and (b) the UK were unemployed on the latest date for which figures [324598] are available. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of people in (a) each constituency in the East of England and (b) the UK were unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available (324598). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS). However, due to the small sample size, accurate estimates for parliamentary constituencies in the East of England are not available. As an alternative, in table 1, we have provided the number and proportion of persons, of working age, claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), in February 2010, for each parliamentary constituency in the East of England and the United Kingdom, from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment and unemployment are available from the NOMIS website at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Table 1: Number and percentage1 of people claiming jobseekers allowance resident in the UK and each parliamentary constituency in the East of England, February 2010 Number Percentage 4.4 5.0 5.3 3.7 3.7 2.6 3.7 2.5 2.3 3.6 2.5 3.4 3.8 7.1 5.1 5.7 3.9 24 31 2.5 2.8 5.5 4.6 5.7 2.9 2.0 2.8 3.0 4.2 2.7
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in how many and what proportion of households in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area had no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [324540] Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General tor the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of households no-one was in full-time employment in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. 324540 The requested information is not available.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of children in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency were living in a workless household in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are [324541] available. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of children in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency were living in a workless household in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available. (324541) Information about children in workless households by (a) constituency and (b) local authority can only be obtained from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. However, due to the specific level of geographic detail you require, there are insufficient numbers in the sample to provide reliable estimates for practicable purposes. This is explained in an article published on the National Statistics website, published in August 2009, titled, Quality Measures of household labour market indicators. It can be found at the following address: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?ID=2272 The article explains that to provide robust estimates a larger geographical area would be needed and the following web link provides the number and percentage of children in workless households in 2008 for a range of geographic hierarchies across Great Britain: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/ WorklessChildren08.xls Estimates shaded in grey are such that as mentioned they are not reliable for practical purposes. The Annual Population Survey household datasets are only available for 2004 to 2008, so estimates for 1997 cannot be provided. To provide the same information for 2005 as at the above weblink would involve disproportional cost.
United Kingdom Basildon Bedford Billericay Braintree Brentwood and Ongar Broxbourne Bury St. Edmunds Cambridge Castle Point Central Suffolk and North Ipswich Colchester Epping Forest Great Yarmouth Harlow Harwich Hemel Hempstead Hertford and Stortford Hertsmere Hitchin and Harpenden Huntingdon Ipswich Luton North Luton South Maldon and East Chelmsford Mid Bedfordshire Mid Norfolk North East Bedfordshire North East Cambridgeshire North East Hertfordshire
1,657,041 3,035 3,311 2,386 2,522 1,317 2,121 1,563 1,755 1,880 1,456 2,653 2,267 3,866 2,824 3,178 2,341 1,576 1,867 1,360 2,030 3,198 2,669 3,684 1,603 1,286 1,736 1,844 2,843 1,585
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Table 1: Number and percentage1 of people claiming jobseekers allowance resident in the UK and each parliamentary constituency in the East of England, February 2010 Number North Essex North Norfolk North West Cambridgeshire North West Norfolk Norwich North Norwich South Peterborough Rayleigh Rochford and Southend East Saffron Walden South Cambridgeshire South East Cambridgeshire South Norfolk South Suffolk South West Bedfordshire South West Hertfordshire South West Norfolk Southend West St. Albans Stevenage Suffolk Coastal Thurrock Watford Waveney Welwyn Hatfield West Chelmsford West Suffolk
1
Percentage 2.4 3.8 3.8 4.1 3.9 4.7 6.5 2.5 6.0 2.4 1.8 2.2 2.8 2.7 3.9 2.3 3.5 4.0 2.5 4.2 2.6 53 3.5 4.9 3.1 3.1 2.8
1,413 2,051 2,624 2,372 2,471 3,132 3,900 1,398 3,467 1,503 1,120 1,542 1,777 1,377 2,413 1,412 2,515 1,964 1,382 2,424 1,432 3,831 2,292 2,905 2,032 2,110 1,999
9. Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the programme for the new aircraft carriers HMS Queen [324454] Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Mr. Quentin Davies: Work on the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers is now under way in five UK shipyardsAppledore, Rosyth, Govan, Portsmouth and Tyne. Work is due to start at the sixth and final yard, Birkenhead, in the next few months. In addition, equipment sub-contracts to the value of some 1.2 billion have been placed to date, helping to support local economies across the UK. Defence Spending 18. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which financial years defence spending decreased in real terms in comparison with the [324463] previous year between 1997 and 2009. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Every spending review since 1997 has awarded Defence a real terms rise over the period it covered and defence spending in cash terms has risen every year since 1997. Defence spending declined in real terms in 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2006-07. However, in cash terms defence spending has risen every year since 1997. These figures include the costs of operations, which vary significantly from year to year, and are funded from the Reserve. The Treasury has met every request for Urgent Operational Requirements for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Service Veterans: Mental Health
Percentage of working age people (men aged 16 to 64, women aged 16 to 59) claiming jobseekers allowance. Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System.
Unemployment: Cambridgeshire Mr. Vara: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate she has made of the level of long-term unemployment in North West [324597] Cambridgeshire constituency. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the level of long-term unemployment in North West Cambridgeshire constituency. (324597) The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of long-term unemployment for the North West Cambridgeshire constituency are unavailable. As an alternative, we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), for 12 months or greater, resident in the North West Cambridgeshire constituency. In February 2010 this was 375. National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
19. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of long-term mental health support for [324464] armed forces veterans. Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge). NATO 20. Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the future of NATO of his Departments policies on [324465] European military co-operation. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defences policies on European military co-operation are designed to be both supportive of, and supported by, NATO. Greater coherence and effectiveness on the part of the Europeans can only lead to a stronger Alliance. We will continue to work with our European partners at various levels including: bilaterally; in NATO; in the EU; and in the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe, to ensure that Europe can play its role in ensuring a safe and secure world.
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21. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the role of HM Naval Base Devonport in warship maintenance and repair.
[324466]
All events where quick reaction alert aircraft have been launched are routinely collated and analysed by Defence officials. The RAFs air defence capability to detect and deter aircraft approaching UK airspace is just one layer of a multi-layered approach that the UK Government take to protect UK and NATO-monitored airspace. Animal Experiments Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budgetary provision his Department has made in 2010-11 for the conducting, directly or otherwise, of scientific procedures on animals; and how much was spent on this in 2009-10. [323211] Mr. Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence funds an overarching scientific research programme which includes specific aspects which incorporate projects that require studies involving the use of animals. These are undertaken at DSTL Porton Down. The DSTL accounting system does not differentiate the proportion of the budget that is spent solely on animal studies. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals of each species were used in scientific procedures (a) commissioned directly by his Department and (b) otherwise undertaken pursuant to decisions taken by his Department in the [323213] latest year for which figures are available. Mr. Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 167-68W, to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell). Armed Forces: Health Services Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department has spent on long-term care for severely wounded soldiers in each of the last [321370] five years; (2) how much his Department has allocated to long-term care of severely wounded soldiers in the next [321371] 10 years. Mr. Kevan Jones: Members of the armed forces who sustain serious injuries that require long-term care will receive appropriate treatment funded by MOD for as long as they remain in-Service. Funding has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements, including surges in casualty numbers. Funding will come from a wide range of sources and budgets across the three services, and comprehensive financial data for the past five years are not readily available. Those who remain in-service will continue to receive medical treatment through the Defence Medical Services as required. Suitable adaptations will be made to both working and service-provided living accommodation if necessary. Ongoing welfare support is also available from the individuals chain of command, through the defence welfare services, and from service charities.
Bill Rammell: On 6 May 2009, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence confirmed that all three naval bases, at Devonport, Portsmouth and on the Clyde, have strong futures and will continue to play a vital role in supporting the Royal Navy. Devonport will retain and enhance its position as the centre of excellence for surface ship and submarine deep maintenance (upkeep) activity. In addition, it will undertake Fleet Time Engineering support for base-ported ships and for visiting sea training vessels. Afghanistan Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security [324467] situation in Afghanistan. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones). Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been deployed within field hospitals during Operation Herrick since April 2009; and how many and what proportion were reservist medical personnel. [324584] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of service personnel deployed to field hospitals is shown in the following table:
Operation Herrick April to October 2009 October 2009 to April 2010 Total personnel 136 283, of which reservists 109 151 as a percentage 80 53
It should be noted that reservists deploy for periods of three months rather than six months for regular armed forces personnel. As such, the reservists figures look artificially high because they reflect two three-month deployments rather than one six-month deployment. Air Space Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions since 2005 foreign military aircraft have entered restricted UK airspace over Na h-Eileanan an Iar without permission; [325037] (2) what investigation has been conducted by (a) the Royal Air Force and (b) his Department into Russian aircraft flying into restricted UK airspace over Na [325036] h-Eileanan an Iar. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No Russian or any other foreign military aircraft have ever entered any part of UK sovereign airspace without permission.
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For those who are medically discharged from the services, their care and its funding then become the responsibility of the NHS. We take steps to enable them to receive the continuing treatment and care that they deserve. In this context, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health informed the House on 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 15WS, that:
A package of measures will be put in place across the NHS to support the increased number of service personnel who have received serious injuries such as loss of limb or brain injuries whilst on active service. This will include new arrangements with the MOD for life care planning together with a guarantee that those seriously injured and needing continuing health care will receive ongoing high quality care for life based on an early and comprehensive assessment and regular review of their needs overseen by an NHS case manager.
2009, Official Report, column 953W, whether a complete set of data on the extent to which armed forces medical personnel are in breach of the single service harmony guidelines is now available. [324585] Mr. Kevan Jones: Army data have now been collected but analysis of the information is not yet complete. Armed Forces: Interpreters Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military linguists proficient in (a) Pashto and (b) Dari are employed by his Department; and how many of each have been employed by his [323676] Department in each year since 2001. Bill Rammell: The information is as follows:
Dari Lower level 0 0 10 10 10 50 140 150 720 1 1,200 Higher level 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 <5 <5 <5 Lower level 0 0 0 0 0 10 20 40 60 1 200
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 14 October
Pashto Higher level 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 (now) 1 Approximately 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 30 40 40
Employed is interpreted as serving in HM armed forces. The figures above reflect serving personnel with current language skills; account has been taken of personnel who have left HM armed forces with language skills and those who no longer have currency in their language skills. Higher level training enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians. Figures for 2010 are approximate, based on forecast training output for the first three months. The number being trained at the lower level in both languages will increase significantly during 2010. Higher level Pashto and Dari numbers will also increase in 2010 as courses are completed. Departmental Buildings David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many personnel are based in
Location Brown Carrick Hill Radio Station HMS GannetGreensite (Prestwick) Dumbarton Armed Forces Careers Office Paisley Armed Forces Careers Office Greenock Armed Forces Careers Office GlasgowCerium Building GlasgowArmed Forces Careers Office
commercial properties rented by his Department in the [324295] West of Scotland; (2) what the cost to the public purse was of commercial properties rented by his Department in the West of Scotland in the latest period for which figures [324296] are available; (3) what the locations are of each commercial property rented by his Department in the West of [324297] Scotland; (4) how many commercial properties his Department [324298] rents in the West of Scotland. Mr. Kevan Jones: Our records indicate that there are 10 other commercial properties currently being rented in the West of Scotland at the following locations and cost per annum. I also include the current number of defence personnel working at each site where this is known:
Rent () 7,755 727,129 43,632 18,786 8,400 749,593 318,059
Number of personnel based in location 103 4 4 4 86 18
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Rent () 383,305 135,125 12,780
Number of personnel based in location 50 7 4
GlasgowArmy Personnel Centre Store Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Sq GlasgowMet Office Equipment Store
For completeness, the MOD also rents some commercial Substitute Service Family Accommodation for personnel but I have not included details here. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current [324812] prices. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Veterans (Mr. Jones), on 15 July 2009, Official Report, column 378W, to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes). Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what such [324721] items were. Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on promotional items must be necessary, appropriate, cost effective and an admissible charge to public funds. Departmental Security Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many valid civilian passes granting access to his Departments London buildings have been issued to employees of private defence companies in the last [323684] 12 months. Mr. Kevan Jones: Records show that in the last 12 months, there were 137 passes issued to employees of companies identified by us as private defence companies. We have defined private defence companies as those we can readily identify as being primarily suppliers of weapon systems or defence materiel to the Department. These passes only allow access to MOD Head Office (Main Building, Old War Office and St. Georges Court) and are issued to individuals who hold appropriate security clearances, have a genuine business need to regularly visit one of these London Offices and have been sponsored by a Head Office Business Unit. Figures are not held centrally for passes issued in respect of other MOD London buildings. Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to employees of which private defence companies have civilian passes granting access to his Departments London [323685] buildings been issued since 1 January 2008.
Mr. Kevan Jones: Since 1 January 2008, building passes have been issued to employees of the private defence companies as listed. We have defined private defence companies as those we can readily identify as being primarily suppliers of weapon systems or defence materiel to the Department.
Augusta Westland Babcock BAE Systems Boeing Defence UK Cubic Defence Systems EADS Defence and Security System General Dynamics UK J&S Marine Lockheed Martin MBDA Missile Systems Niteworks Northrop Grumman Pearson Engineering QinetiQ Raytheon Systems Roke Manor Research Smiths Detection Thales Vega Group Vosper Thornycroft
These passes only allow access to Ministry of Defence Head Office (Main Building, Old War Office and St. Georges Court) and are issued to individuals who hold appropriate security clearances, have a genuine business need to regularly visit one of these London Offices and have been sponsored by a Head Office Business Unit. Details are not held centrally for passes issued in respect of other MOD London buildings. Future Rapid Effect System Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his statement of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on armed forces equipment, whether the base platform for the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is now finalised for all aspects of the FRES programme; whether there will be further opportunities for unsuccessful bidders to bid for later variants; and if he will make a statement.
[324287]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rapid Effect System programme has been recast from a single programme into a coherent set of constituent projects namely: the Specialist Vehicles; the Utility Vehicles; and the Manoeuvre Support Vehicles. The Secretary of States announcement on 22 March 2010 related to the Specialist Vehicle project, for which the MOD intends to use a Common Base Platform as a base vehicle onto which specific sub-systems, such as the 40 mm Cannon, can be integrated to meet the various Specialist Vehicle roles.
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The Utility Vehicle and Manoeuvre Support projects are still in their Assessment Phases and the potential options to deliver these capabilities continue to be developed. No decisions have therefore been made regarding the platforms to be used for the Utility Vehicles or Manoeuvre Support Vehicles, or the companies that will provide them. Gurkhas: Immigration Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Gurkha welfare organisations the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Gurkha [324750] settlement policy has consulted; (2) on how many occasions the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Gurkha settlement policy has met;
[324751]
advanced notice of ship and submarine movements globally; and if he will make a statement. [324252] (4) by what method and against what criteria his Department evaluated the tender submissions and related documents in respect of the Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020); if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation setting out the criteria; and if he will make a statement. [324253] Mr. Quentin Davies [holding answer 25 March 2010]: Prior to award of the contract for Port Agency Services the Department undertook a tendering process with assessment conducted in two stages:
a pre-qualification assessment, utilising a standardised PreQualification Questionnaire (PQQ) to select from the companies who had expressed an interest, those that would be invited to tender; and assessment of tenders received against the award criteria set out in the Special Notices and Instructions issued with Invitation to Tender dated 28 January 2008.
(3) who leads the Cross-Departmental Working [324752] Group on Gurkha settlement policy. Mr. Kevan Jones: The Cross-Departmental Working Group was set up following the announcement on 21 May 2009 of the new immigration rules for retired Gurkhas. It has met formally on three occasions, twice in 2009 and once so far this year. The working group is jointly chaired by the Command Secretary, Headquarters Land Forces and the Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency. The Ministry of Defence leads across Government on Gurkha settlement issues, although most work is conducted multilaterally between Government Departments, local authorities, pressure groups and other agencies. The working group has consulted with a wide range of welfare organisations in the course of its work, including the main service charities: the Gurkha Welfare Trust; the Royal British Legion; ABF The Soldiers Charity; the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association; and Veterans Aid. Informal consultations and briefings have also been held with the ex-Gurkha servicemens organisation in the UK and in Nepal, including: the British Gurkha Welfare Society; the Regimental Associations Nepal; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemens Organisation; the United British Gurkhas Ex-Servicemens Association Nepal; the Gurkha United Forum; and the Nepal Ex-Servicemens Association. Port Agency Service Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what due diligence tests were conducted prior to the award of the contract for Port Agency Service (FLEET/OPS/0020), with particular reference to (a) credit checks, (b) risk assessment, (c) ownership, including related shareholdings and (d) transparency of company structures and accounts; and what methodology was used to conduct those tests; [324231] (2) by what (a) method, (b) criteria and (c) through which Agency the Department assessed the security and associated risk profile of those companies who submitted bids for the contract for Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020); and if he will [324238] make a statement; (3) whether, when awarding the contract for Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020), a requirement was stipulated that the contractor would need to demonstrate that their work would not be exposed to
A copy of the PQQ and the Special Notices and Instructions will be placed in the Library of the House. The PQQ sought details on such matters as technical capability, financial standing, ownership and company structures. Technical, financial and security matters were considered before a company was invited to tender for the requirement. This assessment was informed by reference to company specific reports procured from a reputable private sector business information supplier. Companies invited to tender for the contract were taken from a list of Approved Defence Contractors and, where necessary, were afforded provisional List-X Status by the Defence Procurement Agency for the purposes of complying with the Security Aspects of the tender bidding process. The tender assessment was conducted by appropriate Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and civilian subject matter experts. The results of these assessments were collated and considered by a Tender Assessment Panel chaired by a senior commercial officer which recommended the award decision based on the evidence of the assessment. After the tendering process was complete, an agreement on the detailed handling of sensitive material was reached with the successful bidder, implementing the more general security requirements set out in the contract documents. This agreement recognised that some sensitive information would need to be disclosed to suppliers of services in sufficient time to enable those services to be provided in a timely manner. Royal Irish Regiment: Reserve Forces Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers who served with the Royal Irish Regiment transferred to Territorial Army units following disbandment of the Home Service battalions.
[324108]
Bill Rammell: According to unit records, to date approximately 340 personnel who served with the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions have transferred or enlisted into Territorial Army units based in Northern Ireland following the Home Service Battalions disbandment. This estimate does not include two squadrons of the newly formed 32 Signal Regiment (V), as the
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records of these squadrons are currently in the process of being transferred to their new units and are currently unavailable for scrutiny. Submarines Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the delivery of (a) each Astute class and (b) Trident successor submarine; what effect the delay in delivery of the former will have on delivery of the latter; and if he will make a [321416] statement. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 25 March 2010, Official Report, columns 54-55WS. Of the seven planned Astute class submarines, the first four boats have been ordered. Boat one (Astute) is currently undergoing an extensive programme of sea trials while boats two to four (Ambush, Artful, and Audacious) are in various stages of construction. We have decided to proceed with the initial build work on boat five and to order the long lead items for boat six. The delivery timetable for the class is currently being re-baselined. We are continuing to target an in-service date for the first Trident successor submarine of 2024, as set out in the White Paper The Future of the United Kingdoms Nuclear Deterrent (Cm6994). The precise delivery schedule will be determined at Main Gate, currently scheduled for 2014. The Ministry of Defence and industry are evaluating the lessons from the first boats in the Astute programme and will ensure that there is appropriate sequencing between the Astute and successor programmes to ensure that continuous at sea deterrence can be maintained. We do not expect delays in the Astute programme to affect the timetable for the delivery of the Trident successor submarines. Sweet Concepts Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer by the Cabinet Office Minister of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 156W, on the Central Office of Information: marketing, what the (a) type and (b) cost was of the promotional food and confectionery purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. by [324303] the Royal Air Force. Mr. Quentin Davies: RAF purchases of food or confectionary via the Central Office of Information contract with Sweet Concepts Ltd., are as follows:
() Cost (excluding VAT) 650 800 900 800
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Afghanistan Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has commissioned or assessed any internal or external reports on the effectiveness of its work to [301940] tackle corruption in Afghanistan. Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply. The Department for International Development (DFID) is contributing 6 million to the Accountability and Transparency (ACT) project managed by the United Nations Development Programme. ACT provides support to the Afghan anti-corruption watchdog, the High Office of Oversight. The project has been in operation for less than one year and so no formal assessment has yet been completed. In May 2009, DFID and other partners undertook six Vulnerabilities to Corruption Assessments, the results of which are available at:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFGHANISTANEXTN/ Resources/305984-1237085035526/5919769-1249254211329/ VCAsSummaryReportFinalJuly172009.pdf.
Afghanistan: Corruption Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to combat corruption in [301941] Afghanistan. Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply. The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the HMG Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF), established as the primary means of ensuring UK anticorruption work is well co-ordinated internally, with major donors and Afghan and international civil society organisations. Through the MATF, the UK is taking the following actions:
We are providing 6 million to UNDPs Accountability and Transparency Project, making us the largest supporter of the High Office of Oversight (HOO). The UK will work with the HOO and responsible line Ministries on reform of the public procurement system and Government permits, especially for construction. We are providing mentors to help make the Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF) a transparent and effective end to end judicial process handling cases of kidnap, organised crime and the most serious corruption offences. We will continue to provide training, mentoring and salary support for prosecutors working within the Anti Corruption Unit of the MCTF and will help establish an Anti Corruption Tribunal.
Product 2008 2009 2009 2010 Mints Mints Aeroplane Shaped Sweets Mints
Reconstruction contracts issued by DFID already contain no bribery clauses that apply equally to all contractors and subcontractors. Our commitment to investigate any international contracted by the UK Government and suspected of corruption remains unchanged. The London Conference on Afghanistan, in January 2010, provided increased momentum in the fight against corruption. We are working with the international community to support the Afghan Government in delivering its new anti-corruption strategy.
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Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Baltic and Black seas areas; what recent reports he has received on the sale by France to Russia of four Mistral helicopter-carrying warships; and if he will make a [323647] statement. Mr. Ivan Lewis: We keep the politico-military balance in the Baltic and Black sea areas under close observation. We have discussed with France her intention to consider the export of Mistral ships to Russia. We are aware of concerns about the sale expressed by some countries in both the Baltic and the Black sea regions. France, like the UK, is bound by the same export control regulations, the EU Criteria, in approving or refusing any defence export. These take into account the impact on regional stability. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what [324414] the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of each. Chris Bryant [holding answer 25 March 2010]: This information is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate [323864] cost; and if he will make a statement. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not recently answered questions about hon. Members constituencies in this way. Diplomatic Service Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his overseas counterparts the matter of the abuse of domestic workers employed by overseas embassies in the UK. [324638] Chris Bryant: Yes, we have, we do and we will. Embassies: Festivals and Special Occasions Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his Departments policy that British missions overseas should hold celebrations to mark the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen as a part of their diplomatic and trade promotion activities; and which missions will be holding [325001] such an event in 2010.
Chris Bryant: No records are held centrally of local celebrations of HM the Queens birthday and the frequency and precise nature of such events is at the discretion of the head of mission. Iran: Foreign Relations Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of UK relations with Iran; what plans he has for the future of UK-Iran [324642] relations; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Ivan Lewis: UK-Iran relations are hindered by the Iranian authorities harassment of our embassy in Tehran and their insistence on blaming the UK for all of Irans problems. We will continue to seek to engage the Iranian authorities on the many important issues of concern, including Irans nuclear programme, human rights abuses and restrictions on civil liberties, and Irans role in the region. We will also continue to press for a satisfactory resolution to the bilateral issues between us, including the arrest of embassy staff in Tehran. Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the special investigation and prosecution team to report on alleged corruption in the Turks and Caicos [324882] Islands. Chris Bryant: Investigations by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team are ongoing and it is not possible to estimate how long these, and any subsequent prosecutions, would take. Western Sahara: Human Rights Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UN Security Council has been briefed on the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara by the UN Secretary-Generals special envoy on Western Sahara in [324140] 2010. Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy to Western Sahara regularly briefs the Security Council on developments in the conflict of Western Sahara, including the human rights situation. The current Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, last briefed the Security Council on 18 February. Ambassador Ross holds regular discussions with members of the Security Council on a range of issues related to the conflict. The Secretary-General will submit his report on the latest developments in Western Sahara to the Security Council in advance of the renewal of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate at the end of April. World War Two: Genocide Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the policy of the government of Germany on release of files on (a) Nazi war criminals and (b) Adolf Eichmann; and if he will make a statement.
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Chris Bryant: The case to which my hon. Friend refers is currently being considered by the German Federal Administrative Court; it is therefore a matter for the Court and the German Government. JUSTICE British Constitution Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, column 624W, on democratic reform, on what date the National Deliberative Event was held; who attended the event; which firms were contracted to organise the event; and at what cost to the [323650] public purse. Mr. Wills: The National Deliberative Event was held on Saturday 20 February 2010. An independent report by TNS-BMRB on the programme of engagement will be published shortly and shows that such deliberative approaches were valued by what were demographically representative groups of participants as a means of building public views into policy making. It shows there is a clear appetite to take further these aspects of the debate on constitutional reform: stating the values that bind us together as a nation, building on the existing protections for individual rights and clarifying our responsibilities. The following persons attended the event:
110 members of the public (selected statistically to reflect the makeup of the population of the UK) who attended previous deliberative events in October and November 2009. Myself. Five officials from the Ministry of Justice and one from the Department of Communities and Local Government.
of engagement will be published shortly and shows that such deliberative approaches were valued by what were demographically representative groups of participants as a means of building public views into policy making. It shows there is a clear appetite to take further these aspects of the debate on constitutional reform: stating the values that bind us together as a nation, building on the existing protections for individual rights and clarifying our responsibilities. The total cost for all eight events is 842,111.35. The Government do not hold information on the disaggregated costs for the five regional events as individual costings for each of the events were not stipulated in the contractual arrangements. The contracts for these events were awarded to TNSBMRB, a social research organisation, who developed and delivered the recruitment and research elements of the programme (including chairing the events), and M-is, an events company, who organised the practical arrangements for the events including venue hire and participants travel and accommodation. A copy of the independent report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course. Courts: Aberystwyth Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on the development of a new court building in Aberystwyth.
[324348]
The contracts for these events were awarded to TNSBMRB, a social research organisation, who developed and delivered the recruitment and research elements of the programme (including chairing the events), and M-is, an events agency, who organised the practical arrangements for the events, including venue hire and participants travel and accommodation. There were eight deliberative events in total between October 2009 and February 2010: five regional events, two reconvened events and one national event. The total cost for all eight events is 842,111.35. The Government do not hold information on the disaggregated costs for the National Deliberative event as individual costings for each of the eight events were not stipulated in the contractual arrangements. A copy of the independent report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 12 November 2009, Official Report, column 624W, on democratic reform, what the cost to the public purse was of the five deliberative events; which companies were contracted to organise the events and to conduct the opinion research; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the findings of the [323651] opinion research conducted. Mr. Wills: There were eight deliberative events between October 2009 and February 2010: five regional events, two reconvened events and one national event. An independent report by TNS-BMRB on the programme
Bridget Prentice: The HMCS Asset Management Committee approved the Aberystwyth court building scheme to proceed to Full Business Case on 24 March 2010. It is hoped that a further announcement will be made in summer 2010. Custodial Treatment Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to the public purse was of detaining (a) an adult and (b) a person under the age of 21 years old in custody for a year on the latest date [323745] for which figures are available. Maria Eagle: For 2008-09, for prison establishments managed by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the average cost per prisoner in an adult prison (for this purpose adult is over 21 years) was 39,600 and in a young offender institution was 53,400. The above average costs comprise the expenditure on public and private prisons (as recorded in the NOMS agency annual report and accounts), increased by an apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in the regions by NOMS. This involves some estimation. In addition, expenditure met centrally by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) is included. The figures do not include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government Departments (e.g. Health and Education). The prisoner escort service costs are included. Where the costs of young people are recharged by NOMS to the YJB, expenditure is shown gross and not reduced by income from the YJB. Where a site includes adults and prisoners under 21, costs are allocated to the major use.
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Secure training centres and secure childrens homes, the responsibility of the YJB, also fall into the under 21 years category. The YJB calculates annual figures for the cost of places in each type of establishment in the under-18 secure estate. As at 1 April 2009, these were as follows:
Average annual cost per place () Secure childrens home Secure training centre Note: VAT is not included in these figures 215,000 160,000
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election. [323468] Mr. Straw: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website. Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced. Once the general election is announced, the expectation is that reports which have not been pre-announced and are not yet ready for publication will be delayed until after the purdah period. This includes Ministry of Justice social research reports which are not routinely preannounced. I also refer the right hon. Member to the statement released by the Ministry of Justices chief statistician on 19 March 2010 regarding the release of youth justice statistics. A copy of the statement is available at:
www.justice.gov.uk/publications/youth-justice-statistics.htm
Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in the last five years; and at [324353] what cost. Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justices buildings are smoke free. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has not constructed any smoking shelters on its London HQ building estate in the last five years. Smoking shelters do exist within the Ministry of Justices specialist estate. However central records of the construction of smoking shelters across the MOJ estate are not held and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Lost Property John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the [322080] replacement of that property. Mr. Straw: With the exception of HM Prison Service, details of individual cases of lost and stolen property are held at a local level across the Department. Occurrences of theft or loss are reportable to the central security team and amounts to 354 incidents during the period 1 January to 31 December 2009. To determine whether these occurrences relate to theft or loss and to estimate a replacement cost would involve a review of individual local records which would incur disproportionate cost. Separate records are kept by Her Majestys Prison Service (HMPS), which is part of the National Offender Management Service agency. For the 12 month period 1 January to 31 December 2009 the value of lost or stolen property was 310,078. This comprises:
lost or stolen items: 1,178 instances at a total value of 194,609 of which 1,177 instances were for losses of stores at a value of 194,549; loss of personal property for which compensation was paid to prisoners, staff or third parties: 1,982 payments at a total value of 123,468.
Departmental Senior Civil Servants Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in [324958] his Department. Mr. Wills: There are 74,000 full-time equivalent members of staff in the Ministry of Justice, of which 10 are grade 2 (SCS Payband 3) senior civil servants. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 27 October 2009, Official Report, columns 331-32W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to the helplines.
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Bridget Prentice: Of the helplines listed in my earlier answer, contracts have been awarded in respect of the following services: the Community Legal Advice helpline, Criminal Defence Service Direct, the Duty Solicitor Call Centre, the National Mediation Helpline, the Family Mediation Helpline and the Nacro Resettlement Plus helpline. Departmental Translation Service Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on translation services in the justice system in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and [324421] (c) England in each of the last five years. Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice was formed on 9 May 2007. Information is available for two complete financial years, 2007-08 and 2008-09. Data for 2009-10 will be available in summer when annual accounts have been prepared and audited.
These figures are currently unaudited. A full stock count will be undertaken at the end of the financial year 31 March 2010.
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Expenditure on translation services in Ribble Valley and Lancashire by the Department and its agencies. There has been no expenditure recorded within Ribble Valley and Lancashire by HM Courts Service. Information for other parts of the Department is not recorded on a regional basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on translation services in England by the Department and its agencies HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service are able to isolate expenditure in England which is as follows:
2007-08 000 2008-09
10 27 HM Courts Service (HMCS)1 Tribunals Service 39 53 1 This figures represents expenditure by Crown courts only as no central records are maintained that breakdown expenditure by magistrates courts.
In November 2009 the UK expected to conclude its legislative process by June 2010. Under the convention this would have enabled implementation three months later, on 1 October 2010. However, it will not now be possible for the UK to complete its implementing legislation as intended in June 2010. The intention now is to have all necessary legislation in place to enable the UK to ratify by 16 July 2010 after the general election. Implementation would then follow on 1 November. Whether ratification can take place then is, however, dependent on the position of the remaining EU member states. The Council Secretariat has called for an update from member states for discussion at the May General Questions meeting of the Councils Committee on Civil Law Matters. The UK remains firmly committed to ratification and implementation of this important convention and is working to achieve this. Electoral Register: Freedom of Information Mr. Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons electoral registration officers are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [324178] Mr. Wills: The generally held view is that the office of Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is distinct from the local authority that appoints them, and that EROs are therefore not currently within scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FOI Act). In order to come within the scope of the FOI Act, EROs would need to be designated by a section 5 Order under that Act or through an amendment to the primary legislation. The Government conducted a public consultation between 25 October 2007 and 1 February 2008 to seek views on which bodies might be included within the scope of the FOI Act by way of a section 5 Order. This would be the first such order made under the FOI Act. Electoral Registration Officers were not identified as part of this consultation, or in the responses, as candidates for inclusion. The list of bodies proposed for inclusion in this first section 5 Order is:
Academy schools Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Financial Ombudsman Service Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Other parts of the Department do not maintain records in a way that would enable expenditure in England to be separately identified from expenditure in Wales or Scotland. Total expenditure is shown as follows and will include the cost of translating documents under the Welsh language scheme.
2007-08 000 2008-09
Ministry of Justice HQ 273 388 868 966 National Offenders Management Serviceinterpretation and translation1 25 25 Office of the Public Guardian2 1 This figure includes translation costs as well as interpretation costs. The amounts are not separately recorded and can be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. Additionally, the NOMS figure excludes expenditure by the National Probation Service which is held locally by 42 probation boards and trusts who use separate and different accounting systems. Information could be determined only at disproportionate cost through examination of local records. 2 Figures for the Office of Public Guardian are an estimate of the translation component within a wider category of expenditure.
Interpretation and translation services are provided on the basis of need. Costs are kept to a minimum and, when translation and interpretation services are taken together across all territories served by the Ministry of Justice, expenditure has not risen in recent years. EC Action: Children Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the 1996 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children is ratified by all EU member states before 5 June 2010 in accordance with Council Decision 2008/431/EC of 5 June 2008; and if he will make a [324640] statement. Bridget Prentice: Eight EU member states are already Contracting States to the Convention. Council Decision 2008/431/EC authorised the UK and other remaining EU member states to ratify or accede to the convention, and requires the simultaneous deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession, if possible before 5 June 2010.
However, the Government made clear in their response to the consultation, published on 16 July 2009, that the first section 5 Order would be an initial step, and that the extension of the FOI Act would be kept under review. I have asked my officials to undertake further work to examine the potential for the FOI Act to be extended to EROs, and to consult the relevant parties on this issue. Electoral Register: Houseboats Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to ensure that residents of boats without a postcoded address are able to register to vote without having to declare themselves [324159] homeless.
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Mr. Wills: If a boat, houseboat or other residence has a permanent mooring it is treated by registration officers as a permanent dwelling in which an elector may be resident for registration purposes, and residents can be registered as electors in the standard way. If the boat or other residence does not have a permanent mooring, then it is open to the resident(s) to make a Declaration of Local Connection for the purposes of registering to vote. The residents should register at a place where they spend the most time or where they have some connection, such as the area where they were last permanently registered or any boatyard they may use for maintenance. The provisions are designed to support participation in the electoral process by recognising that there will be some individuals who are unable to supply a fixed address, but are nonetheless eligible to register and vote. Electors registered by means of a local connection may vote using the same methods as ordinary electors. We have no current plans to amend the relevant legislation. The Electoral Commission has published guidance for electoral registration officers on these provisions. Employment Tribunals Service: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people living in City of York (a) in total and (b) with less than two years employment won unfair dismissal claims in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available; and how much on average was paid out in such claims in each such year.
[324216]
Those data have been interrogated to identify the number of successful unfair dismissal awards brought against respondents with a work address with a YO postcode. This shows that in the period 23 March 2009 to 22 March 2010, 35 successful unfair dismissal claims were brought against respondents whose postcode began with YO. The average award was 4,832.51. Fines: Non-Payment John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people served a custodial sentence for the non-payment of fines in England and Wales in each financial year since April 2005. [323903] Maria Eagle: Figures showing the numbers of prisoners received into all prison establishments in England and Wales in the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 (the latest year for which data are available) are shown in the following table:
Fine defaulter first receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales 2005-08 Financial year Number 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 1,994 1,605 1,433
Bridget Prentice: The information requested is either no longer held, or is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In relation to information on cases in 1997, while the Tribunals Service continues to hold certain statistical data, it is not possible to interrogate that data on the basis of, for example, residency of one or more of the parties involved. The case details held in local employment tribunal offices are anonymised and archived one year after the disposal of the proceedings. In relation to cases involving employees with less than two years employment, that information is only recorded on individual employment tribunal claim forms. Those forms are kept in hard copy in each local office and information is not entered onto IT systems. Therefore, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In relation to the most recent data concerning unfair dismissal judgments, data are not held centrally in respect of where individual claimants live. The allocation of claims to all Employment Tribunal office is determined by the postcode of the respondent against whom the claim has been brought. Employment tribunal claims brought by people living in the City of York may, therefore, depending on the business address of the respondent, be made in any Employment Tribunal office in England, Wales or Scotland. Therefore, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, information was sought from the two offices which deal with employment tribunal cases with respondents (i.e. employers) based in York (Leeds and Newcastle).
First receptions are an estimate of the number of prisoners entering the Criminal Justice System by individual offence in a given time period. Offenders may be committed to prison for fine default: their sentence remains a fine. Imprisonment for non-payment of a financial penalty remains the ultimate sanction for the most wilful defaulters. However, only after the court has considered or tried all other methods of enforcing payment of the sum and it appears to the court that they are inappropriate or unsuccessful. The court must also be convinced that the person has either wilfully refused to pay or have been culpably neglectful which means the person has had the means to pay but have simply neglected to pay. These figures are a sub-set of first reception data in the first line of table 6.1 in Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2008, adjusted from a calendar year to a financial year basis. They 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. General Elections Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1246W, on general elections, whether any local authority which counted votes on the evening of the 2005 general election was not refunded for the full staff [324842] costs of counting on that evening. Mr. Wills: The Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that the Secretary of State will pay the reasonable costs of returning officers for the conduct of elections including for the countas long as they are necessary for the efficient and effective conduct of the poll. Where a claim for costs in relation to any aspect of the conduct of the poll does not satisfy this statutory test then it
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would not be met. Information about whether this happened in respect of the costs of the count process specifically in relation to any of the 569 claims from returning officers in England and Wales in 2005 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I am not aware, however, that any returning officer was provided with insufficient funding for the count at the 2005 general election. Human Trafficking: Confiscation Orders Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many confiscation orders there were against convicted traffickers between 1 April 2009 and 31 January 2010; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of [324637] savings to the public purse as a result. Claire Ward: The available information is provided in the following table. The figures shown in the table relate solely to cases recorded on the Ministry of Justice courts proceedings database where an offence of Human trafficking or Drug trafficking was the principal offence for which the offender was sentenced and where the confiscation order was made at the point of sentence. It is possible that a confiscation order will be made in a separate court appearance following sentence. These cases are not included in this answer so it is possible the true number of confiscation orders is higher than presented here. Data for 2008 have been provided as data for 2009 and 2010 is not yet available. Sentencing data for 2009 will be published later this year. No estimates of likely levels of savings to the public purse relating specifically to confiscation orders for trafficking are known to have been calculated by the Ministry of Justice. 50 per cent. of money recovered is given back to the operational bodies to drive up asset recovery work. 50 per cent. is retained by the Home Office for core funding including the Regional Assets Recovery Team. This money represents an addition to budgets rather than a saving and is important in providing extra resources to take proceeds off the criminals.
Confiscation orders issued for drug1 or people trafficking2, 2008 Drug trafficking Total confiscation orders (number) Amount confiscated ()
1 1
National Offender Management Service: Manpower Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons are employed at the National Offender Management Service (a) head office and (b) regional offices; how many such employees have (i) a probation background and (ii) a prison background; and how many such employees are career civil servants.
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Maria Eagle: The prison and probation services operate within the framework of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency. For historical reasons the two services have different employment structures. Prison Service staff are civil servants and are directly employed by the NOMS agency. Probation service staff are not civil servants and are employed by a probation board or trust. Information on the career histories of National Offender Management Service headquarters (NOMS) staff does not include national probation service (NPS) experience. It is therefore not possible to provide figures of how many NOMS headquarters staff have a NPS background. Career history information that is available shows that 1,776 NOMS headquarters staff have previous experience in Prison Service establishments and are considered to have a prison background, although not all would have worked with offenders. All NOMS headquarters staff other than those seconded from the NPS are civil servants. On 31 December 2009 there were 4,375 directly employed civil servants in national and regional offices and the shared service centre. Newspaper Licensing Agency Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have paid to the Newspaper Licensing Agency [323966] in each year to date. Mr. Wills: The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the right to control the ways in which their material may be used. Under this Act, the Newspaper Licensing Agency provides businesses and other organisations with permission to share and copy newspaper content through the sale of a licence. The level of licence fee payable to the Newspapers Licensing Agency comprises a basic fee payable by all users and a variable element that depends on the size of the organisation, determined by the number of staff employed or by turnover, and the number of titles to which access is required. The Ministry of Justice is a major department of state that receives a high level of press coverage. It is essential that press coverage of the Department and the wider criminal justice arena is monitored and disseminated on a daily basis. The Department The central Communications directorate within the Ministry of Justices headquarters is responsible for most communications across the Ministry of Justice group, including its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
People trafficking 0 n/a
1,486
20,529,373
n/a = not applicable 1 This includes drug offences relating to importation and exportation, supply, production and other relevant drug offences. These figures have been taken from table 4.10 of Sentencing Statistics 2008. 2 Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking people Into the UK for the purpose of exploitation Trafficking people within the UK for the purpose of exploitation Trafficking people out of the UK Note: 1. 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. 2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe. 3. Sentencing data are usually baaed on the principal offence and the primary disposal for that offence. A confiscation order is an ancillary disposal usually given alongside the main sentence, these results show the number and amount for confiscation orders given as any one of four disposals recorded against a principal offence of trafficking.
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Number
Judicial communications are managed by a separate Judicial Communications Office (JCO). Expenditure with the Newspaper Licensing Agency since the Department was established in May 2007 by the central Communications directorate and JCO is as follows:
000 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 (to 28 February 2010) 23 84 128
All other offences All
115,636 116,210
These are a reworking of figures available at the following website:

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/probation quarterly.htm
Licences are paid in advance and adjusted in arrears where actual staff or turnover would have led to a different licence fee being due. The 2007-08 fee was based on the staffing levels within the smaller predecessor Department, the Department for Constitutional Affairs. From September 2009, the Department awarded a new contract for media cuts which included access to digital cuts for the first time. As a result of this, the Departments licence with the Newspaper Licensing Agency was extended to include digital licence fees. For 2009-10 these additional costs were 44,289.05 and covered the period from mid-September to the end of the financial year. The use of digital media allows far more staff to access information and helps reduce paper. Agencies The Ministry of Justice has four executive agencies: Her Majestys Courts Service (HMCS), the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian. Only HMCS and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have incurred expenditure with the Newspaper Licensing Agency.
HMCS 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 (to 28 February 2010) 6 6 2 000 OPG 2 2 2
Information on cannabis cultivation is not held separately; only offences involving driver and vehicle documentation are included. 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. Pay Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 40WS, on emoluments, when he made the statement on [323687] emoluments. Mr. Straw: No statement on emoluments has yet been made. Pleural Plaques Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the written ministerial statement of 25 February 2010, Official Report, columns 79-83WS, on pleural plaques, when he expects to announce the full details of the Pleural Plaques Former Claimants Payment Scheme; who will be eligible for such payments; how the scheme will be operated; on what date he expects the scheme to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [324846] Bridget Prentice: Detailed arrangements for the extrastatutory payment scheme on pleural plaques are in the process of being finalised and will be announced in due course. In the meantime, a helpline has been set up to provide information and advice for people inquiring as to whether they qualify for a payment under this scheme. The helpline number is 020 3334 3334. Prison Sentences Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are serving a sentence of less than (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) four years for (i) homicide, (ii) rape, (iii) attempted rape and (iv) a sexual [323061] offence involving children. Mr. Straw: The following table gives figures as at 30 June 2009, the latest date of publication for which these figures are available, showing the determinate sentence length bands requested for the total number of prisoners in all prison establishments in England and Wales serving sentences for (i) murder, conspiracy to murder, manslaughter and (ii) rape. Separate figures are not available for attempted rape.
Offenders: Sentencing Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pre-sentencing reports were requested in relation to offences of (a) false documentation, (b) assisting in the running of a brothel, (c) soliciting or loitering and (d) cannabis cultivation between 1 April [324636] 2009 and 31 January 2010. Claire Ward: Figures showing the numbers of presentence reports that were issued in the period between 1 April 2009 and 30 September 2009, the latest date for which figures have been published for the offences indicated, are as follows:
Number Forging vehicle or driving documents Keeping brothel Loitering/soliciting Procuration Soliciting woman from motor vehicle Supply Class B drug 49 13 7 14 1 490
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Number of prisoners serving less than four years for specific offences Conspire, aid, and incite to murder 0 0 3 Causing death by reckless driving 2 26 104 Gross indecency, indecent assault of a child 5 34 165
Sentence length Less than one year 1 to less than 2 years 2 to less than 4 years
Murder 0 0 0
Manslaughter 0 7 62
Rape 21 13 104
The table also shows number of prisoners serving determinate sentences for (iv) gross indecency with children. However, it is not possible to give a comprehensive total of sexual offence cases which involve offences against children, as other categories of offences do not define the age of the victim. To answer this part of the question comprehensively would involve a manual search of all the relevant prison records, at disproportionate cost. The courts must impose a mandatory life sentence on any individual convicted of murder. This is the only sentence available for such a conviction. 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. Prisoner Escapes Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford (a) escaped, (b) absconded and (c) failed to return in each month since 1 January 2007; what category of offences had been committed by each of those prisoners; what the term of custodial sentence was of each; on what date each (i) left and (ii) was returned to prison; and [324591] what sanction was imposed on each. Maria Eagle: The tables show the numbers of prisoners, by month and by index offence, who have absconded from, or failed to return to Ford prison between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2009. No prisoner has been classified as escaping from Ford over this time period. Prisoners who escape or fail to return from temporary release are usually re-captured quickly and returned to a closed prison. Currently 96 per cent. of all prisoners who abscond are returned to custody. Both types of unlawful absence from the prison are criminal offences and prisons, police and the Crown Prosecution Service work together to pursue such crimes through the courts where this is appropriate. Alternatively, the prisoner
may be dealt with by way of internal adjudication and may receive additional days in prison as a result of this. Details of the sanctions imposed are not held centrally and could only be obtained by identifying and contacting each closed prison where a former prisoner from Ford had been returned; this would incur disproportionate cost. While details of the terms of custodial sentence are held centrally this could only be provided by accessing each record manually which would incur disproportionate cost. Absconds and temporary release failures have been very successfully reduced year on year. Last year, to 31 March 2009, was the lowest level of absconds since central records began. The current year, to 31 March 2010, is forecast to produce an even lower level of absconding, both nationally across England and Wales, and at Ford. The following table shows the number of absconds from HMP Ford over the last 12 years. With one month remaining in the year, the position at Ford reflects the national picture and shows that this year is set to be the lowest level of absconds at the prison on record.
Number of absconds HMP Ford 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 (YTD to end February 2010) 50 38 68 57 57 91 142 119 94 63 48 53 27
Table 1a: Absconds from HMP Ford 2007 by month and by index offence 2007 Jan Affray Aggravated burglary Attempted robbery Breach of community service order Breach of suspended sentence Burglary Burglary of a dwelling place Burglary of non-dwelling place Common assault Conspiracy to import drugs Customs evasion (drugs related) Deception 1 Feb 1 1 Mar 1 1 1 Apr 1 1 1 2 1 1 May Jun 1 Jul 1 1 1 1 Aug 1 Sep Oct Nov 2 1 1 Dec
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Table 1a: Absconds from HMP Ford 2007 by month and by index offence 2007 Jan Driving while disqualified Illegal immigrant/detainee Import/export/drug Manslaughter Murder Other criminal offences Possession of an offensive weapon Possession of drugs with intent to supply Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life Reckless driving Robbery Supplying drugs Taking and driving away Theft Wounding with intent to inflict GBH Wounding(inflicting GBH) Feb Mar 1 1 2 1 Apr 1 1 May 1 Jun 1 Jul Aug 1 1 1 1 Sep 1 1 3 Oct 1 1 1 Nov 1 1 1 1 1 Dec 1 1
Table 1b: Absconds from HMP Ford 2008 by month and by index offence 2008 Jan Breach of bail Breach of suspended sentence Burglary Burglary of non-dwelling place Causing an explosion or placing explosive Common assault Deception Driving while disqualified Drunk Escape lawful custody Fraud GBH Inflict grievous bodily harm Libel Manslaughter Other burglary offences Possession drugs with intent Possession of drugs with intent to supply Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life Robbery Supplying drugs Taking and driving away Theft Trespass with intent 1 1 1 1 Feb 1 1 Mar 1 1 Apr 1 1 1 May Jun 3 1 1 2 2 1 Jul 1 1 1 Aug 1 1 1 1 1 2 Sep 1 1 1 1 1 Oct 3 2 1 Nov 3 1 1 Dec 1 1 1 1
Table 1c: Absconds from HMP Ford 2009 by month and by index offence 2009 Jan Aggravated burglary Burglary Burglary of a dwelling place Criminal damage Deception Fraud Going equipped for stealing Import/export/drug Inflict grievous bodily harm Murder Other driving offences Possession of an offensive weapon Possession of drugs with intent to supply 3 Feb 1 Mar 1 1 1 1 Apr 1 1 May Jun Jul 2 1 2 Aug 1 1 1 Sep 1 1 Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec 1 1
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Table 1c: Absconds from HMP Ford 2009 by month and by index offence 2009 Jan Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life Reckless driving Robbery Taking and driving away Theft Wounding with intent to inflict GBH 1 Feb 1 Mar Apr May 1 Jun Jul 1 2 1 Aug 1 Sep 1 Oct Nov Dec
Table 2a: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2007 by month and by index offence 2007 Jan Affray Aggravated burglary Attempted burglary Attempted robbery Burglary Common assault False instrument Handling stolen goods Murder Possession drug with intent Robbery Theft Possess firearm with intent 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 1 Apr 1 1 May Jun 1 1 1 Jul 1 1 Aug 1 1 1 Sep 1 1 1 Oct 1 Nov Dec 1 1 1
Table 2b: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2008 by month and by index offence 2008 Jan Affray Attempted burglary Blackmail Burglary Conspiracy burglary Conspiracy to supply drugs Death by dangerous driving Drunk GBH Import/export drugs Manslaughter Murder Robbery Supplying drugs Theft Wounding with intent 1 Feb Mar 1 1 1 1 Apr 1 1 May 1 1 Jun 1 1 1 1 Jul Aug 1 2 1 1 Sep 1 1 1 Oct 1 Nov 1 1 Dec 1
Table 2c: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2009 by month and by index offence 2009 Jan Attempted murder Burglary Drive while disqualified Handling stolen goods Import/export drugs Murder Robbery Taking and driving away 1 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May 1 1 Jun 1 Jul Aug Sep 1 Oct Nov 1 2 1 Dec 1
Note: These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. 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.
Reoffenders Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) adult and (b) juvenile offenders in the
first quarter of 2008 cohort committed a re-offence in each (i) index disposal and (ii) re-offence category.
[323698]
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Mr. Straw: Table 1 shows the number of adults who reoffended within one year, and the frequency of reoffending (per 100 offenders), broken down by index disposal for adults who commenced a court order or were discharged
from custody in the first quarter of 2008. Table 2 shows the number of reoffences committed within one year by the same cohort, broken down by offence type.
Table 1: Adults: Actual reoffending rates and frequency of reoffending per 100 offenders, by index disposal, 2008 cohort Number of offenders in the cohort Court Orders Community Orders Suspended Sentence Orders Custody Overall total 37,619 27,504 9,875 16,099 53,718 Number of offenders that reoffended 13,589 10,127 3,392 7,952 21,541 Proportion of offenders that reoffended 36.1 36.8 34.3 49.4 230.9 Number of offences committed per 100 offenders 123.2 128.5 108.5 40.1 155.5
Table 2: Adults: Number of reoffences by offence type, 2008 cohort Reoffence type Number of offences Violence (serious) Violence (non serious) Robbery Public order or riot Sexual Sexual (child) Soliciting or prostitution Domestic burglary Other burglary Theft Handling Fraud and forgery Absconding or bail offences Taking and driving away and related offences Theft from vehicles Other motoring offences Drink driving Criminal or malicious damage Drugs import/export/production/supply Drugs possession/small scale supply Other Number of reoffences 83,516 366 9,561 665 7,733 365 63 127 1,574 2,339 25,490 1,017 1,716 6,986 1,235 1,229 8,198 1,194 4,214 646 4,719 4,079
Table 3 shows the number of juveniles who reoffended within one year, and the frequency of reoffending (per 100 offenders), broken down by index disposal for juveniles released from custody or commencing a noncustodial court disposal or given an out-of-court disposal
in the first quarter of 2008. Table 4 shows the number of reoffences committed within one year by the same cohort, broken down by offence type.
Table 3: Juveniles: Actual reoffending rates and frequency of reoffending per 100 offenders, by index disposal, 2008 cohort Number of offenders in the cohort Out-of-court disposal 26,962 Number of offenders that reoffended 6,787 Proportion of offenders that reoffended 25.2 Number of offences committed per 100 offenders 55.5
First-tier penalty Discharge Fine Referral Order Reparation Order
9,951 2,008 1,089 5,915 939
4,534 1,052 616 2,249 617
45.6 52.4 56.6 38.0 65.7
141.8 183.6 190.5 102.0 246.5
Community penalty Attendance Centre Order Supervision Order Action Plan Order Community Rehabilitation Order
6,359 634 2,721 1,031 688
4,296 399 1,931 658 470
67.6 62.9 71.0 63.8 68.3
265.9 208.7 294.5 224.2 267.2
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Table 3: Juveniles: Actual reoffending rates and frequency of reoffending per 100 offenders, by index disposal, 2008 cohort Number of offenders in the cohort Community Punishment Order Curfew Order Unknown Custody Other disposal Total 346 610 329 816 749 44,837 Number of offenders that reoffended 220 421 197 606 490 16,713 Proportion of offenders that reoffended 63.6 69.0 59.9 74.3 65.4 37.3 Number of offences committed per 100 offenders 238.2 297.0 239.5 342.5 308.9 113.9
Table 4: Juveniles: Number of reoffences by offence type, 2008 cohort Reoffence type Number of reoffences Violence (serious) Violence (non serious) Robbery Public order or riot Sexual Sexual (child) Soliciting or prostitution Domestic burglary Other burglary Theft Handling Fraud and forgery Absconding or bail offences Taking and driving away and related offences Theft from vehicles Other motoring offences Drink driving Criminal or malicious damage Drugs import/export/production/supply Drugs possession/small scale supply Other Number of reoffences 51,084 281 10,117 1,267 5,609 80 52 0 1,745 1,370 7,558 748 627 1,786 1,571 645 4,210 281 6,775 250 3,063 3,049
The definition of a reoffence differs between adults and juveniles. For adults, any offence within a year of release from custody or commencement of a court order, which is proven by court conviction within 18 months of release, is counted as a reoffence. For juveniles released from custody or commencing a non-custodial court disposal or given an out-of-court, an offence proven by court conviction or a caution within the same time period is counted as a reoffence. For this reasons the adult and juvenile reoffending rates are not directly comparable. Adult and juvenile reoffending data for the 2008 cohort were published on 18 March 2010, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Alternatively, further information on adult reoffending is available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingof adults.htm
in each young offender institution in each year since 2002; and how many such offenders had access to early intervention and treatment services in each such year.
[323891]
Further information on juvenile reoffending is available at:

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffending juveniles.htm
Young Offenders: Drugs Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders aged (a) 12, (b) 13, (c) 14, (d) 15, (e) 16, (f) 17, (g) 18 and (h) 19 years old have tested positive in screening for substance misuse
Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply. The counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare service (CARATs) is the key non-clinical gateway drug treatment service in prisons for prisoners aged over 18. Young peoples substance misuse services (YPSMS) provides a similar service for all young people (aged 15-18) in custody. The following tables shows the number of initial assessments carried out by CARATs and YPSMS in each young offender institution (YOI) for the full financial years since 2002-03 (YPSMS data are only available from 2005-06). This gives an indication of the number of adults and young people engaged with drug treatment services in YOIs, although the level of engagement will vary according to individuals needs. It is not possible to break down these figures by age. Figures have been drawn from National Offender Management Service 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. The data are not subject to audit.
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2004-05
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Function1 Male Closed YOI
Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford Castington Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Onley Portland Reading Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 132 655 394 213 1,688 745 171 400 644 267 345 673 152
YPSMS assessments
Function1
Establishment name Brinsford Castington Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 766 760 225 1,492 839 239 568 109 224 292 195 747 91
YPSMS assessments
Male Juvenile Male Juvenile Ashfield Huntercombe Werrington Wetherby 201 176 417
Ashfield Huntercombe Warren Hill Werrington Wetherby
519 473 452 197 1,101
Male Open YOI
Hatfield Thorn Cross 2003-04
313 169
Male Open YOI
Thorn Cross 2005-06
303
Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford Castington Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Onley Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 95 594 413 307 1,537 875 284 407 171 860 201 324 156 657 100
YPSMS assessments
Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford Castington Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 117 623 430 245 1,031 915 130 376 251 183 454 170 437 214
YPSMS assessments 766 440 1,160 602 816 749
Male Juvenile
161
737 705 640 381 1,148
Male Juvenile
416 192 333 165 279
Male Open YOI
Thorn Cross 2006-07
247
15
Male Open YOI
Thorn Cross 2004-05
195
Function1
Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford
CARATs assessments2 101 675 447
YPSMS assessments 651 511
Establishment name Aylesbury
CARATs assessments2 103
YPSMS assessments
Male Closed YOI
Castington
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Function1
Establishment name Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 277 1,102 1,009 167 377 248 221 451 134 397 152
YPSMS assessments 1,518 487 803 762
Function1
Establishment name Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall
CARATs assessments2 1,054 1,001 129 478 239 297 439 239 476 140
YPSMS assessments 1,322 587 458 703
Male Juvenile Male Juvenile Ashfield Huntercombe Warren Hill Werrington Wetherby 680 501 604 246 1,039 Male Open YOI Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 2007-08 Function1 Male Closed YOI Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford Castington Deerbolt Feltham Glen Parva Hindley Lancaster Farms Northallerton Portland Reading Rochester Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall CARATs assessments2 73 757 470 359 1,015 1,001 191 496 202 206 419 156 427 152 YPSMS assessments 548 454 1,778 545 632 679 102 64
1
Ashfield Cookham Wood Huntercombe Warren Hill Werrington Wetherby
177 536 569 350 1,101
Thorn Cross
139
57
Data have only been drawn from establishments with a main function as a young offender institution or juvenile establishment. 2 Some of those engaging with CARATs in YOIs will be over the age of 19.
HOME DEPARTMENT 101 Calls: Finance Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding his Department will provide for the national non-emergency number in [324778] the next three years. Mr. Hanson: In March 2010, as part of the Safe and Confident Neighbourhoods Strategy, the Government announced their intention to work with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities to develop the 101 number as a national non-emergency number for contacting the police. This will enable the public to report non-emergency crime and antisocial behaviour concerns and contact their local police force, using the same three-digit telephone number, wherever they live in England and Wales. We intend a national police non-emergency number to be in place by March 2012, subject to further work on the procurement of a suitable infrastructure which provides value for money for the police service, Government and the public. The Home Office is currently committed to funding the existing contract for the 101 number until March 2011. In 2010-11, this will be approximately 950,000. Any future funding will be subject to the next comprehensive spending review. Animal Experiments Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budgetary provision his Department has made in 2010-11 for the conducting, directly or otherwise, of scientific procedures on animals pursuant to his Departments objectives; and how much [323212] was spent on this in 2009-10.
Male Juvenile
Ashfield Cookham Wood Huntercombe Warren Hill Werrington Wetherby
26
30 540 539 181 1,129
Male Open YOI
Thorn Cross 2008-09
14
Establishment name Aylesbury Brinsford Castington Deerbolt
CARATs assessments2 125 659 467 323
YPSMS assessments 459 380
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Meg Hillier: The Home Office administers a crossGovernment account to fund counter-terrorism research. None of that money is ring-fenced for animal research; and no details are held of spending on animal research in 2009-10, or planned spending for this purpose in 2010-11. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals of each species were used in scientific procedures (a) commissioned directly by his Department and (b) otherwise undertaken pursuant to decisions taken by his Department in the most recent year for which figures [323214] are available. Meg Hillier: In 2009, a total of 170 animals were used in scientific procedures commissioned directly or otherwise by the Home Office, comprising 120 mice, 38 guinea pigs and 12 mini pigs. Asylum Mr. Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of asylum cases arising since 2007 have been determined by his Department within six months in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 [322835] and (c) 2009. Mr. Woolas: Information on asylum cases in which the UK Border Agency has made an initial decision within six months which excludes the appeal rights exhausted outcomes, is set out in the following table; the figures do not include dependents.
Initial decisions within six months (grants or refusals) 18,918 19,624 20,326 Percentage of applications with initial decision within six months 81 76 84
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request Cable & Wireless to use the Internet Watch Foundation list to block access to known child abuse websites from computers on departmental networks. [324099] Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 25 March 2010]: We have been considering with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) the conditions under which contracts for internet services to Government or Government agencies are offered. It is now a requirement that all suppliers block access to those sites specified on the IWFs list. This will apply to all new contracts offered for supply of these services, and we would strongly urge all current suppliers to ensure that they take the IWF list. Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise Ministerial colleagues on steps to take to ensure that access to known child abuse sites is not possible from computers [324100] on departmental networks. Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The Government take the prevention of access to such images very seriously. We believe that Government should take all effective measures, such as the use of criteria in contracts, to ensure that Departments only buy internet services from suppliers that take the Internet Watch Foundation list. The changes to the OGC conditions to ensure that suppliers do this, as set out in their recent Procurement Policy Note, should be used by Departments to help them select their suppliers. Departmental Public Expenditure Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what budgets proceeds of crime recovered as a result of Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions are allocated to (a) local Crime Reduction Partnership budgets, (b) other local budgets [324040] and (c) central government budgets. Mr. Alan Campbell: The Crown Prosecution Service receives 18.75 per cent of the proceeds of crime recovered as a result of its prosecutions. In 2008-09 it received 10.6 million and this has been used to fund training of their lawyers, monitoring the work of their local areas and in supporting their asset recovery function. Full year figures for 2009-10 are not yet available. In 2009-10, the Crown Prosecution Service contributed 375,000 of recovered proceeds to the Community Cashback Scheme. This was a new scheme in England and Wales which gives local people a say in how 4 million of recovered criminal assets should be spent in their communities. The Local Criminal Justice Boards considered applications for funding for community projects up to an overall maximum of 95,000 in their area. 269 projects were funded. Detention Centres: Children Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for his Departments policies on the detention of children of the recent decision in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of [324695] Muskhadzhiyeva.
Asylum applications received 2007 2008 2009 23,430 25,930 24,250
The initial decisions within six months and the percentage of applications with initial decision within six months are internal management information and as such have not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. These data are provisional and subject to change. The Home Office publishes statistics on immigration and asylum, including numbers of asylum applications, and initial asylum decisions, on a quarterly and annual basis. These publications are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Offices Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Border Agency War Crimes Unit Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to answer Question (a) 322689, (b) 322690 and (c) 322691 on the UK Border Agency war crimes unit, tabled on 12 March [324893] 2010. Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave on 24 March 2010, Official Report, columns 350-51W.
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Mr. Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 17 March 2010, Official Report, column 955W. Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the hunger strike by detainees at Dungavel immigration removal centre; and if he will [323502] make a statement; (2) how many cases of hunger strike have occurred at immigration removal centres in each of the last two [323504] years. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 22 March 2010]: There has not been a hunger strike at Dungavel immigration removal centre (IRC). I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent to Members of this House by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office (Meg Hillier) on 24 February 2010, addressing the inaccurate reporting in the media of a hunger strike at Yarls Wood IRC; and to my own comments during Home Office questions in the House on 22 March 2010. Those detainees said to be on hunger strike at Yarls Wood were refusing meals from the centres canteen, but they were buying food from the centres shop and vending machines and having food delivered by visitors. They were all also drinking. There is a well-publicised procedure in every immigration removal centre to enable detainees to complain about any aspect of their detention or care within the centre. There were no records of complaints received from any of the women involved at the start of the protest. Concerns which have since been raised are being addressed. We only record information on detainees who have missed four consecutive meals, excluding breakfast. Such detainees miss meals for a number of reasons, including fasting due to their religious faith. We do not record the number who state they are refusing food in protest at a particular issue. All those who miss meals are monitored closely by the centre, including healthcare, where they will receive advice on diet and welfare issues. The UK Border Agency and the centre management engage closely with such detainees to understand the reason for them missing meals and to seek to resolve any underlying problems. Electronic Warfare Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the capability of the UK to repair and recover from damage inflicted on critical infrastructure by an electromagnetic pulse [323995] attack. Mr. Hanson: The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure provides protective security advice to operators of critical national infrastructure which addresses the threats they face and benefits from extensive research programmes which ensure that the advice given is up-to-
date. It is not in the interests of national security to provide information about the nature or extent of research programmes that address national security threats. Entry Clearances Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each country of origin were granted an entry visa on their (a) first, (b) second and (c) third attempt in the last 12 months; and how many from each such country were declined a visa. [323902] Mr. Woolas: We are unable to ascertain from central records whether applicants issued with visas in any particular period had previously been refused a visa. This information could only be obtained by checking individual records at disproportionate cost. Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the sterling equivalent is of the charge made for a visa application made at each overseas post where visa applications are accepted [323904] from nationals of that country. Mr. Woolas: UK visa application fees in sterling are published on our website:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
The consular rate of exchange is used to calculate the equivalent fees in local currency and which is advertised locally. The consular rate is based on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office corporate rate of exchange, which is set at the start of each month and should be within 3 per cent. of the commercial rate of exchange. Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information as closely related to Manchester Central constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency of the policies of his Department since 1997. [321065] Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 8 March 2010]: Manchester Central comes within the Manchester Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Manchester CSP. In terms of police recorded crime in the Manchester CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 18 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the persondown 2 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year) Sexual offencesdown 10 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year) Robberydown 43 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year) Burglarydown 29 per cent. (up 5 per cent. in last year) Offences against vehiclesdown 35 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year) Other theft offencesdown 12 per cent. (up 2 per cent. in last year) Criminal damagedown 20 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year)
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Drug offencesup 151 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Data prior to 2002-03 is not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level is available prior to 1998-99. Manchester CSP is covered by Metropolitan, North Manchester, South Manchester and Trafford basic command units, which had a total of 2,167 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 74 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 at BCU level are not available. There were 218 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). These are now referred to as Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). The Manchester CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues. Neighbourhood Police Teams are in place and the Manchester Central constituency is served by a number of such teams from the Greater Manchester polices NorthManchesterandMetropolitanDivisions.Neighbourhood policing is a crucial partnership with the public and is helping to reduce crime and enhance community confidence in the police. The visible policing presence is augmented by information on neighbourhood policing in each area which is available on the internet. None of this was in place in 1997. All CSPs, including Manchester, are putting in place minimum standards to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB). By tackling ASB and providing support for victims, these will help to reduce local perceptions of ASB and improve public confidence. This was not in place in 1997. In addition, before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour whereas there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and Designated Public Places Orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Manchester is in the top 50 national priority areas for alcohol-related harm. The effects of the Departments policies on crime, antisocial behaviour, policing, and night time economy management have been consistently positive and instrumental in supporting the city centres development as a safer, more popular and vibrant place to visit. Detailed and comprehensive analysis is being used by Manchester, along with specific action plans to ensure reductions in serious violent crime. The Manchester Violent Gang Board has recently been commended for their approach to the issues within Manchester and have been given a Green Flag by the Audit commission for their work in relation to Guns and Gangs. Gun crime is down significantlyGreater Manchester Polices Xcalibre Operations have had notable success in targeting the gang culture and securing convictions against gang leaders and members. Firearms discharges have reduced in Manchester over the last three years. This is helping to improve safety in Manchester Central.
Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing domestic violence has been driven through the Home Office-led Cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan. This includes the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme (Manchester gained accreditation in 2008). It also includes Multi-Agency RiskAssessmentConferences(MARACs),theGovernments approach to identified high risk victims of domestic violence. Manchester is developing three MARACs covering all three Police Divisions. Victims of domestic violence are supported by Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs)trained specialists who provide a service to victims who are at high risk of harm which have been shown to decrease victimisation. Manchester now has 10 IDVAs. Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing sexual violence has been driven through the delivery of the Home Office-led Cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse which aims to increase access to health and support services for victims; improve the response of the criminal justice system for victims, and to prevent sexual violence in the first place. This has led to expanded services such as Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) to improve victim care. Home Office has supported the continued development of St. Marys SARC in Manchester and the development of an ISVA service at the centre. Manchester is a recipient of Youth Crime Action Plan funding and has rolled out a programme of initiatives designed to tackle Youth Crime. Manchester also receives funding from the Tackling Knives Action Programme and has engaged in a number of enforcement and educational activities to tackle and deter young people from involvement in all forms of serious youth violence. These include Safer Schools Partnerships. The drug treatment system in Manchester has developed by means of joint planning and commissioning of services over many years. The introduction of national drug strategy and the establishment of pooled treatment budget arrangements in 2001-02 have done much to formalise and enhance partnership working. This has resulted in the development of an integrated treatment system. Manchester has an effective Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP). Manchester is achieving significant reductions in acquisitive crime, but recognises that there are still challenges, particularly in tackling issues such as domestic burglary and robbery. Robust plans are in place to tackle these. There is a real focus on student safety and Manchester has developed a Student Safety Business Model. Manchester is a Vigilance area and Safer Homes Fund area which are Home Office programmes aimed at tackling acquisitive crime, particularly burglary and robbery. Greater Manchester Polices Operation Storm has had real success in recent reductions in domestic burglary in particular. From 1 April 2010, CSPs are required to formulate and implement a strategy to reduce re-offending. One of Manchesters priorities includes reducing the offending of prolific and priority offenders and the Partnership is currently exceeding the targets set in the Local Area Agreement. Manchester will shortly introduce Integrated Offender Management (IOM) based on the Greater Manchester Spotlight model and will have three co-located IOM Teams covering the City. This will manage the
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most serious offenders including those responsible for acquisitive crime, and violent and domestic violence offences. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./
Grimbsy Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Great Grimsby constituency, the effects of his Departments [320180] policies on that constituency since 1997. Mr. Alan Campbell: Great Grimsby comes within the North East Lincolnshire community safety partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The following statistical information therefore relates to the North East Lincolnshire CSP area. In terms of police recorded crime in the North East Lincolnshire CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 26 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the personup 16 per cent. (down 1 per cent. in last year) Sexual offencesdown 30 per cent. (up 8 per cent. in last year) Robberydown 33 per cent. (down 17 per cent. in last year) Burglarydown 38 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year) Offences against vehiclesdown 62 per cent. (down 41 per cent. in last year) Other theft offencesdown 12 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) Criminal damagedown 17 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year) Drug offencesup 16 per cent. (down 26 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
initiatives including the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund and the Basic Command Unit Fund. It has also benefited from other targeted Home Office funding streams which support work on drugs and alcohol harm reduction, domestic abuse, neighbourhood crime and justice, and antisocial behaviour. The Home Office Partnership Support programme helped review CSP delivery structures and the future strategic development of the districts CCTV system. North East Lincolnshire is currently in receipt of funding from the Vigilance programme which is helping to accelerate the development and implementation of integrated offender management (IOM). This is seen as the next step in achieving further sustainable reductions in crime across the district. A multi-agency event on 17 March 2010 marked the formal launch of IOM in North East Lincolnshire. Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. North East Lincolnshires CSP and wider partnership approach has been recognised nationally as effective practice. For example, the delivery of its Family Intervention programme, which joins-up the resources of several government departments, and its work on reducing antisocial behaviour and providing visible neighbourhood justice. In 2009, Safer and Stronger Communities North East Lincolnshire won the prestigious Home Office Tilley Award for its Sport Lincs initiative. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/
Hackney Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since [318373] 1997. Mr. Alan Campbell: Hackney North and Stoke Newington comes within the Hackney community safety partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The statistical information therefore relates to the Hackney CSP. In terms of police recorded crime in the Hackney CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 24 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the person: down 5 per cent. (down 8 per cent. in last year) Sexual offences: up 2 per cent. (up 13 per cent. in last year) Robbery: 55 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year) Burglary: down 43 per cent. (down 1 per cent. in last year) Offences against vehicles: down 50 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year) Other theft offences: down 25 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year)
Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99. North East Lincolnshire basic command unit had 263 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 115 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for North East Lincolnshire BCU are not available. There were 49 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP)now commonly known as a CSP (community safety partnership). The CSP (Safer Communities North East Lincolnshire) has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues. The CSP paved the way for a number of community safety initiatives which have benefited Great Grimsby. North East Lincolnshire has received funding under the Home Office Crime Reduction programme and successor
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Criminal damage: down 49 per cent. (down 21 per cent. in last year) Drug offences: up 272 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Data prior to 2002-03 is not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level is available prior to 1998-99. Hackney basic command unit had 757 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by 84 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Hackney BCU are not available. There were 100 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997. Funding The borough is funded well through central streams and has acquired a large block of funding (600,000) from the area-based grant beyond the element usually provided via HO crime allocations. Hackney is in the top 50 national Alcohol Strategy Delivery Programmes and has received 25,000 for targeted enforcement; multi-agency NTE work; enforcement training; guidance on the use of tools. In 2009-10, Hackney is in receipt of 54,000 from CLG to tackle ASB plus a further 12,000 to train ASB Resident Champions and undertake a resident-led ASB project. The borough also gets 70,000 from Home Office as one of the countrys Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer areas, substantial monies as part of DCSFs Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) areas and further small pots of funding from Home Office for ASB victims and witness support, and for local ASB surveys. Hackney Safer Greener Partnership The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnershipCDRP (now called CSPs). The partnership has brought new ways of working in a cross-cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues. Priority issues for the borough are:
Serious violence Youth violence Community engagement and perceptions
The assessment also found Hackney tackles weapon and gang crime through a variety of approaches that aim to divert and motivate young people away from crime through community payback schemes; sport and education, Friday and Saturday evening youth provision, parenting programmes and finding alternatives to school exclusions. Drug-related offending To tackle drug-related crime a dedicated drugs squad has been set up. This has resulted in significant reductions in drug-related crime. Other initiatives include the Diamond project aimed at reducing reoffending and a dedicated police officer working with Mind, a mental health charity, to work with and support those who have mental health issues and commit crime. As a result of these projects, drug misuse has fallen at a faster rate than other areas of London. Hackney is funded by the HO as an intensive Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) area enabling it to tackle drug-related offending through a range of intensive DIP applications including drug-testing on arrest and restriction on bail provisions allowing more offenders to be targeted, steered into treatment and out of a life of crime. Hackneys DIP budget for 2009-10 is 1,536,227and for 2010-11 is 1,471,088 (4 per cent. reduction). The operation of DIP in Hackney in 2008-09 saw over 2,800 arrestees tested (final figures for 2009-10 are not yet available). 178 were referred into and started structured treatment from DIPwork is being done to improve this referral route into treatment. Violent crime Hackney saw a 20 per cent. reduction in grievous bodily harm incidents, 50 per cent. reduction in the number of murders and an overall reduction of 3.4 per cent. in rape allegations during 2006-07 in comparison with 2003-04. Antisocial behaviour and neighbourhood policing Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 37.6 per cent. of residents perceive ASB to be a problem (30th out of the 33 London local authorities). The borough is particularly worse than average for noisy neighbours/loud parties, rubbish and litter lying around and people using or dealing drugs. 25.3 per cent. of residents agree that the police and local services are successfully dealing with crime and ASB in their area. This is below the London average (28.2 per cent.). Hackney prioritised NI 17 (perceptions of ASB) (and NI 195street cleanliness) in its local area agreement. Hackney has made ASB a priority within the borough and has regular meetings of a forum linked to the LSP. It is recognised to be improving on local responses to ASB. Youth crime
Total funding received from the YJB for 2009-10: 934,876.86 Total budget for 2009-10: 4,168,422
The Area Assessment published in October 2009 found local partners approach to tackling crime in Hackney is strong and is delivering good results. Hackney is effectively sustaining the significant longer term reductions already achieved. Incidents of knife and gun-related crime, as well as antisocial behaviour, have also decreased. It found local partners are using a number of ways to tackle crime. Public services in Hackney have used safer neighbourhood offices to collocate staff who focus on enforcement activity and to tackle drug-related crime, a dedicated drugs squad has been set up. Drug misuse has fallen at a faster rate than other areas of London. Antisocial behaviour and associated youth crime are being effectively tackled. Youth crime has decreased across the borough and concerns about antisocial behaviour have also decreased. Overall, children and young peoples safety is promoted well in Hackney.
Hackney is a pioneering borough and committed to cracking down on youth crime. There are many schemes aimed at young people including after school activities;
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street-based youth workers and schemes such as Operation Staysafe aimed at identifying children at risk in the late hours. The rate of reoffending by young people in Hackney is comparable with similar areas. There are priorities within the Children and Young Peoples Plan 2008-11 to reduce offending and reoffending among young people and to offer them more and better activities. Two thirds of young people participate in positive activities outside of the school day. The youth offending team works well and there has been increased investment in Hackneys youth services. The proportion of young people sentenced to custody increased in 2008-09 and is higher than the national average, but in line with similar areas. There is an over-representation of black young people in the youth justice system but this is showing a downward trend. Hackneys new youth crime reduction strategy has been informed by a range of evaluations, studies and data including a gap analysis of provision for young black people. More young offenders are in education, employment and training than before and the proportion living in suitable accommodation has also improved. Data from Hackney (Hackney Youth Crime Strategy 2009) shows that just over 200 Hackney residents under 19 years have been victims of serious violence. Hackney partners are seeking new ways of encouraging and supporting young victims and witnesses to enable them to feel safe in reporting crime and giving court evidence. They are part of the London Integrated Offender Management Programme and have adopted the principles of intense monitoring of offenders balanced with support to rehabilitate for serious youth violence. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children under the provisions of the 1989 and 2004 Children Acts. Human Trafficking: Victims Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been referred through the National Referral Mechanism since 1 April 2009; and how many of them were conclusively identified as trafficked victims. [325034] Mr. Woolas: Between 1 April 2009 and 28 February 2010 there have been 626 referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism and 193 conclusive grounds decisions of which 105 were positive conclusive grounds decisions. Identity Cards Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the Identity Commissioner has to investigate individual complaints from members of the public on identity cards; and [324205] what sanctions the Commissioner has. Meg Hillier: The role of the independent Identity Commissioner, as set out in the Identity Cards Act 2006, is to oversee the areas of the National Identity Service (NIS) set out in the Act, helping ensure the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) meets its statutory commitments. The key areas of focus are:
the arrangements for securing the confidentiality and integrity of the information recorded on the National Identity Register; the way IPS deals with complaints under the NIS; the way identity cards are used.
Human Trafficking Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the (a) 94 individuals accommodated by a local authority whilst awaiting their reasonable grounds decision and (b) 61 individuals accommodated by a local authority for at least part of their 45 day reflection period between 1 April 2009 and [324639] 31 December 2009 were adults. Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply. Records as at 31 December 2009 show that between 1 April and 31 December 2009:
(a) three adults referred to the National Referral Mechanism identification process for victims of human trafficking were accommodated by local authorities while awaiting their reasonable grounds decision. (b) no adults were accommodated by local authorities during their reflection periods.
We have invested 3.9 million over the current and next financial year into the provision of specialist accommodation and support for adult victims of human trafficking. Responsibility for the care, protection and accommodation of child trafficking victims falls within the designated responsibilities of local authorities for
The Identity Commissioner and his office are open to receiving queries and are keen to hear comments from the public which will feed into the commissioners report. The commissioner will also ensure that his recommendations and concerns influence IPSs future policy and processes. It is not part of the commissioners role to respond to individual queries or complaints as there is already an established IPS complaints process. The Act does not give the Identity Commissioner the power to impose sanctions. If the Identity Commissioner finds a material breach of the Data Protection Act he will report it to the Information Commissioner, as well as the Home Office. The Information Commissioners Office does have the power to issue sanctions. Section 23 of the Act does, however, provide for the Identity Commissioner to report annually to the Home Secretary about the carrying out of his functions. In addition, the Identity Commissioner can make a report at any other time, to the Secretary of State, on matters relating to the carrying out of his functions as he sees fit. The Home Secretary lays the reports he receives, from the Identity Commissioner under this section of the Act, before Parliament. The Identity Commissioners First Annual Report was laid before Parliament on 25 February 2010. This report covers the Identity Commissioners findings from his first three months in office and his future plans for 2010. Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Identity Commissioner has been informed of the results of past and current Office of Government Commerce Gateway reviews of the National Identity Card and National Identity [324206] Register schemes.
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Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Service have provided all the information requested by the Identity Commissioner since his appointment in October 2009, including providing copies of Office of the Government Commerce Gateway reviews. In his first annual report, laid before this house on 25 February 2010, the Identity Commissioner provided details of the work he has undertaken since his appointment. He also sets out his plan of work for 2010. Illegal Immigrants Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many raids the UK Border Agency has conducted of hereditaments within the Government Secure Zone within the last 24 months; in what locations; how many illegal immigrants have been [324204] identified; and at what premises. Mr. Woolas: The UK Border Agency is not able to identify which properties within the Government Secure Zone are recognised as hereditaments as this is outside the scope of the UK Border Agencys business remit. However the number of enforcement visits carried out in the London SW1 postcode area in the last 24 months was 62. The number of immigration offenders encountered on these enforcement visits was 49. The UK Border Agency does not divulge personal names or addresses for reasons of confidentiality. These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change. Immigration: Turkey Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of Turkish citizens who have entered the UK under the terms of the Ankara Agreement; and if he [322863] will make a statement. Mr. Woolas: The number of Turkish nationals who have been granted entry clearance to the UK under the Turkish European Community Association Agreement, also known as the Ankara Agreement, in each year since 2004 is shown in the following table. The number of entry clearance applications received in each of these years is also shown. Reliable information for previous years is not held. We do not keep a separate record of people who have actually been admitted under the agreement.
Turkish ECAAApplications for entry clearance Applications received Visas issued 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 (JanuaryFebruary) 1 3 3 7 23 54 41 0 1 0 3 2 10 0
These data are unpublished and should be treated as provisional. Nottinghamshire Police Authority Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of Nottinghamshire police authority and Nottinghamshire police force to discuss (a) their recently published capability study and (b) their future strategy; and if he [324276] will make a statement. Mr. Hanson: The Home Secretary has not met representatives of Nottinghamshire police authority or Nottinghamshire police force since the publication of the Capability Review in March 2010. I met with representatives from the police authority on 4 March 2010. The Home Office, ACPO, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Association of Police Authorities are offering full support to the authority and force as they strive to meet the recommendations in the report. Support is provided in line with the process set out in the policing performance narrative (The New Performance Landscape for Crime and Policing) published in summer 2009. Police: Complaints James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) Essex Police and (ii) others on the death of Lee Balkwell at Baldwins Farm, Upminster on 18 July 2002; and if he will seek an explanation from Essex Police on why it has not implemented in full the recommendations of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in relation [324092] to the investigation of the case. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The only contacts which my officials have had with Essex police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in this case have been to obtain information in preparing responses to correspondence on this tragic case received from the hon. Member. It is for individual police forces to decide how to respond to IPCC recommendations following investigations and Home Office Ministers have no power to intervene in those decisions. I understand that the IPCC recommended that Essex police appoint an external force to conduct an independent reinvestigation into Lee Balkwells death. Essex police decided to appoint an external force to review the Essex police investigations to date. West midlands police is conducting that internal review, which is continuing. Police: Manpower Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers there were in each year since 1997 and (b) police community support officers there were in each year since 2002 in [324875] Greater Manchester Police.
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Mr. Hanson: The available data can be seen in the following tables. The first police community support officers started work in September 2002, following legislation which was introduced as part of the Police Reform Act 2002. Therefore, data on police community support officers are not available prior to 31 March 2003. This and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much capital funding has been allocated to the Sussex Police in each year since 2000.
[324138]
Mr. Hanson: The information available can be found in the following table:
Capital funding allocated to Sussex police million 2000-01 2001-02 2002-031 2003-041 2004-052 2005-063 2006-073 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 1 Including Premises Improvement Fund. 2 Including Frontline Technology. 3 Including Air Support. 1.732 2.591 3.529 3.278 3.211 4.183 4.388 4.354 4.354 4.354 4.354
and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
Police officer strength in Greater Manchester police force, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2009, and September 2009, full-time equivalent1 Number 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 20032 20042 20052 2006
2
6,922 6,949 6,810 6,795 6,909 7,217 7,343 8,042 8,041 7,959 7,887 7,931 8,124 8,148
Serious Organised Crime Agency: Databases Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have access to the Serious Organised Crime Agencys ELMER database; and what (a) personal and (b) property data [323964] are held on the ELMER database. Mr. Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency has partnership agreements in place with three local authorities allowing accredited financial investigators access to ELMER through terminals housed in local police units. These are the London borough of Tower Hamlets Trading Standards Service and London Illegal Money Lending Team, Neath Port Talbot county borough councils Consumer Fraud Team, and Trading Standards within Glasgow city council. The Elmer database only holds personal or property data that have been submitted to SOCA in Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) by institutions or individuals fulfilling their obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002). Stroud Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Stroud constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies and actions since 2000. [321209] Mr. Alan Campbell: Stroud comes within the Stroud Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Stroud CSP. In terms of police recorded crime in the Stroud CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 14 per cent. More specifically:
20072 20082 2009

2
September 20092
1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. All officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures). 2 Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/ paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the numbers of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The data from 2003 onwards used here are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison.
PCSO strength in Greater Manchester police force, as at 31 March, 2002 to 2009, full-time equivalent1 Number 2002 n/a 2003 160 2004 173 2005 269 2006 251 2007 763 2008 773 2009 782 September 2009 811 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent include those on career breaks or maternity/ paternity leave. 2. Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03.
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Violence against the personup 16 per cent. (down 7 per cent. in last year) Sexual offencesup 29 per cent. (up 19 per cent. in last year) Robberydown 23 per cent. (up 8 per cent. in last year) Burglarydown 28 per cent. (down 3 per cent. in last year) Offences against vehiclesdown 31 per cent. (up 7 per cent. in last year) Other theft offencesdown 30 per cent. (down 3 per cent. in last year) Criminal damageup 5 per cent. (down 12 per cent. in last year) Drug offencesup 32 per cent. (up 50 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
TREASURY Banks: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) business and (b) personal customers in York with (i) bank accounts, (ii) mortgages and (iii) other investments with each financial institution in receipt of financial support from the [324224] public purse. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Neither HM Treasury nor UK financial investments collect or hold such information. Council Tax: Valuation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 11 December 2003, paragraph 2, what tests took place in Guildford; in respect of data relating to which bodies the tests were undertaken; what technologies were tested; whether Guildford Borough Council was involved in the tests; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the reports of the [324165] tests. Ian Pearson: The proposed testing to which reference was made in the minutes was not undertaken. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 18 January 2005, paragraph 8, what the estimated level of imputation of data in the 2007 council tax revaluation was in (a) absolute and (b) percentage terms. [324170] Ian Pearson: There was no council tax revaluation in 2007 and no such estimate was made. Departmental Coordination Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on identifying ways in which HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and other Government departments can better maintain a core database of business identities referred to in the report on service transformation by Sir David Varney. [313939] Mr. Timms: The initial focus for business taken from Sir David Varneys report on service transformation was to bring together in one place on the
www.businesslink.gov.uk
Data prior to 2002-03 is not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level is available prior to 1998-99. Cotswold and Stroud Basic Command Unit had 258 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by one since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Cotswold and Stroud BCU are not available. There were 43 Police Community Support Officers as at 30 March 2009, whilst there were none in existence in 1997. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). From March 2010, CDRPs are referred to as Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). The CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross-cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues. Strouds Safer Community Team is one of five Inspector Neighbourhood Areas in the Cotswolds and Stroud Police Division. There are three police divisions within Gloucestershire Constabulary. Strouds Community Safety Partnership, the statutory multi-agency partnership with responsibility for community safety, is currently looking to move to one partnership with Cotswolds District Partnership. Geographical coverage of the new partnership will therefore coincide with the police division of Cotswolds and Stroud. Information on crime and antisocial behaviour in Cotswolds and Stroud is available on the Crimemapper website at:
http://maps.police.uk/
Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. On 2 December 2009, the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) announced additional funding to develop neighbourhood partnership work to improve public confidence in dealing with issues that matter most in neighbourhoods. This Accelerated Neighbourhood Partnership Fund was targeted at those areas with significantly lower confidence than most similar areas. Stroud was given 41,700 from this fund.
website all the information and transactions businesses need in dealing with central Government. That work is due to complete by March 2011. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is now developing a common business identifier for use within the Department that will link business tax records held on different HMRC databases. This work will enable delivery of the
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Written Answers
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Written Answers
694W
enhanced online services for small and medium enterprises set out in paragraph 4.20, page 53 of Budget 2010, including providing businesses with a single view of their current financial relationship with HMRC. The Government will consider the potential for extending HMRCs approach to other Departments. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department and its agencies has spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; [324357] and what such items were purchased. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to its general public [324113] inquiry telephone line. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The HM Treasury (HMT) general public enquiry telephone lines are operated by HMT staff as part of wider public-facing services and are therefore not subject to contractual agreements. Film: Government Assistance Mr. Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on fraudulent claims for assistance made by film companies participating in the Enterprise Investment [324142] Scheme. Ian Pearson: In the light of representations about access to tax relief outside the spirit of the Enterprise Investment Scheme, discussions are taking place between HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs and the EIS community. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of fraudulent claims for assistance made by film companies participating in the Enterprise Investment [324143] Scheme. Ian Pearson: No such estimate has been made. Gift Aid Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 12 October 2009,
Official Report, column 255W, on Gift Aid, what plans his Department has to amend Gift Aid (a) rules, (b) eligibility and (c) tax relief. [324203] Ian Pearson: In February 2010, the Treasury set up a Gift Aid Forum, drawn from representatives across the charitable sector, to consider options for improving Gift Aid, informed by the recent donor research. The forum aims to come up with firm recommendations by the end of September 2010. It has a page on the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_gift_aid_forum.htm
The Government have announced in the Budget that the UKs tax reliefs for charities and charitable giving, including Gift Aid, will be extended to certain EU charities, to comply with a recent European Court of Justice judgment. To help reduce the increased risk of fraudulent claims, HMRC proposes to introduce a number of changes to the Gift Aid process. These are set out in the HMRC Budget Note:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2010/bn32.htm
Government Departments: Cable and Wireless Judy Mallaber: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monetary value is of Government contracts with Cable & Wireless to supply internet [324101] services. Ian Pearson [holding answer 25 March 2010]: Details of the monetary value of Government contracts with Cable and Wireless are not held centrally. Government Departments: ICT Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse had been of the Office for Government Commerce Heavy Hitter Programme Delivery Director service on the latest date for which figures are available; on which IT projects each consultant contracted under that service worked; and what payments have been made to each such consultant for work undertaken in connection with [318112] that service. Ian Pearson: The Programme Delivery Directors (PDDs) project was part of a wider initiative, Executive Support Service, launched in 2005 to improve the success rate of major projects. Two consultants were deployed as Programme Delivery Directors, as set out in the table. The costs involved were recovered by the organisations concerned. Both appointments were made following a comprehensive value for money assessment.
Project name Youth Justice Board
Description Delivery Director Programme
Period of time deployed: June 2006 December 2007 260 days
Daily rate () 1,100
Total cost minus T and S () 273,000
OIS Total
Programme Delivery Director
188 days
1,200
217,000 490,000
695W
Written Answers Housing: Prices
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers Landfill Tax
696W
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average sale price of (a) a detached house, (b) a semi-detached house, (c) a terraced house, (d) a flat and (e) an average dwelling was in (i) England, (ii) each Government Office region and (iii) each local authority in England in (A) 1996-97 and (B) the latest period for which figures are available.
[324829]
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on changing the status of incinerator bottom ash from inert waste to active waste for landfill tax purposes; [324091] and if he will make a statement. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: At Budget 2009 the Government launched a consultation on modernising landfill tax legislation. The consultation sought stakeholder views on proposals designed to ensure that landfill tax remains an effective means of reducing the volume of waste that goes to landfill; those proposals included the possibility of redefining the qualifying criteria for the lower rate of tax. A non-interpretative summary of representations made during the consultation period, available at
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud09_landfilltax.htm
Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not routinely calculate average sale price of properties in the geographic areas specified so the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. However, for over 100 separate locations in England, the VOA does publish, twice yearly in its Property Market Report, individual average price estimates of (a) a post-1960 detached house and (b) a post-1960 flat within a block of flats. Copies of the Property Market Report are available in the House of Commons Library. The Property Market Report from 2001 onwards is also available electronically on the VOA website at:
www.voa.gov.uk/publications
Housing: Valuation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average additional capital value attributed by the Valuation Office Agency to the presence of a conservatory in a dwelling when conducting (a) council tax, (b) Right to Buy and (c) inheritance tax [324036] valuations and revaluations. Ian Pearson: No such estimate has been made, nor could one be made without disproportionate cost. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings have been valued by the Valuation Office Agencys Automated Valuation [324232] Model to date. Ian Pearson: Value estimates for approximately 22 million dwellings have been produced using the Valuation Office Agencys automated valuation model (AVM) technology. A precise figure cannot be given without disproportionate cost. Value estimates were produced during the preparatory work for the postponed 2007 council tax revaluation in England and have since been produced to support the ongoing maintenance of the investment made in AVM technology. Individual Savings Accounts Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the changes in Individual Savings Account limits announced in the 2009 Budget. [323576] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The costs of the ISA limit increases were published at Budget 2009 in Table A1 at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bud09_completereport_2520.pdf
was published on 4 December 2009. Responses were received from local authorities about incinerator bottom ash. The Government have completed their dialogue with stakeholders who responded to the consultation and a response was announced at Budget 2010. The Government have concluded that bottom ash and fly ash from wood or waste combustion will remain eligible for the lower rate of tax, as will those from coal combustion when they are landfilled in a site containing no other waste. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) gross and (b) net cost to local authorities was of landfill tax in each year since its [324324] introduction. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: It is not possible using landfill tax receipts data to determine how much revenue is received from local authorities. This is because registered landfill site operators pay the tax to HM Revenue and Customs and pass on the cost to their customers through the disposal charges they set. The origin of the landfilled waste is not recorded on the tax return. Non-domestic Rates: Ports Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fast-track reviews of port rating assessment have been initiated by the Valuation Office Agency; how many such reviews will be completed before the end of the 2009-10 financial year; and for what reasons businesses reviewed after the end of 2009-10 will be required to pay retrospective rates to [323595] 2005. Ian Pearson: From 24 November 2008, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) put in place fast track arrangements for ratepayers affected by the review of ports who wish to question or challenge their new rating assessments. As at 10 March 2010, the fast track arrangements have been applied to 972 proposals (appeals), of which 608 have been completed. It is estimated that 650 reviews will be completed by 5 April 2010.
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Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
698W
The effective date of any change to the rating lists will be determined in England by the Non-Domestic Rating (Alterations of Lists and Appeals) Regulations (England) 2005. Where changes are made after 5 April 2010, the nature of the change and the application of the regulations will dictate whether the effective date is limited to the date of alteration or is backdated to some earlier date. Non-domestic Rates: Public Lavatories Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a municipal lavatory in (a) [324029] 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. Ian Pearson: No estimate has been made for this class. Average rateable value information, including that for municipal lavatories, was first published on the Valuation Office Agency website on 18 December 2009
http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ Table3-England_RV_by_scat_code.xls http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ Table4-Wales_RV_by_scat_code.xls
scheme in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (a) postcode and (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments; [320145] (5) how many coastguard stations in England had (a) a decrease, (b) no change, (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320148] the 2010 Rating List; (6) which 10 individual coastguard station hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (a) postcode and (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each [320149] of these hereditaments. Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: Non-domestic Rateable Values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales, updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
Information for municipal lavatory can be found under: Public Conveniences Scat code 224. Non-domestic Rates: Sex Establishments Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a lap dancing club in (a) [324031] 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. Ian Pearson: An estimate has not been made. No data are available to differentiate lap dancing clubs from other licensed clubs, public houses and bars. Non-domestic Rates: Valuation Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many lifeboat stations in England had (a) a decrease, (b) no change, (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320142] the 2010 Rating List; (2) which 10 individual lifeboat stations hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (a) postcode and (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments;
[320143]
(3) how many stately homes and historic houses participating in the national scheme in England had (a) a decrease, (b) no change, (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320144] the 2010 Rating List; (4) which 10 individual hereditaments of stately homes and historic houses participating in the national
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many holiday centres in England had (a) a decrease, (b) no change, (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320146] the 2010 Rating List; (2) which 10 individual holiday centre hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (a) postcode and (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these [320147] hereditaments; (3) how many vineyards or wineries in England had (a) a decrease, (b) no change, (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320150] the 2010 Rating List; (4) which 10 individual hereditaments of vineyards or wineries in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (a) postcode and (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each [320151] of these hereditaments. Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales, updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
699W
Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
700W
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) hotels rated 4-star and above and chain operated hotels rated 3-star in the national scheme and (b) hotels rated 3-star and below in England had (i) a decrease, (ii) no change, (iii) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (iv) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (v) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (vi) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (vii) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (viii) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (ix) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and [320152] the 2010 Rating List; (2) which 10 individual hereditaments of (a) hotels rated 4-star and above and chain-operated hotels rated 3-star in the national scheme and (b) rated 3-star and below in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (i) postcode and (ii) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these [320153] hereditaments. Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: Non-domestic Rateable Values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales, updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ Table4-Wales_RV_by_scat_code.xls
Information for zoos can be found under: Zoos and Safari Parks Scat code 304. Revenue and Customs: Buildings Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) took into account in determining the days and hours of opening of each tax enquiry centre; what mechanisms HMRC used to take account of the requirements of different user groups in each location; what provision has been made to assist the (a) elderly and (b) people with disabilities to face-to-face communications at those centres; what estimate HMRC has made of the number of people in each customer group who will be affected by the changes in arrangements for tax enquiry [319182] centres; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) remains committed to providing access to face to face advice services for those customers who need this form of support, at or close by where they are provided now. However the way in which the Department does so needs to change to reflect the fact that taxpayers are increasingly turning to online and telephony services. This year, for example, HMRCs Inquiry Centres will have 40 per cent. fewer customers nationally than they did four years ago. Of the remaining customers, 85 per cent. are able to resolve their query either by self service using the internet or by contacting one of the Departments helplines. However, there are customers who would benefit from face to face support who, for whatever reason, do not currently access it from HMRC. The Department is keen to extend its reach to these customers by developing, testing and taking forward new approaches to face-to-face service delivery. In 2008, HMRC tested alternative opening patterns in 10 Inquiry Centres across the UK. This six-month pilot showed no adverse impact on those customers who needed face to face advice from HMRC. Following this, the Department has moved to new opening patterns in a further 58 of our Inquiry Centres with low numbers of customer visits. These changes were based on a variety of factors, including the number and pattern of customer visits and appointments, proximity to other Inquiry Centres and other local circumstances. HMRC has also considered demographic data (for example, concentrations of the elderly and lone parents) and consulted with representative customer groups such as Citizens Advice Bureau, Tax help for Older People, and Gingerbread with knowledge of particular customer needs. HMRC makes various provision to assist the elderly and people with disabilities to access face to face advice in its Inquiry Centre network, including wheelchair access, induction loops and (by appointment) signing support for customers with hearing disabilities, lighted magnifiers for customers with sight disabilities. These services are based on individual needs, and will not change as a result of HMRCs move to alternative opening patterns for its Inquiry Centres.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the Valuation Office Agency does not impose charges without notice on companies in respect of which its [323594] assessment is found to be incorrect. Ian Pearson: Valuation officers in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have a statutory duty to maintain rating lists and correct any inaccuracies which come to their attention. The VOA does not impose chargeslocal billing authorities are responsible for charging and collecting business rates. Valuation officers will always send a notice to the rateable occupier of a property setting out any changes to a rating assessment. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a property used for war games [324001] courses in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. Ian Pearson: No. Non-domestic Rates: Zoos Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a zoo in (a) 2009-10 and (b) [324035] 2010-11. Ian Pearson: No estimate has been made for this class. Average rateable value information, including that for zoos, was first published on the Valuation Office Agency website on 18 December 2009.
http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ Table3-England_RV_by_scat_code.xls
701W
Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
702W
The Department has published an Equality Impact Assessment of the changes to opening patterns across its Inquiry Centre network which considers the impact of changes to opening hours on particular customer groups, and to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to comment. This is available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/enq-centre-service.pdf
For the years 2002-03 to 2004-05, estimates of the number of transactions chargeable to stamp duty land tax are given for the UK and estimated based on published figures for Scotland. For 2005-06 to 2008-09 UK figures for number of transactions chargeable to stamp duty land tax, available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/table16-5.pdf
No such estimate has been made, as at present HMRC does not hold equality data on its Inquiry Centre customers. To address this, HMRC will introduce new processes from April 2010 to collect such data. Stamp Duty Land Tax Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on how many land and property transactions stamp duty land tax was paid in each year [318747] since 1997; (2) what the average amount paid in stamp duty land [318748] tax was in each year since 1997. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimates of the number of residential and non-residential transactions chargeable to stamp duty on land and property are given for England, Wales and Northern Ireland for 1997-98 to 2001-02. An estimate is not available for Scotland for these years.
are given in the table. For these years chargeability is defined as the transaction priced over the tax threshold, unless tax reliefs reduce the tax liability to zero, whereas for previous years chargeability was defined entirely on price. For the years from 2002-03 to 2008-09 the average amount of stamp duty land tax paid on chargeable transactions is given for each year, calculated by dividing UK receipts by the number of chargeable transactions in the table. Estimates for the years from 1997-98 to 2004-05 are derivable from tables 15.1, 16.1A and 16.5 of past paper editions of the publication Inland Revenue Statistics. Estimate for the years from 2005-06 are derivable from figures available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-1.pdf
and
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/table16-5.pdf
Country 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1 2
Number of chargeable transactions

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Average amount of stamp duty land tax per chargeable transaction

3 3 3 3 3
England, Wales and NI England, Wales and NI England, Wales and NI England, Wales and NI England, Wales and NI UK UK UK UK UK UK UK
2 2
720 730 910 880
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1,050 1,280 1,190 1,310

2
5,900 6,400 6,800 11,500 11,500 12,900 16,700
950
1,160 1,100
2
480
Based on number of transactions priced above lowest stamp duty land tax threshold. Based on number of transactions priced above lowest stamp duty land tax threshold where tax reliefs do not extinguish chargeability. 3 No figures for stamp duty on property receipts available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland for these years.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which areas disadvantaged area stamp duty relief applies; and what the value is of the [324325] threshold. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Stamp duty land tax disadvantaged areas relief is available in almost 2,000 areas of the United Kingdom. The qualifying areas for relief are set out in the Stamp Duty (Disadvantaged Areas) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3747). The relief applies to land transactions involving residential property where the chargeable consideration for the transaction does not exceed 150,000. Taxation: Business Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what average length of time it took for HM Revenue and Customs to register a business for tax purposes in (a) September 2009, (b) October 2009, (c) November 2009, (d) December 2009 and (e) January 2010;
[317357]
(2) what average length of time if took for HM Revenue and Customs to register a business for tax purposes in (a) September 2008, (b) October 2008, (c) November 2008, (d) December 2008 and (e) [317359] January 2009. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for administering a large number of taxes and duties, of which some have registration regimes and others do not. The data in respect of some of these regimes is held centrally and is readily accessible, while for others it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Valuation Office Agency Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 2 February 2009, Official Report, column 902W, on the Valuation
703W
Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
704W
Office (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the user guidance and manuals for the Valuation Office Agencys automated valuation model software and database, with information redacted that could [324321] assist with unauthorised access; (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Valuation Office Agencys user guidance and manuals for the (a) digital remapping tool and (b) locality delineation tool, with information redacted [324322] that could assist with unauthorised access. Ian Pearson: The guidance requested has been written specifically to provide detail of how to access and operate these applications. Accordingly, it is not possible to redact only those parts that could assist with unauthorised access. The Valuation Office Agency has no digital remapping tool. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest edition of the Valuation Office Agencys council [324370] tax referencing manual. Ian Pearson: A copy of the latest edition of the Valuation Office Agencys Council tax referencing manual will be placed in the Library. Valuation Office Agency: Contracts Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010, Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, how much was spent with (a) Video Arts, (b) Video Inn and (c) Mike Jarvis Video Services in 2008-09; what goods and services were purchased in each case; and [323194] for what purposes. Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency spent 211 for training materials on skills enhancements with Video Arts, 20,266 for video and sound equipment hire for conferences with Video Inn, and 460 for video equipment hire with Mike Jarvis Video Services. Valuation Office Agency: Pay Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bonuses have been awarded to the section of the Valuation Office Agency responsible for the valuation of ports in the last three years; and what [324369] the aggregate value was of such bonuses. Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency does not hold centrally a record of the duties performed by individuals in receipt of performance awards or recognition payments. This information is not easily accessible and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Valuation Office Agency: Surveys Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the findings of and report on the Valuation Office Agencys People Survey for (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.
[323574]
Ian Pearson: The VOA took part in the first civil service-wide People Survey in October 2009. The results for the VOA have now been placed in the Library. The report format is consistent with the results available for other Government Departments/executive agencies and this is to ensure comparability of results across the civil service. There was no People Survey in 2008. However, the VOA did conduct its own staff survey and this report has also been placed in the House Library. VAT: Direct Mail Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations HM Revenue and Customs has received on proposals to change the value added tax zero rating for mailed marketing or promotional literature; and if he will make a statement.
[324785]
Mr. Timms: The Government have no proposals to change the taxation of marketing and promotional literature. VAT: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax was paid by businesses in York in 2009; and if he will estimate the sum which would have accrued to the Exchequer in that year under a value added tax rate of 17.5 per cent.
[324223]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available. While HM Revenue and Customs systems record an address for each VAT registered business this is not always a reliable indicator of where it does business. Since the majority of VAT is paid by the largest businesses that typically operate throughout the UK, it is not appropriate to allocate VAT paid by a business to the location of its VAT registration. Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of households from which the recovery of a tax credits [317309] overpayment is being sought. Mr. Timms: As members of households can change overtime and one individual may have been in several tax credits awards, overpayments are calculated and recovered on the basis of awards rather than households. Figures at household level are available only at disproportionate cost. Information on the number of awards that have been overpaid each year is available in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Finalised Awards 2007-08. Supplement on Payments in 2007-08. This is available on the HMRC website at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/ctcw-taxcredit-final-may09-sup.pdf
705W
Written Answers WORK AND PENSIONS Attendance Allowance
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
706W
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, official Report, column 456W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether (a) the Commission and (b) its predecessor has made use of personal (a) Census, (b) HM Revenue and customs tax records and (c) Experian data. Neither the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, nor the Child Support Agency (when it was an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions) has made any use of census data. Both the Commission and the Child Support Agency have however had access to information held by HM Revenue and Customs and Experian for the purposes of tracing non-resident parents, establishing the amount of child maintenance payable and negotiating the payment of child maintenance arrears. I hope you find this answer helpful.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate her Department has made of the cost of paying attendance allowance for claims started in 2010-11 in the next five years; [323557] (2) what estimate her Department has made of the (a) number of new claimants of attendance allowance and (b) cost to her Department of new claims for attendance allowance in each of the next five years.
[323558]
Jonathan Shaw: In line with HM Treasury convention, forecasts of benefit expenditure and related volumes are not published beyond the current spending review period. Information on the forecast number of new awards for attendance allowance in 2010-11, and the expenditure on those claimants in 2010-11, is contained in the table. The figures should not be seen as indicative of the total claimant count estimates for attendance allowance over the same period as they do not account for off-flows.
New claimants of attendance allowance 2010-11 Total number of awards 330,000 Number of awards in payment 250,000 Expenditure in 2010-11 ( million) 416 Notes: 1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 1,000 awards and 1 million expenditure. 2. The estimated total number of awards represents new awards to attendance allowance liveload, and will include some cases which are not in payment. 3. A small number of renewal claims are excluded, as these people are already claiming the benefit and this information is not estimated separately. 4. Estimated expenditure relates to that part of 2010-11 that each new claimant spent on attendance allowance. On average, each new claimant in 2010-11 will have spent around half of 2010-11 receiving benefit. It is assumed that all new awards continue claiming until the end of 2010-11. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Statistical data and pre-Budget report forecasts
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 456W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether the Commission and its predecessor have made use of (a) covert human intelligence sources and (b) private investigators.
[324405]
Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 456W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether the Commission and its predecessor have made use of (a) covert human intelligence sources and (b) private investigators. Neither the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, nor the Child Support Agency (when it was an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions) has made any use of covert human intelligence services or private investigators. I hope you find this answer helpful.
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Surveillance Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 456W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether (a) the commission and (b) its predecessor has made use of personal (i) Census, (ii) HM Revenue and Customs tax records and [324398] (iii) Experian data. Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Children: Maintenance Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress has been made on the transfer of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
[323484]
Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
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Letter from Stephen Geraghty:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress has been made on the transfer of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. (323484) The problems encountered by the Child Support Agency following the launch of the Reforms in 2003 resulted in a decision to defer the bulk transfer of cases from the old (launched in 1993) scheme, to the current (launched in 2003) child support scheme in the meantime, cases were only migrated from the old computer system to the new computer system where they had a link with a case on the new system that made this necessary. This decision was kept under review and in February 2006 the Government asked Sir David Henshaw to review the entire system of child maintenance. His subsequent report led to the Governments White paper and to the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, which makes provision for a new system of child maintenance the future scheme. The future scheme will be introduced from 2011, and all clients on the two existing schemes will then have the opportunity to apply to that scheme or make a private arrangement. It is currently planned that this process will take around three years, after which both of the existing schemes will close. It is not Government policy to undertake a bulk transfer of cases between the two existing schemes in the meantime. I hope you find this answer helpful.
Helen Goodman: Discussions at ministerial level took place during the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill and the Government agreed that changing the name of council tax benefit to council tax rebate could have a positive impact on benefit take-up. We want to make the change at the earliest opportunity and discussion take place between officials of Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government as part of the process for achieving that. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions her Department has held with the Local Government Association on the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate;
[324745]
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Child Support Agency was owed by non-resident parents on the latest date for [324756] which figures are available. Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Child Support Agency was owed by non-resident parents on the latest date for which figures are available. Information on the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by non-resident parents is routinely published in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This is available through the following link: http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/ stats1209.html As at December 2009, the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by Non-Resident Parents to either Parents with Care or the Secretary of State is 3,783 million. This has decreased from 3,842 million in December 2008. A total of 150m has been collected in arrears in the year January to December 2009. These figure are un-audited. I hope you find this answer helpful.
(2) what advice her Department issued to local authorities on renaming council tax benefit as council [324747] tax rebate; (3) what estimate her Department has made of the number of local authorities whose IT systems are able to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate; and how many local authorities have informed her Department that their IT systems [324749] are unable to facilitate this change; (4) pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for New Forest West of 15 March 2010, Official Report, column 607, on council tax benefit, what practical issues other than IT systems her Department has identified as barriers to renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate; what steps her Department is taking to tackle those issues; and if she [324773] will make a statement; (5) what assessment she has made of the changes required to local authority IT systems to update the change of name; and if she will make a statement;
[324774]
(6) what surveys her Department has undertaken of local authorities to assess the capacity of their IT systems to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit [324775] as council tax rebate. Helen Goodman: Renaming council tax benefit will have significant impact on the administration of the benefit, with major delivery implications for local authorities. The main impact will be on IT systems, including where these link to Department for Work and Pensions systems. There will also be necessary changes to forms, leaflets and billing arrangements in order to give accurate information to existing customers, and maximise the impact of the change in improving take-up. Officials are engaging with local authorities in a number of ways. There have been preliminary formal discussions with the local authority associations and with practitioners from local authorities. This will be followed by more detailed survey of the requirements of individual authorities. Proposals have been outlined to the local authority software suppliers to enable them to start to prepare requirements and costs for the changes and enhancements to IT systems. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate her Department has made of the potential number of additional claimants who will claim council tax benefit when it is renamed [324746] council tax rebate.
Council Tax Benefits Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions her Department has had with (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate.
[324744]
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Helen Goodman: The Government want to ensure people get the help they are entitled to with their council tax bills and has an ongoing programme of work to encourage them to claim. Renaming council tax benefit as a rebate would help remove a barrier that may prevent some people claiming and we have taken steps to make this important change. We have not made an assessment at this time of the precise impact on take-up that renaming council tax benefit may have but are gathering data that will enable us to make a robust estimate of the additional number of people who would claim council tax rebate. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department has taken to draft legislation to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate; and when she expects [324748] to lay such legislation before Parliament. Helen Goodman: The powers we have taken in the Welfare Reform Act 2009 will enable us to make the change of name to council tax rebate quickly through an order, once we have established a timetable that takes into account the full costs and implementation requirements of local authorities. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in [324430] each of the last five years. Jonathan Shaw: The information as requested is not available. The Department has a PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation. We currently occupy around 1,000 buildings under the terms of this contract and pay a per square metre charge known as a facility price. This charge is site specific and does not identify different uses of areas within a property. A number of sites do have facilities such as gyms, and the vast majority will have rest areas or breakout rooms provided for the relaxation and comfort of staff working there. Often these spaces are dual use fulfilling a function as both areas for rest or leisure, and for more formal uses such as meetings or team sessions. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff. [324551] Jonathan Shaw: DWP does not provide staff with specific subsidised gym facilities. However, through the DWP discount scheme staff have the opportunity to take advantage of discounts for gym membership. In addition, gym facilities are provided in some offices for staff who are members of the Health and Social Security Recreational Association (HASSRA) and the Civil Service Sports and Social Club (CSSC). Both HASSRA and CSSC are recreational associations funded primarily by membership subscription. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five [324686] years.
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings [324966] occupied by her Department. Jonathan Shaw: DWP occupies the vast majority of its properties under the terms of a PFI contract with Telereal Trillium. Telereal Trillium, on behalf of the Department, are currently evaluating two suppliers of voltage optimisation equipment to determine suitability for the DWP estate. The installation of voltage optimisation specifically for lighting circuits is also being considered. With regard to similar technologies, Telereal Trillium have recently completed a national project on behalf of the Department to install over 5,300 energy saving electronic control devices, on small to medium refrigeration machinesdomestic refrigerators and air conditioning units. Departmental Expenditure Limits Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 February 2010, Official Report, columns 50-68WS, on departmental expenditure limits, whether her Department made a request for resources 4 [322560] as part of its supplementary estimate. Jonathan Shaw: The written ministerial statement of 23 February 2010 only details changes to the Departments for Work and Pensions departmental expenditure limit. There were no departmental expenditure limit changes for Request for Resources 4 as part of the Spring Supplementary Estimate. The Voted provision for Request for Resources 4 increased in the Spring Supplementary Estimate by 3,918,000 from 18,721,770,000 to 18,725,688,000 due to an increase in the provision for the grant in aid payment to the Independent Living Fund. This increase can see be seen in the Central Government Supply Estimates 2009-10 Spring Supplementary EstimateHM Treasury HC 257:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/springsupps0910_dwp.pdf
Departmental ICT Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent on maintaining its computer systems, excluding capital purchases, in the last year for which figures are [322279] available. Jim Knight: External expenditure on application maintenance and support was 66 million in 2008-09. This maintains and supports all the Departments IT estate, including all the IT systems that support Jobcentre Plus, Pensions Disability and Carers Service and payments systems to provide services to over 20 million people.
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The Department ensures the best value for money by contracting for IT standard services by rigorously benchmarking and market testing. Departmental Location Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.
[321423]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Departments policies on hospitality are set out in the DWP Hospitality Framework. This framework is based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money. A copy of the DWP Hospitality Framework is being deposited in the Library. Departmental Publications
Jonathan Shaw: The Department has not relocated any staff from posts in Essex or the Castle Point constituency to other parts of the country in the last five years. Departmental Marketing Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much her Department and agencies have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the (a) Real Help Now and (b) Building Britains Future themed campaign to [320454] date. Jonathan Shaw: Real Help Now was introduced to raise awareness of the services and support available to people to help them through the economic downturn. The Department for Work and Pensions spent a total of 365,000 on a range of activities that came under Real Help Now. These activities included leaflets and advertising to promote financial help available to employers for recruitment, a cross government employment summit and promotion of Real Help Now information on businesslink.gov.uk. DWPs only supporting communications activity for Building Britains Future is the Backing Young Britain campaign. This campaign is still running and information on costs will only be available when the activity is complete. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items have [324359] been purchased. Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not readily available since the management information does not differentiate between the DWP-branded material and that produced for our agencies, Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service, and our 15 non-departmental public bodies. It could therefore be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by her Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) [324664] cost and (b) purpose was of each.
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by her Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general [323467] election. Jonathan Shaw: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website. Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced. Departmental Responsibilities Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to share services, functions and back offices with local authorities as part of the Total Place [323957] initiative. Helen Goodman: The Governments report on Total Place was published alongside Budget 2010. Employment Schemes Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect on levels of unemployment of (a) the Support for the Newly Unemployed programme, (b) the Six Month Offer, (c) the Young Persons Guarantee, (d) the Jobseeker Seeker Regime as part of the Flexible New Deal and [322173] (e) the Flexible New Deal; (2) what assessment her Department has made of the effect on the number of people flowing off the claimant count of (a) the Support for the Newly Unemployed programme, (b) the Six Month Offer, (c) the Young Persons Guarantee, (d) the Jobseeker Seeker Regime as part of the Flexible New Deal and (e) the Flexible [322174] New Deal. Jim Knight: Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance dropped in February for the third consecutive month, to 1.585 million. Early evaluation evidence on the jobseekers regime and flexible new deal, the six- month offer and support for newly unemployed was published in January 2010. Further evidence on the impact of the six-month offer and the jobseekers regime and flexible new deal on
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customer outcomes will be available from early 2011, with evidence on the impact of the young persons guarantee to follow in 2012. Employment: Disabled Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department has taken in respect of the working conditions of disabled workers resident in Preston in the last seven years; and if she [311075] will make a statement. Jonathan Shaw: The Government have significantly improved working conditions for disabled people by providing additional rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for disabled people not to be discriminated against on the ground of their disability, and to have reasonable adjustments made to ensure that they do not experience substantial disadvantage, compared to non-disabled people, in the employment field. Since 1 October 2004, the employment provisions of the Act have been extended to all forms of employment and occupation, except service in the armed forces, and to employers of all sizes. Through the Equality Bill we are making further improvements, including restrictions on the use by employers of pre-employment enquiries about a persons disability or health. The Health and Safety Executive promotes the message that health and safety issues should not be used as an excuse to exclude a disabled person from work opportunities. The Executive worked with the former Disability Rights Commission to produce its disability web pages and guidance leaflet for disabled employees and their employers. The information on the web pages and within the guidance promotes good practice in disability equality at work and health and safety risk assessment. The web pages also contain much valuable information for employers and employees on reasonable adjustments. Disabled people, including those in Preston, who are in work or about to start a job may also benefit from Access to Work, a specialist disability programme delivered by Jobcentre Plus, which provides practical advice and financial support to disabled people and their employers to help them overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. An Access to Work adviser works with the customer to develop a detailed assessment of the customers needs, leading to grants towards the cost of providing support. In December 2008 we committed to doubling the budget to 138 million by 2013-14, enabling many more disabled people in Preston and elsewhere to benefit. Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has made a recent estimate of the number of disabled people resident in each local authority area who have moved into work in each of [324600] the last five years. Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not available. Future Jobs Fund Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has received recent reports of the notification of Jobcentre Plus of Future Jobs Fund vacancies which have not met the Future Jobs Fund criteria; and if she will make a statement. [320299]
Jim Knight: Guidance and criteria are available on the internet and from Jobcentre Plus. To ensure that the jobs meet the criteria, bids are rigorously assessed before we award the grant, and Jobcentre Plus also checks individual vacancies at the point when they are notified. Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the geographical distribution of jobs created through [323492] Future Jobs Fund funding. Jim Knight: The geographical distribution of jobs created through the future jobs fund is subject to continuous review with Government offices and Jobcentre Plus to ensure good coverage across Great Britain. Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful bidders for Future Jobs Fund funding have since suspended their job [323494] offers under the scheme. Jim Knight: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Jobcentre Plus works with all successful bidders to ensure that future jobs fund jobs are filled by the most suitable candidate. Income Support Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of income support claims took longer than the target processing time in each benefit delivery centre in each [321451] month of the last two years. Helen Goodman: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested. Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of income support claims took longer than the target processing time in each benefit delivery centre in each month of the last two years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus has a formal published target for the average actual clearance time (AACT) taken to process Income Support claims. Within any given month our benefit processing systems calculate the total number of claims we have cleared against the total number of days each of these cases have taken - this results in production of the AACT. The AACT target does not mean that all claims for that benefit should be processed within that time. This is because the target is based on an average which recognises that each individual customers circumstances differ and by that very nature some cases will be easier/quicker to process than those that are more complex and naturally take longer to process. On that basis, we are unable to provide the specific information in the manner you have requested.
Jobcentre Plus: ICT Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is provided for jobseekers at Jobcentre Plus offices on the availability [321642] of computers for carrying out job searches.
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Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested. Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what guidance is provided for jobseekers at Jobcentre Plus offices on the availability of computers for carrying out jobsearches. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. All jobseekers claiming Jobseekers Allowance have an interview with an adviser to discuss and agree realistic and achievable job goals and those steps that, if taken regularly, will offer the best chance of finding work. During this process, the adviser provides access to a wide range of help and support aimed at improving job prospects and overcoming barriers that might be making it harder to find work. This includes providing information, advice and guidance on how to identify and apply for jobs, and how to make best use of appropriate vacancy sources such as the Jobcentre Plus telephonybased vacancy matching system (Jobseeker Direct) and the governments Internet Job Bank on Directgov, which is accessible through the internet and in all jobcentres via our Jobpoints. Every time customers are asked to attend their local Jobcentre, they are encouraged to use a Jobpoint to identify and apply for jobs. If required, customers are shown how to use a Jobpoint by a member of the Customer Service Team. We recognise the importance of having access to a computer to enable customers to search and apply for jobs online, as this is rapidly becoming the recruitment channel of choice for employers. In recognition of this, we are developing close working relationships with local providers such as UK Online Centres in England and the equivalent in Scotland and Wales and signposting customers to the support that these provide. Personal Advisers tell customers how they can find their nearest UK Online Centre, and equivalent in Scotland and Wales, using a free phone number, to enable them to gain access to this help. We are also raising awareness of schemes that will help customers get their own home computer, such as the Department for Children, Schools and Families Home Internet Access programme. Furthermore, later this year, we will be Mailing customer access to PCs in some of our Jobcentres and offering supported access to those who have no or low digital skills. You may also wish to know that Jobcentre Plus launched its Smartphone Application on 10 March, which is an alternative means for our customers to access our Internet Job Bank. The application allows those with compatible smartphones to perform jobsearches and browse job vacancies directly from their handset, whenever they are connected to the internet. This application provides another means of accessing the digital labour market and promoting self-service for our customers. I hope this reply is helpful and assures you of our intent to make sure jobseekers are able to compete effectively within the labour market and use modern recruitment methods.
Helen Goodman: The information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Jobseekers Allowance: Self-employed Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has made an estimate of the number of former claimants of jobseekers allowance who have become self-employed in each (a) constituency and (b) smallest geographical area for which figures are available in each year since 1997.
[324531]
Helen Goodman: The information requested is not available. Although some information is gathered on the Departments administrative systems on the number leaving jobseekers allowance and moving into work, a breakdown into employees and the self-employed is not available. Maternity Leave: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women living in City of York took paid maternity leave in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available; how many weeks, on average, they took in each such year; and how much [324217] on average they received in maternity pay. Helen Goodman: The information is not available. New Deal Schemes: Salford Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Salford have been assisted into work through the New Deal since 1997.
[322409]
Jim Knight: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the New Deal programme has helped more than 2.2 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998. The introduction of the Flexible New Deal will support the Governments aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for those people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment. The Flexible New Deal will be available in most areas of the country by October 2010. The information requested is in the following table:
New Dealjobs (spells) jobs gained: Salford parliamentary constituency Total number of jobs gained 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 150 420 440 370 420 560 660 530 420
Jobseekers Allowance Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many of those in receipt of jobseekers allowance gave Jobcentre Plus offices as their temporary address whilst of no fixed abode in the last (a) 12 months, (b) three years and (c) five years;
[324899]
(2) how many of those in receipt of jobseekers allowance had their jobseekers allowance giro payments sent to their local Jobcentre Plus office rather than to a domestic postal address in the last (a) 12 [324900] months, (b) three years and (c) five years.
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New Dealjobs (spells) jobs gained: Salford parliamentary constituency Total number of jobs gained 2007 510 2008 700 2009 420 Total 5,580 Notes: 1. = nil or negligible. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten; totals do not sum due to rounding. 3. Westminster parliamentary constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and customers postcode. 4. Time series is the calendar year that the job was gained. Latest data are to August 2009. 5. Due to changed recording procedures in Jobcentre Plus additional jobs information is now sourced from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 6. The latest New Deal figures are starting to show the effects of the introduction of the new Jobseekers Regime and Flexible New Deal (JRFND). The scheme is being gradually implemented in phase 1 areas from April 2009 and in the remaining phase 2 districts from April 2010. 7. Spells information not available for New Deal 50 plus and New Deal for Partners so individual level information is used. 8. The New Deal for Young People pilots began in January 1998 and full national roll-out occurred in April 1998. 9. The New Deal for 25 plus programme was introduced in July 1998. 10. The New Deal for Lone Parents was introduced in October 1998. 11 .The New Deal for Disabled People was introduced in July 2001. 12. Data on New Deal 50 plus are available from January 2004 (programme was introduced in April 2000). 13. Data for New Deal for Partners are available from April 2004 (programme started in May 1999). Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate
September 2016; 3 per cent. from October 2016 to September 2017 and 5 per cent. from 2017 onwards. All of these rates include normal tax relief. Defined benefit schemes will be required to meet an overall quality test. The impact upon jobholders net salaries will depend upon the level of contributions required under scheme rules. Oikos: Canvey Island Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will ensure that the revised safety reports made by (a) the local planning authority and (b) the emergency planning authority in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island under the provisions of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 are published as soon as each is completed. [322819] Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 18 March 2010]: There is no duty under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) (COMAH) for the local planning authority or the emergency planning authority to produce safety reports in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island. Oikos Storage Ltd. as the COMAH operator is required under the regulations to produce a safety report to demonstrate they are taking all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences to people and the environment. The COMAH Competent Authority comprising (in England and Wales) the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the safety report. The Competent Authority does not publish COMAH safety reports. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) improvement notices have been issued and (b) changes of use have been recorded in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island controlled under the provisions of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 in the last five years. [322820] Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 18 March 2010]: No improvement notices have been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island in the last five years. Oikos Storage Ltd. has hazardous substances consent from Castle Point borough council to store at its Canvey Island site up to 232,501 tons of highly flammable liquids. HSE understands that there have been no applications to alter the existing hazardous substances consent for this site in the last five years. This and other planning applications are matters for Castle Point borough council as the local planning authority. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will direct the Health and Safety Executive to examine proposals to store petroleum and similar substances at the Oikos terminal on Canvey [322821] Island; and if she will make a statement. Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 18 March 2010]: Oikos Storage Ltd. will be required under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended)
Occupational Pensions Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the operation of her Departments rules on anti-enrolment into workforce pension schemes from October 2012 will entail any change to the net salaries of employees whose [324852] employers join the scheme. Angela Eagle: From 2012 automatic enrolment into a workplace pension with a guaranteed employer and Government contribution will begin. Jobholders who already receive workplace pension provision equal to or better than that required under the reforms are unlikely to see any change to their net pay. The impact of automatic enrolment on net salaries for other jobholders will depend on the level of pension contributions payable into the workplace pension scheme used by the employer. Once the workplace pension reforms have been fully introduced, overall contributions to qualifying defined contribution schemes must total at least 8 per cent. on a band of earnings. The 8 per cent. total will be made up from a minimum 3 per cent. from the employer, along with the jobholders own contribution and around 1 per cent. in tax relief. However, employers can choose to pay a greater proportion of the 8 per cent. totalresulting in a lesser impact on net pay. The contribution rates for jobholders are being phased in over time. This will help jobholders to adjust gradually to the impact of the changes on their net pay. Jobholder contributions will be 1 per cent. from October 2012 to
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(COMAH) to review and, where necessary, revise its COMAH safety report in the light of proposals to store petroleum and similar substances at its Canvey Island site and to demonstrate that it is taking all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and to limit the consequences to people and the environment. Such measures will include implementing and maintaining the minimum safety and environmental standards for fuel storage sites. These have been revised following the investigation into the explosion and fires at the Buncefield fuel storage site in December 2005. They have recently been published as the Process Safety Leadership Groups (PSLG) final report which is available on the HSE website. The Health and Safety Executive will assess any significant changes that are made to the site and to the COMAH safety report in its role as part of the COMAH Competent Authority.
People in receipt of basic state pension March 2009 Great Britain East of England local authority area Bedford Central Bedfordshire Mid-Bedfordshire South Bedfordshire Luton Peterborough Southend-on-Sea Thurrock Cambridge East Cambridgeshire Fenland Huntingdonshire South Cambridgeshire Basildon Braintree Brentwood Castle Point Chelmsford Colchester Epping Forest Harlow Maldon Rochford Tendring Uttlesford Broxbourne Dacorum East Hertfordshire Hertsmere North Hertfordshire St. Albans Stevenage Three Rivers Watford Welwyn Hatfield Breckland Broadland Great Yarmouth Kings Lynn and West Norfolk North Norfolk 25,800 n/a 23,700 20,200 26,700 26,200 32,800 22,500 14,900 14,700 21,500 29,900 27,300 31,200 27,800 14,600 19,800 31,200 30,000 26,000 13,500 14,300 18,500 42,200 15,000 17,000 25,400 23,100 18,000 24,400 24,000 13,300 15,800 12,600 17,300 30,700 31,300 23,000 36,600 30,200 12,133,400
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in (a) each local authority area in the East of England and (b) the UK were in receipt of (i) basic state pension and (ii) pension credit in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much on average was received in [324691] pension credit in each area in that period; (2) how many people receive pension credit in each local authority area in the East of England; and what the average weekly payment was in the East of England in the latest period for which figures are available.
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Angela Eagle: The information requested is provided in the following table.

Individual beneficiaries of pension credit August 2009 3,348,970 Households in receipt of pension credit August 2009 2,737,290
Average award of pension credit August 2009 () 55.66
6,820 9,650 n/a n/a 9,610 9,090 10,100 7,130 3,540 3,610 6,690 5,950 4,370 9,490 6,920 2,680 5,510 5,880 6,870 5,710 4,430 3,180 3,880 12,250 2,680 4,030 5,250 4,450 3,890 5,270 3,790 4,040 2,850 3,070 3,990 8,090 6,080 8,280 10,410 7,620
5,640 7,870 n/a n/a 7,650 7,390 8,420 5,810 3,030 2,910 5,180 4,810 3,610 7,670 5,590 2,280 4,280 4,860 5,690 4,710 3,610 2,570 3,120 9,630 2,190 3,310 4,370 3,690 3,290 4,410 3,210 3,300 2,430 2,580 3,390 6,290 4,910 6,520 8,020 5,950
52.92 49.84 n/a n/a 64.87 57.37 57.65 55.59 55.95 52.68 50.89 49.78 51.92 54.82 51.75 51.32 53.41 50.82 53.29 56.12 51.07 53.54 50.28 53.18 50.76 56.66 53.67 52.40 58.44 49.96 55.09 51.90 56.57 58.28 52.37 49.15 46.95 50.09 50.17 50.00
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Households in receipt of pension credit August 2009 7,080 4,940 3,490 2,280 5,940 3,460 3,980 4,890 6,970
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People in receipt of basic state pension March 2009 Norwich South Norfolk Babergh Forest Heath Ipswich Mid-Suffolk St. Edmundsbury Suffolk Costal Waveney 21,900 29,100 21,100 9,800 21,200 20,800 21,800 31,600 29,400
Individual beneficiaries of pension credit August 2009 8,590 6,340 4,300 2,840 7,220 4,360 4,890 6,060 8,860
Average award of pension credit August 2009 () 52.49 48.34 48.54 49.64 54.53 48.38 48.42 51.28 49.70
Notes: 1. Average weekly award of pension credit in the East of England Government region at August 2009 is 52.75. 2. Numbers in receipt of basic state pension rounded to nearest 100. 3. Pension credit case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Pension credit is claimed on a household basis. The average weekly award of pension credit is in relation to the household. 6. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 7. Latest data for pension credit is for August 2009. 8. Latest data for basic state pension is for March 2009. 9. On 1 April 2009, the reorganisation of the local authorities of England created nine new unitary authorities (UAs). This included Central Bedfordshire unitary authority which was formed from Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire district councils. This is reflected in the table. Sources: Basic state pension: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. The figures have been adjusted in line with the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data. Pension credit: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.
Poverty Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change has been in the number of (1) adults of working age in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available;
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(2) pensioners in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the [322153] latest year for which figures are available; (3) children living in households with below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available.
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Helen Goodman [holding answer 12 March 2010]: The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle adult poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs. Relative working age poverty (BHC) has increased over the last decade. However the risk of poverty for working age adults is still below that for children or pensioners (15 per cent. as compared with 23 per cent. for both children and pensioners) and the risk of persistent poverty for this group is also lower than average at 7 per cent. For this reason the Government have targeted additional financial support on families with children and pensioners.
However, the Government remain committed to ensuring employment and opportunity for all and believe that work, for those who can, remains the best and most sustainable route out of poverty. Over the last decade we have improved the gains to work with the introduction of the national minimum wage and the extension of tax credits and we have invested in employment support to ensure people are not written off. The Government are also supporting people through the difficult economic climate, setting aside 5 billion to help people back into work. The Governments declared aim is to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty. Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved. Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all. We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Targeted support, such as pension credit and additional funding for all pensioners has contributed to 900,000 fewer pensioners in relative poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99. The available information is given in the table. The latest available information covers 2007-08. Figures covering the UK are most commonly used. However,
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for 1996-97, only information for Great Britain is available. This means the changes in the numbers of various groups below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income between 1996-97 and 2007-08 can only be calculated for Great Britain.
Change between 1996-97 and 2007-08 in the numbers of working-age adults, pensioners and children in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median incomes and proportion of working-age adults, pensioners and children in such households in 2007-08, before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC), Great Britain (millions) Children BHC Change 1996-97 to 2007-08 (millions) Proportion of group in low income households in 2007-08 (per cent.) -0.6 AHC -0.5 Working-age adults BHC +0.4 AHC +0.5 Pensioners BHC 0.0 AHC -0.9
in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved. Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all. With the help of targeted support and additional funding there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty (after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99. Estimates of poverty, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allow a breakdown of the overall number of people in poverty at Government office region level. Therefore, information for Leeds North East is not available, though figures relating to the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region are. Poverty for all individuals is presented both before and after housing costs. Child poverty is presented before housing costs and pensioner poverty is presented after housing costs, in line with the relevant public service agreements. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income for the three groups. Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures are quoted rounded to the nearest percentage point. The percentage of all individuals, children and pensioners in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region who have incomes below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income is in the following tables.
Proportion of individuals in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before and after housing costs Proportion of individuals (Percentage) Period 1997-98 to 1999-2000 1998-99 to 2000-01 1999-2000 to 2001-02 2000-01 to 2002-03 2001-02 to 2003-04 2002-03 to 2004-05 2003-04 to 2005-06 2004-05 to 2006-07 2005-06 to 2007-08 Before housing costs 24 23 22 21 20 19 19 19 20 After housing costs 27 26 25 24 24 22 22 21 22
23
31
15
21
23
18
Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both of these documents are available in the Library. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for households below average income figures are single financial years. 4. These statistics cover Great Britain only as figures are only available covering the United Kingdom from 1998-99. 5. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 6. For the households below average income series, incomes have been equivalised using organisation for economic co-operation and development equivalisation factors. 7. The number of working-age adults, pensioners and children have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand individuals. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP.
Poverty: Leeds Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) the general population, (b) children and (c) pensioners in Leeds North West constituency were living in poverty in each [322704] year since 1997. Helen Goodman: The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long-term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs. The Governments declared aim are to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty. Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced
Proportion of children in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before housing costs Proportion of children Period (Percentage) 1997-98 to 1999-2000 1998-99 to 2000-01 1999-2000 to 2001-02 2000-01 to 2002-03 2001-02 to 2003-04 2002-03 to 2004-05 2003-04 to 2005-06 2004-05 to 2006-07 2005-06 to 2007-08 32 30 29 27 26 25 25 25 26
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Proportion of pensioners in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, after housing costs Period 1997-98 to 1999-2000 1998-99 to 2000-01 1999-2000 to 2001-02 2000-01 to 2002-03 2001-02 to 2003-04 2002-03 to 2004-05 2003-04 to 2005-06 2004-05 to 2006-07 2005-06 to 2007-08 Proportion of pensioners (Percentage) 32 31 29 26 24 20 17 17 18
Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. The figures are based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development equivalisation factors. 6. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are. 7. Proportions have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Jonathan Shaw: I have been informed that mortality data on employees is not available to the Health and Safety Executive in the format requested. Studies published at intervals by others provide summary information on the mortality experience of Sellafield employees compared to that of the general population, and in relation to radiation exposure. These studies have shown that the overall mortality of Sellafield employees has been better than that of the general population with which they have been compared. However, when the mortality of those specifically exposed to radiation has been studied in relation to the radiation dose they have received it shows the expected pattern of increasing risk of various cancers with increasing radiation exposure. Social Security Benefits Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age, (c) disabled people and (d) people of all ages received income-related benefits (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the monetary value of such benefits for each [322122] group was at each of those dates. Helen Goodman: The benefit system aims to tackle poverty by providing support for various groups of people: pensioners; unemployed people; lone parents; sick and disabled people; and renters and home owners. It also provides help for the extra costs that disabled people face; and support for carers. Means tested benefits support people whose income and capital are below a prescribed level. It guarantees a minimum level of income for people who are either looking for work or are not required to actively seek work because of age, ill health, disability or caring responsibilities. The amount of benefit a person gets depends on their needs (applicable amount) and takes into account any other income (including other benefits) or capital. The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the tables.
Table 1: Income support (IS) and income based jobseekers allowance (JSA(IB)) claimantsGreat Britain May 1997 and August 2009 May 1997 IS (non-MIG) Of which: Receive IS disability premium JSA (IB) 836,200 1,181,100 1,095,870 1,055,800 2,263,700 August 2009 1,955,330
A local child poverty indicatorincluding constituency level informationhas been developed that captures the number and proportion of children in families in receipt of out of work benefits, or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent. of median income. Details can be found via the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/ child_poverty.htm
The measure enables local partners to make an assessment of the level and geographical distribution of income deprivation in their area and focuses local partners on taking action to help raise family incomes. Power Stations: Safety Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has assessed the relative levels of mortality among employees at (a) coal combustion, (b) gas combustion, (c) nuclear fission and (d) biomass combustion plants in each of the last [323635] 10 years; and if she will make a statement. Jonathan Shaw: No. The Health and Safety Executive has informed me that assessment of the relative levels of mortality among employees at such facilities has not been made. Sellafield: Safety Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mortality rate was among employees at the nuclear processing site of Sellafield, Cumbria, in each of the last 10 years; and if she will [323636] make a statement.
Notes: 1. Income support minimum income guarantee (MIG) claimants aged 60 and over transferred to pension credit in October 2003, for easier comparison May 1997 claimants over 60 have been excluded from the IS figure above and shown along with pension credit claimants. August 2009 figures include a very small number of residual MIG claimants who did not transfer to pension credit. 2. Figures for May 1997 IS/JSA (IB) have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures for August 2009 IS are taken from 100 per cent. data and rounded to the nearest 10. 4. JSA(IB) Benefit TypeThe benefit type is defined as pay status at the caseload date this may differ from the status at the start or end of the claim. 5. JSA(IB) includes a small number of claimants with both contributory based and income based entitlement. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) Information Directorate, 100 per cent., 5 per cent. samples.
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Table 2: Employment and support allowance income based (ESA (IB)) claimantsGreat Britain August 2009 Total Under 60 60-65
Table 3: Pension credit / income support (aged 60 and over) claimants in Great Britain as at May 1997 and August 2009 IS claimants May 1997 Total 1,739,100 Pension credit August 2009 2,737,290
ESA(IB)
190,380
186,480
3,900
Notes: 1. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. ESA (IB) Benefit TypeThe benefit type is defined as pay status at the caseload datethis may differ from the status at the start or end of the claim. 4. ESA (IB) includes a small number of claimants with both contributory based and income based entitlement. 5. It is possible for a claimant aged over pension age to claim ESA for a limited period. Therefore age groups for caseload and off flows include a small proportion of claimants aged 65. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).
Notes: 1. Pension credit figure is rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Income support (IS) figures are based on 5 per cent. data and uprated against 100 per cent. WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. These pension credit statistics are produced on a different basis to the early estimates. The latter are more timely but operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in them. 3. These data represent all claimants as this benefit is not paid to anyone aged under 60. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).
Table 4: Housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants by age in Great Britain as at May 1997 and August 2009 Total May 1977 Housing benefit Of which: Receive a disability premium Council tax benefit Of which: Receive a disability premium 781,000 5,498,000 709,000 2,853,000 2,646,000 4,639,000 2,786,000 1,853,000 Aged under 60 Aged 60 and over
August 2009 Housing benefit Of which: Receive a disability premium Council tax benefit Of which: Receive a disability premium 5,519,390 2,931,800 -2,586,710 4,494,560 2,957,630 1,535,960
Notes: 1. The May 1997 figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. August 2009 figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, May 1997 figures to the nearest thousand. 4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases. 5. Single housing benefit extract (SHBE) is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and November 2009 is the most recent available. To be consistent with other benefits August data is shown. 6. There will be overlaps in data between housing benefit and council tax Benefit, and between housing benefit and council tax benefit and other benefits. 7. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when the claimant starts working full time, works more hours or earns more money. 8. denotes not available. The breakdown from the 1997 1 per cent. sample is by client group, there is no breakdown available of disabled within the pension client group. Breakdown by disability is not available on SHBE. 9. Comparison of these figures should be treated with caution due to the sampling variation in the May 1997 data. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)August 2009. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken from May 1997. Table 5: Benefit expenditure million 1997-98 Nominal terms Pensioners Income support for people age 60 and over / minimum income guarantee / pension credit Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments Council tax benefit Total Working age Income support for under 60s Jobseekers allowanceincome-based Employment and support allowanceincome based Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 6,094 3,088 0 7,396 8,090 4,100 0 9,818 7,148 2,129 63 11,554 7,291 2,172 64 11,785 3,721 3,781 1,080 8,582 4,940 5,019 1,433 11,392 7,794 5,570 2,163 15,526 7,950 5,681 2,206 15,837 Real terms 2008-09 Nominal terms Real terms
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Table 5: Benefit expenditure
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million 1997-98 Nominal terms Council tax benefit Total Of which disabled Income support Housing benefit Council tax benefit All ages Income support all ages including pension credit and minimum income guarantee Jobseekers allowanceincome based Employment and support allowanceincome based Housing benefit Council tax benefit Total 9,815 3,088 0 11,177 2,395 26,475 13,030 4,100 0 14,837 3,179 35,145 14,942 2,129 63 17,123 4,235 38,492 15,241 2,172 64 17,466 4,319 39,262 2,809 1,782 367 3,729 2,366 487 4,616 4,244 870 4,709 4,329 887 1,315 17,894 Real terms 1,746 23,753 2008-09 Nominal terms 2,072 22,966 Real terms 2,113 23,425
Notes: 1. For consistency figures exclude child elements of income support and jobseekers allowance, which have now mostly been replaced by child tax credit payments administered by HM Revenue & Customs. 2. Expenditure on disabled people is for working age only, based on receipt of disability premium in the income-related benefits. Such information for pensioners is not available, as there is no equivalent premium in pension credit. 3. Because of changes in data sources figures for housing benefit and council tax benefit may not be completely consistent between 1997-98 and 2007-08. 4. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Accounting Data.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number of applications for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance to be [322157] approved in each of the next five years. Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 12 March 2010]: In line with HM Treasury convention, forecasts of benefit expenditure and related volumes are not published beyond the current spending review period. Information on the estimated and forecast number of new awards for attendance allowance and disability living allowance in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is contained in the table. The figures should not be seen as indicative of the total claimant count estimates for disability living allowance or attendance allowance over the same period as they do not account for off-flows.
Estimate of numbers of new awards for disability living allowance and attendance allowance in 2009-10 and 2010-11 Disability living Attendance allowance allowance 2009-10 277,000 327,000 2010-11 279,000 330,000 Notes: 1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 1,000. 2. Estimates in the table include new awards only. It does not include the number of renewal claims likely to be successful as these people are already claiming the benefits and this information is not estimated separately. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Statistical data and Pre-Budget Report forecasts
paid to claimants under special rules was in the latest period for which figures are available. [322164] Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the following tables.
Average weekly amount in payment for disability living allowance special rules cases in payment at August 2009 All 117.05
Average weekly amount in payment for attendance allowance special rules cases in payment at August 2009 All 70.35 Note: All recipients under special rules are entitled to the higher rate care component. Caution: The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5 per cent. sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100 per cent. total for the benefit. The figures have been rated to agree with Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study totals. Source: Work and Pensions Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample
Sweet Concepts Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer by the Cabinet Office Minister of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 156W, on Central Office of Information: marketing, what promotional products were purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. on behalf of the Health and [324302] Safety Executive; and at what cost.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average monetary value of (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance
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Jonathan Shaw: In 2006, the Health and Safety Executive purchased through COI tea bags with a campaign strapline take a moment not a fall printed on the outside of the packet at a cost of 6,610 plus VAT from Sweet Concepts Ltd. These items were part of a nationally co-ordinated publicity, education and inspection campaign about the risks of working at height. The target audience were people involved in building and plant maintenance. The idea behind the tea bag was to promote discussions around safe working practices at workers break time. Winter Fuel Payments: Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) the City of Manchester and (b) Manchester Central constituency have received a winter fuel payment since introduction [324885] of the scheme. Angela Eagle: Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 is not available. The information on individual payments made from winter 1999-2000 is in the following table.
Manchester local authority Manchester central constituency
contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [324314] Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average salary paid to (a) full-time and (b) part-time contracted (i) doctors and (ii) nurses by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments was under her Departments contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
[324315]
Jonathan Shaw: The DWP do not hold any information regarding the amounts paid to Atos Healthcare staff. The setting of salaries is a matter between the provider and their employees. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments under her Departments contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will [324316] make a statement. Jonathan Shaw: The information is as follows: (a) (i) The number of contracted (sessional) part-time doctors employed by Atos Healthcare is as follows:
End February 2010644 End February 2009758 End February 2008880 End February 2007978
1999-2000 60,870 11,810 2000-01 64,365 12,560 2001-02 63,355 12,370 2002-03 62,640 12,295 2003-04 61,950 12,160 2004-05 60,085 11,795 2005-06 59,310 11,660 2006-07 58,870 11,560 2007-08 59,350 11,650 2008-09 59,790 11,700 Notes: 1. Figures up to 2004-05 are rounded to the nearest five 2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source: Information Directorate 100 per cent. data.
Work Capability Assessment Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the highest and lowest salaries were paid to (a) doctors and (b) nurses on (i) part-time and (ii) full-time contracts by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments under her Departments contract with Atos Origin in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement.
[324313]
Please note that not all contracted doctors will undertake ESA/IB assessmentshowever at February 2010 there were 539 who were. (a) (ii) The number of doctors who are full-time medical advisers (FTMAs) employed by Atos Healthcare for the completion of ESA/IB medical assessments expressed as full-time equivalents.
Jonathan Shaw: The DWP do not hold any information regarding the amounts paid to Atos Healthcare staff. The setting of salaries is a matter between the provider and their employees. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average number of days worked by (a) doctors and (b) nurses employed on part-time contracts by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments was under her Departments
Full-time equivalents are those doctors who work directly for Atos Healthcare but may have different working patterns. (b) (i) There are no nurses employed by Atos Healthcare as contracted (sessional) nurses. (b) (ii) The number of nurses employed by Atos Healthcare for the completion of ESA/IB medical assessments expressed as full-time equivalents.
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Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not allocate funding to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of the WWF Global Forest and Trade network. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in [324361] the last five years; and at what cost. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has built one smoking shelter, in the last five years, at their office in East Kilbride, Glasgow at a cost of 753.27. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in [324423] each of the last five years. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) created a small staff gymnasium in our office in East Kilbride in October 2005. This was part of a wider refurbishment project and the costs of the gymnasium cannot be separately identified. The gymnasium in our London office was redecorated in October 2009 at a cost of 2,589. There has been no other expenditure in our UK offices over the last five years on rooms provided for staff leisure. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324558] staff. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides subsidised gym facilities in both our UK offices. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 720W, on departmental information officers, what the (a) title and (b) division is of each of the embedded communicator posts.
[324399]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking with the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to improve the humanitarian situation in the camps for Rohingya [324136] refugees on the Bangladesh-Burma border. Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have raised the plight of the Rohinygas and their status with the Government of Bangladesh, both bilaterally and in concert with EU partners. Most recently, my right hon. friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Mike Foster raised the conditions of the Rohingyas in the camps with the Minister for the Environment and Forests during a meeting in London on 17 March. Officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka, including the High Commissioner, have visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas. Officials also held discussions with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 15 March in Dhaka. Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to provide assistance for Rohingya refugees in camps [324161] on the Bangladesh-Burma border. Mr. Douglas Alexander: UK support is channelled through our central contributions to the European Commission and United Nations agencies. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) manages the official camps. UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund also work with the refugees within the camps or in the surrounding communities. The European Commission is providing financial support. We have raised the plight of the Rohinygas and their status with the Government of Bangladesh, both bilaterally and in concert with EU partners. Officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka, including the High Commissioner, have visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas. Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department allocates to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of the WWF [324630] Global Forest and Trade Network.
Department 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 3. 9 Evaluation Department Human Resources Division Knowledge and Information Management Team Information Systems Department Country programmes - Africa Division Country programmes -Africa Division Ghana Country Office Kenya and Somalia Country Office Malawi Country Office
Mr. Michael Foster: The following posts include embedded communications staff employed primarily in a communications role outside the central communications unit at the Department for International Development (DFID).
Title Communications Adviser Internal Communications and E-Content Manager Change and Communications Manager Communications Specialist Head of Communications, Africa Communications Officer Communications and Information Manager Communications Officer Strategic Communications Officer
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Title Communications Officer Communications and IT Officer Communications Adviser Media and Communications Adviser Head of Communications Head of Communications, MECAB Head of Communications, SASO Press Officer Communications Manager Communications Adviser External Communications and Press Officer Communications Manager Communications Officer Head of Communications and Policy Support Head of Policy and Research Communications PRD Communications Team Leader GIG, Food and Agriculture Adviser E Communications Manager Online Communications Internal Communications, Planning, Publications Head of Communications and Secretariat Communications Manager Communications Manager- Climate Change Communications Adviser Strategic Communications Adviser Senior Communications Officer Strategic Communications Adviser
10. 11. 12. 13. 14 15. 16. 17. 13. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
Mozambique Country Office Rwanda Country Office South African Country Office Tanzania Country Office Uganda Country Office Country programmes - Middle East, Caribbean, Asia and British Overseas Territories Country programmes - South Asia Strategy and Operations Afghanistan Country Office Afghanistan Country Office India Country Office India Country Office Nepal Country Office Pakistan Country Office Pakistan Country Office Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department Policy and Research Department International Directorate - Directors Office International Directorate - Europe Department Stabilisation Unit
This does not include other staff who have the status of embedded communicators, but who work primarily on non-communications functions or technical support. Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1414W, on departmental temporary staff, how much was paid to (a) Manpower, (b) Margaret Hodge and (c) Josephine Sammons for services relating to the recruitment of temporary staff in each of the last [324366] three years. Mr. Michael Foster: Our records show that the following amounts were paid to Manpower, Margaret Hodge and Josephine Sammons for services relating to the recruitment of temporary staff in the last three financial years.
2009-101 2008-09 2007-08 4,438 213,993 222,822
steps his Department is taking to ensure that these funds are not used by the palm oil industry. [324629] Mr. Thomas: None of the 50 million will go to oil palm companies. DFID hopes to build on work the UK has begun with the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to agree credible environmental production standards and to secure their use by both producers and buyers. This could involve funding the RSPO itself, academic institutions supporting it and associated NGO networks. DFID expects that most of the funding will support programmes managed by organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, Oxfam, Transparency International and local non-government organisations who have rigorous auditing and accounting procedures and employ anticorruption safeguards. Palestinians: International Assistance Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the amount of charitable fundraising carried out in the UK for humanitarian purposes in Gaza via [325030] the Union of Good. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department of International Development (DFID) has not made an assessment of the amount of charitable fundraising carried out in the UK for humanitarian purposes in Gaza via the Union of Good. The Union of Good is not a registered charity in the UK.
Manpower 120,618 77,413 Margaret Hodge 223,679 305,299 Josephine Sammons 5,414 30,178 1 Financial year 2009-10 up to 24 March 2010.
Indonesia: Climate Change Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditions are attached to the 50 million funding to Indonesia announced in Davos on 29 January 2010 to help fight climate change by tackling deforestation; and what
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http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has funded in Sierra Leone since 2000; and how much [324082] his Department has spent on each. Mr. Thomas: Details of projects funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) in Sierra Leone from 2004 onwards can be found on the DFID website at:
Project title Budget Support for Government of Sierra Leone 2000 Police: Training for Public Order Activities Media project with Government of Sierra Leone: Redesign Team Budget Support and debt relief2000-01 Short wave transmitter: Peace Building Budget Support 2000Technical Cooperation Component Primary Health Care, Bo District Government of Sierra Leone Budget Planning Post Peace Radio Equipment Campaign for Good Governance Emergency Seeds and Tools Assistance Humanitarian Assistance to the Sierra Leone Police Force Police Project Community Safety 6 Year programme Water, Sanitation and Shelter Integrated Community Environment and Agriculture project National Workshop Emergency Watsan and Shelter Response CARE INTERNATIONAL Newly Displaced people Emergency Healthcare Response Programme Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission Project: 8 Year Project UK/EL) engineering Technical Support Government of Sierra Leone: Medium Term Expenditure Framework Refurbishment MoD HQ Paramount Hotel Technical Cooperation ICRC Sierra Leone Programme Conciliation Resources Social Development coordinator Support to Demobilisation Process 98 Government Assistance Programme: British Council Project Budget BureauStuart Kane Community Development Initiative Pujehun: 5 Year project Transition to Development: Refugee camps water/Sanitation Refurbishment Ministry of Defence HQ Paramount Hotel UK Contribution UNICEF Adult literacy training
Projects from the beginning of 2000 until mid-2004 are provided in the following table with individual commitment figures. Precise expenditure figures could be extracted from historic data only at disproportionate cost.
Start date 26 January 2000 1 February 2000 1 February 2000 1 March 2000 1 March 2000 1 March 2000 25 April 2000 26 May 2000 30 May 2000 30 May 2000 31 May 2000 31 May 2000 1 June 2000 27 July 2000 4 September 2000 11 September 2000 1 October 2000 9 October 2000 1 November 2000 1 November 2000 1 November 2000 29 November 2000 21 December 2000 31 January 2001 1 February 2001 1 February 2001 13 February 2001 26 February 2001 1 March 2001 1 March 2001 14 March 2001 30 March 2001 30 March 2001 1 April 2001 1 April 2001 1 April 2001 20 April 2001 26 April 2001 21 May 2001 29 May 2001 1 June 2001 1 August 2001 8 August 2001 21 August 2001 28 November 2001 19 February 2002
Commitment () 5,500,000 650,000 11,000 24,555,000 127,000 41,000 632,000 303,000 256,000 195,000 487,000 350,000 27,148,000 190,000 85,000 50,000 302,000 291,000 5,545,000 500,000 87,000 100,000 2,000,000 76,000 71,000 60,000 1,277,000 60,000 14,400,000 850,000 1,024,000 1,000,000 4,000 290,000 150,000 8,000 111,000 1,195,000 800,000 10,000 45,000 30,000,000 4,050,000 440,000 19,000 400,000
Technical assistance to National Commission-Reconstruction Rehabilitation Reintegration International Medical Corps: health care in Disarmament Demobilisation Reintegration centres Debt Recording and Management system project Mercy Ships: New Steps Medical Research Centre Tonkolili Media Development Project: Training Support to Ferry Assist Nat Commission Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration Budget Support to Gov of Sierra Leone 2001-04 Governance Reform Secretariat Phase 1: 7 Year Programme Strategy for the diamond producing areas World Bank Country Profile Budget support to Gov of Sierra Leone 2001-2004
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Start date 13 March 2002 26 March 2002 26 March 2002 26 March 2002 10 April 2002 22 April 2002 31 May 2002 1 June 2002 26 June 2002 2 July 2002 29 August 2002 19 September 2002 1 October 2002 1 October 2002 1 October 2002 1 November 2002 20 November 2002 1 December 2002 1 January 2003 4 February 2003 1 March 2003 20 March 2003 20 March 2003 20 March 2003 20 Mar 2003 31 March 2003 1 June 2003 11 July 2003 22 August 2003 1 October 2003 19 January 2004 1 March 2004 17 March 2004 18 March 2004 18 March 2004 19 March 2004 19 March 2004 29 March 2004 1 April 2004 13 May 2004 1 June 2004
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Commitment () 155,000 500,000 500,000 100,000 75,000 194,000 3,350,000 747,000 45,000 290,000 50,000 40,000 563,000 103,000 50,000 232,000 70,000 500,000 500,000 921,000 4,000,000 600,000 500,000 500,000 400,000 1,362,000 4,100,000 423,000 741,000 350,000 23,000 50,000 400,000 500,000 400,000 350,000 200,000 171,000 1,159,000 103,000 111,000
Second Governance and Corruption Survey UNICEF Water/sanitation ICRC Resettlement, Internally Displaced Peoples WHOHealth sector, Internally Displaced People Needs Post Flood Seed Distribution Sierra Leone: UNDP: Junior Programme Officer GTZ: ReAct: Programme in Kono and Kailahun: 3 Year project Promoting Peace, Security and Stability in Sierra Leone Chiefdom Governance Review Support to Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys Merlin Medical Research Centre Social Development Establishing access to emergency primary health Merlin Kono Civil Society Strategy Internally Displaced People Resettlement Programme CARE: Food Security Rights-Based Approach Social Development Adviser FREETOWN Decentralisation & Local Government 100% Debt Relief for Sierra Leone to UKs ECGD Sexual Assault. Referral. Centres. (SARC) Operation PEBU: Housing and sanitation: 5 year project Liberian and Ivorian Refugees ICRC APPEAL 2003 Sierra Leone Care of Liberian Refugees Control of Vaccine Preventable Diseases Improve Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Local Government Elections Phase V Health Care Tonkolili Support of Civil Society Good Governance and Human Rights Judges and Prosecutor Investment Environment Support to Improved Services UNICEF Malaria Prevention UNICEF Immunisation Programme UNHCR Assistance to Liberian Refugees Civil and Political Rights ICRC APPEAL 2004 Sierra Leone Oxfam GBs Women in Leadership Youth Empowerment Programme: 5 Year programme Merlin Lassa Emergency Funds Community Development Programme
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made to reducing the level of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone in the last five years.
[324083]
(FCO) to organise a forum with civil society counterparts on female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone. Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided to the Social Welfare Ministry in Sierra Leone in the last 12 months. [324084] Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not provided direct financial support to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Childrens Affairs (MSWGCA) in the last 12 months. DFID is supporting the International Rescue Committee UK (IRC UK) which is working closely with MSWGCA to implement the 2007 Gender Acts in Sierra Leone. Over the last 12 months IRC has spent 8,000 in UK aid on activities in direct support of the Ministry. As a condition of receiving assistance all NGOs including IRC have to submit annual audited statements as well as quarterly financial and reports.
Mr. Thomas: We are providing 16 million over three years specifically to improve the reproductive health of women in Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone the Department for International Development (DFID) has developed a Gender Action Plan to track its performance on a quarterly basis. The action plan has five key gender indicators, including the establishment of an informed public debate on female genital mutilation. We have been working closely with the World Bank, EU and African Development Bank to promote this discussion along with improving our joint work on gender issues more broadly. DFID has also collaborated with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Academies Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms exist for (a) parents and (b) staff to submit complaints [324350] about the operation of academies. Mr. Coaker: Academies are required by the independent school standards regulations to have a complaints procedure which must be available on request to parents. The procedure must provide for complaints to be managed within clear time scales. If initial informal consideration does not resolve the complaint, then the procedure must also include steps to escalate a complaint through both a formal written stage and, if necessary, a hearing before a panel that includes at least one member who is independent of the academy. If the complaint cannot be resolved at school level from the 1 April 2010, the Young Peoples Learning Agency (YPLA) will be the next route of redress. The YPLA will review the evidence provided by the complainant and the academy to determine if the academy has followed its own complaints procedure or is in breach of a contractual or statutory obligation. If the academy has not followed its procedures or obligations it will be asked to do so to rectify any failings. Ultimately a complaint can be referred to the Secretary of State on the grounds that a governing body is acting or proposing to act unreasonably or on the grounds that either has failed to discharge its duties. The same procedure as stated above also applies to staff who want to complain about academies.
Local authority Bradford Bradford Bradford Bristol Bristol Bristol Bristol Durham Hackney Hackney Haringey Haringey Haringey Haringey Haringey Haringey Haringey Islington Islington Islington Kent Kent Kent Kent Knowsley Knowsley Knowsley Knowsley Knowsley School Titus Salt School Tong High School Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College Bristol Brunei Academy Brislington Enterprise College Bristol Metropolitan College The Bridge Learning Campus Durham Johnston Stoke Newington School (Phase 1) Clapton Girls Technology College John Loughborough Highgate Wood Secondary School Alexandra Park School Gladesmore Community School Hornsey School for Girls Park View Academy Northumberland Park Community School Holloway School Highbury Grove + New Sixth Form Samuel Rhodes SEN School Dane Court School The Community College Whitstable Northfleet School for Girls (phase 1)
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what budgetary provision he has made for the Young Peoples Learning Agency to offer (a) support and (b) challenge of academies in 2010-11. [324847] Mr. Coaker: Provision has been made for 6.3 million to both support and challenge academies in financial year 2010-11, through School Improvement Partners, National Challenge Advisers, other education advisers and support delivered through the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In addition some academies will receive National Challenge funding in the same way that maintained schools do. These budgets will be held with the Department for Children, Schools and Families until the function for educational support and challenge of open academies transfers to the Young Peoples Learning Agency in September 2010. Building Schools for the Future Programme Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the total cost to each local education partnership of all completed Building Schools for the [322854] Future projects. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 18 March 2010]: Information about the total cost to each local education partnership of all completed major building projects within the Building Schools for the Future programme is set out in the following table. The information has been provided for those projects where actual costs are available. Estimated figures have not been provided for those projects where figures have not been validated.
Total project cost () 26,082,591 30,045,100 28,272,307 24,908,803 32,517,689 24,748,262
1 1 1 1
4,374,308 4,901,300 3,767,500 11,000,100 4,884,500 12,818,100 16,548,600

1
29,682,442 7,801,212 20,257,678 15,709,175 16,896,846 21,632,574 22,717,419 22,756,312 24,270,537 22,554,109 23,318,863
St. Georges Church of England Foundation School (phase 1) All Saints Centre for Learning St. Edmunds Arrowsmith Centre for Learning Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning Knowsley Park Centre for Learning - serving Prescot, Whitson and the wider community Kirkby Sports College
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Local authority Knowsley Knowsley Lambeth Lambeth Lambeth Lambeth Lambeth Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leicester Leicester Leicester Leicester Lewisham Lewisham Liverpool Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle Newham Nottingham Nottingham Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield Solihull Solihull Solihull Solihull South Tyneside South Tyneside Sunderland Sunderland Sunderland Sunderland Waltham Forest Waltham Forest Waltham Forest Westminster Westminster Westminster
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Total project cost () 21,544,188 25,907,121 27,405,971 8,594,996 6,453,801 7,314,003 25,019,726 33,520,972 31,443,101 29,110,960 18,086,760 30,082,904 28,010,373
1
Christ the King Catholic and Church of England Centre for Learning Halewood Centre for Learning Stockwell Park Elm Court Special School Park Campus The Michael Tippett School Elmgreen School (temporary accommodation) Sir John Thursby Community College Burnley Campus (Thomas Whitham Sixth Form) Pendle Vale Campus Shuttleworth College Swallow Hill Community College Allerton Grange Cockburn College of Arts Allerton High School Pudsey Grangefield School Rodillian School Temple Moor High School Crawshaw Soar Valley College Judgemeadow Community College Beaumont Leys Fullhurst Community College Catford Sedgehill Lower Lee SEN School Enterprise Academy Health Academy Our Ladys RC Sports College (Higher Blackley Education Village) St. Matthews RC High School Newall Green High School Gorton Education Village St. Pauls and Piper Hill Gorton Education Village (Melland High School) Meade Hill (Part of Higher Blackley Education Village) Buglawton Hall Kenton School Benfield School (phase 1 of refurb) Walbottle Campus Technology College Thomas Bewick (Previous PFI delivered by LEP) Brampton Manor School Big Wood Hadden Park High School (phase 1) Yewlands Technology College (two phases) Talbot Special School Newfield Secondary School Silverdale Secondary School Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School Smiths Wood Park Hall School Lanchester School Mortimer Community College Jarrow School Red House Academy Castle View Enterprise Academy Academy 360 Washington School Walthamstow School for Girls Frederick Bremer Kelmscott School Westminster City Boys St. Marylebone CE Pimlico
23,473,509 21,992,309 27,854,391

1 1
20,870,870 15,977,428 14,098,418 11,887,293 19,891,414 36,978,754

1 1 1 1 1
15,750,974 21,972,628 22,707,211

1 1 1
34,182,913 11,950,826 34,892,016 9,342,697 8,499,260 19,204,412 11,975,940 19,010,769 12,032,641 24,665,265 27,034,073 22,313,974 23,941,041 22,288,417 8,637,217 10,165,175 17,513,966
1 1 1 1
18,231,000 20,061,000 11,115,000 14,818,603 17,155,000 33,286,000
Total project cost awaiting validation
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The total project cost includes all elements that go into the construction of a school building. This includes: the cost of the building; the fixed and loose furniture and equipment; cost incurred to the building beyond the designers control; external works; contractors preliminaries; professional fees; overheads and profit; inflation during the construction period; and contingencies. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the geographical location of subcontractors tendering for work under the Building Schools for the Future [324081] programme. Mr. Coaker: The Department has issued no guidance to local authorities on the geographical location of subcontractors tendering for work under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. It is for each local authority in the BSF programme to determine its own approach to the use of local contractors bearing in mind local employment initiatives and ensuring that that the local authority acts in compliance with its obligations under procurement law. Children: Abuse Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to bring forward proposals for the protection of children [322832] in suspected cases of domestic violence. Ms Diana R. Johnson: Keeping children safe from all forms of abuse is a top priority for the Government. The Government recognise the strong links between safeguarding concerns and domestic violence. All professionals working with or who come into contact with children and their families, including those working in health or education, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. If they have reason to believe that a child is at risk from harm as a result of domestic violence, they should follow the same steps to raise this concern as they would for any other child at risk of abuse. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) and What To Do If Youre Worried a Child Is Being Abused (2006) provide guidance for professionals on the impact of domestic violence on children and stress the need for awareness of those links. The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit and the National MARAC Steering Group chaired by the Home Office will be working with key partners over the next few months to develop guidance for local MARAC partnerships to ensure that the cases of children which are most at risk of harm in families affected by domestic violence are indentified and prioritised. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Departments policy is on helping children affected by domestic abuse through (a) training professionals to consider the needs of the children involved and (b) provision of support services for children and families affected.
[322918]
Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have a responsibility to ensure that single-agency and inter-agency training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is provided in order to meet local needs. LSCBs should also evaluate the quality of the training, ensuring that relevant training is provided by individual organisations and checking that the training is reaching the relevant staff within organisations. The Government are providing over 170 million for 2009-11 for local authorities, working with partners, to implement Think Family reforms and projects to secure better outcomes for children and families with additional needs, including those affected by domestic violence. Key to these reforms and projects is co-ordinating the support these families receive from children, adult and family services. In particular, family intervention projects are working intensively with families with complex needs, including those affected by domestic violence, though key workers and multi-agency whole family support plans. The Government have committed to expand family intervention projects to 10,000 families a year from 2012-13. Children: Social Services Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take under the new burdens commitment to fund local authorities to implement recommendations made following investigations of the circumstances surrounding the death of Baby P. [320741] Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 March 2010]: Following the tragic case of Baby Peter, Ministers asked Lord Laming to prepare an independent report on progress nationally on child protection. Lord Laming published his report in March 2009 and the Government accepted all his recommendations. We announced a new 58 million Social Work Transformation Fund to provide an immediate boost for social work training, support, recruitment and retention. This is in addition to the 73 million for the children and families social work workforce already allocated from 2008 to 2011 and the 100 million each year to fund social worker initial training, bursaries and practice placements. Following consultation, we will shortly be publishing revised statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children to reflect Lord Lamings recommendations, recognise changes in the policy landscape, and help clarify roles and responsibilities between organisations and agencies. Local areas should already be delivering effective arrangements to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, and the revisions to the guidance will re-emphasise the need for the consistent application of effective practice. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber approved an extension of the deadline for the publication of the serious case review into the death of Child BO5 in Doncaster; and for what reasons on each [323264] occasion. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 22 March 2010]: Child BO5 died in October 2004 and the serious case review was initiated in November 2005. No procedure
Ms Diana R. Johnson: Keeping children safe from all forms of harm, including the effects of domestic violence, is a top priority for the Government.
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existed at that time whereby Local Safeguarding Children Boards were expected to discuss the proposed extension of deadlines for the completion of serious case reviews with Government offices for the regions. Accordingly, the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber played no part in extending of the deadline for the Child BO5 serious case review. Departmental Official Cars Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of (a) Ministers and (b) [301187] officials in the last 12 months. Ms Diana R. Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement about the cost of ministerial cars made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 16 July 2009, Official Report, columns 79-80WS. For the cost of cars to officials, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 2 December 2009, Official Report, column 762W. Departmental Public Expenditure Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on (a) consultants, (b) advertising, (c) publishing, (d) public relations, (e) professional training and (f) other activities for each programme campaign (i) run by the Department and (ii) commissioned from other organisations in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09; and which organisations ran each campaign which was not run by his Department.
[306825]
Information relating to publications and other activities cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate cost.
Table A: Advertising Total spend () 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Table B: Public relations Total spend () 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 596,545 1,168,869 2,333,000 4,023,403 8,300,254 6,573,885 4,659,786 13,891,106
Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.
[323858]
Ms Diana R. Johnson: Promotional campaigns, including those using advertising, are funded from the Departments central Advertising and Publicity Budget and from individual programme budgets held by policy directorates. It is therefore not possible to establish a definitive figure for all advertising and promotion, except at disproportionate cost. Advertising is part of a full integrated promotional campaign. We are able to separate the Departments spend on campaign advertising, as this is centrally placed through the Central Office of Information. These figures are media total and exclude production, fees and VAT and are outlined in the Table A. Public relations agencies are employed for specific communications tasks, most commonly working alongside our press office to provide campaign support in local, regional and specialist media. The Departments expenditure on public relations is outlined in Table B. There has been no professional training undertaken for campaigns in the four years in question. The nature and diversity of consultancy streams that may have been used since 2005 means that a full survey of spend would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 23 March 2010]: The Department seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. The methodology used to determine whether answers to these questions could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost was the Departments guidance on the Calculation of the Disproportionate Cost threshold for answering PQs which is based on the guidance published on the Cabinet Offices website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/ chapter7.aspx
Officials in the Department have concluded that answering these questions in full would exceed the current disproportionate cost threshold of 800 as announced in Parliament by the Treasury on the 20 January 2010. These questions are very broad in scope covering all of the Departments policies over a number of years. To identify the effects of all policies on an individual constituency, collate all of the data and carry out the necessary quality assurance would require a considerable amount of resource, far in excess of the threshold. The round robin guidance issued by the Treasury for these questions advised directing questioners to the Neighbourhood Statistics Service website, however, while the Department has placed considerable amounts of data on this website, it is not at constituency level. My officials, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, decided to answer the questions by providing the requested information which was readily available and provided readily available attainment data at constituency level and a link to the Departments In Your Area website where the Department publishes further local level data including data at parliamentary constituency level. It
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would only be possible for the Department to provide additional information by exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold. Education: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been provided by his Department (a) for education maintenance allowances, (b) under the Entry to Employment programme and (c) under the Behaviour Improvement programme since the introduction of each such scheme; and how many people in Birmingham have received assistance under each of those schemes.
[321573]
million 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 E2E Funding 52 109 120 142 260 407 503 533 532 569
Mr. Iain Wright: Investment in education maintenance allowance (EMA), Entry to Employment (E2E) and the Behaviour Improvement programme (BIP) provision since the introduction of the schemes is shown for each year in the following tables:
EMA million 1999-2000 11
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
73,588 206,329 246,583 222,373 186,815 174,853 170,000 223,000
BIP 2002-03 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Total 29,225,003 29,225,003 2003-04 48,653,015 36,400,000 85,053,015 2004-05 44,200,000 33,850,000 20,280,000 98,330,000 2005-06 38,542,400 29,525,600 19,088,000 39,000,000 126,156,000 Total 160,620,418 99,775,600 39,368,000 39,000,000 338,764,018
The following tables show the number of young people in Birmingham who have benefited from EMA and E2E. Data are not held on the number of young people in Birmingham who have benefited from the BIP programme.
EMA Area type LA Area name Birmingham 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/091 2009/102
1
E2E Number of young people 2008-09 1,762 1 906 2009-10 1 Year to date for 2009/10 (up-to-date as of 17 February 2010)
Number of people 12,749 14,182 16,593 17,117 17,516 18,599
Educational Maintenance Allowance: City of York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many education maintenance allowances have been paid to young people from the City of York in each year since [322120] 2004-05. Mr. Iain Wright: This information is held by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). I have asked the LSCs chief executive, Geoff Russell, to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested. Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 22 March 2010:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question 322120 that asked: How many education maintenance allowances have been paid to young people from City of York in each year since 2004-05. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year. EMA take-up for York Local Authority area during each academic year since inception is as follows:
Year to date for 2009/10 (up-to-date as of 17 February 2010) 2 Year to date - 28 August 2009 to 31 January 2010.
In 2008/09 and 2009/10 some applicants were not recorded against any particular LA or region but were included in the total take-up figure for England. In consequence, LA and regional data may be underestimated.
E2E Number of young people 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 1,694 1,712 1,570 1,518 1,587
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Number 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 (to end January 2010) 590 1,178 1,327 1,392 1,409 1,490
In comparing across years, it is important to understand that national roll-out was phased over several years. In the first year EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas. In 2005/06 EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. From 2006/07 EMA was available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally. EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 is available on the LSC website, at the following address: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/ EMA_take_up.htm
for children to be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and/or receive specialist vocal tuition at key stage 2. The allocation of an extra 23 million a year since 2007-08, along with our strong guidance to local authorities to focus efforts on reaching 100 per cent. of the key stage 2 population, has had a significant impact on widening access to instrumental and vocal tuition. In addition, Sing Up, the national singing programme has received 10 million a year from 2007 to provide resources and professional development for teachers to lead singing in primary schools. While support has focused on widening access to instrumental and vocal tuition for primary school pupils, Tune InYear of Music was launched last September and this initiative is promoting musical activities across the country for 0 to 19-year-olds. Playgrounds Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in the construction of the (a) 3,500 outdoor play areas and (b) 300 staffed adventure playgrounds referred to in the 2007 Childrens Plan. [318417] Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 24 February 2010]: Following the commitments made in the Childrens Plan in 2007 and the national Play Strategy in 2008, every top-tier local authority in England has been receiving funding through the play capital investment programme since April 2009. Of the 152 top-tier local authorities, 30 are play pathfinder authorities and the remaining 122 local authorities are all play builder authorities. On average every play pathfinder authority receives around 2 million capital funding and 500,000 revenue funding over the current spending period 2008-09 to 2010-11. They will use this funding to deliver a minimum of 28 play areas plus a staffed adventure playground. The play builder authorities receive around 1 million capital and 45,000 revenue funding over the same spending period and will deliver a minimum of 22 play areas. The play areas that are delivered can be either completely new areas or existing areas which are significantly refurbished. Decisions on where the allocated capital funding is spent within local authority boundaries are taken locally, based on grant requirements which state that: improved play spaces must be provided where they are most needed, and as a result of a robust consultation process involving local children and young people, families and wider communities. The number of outdoor public play areas delivered by local authorities since the programme began in April 2008 is 1,152 and plans are well under way to ensure that the target of 3,500 play areas completed by the end of March 2011 is achieved. Of the 30 staffed adventure playgrounds, 20 are due to be delivered by the end of March 2010 with local authorities managing the impact of the recent extreme weather. The remaining 10 adventure playgrounds will be delivered by the end of March 2011. Schools: Preston Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in Preston deemed to be failing have since reached a [311240] satisfactory standard since 1997.
Home Education Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms are in place to ensure home-schooled children have (a) information about and (b) access to examination [319342] centres. Mr. Iain Wright: The Report to the Secretary of State on the Review of Elective Home Education in England (the Badman Report) recommended that local authorities should support home-educated children and young people in finding appropriate examination centres, and provide entries free to all home-educated candidates who have demonstrated sufficiently their preparedness, for all DCSF funded qualifications. The Government have accepted this recommendation, and the Departments statutory guidance to local authorities on registration and monitoring will set out the steps they should take to work with schools and FE colleges to identify suitable examination and assessment centres for home-educated children. A draft of this guidance will be issued for consultation later this year. The Government also welcome the work of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the Association of Colleges (AoC), who are considering how they can encourage and support schools and further education colleges to provide a better service to home educators and other private candidates. QCDA recently published a leaflet, Accepting Private Candidates, to provide examination centres with practical advice, and to alleviate any unjustified concerns they might have. Music: Education Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage participation in specialist instrumental or vocal tuition amongst (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in maintained schools.
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Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 28 January 2010]: The standards fund music grant to local authorities has, since 2006-07, included a formula-based allocation
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Mr. Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries. Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 19 January 2010:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majestys Chief Inspector, for response. Prior to September 2005 inspections were carried out under the school inspection frameworks commonly known as Section 10. Since September 2005, inspections have been carried out under the school inspection frameworks commonly known as Section 5. Under the current and previous inspection frameworks, Ofsted inspections do not use the term failing. Instead, if inspectors judge that a schools overall effectiveness is inadequate or very poor, the school will be placed into a category of concern. Under Section 10 these categories were called serious weaknesses and
special measures. Under Section 5 the categories are called notice to improve and special measures. This response takes into account any school in the parliamentary constituency of Preston which has been placed into any category of concern since September 1997. Of all the inspections carried out by Ofsted in maintained schools in Preston between September 1997 and August 2009, sixteen have resulted in the school being placed in a category of concern. One school has been placed into a category of concern on two separate occasions and so appears twice in the figures. Three of the fifteen schools affected closed before being removed from the category of concern. The remaining twelve have all been removed from any category following a reinspection. As at the end of August 2009, no school in Preston was in a category of concern. Table A below provides a list of the individual schools. A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
URN 119229 119603 119430 119700 119804 119354 119709 119333 119866 119743 119709 119237 119608 119443 119365 119105
School name Eldon Primary School Preston St. Matthews Church of England Primary School St. Josephs Catholic Primary School, Preston St. Teresas Catholic Primary School, Preston The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School City of Preston High School Fishwick Primary School Moorbrook School Walton le Dale Arts College and High School City of Preston High School The Roebuck School St. Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, Preston St. Wilfrids RC Primary School Bamber Bridge St. Saviours Church of England Primary School Preston Tutorial Centre
Phase Primary Primary Primary Primary Primary Primary Secondary Primary Special Secondary Secondary Primary Primary Primary Primary PRU
Inspection framework Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10 Section 5 Section 5 Section 5 Section 5 Section 5 Section 10 Section 10 Section 10
Category of concern Special measures Special measures Serious weakness Serious weakness Serious weakness Special measures Serious weakness Special measures Notice to improve Notice to improve Special measures Notice to improve Notice to improve Special measures Serious weakness Special measures
Date removed from the category 5 February 2001 4 June 2001 10 September 2001 5 November 2001 20/05/2002 9 December 2002 12 May 2003 30 June 2003 29 February 2008 20 May 2008 23 April 2009 24 June 2009 7 July 2009 Closed Closed Closed
Sixth Form Education: Complaints Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to whom a complaint from (a) a student and (b) an apprentice aged between 16 and 19 years and attending a (i) further education college and (ii) sixth form college will be referred if the student is dissatisfied with that colleges response to their complaint after 1 April 2010; and if he will make [323297] a statement. Mr. Iain Wright: The current policy for complaints from a student or an apprentice aged between 16 and 19 years and attending a further education college or a sixth-form college is that they can complain to the relevant regional office of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which funds the further education college or sixth-form college in question. The LSC would only consider such complaints once the colleges own internal complaints procedure has been fully exhausted. From 1 April 2010, complaints from learners aged 16-19 in a further education college will be dealt with by
the chief executive of Skills Funding. Complaints about sixth-form colleges will be dealt with by the relevant local authority and subsequently directed to the local government ombudsman if the complainant continues to remain dissatisfied. All complaints from apprentices will be directed to the Skills Funding Agency after exhausting the provider mechanisms. We will keep this policy under review. Social Services: Doncaster Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the report entitled Organisation and Management Review of Duty and Assessment and Urban CSSW Teams written by Bron Sanders for Doncaster metropolitan borough council in March 2007 was taken into account in the preparation of the full serious case review into the death of Child AO6 in Doncaster which was published [316197] in executive summary in July 2007. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 8 February 2010]: The preparation and content of serious case reviews are
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the responsibility of the appropriate Local Safeguarding Children Board, in accordance with statutory guidance contained in the Government publication Working Together To Safeguard Children. In the case mentioned, it would have been for Doncaster Safeguarding Children Board to decide what reports to take into account when undertaking the serious case review. Teachers: Leeds Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many full-time teaching positions in maintained schools in Leeds local authority area are (a) vacant and (b) filled by [324586] part-time or temporary staff. Mr. Coaker: In January 2009, the latest information available, there were 13 advertised vacant posts for full-time teachers in local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Leeds local authority that were either uncovered or filled by a teacher on a contract of less than one term. In addition there were a further 65 teaching posts available to permanent full-time teachers that were being filled by teachers with a contract of more than one term but less than one year. These vacancies include posts where a permanent teacher has been appointed but was not in post and exclude posts where the incumbent is on sick, maternity or other paid leave. Information on the number of full-time posts that are covered by part-time teachers is not collected centrally. This information is from the Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, (618g). Provisional national level vacancy information for 2010 is due to be published on 26 May. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers in maintained schools in Leeds local authority area have left their position for reasons other than retirement in [324587] each of the last five years. Mr. Coaker: Information on the number of teachers who have left service in the last five years is not available at local authority level because the data source is not complete enough to provide a reliable estimate.
senior representative of the Highways Agency met with the councils Cabinet Member for Environmental Services to resolve the issues concerning litter on the A13 in Thurrock. I am not aware of any other correspondence from Thurrock borough council regarding this matter. Automatic Number Plate Recognition Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1192W, on automatic number plate recognition, whether a privacy impact assessment was undertaken in relation to the use of automatic number plate recognition for civil parking and civil traffic enforcement. [324836] Mr. Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 179W. British Transport Police: Sweet Concepts Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 156W, on Central Office of Information: marketing, what promotional products were purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. on behalf of [324406] British Transport Police; and at what cost. Chris Mole: I understand that the products concerned were predominantly promotional bags of sweets used by the British Transport Police at community engagement and rail safety events. The total cost over the three year period 2006-07 to 2008-09 was 9,630 plus VAT. Bus Services Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the (a) number of and (b) percentage change in bus usage in (i) York and (ii) England in the last five years.
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Mr. Khan: The following table shows the number of bus journeys in England over the last five years and the annual percentage increases.
Bus passenger journeys for England, 2004-05 to 2008-09 Percentage Old basis New basis change on (million) (million) previous year 2004-05 4,299 +1.6 2005-06 4,360 +1.4 2006-07 4,648 +6.6 2007-081 4,715 4,628 +1.4 2008-09 4,701 +1.6 1 There is a break in the time series of estimated passenger journeys in 2007-08 due to a change in the estimation methodology. Figures are shown on both the old and new basis for that year. The next planned release of Bus and Light Rail Statistics, due on 17 June 2010 will include figures on the new basis for years prior to 2007-08. Source: PSV Survey of Bus and Coach Operators.
TRANSPORT A13: Litter Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons (a) the Highways Agency and (b) he has not replied to a letter from Thurrock Borough Council on contract compliance in respect of the Connect Plus Groups obligation to collect rubbish and litter from, and to clean, the A13 highway in Thurrock; and if he will [324228] make a statement. Chris Mole: The Highways Agency received a letter regarding this matter on 2 February from Thurrock borough council and it was copied to the Secretary of State for Transport. An email response was sent by the Highways Agency on 4 February 2010. Subsequently, a
Bus patronage data for the city of York unitary authority cannot be made available from the same source as they are commercially confidential.
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Information at a local authority level is, however, available from the National Indicator Set. These data are not consistent with the DFTs published patronage estimates above and have not gone through the same reconciliation and consistency checks. The following table shows National Indicator 177 (Local bus and light rail passenger journeys originating in the authority area) figures for the city of York.
Bus passenger journeys for City of York, 2004-05 to 2008-09 Percentage change on NI 177 (thousand) previous year 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Source: LA National Indicator 177 14,300 14,494 15,144 14,853 15,334 +1.4 +4.5 -1.9 +3.2
(2) what legislative authority he has to fund local authorities to restore cliff slippages that threaten (a) rail and (b) road links; and if he will make a statement;
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(3) what recent (a) meetings he has had with and (b) representations he has received from Southend Borough Council on cliff slippages that threaten (i) rail and (ii) road links; what the (A) location and (B) duration was of each meeting; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; [324393] and if he will make a statement; (4) what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department on cliff slippages that threaten (i) rail and (ii) road links in the last 10 years; [324394] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport provided 1 million funding to Southend borough council in January 2008 for highway repairs to prevent damage occurring to rail and road links from a cliff slippage. The Department for Transport met with officials from the authority and their consultant prior to the submission of a business case by the authority seeking this funding. No record was made of the meeting which took place in Southend. The funding for this highway maintenance scheme will be provided under Section 31 of Local Government Act 2003. The Department for Transport has not conducted any specific research on cliff slippages that threaten rail and road links. The Highways Agency continues to monitor and provides support on research conducted on chalk cliff stability. Current research is of a localised nature e.g. cliff monitoring initiatives being carried out in the Brighton and Hove District. The Highways Agency have identified that there may be future collaboration opportunities for research in this field available through the INTERREG programme (interested parties include Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton University, Leeds University and Chalk Rock Ltd). Government resilience policy for events which result from incidents of instability are a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). Southend borough council have not discussed cliff stabilisation issues with CLG recently. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff. [324554] Chris Mole: Within the Department for Transport subsidised gym facilities for staff are only provided at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA provides the accommodation and covers the overheads (such as electricity), which then allows the agency to keep the cost of membership to a minimum. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has constructed smoking shelters at its London premises [325118] for the use of its staff since May 2008.
Bus Services: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for concessionary bus travel in Birmingham since the inception of that scheme.
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Mr. Khan: The administration of the concessionary travel scheme in Birmingham is carried out by Centra, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive. The Government provide funding for concessionary travel in Birmingham through two channels: formula grant to Birmingham city council and special grant to West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA). Before 1 April 2008, funding for the statutory minimum bus concession was provided exclusively through the formula grant system. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant and as such it is not possible to identify how much formula grant has been allocated to local authorities for any particular service, such as concessionary travel for older and disabled people. From April 2008, the Department for Transport has provided additional special grant funding to local authorities to cover the extra costs of providing England-wide travel, of which WMITA received 12,352,518 in 2008-09 and 12,643,851 in 2009-10. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) continues to provide the bulk of concessionary travel funding to local authorities through formula grant. The Department for Transport also provided WMITA with 2,185,500 in 2007-08 for the cost of producing and issuing the new England-wide bus passes to all those eligible. Coastal Erosion Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how much he (a) has given in the last three financial years and (b) plans to give in the next three financial years to local authorities in (i) Essex and (ii) England to restore cliff slippages that threaten (A) rail and (B) road links; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a [324391] statement;
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Chris Mole: No smoking shelters have been built in the Departments London headquarter premises since May 2008. Departmental Contracts Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts [324789] let by his Department. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not have a specific policy relating to offshore contracts. However, the Department conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Governments value for money policies and principles in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework, including the principles of nondiscrimination, the EU procurement directives and the UKs international obligations. The Department follows these policy principles in respect of tender evaluations. The ability to deliver the contract is always a key consideration in the tender evaluation. Any tender proposal involving the offshore relocation of services would be given the appropriate level of consideration in the context of security and any other matter relevant to the requirement. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within [324969] buildings occupied by his Department. Chris Mole: The information requested is not centrally recorded and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in [324801] real terms. Chris Mole: Press office activities across the Department are not exclusively carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose. Press officer function pay costs have been estimated for 2008-09 in the following table.
Press officer activities 2008-09 DFT Central Driving Standards Agency Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Government Car and Despatch Agency Highways Agency Maritime and Coastguard Agency Vehicle Certification Agency Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Payroll cost (000) 823 123 181 0 540 156 0 47
The Department for Transport was created in May 2002. Records of costs for 1996-97 are not readily available owing to departmental and agency re-organisations and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five [324710] years; and what such items were. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not spent any money on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years apart from the Government Car Despatch Agency who spent 818 in 2006-07 on desk planners. Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Khan: The information used by the Department in responding to these questions was readily available on the Departments or the local authorities websites or from the Government offices for the regions. The risk of incurring disproportionate cost did not therefore arise. East Coast Railway Line: Franchises Mr. Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what penalty payments (a) NXEC and (b) National Express made to his Department following the termination of their tenure of the East [324590] Coast Main Line franchise. Chris Mole: As a result of the termination of the NXEC franchise, the Department for Transport called both the performance and the season ticket bonds maintained by the company. These were valued at 31.4 million and 4.8 million respectively. Additionally, before the termination and in accordance with their franchise agreement, National Express was required to provide 40 million of financial support to NXEC to maintain the financial ratios specified in NXECs franchise agreement. This represents a nonrefundable cost to National Express. East London Line Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what representations his Department has received from (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Lewisham Councils Executive Mayor on funding a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the [325019] extended East London Line.
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Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has received a number of representations from Transport for London, the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Lewisham in relation to the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road. Transport for London and Lewisham have also submitted a business case in relation to the new station. Officials at the Department continue to discuss this business case with officials from Transport for London and Lewisham council. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has informed (a) Transport for London and (b) Lewisham Council that it will contribute to the funding of a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East [325020] London Line. Mr. Khan: The business case for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road was submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council late last year. The Department for Transport had a number of concerns with the business case provided and officials have been discussing these issues with both parties. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the demand projections made by Transport for London for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London [325021] Line. Mr. Khan: The business case and the demand projections for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal road were provided by Transport for London. Some concerns have been noted with regard to the projected demand levels at the station when compared with other neighbouring stations. The specific concern was that projected demand levels at the station were similar to or higher than other stations in established residential and shopping locations with significantly higher levels of train service, such as New Cross Gate and Peckham Rye. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what process his Department is undertaking to evaluate the case for a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line; and if he will make a statement. [325022] Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport is assessing the business case submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council to ensure that it is robust; that it is based on realistic future population and employment forecasts; and that it accords with the appraisal criteria used for all transport schemes that the Department is asked to fund. It is important that this process is carried out to ensure that taxpayers money is being used effectively and that the proposed benefits will be realised. The appraisal criteria, Webtag, is available on the Department for Transports website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/index.php
Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what meetings he has had with representatives of First Capital Connect in each of the last six months; and if he will place in the Library a [320898] copy of the minutes of each such meeting. Chris Mole: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 January 2010, Official Report, column 877W. In addition, a meeting was held on 2 February 2010 between the Secretary of State, the Chief Executive of First Group, the Managing Director of First UK Rail and the Managing Director of First Capital Connect. The minutes of the meetings on 12 November 2009 and 2 February 2010 have been placed in the Library of the House. Mr. Wareing: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the operation of First Capital Connect; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of withdrawing its franchise and taking [324644] its operations into public ownership. Chris Mole: A number of representations have been received regarding the operation of First Capital Connect from Members of Parliament and passengers. Since 18 January 2010, when First Capital Connects full timetable was reinstated, we have continued to monitor performance closely and the indication is that First Capital Connect is returning to pre-disruption levels of service. To date, no Event of Default, as set out in the Franchise Agreement has occurred. Galileo Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate has been made of the number of satellites which can be launched and maintained within the 3.4 billion [324525] funding ceiling for the Galileo project. Paul Clark: The 3.4 billion budget is the cost for full operational capability (FOC) of the Galileo system which is to build all necessary space and ground-based infrastructures, including the launch of 30 satellites. The European Commission let a contract for 14 satellites in January this year. The procurement process is still ongoing so the final contract prices are not yet known. Costs related to the maintenance of the Galileo system fall to the next European Financial Perspective starting in 2014. The European Commission will come forward later this year with a mid-term review of the programme which will make proposals for the operation and maintenance of the system. Heathrow Airport: Noise Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the total (a) area and (b) population was within the (i) 57, (ii) 60, (iii) 63, (iv) 66, (v) 69 and (vi) 72 dBA noise contours at Heathrow Airport in each year from 2000 to 2009.
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Area sq km 6.4
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Population 700
Paul Clark: The following statistics have been extracted from the annual aircraft noise contour reports covering Heathrow airport, which are available on the Departments website. They relate to the actual modal split contours. Standard contoursbased on a 20 year average of east/west splitsare also available in the reports.
Leq level dBA 2000 57 60 63 66 69 72 2001 57 60 63 66 69 72 2002 57 60 63 66 69 72 2003 57 60 63 66 69 72 2004 57 60 63 66 69 72 2005 57 60 63 66 69 72 2006 57 60 63 66 69 117.4 63.9 38.4 23.3 11.9 258,000 110,200 51,200 15,900 3,600 117.2 64.4 39.1 23.7 12.4 6.5 251,700 110,500 51,800 16,400 3,900 800 117.4 66.7 40.3 24.4 13.3 6.5 239,700 105,300 55,900 21,000 5,700 1,500 126.9 71.1 43.8 28.1 15.6 8.3 263,700 128,600 64,600 28,800 8,000 2,500 126.9 71.9 43.8 28.7 16.4 8.4 258,300 122,600 64,200 29,300 8,600 2,900 117.4 68.1 41.2 25.5 14.1 7.1 240,400 108,000 54,900 21,500 6,800 1,500 135.6 78.7 48.2 30.9 19.0 10.2 275,200 138,700 71,900 29,200 11,500 3,100 Area sq km Population
Leq level dBA 72 2007 57 60 63 66 69 72 20081
119.6 65.3 37.6 23.1 12.2 6.4
251,900 100,400 45,100 16,200 3,700 700
57 123.1 268,450 60 66.2 103,650 63 37.7 47,100 66 22.8 15,950 69 11.8 3,900 72 6.1 650 1 Contour reports for 2000-07 contain population figures rounded to nearest 100. In 2008 population figures were provided to nearest 50.
Figures for 2009 will be published as soon as they are available. Hotels Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many and what proportion of all hotel bookings made by his Department were made through the Expotel facility in the last year for which [324409] figures available. Chris Mole: Department for Transport (central) made 2,328 bookings for overnight accommodation through Expotel in 2008-09, Highways Agency made 2,937 and Maritime and Coastguard Agency made 145. In each case bookings made by other means are not recorded centrally so the information defining Expotel bookings as a proportion of the total could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the same period Driving Standards Agency (DSA) made 187 bookings through Expotel, amounting to 0.9 per cent. of the DSA total, and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) made 4,998 such bookings representing 94.08 per cent. of the DVLA total. Government Car and Despatch Agency, Vehicle Certification Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency could provide this information only at disproportionate cost. Kemble-Swindon Railway Line Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the number of passengers on and (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham [324820] and Swindon in each of the last five years. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of (a) the number of passengers on and (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon in each of the last five years. The franchised train operator running services between Cheltenham and Swindon is First Great Western. Therefore,
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the hon. Member should contact First Great Westerns Managing Director at the following address for a response to his question:
Mr. Mark Hopwood Managing Director First Great Western Milford House 1 Milford Street Swindon SN11HL
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) First Great Western, (b) the South West Regional Development Agency and (c) the European Commission on the provision of additional funding for the redoubling of the Swindon [324834] to Kemble line. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is in regular dialogue with First Great Western, Network Rail and local stakeholders, including the South West Regional Development Agency, on the funding and development of the Swindon to Kemble re-doubling project. The European Commission will consider the case for grant funding alongside other projects from across the Community. Lorry Drivers: Licensing Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 15 March 2010, Official Report, column 621W, on the Traffic Commissioners, how many heavy goods licences have been amended or revoked following representations [324826] from local authorities in the last 12 months. Paul Clark: From April 2009 to date the traffic commissioners have reviewed six goods vehicle operators licences under section 30 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 as a result of complaints received from local authorities and/or local residents. Of these, four resulted in licences being continued with amendments and two were allowed to continue without change. Network Rail Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what information his Department holds on the number of unfilled vacancies [325226] in Network Rails maintenance function; (2) what discussions he has had with Network Rail on adjustment of its figures for redundancies in the control period (a) 2009 to 2014 and (b) 2014 to 2019;
[325227]
On 3 March the Office of Rail Regulation announced the outcome of its review of Network Rails proposals for the restructuring of its maintenance function, and its support for Network Rails goal of introducing greater efficiency into its maintenance practices in ways that sustain and improve safety. Network Rail has discussed its proposals in the course of its routine meetings with Ministers. On 25 March the Office of Rail Regulation made clear that Network Rails proposed new structure and revised key standards support their joint aims of safer and more efficient maintenance. Official Cars: Expenditure Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost was of providing Ministerial cars in each of the last five years.
[324821]
Paul Clark: Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statement and are available in the Libraries of the House. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.
[324248]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not undertaken costing of the policies of the (a) Conservative party and (b) Liberal Democrat party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months. Public Transport: West Midlands Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for the purpose of maintaining and extending (a) roads, (b) railway services, (c) bus services, (d) cycle lanes and (e) other transport services in (i) Birmingham and (ii) the West [325163] Midlands in each year since 1997. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport publishes estimates of its total expenditure on services by region and country, including the west midlands, in its annual report. These figures rest on a number of assumptions, for example about how total expenditure on strategic highways and rail should be attributed to different regions. These figures exclude grant to local authorities, as this information is collated separately by CLG, DCSF, DWP and devolved Administrations. Details of the Departments funding for local authorities in the west midlands, which in general is not ring-fenced to particular transport services, may be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/ fundingstreams/
(3) whether Network Rail has informed him of any proposed redundancies in addition to those already announced for the control period (a) 2009 to 2014 and [325228] (b) 2014 to 2019. Chris Mole: Staffing is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail is required by the independent Office of Rail Regulation to deliver substantial efficiency savings and improvements for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the network over the next five years.
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The annual report does not provide specific figures for Birmingham and an estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Railways: Construction Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what the (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure will be on the extension to the High Speed 2 route to Leeds over the period of [324284] construction; (2) what the estimated total (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure will be on the High Speed 2 route from (i) London to Birmingham and (ii) London to Manchester over the period of construction; [324285] (3) what estimated (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure will be incurred for the 335 mile Y network proposed in the High Speed Rail Command Paper over [324286] the period of construction. Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd estimate that the capital cost of construction of the recommended high speed rail line from London to West Midlands is between 15.8 billion and 17.4 billion. The estimated capital cost of construction for new lines from the West Midlands to the North West, and to Yorkshire via the East Midlands, is 5.45.8 billion (depending on routeing at Manchester) and 5.8 billion, respectively. All figures are in 2009 prices, include risk and optimum bias, and exclude rolling stock costs. Unlike the London to the West Midlands cost estimate, those for the legs north of the West Midlands are not based on engineered routes. HS2 Ltd has been asked to carry out similar detailed planning work on route options from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds, to be completed in summer 2011, with a view to consulting the public early in 2012. Estimates of revenue expenditure during construction would be developed at a later stage were the Government to decide to proceed following public consultation. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons, of the three possible routes for High Speed 2 proposed through the Chilterns, he decided on the route through Chesham and Amersham constituency; on what evidential basis he made that decision; and if he will [324349] make a statement. Chris Mole: The Government will not take a decision on the route of any high speed line from London to the West Midlands until public consultation has taken place. The route recommended by HS2 Ltd., which follows the A413 corridor and which the Government agree should form the basis of consultation, was considered to be the preferred route option because it offers cost and journey time advantages and because its local and environmental impacts are on balance lower than those of the two other routes short-listed by HS2 Ltd. In particular, its environmental impacts are reduced by following existing transport corridors for more than half the distance travelled at surface level through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. HS2 Ltd. considered a number of further routes which it did not shortlist; the Government agreed that these were significantly inferior.
Further detail is set out in the Command Paper and supporting documents which were published on 11 March 2010. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what invitations the Secretary of State has received from hon. Members to speak in their constituencies on High Speed Two since 1 March 2010; and (a) when and (b) in what form each such invitation was received. [324519] Chris Mole: The Secretary of State has received a number of requests, both verbal and written, from a number of sources, including hon. Members. Jeremy Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what assessment he made of the merits of choosing (a) the M1, (b) the M40 and (c) another existing transport corridor as the preferred route for a high-speed rail link between [324888] London and Birmingham; (2) what assessment he made of the merits of choosing a route alongside existing railway lines as the preferred route for the high-speed rail link between [324890] London and Birmingham. Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd. drew up and assessed a large number of potential route options, including routes following several different existing motorway and mainline transport corridors. The process of route selection which the company undertook is set out at section 3.5 of its report to the Government, found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/ hs2report/
This includes detailed explanation of the sifting out of potential options, including the M1 and M40 corridors. The Government agree with HS2 Ltd.s assessment of route options. Jeremy Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects to receive the results of the further work he has asked HS2 Limited to carry out on the proposed high-speed rail route alignment near Stoneleigh, Warwickshire; and in respect of which sections of that route the further work [324891] is being undertaken. Chris Mole: As set out in the Secretary of States letter dated 18 March to HS2 Ltd., a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House and on the Departments website at:
www.dft.gov.uk
HS2 Ltd. will report to the Government by the end of August, in preparation for the formal public consultation in the autumn. Railways: South East Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of the completion of the works in the South East required as a consequence of the improvement notice service on [324702] Network Rail.
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Chris Mole: The Office of Rail Regulation served an improvement notice on Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd. on 18 March requiring the company to comply with its own standards for inspecting structures to ensure safety. Network Rail is already fully funded to meet the requirements of health and safety law. Rapid Transit Systems: Yorkshire and the Humber Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date he expects the tram-train pilot project proposed between Sheffield and Rotherham to end; and if he will take steps to reduce the proposed duration of the pilot project.
[324592]
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average time taken for an ambulance to reach a Category A emergency was in each London borough in each year since 2000; [323802] (2) how ambulance services in each London borough were set (a) category A eight, (b) category A 19 and (c) category B 19 minute response targets in each year [323803] since 2000; (3) how many times an ambulance service (a) did not meet the eight minute response target and (b) took over 15 minutes to respond to a Category A emergency in each London borough in each year since 2000;
[323804]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport, Northern Rail, Network Rail and South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority are working closely as industry partners to ensure the success of the project and following the proposed start of services from 2012 will review operations every six months. There is no plan to reduce the duration of the pilot. Indeed it is hoped that it will be a success and a permanently useful transport link. Taxis: Guide Dogs Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy to collect through his Departments surveys of licensing authorities data on the number of taxi and private hire drivers with exemptions from statutory duties to carry guide and other assistance dogs.
[324698]
(4) what the average response time was for (a) air ambulances, (b) road ambulances and (c) rapid response vehicles in each London borough in each year [323805] since 2000. Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department does not collect information on average response times to emergency calls by national health service ambulance trusts. The data that the Department does collect on ambulance response times is published on an annual basis in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England. These documents have already been placed in the Library and are available on the Information Centre for health and social care website:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs
Mr. Khan: These data are already collected from local authorities in our biennial local authority taxi survey. Figures have not been included in any publication but are available on request.
HEALTH Ambulance Services: Greater London
All ambulance trusts are required to meet the same national response time standards. Category A calls (those presenting conditions that may be immediately life threatening) should be responded to within eight minutes in 75 per cent. of cases and Category B calls (those conditions that are serious but not immediately life threatening) should be responded to within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases. The Department only collects national data at ambulance trust level, with strategic health authorities as the local headquarters of the NHS, and primary care trusts as commissioners, having the responsibility for ensuring that national response time standards are delivered and maintained by trusts. This may mean that trusts locally will look at performance data below ambulance trust level, but whether and how the NHS does this is for each region to decide and manage locally. Ambulance Services: Standards
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) ambulances, (b) rapid response vehicles and (c) air ambulances there were in each London borough in each year since 2000; [323800] (2) whether he has made an estimate of the lowest number of (a) ambulances, (b) rapid response vehicles and (c) air ambulances available for emergency response in each London borough on average on a [323801] single day in each year since 2000. Mr. Mike OBrien: This information is not held centrally. The purchasing of ambulance vehicles is a matter for national health service ambulance trusts to manage in order to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand. The number of available emergency response vehicles is a matter for national health service ambulance trusts to manage in order to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand.
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made of the number of patients in (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (b) the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust area, (c) the Peterborough Primary Care Trust area and (d) England who were attended to within (i) 10, (ii) 30, (iii) 60 and (iv) 120 minutes of requesting an ambulance in [324596] each of the last five years. Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department does not collect response time data of ambulance services in the format requested, and has therefore not made an estimate of the number of patients who were attended within 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes of requesting an ambulance. The data that the Department does collect on ambulance response time is in accordance with the national response time targets and these are published on an annual basis
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in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England. These documents have already been placed in the Library and on the Information for health and social care website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-andperformance/ambulance
Arthritis: Drugs Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 966W, on arthritis: drugs, to which areas of Government policy his letter to the [324090] Prime Minister related. Mr. Mike OBrien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 966W. Asthma: Greater London Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each age group (a) with, (b) diagnosed with, (c) admitted to hospital as a result of, (d) treated by a GP as a result of and (e) who died as a result of asthma in each London borough in each year since [323738] 2000. Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Figures are available for the number of people registered with asthma in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), introduced as part of the new General Medical Services contract on 1 April 2004. QOF data are available from 2004-05 and information has been provided broken
down by primary care trust (PCT) of responsibility. The QOF disease register reporting does not collect information on ages, so the data is not split by age group. We have provided a count of finished admission episodes where the primary diagnosis was asthma by age group and by PCT of residence in London for the years 2000-01 to 2008-09. Information on the number of people treated by a general practitioner as a result of asthma, is not collected centrally. Information is provided from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the number of deaths where asthma was the underlying cause of death for persons in each age group in each London borough, for the years 2000-08 (the latest year available) combined. The number of deaths at this level of detail is extremely small. Consequently, figures for individual years have not been provided, in line with ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics. The information available has been placed in the Library. Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the (a) number of units of medication prescribed to treat asthma-related conditions and (b) bed days were occupied as a result of asthma in each London borough in each year since 2000. [323739] Ann Keen: Information is not collected in the format requested. The following tables show the number of items prescribed for asthma-related conditions in London primary care trusts (PCTs) from 2006 to 2009 and the number of finished consultant episode bed days where the primary diagnosis was asthma, given by PCT of residence in London for the years 2000-01 to 2008-09.
Items prescribed for asthma-related conditions in London 2006-09 Items PCT Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Care Trust Brent Teaching Bromley Camden City and Hackney Teaching Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Teaching Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Teaching Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston Lambeth Lewisham Newham Redbridge Richmond and Twickenham 2006 127,193 177,622 136,886 150,734 174,199 97,679 114,129 187,823 181,177 159,942 165,457 84,273 134,218 139,146 156,823 154,110 131,948 111,872 65,167 93,560 144,873 160,751 174,827 130,595 90,861 2007 130,402 179,357 140,623 155,158 174,441 96,328 115,961 191,036 184,038 160,070 163,219 87,006 137,599 143,961 168,798 155,412 137,549 114,330 67,858 94,220 143,794 162,154 178,654 133,845 92,054 2008 134,237 181,923 139,635 159,531 176,350 99,515 115,826 196,150 184,875 165,812 165,706 86,142 137,925 147,964 178,363 158,362 138,866 118,999 67,850 95,133 148,327 162,727 187,437 137,194 95,092 20091 102,722 136,527 105,148 119,541 131,643 74,481 86,550 146,878 140,683 125,442 125,681 65,544 104,639 110,496 136,048 118,883 105,842 89,951 51,952 70,913 110,021 122,167 145,500 105,240 72,145
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Items prescribed for asthma-related conditions in London 2006-09 Items PCT Southwark Sutton and Merton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Teaching Westminster Total
1
2006 138,791 212,941 126,113 134,323 149,320 86,734 4,294,087
2007 141,913 221,283 126,929 137,058 148,156 91,214 4,374,420
2008 143,623 230,477 128,528 139,595 146,639 93,804 4,462,607
20091 107,918 172,680 97,768 106,985 112,369 72,086 3,374,443
January to September. Notes: 1. The PACT system covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioners (GPs), nurses, pharmacists and others in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. For data at PCT level, prescriptions written by a prescriber located in a particular PCT but dispensed outside that PCT will be included in the PCT in which the prescriber is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included. Prescriptions written in hospitals/clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals, dental prescribing and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data. It is important to note this as some British National Formulary (BNF) sections have a high proportion of prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community. For example, BNF chapter 4, Central Nervous System has a fair proportion of items written in mental health clinics that are dispensed in the communitythese prescriptions are not included in PACT data. 2. Data are held for 60 months and so at the moment the only complete years available are 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Complete data for 2009 cannot be released until after the publication of the associated National Statistic in April 2010 and so only data for January to September is presented here. 3. Prescriptions are written on a prescription form known as a FP10. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. 4. The term asthma-related conditions has been taken to mean asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since they are treated with the same medications, namely those classified under sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the BNF. Source: Prescribing Analysis and CosT (PACT) system. Finished consultant episode bed days where the primary diagnosis was asthma by London PCT of residence from 2000-01 to 2008-09Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector PCT of residence Barking and Dagenham PCT Barnet PCT Bexley Care Trust Bexley PCT Brent Teaching PCT Bromley PCT Camden PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Croydon PCT Ealing PCT Enfield PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Havering PCT Hillingdon PCT Hounslow PCT Islington PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Kingston PCT Lambeth PCT Lewisham PCT Newham PCT Redbridge PCT Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT Redbridge PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Southwark PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT Waltham Forest PCT PCT code 5C2 5A9 TAK 5AX 5K5 5A7 5K7 5C3 5K9 5HX 5C1 5A8 5H1 5C9 5K6 5A4 5AT 5HY 5K8 5LA 5A5 5LD 5LF 5C5 5NA 5C7 5C8 5M6 5LE 5M7 5C4 5C6 5NC 2008-09 695 910 725 1,150 599 587 949 1,533 2,021 1,046 572 526 899 718 475 831 1,138 1,182 305 559 1,038 942 1,137 1,140 601 877 1,210 816 871 2007-08 807 656 694 1,177 756 670 937 1,608 1,810 603 554 801 1,049 674 549 783 1,178 1,238 389 630 1,030 1,015 1,144 1,430 504 800 1,302 1,048 834 2006-07 1,015 1,364 698 1,183 1,027 800 1,134 1,392 2,002 1,020 690 752 1,190 628 563 530 684 1,325 438 563 1,178 1,148 1,302 1,399 456 982 1,062 806 900 2005-06 1,030 1,278 695 1,439 1,375 672 1,898 1,598 1,890 921 873 787 1,281 729 768 658 1,409 1,287 612 709 1,136 1,188 1,037 1,558 478 1,052 995 1,304 1,076 2004-05 1,249 1,230 927 1,505 1,251 987 1,331 1,920 2,064 971 843 799 1,242 685 824 661 1,482 1,037 346 842 1,195 1,000 1,212 1,429 630 1,211 1,336 1,388 1,069 2003-04 934 1,687 953 1,408 1,118 1,077 1,375 1,556 2,714 799 1,363 722 819 682 992 597 1,798 980 372 669 1,260 1,086 1,244 1,383 800 1,658 1,271 1,173 1,109 2002-03 781 1,339 1,030 1,270 1,295 1,377 1,452 971 1,687 785 841 758 907 704 856 818 1,298 809 504 701 1,440 1,229 1,470 616 622 737 1,198 1,076 1,058 608 2001-02 573 926 676 516 579 879 1,120 1,246 1,661 1,311 957 1,107 768 555 773 733 1,317 868 483 707 1,526 1,047 1,471 381 617 418 1,288 1,465 1,401 458 2000-01 619 1,406 688 747 1,102 856 1,139 1,290 1,790 1,038 824 1,078 1,290 636 678 1,004 1,412 855 802 554 1,298 1,264 1,389 358 681 446 1,225 1,576 1,073 614
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Finished consultant episode bed days where the primary diagnosis was asthma by London PCT of residence from 2000-01 to 2008-09Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector PCT of residence Wandsworth PCT Westminster PCT PCT code 5LG 5LC 2008-09 962 677 2007-08 939 619 2006-07 809 722 2005-06 1,076 814 2004-05 1,116 963 2003-04 1,130 648 2002-03 1,230 809 2001-02 1,063 1,153 2000-01 1,264 1,044
Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. Episode duration/bed days: episode duration is calculated as the difference in days between the episode start date and the episode end date, where both are given. Episode duration is based on FCEs and applies only to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). 3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 4. PCT Changes: In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health authorities (SHA) and PCTs in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result, data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. In particular, it is noted that there was a change in the number of PCTs that constituted the London boroughs around 2003-04: Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT became Waltham Forest PCT; Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT and Redbridge PCT became Redbridge PCT; and Bexley PCT became Bexley Care Trust. 5. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 6. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made a recent estimate of the cost per bed day of treating a patient with asthma in [323740] each London borough. Ann Keen: The Department has made no such estimate. Autism: Drugs Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to ensure that adults with autism or special needs in care homes are asked whether they wish their next of kin to be informed when a course of powerful drugs is [324766] prescribed for them. Phil Hope: There are no procedures that apply uniquely to adults with autism or special needs. Adults with autism or special needs should be assessed to determine whether they have the capacity to consent to treatment. Where a person has been assessed as having the capacity to consent to treatment, it is up to the patient to decide whether they wish to inform any family members or discuss the treatment with family members. It would be inappropriate for staff at a care home or for health professionals to discuss such matters with the family, as this would be a breach of confidentiality. If a person does not have the capacity to understand and to decide whether to consent or not, then health professionals have to take a Best Interests decision. The process is described in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Code of Practice, and requires professionals to follow certain steps. The Mental Capacity Act places a duty on health professionals to consult other people close to a person who lacks capacity on decisions affecting the person. Under section 4(7) of the MCA, health professionals have a duty to take into account the views of anyone involved in caring for the person and anyone interested in their welfare (for example family carers, other close relatives.) as part of a Best Interests decision. Therefore,
the family should be consulted where the treatment is being made under a Best Interests decision because the person lacks capacity. Blood: Contamination Mr. OHara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2010, Official Report, column 562W, on blood: contamination, what discussions he had with Lord Archer of Sandwell before publishing his estimate that the cost to the public purse of implementing the recommendations of Lord Archers report on contaminated blood and blood products could be between 3 billion and 3.5 billion; and if he will provide a detailed breakdown of that figure. [324845] Gillian Merron: The then Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson) and the then Minister of State (Dawn Primarolo) met Lord Archer on 11 March 2009 to discuss his report. There has been no discussion with Lord Archer of the cost of implementing his recommendations on financial relief to those affected by NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products. Our initial estimate of 3-3.5 billion was based on an understanding that individual payments made in Ireland to infected patients ranged between 500,000 and 1,000,000, and was derived by multiplying the average of those figures by the estimated number of infected claimants in the UK. It did not take account of payments to dependents of those infected. It is not possible to calculate an accurate figure for the cost of implementing Lord Archers report because the Irish scheme uses a series of eligibility criteria which means that different claimants have received different amounts of compensation, depending on their circumstances. Therefore, unless each UK claimant is assessed individually against the same criteria, it would be impossible to give an accurate figure. It is also not possible to estimate with any certainty how many people in the UK might be eligible to apply.
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Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the (a) gender, (b) age, (c) postcode, (d) ethnicity and (e) sexual orientation of cancer patients undergoing [323690] treatment. Ann Keen: Cancer registries hold information on age, gender, postcode and ethnicity. Coverage of age, gender, and postcode is 100 per cent. Coverage of ethnicity is around 75 per cent. The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) has already published a number of reports relevant to inequalities, including those on ethnicity, gender, age and deprivation. The NCIN will continue to work with cancer services to support improved recording of ethnicity. No data are currently held on sexual orientation. However, the NCIN will continue to collect and analyse data which will further develop the evidence base on equality issues. The National Cancer Equality Initiative report on Reducing cancer inequality: evidence, progress and making it happen was published on 19 March. Annex 1 of the report includes a summary of the evidence base on inequalities in cancer in England according to deprivation, age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion. The report is available on the Departments website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_114353
Ann Keen: Through the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative we have allocated over 6 million to the national health service to implement services that will improve awareness of cancers and promote early diagnosis. We recently announced that a further 8 million in 2010-11 will be available nationally to support primary care trusts (PCTs), building on progress achieved in 2009-10. This funding will help to accelerate and sustain work in this area and focus on the biggest cancer killersbreast, lung and bowel. PCTs are being encouraged to develop community based initiatives. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to publish one year survival figures for cancer by primary care trust for (a) 2006, (b) 2007 [323917] and (c) 2008. Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy: Achieving local implementationsecond annual report published on 1 December 2009 includes one year survival figures for breast, colorectal and lung cancer, by primary care trust (PCT). A copy has been placed in the Library. 2006 was the latest period for which PCT survival data was available. The National Cancer Intelligence Network will produce annual primary care trust updates on one-year survival. 2007 data will be published in the 2010 Cancer Reform Strategy annual report. Cancer: Greater London Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged (a) under and (b) over 75 years were diagnosed with (i) cancer and (ii) heart disease in each London primary care trust in each of the last five years; what proportion of those patients commenced treatment within (A) three, (B) six and (C) 12 months; and what proportion of those patients commenced treatment more than 12 months after [323825] diagnosis. Ann Keen: The data requested for the number diagnosed with cancer are displayed in the following tables. Data on the number of patients diagnosed with heart disease are not collected centrally. Data on the date within which treatment commenced are not collected in the format requested.
A copy of this report has been placed in the Library. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey to be conducted; and if he will make [323691] a statement. Ann Keen: We have appointed an expert supplier to conduct the survey. We expect the survey to commence in spring 2010 with national and trust level reports due in autumn 2010. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend the Cancer National Awareness and Early Diagnosis programme to include [323717] all cancer (a) networks and (b) types.
Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, persons aged 74 years and under, primary care organisations in London1, 2003-072 Number Primary care organisation Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Teaching Bromley Camden City and Hackney Teaching Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Teaching Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Teaching 2003 389 728 592 597 838 487 461 841 704 654 582 412 491 2004 351 767 645 565 800 478 418 830 627 650 541 365 520 2005 409 731 604 637 826 443 490 917 737 690 571 365 477 2006 394 781 676 585 906 444 507 920 662 680 493 390 494 2007 395 752 622 593 835 488 427 885 705 637 516 377 498
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Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, persons aged 74 years and under, primary care organisations in London1, 2003-072 Number Primary care organisation Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston Lambeth Lewisham Newham Redbridge Richmond and Twickenham Southwark Sutton and Merton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster 2003 534 702 566 474 430 384 371 615 507 423 568 484 551 985 412 445 613 559 2004 515 720 642 451 404 354 359 592 635 462 522 432 567 916 357 409 634 468 2005 552 643 623 500 444 417 396 623 584 457 472 446 559 908 379 466 647 511 2006 439 647 614 530 417 340 373 651 566 449 537 482 608 874 404 477 656 487
1 2
2007 448 710 634 568 446 361 443 619 610 504 562 500 574 919 348 400 661 446
Table 2: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, persons aged 75 years and over, primary care organisations in London , 2003-07 Primary care organisation Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Teaching Bromley Camden City and Hackney Teaching Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Teaching Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Teaching Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston Lambeth Lewisham Newham Redbridge Richmond and Twickenham Southwark Sutton and Merton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster
1
Number 2003 297 541 368 276 551 221 216 417 379 374 348 172 195 295 480 283 272 191 170 234 251 308 204 364 288 266 555 200 294 324 229 2004 275 479 372 264 506 239 187 467 330 374 323 166 192 273 439 359 232 174 179 235 267 270 223 319 278 268 565 181 248 313 231 2005 250 458 392 305 495 229 213 438 329 370 324 190 189 315 445 348 249 179 197 212 261 278 257 337 277 271 498 203 242 289 218 2006 278 423 358 254 567 209 193 448 311 362 305 168 186 296 449 359 252 191 172 214 240 286 238 353 295 249 533 210 263 317 207 2007 238 465 364 225 540 257 195 444 332 325 296 171 202 270 479 382 257 191 176 233 269 288 215 325 258 270 546 198 205 299 205
Based on boundaries as of 2010. 2 Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year.
Cancer: Health Services Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that hospitals achieve or exceed minimum standards before being designated cancer centres following the implementation of his Departments guidance on [325013] improving cancer outcomes;
(2) what minimum standards his Department sets for the facilities to be provided by acute trusts applying to become cancer centres following the implementation of his Departments guidance on improving cancer [325014] outcomes; (3) what consideration is given to the effect on the number of transfers between hospital sites by (a)
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ambulance and (b) taxi of the centralisation of NHS cancer surgery under improving outcomes guidance issued by his Department; and what mechanism is in [325015] place to assess the effect on patient care. Ann Keen: Decisions regarding the designation and placement of cancer centres are the responsibility of local national health service hospital trusts and primary care trusts, and are made in conjunction with cancer networks and other stakeholders. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published a series of Improving Outcomes Guidance covering all major cancer tumour types. They set out recommendations on how services for cancer patients should be organised in order to ensure the best outcomes. It is for NHS trusts to implement this guidance taking into account the needs of their local populations. Care Homes Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to bring forward legislation to ensure that care homes are treated as public authorities under the Human Rights Act 1998.
[324998]
Number of people in receipt of carers allowance in Great Britain in the last five years As at August each year Number 2005 445,430 2006 456,700 2007 468,060 2008 490,030 2009 520,350 Notes: 1. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of the allowance, and excludes people with underlying entitlement but who receive no actual payment. 2. Carers entitled to receive carers allowance may not be paid it because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carers allowance. 3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Cochlear Implants Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cochlear implants (a) adults and (b) children in England received in each year from [324898] 2000. Phil Hope: Provided is the count of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants broken down by age group, 2000-01 to 2008-09.
Count of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants broken down age group, 2000-01 to 2008-09: Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Age group 0-17 18+ Unknown Total 2008-09 402 417 2 821 2007-08 382 323 0 705 2006-07 338 219 0 557 2005-06 289 218 0 507 2004-05 269 211 0 480 2003-04 253 210 0 463 2002-03 215 188 1 404 2001-02 204 186 0 390 2000-01 199 174 0 373 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care
Phil Hope: Care homes are already treated as public authorities under the Human Rights Act 1998, when providing publicly-arranged residential care to an individual. Section 145 (Human Rights Act 1998: provision of certain social care to be a public function) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 came into force on 1 December 2008 in England. This means that, when providing publicly-arranged residential care, independent sector care homes are required not to act incompatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights. It also means that the person receiving such care can bring proceedings against the care home under the Human Rights Act, for a breach of their Convention rights. Carers Allowance Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals (a) are in receipt of carers allowance and (b) were in receipt of carers [323899] allowance in each of the last five years. Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply. Carers make a valuable contribution to society by providing important support for relatives, partners and friends who may be ill, frail, disabled or have mental health or substance misuse problems. Support for carers must be tailored to meet the individuals needs; enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring, while enabling the person they support to be a full and equal citizen. The revised National Carers Strategy, published in June 2008, commits the Government to investing some 255 million to support carers in the short term. The available information is in the table.
Recently there has been a revision of the methodology used to count the number of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants and for this reason figures may not be consistent with previous data provided by the NHS Information Centre. Data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Community Care: Mentally Ill Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) community mental health teams and (b) members of community health teams there have been in each London borough in each year since 2000; and how much funding his Department has allocated to community mental health teams in each [323826] such borough in each such year.
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Phil Hope: Local data prior to 2007 are not available. Data provided are from 2007 to 2009 for each primary care trust (PCT) area. The Department does not break down PCT revenue allocations by policies, at either the
national or local level. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally taking into account both local priorities and the NHS Operating Framework.
Mental Health Services: Total community mental teams in London as at end of March 2007-09 31 March 2009 Local Implementation Teams (LIT) name London Strategic Health Authority total Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden City and Hackney Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond and Twickenham Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster Total whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff 2,766.62 31 March 2008 Number of services 132 31 March 2007 Number of services 133
Number of services 135
Total WTE staff 2,743.3
Total WTE staff 2,694.4
2 4 4 5.83 3 6.16 2 5 4.03 6 6 4 5 1.99 3 3 3 5 0.99 5.02 6 3 3.53 4 2 2.08 10 3.61 4 2 8.76 7
40.48 86.09 68.17 101.49 114.79 103.65 89.4 83.7 120.76 82.21 103.93 79.6 105.39 58.52 42.47 80.2 92.31 77 69.3 67.93 123.67 90.9 45.48 97.7 54.45 44.89 159.26 45.84 111 47.48 110 168.56
2 4 4 2.83 3 6.35 2 5 4.2 6 6 4.05 4 1.96 3 2.86 3 5 2.94 5 6 3 3.45 4 2 2 10 3.55 4 2 8 6.81
44.82 93.39 63.6 90.26 109.02 97.39 91.4 82.5 121.6 86.51 111.74 81.59 114.42 57.61 47.61 74.87 76.75 80.48 59.93 69.99 123.67 90.9 40.58 102 53.05 56.45 160.66 46.89 106.9 46.58 104.53 155.61
2 4 4 3 3 8 3 5 4 6 5 4 4 2 3 3 3 5 3 5 6 3 5 4 2 4 4 5 4 2 8 7
42 91.4 57.69 113.22 123.16 99.23 78 82.8 115.22 95.29 60.8 80.6 100.6 51 42.44 88.5 85.01 76.75 73.3 67.63 123.67 88.5 48.97 92 57.25 38.98 139.93 56.09 103.47 51.18 101.07 168.65
Notes: 1. Staff data are counted at WTE 2. Some teams are shared with other LIT areas and this is shown as decimal for 2008 and 2009 collection. Source: Mental Health Strategies
Dental Services: Leeds Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he intends to allocate for the provision of NHS dental care in Leeds in each of the next three years; what plans he has to increase access to NHS dentistry in Leeds; and how many people are registered with an NHS dentist in (a) the city of Leeds [323830] and (b) West Yorkshire. Ann Keen: We have invested a record 2 billion in dentistry and set up a national access programme to help the national health service deliver its commitment to provide access for all who seek it by 2011. Access to NHS dentistry is growing. The latest data shows that 1,230,000 more patients accessed NHS services
in the 24 months ending December 2009 than compared to the 24 months ending June 2008. We have also accepted the recommendations made by the independent review of NHS dentistry, to further improve access and quality in the long term, and will pilot these recommendations thoroughly. Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) will receive a funding allocation of 32,428,000 in 2010-11 for primary dental care services. This is net of income from dental charges paid by patients, which is retained locally to supplement the resources available for dentistry. It will be for individual PCTs to judge whether additional investment is required. As a result of lower NHS service tariff prices following the incorporation of an additional 0.5 per cent. efficiency requirement, PCTs have headroom in their general NHS
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2010-11 budgets to fund additional growth in dentistry and other services according to local development priorities. Funding allocations to PCTs for 2011-12 and 2012-13 will be finalised as part of the next Spending Review. Funding for dentistry will be included within PCT unified funding allocations from 2011-12. Information on how many people are registered with an NHS dentist is not available in the format requested. Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to registration is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services (patients seen) over a 24 month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years. Information on the number of patients seen in the previous 24 months, in England, is available in Table D1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics, Quarter 2: 30 September 2009 report. Information is available at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 31 December 2009 and is provided by PCT and by strategic health authority. This report, published on 23 February 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0910q2
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.
[324806]
Phil Hope: There are currently no figures available for the financial year 2009-10. However, the cost to the Department for employing press and media officers (including planning and support staff) in the financial year 2008-09 was 1,412,000. This figure excludes social security and pension costs. The Department does not hold financial information which is older than 10 years. Departmental Manpower Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff his Department employed in each year since 1997.
[324941]
Phil Hope: The numbers of both full-time and part-time staff employed by the Department in each year since 1970 are published on the civil service statistics website. This can be found at:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/stats-archive/ archived-reports.aspx
Departmental Computer Software Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 699W, on Departmental ICT, what fonts were purchased through the expenditure on font [324342] licences in the last three years. Phil Hope: Pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 699W, the fonts included in the expenditure of 18,112 on font licensing are as follows:
1,000 licences to use Sylvia and Apex Sans T typefaces for use by regional and local tobacco teams were purchased in 2006, plus an upgrade of the Sylvia licences in 2009 for Smokefree; 2,000 licences for the national health service font, Fruitger, were purchased for use by NHS organisations in 2009; Syntax Complete Family Pack for one to five users was purchased in 2008 in connection with the Department website; and Change4Life purchased a licence to distribute a custom Change4Life (people) font freely.
Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were. [324714] Phil Hope: The Department advises against the use of departmental branding on promotional items, other than on occasional low value items to support specific internal initiatives or conferences. Any such items are procured by individual teams within the Department and the Department does not hold central records on which items were procured and at what cost. To provide this information would therefore incur disproportionate cost. The two agencies that receive funding from the Department are the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA). We are informed by both NHS PASA and MHRA that they have not produced or issued any products featuring departmental branding in the last five years. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 22 October 2009, Official Report, columns 1654-55W, on departmental telephone services, whether his Department awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to the campaign-specific telephone lines and campaign-linked [324116] lines.
Departmental Contracts Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.
[324796]
Phil Hope: The Department has no plans to issue any guidance. The Department is committed to getting best value for money when letting outsourcing contracts.
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Phil Hope: The majority of the 13 campaign-specific call centres and other campaign-linked lines that I referred to in my previous answer were contracted via the Central Office of Information (COI). The COI will have conducted their own tender exercises as appropriate. Three of the lines were not contracted via COI, two of these were commissioned with another Department while the other was commissioned through an agency. Supporting services for the call centres such as data management or the fulfilment of publication requests would have been commissioned in the same way. Diabetes: Chiropody Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with diabetes of each (a) gender and (b) age group in each primary care trust area had not had their bare feet checked by a podiatrist [324767] in each of the last five years. Ann Keen: Data are not centrally collected in the format requested. Information on the number of people with diabetes that receive a foot check is provided in the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) for 2007-08. This reports that 77 per cent. of people with diabetes in England had received a foot examination during the period. Data are available for each primary care trust for the period 2003-08. The NDA does not have complete cover for England, but adult data are now collected from all 152 primary care trusts with approximately 75 per cent. of all general practitioner practices contributing. Data are not collected on which health care professional undertakes the foot check. Direct Payments Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide further guidance to local authorities on the data to be included in national indicators for [324739] personalised budgets. Phil Hope: Further guidance will be provided to local authorities, which is expected to be made available via the Audit Commission Information Portal in the next few months. Eating Disorders: Young People Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many young people were treated for eating disorders by (a) general practitioners, (b) children and adolescent mental health specialists and (c) other primary care specialists in the last 12 months;
[323763]
publish guidelines for practitioners on core interventions for these disorders which it did in 2004. These guidelines will be reviewed in 2011. We are also providing funding worth 131,000 for beats (the eating disorders charity) Pathway to Recovery project which provides a support network for people who have recovered from an eating disorder. Food: Labelling Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what food labelling (a) regulations and (b) initiatives initiated by his Department since October 2008 have (i) not been delivered in line with the original schedule, (ii) been amended and (iii) been terminated. [324523] Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food labelling policy. The regulatory changes listed, with the exception of fish labelling, emanated from changes in European Union law. The following amendment regulations were not delivered in line with the original schedule:
The Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2010. There was a commitment during public consultation that these would come into force in December 2009. These are now coming into force on 6 April. These were delayed because of technical issues that arose during the preparation of the statutory instrument. The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007, amended in September 2008. The comings into force of labelling controls in this were delayed as a result of an industrysponsored judicial review.
The following labelling regulations were amended:

The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2009, which was amended by Commission Regulation 415/2009/EC.
The following labelling initiatives have been amended:

The Food Standards Agency UK best practice guidance on Country of Origin Labelling, first published in 2002 was amended in October 2008;
No regulatory or other public labelling initiatives have been terminated since October 2008. General Practitioners: Training Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training general practitioners receive on (a) referral pathways for cancer patients and (b) how such [323688] referral pathways can be utilised. Ann Keen: The Department does not specify the content of the general practitioner (GP) training curriculum. GPs are expected to keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their working life, and take part in educational activities that maintain and further develop their competence and performance. To support GPs in the referral of patients with suspected cancer, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence produced referral guidelines for suspected cancer in 2005. These guidelines are intended for use by health care professionals in primary care and can also be used in the education and training of health professionals. These guidelines are used together with local protocols for referral as agreed by the local provider and the primary care trust, and in line with national commitments for cancer waiting time standards.
(2) what steps his Department takes to assist parents and carers of young people with eating disorders.
[323764]
Phil Hope: Information on the number of young people treated for eating disorders is not collected centrally. We take the issue of eating disorders, especially among young people, very seriously. Services for people with eating disorders are available throughout the country in both primary and secondary care. We asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to
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Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to assess the level of access to health services by war veterans.
[323910]
children aged up to five years in the United Kingdom from July to December 2009 were published in the Health Protection Report issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on 26 March 2010. This is published on the HPA website:
www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/infections/immunisation.htm#cover
Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department does not collect information specific to veterans access to the national health service nor on how many receive priority treatment. NHS patients in England can expect to start their consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral unless they choose to wait longer or it is clinically appropriate that they do so. This applies to all NHS patients including veterans living in England. The current operating framework for the NHS makes clear the need to take account of the health needs of service families and veterans when commissioning services. Health Visitors Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors were working in each (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) region, (c) local authority area and (d) strategic health authority area [325018] in each of the last 10 years. Ann Keen: National health service work force statistics are not available centrally broken down by parliamentary constituency, region and local authority area. A table has been placed in the Library outlining the number of health visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust. These data are available only from 2002 onwards. Health Visitors: Children Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in each [324579] London borough; (2) what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in (a) Manchester City, (b) Salford City, (c) Trafford borough, (d) Wigan borough, (e) Bolton borough, (f) Rochdale borough, (g) Tameside borough and (i) [324580] Stockport borough; (3) what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in (a) Birmingham, (b) Wolverhampton, (c) Dudley, (d) Sandwell, (e) Walsall, (f) Solihull and (g) Coventry.
[324581]
Hospital Beds: Greater London Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospital beds there were in each London (a) hospital and (b) borough in each year [323735] since 2000; (2) how many hospital beds there were per 1,000 people in each London borough in each year since [323736] 2000; (3) what the average occupancy rate was of hospital beds in each London (a) hospital and (b) borough in [323737] each year since 2000. Mr. Mike OBrien: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on hospital beds is available by national health service trust and not by individual hospital or region. NHS trusts do not cover specific areas.
Injuries: Offensive Weapons Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 158W, on injuries: offensive weapons, how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) between 16 and 18, (c) between 19 and 25, (d) between 26 and 35, (e) between 36 and 50 and (f) over 50 years were admitted to hospital in each primary care trust area in London as a result of assault with a (i) sharp and (ii) blunt object in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009; and how many such people required (1) emergency and (2) intensive care as a result of being assaulted with an (x) sharp and (y) blunt object in each of those years.
[323948]
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. Health: Children Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects COVER reports under the Child Health Interim Application to be issued in [324996] London; and if he will make a statement. Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 24 March 2010, Official Report, columns 388-89W. Vaccination coverage statistics for
Gillian Merron: Information has been provided to show the number of finished admission episodes by selected cause codes and age groups, between 2007-08 and 2008-09 for primary care trusts (PCTs) of residence in the London area. It is important to note that as people may be admitted on more than one occasion, the data supplied do not describe the number of people admitted to hospital. Additionally, information on the PCT of residence does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated, as they may have travelled to another strategic health authority or PCT for treatment. We are unable to determine how many such people required emergency and intensive care as a result of being assaulted by a sharp and blunt object in each of those years.
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Count of finished admission episodes where cause code indicates assault by a sharp object (X99) or blunt object (Y00) for selected London PCTs of residence by age breakdown 2007-08 and 2008-09. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector X99 Assault by sharp object2008-09 Under 16 years 5A4 5A5 5A7 5A8 5A9 5AT 5C1 5C2 5C3 5C4 5C5 5C9 5H1 5HX 5HY 5K5 5K6 5K7 5K8 5K9 5LA 5LC 5LD 5LE 5LF 5LG 5M6 5M7 5NA 5NC TAK Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust * * * * * * 6 * * * * * * * * * * * * 13 * * 0 * * 16-18 years * * 6 * * 6 10 14 8 8 6 6 * * * * * 7 * * 13 13 6 8 * * 6 7 * 19-25 years * * * * 9 10 19 14 13 13 20 13 11 9 9 6 11 7 14 9 6 9 19 24 19 13 * 7 * 9 * 26-35 years 7 * 8 7 * 6 10 9 14 7 22 10 9 27 9 9 * 6 * 15 * 12 18 15 * * * 8 * 6 6 36-50 years * * 7 6 * * * * 11 6 10 * 7 9 6 7 * 11 9 * * * * 14 10 * * * * 12 6 51 years and over * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Y00 assault by blunt object2008-09 Under 16 years 5A4 5A5 5A7 5A8 5A9 5AT 5C1 5C2 5C3 5C4 5C5 5C9 5H1 5HX 5HY 5K5 5K6 5K7 5K8 5K9 5LA 5LC 5LD 5LE 5LF 5LG Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT * * * * * * * * * * * 16-18 years * * * * * * * * * * * * 6 * * * * 19-25 years * * * 6 * 6 * * 8 11 * * 6 6 * * * * * * * * * * 26-35 years * * * * * 6 * 6 * 8 8 * * 14 7 6 * * * * * * * 11 * * 36-50 years * * * * * * * * * 8 10 * 7 9 9 * * * 6 8 * * * 6 * 51 years and over * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Y00 assault by blunt object2008-09 Under 16 years 5M6 5M7 5NA 5NC TAK Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust * * * * 16-18 years * * * 19-25 years 6 6 12 * 26-35 years * * 7 * 36-50 years * * * * * 51 years and over * * *
X99 Assault by sharp object2007-08 Under 16 years 5A4 5A5 5A7 5A8 5A9 5AT 5C1 5C2 5C3 5C4 5C5 5C9 5H1 5HX 5HY 5K5 5K6 5K7 5K8 5K9 5LA 5LC 5LD 5LE 5LF 5LG 5M6 5M7 5NA 5NC TAK Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust * * * * * * * 7 * 7 * * * * * * * * * 10 9 * * * * 16-18 years * * * 11 * * 11 10 17 6 17 9 * * * 13 * 6 6 9 * * 27 19 13 7 * 7 7 10 * 19-25 years 10 * 7 15 * 10 14 10 26 17 29 17 12 22 6 13 * 11 13 20 11 11 15 12 19 8 * * 9 25 7 26-35 years 6 * * 6 11 9 10 14 9 20 10 7 13 10 15 * 11 12 14 * * 19 10 10 7 * 7 12 11 6 36-50 years 7 * 10 * * 8 8 12 17 * 8 13 9 7 6 * 8 13 8 9 10 13 15 6 14 * 10 * 51 years and over * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Age not known *
Y00 Assault by blunt object2007-08 Under 16 years 5A4 5A5 5A7 5A8 5A9 5AT 5C1 5C2 5C3 5C4 5C5 5C9 5H1 5HX 5HY 5K5 Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT * * * * * * * * * * * 16-18 years * * * * * * * * 15 * * * 19-25 years 6 * * * * 7 * 6 * 6 15 * 9 7 * 26-35 years 6 * * 6 * * * * * 14 * * 12 6 * 36-50 years 6 * 7 * * * * 11 6 * * 6 6 51years and over * * * * * * * * * *
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Y00 Assault by blunt object2007-08 Under 16 years 5K6 5K7 5K8 5K9 5LA 5LC 5LD 5LE 5LF 5LG 5M6 5M7 5NA 5NC TAK Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust * * * * * * * * * * * 16-18 years * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 19-25 years 8 * 9 8 * * 9 * * * 6 8 7 * 26-35 years * 7 6 * * 6 * * 6 * * 6 * 36-50 years * * 7 * * 6 * * * * 7 6 * 51years and over * * * * * * * * * * *
Notes: 1. Ungrossed data (i.e. not adjusted for shortfalls). 2. Small numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with * (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify numbers from the total an additional number (the next smallest) has been replaced. 3. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the Year. 4. SHA/PCT of residence The strategic health authority (SHA) or primary care trust (PCT) containing the patients normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. 5. Activity included Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 6. Cause code A supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in HES. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care
Malnutrition: Greater London Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in a (a) private and (b) public care home were (i) admitted to and (ii) discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of malnutrition in each London borough in each year since 2000.
[323789]
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds days were occupied as a result of malnutrition in each London borough in each year since 2000. [323791] Mr. Mike OBrien: The information is not held in the format requested. The following tables show the count of finished consultant episode (FCE) bed days where the primary diagnosis was malnutrition split by primary care trust (PCT) of residence within the London strategic health authority from 2000-01 to 2008-09
Phil Hope: Information is not held in the format requested.
Count of finished consultant episode bed days for patients resident in the primary care trusts of London strategic health authority, where the primary diagnosis was malnutrition from 2000-01 to 2008-09 2008-09 Total episode duration of FCEs 45 0 0 9 5 0 0 0 1 Number of finished consultant episodes * 0 0 * * 0 0 0 * 2007-08 Total episode duration of FCEs 13 0 6 0 2 3 0 0 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * 0 * * * * 0 * 0 2006-07 Total episode duration of FCEs 0 0 69 16 0 0 0 18 0 Number of finished consultant episodes 0 0 * 10 * 0 0 7 0 2005-06 Total episode duration of FCEs 0 0 16 29 39 15 0 6 0 Number of finished consultant episodes 0 0 * * * * 0 * * 2004-05 Total episode duration of FCEs 10 2 8 0 34 6 0 0 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * * * 0 * * 0 0 0
Name of PCT Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Bexley PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT
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Count of finished consultant episode bed days for patients resident in the primary care trusts of London strategic health authority, where the primary diagnosis was malnutrition from 2000-01 to 2008-09 2008-09 Total episode duration of FCEs 4 Number of finished consultant episodes * 2007-08 Total episode duration of FCEs 8 Number of finished consultant episodes 8 2006-07 Total episode duration of FCEs 9 Number of finished consultant episodes * 2005-06 Total episode duration of FCEs 12 Number of finished consultant episodes * 2004-05 Total episode duration of FCEs 16 Number of finished consultant episodes *
Name of PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT Redbridge PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust
0 40
0 *
14 8
* *
10 5
12 *
6 8
* *
3 13
* *
17 0
* 0
26 2
* *
0 0
0 0
0 14
0 *
14 0
* 0
5 0 15 5 2 3 0 9
* * * * * * 0 *
11 21 9 6 0 33 12 14
* * * * 0 * * *
3 0 10 0 6 0 2 0
* * * 0 * 0 * 0
17 1 0 2 0 16 0 3
* * 0 * 0 * 0 *
3 10 19 0 12 11 14 0
* * * 0 * * * 0
8 1 8 0 6 5
* * 7 * * 7
0 5 8 9 3 7
0 6 * * * *
0 4 20 9 0 7
0 8 * * 0 6
0 38 15 21 0 0
0 * 7 * 0 0
2 0 0 1 2 11
* 0 0 * * *
0 22 73 41
0 * * 7
31 0 5 24
* 0 * *
2 19 7 0
* * * *
7 6 0 0
* * 0 *
14 0 8 86
* 0 * *
2003-04 Total episode duration of FCEs 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * 0 * * 0 * 0 0 0
2002-03 Total episode duration of FCEs 9 14 0 0 9 7 3 25 55 Number of finished consultant episodes * * 0 0 * * * * *
2001-02 Total episode duration of FCEs 20 24 0 17 0 11 0 4 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0
2000-01 Total episode duration of FCEs 0 0 9 1 12 0 0 3 0 Number of finished consultant episodes 0 0 * * * 0 0 * 0
Name of PCT Havering PCT Kingston PCT Bromley PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Barnet PCT Hillingdon PCT Bexley PCT Enfield PCT Barking and Dagenham PCT
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2003-04 Total episode duration of FCEs 0 1 0 0 13 6 0 0 0 35 11 6 5 54 20 7 1 0 87 29 0 2 7 Number of finished consultant episodes * * 0 0 * * 0 0 * * * * * * 8 * * 0 * * 0 * *
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2001-02 Total episode duration of FCEs 14 4 22 19 13 0 33 3 4 45 0 55 5 6 14 0 0 5 9 13 23 43 0 0 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * * 6 * * 0 * * * * 0 * * * * 0 0 * * * * * 0 0 0 2000-01 Total episode duration of FCEs 10 0 22 17 0 21 61 43 6 26 0 32 3 26 0 29 32 11 5 68 0 0 17 0 0
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2002-03 Total episode duration of FCEs 11 0 0 11 0 0 0 4 5 8 1 17 13 9 18 5 0 13 14 0 6 0 0 0 0 Number of finished consultant episodes * 0 0 * 0 0 0 * * 8 * * * * * * 0 * * 0 * 0 * 0 0
Name of PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Newham PCT Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT Redbridge PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Ealing PCT Hounslow PCT Brent Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Camden PCT Islington PCT Croydon PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Westminster PCT Lambeth PCT Southwark PCT Lewisham PCT Wandsworth PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Redbridge PCT Waltham Forest PCT Bexley Care Trust
Number of finished consultant episodes * * * * * * * * * * 0 * * * 0 * * * * * * 0 * 0 0
Notes: 1. Finished consultant episode (FCE) FCE is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. It should be noted that the figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. Episode duration/Bed Days Episode duration is calculated as the difference in days between the episode start date and the episode end date, where both are given. Episode duration is based on finished consultant episodes and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). 3. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 4. ICD10 codes for Malnutrition The ICD-10 codes for Malnutrition are: E40.X Kwashiorkor E41.X Nutritional marasmus E42.X Marasmic kwashiorkor E43.X Unspecified severe protein-energy malnutrition E44.X Protein energy malnutrition of moderate and mild degree E45.X Retarded development following protein-energy malnutrition E46.X Unspecified protein-energy malnutrition 025.X Malnutrition in pregnancy 5. PCT Changes In July 2006, the national health service reorganised strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. Please note the following changes in PCTs in 200304: Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT became Waltham Forest PCT; Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT and Redbridge PCT became Redbridge PCT; and Bexley PCT became Bexley Care Trust. 6. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 7. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 8. Small numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk). Where it was possible to identify numbers from the total due to a single suppressed number in a row or column, an additional number (the next smallest) has been suppressed.
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Mental Health Services: Young Offender Institutions Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, column 678W, on young offenders: mental health services, how many young offenders at each institution were referred to (a) acute and (b) non-acute local child and adolescent mental health [323942] services in each year from 2002 to 2009. Phil Hope: The information is not collected centrally. Transfer of the responsibility for commissioning health services in young offender institutions, and adult prisons in England, was fully devolved to the national health service by April 2006. NHS primary care trusts work with their partner establishments to develop a comprehensive health needs assessment of the population and commission on the basis of that need. All young offender institutions in England holding under 18s have access to comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as defined in the National Service Framework (NSF) for children. The document Promoting Mental Health for children held in secure settings: A Framework for Commissioning Services (DH March 2007) was developed to support primary care trusts with custodial units in their area to plan, commission and deliver requirements as per the Childrens NSF. Myasthenia Gravis: Research Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding has been allocated to research into myasthenia gravis in each year since 1997.
[323762]
independent body that receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. MRC expenditure in recent years on research of relevance to myasthenia has been as follows:
000 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 89 206 238 240 214 323
There were no live MRC projects in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Allocations made from the Departments research and development budget have over the last 10 years been used by some research active national health service organisations to support research into myasthenia gravis. Information about the cost of that support is not held centrally. Details of the individual projects undertaken from 2000 to 2007 are available on the archived national research register at:
https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx
NHS: Information and Communications Technology Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, columns 171-3W, on the NHS: information and communications technology, how many contractor event of default notices were issued to National Programme for IT suppliers in 2009; how many have been issued in 2010 to date; on what dates and to whom such notices have been issued; what the reasons for the issue were in each case; and if he will place in the Library a copy of [323961] each such notice. Mr. Mike OBrien: The information requested is in the following table.
Gillian Merron: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an
Contractor/date of issue CSC 6 January 2009 1 June 2009 Reason for notice
Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Key Milestone Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Release Key Milestone Failure to achieve Release Key Milestone
11 August 2009
Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Release Key Milestone
19 August 2009
Failure to achieve a Deployment Key Milestone 4 x Failure to achieve a Go Live Milestone Failure to submit a Remediation Plan
20 August 2009 25 August 2009
Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Quarter (Q) 2 9 x critical service level failures
2 September 2009
4 x Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Deployment Key Milestone Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Q3 3 x Failure to achieve a Milestone Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Milestone
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3 x Failure to achieve an Interim Milestone
12 October 2009 25 October 2009
Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone 2 x Failure to achieve an Interim Milestone Failure to make a payment
22 December 2009 24 December 2009
2 x Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Q4 Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Deployment Key Milestone
BT 26 August 2009 25 September 2009 22 October 2009 27 October 2009 20 November 2009 4 January 2010 1 February 2010 24 February 2010 4 March 2010 16 March 2010 Accenture 25 August 2009 2 November 2009 3 x Repeat failure 3 x Critical service level failure 4 x Repeat failure 6 x Critical service level failures 10 x Critical service level failures 3 x Critical service level failures 19 x Critical service level failure 4 x Critical service level failure 6 x Critical service level failure 5 x Critical service level failure 13 x Critical service level failures 4 x Critical service level failure No of calls answered
21 December 2009 10 February 2010
19 x Repeat failures 4 x Critical service level failureNovember 2008 4 x Critical service level failureDecember 2008
8 March 2010
3 x Critical service level failure, 4 x Repeat failureNovember 2009 11 x Repeat failureDecember 2009 7 x Repeat failureJanuary 2010
The Department demands a very high level of compliance from its suppliers and contractor event of default notices reflect operational matters identified during the normal course of contract delivery that need to be addressed. The majority of the matters identified have been addressed using the existing contractual remedies. Publication of contractor event of default notices would or would be likely to cause prejudice to the commercial interests of the providers concerned. It would also potentially compromise the Departments position in any possible future formal contractual disputes, which in turn would or would be likely to cause prejudice to the commercial interests of the Department. NHS: Medical Treatments Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Departments policy is on access to proton beam therapy for NHS patients; and if he will make a [322531] statement.
Ann Keen: At this time, proton beam therapy for NHS patients is nationally commissioned overseas. The National Commissioning Group established a proton therapy clinical reference panel in April 2008 to advise on suitable cancer cases to be referred overseas for treatment. The National Specialised Commissioning Team (NSCT) have been asked to move to the next stage in the development of proton beam therapy services in this country by holding a competition to identify a possible provider or providers of proton beam services in England and developing a full business case. The Department is currently working with the NSCT to evaluate early proposals from eight trusts and identify a short-list of potential providers. A business case will then be developed for submission to the Treasury. NHS: Per Capita Costs Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of NHS expenditure per
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head of population in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) [324942] England in 2010-11. Mr. Mike OBrien: Revenue allocations made to Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust and the total for England in 2010-11 are given in the following table, along with the allocation per head.
2010-11 Allocation ( million) Per-head allocation ()
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Departments target for one qualified school nurse to be allocated to each secondary school and its cluster of primary schools to [324814] be met. Ann Keen: Working in partnership across heath and education we have made good progress in expanding the qualified school nursing work force. Linking primary schools to their nearest secondary school gives about 3,000 clusters in England. The 2009 work force census showed there were 4,177 (headcount) qualified nurses working in school health services, an increase of 1,768 or 73 per cent. since 2004. Of these, there were 1,620 (headcount) nurses with the post registration school nurse qualification. This is an increase of 764 or 89 per cent. since 2004. Nurses: Vacancies Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of nursing vacancies in the NHS at the end of [323769] August 2010. Ann Keen: We do not hold estimates of likely vacancies centrally. Vacancy data as at 31 March are published annually by the NHS Information Centre in August of the same year. Patients: Safety Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) fatal and (b) other patient safety incidents in the latest year for which figures were available; and how many such incidents of each type there were in that [323913] year. Ann Keen: The following table, supplied by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), sets out the number of incidents reported in England by degree of harm by incident type that occurred for the period July 2008 to June 2009.
Northamptonshire 983.4 1,422 Teaching PCT England 84,432.4 1,612 Source: Financial Planning and Allocations Division, Department of Health.
Nurses: Pay Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary of an NHS ward nurse was in each year since 2005; and if he will make a [323598] statement. Ann Keen: The average salary of a national health service ward nurse is not collected separately from the average salary for qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors working in hospitals as well as other parts of the NHS. The following table shows the average salary of qualified nurses from 2005-06 to 2008-09, the latest year for which figures are available.
2005-06 28,784 2006-07 29,861 2007-08 31,149 2008-09 32,339 Notes: 1. Average salaries are estimated from the qualified nurse paybill figures using NHS accounts data together with the NHS pension scheme rates, and national insurance rates and thresholds that apply to NHS employers. 2. The paybill data includes all qualified nurses employed by NHS trusts, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and foundation trusts in England. It excludes agency nurses. 3. Foundation trusts do not submit a breakdown of their paybill by staff group. Figures from 2004-05 onwards include estimates for the breakdown of each foundation trust. Sources: Department of Health Paybill Model 2008-09. Trust Financial Returns and Foundation Trust Annual Reports (Paybill data). Information Centre Workforce Census (Staff Numbers).
Incidents of harm reported to NPSA by incident type, July 2008 to June 2009England Number of incidents Incident type England Other Infection Control Incident Implementation of care and ongoing monitoring/review Self-harming behaviour Treatment, procedure Clinical assessment (including diagnosis, scans, tests, assessments) Patient abuse (by staff/third party) 21,298 8,458 16,387 11,057 54,451 31,252 4,200 9,337 4,148 14,803 15,256 27,643 7,170 1,291 3,127 2,798 6,098 2,800 12,240 2,702 326 739 705 948 367 1,362 538 71 1,670 354 156 430 406 175 15 36,171 16,463 38,392 29,910 96,102 41,837 5,903 No harm Low Moderate Severe Death Total
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Incidents of harm reported to NPSA by incident type, July 2008 to June 2009England Number of incidents Incident type Access, admission, transfer, discharge (including missing patient) Consent, communication, confidentiality Medical device/equipment Infrastructure (including staffing, facilities, environment) Patient accident Medication Disruptive, aggressive behaviour Documentation (including records, identification) Total No harm 56,118 28,254 21,353 44,720 185,266 73,950 26,303 47,296 630,363 Low 14,389 5,134 5,037 7,909 103,471 13,060 11,915 5,355 245,918 Moderate 4,756 1,359 1,443 2,856 11,936 3,019 1,362 886 57,708 Severe 520 205 153 269 1,358 351 98 89 7,773 Death 126 49 43 43 179 59 18 12 3,735 Total 75,909 35,001 28,029 55,797 302,210 90,439 39,696 53,638 945,497
Postgraduate Education
Primary Care Trusts: Finance Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2010, Official Report, column 925W, on health services: disadvantage, what the total population was of (a) spearhead and (b) non-spearhead area primary care trusts in each year. [323836] Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
The following table contains for Spearhead and non-Spearhead primary care trusts population estimates for mid-2006 to mid-2008, and population projections for mid-2009 from ONS 2006-based Subnational Population Projections.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future of its restrictions on access to post-graduate medical education for non-EEA graduates; and if he will make [324649] a statement. Ann Keen: The Department undertook a consultation exercise about managing medical migration last year and there was strong support for the restrictions on access to post-graduate medical education by non-European economic area graduates and there has been no change in circumstance since then that indicates a review is required.
Population estimates/projections for Spearhead and non-Spearhead Primary Care Trusts, mid-2006 to mid-2009 Thousand Spearhead PCTs Mid-2009 Mid-2008 Mid-2007 Mid-2006 18,434 18,289 18,195 15,638 Non-Spearhead PCTs 33,454 33,158 32,897 35,125 Total 51,888 51.446 51,092 50,763
Notes: 1. The Spearhead Group is identified in terms of local authority areas. It comprises the worst fifth of local authorities for at least three out of five selected indicators, covering male life expectancy at birth, female life expectancy at birth, cancer mortality rate for under 75s, circulatory disease mortality rate for under 75s, and the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 average score. 2. Spearhead PCTs are those that overlap geographically, either wholly or partly, with the Spearhead local authorities. Spearhead PCTs on old and new boundaries cover slightly different populations. 3. Figures for mid-2007 to mid-2009 are based on PCT boundaries following the October 2006 NHS reorganisation. Mid-2006 figures are based on old PCT boundaries. 4. The figures for mid-2006 to mid-2008 are population estimates, the figures for mid-2009 are population projections from CXNS 2006-based Subnational Population Projections. Source: Office for National Statistics
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Adult Education: Finance Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on deaf and hearing impaired people of the Learning and Skills Councils decision to reduce funding for adult further education, including qualifications in British Sign [324734] Language by 200 million in 2010-11. Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are responsible for the funding of further education (FE) and skills training for adult learners aged 19 and over.
The Skills Investment Strategy (November 2009) set out measures that would make 340 million of efficiency savings in the 2010-11 financial year. Despite these savings, investment in adult participation budget will be 3.5 billion in 2010-11 financial year: an increase of 2.9 per cent. compared with 2009-10 financial year. Within the total investment, we have committed to maintaining funding for the same volumes of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities as a priority group of learners. This may include individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is for FE colleges and training organisations to determine their offer to these learners in line with their level of need.
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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to question 322635, what recent initiatives his Department has funded to increase gender equality in participation in level 3 advanced [325004] apprenticeships. Kevin Brennan: Apprenticeships are open to those aged 16 and over, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or religious belief. Participation in apprenticeships has increased threefold over the last decade. A great deal of work is being, done to improve access further and increase gender equality in participation at all levels. The percentage of young women following an apprenticeship framework at Level 3 rather than Level 2 has risen from 14 per cent. in 2003/04 to 18 per cent. in 2008/09. The percentage of young men on an advanced apprenticeship has remained at 31 per cent. Recent activity to address gender inequalities in apprenticeships includes:
Creation of the National Apprenticeships Service (NAS) with end-to-end responsibility for apprenticeships delivery. NAS is under a same legal duty to promote equality and diversity and one of their objectives is to: Increase the number, quality and background of people applying for Apprenticeships. NAS work with employers to help them understand and be more responsive to the needs of learners in non-traditional occupations, and promote Apprenticeships to people from these groups. NAS are working to develop resources on apprenticeships for careers education in schools and with information advice and guidance providers to encourage young people to think about apprenticeships in a non-stereotypical way. Extending apprenticeships to over 25s has seen a greater number of women taking up an apprenticeship. 63 per cent. of people aged 25 and over starting an apprenticeship in 2008/09 were female. We have invested 7 million to create Group Training Associations and Apprenticeship Training Agencies, with a specific remit to encourage atypical learners to take up apprenticeships. We have also invested 2.3 million to create diversity pilots in targeted areas for gender, BME and disabled learners, those in non-traditional occupations and their employers. NAS have set up an online mentoring platform through horses mouthopen to all apprentices. 54 mentors registered so far. The minimum wage for apprentices increased from 80 to 95 a week last year. It is young womenapprentices like those in hairdressing and carewho have benefitted most from this increase. On 25 March 2010 the Government announced their acceptance of the Low Pay Commissions recommendations concerning apprenticeship pay. This will mean that from 1 October 2010 the present exemption from the NMW for apprentices will be ended and all apprentices in the United Kingdom must be paid at least 2.50 an hour. We have also committed 5 million to develop new frameworks at Levels 3 and 4 and we are creating up to 35,000 new advanced apprenticeship places for 19 to 30-year-olds over the next two years.
Ian Lucas: The UK will be represented by senior officials from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Business: Government Assistance Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many businesses are in receipt of assistance under [317255] the Working Capital Scheme; (2) how many businesses have applied for funding under the Working Capital Scheme since 1 November [317254] 2008. Ms Rosie Winterton: The Working Capital Scheme (WCS) has provided guarantees to two banks on portfolios of short-term loans with good credit risk in order to release regulatory capital to enable those banks to increase lending to businesses. The two banks with WCS guarantees, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, have made lending commitments of 39 billion. Public Borrowing Review 2009 announced that as the broader asset protection scheme now provides banks with considerably greater capital release, so new portfolios will not be guaranteed under the WCS although existing portfolio guarantees will remain until March 2011. Because the WCS was only available to banks, companies were not eligible to apply. Competition Commission: Public Relations Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 1091W, on the Competition Commission: public relations, what briefing documents Euro RSCG Apex has produced for the Competition Commission [324201] in the last three years. Kevin Brennan: Euro RSCG Apex Communications has not produced any briefing documents for the Competition Commission. As detailed in the previous answer referred to Euro RSCG Apex Communications has provided occasional advice to the Commission over the past three years, mainly in relation to stakeholder communications. Such advice has normally been provided through meetings or by commenting on particular documents. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department provides subsidised gym [324569] facilities for its staff. Mr. McFadden: The gym facilities in the Department are funded by subscriptions of members of the Departments Sports and Social Association or Civil Service Sports Council. Departmental Internet Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010, Official Report, column 394W, on departmental internet, what the cost [324889] of each such website redesign was.
Brussels Forum 2010 Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who will represent the UK at the Brussels Forum 2010.
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Mr. McFadden: Detailed information about the costs of the Departments websites since June 2007, including redesigns, is readily available on the BIS website at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/costs-usage
The cost of the 2006 redesign of the then DTI website was an estimated 175,000, as noted in the response to a Freedom of Information request published 16 June 2006 on the BIS website, titled Accessibility of DTI website at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/foi/information-released
(EPSRC) took over the responsibility for funding the fusion programme in 2003/04 and its subsequent funding is also provided. EURATOM also fund fusion research in the UK through the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The UK contributes indirectly to the EURATOM European fusion research programme through its payments to the EU budget.
Financial year 1974/75 1975/76 1976/77 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 UK Government expenditure on fusion research ( million) 4.3 5.7 6.6 7.3 8.3 10.5 11.4 17.3 12.5 14.1 18.9 21.1 23.1 22.0 24.1 24.1 21.9 20.1 16.3 16.0 15.9 15.7 12.1 16.6 12.6 14.3 17.0 14.4 14.6 EPSRC funding for fusion research (million) 15.9 19.4 17.3 22.3 21.7 32.6
Departmental Official Hospitality Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what events have been hosted by his Department in each of the last 12 [324106] months. Mr. McFadden [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Energy: Prices Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what powers his Department has to protect consumers from unfair competition and profiteering in respect of (a) retail motor fuel prices, (b) retail home heating oil and (c) the price of oil used by commerce and industry; [324281] and if he will make a statement. Kevin Brennan: The Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 contain a range of powers to protect consumers from unfair competition in the UK economy including the markets for petrol retailing, home heating oil and oil used by Industry. As the UKs independent competition authority, the Office of Fair Trading has been given significant powers to investigate and enforce competition law. These powers allow OFT to investigate agreements and practices that are designed to prevent, restrict or distort competition or abuses of market dominance. They also allow the OFT to investigate markets where they are not working to the benefit of consumers. Sectoral regulators also have concurrent powers to investigate and enforce competition law in their relevant sectors. The OFT will take seriously any complaints or any other information it receives about these markets and will use its powers to investigate where appropriate. Fusion Power: Research Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Government funding has been allocated to research and development in relation to fusion power in each year since the UK fusion programme began.
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Financial year 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Higher Education: Admissions Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham of 5 February 2010, Official Report, columns 594-96W, on higher education: free school meals, if he will provide the figures by (a) [324833] constituency and (b) local authority. Mr. Lammy: The following figures show pupils who were in English maintained schools and aged 15 at the start of academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 who progressed to HE by the age of 19 (in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively)
Mr. Lammy: Figures for the Government funding of nuclear fusion research in the UK are available from financial year 1974/75 and are given as follows. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
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by local authority. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency. 2005/06 is the earliest year for which these figures are available. Care should be exercised when comparing figures across local authorities as the numbers of free school meal children will vary significantly at local authority
level. These figures have been estimated using matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record. Figures for 2007/08 will be available later this year.
Estimates of the proportion of pupils aged 15 in 2001/02 and 2002/03 academic years, in English maintained schools, who progressed to HE1 by the age of 19 in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively, by local authority Percentage Local authority FSM2 2005/06 Camden Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith and Fulham Islington Kensington and Chelsea Lambeth Lewisham Southwark Tower Hamlets Wandsworth Westminster Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Croydon Ealing Enfield Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Kingston upon Thames Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Sutton Waltham Forest Birmingham Coventry Dudley Sandwell Solihull Walsall Wolverhampton Knowsley Liverpool St. Helens Sefton Wirral Bolton Bury Manchester Oldham Rochdale Salford Stockport Tameside Trafford 29 14 28 23 22 29 18 20 21 24 27 28 13 28 15 30 16 19 28 24 21 27 11 13 26 24 13 30 30 19 15 25 18 14 9 12 14 12 13 8 12 9 13 11 15 17 15 16 15 7 11 10 14 2006/07 30 17 31 26 26 38 20 20 19 25 22 35 17 27 11 32 15 21 30 26 22 27 10 18 26 22 22 29 35 19 20 26 18 15 12 15 12 13 14 10 14 11 12 11 15 16 14 15 14 6 11 9 17 Young persons in UK HE Non-FSM2 2005/06 43 28 28 49 22 43 30 31 24 29 38 37 22 51 32 47 41 32 48 41 35 54 30 35 46 48 32 39 50 39 49 34 37 33 30 24 36 31 35 20 35 35 39 41 33 35 26 32 27 22 35 25 42 2006/07 44 24 34 49 30 48 36 33 30 33 37 38 22 50 32 53 38 35 53 41 37 51 32 38 44 50 35 41 53 39 48 36 38 32 29 21 38 29 34 24 34 37 37 42 33 34 28 31 28 24 36 25 44 2005/06 3 1 4 1 2 5 1 3 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 3 2 1 3 2 2 4 0 1 2 1 * 2 4 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 * 1 2 2 2 * 1 2 3 Of which: Russell Group HEIs FSM2 2006/07 3 1 1 3 * 5 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 3 * 3 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 1 * 1 1 4 Non-FSM2 2005/06 13 2 4 13 2 8 5 5 3 3 7 7 2 17 5 7 10 5 7 8 7 11 5 5 8 15 5 4 10 9 16 4 9 5 7 3 9 6 6 3 10 6 10 14 6 6 7 6 4 3 8 6 15 2006/07 10 2 3 13 3 10 3 5 3 3 7 7 2 15 5 10 10 5 8 7 6 9 4 4 7 16 5 4 11 8 14 3 10 4 6 2 8 4 5 3 9 7 8 13 6 6 7 5 4 3 9 5 15
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Estimates of the proportion of pupils aged 15 in 2001/02 and 2002/03 academic years, in English maintained schools, who progressed to HE1 by the age of 19 in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively, by local authority Percentage Local authority FSM2 2005/06 Wigan Barnsley Doncaster Rotherham Sheffield Bradford Calderdale Kirklees Leeds Wakefield Gateshead Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside South Tyneside Sunderland Isles of Scilly Bath and North East Somerset Bristol, City of North Somerset South Gloucestershire Hartlepool Middlesbrough Redcar and Cleveland Stockton-on-Tees Kingston Upon Hull, City of East Riding of Yorkshire North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire North Yorkshire York Bedfordshire Luton Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes Derbyshire Derby Dorset Poole Bournemouth Durham Darlington East Sussex Brighton and Hove Hampshire Portsmouth Southampton Leicestershire Leicester Rutland Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent Wiltshire Swindon Bracknell Forest Windsor and Maidenhead West Berkshire Reading Slough 10 4 7 7 9 16 16 17 9 8 11 8 8 9 7 n/a. 10 5 14 8 10 9 11 10 5 9 8 6 11 9 10 23 16 6 8 12 7 14 12 6 12 9 10 8 10 9 13 19 5 10 8 5 7 5 18 7 7 15 2006/07 10 5 8 7 12 17 13 14 10 6 14 9 7 7 6 n/a 11 8 8 8 12 12 8 11 6 12 12 6 11 8 10 21 20 9 10 14 13 10 12 7 8 8 12 8 10 9 12 17 9 10 8 9 4 4 18 14 5 23 Young persons in UK HE Non-FSM2 2005/06 30 23 26 28 31 28 33 33 32 28 34 27 32 28 27 n/a 34 18 36 28 28 30 36 37 18 34 23 27 38 35 33 32 49 27 33 32 31 36 34 28 33 28 26 32 21 26 35 39 31 32 22 34 27 30 39 34 36 46 2006/07 31 22 26 30 30 30 36 34 30 28 34 30 31 28 28 n/a 33 21 34 29 31 30 35 35 18 35 22 27 38 35 33 31 48 30 32 34 30 35 30 30 32 29 27 33 22 26 35 39 32 32 24 33 24 30 42 36 34 44 2005/06 * 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 * 1 0 * 1 n/a 1 * 2 2 1 1 1 * 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 2 * 1 2 1 1 0 * 0 * 2 1 1 1 1 * 0 1 * 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Of which: Russell Group HEIs FSM2 2006/07 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 * 0 * n/a 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 * 2 1 2 0 1 * 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 * 2 1 1 2 1 2 0 1 * 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 Non-FSM2 2005/06 6 5 5 6 9 5 6 7 8 6 7 7 7 5 3 n/a 8 4 9 5 4 4 5 6 2 6 4 6 10 8 6 4 17 4 8 6 5 8 7 5 7 4 4 7 3 6 6 5 6 5 3 8 6 5 6 7 14 10 2006/07 6 3 5 5 9 5 7 7 7 5 6 6 7 4 3 n/a 8 4 8 5 4 2 4 6 2 6 3 5 9 8 5 4 16 3 8 5 5 8 6 6 6 5 4 6 3 6 6 4 5 5 2 7 5 6 7 7 14 10
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Estimates of the proportion of pupils aged 15 in 2001/02 and 2002/03 academic years, in English maintained schools, who progressed to HE1 by the age of 19 in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively, by local authority Percentage Local authority FSM2 2005/06 Wokingham Cambridgeshire Peterborough Cheshire Halton Warrington Devon Plymouth Torbay Essex Southend-on-Sea Thurrock Herefordshire Worcestershire Kent Medway Lancashire Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Nottinghamshire Nottingham Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Cornwall Cumbria Gloucestershire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Lincolnshire Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumberland Oxfordshire Somerset Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire West Sussex 5 8 13 9 7 8 11 8 10 9 9 5 8 8 8 11 15 21 5 9 8 9 7 12 8 9 13 9 8 8 10 7 10 9 10 12 9 11 2006/07 14 6 11 9 8 9 10 7 11 9 11 8 10 7 9 11 14 14 12 8 6 8 10 10 10 10 13 9 5 6 10 14 8 7 10 15 9 10 Young persons in UK HE Non-FSM2 2005/06 43 31 25 39 27 34 28 30 37 30 37 20 32 33 34 29 34 34 24 29 21 33 30 28 34 36 40 26 33 26 31 35 33 31 30 38 35 32 2006/07 41 33 30 39 28 33 28 30 35 29 38 20 33 34 35 31 35 33 21 30 23 33 32 29 35 37 40 29 34 27 32 35 34 29 31 38 35 32 2005/06 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 I 1 * 1 1 1 1 0 1 * * * * 1 1 1 1 2 Of which: Russell Group HEIs FSM2 2006/07 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1 X X Non-FSM2 2005/06 9 7 5 10 5 8 5 5 10 4 8 2 7 8 7 4 7 4 3 8 5 7 7 4 8 9 9 3 9 4 5 9 8 6 5 7 8 6 2006/07 8 7 5 9 4 7 5 4 9 4 9 1 8 7 7 4 7 5 3 6 5 7 7 3 8 9 9 4 8 4 5 8 7 5 5 7 7 6
n/a = not applicablefigures for Isles of Scilly have been excluded due to small numbers. * = where percentages are less than 0.5 per cent. 0% = no pupils identified. 1 Includes HE level courses at English further education colleges. 2 FSM and non-FSM indicate receipt and non-receipt of free school meals respectively. Note: In 2002/03 there were 81,100 maintained school pupils aged 15 claiming free school meals. This represents around 14 per cent. of all pupils in English maintained schools. The number of pupils claiming free school meals will vary between local authorities. Source: Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record.
Higher Education: Sheffield Mr. Betts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of young people in (a) each Sheffield constituency and (b) the City of Sheffield have entered [323761] higher education in each year since 1998. Mr. Lammy [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The numbers of young (under 21) undergraduate entrants, from the Sheffield constituencies of Attercliffe, Brightside, Central, Hallam, Heeley and Hillsborough and Sheffield local authority, are provided in the following table. Figures are provided for the academic years 1998/99 to 2008/09.
Percentage change in young undergraduate entrants: 1998/99 to 2008/09 Change (percentage) Sheffield Attercliffe Sheffield Brightside Sheffield Central Sheffield Hallam Sheffield Heeley Sheffield Hillsborough Sheffield local authority +74 +91 +78 +12 +44 +53 +46
The Department does not collect data on the number of residents in a particular area who are not in higher education, which would be necessary to calculate a
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proportion. It is, therefore, not possible to calculate the proportion of young people in each Sheffield constituency and Sheffield local authority who have entered higher education in each year since 1998. Industrial Development Associations Robert Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the timetable is for regional advisory investment panels to replace regional industrial development boards.
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Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 1 February 2010 on Joshua Carroll, transferred from the Department for International Development. [325128] Kevin Brennan: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State responded to my right hon. Friend on 24 March 2010. Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many loans have been provided under his Departments Automotive Assistance Programme in each constituency; and how much has been loaned in [324491] total under the scheme in each constituency. Ian Lucas: The Automotive Assistance programme (AAP) was set up to provide loan guarantees, and in exceptional cases, loans. On 18 September 2009, the Department announced the offer of a 10 million loan to Tata Motors European Technical Centre to support 25 million of investment in the Coventry area. However, the company was subsequently successful in accessing financial support elsewhere. On 12 March 2010, we announced a conditional offer of 300 million (270 million) loan guarantee to GM Europe which will help secure the companys operations in Britain and the rest of Europe. On 18 March 2010, we announced the Governments willingness to provide 360 million in loan guarantees under the AAP towards six projects at Fords research and development centre at Dunton in Essex and its manufacturing plants in Dagenham, Southampton and Bridgend in South Wales, supporting a proposed loan from the European Investment Bank. National Investment Corporation Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010, Official Report, column 396W, on National Investment Corporation, which external advisers have been used; and how much has been paid to each such adviser.
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Ms Rosie Winterton: As stated in the annual report to Parliament under the Industrial Development Act 1982 report for year ending 31 March 2009 (HC 668), it is expected that the regional development agencies will appoint new advisory panels to replace the regional industrial development boards by the end of the current financial year. Loans Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals (a) to introduce more stringent regulation of the activities of companies offering payday loans and (b) to require companies offering payday loans to charge a rate of interest broadly in line with that levied by the larger banks; and [324950] if he will make a statement. Kevin Brennan: Government are concerned at the impact of high cost credit products on the most vulnerable people in society. A diverse and innovative credit market benefits consumers, but there is a fine line between promoting choice and some of the recent innovations in the payday loan market, such as loans offered via the internet or mobile phone, that appear to make it too easy to access credit anywhere and at any time without thinking through the implications. We will shortly be implementing the new Consumer Credit Directive into UK law. The directive will give consumers new protections such as a 14-day right to cancel any credit agreement without penalty and require lenders, including payday lenders, to provide clear information to consumers on new loans, and check borrowers creditworthiness before lending. The Office of Fair Trading will soon be publishing its new Irresponsible Lending Guidance covering the marketing and selling of credit products. The guidance will ensure that that lenders do not irresponsibly promote credit and will make clear the standards expected of them at all stages of the lending process. Government are determined to tackle irresponsible lenders, and those who are unable or unwilling to follow the guidance face being stripped of their credit licences. The Office of Fair Trading is also reviewing the high cost credit area, including analysis on the impact of interest rate caps, and they are due to publish their findings and recommendations shortly. We will not hesitate to act if the review finds that further action is necessary to protect consumers.
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 22 March 2010]: The Department has engaged KPMG and Addleshaw Goddard. To date, the Department has paid Addleshaw Goddard 13,888.96 for legal advice on the Growth Capital Fund and no payments have yet been made to KPMG. Regional Development Agencies Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding (a) his Department and (b) each regional development agency is providing to support Regional [319607] European Networks in 2009-10.
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Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department has not identified any payments made to the Regional European Networks. All the English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have some form of regional representation in Brussels and the RDAs contribute to and participate in this to varying degrees. This representation has supported each region in securing significant investment from a range of European funding streams; influencing legislation in order to ensure a competitive business environment; identifying economic opportunities for the region; and building key relationships to support these actions. The RDAs believe that it is important to continue to build on these activities in order to support the delivery of regional strategies, aid economic recovery and ensure the future growth of the English regions. Figures exclude VAT unless otherwise stated.
Title East of England Brussels Office Englands East Midlands European Office Londons European Office North East England in Europe North West Brussels Office South East England Brussels Office South West UK in Europe Brussels Office West Midlands in Europe Office Yorkshireurope 1 Inclusive of VAT. Cost 000 (RDA financial contribution only 2008-09) 64 312 50 67 82 136
1
by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Small Business and attended by representatives from the high street banks as well as key small business representative bodies. The Departments data shows that generally, the cost of finance remains lower than in 2007 due to falls in the base rate, despite increases in bank margins. Fixed rate finance remains lower than in 2007 and 2008, and margins on variable rate finance in October 2009 remain at comparable levels to previous months. Social Enterprises Jenny Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the banking industry to promote awareness of and lending to community interest companies; and if he will make a statement. [324312] Ian Lucas: I have had no such discussions. I have however met recently with the Regulator of Community Interest Companies who talks to banks and other finance providers to raise awareness of community interest companies. She also provides guidance on her website for potential funders of community interest companies. Student Loans Company
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Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total cost has been of the independent reviews of the Student Loans Company conducted by (a) Professor Sir Deian [324308] Hopkin and (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Lammy: The total cost of the independent review of the Student Loans Company conducted by Professor Sir Deian Hopkin was 25,613. The total cost of the independent review of the Student Loans Company being conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers is not yet known as the review has not been completed. Student Loans Company: Telephone Services Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) average time taken to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for a member of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of a call was in call centres run by the Student Loans Company in the latest period for [323953] which figures are available. Mr. Lammy: The following information has been provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC) and relates to all inbound traffic to SLCs centres in Darlington, Glasgow and Wales, relating to calls from all customers about applications for loans, grants and other products administered on behalf of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and about repayment of loans by customers from all domiciles. (a) The average time taken to answer a call (including interactive voice responses) and (b) the average waiting time for a member of the public during a call to the Student Loans Company in the latest period for which figures are available is set out in table 1.
Science: Finance Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Government plans to increase expenditure in the public science base at least in line with the trend growth rate of the economy through the period to 2014 referred to in the Ten-Year Science and Innovation [325038] Investment Framework. Mr. Lammy: This Government remain committed to sustained investment in science and research, as set out in the 10-Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework and to the ring fence around the Science and Research Budget. Total investment in science and research has doubled since 1997 and will increase to a record level of 6 billion in 2010-11. Small Businesses: Borrowing Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of high street banks on the cost of borrowing for small [322808] businesses. Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department continues to collect SME lending data from the four main banking groups (Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, RBS) on a monthly basis. The headline messages from the bank data returns including cost of financeare discussed at the Small Business Finance Forum, which meets quarterly, is chaired
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Average time 2009 April May June July August September October November December 2010 January February March 02:04 00:44 01:00 03:01 02:40 01:57 02:38 03:07 05:13 02:15 01:59 02:21
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many graduates have had their student loan debt recovered by the Student Loans Company through EU [324309] Regulation 14/2001 since 2006. Mr. Lammy: EC Regulation 44/2001 enables the Student Loans Company (SLC) to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries. EC Regulation 44/2001 is not required where court action is raised in the country of domicile. In early 2009, the SLC contacted 54 EU borrowers in order to start the legal process. Experience suggests that the majority of cases are resolved satisfactorily when the SLC advise borrowers that legal action will be taken, and where appropriate student debt has been recovered before court action has been raised. However, there remain a small number of cases which may be subject to court action under Regulation EU 44/2001 where action is ongoing. Student loan debt has so far been recovered from two students where court action was raised in their country of domicile, where the relevant local law is applicable. Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in what circumstances the Student Loans Company would expect to enforce the provisions of EU Regulation [324310] 14/2001. Mr. Lammy: Effective collection across the EU is underpinned by EC Regulation 44/2001 which allows the Student Loans Company (SLC) to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries. SLC will use this whenever necessary. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cash cost of (a) fee loans and (b) maintenance loans in higher education in England is in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.
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(c) The percentage of calls abandoned or not answered is set out in table 2.
Table 2 Percentage 2009 April May June July August September October November December 2009 2010 January February March 19.1 4.8 5.1 23.2 23.4 24.5 28.3 71.1 85.4 33.0 15.4 15.0
(d) The average length of a call in call centres run by the Student Loans Company in the latest period is set out in table 3.
Table 3 Average length of call 2009 April May June July August September October November December 2010 January February March 06:09 05:40 05:37 07:03 06:51 06:08 06:02 06:26 07:10 06:49 06:51 06:29
Mr. Lammy: The current estimated cash provision for fee loans and maintenance loans given to students domiciled in England is 5.2 billion in 2009-10 and 5.7 billion in 2010-11. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the figures as fee loans and maintenance loans are a combined budget. Students: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students (a) currently resident in City of York constituency, (b) studying at the university of York and (c) studying at the university of York St. John receive (i) grants towards their university fees and (ii) non-repayable bursaries towards their maintenance [324218] costs. Mr. Lammy: Since academic year 2006/07 students have been able to defer payment of tuition fees by taking out a Tuition Fee Loan. Tuition fee grants have
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not been available to new students since then and are only available to those who began their study before 2006/07. In academic year 2008/09 100 students with home addresses in the York local authority area were awarded tuition fee grants. Reliable information is not available at constituency or university level. The information requested on bursaries is not available centrally as they are the responsibility of higher education institutions. Supermarkets: Alcoholic Drinks Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to prevent sales promotions by supermarkets selling alcohol at below [324784] cost price. Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply. The Government consulted last year on banning the sale of alcohol below duty plus VAT, a form of loss-leader. We continue to look at how we can tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol, while respecting the rights of responsible consumers and the Government have commissioned further research in this area.
Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Steve Bundred:
There have been four occasions in the last 24 months when external meeting venues have been booked for Audit Commission meetings. These are listed as follows: 23-24 April 2008: Strategic Board Meeting 11 December 2008: Board Meeting (external venue was used during downsizing work to Millbank offices) 22-23 April 2009: Strategic Board Meeting 17 December 2009: Board Meeting (external venue was used due to lack of heating at Millbank offices) A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 868W, on Audit Commission, for what purposes (a) Lexington Communications and (b) Consolidated Communications were hired by the Audit Commission; what public affairs and lobbying activity each undertook; and what documents and other briefing materials each produced for the [324514] Commission. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010: Parliamentary Question: pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for on Audit Commission, for what purposes (a) Lexington Communications and (b) Consolidated Communications were hired by the Audit Commission; what public affairs and lobbying activity each undertook; and what the documents and other briefing materials each produced for the Commission
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. Lexington Communications and Consolidated Communications were contracted to provide parliamentary and political monitoring research support. The Audit Commission ceased its contract with Lexington Communications in 2005. There are no retained briefing notes produced for the Audit Commission by Lexington Communications. In response to a recent Parliamentary Question by Bob Neill MP (PQ02427), we advised that the contract with Consolidated Communications had ceased in October 2008 and copies of all retained briefing notes were placed in the House of Commons Library. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Affordable Housing: Construction Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many (a) homes and (b) affordable homes have been built in each London borough in each year since 1997; [323593] (2) how many (a) homes and (b) affordable homes were built in each London borough in each year since [324028] 1997. Mr. Ian Austin: I have today placed tables in the Library of the House showing for each London borough since 1997-98 the number of new house building completions and also the number of additional new build affordable dwellings. Not all affordable housing is provided through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2008-09, for example, a total of 12,890 additional affordable homes were provided in London. Audit Commission Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 867-8W, on Audit Commission, what the (a) date and (b) purpose was of each meeting of the Audit Commission for which external meeting venues were booked in the [324513] last 24 months.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 870-1W, on Audit Commission, for what reason only 68 per cent. of hotel bookings were made through the Expotel facility; and what proportion of such bookings made through the Expotel facility were for hotels at five stars [324608] or above in 2008-09.
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Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. The Expotel contract is predominately used to book overnight hotel accommodation. There is the facility to use the Expotel service for external meetings but there is flexibility to negotiate directly with venues to secure better rates. The remaining 32% of spend identified as not going through Expotel relates to external meeting bookings and a small proportion of those are for hotels that do not accept bookings through Expotel. Ten five star hotels were booked in 2008/09, which equates to 0.6% of total spend. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
On 27 February 2008 the event was a lunchtime seminar to discuss issues on Devolution vs Centralisation since 1983 to aid the production of a paper on the subject. From the Audit Commission the attendees were the Chief Executive and the MD Policy, Research & Studies. The attendees were David Curry MP, David Heath MP, Sir Peter Soulsby MP, Peter Brokenshire, Jake ArnoldForster and Sir Brian Briscoe & Paul Rigg, Local Government Association. The purpose of the dinner on 9 July 2008 was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission Management Team, the Head of the Chief Executives Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Senior Policy Adviser in the Prime Ministers Office. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 870W, on Audit Commission, which senior Audit Commission officials had use of a Government driver in the last 12 months; and on how many occasions in each such [324609] case. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. Government chauffeurs are not used by the Audit Commission. The Government Car and Despatch Agency is used as it is a greener and more cost effective alternative to black cabs. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 870-71W, on the Audit Commission, which bookings for hotels were not made through the Expotel hotel reservations facility in 2008-09; and for what reasons they were not [324612] made through the facility. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. In 2008/09, we made bookings with 34 hotels outside of the Expotel hotel reservations facility. The Expotel contract is predominately used to book overnight hotel accommodation, but we also use Expotel for events, some of which may include overnight accommodation. The bookings with the other hotels were made, in some cases, after direct negotiation to secure better rates and in others because of attendance at events at specific non Expotel hotels. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 872W, on the Audit Commission, what the purpose was of each of the meetings at Shepherds of Marsham Street, [324611] London; and who attended each. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the chief executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. On 18 July 2007 the purpose of the dinner was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission ManagementTeam(Chief Executive,MDAudit,MDCommunications & Public Reporting, MD Corporate Services, MD Health, MD Human Resources, MD Local Government, MD Policy, Research & Studies), the Head of the Chief Executives Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Chief Executive of the National Consumer Council. On 30 January 2008 the purpose of the dinner was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission Management Team, the Head of the Chief Executives Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Director of Policy Exchange.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1023W, on the Audit Commission, for what occasion Roleplay UK was engaged by his Department on each date in 2008 and 2009 given in the answer; and for what reason [324818] in each case. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. The attached schedule details the individual engagements of Roleplay UK in 2008 and 2009. The majority of assignments related to recruitment assessment centres. Roleplayers were used to assist with the selection of new staff (graduate trainees and managers) and acted the parts of clients or employees in work sample roleplays. There were nine development centres in 2008 where roleplayers played the part of a Chief Executive in order to assess staff skills in dealing with difficult client scenarios. There was one training event in 2009 which involved roleplayers. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
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Date Recruitment assessment centres 2 January 2 January 4 February 25 February 25 February 25 February 28 February 3 March 5 March 13 March 13 March 14 March 17 March 25 March 27 March 14 April 24 April 24 April 24 April 29 April 1 May 8 May 16 May 21 May 28 May 8 July 23 July 31 July 31 July 12 August 12 August 26 August 2 September 7 October 14 October 17 October 21 October 21 October 20 November 25 November 25 November 11 December 23 December District Auditor Assessment Centre Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre Principal Auditor Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre District Auditor Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre Principal Auditor Assessment Audit Manager Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre CAAL Assessment Centre Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Assessment Centre Principal Auditor Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Principal Auditor Assessment Centre Principal Auditor Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre
Development centres 2 January 10 January 14 January 6 February 25 February 30 March 16 April 6 June 19 September Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 2009 Date Recruitment Assessment Centres 11 February 6 May 4 June 11 May Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre Audit Manager Assessment Centre District Auditor Assessment Centre
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Date 28 September 9 July 10 July 20 November 13 January 26 January 26 January 11 February 13 February 27 March 30 July 30 July 27 August 8 June 29 June 17 July 28 August 14 May Training event 23 February Knowledge Sharing Session District Auditor Assessment Centre Finance Manager Assessment Centre Finance Manager Assessment Centre Finance Manager Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Graduate Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Performance SpecialistsBenefits Assessment Centre Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 February 2010, Official Report, column 624W, on the Audit Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of each of the employment tribunal cases, [324823] including any settlement payments. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Steve Bundred dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. Seven employment tribunal claims have been brought against the Commission by members of staff or former staff in the last four years. The grounds of dispute, outcome and settlement payments in each case are outlined below. 1. A former employee argued that dismissal on grounds of redundancy was unfair. The matter was settled on cost efficiency grounds in the sum of 5000. 2. A former employee disputed the amount of holiday pay owed by the Commission on termination of employment. The Tribunal dismissed the claim. Counsels fees were 778. 3. A former employee alleged breach of contract relating to an agreement to make payment in lieu of notice (PILON). The claim was settled for a nominal amount. Settlement and Counsels costs were 1250. 4. A former employee brought a claim against the Commission for failure to make an ill-health retirement recommendation to the Commissions Pension Scheme Trustees. The claim was withdrawn with no Counsel or settlement costs. 5. A former employee argued that dismissal on grounds of redundancy was unfair. The claim was withdrawn with no Counsel or settlement costs. 6. Nine members of staff brought a claim against the Commission for equal pay. The claim was upheld by the Employment Tribunal and is the subject to an appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Counsels costs to date for hearing and appeal are 29,200. This case is ongoing. 7. A former employee has brought claims against the Commission for unfair dismissal, race discrimination, disability discrimination
and other related claims. The claims are yet to be heard and are fully contested by the Commission. Counsels costs to date are 850. This claim is ongoing. These figures do not include costs associated with managing claims by Commission officers as this information is not collected. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 February 2010, Official Report, columns 624-28W, on the Audit Commission, whether the Audit Commission has made payments to City Inn [324832] Westminster in the last five years. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. The Audit Commission has made the following payments to the City Inn Westminster in the last five years:
2005-06 45,955.29 2006-07 40,318.46 2007-08 45,237.07 2008-09 157,402.42 2009-10 117,715.52 Note: Expotel data before April 2006 has been excluded from the 2005-06 total as this information has been archived and was not accessible in time for the response.
Payments increased in 2008/09 as the City Inn Westminster rates decreased in comparison to alternative hotels, making the City Inn a more cost effective option. The City Inn was then added to Expotel. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
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Bullying: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1129W, on bullying: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, what posts were held by those against whom the complaints [324038] were made. Barbara Follett: It is not the policy of this Department to publish details relating to complaints which could lead to the identification of the individuals concerned. Coastal Erosion: Southend on Sea Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he (a) has had in the last 12 months and (b) plans to have in the next 12 months with other Departments to discuss cliff slippage in Southend; and if he will make a [324395] statement. [R] Mr. Khan: I have been asked to reply. No discussions have been held and none are planned. Community Infrastructure Levy Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether the community infrastructure levy will apply to developments with permitted development rights;
[323305]
The Government listened to the concerns of the agricultural industry during the consultation period. As a result, the draft regulations published earlier include a transitional exemption from CIL for new buildings that rely on the General Permitted Development Order. The charge cannot apply to new permitted development until 6 April 2013. Council Housing: Greater London Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many families were on housing waiting lists in each London borough in each of the last five years. [319057] Mr. Ian Austin: Information specifically about the number of families registered on the social housing waiting list is not available. Social housing waiting list information is collected by household. Council Tax Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the gross value was of council tax receipts in (a) England, (b) each local authority and (c) each Government office region expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each [324505] year since 1997-98. Barbara Follett: For information in respect of England as a whole I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 19 January 2010, Official Report, columns 281-82W. For information in respect of the individual billing authorities in England I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 20 October 2009, Official Report, column 1389W and on 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 214W. Information on council tax collected in each Government office region in England from 1997-98 to 2008-09 in both cash and real terms is given in the following tables.
Cash million
(2) whether the community infrastructure levy will apply to agricultural building and developments which [323307] do not have permitted development rights. Mr. Ian Austin: The August 2009 CIL consultation document described the definition of buildings which will be liable to pay CIL, and what exemptions the Government were minded to grant.
1997-98 North East North West1 Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East1 South West England 449 1,310 866
1998-99 488 1,424 949
19992000 520 1,519 1,014
2000-01 555 1,623 1,087
2001-02 593 1,733 1,171
2002-03 648 1,860 1,277
2003-04 709 2,034 1,415
2004-05 755 2,063 1,512
2005-06 793 2,235 1,595
2006-07 828 2,349 1,668
2007-08 872 2,475 1,755
2008-09 902 2,570 1,835
773 940 1,051 1,386 1,716 995 9,488
860 1,027 1,190 1,486 1,926 1,109 10,459
935 1,113 1,306 1,616 2,092 1,203 11,318
1,013 1,198 1,427 1,767 2,260 1,312 12,242
1,087 1,298 1,542 1,944 2,435 1,406 13,208
1,213 1,421 1,722 2,099 2,696 1,576 14,511
1,334 1,573 1,977 2,448 3,102 1,801 16,392
1,433 1,662 2,122 2,617 3,267 1,942 17,372
1,502 1,743 2,225 2,771 3,506 2,048 18,419
1,575 1,813 2,345 2,888 3,691 2,158 19,315
1,653 1,918 2,484 3,051 3,892 2,274 20374
1,738 1,996 2,613 3,171 4,098 2,395 21,319
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Real terms at 2008-09 prices calculated using the retail prices index as at April 2008 million 1997-98 North East North West1 Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East1 South West England
1
1998-99 642 1,875 1,249
19992000 674 1,968 1,313
2000-01 699 2,042 1,368
2001-02 733 2,142 1,448
2002-03 789 2,266 1,555
2003-04 837 2,403 1,671
2004-05 870 2,377 1,742
2005-06 885 2,497 1,781
2006-07 902 2,559 1,817
2007-08 909 2,578 1,829
2008-09 902 2,570 1,835
614 1,794 1,186
1,058 1,288 1,439 1,898 2,350 1,363 12,990
1,132 1,352 1,566 1,956 2,535 1,459 13,766
1,211 1,441 1,692 2,093 2,710 1,558 14,661
1,274 1,507 1,795 2,223 2,843 1,651 15,401
1,343 1,605 1,906 2,403 3,010 1,738 16,328
1,477 1,731 2,097 2,556 3,284 1,919 17,674
1,575 1,858 2,334 2,891 3,664 2,127 19,360
1,651 1,916 2,445 3,016 3,764 2,238 20,019
1,678 1,947 2,485 3,095 3,916 2,288 20,572
1,715 1,975 2,553 3,145 4,020 2,350 21,036
1,722 1,998 2,588 3,178 4,055 2,370 21,227
1,738 1,996 2,613 3,171 4,098 2,395 21,319
Data for two authorities not received in 2004-05.
The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of Council Tax and Non-domestic rates returns completed annually by all billing authorities in England and the real terms data are given at 2008-09 prices. Council Tax: Valuation Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys pre-release announcement on council tax of 10 March 2010, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent list of dwelling house and value significant codes used by [323542] each local authority. Ian Pearson: I have been asked reply. I refer the hon. Member to the Valuation Office Agencys Property Details Guide, which is available in the Library and the most up-to-date version is available on its website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
Barbara Follett: This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324566] staff. Barbara Follett: The Department does not provide subsidised gym facilities for staff. Departmental Computers Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 February2010, OfficialReport,column479W,ondepartmental computers, what software is included in the average price for a (a) desktop and (b) laptop computer; and what the typical make, model and specification is for (i) desktop and (ii) laptop computers purchased for such [323106] prices. Barbara Follett: Included within the average price, which was given in the answer I provided on February 23rd 2010, both desktops and laptops are loaded with Microsoft Window XP operating system as well as a suite of security software. We are unable to provide details on the suite of security software loaded due to security reasons. Typical make, model and specifications within the estate are as follows: (a) Desktop
DELL Optiplex 745 SF Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (667 MHZ DDR2 DU) 19 inch LCD Monitor, 2 x 512 MB memory, 80GB hard drive (72000 RPM), Floppy Disk Drive : 3.5 1.44MB INTERNAL, 24 x DVD-ROM and CD/RW, Keyboard.
Departmental Advertising Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its agencies spent on advertising via Google Adwords in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and for what keywords. [324699] Barbara Follett: The Department purchases its digital marketing through the COI framework appointed agency i-Level. i-Level have confirmed that from 1 April 2009 to 24 March 2010, the Department spent a total of 212,825.94 advertising via Google Adwords. In this period the Department bought against 868 different keywords. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for [324434] staff leisure in each of the last five years.
(b) Laptop
DELL Latitude E6400 Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz, 10066MHz, 3MB) 14.1 inch screen, 2 x 1 GB memory, 80 GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM and 24X CD+/-RW, Modem: UK Internal 56.6K.
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Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 479W, on departmental computers, whether the average price for (a) desktop and (b) laptop computers includes (i) catalogue management, (ii) new order authorisation, (iii) disc imaging and software installation, (iv) delivery and removal of old kit, (v) installation, (vi) field engineering support and (vii) [323107] removal and disposal. Barbara Follett: Yes, the average priceprovided under our answer of 23 February 2010for desktop and laptops does include these costs. Departmental Food Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food [323044] scheme. Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and its non-departmental public bodies encourage its catering contractors to follow the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) guidance for Public Sector Food Procurement Initiatives. The initiative aims to deliver a world class sustainable farming and food sector. It also provides data on the domestically produced food used by, and supplied to, Government Departments. CLG reports to DEFRA on the procurement of food, catering services and catering equipment, indicating the proportion of United Kingdom produce supplied from farm assured, organic, fair trade tea and coffee and seasonal produce. The reports are published on the Raising Awareness page of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiatives website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/ awareness.htm
Barbara Follett: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Pay Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 956W, on departmental pay, what the average annual salary is of [323990] special advisers in his Department. Barbara Follett: The average annual salary is of special advisers in this Department is 72,000. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average pay and pension cost, including employer national insurance contributions, is for a press officer in his [324037] Department. Barbara Follett: The average pay and pension cost for a press officer (including salary, employers national insurance contributions and pension costs) in this Department is 48,214. Departmental Public Expenditure Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding under each programme to improve (a) levels of employment, (b) levels of income, (c) health levels, (d) educational achievement, (d) the living environment, (e) crime levels and (f) access to housing and services his Department allocated to each London borough in each year since 2000; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that funding in each case.
[323773]
Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items [324720] were. Barbara Follett: The Department does not retain information on spending on promotional items in a fashion which distinguishes between those carrying the Departments branding and logo and those which do not. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose of each [324666] such event was.
Ms Rosie Winterton: Improvements to the outcomes listed in parts (a) to (e) are encompassed within the aims of the Departments area-based programmes. In line with devolutionary principles, many of the funding arrangements allow for local flexibility in identifying priorities within the local authority area. The main area-based programmes which have allocated funding to London boroughs since 2000 are:
Safer and Stronger Communities Fund, comprising: Neighbourhood Element and Cleaner, Safer, Greener Element Liveability Fund Neighbourhood Renewal Fund New Deal for Communities Local Enterprise Growth Initiative Working Neighbourhoods Fund Thames Gateway Programme Inspiring Communities Grant.
Funding allocated from these programmes to London authorities is included in tables 1 to 6 which have been laid in the Library of the House. (f) The main programmes which seek to improve access to housing in London boroughs include:
Choice Based Letting The Homes and Communities Agencys Affordable Housing Programme The Supporting People programme.
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Funding information for these programmes is included in tables 7 to 10 which have been laid in the Library of the House. Evaluation of the effectiveness of funding for programmes under (a) to (f) have not been conducted at the local authority level. Completed national level evaluations are available from the Departments website. Departmental Records Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of his Departments guidance to staff on records management and filing for private [324017] offices Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office and the National Archives in June 2009 for the management of private office records. I have arranged for a copy of this to be placed in the Library. Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which of its (a) best value inspection reports, (b) audit letters, (c) comprehensive performance assessment reports and (d) comprehensive area assessment reports the Audit Commission has recommended a local authority to consider introducing alternate weekly collections of [324498] household rubbish. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. Without reviewing over 2,000 documents, which would only be possible at disproportionate cost, the Audit Commission is aware of only two audit, inspection or assessment reports since 2004 which recommend that a local authority considers alternate weekly collections of household rubbish. These are: Waste Management inspection report for West Devon District Council (January 2005) Waste Management inspection report for Cannock Chase District Council (September 2005) Both reports are available on the Commissions website www.audit-commission.gov.uk The Commissions approach to this issue is the same as for other questions of public service delivery. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver their services. We expect them to consider all relevant options, to make their decision on the basis of accurate information and to be accountable for the cost and service outcomes achieved. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. A copy of the Audit Commissions best value inspection report on Southampton City Councils waste management service (published 2004) has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The email from the Audit Commission to Southampton City Council of 26 August 2004 has also been placed in the Library. The inspection report can also be found on the Audit Commissions website at: http://www.audit-commission.Gov.uk/ SiteCollectionDocuments/InspectionOutput/ InspectionReports/2004/ SouthamptonWasteMgt29Oct04REP.pdf A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 873-4W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commissions (a) waste management quick guide and (b) draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations [324825] guidance. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010: Parliamentary Question: pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 873-4W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commissions (a) waste management quick guide and (b) draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations guidance.
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. A copy of the Audit Commissions waste management quick guide has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Our response to PQ 1532 09/10, from the Honorary Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 9 February 2010, incorrectly stated that the draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations guidance was an Audit Commission letter. This draft letter was a DEFRA document and should not have been included in our response to PQ 1532 09/10. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Empty Property Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public requests to order disposal have been submitted in the last 24 months; for which properties in each case; and [324497] what decision he took in each case. Mr. Ian Austin: Local authorities are required to seek the consent of the Secretary of State before they can dispose of certain properties held for housing purposes. Over the last two years specific consent has been granted to the disposal of approximately 100,000 council houses
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the email from the Audit Commission to Southampton City Council of 26 August 2004 on fortnightly rubbish collections and (b) the associated best value inspection report. [324499]
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Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
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and flats: the vast majority as part of large scale voluntary transfers to housing associations. No applications made to the Secretary of State to dispose of property have been refused over this period. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether public requests to order disposal apply to (a) Transport for London, (b) the Homes and Communities Agency and [324613] (c) regional development agencies. Barbara Follett: Public requests to order disposal (PROD) are not provided for, or referred to directly, in legislation. PRODs are a tool which allow the public to request that underused land be bought back into use. The Secretary of State has the power to direct disposals of unused or underused land held by public bodies under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. This power only applies to those public bodies listed in Schedule 16 to that Act. In response to your specific queries:
(a) Transport for London is considered to be a statutory undertaker under paragraph 18 of schedule 16 and is therefore covered by the Act. (b) The Homes and Communities Agency is not listed in schedule 16. (c) Regional development agencies are not listed in schedule 16.
Chief Fire Officers Association. An evaluation of the bids was made on the basis of technical, financial, and legal and contractual criteria set out in advance of the invitation to tender process. The final decision to identify Group 4 Securicor as the preferred bidder for the Fireguard Project was taken by the Firebuy Board on 24 June 2008. The participating fire and rescue authorities however decided that they did not wish to enter into a contract, and the project was closed in May 2009. It would have been for the project sponsors to undertake any consultation they considered necessary. Homelessness: Sefton Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps have been taken to provide housing advice to homeless people in Sefton; [325002] (2) pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 1035W, on homelessness: Sefton, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of youth homelessness in Sefton. [325007] Mr. Ian Austin: The homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) places a general duty on housing authorities to have a strategy for preventing and tackling homelessness in their area and to ensure that advice and assistance about preventing homelessness is available free of charge to everyone in their area. We have allocated a total of 186,000 to Sefton over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support their homelessness strategy. In addition, we have allocated 85,500 to Sefton over the year 2009-10 to help families at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction. This grant helps assist people of all ages and a proportion of this money will be spent on young people based on a local authoritys need. We cannot disaggregate actual spend on young people but in England in the last quarter 39 per cent. of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty were aged 16-24 years. The Supporting People programme provides revenue funds for local authorities to commission housing related support services for vulnerable people in their area, to enable them to achieve and maintain independence. In 2008-09 Sefton spent 7,466,593 of their funding allocated through the Supporting People programme on housing related support services. Supporting People is a locally managed and delivered programme. Local authorities are responsible for making the strategic decisions regarding the programme including deciding what services to commission to meet local needs and priorities. Housing Benefit Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on average what weekly rent was paid by a (a) private tenant, (b) local authority tenant and (c) registered social landlord tenant (i) before and (ii) after the deduction of housing benefit in each region in each of the last five years.
[306633]
English Regions Network: Manpower Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff work for the Civil Service in the English Regions [324550] programme. Ms Rosie Winterton: There are 46.8 full time equivalent staff working for the Civil Service in the English Regions programme. Fire Services: Industrial Disputes Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has held with Group 4 Securicor (G4S) on their proposal that G4S Fire Service provide a contingency force to cover the fire service in event of industrial action and pandemics; and if he will make a [324855] statement. Mr. Malik: This Department has had no discussions with Group 4 Securicor (GS4) on their proposal that they provide contingency cover in the fire service in the event of industrial action and pandemics. Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what basis Group 4 Securicor have been identified as the preferred bidder to provide a national fire service reserve; when this decision was taken, and by whom; what consultations there have been with the Fire Brigades Union on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
[324857]
Mr. Malik: Firebuy, the national procurement body for the fire and rescue service in England, undertook the procurement process for the Fireguard Project at the request of 33 fire and rescue authorities, led by the
Mr. Ian Austin: This information is not available in the form requested.
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Written Answers Housing: Conferences
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department and its agencies sent representatives to each of the last three MIPIM international property [324032] conferences. Barbara Follett: In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the MIPIM conference was attended by the following officials from Communities and Local Government: 2007
Director general, Policy Programmes and Innovation.
2008
Director general, Housing and Planning Director general, Tackling Disadvantage Director general, Finance and Corporate Services.
2009 to January 2010 west midlands has been allocated 170 million of grant from the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). Homes supported under NAHP are expected to be Code level 3 or above. More generally, this Department has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in developing the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) policy to help improve the sustainability of homes both during construction as well as occupation. The Code is the national voluntary standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce carbon emissions and encourage homes that are more sustainable. Under the Planning Policy Statement on climate change PPS 1 Local Authorities can specify levels of the Code as a planning condition as long as they have specified local circumstances that warrant and allow any local requirement. Local Government Finance Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what mechanisms he plans to make efficiency savings in local government in the next three years; what targets he has set local authorities on efficiency savings; and whether he plans to change the level of funding provided by his Department to local authorities. [324003] Barbara Follett: Local Government have to try to achieve at least 3 per cent. efficiency savings in each of the first two years of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period (2008-09 and 2009-10) and 4 per cent. in 2010-11. Overall, we expect local authorities to achieve 5.5 billion in cumulative savings by the end of 2010-11. No overall target has been set for efficiency savings in 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, the 2009 pre-Budget report set out the potential for local government to make 800 million savings by 2012-13, of which 550 million could come from more efficient waste collection and disposal; reducing the burden of inspection, assessment and reporting requirements across Government measures to reduce duplication and inefficiency between the different tiers of local government and a further 250 million could come from reducing variations in spend on residential care. In the 2010 Budget, we confirmed 11 billion of savings across the public sector through the Operational Efficiency Programme and Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government. Local government is expected to contribute savings of 2.1 billion towards this total. Decisions about public spending overall from 2011-12 will be taken in the spending review. Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the monetary value was (a) in total and (b) per capita of the provisional local authority formula grant for (i) England, (ii) the South West and (iii) each local authority in the South West in each year from 1979 to [325016] 1997; (2) what the monetary value was (a) in total and (b) per capita of the local authority formula grant for (i) England, (ii) the South West and (iii) each local authority in the South West in each year from 1979 to [325017] 1997.
2009
Director general, Housing and Planning Director general, Regions and Communities.
No departmental Ministers or officials have attended the MIPIM conference in 2010. The Departments agencies are The Fire Service College, Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and the QEII Conference Centre. None of these agency attended MIPIM in 2007, 2008 or 2009. Housing: Databases Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 371W, on housing: databases, how many (a) dwellings, (b) composite hereditaments and (c) hereditaments in England have been allocated a unique address reference number by [323314] the Valuation Office Agency. Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply. All entries in rating lists and council tax valuation lists have unique address reference numbers. Dwellings are shown in the valuation lists; non-domestic properties in the rating lists and mixed properties (known as composites) usually have an entry in both. The latest figures released show there are, in England, approximately 22.8 million entries in council tax valuation lists, of which, some 280,000 are composite dwellings. There are approximately 1.7 million entries in rating lists in England. Housing: Sustainable Development Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to encourage sustainable housing [324279] development in the West Midlands. John Healey: Budget 2009 and our 1.5 billion Housing Pledge in June 2009, has to date meant I have been able to release to the west midlands 80 million for the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme targeted at currently stalled house building sites, to support construction of high quality housing; and 21 million for new energy efficient local authority house building. Also, from June
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Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
846W
Barbara Follett: Formula grant comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula police grant, where appropriate. CLG does not keep records of the provisional allocations of formula grant. CLG only hold records of the amount of revenue support grant and redistributed business rates allocated to local authorities from 1990-91, the start of the SSA system. We do not hold records of the Home Office police grant over this period. Prior to 1993-94 formula grant was provided only to billing authorities. A table has been laid in the Library of the House providing CLG formula grant (which comprises revenue support grant plus redistributed business rates), the population data used in the calculation of that years formula grant, and the CLG formula grant per head for all authorities, together with the totals. Local government reorganisation occurred during this period. We have provided the data for all authorities that existed during this period. Where authorities did not exist for a particular year the area has been greyed out. Local Government: Carbon Emissions Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on the (a) council tax rates and (b) finances of local authorities if they do not reduce carbon dioxide levels significantly below their baseline of the Carbon [323087] Reduction Commitment. Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply. Government have assessed the potential burden of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on local authorities, and has determined that it will not constitute a new burden for the sector. Its overall impact is not therefore expected to increase council tax, but will result in net savings for local authorities. Analysis indicates that the potential savings from reduced energy bills are far higher than the costs incurred. The financial impact of the CRC will be determined by the organisations relative performance as compared to other participants. The maximum penalty will be an extremely small fraction of local authorities operating costs, and this would be offset by even very modest improvements in energy efficiency. Local Government: Fees and Charges Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Audit Commission has provided guidance to local authorities on charging for municipal leisure services.
[324508]
discusses how councils can improve their approach, and communicate better with councillors and the general public about the purposes of charging. This report provides general guidance on how to go about making charging decisions rather than any specific advice, though the examples used in the report include some from leisure services. The Commission has also published Better Information, Better Decisions, Better Services - a series of guides to the information required for specific decisions. One of the guides covers the information councils need to make decisions on charging for sports services. Both the report and the decision guide are available on the Commissions website and the links are below. Positively Charged national studies report: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nationalstudies/ localgov/Pages/positivelycharged.aspx Better information, Better decisions, Better services guide: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/ SiteCollectionDocuments/AuditCommissionReports/ Nationalstudies/DecisionGuideSports.pdf A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Local Government: Inspections Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the effects of Comprehensive Area Assessment regime on the level of inspection and assessment of local authorities; and what estimate was made of the (a) cost of and (b) savings likely to be generated by that regime prior to its introduction.
[324504]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Audit Commission, on behalf of the joint inspectorates responsible for the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), commissioned two independent evaluation reports of the implementation and costs of the first year of the CAA. The reports were published on 17 March 2010 by Shared Intelligence and the Office for Public Management (OPM) respectively. The Shared Intelligence report demonstrates widespread support for the CAA and the move to a more risk-based approach to assessment and inspection. The OPM report indicates that the costs to councils of CAA are lower than they were for CPA by at least 15 per cent. approximately 4 million. However, the report explains that this is a conservative estimate and the actual reduction is likely to be greater, up to 19 million. There is great variation in the costs which reflect the choices councils make about how much to spend preparing for and responding to inspection. A further 10 per cent. savings reduction is expected from one-off costs of preparation by councils in the first year of the CAA. As part of this Departments regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of the Local Government White Paper published in 2006, we estimated costs and savings to be made from the introduction of the new CAA regime of approximately 7 million and 23 million respectively, a net reduction of 16 million. As announced in the Smarter Government Budget progress update, Government are committed to a measurable reduction in the costs of compliance with assessment and inspection for public services. We will also continue to look at how to make assessment and inspection more effective and streamlined.
Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
The Audit Commissions national report Positively Charged, published in January 2008, makes recommendations designed to help councils make better use of their charging powers and
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Written Answers Local Government: Pay
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
848W
GrantShapps: ToasktheSecretaryof StateforCommunities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to require local authorities to publish the name, title and full remuneration package of each local authority employee [324507] earning over 60,000. Barbara Follett: New regulations, which come into force on 31 March 2010, amending the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003 No. 533), will improve the transparency of reporting the remuneration of senior officers in public bodies, including local authorities. Local authorities will be required to disclose, within their Statement of Annual Accounts, details of the number of staff in receipt of salaries over 50,000, in bandings of 5,000. In addition, these regulations will also require local authority employers to disclose detailed remuneration information, by title, for those officers holding senior positions equivalent to board level, and to name all employees in receipt of salaries over 150,000. Local Government: Pensions Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 16 December 2009, Official Report, columns 1291-2W, on local government: pensions, what the cash value was of the payment made to local authorities to compensate for the effects of the abolition of advanced corporation tax relief on the Local Government Pension Scheme in each year since 1998; and what measure of inflation has been used to index such [324008] funding. Barbara Follett: The financial impact of the abolition of advanced corporation tax relief on local authority pension schemes was fully assessed by all the relevant parties, including the Local Government Association and each pension fund authority at the time of abolition and it was found to be 130 million. The spending plans for local government provided in each successive spending review have taken into account factors like the pressures authorities face, along with the scope for efficiency savings. The Government have provided significant investment in local government with a 45 per cent. real terms increase in funding between 1997 and 2010-11. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the March 2010 revaluation on the level of employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme from March [324013] 2011. Ms Rosie Winterton: The Local Government Pension Scheme is kept under review to ensure its ongoing affordability and fairness to taxpayers. The level of employers contributions to apply from March 2011 will be set later this year by each of the 89 individual pension fund authorities in England and Wales in conjunction with their fund actuaries following the Scheme actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2010. Contribution rates for participating employers will be set at a level to achieve affordability and satisfy the Schemes regulatory requirement for solvency.
The Schemes regulatory provision also require employers rates to be set at as constant a rate as possible to help participating employers plan and implement their budgets. Low Incomes GrantShapps: ToasktheSecretaryof StateforCommunities and Local Government how many and what proportion of (a) pensioners and (b) children were living in incomedeprived households in each (i) local authority and (ii) constituency according to the most recent indices of multiple deprivation data. [324615] Ms Rosie Winterton: The English indices of deprivation have, since 2004, been produced at lower level super output area (LSOA) level. LSOAs are smaller than constituencies and are designed to remain consistent in size, and over time, to allow more detailed identification of pockets of deprivation. This also overcomes difficulties in producing statistics for electoral wards and parliamentary constituencies which are associated with frequent boundary changes. There are 32,482 LSOAs in England with an average population of 1,500 people. The income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) and the income deprivation affecting older people index (IDAOPI) were also produced for each LSOA in England. These can be downloaded from the CLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/xls/ 576508.xls
Summary measures for larger areas, such as local authority districts or parliamentary constituencies, are not produced for the IDACI and IDAOPI. Non-domestic Rates Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of eligible firms claimed small business rate relief in each local authority billing area in the [324506] latest period for which figures are available. Barbara Follett: The Departments report Small Business Rate Reliefimproving evidence on eligibility and take-up was published on December 9 2009. It estimates that, of the approximately 1.2 million non-domestic properties in England which fall below the current rateable value (RV) thresholds for SBRR, around 575,000 are occupied by eligible small businesses. This report has been validated by an independent peer review and is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
The methodology used in the report only applies to England as a whole. There fore, it is not possible to estimate the proportion of eligible firms claiming SBRR in each local authority. However, new experimental statistics on the number of hereditaments in England claiming SBRR published on the Communities and Local Government website on 252 February 2010, show that 462,000 of them were benefiting from SBRR on 31 December 2008. By applying that figure to the eligibility estimates made for the 2005 rating list it is estimated that around 80 per cent. of eligible hereditaments in England were claiming SBRR in 2008-09see table 1. Relief granted to small businesses has been increasing since SBRR was introducedfrom 202 million in 2005-06 to 298 million in 2008-09. This represents a
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Written Answers
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
850W
real terms increase of 34 per cent. Furthermore in 2008-09, 92 per cent. of the total relief that would be paid if all those estimated to be eligible were to claim, was actually being paidsee table 2.
This statistical release is available at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ statistics/sbrrfeb2010
Table 1: Take-up of SBRRnumbers claiming 2006-07 Number of hereditaments actually claiming SBRR (thousand) Number of hereditaments estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses (thousand) Percentage of estimated eligible actually claiming Table 2: Take-up of SBRR 2005-06 to 2008-09relief 2005-06 Total relief that would be paid out if all properties estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses were to claim1 ( million) Relief actually claimed ( million) 396 575 69 2007-08 433 575 75 2008-09 462 575 80
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
202
237
259
298
69 78 83 92 Percentage take-up2 1 For details of how this estimate was derived please see the report Small business rate reliefimproving evidence on eligibility and take-up: Methodology. 2 Percentage of total relief, which would be paid if all eligible small businesses claimed it, that was actually paid.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether business rate bills for 2005-10 will be subject to transitional [324510] relief. Barbara Follett: In 2005 the Government implemented a transitional relief scheme to protect ratepayers from large increases in business rates due to the 2005 revaluation. The 2005 transitional relief scheme ran until 31 March 2009. Non-domestic Rates: Ports Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that fast track and other rating reassessments on port companies which are not completed until after the start of financial year 2010-11 do not include liability for retrospective charges to [324134] 2005. Barbara Follett: The effective date of alterations to the Rating List is governed by the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009. Where there is a difference between the day a Rating List is altered and the effective date of the alteration, a backdated liability will accrue. The Government do not currently have any plans to amend these regulations. The review of ports by the Valuation Office Agency was carried out to ensure that all individual business properties within and outside ports were rated fairly to ensure that the burden of contributions to funding local government is shared equitably between businesses around the country. The Government has listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some within the ports. It has legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flow during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Valuation Office Agency (a) received an application for and (b) made a decision on the fast-track reassessment of Scotline. [324512] Barbara Follett: We are unable to comment on individual cases but the Valuation Office Agency is working with ratepayers, or their representatives, to resolve appeals relating to ports under the fast-track arrangements. Parish Councils: Council Tax Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of parish council precepts on council tax was in 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of that level in [324020] 2010-11. Barbara Follett: The average level of parish council precepts on council tax in England in 2008-09, the latest date for which an estimate has been made, is 45. This figure is published in Table A3b of Local Government Financial Statistics No. 19 2009, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House or on the Communities and Local Government website. The estimate for 2009-10 will be published in Local Government Financial Statistics No. 20 2010 in June 2010. No date has been set for the publishing of the estimate for 2010-11. Social Rented Housing: Construction Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were (a) built and (b) purchased by landlords [323185] for social rent in each year since 1997. Mr. Ian Austin: Information showing additional new build and acquired affordable homes, including homes for social rent, can be found in Live Table 1009 on the Communities and Local Government website at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/ 1406088.xls
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Written Answers Wolverhampton City Council
29 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
852W
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commissions best value inspection report of March 2005 on [324500] Wolverhampton City Council. Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct. Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence. The Audit Commissions best value inspection report on Wolverhampton City Councils waste management service was published in May 2005. The fieldwork for the inspection was carried out in March 2005.
A copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library and can also be found on the Audit Commissions website at: www.audit-commission.gov.uk/localgov/audit/inspection/ reports/Pages/wastemanagement_17.aspx?AIBID=127 A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.
Written Questions: Government Responses Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer question 306633, on weekly rent, tabled on 8 [319593] December 2009. Mr. Ian Austin: I have now replied to the hon. Members question.
5MC
Ministerial Corrections
29 MARCH 2010
6MC
Ministerial Correction
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Social Security Advisory Committee Independent Case Examiner
WORK AND PENSIONS Departmental Internet Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for her Departments websites in each of the last three years; and what budget has been allocated [309904] for such activities in 2009-10. [Official Report, 8 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 71-72W.] Letter of correction from Mr. Jim Knight: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 8 March 2010. The original reply did not reflect the correct position in relation to the management of the following websites: The Pensions Advisory Service, The Pensions Ombudsman, The Pension Protection Fund, The Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman, The Pensions Regulator, Now Lets Talk Money, Independent Living Funds, Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, NDDP Job Broker Search, Working for Health, Remploy, Health and Safety Executive and Directgov. While these bodies are all sponsored by DWP, their websites are currently managed independently. The correct answer should have been: Jim Knight: Websites managed by the Department include:
DWP Corporate Jobcentre Plus The Pension Service (this site closed September 2009) Child Support Agency CM Options CMEC Office for Disability Issues European Social Fund Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force
Ongoing creation, development and maintenance of websites managed by the Department is mainly carried out by the Departments own in-house digital media team and in-house maintenance team. It is not possible for us to extract and quantify previous or forecast costs for all the categories requested, in particular strategy and content provision, because in most cases staff working across these areas are engaged in more than one role and/or website. Similarly, our hosting and infrastructure costs form part of a wider departmental IT contract. We can provide figures for the redevelopment of the DWP website and the Office for Disability Issues website as we ran separate projects with separate budgets within the last three years. The costs quoted are for design and build work only and are not an annual cost.
Website 2008-09 2007-08 DWP Corporate Office for Disability Issues Cost (000) 216 147
There are no plans to spend money on design and build in 2009-10 for these two websites. Figures available for testing and evaluation are:
Cost (000) Website 2008-09 2008-09 Planned spend 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 The Pension Service Jobcentre Plus DWP Corporate Office for Disability Issues 19 13 3 6 The Pension Service Jobcentre Plus 21 20
We are working with Cabinet Office to implement a standardised method for quantifying website costs across Government in line with Central Office of Information guidelines. This is in response to a Public Accounts Committee recommendation. These costs will be available from April 2010 onwards as per the timetable.
ORAL ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
DEFENCE .................................................................
Afghanistan ..................................................................... Afghanistan ..................................................................... Armoured Vehicles .......................................................... BAE Systems (Samlesbury).............................................. Compensation (Shoeburyness)......................................... Defence Spending (Commitments) .................................. Defence Spending (Commitments) .................................. Defence Spending (Commitments) .................................. Defence-Related Employment (Tyneside) ........................
489
489 498 500 502 489 494 500 502 491
DEFENCEcontinued
Helmand .......................................................................... Improvised Explosive Devices.......................................... Iran.................................................................................. QinetiQ ............................................................................ Resource Accounting System........................................... Service Personnel (Welfare).............................................. Service Veterans (Mental Health) .................................... Topical Questions ............................................................ 501 492 497 499 501 496 493 503
WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Col. No. Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ............. 73WS

Intellectual Property Office (Performance Targets 2010-11) ...................................................................... Post Office ....................................................................... 73WS 73WS
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ..... 82WS

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (2009-10 Review) ....................................................................... 82WS
HEALTH ................................................................... 82WS CABINET OFFICE ................................................... 74WS

Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 (Delegations/Authorisations)....................................... 74WS Social Care Reform Grant ............................................... 82WS
HOME DEPARTMENT ........................................... 83WS

Police Pursuits ................................................................. 83WS
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ............. 75WS

Safer Children in a Digital World (Progress Review) .... 75WS
JUSTICE ................................................................... 84WS

Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission...................... 84WS
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .. 76WS

Seaside Economies........................................................... 76WS
TRANSPORT ........................................................... 84WS

EU Directive on Driving Licences.................................... Transport Security ........................................................... Written Answer (Correction) ........................................... 85WS 86WS 84WS
DEFENCE ................................................................. 77WS

Armed Forces Equipment ................................................ United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and DSTL (Targets 2010-11)......................................................... 77WS 80WS
TREASURY .............................................................. 74WS

2008 Credit Guarantee Scheme (Contingent Liability)..... Tax Information Exchange - Belize .................................. 75WS 74WS
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS............................................................... 81WS

Climate Change ............................................................... 81WS
WORK AND PENSIONS ......................................... 86WS

Employment Support....................................................... 86WS
PETITIONS
Col. No. Col. No.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS ...

Gaza ................................................................................
17P
17P
JUSTICE ...................................................................
Homosexuals (Right to Marriage) ...................................
18P
18P
WRITTEN ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ............. 807W

Adult Education: Finance................................................ Apprentices: Equality ...................................................... Brussels Forum 2010........................................................ Business: Government Assistance .................................... Competition Commission: Public Relations..................... Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Internet ..................................................... Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Energy: Prices .................................................................. Fusion Power: Research ................................................... 807W 809W 809W 810W 810W 810W 810W 811W 811W 811W
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLScontinued

Higher Education: Admissions ........................................ Higher Education: Sheffield............................................. Industrial Development Associations .............................. Loans............................................................................... Members: Correspondence .............................................. Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries ...................... National Investment Corporation.................................... Regional Development Agencies...................................... Science: Finance .............................................................. Small Businesses: Borrowing............................................ 812W 817W 819W 819W 820W 820W 820W 820W 821W 821W
Col. No.
Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLScontinued

Social Enterprises ............................................................ Student Loans Company ................................................. Student Loans Company: Telephone Services.................. Students: Loans ............................................................... Students: York ................................................................. Supermarkets: Alcoholic Drinks ...................................... 822W 822W 822W 824W 824W 825W
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT continued

Non-domestic Rates......................................................... Non-domestic Rates: Ports .............................................. Parish Councils: Council Tax........................................... Social Rented Housing: Construction .............................. Wolverhampton City Council .......................................... Written Questions: Government Responses ..................... 848W 849W 850W 850W 851W 852W
CABINET OFFICE ................................................... 626W

Cancer ............................................................................. Central Office of Information: Advertising...................... Central Office of Information: Video Recordings ............ Departmental Advertising ............................................... Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Computers ................................................ Departmental Energy....................................................... Departmental Freedom of Information ........................... Departmental Mobile Phones .......................................... Departmental Telephone Services .................................... Departmental Temporary Employment ........................... Manufacturing Industries ................................................ Ministerial Policy Advisers .............................................. Office for National Statistics ............................................ Unemployment ................................................................ Unemployment: Cambridgeshire ..................................... 626W 627W 627W 628W 628W 629W 629W 629W 629W 630W 630W 630W 631W 631W 632W 635W
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT .......................... 602W

BBC ................................................................................. Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Contracts .................................................. Departmental Manpower................................................. Departmental Public Consultation .................................. Television: Licensing........................................................ 602W 604W 604W 604W 604W 604W
DEFENCE ................................................................. 636W

Afghanistan ..................................................................... Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations ............................ Air Space ......................................................................... Animal Experiments ........................................................ Armed Forces: Health Services ........................................ Armed Forces: Interpreters .............................................. Defence Spending ............................................................ Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Information Officers ................................. Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Security..................................................... Devonport Naval Base ..................................................... Future Rapid Effect System ............................................. Gurkhas: Immigration ..................................................... NATO.............................................................................. New Aircraft Carriers...................................................... Port Agency Service ......................................................... Royal Irish Regiment: Reserve Forces .............................. Service Veterans: Mental Health ...................................... Submarines ...................................................................... Sweet Concepts................................................................ 637W 637W 637W 638W 638W 640W 636W 639W 641W 641W 641W 637W 642W 643W 636W 636W 643W 644W 636W 645W 645W
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ............. 741W

Academies ....................................................................... Building Schools for the Future Programme .................... Children: Abuse ............................................................... Children: Social Services.................................................. Departmental Official Cars.............................................. Departmental Public Expenditure.................................... Departmental Written Questions ..................................... Education: Birmingham................................................... Educational Maintenance Allowance: City of York......... Home Education.............................................................. Music: Education............................................................. Playgrounds ..................................................................... Schools: Preston .............................................................. Sixth Form Education: Complaints ................................. Social Services: Doncaster ............................................... Teachers: Leeds................................................................ 741W 742W 745W 746W 747W 747W 748W 749W 750W 751W 751W 752W 752W 753W 754W 755W
ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ....... 605W

Elections: Fraud............................................................... General Elections............................................................. Political Parties: Finance.................................................. 605W 606W 606W
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT . 825W

Affordable Housing: Construction .................................. Audit Commission ........................................................... Bullying: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ................ Coastal Erosion: Southend on Sea ................................... Community Infrastructure Levy ...................................... Council Housing: Greater London .................................. Council Tax ..................................................................... Council Tax: Valuation .................................................... Departmental Advertising ............................................... Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Computers ................................................ Departmental Food ......................................................... Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Departmental Pay ............................................................ Departmental Public Expenditure.................................... Departmental Records ..................................................... Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal ..................................... Empty Property ............................................................... English Regions Network: Manpower ............................. Fire Services: Industrial Disputes .................................... Homelessness: Sefton....................................................... Housing Benefit ............................................................... Housing: Conferences ...................................................... Housing: Databases ......................................................... Housing: Sustainable Development ................................. Local Government: Carbon Emissions ............................ Local Government: Fees and Charges.............................. Local Government Finance ............................................. Local Government: Inspections ....................................... Local Government: Pay ................................................... Local Government: Pensions ........................................... Low Incomes ................................................................... 825W 825W 833W 833W 833W 834W 834W 835W 835W 835W 836W 837W 837W 837W 838W 838W 839W 839W 840W 841W 841W 842W 842W 843W 843W 843W 845W 845W 844W 846W 847W 847W 848W
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ..................... 615W

Carbon Emissions............................................................ Carbon Emissions: Business ............................................ Collaboration Agreements ............................................... Departmental Recruitment .............................................. Energy: Conservation ...................................................... Fossil Fuel Levy: Scotland ............................................... National Grid .................................................................. National Skills Academy for Nuclear: Finance ................ Nuclear Waste: Waste Management................................. Personal Carbon Monoxide Alarm.................................. UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change........................................................... 615W 615W 616W 616W 616W 621W 621W 621W 622W 623W 623W
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS............................................................... 606W

Beaches: Standards .......................................................... Coastal Erosion ............................................................... Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers........................ Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal ..................................... Electronic Warfare ........................................................... Floods: Castle Point......................................................... Forests: West Midlands.................................................... Landfill ............................................................................ Marine Conservation Zones............................................. Nature Conservation: West Midlands .............................. Recycling: West Midlands ................................................ 606W 607W 607W 607W 607W 608W 608W 609W 609W 610W 611W
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .... 646W

Afghanistan ..................................................................... Afghanistan: Corruption ................................................. Baltic States: Politics and Government ............................ 646W 646W 647W
Col. No.
Col. No.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE continued

Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Departmental Written Questions ..................................... Diplomatic Service........................................................... Embassies: Festivals and Special Occasions ..................... Iran: Foreign Relations .................................................... Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government ........ Western Sahara: Human Rights....................................... World War Two: Genocide............................................... 647W 647W 647W 647W 648W 648W 648W 648W
HOME DEPARTMENTcontinued
Police: Manpower ............................................................ Police: Sussex ................................................................... Serious Organised Crime Agency: Databases................... Stroud.............................................................................. 688W 690W 690W 690W
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION.............. 623W

Advisory Body ................................................................. Members: Email .............................................................. Nurseries.......................................................................... Security............................................................................ Speakers Adviser ............................................................. 623W 624W 624W 625W 626W
HEALTH ................................................................... 769W

Ambulance Services: Greater London.............................. Ambulance Services: Standards ....................................... Arthritis: Drugs ............................................................... Asthma: Greater London................................................. Autism: Drugs ................................................................. Blood: Contamination ..................................................... Cancer ............................................................................. Cancer: Greater London.................................................. Cancer: Health Services ................................................... Care Homes ..................................................................... Carers Allowance ............................................................ Cochlear Implants ........................................................... Community Care: Mentally Ill......................................... Dental Services: Leeds ..................................................... Departmental Computer Software................................... Departmental Contracts .................................................. Departmental Information Officers ................................. Departmental Manpower................................................. Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Telephone Services .................................... Diabetes: Chiropody ........................................................ Direct Payments............................................................... Eating Disorders: Young People ...................................... Food: Labelling................................................................ General Practitioners: Training........................................ Health: Children .............................................................. Health Services: Ex-servicemen........................................ Health Visitors................................................................. Health Visitors: Children ................................................. Hospital Beds: Greater London ....................................... Injuries: Offensive Weapons ............................................. Malnutrition: Greater London......................................... Mental Health Services: Young Offender Institutions ...... Myasthenia Gravis: Research........................................... NHS: Information and Communications Technology...... NHS: Medical Treatments ............................................... NHS: Per Capita Costs .................................................... Nurses: Pay ...................................................................... Nurses: Schools ............................................................... Nurses: Vacancies ............................................................ Patients: Safety ................................................................ Postgraduate Education ................................................... Primary Care Trusts: Finance .......................................... 769W 770W 771W 771W 775W 776W 777W 778W 779W 781W 781W 782W 782W 783W 785W 785W 786W 786W 786W 786W 787W 787W 787W 788W 788W 789W 789W 789W 789W 790W 790W 795W 801W 801W 802W 803W 804W 805W 806W 806W 806W 807W 808W
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT .................... 733W

Burma: Asylum................................................................ Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid................. Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Information Officers ................................. Departmental Temporary Employment ........................... Indonesia: Climate Change .............................................. Palestinians: International Assistance .............................. Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid.............................................. 733W 733W 734W 734W 735W 735W 736W 737W
JUSTICE ................................................................... 649W

British Constitution ......................................................... Courts: Aberystwyth........................................................ Custodial Treatment ........................................................ Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Lost Property ............................................ Departmental Publications .............................................. Departmental Senior Civil Servants................................. Departmental Telephone Services .................................... Departmental Translation Service.................................... EC Action: Children ........................................................ Electoral Register: Freedom of Information .................... Electoral Register: Houseboats ........................................ Employment Tribunals Service: York............................... Fines: Non-Payment ........................................................ General Elections............................................................. Human Trafficking: Confiscation Orders......................... National Offender Management Service: Manpower ....... Newspaper Licensing Agency .......................................... Offenders: Sentencing ...................................................... Pay................................................................................... Pleural Plaques ................................................................ Prison Sentences .............................................................. Prisoner Escapes .............................................................. Reoffenders...................................................................... Young Offenders: Drugs .................................................. 649W 650W 650W 651W 651W 652W 652W 652W 652W 653W 654W 654W 655W 656W 656W 657W 658W 658W 659W 660W 660W 660W 661W 665W 669W
NORTHERN IRELAND .......................................... 599W

Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Internet ..................................................... Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Hotels .............................................................................. 599W 600W 600W 599W
HOME DEPARTMENT .......................................... 674W

101 Calls: Finance ........................................................... Animal Experiments ........................................................ Asylum ............................................................................ Border Agency War Crimes Unit ..................................... Departmental Internet ..................................................... Departmental Public Expenditure.................................... Detention Centres: Children ............................................ Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre................ Electronic Warfare ........................................................... Entry Clearances.............................................................. Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges ................................ Greater Manchester ......................................................... Grimbsy........................................................................... Hackney .......................................................................... Human Trafficking .......................................................... Human Trafficking: Victims............................................. Identity Cards.................................................................. Illegal Immigrants............................................................ Immigration: Turkey........................................................ Nottinghamshire Police Authority ................................... Police: Complaints ........................................................... 674W 674W 675W 675W 676W 676W 676W 677W 677W 678W 678W 678W 681W 682W 685W 686W 686W 687W 687W 688W 688W
PRIME MINISTER .................................................. 611W

Building Resilience .......................................................... Tony Blair ........................................................................ 611W 611W
SCOTLAND.............................................................. 600W
Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Energy....................................................... Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Office for National Statistics: Publications....................... Statistics: Scotland........................................................... 600W 601W 602W 601W 601W
SOLICITOR-GENERAL .......................................... 612W

Corruption....................................................................... Government Departments: Judicial Review ..................... 612W 612W
TRANSPORT ........................................................... 755W

A13: Litter ....................................................................... Automatic Number Plate Recognition ............................. British Transport Police: Sweet Concepts......................... Bus Services ..................................................................... Bus Services: Birmingham ............................................... 755W 756W 756W 756W 757W
Col. No.
Col. No.
TRANSPORTcontinued
Coastal Erosion ............................................................... Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Contracts .................................................. Departmental Energy....................................................... Departmental Information Officers ................................. Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Written Questions ..................................... East Coast Railway Line: Franchises ............................... East London Line ............................................................ First Capital Connect ...................................................... Galileo ............................................................................. Heathrow Airport: Noise ................................................. Hotels .............................................................................. Kemble-Swindon Railway Line........................................ Lorry Drivers: Licensing.................................................. Network Rail ................................................................... Official Cars: Expenditure ............................................... Opposition....................................................................... Public Transport: West Midlands..................................... Railways: Construction.................................................... Railways: South East ....................................................... Rapid Transit Systems: Yorkshire and the Humber.......... Taxis: Guide Dogs ........................................................... 757W 758W 759W 759W 759W 760W 760W 760W 760W 762W 762W 762W 764W 764W 765W 765W 766W 766W 766W 767W 768W 769W 769W
TREASURYcontinued
Valuation Office Agency: Pay .......................................... Valuation Office Agency: Surveys .................................... VAT: Direct Mail ............................................................. VAT: York........................................................................ Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments ................................. 703W 703W 704W 704W 704W
WOMEN AND EQUALITY ..................................... 614W

Equality and Human Rights Commission ....................... Equality and Human Rights Commission: Databases ..... Equality and Human Rights Commission: Industrial Disputes ...................................................................... 614W 614W 614W
WORK AND PENSIONS ......................................... 705W

Attendance Allowance ..................................................... Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Surveillance ................................................................. Children: Maintenance .................................................... Council Tax Benefits........................................................ Departmental Buildings................................................... Departmental Energy....................................................... Departmental Expenditure Limits ................................... Departmental ICT ........................................................... Departmental Location ................................................... Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Official Hospitality ................................... Departmental Publications .............................................. Departmental Responsibilities ......................................... Employment: Disabled..................................................... Employment Schemes ...................................................... Future Jobs Fund ............................................................ Income Support ............................................................... Jobcentre Plus: ICT ......................................................... Jobseekers Allowance ...................................................... Jobseekers Allowance: Self-employed.............................. Maternity Leave: York ..................................................... New Deal Schemes: Salford ............................................. Occupational Pensions..................................................... Oikos: Canvey Island ....................................................... Pension Credit: East of England...................................... Poverty............................................................................. Poverty: Leeds.................................................................. Power Stations: Safety...................................................... Sellafield: Safety .............................................................. Social Security Benefits.................................................... Social Security Benefits: Disabled .................................... Sweet Concepts................................................................ Winter Fuel Payments: Greater Manchester .................... Work Capability Assessment............................................ 705W 705W 706W 707W 709W 710W 710W 710W 711W 711W 711W 712W 712W 713W 712W 713W 714W 714W 715W 716W 716W 716W 717W 718W 720W 721W 723W 725W 725W 726W 729W 730W 731W 731W
TREASURY .............................................................. 692W

Banks: York ..................................................................... Council Tax: Valuation .................................................... Departmental Coordination ............................................ Departmental Marketing ................................................. Departmental Telephone Services .................................... Film: Government Assistance .......................................... Gift Aid ........................................................................... Government Departments: Cable and Wireless................ Government Departments: ICT ....................................... Housing: Prices ................................................................ Housing: Valuation .......................................................... Individual Savings Accounts ............................................ Landfill Tax ..................................................................... Non-domestic Rates: Ports .............................................. Non-domestic Rates: Public Lavatories............................ Non-domestic Rates: Sex Establishments......................... Non-domestic Rates: Valuation ....................................... Non-domestic Rates: Zoos............................................... Revenue and Customs: Buildings ..................................... Stamp Duty Land Tax ..................................................... Taxation: Business ........................................................... Valuation Office Agency .................................................. Valuation Office Agency: Contracts................................. 692W 692W 692W 693W 693W 693W 693W 694W 694W 695W 695W 695W 696W 696W 697W 697W 697W 699W 700W 701W 701W 702W 703W
MINISTERIAL CORRECTION
Col. No.
WORK AND PENSIONS .........................................

Departmental Internet.....................................................
5MC
5MC
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Volume 508 No. 65
CONTENTS
Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 489] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Defence European Council [Col. 509] Statement(Prime Minister) Second Home Ownership (Regulation) [Col. 522] Motion for leave to bring in Bill(Dan Rogerson)agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation [Col. 526] Debate (Third day) Debate adjourned Petitions [Col. 604] Planning [Col. 607] Debate on motion for Adjournment Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 73WS] Petitions [Col. 17P] Observations Written Answers to Questions [Col. 599W] [see index inside back page] Ministerial Correction [Col. 5MC]
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Volume 508 No. 66
HOUSE OF COMMONS
OFFICIAL REPORT
(HANSARD)
500
617
30 MARCH 2010
618
House of Commons
Tuesday 30 March 2010 The House met at half-past Two oclock PRAYERS [MR. SPEAKER in the Chair] BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS ALLHALLOWS STAINING CHURCH BILL [LORDS] Bill read a Second time and committed..
protect them, and what more can we put in place in the form of people and security measures? We should not tolerate this situation; we should be doing more about it. I look forward to my hon. Friends answer. Ann Keen: Absolutely; I totally agree with my hon. Friend. Each trust and primary care trust has responsibility as an employer for its employees, and different areas of work will require different measures. Security guards are employed in some areas, and police officers have a function in hospitals. We have also introduced new powers to remove from hospital premises anyoneincluding those who have accompanied patientswho is causing a nuisance or disturbance and diverting staff from carrying out their duties. This new offence could lead to a fine of up to 1,000. We want to give the strongest message that our NHS staff must be protected at all times. Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): The whole House will agree that any assault on NHS staff is abhorrent, and that the full force of the law should come down on the perpetrators. The fact that 54,000-plus assaults on staff took place in 2008-09 is fundamentally wrong. However, the Ministers warm words about prosecution fall flat when we consider that only 1.3 per cent. of assaults on NHS staff result in any form of criminal sanctions. Why are so many people getting away with assaulting our NHS staff ? Why is the full force of the law not coming down on them? Ann Keen: The hon. Gentleman is right to show his concern, but it is not for us to prosecute such cases; it is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service. We do everything in our power to encourage such prosecutions to be brought, howeverfor example, we do everything we can to encourage evidence to be produced. We also want to prevent such assaults, and train people to prevent them. Medicines (Parallel Exports) 2. Christopher Fraser (South-West Norfolk) (Con): What steps he is taking to reduce parallel exports of [324905] medicines. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike OBrien): In November, the Government and medicines supply chain stakeholders published joint guidance to manufacturers and wholesalers on their existing legal responsibilities. On 2 March, the Government hosted a summit at which we agreed a further package of actions to ensure that patients continue to get the medicines that they need. Christopher Fraser: What estimate has been made of the amount of potential research and development money that is lost to British firms as a result of parallel trading? Mr. OBrien: Research and development money is only part of the issue. The key issue is that patients are sometimes not getting the medicines that they need. That is what parallel exporting is all about; it is not so much about the research and development that takes place in a number of centres. When patients go to the chemist, they want to know that the medicines they need will be there.

HEALTH The Secretary of State was asked NHS Staff (Assaults) 1. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): How many assaults on NHS staff on duty were reported in 2009; [324904] and if he will make a statement. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, there were 54,758 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England. That figure is for all reported assaults and includes any linked to NHS employment including those that occurred while staff were off duty. Michael Fabricant: I think that the whole House would agree that 54,758 assaults are 54,758 too many. What training is given to NHS staff to help them to avoid those situations? Ann Keen: Any violence against NHS staff is totally unacceptable. The NHS constitution pledges a safe working environment, free from violence, for staff. Historically, we worked in a culture in which we were not encouraged to report violence. We are pleased that our culture is now much more open, and that staff are now encouraged to report such incidents. Training is a matter for individual trusts, and training is given. That is important, but we also need to send a clear message to anyone who tries to assault our staff that we will seek to prosecute them. From April, we shall record the figures in such a way as to give the trusts access to them more quickly and more easily, so that we can monitor the trusts and assist in any training that is required. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab): Of course, anything that can be done, and any way of improving the collecting of information, is important. The reality is, however, that it is totally unacceptable for the hard-working staff of the NHS to have to suffer attacks. What can we do to
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30 MARCH 2010
Oral Answers
620
Mark Simmonds (Boston and Skegness) (Con): I acknowledge that this is a complex issue, and that it has been exacerbated by the weak pound and the Governments renegotiation of the prescription pricing regulation scheme. However, parallel exporting has resulted in a shortage of nearly 50 medicines in the UK, including those needed for the treatment of cancer and transplant patients. The issue first arose in 2008, and the number of export licences has grown exponentially since then. Why has it taken the Government so long to begin to address this serious issue, and why does the Minister not insist that patients must come first and introduce tighter controls on access to medicine export licences? Mr. OBrien: It is certainly the case that we dealt with this issue during the course of last year and we also published the guidance, to which I have referred, in the same period. Furthermore, at the summit we held with stakeholders at the start of this month, a package of proposals was agreed, including a more explicit duty on manufacturers and wholesalers to provide medicine to NHS patients, target inspections by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority, tougher standards for licensing medical wholesalers and best practice guidance on how to deal with supply difficulties. We need to consult on some of those issues. Those consultations are already taking place; indeed, there are meetings going on today. Maternity Services 3. Hazel Blears (Salford) (Lab): What steps he is taking to ensure that maternity services provide a full range of high-quality birth choices for women. [324906] The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): Almost all NHS trusts are delivering the national guarantee for women to have a choice about place of birth as set out in Maternity Matters. This supports our aim to give all mothers easy access to supportive, high-quality maternity services, designed around their individual needs, their families and those of their baby. Hazel Blears: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. He will know from his recent visit to Salford that mums such as Lisa Kean and fabulous midwives such as Heather Rawlinson and Sarah Davies have been campaigning with me to make sure that there is a midwife-led maternity unit in Salford, so that the next generation of Salfordians can continue to be born in the city. Will my right hon. Friend give this unit his full support so that we have a real facility rather than the smoke and mirrors of maternity networks, whatever they might be, which are currently on offer from the Opposition? Andy Burnham: I spent a very enjoyable and interesting afternoon with a group of Salford mums recently and I would recommend it to anyone, as I learned a great deal. I know that they are giving their support to the formidable campaign that my right hon. Friend has led to establish a midwife-led unit in Salford. I know that NHS Salford has recently given support in principle for that scheme, but it will consider the full business case later this year.
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) (Con): I declare an interest as an honorary vice-president of the Royal College of Midwives. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): Deliver. Deliver. Sir Nicholas Winterton: I am going to deliver. Does the Secretary of State accept that a safe, successful and enjoyable birth is what every woman craves? Does he further accept that midwives are absolutely critical to the care given to a pregnant woman, not just before pregnancy, but during delivery and post-natally? Will he ensure that there are sufficient midwives to provide that quality of service? Andy Burnham: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and I pay tribute to him in his honorary role with the Royal College of Midwives. I agree wholeheartedly with the way in which he has presented his question. It is crucial to give mothers the best possible support during childbirth. Eighty-nine per cent. of women say that the care they receive during pregnancy and childbirth is good quality, but there is more to do to ensure that that 89 per cent. becomes higher. We are recruiting more midwives. We have had 4,000 more since 1997; we need to recruit more to ensure that this one-to-one support is there. I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for the work that he has done. Mr. David Crausby (Bolton, North-East) (Lab): The 20 million investment available for the new super-maternity centre in the Royal Bolton hospital is very welcome indeed, but is it not threatened by those who support proposals to abandon the Making it Better scheme that covers Greater Manchester? Andy Burnham: My constituents will also benefit from that investment to the Bolton Royal, which is much welcomed. I am disappointed that candidates are going around Greater Manchester undermining the clinically-led process that we went through with Making it Better. We took difficult decisions because we wanted to improve the safety of services for mothers and children. These candidates cannot have it both ways: they say that they will save maternity units elsewhere in Greater Manchester, yet by attacking the scheme, they undermine the investment going into my hon. Friends constituency. Norman Lamb (North Norfolk) (LD): The Government have made repeated commitments about choice for all women in childbirth. Jenny and Hadleigh Farrer of Norwich, however, who specifically wanted a home birth were told when Jenny went into labour that no midwives were available between 10 pm and 8 am the following morning. She gave birth at home without a midwife in attendance. Does not this case and many others expose the sad reality, confirmed by the Royal College of Midwives, that there are not enough midwives to deliver either a safe birth or choice for women in childbirth? Andy Burnham: I am not aware of the precise details of the case raised by the hon. Gentleman, but if he will write to me I shall be happy to look into it. I can tell him that 99 per cent. of primary care trusts offer home birth as a core part of their offer to mothers-to-be, although
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the arrangements may vary according to the circumstances obtaining on any particular day and the levels of clinical risk that may be involved in any pregnancy. I want to go even further and enshrine in the NHS constitution a guarantee that all mothers-to-be can give birth in a place of their choosing. Musculoskeletal Diseases 4. Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley) (Lab): If he will appoint a national clinical director for [324908] musculoskeletal diseases. The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the interest that he has taken in this important subject. I can tell him that I am minded to appoint a national clinical director, but I am seeking the advice of the National Quality Board, which is currently focusing on the subject of musculoskeletal diseases. Graham Stringer: I am delighted by my right hon. Friends positive response, but will he tell us how quickly he expects to receive that advice, and what the schedule will be for the appointment of a clinical director? Andy Burnham: It may be difficult to do in a matter of days, but I wanted to give my hon. Friend a clear commitment. I pay tribute to the work that he has done in raising awareness of the cost to our economy of failure to provide early treatment and diagnosis of musculoskeletal problems, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. Those who suffer from that condition take an average of 40 days sick leave a year. I appreciate my hon. Friends push to ensure that the NHS does a better job in focusing on such conditions. As I have said, I am minded to appoint a clinical director, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the campaign that he has led. David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): The Secretary of State will be aware that some musculoskeletal conditions can be relieved through the use of herbal medicine and acupuncture. Is he aware that Hydes herbal clinic in Leicester has written to me again, wondering why the Government have not responded to the consultation on the statutory regulation of herbal medicine? Will they do so next week, in the last gasp of their tenure? Andy Burnham: It is fitting that the hon. Gentleman should make us think about complementary therapies during our last session of health questions. I believe that he was once described as the hon. Member for Holland and Barrett, but his interests are far broader than that: he really represents the whole field of complementary and alternative therapies. I should like to say more about the matter that he has raised before the end of the current Parliament. Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen, South) (Lab): I am particularly delighted to hear the news that there is to be a clinical directordoes that mean that he will be a bones tsar?because I am aware of the cost to the economy of people who are out of work because of musculoskeletal problems. The number of people receiving incapacity benefit and the new employment support allowance has proved resistant to reduction simply because there is not enough focus on returning people with such problems to work and getting them moving.
Andy Burnham: My hon. Friend is right. That is why we asked Dame Carol Black to conduct a review. She published Working for a healthier tomorrow, which proposed initiatives such as the fit note to help us to encourage people to return to work as soon as possible. Dame Carols work also led to our fit for work service pilots. This is a crucial issue for the country. There are 26,000 new cases of rheumatoid arthritis every year, and 690,000 people in the United Kingdom are believed to be living with the condition. If it is not detected and treated early, the damage to the joints can lead to severe disability and restrict peoples ability to work in the long term. My hon. Friend is right to say that we should focus on the issue, as is my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Graham Stringer). That is why I am minded to appoint a national clinical director. Mid Essex Hospital Trust 5. Mr. Simon Burns (West Chelmsford) (Con): How many times patients have waited longer than 18 weeks for the start of treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area in the last 18 months; and how many [324909] patients were so affected. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike OBrien): Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust has met the 18 weeks standard in every month since August 2008. The standard allows patients to choose to wait longer, or alternatively to wait longer when that is clinically appropriate. It is reported that 5,649 patients at the trust have waited more than 18 weeks. Mr. Burns: I thank the Minister for that answer, but I would be grateful if he would check it with those who briefed him, because I think he will find that the situation is not 100 per cent. as he has just said; I have reason to believe there have been breaches of the 18-week waiting time for those who wanted to be treated within that period but could not be. Will the Minister look into that and write to me, making a correction if necessary? Mr. OBrien: I will certainly write to the hon. Gentleman, but may I just say to him that there are issues in relation to some orthopaedic patients and, I think, three patients in urology and one in neurosurgery, but they are quite complex issues involving staffing levels? Nothing I have said to him contradicts that, but if he wishes me to write to him, I will be very happy to do so. End-of-life Care Strategy 6. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): What plans he has to audit spending on the end-of-life care [324910] strategy. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): We attach great importance to improving end-of-life care. We know that most people would prefer to be cared for in their own homes, which is why in the next Parliament we will bring forward proposals on a right for people to choose to die at home if they wish. In the end-of-life care strategy, we made a commitment to monitor the 286 million of new money we were making available for implementation over 2009-10 and 2010-11. We have asked strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to report by 21 May this year on how they have invested the new money for 2009-10.
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Mr. Amess: As the Minister may know, during this Parliament I was involved in a meeting on hospice funding with the Prime Minister, during which he praised the hospice movement. Everyone knows that hospices depend on charitable giving and volunteers. In light of that, have the Government made any assessment of the impact of the recession on the hospice network? Phil Hope: As the hon. Gentleman rightly suggests, the hospice movement plays a vital role. Many Members have in our constituencies hospices that do an excellent job. That is why the 286 million of additional funding to which I have just referred includes 40 million that is being made available to hospices through a capital fund in 2010-11. I will be making announcements on that soon. Mr. Mark Todd (South Derbyshire) (Lab): The all-party group on motor neurone disease conducted an inquiry into end-of-life care that revealed that many primary care trusts have either not been fully utilising the money set aside or have not used it at all for this purpose and have instead taken it entirely for other purposes. Is that also the early evidence from the Ministers inquiries? Phil Hope: First, may I congratulate my hon. Friend, who has been a long-standing champion in the House for people with motor neurone disease? We are monitoring primary care trusts expenditure of the 286 million for the reason he suggested. The results of that analysis will be shared with the Public Accounts Committee, included in the end-of-life care strategy second annual report, and published on the Departments website. We are making good progress, but we need to make sure that work is happening on the ground. Mr. Stephen OBrien (Eddisbury) (Con): I rise to ask a question in light of the Governments admission in the past few weeks that, distressingly, only 30 per cent. of the money earmarked for end-of-life care users has reached patients under the Governments end-of-life care strategy, and that, similarly, dementia sufferers have received only a third of the funding pledged under the Governments dementia strategylet alone the fact that only one quarter of funding under the carers strategy has been received by those for whom it was intended. On behalf of those who have not received their respite breaks, or, indeed, the dignity they deserve, I ask the Minister when he intends to honour his promise not just to have the money properly audited and reported on, but to make sure it is wrung out of the wasteful bureaucracy and put to front-line use, as promised? Phil Hope: As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are looking carefully at how primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are spending money at the local level on a variety of important resources and support for patients and carers. I might add that we hope no one will have to monitor what impact the 6 billion a year of cuts the Conservative party announced yesterday would have on local care services throughout the country. Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab): The excellent Compton hospice is headquartered in my constituency and does a fantastic job. One of the things it does is train workers in palliative care. Will my hon. Friend tell me what financial support is available from the Governmentit certainly should beto help with the training of workers who will be doing palliative care?
Phil Hope: My hon. Friend puts his finger on an important part of how we raise the quality of end-of-life care for people right across the country. Training is one particular issue, but I should add that by working through the Dying Matters coalition, we want to raise public awareness of issues associated with death, dying and bereavement. We not only need the professional training to be right, but need to address the taboo that too often exists in this country about discussing these matters, so that people are encouraged to think about, and plan and prepare for, this period in their life or in the life of a loved one in their family. Carers Strategy 7. Angela Watkinson (Upminster) (Con): What plans he has to audit spending on the carers strategy. [324911] The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): Each Department that supports the cross-government carers strategy is responsible for auditing its contribution. My Departments programmes are subject to independent evaluation. We have asked strategic health authorities to identify where primary care trusts have agreed with their local authorities to prioritise support for carers. Angela Watkinson: I thank the Secretary of State for his reply. He will know that some young carers fall behind in their studies because of a lack of awareness of their circumstances on the part of school staff. What guidance is given to schools to ensure that they are aware of what is happening and can help those young carers to balance their caring responsibilities with their personal development and education? Andy Burnham: The hon. Lady raises an issue about which I care greatly. Some young people in our communities carry an incredible burden whereby they care for a family member and often sacrifice a great deal of their own life chances in doing so. Part of the problem is that the authorities often do not know that they are performing those caring responsibilities. We all have a duty to work harder to identify who those young people are and give them extra support, so that they do not miss out in later life as a result of performing a crucial function in caring for a loved one at a young age. Dr. William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Does the Secretary of State accept that many carers feel undervalued in the work that they do? How does he see that being radically changed? Will he assure us that family carers do not lose any benefits that they should normally receive? Andy Burnham: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that people feel undervalued. It is right to say that carers often face a battle to get support and that that can be very wearying, particularly at a difficult emotional time for their family. That is why we have published todayhe did call for radical changea White Paper that proposes a fundamental reform of social care in England by establishing a national care service, which will be free at the point of use and operate according to need and on NHS principles. It will also give everybody the ability to get peace of mind in later life and to protect what they have worked for. We have also said that the essential characteristics of attendance allowance and disability living allowance will be preserved in any new system.
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8. Paul Rowen (Rochdale) (LD): What mechanism he plans to use to determine changes to expenditure on [324913] health services in the next four years. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike OBrien): Overall primary care trust funding rose by 5.5 per cent. in this financial year and it will rise by 5.5 per cent. in the financial year 2010-11. Under Labour, these rises of 11.3 per cent. overall will be locked in for two further years up to 2013. In addition, the NHS is looking to make savings of 15 billion to 20 billion, which will be reinvested in NHS budgets. Paul Rowen: I am sure that the Minister is aware of a leaked letter sent by the chief executive of the North West strategic health authority to PCTs calling on them to prepare cuts of 10 per cent. across the board and 15 per cent. in operational services. Such cuts include the shutting of Rochdales accident and emergency department from 12 oclock at night. Will the Minister admit, and stop trying to fool people about the fact, that the Government are planning real cuts after the election? Mr. OBrien: Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT will receive 358 million and 378 million in this financial year and next, which is an increase over the two-year period of 38.4 million, or 11.3 per cent. That is what we are planning for the hon. Gentlemans area. I should tell him that, contrary to what his website says, there are no secret plans to close his accident and emergency department overnight. There are concerns about understaffing in A and E and the board will examine how to address that in due course, but no decision has been made about closing the A and E department overnight. Mr. Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole) (Lab): I hope that my right hon. and learned Friend has not been looking at my website. When he reviews expenditure for the next two years, will he consider the impact on other departmental budgets? I have recently been dealing with a difficult and complex mental health case of a constituent. It involved a significant cost to the taxpayer, arising mainly through the police and the Prison Service, from which my constituent received no care or treatment to meet his needs. Can we ensure that as we examine our health service expenditure for the next four years, the mental health needs of our society are given a greater priority? Mr. OBrien: My hon. Friend is right that we need to ensure, in accordance with the Bradley report, that mental health issues are given a very high priority. We heard questions earlier about assaults on staff and relevant matters; mental health issues might be a factor in such cases. The NHS and other public services must, increasingly, address that area. Mr. Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): The Conservatives are committed to a real-terms increase in the NHS budget each year in the next Parliament. Is that a commitment that the Minister can match? Mr. OBrien: As I have already indicated, as far as we are concerned there will be an 11.3 per cent. increase this year and next year, and we are locking that increase in for the NHS for a further two years. Overall, for the next three years, we are going to see an increase not only on current budgets, but again next year.
Mr. Lansley: The House will note that the Minister has merely said what Ministers have said beforethere will be flat, real-terms funding in 2011-12 and 2012-13so he cannot match the commitment that I have made. How can he reconcile his answer with the plans of strategic health authorities across the country which include cuts of 10 per cent. or more in staffing in hospitals? Mr. OBrien: As far as we are concerned, we are guaranteeing primary care trust budgetsthat is what we are talking about: front-line servicesin real terms. We are going to see an increase in those budgets, and we have already seen substantial increases in staffing. Everyone out there who is watching these proceedings and considering how to vote at the next election will remember that the Conservatives left the NHS on its knees. After we came into office in 1997, we got it up off its knees. It is now good and we can make it great. The hon. Gentleman could never do that. Mr. Lansley: For all that bluster, the right hon. and learned Gentleman still cannot match the commitment we have made to real-terms increases for each year of the next Parliamentand, indeed, for the whole NHS budget. What about capital budgets? In the operating framework that was sent out to the NHS, the Labour Government have told it to expect a 50 per cent. reduction in capital expenditure over the course of the next spending review. How can he and his Secretary of State go around making promises of capital expenditure, as he did at Liverpools Broadgreen hospital yesterday, given that Labour is committed to halving the capital budget for the NHS, while we are not? Mr. OBrien: The hon. Gentleman voted against the Wanless report and did not want national insurance to be increased for the NHS, and the Conservatives did not provide any of the extra funding that we have put into the health service in the past decade. Does anyone seriously think that they can be trusted with the NHS? I suspect that most members of the public do not. We will be able to test that in due course at the election. If people are asked who they can trust with the NHS, they have only to look at the Conservative record and then at ours to know that only Labour can be trusted with it. Paddy Tipping (Sherwood) (Lab): Despite record increases in funding, all nine PCTs operating in the east midlands do not reach the Governments own funding target. Does my right hon. and learned Friend accept that part of the issue is fast population growth in the east midlands? Is not the solution to ensure that new population figures are fed into the funding formula as quickly as possible? Mr. OBrien: My hon. Friend is quite right. We need to ensure that the funding formula properly and accurately reflects issues related to population change, which can be significant in particular areas. We need to work through some of those issues, taking a great deal of care, with the other Departments that are affected by this issue. Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Will my right hon. and learned Friend look at the report of the Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families on childrens centres, which was published yesterday,
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when he is thinking about expenditure over the next four years? Will he consider the criticism that the health sector is often the weaker partner with the Department for Children, Schools and Families? Can we see a greater commitment in both resources and commitment to the childrens centres, which are doing a wonderful job of cutting down the silos that we see too often in health and education in the early years? Mr. OBrien: My hon. Friend is quite right. Childrens centres are absolutely crucial in breaking down barriers and improving childrens health and well-being. That is why the Government will ensure that funding for childrens centres is given due priorityunlike the Opposition, who we know plan to cut funding for childrens centres. Administrative Tasks (Nurses) 9. Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): What estimate he has made of the proportion of their working hours NHS nurses are required to spend on [324914] administrative tasks. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): NHS trusts are responsible for planning the activities of their nursing work force to meet the needs of their patients. It is not possible to collect centrally information on the proportion of working hours that NHS nurses are required to spend on administrative tasks. Mr. Heald: Two years ago, the Royal College of Nursing carried out research into this and found that front-line nurses were spending 1.6 million hours a week on non-necessary paperwork. We are two years on from that, so is the Minister able to give any information about whether any progress has been made? For nurses to spend a day a week on average on non-essential paperwork is clearly unsatisfactory. We do not want them pen pushing; we want them helping patients. Ann Keen: I think that we would all agree, but keeping accurate records is a nurses essential responsibility under the code of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the body that regulates nurses. We acknowledge the RCNs report, and that is why more than 50 million has been put into the health service to support the Releasing Time to Care programme, in which more than 80 per cent. of primary care trusts are now involved. It is exceptionally important that accurate records and assessments are made of patients and that all communication is recorded but, in my opinion and that of many nurses, that has improved greatly. Trained First-aiders 10. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): If he will undertake research into the proportion of people attending hospital accident and emergency departments whose treatment could be delivered effectively by a trained first-aider.
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Bob Russell: I had hoped for a better answer. May I suggest to the Minister that there is a general acceptance that many people go to accident and emergency departments who should not be there? If society had more trained first-aidersas my superb ten-minute Bill of 19 November 2003 proposedthere would be less pressure on the NHS budget and on our A and E departments. Gillian Merron: I am, of course, disappointed to disappoint the hon. Gentleman. I am sure that he, like me, would pay tribute to organisations such as the Red Cross and the St. Johns Ambulance serviceof which I myself used to be a memberand to the many first-aiders up and down the country who give their time to provide on-the-spot initial care. However, first aid is not a treatment, as it can involve anything to putting a plaster on to keeping a patient alive until appropriate medical care is given. There is a range of possibilities for people who need treatment: as well as going to A and E, they can consult NHS Direct or visit the many new walk-in centres that the Government have set up. They can also use the extra services provided by pharmacies and outof-hours doctors, and we are piloting a three-digit number for the future. Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton) (Lab/Co-op): A and E services are often put under great pressure by peaks in drinking, particularly binge drinking at the weekend. Will my hon. Friend look at how the Plymouth PCT and Derriford hospital have brought a service into the city service to address that issue? The service uses paramedics and others to treat people in situ, thus relieving pressure at the main service point in Derriford hospital. Gillian Merron: I would of course be very happy to look at that service, and I congratulate the local health care services in my hon. Friends constituency on showing such initiative. What they are doing is exactly what the NHS is abouttaking the right services to the right people at the right time. Cancer Survival Statistics 11. Mr. John Baron (Billericay) (Con): What consideration he has given to extending the range of cancers for which his Department publishes one-year survival rates; and if he will make a statement. [324916] The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): The second annual report on the cancer reform strategy sets out one-year survival information for breast, lung and bowel cancer by primary care trust. Where it is statistically reliable to do so, we will include additional cancers in the third annual report on the cancer reform strategy. Mr. Baron: I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but given that the all-party group report on cancer inequalities found a groundswell of support for the introduction of a one-year survival indicator for all cancer patients to ensure that we move away from input-based targets to measuring how effective the NHS is in treating cancer, will he give that consideration further review, and do it with renewed vigour? Many believe that that would help to improve early diagnosis.
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): The Department has no plans to do so. First aid is normally given to sustain a patient in an emergency. It is not, of course, a substitute for effective treatment by a health professional.
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Andy Burnham: May I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for the important leadership role that he has played on those matters in this Parliament as a distinguished chair of the all-party group on cancer? I want the NHS to focus on the early diagnosis of cancerI agree with him about thatand one-year survival figures will help to get the focus that we need, published for as many cancers as possible and by PCT. Where I must take issue with him is on his comment about input-based targets, or process targets, as Conservative Members often call them. When it comes to cancer, process equals time, and time matters. That is why Labour will enshrine in the NHS constitution the two-week guarantee so that people can see a cancer specialist, and why we are making a flagship pledge to deliver cancer test results within one week in the next Parliament. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will persuade his Front Benchers to back those commitments. Confidential Settlements 12. David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): How much the NHS spent on confidential settlements with members of NHS staff in the last three years. [324917] The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): It is not possible to separate out confidential severance payments within the NHS account. However, NHS expenditure in England, excluding foundation trusts, in the relevant categoryex gratia payments, otherwas 4 million in 2006-07, 8.2 million in 2007-08 and 5.4 million in 2008-09. David T. C. Davies: I thank the Minister for that helpful answer. I have recently been dealing with the case of a Dr. Lucy Dawson in my constituency, who was offered a confidentiality payment to keep quiet about a complicated matter. That worries me. Does it worry the Minister that, apparently, millions of pounds are being handed over to people simply to persuade them to keep their mouths shut when they see wrongdoing in the NHS? Will she commit to doing something about it? Gillian Merron: That is not a culture in the NHS that I recognise. It is important to say that those payments relate to all staff groupsfor example, a termination payment made out of compassion, perhaps to a seriously ill urse, could be included in the figures. Another example would be where a payment represents best value for moneyfor example, if legal advice suggests that a case would be lost at an employment tribunal. Any proposed payment is not permitted to reward failure, dishonesty or inappropriate behaviour. Indeed, such a payment would not be approved. It is worth saying that the Audit Commission also acknowledged extremely rigorous processes that we have in the NHS for approving such payments. Paediatric Cardiac Surgery 13. Sandra Gidley (Romsey) (LD): What progress has been made on the national review of paediatric cardiac [324918] surgery; and if he will make a statement.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): The review of paediatric cardiac surgery is making good progress. Centres offering those services will shortly be asked to submit their proposals for meeting the requirements to be a surgical centre in the future. Sandra Gidley: There are concerns that the national specialised commissioning group has already decided to reduce the number of units to five and that certain arbitrary assumptions mean that the slightly smaller units will be at risk of closure. Southampton general hospital is internationally respected for its work in this field, so will the Minister assure me that safety outcomes and quality will be the main criteria used in making the decision, not merely the number of procedures a year? Ann Keen: The criteria were defined to secure safe and sustainable paediatric cardiac surgery services. Southampton University Hospitals NHS trusts outcomes show that it is consistently either at the top or very near the top of all performance tables. Community Health Services (Worcestershire) 14. Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire) (Con): What assessment he has made of the likely effects on patients and staff of the reorganisation of community health services in Worcestershire; and if he will make a [324919] statement. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): This is a matter for the local NHS, which is proposing changes to improve the quality of services to patients. That will be thoroughly tested against national criteria. Peter Luff: I think that the Government are probably right to insist on the purchaser-provider split, but does the Minister understand that the timetable the Government are insisting on for the reorganisation of community services in Worcestershire could lead to the wrong decisions being taken about the future of those services, contrary to the interests of patients and staff, and probably to the need for a further reorganisation, which would be damaging and disruptive to the organisation, all too quickly? Gillian Merron: I spoke to the chief executive of Worcestershire PCT just this morning, and the need for improving services has been worked on since January 2009. The Departments deadline for achieving substantial implementation is April next year. The local NHS does not see this as a forced or a hastened change, and it has worked closely with staff, patients and others to improve services. What I believe would prove disruptive and disconcerting for staff and patients is delaying this improvement in services. National Dementia Strategy 15. Richard Ottaway (Croydon, South) (Con): What mechanism will be used to audit spending on the [324920] national dementia strategy. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): Dementia is a national priority and we are already spending over 8 billion a year on dementia in health and social care. The mechanism for the audit of the first ever national dementia strategy, which I published last year, is under development. We will consider how
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money is spent as a whole in health and social care for people with dementia, and that will form part of a wider review of dementia services. Richard Ottaway: The strategy contains an outline of a proposal that employers should look for signs of dementia among employees. In the event that that happens, will he assure me that there will be training for employers in that process, and safeguards against discrimination against older employees? Phil Hope: Yes, employers will certainly not be able to discriminate against older people, but it is important that we have raised general public awareness of dementia. For too long, dementia has been ignored or not recognised, and people therefore do not come forward for diagnosis by their GP or specialist memory clinic. As a result, they do not get a diagnosis for two or even, on average, three years, when the dementia has progressed. That means that we do not intervene early enough, and that means that we do not help people live with dementia well enough or hold back the progression of the disease. I hope that the wider public, as well as professionals in the health and social care system, will be able to identify early signs and refer people to appropriate specialists, and so ensure that people get the early intervention that they need. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): Will my hon. Friend ensure that as part of the audit we look at the cost and value of day centres? Too often nowadays it appears that local authorities, in particular, are trying to run down day centre services when those are often the only means by which people with dementia can get out of their homes. That is surely a retrograde step. Phil Hope: I understand my hon. Friends concerns. One of the directions of travel that we wish to pursue is the idea that individuals might have a personal budget so that they can take more control over the care that is provided to them. Carers and the person with dementia will then be able to use their resources to ensure that they have the services that they need. We wish to ensure that services for people with dementia, possibly through peer support and other aspects of effective dementia care that we are demonstrating in this the first year of the strategy, are made available more widely throughout the country. Jeremy Wright (Rugby and Kenilworth) (Con): Has the Minister had the opportunity to look at the latest report of the all-party group on dementia on what has happened to money allocated for the implementation of the national dementia strategy? If so, does he share my concern that very few of the PCTs that were asked could tell us what they had done with their share of the 60 million allocated for the first year of the strategy, or at least explain how what they had done with it related specifically to dementia? Can we do better for next year? Phil Hope: The hon. Gentleman is chair of the all-party parliamentary group, which has done sterling work under his leadership during the past year to raise the profile of the needs of people with dementia and the need to provide better services for them. I congratulate him and his colleagues from all parties. The audit that I described earlier is designed to track progress in
implementation of the strategys objectives. We will be looking at a whole range of factors, for example the number of dementia leads in hospitals, which is a key part of the strategy, the number of established memory services, and the use of anti-psychotic drugs, another issue that he and I share a concern about and on which we wish to see rapid progress. Topical Questions T1. [324929] Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire) (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): The Government have today published a White Paper on the reform of social care in England. It proposes a national care service providing quality care and support for all adults in England free for people when they need it. It represents one of the biggest changes to the welfare state since the creation of the NHS. It sets out three stages of reform. First, the Personal Care at Home Bill helps the most vulnerable, enabling us to provide free personal care in their own homes for those with the highest needs. In the second stage, we will end the local lottery in care and establish national standards and entitlements. From 2014, care will be provided free to anyone staying in residential care for more than two years. At the start of the next Parliament, we will establish a commission to help reach consensus on the fairest and most sustainable way for people to contribute to the new system. As people live longer, we need to act to give them peace of mind and the ability to protect what they have worked for. Reform will work only if those benefits are secured for everybody. Peter Luff: That sounded a bit like a statement to me. The Government may be aware of the threat to the acquired brain injury education service in Evesham, which helps the rehabilitation of stroke victims, in particular, and other brain injury victims. The threat has been caused by the changing priorities of the Learning and Skills Council in relation to adult education. Will the relevant Minister talk to the Further Education Minister to satisfy themselves that the unit is either truly just an education service or actually, as it used to be, co-funded by the Department for Health and the education Department? The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): I am advised that Worcestershire primary care trust is looking at NHS-funded services for people with acquired brain injuries, and it is the PCTs responsibility to commission services to meet the needs of the population. The trust has had an increase over two years of some 83.8 million and given a public commitment to ensure that the services that the acquired brain injury unit provides will be considered as part of the review. I certainly take the point that educational opportunities are an important part of the rehabilitation process. T3. [324931] Hazel Blears (Salford) (Lab): Last Friday in Salford we opened the Humphrey Booth resource centre, which is a national demonstration project for those with dementia and Alzheimers. It is an uplifting and inspiring place, so in developing the national care service will my hon. Friend ensure that such services
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are absolutely driven and shaped by users and carers? That is how we will secure services that really meet the needs of people with complex conditions such as Alzheimers and dementia. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): My right hon. Friend is right to applaud the work of agencies such as those in her constituency. There are many others like that throughout the country, and our job in creating a national care service is to ensure that we design and develop services with not only users but carers at the very heart of how we respond to peoples needs. The new national care service will be free for people when they need it, and we will support families, carers and communities as a basic principle of the way in which a new national care service delivers help for people throughout the country. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Speaker: Order. We have a lot to get through in topical questions, so the exchanges need to be very short and sharp. Mr. Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): Why did the Secretary of State not make an oral statement? Will he now rule out a death tax to pay for the Governments national care service? Yes or no? Andy Burnham: We are debating the Personal Care at Home Bill later today, on a crowded parliamentary day, and we will have the opportunity to debate it as the first stage in our three-stage reform plan to fund social care. We will propose for social care a system that is similar to the rest of the welfare stateorganised on a population basis, whereby everyone makes a contribution and everyone has a choice about how they make that contribution. We will establish a commission to advise the Government on those payment options, and the commission will be able to consider all options. T5. [324933] Dr. Doug Naysmith (Bristol, North-West) (Lab/Co-op): I know that the Secretary of State is aware that there are two separate electronic surveillance systems for tuberculosis in England: one for London, one for the rest of the country. Does he agree that it would be more sensible to have one system for the whole country, enabling more effective control and treatment of that troublingly persistent disease, and, perhaps, a national treatment plan, as in many other countries? Gillian Merron: I agree, and a new national system will be up and running early next year. Norman Lamb (North Norfolk) (LD): The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care have revealed that for the next financial year PCTs have allocated to carers only 26 per cent. of the 100 million intended for respite care. Is not the Governments promise of respite care, followed by a total failure to deliver that care, tantamount to a fraud on some very vulnerable people? Surely it is now time to give a guaranteed right to a weeks break for the 1 million carers who work the longest hours.
Andy Burnham: This Government recognised the need to support carers better when we came into office in 1997. Before then, the recognition of, and support for, carers was absolutely pitiful. Ever since then, the Government have invested 1.7 billion through the carers grant to support carers, and locally people can allocate that funding flexibly. However, the hon. Gentleman is right to say that we allocated further spending to PCTs so that they could provide respite care for carers. The Minister of State, Department of Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) has asked strategic health authorities to identify the level at which PCTs use that funding, so that we can take further action where sufficient priority is not being given to spending resources on respite care for carers. T10. [324938] Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): According to the Governments excellent carers strategy, the provision of accurate and timely information is vital for carers, yet according to Rethink, the mental health charity, 33 per cent. of mental health carers do not receive basic information such as the diagnosis of the person they are caring for, and only 20 per cent. of trusts have information-sharing policies. What action will the Government take to remedy this deficiency? Phil Hope: I know that my hon. Friend takes a keen and active interest in issues surrounding support for mental health service users and has campaigned on these issues for many years. I would like to make it clear that we do believe that service users should be fully informed about and engaged with arrangements for their own care. That is why the Department issued revised care programme approach guidelines as recently as 2008. Under those guidelines, each mental health service user should have, wherever possible, an opportunity to be actively involved in agreeing their treatment plans with their care co-ordinator. That would allow patients some say in determining what information is then made available about their condition to other parties, including carers and family members. Mr. Speaker: These exchanges are taking too long: I want to get lots more colleagues in. T2. [324930] James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend, East) (Con): Southend primary care trust relatively recently merged into South East Essex primary care trust, and there are now discussionsI think abortiveabout merging into Mid Essex primary care trust. If this does go ahead in order to make efficiency gains, how will we ensure accountability between local government and larger NHS trusts? The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike OBrien): We need to ensure that PCTs and trusts are accountable to local peoplethat is the whole basis on which we have introduced the system of decentralisation in the NHS. Improving the quality of that accountability is therefore crucial. If we have learned anything from the Mid Staffordshire debacle, it is that trusts need to be in contact with local people. Mr. Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab): May I welcome the Governments announcement on setting up a national care commission to look into fair funding of social care in this country? Will one of the remits of the commission
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be to reach a consensus on this, as recommended by the Health Committees report on social care published on 12 March? Phil Hope: We are delighted that we have the White Paper, Building the National Care Service, which will be landmark in this countrys development of services for people in need of care and support, adults with disabilities, and older people. I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the report by the Select Committee, which was a helpful contribution to the debate. I am pleased to say that the national care commission will look at ways in which we can find a fair way to give people a choice about how they make their contribution to ensuring that, in future, care will be free when people need it. T4. [324932] Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I have been campaigning on behalf of Zach, a little boy in my constituency who has a rare, and very nasty, form of cancer. Life-saving treatment is available in other parts of the world, but not available here. However, thanks to the efforts of the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ann Keen), who has cut through red tape, that treatment is now available. Does the hon. Lady know how much Zachs parents appreciate that? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): This is teamwork. We have worked together with Great Ormond Street hospital, the researchers, and the hon. Gentleman, and when we work together in this House, we get results. We all wish Zach, and his mum and dad, the very best. Tony Lloyd (Manchester, Central) (Lab): Do my hon. Friends recognise that in a constituency such as mine, the advent of a national care service will be greeted with enormous enthusiasm? However, do they understand the fears that if this were done on the basis of a voluntary insurance principle, it would exclude the poorest people and it would not be a national care service? Andy Burnham: The reform of social care will work only if the peace of mind and the ability to protect savings and homes is available to everybody, whatever their income. The problem with the voluntary system of insurance proposed by the Conservatives is that as take-up of voluntary schemes is generally low, the cost is very high, so it would be out of the reach of my hon. Friends constituents and my constituents. That is why we are proposing a bold reform, in the best traditions of Labour, for a comprehensive national care service. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): I agree with the Minister that health trusts should listen to the people. Will he tell that to the health trust that covers Clitheroe? Some 12 million was made available for a new community hospital, which the health trust stalled last year. The decision should have been made last week but it has now stalled it until September. The people want the hospital. When will the health trust listen? Mr. Mike OBrien: Of course health trusts need to listen to people and ensure that they make local decisions to manage health provision effectively, based on delivering quality care to people and ensuring that it is done at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.
Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab): We welcome the 50 million that is being given to PCTs for carers, but how much of it has now been spent and what benefits came to central Lancashire? Phil Hope: The extra money that the Government put into primary care trusts for providing respite care and other services is part of 256 million of extra resources being made available not only through PCTs but through work that we are doing nationally. At local level, we are asking every PCT to account for how it is spending money on support for carers, and that will include the PCTs in my hon. Friends area. T6. [324934] Sandra Gidley (Romsey) (LD): The chief executive of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust is currently briefing staff on challenges facing the NHS. The briefing note states that
we are currently looking at reducing our workforce by approximately 400 posts during 2010/11 and a further 200 posts in 2011/12.
There are no guarantees that those will be administrative posts. Is that what is meant by protecting front-line services? Mr. Mike OBrien: I hear what the hon. Lady says as far as Southampton is concerned. It is important that health trusts manage their budgets, but it is also important that they prioritise the quality of care for patients and ensure that patient safety comes first. I understand that in last nights debate, the hon. Ladys partys Treasury spokesman said that he would not guarantee funds for the NHS. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): What plans do Ministers have for increasing expenditure on childrens and young peoples mental health? I know that the Government have rescued the child and adolescent mental health service, but it appears that demand is still far exceeding supply and a lot more has to be done. Phil Hope: I share my hon. Friends concern that young people with mental problems get the support that they need in a way that is appropriate to their needs. If we can provide more support for children who have mental health problems, we can do a great deal to prevent young people from becoming adults with mental health problems, thereby relieving pressure on adult mental health services as well. We undertook a review of the child and adolescent mental health service and are currently implementing the recommendations. Dr. Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest) (Ind): Will the Secretary of State promote the benefits and safety of midwife-led birth centres distant from consultant obstetric units when they have the right escalation and admission protocols? Andy Burnham: I will indeed, and that is why I said to my right hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Hazel Blears) a moment ago that we would support such midwife-led units when they are what local people want. What we will not do is undermine clinically led change. The Opposition have said that they would put doctors in control in the NHS, and they go to marginal seats around the country opposing clinically led change, which is quite scandalous as far as I am concerned.
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T7. [324935] Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Earlier, the Under-Secretary told me in answer to my question that 54,758 assaults were made against NHS staff last year. I nipped out of the Chamber and have just found out that there were only 941 cautions or convictions last year. Is that any deterrent to prevent people from assaulting staff ? Ann Keen: As I said earlier, it is not for us in the health service to prosecute; it is for the Crown Prosecution Service. It is for us to provide all the evidence, and that is what we always do and will always continue to do.
[324936] Angela Watkinson (Upminster) (Con): T8. The Governments anti-smoking strategy was successful because it used robust messages designed to change peoples behaviour. Does the Minister agree that had a similar attitude been used in the Government failed teenage pregnancy strategy, the outcomes might have been better?
route for High Speed 2 virtually bisects the proposed site. Will the Minister have a word with his colleagues in the Department for Transport? I do not wish to subvert the railway proposal, because that is a separate issue, but could he ensure that if it proceeds, there is proper reprovision of the college hospital on an alternative site? Mr. Mike OBrien: As far as high-speed rail is concerned, we certainly need to ensure that there is proper local consultation and that local communities concerns are fully considered in respect of any route. If there are impacts on public provision, as the hon. Gentleman describes, we need also to ensure that alternative provision is in place to ensure that there is no lack of services for local people.
[324937] Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Is the T9. Secretary of State aware that one issue will unite every parliamentary candidate in the Banbury constituency at the forthcoming general election: the retention of consultant-led childrens and maternity services at the Horton hospital, and ensuring that it remains a general hospital?
Gillian Merron: We continue to see a reduction in teenage unwanted pregnancy, and the changes in the curriculum will make a big difference. We continue the work, which is not just about messaging. There is no one thing that will work, but our Contraception: worth talking about campaign helps, and the support given to young men and women across the country to enhance their self-esteem will also make a big difference. Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry) (Con): After 20 years of trying, we now have progress on the reprovision of Brackley college hospital, of which it happens my wife is a trustee. Yet unfortunately, the Governments proposed
Andy Burnham: I enjoyed immensely my recent visit to the Horton, and I want to pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman and all the local campaigners that I met indeed, the campaign spans the political divide. I was hugely impressed by what I saw. I know how much the Horton means to people in Banbury, and it is well located close to the M40. I hope that the review of services that has been going on at the Horton is concluded soon and that it can move forward into the future with confidence.
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3.36 pm Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon) (LD) (Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what plans he has to classify any drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism (Mr. David Hanson): Following the receipt of advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has laid a draft order today for Parliament to approve his proposal to control mephedrone and other cathinone derivatives. The chair of the advisory council, Professor Les Iversen, has made it clear to my right hon. Friend that the harms that those drugs undertake justify control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as class B drugs. The harms associated with those drugs include hallucinations, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety, paranoia, fits and delusions, and they have been linked to a number of deaths. Given the risks to public health, there is strong cross-party support for getting those measures through Parliament, and we hope that the draft order can come into effect as soon as possible, on 16 April 2010. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has rightly waited for the advice from independent expert advisers. The council has provided its assessment of the harms of those drugs having undertaken a full assessment and having reviewed their status through the examination of their use, pharmacology, physical and societal harms. Based on the advisory councils advice and very much in keeping with our approach for the control of synthetic substances, we are also introducing generic legislation that will capture the family of related compounds and other derivatives as well as mephedrone. We have seen a number of those already, but our controls are also aimed at future trends to stop organised criminals and dealers tweaking substances to get around the law. In addition, the Government are taking immediate action to control mephedrones availability and to reduce its harm, first by banning importation and, secondly, by targeting head shops. Thirdly, we are informing young people through the FRANK campaign. Fourthly, we are warning suppliers and, fifthly, we are issuing health warnings and a health alert through public health warning systems. The House will have a further opportunity to discuss that draft order shortly, which is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, and I commend it to the House. Dr. Harris: If the ACMD has advised that mephedrone and other cathinones be regulated as a class B drug, I support that recommendation, but does the Minister believe that he or his colleague the Home Secretary are compliant with the newly published principles for the treatment of independent scientific advice, which the Government published last week? They state that the Government must give adequate consideration time for published advice, but the ACMD report has not even been published and the Government have announced legislation. If the Home Secretary received a verbal report yesterday from the ACMD chair, why was it not
available at the same time to the media, since the public have a right to know, and indeed to Members of this House? Further, why was there no statement or written ministerial statement today, and why did it take an urgent question to bring the Minister to the House to make this announcement? May I ask whether, beyond classification, the report contains any other recommendations to which the Minister will respond, and when does he intend to respond to them? Given that it was the actions of the Home Secretary that led to the resignation of six of the scientific members of the councilundoubtedly delaying the work of the council and resulting in it not being legally constituted at the time that this advice was givenhow can the Minister be certain that the regulations that he is now laying are in order, cannot be challenged and will deal with the problem that we both agree exists? Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend has taken the right decision, and that is the key issue for the House today. He has taken that decision on the basis of advice from the advisory council. He received a verbal report from Professor Iversen yesterday afternoon and a report in writing will be presented to the House before consideration of the orders, which I hope will be next week. This is not a new issue. My right hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith), when Home Secretary, was aware of this matter in March last year, and she discussed action on it with the advisory council, which commissioned some work. I wish to kill stone-dead the suggestion that the action by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in relation to the sacking of Professor Nutt has delayed publication of the report. The intention was always to produce a report for the meeting of the council on 29 March, and that report was delivered verbally to my right hon. Friend yesterday. He has taken the view that it was of sufficient importance and urgency to take urgent action, so he has laid an order and I hope that the House will in due course support it. James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) (Con): The tragic cases of those who are thought to have died as a consequence of taking mephedrone have highlighted the dangers of the drug. As many as 25 deaths have been linked to it. We welcome yesterdays recommendation by the ACMD that mephedrone should be classified. However, the Government need to explain why they reacted so late in the day to the dangers of mephedrone and the connected group of drugs. In a letter to the Home Secretary on 22 December, Professor Les Iversen, the chairman of the ACMD, said:
The ACMD explained in a previous letter to you that it has concerns about the apparent prevalence and potential harms of these compounds.
If the Governments own specialist advisers had concerns months ago, why did not the Home Secretary take action then? Just when did he first know of those concerns? The Home Secretarys relationship with the ACMD and the resignations of several members have been highlighted as a cause of delay in dealing with the classification of mephedrone, and previously it was suggested that it would be dealt with in the early part of the year. At the last Home Office questions, the Home Secretary rejected the suggestion that this delayed the
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process by six months. Just how long was consideration extended as a result of the depleted membership of the ACMD and the Home Secretarys inept handling of the resignation of David Nutt? Looking forward, does the Minister agree that it is time to introduce a new, temporary classification, as we propose, to provide a means to respond more quickly to emerging new psychoactive substances while enabling specialist input to be provided? Classification should not be seen in isolation. The Governments drugs advice line, FRANK, was initially slow to provide advice on mephedrone because it was not a controlled substance. What systems have been put in place to address that in the future and more generally, what public health campaigns do the Government envisage having on the classification of mephedrone and the message that because a drug is legal, it does not make it safe? Mr. Hanson: The answer to the hon. Gentlemans initial question is similar to the one that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), in that as there is a process, that process must be followed. That is done so that we ensure that we do not ban substances that could have a legitimate use, but on the basis of medical advice in accordance with the legal basis for an order. Had I taken the advice of the hon. Member for Hornchurch (James Brokenshire), I would have been criticised even more by the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon for rushing the matter through. We have to do things in accordance with the process that has been set up by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the previous Home Secretary. The matter has been the subject of much consideration and was not delayed by Professor Nutts resignation. We had a full complement of existing members, who considered this matter and gave their advice. That was relayed verbally to my right hon. Friend yesterday, and he has taken a decision accordingly for debate. The hon. Gentleman also mentioned what steps we need to take to ensure that this ban is understood widely and that advice is given. In my statement, I indicated that we are placing facts about the use of mephedrone on the FRANK website and we will be distributing a new fact card on the drug so that potential users and suppliers are aware of the ban. The ban will, if approved by both Houses, lead to a potential 14-year maximum jail penalty. We are also issuing health warnings through the public health system. The associated discussions around this order, my right hon. Friends statement yesterday and the action that we are taking should raise awareness of the dangers of the drugif they had not been raised alreadyand show that the Government have taken action on this drug based on legally constituted advice. Chris Huhne (Eastleigh) (LD): The Liberal Democrats certainly welcome the Governments intention to classify mephedrone, but the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs started looking at the drug a year ago. The Home Secretary must surely accept that, if it were not for his meddling in the work of the ACMD and the subsequent resignation of, among others, Dr. Les Kingnot any old ACMD member, but the person chairing the councils working group on mephedronethis harmful and possibly fatal substance could have been banned months ago.
Now that Dr. Polly Taylor has also resigned from the ACMD, can the Minister be confident that any ban that he imposes has been, or can be, reached in a lawful manner, and that it will not be subject to challenge in the courts? Finally, can he draw any other lessons from this episode, such as, for example, the need to introduce a pending category, ahead of the full deliberation, of the sort that existsI understandin New Zealand and Sweden? Mr. Hanson: First, Dr. Taylors resignation has had no material effect on yesterdays decision, which we believe is legally accountable and enforceable, and which, when approved by both Houses, will be operational. Dr. Taylor had the opportunity to contribute to the decision, as part of the council, and will have played her part accordingly. Professor Nutts resignation has also Chris Huhne: What about Dr. Kings resignation? Mr. Hanson: Professor Nutts resignation, and indeed Dr. Kings and those of other members, have not had a material effect on the consideration of these issues. These matters have been considered by the ACMD, and yesterday, for the first time, it presented a recommendation to the Home Secretary, and my right hon. Friend accepted it. I believe that that was the right decision and one that this House should accept, and rather than looking over the trails of resignations, the hon. Gentleman should support the decision and look at how we implement and, indeed, enforce it. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Speaker: Order. A lot of colleagues wish to contribute. I am keen to accommodate them, but time is precious. We have an important debate to follow, in which many people wish to take part, so pithy exchanges are the order of the day. I call Mr. Keith Vaz. Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): May I welcome the Ministers statement and the decision that has been taken? It is absolutely in keeping with the wishes of the Home Affairs Select Committeewe wrote to him last week on this matter. Party politics aside, however, the fact is that this has taken a very long time. As he just said, the former Home Secretary was alerted to the matter in March 2009. Since then, a number of young people have died, including three teenagers and one young person in the past 10 days. Can we please look at this process, from the time of referral to the time of decision, so that it is as speedy as possible? After all, this drug has been banned in Denmark and Sweden already. Mr. Hanson: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend and his Committee for their consideration of these matters. In answer both to him, and to the third point made by the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) about a possible pending category, we have considered that possibility, but again we must ensure that we have a legal basis for such a decision, and that it does not ultimately impact on any possible legal use for a particular product that could fall into that pending category. We
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must also determine whether a pending category would lead to confusion about the use of a particular product awaiting a decision. We must examine those issues in the round. We have looked at this issue, we have waited for the decision of the advisory council, and I believe that the decision has been effective. We accepted that verbal decision, and within a couple of hours of receiving it, we acted to place an order before the House. We will publish the report in due course, and I hope that that will satisfy the House as a whole. Mr. David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): The Minister says that cross-party support is required for the classification of mephedrone to be implemented before Dissolution. He will know that my party has given its unambiguous support for what he says, but can he indicate what discussions he has had with the Liberal Democrats, and, given the different strands of their opinion, will he say whether they support early action or whether they think that action should be delayed, as the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) indicated yesterday? Mr. Hanson: I hope that we shall be able to pass both orders through both Houses before Dissolution, which could still happen well into early May for all we know, so there will be every opportunity to consider them. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary spoke to the hon. Members for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) and for Eastleigh yesterday evening about his decision and has received full support for it, which has been reflected in the House today. I hope that the orders will achieve early passage. John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): The Tories and Liberals are both now nicking my ideas. Considering that the ACMD has never had a majority of scientists on it and considering that new compounds and synthetic drugslegal highsare now liable to be created all the time in laboratories, does the Minister agree that one of the priorities of the next Parliament will have to be to update the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in full? Mr. Hanson: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. He has been a sturdy campaigner against drugs in his constituency and throughout the country at large. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary keeps all such matters under review, and we will certainly examine all suggestions for ensuring that we have effective measures in place to protect the British public against illegal drugs that cause death and injury, but which, with the support of this House, will ultimately be banned, so that people will be protected. Mr. Douglas Hogg (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con): I entirely agree with the Minister that due process is important, for all the obvious reasons, but it has taken quite a long time to ban mephedrone. Will he look again at the legislation to see whether the statutory procedures mean that the process takes too long and whether we should review the process with a view to introducing interim orders?
Mr. Hanson: I appreciate the right hon. and learned Gentlemans view on this matter. As I have said previously, we are trying to ensure that we proceed in a way that not only is legally sound and based on evidence, but ensures that we take the right decision for the benefit of protecting the British people from these dangerous drugs. That unfortunately means that, on occasion, we have to take some time to achieve those objectives. However, we will certainly look at whether there are lessons to be learned, because the bottom line for the House is about protecting people from injury and from drugs that are used by people to make money for themselves and exploit our citizens. Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab): As the principal psychoactive ingredients of the natural product khat are cathinones, will the proposed order also criminalise those who use khat? Mr. Hanson: If I may, I might have to write to my hon. Friend about that in due course. I know that the order covers generic legislation relating to the control of a number of synthetic substances, and it will look at related compounds, including cathinone derivatives. However, I shall have to reflect in due course on whether the particular item that my hon. Friend mentioned is covered. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): In the light of the number of young people who have died through the use of mephedrone and the number of families who have been destroyed because of the loss of their loved ones, please can the Government look again at the processes, because this drug could surely have been controlled a lot earlier? Let me also thank the Minister for completely ignoring the advice of David Nutt. We already know from what he has said previously about cannabis, totally ignoring the mental disorders caused by its constant use, that he is totally out of touch with the people of this country. Mr. Hanson: As I have said, the purpose of the process is to ensure that we do things legally and as speedily as possible, but also that we do them on medical advice. We will certainly reflect on that, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will examine those issues. The circumstances of the resignation of Professor Nutt Dr. Harris: The sacking. Mr. Hansonare such that Ministers minister and advisers advise. That is the principal policy on this issue. Having reflected very carefully on the point that my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) raised, I can categorically state that khat will not be covered by the order. Greg Mulholland (Leeds, North-West) (LD): I welcome this announcement, although I share the concerns expressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) about the way in which the decision was taken. Will the Minister pass on the Governments advice to the police, schools and student unions in my area? This substance is available in schools at the moment, and leaflets openly advertising the drug
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for sale are being delivered all round the Headingley and Hyde Park areas. In the interim period, what is the advice on how to stop this unlicensed selling? Mr. Hanson: As I said in my statement, the banning of importation with immediate effect will mean that the UK Border Agency will be able to seize and destroy shipments of mephedrone at the border. That is the starting point in cutting off supply. We are also giving health warnings to public health departments, to the police and to other health services, as well as through the FRANK website. We are also distributing a new fact card immediately. The Minister for Schools and Learners has written to all head teachers about this. In the event of the orders being enacted, the severe penalty of 14 years in prison for the supply of these drugs will be introduced, and the police will be able to enforce it accordingly. Mr. David Jones (Clwyd, West) (Con): The great majority of online financial transactions for the sale and purchase of mephedrone are processed by a Canadian company called AlertPay. Pending the classification of this drug, will the Minister undertake to alert the Canadian authorities to the involvement of AlertPay in this grubby and dangerous trade? Mr. Hanson: I will certainly look at that issue and take advice accordingly from our colleagues on the practicalities involved. It is self-evident that our intention is to stop the supply of this product in the United Kingdom, and we will therefore use all legal means to do so, once the orders are approved. John Mason (Glasgow, East) (SNP): The Minister mentioned future trends. It seems to be the way things work in society that the use of these drugs becomes more widespread much more quickly these days. Is it not inevitable, therefore, that our processes also need to become quicker? Mr. Hanson: I have already said that we will look at the pace of activity governing the matters consideration. The key point is that we needed to take this action based on evidence, and I am sure that the House would have criticised us, had we not done so. Evidence takes time to accumulate, and it needs to be assessed. We also needed to look into the implications of the decision before we took it. We obviously had to look at how we should process the evidence in this case, but I believe that the right decision has been taken, and I hope that the House will support it. Dr. William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): I wholeheartedly welcome the Ministers statement today.
Many lives have been blighted and many homes wrecked by these drugs. Can he assure us that, when this becomes law, the police will rigorously and vigorously take action right across the United Kingdom? Mr. Hanson: I support the hon. Gentlemans contention, and I know how hard he has worked with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to tackle the issue of drugs in his own constituency. When legislation is passed, it is important that the police enforce it. The supply of these illegal drugs will carry severe penalties, and the new legislation will be enforced by the police, should both Houses approve it. I hope that, before Dissolution, the power will be given to the police in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom to execute the orders effectively. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): As one who has called for the banning of this drug for some time, I ask the Minister to accept that we all welcome his statement. However, the sane voice of Professor Iversen on the Today programme this morning suggested that a great deal of internecine warfare had been going on behind the scenes. That is an additional reason for ensuring that procedures such as these are speeded up. Unfortunately, it looks as though some people might have died unnecessarily. Mr. Hanson: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept my assurance that there was no delay due to the challenges that we faced in relation to the advisory council over the past few months. This decision was expected at the end of March, and it has been delivered to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the end of March. He has taken his decision urgently, based on that advice, and the order was tabled as soon as was practicable after the receipt of that advice in order to expedite the outcome that the hon. Gentleman wishes to see. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): Will the Minister make it clear in relation to any new, unclassified drugs that suppliers will not be able to hide behind descriptions such as plant food or terms such as not for human consumption, because those terms do not give suppliers protection under the Medicines Act 1968? Will he assure the House that those suppliers will always be prosecuted to the full extent? Mr. Hanson: Again, we have to look at the potential legal use of products, which is part of the advisory councils role. In the case of mephedrone, there is no legal use, so those descriptions are misleading. If the orders are approved, the police will act in a strong and effective way to ensure that we stop the supply.
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Points of Order
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4 pm Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Business questions has been dominated over recent weeks by the question of what progress is likely to be made on private Members Bills. The Leader of the House has said on a number of occasions that she intends to progress these Bills. Will you use your good offices to ensure that that happens? Will you ask the Leader of the House to make a statement on how that can be done? Mr. Speaker: If I understand the hon. Gentleman correctly, he is concerned about time. I understand that concern and I have listened carefully to what he had to say. He will, however, understand that I cannot make predictions about the near future: I take matters a day at a time, which seems to me to be a prudent way to proceed. He will also understand that the provision of time is not in the hands of the Chair, but in those of the Government, with whose representatives, I feel sure, he will have the necessary serious and earnest conversations. He has put his concerns on the record and I hope he is moderately satisfied. Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You may recall that on 22 March, the Leader of the House made a statement about lobbying. I specifically asked her about meetings and undue influence involving Charlie Whelan, who is the top political officer of Unite and who is alleged to have an office in No. 10 Downing street. The Leader of the House said:
I will have to write to the hon. Gentleman about the situation in relation to the Prime Ministers diary.[Official Report, 22 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 35.]
Several hon. Members rose Mr. Speaker: I call Mr. Andrew Gwynne and I welcome him back after his indisposition. Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to the point of order by my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), given that the amendments to the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill have been withdrawnsadly, I could not be present in the Chamber for its proceedingswill you use your good offices to ensure that the Bill remains on the Order Paper next week, without the amendments? Mr. Speaker: I have already ruled on this matter in response to earlier points of order. I understand the very real frustration that the hon. Gentleman, his hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) and others feel on this matter. He has registered that concern with his usual force and eloquence. Unfortunately, however, the questions of whether it remains on the Order Paper, of whether it is or is not reached and of whether it does or does not reach the statute book is a matter for others. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for seeking to boost my powers, but they are at present limited. Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon) (LD): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In the response to the urgent question that we have just heard, the Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism said twice that Professor David Nutt had resigned. What is the best way in which to give the Minister a chance to correct the record if he inadvertently misled the House? When we talk about civil servants or distinguished public servants in the House, we need to be accurate. Professor Nutts treatment was highly contentious, and he was sacked. He did not resign. Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman is continuing the debate. He is committing precisely the sin that I knew the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) would not commit. The hon. Gentleman, who is a perspicacious fellow, asked me what was the best method of putting the record straight, as he sees it. He has just done exactly that. He is now gesticulating from a sedentary position. It is true that the Minister has not responded, but the hon. Gentleman has put his point fairly and squarely on the record. If the appetite of right hon. and hon. Members for raising points of order has now been exhausted, perhaps we can proceed to the next business. BILL PRESENTED TAX AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY BILL Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57) Mr. David Drew presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to take steps to obtain tax information from British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies; to require banks, corporations and trusts to provide tax information; and for connected purposes. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 23 April, and to be printed (Bill 101).
This very day I have received a letter from the Deputy Leader of the House, which says absolutely nothing about the Prime Ministers diary, nor about Charlie Whelan, nor about any meetings or undue influence that he might have with the Prime Minister. Sir, would it be possible to ask the Leader of the House to come back and answer this question when she is fully briefed or could the Deputy Leader of the House get the Leader of the House to write to tell me whether Charlie Whelan has met the Prime Minister about Unite in the recent past? Mr. Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. My response is as follows. The Leader of the House is responsible for the content of her answers. I am saddened if the hon. Gentleman is saddened or dissatisfied by the content of the answer, but the responsibility lies with the Leader of the House. The hon. Gentleman is an observant fellowhe would have to be to be the deputy Chief Whip on the Opposition Benchesso he will have noted that the Deputy Leader of the House is present and that she will have heard what he had to say. The hon. Gentleman has served in the House, I think, for 18 years next month. If I did not know him as well as I do, I would have thought that through this attempted point of order, he was seeking to draw me into a debate. Because I know him as well as I do, I know that he would not engage in misbehaviour of that kind.
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Control of Dogs
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Control of Dogs
Motion for leave to introduce a Bill (Standing Order No. 23) 4.6 pm Martin Linton (Battersea) (Lab): I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require dog-owners to have their dogs micro-chipped; to set a minimum age for dog ownership; to give courts powers to ban households from dog ownership; to require local authorities to provide kennelling for stray dogs and to nominate responsible officers for dog control; to extend the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to private property; to empower the police and local authorities to issue dog control notices; to give police support officers powers to enforce byelaws relating to dogs; to require owners of breeding dogs to be accredited; to set minimum standards for accredited dog breeders; to give local authorities powers to enter premises used for dog breeding; to regulate access to dog ownership data; and for connected purposes.
Notwithstanding its title, the Bill is less about the control of dogs than about the control of dog owners. This is a problem that many of my hon. Friends have already raised in the House, some by means of private Members Bills. I think we can all agree that it is the fault not of the dogs themselves but of their owners, many of whom are too young to take on the responsibility of owning and training a dog. I do not believe that there is such a thing as a dog that is inherently vicious. If a dog is given tender loving care and training from a young age, it can be gentle. Mr. Ken Purchase (Wolverhampton, North-East) (Lab/ Co-op): Bow wow! Martin Linton: Perhaps not my hon. Friends dog. Not all people want a gentle dog, however. Some train them to fight or be vicious to warn people off, and sometimes to help them to commit crimes. Others simply do not know how to train or look after them. For many such people, dogs are a weapon. As the penalties for possession of guns and knives have become tougher, they have turned to dogs. Indeed, they prefer them in some ways. It is not necessary to hide them, for instance. As with guns and knives, they set off a chain reaction: other people buy dogs to protect themselves, but they in turn are seen as possible aggressors by others who then buy dogs to defend themselves. The present legislation on dogs is a jumble. Many prosecutions are brought under obsolete Victorian legislation such as the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, which makes it an offence to have a ferocious dog unmuzzled in a public place but also makes it an offence to fire a cannon close to a dwelling house. Fewer prosecutions are brought under the more recent Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. I think we have all come to realise that breed-specific legislation is a mistake. It costs the police more than 1 million a year to kennel dogs so that they can be examined by experts to establish whether they belong to a banned breed, a fact that is largely irrelevant to the danger that they pose. I commend the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick), and the Secretary of State on recognising the need to sweep away this patchwork of legislation and bring in a modern law to deal with todays problems. My hon.
Friend visited Battersea Dogs and Cats home with me recently, and listened carefully to the advice given there. I do not think he would be wrong to see my Bill as a shopping list of things that we would like to see in a comprehensive Control of Dogs Bill, including most of the options on which he is consulting and a few more besides. At the top of the list is microchipping. More than 40 per cent. of dogs are microchipped and are on the pet log database. My local authority, Wandsworth, microchips the dogs of all tenants. Battersea dogs home automatically does it to all dogs for 15. A law is required, however, to make it compulsory for all dogs in public placesalthough I do not think it need apply to farm dogs or sheep dogsand also for owners to have to update the database when they move or transfer ownership. That would make it possible to set a minimum age for dog ownership. Battersea dogs home will re-home a dog only to somebody over 18, or 21 for a bull breed or guarding dog, which I think is a pretty good guide. The courts can already ban someone from dog ownership, but, in practice, people just transfer ownership to other members of their household. Therefore, a power to ban a household from keeping a dog is needed. Since responsibility for strays was passed from the police to local authorities in April, it has become apparent that many local authorities have no kennelling at all. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 made some important reforms, but it was a mistake for it to say that local authorities need provide kennelling only where practicable. Those are weasel words and the law needs to require them to provide that. My council has a dog officer, Mark Callis, and six wardens who do a very good job, but even they cannot cope with the amount of work. Many other boroughs cannot copeindeed, many of them do not have a dog warden at all. We must place an obligation on councils to have dog control officers. Dangerous dogs are a huge issue in my constituency. People queue up to sign our petition and to support the campaign run on this issue by the Wandsworth and Putney Guardian. Dog fouling is the only issue that eclipses dangerous dogs and it should certainly be an equally prominent aim of this Bill to increase the powers of dog wardens and police community support officers to deal with dog fouling. In particular, PCSOs should have the power to enforce byelaws on the offence. In Battersea and other areas there has been a rapid increase in demand for Staffordshire bull terriers and cross breeds. As the registered breeders have been unable to keep up with demand, some people have started breeding them in their front rooms and selling them on the internet and in pubs. A casual glance at internet sites such as Gumtree will reveal that cross-breed puppies are for sale for about 200, with the seller contactable via a mobile phone number, no address given. I know nothing about these individual breeders, of course, and some will, perhaps, be good while others will be bad, but what I do know is that many of these puppies end up as aggressive and unsocialised dogs abandoned after two years and left at Battersea dogs home, often in a pitiable state. Even if the professional breeders will bridle at any official accreditation scheme, I think they will recognise that the problems are being caused by back-street breeders who are running front-room puppy farms. Safe in the
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Ways and Means Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW Debate resumed (Order, 24 March). Question again proposed,
knowledge that no one has the right to inspect, they are often operated without the provision of exercise, training or decent sanitation. If puppies are to be sold, local authorities need to have the power to enter premises used for dog breeding, and there must be set minimum standards of space, hygiene, exercise and training. In order to achieve that, the owners of breeding dogs need to be accredited. That does not need to be complicatedit could be as simple as a phone call to the town hallbut we must have some such scheme. It would be best if accreditation was done through the breed societies and the Kennel Club, and if the microchip database was left in the ownership of PetLog and the other organisations that currently run that, but in any case this requirement clearly needs to be backed by law. I again commend the Government on their consultation paper, and I urge them to carry out a comprehensive reform and to consolidate all the legislation in a single Act. I hope my Bill will serve to point the way. Question put and agreed to. Ordered, That Martin Linton, Lynda Waltho, Ms Angela C. Smith, Frank Cook, Bob Russell, Mr. Andrew Dismore, Dr. Brian Iddon, Harry Cohen, Ms Diane Abbott, Chris McCafferty, Jim Sheridan and Norman Baker present the Bill. Martin Linton accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 23 April and to be printed (Bill 99).
4.16 pm The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls): It is a great honour to be invited to open this final day of the Budget debate and to set out the steps we are taking in my Department to support families and public services. I was disappointed to discover, just five minutes ago, that the shadow Education Secretary will not be replying to this debate after all, but may I say how pleased I am that the reply will instead be made by the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), the shadow Business Secretary, who is someone of long experience? As a former Chancellor, Health Secretary and Education Secretary, he will know all about the dilemmas of making the sums add up and protecting front-line servicesor not. I can think of nobody better to guide me, the House and the shadow Education Secretary on some of the choices before our country. John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): Before my right hon. Friend moves on, I am sure that he will wish to recognise that the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe is also wonderfully positioned to demonstrate what the Tory party in government is like at the moment, because his and my local county council has been cutting care homes and cutting services to the elderly in just the past few weeks. Indeed, I have with me a petition with the names of 1,500 people who are protesting about its actions. Ed Balls: My hon. Friend is right about that. However, to give the right hon. and learned Gentleman some credit, I should say that he was responsible for cutting VAT as Chancellor of the Exchequer. His predecessor tried to raise VAT on fuel and that was defeated in this place by votes from those on this side of the House, so he then had the opportunity to reverse that shift in VAT. That marks him out in contrast with pretty much every other Conservative Chancellor, as they tended to raise VAT. I shall not dwell on that comparison for the moment.
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Mr. Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP) rose Ed Balls: It is very nice to see the right hon. Gentleman in the House, and I shall give way to him once I have made a little progress. The Chancellors Budget sets out the choices we are making to secure Britains future. The first one is to secure the recovery and promote growth and jobs while halving the deficit steadily over the next four years. The second is to match pay and spending restraint in lower priority areas with fair tax increasesthe new top rate of tax, the bankers bonus tax and the national insurance rise. Everyone will make a contribution, but 60 per cent. of the extra taxes will come from the richest 5 per cent. of the population. The third is that alongside detailed proposals for savings of 11 billion in every Government Department, including my own, action will be taken to protect front-line services, such as the police, schools and hospitals, which families need and which play such a vital role in our country. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con) rose Ed Balls: I shall give way in a moment, but I wish to make this point. The Chancellor considered proposals to cut the deficit faster and with deeper and immediate cuts, but concluded that such action would throw people out of work, threaten the recovery and lead to more debt, not less. He also rejected deeply unfair plans to cut child tax credits from middle income families and to cut child trust funds too while promising an inheritance tax cut that would benefit millionaires to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds. He concluded that to refuse to go ahead with the national insurance rise from next April and instead put all the burden of deficit reduction on cutting spending would require deep and savage cuts across all our public services, including our childrens centres, colleges and schools. To take the road of drastic and immediate cuts in front-line services and family benefits would be reckless and unfair, and that is not this Governments choice. I want to set out the detail of how my Department will be affected by Budget and pre-Budget report decisions, but I shall first give way to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash). If the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) has had time to learn about what is in the Budget, he will probably have thought of his intervention as well. Mr. Cash: About two weeks ago, I asked a question about the record of the Labour county council in Staffordshire on educationspecifically on the extent of A grades and on general conduct since then as compared with what is going on in the rest of the country. Unfortunately, the relevant Minister replied that he was not able to give me that information. Will the Secretary of State be good enough to accelerate the provision of that information and ensure that I get it before Dissolution? Ed Balls: I am happy to do just that. I will make sure that the hon. Gentleman gets the information he requests. I also point out to him that the schools in his county are currently in the Building Schools for the Future programme but have not yet reached financial close. I am sure that he will be informing his constituents in his election leaflets about the very real risks to the building of schools in his constituency if they vote for him in the forthcoming general election.
Mr. Salmond: May I go back to the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke)? If I remember correctly, he had the misfortune of being the Health Secretary and then the Education Secretary under Margaret Thatcher. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has accepted that the cuts envisaged by this Government will be deeper and tougher than Margaret Thatchers, so how, given that the Education Secretary is now stranded in his Department, is the Education Secretary going to reconcile that position any better than the right hon. and learned Gentleman did? Ed Balls: The right hon. Gentleman is a student of economics and will have studied that period in great detail. I have looked at the record of that period and it is true that capital spending under the Thatcher Government was very low and stayed very low indeed throughout the entire period of her government. That is why schools were leaking, hospitals were not built and train tracks were not working. It is also truethis might have been because of the persuasion of the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe; I shall come back to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) in a moment that the education and health budgets rose during that period. However, Margaret Thatcher broke the link between pensions and earnings, froze child benefit and raised VAT from 8 to 15 per cent. within weeks of coming into office. It was all that, plus the high interest rates, that led to high and mass unemployment and devastation for millions of families. I must say that the policies of cutting benefits for families, cutting support for pensioners and, potentially, raising VAT for families to make up for a budget hole all sound rather familiar. Mr. Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe) (Con): I hasten to interrupt the series of references to me and the rather inaccurate wanderings down memory lane. Could we get to where we are now? Has the Secretary of State come here to agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Government, if re-elected, would make cuts in public spending deeper and tougher than those made by Margaret Thatchers Government? Does he accept that statement? If so, will he go on to explain how that will affect his Department and others? Ed Balls: I am very happy to set out the details of exactly what I am going to be doing in my budget. That is what my speech will be about. The interesting thing about the early years of the Thatcher Government is not that they cut education spending; indeed, education spending rose. What they did do, however, was raise VAT from 8 to 15 per cent. to make up a budget hole, have interest rates in double figures for many years, break the link between pensions and earnings, and freeze child benefit. There was a doubling of child poverty in those 18 years. What if we have a Conservative Government again? Rising VAT, cuts to family benefits, rising poverty, and pensioners getting a raw dealthat is exactly the prospectus on offer from the Conservative party. Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con): Will the Secretary of State confirm a very straightforward factthat the growth of gross domestic product was at its greatest in the first three years of this Government? At that time, it was constrained by a fiscal regime inherited from my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), but it has waivered since then.
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Ed Balls: I think that the hon. Gentleman will find that we had a decade of stability, with low interest rates and low inflation, because of the great leadership and prescience of an independent Bank of England. That was opposed by the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), who said that Bank of England independence was a mistake and should not have been introduced. I expect that he has recanted now, but he can set the record straight when he speaks. He can probably tell us his views on VAT, the winter fuel allowance and free bus travel as well, although I think that he was contradicted fairly quickly by the Leader of the Opposition when he gave his views on those matters a week or so ago. Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton, North) (Lab): I very much welcome my right hon. Friends commitment to protect the schools budget. In the course of his speech, will he explain how the extra 6 billion in cuts advocated by the Opposition would impact on it? Ed Balls: I will turn to that very subject now. I hope that I can give some comfort Mr. Simon Burns (West Chelmsford) (Con): Will the Secretary of State give way? Ed Balls: No, I will not. I hope that I can give some comfort to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) about our plans, after which I shall set out the opposing choice. After that, I shall be very happy to give way, but I want to make some progress first. The pre-Budget report and the Budget set out how, consistent with reducing the deficit steadily, we can maintain and in fact increase spending in our priority areas. For my Department, the Budget confirmed a real-terms rise in funding of 0.72 per cent. a year in 2011-2012 and 2012-13 for Sure Start, 16-to-19 education and schools, which account for around 75 per cent. of my overall budget. Teachers pensions make up a further 17 per cent., of my budget, but I am not proposing to touch them at all. That leaves 8 per cent. of my budget unprotected, money that covers programmes such as short breaks for disabled children, sport, music and looked-after children, as well as funding for our non-departmental Government bodies. I have committed to finding 500 million of savings from that 8 per cent. unprotected portion of my budget. That is a 7 per cent. cut on 5 billion worth of savings in 2012-13, andunlike the shadow Chancellor, let alone the shadow Education SecretaryI have also identified where those savings will be made. So far, I have set out 300 million of savings in my Department. The 135 million that will come from non-departmental Government bodies will include 45 million from cutting funding to Becta, and 55 million from the Training and Development Agency for Schools. Also, 100 million will come from ending start-up funding for extended services, while 50 million can be saved by scaling back bursaries for initial teacher training, given that we now have a flow of new teachers coming through. A further 21 million will be saved in communications and back-office functions.
That all adds up to 300 million in savings, but I still have to find a further 200 million. That will be hard, but I am determined to do so without cutting into front-line spending programmes such as the support for music and sports, and for looked-after and disabled children. Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con): The right hon. Gentleman said a moment ago that teachers pensions were part of his budget. Will he confirm that teachers pension contributions are funded not from his budget but directly from the Treasury? Ed Balls: A total of 13 per cent. of my budget covers pensions. The document that the Government published a few days ago showed our overall spending, and it includes a footnote making it clear that pension contributions are part of our departmental expenditure limit. I included pensions in the description of my budget because the shadow Education Secretary always includes them when he explains how easy it would be to find cuts. He always refers to our 60 billion-plus budget, so[Interruption.] But if they are not in my budget, I have to say to the shadow Business Secretary that they are not available for the shadow Education Secretary to cut. That is the point. If only the shadow Education Secretary were here, he could set the record straight. Unfortunately, however, he is not here. Mr. Burns: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way? Ed Balls: I said that I would take an intervention, and I will do so in a moment. I shall explain what I have protected. The settlement in the protected 75 per cent. of my budget is for Sure Start funding to rise in line with inflation, which will mean that we will meet our commitment to having 3,500 childrens centres, or one in every community. For 16-to-19 learning, there will be a 0.9 per cent. real-terms rise, year on year, in 2011-12 and 2012-13, which means that we can pay for our guaranteefor every school leaver, a school, college or apprenticeship place for the next three years. Finally, for schools, there is a real-terms overall rise in funding of 0.7 per cent., which, combined with efficiency savings, will mean that schools can meet their front-line cost pressures. After paying for 80,000 projected extra pupils, per pupil funding on our plans will rise, on average, in cash terms, by 2.1 per cent. in 2011-12 and 2012-13, on top of 4.3 per cent. in the coming financial years. That is a tougher settlement than we have been used to, but the per pupil rise in cash terms2.1 per cent.is a real-terms rise in budget. It is more than our projected cost pressures, as we set out in the document. It means that we can deliver our guarantees of one-to-one tuition to every child who falls behind. It means that we can keep additional teachers and support staff in the classroom. It means that we can continue to invest in Building Schools for the Future. These are guarantees to the public from this Government, in legislation and based on rising budgets for Sure Start, school leavers and schoolsguarantees not matched by the Conservative party, for reasons I shall explain. Several hon. Members rose Ed Balls: I give way to the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe.
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Mr. Clarke: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. May I refer him to page 90 of the Red Book and paragraph 6.16? Referring to the Secretary of States Department, the last sentence of that paragraph says:
Taken together, this amounts to a total of 1.1 billion of education frontline efficiencies to be delivered by 2012.
With great respect, he has just given the most muddled and confused description of where any of that money is coming from, and he has wound up announcing a cash increase that is less than inflation, so it is a real-terms cut. As he has conceded that education spending rose under the Thatcher Government because of our choice of priorities, does he agree that this is indeed tougher and deeper than anything the Thatcher Government ever did? Ed Balls: No. It is not fair to the shadow Business Secretary: why should he be here answering on the details of education policy when he does not know the facts? The 1.1 billion of efficiency savings are efficiency savings within the overall schools budget, which are being recycled from the back office in schools to the front line in schools. They are not reductions in school budgets; they are recycled efficiencies within the overall budget. The only reductions in budget that I have agreed to are the[Interruption.] I will finish the point. I do not think that the right hon. and learned Gentleman should intervene from a sedentary position. He is much more experienced in the rules of the House than I am, and he knows that he has to intervene if he has something to say. I have a half a billion pound cut, and I have told the House how I am finding 300 million of that. The 1 billion of efficiency savings are going back to the schools, not being taken away from them. Schools are seeing their funding rising per pupil in cash terms by 2.1 per cent. a year. And when we add in 80,000 extra places, we have made it clear in the document School Funding 2010-13the right hon. and learned Gentleman will not have read it; why should he?that projected cost pressures are 1.6 per cent. in schools over that period. That is a real-terms rise; it is not a real-terms cut. It is a real-terms rise compared to inflation as well. We are raising spending, and I shall come in a moment to what the choice is after taking an intervention from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns). Mr. Burns: I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving way. Despite all the waffle and the meanderings we are getting, will he now, so that we can put his speech in its proper context, answer the original question put to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) about the Chancellors comments on cuts and the Thatcher Government? Ed Balls: I did answer it, but I will say it again. When we came to government in 1997, the schools capital building programme was about 700 million, and today it is 7.8 billion. That is how we have managed to rebuild and refurbish 4,000 secondary schools. Over that 18 years, schools capital was decimated. Schools current spending, as I said, rose in the early part of the Thatcher Government. There were cuts in 85 and cuts in 89. I have to say that the biggest spending cuts did not occur under the Thatcher Government; they occurred under the Major-Clarke Government between 1992 and
1997. What happened with the Thatcher Government was not spending cuts. Let us not forget that they had North sea oil revenues, which they were squandering. VAT was up to 15 per cent., the link with pensions was broken, child benefit was frozen and child poverty doubled. If my constituents are wondering whether they want to go back to a Conservative Government, when they look at that record they will say no, no, no. Mr. Brian Binley (Northampton, South) (Con): The Secretary of State is moving at an amazing speed and sometimes it is a little difficult to keep up with his flow of words. He intimated that he favoured the increase in the higher rate of income tax. He thought it was a good ideaat least, that is the impression I got. Will he therefore recommend to the Chancellor that he should keep that as a permanent increase? Ed Balls: That is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, not for me. I am not going to start telling the Chancellor what his tax policy should be. I will not say, Cut national insurance, when there are not the cuts to pay for it, and when I know in my heart that we will end up raising VAT to pay for it, which is what the shadow Chancellor proposes. I am not going to start telling the Chancellor what to do in future on tax policy. But when the country is faced with a pre-Budget report from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South-West (Mr. Darling), or from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne), I know which Chancellor the British people will choose. Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does my right hon. Friend agree that many of the Conservative Members who usually come to the Chamber when education is being discussed do not seem to be here today, including the Front-Bench education spokesman? It is no wonder that the shadow Business Secretary seems unable to keep up with the momentum of my right hon. Friends speech. Is it not a fact that there is good news on the education budget, excellent news on childrens centres and Sure Start, and excellent news on the protection of looked-after children? Will he just clarify one point? Are there sufficient resources for raising the age of participation to 17 and then 18? Ed Balls: My hon. Friend has a strong track record of contributing to education debates. I have to say it is rather good to have a different crowd in. I will try not to speak too quickly. I will try to talk a little slower for the benefit of the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley). In 1997, we had leaking roofs, photocopied text books, demoralised teachers, two thirds of children not making the grade, and more than half our schools not at our basic performance benchmark. Now, we have 4,000 schools rebuilt, funding per pupil doubled, 42,000 more teachers, 120,000 more teaching assistants, half of pupils making the grade, not a third, and not half of schools not making the grade, but fewer than one in 12. That is a Labour record of investment and reform that we are truly proud of. The commitments that we are making to rising funding in the years ahead mean that, yes, we can pay for our one-to-one guarantee; yes, we will continue with Building
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Schools for the Future; and, yes, we will continue with Sure Start childrens centres in every community. We will not be cutting Sure Start childrens centres as the Conservative party proposes, because, as my hon. Friends Select Committee report said, what a retrograde step that would be for children and the future of our country. That is not something that people will see from a Labour Government. Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): The Conservative party will not abolish Sure Start, and I wish that the right hon. Gentleman would take this opportunity to correct that for the record. Will he give the House an assurance today that pupils in North Yorkshire, and particularly in the Vale of York, receive as much per capita funding as those in his own constituency? Ed Balls: The hon. Lady is a contributor to our education debates, so she will have studied in detail the consultation on the future of the dedicated schools grant. We are looking to ensure that we reflect rurality, deprivation, need and per pupil funding. I hope to make some progress. My constituency is in one of the F40 areas as well, so I understand the issues that she raises. I want to come on to the funding of education now on the basis of a different approach. I must say to the hon. Lady that, as I understand it, the Opposition do not propose to abolish Sure Start, but if the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury would like to stand up today and say that the Conservative party will match my commitment to rising budgets in cash terms and in line with inflation for Sure Start this year, next year and the year after, he is very welcome to do so. However, he is not going to, because unfortunately Sure Start is not in the protected areashealth and international developmentthat the shadow Chancellor set out. The Leader of the Opposition says that he wants Sure Start to be only for the poorest communities, and two years ago the Opposition said that they wanted a 200 million cut to the Sure Start budget. That sends a message to parents throughout the country, and it sends a chill down their spine. That is why we will continue to highlight it. Let me move on. Mr. John Baron (Billericay) (Con) rose Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab) rose Ed Balls: I shall give way in a second. I should like to set out in more detail our policy on Sure Start, on 16-to-19 funding and on schools, but before I do so I must say that there is a choice about different priorities and the different ways in which we fund things. This Budget has at its heart different choices, and to be fair to the Opposition they have been setting out their very different choices in recent days. If the shadow Education Secretary were here, I would not ask him to match me on schools spending or on pupil guarantees. I know that that is difficult for him, because he has different priorities. There are also problems that he has to face, and I understand his dilemma, which I shall explain to the shadow Business Secretary. He could answer and guide the shadow Education Secretary on how he should navigate those complexities.
First, the shadow Education Secretary has a free schools policy, which will be on all the leaflets of all Opposition Members, so it will be good for them to hear about the detail of it. The extra places in that policy will cost about 1.8 billion over the next Parliamentfrom within the schools budget or from my unprotected 5 billion. It will also lead to shifting about 4 billion from the Building Schools for the Future budget to pay for the new free schools. Secondly, the shadow Education Secretary proposes to find about 2 billion to 3 billion, we think, for a new national pupil premium. Hon. Membersother than those who are experts on schools fundingmay not know that, because they may not have followed the detail. As far as I have worked out, if the hon. Gentleman is to pay for the free schools policy and the national pupil premium, either he has to cut my unprotected budgets, which include those for sports, music, disabled children, short breaks Mr. Philip Hammond: Theyre not yours, by the way. Ed Balls: My Departments budgets. The shadow Education Secretary will have to cut either those budgets by about 50 per cent. or the schools budget. That was his dilemma before, and that is why up to now he has not been willing to match me on the school leavers guarantee. He cannot make that guarantee. He has not matched me on Sure Start childrens centres; he will not match me on the schools budget; and the Opposition voted against the one-to-one tuition guarantees in our recent Children, Schools and Families Bill. Now, however, the hon. Gentleman faces an extra complexity, as the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury will know: unfortunately, the shadow Education Secretary has been asked to contribute to the 6 billion of extra savings, which were announced yesterday, to pay for the national insurance tax freeze. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, as I am sure the shadow Chief Secretary knows, calculates that that would involve a 2.8 per cent. cut for unprotected Departments. That would mean cutting a further 1.7 billion a year from the Sure Start, schools and childrens budgetswere the Conservatives to be elected. As I said, it is no wonder the shadow Education Secretary cannot match our pledges. Mr. Hammond: As the right hon. Gentleman has studied our announcement yesterday in such detail, has he calculated the saving to the schools budget from the reduction in employers national insurance contributions that we announced? Ed Balls: I have just calculated that the hon. Member for Surrey Heath, the shadow Education Secretary, who is not here, will have to find 1.8 billion over a Parliament to pay for the free schools policy; 2 billion to 3 billion a year to pay for the national pupil premium; and 1.7 billion a year to make his contribution to the shadow Chief Secretarys spending cuts. So I am afraid that that massively outweighs not only the national insurance rebate for employers, but the whole 5 billion budget that, for me, is unprotected. There is no way the hon. Member for Surrey Heath can pay for those measures, other than by making deep cuts to the schools budgets: fewer teachers, fewer teaching assistants and larger class sizes.
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The thing that baffles me is why education has been singled out in that way. Why has education not been given priority, alongside health and international development? Perhaps the shadow Business Secretary will give us some guidance, because it is very puzzling to those of us who follow education debates. Why is the hon. Member for Surrey Heath, a member of the Notting Hill set and the guy who does the role play for Prime Ministers questions, being unfairly treated in that way? Mr. Kenneth Clarke: First, let me point out that when the Secretary of State started attributing what he thought our policies meant for the education budget, he attributed to the shadow Department things that have not been attributed to it at all out of yesterdays announcement. Secondly, he missed the point my hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) made about the savings that would be made by the reduction in national insurance contributionsabout 0.5 per cent. of the total pay bill. I cannot produce that figure off the cuffmy hon. Friend might be able to do so. The Secretary of State probably can, if he can sort it out from the other figures. Ed Balls: I cannot do the detail of the shadow Education Secretarys sums for himnor can Carol Vorderman. However, the overall gap in his budget1.8 billion over the course of a Parliament, 1.7 billion to find the savings cuts to contribute to the 6 billion, and, we think, 2 billion to 3 billion to pay for the pupil premiumis more than the entire amount of money from the employers national insurance rise. The idea that just the rebate to schools would pay for those cuts is unrealistic. There is no way to fund the cuts that education would have to contribute other than by cuts in the numbers of teachers and teaching assistants, bigger class sizes, and cuts to the Sure Start budget. If the hon. Member for Surrey Heath were here, we could ask him to answer these questions, but he is not. If he were here, we could have said to him, Will you guarantee to match us on Sure Start, on schools and on 16 to 19-year-olds?, but he cannot do that. It is not just that he cannot do it todayat every stage in the Budget debates[Interruption.] I am happy to inform the junior shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands)I do not know whether he is the shadow Economic Secretary or Financial Secretary; I apologiseabout the Budget debates. Last years Budget debate was opened by me, as well. I think that on that occasion the shadow Education Secretary did turn up, unlike today. Mr. Baron: The Secretary of State talks about help for poorer communities, but does he not accept that the freezing of personal allowances will hit the lowest paid the hardest? Ed Balls: The freezing of personal allowances, which was announced in the pre-Budget report, is part of a package of tax rises to reduce the deficit, which also includes the bankers bonus and the national insurance rise. As I said, everybody makes a contribution, but the more well-off people in our society make a bigger contribution. That has been set out very clearly. I do not hear Opposition Front Benchers saying that they are going to reverse the decision on personal allowances perhaps they can clarify that in the debatebut they are trying to freeze the national insurance rise, which
they would pay for by making cuts to childrens centres, schools and apprenticeships while they spent 1.5 billionplus on a cut in inheritance tax that would go only to millionaires. It is absolutely shocking. Mr. Hayes rose Ed Balls: I gave way to the hon. Gentleman once before, so I will carry on. I have been trying to work out why the education spokesperson has had such a raw deal. It could have been because of the critical comments he has made in the past about the shadow Business Secretary, although given that so many people on the Conservative Front Bench have done that, it would be unfair to single out the shadow Education Secretary. It may be because of what he wrote a few years ago in his column in The Times:
the Tories, fatally, foolishly, put all their eggs in the Belize basket. They secured the short-term comfort of Mr Ashcrofts tax-sheltered millions, but have paid the price in credibility forgone
wise words from the shadow Education Secretary, one would have to say. He went on to sayand this is the problem:
Mr Hague certainly has a well-developed sense of humourYou certainly do not emerge strengthened as an opponent of cronyism by expending what credibility you have acting as the paid lobbyist for your own title-hungry Treasurer.
That is what the hon. Member for Surrey Heath wrote a few years ago; perhaps that is why he has been singled out. On the other hand, there may be some hope. Lord Ashcroft has already sponsored an academy in Wandsworth, so perhaps he is going to pay for the free-market schools policy as well, although we can just imagine the curriculumnot so much financial education as tax avoidance education, not school trips but extended overseas trips, not book clubs but beach clubs, not the Swedish model but the Belize model, excellence for the few paid for by cuts Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): Order. I am quite sure that the Secretary of State is now going to concentrate on aspects of the Budget relating to public services. Ed Balls: The reason why this is relevant to the Budget debate is that our Chancellor and our Prime Minister have set out a steady reduction in the deficit, not reckless cuts now that would put public services and jobs at risk. They have a balanced approach of fair tax rises combined with some spending restraint, and they included it in the Budget in a way that has protected schools, childrens centres and 16-to-19 funding as well as the police and the NHS. To try to reverse the national insurance rise next year by cutting spending on schools and childrens centres this year would be barmy economics. It would lead to fewer jobs, more unemployment and rising debt. It would be a perverse and misguided Budget strategy. That is why coming along and explaining the implications of the Budget for education, Sure Start and 16-to-19 apprenticeships and college places is well worth while. Miss McIntosh: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Perhaps there is no reason for the Secretary of State to know this, but I am an honorary graduate of
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[Miss McIntosh] Anglia Ruskin university, as is my noble Friend Lord Ashcroft, who also funds a business school at the university. On a point of information, the right hon. Gentleman ought to know that fact. [Interruption.] Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I am well capable of determining whether or not that is a point of order. The hon. Lady herself has indicated that it was really a point of information, so there is no need whatever for me to comment on it. Let the debate continue. Ed Balls: Whether it was a point of order or a point of information, I am not sure that I really got the point. I am happy to take another intervention from the hon. Lady, and if she could explain her point in a little more detail, I will try to answer it. Miss McIntosh: I am most grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. Is he aware that the business school at Anglia Ruskin university is funded by the noble Lord to whom he referred, whose reputation I believe he was trying to besmirch? Ed Balls: I was in no way trying to besmirch his reputation. I fear that it is the shadow Foreign Secretarys reputation that has been besmirched by the hon. Member for Surrey Heath rather than that of Lord Ashcroft. To be fair to Lord Ashcroft, he is sponsoring an academy, and he may well end up paying for the free schools policy as well. He is certainly paying for the Conservative partys election campaignall credit to him. Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Can we now get back to the debate on the Budget? Mr. Sheerman: rose Ed Balls: I am happy to take an intervention from my hon. Friend. Mr. Sheerman: I spoke last Thursday at that very business school, the Ashcroft school of business at Anglia Ruskin university, and I can tell my right hon. Friend Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I have already made a ruling, and there is no need for that debate to continue. The ruling was that we must get on with the debate before us, which is the fourth day of the Budget debate. Mr. Sheerman: I am tying that to the Budget because Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I call the Secretary of State. Ed Balls: I will say only that we announced today that 15 more academies are now moving forward through their funding agreements. We now have more than 55 universities sponsoring academies, and if Lord Ashcroft would like to sponsor an academy through his university, I would be very grateful indeed to receive the resources. The fact that they would now come not from non-dom money but from proper tax-paid money would be very welcome.
Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): My point is about a very modest element of public expenditure. I met three constituents last week, Mr. Kevin Lomas, Miss Sarah Johnson and Rachel Hughes, all of whom [Interruption.] They all[Interruption.] They all [Interruption.] Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Is the hon. Gentleman making an intervention? Please continue. Mr. MacShane: I am trying to! They all have autistic children, which Opposition Members seem to find funny, and they cannot get a statement. Is there any way we can encourage more statements and more individual support for our autistic children? I hope that that is a reasonable intervention, Madam Deputy Speaker. Ed Balls: My right hon. Friend is a well known campaigner on that matter. I must inform him that this morning, I did a video for TreeHouse, which has a special school in north London for children with autism, about its talk about autism campaign. Talking about autism is very important. If we were to start cutting the budgets beyond the 500 million that I have committed to, it would be support for children with special educational needs that was at risk, so I welcome my right hon. Friends intervention. Lembit pik (Montgomeryshire) (LD): The Secretary of State has been talking about 16-to-19 funding, and he may or may not be aware that in my constituency, the local authority is seeking to merge the sixth forms of the six high schools in an effort to save money. Does he have a view on the dangers of ripping out sixth forms to save money, potentially at the cost of education in those rural communities? Ed Balls: I do not want to see anybody ripping out educational provision in a haphazard and random way; to do so, or to have a free market in schools policy whereby one rips schools from one community to give to another, is also very dangerous. The right thing to do is to ensure that we plan education provision for 14 to 19-year-olds properly across an area. I would be very happy to look at that matter in greater detail. Let me conclude, because we have gone on for some time. Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD) Will the Secretary of State give way? Ed Balls: Okay. Annette Brooke: On that very pointI need to declare an interest in that my daughter teaches at this schoolthe local Tory authority is proposing to take 8 million away from the primary capital programme for a school in a deprived area and to put it with the 1 million that the Government have generously given to provide 150 extra primary places elsewhere. Will the Secretary of State investigate that? Ed Balls: Members of the House who are regulars at Children, Schools and Families questions will know that it is my habit to offer meetings with the Minister for Schools and Learners to discuss any difficult issues. He tells me that he was already planning such a meeting to discuss pupil place planning with the hon. Lady, and I will ensure that that is expedited to ensure that she and he do not miss their chance.
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To conclude, to be fair to him, the shadow Chief Secretary told us this last Wednesday: Unlike Labour, we have protected the whole of the NHS budget and the overseas aid budget.When I asked, What about schools? he said, We have not ring-fenced the schools budget; we have ring-fenced the NHS budget and the overseas aid budget. The fact that the schools budget is not ring-fenced means that it is a prime target now, so if the Conservatives get their way, we might see cuts in teachers and teaching assistants, larger class sizes, and fewer childrens centres and apprenticeships. We will not take that drastic road of cutting front-line spending and family benefits. That would be reckless and unfair, and it would lead to higher debt, more unemployment andif history is a guideanother Tory hike in VAT. We will cut the deficit steadily and put growth and jobs first; we will match public spending restraint with fair tax increases; and we will protect the police, the NHS, and Sure Start, college and schools budgets so that every child can succeed, and I commend this Budget to the House. Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. This is the final day of the Budget debate, which is usually wound up by the Chief Secretary and the shadow Chief Secretary, but the former is not in the Chamber, and he has not been here for the whole of the opening speech. Is it likely that he will not catch your eye, Madam Deputy Speaker, come the winding-up speeches? Mr. MacShane: Is that a point of order? Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. The right hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) is correct. It is certainly usual to see in the Chamberthe occupant of the Chair would expect thisthe people who are making the winding-up speeches on behalf of both the Government and the Opposition. Clearly, if those Members are not present, it is entirely their responsibility as far as the House is concerned, but it would be usual to see them in their places now. 4.59 pm Mr. Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe) (Con): Thank you for your ruling on that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The debate was opened by the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, who plainly came here thinking that this was a debate about education and schools policy; and it is supposed to be wound up by a Treasury Minister, who so far has not appeared. That is obviously not the main point of the debate, and I shall try to avoid it. However, I am one of the minority of senior Members who is not retiring at the coming electionif my constituents are prepared to consentand in all my years in the House of Commons I do not remember a single debate on Government business in which the Minister who proposed to wind up failed to turn up. Perhaps the Chief Secretary intends to come after his dinner or his coffee break. Ed Balls rose Mr. Clarke: I will give way in a moment, because there may be an explanation and I am prepared to listen to it. As the Government have belatedly come to pretend,
after 13 years, that they are a reforming Government and are taking an interest in constitutional reformand as in my experience the present Prime Minister, like the previous one, regards the House of Commons as a somewhat inconvenient press conference that Ministers would rather not attendcan the Secretary of State tell us whether this is an instance of changing custom and that the Government intend that Ministers should attend only to make their speeches and should not have to listen to or participate in the debate to which they are replying? Ed Balls: I do not know the answer, but we will get an answer as soon as possible. It is possible that the Chief Secretary is meeting the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). Mr. Clarke: There may be a reasonable explanation, but I shall not take more time from the debate on the Budget to labour the point too far. However, it is a serious point. It is ridiculous if, on the last day of the Budget debate, the Treasury has decided not to send a Minister Several hon. Members rose Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. The right hon. and learned Gentleman has not indicated that he will give way. Members must contain themselves. Mr. Clarke: I shall give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh). Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): Does my right hon. and learned Friend recall that in our early years in Parliament Ministers were very courteous? They always made a point of trying to respond to points made even by Opposition Members. Regrettably in recent years that custom seems to have gone out of fashion. Perhaps the Chief Secretary is not here because he has no intention of winding up in a traditional way by responding to points made in the debate. Mr. Clarke: It could be that he is trying to think what to say, because there is not much in the Budget to talk about. Mr. Baron: Perhaps the Chief Secretarys absence could be explained by the fact that he is preparing the cuts. Mr. Clarke: He may be trying to prepare a rather clearer explanation of the cuts than has just been given by the Secretary of State. I welcome appearing opposite him Mr. Salmond: I was with the Chief Secretary on Thursday night on Question Time, so perhaps I can give an alternative explanation. On that programme, he said that the cuts being proposed by this Government would go deeper and further than those made by Margaret Thatcher. Perhaps the Chief Secretary did not want to listen to the Secretary of State deny that point, or perhaps he is locked in a dialogue with the Chancellor to work out the position.
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Mr. Clarke: It is more likely that Charlie Whelan is trying to deal with the problem if there is some discrepancy in what the Chief Secretary says in public. I trust that the Secretary of State is playing no part in whatever is being done to re-educate the Chief Secretary. I normally have a very good relationship with the Secretary of Statewe come from the same part of the worldand I would have been happy to go down memory lane and debate schools and education with him had I known that the Government intended to try to turn the last day of the Budget debate into such a debate. I knew that the Secretary of State would take part in the Budget debate, as he did last year. He often does, but that is because he thinks that he should take part in all Budget debates. I commiserate with the right hon. Gentleman on that front, because events have moved on even in the last week or two. He has concealed today what must be his deep and bitter disappointment, because he was beside himself with rage when he was not made Chancellor of the Exchequer last year. For some unknown reason, the Prime Minister has just announced that our current interim Chancellor might be reappointed in the unlikely event of the Government being re-elected. So, with patience, the right hon. Gentleman has to hold himself in exile at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, waiting for what he always believed would be his inheritanceto be Chancellor of the Exchequer. I am sure that he is dying to deliver and explain the Budget, given that, I strongly suspect, he had quite a large input into itas he has had a considerable input into economic policy ever since he first emerged in opposition as the acolyte of the Prime Minister. We all remember with wonder that amazing speech on neoclassical endogenous growth theory[Interruption.] Postneoclassical! Ed Balls: Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give way? Mr. Clarke: He should give it again; we are waiting for the finer details. Ed Balls: It is important to set the record straight, Madam Deputy Speaker. It was actually postneoclassicalnot neoclassicalendogenous growth theory. The words in draft were written by me. I cut them from the speech, but then a figure more senior than me wrote in the margin, Put the theory back in! and that is how it ended up in the speech. Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. As interesting and entertaining as this dialogue has been, it is important that we now return to the fourth day of the Budget debate. Mr. Clarke: I shall obey your strictures, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is difficult to get back to the Budget. We are debating the Budgetthe last serious business of this Parliament before we break upbut it was not so much a Budget as a holding statement. In the middle of a serious economic crisiscertainly the gravest financial crisis that anybody can rememberthe Chancellor delivered a Budget that was almost totally devoid of content, which certainly did not answer the only serious question, and which made no significant changes to tax, except for one or two that I shall touch upon.
I cannot help commenting on something in passing: I heard the Children, Schools and Families Secretary say, when asked about tax, that he was not going to give any advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tax levelsalthough the next time he mentioned it, he did at least say, in future. On behalf of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, I would like to ask for that in writing, in case it has not been recorded in Hansard, because we know who was responsible for the national insurance increase. The Chancellor did not want to put it in his pre-Budget report; it was not the tax increase he had in mind at all. However, I shall return to that matter in a momentit just seemed relevant. The Prime Minister and the Children, Schools and Families Secretary told the Chancellor that he could not have the pre-Budget report that he wanted. I suspect that, on this occasion, the Chancellor might have produced a serious Budget, and I strongly suspect that it was the Prime Minister and the would-be Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, who prevented him from doing so and who gave us the holding statement that we heard. Ed Balls: On the issue of whose advice was listened to over tax policy, a few days ago, on the question of reversing the rise in national insurance contributions, the shadow Business Secretary said:
We will only know if we can afford it in the
first emergency
50-day Budget The Budget is not just something you knock off for a TV programme.
Does he think that the shadow Chancellor ignored his advice not to offer something on a TV programme without knowing whether it is affordable? Mr. Clarke: What emerged was the work of Sir Peter Gershon and Martin Read, and the question of how to pay for it was addressed. I have listened to the Secretary of State trying to explain how he will make his 500 million of savings from a budget that is not increasing in real termsas shown by the forecast for the retail prices index in the Red Bookand I think that we have made it much clearer how we could afford to get rid of this appalling national insurance increase, for which he is in large part responsible. We have addressed the questionI was addressing it in the interview he quotedof how to account for any changes, and we have explained how we would pay for them. There is a big, serious questionthe one that we are debating and that we will resolve in our proceedings today: whether there is a credible plan for dealing with the nations problems of a budget deficit and debt. We are having a very entertaining debate, but the dimensions of the problem that the Budget should be addressing, and which we need to address, should overwhelm everything that we do. On that question, the Budget turned out to be a mere holding statementprobably not the statement that the Chancellor of the Exchequer wished to give. I am afraid that he fell into some of the usual trapsthe whole recession somehow came from overseas; it was nothing to do with hereand he tried to present as good news the fact that the deficit was going to be only 167 billion, which is just under 12 per cent. of GDP. The fact that the deficit was mildly smaller than his horrendous forecast is not good news.
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When it came to how the Chancellor would start to tackle his stated objective, there were optimistic forecasts, which I honestly do not believe are likely to be achieved. Everything is being disposed of on the basis that we are likely to get into a mini-boom from next year onwards and to sustain it, and that huge cuts could be made in infrastructure spending. I shall not keep arguing the past, but it was private finance initiatives that enabled the schools capital programme to take off; indeed, huge cuts in infrastructure spending have already been set out by the Government in the Red Book. The problem is that the ballpark figures were plucked from the air and kind of attributed to each and every Department. What the Childrens Secretary illustrated was that an individual Department cannot give any meaningful description of how it is supposed to be making its contribution to eliminating the 11 billion of waste or making the 5 billion of lower priority spending cuts that were cheerily set out in the Budget speech and the Red Book. Ed Balls rose Mr. Clarke: I will pause to give way in a moment. In the end, given such inadequate content, all it adds up to is a vague target of halving the budget over the course of the next Parliament. The debt-to-GDP ratio will rise to only75 per cent. of GDP, on the Governments very optimistic forecast. Ever since the Government broke into heavy public spending and borrowing in 2000, when they stopped following the figures that I had laid down in 1997, public spending has been increasing by 4.3 per cent. on average each year. The Budget set out that it would reduce that to 0.4 per cent. each year; it gives no credible description of how on earth it is supposed to get there, and if it did that, it would still leave the deficit at 4 per cent. of GDP in 2014-15. That is above an acceptable level. As we heard from the Childrens Secretarys agitated ramblings about the details of his budget, the Government have not the first inkling of how they are to get to what we regard is an inadequate position and not at all healthy public finances for a return to normal growth. Mr. Hayes: My right hon. and learned Friend mentioned the spending plans that the current Government inherited. Indeed, I mentioned in an intervention on the Secretary of State that growth was at its greatest under this Government during the period when the fiscal constraints that they inherited still applied. Is it my right hon. and learned Friends view that a fiscal tightening, coupled with holding down tax, would be more likely to deliver the growth targets that the Government anticipate than their Budget, which will raise tax and not fiscally tighten in the way that most national and international experts recommend? Mr. Clarke: I wholly agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, when the public are trying to make sense of what they probably regard as the confused arguments about tax, spending, borrowing and all the rest, they should recall two previous occasions when similar issues were posed. One was early in the Thatcher Government, when we also had a huge fiscal crisis. We went in for fiscal discipline and a tight monetary policy in order to
get stability, and that produced growth. We were bitterly opposed by the Labour party, however. I took over during a comparatively minor fiscal crisis, albeit an important one: 50 billion was the annual deficit figure that frightened me when I became Chancellor of the Exchequer. I went in for fiscal discipline and a strict monetary policy, and I was fiercely opposed in terms that the Secretary of State still longingly recalls. He sometimes forgot that it was the Major Government, rather than the Thatcher Government, whom he was attacking. We were bitterly opposed. Now, we have the worst recessionthe deepest and longest that we have ever hadand the worst fiscal problems that we have ever faced. We are proposing to tackle that with sensible, courageous fiscal policies while maintaining proper monetary policies. Labour Members call themselves neo-Keynesians, but they are actually the populist, short-term, vote-catching, easy-way-out people of so-called new Labour, and they are opposing the same approach being taken again, dressing it up andwith great respectgetting things rather confused. Ed Balls: I only wish that I had had the chance to pay tribute to the right hon. and learned Gentleman in my speech; I did not know that I would be facing him today. He was my first MP, and I think that he made some very wise decisions in his time as Chancellor. We have already established, however, that he was ignored on national insurance. Speaking of the time when he was Chancellor, he has also said:
I got rid of the married couples allowanceThis is social engineering, for Gods sake, and when I joined the party we werent in favour of it.
Is he going to be ignored for a second time, on the married couples allowance, or might his view prevail? Might this uncosted, unfunded pledge to introduce an unfair marriage tax break be dropped by the Leader of the Opposition? Mr. Clarke: I am glad that my pre-Front Bench quotes are being so lovingly preserved by the right hon. Gentleman. We are committed to recognising marriage in the tax system. Those were my comments on the married couples allowanceand on why I abolished itgiven at some seminar, I think, before I was exposed to the collective wisdom of my colleagues. But we must still wait to see how we are going to honour our commitment to recognise marriage in the tax system. Ed Balls: The right hon. and learned Gentleman does himself a disservice in talking about the quotes being lovingly preserved. I was harking back to my experience in 1983 when he was my MP, but his quote about the marriage tax break was actually from December 2008. That is not an old quote; it is a very recent one. The question is will he be listened to, or will he be ignored yet again. Peter Bottomley (Worthing, West) (Con): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Secretary of State has six pages of quotes. Can we hear them all at once, rather than one after another? [Laughter.] Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. That is not a point of order for the Chair. May I remind all
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Ed Balls rose Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. May I please remind the House that a considerable number of Back Benchers are waiting to contribute to the debate? Their speeches will be time-limited, and I therefore ask for some consideration from other Members who are making their contributions. Mr. Clarke: I shall stop giving way for a time, Madam Deputy Speaker, to help with that. That quote was taken from an academic seminar at which I spoke before I was on the Front Bench. There were no doubt considered views of the same kind in my Budgets when I was addressing the same question [Interruption.] The Secretary of State keeps quotinghe has probably got a whole wad of quotes of me and my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), the shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Familiesbut I wish he would take more notice of what we say to him from the Dispatch Box and answer some of our questions. He should certainly take notice of my hon. Friends education reforms. We are committed to recognising marriage in the tax system, and there are many ways of doing thaton which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition will no doubt decide in due course. [Laughter.] I shall go back to the serious question. I have made my point about the debt. I do not object to the House having a good-natured debate about the most grave situationsI am sure that there have been entertaining debates when the nation has gone to warbut the gravity of our economic situation should not be underestimated. The public are about to take part in the general election campaignor, rather, to listen to it and then voteand they realise that this is a very big question. They are frustrated by the difficulty of deciding about it. The real question is this: are we going to have the present economic and financial crisis resolved by the democratically elected Government of this country, or are we going to have our affairs decided by a collapse in the bond markets and a further collapse in sterling, which is already devalued on a trade-weighted basis by 25 per cent.the greatest devaluation, I think, since the second world war. What frustrates the public looking at the major parties is the fact that although we are all agreed on the dimensions of the problem, the present Government are simply not prepared to face up to them. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, not just the Chief Secretary, acknowledged that cuts would have to be deeper and tougher than those under the Thatcher Government. I said that some weeks ago and the Chief Secretary appears to have repeated it. The only person who has difficulty repeating it is the Children Secretary, but it is a fact, not an opinion, that we are going to have to get into some extremely serious spending cuts. Whoever is elected will have to make those cuts. If by chance we were to re-elect a Government who did not have a credible plan and who did not have the political will to face up to the problemif the present Government were re-elected, they would not do sothe process would have to be introduced by the International Monetary Fund. As happened before, we would have conditions imposed on us to restore our solvency in the
eyes of the bond markets. That is the background against which the Government are not treating the House or the country properly and against which the Government have failed to produce a Budget that could be rationally debated as an approach to the crisis on the eve of an election. Mr. Sheerman: The right hon. and learned Gentleman is known for his honesty, and I have known him for a very long time. He is talking about what the British public should know as we come to a general election. The truth is that both sides realise that there must be cuts, but would it not be suicidal for our economy if we started to cut public investment before private investment had recovered? That is the truth that the public know, and we should tell them. Mr. Clarke: No. This is the delay argument. We are supposed to having a debate about whether we should start to act straight away or whether some economic virtue will allow the Government to go on without making any serious adjustments beyond the election and before recovery comes. I do not accept that. It is arguable, but it seems to me quite obvious that the reason why the Government are arguing for delay is that they have decided to fight the election on a rosy and complacent perspective, so the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been instructed not to address the long-term problem in the Budget. We have all seen the Prime Minister being persuaded only with great difficulty and very belatedly to recognise the need for any public spending cuts at all. It is a political tactic, not economic calculation, that is causing the delay. The Prime Minister is particularly fond of speaking as though the increased spending and increased borrowing from 2010 to 2011 is some sort of contrived fiscal stimulus or a plan. It is not a plan; it is the fag-end years of the Government in which there has been no proper control of public spending, leading to a mismatch, now reaching 4 of spending for 3 of revenue, which is piling up the deficit. Yet that is described as a fiscal stimulus. We have no policy in place or in operation to stimulate the economyapart from a scrappage scheme for boilers, which is not going to lift our economy very far. All that we have is a purely political refusal to face up to answering the questions before the election takes place. On efficiency savings, there are two elements to consider. Of course we must all make efficiency savingsthose on both sides of the Chamber talk about themand the public are extremely aware of the need to cut wasteful spending. We addressed the national insurance increase and identified areas where we were confident that we could avoid that particular tax increase [Interruption.] It is no good saying, Come on, Ken. As for the national insurance increase, the moment it was announced I said what I have said throughoutI cannot remember whether I said it first in the House namely that national insurance was the worst possible tax base for the Government to turn to if they wanted to raise revenue in a recession. It is a tax that should be avoided at a time when a Government are trying to nurture a weak economic recovery. It is not only an income tax on everyone in work, butmore important, in my opiniona tax on jobs. It stops employers hiring new staff, and discourages them from retaining the staff
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whom they already have. It also puts pressure on their wage costs. The Federation of Small Businesses estimates that it would probably have cost 57,000 jobs had it been allowed to stand. Ms Keeble: The right hon. and learned Gentleman spoke of delaying tactics. He has now been speaking for nearly half an hour without addressing himself to the real issue of the debate: the Budget, and in particular the education budget. The only proposal that he has come up with so far is not to increase national insurance contributions, which would add 6 billion to the deficit. What I want to hear, and what I am sure others want to hear, are his proposals relating specifically to the education budget and, in particular, the schools budget, which the Institute for Fiscal Studies has described as the biggest single unprotected budget that the Tories have. Mr. Clarke: That brings me to my next point. First, there are the efficiency savings, which have been debated a fair amount publicly in the last day or two. Secondly, we will have to move on to a public spending round. We will have to move on to addressing the programmes of individual Departments, and they will be addressed. The education Department is only one of them. I shall explain the problem to the Opposition in a moment, but as things standas I think has just been concededthe education Department faces a real-terms cut in its current spending over the next few years. It is also down for 1 billion worth of efficiency savings, but no one can adequately explain where they will come from. No one in most Departments can explain where the pencilled figures for efficiency savings are supposed to come from. Ed Balls rose Mr. Clarke: I will give way to the Secretary of State for the last time. We are both taking up too much time. Ed Balls: We are, but I want to make sure that we are absolutely clear about the position, and to give the right hon. and learned Gentleman time to explain his own position clearly. On 19 March, under the headline Cameron overrules Clarke on NICs, the Financial Times quoted the right hon. and learned Gentleman as saying:
We will only know if we can afford it
What a responsible Government should have tackled is the public spending programme for the next three years. They should have produced a review of the changes that were needed to address the deficit. That has not been done, and it is extremely difficult for an Opposition to do it. A strange background is provided to the debate by what I consider to have been the most cynical of all the decisions made by the Government in the last 12 months: the deliberate decision to put off a public spending round in the run-up to an election. According to the Governments own programme, there was supposed to be a full public spending round. That would have informed everyones debate, and would have set out priorities properly. The excuse given for its postponement was pathetic: uncertainty. No one believes that. Everyone knows that it was postponed because the Government did not want to address any of these questions in the run-up to an election. That displays unforgiveable cynicism. We as the Opposition party keep getting pressed by exasperated journalists and members of the public to give details of what cuts we would make, but even when the information available to us is not complicated further by the explanations offered by the Children Secretary, but is set down on paper in English prose, it is not adequate to address that question. Similarly, Secretaries of State need to take advice from within their Department and negotiate with the Chief Secretary and his officials before they can draw up a possible programme. We need to have a public spending round, but this Government suspended that out of cynicismout of pure electoral opportunism. Ed Balls: If the right hon. and learned Gentleman cannot have any confidence in the 11 billion of savings we have said we can find, how can he have any confidence that he can find a further 6 billion of savings to pay for his national insurance freeze? He has just dug a very deep hole for himself. He has just explained why he was completely right a few weeks ago when he did not think this NICs tax freeze could be paid for. He has confirmed that now, which is why people know that what is actually going on here is a secret plan for an increase in VAT. Mr. Clarke: We have set out the five bases Gershon says we should pursue, but we have not allocated figures to individual Departments as we are not in a position to do so. However, the Children Secretary has, for his own reasons, tried to allocate figures, and he has allocated the 11 billion in such a way that nobody in any Department has the first idea of how they are supposed to produce these savings. With the greatest respect to the right hon. Gentleman, I say to him that to suggest that that is an adequate substitute for a public spending round is a pathetic response. We should have had a proper Budget. Not only would we then have had a better debate, but it would have been more challenging to both Opposition parties if the Chancellor of the Exchequerwho holds that office despite the Children Secretarys wisheshad been allowed to come to this House and say to us and the Liberals from the Dispatch Box, These are my tax plans and my spending plans for Departments over the next three years. Which of these tax changes are you going to vote against? Are they tough enough for you? Would you like them to be tougher? It would have been more challenging to the Opposition parties if he had
the national insurance freeze

in the [first emergency] 50-day budget.
What has changed between then and now? Mr. Clarke: I do not know whether the Secretary of State does the research for the Prime Minister, who is also very fond of quoting me, but he has just used the same quotation twice. As I have just explained, I certainly agree that there should be no tax reductions, or abandoning of tax increases, unless it can be explained how they will be paid for. What I said was what I said, and what has happened since then is this: we have had the reports from Gershon and Reed, and we have settled down and studied them. We have worked out that of their 12 billion savings, 6 billion can certainly be secured. That can pay for what we have proposed. As I have just said, increases in national insurance are particularly disastrous.
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[Mr. Kenneth Clarke] said on the spending plans for Departments, How would shadow Ministers for spending Departments on your side of the House react to these plans? Are the Opposition parties going to settle for these plans, or are they going to toughen them upor weaken them? If that had happened, we would have had a serious debate. The public would have been less disillusioned with politicians as a whole, we would have been put on the spot, andwho knowswe might have done what the then Leader of the Opposition and the then shadow Chancellor, who is the current Prime Minister, did in 1997: we might have said, We agree with your fiscal policy. We might have said what Blair and the current Prime Minister said then, on the advice of the current Children Secretary: we might have said, as they did after my Budget in 1997, We accept your spending plans, we accept your tax plans, and we are going to stick to them. The Government should have produced a proper Budget, but instead they have not produced any serious fiscal or spending plans. Optimistic growth forecasts, inchoate figures and a complete refusal to hold a public spending round is the only background to the practically content-free statement the Chancellor gave the other day. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Clarke: I must move on now. As we have turned this into a business debate rather than an industry debate, I shall briefly touch on the implications for small businesses and the contribution made to this debate from afar by Lord Mandelson and his Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. What we should all be talking about is how to return to growth: what is the future for British enterprise, and how do we make this economy successful again? However, until we tackle the debt problem, we cannot do so; there will be no return to normal growth until we satisfactorily address the deficit and the debt problem. Let us consider the current prospects for businesses. We have no fiscal stimulus, and if this Government survive, business faces a national insurance increase. Business faces a considerable increase in business ratesI believe it will be 1 billion in the year about to startand the small business corporation tax rate is increasing from 21 to 22 per cent. in April 2011. So the first thing that business faces is an increase in taxation. Obtaining credit is the big problem for small business, and that is holding back growth on a great scale. Lord Mandelson accepted as much with some vigour in a speech he made about the behaviour of the banks a few days ago. What is in the Budget to tackle this? What is pulled out of the hat on the eve of the election? The answer is a credit adjudicator service. Apparently, some sort of new tribunal will be resorted to by every business man who cannot get the credit he thinks he ought to get from his bank; there is to be an appeals system. A whole new profession of sub-lawyers and separate risk managers could be about to appear. The banks are to be determined by some tribunal, some official or perhaps some political adviser. When someone is worried about their credit, they will have to say how marginal their constituency is and whether the Labour candidate is a Blairite or a Brownite. That might have a very significant effect on
someones success when they appear before the credit adjudicator service. It was rightly ridiculed by Richard Lambert, and nobody has the first idea as to how it is meant to act as an answer to the credit problem. Lord Mandelson is trying to sell his whole Government on active governmentand interventionist government, but when he was last at the Department of Trade and Industry he did not take that view at all. Indeed, I often quote with approval one of the things he said when he first came into what is now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. He was against the Government picking winners, saying that the history of this had usually been losers picking the Government. That is a very good description of the industrial strategies of the past. It was a very witty remark, with which I wholly agree. However, suddenly we find that active government means that there is a kind of slush fund of grants from various parts of government. They have been holding back various grants and financial approvals that they could have given in the past few months and are now releasing them in a sudden rush on the eve of the election. The allocation to the noble Lords budget in BIS is a one-off 750 million, which he got as a kind of dowry when he turned uphe called it a strategic investment fund. What has happened, as the Financial Times showed in some research a couple of days ago, is that no less than 7 billion-worth of grants or financial approvals have been given in the past week or two. This has been done by three Departments in particularthe Department for Transport, the Ministry of Defence and BISwith the money to be spent on trams, trolley buses and defence contracts. Some of these grants to industrial enterprises are doubtless worth while, but this is happening all over the place; I advise anybody in a marginal seat who is looking for Government money to get in a bid quickly in the next few days. Let me discuss one of these grants. I shall not oppose it, because I do not know enough about it, and I shall go on to explain why I do not get up to oppose such grants. So let me give approval to one of Lord Mandelsons recent grants. Some 8 million has gone to the refurbishment of Blackpool tower; the iconic tower and Winter Gardens in Blackpool has suddenly got a grant. Mr. David Gauke (South-West Hertfordshire) (Con): Two marginal seats. Mr. Clarke: Heaven forfend. I like the tower and I always go there when I am in Blackpool. My party used to go there and I also have fond memories of it as a child. The tower is a national monument and 8 million is no doubt money well spent. [Interruption.] I am being told that Blackpool has a Conservative council. Indeed it does, but it has two Labour seats, both of which used to be Conservative seats. This is, thus, a mere coincidence. One of my hon. Friends was unkind enough to mention that after a wait of all these years 8 million has gone to Blackpool tower. This is part of the 7 billion that is suddenly being disbursed. Where is the money coming from? It is being borrowed. Is it the Governments money? No, it is the taxpayers money, which the Government hope that eventually some Chinese investor will help to finance. At the moment, the necessary bonds are presumably being printed by or bought by the Bank of England. [Interruption.] The only person
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who Lord Mandelson ever consults on political tactics is the Children Secretary. They are the architects of new Labour, a movement that we all know is, in essence, a media management and party political campaigning organisation. Lord Mandelson would, of course, want to know whether or not I oppose each and every one of those grants. it. He knows perfectly well that if I say that I oppose a certain grant, that information will go to the relevant place and people will say, If you vote Conservative, there will be X million less in Barsetshire. People will say that there will be less of a grant for this or that, so I do not do that. I have a good reason for looking at those grants, some of whichthe bigger, more substantial onesI would probably approve of, but I have no access to the business plan. I am not able to ask any great, international company, Why are you not able to get this money from your normal sources? Why cant you go to the markets? I cannot say, Explain to me why the taxpayer must borrow this money to make a contribution, so I do not oppose the grants. When I used to shadow the old industrial strategy of Wilson and Callaghan, I did not oppose them all because I could never get enough information, but sometimes one could look at the political map and get a pretty good indication of why grants had been so surprisingly successful. It is cynical electioneering and the election must bring it to a satisfactory end. That grave problem is not addressed by the Budget, the background to which is appalling. The decline in manufacturing as a proportion of gross domestic product has been faster than at any time in our history. The most worrying manifestation of the crisis is the huge fall in the level of business investment. When business investment goes off a cliff at a faster rate than at any time since records began, which I think was in the 1960s, that tells us how near we are to the end, and, in reality, how likely we are to have growth. That is what happened in the second half of last year, and it tells us we are at risk. Labour caused the crisis in the first place. When the Prime Minister was the Chancellor, he contributed to the global crisis. It was not just Wall Street; it was also the City of London. It was a failure not just of regulators in New York, but of the Prime Ministers own regulatory system in London. Everyone outside the Anglo-Saxon world knows that Bush and Brown, when he was Chancellor, were two of the principal architects, by their negligencetwo of the principal contributorsto the folly that we all suffered from because of the hubris of bankers. The Prime Minister lost control of public sector finances when he was the Chancellor. While he was bound, by his electoral pledge, to follow my policies and my figures until 2000, he was the Iron Chancellor, whose work was based on prudence. If only he had stuck to my rulesbalance the Budget over the cycle; no more than 3 per cent. deficit on GDP; and limit debt to GDP ratio to 40 per cent.all of which were hit and maintained when Labour stuck to my fiscal policy for its first three years of government. Thereafter, it went completely mad and ignored all the warnings. The hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) constantly claims that he foresaw the dangers. I think he would agree that when he and I spoke in Budget debates, we used to say the same things about the sea of debt that
was piling up and the fact that the level of household debt, let alone Government debt, was unsustainable. We were treated as a couple of Jeremiahs who did not understand the modern economics that the current Prime Minister was taking such credit for. He gave knighthoods to successful bankers; he did not regulate them. And he did not doubt for one moment that he could sustain the whole thing on the basis of what was the most foolish and extraordinary bubble. I spent last night reading a very interesting book by Malcolm Balen about the South sea bubble. Although it is not quite so bad, this financial bubble is quite high up the league table. It is worse than the dotcom nonsense we had about 10 years ago, and is absolutely absurd. In this case, I do not believe for one moment that there is the slightest hint in the House of Commons of the corruption that was at the heart of the South sea bubble, but the sheer incompetence and the credulity of the worst Chancellor of the Exchequer we have had in modern times, and the iron control of the new Labour movement that made sure there was no real challenge until the crash came in 2008, is, to a certain extent, reminiscent of past financial scandals. The outcome should be that the Government pay the penalty. They have caused and contributed to the crisis and they currently have no answer to precisely how they will get us out of debt and deficit. They cannot seriously offer themselves for re-election. It appears that most former Cabinet Ministers are planning their future careers in various branches of private enterprise. Where legitimate, I wish them success in the private sector phase of their careers, although one or two have been going near the wind when it comes to what they are contemplating. I very much hope that most of them are thinking about what they can take up as an alternative to Government for the next few years, as the British economy cannot possibly stand their return. This hopelessly inadequate Budget is the last sad epitaph on a history of failure. 5.45 pm Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): I too came along this afternoon under the impression that this was to be an economic debate. I am pleased to see that the first detachment of cavalry from the Treasury has arrived, and maybe there are others to come. As this is the end of the Budget debate, many of the arguments have been aired already, either in the Chamber or outside. One useful aspect of coming in at the end of the debate is that we have a chance to compare the arguments that we are having here with what is happening in the real world in our constituencies, something that I tried to do over the weekend. Essentially, our debate has centred on when cuts will be made, which the shadow Business Secretary characterised a few moments ago. Should we make them now? The Government view, which I broadly support, is that the economy is rather too fragile for us to embark on cuts at this stage, whereas the Conservatives tend to argue that the cuts should be made more rapidly. That is the debate that we are having: right or wrong, there are arguments on both sides, but I find it very difficult to reconcile that debate with what is happening on the ground.
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[Dr. Vincent Cable] When I left Parliament last Thursday, my first port of call was a mass meeting of teachers and lecturers at my local further education college. The problem is that 70 front-line staff have been told they will be sacked over the Easter recess, and they do not understand why. The college is a top-quality, academic establishment for post-16 year olds., and the staff have been told that the Government attach enormous importance to post-16 education. As far as I know, there is no fault with the college, but people have been told that there are going to be cuts. Those cuts are happening now, and people will get their redundancy notices in a few weeks. I thought that that may be some kind of strange outlier that was not typical, but I went to the local university the following day and it too is grappling with a completely new set of budget numbers that will almost certainly mean very substantial cuts in student numbers and teachers. Then on Monday morning I had an opportunity to go to the National Physical Laboratory, which happens to be in my constituency. It is one of the countrys leading science centres, and it is where Greenwich mean time is based. I spoke to a staff union meeting there, and again it appears that Lord Mandelsons Department has decided that this very productive corner of British science must have cuts. The Government have suggested that it generates 25 of benefit for UK plc for every 1 that it spends, but 40 or 50 members of staff have been given redundancy notices already and others are to follow. This is what is actually happening, in the real world. We are talking theoretically about making cuts now or later, but the environment in which some sectors of the economy are operating is one in which cuts are being made already. Coming back from that contact with the real world, I had a fresh look at the Budget in a bid to understand what is going on. When we read the Budget, we think it appears to have absolutely no impact on the economy at all. We are talking about a change in revenue worth about 1.5 billion, or one tenth of 1 per cent. of the economy. The fiscal changes in the Budget therefore have absolutely no effect on the economy at all, but the report published at the end of last week by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that 2010-11, the next financial year, will see a very big fiscal contraction of about 2.5 per cent. of GDP. That is because the fiscal stimulus that the Government supplied is being withdrawn, and it is also due to the big cuts in capital spending. Again, back in the real world, I was reminded of what that actually means. I was invited to one of the big rooms at Twickenham rugby stadium to speak to a group of roofing contractors500 of them. They had various experiences, and many of them had had a tough time in the recession. They told me that all their business plans are being affected by the fact that the Government are drastically reducing capital spending. This is happening and it is affecting their businesses. That, combined with the severe contraction of credit from the banks, means that many of those companies are finding it extremely difficult to operate. The artificial debate around the Budget has little connection with the real world in which those companies work.
Mr. Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP): On the point about the very real world, I notice that just before the Budget the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) was opposing fuel tax rises, but the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg), the Liberal Democrat party leader, was in favour of them. What is the Liberal Democrat position, in the real world, on fuel taxes? Dr. Cable: We want special provision for remote rural areas. If the Government were able to introduce a scheme of that kind, we would be happier with the fuel tax proposals. The hon. Gentleman will see how we vote on the matter tonight, but that is heavily coloured by the fact that we have had no provision for remote rural areas. Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells) (Con): While the hon. Gentleman is clearing up confusions, what about this one? Last night on television, he said he wanted to bring down the budget deficit by, among other things, removing child benefit for high earners. That position was contradicted by the leader of his party earlier this month, when he said that the universality of child benefit would not be questioned by the Liberal Democrats. What is the position of the hon. Gentlemans party on this? Who speaks for the Liberal Democrats? Dr. Cable: What I said, or what I thought I said, was that we would cut child tax credits for high earners. [HON. MEMBERS: No!] Well, if I mispronounced it, then I mispronounced it. [Interruption.] No, we are not talking about cutting child benefit; that is quite clear. We are talking about child tax credits. Let me be absolutely clear, and I apologise if I did mispronounce it, because the policy is unambiguous. Let me turn to the Budget pluses and minuses. There are pluses. First, the Chancellor clearly did not accept some of the demands that were being made of him to run a populist Budget. He restrained himself from that, which is a big contrast with earlier Budgets. I go back, for example, to 1992, when there was a similar situation. The economy was in difficulty and an election was coming. Large offerings were made, which had to be withdrawn a few months later. This Chancellor, to some credit, has desisted in that respect. The second, rather minor, positive is the fact that the Chancellors news on economic borrowing was slightly less severe than it could have been, but that is a little like someone grappling with a very large overdraft discovering that their mobile phone bill is not quite as bad as they thought it would be. Still, it is good news. The other positive, though I say this slightly sardonically, is the fact that we have had an accurate description of what the fiscal problem actually isthe scale of it and the time scale over which it is due to be dealt with. However, that is a little like saying that the Chancellor has identified and acknowledged, probably for the first time, the fact that we have a very large elephant in the room; has carefully measured the elephant, telling us that in eight years time it will become a mouse; and has suggested a time scale over which that contraction will occur, but without at any point explaining to us the biology by which that elephant will transform itself into a mouse. There was no discussion whatever of the what and the how of the fiscal contraction occurring.
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Stewart Hosie (Dundee, East) (SNP): That is a very good point indeed, as was the description of the real cuts at the hon. Gentlemans university, his college and the National Physical Laboratory, but in all the national hustings I have done recently, the Liberal spokespeople have tended to use the same form of words, which is that they are on the same page as the Government with this. Is he backing those cuts; or if he has questions now about how we get from a huge deficit to a slightly less huge deficit, is he backing the process or will he give us something new today? Dr. Cable: No, the criticism is not of the fact that there needs to be a tightening of budgets. Of course there has to be, although we have taken a view, which I have communicated publicly with the hon. Gentlemans party leader, about the emphasis on protecting the Government budget for next year. However, if cuts are to happen, it is important that they should be done openly, not under the radar. My criticism of what is happening in the FE sector, universities and science laboratories is that it is all happening by stealth. There is no discussion whatever of priorities. It is happening through civil servants and quangos. There is no acknowledgement of the fact that cuts are occurring or of how they should occur. That is my central criticism of what is happening at the moment. On timing, the hon. Gentleman well knowswe have had this communication alreadythat we broadly support the Governments view that it would be better not to embark on large additional cuts in the budget in the coming financial year, because the economy is fragile and that would aggravate the recession, creating even more unemployment. Arguably, it would make the fiscal deficit even worse. That is our position. Let me talk about the negativesthe worriesin the Budget. The first is the almost hopelessly optimistic assumption about the rapid return to growth in 2011. There is now a long list of independent forecasters in British industry and in the City none of whom thinks it remotely likely that growth will approach the level that the Government assume. There is one exception, Goldman Sachs. The Bank of England is also at the upper end of the range, but the overwhelming majority of independent forecasters believe that the Government are far too optimistic. The second criticism is of how the Government intend to achieve some of the cuts when they come. We had the real Budget announced in press releases after the official statement in Parliament last Wednesday, in the form of these efficiency cuts. For the rest of the day, the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), the shadow Chief Secretary, and I had quite an amusing series of exchanges, ridiculing those cuts. Neither of us is normally noted for mirthwe are often compared to undertakersbut we found this very funny, because the efficiency cuts had obviously been cobbled together and written on the back of an envelope. They did not amount to much at all. That made me all the more surprised yesterday when I discovered that my opposite number, the shadow Chancellor, had adopted all these fictitious cutsefficiency savingsand used them as the basis for promising to repeal the national insurance increase. These efficiency savings: if we can have them, they are great, but on the
one hand to ridicule them and on the other to use them as the basis for promised tax cuts has no credibility whatever. For the record, this is the approach that we have adopted. We are by no means able to explain, any more than anyone else, the full extent to which the fiscal contraction could occur, but we have identified 15 billion gross of savings, which we think we could achieve. We specified them. They are not efficiency savings. Any efficiency savings are above that. We have allocated some of that figure, 5 billion, to job creation in the short term and other spending priorities in the longer term, including the pupil premium, which would provide additional funding for schools. We recognise that there will have to beespecially in 2011-12 and beyondsome serious spending reductions over and above what we have identified. Mr. Philip Hammond: The hon. Gentleman talks about the credibility of plans to cut spending and he has announced his 15 billion plan. Will he confirm something that he said last night during the television debatethat the 15 billion includes scrapping tranche 2 of the Eurofighter project? Perhaps he has seen a different contract from the one I have seen, but my understanding is that the cancellation charge for tranche 2 exceeds the cost of taking delivery of tranche 2. Can he explain to the House how he would make a saving there? Dr. Cable: That is not the information that we have received. We have repeatedly checked our understanding of the charges involved in such a decision. There are two different components to the end of the Eurofighter contract, as the hon. Gentleman knows. We believe on the basis of what we have been toldof course, we are not told everything, because some of this is supposedly commercially confidentialand on the basis of our information that some savings could be made. Like the hon. Gentleman, however, we take the view that the bulk of the savings that will have to come from defence procurementthere will be a lotmust be considered through an overall review of our strategic objectives, provided that that takes place quickly in the early stages of the next Parliament. Mr. Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): In the welcome spirit of mea culpa, will the hon. Gentleman share with the House the circumstances that led him to give a grovelling apology to the permanent secretary to of the Treasury for misrepresenting the involvement that he had in terms of a contribution from his Front Bench to that Department? Dr. Cable: I gave no grovelling apology to the permanent secretary to the Treasury. I misrepresented nothing. I had a meeting with the permanent secretary to the Treasury, as indeed all Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen did. It was a perfectly routine meeting, and that was the way I represented it. If people chose to dramatise it in the context of discussion of hung Parliaments, I have to say that was wholly false. I have written no grovelling letter of apology. I have written him a friendly note, confirming what I had said and had not said, but no apology whatever was needed or has been given. Ed Balls: May the confusion about tranches 1 and 2 of Eurofighter, and therefore the confusion about exactly what the level of spending and efficiency savings add up
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to, have been what the shadow Business Secretary had in mind when he said that one could pay for the reversal of the next increase only after the election? Is that the kind of confusion that the right hon. and learned Gentleman was trying to avoid, and was it wrong that he should be over-ruled by the shadow Chancellor? Dr. Cable: I appreciate the Secretary of State coming to my rescue, but I do not think I need it. I have given an explanation that deals with the point. I conclude by referring to two issues of substance that arose in the Budget in relation to the banks and the banking system. One of the big and unexpected revenue changes was the yield from the bank bonus tax. I acknowledge that we underestimated it, as did the Government. We thought that the tax would be widely avoided and it was not. It suggests a certain degree of chutzpah among the bankers that they were perfectly happy to pay up rather than change their behaviour, but it leaves us with several conclusions that now need to be followed through but are not being followed through. The first is that the banks are perfectly capable of sustaining a permanent rather than a temporary tax in order to cover the insurancethe protectionthat the banks derive from the taxpayer. The second is that it is clear that excess profits are being made in the banking system, particularly in the investment banking arms. I was delighted to see that the head of the Office of Fair Trading is now investigating the possibility of cartel, or other forms of anti-competitive behaviour, which are producing excessive profits from Government and possibly private client relationships, and which are the source of many of the bonuses that are currently paid. I would be interested to hear from the Minister when he replies whether the Government have prompted or are encouraging the OFT to pursue the investigation. Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): To clarify matters so that there is no misunderstanding, would the hon. Gentleman be prepared to publish the letter to the permanent secretary to the Treasury so that we can all see that the speculation was incorrect? Dr. Cable: I sent the permanent secretary to the Treasury a handwritten note. His conversation with me was private, and it was a private note. I can assure the hon. Gentleman on the record that no apology was sought or given or was necessary. I did not misrepresent the meeting. It was a routine meeting between Front-Bench spokesmen of both our two parties. That was all that was involved. My final point concerns the bank lending practices for which the Government have responsibility in the semi-nationalised banks. We get very excited in these debates about the Governments fiscal objectives, but these are tiny by comparison with the significance of the amount of bank lending to the corporate sector. The Government are talking about targets of roughly 90 billion of business lending. My question about this is: should we believe them? We have had these targets before. They were legally binding. They were not met. We in all parties have experiences of large numbers of small and medium-sized companies either being unable to obtain credit or being offered credit on terms that are
so onerous they cannot take them up. I ask the Minister when he replies to give a much clearer explanation than he has been able to do so far about how these bank lending targets will be achieved next time when they were not achieved before. Mr. Byrne: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I apologise to you and to right hon. and hon. Members for missing the beginning of the debate? I was unavoidably detained on Treasury business, but I am very sorry for any discourtesy. None was intended. Mr. Philip Hammond: Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it not the convention of the House that an hon. Member who wishes to wind up a debate must have listened to that debate? Indeed, I am quite sure that on a previous occasion you have reminded me of that rule. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): I cannot recall the exact instance to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but obviously, as I think has been rehearsed already on points of order from his right hon. Friend the Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin), it is usual for the debate to have been heard for the winding up. But having said that, there are occasions when both Ministers and shadow Ministers are missing for parts of a debate. The Chief Secretary has apologised to the House and perhaps it would be better to save the time for further debate. It is now on the record. Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I do not want to make a meal of this, but I do not think that we should just move off in that way. This is extremely unusual; indeed, no one can remember a Minister winding up who did not attend the first two hours of a debate. There are occasions when some untoward incident causes a Minister, or sometimes a shadow Minister, to miss a lot of a debate. The custom is to send a note to the other side urgently with the apology, which is always accepted, and no one makes a fuss about the absence of the Minister. Foreign affairs can be quite serious and be the reason that has taken the Minister away. That has not been done on this occasion. I do not think that it is adequate for a Minister to turn up and say that he has been busy in his Department and that departmental business has stopped him from coming, and have that accepted and carry on as though missing practically the first half of the debate is an unavoidable problem compared with the very important meetings that he has no doubt been having. We should at least establish a precedent. He is apologising now, but it really makes a farce if the Minister comes along when he can and answers which part of the debate he has listened to. Mr. Deputy Speaker: I am not for one moment saying from the Chair that the situation today is in any way admirable. We have had an apology. The right hon. and learned Gentleman says that he does not want to make a meal of it, but we have now had three courses on this matter, and perhaps we should regard our appetite as fulfilled on this occasion. The Chief Secretary may feel moved to make further reference to it if he should catch my eye at a later point. With regard to the time limit on speeches, once again, as yesterday, Mr. Speaker and the Deputy Speakers have been wrong-footed by events in their calculation,
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so I give notice that the 15-minute limit that has been imposed by Mr. Speaker will have to be adjusted down at some later point. However, I will try to maintain it for as long as looks credible. 6.8 pm Mr. David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside) (Lab): I will endeavour to take less than the 15 minutes, and I will also endeavour to help my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary by making reference to some of the comments that have already been made. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) for speaking just before me, because the first two speeches in the debate were an entertaining exchange between the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) and his former constituent, the Secretary of State, but the reality that we face this evening is to speak on behalf of those who do not have a voice. I therefore immediately want to take up a point that was made by the shadow Business Secretary about credit ratings in the bond market. It goes without saying that, in a global economy, we are subject to those who make decisions through creditrating organisations and the bond markets, and if we take no notice and are not cognisant of the consequences, we will be severely damaged. However, in a democracy we have a number of elements in addition to the rule of law and a free media. We have political, participative and representative democracy that gives a voice to those who have power, wealth and privilege in the economic democracyin the marketplace. This afternoon I have heard people blame this Government and our Prime Minister for a global meltdownfor what happened throughout the worldthat was initiated not actually in the United States, but in the development of savings in China, because of the economic and social changes in that country. That led to the availability of credit and money in the United States, which inevitably led to the over-extension and meltdown. When I hear the Prime Minister blamed for that by a former Chancellor, I do not take it seriously. The right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe knows better than that. He knows perfectly well that this Government and country cannot be and are not responsible for what took place three years ago. Some of those who were responsible for the meltdown were, incidentally, engaged with credit-rating agencies and the bond markets, and it is the cheek of the devil for those people, who have wealth, power and privilege internationally, to say that it was the fault of political democracy for not regulating them toughly enoughto turn the tables on the politicians who are saving our economy, our services, our jobs and the livelihoods of our people and our communities and to say that we are to blame for not stopping them from doing what they did in the first place. That is just nonsense. Mr. Binley: Does the right hon. Gentleman not recognise the anger out there; that the Prime Minister, then the Chancellor, said to the Financial Services Authority that he wanted a light touch on all those matters; and that that contributed massively to our problems? Mr. Blunkett: The Opposition were the first to criticise us for being too tough on regulation. They preached year after year that this Government were too heavy-handed
on regulation, and that business and finance wanted to be left alone. They preached what Margaret Thatcher preached, and now they intend to practise in the social arena what they preached in the economic arenathat Governments should get out of such business and leave private enterprise alone. They said that we would flourish if Governments did so, not that bankers if left alone would bring our country to its knees and then blame us for not intervening harshly enough to stop them from doing it. What nonsense is that? Mr. Heald: Does the right hon. Gentleman not remember that in 1998, when the current Prime Minister introduced that financial system of regulation, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) said that it would lead to trouble? And lead to trouble it has. Mr. Blunkett: Of course we introduced that system precisely because there was no financial regulation. We also made the Bank of England independent, so that it could make judgments and intervene independentlyand of course the Opposition opposed that, too. The contradictions abound. We know that it is necessary to take care and time to determine what needs to be done. We know it, because one year ago we anticipated that in 2014-15 debt would be 100 million more than we now expect it to be. Even three months ago we thought that growth was just 0.1 per cent., and it turns out that growth is 0.3 percentage points higher than that, based on the recently announced readjustment. Indeed, we know that the growth that can be achieved, the changes that can be ascertained and the way in which we need to proceed are a moveable feast. Above all, we need to be clear about who carries the consequences for the decisions that we make. Of course, on the macro scale, we have to take into account the consequences of what is happening globally, but we, as political representatives and the only voice of most people in this country who do not have wealth and privilege, have to speak out about the consequences of too rapid a cutback, too rapid a disinvestment and too many cuts to front-line services. I heard the shadow Business Secretary say that his 1997 Budget was wonderful and that we stuck to it. Actually, we did not. I was the shadow Education and Employment Secretary from 1994, and in market towns throughout Britain in 1995 and 1996 I spoke to parents, teachers and children whose schools were falling apart whose roofs were leaking. Primary schools were reliant on outside toilets, the teaching profession had totally collapsed and there were four-day weeks. There was under-recruitment, so teachers with no training had to be placed in the classroom; there were no teaching assistants; books were being recycled; and parents were being asked to pay for them. That was the reality, and in 1997 the July emergency Budget put 700 million more into the education service, and 1 billion of new deal money from the windfall levy, from which we also benefited in terms of the employment drive that got people back to work. We do not want to go back to the era that I have described: it would not be the shadow Chancellor; it would be more like John Osbornelook back in anger and see just what happened when the Conservatives put their friends before the electorate of the countrys most disadvantaged constituencies, such as mine.
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Mr. Binley: Will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that the school improvement programme, much of which we benefited from in Northampton, was a direct result of the private finance initiative, which the then Chancellor said was the only game in town? Mr. Blunkett: It was not the only game in town, because, as I have just spelt out, we started in 1998 with 1 billion and the new deal for schools, which turned into Building Schools for the Future. That budgetjust to get the figures rightwas 600 million when I became Education and Employment Secretary; it is now 9 billion and is transforming the learning opportunities and environment of our children. The argument has been made that we should immediately start to reduce spending. However, one thing that concerns me, to which the hon. Member for Twickenham referred, is that many agenciesnext steps agencies, Departments, primary care trusts and strategic health authoritiesare already starting to cut in anticipation of even deeper cuts, should a Conservative Government be elected. Paradoxically, that is reducing the speed of growth by cutting back on spending that would keep people in jobs. Let us look at what happened in the past. We cannot live in it, and I shall not compare historical debt to the reduction in the structural debt, which in any case we intend to get down to 2.5 per cent. of GDP by 2014. However, let us presume that we are in 1951, and a Conservative Government have been elected not on an austerity programme, but on a programme of lifting rationing and bringing hope and aspiration to the 1950s. That is what they were elected on. They were elected on the back of the wartime lend-lease and debt, and the debt that Maynard Keynes negotiated in Washington in 1947, but they did not enter office promising that they would wipe out that massive, historic wartime and post-war debt by 1955, 1959 or 1964. In fact, it was paid off in 2002, and the Canadian bonds were paid off in 2007. We need a voice of reality saying that we in the political arena must take cognisance of the international financial arena and speak on behalf of the people who have no other voice. The issue is about continuity of spending; about retaining people in jobs, paying tax and national insurance; and about reducing the anticipated welfare spendon which Margaret Thatcher did spend while cutting front-line services in my city and those throughout the country. Some of us remember it; some of us dealt with it. As the leader of Sheffield city council for seven years in the 1980s, I lived with it day after day, and none of us should want to go back to that. We do not need to; we can plan sensibly; we can be rational; and, above all, we can act as a counterweight to the voices of those who will not feel the cutswho will be immune to what happens in education, health, transport, the environment and housing, because they can buy their way out of cuts. We speak on behalf of those who cannot do that, and that is why we should stick to our guns. We should be rational and thoughtful and careful. Above all, we should resist the siren voices of those who know what they are about, and who will vote in this electionthey will vote for their own self-interest. That is not acceptable for Britain and it is not the future for our country.
6.20 pm Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): It is always a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett). We all admire his commitment, his courage and what he has contributed to our country. I hope, though, that he will forgive me if I do not follow him in his loyal defence of the Government, for which he should be roundly thanked by those on his Front Bench. This is the last time that I will address the House of Commons, and I find it a strange experience almost exactly 40 years since I made my maiden speech. When I was talking to one of my former secretaries the other day about stepping down at the general election and about how I love this place, she said to me, Well, its what you are. I have to say to colleagues on both sides of the House that for the past 40 years, it has been what I have been. I love the House of Commons in general and I love the Chamber in particular, and it always saddens me when people on either side of the House do not give it the respect that it deserves. Of course, one accepts that the apology by the Chief Secretary has been sincerely given. He is not a man who is unthinkingly impolite. In fact, he is a man who likes to make sure that all people know exactly what he wants, whether it is the strength of his coffee or the size of his seat. I would just say to him gently that he must not do this again, whether he is Chief Secretary, shadow Chief Secretary, or anything else. The primacy of the Chamber of the House of Commons when great issues are being debated must be respected by those who are winding up debates on either side of the House. I believe that what is so important at the moment is that people outside should begin to regain their confidence in this place. I would say to the fourth estate, which sometimes seems hell-bent on destroying the other three, that the House of Commons is the ultimate defender of all our liberties. Of the people I have known in this place over the past 40 years, the overwhelming majority of men and women, in whatever part of the House they have sat, have been true public servants who have come here for what they can put into it, and not for what they can get out of it. I hope that that will be recognised when the furore of recent months dies down. I came here with a sense of history, and I have had the great privilege of living through history. I shall never forget listening to the great orators of our time, particularly to the recently late great Michael Foot and the late great Enoch Powell, who were close personal friendsmost people do not know that, but they wereand who disagreed on almost every subject but respected each other because each one was first, second and last a parliamentarian. I think that we should take an example from people like that. I very much hope that the new House of Commons, with many new Members in it, will collectively restore faith in this place. I also hope that the new individuals who come here will regard being here, as I always have, as the greatest honour and privilege that any British man or woman can ever have. I believe that it is an honour beyond compare. I hope that, whichever party forms the next Government, those who come here and sit on the Government side of the HouseI hope that my party will be over there thenwill not come here
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merely hoping to be driven around in a ministerial Mondeo, or whatever, but come here because they believe that membership of this place is the most important thing of all. When one makes a maiden speech, one is supposed to be non-controversial. I do not want to be particularly controversial today, because I have been here long enough to know that no party ever has the monopoly of wisdom, virtue, or any other quality, good or bad. I remember opposing policies of my own party, such as the poll taxI will not go into a great listand I know that we have made mistakes in the past. However, I say, against that background, that this is the least substantial Budget that I have ever known. It is skimpy, it is bare, and it does not address the nations problems. At a time when interest on our debt is more than twice what total public expenditure was in 1970, it behoves us all to recognise the seriousness of our position. Incidentally, in 1970you will remember this, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because you came here for the first time then, as wellone had dinner in the Members Dining Room for eight and sixpence: something that would warm the cockles of Sir Ian Kennedys heart. Mr. Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): Will my hon. Friend give way? Sir Patrick Cormack: I would rather not, if my hon. Friend does not mind. I like to measure every Budget against two of my favourite political sayings. Benjamin DisraeliI make no apology for being a devotee of the great manonce said that one of the great objects of our party was to elevate the condition of the people. Does this Budget give an opportunity to elevate the condition of the people? I fear that the answer has to be no. One of the most moving speeches that I heard in this place was made by John NottSir John Nott, as he now isin moving the Loyal Address. He said that the real poor of the 20th century are those without hope. Does this Budget bring hope? I fear that the answer, again, has to be no. Much has been made of the Prime Ministers great contribution as Chancellor. I do not believe that he was a great Chancellor. In the middle ages, people used to search for the philosophers stonethe material that was going to turn base metal into gold. The Chancellor discovered how to turn gold into base metal: he sold it at bargain basement prices. Perhaps that is why he has always looked rather lugubrious ever since. I hope that at the general election, in spite of the dire condition of the nations finances, we will have some fun and some spirited debating. I hope that the Prime Minister will be able to be a bit cheerful about it. He reminds me of a character from a programme of my childhood, ITMA Mona Lott, who said it was being so cheerful as kept her going. That is what the Prime Minister looks likeas though it is being so cheerful as keeps him going. Well, the British people want some hope; some true optimism. The British people may live in a nation that is on the verge of bankruptcy, brought there largely by the feckless attitude of this Government, but they do not want a Budget that is bereft of vision, or a party that has run out of ideas to steer them through the next four or five difficult years. It will be all of that, because whichever Government come in must have the sustaining power to take us through not just the first Parliament but the second and beyond.
There are many, many things that I shall miss about the House of Commons. There are some that I shall not miss. I shall not miss being here when people are serving on a Panel of Chairs. I am glad that your own current title will be preserved, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We could not have a Chair of Ways and Meansthat would merely be a rocking chair, would it not? I will miss the camaraderie of this place and I will miss the cross-party friendshipssome of the things that I have enjoyed most of all have involved Members of all parties. I shall miss very much my Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, and I am delighted to see three Members from Northern Ireland, two of whom have served on that Committee, here this afternoon. We are able to demonstrate through our Select Committee system that people can put their party political interests to one side and work together for a common cause to produce reports that are not anodyne but are hard-hitting and deal with serious subjects, but which bring people together. That is an aspect of our work that it is not sufficiently understood and appreciated outside. The Select Committee system has developed very well, but what has declined has been the importance and centrality of this Chamber. As I prepare to leave it, I want to express the hope that those who come will not only regard being here as an enormous honour and privilege, as I said a few moments ago, but that they will want to inject some life into the Chamber. It is deeply disappointing that it is so sparsely populated this afternoon, although there are more here now than there have been on the other days of the Budget debate. It is tremendously important that they should recognise that to contribute in this Chamber, and to tread in the footsteps of those giants of old, is not only a privilege but a dutya duty that they owe, and we all owe, to our constituents. I say to colleagues whom I am leaving a heartfelt thanks for their comradeship and friendship over the years. I say to those who are to come after that this is an imperfect institution, as every institution composed of human beings must inevitably be, but it is the bulwark of our liberties. It is the place that ought to matter most of all at the end of the day. When they come here, they should try to recognise that and rise to the occasion. They will be very well served by the staff of the House, and they will come to an institution to which they can feel proud to belong. I say to them that every day they should try to do what I have done and spend at least a minute or two walking through Westminster Hall, the most historic part of this great Palace, where so much of our history has taken place and which should give us all a sense of pride in being British. And so, Mr. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make these closing remarks. Ave atque vale. 6.34 pm Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North) (Lab): It falls to me, a girl from Biddulph in Staffordshire, to pay tribute to the public service that the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) has shown over his 40 years here. From reading through Hansard for the three previous days, it is clear to me that as well as having debates about the Budget itself, we have had valedictory contributions. Many Members are leaving and want to ensure that this place remains one in which what actually matters to our constituents is discussed and what we do really counts and makes a difference.
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[Joan Walley] That was the case with my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) when he made 650 million available in a previous Budget. That meant that schools in Stoke-on-Trent that had not had any proper accommodation, never mind paint to improve it, had some money to rebuild. I refer particularly to Holden Lane high school. It became the first refurbished school in Stoke-on-Trent, which made a huge difference. I am pleased that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is in his place. It might come as no surprise to him that there is really only one reason for my being here for this debate, which will become clear shortly. It is important that he is here to listen to what Members of all parties have to say. I accept his apology and am very pleased that he is here now. I turn to what is in the Budget in general, and I have to say that it has a lot to commend it. Of course we are in the run-up to the general election, so it is different from Budgets in previous years, but as we try to come through the recession, the most important thing is that we do nothing to destabilise the recovery. The worst thing that could possibly happen would be to undermine the recovery that the Chancellor has embarked upon. I want to ensure that the House recognises what a difference the detail and small print of the Budget will make. I am thinking particularly about support for business growth and the 20,000 extra undergraduate places, which I know will make a difference. Education, education, education is the way out of the poverty and lack of hope that so many of our constituents find themselves in. The hon. Member for South Staffordshire will know, as I do, the importance of the work of our Staffordshire institutions, not least Staffordshire university, of which I am an honorary doctor. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher) will refer to the green investment bank and the provision in the Budget for green environmental technologies, as well as the importance of targeted support for households and individuals. Mention is also made in the Budget of the importance of regional government and regional Ministers, and it sets out the hope that if at all possible, Government offices, regional development agencies and parts of the Homes and Communities Agency will be relocated. To link in with the theme that is coming from the Department for Communities and Local Government, it sets out how we can have a Total Place response to ensuring that Government Departments work in a vertical way alongside local authorities so that their policies make a difference. There is enough in the Budget to help with that. It will come as no surprise to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, if not to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, if I say that there is really only one overriding reason why I should wish to speak in this afternoons debate. It is simply to make the case for the Government relocating Departments to the city of Stoke-on-Trent and to the Potteries, whereI have to mention thiswe shall celebrate on 1 April the centenary of the federation of the six pottery towns of Stoke-on-Trent: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Fenton, Stoke and Longton. What subsequently became a city was formed simply because of the pottery manufacturers wanting a brand name so that they could trade their ceramics and tableware on the global stage. That was why the city of Stoke-on-Trent came about.
It is no surprise that because there has been so much outsourcing, our traditional manufacturing industryin not just ceramics, but all the associated manufacturing that goes with thathas suffered structural decline. That is not to say that some of our existing manufacturing businesses are not doing very well, and I am not talking down Stoke-on-Trent because we have huge opportunities, but structural challenges that existed before the recession remain. The important thing is to recognise what the Government and Parliament can do. That is why this Budget debate is so important to us. The recent reports from the Centre for Cities show that we have high numbers of jobseekers and that we have lost a large number of private sector jobs. For that reason, it is critical that the Government intend to build on the 2004 Michael Lyons report. They need to ensure that in addition to the 20,000 jobs that have already been allocated away from London and the south-east to other strategic areas around the country, they drive the agenda to ensure that the Ian R. Smith report that has come about as a result of the BudgetRelocation: transforming where and how government worksapplies to Stoke-on-Trent. That is critical. That could provide the extra jobs that our city, in its centenary year of federation, actually needs. I want the Chief Secretary, when he comes to reply, to refer not only to the fact that I have come along to the Chamber tonight on the fourth day of the Budget debate to raise this matter, but to tell the House that my colleagues and I have been raising it consistently since the Lyons report came out. Perhaps we have not put a sound enough business case for Stoke-on-Trent, but we have had the intent and the objectivesin that I include the chamber of commerce and the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership. We have been thwarted by how the Office of Government Commerce has looked at relocation. It says, Oh, well leave it to the heads of the civil service and let them decide which areas, which parts of the country and which regions will be best suited for those newly created jobs. I want that to change. I have read the detail of the Smith report, which we are debating as part of the fourth day of the Budget debate. It clearly states that the Government should show leadership and that there should be a way for Regional Ministers to come together. I want a Regional Minister who really makes the case for Stoke-on-Trents needsI know that our current Regional Minister does that. The proposals in the report also set out a new way of government and there is talk of seeing government in a new, integrated way. Perhaps given our desire for Parliament to connect better with the people whom we represent, we should propose to relocate Parliament to somewhere in the centre of the countrysomewhere that has the most fantastic links, which this Government have provided along the west coast main line, so that we would have good access. The most important thing for me is that a further 15,000 jobs or so are going to be created. The Chief Secretary has said:
Over the past few years, we have moved something like 24,000 jobs out of London and the south-east. Just before the pre-Budget report, we said that we would seek to move another 13,000 out over the next few years. I would be very happy to sit down with my hon. Friend and other colleagues from Stoke-on-Trent to talk
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about how we can maximise Stoke-on-Trents chances of getting a big share of those new jobs.[Official Report, 15 December 2009; Vol. 502, c. 800.]
I wanted to speak in this debate to ensure that after the electionI intend to be part of this House thenthose talks can resume. 6.44 pm Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): I am following my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) in that this will be my last speech in the House of Commons. Unlike him, I cannot claim a 40-year recordI have had a mere 23 years in this placebut I always imagined that when I was making my last speech and about to depart, I would be sad. Instead, I find that my uppermost sentiment is one of profound relief. I sincerely hope that future generations of Members of this House will be able to serve in an atmosphere free of the welter of public vituperation and vilification that this Parliament has been confronted with, and that there will once again be a recognition on the part of the public that the overwhelming majority of people who come hereon both sides of the House and in all partiesdo so with some degree, and sometimes quite a lot, of sacrifice, in terms of either finance or family. My hope for the future is that some calmness and some respect will again prevail. Whereas my hon. Friend came here with a sense of history, I came here with a sense of the future. My maiden speech was on Trident. Of course, at that time, I was very much in favour of keeping Trident, and those on these Opposition Benches, which were then occupied by the Labour party, were very much opposed to that. I am delighted that they have seen the error of their ways, and that they now in fact see the merits of Trident. That gives me great hope. They also now see the merits of privatisation, so I am very hopeful that at some stage in the future, they will see sense on a great many other things as well, and that a far more sensible and downto-earth approach will prevail among them. However, my main hope was that we would have a smaller state and a larger individual. My other main hopes, to which I shall address the main body of my remarksI took this for granted at the time, but now I do notwere that we would have a stable society, in which the family was the bedrock, respected and supported by Governments of whatever party, and that citizens could feel safe and live decently, regardless of the income that they had at their disposal, and regardless of where they were obliged to live in this country. I want to direct the rest of my remarks in this Budget debate to measures that I feel are still desperately needed, and that would go some way towards securing those objectives. I turn first of all to the family. If in our time there has been an assault on any great institution, it has been not on the House of Commons, but on the family. I am talking about the record levels of family break-up and the record numbers of young children who are growing up in houses where the parents have split, who are expected to split their time, emotions and whereabouts between those parents. But for all the many families like that, there are plenty of other parents who stay together in a committed and subsisting marriage, and who wish to bring their children up in a stable environment. I therefore wish to draw particular attention to the plight and it is a plightof the non-working mother.
When a family decides that upon the birth of the first child, the motherit may sometimes be the father, but statistically it is usually the motherwill stay at home to herself take on the full-time duty of bringing up that child, they are faced with a situation in which they move, almost overnight, from being two people living on two incomes, to being three people living on one income. Where that family is well off, that is not such a big issue, but for the majority of families that model, which many would like to follow, is now but a distant aspiration. There are many reasons for that, and it has not been helped by the prevailing social view that somehow there is something intrinsically second class about the woman who opts voluntarily to stay at home and bring up her children. While I have been in this place, I am pleased to say that I have lost three secretaries to full-time motherhoodI am not pleased that I lost them, but pleased for the reason that I lost them. The most recent said to me that she spends all her time trying to justify to her friends and contemporaries why she had chosen not to come back to work when the child was born. The social attitudes do not help, but there are also massive financial considerations. As a result of property prices and the huge mortgages that are necessary, it is simply impossible in many families for one of the parents to say that they will stop earning. Therefore, every shred of help that we can give to such families should be given by the Government of the day. It is especially iniquitous that there should be such a difference between the support given to a family where the mother has decided on full-time motherhoodwhich is the highest calling, because those mothers are bringing up the citizens of tomorrowand to families where the parents have decided to carry on working. This example is given by Peter Saunders, professor of sociology, who points out that
if both parents go out to work and put their children into childcare, the government gives them each a 6,035 tax-free allowance, as well as heavily subsidising their child care costs. But if they prefer to look after their children themselves, sacrificing one income and foregoing all the child care subsidies, the government penalises them by making the stay-at-home parent forfeit her (or his) right to a tax-free income.
That is one of the most scandalous inequalities that we have. We not only fail to support the non-working wife, but we positively pour support on those people who are existing on two rather than one incomes. Much of that inequality stems from the decline in the respect for marriage that we used to take for granted in our society. That is one of the groups of people about whom I wished to talk about todaythe non-working mother. I see nothing in this Budget to help the non-working mother, but I see much in some of the Conservative proposals that might help the non-working mother if they are fully implemented. In any case, the Government are wrong to have ignored this problem, and in the wind-up I would like to hear what the Government will doin the limited time available to themto give some support to the non-working, stay-at-home, full-time mother. The other group are those about whom I have spoken in this House before, and whom I have always called the forgotten decents. These are the law-abiding decent citizens, often but not always familiesperhaps pensioners,
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[Miss Ann Widdecombe] a couple whose family has grown up and gone or single personswho, because of a lack of resources, cannot escape from the environment in which they are trapped. I refer particularly, but not exclusively, to those big inner-city council estates where people have no aspiration but living a normal, unmolested life. That does not seem to be a ridiculous aspiration for a British citizen. But those people often do not dare even to leave their houses or flats after darknot only after 8 or 9 pm, but even 6 or 7 pmbecause they would be subjected to intimidation, robbery and thuggery. They live with that prevailing fear. Mothers who live on such estates have told me, and continue to tell me, as nothing much appears to have changed, that before they let their children out to play which should be a normal activitythey have to check the surrounding area for needles. It is in those areas where the law-abiding live behind bars, because they fortify their homes like Fort Knox. There is wanton vandalism on those big estates and I vividly remember talking to one person who was disabled and had therefore no choice but to live on the ground floor. He could not live any higher: he had to occupy the ground floor. He had a pathetic, small patch in front of his flat where he had put pot plants to try to make a pleasant area in which to sit out in his wheelchair. Is that such a big aspiration? But his garden was regularly vandalised and finally every last plant was destroyed when some yob threw acid all over them. Are those areas policed? Is there a regular police presence on which those ordinary and modest British citizens can call? The answer is no. The regular plaint goes up, We rarelythey do not say never, because that would be an exaggerationsee a policeman. There is no visible deterrent walking around these streets in the form of someone who could be called on by those who feel afraid. Money spent on policing those areas or bringing any other sort of hope to those areas would be money well spent. I do not see much encouragement for those peoplethe forgotten decentsin this Budget. I hope that I am wrong. I hope that in the wind-up, the Minister will be able to point to measures that have been taken, but I have deliberately chosen in this, my last speech, just two groups of ordinary, decent people full-time mothers who just want to be able to afford to bring their kids up and not feel compelled to go out to work, and those who live in terrible areas and cannot get out of them, where every agency shrugs and they are abandoned by those whose job it is to look after them. Ultimately, that job is the Governments. 6.59 pm Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras) (Lab): Subject to the views of the electorate of Holborn and St. Pancras, it is not my intention not to be here after the general election, but I wish to pay tribute to the two veteran Members whom we have just heard. However, I will not attempt to follow them because I welcome the Budget statement and the Governments and the Chancellors refusal to listen to the siren voices who demand cuts before the recovery from the recession is well under way. My view is that we will need to be fairly careful about cuts in public spending and public investment even when the recovery is well under way. The definition of a recession, in many ways, is that the economy is working
below its maximum, and the best way to deal with deficits, debts and practically every imaginable problem is to get that economy back to working at its maximum as soon as possible. Slashing investment stifles growth; it does not encourage it. I was not surprisedbut it was saddeningto hear the shadow Business Secretary harking back to the days of Mrs. Thatcher, on the basis that, if it is not hurting, it is not working. He gave the impression that her policies of slashing public services promoted economic growth, but nothing could be further from the truth. Average annual economic growth under Mrs. Thatcher was lower than the average under the preceding Wilson and Callaghan Governments. Things went down, not up, as a result of those policies. We also had massive inflation during that time. The lowest inflation under Mrs. Thatcher in a year was 3.4 per cent., and it averaged 7 per cent. It was all kept afloat with takings from the North sea and privatisation, and that money was squandered: it was not invested in industrythere was not a British sovereign investment fundresearch or training. However, some of the decisions that the Chancellor has made in the Budget mean that there will be investment in industry, research and even more in training. We must remember that the biggest beneficiaries of the economic policies of the Thatcher Government were the finance industry and the speculatorsthe speculators who have been ruining the world economy for donkeys years now, whipping up and down the world price of oil and gas. There can be no rational justification for the price of a barrel of oil falling from $140 to $80 in the space of a fortnightthat is speculation and nothing else. There was also speculation in the price of wheat and rice. When I was in Bangladesh, I asked a rice farmer whether the price he was paid for his rice had quadrupled in the previous year, but he had not seen a penny of that. Price changes took place partly on the American markets. There are also the speculators in currencies. The changes and relaxations introduced under Mrs. Thatcher contributed toI do not say that they brought it aboutthe banking crisis, and the banking crisis has undoubtedly caused most of the deficit, directly as a result of the taxpayer having to provide bail-out funds to some of the banks that were going broke and to give guarantees to others to prevent them from going broke. The banking crisis has indirectly caused the recession, and the recession has caused the fall in output and tax take and led to more benefits being paid out. We do not need to stop investing; we need more investment to counter the downturn and to get back to maximising output. When someone loses their job, we all lose out: we lose the goods or services that they were producing, the tax that they would have paid had they been employed and then there are the benefits that we have to pay out to keep them and their families going. As I understand it, it averages at least 12,000 a year to keep someone out of workso keeping people out of work adds to the deficit. The Governments measures have been working. The jobless total is fewer than the wiseacres were predicting; the number of houses repossessed is lower than the level predicted by the wiseacres in the City; and there has been an element of recovery. It has to be said that Britain has led the way. I know it is a commonplace to mock the Prime Minister, but I put more faith in the
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words of Paul Krugman, who won the Nobel prize for economics for his study of recessions and knows what he is talking about. In response to what the Prime Minister did in the year running up to the G20 summit in London, Krugman said that the Prime Minister had acted with stunning speed, and had
defined the character of the worldwide rescue effort, with other wealthy nations playing catch-up,
and that he and the Chancellor had displayed a

combination of clarity and decisiveness
that had not

been matched by any other Western government.
So when some trivial tripehound from the City comes on the Today programme or one of the other BBC or ITV programmes, I would stick with Krugman. The Government should not be pushed off course by economists led, for instance, by Howard Davies of the London School of Economics. When the Government nationalised Northern Rock, he gave us the benefit of his view that it would undermine the reputation and standing of the City of London in the eyes of the finance industries in other parts of the world. Get real, Howard! The City and Wall street have been hoist by their own petard. What they were doing has blown up in their faces. Let us consider Lehman Brothers whose auditor was Ernst and Young. Then we are faced with the output of the Ernst and Young ITEM Club, and we are expected to take notice of its predictions and are told that we need to recognise what wonderful people they are. Well, Ernst and Young were an item with Lehman Brothers in the other sensethey formed a couple that could not have been closer as they covered up for one another. And they, of course, were assisted by the noble Linklaters, the City solicitors, which actually provided cover here cover that even some of the dodgy lawyers on Wall street had refused to givefor what Lehman Brothers was doing worldwide. These bankers, their auditors and the ratings agencies caused the banking crisis, and these self-same people are now demanding cuts in investment, while insisting that their bonus culture continue. Bankers apparently need mega-pay and bonuses to compete internationally, but everybody else has to take lower pay and worse working terms and conditions to compete globally. Who are these bankers and auditors and what is their track record? I have checked. Next time someone from KPMG gives us advice on finance, remember that it was supposed to be HBOSs and Bradford & Bingleys auditor. Next time Deloitte sends someone to give advice, remember that it was the auditor for the Royal Bank of Scotlandand a cracking good job it did! PricewaterhouseCoopers was the auditor of Northern Rock, and I have already mentioned Ernst and Young, which allegedly was the auditor of Lehman Brothers. Let us consider the banks themselves. The shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in a previous debate, quoted the wisdom of somebody from the City Group, but it lost $55 billion. It bought upor got into bed withMerrill Lynch, which lost $51 billion. We might get someone from UBS telling us what we ought to be doing about our public services, but it only lost $44 billion. HSBC lost $27 billion; the Royal Bank of Scotland lost $15 billion; and Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan both lost $14 billion, yet we are expected to take notice of them.
Then there are the ratings agencies. They gave triple-A ratings to all the rubbish that brought the international banking system to its knees, and now we have got to listen to them. Are they seriously saying that they believe that a United Kingdom Government would default on their borrowing? If they are not saying that, there is no reason at all why the British Government should have any difficulty getting their bonds on to the market. We have got to take an altogether more rigorous approach. We have got to reach a situation in which the banking industry is working for the rest of us. We can no longer continue with a situation in which the rest of us are working for the worldwide banking industry. We need a yet more radical response than we have had. We have got to end the fail-safe arrangements for the dodgy dealers. There should be no more bailing out of the people who got us into this mess. I am genuinely fearful that unless we do something about the problem, the democratic institutions that we subscribe to will be in danger. If the people think that their elected representatives cannot protect them from what is happening in this world, while another group of people are still being paid multiples of millions of pounds in bonuses, I do not think that they will tolerate it. They will turn their attentions to those who say, We can do away with this. If I were running the British National party, I would be delighted with the present situation, with bankers lining their pockets and handbags, and teachers, nurses and firefighters being told that their meagre pensions pose a problem for the economy. Those teachers, nurses, firefighters and others did not get it wrong, but they are being expected to pay the price. The bankers undoubtedly did get it wrong. They are not going to have to pay the price; they are claiming the right still to be paid bonuses. Such a society will not be easy to sustain. Indeed, I think that there will be a threat to our democracy and to this institution unless we do something to change the balance and provide greater protection to ordinary people against the people who speculated us into the mess that we are in now. I welcome the Budget and the fact that we have not fallen for the silly idea of cutting investment before the recovery is well under way. However, we shall have to be careful about making cuts even when the recovery is well under way. We need the economy working at maximum output. That is the best way to deal with the deficit, debt and nearly every other problem that this country is afflicted with. 7.13 pm Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells) (Con): I am pleased to follow the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson), although I cannot accept his prescription for growth, which consisted of little more than more public expenditureor investment, as he called itwhich is what got us into this trouble in the first place. His criticism of auditors had some traction, but they had far less to do with the problem than the failings of the tripartite system of banking regulation, which was set up by the Bank of England Act 1998, and which spectacularly failed when the banking crisis occurred. I am also pleased to follow my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), both of whom
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[Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory] made fine valedictory speeches. We will miss them both in the next Parliament, which I hope to be part of. We will long remember their speeches, particularly the sense of history and tradition brought by my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire, which was a hallmark of his years here, and the passionate defence that my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald made of the family and her support for it. She will long be remembered for those causes as well. It is a shattering commentary on the Government and their Budget that borrowing this year will be only 167 billion, which is slightly less than the 178 billion predicted by the Chancellor last year. Whatever figure is right, we are now in the premier league for debt, which will dominate the next Parliament and probably the one after it. We are entering a decade of debt, and even on the Governments own figures, the national debt will rise during the next Parliament to 1.4 trillion. A trillion sounds a lot, and it is. That is perhaps best illustrated this way. If we were to repay debt at 1 a second, we would repay 1 million of debt after 12 days. It would take much longer to repay 1 billion. At the same rate of repayment, it would take 32 years to repay 1 billion. To repay 1 trillion at the rate of 1 a second would take 32,000 years, and that is just 1 trillion, because the Government are increasing the debt to nearly 1.5 trillion. The task before us is therefore truly awesome. There is also an intergenerational problem and a question of fairness. Are we really going to hand on to our children a debt that we have incurred? It is already the case that a baby born in Britain today arrives with a debt around its neck. That is not a sure start; it is a debt start, and it is up to us[Interruption.] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. I am sorry to interrupt the right hon. Gentleman, but there is a three-way conversation going on from a sedentary position that is now starting to disturb the debate. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: I am grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Jeremy Browne (Taunton) (LD): The reason for our noises off was that if 1 million seconds last for 12 days and 1,000 million is 1 billion, we are confused about whether 1 billion seconds would last for 32 years, which is certainly more than 1,000 times 12 days. I suspect that the right hon. Gentleman is defining a billion as 1 million million, but that is not the definition that the Government use when calculating borrowing. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: No, but the hon. Gentleman had better check his arithmetic. I have done mine, and it is the case that on the Governments own figures it would take 32 years to repay 1 billion and 32,000 years to repay 1 trillion. I do not expect the Treasury to understand those figures, and I am a little disappointed in the hon. Gentleman from the Liberal Democrats, although I am perfectly certain that those on the Conservative Front Bench will understand them. Mr. Newmark: It would perhaps be much easier for anyone listening to this debate to understand that 1.4 trillion of debt, which is roughly what we will be left with, approximates to about 46,000 of debt for every individual in this country by 2014.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that illustration. I think that we can all agree that we are talking about a pretty big debt, and there are only three ways of bringing it down: tax, raising the national growth rate, or cutting expenditure. There are no other ways of doing it, and I want to say a word on each. If the solution was taxation, we would have solved all our problems many years ago. It is a hallmark of this Government that their solution to every problem is tax and spend. That is the only consistent economic policy that I can detect from the Treasury Bench. In fact, the Chancellor is the perhaps unwitting originator of the phrase stealth tax. When I was shadow Chief Secretary in 1997, the present Chancellor sat opposite me as Chief Secretary. I read up some of his old speeches. They were pretty heavy going, but I spotted that he had criticised taxation by stealth. I started to use the phrase and it came into common currency. We can therefore say that the Chancellor conceived the phrase. I might have been the midwife and given it currency, but we can definitely agree that the present Chancellor is the prime practitioner of stealth taxation, and there are plenty more examples in last weeks Budget. I should like to dwell for a moment on a non-stealth tax: the increase in cider duty was at least declared in the Budget speech. I come from the west country, where cider making is an important local industry. It is an environmentally benign, indigenous industry, and an important employer, but it is now being subjected to a vindictive and quite unnecessary 13 per cent. tax rise that will do great damage, particularly as the industry relies on long-term planning. Cider makers plant orchards, or persuade farmers to do so, and sign contracts with the people who buy the fruit. The industry needs to be able to plan, and for the Government suddenly to announce this vicious tax rise shows that they do not understand the second component of deficit reduction, which is raising the level of economic growth. Indeed, the Governments own so-called deficit reduction plan depends crucially on the growth targets that were declared in the Budget, which I do not believe; I think that they are too optimistic. The Governments entire political philosophylet alone their economic philosophyis founded on their belief in tax and spend. That in turn depends on their mistaken belief that, in their 13 years in office, they have discovered a philosophers stone of continuous, lowinflationary growth on which they can permanently depend. Well, the credit crunch happened, and that belief was cruelly exposed. The real foundations for economic growth have nothing to do with Government expenditure: growth depends on the supply-side reforms at the level of the firm that were pushed through in the face of relentless opposition during the 1980s and 1990s. Those reforms secured a competitive advantage for this country in world markets. I cannot overstate the challenge that this country faces, in the face of pitiless international competition. There is only one way to get out of this mess. It is not to spend our way out, or to borrow our way out; it is to earn our way out. That will critically depend on the national growth rate, which has been eroded over 13 years of extra taxes, of tax complexity, of a benefit system that no one understands, and of over-regulation. There is not the slightest indication that the Government
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understand that, or that they have learned from those mistakes. They do not understand issues of competitiveness, risk or commerce. As we read the Budget documents and listen to the Chancellor speak, we are taken back to the 1970s with all his talk of state growth funds, innovation units and a green bank. Why do the Government want to own another bank? They already own great sections of the British banking industry. Now they want to own a new one, but it will be no more successful than the discredited regional venture capital funds. They were the target of well-merited criticism by the National Audit Office, which showed that their investments are worth only a fraction of what they cost. I hope that my colleagues on the Front Bench will summon up the determination completely to abolish the regional development agencies. They are run by people who do not understand business. They give out loans and grants to the most vociferous, rather than to the most economically deserving. The one in the south-west is a byword for incompetence and waste. My message is that we must concentrate on microeconomics and on getting the conditions on the ground right for business, industry and enterprise to flourish. That is not easy. The easy part of politics is spending other peoples money. As Milton Friedman told us, there are only two kinds of money in the world: your money and my money. The easiest thing for me to do is to spend your money. We need to get back to attention to detail, and away from this blundering interference by central Government and all their agencies, with their mania for regulation and taxes as a solution to our problems. The third pillar of recovery involves tackling public expenditure. The challenge there is not to make new, exaggerated claims about cutting this and that, but to show that announced reductions can really be made. I am afraid that we shall have to go well beyond that old favourite, efficiency savings. I have sat through and participated in 27 Budgets, some as a junior Minister, and I have heard references to efficiency savings in all of them. Of course they are important, but I am afraid that we shall need to go much further. We need to re-engineer government. Quite simply, we need to run official Britain at a lower cost, and that is going to require creativity, determination and flair. I see those qualities among those on my Front Bench, and I believe that they can do it, but it will not be easy, and it will require a change. Those on the Government Front Bench have not the slightest interest in this, nor do they have the talent for it. I should like to talk briefly about pensions. They are the submerged whale of the problem. They are submerged because they appear on no Government balance sheet. I have asked Ministers about this at questions. According to many independent estimates, the scale of the public deficit on pensions is more than 1 trillion. Tackling that will also require great courage and determination. I must also mention the EU budget, as I think is expected of me in these debates. It is a disgrace that our net contributions next year will rise to the new figure of 1.6 billion. There is no interest in restraint or economy in the European Union; I know that because I sit on the European Scrutiny Committee and we see a weekly blizzard of proposals for new regulations, laws and spending. Now they want an economic Government in
the European Union. That, too, has to be tackled. It will be difficult, because there is no easy or legal way of challenging itcertainly not according to my Committee. Next years EU budget is going to go up again. My Committee advises that the social policy agenda is going up by 21 per cent., and that the already enormous structural funds are going up by nearly 7 per cent. The decentralised agencies are the European quangos, and they are even less accountable than the ones we deal with. I wonder whether the House can guess by how much the expenditure on those agencies is going to go up next year. The answer is 53.3 per cent. We are in the middle of a European recession. If national Governments are having to make cuts, why cannot the European Union play its part? It is because it has a dynamic to spend taxpayers money, and there is no countervailing force to oppose it. There is also no willingness on the Government Benches even to challenge it. All these problems need to be tackled, but, as my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire said, we need hope. It can be done. We have faced such problems before, as a country. This is not a counsel of despair because we can overcome these problems. That cannot be done, however, by a Government who spend now, tax later and leave the debt to be dealt with later still. Mr. Browne: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving way, for two reasons. The first is that I want to support his comments about cider, and particularly about the long-term planning that needs to go into ensuring that the right apples are produced for cider manufacture. The second is that I want to apologise to him. Having had a bit more time to do my mental arithmetic, I realise that 1 billion seconds will indeed last for 32 years. I hope that our earlier conversation was not too misleading and to be able to use that impressive statistic myself at some point. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. We have heard a few apologies in the Chamber this afternoon, and I accept his. Perhaps he has been taking arithmetic lessons from the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable), who is now sitting next to him. I can promise himand he must now agreethat a 1 trillion debt would take 32,000 years to repay, at 1 a second. I can assure him that these are not American billions or Labour billions but British billions. I shall end in the spirit in which I came in: this is going to be difficult, but it is possible. What is absolutely certain is that it will require a change of Government. This Governments time is up, and the date in question is 6 May. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. To deal with much smaller numbers than those we have just heard about, after the next two speechesone from each side of the Housethe time limit on Back-Bencher speeches will come down to 12 minutes. 7.30 pm Mr. Michael Meacher (Oldham, West and Royton) (Lab): This has been an evening of memorable valedictory speeches, so I do not think we should let this moment pass without paying tribute to two Membersthe hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack)
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[Mr. Michael Meacher] and the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe)who are leaving. However often and however much I have disagreed with them, I have always regarded them both as great parliamentarians who have spoken with sincerity and integrity and, as illustrated here again tonight, with a sense of values and principles in which they passionately believe. I believe that they have set an example to all of us. I also agree with what they both said about the need for a new Parliament after the election that is very different from this quarrelsome and vituperative one that we have hadone that can earn the respect of the electorate because we represent the democratic centrality of Parliament. I think that both those Members will be greatly missed. I will be briefI will probably not use my 15 minutes and I want to concentrate on the general structure and strategy of the Budget. I begin by congratulating my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on, once again, showing how adept he is at playing a difficult hand well. He has navigated a sensitive balance between preventing a doubledip recession, not endangering the recovery, keeping the financial markets on side and at least beginning to reverse some of the more grotesque inequalities that, in my view, so badly mar the face of Britain today. Having said that, I remain concerned about the proposed strategy for reducing the deficit, particularly the relative weight allotted to higher taxes, public spending cuts and higher economic growth in achieving that objective. The Treasury has proposed tax increases of 19 billion and public spending cuts of 38 billion. If the deficit of 167 billion is to be halved within four yearsreducing it to 83 billionthat must mean economic growth yielding something in the order of 26 billion. I think that the first of those objectives on tax is readily achievable. At last it is being accepted that the burden of tax should rest much more on the shoulders of those who have made disproportionately huge gains in the last decade or two, not least on the shoulders of those responsible for the slump in the first place. The 50 per cent. top tax rate, the bonus tax on bankers, the loss of personal allowances, the freezing of inheritance thresholds and the mansion stamp duty tax will not have any effect on roughly 95 per cent. of the population. In fact, they will very largely be directed at the super-rich 1 per cent. Frankly, I think it absurd for the Tory press to scream as they have over this last week that this is an attack on hard-working middle and high earners. Who do they think middle Britain actually is? The medium income in Britain today is 22,000, while one third of the population subsists on less than 15,000 a yeara fact that we in this Chamber ought never to forget. The term middle Britain roughly applies to those earning between 15,000 and 30,000 a year, whereas the Budget increases will affect hardly anyone earning less than 70,000 a year. This is not spite; it is, at last, the beginnings of a switch back to some semblance of fairness. For that, I praise my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. Mr. Hayes: I am an admirer of the right hon. Gentleman and I share some of his views about the redistribution of advantages in society. Nevertheless, freezing tax thresholds and increasing national insurance could not by any measure be described as the most progressive ways of enforcing tax increases in line with his ambitions.
Mr. Meacher: I was referring to the tax increases in this Budget, whereas the hon. Gentleman is referring to the increase in insurance, which was signalled by the Chancellor in the previous Budget. I agree, of course, that that applies across the board. My point is that most of the additions in this Budget are concentrated, with a degree of equity that we have not seen before, on those who can afford to pay for them. As I was about to say, my only concern is why the Chancellor did not go further. Why are the 50 per cent. tax rate and the bankers bonus taxes just a temporary one-off ? Why are they not being made permanent? Why not take the cap off national insurance and make the well-off pay exactly the same proportion as the rest of the population? Why not end the loophole whereby City insiders redefine their income as capital gains so that they pay merely 18 per cent. capital gains tax rather than 40 per cent. income tax, which has made the City of London a virtual tax haven? Taking the lead from the Prime Minister, why do we not bring in a highly popular Robin Hood transaction tax on the banks, as other countries have done, without waiting for an international consensus? Yes, it would be better with such a consensus, but it can certainly be done effectively without it. If all those eminently reasonable proposals were pursued, the balance between tax increases for those who can well afford them and public expenditure cuts that hurt everyone else and begin to undermine the very core of our society could be substantially redressed. One of the paradoxesit has already come out in our debateis that all three parties seem to be saying, with varying degrees of panache, that the coming round of spending cuts will be more swingeing than under Margaret Thatcher. Some parties say it with relishthe Tories will always grab at a chance to shrink the statebut the Labour party is very different in that respect. It might regard the cuts as a necessary pain to be endured, but if that is the partys view I would question it on two grounds. First, if the Government are anywhere near accurate in their growth forecasts1 to 1.5 per cent. this year; and 3 to 3.5 per cent. in the succeeding two yearsthe need for massive destabilising cuts is hugely reduced. If the Government are right in their predictions for the two years 2011 and 2012, gross national product will increase by about 100 billion, of which the Governments take would be roughly 40 billion. That alone would go a long way towards closing the deficit, thus significantly reducing the need for spending cuts. I would be the first to express the doubtother hon. Members might have the same viewthat Government forecasts might well be unduly optimistic, but even if growth were only 2 per cent. a year, which I think is eminently plausible for those two years in a recovery, Government revenues would still increase by nearly 30 billion, which would make for a major shrinking of the deficit, greatly reducing the need for highly damaging cuts. There is a second point, however. This is the one part of the Budget with which I take issue. In his statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor said:
We will not go back to the interventionism of the past, but nor can we return to the hands-off approach of the freemarketeers.[Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 261.]
Of course no one wants a reversion to overall state planning, but the idea that the private sector is, or
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should be, exclusively the engine of growth, or that it is the sole or main generator of efficiency, is a Thatcherite canard that should be dispensed with rapidly, because there is simply no evidence to justify it. It cannot be asserted too often or too strongly that the present recession was caused by the dramatic collapse of private investment before the autumn of 2008. Between the preceding year and the succeeding year, there was a cataclysmic collapse in private investment amounting to, I believe, more than 35 per cent. That was hugely aggravated by the reckless excessesagainof private banking, and the consequences of those excesses. I must tell Ministers that we have as yet been given no commitment, or even a hint, of the establishment of a committee of inquiry or royal commission to look into the causes of what happened and recommend ways of preventing it from happening again, which I believe is urgently needed. What I think is called for now is a partnershipI am not referring to interventionismbetween the public and private sectors, in which at times of deep recession the public sector would take the lead. Private investment will not improve until the prospects of profitability improve substantially. Merely titillating the private sector with a range of tingling but rather small incentiveswhich is what the Budget does, because my right hon. Friends room for manoeuvre was extremely smallwill not generate the necessary scale of recovery within anything like the time scale that is required for a Government to deal with the still very high level of unemployment. Let us never forget that 2.5 million people remain jobless. Mr. Hayes rose Mr. Meacher: I will give way to the hon. Gentleman for the second time. Mr. Hayes: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. It is arguable that, as he is asserting, in an ordinary economic cycle with consequent ordinary economic conditions, a case could be made for increased public borrowing to offset private saving, but this is not an ordinary saving. The deficit is structural, not cyclical, to an unprecedented degree. I therefore suggest that the right hon. Gentlemans argument does not hold water, although he and I may have a romantic affection for it. Mr. Meacher: Of course I take the hon. Gentlemans point. There is a significant structural deficit as well as the cyclical deficit. Whichever form of deficit we are considering, however, what the market wants is not the cutting of the deficit per se, but the prospect of the economys being pushed strongly towards a course of growth that will reduce the deficit more quickly and more effectively than any other measure. I think that the role of the public sector is important in that context, especially given the depth of the recession. I do not say this to be aggravating, but it is factually clear that the private sector will never be prepared to make the first move without the support ofindeed, a strong, vigorous lead fromthe public sector. I believe that the one serious omission from the Budget is the omission of any systematic action by Government to promote public sector jobs programmes in certain sectors. The decline in house building has been greater than any in the last 80 years1.8 million households, 12,000 of them in my constituency, are stranded on the waiting listand there has also been a decline in infrastructure
improvement. We are talking not about make work jobs, but about jobs that are desperately needed in our society at present. I believe that there is broad agreement on the need to drive forward the new green, digital economy. That must be done if we are to reduce unemployment by 1 million in two years, thus swinging the economy out of budget-dependent joblessness into job-providing growth yielding higher revenues for the Treasury in the form of income tax, national insurance and VAT. Let me give credit where it is due: the Government have moved a considerable distance from the market triumphalism of the last three decades. Sadly, however, they are still stuck in Thatcher market mode, in which it is only considered appropriate for the private sector to take the lead. That is an absurd economic prejudice and, in my view, a serious mistake which this Government, once re-elected, should rapidly correctthus giving a much better grounding to what could otherwise be described as a Budget that has been skilfully balanced in unprecedentedly difficult circumstances. 7.46 pm Mr. Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher). As he probably knows, I would always have voted for him in internal Labour party elections if only I had had a vote in those contests. I agree with much of what he said, and I shall return to it shortly. I have been taking part in Budget debates in this Chamber for 23 years. I know that that is a mere smidgen of time compared to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), but it is a fair spell none the less. I warmly congratulate the Chancellor of the Exchequer, not on the direction of his Budget and still less on its content but certainly on its timing. He is one of the few Chancellors in recent timesover those 23 yearswho have resisted the temptation to hold Budgets in the middle of the Cheltenham National Hunt festival. For that, and that alone, I am profoundly grateful, together with many other people in the country, and in that spirit of generosity I warmly congratulate him. I said that I had participated in 23 Budget debates, but that is not entirely true. During the first, I was unfortunately and, of course, entirely unjustly suspended from the Chamber by a narrow vote of 354 to 19. It was, obviously, a close-run thing. Any of the 354 who are present nowcertainly the hon. Member for South Staffordshirewill recognise the error of their ways. Checking the record today, however, I noted that one of the 19 was the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, the right hon. Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo). I do not forget these things. Let me assure the right hon. Lady that ifperish the thoughtthe Portillo effect were to overcome her in the coming election, a warm ministerial welcome would await her north of the border. However, I am sure that no such unfortunate circumstance will befall her in the coming campaign. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury was unfortunate to miss the start of the debate today. Had he been present, he would have been treated to a fascinating vignette featuring the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Familiesthe next Chancellor but oneand
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[Mr. Alex Salmond] the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), the shadow Business Secretary, who were discussing whether the cuts proposed by the Government would indeed be deeper and tougher than those made by Margaret Thatcher. I do not think there is much doubt about the Chancellors view. I have consulted Nick Robinsons Newslog, which has clearly overtaken Hansard as the main record of such matters. Last Thursdays edition reads as follows:
I asked Alistair Darling to spell out how tough spending cuts could be: Robinson: The Treasurys own figures suggest deeper, tougher than Thatchersdo you accept that? Darling: They will be deeper and tougher.
Conservative party, the long-term health and welfare of this country would be better served.[Official Report, 29 June 1987; Vol. 118, c. 321.]
I believed that then and I believe it now, and I am astonished that the process over recent years has managed to make the rentier economy of Thatchers Britain of the 1980s look like small beer, because it is clear that this Prime Minister, who once claimed to have abolished boom and bust, had pinned the foundations of that in a totally unsustainable fashion, and now we have landed in the largest bust since the great depression. When I was elected as a Member of Parliament back in 1987, the public sectors net worththe value of public assets minus liabilitiesstood at 74 per cent. of national income. By 1997, it had fallen to 15 per cent., and if we are to believe the forecasts in the Red BookI should stress that if in 2014-15 it will reach minus 5 per cent., which is the lowest level since records began. I suppose that boom and bust was abolished, therefore: certainly the boom bit has been abolished, and we have been left with the bust. What I cannot understand in this process is that in the equivalent debate last year, when I suggested that the detail of the Red Book would, indeed, show that there would be greater cuts than those of Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s, there was a huge amount of irritation from those on the Labour Benches. Now, however, the Chancellorif not the Schools Secretary admits that, and when the Chief Secretary appeared on Question Time last Thursday night with me, he immediately confirmed the Chancellors view when that direct question was put to him. This is a serious situation. I argued in the debate 12 months ago that until there is enough strength in the private sector, it is vital that fiscal stimulus is maintained. I am not alone in arguing that case. It is not only the right hon. Member for Oldham, West and Royton who agrees, but so too does the International Monetary Fund. We can both quote it in our favour, although that is not something we have done regularly over the years. None the less, the IMF argues that
one of the key lessons from experiences of similar crises is that a premature withdrawal of policy stimulus can be very costly, particularly if the financial system is weak.
As far as the Chancellor was concerned, that seemed to be a pretty direct answer to a direct question, but as far as the Secretary of State was concerned earlier in todays debate, that was not the position as he understood itinitially, I thought, just for his Department, but it then emerged that, as he understood it, it was not the position for the entire Government. We went through a range of possible explanations, one of which was incredible. The Schools Secretary actually suggested that Margaret Thatcher had not been engaged in cutting education funding in real terms. I think he should tell Baron Hattersley, who on 12 July 1988 said that the then Prime Minister was planning massive cutsin education spending. Clearly, however, the passing of time has altered the Schools Secretarys memory of such occasions. Perhaps he was not advising Baron Hattersley at that particular time. Mr. Leigh: I cannot help but ask the right hon. Gentleman this question: would he prefer to have a Labour or a Conservative Chancellor after the next election? Mr. Salmond: Although I concede it may not be the likeliest circumstance to arise from the campaign and election, with balanced Parliaments a possibility, perhaps the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) will be taking up that roleor I understand that it might be the sainted presence on the Liberal Benches, the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable). Unfortunately, it will not be my old friend the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) since he, tragically in my view, has decided to forsake the House just when it needs him most to step in to that role. Any of these people, however, would be infinitely preferable to Tweedledum or Tweedledee, whom we might well get. Enough of this frippery, however; let us move on to the substanceif I can find itof the Budget. When Members make their final speech in the House, it is traditional for them to refer back to their maiden speechafter all, it often contains the best lines we ever deliver here. In my maiden speech, I saidand I meant itthat my constituency of Banff and Buchan has
robust characters who work with their hands and get their faces dirty. They are involved in producing, making and catching things. They are people engaged in the manufacturing and primary sectors who are the real creators of wealth. If Government policy was orientated more to the primary and manufacturing sectors of industry, rather than to the rentier economy produced by the
We believed that that was the Prime Ministers position for much of the last year with his warnings that recklessly and rapidly withdrawing Government support would
risk driving our economy back into recession.
Also, the Chancellor argued in his Budget statement of this year:

To start cutting now risks derailing the recovery.[Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 235.]
Therefore, just as I looked at the Red Book last year and identified a trend of public spending cuts greater than that of Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s, chart 2.5 of this years Red Book clearly shows that the UKs fiscal stance for 2010-11 is negative. Discretionary fiscal policy will act to tighten public spending and taxation relative to 2009-10. One analyst states that
despite all the warnings about withdrawal
of
support too early, the fiscal stance is being tightened in 2010/11 by 1.1 per cent. of GDP.
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Mr. Ken Purchase (Wolverhampton, North-East) (Lab/Co-op): Does the right hon. Gentleman accept, however, that although the Chancellors remarks may be seized upon and used for great merriment or other purposes, the truth of the matter is that during the years of the Thatcher curse we were not cutting away fat or meat; we were sawing at bones? Given that there has been a fourfold increase in vital services since Labour came to power, does the right hon. Gentleman accept that however deep the cuts, they will never match the damage done by the cuts under Thatcher? Mr. Salmond: I advise the hon. Gentleman to look again at the projections in the Red Book, because if they are followed through they will wipe out all the expenditure and public spending gains in the previous 13 years. Although I do not want just to reiterate this single quote from the Chancellor, which will hang around Labours neck in the coming campaign like an albatross, please let us remember that the Chancellor did not only say that the cuts would be deeper; he also said that they would be tougher, by which he presumably meant he was going to cut deeply where no one had cut before. That is the wrong approach. Among the G20 nations, only Argentina and the UK stand apart in choosing to provide no further fiscal stimulus. That might have been justifiable if the rate of recovery had exceeded the Chancellors predictions, but that is not the case. The Red Book revised the growth forecast for coming years downwards, not upwards, yet despite that the fiscal response remains roughly as it was in the 2008 pre-Budget report. With the honourable exception of the previous two speakers from the Labour Benches, especially the right hon. Member for Oldham, West and Royton, our debate has centred on how deeply the cuts in public spending must slice and how quickly they must happen. Therefore, it is right and proper that a different approach is suggested. I believe that the best way forward is to grow the economy out of recession for the very reasons the right hon. Gentleman spelled out: growth in the economy is the single greatest determinant of closing a budget deficit, just as a reductiona loss of capacity in the economy, such as the 6 per cent. we have lost over the past two yearsis the dominating and overwhelming reason for the 167 billion public sector deficit. The fiscal stimulus is not the cause of this record borrowing, therefore. The stimulus we have had over the last year is one of the reasons why the borrowing has not been even greater and why the economy has not gone totally off a cliff over the last 12 months. Therefore, it is all the more puzzling that the Red Book does not contain a stimulus for this year. In the introduction to todays debate we were treated to a discussion of economic history from the shadow Business Secretary and the Schools Secretary. I was reminded that Denis Healey said that Margaret Thatcher had given us sado-monetarism, but, of course, Joe Stiglitz has called the stance of this Government fiscal fetishism whereby
cutting back means the economy goes into a downturn and the markets lose even more confidence, triggering another recession or depression.
There is a strong case for a directed capital acceleration or fiscal stimulus this coming year to do the very thing to which the right hon. Member for Oldham, West and Royton drew our attention: getting the economy moving into a growth cycle, which would have more effect than anything else in reducing the budget deficit. We cannot cut our way out of a recession, but we could cut our way into a double-dip recession. Yet the Red Book proposes no further fiscal stimulus, so that is precisely what those on the Treasury Bench are proposing. These are difficult times for public finances and it is proper that we identify not only general efficiency savings, as the other parties have done, but projects that could be cut altogether and rendered null and void, thus saving the country billions of pounds. I am thinking of the 100 billion over the next generation that is proposed to be spent on Trident missiles. The right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), who is leaving the House, said that one of her great delights during her time in this place was seeing both parties move to support the Trident missile. Let me forecast that both Labour and the Tories will have to move in the opposite direction over the next few years, because the missile system is now not only totally unjustifiable and immoral, but totally unaffordable under any sensible projection of the UKs finances. As we ditch the Trident system, so let us ditch the remnants of the identity cards system, the underground repository for nuclear waste and, as the climax of this identifiable cuts agenda, which contrasts with the vagueness of the efficiency savings proposed by the Government and the Opposition, we could abolish an entire Government Department in the form of the Scotland Office in Dover house. That would save only 10 million, but I am sure that when the Conservative party looks into its innermost soul it will acknowledge that it has always wanted to abolish an entire Department and will see the sense and logic of getting rid of the Scotland Office, which has managed to overrun its budget by 15 per cent. over the past year. That has been done under the nose of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I have enjoyed and relished this Chamber for all of my 23 years here. The rest of the Palace of Westminster I can take or leave, but this is a fantastic Chamber and a fantastic place for debate to be joined. It has a great atmosphere and at its best it is second only to the Scottish parliamentary Chamber, which looks better on telly. None the less, this is a fine place to have enjoyed debating. I have met and clashed with a number of formidable debaters and speakers from both sides of the House, and I have enjoyed every minute of doing that. I wish well the individual Membersif not necessarily their parties. However, I should say that what has happened over the past 23 years has strengthened my absolute conviction that the case for our having full determination over Scotlands finances and resources has never been more urgent and has never required to be better made than it is now. Mr. Deputy Speaker: May I remind the House that there is now a 12-minute limit on Back-Bench speeches? 8.3 pm Mr. Ken Purchase (Wolverhampton, North-East) (Lab/ Co-op): It is an interesting experience following the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond),
We should learn the lessons of other countries experiences. In the 1990s, the Japanese Governments debt was 65 per cent. of GDP. Following a prolonged economic downturn and slowdown, they withdrew fiscal support too soon, and that debt is now approaching 200 per cent. of GDP.
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[Mr. Ken Purchase] who is known for his rapier wit. I shall resist the almost irresistible temptation to joust with him this evening, because I would not want to have to make a round condemnation of nationalism in any form. I, of course, wish him well in his future role in the Scottish Parliament. It would not have been my personal choice to have a Parliament in Scotland. Birmingham and its surroundings has a larger population than Scotland in any case, so if there is to be a Parliament in Scotland, there should, thus, certainly be a Parliament in the west midlandsbut I think that we should resist that temptation too. I welcome this Budget, not because I think it is scintillating or that it will transform peoples lives but because this 14th Labour Budget was smart. It picked up on a little of the Belize debate, by bringing about a new tax regime. It was also smart in its use of changes in stamp duty. The Budget was sensible, because the windfalls afforded to us by lower unemployment than was expected and by the bigger take from the banking bonuses have been used to reassure the international markets, rather than to have a spending spree just before a general election. I believe that that is understood by the British public and will be appreciated. The Budget is also well crafted. After almost every Labour Budget the Conservative press have done their best to disaggregate it, to take it apart and to ensure that nobody can feel that we have had a good Budget. We have had 14 very good Budgets, but this one was particularly well crafted and it has been extremely difficult to take it apart in the usual manner. Those 14 Budgets have meant cumulative benefits to my constituents which I do not think would have accrued from a continuation of Conservative policies. Pensioner credits, child credits, heating allowances, and Sure Start and childrens centres make an extraordinary difference to the quality of life of people in my constituency, as does the minimum wage. I do not think that the minimum wage is a substitute for vigorous trade union action. There can never be a better guarantee of good working conditions paid for at a proper rate than vigorous, strong and well supported trade unions. The minimum wage is a simple mechanism that, in the absence of strong trade unions, has produced a sensible outcome for people who were being paid a miserable pittance, of whom there were many in my constituency. I am thinking, in particular, of younger people in that regard. Younger people in my constituency were being paid as little as a pound an hour for working in a petrol station, and if there were any deficiencies at the end of the evening, they were expected to make those up. The minimum wage has been a very helpful development for my constituents. Waiting times have reduced dramatically in the health service. We have four times as many consultants in my local hospital as there were previously. We also have the health teams to back them up: the nurses; the technicians; the maintenance workers on the estate; and the hotel service workers who deal with laundry, the food and the cleaning services, which are so vital to us. The massive improvements in waiting times have made such a difference to so many people. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), who gave an excellent speech, and I appreciate the support that he has given to the hospital that Wolverhampton shares with his constituency. This Government have done a
terrific job in improving the quality of peoples health, in ensuring better budgetary control, on the quality of treatment and, above all, on providing people with very much better service through these improved waiting times. On education, considerable increases have, again, been made in staffing and we have brought new technology into classrooms. We said, Education, education, education, but just as importantly the then Prime Minister promised that every child would have access to a computer. Who believed that that would happen? Now, every school that one visits has been re-equipped and equipped again with the latest technology to assist pupils in learning. That has been a tremendous achievement. My disappointment, which I cannot cover up, is that we have spent far too much time on structures, new missions, reorganisations and this idea of choiceit is a myth really. I am sorry to say that until there is a 10 to 15 per cent. surplus of places, the idea of parental choice is nonsense. I wish that Labour Front Benchers had recognised right from the start that the Labour mantra Every school a good school was the right one for socialists to pursue. Despite the great increase in expenditure, which was most welcome, and other wonderful achievements, the obsession with form, content and reorganisation has been a missed opportunity. On council housing, Labour has a great record on refurbishment, but why have we not been building? Why, in Wolverhampton, do we have as big a waiting list for council houses as we had in the 1970s when we were trying, and succeeding, to build council houses? If the health service is Labours greatest legacy to date, the greatest legacy that we could produce for public health is the provision of well-maintained council housing for people who need it. I want to discuss manufacturing, which is at the heart of my constituency. Throughout the post-war years, almost 70 per cent. of the people in my constituency were involved in manufacturing either directly or indirectly, but that percentage has fallen dramatically. From the 80s onwards, there were terrific job losses, which continued through later years. But modernisation has come, and productivity has been massively increased by the efforts of workers and managers pulling together to ensure that the best technology is available and that there is investment. Perhaps other hon. Members will, like me, recall visiting factories in their constituency where they would be likely to see a machine that had been pulled off the sea bed after the first world war, which some poor sodexcuse me, Mr. Deputy Speakerhad to operate. Now, old engineers like me can barely understand the technology that is being used to improve productivity in our factories. I welcome the approach that we have taken to boost apprenticeships, which are the lifeblood of engineering and our prosperity. I pay tribute to the aerospace industry in my constituency for continuing to take on apprentices through all the bad years. Goodrichformerly known as Lucas, and as Hobsons before thathas continued to take boys and girls into apprenticeships year on year, and that is paying off. It is doing extremely well and is taking on more people. We must grasp the new opportunities that improvements in manufacturing can bring in international markets, but such opportunities must be tempered by the recognition that all trade from now on must be fair trade that recognises the rights of workers here and internationally. It must be ethical.
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The mention of ethics makes me recall my friend and fellow socialist Robin Cook, whose tragic death has left a lacuna at the heart of Labour politics. He is sorely missed. He was my friend for 20 years, and I still miss him now, and I believe that the House also misses him. He was a great parliamentarian. He was the Leader of the House and the Foreign Secretary, but he will be remembered for his brave and intelligent attempts to bring reform. He warned us what would happen in relation to freedom of information, and we ignored what he said to our present-day cost. It remains for me to say something about this Parliamentthe tribune of the people. Again, I agree with my colleague the hon. Member for South Staffordshire. This is the tribune of the people, but the fourth estate continues to criticise, undermine and damage, almost certainly at the expense of the vitality of our democracy, and we find ourselves in positions that we have to defend when we should be getting on with the business here. A free and vigorous press is a necessary, but insufficient, part of our democracy. Above all, it needs to become rhetoric-light and hyperbole-light. It should try to produce reports that reflect the reality, rather than producing some of the diabolical reporting that we have had the misfortune of seeing. As I leave this place, I thank the many people here who have treated me with kindness and fairness. The staff have been terrific. I thank the people of Wolverhampton who elected me four times, even though they once failed to do so, which was a terrible thing to do, and I thank the Labour party for choosing me to stand for it. Most of all, I thank my wife, without whose support and love I could not have done what I have done. This year, we celebrate 50 years of marriage. I leave this place a happy man. 8.15 pm Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry) (Con): First, may I congratulate the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase)? I have always found him to be authentic and tremendous voice for the manufacturing industrya great tribute and honour to the House. In making my own concluding remarks, I also want to mention my great affection and respect for my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), who made distinguished contributions, as did the leader of the Scottish Nationalists here, the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond). This has been a rather good debate, which has been enjoyable to listen to. There is not much time left, but I must say that I am struck by the way in which a career can cycle around and come back to where it was. In July 1966, I joined the Conservative research department as a very young economist. The day after, one G. Brown, Her Majestys Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, had confided in the House, and I paraphrase, We are running the economy in a way that no economy has ever been run before. Now, one could find that another G. Brown and his Chancellor are running the economy in very much the same way as the first G. Brown did 44 years ago. At some time, we all have to get around to clearing out our offices, and I am doing that. Today, I came across the transcript of the Committee stage of the
Bank of England Act 1998, which my right hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) has also mentioned. In that Committee, we discussed the independence of the Bank of England and the restructuring of the regulatory system. On 4 December 1997, I moved a series of amendments that were intended to test the strength and integrity of the Governments tripartite financial regulatory system, and we were told that it was all down to a memorandum of understanding. All I will say nowwith hindsight, I readily admitis that things went wrong not just in Britain, but internationally, and beyond our worst fears. They have triggered a massive recession and have paved the way for what I would describe as a hiatus of a Budget, because everyone is too frightened to move, at least on the Government side. They have left us all in the waiting room. We are waiting for some very unpleasant fiscal surgery, further particulars of which will be afforded at a later stage. On the balance of judgment, I have found it interesting that the voices from the leftwe heard two togetherand from the Scottish Nationalists have gone for the public spending solution. I do not believe that is plausible, but we have to find a balance, and I do not want my position to be caricatured at this late stage as saying that we want a kind of fiscal masochism of any kind. We need to tune things very carefully, but we need to bring the private sector with us, but the fear of further tax increases is the best way of killing any recovery. Let me make two brief points that are more or less tax-related, and then three wider points. I regret that the Government have done nothing to abort the proposals to increase national insurance contributions or to reverse their proposals to truncate the personal allowances and superannuation deductions for higher earners. In that alone, they have aggravated a problem that has long troubled me, because they have imposed further arbitrary fits and starts in what should be a reasonably progressiveI hope moderately progressivetax system. Just as there are ridiculous marginal rates with benefit withdrawals, we now have in the tax systemwilfully hurdles, dips and troughs. Spikes of marginal rate that are highly anomalous create deterrence. That is perhaps best seen, and most relevantly to the Budget, in the classic slab system that still applies to stamp duty. How many transactions for houses are done at 250,001, or at 1,000,001? The answer is very few, and that of course creates marginal rates on the order of thousands of per cent., because it is all or nothing when one goes over the limit. The second anomaly has to do with national insurance contributions. They have been built up by the Government as a second and politically more palatable form of income tax, but there are again major anomalies. For instance, one arises when a man reaches 65: I have worked out that the grossed-up value of no longer having to pay employee national contributions is almost as great as the value of the pension. We need to tackle anomalies like that if we are to provide rational, coherent and consistent incentives for people to stay on in the labour force. Given the possible abolition of the default retirement age, such an approach might even give employers some incentive to maintain people in employment after that age. I shall share my wider concerns briefly with the House. They may appear a bit diverse, but I think that there is a common underlying theme. My first concern
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[Mr. Tim Boswell] is that we still say too little about effective productivity and competitiveness. That has been a bit depressing today, yet we are in a lethally competitive world. Alongside British car firms, Volvo has just gone to a Chinese buyer. On the financial side, it is interesting to note that the City of London Corporation commissioned an Asian consultancy to produce reports on global financial centres. The seventh and final report has just been published, and the research has been described as being
a wake-up call for policy makers that Londons standing as a world-leading global financial centre should not be taken for granted.
We cannot allow things to collapse through the middle, without anyone being responsible for what has happened. This recession has not been an act of God; it has been an act of mana series of systemic failures. We need accountability at the highest level of state Government. We know that these have been difficult times, and government is never easy. Any Government would have been tested to destruction at the present time but, partly through their over-optimism, arrogance and rhetoric, we now find that this Labour Government have failed. I think that they will be held accountable for that very shortly. 8.26 pm Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate. It is rather like the ones that follow a general election, when one has to speak after maiden speeches and say, What a marvellous prospect my hon. Friend for Daventry will certainly be in the years to come in this Parliament, given that he has made such a brilliant speech! We have had some wonderful speechesfrom the right hon. Members for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) and for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher), and from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase). We have had a lot of old Labour speeches: perhaps they are as much unreconstructed old Labour as much as I am unreconstructed old Tory. We have a lot in common. The right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan made a most marvellous speech. We love him so much because we know that he really loves this place: for all that he is a so-called nationalist, he is very sad to be leaving, and that is why we hold him in such respect. We also had a marvellous speech from my right hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), who totally confused us by trying to work out what a billion seconds add up to. We got there in the end, but he was making the very important point that language has been so corrupted that no onenot the public, nor uscan visualise what a billion or a trillion is. That is why it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to put pressure on Governments to control public spending. However, it is worth saying that the deficit is so huge that the Government will have to borrow more in 2009-10 and 2010-11166 billion and 163 billion, respectivelythan the entire income tax take last year. As my right hon. Friend said, that will raise the debt to 1.46 trillion. What is 1.46 trillion? What is a billion? This is how I describe a billion to my constituents. Look at those mansions in the constituency of the Liberal partys spokesman, the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable). He calls them mansions, but many of them are ordinary family houses worth 1 million, so 1,000 of those make a billion. That is how we have to visualise those figures to try to get home to the public the appalling difficulties that we are in. Once again, the Chief Secretary, unfortunately, is not with us, although I hope he will respond to all these points, because that is what Parliament is for. It is not about making set-piece speeches; it is about responding to the debate. My appeal to the House and to those on all three Front Benches is that we should be honest. The fact is that in the next Budget, after the general election, for all classes of taxpayerfrom those at the very
Add in continuing concerns about skills deficiencies and the declining productivity of the public sector, and we have a fight on our hands. If we are to fight that fight effectively, we must look to our social as well as our economic cohesion. Strangely, my upbringing took place on a co-operative farm. My father was a manager, and a Tory. I have stayed in the one-nation camp: I have not departed from that, and I have great sympathy with the renewed emphasisit is not newthat my party is placing on social action and the voluntary sector. I believe that the new emphasis will soften the harshness that any Government would have to impose on our society, and that it will help tackle the frustration that we feel as we see more of our lives and income going to the state. The state proclaims itself to be beneficent, but it does not really provide the services that we feel that we should get, and we do not have ownership of the process. Most of us here can argue our way to getting our full share of the benefits of the public sector. However, I am always conscious of the people who, faced with that problem, come to see us in our surgeries because they are confused, demotivated and disempowered. We in this place have a duty to think together about how we can equip all our people with a good education as a basis for personal and social development, and with the right mix of skills. They must also have a reasonable progression in employment, and in their chance to take personal responsibility. That should include a share in public and local decision making, which in turn implies a more decentralised public sector. If we do not get that, we will remain stuck with a high deficit, and with national underachievement and despair. That brings me to my final point, which has to do with trust. The financial crisis was about a collapse in trust, and I shall always remember a cartoon that depicted a situation that I think that we have all seen. A person is about to a pay a filling station cashier. A queue is forming behind him, and the cashier says, Its all right, sir. Your credit cards OK, but were just making another call to check whether your bank is. No one believes in the banking system. In the same way, no one believes in us as politicians. I think that it is all related. Whatever we say, people immediately throw it back at us. The answer is that we all have to learn to be more accountable, which involves more than process, or form, or box ticking. If we in this place want to be trusted again to make decisions on behalf of society, we need to knowand make clearwho carries the can for failure.
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bottom to those in the middle and those at the topthe real burden of taxation will increase. It is better to say that now. We will not be able to get that money off just the rich. True, the Government have increased taxation on higher income tax payers by 7 billionthey will do so by 2012-13but the Treasury believes that the yield from the 50 per cent. rate, for instance, will be just 2.4 billion, because high earners will adjust their behaviour in ways that mean that they avoid incurring all the increased liabilities. We know that, so let us not delude ourselves that the rich will pay. We will all pay, from the bottom to the top. The next point that I want to make about honesty is that all Departments of Sate will have to take cuts. That includes the Department of Health. That is the honest truth. Health spending has doubled in the past 10 years. We employ 1.6 million people in the NHS, which is, I think, the second largest employer in the world, but there has been a catastrophic decline in NHS productivity. I am sure that my hon. Friends, because they are honourable people, will meet their pledge to increase resources in real terms every year if they are lucky enough to form the next Government, but of course the famous Baroness Thatcherthe great right winger, so often referred to in the debatedid exactly the same. However, if health spending is increased by 0.5 per cent. in real terms, that will ensure a cut in health outcomes because of the ageing population and the increasing number of more and more expensive drugs. Let us be honest with the people: everyone will end up paying more tax and they will all see cuts in Departments, including health, international development, education and transport. If health and international development, but particularly health and the benefits system, are absolved from cuts, that will ensure massive cuts in other Departments. My Committee has already alluded to the black hole in the Ministry of Defence budget. Even if we assume the 2.7 per cent. increase in defence spending, which by the way will not happen because whoever forms the next Government will probably freeze the defence budget, there is a 6 billion black hole. If we start to make real cuts, that could rise to 80 billion. Let us be honest about it: there will be real cuts and real tax increases. There will also be these famous efficiency savings. I hope that this is not my valedictory speech as a Member of Parliamentthat is up to the good folk of Gainsboroughbut it is certainly my valedictory speech as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. I think I know a little about efficiency savings. I have interviewed 1,000 civil servants over the past 10 years and chaired 420 hearings. Let us not place too much credence on efficiency savings. The Budget promised, did it not, 11 billion-worth of efficiency savings. Many of the areas highlighted by the Government chime with areas that my Committee has had to focus on, such as the overuse of expensive management consultants, wasteful use of IT, inefficient management of the Governments vast property estate, poor procurement of goods and services and the desperate need of better project management. If there is one way to keep a secret, it is, as we all know, to make a speech in the House of Commons. The next best way is to send a letter to all colleagues, because it will certainly end up in the bin like these leaflets from the Conservative and
Labour parties, which we have all been putting through letterboxes. I have tried to outline in a letter to colleagues some of the lessons that can be learned. Let me say a little about these famous efficiency savings. Last December, the National Audit Officea non-political bodyreviewed the savings claims made respectively by the Department for Transport and the Home Office. It cast enormous doubt on the reported savings. In 2007, we found that there was a question mark over nearly three quarters of the claimed 13.3 billion annual efficiency savings. The philosophers stone has been referred to in the debate. People imagine that efficiency savings are like thatthat somehow we can turn iron into gold. That simply does not happen. There is wishful thinking going on here. Those claims, from either party, must be real and demonstrable. They must be delivered year after year. They cannot be just one-offs. They are not genuine efficiency savings if, as we have found in many cases, they are achieved at the expense of the quality of the service. This is an opportunity. Just as falling markets are an opportunity to promote efficiency in the private sector, so the freeze in budgets that we are now going to achieve, because we have no choice, should produce real efficiency savings. But do not assume for a minute that they can be achieved without some cut in the service provided to the public. I am delighted to see the hon. Member for Twickenham, because, like me, he has often questioned these efficiency savings. We hear so often about the sharing of back-office services, as if this was a great achievement. The PAC has heard great claims about these back-office functions. Let us look at one. The Department for Transport planned and implemented a shared corporate services project. That is the sort of language that the Treasury loves. This was carried out with stupendous incompetence. Rather than saving the taxpayer 57 million over 10 years, which, of course, all adds up to these 11 billion of efficiency savings, it will, because of the incompetence with which it was carried out, cost the taxpayer an extra 81 million, so no efficiency savings there. Perhaps one reason was that the computers spewed out instructions in German. Perhaps the thinking was that the only way to be efficient in Whitehall is to speak German. Unfortunately, most of the clerks in the Department for Transport do not speak German, so do not place too much credence there. Time is short and I could go on and on, but I will not because it will bore hon. Members and anyway I will be called to order in a couple of minutes. The Budget announced plans to realise property savings of 5 billion a year in running costs and 20 billion in disposals. If we believe that, we will believe anything. The Inland Revenue, of all people, was to save 236 million by reducing the size of its estate. We looked at the Mapeley STEPS contract. What an extraordinary contract that was. Not only was it carried out in such a way that it did not provide value for money, but the Inland Revenue was giving the contract to an offshore provider. The Inland Revenue of all people, which was supposed to raise taxes, hired as its estate provider somebody who is a taxpayer offshore. Consultancy spend, we are told, will be cut by 50 per cent., but the PAC found that central Government alone was paying out nearly 2 billion a year in consultancy fees. A further 100 million is to be saved by cutting
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[Mr. Edward Leigh] benefit fraud. Benefits are staggeringly complex, but we have to take action. Last but not least is wiser and more effective IT spending. Apparently, if the Treasury is to be believed, the budget will be cut by 500 million. Look at the Rural Payments Agency, look at the NHS computer system. It will not happen. If we are to have real efficiency savings, we have to have an honest debate. As I said at the beginning, we have to raise taxes, balance the budget and produce real cuts in all programmes. Let us be honest with the people as we go into this general election. 8.38 pm Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP): This has been an enjoyable debate. Listening to the valedictory speeches from a number of well-respected Members has been a great experience. In particular, because I served under him in Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, I want to refer especially to the help that the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) has been to me as a new Member of the House, and the enjoyable time that I had under his chairmanship. Some Members are leaving public life altogether. The right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) is now going to run part of the Celtic fringe of this great United Kingdom, and I wish him well in that. The debate started off with an exchange between the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, who probably would like to be the Chancellor, and the shadow Business Secretary, whom many on the Opposition Benches might wish was the shadow Chancellor. But the one thing that became clear during the early exchanges in this debate was that this Budget is not the real Budget; it is a phony Budget. As the debate has developed, we have heard people talk about the hard choices that lie ahead and the difficult decisions that have to be made, but none of those difficult decisions has been made in this Budget; it is quite modest. Indeed, it contains about 1.4 billion of new measures, as opposed to the 5 billion of new measures that were in last years Budget. Coming from Northern Ireland, I welcome some measures, such as the delayed increase in fuel duty, which in my constituency, with its large rural area, will be welcomed by those who cannot avoid using private transport and do not have the option of public transport. The fuel duty increase would have been a huge imposition on them. Doing away with stamp duty for the first-time buyers of houses worth less than 250,000 will also be welcomed in Northern Ireland, where house prices ran well ahead of first-time buyers ability to enter the housing market. With almost 20 per cent. of people in Northern Ireland in fuel poverty, the additional winter fuel allowance will be welcomed, too. The Northern Ireland Executive will benefit by about 12.1 million in Barnett consequentials, and, even though that money will be offset by additional efficiency savings of almost 122 million this year, it will nevertheless be welcomed. However, we all recognise, and have recognised during this debate, the need to reduce public borrowing. Although the Chancellor has made much of the fact that borrowing is 11 billion less than he expected, it has nevertheless increased by 20 billion since last year, and our total borrowing is now 12.6 per cent. of GDP, with interest payments amounting to the same as that which we
spend on defence. We know that that situation is unsustainable, and, as the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh), the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, has pointed out, we need to be honest with people. We cannot pretend, as some Members have done, and say that after the second world war we had a huge debt and waited until 2002 to pay it all off. We do not have that luxury, given the financial situation and how the banking system and financial markets will view the deficit, so we need a degree of candour with the electorate. We need also to tell the electorate that the issue will not be dealt with just by efficiencies; there will be cuts to front-line services, and we will need to look at some things that we do in the public sector and whether we should continue to do them. I hope that this does not sound contradictory, but I welcome the fact that, although we are at least now considering how we reduce the deficit, the Chancellor has not jumped in to take action and make swingeing cuts. Whether they are as deep as the cuts that Mrs. Thatcher introduced in the 1980s, or more modest, when I look at the issue from the perspective of Northern Ireland, I think that this would have been the wrong time to make them. Northern Ireland is still not out of the recession, and, while there has been a gradual upturn in other parts of the United Kingdom, unemployment is still increasing in Northern Ireland, house prices are still falling and the purchasing managers index, which shows the orders that are coming through for businesses, has fallen in Northern Ireland while it has increased elsewhere in the country. Although we will have to face the deficit, there are nevertheless good grounds for saying that the reductions should not be introduced immediately. There has been some debate about whether there is any connection between spending now and the recovery. I would argue, after looking at some public sector infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland, that spending now gives us better value for money. Construction costs are down by 20 per cent. Because of the state of the construction industry, we can get six schools for every five that we purchased before, or we can get extra miles of road. Indeed, were it not for public investment in Northern Ireland, the construction industry, which now has about 53 per cent. of its work coming from the public sector, would have even greater levels of unemployment than it has at present. In the past year, there has been a reduction of more than 7,000 in jobs in the construction industry, but that could have been far worse without continued public spending. I recognise, however, that that cannot go on for ever. I also accept that Northern Ireland cannot be exempt from what happens in the rest of the United Kingdom. Two things are essential. First, we must have a greater degree of certainty about what is going to happen with the level of cuts and reductions. That has not been the case to date. Departments need to plan ahead to see how they can deal with the reductions that are going to be made. Those reductions cannot suddenly be parachuted insome preparations must be made. Mr. Leigh: The truth is that preparations are being made at this precise moment, but people are not being told about it. Sammy Wilson: That brings me to my question for the Chief Secretary; I hope that we will get some answers when he replies to the debate. If the plans are
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thereif it is known what will happen to departmental expenditure levelswhy is that information not being passed down so that proper plans can be made by Departments and, especially, devolved Administrations, and they can play their part in a constructive approach to the difficulties that face us as a nation? As the position developsthe plans that are in place may well changewhy cannot information be continually fed to devolved Administrations so that they know how the situation is changing? Secondly, there are ways of protecting public services, one of which is a cap on public sector pay. I know that the Chancellor has indicated that he does not want to see pay increases of more than 1 per cent. However, we still have a bonus culture in the public sector. Ironically, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom in which, despite the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body, bonuses for senior civil servants were not implemented last year. That is in keeping with the approach that we need. Bonuses often take up a huge part of public sector pay and are a cause of public resentment, as well as queries as to why people are getting paid huge bonuses when Departments are not performing. It would be useful to hear the Chief Secretarys thoughts about ongoing public sector pay negotiations and whether a pay freeze would be a way of protecting, at least to some extent, the provision of public services. I do not believe that the current situation is still sustainable, and anyway, I am a natural philosopher and my view of life is that I would rather people have their own money to spend rather than have it taken off them in tax increases and spent by the public sector. There is a balance to be a struck and a need for certainty, and the importance of timing cannot be overestimated. We will gain in credibility as a Parliament only if we approach the financial difficulties in an honest way, as the hon. Member for Gainsborough said. We must lay out all our cards for the public. I listened to interviews on Newsnight the other night, and people were saying, Do they think were fools? We know that if were spending more in our own houses we have to cut our spending, and we know youve got to do it for the nation. 8.50 pm Mr. Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): I first draw Members attention to my ever-diminishing entry in the register of interests. I join others in paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) and my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) for their services not just to our party but to the House. I doubt that I will last as long as them in the House, and I have huge respect for all they have achieved. They are incredibly independent individuals who have followed their own paths and achieved great success here, and I wish them luck after they retire. In Budget after Budget when he was Chancellor, the Prime Minister consistently pledged, No return to boom and bust. It was his defining mantra, but now we know that he did not abolish boom and bust, he simply fuelled it. Millions of families, pensioners and businesses are now paying the price for more than a decade of economic mismanagement and fiscal imprudence.
The Budget that we are debating was the current Chancellors chance to leave a better economic legacy for our country than his predecessor, the Prime Minister. It was a chance to present a credible plan, get the British economy moving again, support hard-working families, offer a new direction for public services, reverse the tax on jobs and offer equality of opportunity for all. Instead, we got a do-nothing Budget from a Government with nothing new to offer. The legacy of this Labour Government is clear: they have taken Britain right from boom through to bust. It is on that record of boom and bust that the Prime Minister will shortly be judged at the ballot box, and it is that record that I wish to examine a little today. I begin with the budget deficit. With due respect to the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson), who is no longer in his place, he seems to live in a parallel universe. We are living with perhaps the worst budget deficit in the G7. We have a worse deficit than even Greece. In fact, I believe it is the worst in the developed world. For too many years, the Prime Minister has been effectively maxing out the nations credit card, and his solution and that of the Chancellor in the Budget is to say, Lets take out a new credit card. We are treading on dangerous ground, and in fact the Government have been chastised by both the European Commission and the Bank of England for their lack of clarity in dealing with the budget deficit. The financial markets have begun to punish their fiscal imprudence. I believe that in the credit default swaps market, McDonalds is rated higher than the British Government today. This Budget did nothing to allay anybodys concerns. Reducing projected borrowings by a projected paltry 11 billion provides no basis for rejoicing. Indeed, as we have heard, the Red Book shows that Government borrowing in 2009-10 is projected at 166 billion, which works outI am sorry that the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) is not here to hear thisat 456 million a day, or 19 million an hour, or 317,000 a minute, or 5,280 a second. That is the legacy that this Government are leaving for us to clear up, hopefully, after 6 May. On public debt, the last Conservative Government bequeathed national debt of some 350 billion. Under the Prime Ministers stewardship and his ceaseless moving of the goalposts of his now discredited golden rules, debt is forecast to reach some 777 billion this year. That means that each and every person will owe a liability of an extra 23,000 by 2014. As debt has increased, so has the cost of servicing it. We read in the Red Book that the debt interest for 2010-11 will be 41.6 billion. As we are discussing education today, I should say that that is in fact bigger than the whole of the schools budget of 40.6 billion. However, that is not the whole story. The Minister may be familiar with my analysis of the true extent of Government debt. Counting liabilities that are hidden off the balance sheet, debt now perhaps stands at a staggering 2.2 trillion. That includes public sector pension liabilities, to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. HeathcoatAmory) alluded, which are almost 1 trillion, private finance initiatives and bank debtwe must count the debts of the banks that we have acquired. The Chancellor may be comfortable for debt to rocket to a predicted 1.4 trillion on-balance sheet in 2014-15, but that is more than 100 per cent. of gross domestic product, and we cannot keep our heads in the sand any
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[Mr. Brooks Newmark] longer. The hard decisions must be taken now, and we need mechanisms in place to prevent any future profligate Chancellorsof any partyfrom frittering away taxpayers money. The Conservative party would establish an office of budget responsibility to provide an independent audit of all Government liabilities and to hold them to account for all their fiscal promises. This is all about transparency, and the Government have not been transparent with the public on the true extent of the nations debt, among other things. A lack of transparency permeates every aspect of the Prime Ministers legacy of boom and bust, yet surely now more than ever, taxpayers deserve transparency. The Government have rightly demanded rigorous transparency from banks and companies, but they lose all credibility when they refuse to apply the same standards to themselves. It seems that few lessons have been learnt. In his Budget speech, the Chancellor failed to mention the stealth hikes that are hidden in the small print. He has frozen all personal allowances, effectively increasing taxes for 30 million hard-working individuals up and down the country. The Chancellor also promised details on spending cuts, but instead, we have a 20 million black hole where details of future spending should be. Departmental officials have even admitted that they know nothing of those details. For a Government claiming economic rectitude to have no spending plans beyond next year simply defies belief, and economic and financial credibility. We need to create transparency throughout government both local and national. Savers are the economic bedrock of society, and those who prudently put away money during the good times in preparation for the hard times must be rewarded, yet that logic is entirely antithetical to our boom-and-bust Prime Minister. That is why household savings had dropped almost to zero when the recession hit. We are consistently one of the lowest-saving countries in the OECD. I was pleased with the doubling of the individual savings account limit in the Budget, but we need to go further to restore a savings culture. The path to prosperity depends on an economic model based on savings and investment, not consumer borrowing and Government debt. The poorest pay the highest taxes: the poorest 20 per cent. pay 39 per cent. in income tax while the richest 20 per cent. pay 35 per cent. Indeed, when the withdrawal of benefits is taken into account, low-paid earners have a marginal tax rate of some 96 per cent. Furthermore, child poverty has increased for the third year in a row. Today, some 4 million children live in poverty. Tony Blairs ambition of halving child poverty by 2010 has been left in tatters by this Prime Minister. As the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has concluded, the strategy against child poverty and social exclusion pursued since the late 1990s is largely exhausted. Today, one in five young people cannot find a job. In my constituency alone, unemployment has trebled. Will the 1 per cent. increase in national insurance be an incentive for employers to hire more people? I suspect not, and we are right to propose abolishing it. The Prime Minister talked about the collapse in sterling. In 1992, when he was shadow Chancellor, the Prime Minister said that
a weak currency arises from a weak economy which in turn is the result of a weak Government.
Never was a truer word spoken. We have heard about the sell-off of gold at prices four times below its level today, losing the Exchequer some 6 billion. The tax credits system has lost billions of pounds through incredible mismanagement, and the Public Accounts Committee has pointed out that
tax credits suffer from the highest rates of error and fraud in government.
My constituents would certainly agree. Every week I, like many hon. Members, hear from families facing real hardship, uncertainty and stress at a time they can ill afford it. I am a firm supporter of tax credits, but the system needs urgent reform. For a start, the Government should have used this Budget to focus on tax credits for households with incomes less than 50,000. The dissection of the Prime Ministers blueprint from boom to bust could go on, but the message is clear. The very boom and bust that the Prime Minister hubristically claimed to have abolished will now be the epitaph of this Labour Government. The Chancellor said that this Budget would be about choices, and his choice was simplegenerate the ideas and reform necessary to get Britain moving again, or end Labours terms in office with a continuation of the Prime Ministers boom and bust politics. The Chancellor made the wrong choice. A Budget comprising back-of-the-envelope sums and delivered with one eye on the ballot box was not the Budget that Britain needed. We do not need more of this debt, waste, tax and irresponsibility. Short-sighted political positioning should never come above the economic interests of the nation. We need change, vigour and ideas to get our economy moving again. In a few weeks time, I hope that that is exactly what we will have. 9.2 pm Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): Much of this long Budget debate has focused on apportioning blame for the present crisis. Many institutions and individuals, in Parliament and outsideand Parliament itselfmust take a considerable amount of the blame for the problems that we face, including the failure to regulate, overconfidence and arrogance. However, the crisis also took place against the backdrop of things that were way beyond the capacity of the UK to control or monitor. We have to be realistic about that. One thing of which I am certain is that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister are the best people to provide good stewardship and see the UK through the crisis. I have two historical parallels. At the time of the Norway debate, 70 years ago, Winston Churchill should arguably have taken some of the blame for that disaster as First Lord of the Admiralty. However, I have never had any doubt that he was the best person to prosecute the war with vigour and to victory. Margaret Thatcher could have been charged with abdicating her responsibilities and giving the green light to the Argentine dictators to take the Falkland Islands, but I have no doubt that she had the greatest chance of pushing the invader out and prosecuting that war with great success. In the same way, this Labour Government need to be returned in order to see us through this crisis and I have every confidence in their capacity to do so. I would like to refer to some aspects of the Budget. There has been a real attempt to protect fragile industries and small and medium-sized businesses, and, in many cases, to incubate them against the crisis swirling around
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us in the economy. It is essential that we protect our public services and, in so doing, maintain demand and stimulus. The Governments long trek to reducing public expenditure is the correct and prudent approach, unlike the approach that our friends in the Conservative party would rush to and which would create a deeper hole and crisis in the short term. The Chancellor is the best person to see us through the crisis, and I believe that his strategy is correct. Eighteen years ago, I made my maiden speech here. It was my fifth attempt to get elected to Parliament, and over the years I have been a Labour candidate of some sort on 13 occasions. It is with great pride that I have stood for the Labour party, and it is also with immeasurable pride that I have been the Member of Parliament for Thurrock, representing people of all persuasions to the best of my ability. It has been a great honour and privilege to serve them. My constituency has changed greatlyfor the betterin 18 years: there is higher employment and greater diversity, in terms of ethnicity and social class, and one could justifiably say that it is booming. The Labour Government will leave to the people of Thurrock a rich legacy, particularly in the improvement of education. My borough had been greatly deprived for many years by the old Essex county council. Getting unitary status and developing academies has benefited the children of my borough enormously over the past 18 years, particularly since the advent of the Labour Government. Of course, during those 18 years there have been some frustrations. It is a great pity that the Labour Government have never addressed the West Lothian question. It is a mistake to ignore this, as if it would go away. I also wish that we had gone faster on electoral reform, but as I leave Parliament, there is a real opportunity for a substantial change in the electoral system during the next Parliament. I wish, too, that we had tackled the upper House, whose functions are extremely important, but whose construction is of questionable legitimacy. If I had a chance of being one of the last to get there, that would be fine, but I would love to be one of the first of the new. If there are elections to the upper House in the future, and if I am fit and well, I would certainly like to throw my hat into the ring. I should add, before I digress totally, that the Budget also referred to my constituency in relation to the Dartford-Thurrock toll, which, as my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has said on several occasions, the Government want to privatise. I have no ideological objection to privatising the Dartford tunnel toll, but I do ask him again how he plans to do it. Mandarins, who are removed from the real world, have conjured up this idea, and Ministers repeat it like a mantra. I am not necessarily opposed to it, but I invite him, for the third time, to tell us how he plans to privatise or sell the Dartford toll. It is not clear to me how it could be achieved or what would be of benefit. I think it will be seen to be a non-runner. As I said, my constituency has changed greatly in my 18 years. To the great benefit of the community, we have absorbed large numbers of people who have come to this country, often in very distressful and adverse circumstances. We had the Bosnians in the mid-1990s, Kosovans, Afghans, people from war-torn parts of Africa and people trying to get out of the despotic regime that currently disfigures the wonderful country of Iran. That has put a great strain on my staff and colleagues, and
we have done our best to protect and promote these peoples interests. However, I have been particularly frustrated by how the Home Office has been unable to get on top of the chaos at Lunar house. Many hon. Members from across the political spectrum share that view. It is just unbelievable that there is such chaos upon chaos, but it also has distressing human consequences for families who do not know their status and who cannot travel or make contact with loved ones. I urge the Government to address that with some dispatch. We are also very proud of the growing Nepalese and Gurkha community in Thurrock. In particular, their young people are becoming wonderful role models in our schools. The Budget had a significant section on Government savings. I personally think that whoever forms the next Government needs to have a war on quangos, of which there are far too many, and also stop this perpetual so-calledbut wholly bogussystem of reorganisation. Both parties have been guilty of that in the past. There is enormous cost and loss in reorganisation. Good people retire early and are never seen again. It is like painting the Forth bridge, and the product is not much better at the end, if it is at all better. We had local government structures from 1888 to 1974 that worked well and underwent organic change. This obsession, of both the Tory and Labour parties, with reorganising the public sector nationally and locally is frankly bonkers and very costly, and I hope that this trend will end. I would also urge my hon. Friends to stop their obsession with creating things such as quangosor whatever gobbledegook they call itwith names like Stepping Stones, Partnership, Looking at Blue-Sky Policies, and all that kind of nonsense. Why do we not stop all that, have some definite structures and call public servants precisely what they are, with titles such as borough engineeror surveyor, which we understand, rather than director of this or director of that, for the six weeks before a further reorganisation? I am pleased that my friend the hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) is here. One of the great successes over the period in which I have been in Parliament has been the resolution of conflict in Northern Ireland. It is a wonderful place and I intend to spend more time there recreationally when I leave this place. I am also going to work on my notebookalas, it is not a diary, like that of my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), but there are some good things in it, and I want to codify them. Members who are leaving this House will want to say the following on behalf of those who are bravely standing again and hope to be returned. Being in this House is a priceless privilege, but it is also seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. There are many critics, and we should be subject to some criticism, but some of it is very harsh and unfair. I say to those who think that they can be a Member of Parliament better and more cheaply that not only can they stand for election, but arguably they have a duty to do so. They need to stand up for what they claim. The last point that I want to make, in thanking all the staff here, my staff, and my wife and family for their support, is this. Theodore Roosevelt said 100 years ago:
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
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[Andrew Mackinlay] I send my best wishes to Members from right across the political spectrum who are standing for re-election. I thank them for their fellowship while I have been in this House, and I hope that this place will strengthen itself in the next Parliament. 9.14 pm Mr. Brian Binley (Northampton, South) (Con): I have listened to some excellent speeches, many of which have been by people who will be leaving this House. It has been a privilege to be here, and I know that we all wish them well in the years to come. I also listened to some good people in Northampton over the weekend. I wanted to know what they thought about the Budget. I hate to say thisno I dontbut they gave me some bad news for the Chancellor, because they told me that the Government had not been honest about the size of the problem that the country faces. They feel that the Government have not been truthful about growth forecasts, their borrowing requirement, or their handling of public sector debt, and they are unhappy with the plan to cut the deficit through increased taxation. My constituents told me that they felt there were just two certainties. The first was the continuation of debt, waste and taxes, and the second was the continuation of pain for themselves and concern for the business world. They thought this was a fairytale Budget of could-bes, might-bes and maybes, and that it did little to eradicate the fears that they have voiced. They did not think it was good enough. The really sad thing was that not many of them felt any great hope for the futurecertainly not for the next four or five years. It is worrying that a Chancellor presenting his last Budget should create such an effect. So much for the responses of the people of Northampton. I want now to discuss one of the problems that they identified in a little more detail, howeverthat of public sector debt. I am not surprised that my sensible constituents expressed concern about this. We have only to look at the Treasury forecasts to understand just how much debt we face. A figure of 44 per cent. of gross domestic product was given for 2008-09. The figure for 2009-2010 is 56 per cent., and it is set to rise to 78 per cent. in 2014-15. That is all because the Government apparently took the advice of a lady we remember well, who won the pools many years ago. When asked what she was going to do with the money, she said she was going to Spend, spend, spend. That is exactly what has happened in recent years, as illustrated by this Prime Ministers vain boast that he had done away with bust. He thought he was infallible, but we are now paying the price. So certain was he about this that he told the Financial Services Authority to apply a light touch. The policy of spend, spend, spend has ended up just as we all thought it would: with bust, bust, bust. The Prime Ministers arrogance has led to a longer, more persistent recession than we would otherwise have experienced. The real problem for many people is that the cost will be borne by their children and grandchildren, and they will not thank Mr. Blair or Mr. Brown for that legacy. The Government have admitted that public sector debt will increase until 2014-15. Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2010, the net debt is required to fall
as a share of GDP by 2015-16, but many think that there is little hope of that happening. It will be a long climb out of recession, and it is unlikely that we will have cleared public sector debt by 2030. It is clear that the nationand, in particular, its small and medium-sized businesseswill face continued difficulty, and will suffer as a result of this Budget and the Governments actions up to this stage. The Chancellor has claimed that Budget pledges will help small businesses, but they tell me that that is not the case. Among the measures that will not help them are the national insurance increases involving a 1 per cent. increase for all employers and a 1 per cent. increase for everyone earning more than 20,000. Those increases represent a massive belt to the confidence of industry at a time when it needs all the confidence it can get. The Federation of Small Businesses tells us that they will cost 57,000 jobs. The Treasurys own economic model suggests that national insurance rises will reduce GDP by 1 per cent. after three years. The Forum of Private Business has said that these measures are not helpful for job creation, and suggested that a 12-month cut in national insurance contributions would encourage small businesses and allow them to hire extra staff. I hope that those on the Government Front Bench are listening because, by golly, if there is one thing we need to do at this moment it is to produce wealth and create the jobs that are vital to the future well-being of this country. I want to touch briefly on the increase in alcohol duty. Many will know that I am a keen supporter of pubs; I enjoy them immensely. However, 2,377 pubs have closed in the past year, thanks to falling beer sales, and seven are going out of business every day. Let us also look at the increase in fuel duty. The Road Haulage Association has claimed that hauliers are already operating on a shoestring budget, and that they desperately need a break. Some have already gone bust and many others are struggling to survive. When VAT decreased to 15 per cent. in January 2009, an extra 2p a litre was levied on fuel, but that was not changed when VAT returned to 17.5 per cent. in January 2010. People feel let down. They feel they were conned, as this has impacted massively on their businesses. Many businesses have told me they are worried about the lack of measures to tackle the underlying problems. The Institute of Directors would have liked to hear more about the deficit reduction. Miles Templeman said:
The Chancellors GDP forecasts are too optimistic and there is still no sign of a credible deficit reduction.
Businesses wanted to hear that; they wanted to hear what the Government were going to do. They felt let down, and we talked about lack of hope because they did not know where they stood. The CBI remains of the view that the Governments target date of 2017-18 for Budget balance is
too far off to instil the credibility necessary to ensure the UKs public finance position.
I could go on about the plight of small businesses. They are the largest employer in Britain, and if Britain is to recover, small businesses need to be encouraged to grow. They are the life-blood of the nations creativity: almost 70 per cent. of British creativity comes from this sector. The sector was in the process of producing 2 million jobs up to the recession, at a time when UK plc was shedding 1.5 million jobs. Small businesses are
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the powerhouse of jobs growth, and the Government need to recognise the importance of encouraging that particular sector to flourish. My party has pledged to do away with a sizeable part of the planned increase in national insurance because it will help that particular sector to do exactly what it does best: grow jobs, be creative, produce wealth. My party has also pledged to cut corporation tax for small businesses and will not tax the first 10 jobs in any new company. That is welcomed by them, too, but the national insurance rise that I just mentioned is bad for job creation. It does not encourage people to get back to work. We should be pushing policies that increase economic growth to get Britain working again. My grandmother would have told anyone that the way to get out of debt is not by spending more money but by recognising that too much money is being spent and doing something about it. This Government have not yet reached that position. Perhaps it is because there is an election coming up; that may well be the truth of the matter. The people to whom I spoke at the weekend felt that this Government had failed them. They said it was time for new thinking, for a new message, for a new approach. They did not want the same tax and spend and waste that they felt had occurred quite sizeably over recent years. They told me it was time for a new Government made up of people who understood the needs of SMEs. I would tell them that this Budget proves that such a Government would exclude the party that has been responsible for it. 9.23 pm Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con): I have never been terribly interested in the present because now is an illusion, as it instantly becomes then. I have always been most interested in the past, as it is the thing we can most readily alter through our memory. Unlike Keynes, however, I am interested in the future. Keynes said that in the long run we are all dead, but the long run counts. It counts particularly for those of us who have children. I have two young children and I care about what happens to them. I care about the debt they will faceboth personally and as part of a country now facing, as my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) has just said, a mountain of debt. By their very nature, Budgets look to the future. They plan the economic future and particularly the next 12 months in economic terms. This was not really a Budget that looked to the long term; it looked no further ahead than about six weeks. It was an immensely short-term Budget and a political Budgetone that took not difficult strategic decisions but convenient tactical decisions, failing to meet the challenges we face. It is clear from the Budget that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister misunderstood the scale of the recession from the outset. They did not expect it to last longer than those experienced by their economic rivals. As we know, however, it has lasted six full financial quarters, longer than any recession in any other G7 country, and GDP has shrunk by 6.2 per cent. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that Government borrowing as a share of GDP will be the highest in the G20 this year. What is the response from the Government? The
Budget offers no credible path to a stronger economic future; all it offers are more hidden tax rises in the shape of frozen income tax thresholds and increased national insurance, which is a tax on jobs. The banking crisis and the recession that followed exposed fundamental problems for an economy that has become too dependent on a single sector. Two of the most profound macro-economic changes in my lifetime, both of them undesirable, have been the growth in the power of transnational corporations with no allegiance to any one nation and, indeed, no loyalty beyond their commercial interests, and the dependence of economiesbought by many liberal economists as desirableon a limited number of economic providers, or sectors. That is what has happened to our financial services and banking. It is impossible to imagine the Government emerging from the present problem, given that they failed to recognise it and were, to an extent, responsible for it. Perhaps the most tragic outcome of those failed financial policies is the growing army of young people who are not in employment, education or training, and in the few minutes available to me I want to say a word about their plight. They are often presented in a fairly cold waythey are seen as an economic opportunity cost but we are talking about up to a million young lives. We are talking about broken dreams and shattered hopes. We are talking about people who, because of their disengagement, are likely to be socially and culturally detached, and who, because of the declining number of unskilled jobs, are unlikely to find employment even in the medium and long term. If ones first experience of the job market is one of disappointment and detachment, that may have profound long-term implications. Even in the good times, the times of economic growth, the number of young people so affected was rising. That was a trend problem, and not a result of the recession. Nevertheless, it has been exacerbated by the recession, and we have a moral duty to do something about it. We have a duty to create new opportunities for those young people, and to provide them with the skills they will need to participate in an economy that will become increasingly highly skilled and high-tech. For Britain has no long-term future as a low-tech economy: we will not return to the days when we made template metal toys. We will survive and compete only as a high-tech, highly skilled nation. Those young peoples opportunities lie in that vision, but no such vision is set out in the Budget. It contains no such ambition for the generation that I have describedthat forgotten army of young people. In the couple of minutes left to me, let me propose an alternative. Let me give the House a taste of a different Britain. Let me allow the Chamber and the country to dare to dream again of something better. It is entirely possible for us to regenerate the prospects of that forgotten army by investing in skills. The House would expect me to say something about skills. I do not take the Chicago economists view that all that matters is flexibility in economies or, indeed, in labour markets. I was interested by one or two of the speeches made by members of other parties in that regard. I believe that investment in skills pays dividends beyond the obvious, and that it has a variety of social
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[Mr. John Hayes] and cultural as well as economic effects. I believe that it gives people a sense of pride and purpose, and builds a cohesive society. We need to boost the number of apprenticeships massively by transferring large amounts of money from the Governments failed Train to Gain programme, with its immense deadweight cost, to the apprenticeship budget. We must do that by designing new apprenticeship frameworks, by making it easier for small companies to participate, and by changing both the prospects of people and our economic prospects. We could have seen that in the Budget, but we did not. We will see it in a Conservative Budget, run by a very difficult Administration who will bring new hope to those people and to the whole of our country. 9.30 pm Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con): We have heard some excellent speeches this evening. This has also been a poignant debate, with six valedictories. They were delivered by the hon. Members for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase) and for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay); by my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack); by my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), whom I had the privilege of serving under when she was shadow Secretary of State for Health; by my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell), who led for the Opposition on the first Standing Committee on which I had the pleasure of serving in this place; and by the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond), who said, in referring to his own, that a Members maiden speech is often the best speech that they make in this place. I suspect that that might not be the case for all Members, but it is probably beyond question that it is the best rehearsed speech any Member ever makes in this place. I pay tribute to all of the departing Members, and I am sure that I speak for all of us in wishing them well whatever they do in the future. The scale of the fiscal and economic challenge this country faces is unprecedented. The backdrop to the Budget is stark: unprecedented levels of public borrowing and structural imbalance in the public finances. Despite the prediction that we would lead the world out of recession, Britain was the last G20 country to emerge from a recession that was the longest and deepest on record. We still have the biggest Budget deficit in the G20 and one of the weakest economic recoveries. In February of this year alone, the Labour Government borrowed more than they will spend on police and immigration in the whole year. They are racking up debt at a rate of more than 300,000 a minutea legacy to our children and our grandchildren that will take them a lifetime to pay off. Our credit rating is under threat; one in five young people in this country cannot find a job; child poverty is increasing; the banking system cannot finance the recovery in the small and medium-sized business sector; and national income per head is lower in real terms now than it was at the last general election. Therefore, what we needed last Wednesday was a big Budget: a Budget to match the scale of the challenges the country faces; a Budget for recovery; a Budget with the vision and the
toughness to tackle the challenges we face, not duck them. This Budget was Labours last chance to bid for fiscal credibility, and they blew it. For the Chancellor personally, it was the last opportunity to secure his legacy, but he chose partisanship over statesmanship. What did he give us? He gave us a Budget whose good news announcement was that we are borrowing only167 billion this year and 163 billion next year; a Budget whose only big ideasthe stamp duty cut for first-time buyers, the green investment bank and new university placeswere stolen from the Conservatives; an empty, cynical, pre-election Budget, lacking in energy, lacking in vision, lacking in new ideas to get the economy moving again. It shows no sign of the Governments having grasped the scale of the mess they have got us into. It is therefore unsurprising that my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) said it was not so much a Budget as a holding statement. A City commentator described it as
a do-nothing Budget that had shades of Nero about it.
It contains nothing to deal with the legacy of Labours debt, nothing to put this country back on the path to sustainable prosperityinstead, just more delay, dissembling and ducking of the tough decisions. Perhaps we should not be too surprised when we look at the track record of this Government and this Prime Minister: the man who ended boom and bust; the man who doubled the tax rate for the poor and destroyed social mobility in this country; the financial genius who sold the nations gold reserves at a quarter of what they are now worth; the visionary who raided our pension funds and destroyed a pension system that was once the envy of Europe; who has doubled our national debt and set it on course to double again; who has made an art form of deferring the bad news; and who has made every decision since this crisis began on the basis not of what is good for Britains economy, but of what will conceal the scale of his failure until after a general election. His credibility is destroyed. Just a few months ago, he was still peddling the line, Labour investment versus Tory cuts, but now his own Chancellor says that the cuts will be deeper and tougher than Margaret Thatchers. What did we get from the Chancellor in the Budget statement on his planned spending cuts? We got about 30 seconds in a 58-minute speech, with the real announcement sneaked out later in the afternoon in a series of press releases that were meaningless in their content and bogus in their precision. I am thinking of the 343 millionnot 340 millionof savings identified in the Ministry of Justice over the next three years and the 194 million saving to be made in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Those are meaningless and bogus because the Prime Minister has refused to allow his Chancellor to publish a spending review for the next three years. A departmental saving is meaningless if we do not know what the departmental budget is to start with. Cabinet Ministers, including the Schools Secretary, have been tripping over themselves to claim that they have to cut only X hundred million or Y hundred million pounds from their budgets. The truth is that they do not know how much they will have to cut, because they do not know what their budgets will be as
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the Chancellor has not told them and he has not told the electorate. He has not told the electorate for a reason, which is that he does not want them to know because he does not want a real debate on spending priorities. Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab): The hon. Gentleman decries the Chancellor for lacking credibility, vision, energy and new ideas, but in the few minutes remaining to him tonight will he set out what the Opposition would do, because that was singularly lacking from the Leader of the Oppositions response to the Budget on Wednesday? Mr. Hammond: If the hon. Gentleman had been listening, he would have heard plenty about what the Opposition will do. I do not know where he was yesterday, when we spent most of our time telling the world what we plan to do. Ending Labours tax on jobs is our first mission. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, wearing his I am ever so reasonable straight face, tells us that the reason why we do not have a comprehensive spending review is because it does not make sense to set departmental spending totals when we do not yet know what unemployment will be next year or the year after next. However, he does not mind setting a Budget based on a growth projection for next year and the year after, which nobody outside the four walls of the Treasury, and probably not many people inside them, thinks is a sensible Budget assumption. What the Governments press releases did was confirm that Labour has identified, on its own estimation, 11 billion of waste. That is waste that it says it can eliminate without affecting front-line services, but that it will not eliminate until some time after 2011-12. Move over post-neoclassical endogenous growth theory, because we now have a new economic theory from the Labour party: Labours waste-induced growth theory. It appears to state that Government waste is an essential ingredient of economic recovery. Presumably, on the Schools Secretarys logic, higher economic growthperhaps even the achievement of the Chancellors 3.25 per cent. target will require even more waste to be identified, but not eliminated. Let us be clear that Labours stated plan is to carry on wasting and raising taxes to pay for that waste. Its approach is about taxing jobs in a recovery to pay for Labour waste, which the Government have identified but have not got the wit or the commitment to eliminate. I lose track of who is allied to whom in the Government, and who is speaking to whom this week, but some hon. Members may remember that just a couple of weeks ago the Chief Secretary said emphatically that there would be no tax increases. He was immediately slapped down by the cardinal archbishop and by the Chancellor, and now we know why. Although we would not have heard most of them in the statement that the Chancellor delivered last Wednesday, the Budget contained plenty of Labours hallmark stealth taxes. It contained a 2.2 billion hike in income tax through the freezing of thresholdsthat is a 48 bill for every taxpayer in the country, which did not even merit a mention in the Chancellors speech. Indeed, he seems to think it a matter of yawn-inducing indifference that everyone will pay 48 more in tax.
The temporary abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers, which, incidentally, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury said was not
an effective use of public money[ Official Report, Finance Public Bill Committee, 21 May 2009; c. 108.]
when we proposed it, is being financed by a permanent tax increase on higher value property. That is another sleight of hand. The huge tax hikes on cider drinkers put at risk an industry that employs thousands of people in the west country, and I shall ask my hon. Friends to vote against that ill thought through tax proposal. Despite the Chancellors rhetoric about helping small businesses, there are yet more stealth taxes on businesses, including an increase in the small business corporation tax rate. There was an apparent cut in business rate relief, but the small print of the Red Book shows that revenues from business rates will go up by 1 billion, not down. The product of a botched rates revaluation and the deferred hikes from last year will mean soaring bills for many small firms from April 2010. That is literally the last straw for many cash-strapped businesses that are struggling to raise credit. There is also the telephone tax on households and businesses across the landa tax of 7 a year, including VAT, for every line. What is that for? It is to pay for an objective that we have clearly shown can be delivered without any tax rise. Just when people might have thought that things could not get any worse, tucked away in a footnote on page 204 is the admission that the Government more than doubled our contribution to the European Union between 2008 and 2010. They have gone to extraordinary lengths today to bring back Tony Blair. Perhaps they would like to bring him here to explain what he meant when he told the House:
The UK rebate will remain and we will not negotiate it away. Period.[Official Report, 8 June 2005; Vol. 434, c. 1234.]
He was right in one sense, of course. They did not negotiate it away; they gave it away. Britain deserved better then and it deserves better now. What we needed was a Budget for the future. We needed a Budget that took tough decisions, rather than shirking them, such as the decision to start reducing the deficit in 2010 with a credible plan to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over the lifetime of the next Parliament. We needed a Budget that answered the critics in the markets, in the business community and among overseas investors who have repeatedly condemned the Governments plans as inadequate, incomplete and incredible. When the family budget gets tight, people have to think about what they can afford. When the national finances are in this kind of crisis, we as a nation have to think about what we can afford. It is clear that Britain cannot afford five more years of thisfive more years of Labours debt, waste and taxes. That would bring a risk of interest rate rises choking growth, mortgage rates soaring for millions of families and the UKs credit rating in play. It would mean five more years of a Labour Government who were elected on a bogus promise to carry on spending, which they know they cannot keep. It is time for a change and for a new Government with the vigour, the commitment and the energy to sort out the mess this country is in and to get us back on the
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[Mr. Philip Hammond] path of sustainable economic growth, securing both private prosperity and high-quality public services for future generations. Let us do that now. Let us stop Labours waste so that we can stop Labours tax rises. Let us tackle the debt, not talk about it. Let us put this discredited Parliament and this discredited Government behind us. Let us vote for the change that Britain needs. 9.44 pm The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Liam Byrne): May I apologise again for missing the start of the debate, Mr. Deputy Speaker? Miss McIntosh: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was present at the start of the debate and it was notable that the right hon. Gentleman was not. I wonder on what basis he is going to reply to the debate given that he has not been present to witness or participate in it. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): I say to the hon. Lady that the matter has been taken up, perhaps when she was temporarily not in the House herself. It has been dealt with, and I think that we should now complete the Budget debate. Mr. Byrne: I am grateful for your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was about start on a note of consensus, by agreeing with the shadow Chief Secretary that we have had four days of full and frank debate about the Budget. I should like to begin my words of congratulation with a tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (John McFall). He is not in his place at the moment, but he has made a significant contribution, just as he has contributed to economic debates in this House over the last 22 yearsand not least during the eight years in which has chaired the Treasury Committee. My right hon. Friend outlined the importance of the Budgets measures to support small business, and he endorsed the view that to end Government support for small business now would be nothing short of inviting disaster. I know that all Members of the House will join me in wishing him a long and enjoyable retirement. Over the course of these debates, some hon. Members have argued for a faster pace of deficit reduction. We heard contributions on that from the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram), and from the hon. Members for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples), for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh), for Stone (Mr. Cash) and for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood). We also heard this afternoon from the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), who was making his last contribution in this place, and he was echoed by the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell).Others, on the other hand, argued that the stimulus provided in the Budget was insufficient. That was the argument as set out by the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) in his final contribution to debates in this House. Others, however, have welcomed this Budget for its help for manufacturing and business, and for its investment in their communities. My right hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) and for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton), as well as the hon. Member for
Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross), my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) and the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson), echoed that point. This afternoon, my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) made the same point in his valedictory speech, as did my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase). Others welcomed the Budgets investment in infrastructure such as Thameslink, which was the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt), while others welcomed the investment in schools, the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron). The hon. Member for Leominster (Bill Wiggin) made a powerful argument in support of the cider industry, and this afternoon the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) flagged the impact on pubs. This morning, the Office for National Statistics confirmed that the British economy grew not by 0.1 per cent., or indeed 0.3 per cent., at the end of last year, but by 0.4 per cent., which is faster than Germany, Italy and across the European area. We must, of course, remain cautious, but it is fresh and welcome evidence that the action taken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has worked. That action has kept unemployment in this country down. It is 2 per cent. lower than across Europe, and 2 per cent. lower than America. The Chancellors action has worked to keep the rates of repossessions and business failures at half of what we saw in the 1990s. So the central argument set out in the Budget has to do with how we build on that action, lock in recovery over the months and years to come, and secure growth. That is why the Budget puts up public spending for the year ahead, rather than cut it. That is why it widens the help for business cash flow, and why we are taking sweeping measures to increase lending to small and medium-sized businesses. It is why we are extending the offer of a job to every young person out of work for six months, and why we are bringing together 4 billion of new investment in small businesses. It is why we are creating a 2 billion green investment bank, doubling entrepreneursrelief to 2 million, and investing 250 million more in our transport infrastructure. We will not leave recovery to chance, and we will not leave the jobs of tomorrow to the vicissitudes of the market place. The Budget puts 2.5 billion towards supporting the jobs of the futurewhat a contrast to the Opposition! The Leader of the Opposition is fond of saying that his partys evolution is something of a journey. It would be a good aphorism for his economic policy, as it is a journey that has gone round in circles. Back in 2006, the shadow Chancellor said that stability and not tax cuts was his priority. In 2007, he dropped stability and said that tax cuts were all that mattered. Then he said that he would stick with our spending plans, and then that he would not. Then he said that he would prioritise the deficit, and now he is back to tax cuts. It was no surprise to hear the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) tell the BBC, Of course there is no plan. He was not kidding. First he got it wrong on regulation, then on banks, then on saving jobs, and now he has got it wrong on helping business.
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The Tory plan to scrap investment allowances, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies, would
be at the expense of businesses that are investing heavily in the UK.
The international tax adviser to General Electric said it was a real own goal. The Engineering Employers Federationa body not known for its slavish adherence to Labour party orthodoxyhas said that abolishing those allowances
would be a disaster. Any business would have to think twice about investing in the UK.
Did that move the Conservative party? Of course not. As the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) said, ignoring GE and the EEF was the right thing to do because he would not be
seduced by the arguments of losers.
With policy brains such as that at work, it is scarcely a surprise that the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) has been manoeuvred in to help. As I was casually looking at my favourite new blog, order-order.com, I was surprised to read that at Tory central office the shadow Chancellors desk is now listed as George Osborne/Hotdesk. Are they trying to send him a message? May I comfort him with the news that we have strengthened protection for temporary workers? The truth is that Conservative Front Benchers are auditioning for the same job without a script. That is the only explanation for why one day the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) says that Greece represents
the scale of the problem we could face,
and the next, the shadow Chief Secretary says

nobody is suggesting that we are going to follow Greece.
One day, the Leader of the Opposition says:

Of course there is a danger if you do too much too early, you could choke off demand.
blunted the force of the recession, our tax receipts are better than expected. Borrowing this year is 11 billion lower, but our plan to halve the deficit will continue at the same pace. We have already announced tax increases that make up 19 billion in tax by 2013-14. In this Budget, we set out, Department by Department, 16 billion in cuts and efficiencies by 2012-13, on top of which will come 4.5 billion in savings by holding down public sector pay and reforming public sector pensions, as well as 300 million more in welfare reform savings. We do not salivate at the prospect of making those savings. We will do them carefully as we preserve our commitment to protecting front-line spending on the NHS, Sure Start, schools and police numbers. Conservative Members have attacked the clarity of the Budget, but the truth is that this week we have learned a lot about the plans of the Conservative party. Last week, the shadow Chief Secretary said to me that it was impossible to deliver 11 billion in efficiencies in two years time. Yesterday, the shadow Chancellor said he could do it in two weeks time. We are now being invited to believe that he can save 12 billion from Government budgets, although he cannot say which onesnot to pay down debt, but to pay for a tax cut. Even the shadow Chancellor has said that that will cost 5.6 billion, but the Treasury has now costed those increases in national insurance thresholds at 6 billion in 2011-12, 6.3 billion in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and 6.7 billion in 2014-15. Once again he has got his sums wrong. This policy is not a U-turn; it is more of a handbrake turn. Only the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe had the honesty to say that only in the Budget after the election will we know if the national insurance tax cut is affordable. This policy from a shadow Chancellor who told us
if you want to cut taxes you cant simply rely on more buoyant tax revenues, you cant simply rely on cutting red tape.
The next day, the shadow Chief Secretary says, Weve got to make a start in 2010. The IMF, the IFS, UBS, the CBI, two Nobel laureates and, greater still, the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) say that now is not the time to slam on the brakes, as do 186 members of the IMF. Only North Korea and Iran disagree. At the very least, may I ask the shadow Chancellor to listen to his own fiscal adviser, Sir Alan Budd, the former Treasury chief economist? He says:
If you go too quickly then there is a risk that the recovery will be snuffed out.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, you know that you are in trouble when your own adviser starts repeating Labours dividing lines. Alongside our plan to secure recovery and growth, the Chancellor set out our plan to halve the deficit. It is the most ambitious plan in the G7. The forecasts set out by the Chancellor show that debt over the next few years will be 100 billion lower than forecast. That means that borrowing will fall by 78 billion over the next four years: 19 billion will come from increased taxes and 38 billion from cuts in public spending, with the rest coming from a return to growth in the economy. Difficult decisions will be demanded of us, but we will approach that challenge determined to protect vital front-line servicesin health, education and police numberswhile we bring borrowing down. Because we
The Conservative party now has something of the order of 34 billion of unfunded tax and spending commitmentsand counting. Just to meet those promises alone, let alone cut the deficit faster, it will need new tax rises or deeper cuts to front-line public spending. It is a huge credibility gap, which, frankly, it cannot fill. Despite this spiralling loss of control, it persists with the argument that it can cut the deficit further and faster. But it will not say which Departments it will cut next year. It will not say what it will cut next year. It will not say when it will halve the deficit. It will not say how much further it will cut the structural deficit. The shadow Chief Secretary is fond of saying that he will take out the bulk of the structural deficit during the next Parliament. Labours plans already take out two thirds. Why will not the Conservatives tell us what bulk means. What does it look like? How would we recognise it if we saw it? Why do they insist on it being a secret? Why is this bulk being hidden away from us? After all of these debates, we are none the wiser. The Chancellors Budget set out an argument for fairness. This Budget was a Budget for the many, not the few. That is why the greatest burden will be carried by those with the broadest shoulders. In our deficit reduction plan, 60 per cent. of the 19 billion in new taxes that we need to secure will be paid for by the top 5 per cent. of earners. What a contrast to the Conservative
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[Mr. Byrne] party, which has said that it will cut child tax credits and child trust funds for families on modest incomes, all to pay for a 200,000 tax break for the 3,000 richest estates in Britain. Our Budget seeks to extend help where it is needed and to support aspiration, hard work and families. That is why, for those families seeking to buy their first home, the Budget includes a two-year stamp duty holiday for those first-time buyers of properties of up to 250,000 in value. It helps with targeted support for children. The new child tax credit of 4 a week will help families with children aged one and two from April 2012a point made by the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) earlier. It will extend extra help for Britains 12 million pensioners, with a 2.5 per cent. increase in the basic state pension from April 2010, and extra help again for winter fuel payments. What a contrast that is to the policies of the Conservative party. It is not a party of change because it has not changed its party. Five years of rebranding cannot hide its attempt to destroy child tax credits. Just to save the 400 million, it needs to make its own sums add up. It would have to cut credits for people earning as little as 16,000 a year. Its plans to cut child trust funds would rip the heart out of the scheme, taking away a scheme that encourages parents and grandparents to save for a childs futureall to pay for a 200,000 tax cut for the 3,000 richest estates in Britain. The truth is, this was a policy authored by the shadow Chancellor. Some shadow Chancellors lack experience and some lack judgment, but this shadow Chancellor lacks both. The truth is that these debates have revealed the Tory party as risky, wrong and unfair. Find me the parent on a modest income who says, Please scrap my child tax credit. Those 3,000 richest estates desperately need an inheritance tax cut. Our plan is for securing the recovery and renewing our country, and I commend the Budget to the House. Question put and agreed to. Resolved,
2. INCOME TAX (CHARGE, MAIN RATES, THRESHOLDS AND ALLOWANCES ETC FOR 2010-11) Resolved,
That (1) Income tax is charged for the tax year 2010-11. (2) For that tax year (a) the basic rate is 20%, (b) the higher rate is 40%, and (c) the additional rate is 50%. (3) The amounts specified in the following provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 are the same for the tax year 2010-11 as for the tax year 2009-10 (a) sections 10(5) and 12(3) (basic rate limit and starting rate limit for savings), (b) sections 35, 36(1), 37(1) and 38(1) (personal allowances and blind persons allowance), (c) sections 43, 45(3)(a) and (b) and 46(3)(a) and (b) (tax reductions for married couples and civil partners), and (d) sections 36(2), 37(2), 45(4) and 46(4) (adjusted net income limit). And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
3. CORPORATION TAX (CHARGE AND MAIN RATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2011) Question put,
That (1) Corporation tax is charged for the financial year 2011. (2) For that year the rate of corporation tax is (a) 28% on profits of companies other than ring fence profits, and (b) 30% on ring fence profits of companies. (3) In paragraph (2) ring fence profits has the same meaning as in Part 8 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (see section 276 of that Act).
The House divided: Ayes 350, Noes 175. Division No. 120]
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, Danny Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Anderson, Janet Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barrett, John Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Beith, rh Sir Alan Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe
[10.1pm
The Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the motions made in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Standing Order (No. 51(3)). Mr. Deputy Speaker: Instead of reading out each motion in full, I propose to follow the procedure used in recent yearsthat is to say I will first state the title of the motion and then put simply the Question that the motion be agreed to.
Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Breed, Mr. Colin Brennan, Kevin Brooke, Annette Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Browne, Mr. Jeremy Bruce, rh Malcolm Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Burt, Lorely Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam
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Cable, Dr. Vincent Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Caton, Mr. Martin Cawsey, Mr. Ian Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair Davey, Mr. Edward David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Dai Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Featherstone, Lynne Field, rh Mr. Frank Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gidley, Sandra Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia
Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hancock, Mr. Mike Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Dr. Evan Harris, Mr. Tom Harvey, Nick Havard, Mr. Dai Heath, Mr. David Hemming, John Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Holmes, Paul Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Hosie, Stewart Howarth, David Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Hughes, Simon Humble, Mrs. Joan Hunter, Mark Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Ingram, rh Mr. Adam Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lamb, Norman Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Leech, Mr. John Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn
Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacNeil, Mr. Angus MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric Mason, John McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Moore, Mr. Michael Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mulholland, Greg Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward pik, Lembit Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Pelling, Mr. Andrew Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Price, Adam Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Pugh, Dr. John Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, Mr. Alan Reid, rh John Robertson, Angus Robertson, John
Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rogerson, Dan Rooney, Mr. Terry Rowen, Paul Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Bob Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Salter, Martin Sanders, Mr. Adrian Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Smith, Sir Robert Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Stunell, Andrew Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Thurso, John Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Truswell, Mr. Paul Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Williams, Hywel
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Spink, Bob Spring, Mr. Richard Stanley, rh Sir John Steen, Mr. Anthony Streeter, Mr. Gary Stuart, Mr. Graham Swayne, Mr. Desmond Swire, Mr. Hugo Syms, Mr. Robert Tapsell, Sir Peter Taylor, Mr. Ian Timpson, Mr. Edward Tredinnick, David Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Vaizey, Mr. Edward Vara, Mr. Shailesh Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Walker, Mr. Charles Wallace, Mr. Ben Walter, Mr. Robert Waterson, Mr. Nigel Watkinson, Angela Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Willetts, Mr. David Wilshire, Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Rob Wilson, Sammy Young, rh Sir George
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Williams, Mark Williams, Mr. Roger Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wishart, Pete Wood, Mike
Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain Wright, Dr. Tony Wyatt, Derek
Tellers for the Ayes:

Helen Jones and Mr. Bob Blizzard
NOES
Afriyie, Adam Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Amess, Mr. David Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Peter Bacon, Mr. Richard Baldry, Tony Barker, Gregory Baron, Mr. John Bellingham, Mr. Henry Benyon, Mr. Richard Beresford, Sir Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Blunt, Mr. Crispin Bone, Mr. Peter Boswell, Mr. Tim Bottomley, Peter Brady, Mr. Graham Brazier, Mr. Julian Brokenshire, James Browning, Angela Burns, Mr. Simon Burrowes, Mr. David Burt, Alistair Campbell, Mr. Gregory Carswell, Mr. Douglas Cash, Mr. William Chope, Mr. Christopher Clappison, Mr. James Clark, Greg Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Conway, Derek Cormack, Sir Patrick Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Crabb, Mr. Stephen Curry, rh Mr. David Davies, David T. C. (Monmouth) Davies, Philip Davis, rh Mr. David Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Dorries, Nadine Duddridge, James Duncan, Alan Duncan Smith, rh Mr. Iain Dunne, Mr. Philip Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Evans, Mr. Nigel Evennett, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael Fallon, Mr. Michael Field, Mr. Mark Francois, Mr. Mark Fraser, Christopher Gale, Mr. Roger Garnier, Mr. Edward Gauke, Mr. David Gibb, Mr. Nick Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Goodman, Mr. Paul Goodwill, Mr. Robert Gray, Mr. James Grayling, Chris Green, Damian Greening, Justine Grieve, Mr. Dominic Gummer, rh Mr. John Hague, rh Mr. William Hammond, Mr. Philip Hammond, Stephen Hands, Mr. Greg Harper, Mr. Mark Hayes, Mr. John Heald, Mr. Oliver Heathcoat-Amory, rh Mr. David Hendry, Charles Herbert, Nick Hoban, Mr. Mark Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Hollobone, Mr. Philip Horam, Mr. John Howard, rh Mr. Michael Howarth, Mr. Gerald Howell, John Hunt, Mr. Jeremy Hurd, Mr. Nick Jack, rh Mr. Michael Jackson, Mr. Stewart Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Jones, Mr. David Key, Robert Kirkbride, Miss Julie Knight, rh Mr. Greg Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Lancaster, Mr. Mark Lansley, Mr. Andrew Leigh, Mr. Edward Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Lewis, Dr. Julian Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Lidington, Mr. David Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Loughton, Tim Luff, Peter Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Maclean, rh David Malins, Mr. Humfrey Maude, rh Mr. Francis May, rh Mrs. Theresa McCrea, Dr. William McIntosh, Miss Anne McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Miller, Mrs. Maria
Milton, Anne Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Mundell, David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Neill, Robert OBrien, Mr. Stephen Osborne, Mr. George Ottaway, Richard Paice, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Owen Penning, Mike Penrose, John Prisk, Mr. Mark Randall, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Robathan, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Hugh Robertson, Mr. Laurence Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rosindell, Andrew Selous, Andrew Shapps, Grant Shepherd, Mr. Richard Simmonds, Mark Simpson, David Simpson, Mr. Keith Smith, Chloe Soames, Mr. Nicholas Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Spicer, Sir Michael
Tellers for the Noes:

Mr. Brooks Newmark and Jeremy Wright
Question accordingly agreed to. 4. CORPORATION TAX (SMALL PROFITS RATES AND FRACTIONS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2010) Question put,
That (1) For the financial year 2010 the small profits rate is (a) 21% on profits of companies other than ring fence profits, and (b) 19% on ring fence profits of companies. (2) For the purposes of Part 3 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010, for that year (a) the standard fraction is 7/400ths, and (b) the ring fence fraction is 11/400ths. (3) In paragraph (1) ring fence profits has the same meaning as in Part 8 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (see section 276 of that Act).
The House divided: Ayes 297, Noes 230. Division No. 121] [10.16 pm
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Anderson, Janet Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S.
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Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Truswell, Mr. Paul Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wood, Mike Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain Wright, Dr. Tony Wyatt, Derek
746
Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brennan, Kevin Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Caton, Mr. Martin Cawsey, Mr. Ian Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Field, rh Mr. Frank Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce
Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Mr. Tom Havard, Mr. Dai Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Humble, Mrs. Joan Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Ingram, rh Mr. Adam Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Lynne Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy
Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, John Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rooney, Mr. Terry Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salter, Martin Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra

NOES
Afriyie, Adam Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Alexander, Danny Amess, Mr. David
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Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Peter Bacon, Mr. Richard Baldry, Tony Barker, Gregory Baron, Mr. John Barrett, John Beith, rh Sir Alan Bellingham, Mr. Henry Benyon, Mr. Richard Beresford, Sir Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Blunt, Mr. Crispin Bone, Mr. Peter Boswell, Mr. Tim Bottomley, Peter Brady, Mr. Graham Brazier, Mr. Julian Breed, Mr. Colin Brokenshire, James Brooke, Annette Browne, Mr. Jeremy Browning, Angela Bruce, rh Malcolm Burns, Mr. Simon Burrowes, Mr. David Burt, Alistair Burt, Lorely Cable, Dr. Vincent Campbell, Mr. Gregory Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Carswell, Mr. Douglas Cash, Mr. William Chope, Mr. Christopher Clappison, Mr. James Clark, Greg Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Cormack, Sir Patrick Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Crabb, Mr. Stephen Curry, rh Mr. David Davey, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. Dai Davies, David T. C. (Monmouth) Davies, Philip Davis, rh Mr. David Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Dorries, Nadine Duddridge, James Duncan, Alan Duncan Smith, rh Mr. Iain Dunne, Mr. Philip Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Evans, Mr. Nigel Evennett, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael Fallon, Mr. Michael Featherstone, Lynne Field, Mr. Mark Francois, Mr. Mark Fraser, Christopher Gale, Mr. Roger Garnier, Mr. Edward Gauke, Mr. David Gibb, Mr. Nick Gidley, Sandra
Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Goodman, Mr. Paul Goodwill, Mr. Robert Gray, Mr. James Grayling, Chris Green, Damian Greening, Justine Grieve, Mr. Dominic Gummer, rh Mr. John Hague, rh Mr. William Hammond, Mr. Philip Hammond, Stephen Hancock, Mr. Mike Hands, Mr. Greg Harper, Mr. Mark Harris, Dr. Evan Harvey, Nick Hayes, Mr. John Heald, Mr. Oliver Heath, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, rh Mr. David Hemming, John Hendry, Charles Herbert, Nick Hoban, Mr. Mark Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Hollobone, Mr. Philip Holmes, Paul Horam, Mr. John Hosie, Stewart Howard, rh Mr. Michael Howarth, David Howarth, Mr. Gerald Howell, John Hughes, Simon Hunt, Mr. Jeremy Hunter, Mark Hurd, Mr. Nick Jack, rh Mr. Michael Jackson, Mr. Stewart Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Jones, Mr. David Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Key, Robert Kirkbride, Miss Julie Knight, rh Mr. Greg Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Lamb, Norman Lancaster, Mr. Mark Lansley, Mr. Andrew Leech, Mr. John Leigh, Mr. Edward Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Lewis, Dr. Julian Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Lidington, Mr. David Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Loughton, Tim Luff, Peter Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Maclean, rh David MacNeil, Mr. Angus Malins, Mr. Humfrey Mason, John Maude, rh Mr. Francis May, rh Mrs. Theresa McCrea, Dr. William McIntosh, Miss Anne McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick
Miller, Mrs. Maria Milton, Anne Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Moore, Mr. Michael Mulholland, Greg Mundell, David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Neill, Robert OBrien, Mr. Stephen pik, Lembit Osborne, Mr. George Ottaway, Richard Paice, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Owen Pelling, Mr. Andrew Penning, Mike Penrose, John Price, Adam Prisk, Mr. Mark Pugh, Dr. John Randall, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John Reid, Mr. Alan Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Robathan, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Angus Robertson, Hugh Robertson, Mr. Laurence Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rogerson, Dan Rosindell, Andrew Rowen, Paul Russell, Bob Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Sanders, Mr. Adrian Selous, Andrew Shapps, Grant Shepherd, Mr. Richard Simmonds, Mark Simpson, David Simpson, Mr. Keith Smith, Chloe Smith, Sir Robert Soames, Mr. Nicholas
Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Spicer, Sir Michael Spink, Bob Spring, Mr. Richard Stanley, rh Sir John Steen, Mr. Anthony Streeter, Mr. Gary Stuart, Mr. Graham Stunell, Andrew Swayne, Mr. Desmond Swire, Mr. Hugo Syms, Mr. Robert Tapsell, Sir Peter Taylor, Mr. Ian Thurso, John Timpson, Mr. Edward Tredinnick, David Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Vaizey, Mr. Edward Vara, Mr. Shailesh Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Walker, Mr. Charles Wallace, Mr. Ben Walter, Mr. Robert Waterson, Mr. Nigel Watkinson, Angela Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Willetts, Mr. David Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Mr. Roger Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wilshire, Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Rob Wilson, Sammy Wishart, Pete Young, rh Sir George

Question accordingly agreed to. 5. STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (RELIEF FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS) Resolved,
That (1) Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003 (stamp duty land tax) is amended as follows. (2) After section 57A insert 57AA First-time buyers (1) A land transaction is exempt from charge under section 55 if (a) it is a relevant acquisition of a major interest in land, (b) the land consists entirely of residential property, (c) the relevant consideration (see section 55) for the transaction (other than any consisting of rent) is more than 125,000 but not more than 250,000, (d) the purchaser, or (if more than one) each of the purchasers, is a first-time buyer who intends to occupy the residential property as the purchasers only or main residence, and (e) (subject to subsection (4)) the transaction is not one of a number of linked transactions. (2) In this section first-time buyer means a person who
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(a) has not previously been a purchaser in relation to a relevant acquisition of a major interest in land which consisted of or included residential property, (b) has not previously acquired an equivalent interest in such land under the law of a territory outside the United Kingdom, (c) has not previously been, or been one of the persons who was, the person for the purposes of section 71A, 72, 72A or 73 in a case where the first transaction within the meaning of the section concerned was a relevant acquisition of a major interest in land which consisted of or included residential property, and (d) would not have been such a person for those purposes in such a case if the provisions mentioned in paragraph (c) had been in force, and had had effect in the territory concerned, at all material times (subject, where required, to appropriate modifications). (3) In this section relevant acquisition of a major interest in land means an acquisition of a major interest in land other than (a) the grant of a lease for a term of less than 21 years, or (b) the assignment of a lease which has less than 21 years to run. (4) Subsection (1)(e) does not prevent a transaction being exempt from charge under section 55 if each of the linked transactions is one the subject-matter of which is land, or an interest in or right over land, which falls within section 116(1)(a), (b) or (c) by reason of its connection with the same building. (3) After section 73C insert 73CA Sections 71A to 73: first-time buyers (1) Where section 71A, 72, 72A or 73 applies, the first transaction within the meaning of the section concerned is exempt from charge under section 55 if (a) the transaction is a relevant acquisition of a major interest in land, (b) the land consists entirely of residential property, (c) the relevant consideration (see section 55) for the transaction (other than any consisting of rent) is more than 125,000 but not more than 250,000, (d) the person (within the meaning of the section concerned), or (if more than one) each of them, is a first-time buyer who intends to occupy the residential property as the persons only or main residence, and (e) (subject to subsection (3)) the transaction is not one of a number of linked transactions. (2) In subsection (1) first-time buyer, and relevant acquisition of a major interest in land, have the same meaning as in section 57AA. (3) Subsection (4) of section 57AA applies for the purposes of this section. (4) In section 110 (approval of regulations under general power), insert at the end (6) This section does not apply to regulations containing only provision varying section 57AA or 73CA, or paragraph 15 of Schedule 9, which does not increase any persons liability to tax. (5) In Schedule 9 (right to buy, shared ownership leases etc), insert at the end First-time buyers 15 (1) This paragraph applies where (a) a lease is granted as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) of paragraph 2 and the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph are met but no election is made for tax to be charged in accordance with that paragraph,
(b) a lease is granted as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) of paragraph 4 and the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph are met but no election is made for tax to be charged in accordance with that paragraph, (c) paragraph 4A applies in relation to the acquisition of an interest (but the acquisition is not exempt from charge by virtue of subparagraph (2) of that paragraph), (d) a shared ownership trust is declared but no election is made for tax to be charged in accordance with paragraph 9, or (e) an equity-acquisition payment is made under a shared ownership trust (but the equity acquisition payment, and the consequential increase in the purchasers beneficial interest, are not exempt from charge by virtue of paragraph 10). (2) Neither section 57AA nor section 73CA applies in relation to (a) the acquisition of the lease, (b) the acquisition of the interest, (c) the declaration of the shared ownership trust, or (d) the equity-acquisition payment and the consequential increase in the purchasers beneficial interest. (6) The amendments made by this Resolution have effect in relation to any land transaction of which the effective date is on or after 25 March 2010 but before 25 March 2012. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
6. STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (RATE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WHERE CONSIDERATION OVER 1M) Resolved,
That provision may be made increasing the rate of stamp duty land tax for residential property in cases where the relevant consideration is more than 1 million.
7. INHERITANCE TAX (RATE BANDS) Resolved,

That provision may be made disapplying the Table substituted in Schedule 1 to the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 by section 4 of the Finance Act 2007 and providing for section 8 of that Act not to have effect by virtue of any difference between the retail prices index for the month of September in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the previous September.
8. ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR DUTIES (RATES) Question put,

That (1) The Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 is amended as follows. (2) In section 5 (rate of duty on spirits), for 22.64 substitute 23.80. (3) In section 36(1AA)(a) (standard rate of duty on beer), for 16.47 substitute 17.32. (4) In section 62(1A) (rates of duty on cider) (a) in paragraph (a) (rate of duty per hectolitre in the case of sparkling cider of a strength exceeding 5.5 per cent), for 207.20 substitute 217.83, (b) in paragraph (b) (rate of duty per hectolitre in the case of cider of a strength exceeding 7.5 per cent which is not sparkling cider), for 47.77 substitute 54.04, and (c) in paragraph (c) (rate of duty per hectolitre in any other case), for 31.83 substitute 36.01. (5) For the table in Schedule 1 substitute
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30 MARCH 2010

Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Humble, Mrs. Joan Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Ingram, rh Mr. Adam Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McCrea, Dr. William McDonagh, Siobhain McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward
752
Table of Rates of Duty on Wine and Made-Wine Part 1 Wine or Made-Wine of a Strength not Exceeding 22 per cent Description of wine or made-wine Rates of duty per hectolitre Wine or made-wine of a strength not exceeding 4 per cent Wine or made-wine of a strength exceeding 4 per cent but not exceeding 5.5 per cent Wine or made-wine of a strength exceeding 5.5 per cent but not exceeding 15 per cent and not being sparkling Sparkling wine or sparkling made-wine of a strength exceeding 5.5 per cent but less than 8.5 per cent Sparkling wine or sparkling made-wine of a strength of 8.5 per cent or of a strength exceeding 8.5 per cent but not exceeding 15 per cent Wine or made-wine of a strength exceeding 15 per cent but not exceeding 22 per cent 69.32
95.33
225.00
217.83
288.20
299.97
Part 2 Wine or Made-Wine of a Strength Exceeding 22 per cent Rates of Duty per Litre of Description of Wine or Alcohol in Wine or Made-Wine Made-Wine Wine or made-wine of a strength exceeding 22 per cent 23.80.
(6) The amendments made by this Resolution come into force on 29 March 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Anderson, Janet Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brennan, Kevin Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, Mr. Gregory Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Caton, Mr. Martin Cawsey, Mr. Ian Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David
Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Field, rh Mr. Frank Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Mr. Tom Havard, Mr. Dai Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret
753
30 MARCH 2010

Hoban, Mr. Mark Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Hollobone, Mr. Philip Holmes, Paul Horam, Mr. John Hosie, Stewart Howard, rh Mr. Michael Howarth, David Howarth, Mr. Gerald Howell, John Hughes, Simon Hunt, Mr. Jeremy Hunter, Mark Hurd, Mr. Nick Jack, rh Mr. Michael Jackson, Mr. Stewart Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Jones, Mr. David Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Key, Robert Kirkbride, Miss Julie Knight, rh Mr. Greg Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Lamb, Norman Lancaster, Mr. Mark Lansley, Mr. Andrew Leech, Mr. John Leigh, Mr. Edward Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Lewis, Dr. Julian Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Lidington, Mr. David Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Loughton, Tim Luff, Peter Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Maclean, rh David MacNeil, Mr. Angus Malins, Mr. Humfrey Mason, John Maude, rh Mr. Francis May, rh Mrs. Theresa McIntosh, Miss Anne McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Miller, Mrs. Maria Milton, Anne Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Moore, Mr. Michael Mulholland, Greg Mundell, David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Neill, Robert OBrien, Mr. Stephen pik, Lembit Osborne, Mr. George Ottaway, Richard Paice, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Owen Pelling, Mr. Andrew Penning, Mike Penrose, John Price, Adam Prisk, Mr. Mark Pugh, Dr. John Randall, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John Reid, Mr. Alan Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Robathan, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Angus
754
Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, John Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rooney, Mr. Terry Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salter, Martin Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Simpson, David Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough)
Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Truswell, Mr. Paul Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Wilson, Sammy Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wood, Mike Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain Wright, Dr. Tony Wyatt, Derek

NOES
Afriyie, Adam Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Alexander, Danny Amess, Mr. David Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Peter Bacon, Mr. Richard Baldry, Tony Barker, Gregory Baron, Mr. John Barrett, John Beith, rh Sir Alan Bellingham, Mr. Henry Benyon, Mr. Richard Beresford, Sir Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Blunt, Mr. Crispin Bone, Mr. Peter Boswell, Mr. Tim Bottomley, Peter Brady, Mr. Graham Brazier, Mr. Julian Breed, Mr. Colin Brokenshire, James Brooke, Annette
Browne, Mr. Jeremy Browning, Angela Bruce, rh Malcolm Burns, Mr. Simon Burrowes, Mr. David Burt, Alistair Burt, Lorely Cable, Dr. Vincent Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Carswell, Mr. Douglas Cash, Mr. William Chope, Mr. Christopher Clappison, Mr. James Clark, Greg Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Cormack, Sir Patrick Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Crabb, Mr. Stephen Curry, rh Mr. David Davey, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. Dai Davies, David T. C. (Monmouth) Davies, Philip Davis, rh Mr. David Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Dorries, Nadine Duddridge, James Duncan, Alan Duncan Smith, rh Mr. Iain Dunne, Mr. Philip Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Evans, Mr. Nigel Evennett, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael Fallon, Mr. Michael Featherstone, Lynne Field, Mr. Mark Francois, Mr. Mark Fraser, Christopher Gale, Mr. Roger Garnier, Mr. Edward Gauke, Mr. David Gibb, Mr. Nick Gidley, Sandra Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Goodman, Mr. Paul Goodwill, Mr. Robert Gray, Mr. James Grayling, Chris Green, Damian Greening, Justine Grieve, Mr. Dominic Gummer, rh Mr. John Hague, rh Mr. William Hammond, Mr. Philip Hammond, Stephen Hancock, Mr. Mike Hands, Mr. Greg Harper, Mr. Mark Harris, Dr. Evan Harvey, Nick Hayes, Mr. John Heald, Mr. Oliver Heath, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, rh Mr. David Hemming, John Hendry, Charles Herbert, Nick
755
30 MARCH 2010
756
Robertson, Hugh Robertson, Mr. Laurence Rogerson, Dan Rosindell, Andrew Rowen, Paul Russell, Bob Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Sanders, Mr. Adrian Selous, Andrew Shapps, Grant Shepherd, Mr. Richard Simmonds, Mark Simpson, Mr. Keith Smith, Chloe Smith, Sir Robert Soames, Mr. Nicholas Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Spicer, Sir Michael Spink, Bob Spring, Mr. Richard Stanley, rh Sir John Steen, Mr. Anthony Streeter, Mr. Gary Stuart, Mr. Graham Stunell, Andrew Swayne, Mr. Desmond Swire, Mr. Hugo Syms, Mr. Robert Tapsell, Sir Peter
Taylor, Mr. Ian Thurso, John Timpson, Mr. Edward Tredinnick, David Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Vaizey, Mr. Edward Vara, Mr. Shailesh Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Walker, Mr. Charles Wallace, Mr. Ben Walter, Mr. Robert Waterson, Mr. Nigel Watkinson, Angela Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Willetts, Mr. David Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Mr. Roger Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wilshire, Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Rob Wishart, Pete Young, rh Sir George
11. FUEL DUTIES (RATES AND REBATES FROM APRIL 2010) Question put,
That (1) The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 is amended as follows. (2) In section 6(1A) (main rates) (a) in paragraph (a) (unleaded petrol), for 0.5619 substitute 0.5719, (b) in paragraph (aa) (aviation gasoline), for 0.3457 substitute 0.3835, (c) in paragraph (b) (light oil other than unleaded petrol or aviation gasoline), for 0.6591 substitute 0.6691, and (d) in paragraph (c) (heavy oil), for 0.5619 substitute 0.5719. (3) In section 6AA(3) (rate of duty on biodiesel), for shall be 0.3619 a litre. substitute is the same as that in the case of heavy oil. (4) In section 6AB (rate of duty on bioblend) (a) in subsection (3), for the words after is the substitute same as that in the case of heavy oil., and (b) omit subsections (4) and (5). (5) In section 6AD(3) (rate of duty on bioethanol), for shall be 0.3619 a litre. substitute is the same as that in the case of unleaded petrol. (6) In section 6AE (rate of duty on blends of bioethanol and hydrocarbon oil) (a) in subsection (3), for the words after bioethanol blend substitute is the same as that in the case of unleaded petrol., and (b) omit subsections (4) and (5). (7) In section 8(3) (road fuel gas) (a) in paragraph (a) (natural road fuel gas), for 0.2216 substitute 0.2360, and (b) in paragraph (b) (other road fuel gas), for 0.2767 substitute 0.3053. (8) In section 11(1) (rebate on heavy oil) (a) in paragraph (a) (fuel oil), for 0.1037 substitute 0.1055, and (b) in paragraph (b) (gas oil), for 0.1080 substitute 0.1099. (9) In section 14(1) (rebate on light oil for use as furnace fuel), for 0.1037 substitute 0.1055. (10) In section 14A(2) (rebate on certain biodiesel), for 0.1080 substitute 0.1099. (11) The following are revoked (a) the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Hydrogenation of Biomass) (Reliefs) (b) the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Sulphur-free Diesel) (Hydrogenation of Biomass) (Reliefs) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2406), and (c) regulation 11 of the Hydrocarbon Oil, Biofuels and Other Fuel Substitutes (Determination of Composition of a Substance and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/753). (12) The amendments made by this Resolution come into force on 1 April 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.

Question accordingly agreed to. 9. TOBACCO PRODUCTS DUTY (RATES) Resolved,

That (1) For the table in Schedule 1 to the Tobacco Products Duty Act 1979 substitute
Table 1. Cigarettes An amount equal to 24 per cent of the retail price plus 119.03 per thousand cigarettes 180.28 per kilogram 129.59 per kilogram 79.26 per kilogram.
2. Cigars 3. Hand-rolling tobacco 4. Other smoking tobacco and chewing tobacco
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) comes into force at 6 pm on 24 March 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
10. VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY (MOTORCYCLE RATES) Resolved,

That (1) In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (annual rates of duty: motorcycles) (a) in paragraph (c) (motorbicycle which has engine with cylinder capacity exceeding 400cc but not exceeding 600cc), for 48 substitute 50, and (b) in paragraph (d) (motorcycle not within any of paragraphs (a) to (c)), for 66 substitute 70. (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) have effect in relation to licences taken out on or after 1 April 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob
[10.43 pm
Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David
757
30 MARCH 2010
758
Anderson, Janet Armstrong, rh Hilary Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brennan, Kevin Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Caton, Mr. Martin Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Cousins, Jim Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew
Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Mr. Tom Havard, Mr. Dai Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Humble, Mrs. Joan Hutton, rh Mr. John Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Ingram, rh Mr. Adam Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara
Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonagh, Siobhain McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Primarolo, rh Dawn
Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, John Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rooney, Mr. Terry Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salter, Martin Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Truswell, Mr. Paul Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wood, Mike
759

Wright, Dr. Tony Wyatt, Derek
30 MARCH 2010

Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Mr. Tom Havard, Mr. Dai Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Humble, Mrs. Joan Hutton, rh Mr. John Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Ingram, rh Mr. Adam Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John
760
Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain

NOES
Alexander, Danny Barrett, John Beith, rh Sir Alan Brake, Tom Breed, Mr. Colin Brooke, Annette Browne, Mr. Jeremy Bruce, rh Malcolm Burt, Lorely Cable, Dr. Vincent Campbell, Mr. Gregory Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Davey, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. Dai Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Featherstone, Lynne Gidley, Sandra Hancock, Mr. Mike Harris, Dr. Evan Harvey, Nick Heath, Mr. David Hemming, John Holmes, Paul Hosie, Stewart Howarth, David Hughes, Simon Hunter, Mark Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Lamb, Norman Leech, Mr. John Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn MacNeil, Mr. Angus McCrea, Dr. William McIntosh, Miss Anne Moore, Mr. Michael Mulholland, Greg pik, Lembit Pelling, Mr. Andrew Price, Adam Pugh, Dr. John Reid, Mr. Alan Robertson, Angus Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rogerson, Dan Rowen, Paul Russell, Bob Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Sanders, Mr. Adrian Simpson, David Smith, Sir Robert Spink, Bob Stunell, Andrew Thurso, John Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wilson, Sammy Wishart, Pete

Mr. Roger Williams and John Mason
Question accordingly agreed to. 12. FUEL DUTIES (FURTHER CHANGES IN RATES AND REBATES) Question put,
That provision may be made amending rates of duty and rebates in the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 from 1 October 2010 and 1 January 2011.
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Anderson, Janet Armstrong, rh Hilary Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon
[10.54 pm
Barlow, Ms Celia Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David
Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brennan, Kevin Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Caton, Mr. Martin Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Cousins, Jim Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce
761
30 MARCH 2010

pik, Lembit Pelling, Mr. Andrew Price, Adam Pugh, Dr. John Reid, Mr. Alan Robertson, Angus Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rogerson, Dan Rowen, Paul Russell, Bob Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Sanders, Mr. Adrian Simpson, David Smith, Sir Robert Spink, Bob Stunell, Andrew Thurso, John Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wilson, Sammy Wishart, Pete
762
Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonagh, Siobhain McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, John Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rooney, Mr. Terry Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salter, Martin Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison
Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wood, Mike Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain Wright, Dr. Tony Wyatt, Derek
Cable, Dr. Vincent Campbell, Mr. Gregory Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Davey, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. Dai Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Featherstone, Lynne Gidley, Sandra Hancock, Mr. Mike Harris, Dr. Evan Harvey, Nick Heath, Mr. David Hemming, John Holmes, Paul Hosie, Stewart Howarth, David Hughes, Simon Hunter, Mark Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Lamb, Norman Leech, Mr. John Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn MacNeil, Mr. Angus McCrea, Dr. William Moore, Mr. Michael Mulholland, Greg

Mr. Roger Williams and John Mason
Question accordingly agreed to.
13. AIR PASSENGER DUTY (RATES) Resolved,

That provision may be made about the rates of air passenger duty.
14. LANDFILL TAX (STANDARD RATE) Resolved,

That provision may be made about the standard rate of landfill tax.
15. AGGREGATES LEVY (RATE) Resolved,

That provision may be made about the rate of aggregates levy.
16. CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY (RATES) Resolved,

That provision may be made about the rates of climate change levy.

NOES
Alexander, Danny Barrett, John Beith, rh Sir Alan Brake, Tom Breed, Mr. Colin Brooke, Annette Browne, Mr. Jeremy Burt, Lorely
17. AMUSEMENT MACHINE LICENCE DUTY (RATES) Resolved,

That (1) In section 23(2) of the Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981 (amount of duty payable on amusement machine licence), for the table substitute
763

Table
30 MARCH 2010

Harvey, Nick Havard, Mr. Dai Heath, Mr. David Hemming, John Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Hosie, Stewart Howarth, David Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Hughes, Simon Humble, Mrs. Joan Hunter, Mark Hutton, rh Mr. John Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lamb, Norman Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Leech, Mr. John Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacNeil, Mr. Angus MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric
764
Months for which licence granted
Category A
Category B1 265 505 760 1015 1,270 1,520 1,775 2,025 2,285 2,540 2,795 2,905
Category B2 210 395 605 800 1,000 1,195 1,395 1,600 1,800 1,995 2,195 2,285
Category B3 210 395 605 800 1,000 1,195 1,395 1,600 1,800 1,995 2,195 2,285
Category B4 190 360 545 725 900 1,085 1,265 1,450 1,630 1,810 1,990 2,075
Category C 85 150 225 300 375 450 520 600 675 750 820 860.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
520 1,015 1,520 2,025 2,540 3,050 3,555 4,060 4,570 5,075 5,580 5,805
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) has effect in relation to cases where the application for the amusement machine licence is received by the Commissioners for Her Majestys Revenue and Customs after 4 pm on 26 March 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
18. BANK PAYROLL TAX Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made for and in connection with bank payroll tax.
19. LANDLINE DUTY Question put,

That provision may be made for and in connection with landline duty.
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, Danny Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Anderson, Janet Armstrong, rh Hilary Austin, Mr. Ian Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barrett, John Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Beith, rh Sir Alan Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brake, Tom Brennan, Kevin Brooke, Annette Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Browne, Mr. Jeremy Bruce, rh Malcolm Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Burt, Lorely Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Cable, Dr. Vincent Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Caton, Mr. Martin Chapman, Ben
Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Corbyn, Jeremy Crausby, Mr. David Creagh, Mary Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair Davey, Mr. Edward David, Mr. Wayne Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Farrelly, Paul Featherstone, Lynne Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gidley, Sandra Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hancock, Mr. Mike Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Dr. Evan Harris, Mr. Tom
765
30 MARCH 2010

NOES
Hayes, Mr. John Heald, Mr. Oliver Heathcoat-Amory, rh Mr. David Hendry, Charles Herbert, Nick Hoban, Mr. Mark Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Hollobone, Mr. Philip Horam, Mr. John Howard, rh Mr. Michael Howarth, Mr. Gerald Howell, John Hunt, Mr. Jeremy Hurd, Mr. Nick Jack, rh Mr. Michael Jackson, Mr. Stewart Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Jones, Mr. David Key, Robert Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Lancaster, Mr. Mark Lansley, Mr. Andrew Leigh, Mr. Edward Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Lewis, Dr. Julian Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Lidington, Mr. David Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Loughton, Tim Luff, Peter Maclean, rh David Malins, Mr. Humfrey Maude, rh Mr. Francis May, rh Mrs. Theresa McCrea, Dr. William McIntosh, Miss Anne McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Miller, Mrs. Maria Milton, Anne Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Mundell, David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Neill, Robert OBrien, Mr. Stephen Osborne, Mr. George Ottaway, Richard Paice, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Owen Pelling, Mr. Andrew Penning, Mike Penrose, John Prisk, Mr. Mark Randall, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Robathan, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Hugh Robertson, Mr. Laurence Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rosindell, Andrew Selous, Andrew Shapps, Grant Shepherd, Mr. Richard Simmonds, Mark Simpson, Mr. Keith Smith, Chloe Soames, Mr. Nicholas Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Spicer, Sir Michael
766
Mason, John McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonagh, Siobhain McDonnell, John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Moore, Mr. Michael Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mulholland, Greg Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward pik, Lembit Osborne, Sandra Owen, Albert Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Price, Adam Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, Angus Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rooney, Mr. Terry Rowen, Paul Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Bob Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Salter, Martin Sanders, Mr. Adrian Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan
Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Smith, Sir Robert Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stringer, Graham Stuart, Ms Gisela Stunell, Andrew Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Thurso, John Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Weir, Mr. Mike Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Mr. Roger Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wishart, Pete Wood, Mike Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil Wright, Mr. Anthony Wright, David Wright, Mr. Iain Wright, Dr. Tony

Afriyie, Adam Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Amess, Mr. David Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Peter Bacon, Mr. Richard Baldry, Tony Barker, Gregory Baron, Mr. John Bellingham, Mr. Henry Benyon, Mr. Richard Beresford, Sir Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Blunt, Mr. Crispin Bone, Mr. Peter Boswell, Mr. Tim Bottomley, Peter Brady, Mr. Graham Brazier, Mr. Julian Brokenshire, James Browning, Angela Burns, Mr. Simon Burrowes, Mr. David Burt, Alistair Carswell, Mr. Douglas Cash, Mr. William Chope, Mr. Christopher Clappison, Mr. James Clark, Greg Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Crabb, Mr. Stephen Davies, Mr. Dai Davies, David T. C. (Monmouth) Davies, Philip Davis, rh Mr. David Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Dorries, Nadine Duncan, Alan Dunne, Mr. Philip Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Evans, Mr. Nigel Evennett, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael Fallon, Mr. Michael Field, Mr. Mark Francois, Mr. Mark Fraser, Christopher Gale, Mr. Roger Garnier, Mr. Edward Gauke, Mr. David Gibb, Mr. Nick Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Goodman, Mr. Paul Goodwill, Mr. Robert Gray, Mr. James Grayling, Chris Green, Damian Greening, Justine Grieve, Mr. Dominic Gummer, rh Mr. John Hague, rh Mr. William Hammond, Mr. Philip Hammond, Stephen Hands, Mr. Greg Harper, Mr. Mark
767
30 MARCH 2010
768
Spink, Bob Spring, Mr. Richard Stanley, rh Sir John Streeter, Mr. Gary Stuart, Mr. Graham Swayne, Mr. Desmond Swire, Mr. Hugo Syms, Mr. Robert Tapsell, Sir Peter Taylor, Mr. Ian Timpson, Mr. Edward Tredinnick, David Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Vaizey, Mr. Edward Vara, Mr. Shailesh Villiers, Mrs. Theresa
Walker, Mr. Charles Wallace, Mr. Ben Walter, Mr. Robert Watkinson, Angela Whittingdale, Mr. John Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Willetts, Mr. David Wilshire, Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Rob Wilson, Sammy Wright, Jeremy Young, rh Sir George
28. FOREIGN CURRENCY BANK ACCOUNTS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about foreign currency bank accounts.
29. RELIEFS AND REDUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN TAX Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about arrangements that increase reliefs or reductions for foreign tax.

Mr. Brooks Newmark and James Duddridge
Question accordingly agreed to. 20. SIDEWAYS RELIEF ETC Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made amending Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
30. CHARGEABLE GAINS: TRANSFER OF ASSETS TO NON-RESIDENT COMPANY Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about chargeable gains in relation to transfers of assets to companies not resident in the United Kingdom.
31. TRANSACTIONS IN SECURITIES Resolved,

That provision may be made amending Chapter 1 of Part 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
21. PROPERTY LOSS RELIEF Resolved,

That provision may be made amending Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
32. APPROVED CSOP SCHEMES Resolved,

That provision may be made about the kinds of shares to which approved CSOP schemes can apply.
22. CAPITAL ALLOWANCE BUYING Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made amending Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 in relation to cases where there is a qualifying change in relation to a company.
33. UNAUTHORISED UNIT TRUSTS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about the taxation of unit holders of unauthorised unit trusts.
23. LEASED ASSETS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about leased assets.
34. INDEX-LINKED GILT-EDGED SECURITIES Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made in relation to index-linked gilt-edged securities.
24. CUSHION GAS Resolved,

That provision may be made about cushion gas.
35. APPROVED SHARE INCENTIVE PLANS Resolved,

That provision may be made about approved share incentive plans.
25. SALES OF LESSORS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about sales of lessors.
36. RELEASE AND WRITING OFF OF DEBTS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about the release and writing off of debts.
26. CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY AMATEUR SPORTS CLUBS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made in relation to charities and community amateur sports clubs.
37. REPOS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made amending paragraph 4 of Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2007 and section 550 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009.
27. REMITTANCE BASIS: MEANING OF RELEVANT PERSON Resolved,

That provision may be made amending section 809M of the Income Tax Act 2007.
38. RISK TRANSFER SCHEMES Resolved,

That provision may be made about risk transfer schemes.
769
30 MARCH 2010
770
39. INSURANCE COMPANIES (APPORTIONMENT) Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made for the apportionment of asset value increases.
43. INHERITANCE TAX (INTERESTS IN POSSESSION AND REVERSIONARY INTERESTS) Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about interests in possession and reversionary interests.
40. PENSIONS (SPECIAL ANNUAL ALLOWANCE CHARGE) Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made amending Schedule 35 to the Finance Act 2009.
44. STAMP DUTY RESERVE TAX (DEPOSITARY RECEIPT AND CLEARANCE SERVICES SYSTEMS) Resolved,
That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about stamp duty reserve tax in relation to the transfer of securities issued in connection with depositary receipt systems and clearance services systems.
41. VALUE ADDED TAX (REVERSE CHARGE) Resolved,

That provision may be made for and in connection with extending section 55A of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to supplies of services.
45. STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (PARTNERSHIPS) Resolved,

That (1) In section 75C of the Finance Act 2003 (SDLT antiavoidance: supplemental) (a) in subsection (8), omit paragraph (b) and the and before it, and (b) after that subsection insert (8A) Nothing in Part 3 of Schedule 15 applies to the notional transaction under section 75A. (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) have effect in relation to any notional transaction of which the effective date is on or after 24 March 2010. (3) But those amendments do not have effect in relation to a notional transaction if any of the scheme transactions is (a) completed before that date, (b) effected in pursuance of a contract entered into and substantially performed before that date, or (c) effected in pursuance of a contract entered into before that date and not excluded by paragraph (4). (4) A scheme transaction effected in pursuance of a contract entered into before 24 March 2010 is excluded by this paragraph if (a) there is any variation of the contract, or assignment (or assignation) of rights under the contract, on or after 24 March 2010, (b) the transaction is effected in consequence of the exercise on or after that date of any option, right of pre-emption or similar right, or (c) it is a land transaction and on or after that date there is an assignment (or assignation), subsale or other transaction relating to the whole or part of the subject-matter of the contract as a result of which a person other than the purchaser under the contract becomes entitled to call for a conveyance. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
42. INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX (SEPARATE CONTRACTS) Resolved,

That (1) Part 3 of the Finance Act 1994 (insurance premium tax) is amended as follows. (2) Section 72 (meaning of premium) is amended as follows. (3) After subsection (1A) insert (1AA) A contract (the relevant contract) is not to be regarded as a separate contract for the purposes of subsection (1A) above if conditions A to D are met. (1AB) Condition A is that the insured is an individual (I) and enters into the taxable insurance contract in a personal capacity. (1AC) Condition B is that I (a) is required to enter into the relevant contract by, or as a condition of entering into, the taxable insurance contract, or (b) would be unlikely to enter into the relevant contract without also entering into the taxable insurance contract. (1AD) Condition C is that (a) the amount charged to I under the relevant contract in respect of any particular services is not open to negotiation by I, or (b) the other terms on which particular services are to be provided to I under the relevant contract are not open to such negotiation. (1AE) Condition D is that the amount charged to I under the taxable insurance contract is arrived at without a comprehensive assessment having been undertaken of the individual circumstances of I which might affect the level of risk. (4) After subsection (9) insert (9A) Provision may be made subsections (1AA) to (1AE) above. by order amending
46. ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made about cases where there is a change in accounting standards in relation to loan relationships or derivative contracts.
(5) In section 74(4) and (6) (orders which need to be approved by House of Commons), for or 71 substitute , 71 or 72. (6) The amendment made by paragraph (3) has effect in relation to payments made on or after 24 March 2010. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
47. FURNISHED HOLIDAY LETTINGS Question put,

That provision may be made about furnished holiday lettings.
771
30 MARCH 2010
772
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Ainger, Nick Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Allen, Mr. Graham Anderson, Mr. David Armstrong, rh Hilary Bailey, Mr. Adrian Bain, Mr. William Baird, Vera Balls, rh Ed Banks, Gordon Barlow, Ms Celia Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Battle, rh John Bayley, Hugh Beckett, rh Margaret Begg, Miss Anne Benn, rh Hilary Benton, Mr. Joe Berry, Roger Betts, Mr. Clive Blackman, Liz Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Blears, rh Hazel Blizzard, Mr. Bob Blunkett, rh Mr. David Borrow, Mr. David S. Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Brennan, Kevin Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Russell Bryant, Chris Buck, Ms Karen Burden, Richard Burgon, Colin Burnham, rh Andy Butler, Ms Dawn Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Cairns, David Campbell, Mr. Alan Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Caton, Mr. Martin Chapman, Ben Clapham, Mr. Michael Clark, Ms Katy Clark, Paul Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Clelland, Mr. David Clwyd, rh Ann Coaker, Mr. Vernon Coffey, Ann Cohen, Harry Connarty, Michael Cook, Frank Cooper, Rosie Cooper, rh Yvette Crausby, Mr. David Cruddas, Jon Cryer, Mrs. Ann Cummings, John Cunningham, Mr. Jim Cunningham, Tony Darling, rh Mr. Alistair David, Mr. Wayne
[11.25 pm
Davidson, Mr. Ian Davies, Mr. Quentin Dean, Mrs. Janet Denham, rh Mr. John Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Dismore, Mr. Andrew Dobbin, Jim Dobson, rh Frank Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Doran, Mr. Frank Dowd, Jim Drew, Mr. David Eagle, Angela Eagle, Maria Efford, Clive Engel, Natascha Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Mr. Robert Flint, rh Caroline Follett, Barbara Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye) Gapes, Mike Gardiner, Barry George, rh Mr. Bruce Gerrard, Mr. Neil Gilroy, Linda Goggins, rh Paul Goodman, Helen Griffith, Nia Griffiths, Nigel Grogan, Mr. John Hain, rh Mr. Peter Hall, Mr. Mike Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Mr. David Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Hanson, rh Mr. David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Harris, Mr. Tom Havard, Mr. Dai Hendrick, Mr. Mark Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Heppell, Mr. John Hesford, Stephen Heyes, David Hill, rh Keith Hillier, Meg Hodge, rh Margaret Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Hoey, Kate Hood, Mr. Jim Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Hope, Phil Hopkins, Kelvin Howarth, rh Mr. George Howells, rh Dr. Kim Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Humble, Mrs. Joan Iddon, Dr. Brian Illsley, Mr. Eric Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jenkins, Mr. Brian Johnson, rh Alan
Johnson, Ms Diana R. Jones, Helen Jones, Mr. Kevan Jones, Mr. Martyn Jowell, rh Tessa Joyce, Eric Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Keeble, Ms Sally Keeley, Barbara Keen, Ann Kelly, rh Ruth Kemp, Mr. Fraser Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Kidney, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Lammy, rh Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Lazarowicz, Mark Lepper, David Levitt, Tom Linton, Martin Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Ian Mackinlay, Andrew MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Mactaggart, Fiona Mahmood, Mr. Khalid Malik, Mr. Shahid Mallaber, Judy Mann, John Marris, Rob Marsden, Mr. Gordon Martlew, Mr. Eric McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas McCabe, Steve McCafferty, Chris McCarthy, Kerry McCarthy-Fry, Sarah McDonagh, Siobhain McFadden, rh Mr. Pat McFall, rh John McGovern, Mr. Jim McIsaac, Shona McKechin, Ann McKenna, Rosemary McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Meale, Mr. Alan Merron, Gillian Michael, rh Alun Miliband, rh Edward Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Austin Moffatt, Laura Mole, Chris Morden, Jessica Morgan, Julie Mudie, Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Munn, Meg Murphy, Mr. Denis Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Naysmith, Dr. Doug Norris, Dan OBrien, rh Mr. Mike OHara, Mr. Edward Osborne, Sandra Palmer, Dr. Nick Pearson, Ian
Plaskitt, Mr. James Pope, Mr. Greg Pound, Stephen Prentice, Bridget Prentice, Mr. Gordon Prescott, rh Mr. John Primarolo, rh Dawn Prosser, Gwyn Purchase, Mr. Ken Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Reed, Mr. Andy Reid, rh John Robertson, John Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Rooney, Mr. Terry Roy, Mr. Frank Roy, Lindsay Ruane, Chris Ruddock, Joan Russell, Christine Ryan, rh Joan Salter, Martin Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Seabeck, Alison Sharma, Mr. Virendra Shaw, Jonathan Sheerman, Mr. Barry Sheridan, Jim Simon, Mr. Sin Singh, Mr. Marsha Skinner, Mr. Dennis Slaughter, Mr. Andy Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Smith, Geraldine Smith, rh Jacqui Snelgrove, Anne Soulsby, Sir Peter Southworth, Helen Spellar, rh Mr. John Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Stewart, Ian Stoate, Dr. Howard Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Straw, rh Mr. Jack Stuart, Ms Gisela Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Tami, Mark Taylor, Ms Dari Thomas, Mr. Gareth Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Tipping, Paddy Todd, Mr. Mark Touhig, rh Mr. Don Trickett, Jon Turner, Dr. Desmond Turner, Mr. Neil Twigg, Derek Ussher, Kitty Vaz, rh Keith Walley, Joan Waltho, Lynda Ward, Claire Watson, Mr. Tom Watts, Mr. Dave Whitehead, Dr. Alan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, rh Mr. Alan Williams, Mrs. Betty
773

Wright, Wright, Wright, Wright, Mr. Anthony David Mr. Iain Dr. Tony
30 MARCH 2010

Shapps, Grant Shepherd, Mr. Richard Simmonds, Mark Simpson, Mr. Keith Smith, Chloe Smith, Sir Robert Soames, Mr. Nicholas Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Spicer, Sir Michael Spink, Bob Spring, Mr. Richard Stanley, rh Sir John Streeter, Mr. Gary Stuart, Mr. Graham Stunell, Andrew Swayne, Mr. Desmond Swire, Mr. Hugo Syms, Mr. Robert Tapsell, Sir Peter Taylor, Mr. Ian Thurso, John Timpson, Mr. Edward Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Vaizey, Mr. Edward Vara, Mr. Shailesh Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Walker, Mr. Charles Wallace, Mr. Ben Walter, Mr. Robert Waterson, Mr. Nigel Watkinson, Angela Webb, Steve Weir, Mr. Mike Whittingdale, Mr. John Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Willetts, Mr. David Williams, Hywel Williams, Mark Williams, Mr. Roger Williams, Stephen Willott, Jenny Wilshire, Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Rob Wilson, Sammy Wishart, Pete Young, rh Sir George
774
Wills, rh Mr. Michael Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr. David Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Wood, Mike Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun Woolas, Mr. Phil

Lyn Brown and Mary Creagh
NOES
Afriyie, Adam Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Alexander, Danny Amess, Mr. David Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Peter Bacon, Mr. Richard Barker, Gregory Baron, Mr. John Barrett, John Beith, rh Sir Alan Bellingham, Mr. Henry Benyon, Mr. Richard Beresford, Sir Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Blunt, Mr. Crispin Bone, Mr. Peter Boswell, Mr. Tim Bottomley, Peter Brady, Mr. Graham Brake, Tom Brazier, Mr. Julian Breed, Mr. Colin Brokenshire, James Brooke, Annette Browne, Mr. Jeremy Browning, Angela Bruce, rh Malcolm Burns, Mr. Simon Burrowes, Mr. David Burt, Alistair Burt, Lorely Cable, Dr. Vincent Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Carswell, Mr. Douglas Cash, Mr. William Chope, Mr. Christopher Clappison, Mr. James Clark, Greg Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Crabb, Mr. Stephen Davey, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. Dai Davies, David T. C. (Monmouth) Davies, Philip Davis, rh Mr. David Dodds, Mr. Nigel Donaldson, rh Mr. Jeffrey M. Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Dorries, Nadine Duncan, Alan Dunne, Mr. Philip Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Evans, Mr. Nigel Evennett, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael Fallon, Mr. Michael Featherstone, Lynne Field, Mr. Mark Francois, Mr. Mark Fraser, Christopher Gale, Mr. Roger Garnier, Mr. Edward Gauke, Mr. David Gibb, Mr. Nick Gidley, Sandra Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Goodman, Mr. Paul Goodwill, Mr. Robert Gray, Mr. James Green, Damian Greening, Justine Grieve, Mr. Dominic Gummer, rh Mr. John Hague, rh Mr. William Hammond, Mr. Philip Hammond, Stephen Hancock, Mr. Mike Hands, Mr. Greg Harper, Mr. Mark Harris, Dr. Evan Harvey, Nick Hayes, Mr. John Heald, Mr. Oliver Heath, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, rh Mr. David Hemming, John Hendry, Charles Herbert, Nick Hoban, Mr. Mark Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Hollobone, Mr. Philip Holmes, Paul Horam, Mr. John Hosie, Stewart Howard, rh Mr. Michael Howarth, David Howarth, Mr. Gerald Howell, John Hughes, Simon Hunt, Mr. Jeremy Hunter, Mark Hurd, Mr. Nick Jack, rh Mr. Michael Jackson, Mr. Stewart Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Jones, Mr. David Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Key, Robert Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Lamb, Norman Lancaster, Mr. Mark Lansley, Mr. Andrew Leech, Mr. John Leigh, Mr. Edward Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Lewis, Dr. Julian Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian
Lidington, Mr. David Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Loughton, Tim Luff, Peter Maclean, rh David MacNeil, Mr. Angus Malins, Mr. Humfrey Mason, John Maude, rh Mr. Francis May, rh Mrs. Theresa McCrea, Dr. William McIntosh, Miss Anne McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Miller, Mrs. Maria Milton, Anne Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Moore, Mr. Michael Mulholland, Greg Mundell, David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Neill, Robert Newmark, Mr. Brooks OBrien, Mr. Stephen Osborne, Mr. George Ottaway, Richard Paice, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Owen Pelling, Mr. Andrew Penning, Mike Penrose, John Pickles, Mr. Eric Price, Adam Prisk, Mr. Mark Pugh, Dr. John Randall, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John Reid, Mr. Alan Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Robathan, Mr. Andrew Robertson, Angus Robertson, Hugh Robertson, Mr. Laurence Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Rogerson, Dan Rosindell, Andrew Rowen, Paul Russell, Bob Salmond, rh Mr. Alex Sanders, Mr. Adrian Selous, Andrew

Jeremy Wright and James Duddridge
Question accordingly agreed to.
48. FSCS INTERVENTION IN RELATION TO INSURANCE CONTRACTS Resolved,

That provision may be made about interventions under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in relation to protected contracts of insurance.
49. ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR DUTIES (CIDER) Resolved,

That provision may be made for and in connection with amending the definition of cider in the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979.
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50. RELIEF FROM TAX (INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL CHARGES) Resolved,

That it is expedient to authorise any incidental or consequential charges to any duty or tax (including charges having retrospective effect) that may arise from provisions designed in general to afford relief from taxation. PROCEDURE (FUTURE TAXATION): That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may contain the following provisions taking effect in a future year (a) provision for corporation tax to be charged for the financial year 2011, (b) provision increasing the rate of stamp duty land tax for residential property in cases where the relevant consideration is more than 1 million, (c) provision about the standard rate of landfill tax, (d) provision about the rate of aggregates levy, (e) provision about the rates of climate change levy, (f) provision for and in connection with the high income excess relief charge, (g) provision about taxable benefits in respect of cars with a CO2 emissions figure, (h) provision amending section 317 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, and (i) provision exempting certain persons from income tax in respect of certain income arising in connection with the 2011 Champions League final.
Hilary Benn, Secretary John Denham, Secretary Ed Miliband, Secretary Yvette Cooper, Mr. Liam Byrne, Mr. Pat McFadden, Miss Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Mr. Ian Pearson and Mr. Stephen Timms introduce the Bill. FINANCE BILL Presentation and First Reading Mr. Stephen Timms accordingly presented a Bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 100) with explanatory notes (Bill 100-EN). PERSONAL CARE AT HOME BILL Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A),
That the following provisions shall apply to the Personal Care at Home Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 14 December 2009 (Personal Care at Home Bill (Programme)): Consideration of Lords Amendments 1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at this days sitting. Subsequent stages 2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put. 3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.(Mark Tami.)
Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the foregoing Resolutions; That the Chairman of Ways and Means, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary
Question agreed to.
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Consideration of Lords amendments. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): I must draw the attention of the House to the fact that financial privilege is involved in Lords amendments 1, 2 and 4. If the House agrees to these amendments, I shall ensure that the appropriate entry is made in the Journal. I should also inform the House that Mr. Speaker has given careful consideration to Lords amendment 3 to the Bill. He is satisfied that it would impose a charge on the public revenue that is not authorised by a resolution of the House. Therefore, when it is reached, I will announce that it is deemed to be disagreed to in accordance with paragraph 3 of Standing Order No. 78. It is therefore not available for debate. Clause 1 FREE PROVISION OF
PERSONAL CARE AT HOME
11.40 pm The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): I beg to move, That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 1. Mr. Deputy Speaker: With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Government motion to disagree, and Government amendment in lieu. Lords amendment 2, and Government motion to disagree. Lords amendment 4, and Government motion to disagree. Phil Hope: This Bill, as the House knows, reaches out to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. We want to ensure that they can benefit from these reforms. I can therefore confirm to the House that we will look to offer free personal care at home for those with highest needs from April 2011. However, we have listened to local government and we have listened to the concerns expressed in another place. By accepting Lords amendment 2, and given our intention not to move the amendment in lieu, we are recognising that a new Parliament may wish to confirm the arrangements for implementing this important first step towards a future national care service. Local authorities will still have the time that they have told us they need to implement the legislation most effectively, subject to Parliamentary approval of the commencement order. I now turn to the Lords amendments. Mr. Speaker has designated Lords amendments 1 and 4 as involving privilege because they would alter the financial arrangements made by this House. However, we wish to agree with Lords amendment 2, as this recognises the collective desire for more time to implement these measures and more time to scrutinise them. It does so by requiring a commencement order to be laid and approved by both Houses before the Act can come into force. Lords Amendment 1, in its current wording, would delay implementation of the scheme until June 2011 at the earliest. This is because it would prevent regulations from being made until 1 April 2011 at the earliest. We therefore disagree with Lords amendment 1, because people in many places say that April 2011 implementation is what they want.
Lords Amendment 4 would insert what is known as a sunset clause, and would require the Act resulting from this Bill to lapse at the end of two years after Royal Assent unless there were regulations in force. In addition to the question of privilege, Lords amendments 1 and 4 are inappropriate and unnecessary. They seek to delay implementation of the Bill beyond what is reasonable. Todays White Paper makes it clear that the personal care offer enabled by this Bill is an integral part of the staged route to a national care service. However, we accept that a future Parliament may want to confirm the arrangements for implementation and will therefore accept Lords amendment 2. Lords amendment 2 would require that a commencement order be made before the provisions of the Bill could come into force. Additionally, such an order would need to be approved by the affirmative procedure, with consideration in both this House and the other place. This would give adequate time for a future Parliament to consider the measures, or leave them free to put the Act into force immediately if they so wished. This Bill has been subject to rigorous debate both in this House and in another place. By disagreeing with amendments 1 and 4 on the grounds of privilege, I am not in any way intending to criticise the quality of debate in the Lords, which was of a consistently high standard and led us to include transitional portability of assessment. I hope that these proposals now clearly show that we have tried to achieve a consensus on the way forward. 11.44 pm Mr. Stephen OBrien (Eddisbury) (Con): It is absolutely clear that the Government are keen to get this Bill through, and we too are extremely keen to see social care reformed. Although we have proposed improving amendments during the passage of the Bill, let me stress that we have never opposed it. We believe that the noble Lords, on both sides of their House, who have amended the Bill have done so for the better and for the betterment of social care provision. They have done their constitutional job, and they have done it well, so I congratulate their lordships. As much as I would relish the thought of debating the Bill through the night, and as much as these amendments represent the usual, slight embarrassment and defeats for the Government in the Lords, at the hands of those on both sides of that Chamber, including their own, I start by saying that the Government can have their Bill, because they have taken on board the advice of the Lords and because, in particular, they are supporting Lords amendment 2, which offers the opportunity and time for the provisions to be reconsidered in a future Parliament. I pay tribute, however, to the nearly 6 million social care users in this countrya catch-all category that speaks of conditions from dementia to disabilities of which we will all be awareand to the 6 million carers in this country, who, alongside the professionals in local authorities and the care services industry, work so tirelessly for the vulnerable and the less vulnerable, who just need a little help. They should be at the forefront of our minds as we consider the Bill tonight. On the back of that, I would say very quickly that the Bill actually helps very few of those people. The Secretary of State has paraded the figure of 400,000, but the free
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[Mr. Stephen OBrien] personal care section is aimed only at 276,000, of whom well over half166,000already receive free care. So the policy helps 110,000, when social care users will number 6 million by 2012. According to the Governments estimate, the provisions will take just 2,384 people out of care homesone of the stated aims of the policyout of a care home population of roughly 500,000. I shall briefly put this in context. Earlier today, by way of a written ministerial statement, the Secretary of State announced the social care White Paper. This is not the moment to suggest either that it would have been more helpful to have an oral statement or that, during Health questions, he did not actually rule out the death tax option. However, it is important to recognise that the White Paper recommends that we have yet another commission, like the one ignored by the Labour Government in 2000. It states that the issue will be dealt with in the Parliament after next, but the Secretary of State pledged unstoppable momentum for reform in the next Parliament. Indeed, on Labours timetable, reform will begin in 201720 years after Tony Blairs promise to end the scandal of people selling their homes to pay for the their care. The White Paper does not mention costs, which no serious debate would ignore. It states that the Government have chosen the comprehensive funding model, but it is not actually a funding model; it is a delivery model. The funding is the question: where does the money come from? The flagship policy, which was taken from our last manifestowe have, obviously, moved on furtheris to fund the cost of peoples care after they have spent two years in a care home, on the basis that they will avoid what the Secretary of State calls catastrophic costs. However, those two years will cost the individual 52,000. In that context, I hope that he will recognise that 52,000 is catastrophic, compared with the 8,000 we have proposed. We have listened carefully to what the Government have done, which is not to move the earlier manuscript amendment and to accept the advice of the Lords in amendment 2, which affords the time that is required and was rightly requested in order for the costs to be properly evaluated and for local authorities to have the time that they have politely said that they need. Mr. John Gummer (Suffolk, Coastal) (Con): Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. OBrien: I will briefly give way, but we need to make progress. Mr. Gummer: Will my hon. Friend contrast the consensus, which he supports, on care of these very vulnerable people with the fact that, in constituencies up and down the country, the Labour party is writing to them, saying that were there a Conservative Government, many of their benefits would be taken away? Is that not a disgraceful use of Government powers in dealing with vulnerable people? Mr. OBrien: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. Indeed, it would be a disgrace were anybody to claim that any Opposition party, including the Conservative party, had suggested removing pensioner benefits. In
the same way, it is not us who have suggested removing cash benefits, which are vital for those vulnerable people and their carers, in the form of either the attendance allowance or the disability living allowance for the under or over-65s, either now or going forward. My right hon. Friend makes a powerful point, and, having placed what I have said on the record, I hope that we will have no more such suggestions, in what I hope can be a clean campaign as we face the electorate. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Will my hon. Friend be good enough to confirm that the Government have in fact performed a massive climbdown? Their proposals, as expressed on the Today programme this morning by the Secretary of State, indicate that they do not quite appreciate the extent to which they have done a massive U-turn. Does my hon. Friend have any idea of when the appointed day on which they will bring in the proposals is likely to be, because after all, they might not even be the Government then? Mr. OBrien: My hon. Friend makes the point, which I think the Government accept, that they have sought to introduce the Bill at breakneck speed. We have often discussed the provenance of the Bill, which was quickly put together for the Prime Ministers conference speech last September. The Government then produced a Green Paper, yet the principles that underlie this Bill seem to fly in the face of the principles that they ruled out in that Green Paper, and only today has a White Paper been produced. The costs have been estimated in a way that they first had to be withdrawn, and they remain uncertain. Many local authorities signed a letter to the newspapers to suggest that they had not had a chance to get the scheme ready for the time proposed. Ultimately, therefore, my hon. Friend is right that there has been some concern, but it is important that we should portray what the Government have done as an attempt at an honourable retreat, rather than as a U-turn. Above all, local authorities will have a chance to take advice and make the necessary estimation of the cost if the Bill is introduced by way of a commencement order under the affirmative resolution procedure, as would be the case under Lords amendment 2, which the Government have rightly agreed should be agreed. That will give whoever forms the next Government the opportunity to decide how the Bill sits in the context of the policies that are developed going forward, and whether it should form part of a retrospectively justifying stage 1 of a White Paper or what we hope will be a much speedier process of total social care reform, although we shall have to wait and see what the judgment of the electorate is in the forthcoming general election. With those comments I am happy to welcome the approach that the Government have taken, in having taken the advice of the Lords and deciding to take the process forward in the way that they have. 11.52 pm Norman Lamb (North Norfolk) (LD): We, too, have listened carefully to what the Government have proposed, and we accept the position. We are critical of the Bill for the same reasons that the noble Lords Lipsey and Warner set out in the other place. We feel that it cuts against the process of reform that was first set out in the Green Paper. We do not see the Bill as a bridge to
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reform, as the Government have described it, but, at the very least, the amendments before us offer an opportunity to pause for reflection in the next Parliament. Likewise, we, too, take the view that we must move to implement a fundamental reform of social care in the next Parliament. It cannot wait until the Parliament after that. It is for that reason that I have concerns about the White Paper, which was published today, in that it delays a fundamental reform of the system, a reform that we think is long overdue. There are things in the White Paper that we strongly support, particularly the much closer integration of health and social care, the focus on prevention and ensuring the maximum choice and freedom for individuals in how the money is used, but we believe that there is an overwhelming case for getting on with reform, which we would want to see early in the next Parliament. Following the election we will continue to make the case for the three parties to work together to secure that reform as quickly as possible. Lords amendment 1 disagreed to. Lords amendment 2 agreed to, with Commons privileges waived in respect of Lords amendment.. Mr. Deputy Speaker: As I advised the House earlier, Mr. Speaker has given careful consideration to Lords amendment 3 to the Bill. He is satisfied that it would impose a charge on the public revenue which is not authorised by a resolution of this House. Therefore under paragraph 3 of Standing Order No. 78, Lords amendment 3 is deemed to be disagreed to. Lords amendment 3 deemed to be disagreed to (Standing Order No. 78(3)). Lords amendment 4 disagreed to. Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their amendments 1, 3 and 4; That Mary Creagh, Phil Hope, Norman Lamb, Mr. Stephen OBrien and Phil Wilson be members of the Committee; That Phil Hope be the Chair of the Committee; That three be the quorum of the Committee; That the Committee do withdraw immediately.(Mark Tami.) Committee to withdraw immediately; reasons to be reported and communicated to the Lords.
That the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Culture and Other Fields) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 24 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS
That the draft Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
The Deputy Speakers opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred until Wednesday 7 April (Standing Order No. 41A). Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), CHARITIES
That the draft Charities (Disclosure of Revenue and Customs Information to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No.118 (6)), PENSIONS
That the draft Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT
That the draft Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (Variation of Reimbursement and Other Administrative Arrangements) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), CRIMINAL LAW
That the draft Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (Code of Practice for Interviews of Witnesses Notified by Accused) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 5 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)

DELEGATED LEGISLATION Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
That the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Housing) (Fire Safety) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 28 January, be approved. That the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Local Government) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 10 February, be approved. That the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Education) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 24 February, be approved.
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), BUILDING SOCIETIES
That the draft Building Societies (Insolvency and Special Administration) (Amendment) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 8 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), EDUCATION
That the draft Local Education Authorities and Childrens Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 10 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
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Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), SOCIAL SECURITY
That the draft Jobseekers Allowance (Work for Your Benefit Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 24 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Commission staff working document on Europe 2020public consultationfirst overview of responses, and No. 6037/10, Commission staff working documentLisbon Strategy evaluation document; and supports the Governments approach to promoting an EU strategy focused on delivering strong, sustainable and balanced growth.(Mark Tami.)
The Deputy Speakers opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred until Wednesday 7 April (Standing Order No. 41A). PETITIONS Planning and Development (Hadleigh, Essex) 12 midnight Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): Kelly and Ian King and many other excellent caring local people have compiled this petition in response to a development proposal that is entirely out of keeping with and intrusive on their environment, putting intolerable pressures on our roads and public services and therefore the residents quality of life. The petition states:
The Petition of local residents and others objecting to the back garden development of eight flats in two blocks at 21 Lynton Road Hadleigh, Declares that the proposed development is out of character with the area, has insufficient parking and garden amenity space, would make an unacceptable imposition on the street scene, is by its bulk and design over obtrusive, would make unacceptable impositions on local road congestion, and on fresh water demand and sewage and surface water disposal, would make local road junctions serving the streets more dangerous, does not provide suitable access to the site from the road and would create disturbance, noise and other problems for local residents; further notes that there is sufficient previously developed land to provide all the housing needs for this region without such intensive building in the green belt or back gardens and that the council is under no obligation or pressure from the Government to vote for this application if it chooses not to. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to press Castle Point Borough Council, and the Conservative Council Group, to ensure this application is decided by councillors who can be held to account, rather than officers, and that it is rejected. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000798]
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
That the draft Additional Paternity Leave (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 24 February, be approved. That the draft Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 23 February, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), BUILDING SOCIETIES
That the draft Building Societies (Financial Assistance) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 1 March, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), ACCESS TO JUSTICE
That the Legal Services Commission Funding Code: Criteria and Procedures, a copy of which was laid before this House on 8 March, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118 (6)), LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION
That the draft Criminal Defence Service (Information Requests) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 27 January, be approved). That the draft Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders: Appeals, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.(Mark Tami.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Order, 22 March, and Standing Order No. 118 (6)), FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDUSTRY
That this House authorises the Secretary of State to undertake to pay, and to pay, by way of financial assistance under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, sums exceeding 10 million and up to a cumulative total of 380 million in respect of a guarantee which may be provided by the Secretary of State to the European Investment Bank in the event of a European Investment Bank loan to Ford Motor Company Limited.(Mark Tami.)
Planning and Development (Benfleet, Essex) Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): This petition was organised by Brian Keeler, a superb campaigner, well known and valued by his community for the work he does. He is campaigning against totally inappropriate development, which I urge councillors to reject. The petition is a long one; it will be printed in Hansard. Following is the full text of the petition: [The Petition of Brian Keeler, the residents of Castle Point and others, Declares that they object to the proposed development of the area between Nos. 18 to 32 High Road, Benfleet to construct a building providing 5 Retail Units at Ground Level, 22 Parking Spaces, 2 Offices, plus 12 x 2 bed flats and 2 x 1 bed flats at 1st and 2nd floor levels; that this development should be rejected because the proposed, much larger building would dominate and overlook existing properties, bring unacceptable problems including inadequate
EUROPEAN UNION DOCUMENTS Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119 (11)),
That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 7110/10, Commission Communication on Europe 2020a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, No. 6018/10,
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parking, fails to show where access to and from the site parking area, bearing in mind an existing public parking area in Adelaide Gardens, vague refuse storage area, restricted sight lines for emerging traffic from St Marys Drive, reduction of the pavement, loss of light entering adjoining buildings and relocation of the heritage telephone kiosk and post box; further declares that this development would further spoil the Conservation Area and create unacceptable stress on the existing infrastructure, including roads, schools, rail, doctors, dentists, etc.; that for these and many other valid planning reasons this application be rejected by the local Councillors, elected to represent their constituents, and that given the importance to the wider community of protecting this unique Conservation Area, unelected and unaccountable officers must properly and widely consult the public before permitting such developments. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to press Castle Point Borough Council, and all Councillors, to reject this planning application and to substantially protect the unique St Marys Conservation area. And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
[P000799]
on the Longton High site. I have with me tonight the start of a petition, which is still gathering hundreds of signatures. The petition calls for the two-school solution that the people of Stoke-on-Trent want. It reads:
The Petition of the undersigned, Declares that there is a desire among the people of the city of Stoke-on-Trent that there should be a High School serving the communities of Longton, Meir, Weston Coyney, Normacot, Dresden, and other areas in that vicinity. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to take steps to instruct Stoke-on-Trent City Council that it may, as part of the BSF programme, have a two-school solution to the issue of the location of the new 20:20 Academy, thereby building a new school on the fields adjacent to Longton High School and continuing to use the Mitchell High School. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000801]
Hunting with Dogs Michael Jabez Foster (Hastings and Rye) (Lab): I have been asked to present the petition of Mr. Kim Stallwood, a passionate animal welfare advocate, and some 4,000 of my constituents, bringing attention to proposals to bring back the barbaric blood sport of fox hunting. The petition states:
The Petition of residents of Hastings and Rye and others, Declares that the petitioners believe that hunting with dogs is cruel; further declares that the Petitioners oppose the efforts of local Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Amber Rudd and the Conservative Party to have the ban repealed, further declares that the Petitioners support the Hunting Act 2004 and the Back the Ban campaign; and that the Petitioners support Michael Foster, MP for Hastings and Rye, in his campaign to keep hunting illegal. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons reject any proposal to legalise hunting with dogs. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000802]
Bus Service (Essex) Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): This is my third petition, which you will be glad to hear, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is my last in this Parliament. It was produced by Carol Tebbutt, the wonderful people of Age Concern and others in Castle Point who want to see an improved bus service. My goodness, we all want to see that. The petition is long and will be printed in Hansard. Following is the full text of the petition: [The Petition of Carol Tebbutt, members of Age Concern Canvey Island, the residents of Castle Point and others, Declares that they object to the reduction in frequency of low-floor buses operating on the number 21 bus route between Southend and Canvey Island, operated by FirstGroup; that this reduction in the number of low-floor buses discriminates against passengers with greater accessibility needs, including the elderly, infirm, adults accompanying small children and those with limited mobility; further, that this route is used by residents travelling to and from Southend Hospital and requiring frequent, accessible, reliable and comfortable bus services; that for these and many other valid reasons only low-floor buses be operated by FirstGroup on this route and at greater frequency. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to press FirstGroup to operate only low-floor buses and at shorter intervals on the number 21 bus route between Southend and Canvey Island. And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
[P000800]
Gypsies and Travellers (Security of Tenure) Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): My first petition was organised by Cathay Birch. Unlike other social tenants, Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches have no rights to security of tenure, and both the European Court of Human Rights and the House of Lords have said that that amounts to a breach of human rights. The Government have recognised that, and have said that they will amend the law by including council sites in the Mobile Homes Act 1983. However, the Government have not had the time to introduce the necessary legislation. The petition was signed by 608 people and states:
The Petition of Cathay Birch and others, Declares that the European Court of Human Rights (in 2004) and the House of Lords (in 2008) have stated that the situation regarding the lack of security of tenure for Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches amounted to a breach of Human Rights; that the Government said they would amend the law by including Council sites within the provisions of the Mobile Homes Act 1983; that the Government then released an e-mail to certain organisations on 10th February 2010 saying that they no longer had time to introduce the necessary amending powers; and that this has happened despite the fact that security of tenure could be introduced with a few simple sentences;
High School Provision (Stoke-on-Trent South) Mr. Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent, South) (Lab): Stokeon-Trent city council has today turned a 250 million Building Schools for the Future success story into a disaster, but all is not lost. The councilConservative-run at the momentcan still do the right thing. In line with what the Schools Minister has repeatedly said, we can have a two-school solutionkeeping a community school at Mitchell High, while building the new 20:20 academy
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Business without Debate Hunting with Dogs
788
Further declares that the Petitioners believe the Government should take action now to resolve this breach of Human Rights by amending legislation to ensure Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches have the same rights to security of tenure as other social housing tenants. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government immediately to bring forward proposals to amend the Act of Parliament pertaining to security of tenure of Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches to ensure that security of tenure is given.
[P000804]
Mr. David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab): It gives me great pleasure to present a petition on behalf of Mrs. Shirley Milne, 519 residents of Blaydon, and others, which states:
The Petition of residents of Blaydon Constituency and others, Declares that the Petitioners agree with a ban on hunting with dogs, and believe the ban should be enforced rigorously and effectively; further declares that the Petitioners are opposed to any efforts to overturn the ban and allow the re-introduction of hunting with dogs in the future. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons reject any proposal to legalise hunting with dogs and asks the Government to reaffirm its opposition to hunting with dogs. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000805]
Proposed Eviction (Dale Farm and Hovefields, Essex) Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): My second petition, to which there are 15 signatures, concerns the proposed eviction of Gypsy and Traveller families at Dale Farm and Hovefields by Basildon council. It was organised by Ann Dean. The families include invalid schoolchildren, some of whom have special needs, elderly people, and many who are living on their own land. The petition states:
The Petition of families at Dale Farm and Hovefields to be evicted, their supporters and others, Declares that roughly 100 families at Dale Farm and Hovefields are to be evicted by Basildon Council in Essex at a cost of over 2 million; that most of the families to be evicted by Basildon Council have lived on their own land for about seven years, and they include invalids who will be separated from their Carers and school children, some of whom have Special Needs, who on the roadside will be deprived of their Human Right to Education; that this mass eviction will be carried out by a firm of Bailiffs whose brutality was condemned by the High Court, and therefore breaks the solemn signed undertaking by Basildon Council to the High Court, to only use Bailiffs of previous good conduct; Further declares that the Petitioners believe Basildon Council is also breaking the terms and the purpose of sections 225 and 226 of the 2004 Housing Act, which say that every local housing authority must prepare a strategy to meet the accommodation needs of the gypsies and travellers residing in or resorting to their area, whilst in fact Basildon Council says that any new pitches which it allows will not be reserved for local Travellers who are already residing in the area; that this contradicts their statement that the new pitches will be allocated by their housing policy as the 1996 Housing Act normally requires a local connection; that it also means that the local Travellers may have to live by the roadside although the 2004 Housing Act promised them legal pitches by 2011. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons debate this matter; and urge the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: to exercise his powers under s225 and 226 of the 2004 Housing Act and s 8 of the 1985 Housing Act (c. 68) to see that all local authorities, including Basildon, find enough affordable pitches for all their local Travellers; to urge all local authorities to show humanity by following the decision of the Court of Appeal in 2008 in the Wychavon case, by not evicting Travellers, especially those on their own land, until an alternative affordable site is available for them, as was intended by the 2004 Housing Act to happen by 2011; to ask local authorities to follow the High Court decisions v Basildon in 2000 and 2004 that even normal school children should not be evicted; to ask Basildon to follow the High Court in the Margaret Price case by not offering Homeless Travellers only bricks and mortar, but affordable pitches; and to ask Basildon not to evict the sick, or the elderly or break its undertaking to the High Court not to use Bailiffs of bad conduct.
[P000803]
Tamil People (Sri Lanka) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I am grateful to the House for its courtesy in allowing me to present so many petitions at the same time. The first reads as follows:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that following the end of hostilities in Sri Lanka the detained Tamil people have been held against their will, without any freedom of movement in unsanitary IDP camps. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges HM Government to press the Sri Lankan government for the implementation of a thorough going release of Tamil people in IDP camps and the commencement of talks to bring home rule to Tamil lands to the benefit of all Sri Lanka.
[P000806]
Asylum Screening (Croydon) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The second petition reads as follows:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the decision to make Croydons Asylum Screening Unit the only such in-land unit could result in an additional 3,650 asylum seekers coming to Croydon each year, and that this will take a financial toll on local services. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring in a bill to ensure that the costs of implementing and running this policy are met from central funds.
[P000807]
Crystal Palace FC Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:
The Petition of football supporters, Declares that The Football League should exercise discretion in its application of its rules that has led to the 10 point deduction from Crystal Palace FC, and notes that unlike other football clubs penalised after seeking administration Crystal Palace FC was placed in administration against its wishes, and notes that Lloyds Banking Group has an important role to play in returning Crystal Palace FC to profitable trading by working on the ownership of Selhurst Park being returned to the club. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage The Football League to consider whether it should remove or reduce the points penalty meted out to Crystal Palace FC, and as a major shareholder in Lloyds Banking Group that it should ask the senior management of Lloyds Banking Group as to what action it is taking to reunite Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace FC so as to aid Crystal Palace FC in returning to profitable trading. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000808]
789
Business without Debate Bus Routes (Croydon)
30 MARCH 2010
Business without Debate Diabetes Services (Croydon)
790
Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:

The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that they would support the introduction of a 24 hours a day service on the 64 bus route. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Transport for London in this proposal of a 24 hours a day 64 bus route. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000809]
Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:

The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that in Croydon there is good work being done to combat diabetes and that Croydon now needs more screening tests for diabetes; more albumin creative ratio checks and HbA1C tests for those already living with diabetes; and Government support for Croydons services that combat the diabetic arterial diseases that can lead to amputations; and that with the right support amputations could be cut by 30% through better total care and public health education to allow for earlier intervention to stop amputations. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support Croydons services that combat the diabetic arterial diseases and to encourage health providers to make available more screening tests for diabetes and more albumin creative ratio checks and HbA1C tests for those already living with diabetes. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000813]
Public Sector Employment (Croydon) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the Croydon economy depends on public sector employment. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that public sector positions are not transferred away from Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000810]
Housing (Croydon) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:
The Petition of New Addington residents, Declares that much needed family homes are being shoe-horned into unsuitable former garage sites that compromise the visual amenity and environment of old and new residents alike, and that the local Council thus pays disrespect to New Addington. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to investigate whether value for money is being achieved from the housing grant paid to Croydon Council and to place improved conditions on quality of design and setting for new Council housing in the London Borough of Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000814]
Incinerator (Croydon) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the construction of an incinerator on Beddington Lane, Sutton, would not be in Croydons interests. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to investigate alternative sites for the incinerator or alternative means of disposing of waste in an environmentally friendly manner. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000811]
Parliamentary Reform Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I am very happy to take up the invitation of the petitioners in this last petition. The petition states:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that Andrew Pelling has served as an effective Member of Parliament for Croydon Central putting Croydon first and would serve Croydon well again if he were to be persuaded to stand for re-election in the upcoming General Election. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons uses the powers of the new Business Committee to table further debates on Parliamentary reform to allow discussion on the advantages of independence in the House. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000815]
GPs (Croydon) Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The petition states:
The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that having only three GPs on call from midnight to 8am covering 370,000 residents in Croydon is clearly inadequate and forces Croydon residents into more expensive care at A&E thus wasting public money. The Petitioners therefore call upon the House of Commons to urge the Government to direct Croydon NHS to provide for more GP overnight coverage. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000812]
791
30 MARCH 2010
Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund
792

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.(Mr. Blizzard.) 12.15 am John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): It gives me great pleasure to introduce this Adjournment debate on the aggregates levy and the use of that levy in local communities affected by aggregates. The levy was initially the idea of the Prime Minister, the then Chancellor, and was first mooted in the July 1997 Budget. It was confirmed in the 2000 Budget and published in the 2001 Budget, to be introduced in April 2002. At the time, it was a levy on aggregates of 1.60 a tonne. The aim of the levy was to encourage a move away from aggregates, to maximise the use of alternatives such as recycled construction and demolition waste and china clay waste, and to encourage the more efficient use of aggregates, greater resource efficiency in the construction industry and the development of a range of other alternatives, including the use of waste glass and tyres in aggregate mixes. The levy has raised 334 million in the past financial year and in the Governments view has been a significant factor in reducing sales of virgin aggregates in England by about 18 million tonnes between 2001 and 2005. The issue that I wish to concentrate on in this debate is the approximately 10 per cent. of the levy that goes to the aggregates levy sustainability fund. The fund was established through negotiation with the industry at the onset of the scheme and its current budget of 35 million is due to be renewed in 2011I understand that those discussions are under way. The money available under the ALSF is to be used for four objectives. The first is to minimise the demand for primary aggregates extraction. The second is to promote more environmentally friendly aggregates extraction and transport. The third is to address the environmental impacts of past aggregates extraction. The fourth, which is crucial, is to compensate local communities for the impacts of aggregates extraction. I wish to draw that fourth objective to the attention of the House. This money is distributed in a range of ways, one of which is through local authorities. They allocated 3 million of the total for this final fourth objective. In the county of Nottinghamshire 107,000 is allocated, of which 106,735 was spent last year. However, the issue is how the money is spent. Local authorities, including those in Nottinghamshire, will say that the money is being used to leverage in other money. Indeed, in a written answer that I received the relevant Minister said:
It is for local authorities to decide how to spend money provided via ALSF as a non ring fenced area based grant. These monies are spent according to local priorities.[Official Report, 11 March 2010; Vol. 507, c. 412W.]
However, the industry, through the Mineral Products Association, argues, among other things, that
the creeping migration and diversion of funds away from the original and core purposes of the fund
should
be arrested and reversed.
It also says that significantly more funding should be directed to benefit local communitiesin Nottinghamshire and elsewhere in the country. I back that concept. It seems to me that the fund from the aggregates levy
should be aimed specifically and explicitly at benefiting local communities that are directly and immediately impacted by the quarrying of aggregates. The money should be spent with those communities and not diverted to other worthy projects in areas that have a negligible amount of quarryingor, indeed, none. I have looked into how the money has been spent in Nottinghamshire over the years, including last year. It has been spent on some very worthy projects, including projects that I have personally assisted in raising money for, but those projects should not be getting the aggregates levy money when communities that are directly affected by quarrying get none of it. I shall cite a few examples. My constituency has the largest amount of quarrying in Nottinghamshire and one of the largest amounts of quarrying for aggregates anywhere in the country. Villages such as Scrooby and Sturton le Steeple are getting nothing, or next to nothing, from the fund. Sturton le Steeple has a power stationindeed, two power stations, in essenceat West Burton, as well as a huge quarry, and there are vast amounts of lorry movements from both of those enterprises, not least from quarrying. The village recognises that there is and will always be a need for aggregates, and it welcomes the fact that good quarrying companies will do the job well, particularly if they are prepared to negotiate and abide by agreements regarding traffic and the movement of material by barge, rail or road. Of course, villagers want there to be maximum use of barge and rail in moving extractions of that nature. They will live with the quarry, but it is fair to expect for them more than the measly amounts that have been given to Sturton le Steeple and the nothing that has been given to Scrooby. However, there is a worse example, which for the nation exemplifies the problem of such moneys being diverted by county councils to worthy causes for good reason, but not a good enough reason. Misson is the place in Nottinghamshire for quarrying. Everyone in Nottinghamshire who looks into this issue knows that has been the case for previous and current quarrying, and it will doubtless be the case for future quarrying. The Minister knows the village, because he has kindly provided assistance to villagers in dealing with the separate issue of the mushroom composting factory that has been blighting their lives for many years. The village would like to thank the Minister for instigating the current health review on that matter. The village of Misson has received nothing from the fund, despite having many community projects for which it would like funding. Many villagers would like childrens playground facilities to be enhanced and to have new footpaths where footpaths do not exist. Other worthy projects will come forward, but it should be for the local community to decide on priorities. Those people are being denied access to the fund. My plea to the Minister, and through him to his Department and the Government, is to heed the requests of the industry, which are echoed by my communities that are directly affected and are also echoed by me. Our request is that the original purpose be explicitly implemented when the fund is renewedthat is, that the money should go to those villages and communities that are directly impacted. It should no longer be possible for county councils or others to divert money, for whatever worthy reason, to other projects rather than to communities that have quarrying.
793
30 MARCH 2010
794
It seems to me that the deal that applies to the industry and the Government should also apply to those communities. I request that, in the negotiations, the Minister change the terms and conditions behind the fund to ensure that those affected by quarrying get the benefits from the levy in the way that the Prime Minister originally intended. 12.25 am The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Norris): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) on securing this debate on an area of my Departments work that is not widely known but in which I genuinely think we might take some pride. I had the great pleasure only a couple of weeks ago to open a conference adjacent to the Olympic site in Stratford to showcase the work of the aggregates levy sustainability fund. I do not think that anyone who was present on the day could fail to be impressed by the sheer diversity of the projects that have been funded. However, it cannot fund everything, and sometimes there are tough choices to be made by our delivery partners about how to use the funds allocated to them to pursue the broad themes that we have agreed for the fund. When the ALSF was introduced in April 2002, its overarching purpose was to complement the objectives of the levy that applies to the extraction of aggregates in this country, and to deliver environmental and social benefits to areas subject to the environmental costs of aggregates extraction. Since its introduction, the fund has been administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and delivered through a total of 28 delivery partners. Over the eight years since its inception, the fund has helped around 3,000 projects which have shared more than 169 million. A full public consultation was undertaken on how best to target funding for the current 2008 to 2011 spending review period. Based on those responses, we decided that the most effective way to achieve the funds aim
to reduce the environmental footprint of aggregates production and deliver benefits in areas of extraction
The fourth theme is transport. This comprises work that the Department for Transport does to train lorry drivers to drive in a more safe and fuel-efficient way, and to increase capacity to transport aggregates by rail and water rather than road. Another element is the work that British Waterways has done to enable transport of aggregates by the waterways around east London. Finally, there is the communities theme. This is work done by Action for Communities in Rural England and local authorities to fund projects in communities affected by extraction. Work ranges from improvements to community buildings to access to local services, and from the provision of play facilities to landscape improvements. To give an example from Nottinghamshire, a listed windmill at North Leverton that has been in operation for 200 years was in disrepair and under threat. An ALSF grant provided 16,000 towards work costing 32,000 that was needed to enable the repair and refurbishment of the windmill. The work allowed the mill to keep grinding, and to remain open to the public and for school visits. The funds delivery partners develop the detailed criteria to determine, in a transparent way, how they select specific projects. In the case of local authorities, a share of the fund is distributed in the form of what is called an area based grant, through the local area agreement, to be spent according to locally set priorities. My hon. Friend is supporting a request from Misson parish council for some 2 km of new roadside footpath to be provided between the villages of Misson and Newington. However, through correspondence with Misson, Nottinghamshire county council has explained that the proposal does not fit with the criteria that it appliescriteria agreed with DEFRAin using the funds that it disburses. The proposal would take a disproportionate amount of the funding available to the council and create a longer-term maintenance bill that has no obvious funder. Many key stakeholders have an interest in the ALSF. They range from the aggregates industry itselfwhich is understandably interested in getting some credit, given the contribution it makes to general taxation via the levyto the waste management and processing sector, which is involved under the resource use theme by helping to reduce the need for virgin aggregates, and a vast range of non-governmental organisations, including national and local nature conservation bodies, and local archaeological and geological bodies. The Campaign for National Parks, Friends of the Peak District, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Wildlife Trusts have all benefited significantly in the case of the RSPB and the Wildlife Trustsfrom ALSF project funding, and were therefore active contributors to the funds outputs. The dedication and engagement of all those bodies, and indeed many others, in working with us on those issues is clearly apparent, and I applaud the work that they have done. The fund contributes in a small but very effective and important way to the objectives of a number of Departments and their agencies. John Mann: Is that not exactly the problem? The issue is not about Government priorities or local government priorities. Was the levy, or was it not, set up in its community aspect to benefit those communities impacted upon by extraction? The Minister has given examples.
was to organise work around five themes, and I should like to say something about them now. The first theme is the quarries theme. This includes Carbon Trust work with quarrying companies to reduce carbon emissions; Natural England work to enhance landscape and biodiversity around quarries; and English Heritage work to manage archaeology and other historic assets around quarries. It also involves working with the Mineral Industry Research Organisation to improve capacity for managing the environment in the longer term. The second theme is the marine theme. This involves increasing capacity for managing marine dredging and has included mapping most of the major extraction areas so that we have a better understanding of the environmental assets that need protecting. The third theme is resource use. This is work that the waste and resource action programmeoften referred to as WRAP and the Environment Agency do to ensure increased recycling of construction and demolition waste, and the sustainable use of materials to reduce the need for extraction in the first place.
795
30 MARCH 2010
796
[John Mann] North Leverton is a wonderful project. Is there a quarry near North Leverton? Misson was refused. Is there a quarry near Misson? Dan Norris: I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. DEFRA is acutely aware that some stakeholders and communities are concerned about how money from the fund is allocated. That is certainly true, but it did not emerge as a major concern in the 2008 consultation, when we consulted widely on the future design of the scheme. Most responses gave strong support for the way the fund currently operates, although I accept that things may have changed and that that may not be correct now. Budgets for the coming financial year have already
been committed to local authorities and to ACRE. Future spending plans beyond that are uncertain, but I can say to my hon. Friend that, should the Department be in a position to continue the fund beyond 2010-11, I have asked my officials to consider the option of targeting the communities element so that moneys for local communities reach those most affected by aggregates extraction. I hope he finds some comfort in those words. Once again, I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate and on his usual hard work on behalf of his constituents. I hope that I have clarified the Governments position for him. Question put and agreed to. 12.33 am House adjourned.
159WH
30 MARCH 2010
Speakers Conference on Parliamentary Representation
160WH
Westminster Hall
Tuesday 30 March 2010 [MR. ERIC ILLSLEY in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.(Mr. Mudie.) 9.30 am Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen, South) (Lab): I am pleased to have secured this debate. We had hoped to have a debate about the important work of the Speakers Conference on the Floor of the House at some stage, because Speakers Conferences are rare events, but that was not to be. I had hoped for a two and a half hour debate last Thursday, but that was not to be either. So I am absolutely delighted that we have been given the opportunity to spend an hour and a half this morning discussing the findings and consequences of the Speakers Conference. I want to cover four different areas. First, I shall give some context to the Speakers Conferencewhy it was set up and the reasons behind it. Secondly, I want to talk about the findings of the report, some of which were surprising, and some of which were less so. We hope that some of the findings will educate people in the future. The third area that I would like to consider is the response of various organisations, such as the political parties and the House authorities, and how they anticipate taking forward some of our recommendations. Those responses to our report have now been published. Fourthly, I would like to spend some time looking to the future and considering how we might carry on the work of the Speakers Conference. Although a Speakers Conference only lasts until the end of the Parliament in which it is set up, I hope that our reports recommendations will have long-lasting effects and will potentially change the future composition of our House of Commons. In the time I have available, I hope I can cover all those areas. As I said, Speakers Conferences rarely happen. They are often set up at the behest of the Prime Minister of the day, which was true in this case, and they usually consider constitutional issues that will have long-lasting repercussions. Cross-party support might therefore be needed to put recommendations in place. It is no use just one political party or Government accepting the findings of a Speakers Conference report; it must have cross-party support. We were very conscious that some of the previous Speakers Conferences had come up with radical proposals. We did not think that we would suggest something as radical as votes for women, as one Speakers Conference did at the turn of the 20th century, or votes for 18-year-olds, which was one of the findings of a Speakers Conference in the 1960s. However, we hoped that the findings and recommendations of our piece of work would have the same kind of long-lasting effects on representation. The Speakers Conference was set up to consider the composition of the House of Commons and to try to find solutions to rectify the disparity in the representation
of some groups of people. For example, only 19 per cent. of Members of the House of Commons are women, despite the fact that women make up 52 per cent. of the population, and small numbers of Members are from ethnic minorities, despite the fact that an increasing proportion of the population comes from ethnic minorities. We also considered why there were so few disabled Members, when we know that there is a large disabled population in society. Those were the main areas of our remit, but the phrase and associated matters also allowed us to consider other groups that are perhaps under-represented, particularly those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We took evidence from across the whole country. We were keen to get out of the Westminster bubble, and did not want to be seen simply as a parliamentary delegation descending from on high. We were also very keen to engage with the people we met, and to listen to what they had to say, so that we could reflect those views in our recommendations. We took evidence in the Palace of Westminster itself, and I thank the leaders of the three main political parties, who gave evidence. Initially, they were not perhaps as tied into the process as we had hoped, but with a bit of persuasion, all three turned up, and we are grateful that they did. One of the things that we became acutely aware of fairly early on in our deliberations was that the gatekeepers to the process of deciding who ends up in the House of Commons is not Parliament or the public; it is the political parties. They make the decisions on who their candidates are, and it is only the candidates chosen by the political parties who are put before the electorate. The electorate then make a choice from that group of people. We knew that we needed to get some kind of buy-in from the leaders of the political parties, because we were acutely aware that if they did not think that the work of the Speakers Conference was important, nothing would changeas in previous years, when in many cases nothing much did change. I pay tribute to the three leaders; they did turn up and they acquitted themselves extremely well. All three demonstrated that they thought it important to have a diverse Parliament. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): When the hon. Lady went out and about with the Speakers Conference, how did the public feel about the grip that the political parties have on candidate selection? Do the public perceive that as being the key to the whole issue? Do the public want primaries, so that the whole community can decide which candidates will stand? How does she think such a system would work? Miss Begg: I am conscious that the hon. Gentleman perhaps has a slightly different perspective on these matters from other peopleI think he is standing as an independent at the next election. Interestingly, the general public often say that they want independents, and that they do not want the party political bickering. However, in reality, they find it very difficult to make their choice when independents are involved, because one thing that the political parties can do is provide a shorthand, in terms of a political philosophy. It is very difficult for an average constituent to know all the ins and outs of every candidate and the minutiae of their views, whereas the political parties, with their manifestos, create a shorthand that makes it easier for the public to make a choice.
161WH [Miss Begg]
30 MARCH 2010
162WH
In the report, we say that it is a challenge for the political parties to realise their own importance in the democratic process. They perhaps must revitalise themselves and consider how they can reform their processes, particularly their selection processes, to ensure that they address the kind of issues about the general public to which the hon. Gentleman referred. The general public want people whom they can trust, and they want to feel that they have been given a proper choice. What is most clear is that people want a diverse Parliament that reflects them. They do not want to turn on the TV, put on the Parliament channel and continually see a group of people who they think have nothing to do with their lives. That point certainly came out loud and clear from our work. At this stage, I should say exactly how important it is to have a diverse Parliament. We are not advocating having more women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in Parliament just because that would be a good ideaof course it is a good idea, as it would be nice to have people from different backgrounds in Parliamentbut because that is fundamental to our democracy. It is imperative that we have people from different backgrounds and with different life experiences and perspectives in Parliament. Not only must the Executive represent the diversity of British society today, but Parliament, if it is to do its job of scrutinising the Executive properly, must represent that diversity as well. It is not good enough to say that just because someone has been elected by a diverse electorate they know all about the different aspects of their community and everything that is going on. Had my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) or someone like her not been elected, I suspect that the issue of forced marriages might not have been given the thorough attention that she has given it, because of her particular perspective and the work she had done on that. We know that people from different backgrounds and from more diverse sections of society have different views on what is important or crucial when deciding on policy. There are three main reasons for broadening representation in the House of Commons. First, it is a matter of justice. Anyone who is an elector in this country should be allowed to stand for Parliament, and there should be equality of opportunity, so that all people have an equal right to stand for election to this place, no matter what their background, disability, skin colour or gender. Secondly, as I have indicated, we think that a diverse House will make better decisions and will therefore be much more effective. Thirdly, broader representation would enhance the Houses legitimacy. All those points are important in the light of what happened while we were taking evidence. We did not know whether our timing was particularly bad or particularly good, but as we were touring the country and taking evidence the expenses scandal blew up in all our faces. It was not something that we expected when we started our deliberations, and there is no doubt that it had an impact on the evidence we took. We saw how the standing of Westminster and the House of Commons in particular, and trust in the institution, were being eroded day by day, as more and more revelations came out. There was also a public clamour to get rid of us all,
because there was a view that if we were all cleared out and a new lot came in, somehow everything would be different. All that was happening as we took evidence. My view is that our timing was perhaps very good, because a large number of Members decided to stand down, giving us a chance to ensure that the new House of Commons is much more representative of the general population. Many candidates had already been chosenI am not sure whether that was unfortunate or notbut there was still an opportunity to bring our recommendations to bear on the selection of a new cohort of MPs. We therefore rushed out an interim report that recommended that political parties should aim to redress in their late selection processes some of the inequalities that exist in the present system. As we took evidence, it became clear that that would not necessarily happen without the buy-in of the political parties and their leaders. It would not happen by accident, as it had not done so in previous generations. It became clear from the political parties that had a mechanism for encouraging groups that had been under-represented that that certainly made a difference. The only direct reference in the report to a partys policy was the reference to the Labour partys use of all-women shortlists. There is no doubt that the use of all-women shortlists increases the number of women representatives by a proportion that it is not possible to achieve by other means. One of the amendments that we hope will be made to the Equality Bill would oblige political parties to report their monitoring of their candidate list with regard to gender, ethnicity and, if the candidates declare them, disability and sexuality. By making the parties aware that they have to report on those matters, we hope they will pay more attention to them. The Conservative party is trying hard to increase its number of women candidates but has not used such mechanisms, whether all-women shortlists or others. Although the number of Conservative women Members in the next Parliament is likely to double or even triple, regardless of which party wins the electionwe know that just from the number of Members standing down and the number of women candidates standing in safe seatsthat will still be nowhere near the 50 per cent. of the new cohort needed to redress the historical imbalance, as they are starting from a low base. Although I pay tribute to the work the Conservatives have done to ensure that they have more women candidates, because they did not go down the route of having a mechanism that would redress the balance, their proportion of women in Parliament will still be short. The most we can possibly hope for is that in the next Parliament, the proportion of women will increase from 19 to 24 per cent., which is still a long way behind what is needed, even thought the numbers will increase dramatically. There is no doubt that the political parties have chosen more ethnic minority candidates. No Asian woman has ever been elected to Parliament, for example, and there is a pretty good chance that there will be more than one in the next Parliament. Again, we will fall far short of the numbers we would need to reflect society at large. I want to concentrate more on disability, because we are still not sure that the next Parliament will be any different in that regard from previous Parliaments. As
163WH
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someone with a disability, I know that we are used to being almost 20 years behind everyone else on the equality agenda, although during the past 13 years that has changed dramatically under the Labour Government we are possibly only five or six years behind everyone else, which might still be two Parliaments or more. There are real challenges concerning people with disabilities. Disability is no different from the other issue, so unless we address the supply side the candidates will not come forward. We need to ensure that political parties, community organisations and anyone involved in politicisingwith a small ppeople or campaigning open their doors to disabled people, so that those with the prerequisite qualifications will put themselves forward for Parliament. It is still the case that someone will not be selected for a winnable or safe seat in Parliament unless they have some kind of background in community or political activism, because that is one of the key qualities that constituency parties look for when selecting candidates. They want to know that the person will be able to do the job of being an MP. The political parties have a responsibility in that regard, but so too do voluntary sector groups, and in a much wider sense. In fact, it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that people with disabilities are not forgotten or sidelined, but are encouraged to be part of the mainstream in whatever the decision-making process or campaigning may be, or the area of work in which the organisation is involved. Disabled people also have in-built disadvantages. Generally, they are proportionally less likely to be in higher paid jobs. One of the things we foundthe amount varies from party to party but this applies across all the partiesis that becoming an MP is not a cheap process. It can cost a huge amount of money to get selected, and if the constituency the individual is hoping to be selected for is not local, travel can cost a great deal. For someone with a physical disability, travel may be even more expensive. If they do not drive but rely on taxis, the costs of trying to get selected could be completely prohibitive. One of the things the disability charity Scope proposed, with which we agreed and have recommended, is that there should be access to some kind of public life fund that would operate in the same way that Access to Work operates. It would make extra funds available to people with disabilities, to allow them to compete on an equal footing with those who do not have disabilities and thus, the extra expenses. Another way in which disabled people have a disadvantage is that they are perhaps disproportionately put off even putting themselves forward for this place. I remember thinking that the last thing I, as a woman, wanted to be was an MP in Westminster. Why would I want to get involved in all that yah-boo politics? I have to say that once someone gets elected, they get caught up in it and really quite enjoy it, but that is how it is perceived from the outside. The same can be true for disabled people in particular. They see this Victorian pile sitting along the River Thames and the stairs going into it, and they assume it is not particularly accessible, but that has changed. In the 13 years I have been in this place, the willingness of the House authorities to recognise that people with different abilities and disabilities should be welcome in this placetheir whole attitudehas changed dramatically.
It is difficult to explain that to people who might want to put themselves forward. There will still be anxiety that perhaps adjustments will not be made. We have not had someone elected who uses British sign language, for example, so there are practical difficulties that would have to be ironed out. The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Maria Eagle): Does my hon. Friend accept that role models are tremendously important, and that she herself, having slogged away for 13 years in this place, is the best role model imaginable for disabled people, particularly those with a mobility impairment? Every day she comes here, she shows that it can be done. People out there see that it can be done, and she is the one who has shown them that. She should be congratulated on that. Miss Begg: Modesty prevents me from responding. However, my hon. Friend has put her finger on something. My right hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire)I hope she will not mind my saying thisqualifies as a disabled person under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 because she is an insulin-dependent diabetic. She told me that she was at a hustings event for disability organisations, and one of our colleagues in this House did not imply but actually stated that he thought I was the only disabled person in this place. There are at present three of us who use wheelchairs to get around, so it was not that he had not noticed the invisible disabilitieshe had not even noticed the visible disabilities. I am not sure what my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) would have made of that. It could be that we have been so successful in becoming integrated that people do not notice we have a disability. That would be great, but it is wishful thinking. That is part of the problem, and one of the issues. People who have an invisible disability are in a quandary as to whether to declare their disability. At present, we still equate the word disability with ill health and weakness. While those things are connected, it is difficult for people who have a hidden disabilityI shall speak about mental health in a momentto declare it. It is one of the problems they have. Mental health is another issue on which the House of Commons puts out the wrong message. If someone is sectioned under section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983, they lose their seat as a Member of Parliament. We had hoped to get an amendment through the House to repeal that section, but it will not be possible to do so before Parliament dissolves. It was interesting taking evidence, because we discovered that someone who was in a coma for six months could keep their job as an MP, but someone who was sectioned under the Act for six months could not. That sends out the wrong message, because it basically says that anyone with a mental health problem is not fit to be an MP. To go back to the point I made at the beginning of my speech, it is imperative that we have people with different experiences in this place. We know that the proportion of people who have mental health episodes in their life is high; therefore, it would be useful to have people in this place who are willing to talk about their experiences and how they came through their problems. As with all health issues, a mental health disability is not necessarily permanent. It might be, but if someone
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has any kind of permanent disability or chronic condition, they learn how to cope and how to carry on. Those are the important things. We asked the political parties to present the data they have been using in monitoring their candidates. From what we can gather, we are not sure that the next Parliament will have any more disabled people than this one. Of course, we do not know how many disabled people there are in this Parliament. We know of quite a number of people who have disabilities, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act, that no one knows about, and that such people do not think of themselves as disabled. We still have a huge job to do to improve the representation of disabled people. I am conscious of the time, and I know that a couple of my colleagues wish to speak as well. The next thing I want to discuss is the responses we received, including from the House authorities, to whom I pay tribute. I thought their response was very good. Their attitude has changed, and Parliaments education department has improved in recent years. It does much more outreach, and one of the things we need to docertainly on the supply sideis to enthuse people about politics and what we do in this place, so that they can become part of the political process, and, being part of the process, therefore be more likely to stand for Parliament. The three political parties have also responded, and the Government responded in the form of a Command Paper. All the organisations in question have taken the findings seriously. Another area we are concerned aboutperhaps this is where our timing was either good or badis the report published yesterday by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. If barriers to becoming an MP are built into how we remunerate MPs and how the expenses system works, we could make things worse. We have some concerns that what was published yesterday might act as a barrier to those who have caring responsibilities, whether for elderly relatives or young children. I am still trying to absorb everything in the report. It recognises that an MP with a disability may have extra expenses, but the caring element for an MP with a child seems to end when the child is five. A Member who represents a Scottish constituency and who has a new baby will face a challenge when deciding where to send her children to school, and how to do her job as an MP. Both things are important, but the situation is difficult for someone with a young family. The responses are there. The Speakers Conference ends when Parliament dissolves. I had thought that its work would finish when we published our report, but I discovered that it continues. My seat is marginal, and I do not know whether I will be re-electedthat is up to the electorate in Aberdeen, Southbut having examined the issue, I realise how important it is. If I am re-elected, I will not let it lie, because responsibility for implementing the findings and recommendations is not just for this Parliament, nor even just for the next; it will be for future Parliaments. I hope that during the next Parliament we will make some progress, but it will be far short of what is necessary. We probably came too late to the game. Our report was published only in January, fairly close to an election,
and by that time many prospective parliamentary candidates had been selected, so we were not in a position to influence the political parties from the beginning of the selection process. That is why I am looking to the parties to ensure that this is not a one-election wonder and that, because they have made the right noises this time, they do not put the report on a shelf and forget it. We must start from the beginning of the new Parliament to engage young people, and to educate and develop the skills of the next generation of politicians. We also have a huge job in restoring trust in politicians and Parliament, and in ensuring that political parties select their candidates for the election after the forthcoming one from a diverse background, so that they represent British society more thoroughly than at the moment, and will be part of the restoration of trust in Parliament. I hope that the political parties and the Front-Bench spokesmen here today will take that message on board. I hope they accept that the work of the Speakers Conference is as important as we believe it is, and that they will give a commitment today that the report will not sit on a shelf after the next election, but that it will become a working document and they will all take cognisance of it. 10.2 am Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): I have not prepared a speech, but I scribbled a few notes while my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) was speaking. The hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) asked what feedback we received when we travelled around. I did not attend all the out-of-London hearings, but I went to Manchester, Cardiff and Leeds. It was interesting that many of the people who gave evidence were from the voluntary sectorfrom the womens institute, Soroptimist, Church organisations and so on. They were interested in what they were doing and saw nothing wrong with that, but we tried to explain that they should consider translating that desire to change society for the good into joining a political party, and trying to become a member of a local, district or parish council or a Member of Parliament. I tried to push the idea of joining a political partynot particularly the Labour party, but any party. Whenever I speak to people from Soroptimist, WIs and so on, as I do fairly frequently, I talk about the work of the Speakers Conference, and about them transferring their good work into another form. After all, politics is just a group of ideas. We join a political party because, by and largebut not entirelywe agree with what the party stands for. Mr. Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): The hon. Lady is touching on an important subject. Many people throughout the United Kingdom look on political parties and the House of Commons as irrelevant, except when they need a problem resolved or they are campaigning on an issue. They look on this place as being separate and distinct from, and irrelevant to, their ordinary working lives. Is it not part of our collective duty to try to make our activities here more relevant to the day-to-day lives of ordinary people? Mrs. Cryer: I agree, and that is what we all tried to do when we went out into the sticks and talked to people.
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The Speakers Conference was started by Speaker Martin. He has been given some hard knocks over the past year or so, so I want to put in a good word for him. The conference was his idea. Unfortunately for us, Speaker Bercow was already a member of the conference, so we lost a member but gained a sympathetic and understanding Speaker. I also thank Speaker Bercow for supporting us, although my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, has done all the donkey work throughout the year. It is a pity that we have not had more support fromdare I say it?Conservative Members. Only one has been an assiduous attendee at our gatherings, and that has been appreciated. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, mentioned my work to oppose and try to stop forced marriages. I argued and argued for nine years, and there were times when that was difficult. I was called a racist and all sorts of things, despite the fact that everything I said was said to protect the most vulnerable members of the Pakistani community and, to some extent, the Bangladeshi community in my constituency. I was tarred with the usual racist brush, but I have three half-Indian grandchildren and one half-African step-grandchild, so I am hardly racist. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 went through Parliament because our party had so many women on our Bencheswomen who were prepared to argue that Government time should be made available for the Bill, although it took only a day and a half to go through all its stages, so time was not a huge problem. If there had not been so many women on the Labour Benches, the Act would not have got anywhere near the statute book, and we would not have made changes to immigration regulations to require people to be 21 or over if they are acting as sponsors, or entering the country as a spouse. In both cases, those changes were made because of women on our side of the House. Maria Eagle: My hon. Friend should be congratulated on ensuring that the Act got on to the statute book. I have no doubt that that would not have happened without her campaigning. Does she agree that it is important not only to have many women on the Back Benches, who can see, from a different perspective, that an issue is more important than men might believe, but to have women Ministers, who can elbow and kick from inside the Government? Mrs. Cryer: I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. My membership of the parliamentary committee of the parliamentary Labour party enabled me to push things in that committee with the able assistance of Cathy Ashton, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues in the House of Lords. We pushed the then Prime Minister and the then Leader of the House to find time to get the measure through. Another measure that has not been greatly discussed came about because I am a woman MP. Mothers in my constituency had daughters who were being groomed for sex by some young men. As a result of that, and of me making a fuss, those women confronted the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), and pushed him to make changes to the law so that in certain circumstances, hearsay evidence can be heard in court. That helped their case a great deal. Another change was to make the
grooming of girls a criminal offence, because until I raised that issue, together with those women, who worked with me in my constituency, the grooming of girls was not an offence. Bob Spink: It is evident that, by setting that example, the hon. Lady is strengthening parliamentary representation, connecting people with Parliament, and showing people why Parliament needs a diverse set of MPs. That is relevant to the debate. While she was out and about, did she find that people had a desire to cut the size of Parliament from 657 MPs to 400, 450 or 500, depending on which party they support? I would like to cut the number to a smaller level. Did the hon. Lady get any feel for how that might affect the proportion of women in Parliament? Mrs. Cryer: I am not sure that I follow that argument; the one thing does not necessary follow the other. I cannot remember anything being said at any time about reducing the number of MPs in Parliament, although perhaps my colleagues do. In my experience, we work a large number of hours, although it may be that at 70 I am finding it particularly hard. If we had fewer Members of Parliament, we would presumably have more work, but an MPs job is already stressful with long hourstoo long, I think. I would not take us further in that direction by reducing the number of MPs, and I am not sure how such a change would help to get more women into Parliament. I want to touch on the issue of expenses. The sort of treatment that many of us in the House, particularly women, received from The Daily Telegraph and other newspapers has definitely put women off standing for election. Women know how hard those of us at the sharp end of things found the situation. I was eventually absolved and told that I had not done anything wrong, but I felt guilty for about four months, as if I were some sort of criminal. I think that it is more difficult for women to cope with that sort of situation than it is for menI am not sure why, but that seems to be the case. I have talked to many young women from my constituency party and local Labour parties who said that although they might once have considered putting their names forward for selection, after what some MPs have been through, they felt that it was more difficult. Similarly, the rules on how we claim and what we can claim for have become much narrower, as regards what we used to call London living costs. That will make it more difficult for women with families to enter Parliament, because they will need a flat that is big enough to allow children to visit during the school holidaysI am talking about women who have constituencies outside London. When my husband entered Parliament in 1974, John and Jane, my two kids, had to stay in the flagship of seedy hotels, the Stanley House hotel in Belgrave road. We hated it, but there was not enough money to do anything else at that time. Are we going to go back to that? If we are, Parliament will go back more and more to being a gentlemens club, which people with money can enter because they can buy themselves out of that difficult situation. For those people, it does not matter that they do not get an allowance or expenses to pay for a decent flat so that their kids can stay at with them. If they have inherited wealth, just happen to have a lot of money in the bank,
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[Mrs. Cryer] or are moonlighting and doing other jobs in courtrooms or boardroomsas many Conservative Members doand making extra money, their expenses do not matter. However, for most people in our party, particularly women, the sort of accommodation that they can have in London will be crucial. As I have some money in the bank, I was able to buy a decent flat on Marsham street, which is just over 10 minutes walk from Parliament. It does not matter what time we finish at night; I can have a safe, comfortable walk back to my flat. I never use taxis; I always walk back home, and always walk to work in the morning, because I have a decent flat. That is partly because I have money in the bank, and partly because the expenses allowed me to claim the interest on my mortgage. That is all going to be stopped, and in the future women will have a real problem with where they are going to live. If they have to live out in Kennington or Lambeth or somewhere, they will have to get taxis. If they cannot get a taxi, perhaps they will have to use the underground late at night. That is a difficult situation for women to face, and if they think along those lines, it will be another deterrent to women entering Parliament. If we could still claim interest on a mortgage, I would not object at all to the Fees Office claiming back any profits made on the properties. However, we are taking a retrograde step, particularly for women and people with children, and those who cannot afford to subsidise themselves when it comes to getting a decent flat near Parliament. Just over a year ago, my constituency party started the process of choosing a candidate to replace me. As I am still the only woman MP in the whole of Bradford and Leedsthat is 15 constituenciesit was necessary to have an all-women shortlist. To its credit, the Keighley constituency party agreed, and went along with that. However, it became increasingly clear that another deterrent for women entering Parliament is the expense. One or two of the shortlisted women were coming from London. They had children, so they had the costs of child care and car or rail journeys. We produce glossy leaflets for members of the Labour party, persuading them to vote for a certain candidate, and all that costs a great deal of money. Two of the shortlisted candidates told me that they could not afford to go for another seat if they did not get Keighley, as it would cost too much, and because of the time and travel difficulties that there are when one has children. I do not know how we resolve that; I have no idea what recommendations to make. Perhaps my colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart), might have a suggestion on how to get over the problem of the cost of being a candidate. When I was married to Bob Cryer, who was MP for Keighley and then Bradford, South, he went to about seven or eight selection conferences over 20 years or so to become a councillor, an MP and an MEP. I went along with him to most of those selection conferences because I was interested, and the remarkable thingno one saw it as being remarkablewas that at every one, there was an all-male shortlist. I do not remember a single woman being on any of those shortlists.
The Labour party has all-women shortlists. That is controversial, but it works. If anyone can think of a better solution to the problem of all-male shortlists, I am more than willing to hear it, but that is how things were, and I know that if we stop having all-women shortlists in the Labour party, we will drift back to the gentlemens club, and to all-male shortlists. I do not know why that should be. It is very disappointing, but that is how it is. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, wholeheartedly for chairing the conference. It has been a pleasure working with her. I had to divide my time between the conference and the Select Committee on Home Affairs, which made things a little difficult at times, and I therefore did not attend as many meetings as I should have, but it was always good to work with her and my other colleagues. Being a member of the conference has been a very worthwhile and good experience. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Eric Illsley (in the Chair): Order. Before I call the next speaker, I remind hon. Members that I intend to call the Front Benchers from 10.30 am. I call Fiona Mactaggart. 10.20 am Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): Thank you, Mr. Illsley. Let me start by echoing the thanks to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) for her work on the Speakers Conference. It has been exemplary and rewarding for those of us who have participated. I thought I would briefly talk about how people are feeling about politics at the moment, because in a way the Speakers Conference is about making politics and political representation more widely available to more people. As politicians, we have managed to write ourselves into being despised, yet young people say to me more now than they ever have done since I was elected, Id like to go into politics. How do I do that? I always say to them, Why?, because it seems to me that politics is not in itself an end, but a tool to change the world into a better place. One of my concerns is that we have allowed a view that politics is an end in itself to become widespread. We need to restate that the reason whyI hopeeveryone in this room got involved in politics was not to do an interesting job, but because they saw something in society that they felt needed to be done better, done differently, improved or whatever, and therefore politics became the tool they used to address that. I turned to political representation after having tried to change the world through pressure groups, teaching and being involved in the local council, none of which changed it enough. That is not an unusual experience. One of the very important points about the conference is that it recognised that diverse representation changes society in different ways. About five years after I was elected, I came outthat is really the only way to describe itas someone who had a life-limiting condition. I have multiple sclerosis. I spoke about it only in the context of a debate about stem cell research, and the reason why I spoke about it was that it seemed to me grossly ironicas a woman who had had infertility treatment, and had still in a refrigerator in a fertility centre two embryosthat although those embryos could have been used for research into
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my fertility, they could not, under the old law, have been used for research into my multiple sclerosis. At that point, knocking on for 50, I had given up on fertility and was much more concerned about dealing with the other condition. It seemed to me relevant to speak about that in the debate in the House of Commons. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South spoke in the same debate. I was very disconcerted by the headline the following day in The Times, which said Disabled MPs speak up. I thought, You know what? I am not. There are people with a condition that perhaps affects their life but they do not have to reveal it. I spoke about my condition because it was relevant to the debate, but I had never been called disabled before. Many of the issues that the Speakers Conference is dealing with are ones that people do not necessarily want to share. No one can hide their gender, but people can hide their sexual preference. People can keep private aspects of their caring responsibilities. All these things affect us as politicians, but unless we have in politics people with those diverse effects upon them, politics will have a narrower view. After there had been 1,000 days of a Labour Government, I did some research on the difference that women MPs had made, and it was absolutely clear that it had been huge, not just in legislation terms but in how the Government were held to account. Defence Ministers were asked about the families of soldiers for the first time by members of the Defence Committee, which had previously never had a woman member. We can change the way in which politics is done. If people see that in the representative body of Parliament, there are life experiences that connect with their life experiences more closely, the chasm that has opened up between us and the general public can be narrowed, which can only be good for democracy. If democracy has the voices of a wider range of people, it does its job better, which is the very important point about the conference. One issue I want to stress, which was mentioned in the opening speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, concerns section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Mental ill health is a disability that is much more silenced than most others. It is grotesque that someone who has been sectioned is therefore automatically excluded from this place. I am disappointed that an opportunity was not taken to get rid of that section. There was an opportunity to do that; I have to be clear about that. What I heard from Ministers was, Oh well, we have to find something appropriate to deal with this issue at the same time as getting rid of that section. I do not see why that has to be the case. When I was out of Parliament for months because I had cancer, there was no mechanism to deal with the fact that I was out of Parliament for months. If someone is out of Parliament for weeks because they have been sectioned, a mechanism is not needed to deal with that. It sounded to me as though there was a lack of leadership on the issue. I found that disappointing. I hope it is not allowed to persist and that the recommendation works. I want finally to come to the issue of expenses. I used to be called a quota woman in Slough, but guess what? No one kept saying it, because people recognised that I, like most of the women who were selected from women-only shortlists, was a competent MP and a good representative of the town. I have promoted women in my party putting themselves forward for Parliament, but I have stopped doing that to the degree that I did,
because women, who are the default carers, are now having to choose between their caring responsibilities and Parliament. Unless they can find a London seat within commuting distance of Parliament, so that they can have their children at school and do this job, it is impossible, and not just for women with young children teenagers need their mums, too. I think we are making a big mistake with the new puritanism, and I speak as someone who was declared a saint by The Daily Telegraph. I think that makes it easier for me to say it. The new puritanism will narrow participation in Parliament. It is the wrong thing and I am very disappointed by what the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has done. We cannot afford to narrow participation in Parliament, because if we do, our democracy will be damaged by it. 10.29 am Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green) (LD): I congratulate the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) on securing the debate. She and the hon. Members for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) and for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) demonstrate dramatically the benefit of having women in the House. All three contributions exemplified the importance and benefits of diversity, and they were truly extraordinary. At this point, I also want to mention those of my colleagues who were at the Speakers Conference. My hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) is more than committed to the cause of creating a more representative Parliament, as is my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris). In the House of Lords, my noble Friend Lord Lester has certainly been very involved in these issues, and he introduced the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill. The Liberal Democrats very much welcome the Speakers Conference and its report. Many of its conclusions and recommendations are necessary steps towards creating a more representative Parliament, and it has to be that way. It is ludicrous that so many representatives do not represent and are not involved in some of the issues that arise. As good as we are at representing our constituents on everything, and that is what we do for them, the explicit knowledge of being something, rather than observing and understanding it, makes a qualitative difference to debate. The Speakers Conference found that the main onus was on the political parties to ensure wider representation. The Liberal Democrats are challenged in this regard, and although we are working hard, we clearly do not have ethnic minority candidates, and we are short on women and those with disabilities. The hon. Member for Aberdeen, South gave an eloquent and distinguished speech about the importance of demonstrating that people with disabilities are not disabled in any way, other than because the House of Commons itself is not appropriately or seemingly welcoming, even though it has changed. The barriers are absolutely huge, but those with disabilities who are coming forward are more than able to be as good as, if not better than, most of the other people in Parliament. They can put their case and be the role models that the Minister mentioned. My colleagues and I acknowledge that we are short on representatives from all the strands of equality. By implementing many of the reports recommendations,
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[Lynne Featherstone] and building on many of the procedures we are using, we hope to make ourselves more inclusive and more representative. I would add that we do very well at other levels of governmentcouncils, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the London assembly and Europe but we have found things difficult in Parliament. We have identified that the reason for that is not our partys selection meetings, where women are more likely to be selected, but getting women to put themselves forward for selection despite the great barriers they encounter. My colleagues and I welcome the recommendation that all political parties should appoint diversity champions. The Liberal Democrat leader, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg), has written to all our regional party chairs asking them to appoint diversity champions, and I am pleased to say that many of these champions are already in place. For example, seven champions have been appointed in London, one for each of the equality strands identified in the Equality Bill. These champions have been tasked with supporting individuals from under-represented groups to help them find their way through their role in the party and towards being elected. The Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring that the route into politics is as open and as transparent as possible, and we are proactively reaching out to those who do not necessarily follow the traditional route, which is sometimes difficult. There need to be numerous routes into Parliament, and we have recently started sessions on planning your political career to help those from non-political backgrounds to chart their way ahead in the political sphere. If someone comes from a background, as I did, with no books on, history in or expectation of politicsno init is unusual for them to make the leap into politics. There was no one to chart my way for me, and I simply had what the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South called an overdeveloped sense of wanting to fight injustice and change the world. I did not think that someone like me could be a politician, because I do not look like one; there is something about politics that is very alien. I came into politics late. I joined the party at 40. I hope that hon. Members will forgive me for sidestepping, but I am a woman and I made it in. I did not take a traditional route; I did not study philosophy, politics and economics at universityI was a designer. When we talk about diversity, we are talking about people from all walks of life. When we look around the House, we see people who are used to standing up and talking, such as teachers and lawyers, and they feel more confident doing such things. Someone who comes from a background where they do not have to speak to anyone other than boards of directors or suppliers is taking quite a different route in. I was a designer, and there are not many designers in politics. We need all sorts of diversity, and the routes into politics should be diverse. We should encourage and help people who do not think of going into politics, as the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South said. Some people do not necessarily think about making the jump between working in a voluntary organisation and going into politics, and the same is true for people from all walks of life.
Discriminatory behaviour at selection is not permitted under the rules of the Liberal Democrat party. As I said, the composition of the selection committee must reflect the constituencys make-up. Furthermore, diversity awareness training is a major part of our training for the selection of committee members. In priority seats, all members must be trained in diversity, and at least two people must be trained in all other seats. I am a bit of a secret admirer of all-women shortlists, and that is well known in my party. While the Liberal Democrat party supports the legal right of parties to use the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to enable the use of all-women shortlists, such shortlists would not necessarily address the underlying issues in my party, which are about getting women to come forward at all. Maria Eagle: I am glad that the hon. Lady is a secret admirer of all-women shortlists. Perhaps she should tell the leader of her party, the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg), that he should be an admirer, too. One thing we can say about all-women shortlists is that they produce resultsthey work. The Labour party has been trying to deal with this issue for 100 years, and all-women shortlists are the only thing that actually guarantees a result. Some of the people who come in do just as well as anybody else. Lynne Featherstone: There has been a remarkable step change in the Labour party and the composition of the House because of Labours all-women shortlists. My partys leader has said that if there is no step change in the methods we are using, he will look at a mechanism after the next election. Using a mechanism is quite a step forward for Liberals, but in the end we have to look at the outcome. My party is doing mentoring and other work at the moment, and we have brought another 140 women through on the shortlist. We have a high proportion of women in winnable seats. Four of the eight male MPs stepping down are being replaced by women, so we expect an improvement after the election, but we are talking about a longer route. I am sure the Labour party wishes that it did not have to use a mechanism and that the world was a different place, but I agree with what has been said. However, I am running out of time, so if the Minister will forgive me, I will continue. A third of the Liberal Democrats most winnable parliamentary seats now have women candidates. We acknowledge that we still have some way to go, but as I said, our leader has said he will review the need for a mechanism when we see the results. I want briefly to touch on the atmosphere in the House. I was born into politics in the Haringey council chamber and forged in steel at a time when there were three Lib Dem and 57 Labour members, but that is not everybodys cup of tea. In coming to the House, I have tried hard not to get embroiled in things in the way that hon. Members have described. I have tried not to score political points in the jeering, bullying way that we see. The Minister looks surprised, but I think it is possible to change things. If we simply join in the old-fashioned, adversarial stuff that the public see at Prime Ministers questions, that is incredibly off-putting. It is a shame the microphone often does not pick up some of the Back-Bench remarks that are made about ones appearance
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or contribution. I think that that would be off-putting and would expose those who make such remarks to the public gaze, which might be good for their behaviour. The problem of getting a seat is not the easiest thing for womenor men, for that matter. I am a single parent and faced a huge Labour majority because I could not go anywhere else. I did not have parents or support, and my children were in school. I am lucky that I have a London seat because as a single parent, I would not have a chance in any seat but a London seat; I would not even have begun to think about coming to Parliament. What has happened about expenses would put that opportunity even further from me. The SolicitorGeneral has said, Why not? However, it is obvious why not. It is not possible to manage as a single parent, with no support, living in two places, and based distant from London. That will just be a barrier to women. I welcome the recommendations in the Speakers report on greater support and pastoral care for candidates, because the sheer mental and financial costs of standing for any office can be off-putting. We have the opportunity to transform the political culture, and all the parties must take advantage of that. 10.40 am Mr. Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Illsley. I, too, want to offer support to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) for her work as vice-chair of the Speakers Conference, and I congratulate her on securing the debate. It is welcome that she secured it before the Dissolution of Parliament, because, as she said, we have not had a chance to discuss the conference in any other forum. As a result of timing problems, we did not have a chance during consideration of the Equality Bill to talk about clauses on diversity in this House. There was a good, constructive debate between the parties in the other place, but we did not have a chance to have one here, and it is welcome that the hon. Lady has given us that. I shall slightly alter the focus of my remarks, because hon. Members have said one or two of the things that I wanted to say. There were 71 recommendations and conclusions from the Speakers Conference, and I shall not try even to skate over a significant number of those. It is worth putting on the recordthe hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, dealt with this very fairlythat although my party acknowledges that we do not have many women MPs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), the leader of my party, made it clear that he wanted to change that when he became leader. If we win the election with a small majority, we shall have about 60 women MPs, which will be a significant step forward from the 17 we have now. I am perfectly happy to acknowledge that there is still more work to do, but that would be a significant step. Just to have a bit of fun with the Minister, it is worth saying that there are six female members of the shadow Cabinet, which is more than there are in the Cabinet. That is my opportunity to bring about a bit of balance, and to get one over on the Minister, in a small way. I welcome the clause in the Equality Bill about reportingparticularly, in the first instance, with respect to gender, and to black and minority ethnic candidatesso
that we get a clearer idea of the progress being made across the parties. However, I wanted to touch on one point that the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, mentioned. I am pleased, incidentally, that she spent a fair amount of time talking about disabled candidates, because sometimes, in the media, diversity issues focus on gender and ethnicity, and the issue of getting more disabled candidates is forgotten. The hon. Lady, and the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart), highlighted one of the difficulties: many disabled candidates, apart from those who have an obvious and visible disability, do not think of themselves as disabled, as the hon. Member for Slough suggested, or do not want to disclose their disability, either for fear of others reaction, or because they do not think that it is relevant. One of the challenges for us all, therefore, is to assess how many disabled Members of Parliament there are already. I think that it is more difficult for candidates who are trying to get selected, or trying to persuade the electorate to vote for them, to take the step of saying that they have a disability. Many do not want to be pigeonholed as caring only about that. As a result of the prejudices that people still have about whether people with a disability are up to the job, candidates do not want to show a sign of what they think others might perceive as weakness. Sometimes, therefore, it is only when people get hereonce they have established themselvesthat they can be more open about having a disability. The issue makes a difference. In a Westminster Hall debate last week, the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw), who is Minister for disabled people, and I were talking about the number of people with a disability working in Government, and I highlighted the relatively small numberabout 3.6 per cent.with a declared disability. He said that in anonymous surveys in the Department for Work and Pensions, the figure is about 13 per cent. That suggests that something in the culture of organisations leads people not to be comfortable with openness on that issue. We must think about that. There are role models who have visible disabilities, but we need to think more creatively about how to get people with an invisible or hidden disability or health condition to talk about it more openly. There are a few recommendations in the report about accessibility. One is about making campaign documents more accessible, and I am pleased that in this election and future elections, the Conservative manifesto will be available in a range of formatsBraille, large print, audio and easy readto ensure that people with learning disabilities can read about our policies and make a judgment about them. I do what I can, country-wide and in my constituency, to encourage people with learning disabilities to take part in the political process by coming to debates, meetings and question and answer sessions with their elected representatives, and by voting. I am sure that that is something that all Members of Parliament do. One specific recommendation that the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, mentioned was an access to public life fund; that draws on work by Scope. I am pleased to tell her that the Conservative party is signed up to the idea. We published our commitment to it in January, and have said that if a Conservative Government were elected, we would put in place such a fund for
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[Mr. Mark Harper] disabled people seeking elected and appointed office, in recognition of the fact that increased costs are involved. That is about levelling the playing field, not giving advantage. The hon. Lady mentioned some of the extra costs, and we are keen to make sure that people from all sorts of backgrounds have an equal opportunity to take part in the process. It is very expensive, and those seeking office need to be dedicated, but those who are disabled should not be further disadvantaged. The hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, discussed section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and the hon. Member for Slough talked about it at length. I agree with them. We have made some progress, but it is disappointing that we did not have the opportunity to change the law when the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill was going through Parliament. I tabled new clause 1 to that Bill, but after a number of conversations with Ministers and the Justice Secretary, I found I could not quite persuade them to go all the way in backing it. However, the Government have formally agreed that the current situation is untenable. My party has agreed that we should change the position. I rather agree with the hon. Member for Slough; I do not really see why we need to have a process in place for dealing with people with a physical or mental incapacity before we get rid of section 141. I would rather get rid of it and then assess whether a process is needed for dealing with incapacity, but the Government took the view that they would rather put the process in place first. I have written to the Chair of the Select Committee on Justice, and asked for the matter to be considered. He said that it will be on the agenda for urgent consideration by the Committee in the new Parliament, and I hope that that will happen, and that a process will be set out for dealing with situations in which someone has either a physical or mental incapacity. We deal well with physical incapacity informally. Parties have mechanisms for ensuring that constituents are still represented, that parliamentary work can be done, and that Members staff can continue their work. It would not be awfully difficult to make those mechanisms work equally for mental incapacity. It may be that we simply need to get that written down, and establish a process. I hope that whoever wins the general election will take the first available opportunity to change the law, to make it clear that we welcome people in this House who have a physical or mental disability, and do not discriminate against those with mental health problems. Finally, I want to touch on the issue of ensuring that Parliament is relevant and that we connect with people. I find from talking to young people in my constituency that, despite what people say, they are very engaged with issues and care passionately about their local environment, their country and many global issues. Often, however, they not do connect their concern, their passion and their wish to change the world with this place, or with politics. They do not connect the campaigning and the wish for change with getting involved with a political party, or standing for office. The hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) touched on that when talking about womens groups. Perhaps that is one of the things that we need to change. Finally, I agree with what has been said about the expenses regime. I was not quite sainted by The Daily Telegraph, but I was cleared by Legg and did not have to
pay anything back. Although I do not tick some of the diversity boxes, I do not come from a wealthy background. My father had a manual job, and my family has no history of politics; I would not be here if there were not financial arrangements to permit it. We do not want to go backwards. Remarks made today about ensuring that the expenses regime allows a diverse set of candidates, taking account not only of gender and colour but of financial background, are a welcome reminder that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority should bear those issues in mind. 10.50 am The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Maria Eagle): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) on securing this debate. She will have gathered from the reaction of the House that we are all grateful for the work that she and her colleagues working on the Speakers Conference have done. Today, she set out some important points that we need to take into account when implementing the conference recommendations; we all need to work together, whether as political parties, as a Government, or as a Parliament. I was heartened to hear the general acknowledgement across the parties that we all have an interest in dealing with the matter. Diversity is not merely political correctness for its own sake, or some kind of game, but is a fundamental part of ensuring that our democracy is as representative as it can be, and does the job that it needs to do as well as it can. Ensuring diversity should take us closer to the people who send us here, because it would make us more representative of them. This is not a matter of arithmetic correctness; it is not that we want 50 per cent. of those in Parliament to be women because women are 50 per cent. of the country. It is about properly representing the lives and experiences of all our constituents in a way that enables our democracy to see our society, and to change it according to the needs of those who live in it. One does not often read about the issue in newspapers, which sometimes categorise it as political correctness gone mad, but as we heard today, all parties recognise that diversity is important, because it improves, strengthens and deepens our capacity to represent the people. I welcome the acknowledgement of that by all parties. We obviously want to see improvement across all parties. I am proud and pleased that the Labour party has pioneered improvements to increase diversity, and the Government have an excellent record in that respect. I do not pretend that we are there yet; indeed, the numbers indicate that we are not. After all that we have done, women still form only 19.5 per cent. of the total membership of the House. That is nowhere near good enough, as all of us recognise. I have been a member of the Labour party for a great many years, and my experience is that these issues have to be addressed, and then addressed again; that pressure has to be kept up. The changes do not happen naturally. It is not enough to change behaviour in a one-off way, and then expect everything to work out. The issues need to be worked at, and the Speakers Conference acknowledges that. I hope that those who respond to the conference findings recognise that, as do the Government. Political parties and Parliament itself should realise that ongoing
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work is needed. Only through ongoing work will we be able to tackle the problem and get to where we wish to be on diversity. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, spoke of disability and her experience as a disabled Member of Parliament. Her comments were extremely thoughtful and insightful, as one would expect. It is important that we continue to ensure that more disabled people become Members. As the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) said, it is not right to require people to declare their disability. If society had learned to deal with disabled people in a completely equal way it might be fair enough to ask people to declare their disability, but until that day, it is not right that we should enforce declarations. That is because of all the connected issues that can arise in respect of peoples attitudes and assumptions about what disabled people can and cannot do. I was Minister for Disabled People for four years, and had the opportunity to consider policy making on that subject. I decided that declaration was not something that should be required of the disabled. We need to find a different way of making ourselves more disability-friendly. For help with that, we need to turn to the disabled people who are already here in Parliament; they have the life experience, and they know what needs doing. We should listen to them closely. I hope that my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, is re-elected, so that she can continue her pioneering work. If she is, she will make a great contribution. My hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) made some extremely important points. She stressed again why diversity matters. She set out the clear example of the forced marriages legislation, and spoke of the difference that she had made, a woman MP listening to women in her constituency whose voices were rarely heard. She started listening to them, and then came to this place. With force, through pressure and ongoing work, and helped by those women, she made a change that mattered a great deal to them. That would not have happened had it not been for her efforts, and had she not been aided and helped by other women in this place who understood the importance of their help. They knew that the issue had been too low on the list of priorities, and recognised that she needed their support. Women in Government and among policy makers recognised that, too, and ensured that the issue was given higher priority than it might otherwise have been given.
That is a practical example showing why we need diversity in this Parliament of ours, and why we need more women, and more people with experiences other than the dominant ones of being relatively well off, well educated, middle-class males of a certain age. We need those people, but we also need more from the underrepresented groups in this place, and my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley set out the value of achieving diversity better than I could have done. She also set out the improvements that that would make to the relevance of this place and to our capacity to do our job for our constituents. My hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) made some strong points based on her experience and her disability, and about the priorities that led her to do the work that she has done. I congratulate her not only on what she has done for the conference, but on what she does, day in, day out, for the women in her constituency and the nation. I wish the Opposition parties well in ensuring that their diversity increases. That is something that we should all be doing. My Department, the Government Equalities Office, undertook an opinion poll for international womens day, and we should consider it. As many as 73 per cent. of people think it important that women and men should have an equal say on political decisions that affect how Britain is run, and 82 per cent. think that the presence of women MPs helps to ensure that our policies and laws reflect the needs of women as well as men. However, only 75 per cent. think that it is important that women and men should have an equal say on international political decisions, so we have some work still to do on that. Increasing diversity in that way is popular; it is not a fringe issue. It is not something that we should do only when we have finished all the other things that need to be done. We need to put the issue at the centre of how we do our politics. In the coming period and the election, I hope that the Opposition parties will get better representation for women and other minorities. I hope that they do not then assume that the work is over, and that they do not have to do anything more. The Labour party has led the way in that respect. We know that we still need to work hard. We need to carry on. I am pleased to say that whatever the swing in the next election, the parliamentary Labour party will have a greater percentage of women members. One can never tell what the numbers will be, but the percentage will be greater. However, we need more progress all round.
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11 am Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle) (Lab): I am glad that you are in the Chair, Mr. Illsley. Perhaps we will not have any instances of mistaken identity today, which is something that can happen. As I am sure you are aware, a number of hon. Members who wanted to attend this debate are not here because of confusion over timing. Apparently the usual channels collapsed, and the debate was on the Whip as being at 2.30. Those who wanted to be present are probably on the west coast main line right now. I welcome the Secretary of States announcement on 11 March about the high speed line. If I have become an expert on anything over the past 20 years, it is probably on the railways. I have chaired the all-party parliamentary groups on rail and on the west coast main line for about 15 years. The Secretary of States announcement came as a bit of a surprise, because the Railtrack proposal had been to take the line up to the west. The idea that the line should go to Birmingham and then fork up to the eastern side must have pleased you, Mr. Ilsley, because it will go to Leeds, Sheffield and on to Newcastle. The west fork, of which I am more aware, will go to Manchester and, eventually, to Glasgow. It seems a very sensible way in which to carry on. The trains will eventually travel at about 250 mph initially, though, speeds will be closer to 225 mphwhich will bring the country closer together. Members who represent areas that will be affected by the line but may not benefit from it may want to ask why we need a high speed line. Whether we like it or not, the reality is that the number of people travelling by railway has increased over the past two decades. That may be down to privatisation or to the fact that the motorways are congested. The west coast main line, especially south of Birmingham, is now running short of capacity. It is easy to know when we are running short of capacity on a motorway because things do not move. It is more difficult for the public to know that the railways are running short of capacity, because all they see is an empty track, which leads them to think there is plenty of room there. For safety reasons, however, the trains have to run a certain distance apart, so extra trains cannot just be added. People might say, Why dont you put extra carriages on? If we did that, the trains would not fit the platforms any more. Then, of course, we have the problems at peak times. We are getting to a pointwe have probably reached it in some areas of the southeastwhere we are suffering from severe overcrowding, so we need to build a new line. If we are going to build a new line, we must build one for the future, not the past. A new line is needed, so we will build High Speed 2, and that is what the Government have agreed to. My understanding is that once we get to Birmingham there may be some arguments about where the line should go, and I will come to that later. Everyone is in general agreement that the line should go from London to Birmingham; the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are agreed on that. However, will the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) clarify one point? About three years ago, I visited China with the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling),
who was Front-Bench spokesman on the railways. He had great enthusiasm for Maglev, the magnetic train that runs from the airport to Shanghai. Has the party changed its mind about that and does it now favour going back to the traditional rails? Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con): I am happy to clarify that point. My hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) did suggest that we should investigate the possibilities of Maglev travel, but I think he was considering it for shorter distances. People do not seriously expect that a new high speed line would be run on anything other than the high speed technologies that are available in the continent of Europe, the far east and other such places. Mr. Martlew: That clarifies matters. I was not trying to make a political point; I just wanted to know what the position was. Let me concentrate on the classic railways for a moment. I get the feeling that because the Government want to promote the new high speed line, they have been indicating that the money spent on the upgrade of the west coast main linethey spent 9 million, as opposed to the 30 billion proposed by Railtrackhas not been well spent, and that the upgrade created a great deal of disruption and will prove to have been unnecessary if we go ahead and build a high speed line. The reality, however, is totally different. The west coast main line had been neglected for nearly three decades. Some 75 per cent. of the money spent on it was not for an upgrade, but for necessary renewal work. If we are talking about a high speed line not reaching Glasgow for 25 years, then we should be talking about not only maintaining the west coast main line but making major improvements to it. For example, there is a need for block signal systems, or in-cab signalling, which will increase the capacity on the line by allowing trains to travel closer together. Such a device would help capacity problems in the short term. The other issue is that although the Pendolinos are restricted to 125 mph, they can travel at 140 mph. In parts of the west coast, where there has been very little investment, we could increase the speed of the Pendolinos to the maximum and reduce journey times from Glasgow to Carlisle to less than four hours. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): Does my hon. Friend not agree that one of the challenges of upgrading the west coast main line has been trying to do the work at the same time as trying to maintain an increasingly busy service, which is moving towards full capacity, as he has already mentioned? The joy of being able to promote the high speed network is that that delivers capacity without disruption to the existing lines and services. As some of the traffic moves from the west coast main line to High Speed 2 in the future, my hon. Friends suggested upgrades should be able to take place with less disruption to passengers on the west coast main line. Mr. Martlew: I agree with the Minister. I bear the scars of many a bad journey on the west coast main line. I will come back to that point, but I am not sure whether disruption can be avoided. We need a high speed line and we need to maintain the classic lines. I
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am sure that the constituencies of a number of Members here will be affected by the high speed line, but will not get the benefits from it. I am sure those Members will make representations, which is only right. It is also only right that the Government should listen to those representations and do everything they can to reduce the environmental impact of the new line on those communities. However, it would be wrong if the decision to build the line were blocked because of the opposition from Members representing their constituents. I have no doubt they will be representing their constituentsI have done so myself, on other issuesbut the reality is that the country needs a high speed rail line. We have one from the channel tunnel to London and we need one that goes to the north of England and to Scotland. Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con): I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for having missed the first part of his speech. I agree with him entirely that the line must not be blocked, although some colleagues will of course argue, from the point of view of their constituency, against it. However, does the hon. Gentleman agree that it would be a great pity if the improvements to the classic lines that he referred tothe provincial and regional lineswere derailed, as it were, by the high speed train? I am obviously thinking in particular of the south-west. In the Ministers recent oral statement in the Chamber on high speed rail, he was unable to assure me that money would not be simply diverted from other rail schemes that are much needed elsewhere into high speed rail, which would obviously degrade our national rail network considerably. Mr. Martlew: I agree totally. One of the issues I will not talk about today is the financing of the high speed rail line; however, I got an indication yesterday during the continuation of the Budget debate that the Conservatives were suggesting they were going to take another 6 billion out of transport. If so, the hon. Gentleman will have great difficulty in getting any rail improvements in his area. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Wimbledon makes a comment from a sedentary position. Does he wish to intervene on that point? Stephen Hammond: Can the hon. Gentleman tell us which part of the 17 per cent. of funding over three years this Government are already taking out of transport, before he makes wild speculations about 6 billion? Exactly how much9 billion, 10 billion, 12 billion, 20 billion or 25 billionwill this Government take out of transport spending? Mr. Martlew: I am afraid that that is what gives politicians a bad nameanswering a question with another question. I would like to continue before we get too deeply involved in that matter. There are issues that I do not want to get involved in today. What matters is the high speed rail link and whether it should go to Heathrow. That issue will be debated at lengthwill the high speed line link with Crossrail, or will it go directly to Heathrow? I am conscious that others want to speak about that, so I do not want to go into it myself. I know that I have already trod on somebodys toes on funding, and I do not really want to go into that, either, other than to say that the money for high speed rail should not come from classic lines.
Chris Mole: The hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) asked a legitimate question and at the risk of offending my hon. Friend, may I answer the question from the hon. Gentleman with another question to my hon. Friend? Where does he think the majority of his constituents who would benefit from reduced journey times to London would want to go? Would they want to go to London as a city, or to Heathrow airport? Furthermore, does he think they would be put off by a diversion that added time to that journey to London by going via Heathrow airport? Mr. Martlew: The reality is that traditionally people from the north-west have come into London via Euston, without diverting to Heathrow. Of course, if someone is living in the Manchester area they will use Manchester airport for air travel and therefore they will not want to go into Heathrow at all. I think that that answers that question. I also do not want to go down the road of considering whether high speed rail will be beneficial in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. I think that we will get people coming out of cars and on to the train, but we must also remember that the faster a train goes the more energy that it will use. So I think that those benefits of HS2 will probably be about carbon-neutral overall. However, there are issues that I want to raise. The Minister made a comment that a new line would not create disruption. I am very pleased that the Government have decided that the high speed trains should come into Euston, because traditionally that is where the trains have come into London from the north-west. Nevertheless, there are two points to consider. The first is that I suspect that there will be disruption when we start to build the new platforms in Euston, which is something that we will look forward to particularly. I also wonder whether the scheme that the Government have chosen will provide enough new platforms. If we get things wrong and we have a bottleneck at Euston, it will be decades before we put it right. There is a second issue about trains coming into Euston. People get off the train at Euston and they go on the tube. The tube is desperately crowded now. So, if we are going to bring the high speed trains into Euston and consequently bring more people into Euston, remodelling Euston in the process, we need to do something about the tube. That is the other issue that we need to discuss. Chris Mole: I would just like my hon. Friend to reflect on the benefits of the potential west London connection that is proposed as part of HS2, at Old Oak Common to the Crossrail link, which would encourage many people coming into London via high speed train to reach their final destination by changing at that point, rather than having all those people come into Euston, where we understand that there are clearly capacity limits on the interchange with some of the existing tube lines. Mr. Martlew: I accept what the Minister says and perhaps I had not taken that point into full account. The other development that would obviously be of great benefit would be if some of the high speed trains on HS2 could go straight to St. Pancras station and
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then people could travel on HS1 into Europe. Hopefully, we will look at that issue; we will probably have a little time to look at it. The other general issue that I want to discuss is the rolling stock issue. It would appear that we are going to have a high speed line to Birmingham and then classic lines to the north-east, the north-west and Scotland. I understand that the report on HS2 says that slow trains should not go on the high speed line. Therefore, the 140 mph Pendolino trains will not be allowed on the high speed line. That means that we will have to build new rolling stocknew trainsto run on both the high speed line and the classic line. However, I am not sure that it is a good match. In an ideal world, the Minister and the Government would not want to do that. So I want to ask the Minister a question; will the trains that run on the classic lines off the high speed line be tilting trains? If they are not tilting trains, that will actually slow down the journey time on the classic lines, for example between Glasgow or Edinburgh and Preston. If they are not tilting trains, the trains will be slower than they are now, even if they will speed up when they get on the 90 or 100 miles or so of track from Birmingham down to London. So that is an issue. Then, there is the issue of what will happen to the Pendolinos. They will probably be 25 years old by the time that the new high speed line is built, but they will still have a remaining life of 15 to 20 years. Somebody needs to say something about that issue. I want to discuss the construction of the high speed line itself. I accept the timetable. I know that the Opposition would like to do it sooner, but I do not think that we will get the Bills and the planning inquiries through and start work before Crossrail finishes in 2017, so we would have to start in 2018. I think that we are talking about 2026 before HS2 is completedis that right? So will construction on the lines further north begin before that time, or are we going to wait until we get to Birmingham and then start construction further north? Alternatively, if there is a bottleneck, for example, at Stafford, and if it is decided that there should be a bypass around Stafford, will that bypass be built to high speed line standard? It would make sense to do so. If we look at the motorways, the first part of the motorway system was built 50 years ago and it was the Preston bypass, which is now part of the M6. Those are the sorts of things that we need to consider. Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras) (Lab): Given these amazing time scales, my hon. Friend might be interested to know that the original Camden Town to Birmingham railway, which was then extended to Euston, was completedthat is, from the cutting of the first sod to the first train going to Birminghamin less than three years. Mr. Martlew: I understand that and I know the reason why; it was because the vast majority of the people in this country at that time did not have a vote. [Laughter.] That was the reason why. Frank Dobson: They did have a shovel.
Mr. Martlew: There is another point about building the line. I notice that my hon. Friend the Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Donohoe), a hon. Member from Scotland, is in Westminster Hall today. Whose responsibility is it to fund the high speed line in Scotland? Transport is a devolved matter. It might be difficult for the Scots to find the full amount of money required, but would it be possible for them to start building their part of the line before the rest comes from the south? Such issues are probably not for today, but they must be discussed. I am going to make the case that the train should stop in Cumbria, at Carlisle. Hon. Members will say, Well, he would say that anyhow, as hes the MP for Carlisle, but there is a lot of logic in the suggestion. Network Rails proposals said that the train would not stop in Cumbria. The Government are silent on the matter; their proposals say that intermediate station stops will be decided later. Not stopping does not seem sensible. I know very well what the Conservative policy is. It is not an issue in Cumbria, because it involves taking the high-speed line to Manchester, turning right, going to Leeds and continuing up the east coast. Stopping at Carlisle would not be an issue because the line would not go through Cumbria at all. It is not a case that I would like to defend to the Cumbrian electorate, but that is a matter for the Opposition. We are building a lineor, to be emotional, putting a scarthrough 90 miles of Cumbria that will run through parts of the Lake district and the Eden valley, some of the most beautiful countryside in England, without stopping. The Cumbrian west coast is a centre for the nuclear industry; it is an issue that I know well. It has Sellafield, and there are plans for three or four new nuclear power stations. If there is to be a deep nuclear repository, it is likely to be in Cumbria. Because the people of Cumbria are used to working in the nuclear industry and understand it, they are likely to be the only people in this country who will accept it. We are saying to them, By the way, were going to build a line through 90 miles of Cumbria, but were not going to stop. That is not a good argument. The county is united on the matter. I wrote to the six district councils, and they all agreed; it is the first time that they have ever agreed. The county council agreed with them. I wrote to all the MPs for Cumbriafour Labour, one Conservative and one Liberal Democratand they all agreed. I wrote to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries and Galloway (Mr. Brown), who is sorry that he could not be here today. He is totally supportive. I wrote to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson), and he is supportive. I wrote to the shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, the hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell), whose constituency will be affected, but he did not reply; I suspect that he is a bit embarrassed by his partys policy. The politics of not stopping in Cumbria are daft, and the economic case is even dafter. It is proposed to run a train 200 miles from Manchester to Glasgow, through an area that has traditionally been a railway centre, without picking people up, dropping them off or collecting a fare. At the moment, only one train a day goes through Carlisle without stopping. It is a major transport centre, because of the geography of the area. Ignoring the south of the county, which will not use the Carlisle
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train, there are probably 350,000 people in the north, west Cumbria, Penrith and Carlisle who would be served. In the east, there are probably another 40,000 for Northumberland. In Scotland, there are probably another 150,000. Although Carlisle is the last city in England, it is the first main line stop in Scotland, because people get off there to go to Scotland. There is an economic case for stopping in Carlisle; I am sure that the people in south-west Scotland are in favour of it. The other thing that people forget is that the shortest route from Northern Ireland is via Carlisle. People coming across either catch the train from Stranraer or drive to Carlisle and get on the main line. Carlisle serves more than 500,000 people and three countries. It is nonsense not to stop there. However, I am pleased that the Government have not said that they will not. In conclusion, for many years, we will have a classic line down to Birmingham and Manchester. During that time, the trains will stop at Carlisle. After the high-speed line is in place, it will not make sense not to stop there. It is politically unacceptable and economically daft. I look forward to seeing the high-speed train stop at Carlisle, as it will mean that I am 86. I suspect that this will be my last speech in Parliament. I hope that the Minister hears it. I suspect that he will not be in the same job by the time the train stops in Carlisle, but I am sure that he can speed it on its way. 11.26 am Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): The hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) put his case well, highlighting the point that although everyone wants a high-speed rail station, no one is particularly keen on the track. It is a classic example of the conflict between local concerns and the national interest. That is not unusual in infrastructure projects. It is slightly ironic that we are debating high-speed rail at a time when the first major rail strike and disruption for a considerable time is about to start. I am sure that I am not alone in hoping that even at this stage, through the good services of ACAS or in some other way, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will call off its strike, because it will be disruptive to huge numbers of people. It is very unfair that such things always happen on bank holidays, when many people go to see their families by rail. Every time it happens, it undermines confidence in rail as a means of travel. It is extremely frustrating. Will the Minister flesh out the exceptional hardship scheme? Perfectly understandably, Ministers arranged for the publication of only one preferred route. That obviously makes some sense. Clearly, if a number of alternative routes were published, it would simply increase the number of properties blighted along the various routes. However, I am sure that he will understand that for the householders and landowners who woke the other day to discover that the high-speed route would go through their property, it is a matter of concern. It is also of concern for those whose properties are next door to the route. Such circumstances occur. One property in my constituency is a disused railway station that has been next to a disused railway line for a long time. The prospect of a high-speed rail link going immediately past the house will blight such properties.
The Government have clearly assessed how many properties will be blighted in that way, because the White Paper uses the number 600. I suspect that a significant number of those are in London, where a new path will have to be created for the high-speed rail link to leave the city. The number of properties likely to come within the ambit of the exceptional hardship scheme elsewhere along the proposed route cannot be very great. I put that point to the Minister of State at Transport Question Time the other day. It cannot be beyond the wit of man and woman for officials in the Department to get in touch directly with each household on the route and ensure that they know about the exceptional hardship scheme. It must be known which properties will be affected. I find it strange that details of the scheme have been advertised in local newspapers in Buckinghamshire, but not, as far as I can see, in Oxfordshire, even though a chunk of the route goes through my constituency, which definitely is and always has been in Oxfordshire. It must be possible to explain to the householders exactly what is being proposed, especially as construction on the high speed link is unlikely to start until 2017. Between now and then, many people may understandably want to sell their properties at the proper market value under the exceptional hardship or statutory blight schemes. It would be extremely helpful if the Minister and the Government set out the proposed timetable and the various mechanisms that will be used. There will clearly be a lengthy consultation process, which is sensible. The Government have learned that it is sensible to make such processes as judicial review-proof as possible. On the comments of the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson), when the railways were built originally, lawyers were not so quick to rush to the courts for judicial review. Ministers in the Department will have realised only last week that if they cut corners, as they sought to do with the third runway at Heathrow, judges will tell them to go back and start again. There must be more haste and less speed. It is sensible to ensure that there is plenty of time for the consultation process. I suspect that two things are likely to emerge from the consultation. First, there will be a number of suggestions about how the existing preferred route might be mitigated to avoid certain towns and properties through tunnelling or other mitigating features. Secondly, there will be suggestions for different lines of route, perhaps going towards Milton Keynes. As we are coming up to an election and are likely to be asked about these matters on the doorstep, perhaps the Minister could explain how the Department envisages such matters being dealt with. Will the final preferred route be decided on by Ministers or by a planning inquiry? What statutory procedures will ultimately be used to take the project forward? A balance must be struck between protecting the legitimate interests of people whose properties and communities might be affected and ensuring that Britain gets the high speed rail link that it needs in a timely fashion. It is well known that the Opposition believe that the high speed rail link should be extended. It should run not just between London and Birmingham, but should link up to other major cities such as Manchester and Leeds, and to Heathrow. One of the most important benefits that the high speed rail link could bring people
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in the west midlands would be a link to the UKs main airport hub. Without that, they do not feel that it will be of the same value because it will just go between Birmingham and London. It would be extremely helpful if Ministers did two things this side of the election. First, they could ensure that officials or the company concerned get in touch with householders who might be directly affected by the exceptional hardship scheme and discuss with them how it will operate. I understand that there has to be a consultation on the exceptional hardship scheme to make sure that it is judicial review-proof as well. However, it would be helpful to give householders an indication of the likely timetable for the exceptional hardship scheme so they know when it will kick in. Inevitably, some families would have been in the process of selling their homes when they found themselves caught up in this scheme. I know of one such family in my constituency, who are now finding it difficult to sell their home. Such households are anxious to know when they will be able to sell their homes and benefit from the exceptional hardship scheme. It cannot be beyond the wit of the Department to carry out the straightforward exercise of telling those who will be most directly affected how their interests can be protected. Once that is done, everyone else can sensibly engage in the consultation process about whether the existing preferred route or possible alternative routes would be best. It would also be helpful if the Minister set out clearly for the House the timetable he envisages for between now and when it is hoped work will start in 2017, including the various steps of consultations, inquiries and statutory measures such as legislation. 11.36 am Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras) (Lab): I will start by being extremely parochial. I believe that Britain needs a high speed train network, if only to bring about a massive reduction in the harmful number of short-haul flights. I am pleased that High Speed 1, the channel tunnel rail link, comes into St. Pancras. It is greatly to the credit of this Government that they spotted that it made no sense to have the channel tunnel with no rail link and built that link. I welcome the Governments grasp of the need for a high speed network. However, to be parochial, I cannot support the scale of the work proposed at Euston. That area, which I represent, is densely built-up and populated. The railway engineers are treating it like a greenfield site. The proposals will involve massive demolition that will affect various office blocks, a couple of hotels, a couple of warehouses and, more importantly, the homes of about 350 people. They will also involve concreting over about two thirds of a local park. It is clear from looking at a map of Euston station or from going there that there is a huge amount of wasted space in its curtilage. The railway engineers therefore need to take a much more imaginative approach and not think that they can just draw a line on the map and decide that they will get the necessary land. There is a wider concern. A group of railway engineers believe that Euston is the wrong station and that it would be better to bring the proposed link into Paddington.
That would involve far less tunnelling, which is an expensive item, would remove the need to build a new station at Old Oak and would automatically connect the high speed link with Heathrow via the Heathrow Express and Crossrail, neither of which run through Euston. I believe that the Government should take a wider look. It is not reasonable for them to say that they have looked at the matter secretly and that the idea they have come up with is the only thing anybody can consider. The first thoughts are not always the best. I remember when probably the self same engineers proposed that the channel tunnel rail link should come into a huge cavern to be excavated under Kings Cross station. Local people denounced that as barmy, which was eventually accepted. I can reasonably claim to be the first person who suggested that High Speed 1 should be brought into St. Pancras station instead, which has been a great success. However, there is an even wider consideration. Personally, the more I consider the concept, the more dubious I am about a Y-shaped network, with a single stem or leg proceeding from one station in London up to Birmingham, before rightly branching out and dividing, with one arm of the Y going to the north-west and the other through the east midlands to the north-east. Is having just one leg coming into Londononly one route in and out sensible? If anything were to block that route, the whole high speed network would, in effect, cease to exist. That could be the result of a major accident or, sadly, of terrorist activity blowing up part of the stem. If that were to happen, the network would cease to function. I accept that connections between east and west are a good idea, so that people coming from the north-east can get to the west midlands and, similarly, people coming from the north-west can get to the east midlands. That is a sound idea. However, the letter X has a lot more merit than Ytwo connections into London stations, rather than a singular, monopoly connection into Euston. As my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle mentioned, facilitating a direct connection with High Speed 1 would then be possible, which would be another merit of the system. Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester, South) (Lab): On the shape, would my right hon. Friend agree that the difficulty with a Y-shaped link is the potential for downgrading the midland main line to little more than a commuter line? Such a case would significantly disadvantage people in the east midlands. Frank Dobson: I accept my hon. Friends point. However, a new high speed link could have that effect on various parts of the existing systemwhich my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle mentionedparticularly if there were not the investment. I say to my hon. Friend the Minister that the proposals for Euston are not satisfactory, but are grotesquely in excess of what is necessary. The Government should at least give us the case for rejecting the Paddington idea, which I believe was considered. More fundamentally, they need to take a serious look at whether the concept of having the only connection to the high speed network coming into one station in London is sound, safe and secure. The Victorians were bad at some things, but they were good at building railwaysalthough they always went broke afterwards.
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Jeremy Wright (Rugby and Kenilworth) (Con): I congratulate the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on securing the debate, which is on an important subject. I agree with a great deal of what he said and, somewhat disturbingly, with quite a lot of what the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson) said. Quite a lot of the constituency that I representeven more after the boundary changes, I hopewould be cut through by the proposed route for High Speed 2, so I have a direct interest in the subject. None the less, I support the principle of a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham for the reasons given by the hon. Member for Carlisle. We will have capacity problems on our existing railway lines, whether the west coast main line or the Chiltern line, by 2026 when we hope the new line will be operational. I also agree with him that it is sensible, therefore, to plan for a railway line for the future, rather than one for the past, with a high speed railway line. Support for the principle of a high speed rail line, however, must be conditional on certain things. First, having a line simply between London and Birmingham is not adequateit must go further north than Birmingham, whether as a Y-shaped or an X-shaped structure. The new line must connect to Heathrow, although as my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) has already made clear, it would not be a choice of either central London or Heathrow but would include both. In the same way, current plans make no choice between Birmingham city centre and Birmingham international airport, but include both. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the High Speed 2 line must connect directly to the High Speed 1 line becauseagain as I think the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras saidone of the primary arguments that I find persuasive in favour of a high speed rail link in principle is the opportunity for us to use that railway line instead of getting on a plane for a short-haul flight. It seems unlikely that we would succeed in persuading potential short-haul air passengers to use a high speed rail link instead unless they can travel directly from Manchester or Birmingham through London and the channel tunnel to Paris, Brussels or wherever their eventual destination might be. The link between the points at which High Speed 2 enters London and High Speed 1 leaves London would be crucial in persuading potential air passengers to use the train instead. For me, and for most Members of the House and indeed most of the Government, that is one of the best arguments for a high speed rail link. I note from the document and the Governments Command Paper that they have asked High Speed 2 to look at the possibility of linking the two directly. I hope that the Government will go further than that or, if they will not, that the next Government will go further than that, and make it clear that the project does not stack up or give us all the benefits it ought to unless we make that direct link. My second point is about the route. I am interested in the route laid out by the Government, for the reasons I set out at the beginning. The first question of my constituents, certainly those directly affected by the Governments proposed route, is why on earth the high speed rail line cannot go along an existing transport
corridor. It has already been said that there will be considerable damage done to open areas of the British countryside, through Buckinghamshire, through Oxfordshire, as my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) said, and through Warwickshiremost importantly from my perspective. If such a case can be made, part of the case must be to explain clearly why the railway line cannot follow either a motorway corridor for example, the M1, which would be the Milton Keynes link mentioned, or the M4 corridoror follow an existing railway line such as the Chiltern line. A number of existing transport corridors could be followed predominantly. The advantages are obvious: we would not be cutting through virgin territory, as it were, but through areas already affected by a major transport link and, therefore, the environmental damage would be less. The answer to why an existing corridor cannot be used may very well be that, from a technical perspective, we cannot get a straight enough railway line to carry trains at the required speed unless we build a brand-new railway line across a completely different part of the country. I am in favour of a separate set of tracks, for the reasons of future congestion given by the hon. Member for Carlisle. However, we shall have to explain clearly to my constituents and others why we cannot use an existing transport corridor. If the Ministers answer is, Ah, yes, but you cannot run a train at 250 mph along a very winding piece of track and, if you put it alongside an existing transport corridor, thats what would happen, the next question would have to be why 250 mph was the magic number. Exactly how do we work out what time savings are involved in a train going at 250 mph? However, I note from the Command paper that a train travelling at 225 mph is far more likely, even though the capacity of the line is for 250 mph. If that is the argument, I hope that the Minister can assure me about the technical information required to match up the straightness of the line with the speed at which a train can travel along it, and whether time savings would be inadequate if the trains did not travel quite as fast. I hope all that information can be made available to us, so that we can understand exactly what the argument is. Many of my constituents accept the logic of a high speed rail line in principle, but do not follow why we are cutting a scar through a great deal of virgin countryside to achieve it, as the hon. Member for Carlisle said. How do we persuade those peopleI have to say that, at this stage, I am one of themthat although we might slightly reduce the speed by having a few more curves, we could not still gain a significant time saving, which I accept is important? If we cannot do that, we need to know why. I hope that the technical information to support the Governments argument, if that is what it is, will be made available to us. A further point is, again, about the existing route. I understand the Governments argument that they have not produced four or five potential routes for fear of blighting half of southern England in the process. However, it seems that if only one proposed route is produced, it suggests to those who live along that route that although the Government might not quite be concrete in their choice of route, they will certainly take a lot of persuading to move away from it. I find that concerning. I want to
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be reassured that if that is the case, the route has been proposed as a result of the Government having done their homework properly. Having read the documentthe Command papervery carefully, it seems that there remains a bit of undone work here. We still do not know exactly where all the listed buildings are. I know that because several constituents have come to me with a map and have shown me where the listed buildings are, and they are certainly not appearing along the route in the Governments documents. Conservation areas are also not comprehensively listed in the documents. It seems that we do not yet know where the oil and gas pipelines in the ground match up to where the proposed High Speed 2 route will go. If there is more homework for the Government to do on the matter, is there not a danger that route 3 will be proposed and perhaps settled on, but we will discover later that it cannot be followed in its current form because of other factors that have not yet been considered? I want reassurances for my constituents that the consultation process allows for the possibility that the route can move substantially to follow a completely different corridor. If that is not possible and we can be persuaded that it is not possible, I want a reassurance that the route can move in various different ways throughout various parts of the country. Those different ways must be made clear, so that we know exactly why the Government have proposed the current part of the route to which we are referring. In relation to changing the route, it might be useful to consider Stoneleigh. That is a good example because, as the Minister will know, Stoneleigh is specifically referred to in the Command paper, as it is one of the places where the Government are not quite confident they have got the route right. That strikes fear into the hearts of my other constituents, because if the places they are concerned about are not mentioned specifically, the suggestion is that the Government are confident they have got the route right there. If we have not got all the information I referred to on the map and marked route already, how do I know that the Government have that part of the route clear in their own minds and can persuade us it is the right one? I also want reassurance that if we can make a decent argument for doing so, we can move the route so it goes the other side of the village or 100 yards this way or that way. I am assuming that that part of the argument will only be relevant if the Government can persuade us that their chosen route, rather than an existing transport corridor, is the right one. I know that the Minister will accept there is a great deal of work yet to be done both by the Government and by my constituents to defend their interests in response to what the Government propose. We need absolute clarity from the start, first, that the Government have done their homework; secondly, if they have done so, that they are open to persuasion that they may have got it wrong and there might be a better route; thirdly, if there is no better route and this is the route that must be followed, we must be clear why they have chosen, for example, embankments not viaducts and cuttings not tunnels to reduce the environmental impact to the maximum effect.
Although I understand that there is a great deal more work to do and that more effort needs to be put in not just by the Government and High Speed 2, but by those who wish to change the route, it is important at this stage that we have absolute and clear undertakings from the Government that the route is capable of being moved if the arguments are powerful enough for that to happen. We also need confirmation that, within very short order, we will have all the technical information we require from the Government in order to mount a serious and sensible argument against the proposed route. [MR. DAVID WILSHIRE in the Chair] 11.54 am Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester, South) (Lab): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on securing this important and timely debate, and on putting the case, as he has done on a number of occasions, for having services on the high speed line stop at and serve his constituency and surrounding areas. It is a powerful case, and he has again made it forcefully today. Like other hon. Members, I very much welcome the Governments announcement of the High Speed 2 proposal. The Minister will perhaps not be surprised to hear that I wish to make the case for the classic network, and wish to press him to give an assurance again today that the very welcome investment in High Speed 2 will not be at the expense of much-needed investment in the classic network. Again, the Minister will not be surprised to learn that there is a particular part of the classic network that I want to ensure is not neglected as a result of investment in High Speed 2; I refer to the completion of the electrification of the midland main line. As the Minister knows, the midland main line is already electrified as far as Bedford, but it is not yet included in the firm proposals for further electrification proposals that are very welcome, particularly those for the electrification of the Great Western. It would be most unfortunate if, as a result of waiting for investment in High Speed 2, we were to lose out on that much-needed investment, which will bring faster journey times and considerable economic benefit to the east midlands and beyond, up to Sheffield. As the Minister will be aware, the cost-benefit analysis of the investment in the electrification of that line is very positive. We need electrification of that line to be completed, not least because the High Speed 2 proposals the Y-shaped link to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson) referredinclude a link across the east midlands, with a single station in the east midlands. That station will probably not be capable of serving the whole area. Of course, as I suggested in my intervention, that could lead to the downgrading of parts of the midland main line, so that they provide little more than a commuter service, rather than the main line service currently provided. That would be most unfortunate, and would be to the considerable disadvantage of the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, which might have only one single high speed station serving them all. The midland main line would no longer provide the high-quality service that it does.
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For that reason, it is vital that the electrification of the midland main line is completed in advance of any High Speed 2 construction, so that interoperability is ensured, where it is appropriate, between the new high speed trains and parts of the midland main line. That would ensure that the midland main line does not ultimately lose out. It is equally important that a commitment is made to the electrification of that line at an early date, because much of the existing rolling stock on the midland main line, and particularly the high speed trains, are coming to the end of their useful life. It would be most unfortunate if they were replaced by diesel rolling stock that was not suitable, or appropriately interoperable with the new high speed line. I hope that the Minister will give some reassurance, as he has done in the past, to people in the east midlands that we will not lose out in the short term as a result of the longer-term commitment to investment in High Speed 2. Finally, I put on the record my concerns about the parliamentary process that High Speed 2 will need to go through if it is to be completed. The process is, of course, that of a hybrid Bill. I speak with some experience of hybrid Bills, having served my timeit felt like serving ones timeas a member of the Select Committee on the Crossrail Bill. Mr. Martlew: My hon. Friend was very bad. Sir Peter Soulsby: There was some speculation about what particular crime I and others on the Committee had committed. I want to put on the record that, before that procedure is used again for the High Speed 2 line, Parliament ought to consider whether it is not overcumbersome for modern needs and whether it is, indeed, entirely fit for purpose. I put that on the record in the hope that others need not suffer quite as much as did those of us who were interred during that Bills progress. 12 noon Mark Hunter (Cheadle) (LD): It is a pleasure to contribute to the debate under your chairmanship, Mr. Wilshire, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on securing the debate. Given that there now appears to be widespread support across the House for high speed rail, I will start with a few comments on its potential economic impact, and will explain the background and context of the debate. The construction of high speed rail could create as many as 10,000 jobs over seven years, according to the High Speed 2 proposals. A study by KPMG published earlier this year showed that high speed rail could create between 25,000 and 42,000 extra jobs and boost the UK economy by 2 per cent. by 2040. The greatest economic gains and potential growth in jobs would be in Yorkshire and Humber, Scotland, the north-east, the north-west and the west midlands, a point that has already been made today. That is important. Along with the hon. Member for Carlisle, I am among a minority of Members who have participated in the debate, in that I have regular direct experience of the west coast main line, as I use it to commute back and forth between my constituency and the House each week. Also of great significance is the business support for high speed rail. A survey of 500 businesses of various sizes carried out in December 2008 showed that businesses believe that high speed rail would benefit them more than would a third runway at Heathrow. When asked
specifically which development would help them more, almost four in 10 businesses chose high speed rail links, and fewer than one in 10 chose the third runway at Heathrow. High speed rail will benefit the regions, which is important, not least because spending per head on transport is far lower in the north than it is in London. That is an established fact. According to the July 2009 report from the Transport Committee, both the north-east and Yorkshire receive 72 per cent. of the UK average of funding per head of population, whereas London receives 195 per cent. per head and Scotland, perhaps more surprisingly, receives 162 per cent. per head. There is a similar gulf in capital investment. In the five years to 2008, investment in rail rose by 35 per cent. in the north-east and 37 per cent. in Yorkshire, but in London it rose by more than 80 per cent. in the same period. The environmental benefits are absolutely key to the debate. Transport, as most Members know, is responsible for 28 per cent. of all UK carbon emissions. Emissions from transport have increased since 1990, which is against the trend for other major sectors. Estimates show that in 1990, transport emitted 140.8 million tonnes of CO2, but by 2007 that had risen to 153.2 million tonnes, an increase of almost 9 per cent. In aviation alone, emissions have increased by 119 per cent. That should be contrasted with the 16 per cent. reduction from business and the 9 per cent. reduction from households. The message is cleartransport needs to catch up. A passenger taking the Eurostar from London to Paris emits 10.9 kg of CO2, compared to 122 kg of CO2 if the passenger takes a flight. Similarly, a passenger travelling from London to Brussels by train emits 18.3 kg of CO2, compared to a massive 160 kg of CO2 if they take a flight. High Speed 2 has concluded that, even allowing for additional demand for travel, high speed rails carbon impact is likely to be broadly neutral, and the change in average annual emissions is estimated to be in the range of 0.41 million tonnes to 0.44 million tonnes, which is equivalent to just plus or minus 0.3 per cent. of current annual transport emissions. There is also a great potential for modal shift, a point referred to earlier by other hon. Members. According to Eurostar, 34 million air journeys between the UK and the continent could be switched to rail using existing capacity. As we know, flights from Brussels to Paris have virtually been eliminated as a result of high speed rail links, and rail now holds 91 per cent. of the market share on journeys between Paris and Lyon. In future years, people at Manchester airport, which is on the doorstep of my constituency, will look back in wonderment at the notion that people used to fly regularly, and even daily in some cases, between Manchester and London, especially as such an effective rail service on the west coast main line is already available. High speed rail will also free up space on the classic, established network. That, too, is important because rail travellers have increased by 50 per cent. in the past 26 years, and by 36 per cent. in the past decade. Those figures are impressive, but the figures for individual stations in our constituencies are often even more so. Rail passenger journeys at Gatley railway station in my constituency, which is a small commuter station but a key link to Manchester, have increased by 130 per cent. in the past 10 years, according to figures provided by the Greater Manchester integrated transport authority.
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In 2008-09, 18.8 per cent. of trains on the east coast main line were late, as were 26.6 per cent. of all Virgin trains, so there is still much room for improvement in existing services. That is why it is good that high speed rail will free up space on the established network. That would also bring benefits for freight. That market has grown by 66 per cent. in the past decade, and there is increasing demand for space. Consequently, we currently have shortfalls on many routes, including an estimated shortage of around 150 trains a day between London and Crewe. The trains that will be introduced with high speed rail will be capable of travelling at up to 250 mph. Journey times between London and Birmingham could be as short as 49 minutes, down from the current time of one hour and 24 minutes. The journey between London and Manchester could be one hour and 20 minutes, down from the current two hours and eight minutes. The journey from London to Edinburgh could be three and a half hours, down from four and a half hours. The proposed Y-shaped network would cover around 335 miles and, as we have heard, run up both coasts, but it would not include a link to Heathrow. High Speed 2 estimates that every 1 spent will deliver more than 2 of benefits, and that the overall cost will be around 30 billion. Let me make it clear that the Liberal Democrats welcome the proposals and the proposed route. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) has accepted an invitation to look at the plans with the Minister and his team, and we are grateful that he will have the opportunity to do so. That does not mean, however, that we are absolutely committed to every single detail of the proposed route. It is right and proper that that is a matter for public consultation. As far as delays to the start of the scheme are concerned, Lord Adoniss original statement indicated that construction would not begin until after the completion of Crossrail in 2017. Jeremy Wright: The hon. Gentleman said that he welcomes the route but that the Liberal Democrats are not committed to every aspect of it. Would he clarify whether that means that they have ruled out the prospect of an alternative transport corridor being used for High Speed 2? Mark Hunter: No, it means precisely what I said. It is sensible to take the opportunity to look at the details of the route, and it is right that that should go out for public consultation, but what is proposed is not set in tablets of stone. A detailed timetable from the Department for Transport referred to 2019 as the date by which construction could start. It would then take until 2026 for the line to be built to Birmingham, and a further six years, as we have heard, for the twin lines to reach Leeds and Manchester. That looks suspiciously like an excuse to delay spending, and is against a background of just 27 miles of new rail since 1997, excluding the channel tunnel, compared with more than 1,000 miles of new road since then. Mr. Martlew: Why does the hon. Gentleman exclude the channel tunnel?
Mark Hunter: I am not excluding the channel tunnel per se. If the hon. Gentleman will listen to the wider point, I am pointing out that, within the confines of the UK, only 27 miles of new railway have been built since 1997, compared with 1,000 miles of new road. Even if we were to include the channel tunnel, it would still be a poor comparison. Like the hon. Gentleman, I share some concerns about stops on the proposed new routes. Stockport is an important stop on the established west coast main line, and I very much hope and intend that it should remain so. Frankly, it would not be acceptable if any future proposals to speed up journey times were to mean a reduction in the current number of stops at Stockport. Finally, high speed rail should not come at the expense of other improvements to the rail network. Electrification is importantvirtually the entire network needs to be completed by 2050. At present, only 39 per cent. is electrified, whereas in France, some 90 per cent. of passenger traffic travels on electrified lines. We also want to look in more detail at the reopening of existing lines, particularly those that have already been identified: Bletchley to Oxford, Lewes to Uckfield, Galashiels to Carlisle and others. There are benefits to the established rail network, and we need those improvements as well. Ultimately, our proposition is simple: there is not a case for a third runway at Heathrow, but there is definitely a case for high speed rail, and the sooner, the better. 12.12 pm Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con): I congratulate the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on securing this debate, which he said may be his last in Parliament. I have been an Opposition spokesman for about four and a half years, and I know that he has been a faithful follower of a number of transport debates, in particular those on rail. This is an important debate because, as several Members have said, it can set out a huge number of opportunities for our country in the following decades. We have heard some powerful contributions today. My hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) raised issues about the extent of the consultation so far, in particular with his constituents and the whole of Oxfordshire. He discussed the exceptional hardship scheme, about which several Members have already seen the Minister and the Secretary of State. My hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Jeremy Wright) got to the core of a matter on which there is some disagreement between our party and the Government: the publication of a route without some of the real issues being decided, and the commitment to a route in the febrile atmosphere of a general election. He made several good points about historic monuments, conservation areas, oil and gas pipes and so on. Those of us who have noted some of the information in the public domain about the potential costs of the station at Birmingham will be concerned about whether we might have done better to discuss some of the principles, corridors and specifics of the route outside the period of a general election. The right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson) mentioned Paddington. His contribution was interesting, and he made the case for his constituents. The hon. Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby)
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made a point about the classic network. I wonder whether we ought to start calling it the standard, or the established network, on the basis that calling it the classic network implies that it might be something like a classic car. We all want the railways preserved, enhanced and continued, but I think that classic has a connotation in transport that we would do well to pull away from. Frank Dobson: Hauled by the Rocket. Stephen Hammond: The high speed train is the 21st century version of Stephensons Rocket. At my partys conference in 2007, my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) announced our policy of linking in airports. There is a regeneration argument. The Minister dismissed the comments about a direct link to Heathrow, but let me tell him what one of the experts, Greengauge 21, said in its report of 2009, Fast Forward: A High-Speed Rail Strategy for Britain, in which it discussed not only environmental but economic arguments. It said that
fast direct links to the nations dominant international airport at Heathrow will help businesses located outside the south east to compete in world markets.
Chris Mole: The hon. Gentleman, who speaks for the official Opposition, has raised again the prospect of an earlier start. The Government were commended by the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Jeremy Wright) for their inclusive and all-encompassing consultation approach. Does the hon. Gentleman seriously believe that the legal mechanisms and appropriate consultation could take place and that work could start by the earlier date that he suggests when much of the necessary expertise will be transferred from the Crossrail project, which does not finish until after that date? Mr. Hammond: I thank the Minister for his question. We have carefully examined and set out the plans that will be required, including extensive consultation and the need for a hybrid Bill. I believe that that could be done during the lifetime of a full Parliament. 12.22 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): I have a limited amount of time to respond to a range of excellent contributions from hon. Members. I start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on securing this debate, and I welcome all the points that have been made. It might be helpful if I first explain that the Government believe that high speed rail is the best way of enhancing our inter-urban transport networks. It is clear that over the next 20 to 30 years, key inter-urban routes linking our major cities will become increasingly congested. My right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson) said that the original railways were built in just three years. The history of the railways shows that routes were often designed specifically to circumnavigate the oppositionusually landowners who had corporate interests in the canal system. The routes were dictated by political factors in the first instance, which is why we have inherited such a higgledy-piggledy network of railways from those Victorian entrepreneurs. We are the first Government to break that mould, to move away from that inheritance, and to start to deliver a new high speed network that links London with Birmingham, Manchester, the east midlands, Sheffield and Leeds. That could more than treble capacity on the congested west coast corridor, improve journey times between our major cities and, as many hon. Members have said, release capacity on existing lines for additional commuter services and freight. In addition, linking the proposed core high speed rail network to the existing west coast and east coast main lines will make it possible to provide high speed services to other destinations, such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow and EdinburghI might also add, Carlislefrom the outset. For example, the proposed network could reduce journey times from Glasgow to London to around 3.5 hours, creating significant scope for a modal shift from aviation to rail. It also has the potential radically to improve regional connectivity, drawing together the major conurbations of the midlands and the north. My hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle asked about the first generation of high speed trains that will have to be able to run on the classic network. I assure him that the speeds at which they run will be similar. They will not tilt, but the journey time savings on the London to
The argument about taking both domestic and short-haul flights out of the air by connecting to Heathrow is overwhelming and powerful. The case for high speed rail stands: it is better for the economy, the environment and the travelling public. I welcome the cross-party consensus on the principle, but it is absolutely clear that the specifics of the high speed proposals need to be judged on their merits. We have already made it clear that the Conservative party will reserve its position on the route that has been chosen. We will listen carefully to the points of view of those who are affected by it, but I do not believe that a report being published this close to a general election should close down the options for any incoming Government to reconsider both the remit and the route when elected. There are some good reasons for that. The remit that the Government set for High Speed 2 did not include clear plans beyond Birmingham, so much of the economic benefit of regeneration to the north has not been outlined in the report because it was never part of the remit at stage 1. There are some huge arguments about that. On the failure to link Heathrow, we all accept that Old Oak Common will be a necessary stop because of the dispersal arguments, which the Minister raised. However, he failed to say that on the 20 and 25 per cent. dispersal, there are some real arguments. Without the connectivity to Heathrow, it is not the airport. Changing trains and getting to and from Old Oak Common are all issues that need considering. High speed rail also provides a huge alternative to short-haul flights. Being wedded to not allowing a remit to assess potential modal shift from air to rail by high speed rail will clearly frustrate and restrain the argument for a direct link to Heathrow. That is a huge flaw in the plans. Many of the High Speed 2 proposals have merit, and I hope that the cross-party consensus on the principle of high speed rail will survive the general election, and that it can be built earlier. There will be a chance to go through the planning and legal phases by 2015 and I hope that the first sod can be cut two years earlier than the Government propose. I hope that high speed rail will be built in phases, and that the first phaseLondonBirmingham-Manchester-Leeds
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Birmingham section will more than outweigh any restraint on speed on the network, which he has often made the case for upgrading. My hon. Friend also asked about the future of Pendolinos. The subject will be up for discussion and further work. Some rolling stock and services will continue to operate on the classic network, but detailed planning of service patterns, rolling stock, timetables and distribution will take place later in the process. On the benefits to the UK economy, the modelling carried out by HS2 suggests that a high speed line from London to Birmingham alone could provide benefits totalling some 29 billion, and up to 32 billion if wider economic benefits such as agglomeration effects are taken into account. The more extensive network in the Governments proposed Y-shaped core would bring still more significant benefits. It would shrink journey times further, and enable the UKs city economies to function more effectively together. At long last, we would start to tackle the problems inherent in our Victorian rail heritage. My right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras referred to multiple connections to London, and that aspect of the consultation will start in the autumn, but there will be questions about the cost and provision of a second London station site. The Government have rejected that at this stage, on the advice of HS2 Ltd. We are confident that a single stem will provide sufficient capacity. Resilience issues are important, but they have been thoroughly considered. The Command Paper published on 11 March, as well as supporting an initial core high speed network going as far north as Manchester and Leeds, also supports two further elements of high speed rail policy.
The first is the through-running of high speed services to destinations further north. Through-running will be possible when the line to Birmingham has been constructed and when it has been extended to Manchester and Leeds. Journey time savings to Scotland, Newcastle and elsewhere will be dramatic, and I encourage hon. Members to inspect the helpful journey time schematics that are available in the Command Paper. The second element in the Command Paper is extensions to the core network, which would run to Newcastle on the eastern branch and to Edinburgh and Glasgow on the western branch. Intermediate stations on those lines will continue to be discussed, and I note that my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle staked a claim today for a station there. That, and proposals for stations elsewhere, will receive careful attention. Let me put it on record early in my response that the Government have no intention of allowing the existing rail network to wither on the vine. My hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby) made a case for electrification of the midland main line, to which the Government are committed. We continue to examine the business case in the context of the existing rolling stock. I am running out of time, but this is a national cause, which the Secretary of State has driven forward with his usual energy and passion. Much work remains to be done, and all interested parties have a chance to register their views. I am sure that they will do so through the consultation, whether on the extended hardship scheme or the route. High speed rail has the potential to rewrite the geography of our country, to conquer the north-south divide at last, and to ensure that all the UKs regions are open to the opportunities of our globalised economy.
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12.29 pm Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab): It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today, Mr. Wilshire. I understand, with a note of sorrow, that you will not be with us on future occasions. It is a pleasure to have known you over the years as a parliamentary colleague. I also welcome my right hon. Friend the Minister. She and I share some unfortunate statistics regarding the make-up of our constituencies, and the deprivation and difficulties that exist. The third member of the trio, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) is not with us, although sadly our constituencies sometimes linger near the wrong end of tables. I know that the Minister wishes to make an impact on such issues in her constituency, as do I, and she brings a special knowledge to bear on that. I have called this debate to welcome the Governments document, Early Intervention: Securing good outcomes for children and young people. I am not sure whether it is a White Paper, a Green Paper or just a document; none the less, I was pleased to see its publication last week. It is a guide and an inspiration, and I wish it had been available five years ago when I started as the chair of One Nottingham, trying to make Nottingham an early intervention city. It would have been of tremendous assistance. In the spirit of early intervention, I hope that this document will be a guide and inspiration to many who come after us in different guises, and that it will inform the policies of the next Government, of whatever political complexion. It is a long overdue, well drafted and well pulled together document, and I have sought to spread it far and wide. It provides the groundwork for something I would like to see, which is a commitment in the election manifestos of all three main parties to furthering early intervention, and to developing 12 early intervention cities, perhaps by learning from what we tried to do in Nottingham. We also need the creation of an early intervention policy assessment centre. That issue is touched on in the document, although we must solidify it in practice. Early intervention should be funded through the capital markets and not through the Government, so that we can obtain the longevity and certainty that is the foundation of effective early intervention. I have given the document a warm welcome, but I will now focus, rather perversely, on one or two issues where I think we could go further. I do not intend to be destructive in any way, and I hope my comments will be taken in the creative and constructive spirit in which they are offered. My firstit is rather wistfulis that I wish we had made more of this publication, and perhaps the Minister will tell us why it was dealt with in such a low-key way last week. I did not know it had been published until I was asked to comment on it by specialist journals. When I sent the document to the usual suspects and to national and international experts on early intervention, not only did they not know it had been published; many did not know it had been written. It was a low-key publication, which is a shame as there is a great story to tell. If we are to win people over to early intervention, we must start to trumpet it as a concept and philosophy that counters many of the ideas that
exist so strongly in the way we currently administer social policy. I could not get a hard copy of the document this morning from the Vote Office, and that was rather strange. It is an excellent publication, although we could have improved it further had we had a conference and a more open process of critique and consensus. The Minister may have known of time constraints that I was unaware of, but all friends of early intervention want to gather round and be as helpful as we can when the Government are doing such good things. The Government have also created an early intervention section within the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and that is welcome. All the trend lines are going in the right direction, and we hope to build on that with the Government. A more serious criticism is that the opening definition of early intervention in the publication is not particularly good. Thankfully, it goes on to ignore that definition, and there is lots of good stuff in the body of the work. The definition of early intervention is given as,
to tackle problems that have already emerged,
but the whole basis of early intervention is that we get to problems before they emerge. We anticipate and pre-empt, and in some ways that definition is almost the antithesis of early intervention. The real definition of early intervention, and the one arrived at by many practitioners who think about and practise it, is to develop social and emotional capabilities in every baby, child and young person, so that problems do not emerge. It is not about problem-solving; it is about eliminating causes. To put it in less flowery language, a stitch in time saves ninesomething that every parent understands. The document is most welcome because of the way it pulls together a lot of understanding and practice in the field. However, we must guard against adopting the language of early intervention on a flavour-of-the-month basis by co-opting the language, but not changing existing practice. We must challenge and change existing practice, as well as paying lip service to the concept of early intervention. When I was chair of One Nottingham we pioneered the concept of an early intervention city, and there was undoubtedly an unconscious process on the part of some of the big public bureaucracies of absorbing and incorporating non-conformist ideas that were not measured, tested or benchmarked from the centre. A warm embrace tends to envelop such ideas, and they disappear after a brief life. It would be a tragedy for children and our intergenerational development if that happened with early intervention. We do not wish to see an exciting vision turned into policy administration and the defence of existing public bureaucratic boundaries and enormous remedial budgets. We cannot go on as we are. There is a clear public policy choice: we either continue as we are, which will mean that we pauperise every taxpayer to pay for the costs of social failure; or we take a different turning and try to squeeze down on dysfunctionality at the earliest possible moment, in order to ensure our economic, let alone our social, survival. One of the issues that comes through in the document is the attempt to commit to a common attainment level across society. There is a terrible waste of babies, children and young people throughout some of our communities. If we can define a social and emotional bedrock and a standard that is applicable to all childrenparticularly
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[Mr. Graham Allen] to make them school-readywe will obtain a fundamental sea change in the way we view our role and responsibilities in society. We need clarity in raising standards, particularly the standard of having a child who is ready to go to school, rather than condemning that child to go to school followed by 11 wasted years because they are unable to listen, learn and make the best of that time. If we do not do that, we could slip back into pure remedialism. I guess this is just a personal thing, but some of the professional jargon we encounter rankles a little. I am thinking of debates about stigmatisation, and the use of pseudo-medical phraseology such as triage or the misuse of the word resilience, given that many children cannot bounce back if they are not given the right social and emotional tools and equipment to work with. One of my least favourite terms is risk factors. That tends to involve a list of the symptoms, rather than seeking to deal with the fundamental causes of many of those symptoms. Again, the fundamental cause is the social and emotional capability or incapability of many of the babies, children and young people whom we are discussing. We must be careful: unless we have the vision that I have set out and unless we have it in mind at all times, we can lapse into the day-to-day maelstrom of micro problem-solving that so many of our public servants are sucked into. They do remarkably well in that firefighting job, but there must be a point at which people step back and, as well as fighting the fires, have a proper programme for smoke alarms. As well as swatting the mosquitoes, people must have a proper programme for draining the swamp. That vision and aspiration cannot be set by hard-working local officials in the health service, the police, childrens services and community services. It must be set at the top. The philosophy and the desire to change the culture have to be clearly there at the political and ministerial level. I welcome in particular the personal work done by the Minister, but also the work done by the team at the Department in moving that forward. Fundamentally, we need to reach much further back to resolve some of the difficulties than we are currently doing. On occasion, the language in the document I am discussing slips a little from its own very high standards. People talk about specific problem solving and remedialism, when really this issue is about breaking the intergenerational cycle. As the Minister will know very well from experience in her own constituency, we need to see the baby who is born as tomorrows parent, who can go on to raise a better generation. If we can crack the intergenerational cycle of deprivation, that will go a long way towards resolving many of the symptoms, including crime, drug abuse and drink abuse, with which we are all too familiar. I commend the document, particularly for its work on partnership. Partnership is about a vision and a culture. The chief executive of Nottingham city council has said that
early intervention is in everyones DNA.
which is to see a dozen cities become early intervention cities and break out of the constant and expensive cycle of trying to tackle the consequences of deprivation and dysfunction. I also commend the document for its excellent work on funding and money saving; it is a small section, but I know it is not an afterthought. There is much more to be done in that regard. We have to break out of the problem whereby funding tends to be for one year or two years and people do not have a 20 or 30-year, long-term view, which is essential. Unless we do that, there will just be small starburst efforts based on personal energy or individual projects, rather than a long-term philosophy. Tracking is also referred to in the document. It talks about the common assessment framework, but that framework is more of a snapshot than an action plan and often tends to be bogged down in its own difficulties, such as who will pay for it and who is taking responsibility for the individual. We need a proper data-sharing tracking policy so that we can identify people not when they commit an offence or appear to have a problem, but when it would be really helpful to do sonot least to parents, who want assistance at the earliest possible moment. I hope the Minister will agree that there is undoubtedly a degree of paralysis locally when people talk about data. There is always a problem with data protection. Ministers tell me that no problems existChallenge them and confront them. However, the culture is there of saying no firstJustify your requestrather than building up the trust and the processes that would make data-sharing effective. I have a few final questions to throw into the pot regarding the proposals. First, I very much welcome the idea that there should be a research centre on child well-being, which will include early intervention. When will that be created, how will it be set up and who will be represented in it? Will it, for example, use the expertise of the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young Peoples Services, which does such good work? Secondly, an early intervention implementation group will emerge. That is very welcome, but can we ensure that it does not, as was said in the document, act after a childs exclusion from school, but four years earlier than thator possibly five, six or seven years earlierso that we can pre-empt the childs being excluded from school by getting the right help to the parents and the baby? The third issue is the use of evidence-based programmes. I think we would all like to see that, but we also need an independent organisational driver of the sort I have described as a centre for policy outcomes. Finally, on the economic side, there will be an expert group on the long-term financing of early intervention. That is very welcome. I hope it will not be as narrowly drawn as the document suggests. That seems to favour social impact bonds only. There are many other instruments. There are early intervention bonds and many other possibilities whereby the market, which over the past two years has shown its brilliance and invention in getting us into trouble, could show its brilliance in organising out some of the social problems and being seen to be even more socially responsible. I do not mean soft money, ethical money or money with Government
I hope we can continue that momentum, but to make partnership working more effective, we must ensure that proper help is available from a policy assessment centre for early intervention such as those in Colorado and Washington state, which were mentioned in the document, and many other areas. I am talking about a centre that can implement and drive my ambition,
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underwriting. I mean a hard-faced proposition about making money from ensuring that babies, children and young people grow up to be productive people, rather than an imposition on taxpayers. That should not be limited to the 14-to-16 age group. On the contrary, the focus should also be on babies who are 14 to 16 days old, rather than just on young people who are 14 to 16 years old. It would be useful if the Minister told us when the expert group on financing early intervention will be created, who will be in it and how she sees it functioning. There are a number of crunchy particulars in there. I hope the Minister will take the questions in the spirit in which they have been offered. Once again, I place on the record my thanks to her, her civil servants and her Department for what I hope will be seen in many years to come as probably the first big building block, philosophically, to be put in place by the Government. The breakthrough to make early intervention a philosophy and a vision will benefit children as yet unborn and generations still to come. If we can start to lay the groundwork and operate consensually as far as possible with other parties, everyone will look back on that in the future and say, If they did nothing else, they did a good thing on moving early intervention forward. 12.49 pm The Minister for Children, Young People and Families (Dawn Primarolo): I join my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) in welcoming you to the Chair, Mr. Wilshire. This will, as you put it, be your last outing, so let me say how much I have valued your friendship and our discussions about Bristol City football clubwhen its performance has been good and when it has been bad. I will sorely miss that, because we are probably the only two Members in the whole of Parliament who follow Bristol City. Mr. David Wilshire (in the Chair): Once I have retired, the attendance at Ashton Gate may increase a little. I understand that the club is looking for a manager. Should I apply, can I count on the Minister for a reference? Dawn Primarolo: Mr. Wilshire, it will certainly be great to see you regularly at the games. Given the recent publicity about retiring Members of Parliament offering themselves in various roles, perhaps you and I should have a private conversation about your idea. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the debate. His commitment in his constituency, in the city of Nottingham and in the House in pressing forward the urgent and important debate on early intervention stands as a beacon in this Parliament. As he rightly said, early intervention is at the heart of all our childrens and young peoples services. As we know, the most effective way to improve young lives is to act at the earliest possible opportunity. My hon. Friend talked about securing the social and emotional capabilities of every child and young person, and I agree with what he said. My hon. Friend will not be surprised to hear that there are, regrettably, many definitions of early intervention. For the purposes of the documentnot as a final conclusionwe are talking about intervening as soon as possible to tackle the problems that have already
emerged for children and young people, and I take exactly my hon. Friends point about the need to take that wider step as well. My hon. Friend talked about the cultural change that is necessary in our childrens and young peoples services. The document seeks to lay out a simple process for early intervention. The aim is, first, to identify the particular issues that make intervention necessary. Secondly, we need to have a good assessment of need. That is then carried forward into the final step, which is about making sure that the results inform a purposeful response. As my hon. Friend said, such a response is about making a stitch in time and acting early for the benefit of the individual, the family and the community. The consultationthe document the Department has publishedis intended to open up a debate further to clarify and develop the issues. The Government are determined that wefrankly, the same is true of all political partiesneed to improve outcomes for children and young people. That is why we have already made significant steps on early intervention, but we need to go further. With our 3,500 childrens centresthe number is risingwe are providing services to intervene early to help families and children. We are also working on early development and we have put 1 billion into extended schools services. On transition, we often see problems later on with the eight-to-13 range, so it is important to intervene early to support the family, the child and those in the wider setting. Mr. Allen: Could I just be clear about the status of the document? Is it a consultation document? If so, is the consultation still open? How do people put in their views to help improve the document? Dawn Primarolo: I was going to pick that point up. I am sorry; I did not mean to mislead my hon. Friend. The document is up for debate; it is not a formal consultation, in the sense that the Government would have a 12 or 13-week period for responses. My hon. Friend asked about the early implementation group, and the document is intended to be the starting point for the discussions that the group will take forward and lead. Those discussions will, for example, be about specific practicewe have tried to address this in the documentsthat demonstrates clear outcomes that are of value to the child, the young person, the family and the community. There is lots of value for money around, but the question is how we spread understanding so that everybody locally does not invent their own solution, which may or may not work, and the data are not collected. As part of the exercisethis relates to one of my hon. Friends questionswe have asked C4EO, which already collects good practice for us, to make sure that good practice is fed into the implementation group. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services is also advising the group. There are discussions about who will sit on the group, how they will link to an institute, how we can develop these things andI will come to this shortlyfinancing. The implementation group is taking these issues forward. In terms of the Government process, I am not quite sure how we would describe the document; it is not a Green Paper, it is not a White Paper and it is not a
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[Dawn Primarolo] formal consultation. It seeks to make more advice, support and good practice available, particularly to childrens trusts, which have to bring together health bodies, local authorities, the police and the third sectorall the services on the groundin their childrens and young persons plan. Organisations have to look at how they can work together, based on a needs assessment, to deliver not only the services that they do now, but the early intervention that my hon. Friend has so rightly explained. We need a practical method of doing such things. We do not want to tell people what to do or to issue guidance, although guidance might come at some stage, but to make sure that people not only sign up to the principle, but develop the practice, as my hon. Friend has done so ably with his partner agencies in Nottingham. The implementation group will also need to look at financial considerations. My hon. Friend touched on the social impact bond, and there have been two pilots, which have given us some interesting results. That is not the only possible financial mechanism, but it is the one that has been piloted, and we are asking for it to be considered. I am attracted to such a bond for the following reasons. First, it gives charities, third-sector organisations and local authorities extra finance, so that they can start bringing together seed finance and early implementation provisions. Secondly, the local authority or charity would have to agree specific outcomes with those they had received the money from. They would have to track their data and show that their approach worked. On that basis, the Government would pay for the bondsthat is the ideabut we would not do so if they did not work. Instead of having targets, pressures and silos from central Government, we are looking at whether a local assessment, based on need, could deliver. However, my hon. Friend is quite right that other financial solutions may be available. To answer my hon. Friends questions, therefore, the implementation group is central, and he is right that the question of whom we have on it is crucial. We are being advised by two important institutions, but we will make sure that we have more. Those involved will then engage in dialogue and settle the way forward on the other questions that my hon. Friend asked. Why was the document low key? Whether publications are low key or not is not always in the Governments hands. Regrettably, the document did not attract attention, and nor did the childrens centres. However, as the debate goes forward locally, I hope it will achieve what my hon. Friend and I want: great social and emotional development for young people and children, based on early intervention. With the support of my hon. Friend and others, I am sure we will achieve that.
UK Chemical Industry
1 pm Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab): It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Wilshire. I wish you well in your retirement. I think that this will be my last speech in this place, as well. It is a great pleasure, also, to see my hon. Friend the Minister here, because he has shown quite an interest in some of the subjects in which I have been interested. I dedicate this debate to Dr. Ashok Kumar, the late Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland. I succeeded Ashok as chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on the chemical industry, which is administered by the Chemical Industries Association. It was his intention to become chairman of the all-party group again after my retirement. I am sure that we all agree that Ashok will be sadly missed in this place, and I send my condolences to his family and friends. The UK chemical industry, including pharmaceuticals, is a 60 billion business, which employs over 600,000 people. It adds 30 million to our balance of trade every working day and represents 12 per cent. of total UK manufacturingtwice that of aerospace. Throughout the 1990s, 16 countries produced 80 per cent. of the total world output of chemicals. The UK was sixth behind the USA, Japan, Germany, China and France. According to figures produced in 2005 by CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, the EU chemical industry leads all EU manufacturing in terms of value added per employee, and is second only to the USA in world output. Therefore, for both the UK and Europe, the chemical industry is a valuable contributor to our economies. The chemical industrys current major concerns are the cost and security of energy supplies, skills training and recruitment, the availability of capital for investment in developing new products and acquiring new plant and equipment, the costs of transport, and the regulatory burden placed on the industry in recent times, which has had the biggest impact. The election manifesto just published by the CIA expands on those concerns. Our Government have decided that energy security is a major concern, and major changes in energy supplies are under way, with less reliance on imported oil and gas in future years and more reliance on a basket of renewable energy generation technologies and nuclear fission. Coal will play a major role in future, but only if either pre- or post-combustion carbon capture technologies are incorporated in new plant, or retrofitted to old plant. That will require massive capital investment which, in turn, will result in increased energy costs. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): I congratulate the hon. Gentleman, who has been a superb advocate of and worker for the chemical industry in the UK. I wish him well in whatever he does in the future. No doubt he has plenty of ideas. Did the CIA say how we can conserve feedstocks for future generations, so that we can keep the industry going, rather than burning them, as he is about to describe?
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Dr. Iddon: It did not, is the honest answer, but I have some thoughts about that, which the hon. Gentleman will hear. Increased energy costs will obviously impact on the chemical industry, which is affected particularly by spikes in gas prices. It believes that those are caused by a shortage of gas storage facilities in the UK, which is now being addressed by the Government. In the winter of 2005-06, many UK companies were forced to cut or stop production altogether. Aluminium production in the UK has been particularly badly hit, as have processes such as chlorine production and metallurgical and ceramic processing. The image that the chemical industry had when I was a student in the 60s has changed beyond imagination through the introduction of environmental and health and safety legislation. Chemicals are highly regulated products today. In environmental legislation alone, more than 500 measures affect the industry. Much of the current national and international legislation is complex and some of it is obscure, and various organisations are pressing for better regulation of the industry. There are signs that the EU is beginning to take notice. Retaining a viable chemical industry in this country, as against displacing it abroad by over-regulation, is of the utmost importance. If our Government over-legislate, however good their intentions are, displacement of our chemical industry to other countries will occur. There are signs, of course, that that has happened in the past few decades. The impact of displacement on the manufacture of just one strategic raw material can be illustrated by the case of ethylene oxide, which has many downstream uses. This year, unfortunately, Dow Chemicals will close its Wilton ethylene oxide plant on Teesside, which has supplied 98 per cent. of the UKs needs. The opening of a plant in the middle east producing monoethylene glycol, resulting in a significant drop in prices of that downstream chemical, appears to have prompted Dows decision. Although ethylene oxide can be shipped into Britain, there is limited shipping capacity. It cannot be brought through the channel tunnel and ferries are reluctant to carry it in tanks. Those difficulties are causing the closure of other UK plants that use UK-produced ethylene oxide, such as the Croda ethoxylation facility. Climate change is seen as the biggest global challenge facing mankind today. With a projected population increase from 6 to 9 billion by 2050, I see water and food security as our greatest global challenges but, of course, there is a connection. For two main reasons I believe that we should not be burning fossil fuels. First, coal and oil are larders of chemicals for the enjoyment of a high quality of life by future generations, in developed as well as developing countries. Secondly, 50 per cent. of the carbon dioxide generated since the industrial revolution has now been partitioned between the atmosphere and the seas, which cover more than 70 per cent. of the earths surface. In turn, acidification of those seas is causing a breakdown in the marine carbon cycle. We are losing corals, on which other marine species rely, and shellfish. In any case, burning fossil fuels is an extremely inefficient way to provide energy. We have to get things in proportion, however. This country is responsible for only 2 per cent. of current world emissions of carbon dioxide. However, we need to show countries such as India and China, especially,
but also other developing countries, that there are alternative ways of producing energy that have an overall benefit to the environment. For every unit of greenhouse gas emitted through chemical manufacturing, the resulting products enable two to three units to be saved downstream. The downstream products that result in the greatest savings of carbon dioxide, evaluated in a recent report on responsible care by the International Council of Chemical Associations, for emissions-saving enabled by the chemical industry, are insulation materials, chemical fertilizer and crop protection products, advanced lighting solutions, such as compact fluorescent lamps, plastic packaging, marine antifouling coatings, synthetic textiles, automotive plastics, low-temperature detergents, increased engine efficiency, and plastic piping. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): I declare an interest in that in the somewhat distant past I was an adviser to the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and to Shell and ICI. I take a great interest in the questions that the hon. Gentleman is discussing, from the environmental point of view, and in terms of enterprise. As a member of the all-party group on clean coal, I presume from the hon. Gentlemans previous remarks that he would regard what he was saying about not wanting to use fossil fuels as being overtaken by the advances that we hope will be made in carbon capture, which would overcome the difficulties he mentioned. I absolutely believe in carbon capture as part of our energy security. Dr. Iddon: I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. We need to keep oil for the petroleum industry, but of course there is far more coal on earth than oil so we can carry on burning it for a little longer. The Government were one of the first to tackle climate change, initially through the introduction of the climate change levy. Climate change agreements allow energy-intensive industries to receive a discount on the climate change levy provided that they meet certain energy efficiency targets. More than 230 climate change agreements have been made in the UK chemical industry. However, the rebate received by energy-intensive industries will be reduced from 80 per cent. to 65 per cent. from April next year to comply with the EU energy taxation directive. That will cost the UK chemical industry 10 million, and UK manufacturing a total of 50 million. The CIA believes that the Government have gone further than necessary in meeting the requirements of that directive. The introduction of the climate change levy has resulted in a change of behaviour in the chemical industry. The industry realised that it made sense to think about its energy usage and costs, and it changed its manufacturing processes as a result of regulation. Subsequent cost savings made those industries more competitive. Based on 1990 levels, the chemical industry reduced world CO2 emissions by between 8 per cent. and 11 per cent. by 2005, according to the IPPC. Since 1990, the UK industry has improved energy efficiency by 35 per cent., which is equivalent to a saving of more than 2 million tonnes of CO2. Britain has set itself some tough targets. We were the first, with the Climate Change Act 2008, to introduce climate change legislation. That Act enshrined in law the reduction of UK CO2 emissions by 80 per cent. by
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2050. The EU emissions trading scheme, which works on a cap-and-trade basis, is central to the UKs long-term policy of reducing CO2 emissions. Under the emissions trading scheme directive, large emitters of CO2 in the EU, including in the energy-intensive chemical industry, must monitor and report annually on their emissions of greenhouse gases, and are obliged to return emission allowances equivalent to their annual emissions, currently to the Government. To do that, they may have to buy or sell emission allowances on the market. Minds are now turning to using the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere to synthesise other chemicals. Methanol, which can be synthesised from CO2, can be used instead of ethanol as a transport fuel. Lotus cars have already developed engines that will run on pure methanol. An article appeared in the 22 February edition of Chemistry and Industry on the worlds first resins made from polyols using CO2 as a feedstock. Probably the most significant piece of legislation on chemicals introduced by the EU has been REACHthe registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals with which all European countries are expected to comply. It is being implemented in stages by the EU Chemicals Agency, based in Helsinki; by 2018, it will have dealt with all the 30,000 chemicals that are supplied in quantities of more than 1 tonne a year. That legislation replaces more than 40 pieces of previous legislation, but 20 pieces of connected legislation remain in place. Implementation of REACH has proved more difficult and more costly than forecast. Instead of the expected 200,000 pre-registrations, the EU Chemicals Agency has received 2.75 million. Chemists still have a difficulty in explaining, and the general public in understanding, the relationship between hazardous substances and their risk to society. However, the good safety record of the chemical industry is noteworthy when compared with the rest of manufacturing, and especially with the construction and farming industries. At a recent meeting of the all-party group on the chemical industry, it was reported that some chemical manufacturing previously displaced offshorefor example, to China or even elsewhere in Europeis returning to Britain. That is being encouraged by taxation changes, a good working relationship between employers and employeesincluding a responsible approach by the industrys unionsand a recognition that this country produces high-quality products. At the high-value end of the market, the availability in the UK of a highly skilled work force, graduate or otherwise, is another important factor. In addition, the supply chain in the UK and Europe is better than in developing countries. The changed image of the chemical industry has attracted more people to consider working in it. That has been helped by the fact that wages and salaries, as well as working conditions, are also good in comparison with other industries; for instance, workers can earn up to 20 per cent. more than in other manufacturing industries. There are further challenges ahead for the UK chemical industry, but I am confident that it is capable of meeting them. However, 70 per cent. of chemical and pharmaceutical businesses operating in the UK are foreign owned. It is
therefore important to create the right financial and regulatory conditions to retain those businesses in this country. I look forward to the Ministers recognition that the chemical industry is essential to the UK economy. After all, its products are used by nearly every other manufacturing industry. 1.16 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): It is a privilege, Mr. Wilshire, to serve under your chairmanship. I think that this is the first time that I have done so, and it may be the last. Mr. David Wilshire (in the Chair): It will indeed be the last time. Ian Lucas: I intend to return to Parliament, Mr. Wilshire, but I give you my best wishes for your retirement. It was a privilege to listen my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon), who has just demonstrated why he will be missed in the next Parliament. I welcome my hon. Friends dedication of this debate to our former colleague, Ashok Kumar. As my hon. Friend said, the late Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland will be sadly missed. He brought a formidable knowledge and a quiet intelligence to the business of Parliament, especially when considering matters relating to the chemical industry. Coincidentally, I attended an award ceremony last Wednesday, when I spoke to a Cluster Mark group from Teesside. They spoke very warmly of Ashok, and expressed their profound shock at his death. He was highly regarded in the north-east, in the chemical industry and, of course, in the House. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East, for his long and distinguished academic and parliamentary career. I am genuinely pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this debate. I think that I first spoke to my hon. Friend at an aerospace lunch. He may remember that we had a discussion on nuclear power in the UK, which he has always supported. At that time, it was not as politically fashionable as it is now, but he has always shown a quiet intelligence and maintained a logical argument. We heard today that he has a wide knowledge of scientific matters; I speak as a lawyer, and I am sorry to say that his knowledge was not as much in evidence in the House as it should have been. His commitment to the chemical sector has been demonstrated in Parliament since 1997, and is shown by his involvement with universities and learned societies. Through his support for organisations such as the Catalyst discovery centre, the Bolton Technical Innovation centre, and though his own magical chemistry demonstrations, I am sure that he has encouraged many young people and adults to take up careers in the chemical industry. In Parliament, my hon. Friend has maintained a focus on chemical industry matters, including through the constructive work of the all-party group on chemical industry. His interests extend far beyond that to embrace drug misuse, policies on higher education, skills research and British-Palestine relations. As a Back Bencher, he has made an important contribution to marine safety,
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and his private Members Bill became the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. It is therefore with real sadness that I note that my hon. Friend will be retiring from the House. I am sorry that we will lose his considerable knowledge and experience, but I do not envisage him sitting back in an armchair with pipe and slippers. I suspect that he will be very active in his so-called retirement, and I look forward to hearing from him on a regular basis in the future. I agree with what my hon. Friend said about the significance of the chemical industry for direct and indirect employment and the balance of trade, and also with what he said about how important chemicals are to our manufacturing base. The industry invests heavily in research and development, and provides some of the highest quality, best paid employment in UK manufacturing. The chemicals industry underpins most of our manufacturing. For example, if we look at the supply chains in most of the UKs manufacturing industries, we will find a chemicals producer in there somewhere. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that chemicals are essential for a vast array of everyday products, ranging from packaging and pharmaceuticals to car interiors and personal care products. The chemical industry, like many other sectors, has had to face some very tough trading conditions due to the global recession, particularly where downstream customers have been struggling. The Government have, therefore, been supporting the industry in various ways over the past 18 months to enable it to face the challenges ahead. Today, we announced details of our support for the industry in the north-east, where the UKs largest chemical cluster is located. As a result of working with the regional development agency and making good use of the strategic investment fund, a total of 7.5 million will be invested in the region. That is just part of the 60 million support package that was announced last November, which will help to create about 3,000 jobs in the region, and some 150 apprenticeships. The 7.5 million investment will help some promising projects. For example, 2 million will go to MSD Biologics UK, which is based in Billingham, creating 75 jobs over the next three to five years; 2 million will go to PYReco, which is based at Wilton, to help with the development of a new processing plant to reclaim and recycle material from tyres, creating 52 new jobs, and a further 240 construction jobs; and 1.34 million will go to GrowHows environmentally essential project to tackle nitrous oxide emissions at its Billingham plant. We are also spending more than 600,000 on a building operator certification energy efficiency project at Tees dock, Middlesbrough, which, again, will safeguard jobs. Mr. Cash: I should like to place on record my admiration both for the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon), with whom I have debated often, and for you, Mr. Wilshire. As well as being an hon. Friend, you have been a very good friend of mine. The Minister presents a picture of numerous grants being made, of aid being given, and of systems being put in place to help the chemical industry, but what about the problem of over-regulation, which the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East, mentioned? Both at a European and a domestic level, many industries are heavily over-regulated, which causes massive unemployment.
According to Lord Mandelson, 4 per cent. of GDP is lost in over-regulation, which must affect the chemical industry as well. Does the Minister not agree that it would be in our national interests to override European legislation and instead pass legislation here? Ian Lucas: The hon. Gentleman puts an interesting proposition to me, which, unfortunately, I shall decline. As a Minister responsible for regulatory reform, I am well aware of the importance of better regulation. Regulation in the chemicals industries is extremely important. My hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East, referred to the perceptions among the general public about safety in the chemicals industry. The relationship between risk, safety and regulation is vital to the continued confidence of the British public in the chemicals industry. We heard from my hon. Friend that the chemicals industry has a very positive safety record, and that depends on good regulation being properly and intelligently enforced. I say to the hon. Member for Stafford Mr. Cash: Stone. Ian Lucas: I am sorry, but Stone is in Staffordshire. I apologise to the hon. Gentleman from Staffordshire who represents Stone. On this issue, it is important that regulation is based on logical andI hesitate to say itscientific criteria, and that it is intelligently drafted and applied. It is very important that at both European and national level, we consider the effects of legislation at an early stage. Regulation is very important. We have to command the views of the general public, but be conscious of the necessary impact that regulation will have on business. Mrs. Betty Williams (Conwy) (Lab): Let me first say what a pleasure it is to be in this Chamber under your chairmanship, Mr. Wilshire. May I also wish you all the very best in your retirement? I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on securing this debate and thank him for devoting it to our late friend, Dr. Ashok Kumar, for whom we all had great respect. Will the Minister tell us whether we are likely to see further regulation concerning safety? I am talking about the safety of transporting chemicals along our roads. I serve a north-west Wales constituency, and transporting chemicals has been a particular concern of mine. Ian Lucas: My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. I know that there is genuine and profound public concern about the transportation of chemicals. However, we have a very good safety record in that regard, which we must maintain. That will involve co-operation between Government, the industry and trade unions, and it will involve presenting the good practice in the industry to the general public. The chemical industry has faced difficult times over the past 18 months, and the Government have been supporting it in the best way that they can. It is clear that the high level of skill required in the industry needs to be built on, so we must focus on developing highly skilled technicians in the sector. Moving to a low-carbon economy is not an easy task for an industry that has been highly dependent on fossil fuels.
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Motorways and Trunk Roads (Litter)

1.30 pm Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): May I also pay tribute to the work that you have done in this House, Mr. Wilshire, in your time as a Member of Parliament and as the Chair of important Committees and of Westminster Hall? I wish you well in whatever else you go on to do. I asked for this debate out of the anger and real frustration that I, my constituents and indeed everyone in the country has experienced at the fact that our great country and our excellent road network are being blighted by the rubbish that is continually being discarded; the network in my own part of the country is being particularly blighted. That rubbish is either being dumped from vehicles or it is escaping from the top of waste disposal vehicles or skips on to the highways. I am very aware that there is legislation in place to deal with this problem. Frankly, however, having driven around the highways and byways of Britain, particularly our motorways, I know that it is not working. At this stage, I would like to pay tribute to Keep Britain Tidy and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Those organisations did not lobby me to secure this debate, but once I had secured it they were very quick off the mark to contribute and their briefings have been very useful. As someone enters this country, or as they enter a town or one of our great cities, there are first impressions that will stick in their mind. If someone leaves the great city of London and travels up the M1 from Brent Cross, they are driving through a rubbish tipthere is no other way to describe it. Sadly, as I travel on that motorway all too frequently, I know that traffic builds up and drivers sit there, waiting for the traffic to move on. As they do so, they glance to the side and they see a build-up of rubbish that has obviously been thrown from private vehicles or that has escaped from commercial vehicles. Clearly, that rubbish has been there for some considerable time. That is obvious, because a modern drinks can takes an awful long time to break down, as does a crisp packet. Indeed, the other day I was amazed to see a Marathon bar wrapper that had been discarded. Marathon bars have not been for sale in this country for some considerable time; they have been renamed Snickers, or whatever the company wants to call them these days. I do not actually eat those bars, but I am aware that they have not been called Marathon for some time. I tried to find out when the brand or name of Marathon went out of use, but I could not find that out. However, it is certainly several years and yet these Marathon bar wrappers are still sitting on the side of our highways and byways. They are the type of awful litter that is blighting the countryside around us. That is unfair on towns such as Hemel Hempstead and in particular on local authorities such as my own, Dacorum, which do everything they can to clear up the refuse and litter that is thrown around, for whatever reason. My town of Hemel Hempstead is very clean; I am very proud of it. However, a driver might come off the M1 at junction 8 in my constituency. Before going further, I would like to pay tribute to the Government for the excellent
I visited the INEOS plant at Runcorn, which is contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint of the sector. I heard at first hand how the municipal waste from the north-west will be used to generate power for INEOSs chemical processes. That is a model approach to change in the industry, and one that should be greatly encouraged. I also had the good fortune to visit the Wilton plant in the north-east, where major progress is being made. Innovative approaches are being taken to the use of new technologies, new sources of energy and new fuels. The industry is long-establishedI heard about the industrys Roman roots while I was in the north-eastand it has the capacity for change. Bob Spink: I, too, wish you well in the future, Mr. Wilshire. Particle physics and, eventually, chemical engineering will change drastically as a result of the experiments taking place with the large Hadron collider. While promoting near-market development, will the Minister also agree that innovation is important for the industry? Will the Government continue to fund blue skies research, such as that done through the LHC? Ian Lucas: I think that the hon. Gentleman has been slipped a copy of my speech, because I was just about to move on to the importance of innovation. Blue skies thinking is very important, and it is something that we have been good at in the UK in the past. We should be proud of our science and innovation record and of this Governments massive investment in the university sector since 1997, which is evident when I travel round the country visiting universities. What we also need to do better is translate some of that blue skies thinking and innovation into manufacture. We must carry forward the powerful ideas from the universities to create manufacturing capacity and employment in the UK. The Government, and my Department in particular, have made a strong commitment to ensuring a constructive and positive relationship between industry, trade unions and Government. We believe that such a relationship is essential to building the foundations of a sustainable manufacturing industry in the UK that has the capacity to change in a low-carbon world. We have tremendous potential in this country. We were the first industrial nation Mr. David Wilshire (in the Chair): Order. I am sorry to interrupt the Minister, but he went past a full stop, so I have to call a halt to the debate.
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road-widening that took place in my constituency, in particular the work done between junctions 6A and 10. I also pay tribute to Neil Owen, who was the team leader for the Highways Agency, and to John Hollaway, who was the project manager for Balfour Beatty. They have brought onstream a fantastic piece of motorway networking. That piece of motorway has only been open for about a year, but if a driver looks at it now as they enter my town it is absolutely covered in litter. I must ask who is looking after that piece of motorway? I asked my local authority whether it had any right to go down there and, even if it was not going to be paid for it, to clean up. I was told, Oh, no, thats very much the responsibility of the Highways Agency. I then looked up what the Highways Agency has been doing. I found that every week 13 tonnes of litter is thrown or discarded from vehicles around the country. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole) indicated assent. Mike Penning: I could not find a breakdown of what proportion of that litter is coming from private vehicles, as people go about their normal daily business in their cars or vans, and what proportion is escaping from refuse vehicles or skips, which is a problem that I alluded to earlier. I suspect that any such breakdown would largely be guesswork, anyway. There is legislation on the statute book to deal with the problem of litter escaping from commercial vehicles. We have all driven down the highways of this country behind a lorry and seen littercommercial paper, etc. escaping from the back of those vehicles. I hope that the Minister will address that issue when he responds to the debate. Apparently 13 tonnes of litter are being thrown from vehicles every week. However, according to the figures that I have here, 50 tonnes of litter are being cleared from just five motorways. So, are there special roads in this country that are being cleared while other roads are not being cleared? Clearly, the M1 in my part of the world, which is the responsibility of the Highways Agency, is hardly being cleared up at all. As I have said, I know that simply by looking casually out of my car window and seeing the length of time that some litter has been left in place. However, it is not just the Highways Agency that is responsible. Some local authorities, particularly the county authorities, have their own highways teams. In my own constituency, for instance, the A41 is a wonderful bypass that was put in several years ago. To come into Hemel Hempstead from the west, drivers come off the A41. However, it is possible to mark the line when a driver enters my local councils area by the litter line. That litter line is there. It is also possible to mark the line by seeing how the hedgerows have been cut back, etc. So I have a question to put to the Minister; I noticed that he was nodding, from a sedentary position, when I mentioned that 13 tonnes of litter is being discarded from vehicles every week. I want to ask him how the cleaning of that litter is being carried out. What sort of system is in place? Frankly, I am very angry that our beautiful countryside is being blighted. To meet our transport needs, motorways cut through the Chilterns and many other great and
beautiful areas of our country. But people, such as my constituents, who pay their taxes, including huge amounts of road tax and other duty, are driving along the highways and byways of the country to look at what? If someone is a passenger, they look out of their window and what do they see? Refuse. Everywhere you go, there is rubbish and litter. In my personal view, I do not think that it should be the job of the Government to pay lots of people to clean up that rubbish. Clearly, that is what we are doing; I am sure that the Minister will tell me how much the different agencies are spending on that work. I think that the people who should also contribute to this work are the people who need to pay back the community when they have done something wrong but who have not been sent to prison. I am particularly interested in the wonderful community punishment and rehabilitation orders that our courts are being encouraged to give out to defendants who have been found guilty of certain offences. The sorts of projects that those people should be doing are supposed to be priority projects to allow high volumes of offenders to work in the community safely. I cannot think of a better thing for someone who has committed a crime and gone through the court process but not been sent to a prison than to have to carry outas it says on the packeta punishment and rehabilitation order, to come out into the community and pay back the community by fixing something that has been blighted and damaged. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): I could not agree more with what my hon. Friend is saying. He is right to place huge significance on this problem, both in terms of the damage to our landscape and in terms of the use of juvenile offenders and other people who would be able to come into an area and deal with the litter that accumulates. That litter includes the dangling plastic bags and other pieces of plastic that get caught up in the hedgerows all around the country. In my constituency of Stone, I get absolutely furious when I look at such litter. I see the problem that my hon. Friend is so rightly concentrating on. This is a real bread-and-butter, nutsand-bolts debate of great importance. Mike Penning: I had not intended to take any interventions in this short debate, but I am now pleased that I did so. I have been to my hon. Friends constituency and it is a beautiful part of the world, which he represents fantastically well. However, these plastic bags that he mentioned blight the countryside. My farmers talk to me about them on a regular basis, not least because if they have any cattle or sheepI have a lot of sheep farmers in my constituencythey know that the number of animals killed each year by plastic bags is very high. One of the things that I noticed the other day in a hedgerow on the M1 was audio tape. Clearly, someone had tossed out of their vehicle a small audio tape; such tapes used to be the fashion in our cars, before compact discs and everything else that came along after. I do not know when the person tossed out the tape, but they seem to have tossed rather a lot of them. It is now a sort of moving graffitiwhen the sun catches it, one cannot miss ityet it seems to have been sitting there forever. How do we address the problem? We are in a tight fiscal situation. I am sure that agenciesparticularly the Highways Agency, which the Minister is going to
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[Mike Penning] discuss in a momentwill say that they are short of money and cannot get to such places as often as they would like, but thousands of community punishment and rehabilitation orders are given every year. I have read the literature, and the orders seem absolutely perfect for the purpose. I also looked to see whether other countries use offenders for such tasks to pay back the community. It takes place around the world. As I dug deeper, I was surprised that not many people in this country are out there paying back. I got an e-mail from a magistrate in London who, for obvious reasons, does not want to be named in this debate. He discusses
the governments concerns on prison overcrowding and the pressure on the judiciary to use more community sentencing.
That is eminently sensible. I would prefer people who should be in prison to be there and people who can pay back in the community to do so. I am sure that we would all agree that a community payback project should not be the soft option, that it should be visible and that the people involved should work hard. Yet attached to the e-mail was another e-mail from a gentleman called Malcolm Jenkin, director of interventions for London Probation, who said:
Please be advised that, due to budget restraints, London Probation has temporarily ceased using casual status Project Supervisors in Community Payback.
There seems to be a complete lack of penalties available for people who litter from vehicles, although there are plenty on the statute book. How many people have been prosecuted in England in the past 12 months for littering from a car? Presumably they were picked up by Highways Agency vehicles, unless the Highways Agency cannot do so? I understand that it has no powers to issue such penalties. If someone on a motorway is chucking rubbish out the window of their car, who is responsible? If it is the traffic police, I must say that they are few and far between in my part of the world, having been mostly replaced by Highways Agency vehicles. This is a serious debate. I am sorry that I got only a half hour. I wanted an hour and a half, as I knew that some colleagues wanted to debate it as well. The issue affects everybody in this country. Those of us who are enormously proud of our country cannot understand why anybody would want to blight our countryside and roads by throwing refuse out their window. Those who do should be penalised, and those who let down their community and country should pay it back under the orders. I hope that the Minister will ask the relevant Justice Minister to explain why the orders are not being used in a sensible way. Mr. David Wilshire (in the Chair): Welcome back, Minister. 1.44 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship for the second time this afternoon, Mr. Wilshire. I did not realise earlier that this is likely to be one of the last times. I wish you well for the future. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on securing this debate and providing us with an opportunity to discuss litter on motorways and trunk roads. I recognise that litter on our motorways and trunk roads is of considerable concern to road users, neighbouring communities and businesses, as well as to the officials and contractors who must deal with the problem. Some 700,000 sacks of litter are collected from the motorway network each year. Between 18 February and 11 March this year, 745 sacks of rubbish were collected on the M25 along the northern approach towards the A4127 during 35 visits to the area by the Highways Agencys service provider. On the M11 between junctions 6 and 9, an estimated 80 to 90 sacks of litter are collected each week. In fact, the increased amount of litter being deposited on the M11 has required additional resources to be allocated to the task. Picking up litter along a high-speed carriageway is a dangerous, continual task, and appropriate traffic management may be required to protect those engaged in that crucial work. I do not want to disagree with the hon. Gentleman about the role that community punishments might play in providing additional resources for addressing the problem, but I caution him that there could be safety issues involved in using untrained, inexperienced staff in an environment that can be dangerous. I do not demur from what he said about the value of community punishments. I have seen offenders painting benches in kiddies play parks in my constituency, and I appreciate the value of such activities and the sense of
It goes on to say, in effect, Please dont do this. I do not blame the Minister, who I am sure can feed that back into the Justice Department, but it is absolutely ludicrous that magistrates are being told on one hand not to put young peopleI apologise. Not all people who commit offences are young people; far from it. There are a lot of very good young people doing fantastic work in the community. I do not want to brand them. The courts are being told not to give so many custodial sentences and to use these wonderful community punishment and rehabilitation orders, but the people who are supposed to administer them are asking courts not to give them out. The e-mail says that community payback teams have:
Merged many groups to ensure that they are used to maximum capacity
and
reserved weekend sessions, where possible, to offenders.
That is not what community payback was designed for. It was designed to be exactly what it says on the tin: a community punishment and rehabilitation order. It is imperative that the Government get a grip on that and put such people out in the community where it is safe to do so. Believe me, people can work on roads in safety. It is done regularly. Otherwise, we would not be able to pick up the 500 tonnes that I am sure the Minister will tell me about in a moment. If the Government did that, we could start to recapture the beauty of our countryside and towns. Motorways are driven through areas of outstanding natural beauty or areas that have experienced natural regeneration since the motorway was built. We must take the opportunity to keep such areas tidy for the sake of first and daily impressions, so that both visitors to and permanent residents of this country can care about it.
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payback that I hope individuals receive from being asked to take part in them. I am more than happy to take away his suggestion and discuss it further with Highways Agency officials and colleagues in the Ministry of Justice. Mike Penning: If the Government started by asking How can we do this? rather than saying We cant do it, we would get a lot further. Other countries around the world have done it. It happens already in certain parts of this country. As difficult and back-breaking as the job may be, I suggest that the necessary training to pick up litter on a motorway that has been coned off is not huge. Chris Mole: I will discuss the different types of roads, as I think that it will put my comments in a little more context for the hon. Gentleman. Roadside litter is a national problem. It is unsightly. It pollutes our environment, blocks drains and endangers wildlife. It also presents a risk to service providers carrying out their maintenance duties and to public health. It is composed not just of crisp packets and sweet wrappers thrown from vehicles but of large items that have accumulated in lay-bys or been illegally dumped. Fly-tipping at lay-bys on trunk roads is an ongoing problem. Large items such as tyres, beds and sofas are regularly dumped. I know, for example, that it is a particular problem on the A11, A12 and A14. The Highways Agency regularly reports such accumulations to the relevant local authority. Responsibility for clearing highway litter and sweeping carriageways is governed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under the Act, the Highways Agency is responsible for litter collections on motorways in England, but responsibility for litter collection on the vast majority of all-purpose trunk roads, or A roads, rests with the appropriate local authority. The task of clearing litter from motorways in England is undertaken by the Highways Agencys service providers, which are required under their contracts to meet the standards set out in the Environmental Protection Act. I cannot provide a specific cost for the collection of litter from motorways, as the task is included in the overall maintenance duties of the Highways Agencys service providers. As for the trunk roads, the task is undertaken by local authorities. The constant need to clear litter from roads diverts valuable resources away from road maintenance and repairs and places a financial burden on central Government and local authorities. Responses to the Highways Agencys road user satisfaction survey rate reflect the central importance of keeping roads free of litter, and litter features frequently as a topic in customer correspondence received by the Highways Agency. A recent study by a major motoring organisation showed that 88 per cent. of its members feel angry about litter louts who throw rubbish onto our roads and motorways. To counter litter on trunk roads, the Highways Agency works collaboratively with local authorities, whose responsibility it is to collect litter from such roads. For example, when the Highways Agency has traffic management in place on trunk roads for other works, if practical it notifies the relevant local authority so that litter picking activities can be planned to coincide with that so that disruption to the travelling public is minimised.
In the west midlands, traffic management has been shared on 51 occasions on various routes during periods of routine maintenance or other works since July 2009, 12 of which have been since January this year. In the south-west, the local authority took advantage of the Highways Agencys traffic management to clear litter during the work to improve the A303 between Willoughby Hedge and Mere. The Highways Agencys service providers monitor the whole motorway and trunk road network for cleanliness, with special attention being paid to areas of slow-moving traffic and places close to service areas. Some of those factors may be relevant to the geography the hon. Gentleman described. When they have concerns about the amount of litter on a particular trunk road, they contact the relevant highway authority and ask for the litter to be cleared. On some parts of the trunk road network, the Highways Agency is actively working with local authorities to reach agreements on litter picking duties, whereby the Highways Agency collects litter from the trunk roads on behalf of the local authority or provides the traffic management for the local authority to do so. Those are local arrangements and are not part of a general policy. Mike Penning: The Minister is right that litter tends to build up where motorways end or where there is often congestion at junctions. When motorways go through cities, there can be a wind tunnel that picks up the litter. Can the Minister arrange for the relevant agency or local council to drop me a line to tell me what work is being done in my part of the world? In particular, it would be great if the road signage and sandbags that were left over from the roadworks at junction 8 of the M1 could be picked up. We are talking about litter and rubbish, but things are often left over when work has been done. I do not know if sandbags are biodegradable, but they are doing their best to deteriorate because they have been there for so long. Chris Mole: I will certainly raise with Highways Agency officials the hon. Gentlemans concerns about the signage that has been left following the recent roadworks. Litter would not be such a problem if people disposed of it more responsibly. The Highways Agency encourages drivers and passengers to take their litter home with them by having a rubbish bag in their vehicle. The agency runs local events and an annual national campaign called Bag it! Bin it! to highlight the danger to other road users of throwing rubbish out of moving vehicles or depositing it along the roadside. The bags distributed as part of that campaign are biodegradable and can be recycled. Mr. Cash: I hear what the Minister says, but his description does not deal with the problem in my constituency where there are trunk roads and a motorway. On the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead on people being expected to use juvenile offenders orders or other Ministry of Justice mechanisms, why could we not have a litter and rubbish removal order that is allocated specifically for this purpose? Will the Minister speak to the Ministry of Justice about that? Like my hon. Friend, I would also like to be told how the Highways Agency is operating in my area.
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Chris Mole: I said that I am happy to engage with my colleagues in the Ministry of Justice on the community punishment approach. I am pleased that the national campaign that encourages people to take their litter home is supported by the AA, the Royal Automobile Club Foundation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Yesterday, the Highways Agencys south-east region began holding local events at motorway service areas as part of its ongoing Bag it! Bin it! anti-litter campaign that will run until 1 April. As part of the campaign, agency and service provider staff will engage with their customers to talk about the problems caused by litter on the network and offer bags to motorists. Initiatives with schools are being discussed in some parts of the country, particularly those located near litter hotspots. The agency has worked with some primary schools as part of the Bag it! Bin it! campaign. The Highways Agency is working with local authorities wherever possible to find ways of improving litter collection. On the A30 and A38 in Cornwall, the agency now clears larger items of litter from the verges into holding sacks provided by Cornwall county council. A trial will soon start whereby Cornwall county council will provide recycling bins in lay-bys, which it will empty as and when required. Mike Penning: I have read the literature and I have seen the Bag it! Bin it! campaign. I am pleased to hear that work is being done at service stations. There is no point in giving bags to customers once they have come out of service stations because it would have such a small effect. Surely we could work with service station providers to ensure that their bags are biodegradable because they invariably end up on the side of our motorways. Instead of giving out biodegradable bags when customers already have bags that are not biodegradable, service station providers should work with us to ensure that all of their bags are biodegradable. That would be eminently sensible. Chris Mole: I was going to refer to work being done by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and it might be able to raise that directly with suppliers and motorway service area providers. The hon. Gentleman mentioned litter escaping from vehicles. There are issues with vehicles that should have nets across the back to contain material that could be drawn out by the wind and left on the highway. Highways Agency traffic officers keep an eye out for such vehicles and although they do not have direct enforcement powers, they can refer vehicles to the police so that they can investigate whether a prosecution is appropriate. Mike Penning: It is not the police who have the enforcement powers on that matter, but the licensing authority for the waste vehicle. If the netting is not on the vehicle, it should be reported to the relevant body that licensed the vehicle under the waste legislation. Chris Mole: The hon. Gentleman might be right about certain types of vehicle for which waste is the primary function. However, other vehicles might not be covered by that framework and could be pursued directly.
On the hon. Gentlemans point about prosecution for people who throw litter out of vehicles, traffic officers do not have those powers. It is not our intention to give them such powers because their primary function is to be the motorists friend on the highway in helping to resolve accidents and situations. A line is crossed when they are given powers more akin to those of the police. Mike Penning: I am not sure that is correct. I thank the Minister for giving way. He is being very generous and I promise not to intervene again in the next two minutes. Traffic officers do have powers. If one overtakes a Highways Agency vehicle while it is performing a moving roadblock, it is an offence under the relevant legislation. I understand that traffic officers are the prosecuting authority for such offences. Chris Mole: The hon. Gentleman is right that it is an offence to pass a traffic officer engaged in a rolling roadblock, but I am not sure whether he is right that they have the power to undertake the prosecution. I think that has to be done by the police. On its routes, the Highways Agency is continuously looking at ways to prevent the dropping of litter. In parts of the east region, signs requesting that the public take their litter home have been erected on slip roads adjacent to motorway service areas. Litter picking schedules were disrupted earlier in the year because of the severe winter weather, which resulted in a heavier than usual accumulation of litter, but they have now resumed. As the weather improves, and more people travel at weekends for leisure purposes, we are likely to see an increase in the level of litter that is deposited, which will put more pressure on the litter collecting authorities. On 23 March, a representative from the Highways Agency attended a litter roundtable event hosted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and attended by senior people from a wide range of organisations, including supermarkets, fast food chains, local authorities and campaign groups. The remit for that meeting was wider than litter on motorways and trunk roads, but I am pleased that they are being included in the wider problem of litter across the country. The Highways Agency is conducting strategic research into a number of key work aspects designed to develop and inform litter policy. Those include improving partnership working with key external stakeholders such as Keep Britain Tidy, Campaign to Protect Rural England and CleanupUK. In conjunction with local authorities, the agency is seeking to trial a number of initiatives, such as temporary anti-litter road signs, utilising variable message signs and partnership working with local business and industry. To conclude, I thank the hon. Gentleman once again for securing this debate. This is an important issue and I hope he is encouraged and reassured by the information I have given about the work the Highways Agency is doing to tackle litter on our strategic road network. Question put and agreed to. 2 pm Sitting adjourned.
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Written Ministerial Statements Finance Bill 2010
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Tuesday 30 March 2010 BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS National Measurement Office (Performance Targets) The Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property (Mr. David Lammy): My noble friend the Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson has today made the following statement:
I have tasked the National Measurement Office to provide a measurement infrastructure which supports innovation, facilitates fair competition, promotes international trade and protects consumers, health and the environment. I have set the National Measurement Office the following targets for 2010-11: To increase efficiency by reducing by at least 3 per cent. activities which are not directly linked to delivery or staff training. To supply a customer-focused certification service by completing 93 per cent. of applications in accordance with agreed customer requirements. To provide a prompt calibration service that completes at least 95 per cent. of jobs (including preparation of certificates) within 15 working days of acceptance of the work and also an average completion time of less than 10 working days. To provide a legal metrology programme that completes 95 per cent. of the scheduled milestones by their due dates. To preserve the investment of public moneys by ensuring that the ratio of spend on science programmes to legal programmes is at least as much as when the NMS unit transferred to NMO on 1 April 2009. To provide a timely metering service by ensuring all meter examiner appointments, manufacturer authorisations/consents and modifications to meter approval and decisions, completes 92 per cent. of jobs within five business days of receipt of all necessary documentation. To manage the finances effectively by ensuring that the portfolio of metrology programmes is provided within 1 per cent. of the allocated budget. To manage the Teddington estate finances within 1 per cent. of the allocated budget. Chief executive to reply within 10 working days to all letters from MPs delegated to him to reply.
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): The Finance Bill will be published on Thursday 1 April. Explanatory notes on the Bill will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office and in the Libraries of both Houses on that day. Copies of the explanatory notes will be available on the Treasurys website. CABINET OFFICE Mutuals The Minister for the Cabinet Office and for the Olympics, and Paymaster General (Tessa Jowell): Over the Easter recess, the Cabinet Office will publish Mutual Benefit: giving people power over public services. The paper sets out the potential for mutuals to stimulate and secure greater citizen participation and engagement in public services. Mutual Benefit: giving people power over public services also sets out the Governments plans to facilitate the development of mutualism in three key public services. Following publication, Mutual Benefit: giving people power over public services can be downloaded at: www.hmq.gov.uk/media/60217/mutuals.pdf Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Safeguarding Children The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls): On 18 January I asked Sir Roger Singleton, the Governments independent chief adviser on the safety of children, to review the use of the defence of reasonable punishment in certain part-time educational and learning settings to establish the key issues and whether it was an area where we needed to consider a change in the interests of strengthening safeguards for children. Sir Roger has now provided a report, Physical punishment: improving consistency and protection, containing his advice and recommendations, for which I am very grateful. I appreciate the extensive work he has undertaken with a wide range of stakeholders and the careful consideration he has given to this complex and sensitive issue. Sir Rogers main recommendation is that the current ban on physical punishment in schools and other childrens settings should be extended to include any form of advice, guidance, teaching, training, instruction, worship, treatment or therapy and to any form of care or supervision which is carried out other than by a parent or member of the childs own family or household. This will resolve the discrepancy whereby a teacher is banned from smacking a child in a school, but the same teacher could administer physical punishment in an out-of-school setting. I believe this is a sensible and proportionate solution to removing this inconsistency.
TREASURY Buying Solutions (Targets for 2010-11) The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ian Pearson): Buying Solutions has been set four performance targets for 2010-11. These are as follows:
to facilitate at least 1,000 million value-for-money improvements (800 million cashable) for the public sector in 2010-11; to achieve an overall customer satisfaction level of above 90 per cent; to make a return on capital employed of 6.5 per cent. over a five year period (April 2009 to March 2014); and to reduce by 5 per cent. the ratio of internal costs over value-for-money improvements with the out-turn for the same ratio in 2009-10 proportionate to cashable savings.
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Secondly, Sir Roger has recommended that the Government should continue to promote positive parenting strategies and effective behaviour management techniques directed towards eliminating the use of smacking. Parents who disapprove of smacking should make this clear to others who care for their children. Thirdly, he has recommended that the development of appropriate safeguarding policies in informal education and learning organisations should continue to be promoted. Legal changes which flow from adoption of these recommendations will need to be communicated effectively. The Government have accepted Sir Rogers recommendations in full and we are committed to implementing them as soon as possible. I have placed copies of Sir Rogers report and the Government response in the Libraries of both Houses. School Teachers Review Body Recommendations The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls): The 19th report of the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) is being published today, covering a range of matters referred to them in October 2009. I am grateful for the careful consideration which the STRB has given to these matters. Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office, the Libraries of both Houses and at www.teachernet.gov.uk/pay. The STRB has recommended that revised criteria for payment of allowances to teachers of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are introduced from September 2010. In addition, it recommends that the two discrete values in use currently should be replaced by a range. I am grateful to the STRB for these recommendations which will allow teachers of pupils with special educational needs to continue to receive appropriate reward, and subject to consultees views, I intend to implement new criteria. The STRB has also made recommendations concerning criteria for appointments to deputy head and assistant head roles as part of a programme of work on which the STRB has previously made recommendations. I note the STRBs recommendations for criteria for these leadership posts and I agree that this work should be taken into account in developing leadership standards and professional responsibilities for all teachers. I would welcome consultees views on the criteria. My detailed response contains further information on these issues. The following sets out the full set of recommendations from the School Teachers Review Body and published in the 19th Report (Cm 7836) on 30 March 2010, together with the response from the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. The STRBs recommendations are set out below. The 19th report of the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) is being published today. It covers the matters referred to the STRB in October 2009. Copies are available in the Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office and in the Libraries of both Houses and at http:// www.ome.uk.com/STRB_Reports.aspx. In making its recommendations, the STRB was required to have regard to items a to f set out in the remit letter of 8 October 2009. This report covers criteria for posts
in the leadership group, and for special educational needs payments. I am grateful for the careful and detailed attention the STRB has given to these matters. I am inviting comments on the STRBs report and my response to its recommendations by 29 April 2010. Special Educational Needs Allowances The STRB has recommended that:
SEN allowances should continue to be paid to teachers working in specified SEN roles but that the present system of two separate and defined SEN allowances be replaced with spot value allowances that fall within a specified SEN range. The new SEN range start at 2,001 and the maximum be set at 3,954, to be uprated in line with any general uprating of teachers pay. Schools and authorities should determine the spot values for individual posts, taking account of local context and specified factors. SEN allowances be paid to those teaching: in SEN posts that require a mandatory SEN qualification (all settings); in special schools, and in designated special classes or units in schools and local authorities. SEN allowances be paid to those teaching in non-designated settings, including PRUs, that are analogous to designated special classes or units where the post: involves a substantial element of working directly with children with special educational needs; requires the exercise of a teachers professional skills and judgement in the teaching of children with special educational needs; and has a greater level of involvement in the teaching of children with special educational needs than is the normal requirement of teachers throughout the school or authority. In other exceptional cases, payment of SEN allowances be at the discretion of the school or local authority. Schools and local authorities set out clearly in their teachers pay policies the arrangements for rewarding teachers with SEN responsibilities.
I am grateful to the STRB for its consideration of this issue and agree that the two current allowances should be replaced by a range, and the existing criteria revised. I consider that any new criteria should be linked to teaching and learning in all educational settings, and am not therefore convinced of the need for discretion. Subject to consultees views, I intend to implement revised criteria and an SEN range from September 2010. Leadership Group criteria The STRB has recommended the following:
Subject to review in any future STRB consideration of school leadership issues, the STPCD be revised to include the following, with effect from September 2010: Before establishing or making an appointment to any deputy head teacher or assistant head teacher post, the relevant body must be satisfied that: (i) the post carries a substantial element of whole school responsibility that is not required of all classroom teachers or TLR holders, and (ii) the holder of the post plays a major role, with full accountability, under the overall direction of the head teacher, in (a) formulating the aims and objectives of the school; (b) establishing, developing and implementing the policies through which they are to be achieved; (c) managing staff and resources to that end; (d) monitoring progress towards the achievement of the schools aims, objectives and policies; and
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(e) undertaking any professional duties delegated by the head teacher, including, for example: duties that impact on the standards of achievement and behaviour of pupils across the school; duties that involve working with external bodies and agencies; or duties that impact on securing pupils access to their educational entitlements. That there should be an additional requirement for deputy head teacher posts to carry a level of responsibility exceeding that expected of an assistant head teacher employed in the same school, including, when appropriate, responsibility for discharging the responsibilities of the head teacher in his/her absence.
I am grateful to the STRB for its detailed consideration of this issue and I welcome the recommendations for criteria for deputy and assistant head posts. I believe that this work should be taken into account in developing leadership standards and professional responsibilities for all teachers. I agree that pay arrangements for the leadership group should continue to be taken forward by the STRB in the course of a future remit. I would welcome consultees views on the criteria which I will consider when developing criteria for implementation in 2010. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Petitions Duty The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. John Denham): I am announcing today the implementation of the duty for local authorities to respond to petitions, giving real power to local people to raise the issues they care about with their council and ensuring they receive a meaningful response. The petitions duty is provided for by chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. The core elements of the duty, ensuring that local authorities must set out in a petition scheme how they will respond to petitions from people who live, work or study in their area, will come into force on 15 June this year. The requirements relating to electronic petitions will come into force on 15 December, reflecting the additional time needed for local authorities to procure, install and test software and to train staff. To support effective delivery by local authorities, I am publishing today statutory guidance and a model petitions scheme, alongside the Governments response to consultation on draft versions of those documents. A total of 123 responses were received, and a number of changes have been made to the guidance and model scheme to reflect the helpful points that were raised. The guidance draws attention to a number of areas where the Government expect local authorities to use the strong powers and influence they already have to respond to the issues raised in petitions. Examples include:
On antisocial behaviourasking the courts to grant an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO); applying to the courts for a premises closure order to close properties where there is persistent nuisance or disorder; making a gating order to restrict access to any public highway to prevent crime or ASB; providing intensive, non-negotiable behavioural support through family intervention projects to perpetrators of antisocial behaviour and their families; On alcohol related crime and disorderplacing restrictions on public drinking in the area by establishing a designated public place order or, as a last resort, imposing an alcohol disorder
zone. When an alcohol disorder zone is established, the licensed premises in the area where alcohol related trouble is being caused are required to contribute to the costs of extra policing in that area; On underperforming schoolsissuing a warning notice outlining expectations and a time frame for improvement; for schools that have failed to comply with a warning notice or are in an Ofsted category of notice to improve (requiring significant improvement) or special measures, authorities can also appoint additional governors, establish an interim executive board, remove the schools delegated budgets, require the school to enter into a formal contract or partnership or (only if the school is in special measures) require its closure; and On underperforming hospitalsasking the councils scrutiny committee to investigate concerns on issues like poor hygienethe committee has powers to review services, request information from NHS bodies, and make urgent recommendations; work with local involvement networks, which have powers to carry out spot checks and seek information and responses from health service providers.
In order to avoid confusion and duplication with existing statutory arrangements for citizens to express their views, the Local Authorities (Petitions) (England) Order 2010 excludes petitions on planning decisions and on licensing decisions on alcohol, gambling or sex establishments, from the scope of the petitions duty. However, any broader issues around the delivery of services in these areas remain within scope (for example, the effectiveness of an authoritys process for dealing with planning applications). It also excludes issues relating to the dealings of individuals or entities, where there is already a statutory right to a review or appeal (other than the right to complain to the local government ombudsman). The order stipulates the maximum threshold which local authorities can set for a petition to trigger a full council debate at 5 per cent. of the local population. Park Home Site Licensing Provisions The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. Ian Austin): I am publishing today a paper Park Homes Site Licensing Reforms: The Way Forward and Next Steps which sets out the Governments proposals for the reform of licensing of park home sites in light of the responses received to the May 2009 consultation paper, Park Home Site licensingImproving the Management of Park Home Sites. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The Government want a thriving and well-run sector that provides sites where people want to live. We want a licensing system that raises and maintains standards on sites and protects residents by ensuring sites are safe, well planned and properly managed with appropriate facilities and services The paper announces that the Government are committed to introducing a number of key reforms to the current site licensing regime, including a requirement that persons engaged in the management of park home sites are fit and proper and only such persons may hold licences. The new system will give local authorities duties to impose management conditions in licences and provides a range of enforcement tools to ensure that site licensing conditions are complied with. Measures will be required to be put in place for alternative management arrangements where sites are not able to be licensed. The new scheme will also allow licensing authorities to recover their costs in connection with
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their duties under the provisions by charging appropriate fees. A new regime for appealing licensing decisions to the residential property tribunal will be introduced. The Government intend to establish a task force, including representatives of local authorities, the industry and residents to advise and recommend how some of the key elements of licensing may be most effectively implemented with minimum burdens. The Governments proposals are intended to drive up standards in this sector (where that proves necessary) and where that is not possible, to remove the ability of those unscrupulous and incompetent site owners from continuing to manage park home sites. Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Local Spending Reports) The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. John Denham): I am publishing a consultation paper today, 30 March, on the arrangements for the production of the second local spending report. The aim of the local spending reports is to assist local authorities, their partners and local people in promoting the sustainability of local communities by providing more information about the public funding that is spent in their area. The Act requires me to make arrangements for the production of local spending reports and to consult such persons likely to be affected by the arrangements, as I think appropriate. This consultation document places work to develop local spending reports in the broader context of our efforts to make public data public. This approach was summarised in the report to Parliament Making local public expenditure data public and the development of Local Spending Reports in December 2009. The document will be placed in the Library of the House and will be available on the Communities and Local Government website at: www.communities.gov.uk/ publications/localgovernment/ consultationsecondspendrpt. We have presented also the first local spending report on the Places database today at http://www.local pending.communities.gov.uk/ and are seeking views on this as part of the consultation process. This will provide intuitive, user-friendly tools to explore, compare and contrast data via interactive maps, charts and tables. These online tools will be freely and publicly available, thereby ensuring that these local spending data are available not only to local authorities and their strategic partners but also to citizens in a consistent form. Following consultation, I propose to publish the second local spending report in summer 2010.
As the review acknowledged, considerable detailed work is required to translate the reviews high-level recommendations into legislation. An important first step is the formation of the proposed independent medical expert group, which I am establishing on an interim basis today in order to meet the time scales envisaged by the review. The terms of reference, structure and membership of this interim medical expert group, which will advise on armed forces compensation, is set out below: Terms of Reference The interim independent medical group is established as a result of the AFCS review (Cm 7798) published 10 February 2010. Its role, primarily, is to advise on the appropriate levels of compensation for all the specific injuries, illnesses and diseases highlighted in the AFCS review as being areas of concern, in time to be included in the consultation in autumn 2010 leading to the legislation planned for early 2011 to implement the review. In addition, the interim group will also, as appropriate:
a. provide initial advice on the list of recognised diseases that, on the balance of probabilities, are predominantly caused by service in the armed forces since 6 April 2005: b. provide initial advice on those injuries, illnesses or diseases that might be made worse by service during the first six months of service that are currently excluded from the scheme. This advice will need to distinguish between those injuries, illnesses or diseases that might simply be triggered by service, but are not caused by service (perhaps such as asthma, which might only become apparent during initial training): c. advise on the definitive structure and membership of the group, beyond the transitional group which would only be in existence for around 12 months: d. advise on any other medical matters in relation to the armed forces compensation schemes that the Minister for veterans requests it to provide.
DEFENCE Armed Forces Compensation Scheme The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): The Government committed to implementing in full all the recommendations arising from the review of the armed forces compensation scheme when it was published on 10 February 2010.
Membership The chairman and expert members of this interim group will comprise senior licensed consultants drawn from the relevant specialties, including: trauma/ orthopaedics, neurology, ear/nose/throat, occupational medicine, and mental health. The MODs senior medical adviser to the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (personnel) will also be a member of the group. Three lay members will also be appointed to the group: one from service/exservice organisations on the statutorily established Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation (CAC), one from the in-service representatives on the CAC, and an injured serving person who has claimed under the scheme. The group will be able to draw on other expert advice where required. The chairman of the group will be a member of the CAC that advises the Minister for veterans, and the chairman would present the advice of the group to the Minister as a member of the CAC. The advice and the Governments decisions in relation to it would be published together at the same time on the MODs website. The following individuals have been appointed to form this interim group: Chairman: Professor Sir Anthony Newman Taylor CBE, FRCP, FFOM, FMedSci Expert Members: Professor David Alexander MA(Hons) C.Psychol PhD FBPS FRSM(Hon) FRCPsych;
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Professor Linda Luxon FRCP; Dr. John Scadding MD FRCP; Dr. David Snashall MSc FRCP FFOM LLM; Professor James Ryan OStJ, MB, BCh, BAO (NUI), FRCS (Eng), MCh (NUI), Hon FCEM, DMCC(SoA), RAMC(V) MODs Senior Medical Adviser to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (personnel): Dr. Anne Braidwood CBE MRCP MRCGP Lay Members: Lt. Col. Jerome Church MBE, General Secretary British Limbless Ex-Service Mens Association, member of the CAC, representing the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations; Col. Robin Vickers, Army Pay Colonel, representing the three single Service members on the CAC: and Col. David Richmond, a serving member of the armed forces who suffered an AK47 bullet wound that shattered his femur in Afghanistan in June 2008, who was injured when Commanding Officer 5SCOTS. Mode of working The group itself will not be expected to create its advice from first principles. Instead, the MOD would investigate issues and draw up evidence-based proposals for the group to consider and either validate or advise, support or challenge in the same way that the MOD conducted the work of the AFCS review and used the independent scrutiny group to validate this work. The MOD will provide secretariat support to the group. The group will meet as and when required, perhaps four to six times during its existence. Between meetings business will be conducted via correspondence. Some meetings may be conducted virtually via video or telephone conferencing. Terms of Appointment The chairman and members of this interim independent medical group to advise on armed forces compensation will be appointed until February 2011. The roles will not be remunerated, but the MOD will reimburse reasonable travel and subsistence expenses. The chairman and members will be expected to follow the seven principles of public life enunciated by the Nolan committee. Government Profit Formula The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Quentin Davies): The Government have accepted the findings of the review board for Government contracts as detailed in their report of the 2010 general review of the profit formula for non-competitive Government contracts. The boards recommendations will be
Change Voted Resource DEL1 of which: Administration budget Near-cash in RDEL Capital DEL2 -25,000 25,000 Non-voted -25,000
implemented in accordance with arrangements subsequently agreed with the industry side and recorded in an addendum to the published report. I will be placing a copy of the report in the Library of the House. The recommendations will be implemented for new non-competitive work with effect from 1 April 2010. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Adapting to Coastal Change The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): I am today publishing Adapting to Coastal Change: Developing a Policy Framework, which takes forward some of the ideas on supporting community adaptation to coastal change that we consulted on last summer. The work of the coastal change pathfinders that I announced on 1 December 2009 is part of this work. Adapting to Coastal Change: Developing a Policy Framework sets out ideas and guidance on how communities can plan for coastal change as well as looking at what managing change might mean for business, local infrastructure and our historic and natural environment. In doing so, it draws on examples of best practice, including the pathfinders which are looking at new approaches. It also confirms the introduction of a new coastal erosion assistance grant. This is a fixed grant of 6,000 available to local authorities to help homeowners with the costs of demolishing a home at risk of loss to coastal erosion and some basic moving costs. Adapting to Coastal Change, together with a report summarising responses to last summers coastal change policy consultation and new guidance on community adaptation planning and engagement, will be published on the DEFRA website today. Departmental Expenditure Limits (Budget Control Totals) The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): I wish to announce that for 2009-10 DEFRA will switch 25 million available near-cash resource DEL budget to cover a forecast deficit against its capital DEL control total, in accordance with HM Treasurys consolidated budgetary guidance. Although the financial outturn for the year is not final, the current assessment of the required switch is 25 million. The movement in spend from near-cash resource DEL to capital DEL is in respect of flood defences where the exact nature and classification of the expenditure is determined by the Environment Agency, as they undertake the work.
New DEL Voted 4,405,871 Non-voted -1,709,991 000 Total 2,695,880
304,496 4,138,436 262,071
-1,777,988 457,179
304,496 2,360,448 719,250
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New DEL
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Non-voted -
Voted -115,820 4,552,122
Non-voted -108,569 -1,361,381
Total -224,389 3,190,741
Less Depreciation Total

1 2 3
The total of Administration budget and Near-cash in Resource DEL figures may well be greater than total resource DEL. due to the definitions overlapping. Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting.
Rural Payments Agency (Performance Targets 2010-11) The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): I have set the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) the following performance targets for 2010-11. Service delivery quality To administer common agricultural policy and other schemes to meet the following requirements:
To have paid 85 per cent. of customers by 31 December 2010 and 95 per cent. by value of valid single payment scheme 2010 scheme claims by 31 March 2011. To record 98 per cent. of notifications of births deaths and movements of cattle on the cattle tracing system within 14 days of their receipt. To make 98 per cent. of rural development programme for England payments for Natural England and Regional Development Agencies in accordance with agreed service level agreements.
Customer impact To demonstrate a continued commitment to customers by achieving a minimum annual average customer satisfaction score of 7.5 out of 10.0, as measured through surveys of external customers. To increase electronic uptake of RPA services by receiving:
10,000 electronic applications for SPS 2010. 85 per cent. of CTS transactions via an electronic channel by the end of 2010-11.
Value for public money To demonstrate clear progress towards achieving the Treasury disallowance target of 2 per cent. or less of fund value, for all CAP schemes administered by the RPA. Achieve a 9.8 per cent. efficiency saving in revenue budget by the end of the 2010-11 financial year by managing service delivery within indicative budget levels. For the single payment scheme, achieve a cost per claim reduction of 15 per cent. for processing costs. Capacity and capability To demonstrate improved capacity and capability to meet targets and implement change with particular focus on leadership, (core to RPA) data quality, financial performance and contributions in response to the DEFRA review and the Public Accounts Committee. Further details are given in the RPA business plan for 2010-11 and copies are available on their website. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Consular Fees Order 2010 The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently undertaken a review of the fees charged for visa and consular services, both in the UK and overseas. On 10 February 2010 Her
Majesty in Council approved the Consular Fees Order 2010. This revokes and replaces the Consular Fees Order 2009. The Government are today announcing changes to the consular fees to be charged under this order with effect from 6 April 2010. Fees for passport applications made in the United Kingdom remain at current levels whereas the fees for passport applications made abroad including applications for temporary and emergency passports and the new emergency travel documents have increased by 2.90 per cent. which is the current rate of inflation. The fees for legalisation services have also increased in line with inflation. Fees for receiving applications for entry clearance to Commonwealth countries, British overseas territories and Crown dependencies continue to be charged in the order and have increased since last year. These fees are Home Office fees and are approved by the Home Office Minister but are still contained within the Consular Fees Order. Other consular fees, representing a range of services performed at posts abroad, are also set to increase by 2.90 per cent. It is right that those who benefit from consular services should meet the cost of them, rather than the UK taxpayer. The new fees represent the full economic cost of what we do, and will ensure that British missions continue to provide a high standard of service to consular customers. Details of the new fees will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Councils The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council were held on 22 March in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the UK. The agenda items covered were as follows: FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL The provisional report of the meeting can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113482.pdf Iran The agreed A points included a EU declaration on free access to information in Iran calling on the Iranian authorities to stop jamming satellite broadcasting and internet censorship. There was no FAC discussion. A text of the declaration can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113468.pdf Haiti High Representative Ashton and Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Georgieva briefed on their recent visits, stressing the need to learn lessons and review structures.
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The Commissioner said humanitarian efforts must continue for at least 12 months and should take account of the coming hurricane season. Both the High Representative and the Commissioner said the EU needed to do more to raise its visibility. Development Commissioner Piebalgs noted the need to push for realistic reconstruction plans at the donors conference on 31 March in New York. Ministers agreed conclusions on Haiti including on the donors conference. These can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/l13466.pdf Afghanistan/Pakistan The High Representative introduced the new doublehatted EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan, Vygaudas Uackas, and urged member states to give him their full support to implement the EUs action plan. She stressed the need for the international community to maintain momentum generated by the London conference and ensure the Afghan Government fulfilled its commitments. The EUSR said his three key tasks were to merge the two existing EU offices in Kabul, establish a close working relationship with member states missions on the ground and increase the EUs visibility. The Foreign Secretary said the EUSR should make his own distinct contribution to the international effort and suggested three objectives: to become the effective EU political voice on the ground; to ensure that EU activities were a catalyst for progressincluding integrating EUPOL with NATO efforts and supporting local governors; and to develop a coherent EU development strategy. The High Representative said she was considering options on EUPOL and would share her thoughts with member states in due course. She looked forward to a discussion on implementing the action plan at the April FAC. A text of the agreed conclusions can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113468.pdf On Pakistan, High Representative Ashton urged member states to show support ahead of the 21 April summit, especially on generalised system of preferences (GSP+). We should back Pakistan economically as well as politically. The Foreign Secretary strongly endorsed the importance of EU trade with Pakistan. Middle East The High Representative briefed on her visit to the region of 18 March. The Quartet Representative (Tony Blair) set out the difficulties facing the peace process. Europe had a key role in helping progress negotiations. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to support proximity talks, which needed to focus on substantive issues. AOB: Ukraine The Commissioner, tefan Fle, said the Commission was taking forward the action plan, including with the new Ukrainian Foreign Minister this week, and would revert with further recommendations at a future FAC. AOB: Moldova Member states urged the Commission to speed up the provision of macro financial assistance to Moldova which Enlargement Commissioner Fle confirmed would
commence in April. He noted the visa dialogue was expected to start on 15 June and he had written to the Moldovan Government asking them to follow the Venice Commissions advice on future constitutional reform. AOB: Libya/SwitzerlandVisas Ministers discussed the Libya/Swiss bilateral dispute, which had resulted in Libya refusing visas to citizens of all Schengen countries. The High Representative undertook to give clear messages to the Swiss Foreign Minister at their meeting on 24 March. AOB: Western Balkans Slovenia gave a short brief on the Brdo Western Balkans conference of 20 March reaffirming the leaders commitment to joining the EU, meeting the required criteria and promoting good neighbourly relations. FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL AND GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL The General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council met in joint session, chaired by the High Representative and the Presidency (Mr. Moratinos), to discuss the European External Action Service (EAS). The High Representative presented progress so far. She committed to present her proposal shortly, noting this needed to be agreed by both the Council and the European Parliament. She hoped all institutions involved would recognise each others perspectives and work together to deliver a coherent service. She highlighted the financial and staffing regulations and the budget as areas where a constructive approach was necessary. And Ministers should engage with national Parliaments ahead of discussions with the European Parliament. The Foreign Secretary set out the UKs support for the EAS as a shared project and a great opportunity. The EAS needed to have the capacity to add value and this should include having a complementary role on cross-cutting policy issues such as climate change and migration. He stressed the need for merit based appointments. GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL The provisional text of the Councils discussion and agreed A points can be found at: http://www.consilium .europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/ genaff/l13481.pdf Europe 2020 Strategy The Presidency (Mr. Moratinos) invited comments on the draft European Council conclusions covering Europe 2020 and climate change. Ministers discussed the Commissions proposals on competiveness, the setting of targets, the stability and growth pact and financial regulation. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to send a clear signal about the EUs response to the economic crisis. We also needed to learn from the Lisbon strategy and work towards achievable, relevant targets that were set and owned at member state level. Climate Change On climate change, the Foreign Secretary led a number of member states in stressing the need to maintain ambition, implement the Copenhagen accord and move forward on fast start financing and mitigation/ adaptation.
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Written Ministerial Statements HEALTH Building the National Care Service
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Dinner with President Herman Van Rompuy The President of the Council hosted a General Affairs Council dinner where Europe 2020, European Council working methods and external relations were discussed. On Europe 2020, member states discussed the Commissions proposed targets in areas such as poverty and education and the need to reconcile these with national targets. Western European Union (British Membership) The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The Western European Union (WEU) has played a valuable role in discussion on European security. It embedded the principle of mutual defence in post-war Europe, promoted consultation and co-operation on defence and security matters in Western Europe and has conducted operations in a number of vital theatres, including the Persian Gulf and the Adriatic. Members from both Houses, past and present, have played a valuable role in pursuing the UKs interests within the WEU and I would like to take this opportunity to pay warm tribute to their efforts. But the WEUs mutual defence role was essentially symbolic as soon as NATO was established and successive UK Governments have made clear, as the Lisbon treaty does, that NATO is the forum and the foundation for collective defence of the allies. Moreover, the operational role of the WEU has been succeeded by the EU, following the UK/French initiative to create security and defence policy capacity in the EU. With this development, which NATO and the US specifically have welcomed, it is clear that the Western European Union is no longer relevant to todays European security architecture. While the UK recognises the role the WEU Assembly has played in engaging the views of national parliamentarians from across Europe on European defence, we do not believe this justifies the cost of over 2 million a year to the UK alone. For that reason, the UK intends to withdraw from the Western European Union. In accordance with the modified Brussels treaty, we will formally inform the Belgian Government of our decision in April 2010. A 12-month notice period will then follow, during which the UK will remain a member of the WEU, giving an opportunity for discussion on how to develop crossEuropean parliamentary scrutiny of European defence issues. Given the inter-governmental nature of the EUs common security and defence policy, we believe that this remains entirely a matter for national Parliaments and co-ordination between them. There is no reason and no case for the European Parliament to expand its competence in this area. We are in discussion with other WEU member states on this issue. Many of them also believe that the time has come to radically reform or close the organisation. Following this announcement, we will continue to engage our European partners on this issue and on future cross- European parliamentary scrutiny of European defence. We will also seek to use this opportunity to improve the exchange of information and engagement between the EU and NATO, including the involvement of non-EU NATO European allies in European defence.
The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): Today the Government are laying before Parliament the White Paper, Building the National Care Service (Cm 7854). We have listened to the views of the public and stakeholders through the 2008 engagement process and the 2009 Big Care Debate. The Big Care Debate received over 28,000 direct responses, with more than 40,000 people contributing to the debate through further research or events organised by stakeholders. The consultation showed that there was strong support for our vision of a National Care Service and while there was no clear consensus on funding, the comprehensive option was the most preferred. Today we have published an independent summary of the consultation alongside the White Paper and placed a copy in the Library. We also held a Care and Support Conference last month with the Care and Support Alliance and other key stakeholders. They urged us to push forward with reform and favoured the comprehensive option. We believe the time has come to build a comprehensive National Care Service. This will be for all adults in England with an eligible care need, providing free care when they need itwhoever they are, wherever they live in England, and whatever condition leads them to need care. It will give everyone the peace of mind that they and their families will be cared for should the need arise, and it will mean that no one need live in fear of losing their home or their savings to pay for care. The Governments vision is for a National Care Service that gives people choice and control, and is focused on keeping people well and independent. It will ensure that different parts of the system work better together, with a new duty for NHS bodies and local authorities to deliver integrated care. Millions of people care for a family member or friend. This is the hallmark of a civilised society. But we must do more to give support to those who provide such care. Building on the carers strategy, the National Care Service will support those caring for others by improving the quality of formal care, and working with employers and Job Centre Plus, to help carers to live the life they want to live. We recognise that building the new National Care Service will be one of the biggest changes to the welfare state since the creation of the NHS. We are also creating it during a period of fiscal consolidation. Reform to social care must be consistent with our plans for fiscal consolidation and reflect the tough decisions that will need to be made in the next spending review. This means we need to build the new service in stages. The first stage is to create a step change in the provision of services in the home and in our communities. These services are essential if we are to ensure that more people are supported in their homes. Central to this is the Personal Care at Home Bill, to be implemented in 2011, enabling us to provide free personal care for people in their own home for those with the highest needs. The first stage of reform will also see reablement services available in every community, ensuring that
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there is a service by which people are supported to regain their independence and confidence when they need home care for the first time. As part of the first stage we will push forward with existing reforms that are already delivering real benefits for people such as the dementia strategy, the carers strategy and Putting People First. The second stage of reform, during the next Parliament, will be to put in place the building blocks of a national system of care and support, in particular the establishment of clear, national standards and entitlements. We will introduce a National Care Service Bill early in the next Parliament as a major step forward. From 2014, care entitlements will be extended meaning that anyone staying in residential care for more than two years will receive free care after the second year. The first and second stages together will mean that the most vulnerable in our society, those with the highest needs, will be protected from very high care costs and that many more people will be supported in their own homes. During the next Parliament, we will take further steps towards the full reform of the systemmoving towards the third stage in which the comprehensive National Care Service becomes a reality, with care free when people need it. To do this will require everyone to contribute through a fair care contribution. So at the start of the next Parliament, we will establish a Commission to help to reach consensus on the right way of funding the system. The Commission will determine the fairest and most sustainable way for people to contribute. It will make recommendations to Ministers which, if accepted, will be implemented in the Parliament after next. The Commission will determine the options that should be open to people so that they have choice and flexibility about how to pay their care contribution. Our expectation is that the Commission will consider all the various options for payment put forward by stakeholders and the public as part of the Big Care Debate and at the Care and Support Conference. Building the National Care Service (Cm 7854) is in the Library and copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote office.
new or increased contributions will be possible from 1 October. We recommend the need in all cases for officers to satisfy themselves about whether AVC investments are right for them, if necessary by taking independent financial advice. As part of our review of the current arrangements for topping up police pensions we are discussing with the Police Negotiating Board proposals for introducing a new facility, Added Pension, which will enable officers to buy specific amounts of pension, subject to set limits, on a cost-neutral basis for the police pension scheme. The introduction of Added Pension would be accompanied by the closure to new contracts of the current facility of buying added years. The aim is for this change to be made at the same time as the closure of the AVC scheme to new business but this is subject to confirmation.
Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism (Mr. David Hanson): This week marks the end of phase 2 of the tackling knives and serious youth violence action programme (TKAP). Over the past 12 months, we have targeted nearly 7 million of funding on 15 high priority areas and the British Transport Police in order to reduce serious youth violence. Last weeks deaths of two young people in London was a stark reminder, if one were needed, of the need for our continued action in this area. We are committed to reducing serious youth violence to make sure that no families face the devastation that these young peoples families are suffering. We are focused on tougher enforcement, tougher sentences and new legislation to tackle violent crime and gangs. We increased the starting tariff for a life sentence for adults committing murder using a knife or other weapon taken to the scene to a minimum 25 years in prison. We will publish detailed results from the programme in the summer, but across England and Wales as a whole the picture is encouraging. Recorded crime statistics show that in the period April to September 2009 covering the first six months of phase 2 of TKAP, there was a 7 per cent. fall in recorded knife crime, compared with the same period the previous year, including a 34 per cent. fall in homicide with a knife/sharp instrument 100 homicides involving a knife/sharp instrument in April to September 2009 and 152 in April to September 2008. These statistics build on annual figures for 2008-09 which saw a 7 per cent. drop in knife/sharp instrument homicides, compared with 2007-08. Over 100 hospitals are now sharing A&E data with local police and community safety partnerships in England and Wales, to enable targeted local enforcement and other activities to reduce violence. The Home Office has provided 300,000 to eight TKAP police forces for nine Portcullis Operations, an intensive enforcement and prevention tactic. Increased police activity has led to 736 arrests, 23 knives and one shotgun being recovered, and over 20,000 people passing through knife arches. In addition, street based teams have worked with over 1,500 young people.
HOME DEPARTMENT Police Pensions The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism (Mr. David Hanson): The Police Pensions Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) Scheme, which was introduced in 1990, has served as a useful means by which police officers can top up their retirement pension. However, the opportunities now open to those who want to save for a personal pension reduce the need for an in-house AVC scheme. After consulting the Police Negotiating Board we have decided to close the police AVC scheme to new business from 1 October 2010, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary changes to the relevant regulations. Notice of this change has been given to the two providers concerned, Standard Life and Equitable Life. Regular contributions in effect on 30 September can continue to be made but the change will mean that no
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But preventing serious violence is about more than tough enforcement; it is also about prevention. There have been over 22,000 after-school patrols in TKAP areas over the same period, engaging with over 67,000 young people and signposting over 13,000 young people to positive activities. Where young people have been involved in knife crime, we have worked hard to ensure that they receive appropriate education and rehabilitation to teach them about the dangers of knives. The Youth Justice Board rolled out the knife crime prevention programme to all 97 youth offending teams in the 15 TKAP areas with the aim of reaching 2,000 young people cautioned or convicted of knife crime in the TKAP areas by the end of 2010, to bring home to them the consequences of carrying a knife. All of this activity to tackle serious youth violence will not stop at the end of TKAP 2. A third phase of TKAP begins on 1 April 2010 aiming to continue our work to keep young people safe. TKAP 3 will make 5.5 million of Government funding available to local TKAP areas: 4 million to local community safety partnerships, on top of 1.5 million already announced for 150 local voluntary organisations receiving help from the Home Office community fund. In 2010-11, we will focus the TKAP programme on 52 community safety partnerships within 21 police forces. The British Transport Police will receive also TKAP funding and support. Agencies in these local areas know that serious youth violence matters to their communities and they want to do all they can to prevent and reduce it.
Provision of an effective law enforcement response: We will continue to support all of the existing law enforcements units that respond to cyber crime, and will seek to enhance their operational and intelligence functions through the development of accurate reporting mechanisms for the public. Raise public confidence: We will strengthen the links with Get Safe Online and with the work done on the Think U Know programme run by CEOP, to ensure that the public continue to have accurate information on how to keep themselves safe on line. Work with industry: We will work with the private sector to prevent e-crime, through the e-crime and disorder reduction partnership, and through the cyber industrial strategy being developed by the OCS. Work internationally: We will maximise collective efforts overseas from capacity building through to strengthening multilateral institutions. We will continue to lead efforts to ensure that children are protected online and that there is good co-operation between law enforcement agencies internationally.
Visa Waiver Test The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Alan Johnson): Today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I are announcing the final stage of the UKs first global review of visa regimes in relation to the seven countries of the Eastern CaribbeanAntigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A visa regime is a very effective immigration, crime and security control measure. As part of our overseas defences our visa waiver test helps us determine whether our visa regimes are in the right places. Travellers from every country beyond the European economic area and Switzerland were measured against a range of criteria including illegal immigration, crime and security concerns. The test has been taken forward in close collaboration with other Departments across Whitehall. New full visa regimes were introduced on Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, along with a partial regime on Venezuela, in 2009. Having initially considered the Eastern Caribbean states on a regional basis, we decided to examine them individually to ensure any potential regimes would be aligned correctly. Our evaluation highlighted a number of concerns with two countries, Dominica and St. Lucia. We recognise that we have close historic, economic and political ties with Dominica and St. Lucia and are aware that the introduction of a visa regime would be a significant step. It is a decision we do not take lightly. As a result we will now enter a six-month period of detailed dialogue with the Governments concerned to examine what actions will be taken to address our concerns and mitigate the need for a visa regime to be introduced. During this period, Dominica and St. Lucia will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to put into effect credible and realistic plans, with clear timetables, to reduce the risks to the UK, and begin implementing these plans by the end of the dialogue period. Additionally we have written to the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to advise that, while they will maintain their visa-free status for the time being, the decision will be subject to a further review.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Cyber Crime Strategy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Alan Campbell): I am today publishing the Governments Cyber Crime Strategy (Cm 7842) which sets out the Governments proposals for tackling cyber crime. Copies are available in the Vote Office. Cyber crime is a large and growing problem. It is responsible for a significant amount of social and economic harm, both financially and through threats to children; and is a threat to confidence both in the provision of services through the internet generally, and in the move of Government services online. As the UK becomes more dependent upon digital services, so the threat to the UK as a whole from cyber crime increases. The overarching theme of the new strategy is that there is significant scope to extend our response to cyber crime, as part of the overall Government focus on cyber-led by the Office for Cyber Security. The new strategy has five key elements:
Co-ordination to tackle cyber crime across Government: there is already significant work across Government to tackle cyber crime. We will ensure that there is enhanced leadership to provide a clear focus for cyber crime issues. We will ensure that this work will link closely with the overall cyber security approach set out in the Governments Cyber Security Strategy.
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The UK Government remain committed to operating a firm but fair immigration policy. It gives a high priority to treating all foreign nationals coming to or present in the UK with dignity and respect, and the highest legal standards. However, it expects all visitors to the UK to play by the rules. The UK will always welcome genuine visitors, whether business, tourist, student or family, but will continue to take all steps necessary to protect the security of the UK.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
G8 countries to recognise the devastating impact that unmet financial commitments have on global health, and to deliver their financial pledges to the global fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. G20 countries and emerging economies to do more to fight global poverty by adopting the global poverty targets agreed by the G8 at Gleneagles in 2005, including financial contribution to the global fund for HIV, TB and Malaria. Southern and Eastern African countries: to put human rights and the need to reach marginalised groups and those most at risk at the heart of country-led efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS. Pharmaceutical industry: to help avert a treatment crisis by signing up to the UNITAID patent pool to make effective drugs affordable for developing countries.
High-level Meeting on HIV (East and Southern Africa) The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas): On 9 March I hosted a high-level meeting in the Houses of Parliament in London to review progress towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in East and Southern Africa, where there are high or rising HIV prevalence rates and AIDS remains a major health and economic burden. Around 50 HIV leaders attended, including representatives from Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ministers of Health and Gender, religious leaders, activists, people living with HIV, the heads of the Global Fund, PEPFAR, UNAIDS were present, as well as representatives of other donors and the pharmaceutical industry. We were delighted that a representative of the Canadian High Commission in London was able to attend and contribute. In 2005, through our presidencies of the G8 and the European Union, the UK-led the world in a commitment to the historic goal of universal access. The UK is the second largest donor to the AIDS response globally and we continue to show leadership and commitment. This high-level meeting aimed to keep universal access high on the international agenda during 2010 and beyond. At the meeting, participants spoke about the key factors that have led to progress at country level, the major challenges ahead and what needs to be done to accelerate progress towards the universal access goals. The meeting celebrated successes but highlighted the need to provide HIV treatment for the estimated 10 million people still waiting for it, and turn off the tap of new HIV infections through evidence and rights-based interventions. Transforming harmful gender norms and stopping violence against women is central to achieving universal access. The group recognised the need for health systems that effectively deliver both maternal, newborn and child health services and services for women, men and children who are vulnerable to and living with HIV. We need to integrate efforts to achieve MDGs 4, 5 and 6. To achieve this we need financing for scale-up, through the Global Fund and other mechanisms. But equally we need leadershippolitical and at all levels of society. The meeting resulted in a declaration of shared principles that calls for:
I will place a copy of the Shared Principles in the Library. I am grateful to the all-party parliamentary group on AIDS for their support to this event.
World Bank The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Douglas Alexander): Today my department has published the annual review of DFIDs works with the World Bank The UK and the World Bank 2009. This report reviews the UKs work with the World Bank from December 2008 to 2009. During that period we saw the effects of the financial crisis spread to the developing world. The report looks at how the World Bank was able to assist developing countries facing the impact of the financial crisis, as well as other major issues on which DFID has worked with the World Bank:
the banks response to the financial crisis; progress on World Bank reform; a review of the performance of the banks work in the poorest countries; an assessment of progress against the Governments high-level objectives for the bank; and priorities for engaging with the bank in 2010.
The report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and an electronically accessible version is available on the DFID website at: www.dfid.gov.uk
JUSTICE
Freedom of Information Act (Designation of Public Authorities) The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Michael Wills): On 16 July 2009, I announced to this House the Governments intention to consult directly academy schools, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) with a view to including them within the Freedom of Information Act (the Act) by bringing forward a section 5 order under that Act.
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Since this Government introduced the Act in 2005, it has given the public access to information held by over 100,000 public authorities. Section 5 of the Act gives the Secretary of State the power to make an order designating new bodies as public authorities for the purposes of the Act where those bodies appear to him to perform functions of a public nature. In accordance with our continuing commitment to openness and accountability in public life, I wish to announce to the House today the decision to extend the Act to all of the bodies consulted, insofar as they perform public functions. Having carefully considered all the evidence it is clear that all of the bodies listed above perform functions of a public nature. I have written to each of the bodies to explain the decision in detail, and to identify the functions to which the Act will apply. However the reasons in brief are as follows: ACPOs functions are concerned with providing leadership for the police force, improving policing, acting as a voice for the force, encouraging high standards of performance and development, providing the strategic police response in times of national need and other ancillary and related functions. Policing is clearly recognised as a function of a public nature. For these reasons it is appropriate to include ACPO in a section 5 order for all of its functions. The Financial Ombudsman Service resolves disputes between consumers and providers of financial services. It was established under a statutory scheme in order to provide consumers with a quick and informal alternative to the courts. We consider that the functions of FOS appear to be functions of a public nature and that it would be appropriate to include its in a section 5 order. UCAS provides its member university and colleges with admissions services. Without such services, those institutionswhich are bodies listed as public authorities in either the Freedom of Information Act or the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Actwould need to perform these functions for themselves, and the information would be captured by those Acts. As UCAS provides these services on behalf of its members, it is clear that UCAS does perform a function of a public nature. Finally, although independent of local authority control, academies are publicly funded schools and a part of the state education system. Provision of state education is clearly a public function and parents and local residents should be able to access the same kind of information about academy schools as for any other state-funded school. The Academy Trust, is the body responsible for the running of the academy school. In our view, the public functions of academies are those set out in the funding agreement signed between the Academy Trust and the Department for Children, Schools and Families: in short, the establishment, maintenance and carrying on of an academy. We propose to include Academy Trusts in a section 5 order for these purposes from the point at which they enter into funding agreements. The order will be laid and debated at the earliest possible opportunity in the next parliamentary session, with the intention that it will commence in October 2011.
The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Jack Straw): I am today pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Casey as Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses. The Victims Commissioners key objectives, as defined in Coroners and Justice Act 2009, are to:
promote the interests of victims and witnesses; encourage good practice in the treatment of victims and witnesses; and keep under review the operation of the code of practice for victims.
Additionally, the Victims Commissioner will chair the Victims Advisory Panel. The Victims Commissioner is an independent role appointed through an open recruitment exercise. Although this was not formally an Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) process, the appointment was made in accordance with OCPA principles. The Commissioner will make an annual report to the three Criminal Justice Ministers and will be accountable to parliament as chair of the VictimsAdvisory Panelvictims of crime who advise ministers on how we can do things better.
Her Majestys Land Registry (Key Performance Indicators and Targets)
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Michael Wills): The following list sets out the key performance indicators and targets that have been set for Her Majestys Land Registry for 2010-11. Customer Service Speed
Percentage of all registrations processed within 15 working days: 80 per cent.
Accuracy
Percentage of registrations processed free of any error: 98.5 per cent.
Quality
Percentage of manually processed registrations on which key aspects1 of internal quality measures were achieved: 97 per cent.
Overall Satisfaction
Percentage of customers who rate the overall service provided by Land Registry as excellent, very good or good: better than 95 per cent.
Financial
Percentage return on average capital employed: 3.5 per cent.
Efficiency
Cost per unit in cash terms2 (real terms3): 33.65 (21.70).
Other strategic targets

Percentage of transactions4 delivered through e-channels: 65 per cent. Through voluntary registration, add a further 250,000 hectares of land to the total areas of registered freehold land in England and Wales.
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Earn a contribution from add value products and services of 8 per cent. of its income net of direct costs and apportioned product development costs. Increase gross incremental revenue from all add value products and services by a further 2.6 million above 2009-10 actual.
1 The specified key areas are (a) the index map (b) the proprietorship entry and (c) easements. 2 Based on the GDP deflator issued by HM Treasury on 24 March 2010 (base year 1992/3).
The real term unit cost in the base year of 1992/3 was 30.65. Transactions are defined as any request for a statutory service provided by Land Registry. Although a transaction has a unit value, this measure reflects the actual number of transactions and not their unit value.
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Probation Trusts
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Maria Eagle): I wish to inform the House that from 1 April 2010, there will be established 29 further probation trusts operating in England and Wales. This brings to 35 the total number of probation trusts and means the dissolution of the last remaining local probation boards. The trusts programme has presented a challenge to the probation service to demonstrate that it can deliver locally tailored services efficiently and effectively. I am pleased that all of the remaining probation areas have successfully met this challenge and I am confident that they will all be successful in realising the benefits they have identified in moving to trust status. Funding of Political Parties (Inter-Party Talks) The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Jack Straw): At the request of Sir Hayden Phillips, and on his behalf, I am today placing in the Library of the House the agendas, papers and minutes for the five meetings which he chaired and which were attended by representatives of the three main parties in 2007 on the Funding of Political Parties. These items are also being placed on the Ministry of Justice website, at: www.justice.gov.uk. Sir Hayden has asked me to say that, as far as the minutes of the meetings are concerned, only those of the first meeting were agreed by the parties. The other four were drafts from the secretariat to the talks, authorised for circulation and comment to the parties by Sir Hayden. The agendas, papers and minutes are released in their entirety. There is one substantive exception to this: a paper produced following the fourth session of the talks which contained legal advice from Ministry of Justice officials on donation caps. The advice was given in confidence and Sir Hayden judges he should respect that. However Sir Hayden wishes to make it clear that the content of the advice relates to the lawfulness of a proposal to impose a cap on political donations, and the advice given was that a cap was capable of being compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, provided that it was prescribed by law and sought to achieve a legitimate aim in a proportionate way. The CVs of two advisers to the talks have also been removed as they do not relate to the substantive discussions.
The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Jack Straw): I am announcing today the Governments intention to establish an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the death of Azelle Rodney in April 2005. The inquiry will be established by the Ministry of Justice It is intended that this inquiry will be chaired by a retired judge and that, subject to his or her views, it will determine the matters which an Article 2 compliant inquest would have determined had it been able to take place. These are: how, when and where Mr. Rodney died, and the broad circumstances which led to his death. The inquest into the death has been adjourned by the north London coroner since August 2007. The coroner and, most importantly, the bereaved relatives of Mr. Rodney have been given advance notice of this decision. During debate on the Coroners and Justice Bill, I said that any inquiry established because an inquest cannot be held would be subject to a protocol between Ministers and the senior judiciary. This protocol is intended to cover the procedure from the point the inquest cannot continue until when the inquiry is established. I have been working with colleagues across Government on the terms of the protocol but it has raised some complex issues and is not yet ready for use. As the inquest into Mr. Rodneys death is already adjourned and cannot continue, I have decided that an inquiry should be established to avoid further delay for Mr. Rodneys family. A further announcement on the inquiry chair and its terms of reference will be made as soon as possible. Rights, Responsibilities and Values The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Michael Wills): The Government are publishing today two reports on important aspects of constitutional reform. The first is a summary of responses to the Green Paper, Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework. The second is an independent analysis of the programme of deliberation that was carried out between October 2009 and February 2010 on identity, values (including a statement of values), a Bill of rights and responsibilities and a written constitution. The reports bring to a conclusion key aspects of the first stage of public debate initiated by The Governance of Britain Green Paper in July 2007. They also meet the commitment in Building Britains Futureto complete a national consultation on a Bill of rights and responsibilities during 2009-10. The responses to the Green Paper, combined with the programme of deliberative research, reflect the views of around 2,500 people. They demonstrate an appetite for further debate about a Bill of rights and responsibilities, as well as a broader range of constitutional issues such as statement of values and for making progress on them. The programme placed public deliberation at the heart of decision making. The research was carried out independentlyensuring that the public were given the
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opportunity to debate issues in a balanced way, exposing them to views from across the political spectrum to inform their deliberations; and providing a space to enable views to influence policy. As the independent analysis says:
The study can be viewed as a constitutional experiment in deliberative democracywith the deliberative method helping to inform representative systems of government and promote democratic legitimacy. This approach was not intended to replace representative democracy but to complement itenabling participants to come to an informed view on policy; which in turn, and alongside other evidence, will inform the views of decision makers in Government.
Severe Winter Weather (Lessons Learned) The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr. Sadiq Khan): My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, has made the following ministerial statement:
I am announcing today an independent review of the transport sectors response to the severe weather experienced this winter 2009-10 and lessons for the future. The winter of 2009-10 has seen the most prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures for 30 years, creating extremely challenging conditions for the travelling public. For the most part, our transport networks coped well in the circumstances. However, there are lessons that can be learned in order to improve our resilience for future winters. This winter, the Salt Cell successfully achieved its objective of prioritising salt deliveries to highway authorities across the country to minimise disruption to transport networks. The Salt Cell held its final meeting on 16 March. Since it was first convened on 6 January, the Salt Cell met 20 times and advised salt suppliers on the distribution of approximately 530,000 tonnes of salt. Now that the severe weather has receded, we must focus our attention on learning the lessons presented by this winter. The aim of this exercise will be to identify practical measures to improve the response of transport systems to severe winter weather. The work will review and build upon the recommendations of the UK Roads Liaison Group Lessons from the Severe Weather February 2009 and present a series of practical measures that authorities must consider for implementation better to prepare themselves for winter 2010-11 and beyond. The review is part of a Government drive to ensure that local authorities are prepared for future severe weather. Last week the Government announced an additional 100 million for local authorities to help pay for repairs to potholes. This builds on the trebling of funding to local authorities over the last 10 years for road maintenance from 265 million in 2000-01 to 809 million in 2010-11. The review will be led by a small panel of independent experts comprising: David Quarmby CBE (chair), currently chair of the RAC Foundation and former chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority; Brian Smith, retiring as assistant chief executive of Cambridgeshire county council on 31 March; and Chris Green, a non-executive director of Network Rail, former chief executive of Virgin Trains and English Heritage. During the review, the panel will be seeking evidence and views from a range of stakeholders in order to develop the detailed scope and identify examples of best practice. A copy of the terms of reference for the review has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
As part of the process the Government made an explicit commitment to participants that any constitutional reform would only progress if there was sufficient public appetite. The independent report shows that such deliberative approaches were valued by what were demographicallyrepresentative groups of participants as a means of building public views into policy making. It shows there is a clear appetite to take further these aspects of the debate on constitutional reform: stating the values that bind us together as a nation, building on the existing protections for individual rights and clarifying our responsibilities. The Government believe that work taken forward in this area must reflect the approach adopted so far, putting the public at the heart of policy formation. In taking forward work on a new Bill of rights and responsibilities, the Government remain committed to the Human Rights Act and the protections and remedies provided by it. It is encouraging to see the responses to the Green Paper support the Governments view on this point. The Government are proud of the Human Rights Act and will not resile from it. Copies of Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional frameworkSummary of responses have been laid before Parliament. Copies of People and power: shaping democracy, rights and responsibilities have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
TRANSPORT
Highways Agency (Business Plan Target)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): The Highways Agencys business plan target for the programme of national schemes in the development phase, contained in the Highways Agency business plan 2009-10, has been revised so as to remove the following target at Annexe B: Major ProjectsDevelopment: For the programme of national schemes in the Development Phase, progress these projects by an average of at least 37 percentage points through this phase. This has been replaced with the following target: Major ProjectsDevelopment: For the programme of national schemes in the Development Phase, progress these projects by an average of at least 35.7 percentage points through this phase.
Local Transport Act 2008 (Quality Contracts Schemes) The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr. Sadiq Khan): The Local Transport Act 2008 includes provisions designed to make bus quality contracts schemesthe London-style model of bus contractsa more realistic option for local transport authorities throughout England and Wales. The Government announced on 10 December 2009 that these provisions will come into force, in England, on 11 January 2010. The Government are announcing today the appointment of six individuals to a QCS board panel from which members of QCS boards will be appointed. QCS boards are independent boards with a remit to provide an opinion on whether proposed quality contracts schemes
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in England meet the statutory public interest criteria, and on whether due process has been followed. It is also envisaged that QCS board panel members will be called upon to provide advice to traffic commissioners on quality partnership scheme (QPS) admissible objections. A QPS is made by a local transport authority, under which the authority provides facilities (for example, bus lanes) and any bus operator wishing to use those facilities must operate services to the standard specified in the scheme. Following amendments made by the Local Transport Act 2008 to the 2000 Act, a QPS can include requirements about frequencies, timings and maximum fares as part of the standard of service. But they can do so only if there are no admissible objections from relevant bus operators. In the first instance it is for the local authority to determine whether an operator has an admissible objection on either or both of the two grounds set out in regulations. But where there is a disagreement between operator and authority, the objecting operator may refer the matter to a traffic commissioner for an independent determination. A number of local authorities either have, or are planning, quality partnership schemes. The panel will comprise: Andrew Burchell Currently an Appeals Decision Maker for the Department for Transport in respect of concessionary travel appeals from bus operators, Andrew has gained a wide range of skills including as a Government economist, a senior civil servant and member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs management board. He sits on the community services board of his local primary care trust, as an independent lay member, and is Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees at his local citizens advice bureau. Tim Larner Founding Director of Strata Consultants, Tim has over 35 years experience of local transport planning, including providing advice to passenger transport executive CEOs as the former Director of the Support Unit at PTEG. He has worked to raise the profile of PTEs, highlighting their role in transport policy development. Peter Hardy A Project Director at JMP Consultants, Peter has 26 years experience in transport planning starting in a local authority environment and specialising in areas including passenger transport development, policy and strategy for both the public and private sectors. James Reeves Currently Technical Director for Gifford UK, James has worked extensively in the transport sector both in the UK and abroad. Including a period as a local authority officer, he has experience in transport economics and planning. Alan Wann Former roles at Northumberland county council include Head of Highways, Transport and Waste services; Head of Regeneration; and Principal Adviser to the Chief
Executive. Alan has recently become an independent consultant specialising in sustainable economic, social and cultural regeneration. David Humphrey Recently retired after 42 years in the public transport industry, David has held a number of senior roles in both the bus and tram sectors. A former President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. A further two candidates will be held in reserve.
Motoring and Freight Services (Ministerial Targets) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark): A range of high-level targets for the 2010-11 year has been set on behalf of the agencies within the Motoring and Freight Services Group: the Driving Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Government Car and Despatch Agency. They are included in the agencies business plans together with their associated measures. The plans also include a range of management targets, performance indicators and key tasks which are appropriate to the agencies businesses. Copies of the business plans will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses shortly. The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are:
Secretary of State Targets Maintain the integrity and quality of the driving test by supervision of 95 per cent. of examiners including delegated examiners and conducting a rolling programme of 120 quality assurance visits To strengthen and modernise the way that people learn to drive we will: Develop proposals to modernise the driver training profession based on a syllabus and competence framework by September 2010; and Develop the research element of stage 1 of the learning trial by March 2011 Introduce an assessment of competence while driving independently across all main practical tests by October 2010 Make appointments available within nine weeks at permanent car driving test centres90 per cent. Deliver the customer promises as set out in the agency business plan by March 2011 Achieve an additional 2 million of financial efficiency savings during 2010-11 Deliver agreed financial plan in 2010-11
The key targets for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are:
Secretary of State Targets Maintain the accuracy of the vehicle register so that a registered keeper can be traced from details held on record in 95 per cent. of cases Deliver the eight DFT customer promises Complete achievement of the 80.7 million three-year target of efficiency savings for 2008-2011 by saving 36.2 million in 2010-11 Deliver financial performance agreed with DFT to at least balance income against expenditure for the 2010-11 year-end accounts Collect over 5 billion of VED (net of refunds) and through enforcement action exceed 100 million in additional VED collected for the period 2008-11
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Introduce continuous insurance enforcement (CIE) and have started to issue insurance advisory letters by 31 March 2011
The key targets for the Vehicle Certification Agency are:

Secretary of State Targets Complete 90 per cent. of system and component type approval certificates within nine working days 99 per cent. of appraisal reports on our technical performance from independent panel members deemed to have no critical defects. (NB. suitable sample size to be determined) To ensure the continued consistency and quality of VCAs approvals by Carrying out a programme of conformity of production assessments for VCA-issued approvals using the risk-based methodology in line with the agreed programme, Dangerous Goods packagingcarrying out a programme of conformity of production inspections in accordance with the service level agreement agreed with the Department. Deliver the customer service promises as set out in this business plan Continue the development of the systems and tools designed to assist existing and new manufacturers to comply with the revised type approval requirements for new vehicle types due to be included in 2010-11, by 31 October 2010. Deliver the agreed testing, enforcement and in-service emission programmes by 31 March 2011 (NB. In-year milestones to be developed and agreed). Achieve repeatable financial efficiency savings during 2010-11 in line with CSR07 efficiency delivery plan. To achieve a 50,000 surplus on a full-cost basis
Executive Agencies and Crown Non-departmental Public Bodies
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette Cooper): I am today able to announce the annual performance targets in 2010-11 for the executive agencies of the Department for Work and Pensions and of our crown Non-departmental Public Bodiesthe Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. The targets I have agreed are set out below. Further information on the plans of the Department, its executive agencies and crown Non-departmental Public Bodies for 2010-11 is contained in their individual business plans which have been published today. Electronic copies have been deposited in the Library. Jobcentre Pluss 2010-11 targets are:
Target description Job Outcome Target Interventions Delivery Target2 Employer Engagement Target3 Customer Service Target4 Fraud and Error5
1
2010-11 Target Level 11.47 million 85% 91% 86% To play a key role to prevent and detect overpayments and underpayments of benefit consistent with the Departments aim to reduce total overpaid expenditure across all benefits to 1.8%, and underpaid expenditure to 0.7%, of total benefit expenditure by March 2011. By March 2011, to ensure that losses from fraud and error in working age Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance amounts to less than 4.2% of overall expenditure 11 days 9 days 14 days
The key targets for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are:
Secretary of State Targets Obtain agreement of and detailed plan for testing transformation: Obtain agreement to detailed plans for transferring testing to authorised testing facilities (ATFs) in 20 catchment areas; and Carry out sufficient marketing to deliver 40 new operational non-VOSA sites by 31/03/11 Deliver the eight customer service promises as set out in the VOSA Business Plan In partnership with DFT (IHAC and LRI), determine a methodology to developand subsequently agree with DFTan informed three-year target to 2013-14 to maintain or improve the trajectory of compliance with roadworthiness and traffic rules, using data gathered from past and future fleet compliance surveys Deliver agreed financial plan for 2010-11 Achieve 2.6 million financial efficiency savings during 2010-11 as part of the comprehensive spending review delivery plan
Average Actual Clearance Time Jobseekers Allowance Income Support Employment and Support Allowance
The key targets for the Government Car and Despatch Agency are:
Secretary of State Targets To maintain accreditation for ISO 9001. The quality of service is measured by means of ISO 9001, the internationally recognised standard for quality management systems To achieve scheduled mail collections and deliveries on a daily basis 99 per cent. Maintain the average tailpipe emissions of the Government car fleet130g/km Deliver the eight customer service promises as set out in the agency business plan Achieve financial efficiency savings of 0.5 million during 2010-11 as part of the CSR efficiency delivery plan Deliver financial performance in line with business plan
The Pension, Disability and Carers Service targets for 2010-11 are:
Target description Pension Credit: take-up of new claims Accuracy of decisions 2010-11 Target Level 180,000 successful new Pension Credit applications6 Attendance Allowance 94% Carers Allowance 98% Disability Living Allowance 94% Pension Credit new claims and changes of circumstance 94% State Pension new claims and changes of circumstance 98%
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Target description Average processing time for new claims
Reduce Fraud and Error in Pension Credit Telephony
Attendance Allowance within 16 days Carers Allowance within 13 days Disability Living Allowance within 37.7 days Pension Credit (from the date evidence received) within 15 days State Pension to clear 95% of new claims within 60 days 3.9% by March 2011 At least 93% of calls to be answered first time with less than 1% receiving the engaged tone
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commissions 2010-11 targets are;

Target description Number of children benefiting from an arrangement made through the statutory schemes or a private arrangement after contact with the Child Maintenance Options service Amount collected or arranged through the statutory maintenance scheme Maintenance outcomes: the proportion of people with a statutory maintenance liability paying child maintenance 2010-11 target level 950,000 children benefiting
1.135bn
76%
The Health and Safety Executives outcome targets consist of the 2008-11 Departmental Strategic Objective3 indicators that reflect direction of travel and the 2000-10 Revitalising Health and Safety numerical targets. The latter are:
Target description 2010-11 Target level7
Reduce the incidence rates of reduce by 22% cases of work-related ill health from a June 2000 baseline Reduce the incidence rate of reduce by 11% fatalities and major injury accidents from a June 2000 baseline 1 Shared with the Employment Group who have responsibility for delivery of Employment Programmes. 2 An average of two elements: conducting 83% of Income Support lone parent work-focused reviews within 3 months of when they are due and 87% of JSA interviews within 6 weeks of when they are due. 3 Employers placing their vacancies with Jobcentre Plus to have a positive outcome. 4 Assessed against the Departments Customer Charter service standards of Right Treatment, Right Result, On Time and Easy Access. 5 Jobcentre Plus and the Department are jointly responsible for this target. Jobcentre Plus monitors an internal operational target designed to mitigate the risk of fraud and error entering the system. 6 The Agency will monitor data through the first part of the year and adjust the target level if necessary on the basis of actual volumes processed. 7 Extrapolated from the respective 20% and 10% target reductions for the original 2000-10 Revitalising Health and Safety (RHS) period.
The UK is rightly regarded as having one of the best health and safety records in the world. Since 1997-98 the rate of fatal injuries to workers has fallen by 40 per cent., including in the construction sector, reflecting the significant focus on improving safety by the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities, businesses and trades unions. While this is very welcome, every death is one too many and a tragedy to those involved and their families. The Government believe that more must be done. The number of deaths in the construction industry has been a particular cause of concern, with the rate of fatal accidents four times that of other industries. While there have been important improvements, 53 construction workers were still killed in 2008-09, for example. We therefore asked Rita Donaghy to carry out a review into the causes of construction fatalities On the 8 July 2009 I announced the publication of Rita Donaghys report. The report contained 28 far-reaching recommendations for improving safety in the construction industry, extending across safety representatives, building control, the legal system, training and competence, and public procurement. I would again like to thank Rita Donaghy and her team for their excellent work in undertaking the inquiry. We are publishing now our response which builds on the issues and analysis within Rita Donaghys report to provide a framework for delivery of improvements in these areas. Our response reflects widespread consultation across Government and with stakeholders. The Government fully accept 23 of the 28 recommendations including support of common minimum standards throughout publicly funded construction projects; mutual recognition between pre-qualification schemes; and support for greater worker participation. Two further recommendations related to the extension of gangmaster licensing regulations and the introduction of positive duties on directors raise important issues and warrant further consideration. Additional work is required to explore fully the relative options and understand the potential impact of introducing such measures. The reasons for these decisions are detailed within the response. I hope that the action set out in the response improves further the safety record in the construction sector and provides some comfort to the families of those who have been killed by construction-related accidents. This response is not an end in itself though, and we must continue to work togetherGovernment, business, unions and workersif we are to ensure that jobs in construction are as safe as any other. The Governments response (Cm 7828) has been laid before Parliament and will be published later today. Copies of the response will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office. It is also available on the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/ policy-publications/fatal-accidents-inquiry.shtml.
Fatal Construction Accidents The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette Cooper): I am pleased to announce the publication of the Governments response to Rita Donaghys report into the underlying causes of fatal construction accidents.
Social Fund Allocations
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Helen Goodman): I am pleased to announce that the gross discretionary social fund budget for 2010-11 will be 802 million.
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With the net funding available, I have been able to allocate a gross national SF loans budget of 660 million and a national community care grants budget of 141 million from 1 April 2010. The net funding available includes 141.5 million additional loans funding for 2010-11 only. I will allocate a gross national SF loans budget in line with the provisions in the Welfare Reform Act 2007. The aim is to control and manage the national allocation while providing consistency of outcomes for budgeting loan applicants wherever they live. All loans budget expenditure will be made from the gross national loans budget of 660 million. Concerns have been raised by stakeholders about the current methodology of allocating community care grants and these will be considered as part of the reform process that was announced on 15 March 2010 in the Social Fund Reform: debt, credit and low-income households consultation paper Cm 7750. To provide help to Jobcentre Plus budgets facing unexpected and unplanned expenditure I will retain centrally 1 million as a contingency reserve.
Details of individual community care grant allocations will be placed in the Library. Background note about the discretionary Social Fund Budget The discretionary social fund budget is cash limited. Funding for community care grants is allocated to each budget area for management by Jobcentre Plus social fund benefit delivery centres on 1 April each year. The gross discretionary social fund budget allocated for 2010-11 is 802 million. This is made up of:
New money (net AME)319.7 million Forecast loan recovery482.3 million
This is to be allocated as follows:

Loans660 million Grants141 million Contingency reservel million
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Petitions
Tuesday 30 March 2010 PRESENTED PETITION Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor Equitable Life (Birmingham, Northfield) Declares that the Petitioners either are or they represent or support members, former members or personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society who have suffered maladministration leading to injustice, as found by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in her report upon Equitable Life, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2008 and bearing reference number HC 815; and further declares that the Petitioners or those whom they represent or support have suffered regulatory failure on the part of the public bodies responsible from the year 1992 onwards, but have not received compensation for the resulting losses and outrage. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000816]
this Department and that schools and the local authority had capacity to deliver the one-year pilot from September 2010. If the local authority fulfilled these criteria they were invited to express their interest by 17 February. Expressions of interest were evaluated and, following Ministerial agreement, a number of them were asked to develop full bids by 12 March. I am sorry to report that we did not receive an expression of interest from the hon. Members local authority. While I appreciate the hon. Members support for free school meals, as the application process has now closed, it would not be appropriate for my Department to fund pilots in local authorities which have not expressed an interest.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Planning (Elvaston Castle Country Park) The Petition of Friends of Elvaston, residents of Derbyshire and others, Declares that the Petitioners object to the proposed planning application to lease Elvaston Castle Country Park to private developers; Declares that the change of use to a privately run facility will deprive some sections of the community of the opportunity to use the Castle, which previously hosted activities for all the community; that building a hotel complex and golf course on the land will reduce public open space and lessen the designated green belt; that the beautiful Major Oak Tree in the Paddock, which is around 260 years old, will be felled to make way for the complex; that the golf course may deposit pollutants into the River Derwent and surrounding water courses, and may create risks to the Country Park, Elvaston, Thulston, Ambaston and surrounding areas; Further declares that changes to the footprint of the 17th century coach road will affect members of the public who use the footpath and that traffic on the planned new road would be in conflict with other Park users and would create air and noise pollution, as well as requiring thinning and felling of trees, some of which are protected species; Further declares that to access the proposed golf club house, a new road would be needed on or parallel to Bedford Drive, a designated Public Right of Way, and that if the new road is parallel to Bedford Drive then this would require felling of trees, loss of habitat and the creation of air and noise pollution, as well as loss of land for drainage, signage and lighting; that the new road development would fall within the Country Park, green belt and English Heritage Grade 2 Listed Gardens; that increased traffic could cause dangerous road hazards, and that other new roads are also planned that could damage the Country Park; Further declares that the proposed development could seriously harm the biodiversity of the designated Local Nature Reserve and the Nature Conservation Area within the Park; that the planned golf courses could destroy the Regionally Important Geomorphological and Geological Site containing remains of flora and
OBSERVATIONS CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Free School Meals (Stoke-on-Trent) The Petition of Rachael Wilson and others, Declares that there is a desire among the people of the city of Stoke-on-Trent for Free School Meal provision in the areas schools; further declares that several hundred postcards in support of Free School Meal provision, signed by parents, grandparents and carers of children studying in Stoke-on-Trent Primary Schools, have been sent to the Member for Stoke-on-Trent. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to take steps to ensure that Free School Meals can be provided in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Robert Flello, Official Report, 16 March 2010; [P000769] Vol. 507, c. 846 .] Observations from the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: In his pre-Budget report 2009 the Chancellor announced that there would be an extension to the current universal Free School Meals (FSM) pilots for primary school children, so that there will be a pilot in each Government office region. Letters were sent to local authorities on 4 February, outlining the key criteria that had to be met if an area wanted to run a pilot. These were that the area could match the additional funding provided by
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fauna from the Ipswichian period of the Earths Development; that archaeological remains dating from every period of history back to the Middle Stone Age could be damaged or destroyed by the planned golf courses; and that the planned actions will contravene many Local and Regional Plans and Planning Policies. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to take steps to prevent the approval of the planning application to lease Elvaston Castle Country Park to private developers, in order to preserve the natural environment of the park and its rights of way for public use; and to protect the biodiversity and the important geological and archaeological assets within the Park. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Bob Laxton, Official Report, 23 February 2010; Vol. 506, c. 270 .]
[P000739]
Public funding is available. The Department of Health and Medical Research Council will invest some 1.7 billion in heath-related research in 2010-11. The Government are very keen to see an increase in the number of dementia research proposals getting a share of this funding. To that end, two initiatives have been taken by the Department of Health. A Ministerial Summit on Dementia Research was held on 21 July 2009 to examine the key issues for dementia research, identifying gaps in knowledge and new opportunities for the future. A full report of the Summit proceedings was published in the autumn of 2009 and is available on line at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107955
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been informed by Derbyshire County Council, who are the landowners of the castle and park, that a planning application has not been submitted for this site. South Derbyshire District Council has confirmed that it has not received any planning applications relevant to the site. Therefore it is not appropriate for the Secretary of State to comment on the matter, however the UnderSecretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Malik) has written to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Laxton) in response to correspondence on a similar issue.
To maintain the momentum begun by the Summit, a Ministerial Advisory Group has been set up drive forward research into the causes, cure and care of dementia and help dementia researchers to increase their success in accessing existing funding. It held its first meeting on 24 February 2010. The Group is made up of the main organisations with a stake in dementia research. Its focus is on the key issues raised at last years Summit, including how to increase public support for dementia research and improve its translation into better treatment and care. The Group has identified five broad workstreams. These will be taken forward by designated sub-groups led by one or more members of the Group, drawing in additional advice and expertise as necessary. The worksteam topics are:
agreeing priority topics for dementia research, in each of the three main areas of cause, cure and care; finding ways of raising public awareness of, and support for, dementia research and increasing public engagement in dementia research; increasing the success of dementia research in securing available funding and support and identifying ways to improve the capacity and capability of the dementia research workforce; developing better ways of working between researchers and between public and private sectors; and identifying further ways to bust bureaucracy where there are issues specific to dementia research; improving the translation of research into better treatment and care.
HEALTH Dementia Research The Petition of members of UNISON and others, Declares that 1 million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years; that one in three people over the age of 65 will die from dementia but that it can happen at any age; and that while drugs may alleviate some symptoms, there is currently no cure; Further declares that the Government must fund research to develop better treatments and a cure, and to prevent an NHS crisis; and that for every 283 invested in cancer research, dementia research gets only 1. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government immediately to increase funding for dementia research to help the lives of those affected today, and to reduce the threat in future to the NHS. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Kelvin Hopkins, Official Report, Tuesday 16 March 2010; Vol. 507, [P000750] c. 845 .] Observations from the Secretary of State for Health: Dementia is one of the most important issues we face as the population ages and research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately finding a cure.
Each workstream sub-group will examine its specific area in detail, identifying the major issues and suggesting practical ways to address them. Spinal Cord Injuries (Physiotherapy) The Petition of People of the London Borough of Croydon, Declares that there is no provision within the NHS outpatient physiotherapy services of an ongoing exercise regime to improve overall health, fitness and wellbeing for persons with a spinal cord injury; further declares that the petitioners believe that, without such a regime, such persons will undoubtedly in the future require continuing NHS health care services as inpatients. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to ensure that such an ongoing exercise regime is made available by the NHS outpatient physiotherapy services to all persons who have a spinal cord injury.
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And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 February 2010; Vol. 506, c. 417 .]
[P000740]
And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Christopher Chope, Official Report, 1 March 2010; Vol. 506, c. 772 .]
[P000743]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health: Secretary of State recognises that spinal cord injury is a devastating condition, requiring extensive rehabilitation from a range of health care professionals. All patients, including those with a spinal cord injury, who have been critically ill and spent a time in critical care should be assessed for on-going rehabilitation needs in accordance with NICE Clinical Guideline 83. This should include physiotherapy and psychological needs as necessary. NHS physiotherapy services are provided on the basis of assessed clinical need. It is for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice based commissioners, local government and the public, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of physiotherapy. The Department of Health encourages local NHS organisations to adopt the quality standards outlined in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-Term (Neurological) Conditions. The NSF recognises the importance of rehabilitation services, such as those provided by physiotherapists, for addressing the complex needs of people with spinal cord injury and that adequately staffed and resourced services are required to achieve this. HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Bellamys Bar Closure The Petition of staff working in Parliament, Declares that the Petitioners are concerned at the announcement by the House of Commons Commission that it intends to close Bellamys Bar, the Astor Suite and Bellamys club room on the first floor of 1 Parliament Street in order to provide a day nursery; that the Petitioners believe that the estimated cost of conversion of 400,000 is unacceptable in the present economic climate, particularly having regard to the expenditure of 480,000 on refurbishing the facilities less than two years ago; Further declares that the Petitioners deplore the fact that there has been no consultation with the users of the facilities or with those who work there, and find it unacceptable that there are no plans to replace the facilities elsewhere on the Parliamentary estate; and that the Petitioners believe that ground floor premises at Derby Gate which will become available during the next Parliament will be better suited for conversion into a day nursery. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the House of Commons Commission to reconsider its decision, and to bring forward fresh proposals early in the next Parliament which take account of the demand for day nursery facilities among incoming Members of Parliament, their families, and staff, with a view to meeting that demand at an affordable price within the space to be vacated on the ground floor at Derby Gate.
Observations from the House of Commons Commission: The Commission recognises that Bellamys Bar, the Astor Suite and Bellamys club room are much valued and will be missed by many staff working in Parliament, as well as some Members. However, the decision to use those premises for the nursery was taken only after detailed consideration of a number of options. Eight potential sites were initially identified, and they were visited and evaluated in relation to criteria including access and egress, security, size and structure and services to the site. A final shortlist of three sites was considered (at 1 Parliament Street, North Curtain Corridor and 2 Abbey Gardens). After further consideration, the 1 Parliament Street site was selected, partly on the grounds that the cost of conversion was the lowest of the three options. The Commission remains of the view that the most suitable site has been selected, though it regrets the loss of the existing facilities there. The Commissions aim has been to have the nursery operating early in the next Parliament, before incoming Members have made other childcare arrangements. It was not therefore possible to delay the decision.
TRANSPORT Night Buses (New Addington, Croydon) The Petition of people of New Addington, Declares that they would wish to see the current all night bus service maintained to serve all parts of New Addington. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Transport for London following the withdrawal of the N159 bus service to extend the 64 bus route during night running to serve all parts of New Addington. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 606 .]
[P000788]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: The Mayor of London has overall responsibility for transport in the capital, including all London Bus services. The Department already provides substantial funding to TfL, which has risen dramatically since 2000, more than doubling to 3.3 billion in 2010-11. This funding is not ring-fenced to specific projects. It is for the Mayor to make best use of the funding available to him to deliver transport services (existing or new) where this offers value for money or addresses an identifiable transport demand. Traffic Accidents (Addiscombe, Croydon) The Petition of the people of Addiscombe, Declares that they are concerned about road traffic accidents in the Lower Addiscombe Road on and near the zebra crossing at the old Addiscombe railway site.
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The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage the authorities to introduce a pedestrian activated traffic light controlled crossing to replace the zebra crossing on the Lower Addiscombe Road at the old Addiscombe railway site. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 349 .]
[P000784]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: All roads in London, except the motorways, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) or the London Boroughs. The relevant highway and traffic authorities are responsible for deciding how to manage traffic and road safety in accordance with their local objectives and the Mayor of Londons Transport Strategy. Although the Department for Transport is responsible for regulations, guidance and advice which apply to pedestrian crossings, it is for local authorities to decide the most appropriate type of crossing to suit local conditions. The Department is keen to see local authorities taking positive action to improve road safety, in the light of local collision data, conditions and priorities. Traffic Accidents (Coombe Lane, Croydon) The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that they are concerned about serious road traffic accidents on Coombe Lane, Croydon. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage the authorities to introduce improved road safety measures on Coombe Lane, Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 349 .]
[P000785]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: The Road Traffic Act 1988 placed a duty on local highway authorities to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. All roads in London, except the motorways, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) or the London Boroughs. The relevant highway authority is responsible for studying the occurrence of collisions and taking preventative measures in accordance with their local objectives and the Mayor of Londons Transport Strategy. The Department is keen to see local authorities taking positive action to improve road safety, in light of local collision data, conditions and priorities. Tram Overcrowding (Croydon) The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that they face such overcrowding at peak times on Tramlink that it can be impossible to board the tram. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure funding for the provision of extra trams for Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 605 .]
[P000793]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: The Mayor of London has overall responsibility for transport in the capital (with the exception of Network Rail) with Transport for London (TfL) and its subsidiary London Tramlink having operational responsibility for the Croydon Tramlink. The Department already provides substantial funding to TfL, which has risen dramatically since 2000, more than doubling to 3.3 billion in 2010-11. This funding is not ring fenced to specific projects. It is for the Mayor to make best use of the funding available to him to deliver transport services as well as new investment where this offers value for money or addresses an identifiable transport demand.
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Written Answers NORTHERN IRELAND Departmental Buildings
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments [324681] undertaken in each of the last five years. Paul Goggins: The amount spent by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) on interior design in relation to office refurbishments is not separately costed or invoiced so the NIO (including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs) could answer this question only at disproportionate cost.
WOMEN AND EQUALITY Departmental Food Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by the Government Equalities Office are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom [323077] Food scheme. Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office does not procure any meat or dairy products. Equality Bill Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 9 March 2010, Official Report, column 298W, on the Equality Bill, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Departments correspondence with the fire and rescue service and [323625] other appropriate stakeholders. Michael Jabez Foster: Further to my answer of 9 March 2010, there is no formal correspondence on this issue involving my Department to place in the Library. My officials have discussed extending the socio-economic duty to all fire and rescue authorities with representatives of the Chief Fire Officers Association, Local Government Association, Fire Brigades Union, UNISON, and other interested parties. Officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government will be inviting chief fire officers and the chairs of fire and rescue authorities to comment more formally on the proposal in due course. Hotels Anne Main: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office spent on hotel accommodation for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in each of the last [305651] five years. Michael Jabez Foster: Since its creation on 12 October 2007 the following amounts have been spent on hotel accommodation.
2007-08 2008-09 2009-101 1370 5474
PRIME MINISTER Lord Chancellor: Pensions Mr. Grieve: To ask the Prime Minister what pension former Lord Chancellors receive (a) under the Lord Chancellors Pension Act 1832, (b) the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and (c) other legislation as a consequence of holding the office of Lord Chancellor; and if he will make a statement.
[323696]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 1070W, and to the answer given by my predecessor (right hon. Tony Blair) to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 19 November 2002, Official Report, column 93W. Mr. Grieve: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to repeal the Lord Chancellors Pension Act 1832.
[323697]
The Prime Minister: The Government remain committed to legislating in this area. The current Lord Chancellor has made arrangements to ensure that his pension is no greater than the pension provision for a Secretary of State. Unite Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with representatives of Unite in [324543] the last 12 months. The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT BBC Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what files his Department holds on (a) the BBC and (b) the BBC Trust; and if he will [325171] make a statement.
Ministers and special 900 910 advisers2 Civil servants 4817 7334 1 Figures current to 31 January 2010. 2 Figures cannot be broken down between the two groups.
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Written Answers Hotels
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Mr. Bradshaw: My Department holds a large number of files relating to its responsibilities in respect of the BBC. To specify them individually would incur disproportionate cost. Cricket: Broadcasting Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he had with county cricket clubs and their boards on the proposals in the David Davies Review of free-to-air listed events; and if he will make a statement; [325074] (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the playing of cricket at grass roots level of implementation of the proposal to list home Ashes Test [325075] matches; and if he will make a statement; (3) what assessment he has made of the effect on the finances of cricket of implementation of the proposal to list home Ashes Test matches; and if he will make a [325076] statement. Mr. Bradshaw: The Governments statutory consultation on free-to-air listed events closed on 19 March. The evidence received in response to the consultation will form the basis of an economic impact assessment. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, [324811] expressed in current prices. Mr. Sutcliffe: The cost of employing press officers in 2008-09 was 706,643. This includes press officers working on the Olympics. Information for 1996-97 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose of each such event was.
[324667]
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many transactions his Department has made through the Expotel facility to date. [324341] Mr. Bradshaw: The number of transactions made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport during the calendar years 2007 to 2009 through Expotel is shown in the table:
Transactions by DCMS Calendar year 2009 2008 2007 Number 104 167 148
Newspaper Licensing Agency Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency has paid to the Newspaper Licensing Agency in each of the last 10 [323965] years. Mr. Bradshaw: The amount paid by the Department and its agency, The Royal Parks, directly to the Newspaper Licensing Agency over the past 10 years is shown in the table:
Cost excluding VAT Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 7,328.52 39,727.43 42,152.86 49,765.18 24,330.18 17,634.89 18,401.94 6,734.40 7,661.60 5,125.30
The Royal Parks 2,014.02 1,429.68 367.94 462.40 401.93 372.80 361.15 350.83 605.92 529.10
Royal Parks Agency Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to Baroness Warsi of 17 March 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 188WA, on Government departments: consultancy services, if he will place in the Library a copy of the stakeholder audit and perception research produced for the Royal Parks [324622] Agency. Mr. Sutcliffe: I am arranging for copies of the stakeholder audit and perception research to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Sports: Training Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations Sportscoach UK has received from independent sports teachers and coaches in its review of the UK coaching certificate.
[324963]
Mr. Bradshaw: The relevant five events were the Secretary of States Christmas reception, December 2007 (11,366); The Royal Parks annual stakeholder event, January 2008 (3,617.05); The Royal Parks annual stakeholder event, December 2008 (3,045.98); the Secretary of States Christmas reception, December 2008 (4,477); and the Secretary of States new year reception, January 2010 (2,997). All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance, based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money.
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Written Answers
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Mr. Sutcliffe: Sportscoach UK has received a number of inquiries following the announcement of the UK Coaching Certificate Review. The large majority of inquiries have come directly from the governing bodies of sport, with one direct inquiry from an athletics coach. Swimming: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has provided to Birmingham to meet the costs of free swimming for (a) senior citizens and (b) young people since the inception of its free swimming [325238] programmes. Mr. Sutcliffe: The Free Swimming Programme (FSP) is a 140 million package comprising contributions from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of Health, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government. Birmingham is one of 261 local councils offering free swimming and has received 248,027 for the over 60s and 574,019 for the under 16s. All authorities participating in the FSP for both the over 60s and the under 16s also received an additional share of remaining FSP funds, of which Birmingham was allocated 57,338. Swimming: Training Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has allocated to the Amateur Swimming Association for the provision of free swimming teacher training courses in each local authority in the last two years.
[324944]
budget and pricing strategy approved by the Finance and Services Committee following advice from the Administration Committee. This represents the difference between income and the cost of the services provided. It is not possible to disaggregate the subsidy for (a) food and (b) alcohol. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used in the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate. [324984] Nick Harvey: There are currently no voltage optimisers or equivalent technologies in use in the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate. However the feasibility of installing this equipment is currently being assessed. Nurseries Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the proposed day nursery at 1 Parliament street will be open to children other than those of hon. Members, Peers and staff employed in [324761] Parliament. Nick Harvey: The Commission decided that the nursery will be open to children aged 0 to five of Members, Members staff and House of Commons staff. The possibility of opening the nursery to other groups will be considered after the general election when the level of initial interest is clearer.
WALES Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken [324685] in each of the last five years. Mr. Hain: Nil. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his [324967] Department. Mr. David: The Wales Office currently does not have voltage optimisers or equivalent technologies installed on its office premises. They will however be considered as part of my Departments sustainable development work in order to reduce electricity consumption. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if [325206] he will make a statement.
Mr. Sutcliffe: As part of the Free Swimming Programme (FSP) the Government have allocated 5.8m per annum to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) for the provision of 100,000 free swimming lessons and for the recruitment of a national network of County Swimming Coordinators. The ASA does not provide specific free swimming teacher training courses. However, the ASA has invested 100,840 across 93 local authorities participating in free swimming lessons, which has provided swimming teachers with the opportunity to upgrade to level 2 qualifications.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Catering: Subsidies Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was paid in subsidy towards (a) food and (b) alcoholic drink in outlets in the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate in the last year for which information is available. [324547] Nick Harvey: In 2008-09 the overall net cost incurred by the Catering and Retail Service in the Department of Facilities was some 6.1 million, in accordance with the
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Mr. Hain: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies) on 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 643W. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325186]
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were. [324709] Ann McKechin: The only Scotland Office spend on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years was for two pull-up backdrops for public events with the Secretary of States crest, at a total cost of 640.
Mr. Hain: None. LEADER OF THE HOUSE Petitions Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House (1) if she will bring forward proposals to require a Minister of the Crown to present to the House any bill supported in a petition signed by one million or more [324544] people eligible to vote; (2) if she will bring forward proposals to require a debate to be held in the House on the subject matter of a petition signed by 100,000 or more people eligible to [324545] vote. Ms Harman: On 22 February, the House approved recommendations from the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons (HC 1117, Session 2008-09) for greater public involvement in the legislative process (Recommendation 42) and for the establishment of a system of petitions requiring debate (Recommendation 43). Further work on the implementation of these recommendations will be required in the next Parliament. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer given by the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), representing the House of Commons Commission, on 8 February 2010, Official Report, columns 651-52W, which describes some of the work already being undertaken by the House authorities in these areas. SCOTLAND Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments [324682] undertaken in each of the last five years. Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not separately identify the costs of interior design in relation to office refurbishments from the routine repair and replacement of existing facilities. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.
[324800]
SOLICITOR-GENERAL Fraud: Prosecutions Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the Serious Fraud Office guidelines on corporate prosecutions (a) were published and (b) [324570] became effective. The Solicitor-General: The document Guidance on Corporate Prosecutions was published on 6 January 2010 and came into effect on the same date.
DEFENCE Armed Forces: Health Services Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding has been allocated to UK rehabilitation centres for wounded servicemen and women in each of the last five years; and how much such funding is planned for the next three years.
[321092]
Ann McKechin: The cost of employing press and media officers in 2008-09 was 121,033. The Scotland Office was not established until 1 July 1999.
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Defence Medical Services manage an extensive armed forces rehabilitation network which meets a wide range of requirements for rehabilitation treatment, including treatment for operational casualties. The network includes primary care rehabilitation facilities and 13 regional rehabilitation units (RRUs) in the UK, as well as the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey, where seriously wounded servicemen and women are normally treated following the completion of their secondary care. Funding for the treatment of wounded personnel has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements, including surges in casualty numbers. Our future budgetary plans assume a continuing need for additional investment in facilities and staff at Headley Court. Comprehensive financial data for the past five years are not readily available. Headley Court has received steadily increased investment in facilities and staff over recent years. The units operating costs, including estate management, are about 20.4 million in the current financial year, as compared with some 10.7 million (actual costs) in 2005-06. Significant new facilities brought into service over recent years, at an additional total cost of about 7.5 million, include a 30-bed ward annexe (May 2007), a 58-bed staff and patient accommodation block (January 2009) and the new Centre for Mental and Cognitive Health (opened last spring). For many years the Headley Court estate,
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And the following were Urgent or Routine 1,216 1,188 1,318 1,300 1,402 Not yet available 13,806
which is owned by a charitable trust, has also benefited from additional funding of projects by that trust and other charities. In addition to funding the projects just listed, we announced in May 2008 an extra 24 million in capital funding over the next four years for a Headley Court development programme. Over the first two years (i.e. up to April 2010) this funding is being mainly applied to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contribution to the Help for Heroes rehabilitation complex, which will come into service in a few weeks, and a utilities upgrade for the whole site. Assessment work has also started on a project to re-develop the clinical areas, which would replace and expand the units current ward bed capacity (66 beds) and deliver other benefits, with an expected completion date in late 2011. As a prudent contingency measure, we are also providing additional ward accommodation of up to 30 ward beds later this year. On 11 February the MOD launched the new Army Recovery Capability in partnership with Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion as well as other service charities. The ARC marks a further step forward in the support to our armed forces and will ensure the best possible care and management is provided to our wounded, sick and injured personnel. The MOD is investing around 30 million over the next four years to fund the Army Recovery Capability. This will include the provision of military and civil service personnel to co-ordinate, manage and deliver the Army Recovery Capability, including the personnel recovery centres. Armed Forces: Housing Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 203W, on armed forces: housing, how many requests for repair call outs were [314204] made in respect of family housing. Mr. Kevan Jones: I will write to the hon. Member. Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Willie Rennie:
In my answer of 29 January 2010 (Official Report, column 1117W) I undertook to write to you with details of how many of the 42,645 repair calls-out received in 2009 by Turner Estates Solutions (TES)the Regional Prime Contractor for Scotland related to Service Family Accommodation (SFA). As previously explained, TES is responsible for maintaining the majority of the defence estate in Scotland, including SFA, Single Living Accommodation, technical buildings and infrastructure. While the total number of calls received by the TES helpdesk is recorded, the subject of each call is not unless it results in a repair and maintenance work order being raised by the helpdesk. Most calls do result in a work order, as was the case in 42,474 of the 42,645 calls received in 2009. The following work orders for SFA were raised by the TES helpdesk in 2009:
Of which the following were Emergency 230 200 187 137 123 98 And the following were Urgent or Routine 1,478 1,188 1,259 1,124 1,160 1,173
Month in 2009 July August September October November December Total
Total Work Orders 1,319 1,285 1,426 1,453 1,584 Not yet available 15,424
Of which the following were Emergency 103 97 108 153 182 Not yet available 1,618
Emergency orders are raised when repairs are required immediately, such as when there is a heating failure, burst water pipe or a leaking roof. These are typically dealt with in a matter of hours. Typically, Urgent orders are raised when there is a partial loss of essential facilities, such as hot water, and Routine orders for such matters as replacing washers or fixing dripping taps. Urgent orders are normally dealt with in four days against a contractual target of seven. Routine orders are normally dealt with in 11 days, against the target of 20.
Armed Forces: Lost Property Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what armed forces equipment was reported as (a) missing and (b) stolen from operational theatre in [321730] the last 12 months. Bill Rammell: A comprehensive list of each item of armed forces equipment reported as missing or stolen from operational theatres is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Armed Forces: Merseyside Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 9-10W, on armed forces: Merseyside, how many of the (a) 131,000 young people and (b) 25,000 adult volunteers are based in [325009] Merseyside. Mr. Kevan Jones: The following table shows the number of cadets and adult volunteers that are members of the Ministry of Defence sponsored Cadet Forces in the boroughs of Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral in March 2010.
Adult volunteers Army Cadet Force Sea Cadet Corps Air Training Corps Total 168 268 270 706 Cadets 1,354 808 1,049 3,211
These figures include members of the Combined Cadet Forces. Armed Forces: Rescue Services Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on (a) how many occasions and (b) for how long on each occasion search and rescue helicopters at RAF Lossiemouth have been unavailable in the last 12 months; and on what proportion of such occasions this was because of (i) aircrew shortages and (ii) [321333] technical problems.
Month in 2009 January February March April May June
Total Work Orders 1,708 1,388 1,446 1,261 1,283 1,271
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Bill Rammell: Between 1 March 2009 and 28 February 2010 RAF Lossiemouth was unable to provide search and rescue (SAR) capability on 26 occasions due to crew shortages. All of these consisted of 12 hour night-time closures. In the same period Lossiemouth SAR helicopters were unavailable on 147 occasions due to technical problems; these periods vary in length from a few minutes to several days. Details of each occasion and the length of time Lossiemouth was listed as being off-state are shown in the following table. The extended closure of Lossiemouth between 26 January and 1 February this year was because both helicopters required major repair work. If a helicopter becomes unavailable for any reason, then the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss liaises with other SAR providers to reduce the impact on available cover. This is primarily achieved by ensuring that when one SAR station is expected to be off-state a neighbouring site is fully operational.
Date March 2009 4-5 9 20 20 21 21-22 April 2009 7 8-9 25-26 28 28 May 2009 6 8-9 10 12-13 14 15 15 18 19 19 19 20 21 23-24 24 25 26-27 29-30 31 June 2009 1 3-4 8 11 11 3.13 24.44 3.11 0.27 2.10 1.19 15.00 9.32 36.44 2.08 3.48 0.24 14.58 6.43 0.12 0.51 2.04 0.48 1.16 3.03 0.47 24.07 17.06 0.45 0.36 09.10 13.32 1.37 0.51 6.56 9 20 20 21 5.16 Downtime (Hours and minutes)
Date 12-13 14-15 16 17 18-19 19 19-20 22 29 29
Downtime (Hours and minutes) 7.51 2.37 3.53 3.57 7.41 5.29 27.52 0.54 0.07 1.19
July 2009 10 18-19 20 20-21 26 29 31 0.02 10.14 5.52 14.45 1.07 2.19 1.03
August 2009 6 8 12 12 12 13 15-16 19 21 21 24 1.03 3.14 2.52 1.37 2.48 4.18 6.47 3.27 0.08 2.01 3.43
September 2009 1 7 10-11 13 23-24 28 28 2.32 2.26 7.38 1.51 6.09 0.45 1.25
October 2009 4 8 21 22-23 25 26 27-30 31 3.22 3.00 3.08 20.33 0.01 1.04 97.13 1.31
November 2009 5 5 7-8 13 20 20-21 24-25 0.01 5.54 14.06 1.33 8.01 12.53 12.02
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Date 26 30 30 December 2009 1 2-3 3-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 10-11 14 14 14 19 29 29-30 30 January 2010 7 12 14 14 14-15 15 15 16 19 21-22 23 24 25 25 25 26 January to 1 February February 2010 2 4 5 5-6 6-7 6-7 7 7 10-11 11-12 12-13 13 14 15 17-18 20 21 21-22 22 24-25 25 26 27 27
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Downtime (Hours and minutes) 0.20 0.01 0.01
Date 27 27 28 28 28
Downtime (Hours and minutes) 1.41 1.19 4.42 0.01 2.19
3.32 14.04 47.18 10.08 14.32 28.49 25.18 5.12 6.42 0.29 1.59 6.08 2.34 3.42
Armed Forces: Training Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Defence Academys budget for 2009-10 is allocated to (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership contracts; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each such contract against its objectives; and if he will [321499] make a statement. Bill Rammell [holding answer 10 March 2010]: The Defence Academys budget for 2009-10 currently spends 28 per cent. on private finance initiatives (PFI) with the Joint Services Command and Staff college and Defence sixth form college and 8 per cent. on its public-private partnership contract (PPP) with Serco for the Shrivenham Campus Integrator Contract. Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC) The objectives of DSFC are to provide education services and support services in order to deliver an output of students each contract year qualified to study a technical subject at university, and subsequently to attend officer training or the Defence Engineering Science Group graduate scheme. The DSFC is currently achieving this with 98 per cent. of students who left the college in June 2009 securing entry onto an accredited technical course at a Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Partner university; additionally the college achieved a 100 per cent. pass rate at A level. Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) The objectives of the JSCSC PFI are to provide education services and support services in order to deliver command and staff training at junior, advanced and higher levels for all three services to a world class standard. An NAO report in 2002 stated that the JSCSC PFI was good value for money. The Customer Executive Board actively examines the rigorous course internal validation process and emerging customer requirements and directs specific changes to courses in order to improve the output in line with the defence mission. This robust evaluation process has confirmed that JSCSC continues to deliver command and staff training at junior, advanced and higher levels for all three services to a world class standard. Shrivenham Campus Integrator Contract (CI) The aim of the CI contract is to provide property and facilities management services to the Shrivenham site and assets. The MOD CI contract management team continually assesses, reviews and monitors contract performance against service delivery and contract objectives. The CI contract is monitored via a monthly review board where the MOD decides whether the contractor has met key performance indicators and via the MODs Supplier and Customer Performance Assessment on a monthly and annual basis.
6.00 4.43 8.13 6.10 10.39 0.49 6.48 1.04 12.04 19.21 1.01 2.44 2.49 1.17 0.03 154.09
13.53 0.01 2.55 4.59 13.32 9.06 0.02 2.23 7.45 10.58 31.04 1.05 3.38 4.29 13.28 1.07 17.47 20.12 1.28 16.13 7.45 3.25 0.13 2.39
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Kazakhstan Kenya Malaysia Morocco Nepal New Zealand Norway Oman Poland Romania Singapore South Africa Spain Uganda USA.
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Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which countries the armed forces undertake [324645] training. Bill Rammell [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Overseas training is undertaken in a number of countries in order to better prepare our armed forces for the tasks they may face, not only in Afghanistan but in other operations where there may be a need in the future, for example humanitarian relief operations. To do so, there is a need to experience different weather conditions and terrain beyond that offered in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, our armed forces benefit from training with foreign forces and coalition partners in order to ensure that we can effectively operate together. The Royal Navy have trained in the following countries during the financial year 2009-10:
Brunei Cyprus Denmark Egypt France Indonesia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Malaysia Norway Pakistan Singapore Sweden Turkey United Arab Emirates USA Yemen.
Finally, The Royal Air Force has undertaken training in the following countries during the financial year 2009-10:
Belgium Belize Canada Chile Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Falkland Islands France Germany Gibraltar Italy Jordan Kenya Malaysia Morocco Norway Oman Portugal Singapore Spain Sweden Turkey United Arab Emirates USA.
The Royal Marines have trained in the following countries during the financial year 2009-10:
Bangladesh Brunei France Indonesia Italy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nigeria Norway Singapore United Arab Emirates USA.
The Army have trained in the following countries during the financial year 2009-10:
Australia Belize Brunei Canada Cyprus Falkland Islands France Georgia Germany Gibraltar India Jamaica Jordan
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which national military forces receive training [324646] in the UK. Bill Rammell: In the last full financial year 2008-09, for which data are available, representatives from 105 national military forces commenced training in the UK. Countries commencing training at defence establishments in the UK 2008-09:
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Argentina Australia Austria
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Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bosnia-Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Congo Republic Czech Republic Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Egypt Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iraq Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Republic of Korea Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Malta Moldova Mongolia Morocco Namibia Nepal Netherlands
New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Occupied Palestinian Territories Papua New Guinea Peru Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Ireland Romania Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates USA Uruguay Yemen Zambia
We also provided language training to the Kosovo Security Force in the UK during 2008-09. Given this is not a military organisation, it has not been included in the above list. Cluster Munitions Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that US cluster bombs held in the [325173] UK are removed forthwith; (2) by what mechanism his Department will ensure enforcement of the agreement that US cluster bombs [325174] should be removed from the UK. Bill Rammell: The United States inventory of weapons is declared annually to the Ministry of Defence who ensure that all weapons are appropriately licensed and stored. The US has identified the cluster munitions on UK territory as exceeding their worldwide operational planning requirements. These cluster munitions will be removed
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from sites in the UK in 2010 and from all UK territories by 2013, as declared by Baroness Kinnock during the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill Second Reading on 8 December 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column 1020. Defence Academy Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the recruitment and training of linguists following the closure of the research and assessment facility at the Defence [321483] Academy. Bill Rammell: The research and assessment facility in the Defence Academy was not involved in the recruitment or training of linguists for the MOD. No change in procedures will therefore be required. Defence: Expenditure Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer from the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Banbury of 17 March 2010, Official Report, column 869, on what date he was briefed that defence spending had not risen in real terms in each year since 1997; and if he will make a [325077] statement. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The briefings that I have received on this issue as Secretary of State have stated that there has been a sustained increase in the Defence budget since 1997, and that every spending review since that date has provided for a real terms rise in core defence spending over the period it covered. Defence: Finance Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the real term change was in the defence budget for (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2006-07 compared with the [324627] previous year. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In 2004-05 there was a real term increase on the previous year of 0.72 per cent. (2003-04 29.08 billion up to 29.29 billion). In 2006-07 there was a real term increase on the previous year of 0.87 per cent. (2005-06 29.97 billion up to 30.23 billion). These figures were calculated using the near cash element of the Defence budget as laid out in the spending review settlements, and converted to 2008-09 prices using the HM Treasury GDP deflator. These figures do not include the net additional cost of military operations, which are not met from the Defence core budget, but funded from the Reserve. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) [324703] purpose was of each.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Information on official entertainment by event is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We use official entertainment to pursue British security policy interests, facilitate a wider public understanding of the armed forces, and enhance professional contacts within the UK and with other nations. Expenditure on official entertainment must be modest and is incurred according to business need. It is subject to prior approval and compliance with departmental rules and the principles of propriety set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasurys handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money. Departmental Public Expenditure Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has incurred expenditure on (a) foreign exchange derivatives and (b) consulting on currency hedging strategies in each [325120] of the last three years. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) incurred expenditure as a result of foreign exchange derivatives in 2007-08 but this has been more than offset by gains in both 2008-09 and 2009-10. In the same period the MOD did not incur any expenditure on consultancy support for its currency hedging strategy. Future Large Aircraft Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2010, how much of the 848 million for the A400M project has [322035] been spent under each cost category. Mr. Quentin Davies [holding answer 12 March 2010]: The expenditure on A400M to date is broken down as follows:
Resource departmental expenditure limit (RDel) (total 5 million) million Assessment phase Development/Production Capital departmental expenditure limit (CDel) (total 843 million) million Development phase Production phase 545 298 2 3
HMS Vanguard: Accidents Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to Lord Dykes of 16 March 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 167WA, on nuclear-powered submarines, if he will publish a summary of the report on the collision between HMS Vanguard and FS Le Triomphant, redacting the elements relating to classified operational detail. [325261] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: It is the Governments policy not to disclose details of submarine operations. I am therefore withholding all particulars of the collision between HMS Vanguard and FS Le Triomphant on the grounds of national security.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with [322622] charities working to dispose of landmines. Bill Rammell: Officials at the Department for International Development regularly meet with the HALO Trust and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) which are the two UK based charity organisations which are funded as part of DFIDs global demining programme. These discussions focus on evaluation and monitoring of ongoing programmes in several countries. The most recent ministerial contact was by my the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, South (Mr. Alexander). He met with MAG in September last year when he visited their new Manchester offices as part of a visit to the region. Lionel Crabb Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reason the Prime Minister has retained portions of records ADM 1/29241 under section 3.4 of the Public Records Act 1958; if he will discuss with the Prime Minister a review of this decision with a view to releasing the records to the National Archives; and if he will make a statement;
[325288]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect on the (a) morale, (b) retention and (c) personal finances of members of the Territorial Army of deferral of payment of annual training bonuses to May 2010.
[325058]
Bill Rammell: There has been no deferral of the Territorial Army (TA) annual bounty. Bounties are paid annually to all those who have qualified for a Certificate of Efficiency. The certificate confirms that the appropriate levels of attendance, training and performance have been met. The certificates are produced at the beginning of April and cover the previous 12-month period. In the majority of cases individuals receive payment by the end of the same month. This is the expectation for 2010. In a small amount of cases, where the certificate is delayed, payment may not be received until May. United States Africa Command Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the US administration on the basing of AFRICOM at the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre at Molesworth.
[325176]
(2) for what reason his Department has retained portions of records ADM 1/29241 under section 3.4 of the Public Records Act 1958; if he will review this decision with a view to releasing the records to the National Archives; and if he will make a statement.
[325289]
Bill Rammell: US personnel at RAF Molesworth currently provide intelligence analysis capabilities for a number of organisations, including US Africa Command. The US continue to examine the future basing options for the headquarters of Africa Command and no formal discussions have taken place regarding RAF Molesworth.
TRANSPORT Mr. Kevan Jones: These extracts were retained by the Ministry of Defence in 2006 on national security grounds. My officials have looked again at the information in question in recent days and have reaffirmed that earlier decision. RAF Menwith Hill Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the single-storey extension to the bermed earth building at the base at Menwith Hill will be operational; and for what purposes it is to be used.
[325175]
Automatic Number Plate Recognition Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1192W, on automatic number plate recognition, if he will place in the Library copies of the request and approval documents relating to each of the local authorities using automatic number plate recognition for civil parking and civil traffic [324835] enforcement. Mr. Khan: Automatic number plate recognition is not a requirement for the certification of CCTV equipment used for civil traffic enforcement and any use of that technology is incidental to certifications granted. Applications for the certification of equipment must demonstrate compliance with The Bus Lanes (Approved Devices) (England) Order 2005 or The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Approved Devices) (England) Order 2007. They are generally technically complex, voluminous and contain information on technology that is commercially sensitive. It is not appropriate, or always practicable, to publish them. A list of all the certifications that have been granted is maintained on the Departments website. I have arranged for the current list to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Bill Rammell: The estimated construction completion date for the single-storey extension is January 2011, with internal works to follow thereafter. This building will form part of the RAF Menwith Hill Operations Complex. Territorial Army: Pay Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons payment of Territorial Army annual training bonuses has been deferred to [325056] May 2010; (2) what estimate he has made of the savings which he made by deferring the payment of annual Territorial [325057] Army training bonuses to May 2010;
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Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he discussed with the Secretary of State for Health the potential health implications of the use of body scanners at airports.
[324697]
Jenny Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325190] Chris Mole: The primary channel for receiving and addressing complaints and inquiries about all aspects of the Departments website is the:
webmasterdft@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Paul Clark: No ministerial discussions have been held with the Department of Health. However, the Health Protection Agency has provided a risk assessment covering the use of those security scanners which use ionising radiation. This has been made publicly available on the Department for Transports website and placed in the Library of the House. Mr. Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether any (a) individuals and (b) categories of British citizen will be exempt from undergoing full body scans when passing through [324961] airport security. Paul Clark: All passengers departing from UK airports are subject to search, and airport authorities are entitled to refuse access to restricted (i.e. airside) areas to any persons not willing to be screened. If a passenger is selected for screening by a security screening device and refuses to go through, then they will not be able to travel. A small number of individuals are exempt from certain screening procedures in line with international protocols. Cycling: Accidents Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many cyclists have been (a) injured and (b) killed in road accidents in London in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010 to date; and [325154] if he will make a statement. Paul Clark: The number of pedal cyclists injured and killed in reported road accidents in London in 2007 and 2008 are shown in the following table. Data is not available yet for 2009 and 2010. Data for 2009 will be published in June 2010. Similarly, data for 2010 will be published in 2011.
Injured and killed pedal cyclist casualties in reported road accidents in London: 2007-08 Injured Killed All casualties 2007 2008 2,955 3,187 15 15 2,970 3,202
email address. Inquiries received through the webmasterdft@dft. gsi.gov.uk email account are not categorisedthey typically include requests for help to locate particular content, to assist with the downloading and use of files, including binary files and broader policy enquiries which are sent on to the appropriate policy official for response. Further sorting and classifying of enquiries to identify specific and direct complaints during the period 2008-10 cannot be done without incurring disproportionate costs. Data is not retained prior to 2008. Jenny Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325208]
Chris Mole: Tables have been placed in the Libraries of the House showing websites operated over the last three years and how much has been spent on external website design consultants for website design work. Costs provided are total external costs and do not include internal staff costs. Where costs are not available this is due to a number of reasons; either the site has not existed for the past three years; the costs are part of a much larger contract and cannot be itemised; or the costs cannot be calculated without incurring disproportionate costs. The Department for Transport measures website costs in line with the guidance issued by the Central Office of Information, Measuring website costs (TG128), starting in this financial year 2009-10, with collation of data at year end. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what (a) the [324661] cost and (b) purpose of each was. Chris Mole: The information requested cannot be answered except at disproportionate cost. Departmental Senior Civil Servants Mr. David Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many grade 2 civil [325055] servants are employed in his Department.
Although the overall number of reported pedal cycle casualties increased slightly in 2008, this is against a background of a general upward trend in cycling traffic. Measures to make roads safer for cyclists include providing better infrastructure, funding cycle training, improved training and testing for motorists and encouraging cyclists to protect themselves, by making themselves conspicuous and by wearing a safety helmet. Other initiatives such as anti drink/drug-drive and speeding campaigns, the provision of 20 mph zones and new measures on goods vehicles mirrors can also contribute to cyclist safety.
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Chris Mole: Grade 2 as a description of staff level is no longer in general use. Senior civil servants in similar sized roles are now referred to as being in pay band 3 and usually have the job title of director general. The Department for Transport has six full-time equivalents currently employed at this level. East Coast Railway Line Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when the Secretary of State decided not to impose penalties on National Express as a consequence of its defaulting upon the East Coast [325082] rail franchise. Chris Mole: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 29 March 2010, Official Report, column 760W. As a consequence of an event of default under its contract, the National Express East Coast rail franchise was terminated on 13 November 2009. In terminating the franchise, the Secretary of State exercised his contractual rights under the Franchise Agreement with National Express East Coast. The termination of this franchise also created a default under the terms of National Express East Anglia franchise and the Secretary of State notified National Express East Anglia on 25 November 2009 that its franchise would terminate on 31 March 2011. Without this default, it could have been extended to 2014. Network Rail: Industrial Disputes John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date (a) he and (b) departmental officials last held discussions with Network Rail on its trade dispute with the RMT [325257] union. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport receives regular progress updates from Network Rail on a range of issues including its trade dispute with the RMT union. Network Rail: Manpower John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the effects on (a) efficiency and (b) safety levels of its planned (i) staff reductions and [325256] (ii) new working practices. Chris Mole: Staffing is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail is required by the independent Office of Rail Regulation to deliver substantial efficiency savings and improvements for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the network over the next five years. Ministers have been advised of Network Rails proposed restructuring of its maintenance function in the course of routine meetings with the company. Network Rail will seek to minimise compulsory redundancies, and to achieve most job losses through targeted voluntary redundancies and redeployment of existing staff into other roles of the businessas part of revised working practices.
The Office of Rail Regulation is responsible for assessing that Network Rails activities and change programmes do not put at risk the safety of passengers and the workforce. Ministers have regular discussions with the Office of Rail Regulation, which includes these subjects. The Office of Rail Regulation is also responsible for monitoring Network Rails delivery of its regulated requirement to improve the safety of the railway by 3 per cent. by 2014. On 3 March the Office of Rail Regulation announced the outcome of its review of Network Rails proposals for the restructuring of its maintenance function. It made clear that it supports Network Rails goal of introducing greater efficiency into its maintenance practices in ways that sustain and improve safety. Railways: Accidents Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) collisions and (b) near misses between trains and road vehicles on level crossings have resulted in disruption to rail services in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [325149] Chris Mole: Collisions between trains and road vehicle on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95). The Office of Rail Regulation has provided the information shown in the following table:
Collisions between trains and road vehicles at level crossings 2005-08 Number 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1 Information not yet published 20 13 16 22 1
Near misses are not reportable under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Office of Rail Regulation data on service disruption resulting from railway incidents would include disruption due to pedestrian-train collisions, acts of vandalism and cable theft, and cannot be disaggregated to the level of detail requested. However, it is likely that all collisions between trains and road vehicles at level crossings will have caused some degree of disruption to rail services. Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) drivers and (b) passengers of (i) trains and (ii) vehicles have been (A) injured and (B) killed in collisions on level crossings between trains and road vehicles in each year [325151] since 2005; and if he will make a statement. Chris Mole: Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).
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The Office of Rail Regulation has provided the information shown in the following table:
Persons injured/killed in road vehicle-train collisions on level crossings 2005-08 Trains Drivers Injured 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1 2 2
Road vehicles Passengers Road vehicle occupants1 (passengers/drivers) Injured 4 1 3 6

2
Killed 0 0 0 0
2
Injured 5 0 0. 0
2
Killed 0 0 0 0
2
Killed 6 1 4 3
2
1 0 1 2
HS2 Ltd. has been asked to carry out pre-consultation engagement with a range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and representative groups, to inform effective communication of the autumn consultation and its materials, particularly in areas that are likely to be affected by the development proposals. This will provide further opportunity for these bodies to raise issues with the Department. Roads: Accidents Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many pedestrians have been (a) killed and (b) injured in accidents on roads in Greater London in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement. [325310] Paul Clark: The number of pedestrians killed and injured in reported road accidents in London in 2007 and 2008 are shown in the following table. Data are not available yet for 2009 and 2010. Data for 2009 will be published in June 2010. Similarly, data for 2010 will be published in 2011.
Killed and injured pedestrian casualties in reported road accidents: London, 2007-08 Killed 2007 2008 109 95 Injured 5,151 5,036 All casualties 5,260 5,131
Road vehicle occupants are not categorised as driver or passenger. Information not yet published
Railways: Bus Services Willie Rennie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to train operating companies of rail replacement (a) buses and (b) coaches in each of the [325137] last five years. Chris Mole: The costs of providing rail replacement buses and coaches are not specifically monitored by the Department for Transport. These costs form part of train operating companies normal operating expenditure, and are not individually reported. Railways: Chesham Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of properties in Chesham and Amersham constituency likely to be affected by the [322675] proposed High Speed Two route. Chris Mole [holding answer 16 March 2010]: The effects of the recommended route on properties will be made available as part of the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS), on which work is continuing. The AoS will be published later in the year in order to inform the formal public consultation which we expect to launch in the autumn. The Government will write to the owners of relevant properties at this time. Additional design work will be required to refine HS2 Ltd.s proposals, and this would be likely to reduce the number of properties affected. Railways: Construction Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to his contribution of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 60WH, on High Speed 2 (Buckinghamshire), what steps his Department has taken to try to address concerns of individuals and organisations needing financial assistance to respond to the consultation; and what means his Department has established for such [325085] concerns to be raised. Mr. Khan: Pursuant to my answer during that debate, at which I said we would try to address any such concerns raised directly with the Department for Transport, I can confirm that we have not yet received any such representations from individuals and organisations needing financial assistance to respond to the autumn consultation.
Measures to make roads safer for pedestrians include providing better infrastructure, promoting child pedestrian training, improved training and testing for motorists and advice and guidance to pedestrians in The Highway Code on crossing the road and making themselves conspicuous. Other initiatives such as anti drink/drug-drive and speeding campaigns, the provision of 20 mph zones can also contribute to pedestrian safety. We are also promoting wider use of 20 mph zones in residential areas and roads with high cycle and pedestrian activity and we are intending to publish revised guidance for local highway authorities. Roads: Repairs and Maintenance Mr. Dunne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to his Departments press release of 24 March 2010, on Highways Agency highways maintenance planning, what assessment he has made of the effect of such plans on levels of payments to local authorities for jointly contracted [325323] highways work. Chris Mole: The Highways Agency has been set a target to achieve annual efficiencies of 90 million from its maintenance and renewals budget through improved contracting, better commercial management and longer term planning. Achievement of these efficiencies does not assume additional joint contracting for highways works with local authorities. Rolling Stock Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for how many additional carriages for (a) the Northern Trains fleet and (b) the total fleet contracts have been let under his [325248] Departments franchises since April 2009.
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Chris Mole: The number of additional carriages contracted for Northern Rail since 1 April 2009 are 18. The Department for Transport is currently in discussions with Northern Rail about providing further additional carriages. For other franchises let by the Department for Transport, the number of additional carriages contracted are 188 for National Express East Anglia; 41 for First Capital Connect; 30 for First Great Western; and eight for East Midlands Trains. In addition 28 additional vehicles for London Midland were contracted on 31 March 2009. Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department has taken to meet the commitments in the 2007 Rail White Paper in relation to carriages for Northern Trains; and whether those commitments will be met [325249] without new train orders. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has recently announced an agreement with Northern Rail to add vehicles to its rolling stock fleet. The 300 million programme of electrification announced for the North West will allow for the cascade of electric rolling stock from Thameslink. This will provide additional capacity, on well as improving the speed and reliability of services. The Department is also currently finalising new forecasts of passenger demand, which it will use to assess the requirement for any further additional rolling stock. Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of carriage provision for passengers from Greater Manchester on (a) Northern Rail and (b) Transpennine services; and if he will make [325250] a statement. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has commissioned a study of current and forecast demand for rail passenger services in the North of England cities. Final results are expected shortly. Waterloo Station Susan Kramer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton of 18 November 2008, Official Report, columns 271-73W, on Waterloo station, what the timetable is for the (a) physical integration with the domestic terminal and (b) return to operational use of platforms 20 to 24 of [324769] Waterloo International Terminal. Chris Mole: Work to convert platform 20 of Waterloo International for domestic usage has been completed. Discussions continue between the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains to agree the most appropriate way to integrate the remainder of the former Eurostar platforms at Waterloo International terminal for use by domestic train services. The Office of Rail Regulation issued a letter to Network Rail on 3 September 2009 which included specific requirements in respect of the use of Waterloo
and Waterloo International stations as part of the Control Period 4 (2009-14) enhancements delivery plan for Network Rail. A copy of this letter is available at:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/enh-cp4dp-030909.pdf
Susan Kramer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what consideration the Secretary of State has given to the (a) sale and (b) transfer of Waterloo International station to Network [324770] Rail; and if he will make a statement. Chris Mole: The British Railways Board (Residuary) Ltd. is currently exploring a number of options for the future of Waterloo International regarding both the arrangements required to support the return of passenger services to the former Eurostar platforms and the commercial development of the space below. Susan Kramer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether any application to integrate platforms 20 to 24 of Waterloo station into the domestic terminal would require planning consent [324771] from the London borough of Lambeth. Chris Mole: The works required to bring back the former Eurostar platforms at Waterloo station do not require planning consent from the London borough of Lambeth.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Badgers: Crime Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to tackle the persecution of badgers since this was set as one of the wildlife crime priorities for 2009-10; and what plans he has to [324632] increase the level of protection for badgers. Huw Irranca-Davies: In addition to the general protection afforded to wildlife, badgers are specifically protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Badgers and their setts are fully protected. I have no plans to alter this protection. DEFRA, together with the Home Office, is the main source of funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). Progress on action to tackle the badger persecution wildlife crime priority is set out in the NWCUs tactical assessment (February 2010). The overall objective is to improve and increase the recording of incidents, crimes and intelligence for badger persecution; and improve the investigation process and increase awareness of badger persecution across the UK. Several meetings of the priority delivery group have taken place and prevention, intelligence and enforcement work taking place. Details of the specific actions being taken cannot be disclosed as they relate to restricted enforcement and intelligence information. Departmental: Location Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point constituency in each [321430] of the last five years.
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Dan Norris: DEFRA does not keep electronic information to show where individuals have relocated from. We would therefore need to locate every DEFRA relocation file over the last five years and establish the old home location. This means that collated data cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate Defra Estates has made of the extent of the use of (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies within buildings occupied by (i) central Government departments and (ii) the entire Government estate since the publication of the Delivery Plan for Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government [324952] Estate. Dan Norris [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made no such estimate, but can confirm that it has installed a total of 33 voltage optimisers/equivalent technologies across its estate. 32 of the units are powerPerfector voltage optimisers and one is an EMS Powerstar. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324977] Dan Norris: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has installed a total of 33 voltage optimisers/equivalent technologies across its estate. 32 of the units are powerPerfector voltage optimisers and one is an EMS Powerstar. Departmental Lost Property John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that [322075] property. Dan Norris: Items of DEFRA property lost or stolen are all recorded as losses. The following table shows losses with an estimated value (at the time of loss) of over 50. Figures are for 2009-10 to date:
Description BlackBerrys Cameras Laptops Mobile telephones Projectors Monitors Tom Tom Device Desktop PC Binoculars Total Number 6 1 33 3 3 7 2 4 2 Estimated value () 1,238 75 12,750 220 2,150 654 200 1,050 200 18,537
2004. Therefore, under the service charge arrangements, IT items do not have a direct cost to the department if lost or stolen. Departmental Marketing Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much his Department and agencies have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the (a) Real Help Now and (b) Building Britains Future themed campaign to date. [320459] Dan Norris: The Department contributed around 150,000 to a cross-government fund for Real Help Now activity in January 2009. In 2009-10 FY, DEFRA also badged already planned campaigns on resource efficiency under Real Help Now. The total media expenditure for these campaigns was 289,337. There was no spend on campaigns relating to Building Britains Future. Detailed spend by DEFRA agencies is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Public Consultation Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the title is of each consultation document his Department has published in each year since its creation; and what the date of (a) publication, (b) closure and (c) [325061] Governments response was in each case. Dan Norris: The Department only holds records of consultations centrally dating from 2006. A table showing the title and date of publication and closure of each consultation has been placed in the House Library. Information related to consultations closed prior to this period could be collated only at disproportionate cost. DEFRA also publishes this information alongside the Governments response to each consultation (issued within the last year) on its website:
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/index.htm
Departmental Sick Leave Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days absence through illness staff in his Department have [322549] had in each month since 1997. Dan Norris: The information requested could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost, therefore we have supplied data which shows the total and average working days lost through sickness in DEFRA and its Agencies in each year since 2002. Data for earlier years are not available. The end dates of the 12-month periods vary between years due to the way that data were collected at the time. Data to the 12 months ending 31 December 2009 are given as information to 31 March 2010 are not yet available.
All IT equipment is the property of IBM which has provided outsourced IT services to DEFRA since October
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12 months ending 31 December 2002 31 December 2003 31 December 2004 31 December 20051 31 March 2007 31 March 2008 31 March 2009 31 December 2009
1
Total working days lost 120,800 121,200 107,000 102,000 92,600 89,100 80,100 79,137
Number of staff 14,209 13,846 13,857 12,537 12,294 11,185 10,066 9,970
Average working days lost 8.5 8.8 7.7 8.1 7.5 8.0 8.0 7.9
Bateson in his independent inquiry into dog breeding along with the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) in their report into pedigree dog breeding. As we are currently considering both reports and need to gauge how the wider veterinarian and scientific communities respond to their recommendations, it would not be appropriate to extend the consultation on dangerous dogs to include health and welfare issues surrounding dog breeding. Flood Control: Finance Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on flood protection measures in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) City of York constituency in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year since 2000. [324220] Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him 9 December 2009, Official Report, column 377W. Figures have not been given in real terms as this would not give a meaningful comparison. A great deal of the programme is capital and the inflation rate on this would not have been in line with the retail price index. Heathrow Airport: Exhaust Emissions
Excludes Central Science Laboratory for which data is not available.
DEFRA and its Agencies closely monitor sickness absence in line with their sickness absence policies and by benchmarking sick absence rates against Cabinet Office figures for the civil service. Policies and good working practices are in place to reduce both long term and frequent short term sick absences. These include facilitating timely employee access to occupational health advice, medical or wellbeing interventions. Additionally, managers hold return-to-work interviews to discuss employees reasons for absence, including any work-related issues connected with their absence. Where necessary, action plans will be agreed to improve employeesattendance at work. Departmental Travel Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the travel guidelines issued to staff of each of his Departments agencies and non-departmental public [315142] bodies. Dan Norris: The Department does not hold this information centrally. Its Agencies and NDPBs issue their own travel guidance to staff. We have requested that they forward their travel guidelines to you. Dogs: Animal Breeding Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will extend the terms of reference of his Departments consultation on dangerous dogs legislation to include [324735] policy on dog breeding. Jim Fitzpatrick: The public consultation currently being conducted by the Home Office and DEFRA is aimed at considering whether current dangerous dogs legislation adequately protects the public. We will consider any suggestions for legislative changes that will help better protect the public from dangerous dogs. However, the health and welfare issues surrounding dog breeding have recently been considered by Professor Sir Patrick
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mean annual concentration was of (a) nitrous oxides, (b) nitrogen dioxide, (c) concentrations of particulates (PM10), (d) ozone, (e) carbon monoxide, (f) sulphur dioxide and (g) carbon dioxide recorded by monitoring stations in the vicinity of Heathrow [323781] Airport in each year from 2000 to 2009. Jim Fitzpatrick: Air pollutants are monitored throughout the UK via the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN). Information on the AURN can be found on the Air Quality website at:
www.airquality.co.uk
Available data on the mean annual concentration of pollutants around Heathrow are given in the following table. Concentrations of CO2 are not subject to air quality monitoringit is not an air quality pollutant and, therefore, not routinely monitored to identify small-scale variations in concentrations. Trends in background concentrations of CO2 are measured at Mace Head Research Station on the west coast of Ireland in order to monitor long-term trends in this important greenhouse gas.
Monitoring station and pollutant monitored 2000 Hillingdon SO2 microgrammes m-3 Harlington CO mg. m-3 Hillingdon CO Mg. m-3 Harlington NO microgrammes m-3 Hillingdon NO microgrammes m-3 Harlington NO2 microgrammes m
-3
2001 9 0.6 49 46
2002 7 0.5 44 45
2003 8 0.5 50 54
2004 3 0.4 0.5 22 43 38 47
2005 3 0.3 0.5 22 40 38 45
2006 2 0.3 0.4 18 38 37 49
2007 2 0.3 0.4 26 39 37 45
2008 19 39 35 51
2009 21 41 36 54
10 0.6 61 48
Hillingdon NO2 microgrammes m-3
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2000 Harlington NOx microgrammes m Harlington O3 microgrammes m-3 Hillingdon O3 microgrammes m-3 Harlington PM10 microgrammes m-3 Hillingdon PM10 microgrammes m-3
-3
2001 121 26 26
2002 113 26 25
2003 129 28 30
2004 72 112 33 27 26 27
2005 72 106 32 26 25 27
2006 65 107 37 28 27 29
2007 77 105 32 30 25 26
2008 64 111 35 31 24
2009 68 116 35 26 16
141 22 25
Hillingdon NOx microgrammes m-3
Notes: 1. SO2: Data capture 72 per cent. in 2007. Data capture > 75 per cent. in all other cases. 2. CO: Data capture 17 per cent. for London Harlington in 2008, 69 per cent. for London Hillingdon in 2007. Data capture > 75 per cent. in all other cases. 3. PM10: Data capture 73 per cent. for London Harlington in 2009, data capture > 75 per cent. in all other cases, 2000-08 data are TEOM measurements x 1.3 for conversion to indicative gravimetric equivalent. 2009 Harlington data are FDMS-TEOM (April onwards). 4. Due to re-structuring of the AURN in 2007 we do not have data for Hillingdon carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and PM10 in 2008 and 2009. Harlington was established as a new AURN site in 2004. Glossary: SO2:Sulphur dioxide, an acid gas formed by the oxidation of sulphur impurities in fuel during combustion processes. CO: Carbon monoxide, a gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. In urban areas the predominant source is traffic. PM10: Particulate matter, particles with a diameter of less than 10 microgrammes m-3. PM10 comes from a variety of natural and man-made sources such as sea salt and Saharan dust, and combustion processes. NOx: Oxides of nitrogen consisting of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO is a product of combustion processes, it reacts with ozone or oxygen to produce NO2. O3: Ozone, a highly reactive oxidising agent that has a range of health and material impacts. A natural background level of ozone exists. Ozone is not directly emitted and man-made sources result from a series of reactions in the atmosphere. CO2: Carbon dioxide is a gas that is produced from the combustion of carbon containing fuels.
Japanese Knotweed: Weed Control Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to reduce the spread of Japanese knotweed.
[324740]
Peat: Compost Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to reduce the level of availability of peat-based composts. [324741] Huw Irranca-Davies: On 8 March, the Secretary of State launched an Act on CO2 campaign to raise awareness of the environmental impacts associated with buying peat-based composts and encouraging amateur gardeners to buy peat-free alternatives. At the same time, the Secretary of State announced an ambition for the compost sold in garden centres and DIY stores to be peat free by 2020. We are now developing a detailed consultation on a future policy framework to further reduce the horticultural use of peat, including ambitions for the professional horticulture sector. We plan to publish the consultation later in the year. Pet Travel Scheme Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to extend the number of species [324738] covered by the pet travel scheme. Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans at present to extend the requirements of the pet travel scheme to other species. Rural Payments Agency: Telephone Services Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long on average it took Rural Payments Agency call centres to (a) answer and (b) complete a call from a member of the public in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of calls made to call [323524] centres were dropped in that period. Jim Fitzpatrick: The Rural Payments Agencys customer service centre (CSC) received 41,346 calls in February 2010 and the average speed to answer each call was 25 seconds with the average length of each call being 10 minutes and five seconds.
Huw Irranca-Davies: After careful consideration of the evidence we have agreed to release the highly specialist psyllid - Aphalara itadori - to help control Japanese knotweed. Our intention is that as a long-term measure it will complement other actions aimed at managing this highly invasive non-native plant. The psyllid will be released this spring at a small number of sites initially, and will be closely monitored before any further releases are made. We do not expect it to eradicate Japanese knotweed altogether but, if successful, it should in time stress the plant and reduce its invasive capacity as well as the effort and cost of managing it. Members: Correspondence Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs of (a) 26 November 2009 on the Lancet study and (b) 11 December 2009 on EU [325081] negotiations on food labelling. Jim Fitzpatrick: We have no record of receiving these letters, and invite the hon. Member to send them again. Nature Conservation Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, column 1353W, on fish: conservation, what his Departments definition is of sustainable resources; and if he will [325178] make a statement. Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department considers sustainable sources of fish as those managed and harvested in ways that do not lead to overfishing or depletion of exploited populations, for example, which meet certain established standards, such as those of organic certification and the Marine Stewardship Council.
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During this period 9.3 per cent. of calls were abandoned when the CSC was either unable to answer the call before the customer rang off or the call was answered but the customer then ended the call prematurely. Sewers Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to bring forward regulations for the transfer of responsibility of private drains and sewers to water [324234] companies. Huw Irranca-Davies: We have previously made clear our intention to consult on proposals for regulations to implement the transfer of private sewers before the summer, setting out the detailed arrangements for transfer. I am pleased to say that we will be able to bring forward proposals for consultation on the regulations by the end of May. Waste and Resources Action Programme Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what organisations supplied goods and services to the Waste and Resources Action Programme in the last 12 months; and what the address is of each supplier.
[324572]
standards consistent with (a) his Departments guidance, Standards of Modern Zoo Practice and (b) the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. [325254] Jim Fitzpatrick: The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 places responsibility for the inspection and licensing of zoos with local authorities. The Act provides local authorities with all the powers they require to ensure that zoos operate to standards consistent with the Secretary of States Standards of Modern Zoo Practice. On behalf of the Secretary of State, DEFRA takes responsibility for ensuring these standards are set and improved on where necessary. The Secretary of State has a list of inspectors which he can call on to inspect zoos compliance with the standards; the list includes veterinary practitioners and persons who are competent to inspect animals in zoos, advise on their welfare and advise on general zoo management issues. Ministers have written to all local authorities reminding them of their licensing responsibilities, and DEFRA ensures biennial training seminars for zoos, local authorities and zoo inspectors are held to make them aware of their responsibilities. DEFRA holds a zoos database and reminds local authorities annually about forthcoming zoo inspections. CABINET OFFICE Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much her Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments [324669] undertaken in each of the last five years. Angela E. Smith: This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Freedom of Information
Dan Norris: The Waste and Resources Action Programmes (WRAPs) suppliers are numerous, and range from companies receiving capital support greater than 1 million to providers of low value office supplies. A list of the 116 companies that have provided services worth in excess of 100,000 in the last 12 months has been placed in the Library of the House. Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of each document submitted by Bristol city council as part of its application to become [324571] a waste incentive pilot. Dan Norris: A copy of Bristol city councils proposal for a waste incentives scheme has been placed in the House Library. Water Charges: Housing Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of dwellings have their water charges [324527] based on domestic rateable values. Huw Irranca-Davies: The latest figures show that 13.58 million, or 61.2 per cent. of domestic properties that are supplied by a water company in England and Wales have their water bills calculated using rateable value. Zoos: Standards Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that zoos operate to
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times her Department has appealed against a decision notice from the [316060] Information Commissioner since 2005. Tessa Jowell: Details of appeals to the Information Tribunal are available on the Tribunals website:
http://www.informationtribunal.gov.uk/
Departmental Marketing Mr. Syms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Central Office of Information have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity to the (i) Real Help Now and (ii) Building Britains Future themed campaigns to [320493] date. Tessa Jowell: With regard to expenditure by the Cabinet Office on Real Help Now and Building Britains Future, I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd) on 5 January 2010, Official Report, columns 103-104W. I have asked the chief executive of the COI to reply to the hon. Member.
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Written Answers Job Creation: Coventry
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Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what volume of waste was generated by Number 10 Downing Street in each of the last three years; what percentage of this was (a) paper, (b) plastic, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) electrical goods and batteries and (f) food waste; and what percentage of that waste was (i) disposed of securely, (ii) disposed of in landfill and (iii) [311838] recycled. Angela E. Smith: The Prime Ministers Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. Information on the Cabinet Offices Waste and Recycling performance can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. Government Communications Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what best practice guidance the Government Communications Network has published [323451] in the last 24 months. Tessa Jowell: The Government Communications Network (GCN) does not publish formal guidance. Communications best practice material is available on the GCN website and is updated on a regular basis by GCN members using community tools (wiki and forums). This detailed information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Government Departments: Training Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff from each Government Department and agency have attended courses at the National School of Government entitled (a) Managing your Confidence, (b) Influencing with Integrity, (c) Emotional Intelligence, (d) Mind Mapping, (e) Stress Management and (f) Managing Diversity in the last 12 months; and at what cost.
[325119]
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many jobs have been created in Coventry since 2005. [325084] Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many jobs have been created in Coventry since 2005. (325084). The requested information is not available. The ONS does not produce statistics on the number of jobs created.
Lobbying Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what timetable the Government has set for introducing a statutory register of lobbyists; and whether an impact assessment has been produced.
[324824]
Angela E. Smith: The Government have committed to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists. They plan to consult on their proposals as soon as possible. Newspaper Licensing Agency Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what payments her Department has made to the Newspaper Licensing Agency in each of [323588] the last 10 years. Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office has made the following payments to the Newspaper Licensing Agency in the last 10 years:
Payment to the Newspaper Licensing Agency () 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 273 407 0 0 0 0 0 1,016 1,169 5,406 9,072
Tessa Jowell: This is a matter for the National School of Government. I have asked the principal and chief executive to assist by writing to you. The letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Iraq Committee of Inquiry Lembit pik: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will (a) make available to the Iraq Inquiry and (b) place in the Library a copy of all advice from the Attorney-General to the Ministry of Defence prior to the beginning of the Iraq war that defines the individual criminal liability of military personnel under [318458] UK law; and if she will make a statement. Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary of State for Defence on 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 677W.
The increase in costs from 2007-08 and 2008-09 is due to additional services such as scanning provided by the Newspaper Licensing Agency and a further licence purchased in 2008-09 for press cuttings. VAT: North West Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small and medium-sized enterprises were registered for value added tax in (a) Stockport metropolitan borough, (b) Greater Manchester and [325043] (c) the North West in 2009.
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Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small and medium-sized enterprises were registered for value added tax in (a) Stockport Metropolitan Borough, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the North West in 2009. [325043] Annual statistics on counts of VAT and/or PAYE based enterprises are available for 2009 from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at: www.statistics.gov.uk The table below is a subset of this, containing just VAT based enterprise statistics.
Count of VAT-based enterprises by geography and employment size band Employment size band 0 to 49 (small) North-west Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Stockport 157,135 56,410 50 to 249 (medium) 3,030 1,155 250+ (large) 815 330 Total 160,980 57,895
Mr. Mike OBrien: Local trusts are measured against the NHS Performance Framework supported by the Care Quality Commission annual health check. This will help to ensure the safety and quality of care across all local health providers. The local NHS in Croydon continually monitors its performance to ensure the provision of appropriate, safe, high quality services designed to meet the needs of local people. Violence Against Women and Children 19. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for implementation of the recommendations of his Departments task force on the health aspects of violence against women and [324924] children. Ann Keen: One of the task force reports recommendations was that an implementation group should be set up. This recommendation was fully accepted in the Governments interim response to the task force report and a chair has been appointed. One of the first tasks of the implementation group will be to develop an action plan for publication later this year. Cancer Treatment: NICE
7,680
135
30
7,845
HEALTH NHS IT Programme 16. James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of [324921] progress on the NHS IT programme. Mr. Mike OBrien: The NHS IT programme is bringing benefits to doctors, nurses and, most importantly, to patients. The new NHS broadband network, digital imaging systems, choose and book and central databases are all in place. All acute trusts and over 90 per cent. of primary care trusts in England, and all GPs, are using systems delivered as part of the National Programme. The NHS could not now function without the systems and services the programme has already delivered. National Care Service 17. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on [324922] proposals for the National Care Service. Phil Hope: I have had a number of discussions about reform of the care and support system in the course of my ministerial duties, including at the care and support conference hosted by the Secretary of State in February. We have set out our proposals for reform of the care and support system in the White Paper Building a National Care Service published on 30 March. NHS: Croydon 18. Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of the NHS in Croydon since May 2005.
[324923]
20. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet representatives of the National Institute for Health and Clinical [324926] Excellence to discuss treatments for cancer. Ann Keen: No such meeting is planned. Life Expectancy: York 21. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of his Departments policies on the average life expectancy of (a) men and (b) women in York [324927] since 1997. Ann Keen: In the 10 years from 1997 to 2007, average life expectancy at birth has increased by 3.7 years for males and 1.9 years for females in the City of York unitary authority. Alternative Medicine 22. David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Governments response to the consultation on the statutory regulation of herbal medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine before the dissolution of Parliament. [324928] Gillian Merron: A report is due to be submitted to Ministers and a statement will be made shortly. Accident and Emergency Departments Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many urgent care centres which were formerly accident and emergency departments were operating at (a) 100 per cent., (b) 95 per cent., (c) 90 per cent., (d) 85 per cent., (e) 80 per cent., (f) 75 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 65 per cent., and (i) 60 per cent. of their capacity in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
[325070]
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Mr. Mike OBrien: The information requested is not collected centrally. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the clinical outcomes in hospital trusts where accident and emergency departments have had their status changed to urgent care centres; and if he will make a statement.
[325071]
rheumatoid arthritis. The Department will respond formally to the recommendations made by the Committee in the form of a Treasury Minute in due course. Information on the symptoms and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is widely available. For example, NHS Choices provides a wealth of information to assist patients in recognising the symptoms of a variety of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis: Health Services
Mr. Mike OBrien: It is for the national health service locally to monitor clinical outcomes and ensure that local services meet the needs of patients. Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (b) Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust, (c) Peterborough Primary Care Trust and (d) England were attended to within (i) 10, (ii) 30, (iii) 60 and (iv) 120 minutes of arriving at an accident and emergency unit in the latest period for which figures are available.
[324594]
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken in response to the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee in its recent report on Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis, HC 46, on take up of the Commissioning Pathway by primary care trusts; and how it intends to evaluate the effect of the Pathway on patients. [324373] Ann Keen: The Department is still considering the findings and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Department will respond formally to the recommendations made by the Committee in the form of a Treasury Minute in due course. The good practice commissioning pathway for inflammatory arthritis provides a high level service model that supports primary care trusts (PCTs) as commissioners of health care services. PCTs need to ensure that their populations have access to inflammatory arthritis services that reflect their needs, priorities and aspirations and that the design and provision of these services is evidence based. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by his Department in reviewing evidence on the need for better access to flare-up and pain management services for people with rheumatoid arthritis; and when it will produce an [324374] action plan. Ann Keen: The Department is considering the findings and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Department will respond formally to the recommendations made by the Committee in the form of a Treasury Minute in due course. Personalised care planning and supporting people to self care enables people to have the information they need to make informed choices and decisions in order to manage any exacerbation of their condition. There is information on NHS Choices to support self-management of long-term pain including free patient information leaflets. Our own information, taken from national surveys such as the GP survey, indicates over 60 per cent. of people with a long-term condition (LTC) in England have reported that they have agreed a plan about how to best manage their LTC. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to primary care trusts on assessing what services are required for people with rheumatoid arthritis to enable them to decide what services they need to provide in the last three years; and [324375] if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mike OBrien: Information is not available in the format requested. The Department does not hold data by constituency. However, the following table sets out the number of attendances in 2008-09 in accident and emergency (A&E) departments operated by acute trusts based within the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) area, the Peterborough PCT area, and England, by the time spent between arrival and departure from A&E. Since the data are collected by acute trust rather than by PCT, the data may include attendances from A&E departments located outside the PCT area. For example, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust operates a type 3 A&E department (a minor injuries unit) at Stamford and Rutland hospital in Lincolnshire.
Number of A&E attendances, by time from arrival to departure from the department, 2008-09 Duration to departure from Cambridgeshire A&E PCT <10 minutes <30 minutes <60 minutes <120 minutes All attendances (with a known time to departure) Attendances where time to departure is not known 291 3,904 17,622 53,464 121,982 3 Peterborough PCT 861 8,641 19,099 37,569 68,698 0 England 315,480 1,355,577 3,241,108 6,959,044 13,445,355 348,717
Source: Experimental A&E Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
Arthritis: Health Education Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will run a campaign within the next 12 months to raise peoples awareness of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, with particular reference to [324372] seeking prompt medical attention. Ann Keen: The Department is considering the findings and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report Services for people with
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Ann Keen: The Department has not issued specific guidance to primary care trusts on assessing what services they need to provide. Carers Allowance Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals stopped receiving carers allowance due to taking up employment through which they earned more than 95 per week in [323898] each of the last five years. Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply. We are committed to helping carers combine their caring role with paid employment wherever possible, as this can alleviate some of the negative financial effects that carers have to contend with. This is why we have made available up to 38 million to help carers enter or re-enter the employment market. The White PaperBuilding Britains Recovery: Achieving Full Employmentannounced an increase in the carers allowance earnings limit from 95 to 100 with effect from April 2010. Many carers want to combine caring with paid employment. This increase will ensure that the real value of the earnings limit is maintained. The information requested is in the table.
Numbers of carers allowance cases where entitlement has stopped due to exceeding the carers allowance earnings limit Number of cases where entitlement has ceased 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 10,300 9,960 9,630 9,540
With health professionals, patient groups and the voluntary sector, we have developed key messages for cervical cancer. These are available on the NHS Choices website. The Department of Health encourages charities and other stakeholders to use them widely in awareness raising activities. The Department will be working closely with the Eve Appeal, a charity that funds research into gynaecological cancers, to support wider communication of cervical cancer signs and symptoms. This will be evaluated using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM), developed by Cancer Research UK, which can be used to test and monitor the impact and effectiveness of cancer awareness work at both national and local levels. Construction: Health Hazards Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on human health of exposure to the construction material known as SMR; and if he will make a statement. [302980] Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply. SMR (structural materials for reinstatement) is a generic term applied to reprocessed materials used in the reinstatement of excavations in construction work. As such it relates to a range of materials with widely differing compositions. No specific assessment has been made on the health impacts of exposure to SMR. I have asked the Health and Safety Executive to consider this matter further though and to write to the hon. Member directly. Contraceptives Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effect on usage of the contraceptive pill of the poster entitled (a) contraception-implant.pdf and (b) contraception-IUS.pdf, available on the NHS website.
[324994]
Caseload 765,618 813,355 858,961 913,306
Percentage of total caseload 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0
Notes: 1. Caseload figures for 2005/06 to 2008/09 are year end figures (March). 2. The figures are at one decimal point, in order to show the difference year on year, because if the figures are rounded to a whole figure they will all be 1 per cent. 3. The numbers represent the number of cases where carers allowance entitlement has been terminated because the customers earnings, after allowable expenses had been deducted, exceeded the carers allowance earnings limit. Source: Department for Work and Pensions - Carers Allowance Quarterly Management Information Statistics
The carers allowance earnings limit has changed during the period covered by the above figures. The earnings limit was as follows in the periods shown in the following table.
Period 11 April 2005 to 9 April 2006 10 April 2006 to 8 April 2007 9 April 2007 to 30 September 2007 1 October 2007 to 11 April 2010 Carers allowance earnings limit () 82 84 87 95
Gillian Merron: The Sex. Worth talking about campaign aims to encourage people to investigate all their contraceptive options and to consider which method might best fit their needs and lifestyle. These two posters form part of this campaign and are designed to highlight two particular contraceptive choices which might be less familiar to the public than the contraceptive pill. The campaign has been running since 30 November 2009 and it is therefore too early to know if these posters have had an effect on usage of the oral contraceptive pill. Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Departments campaign on usage of the oral contraceptive pill; and if he will make a [324995] statement. Gillian Merron: The Sex. Worth talking about campaign highlights that there are 15 contraceptive options available, including two types of contraceptive pill. The campaign is designed to encourage people to investigate all their contraceptive options and to consider
Cervical Cancer: Health Education John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of cervical cancer; and if he will make [324925] a statement. Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategys National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) aims to improve the publics awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage those with symptoms to seek help earlier than they currently do.
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which method might best fit their lifestyle. People are advised to discuss their options with a health care professional, as medical considerations may impact an individuals final choice. The campaign has been running since 30 November 2009 and it is therefore too early to know if there has been an effect on usage of the oral contraceptive pill. Dementia Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department had spent on its most recent dementia awareness campaign on the latest [324887] date for which figures are available. Phil Hope: The overall advertising spend for the dementia awareness campaign in 2009-10 was 1,587,106. Departmental Food Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its nondepartmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom [323071] Food scheme. Phil Hope: Guidance produced under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative encourages and shows public sector bodies how they can specify higher animal welfare standards, including farm assurance schemes and higher level schemes such as the RSPCAs Freedom Foods standards. In February 2008, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) alerted public bodies to the Governments commitment to the 2012 deadline for an European Union-wide ban on the use of conventional cages for laying hens, so that buyers recognised the welfare benefits of alternative production systems, compared with conventional cages and would reflect this in any future contracts. DEFRA have also developed contract award criteria that give a higher weighting to pig meat meeting higher-level welfare standards. Staff restaurant and hospitality catering for departmental staff is provided by Quadrant Catering and Eurest Services. Both of whom are part of Compass Group UK and Ireland, one of the United Kingdoms largest contract caterers. Compass aim to provide as much ethically sourced food as is possible as part of these catering and hospitality services. The Compass Group see ethical sourcing as a combination of factors, which range from ensuring sustainability to animal welfare and endorse the Farm Animal Welfare Councils Five Freedoms concept. They provide full traceability of products and suppliers within their approved supply chain to ensure animals reared for meat, fish, milk and eggs are raised to high standards of animal welfare. This year, Compass Group ran a farm to fork outdoor-reared, free-range pork project. We are not able to comment on plans for food procured by our non-departmental bodies, as this information is not held centrally and to provide this would be at disproportionate cost.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people his Department employs to maintain its social media and social networking sites; and how much it spent on maintaining those sites in the latest period for which figures are available.
[324945]
Phil Hope: Nobody within the Department is employed specifically to maintain social media or social networking sites. The Departments corporate social media channels are the responsibility of the e-communications and publishing team. This team spends approximately one hour per week on maintaining and updating these channels. In the period 1 April 2009 to 26 March 2010, the Department incurred a total of 32.26 in direct costs for maintaining corporate social media channels. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on maintaining its Flickr photostream in the latest period [324947] for which figures are available. Phil Hope: In the period 1 April 2009 to 26 March 2010, the Department incurred a total of 32.26 in direct costs for maintaining its Flickr photostream. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on maintaining its YouTube channel in the latest period [324948] for which figures are available. Phil Hope: The Department does not incur any direct costs in maintaining its YouTube channel. The Departments corporate social media channels are the responsibility of the e-Communications and Publishing team. This team spends approximately one hour per week on maintaining and updating these channels. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on maintaining its Twitter feed in the latest period for [324949] which figures are available. Phil Hope: The Department does not incur any direct costs in maintaining its Twitter feed. The Departments corporate social media channels are the responsibility of the e-Communications and Publishing team. This team spends approximately one hour per week on maintaining and updating these channels. Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2010, Official Report, columns 56-7W, on departmental temporary employment, how much was spent on employing temporary staff in each of the last three [324329] years. Phil Hope: In 2008-09, the total amount spent by the Department on whole-time equivalent temporary workers from the administration budget, comprising agency workers, contractors and consultants, was 16,458,992.
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Prior to 2008-09, temporary workers were not recorded on the Departments Human Resources system and therefore this information is not held centrally. To provide the total amount spent by the Department on employing temporary workers in 2006-07 and 2007-08 would incur disproportionate cost. Diabetes Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females in each [324230] socio-economic group have type 2 diabetes. Ann Keen: There are no data centrally collected. Data from the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) about the number of people recorded on diabetes registers are available for national health service organisations. However, it is not possible to separate the data by gender or socio-economic group. This table provides data of the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in England.
Number of people diagnosed with diabetes 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 1,766,391 1,890,663 1,961,976 2,088,335 2,213,138
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2010, Official Report, columns 966-67W, on drugs: rehabilitation, how many deaths have been caused by methadone overdose in (a) Sefton and (b) the UK in each year since 2000; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of methadone abuse.
[325008]
Diabetes: Health Services Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with diabetes have been referred to a dietician for specialist dietary advice in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age, (b) [324292] sex and (c) primary care trust area; (2) how many people with diabetes have seen a dietician for specialist dietary advice, broken down by (a) age, (b) sex and (c) primary care trust area, in [324293] each of the last five years.; (3) what the average waiting time was for a person with diabetes in each primary care trust area to see a dietician for specialist dietary advice in the latest period [324294] for which figures are available. Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice based commissioners, local government and the public to assess the needs of their local population and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of services provided by dieticians. Diabetes: Nurses Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetes specialist nurse posts have been (a) made redundant and (b) transferred to general nursing posts in each primary care trust area in each of the last [324229] five years. Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Diabetes specialist nurses are not separately identified within the quarterly redundancy collection or the NHS Workforce Census.
Gillian Merron: It is not possible to answer how many deaths are caused solely by methadone. However, there were 10 deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning and methadone was mentioned on the death certificate in Sefton local authority between 2000 and 2007. Due to the small number these have not been broken down by year to protect confidentiality within birth and death statistics. The following table provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning, and methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, either alone or together with other substances in the United Kingdom for the years 2000 to 2007. Figures on drug-related deaths identify all substances that were mentioned on the death record. Where more than one substance was mentioned, it is not possible to state which of them was primarily responsible for the death.
Deaths Number 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 324 314 298 288 300 293 340 440
Methadone is misused if it is taken by someone for whom it has not been prescribed; this is often because methadone prescriptions have been diverted onto the illegal drugs market. The main way that this diversion of methadone is tackled is through the supervised consumption of methadone for people who are receiving it to treat their addiction. Supervision of consumption by an appropriate professional provides the best guarantee that the methadone is being taken as directed. The Departments guidelines for drug treatment in the UK recommend that when a person starts receiving methadone to treat their drug misuse, they should take each dose under the supervision of a nurse, doctor or community pharmacist for a minimum of three months, and this supervision should be relaxed only when their compliance is assured. Genito-Urinary Medicine Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to renew the effectiveness and operation of the 2001 national strategy for sexual [325000] health.
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Gillian Merron: In July 2008, the Sexual Health and HIV Independent Advisory Group published their review Progress and prioritiesworking together for high quality sexual health of the implementation of the 2001 national strategy for sexual health and HIV. In July 2009, the Government published its response to the review Moving forward: Progress and priorities working together for high quality sexual health. In the response we said that as the current strategy comes to an end in 2011 we are already considering what further action will be needed to continue to make improvements in sexual health. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library. On 4 February 2010, we held a national consultative conference on sexual health and HIV. The conference was very well attended and received. The outputs from the day, together with other information, data and evidence will be used to develop a refreshed strategy over the coming year. Health Services: Finance Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in each primary care trust area (a) have been assessed for a personal health budget, (b) are in receipt of payment from a personal health budget, (c) have declined to use a personal health budget and (d) are awaiting assessment for a [325053] personal health budget. Phil Hope: 70 pilot sites are now testing personal health budgets. A full list of pilot sites is available from the Departments website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Highqualitycareforall/ DH_090018
about ensuring that people with learning disabilities get access to better health care services. A number of initiatives have been put in place, including the publication of guidance to ensure mainstream health care meets the needs of people with learning disabilities. In addition, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) have started to implement a self-assessment framework which brings together people who plan and deliver health care services with people with learning disabilities, families and carers. On a local and regional level, SHAs and primary care trusts (PCTs) judge how well health services are meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities and plan for improvements. Information with regard to how the Sefton PCT is meeting the health care needs of people with learning disabilities can be obtained directly from the PCT. Health Services: Yorkshire and the Humber Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new (a) medical treatments, (b) surgical procedures, (c) drugs, (d) other therapies and (e) other services for patients have been introduced by (i) York Hospital NHS Trust, (ii) Selby and York Primary Care Trust and (iii) North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust in the last five years. [324227] Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. The information may be available directly from the organisations named. Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) now forms part of North Yorkshire and York PCT. Heart Diseases: Health Services Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to (a) GPs, (b) primary care trusts and (c) NHS trusts on cardiac rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement.
[324706]
The sites are currently in the process of developing their proposals further, and so the majority are not yet at the stage of offering personal budgets to individuals. During this programme, pilot sites have selected the conditions and groups they wish to include, based on their local circumstances. The number of people involved will also be decided locally, as sites develop their proposals. However, as we said in NHS 2010-15: From good to great, in the longer term our ambition is that everyone who could benefit from a personal health budget should be offered one. A copy of the publication has already been placed in the Library. While this will be informed by the outcome of the evaluation, this could ultimately mean that millions of national health service patients will benefit. Health Services: Merseyside Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 122W, on health services: Merseyside, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to healthcare services for people with learning difficulties; and what assessment he has made of progress made by Sefton Primary Care Trust in this [325006] regard. Phil Hope: Valuing People Now (VPN), a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, sets out a three-year cross-government strategy for people with learning disabilities. One of the priorities in VPN is
Ann Keen: The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) (March 2000) sets out a ten year framework for action to prevent disease, tackle inequalities, save more lives, and improve the quality of life for people with heart disease. A copy has already been placed in the Library. Chapter Seven of the NSF for CHD issued appropriate guidance to the national health service regarding the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services. Implementation of this guidance is a matter for the local NHS, working in partnership with stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise. The Department has worked with NHS Improvement and the Cardiac Networks on a number of national priority projects on cardiac rehabilitation. Guidance has been published on risk assessment, pathway improvement and sharing good practice. This is available at:
www.improvement.nhs.uk/heart/HeartImprovementHome/ CardiacRehabilitation/CardiacRehabKeydocuments/tabid/96/ Default.aspx
The Departments Strategic Commissioning Development Unit is leading work to develop a commissioning pack for cardiac rehabilitation. This is for use by primary care trusts to enable them to commission quality services and encourage providers to deliver
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healthcare services more productively. This will support commissioners to manage the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation services more effectively. The pack will be available in summer 2010. Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the introduction of a GP Quality Outcomes Framework for cardiac rehabilitation; and if he will make a [324707] statement. Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department has not considered the introduction of a Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicator for cardiac rehabilitation. The prioritisation of potential indicators for inclusion in the QOF is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE will open its online topic suggestions facility twice a year to allow stakeholders to submit suggestions for new indicators. The facility is currently closed and will be opened for the next round of suggestions in the
autumn. A similar facility is also available which allows stakeholders to comment on existing indicators. This is available on their website at:
www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qof/comment.jsp
Injuries: Dogs Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and older were admitted to hospital through an accident and emergency department with external cause code W54 as a result of being bitten or struck by a dog in London in each year from 2007-08 to 2009-10.
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Mr. Mike OBrien: Information is collected on people admitted to hospital as an in-patient with a cause of injury recorded as being bitten or struck by a dog. This does not include people only attending accident and emergency (A&E) for treatment. Data are available only for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09.
A count of finished admission episodes1 through accident and emergency2 as a result of being bitten or struck by a dog (W543) in London strategic health authority of residence4, 2007-08 to 2008-09, by age Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Under 18 18 and over Not known 2008-09 110 288 1 2007-08 134 286 0 1 Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2 Method of admission We have defined accident and emergency admissions as finished admissions where the method of admission was: 21 = Emergency: via A&E services, including casualty department of provider. It should be noted that the following emergency admission methods have not been included as they are not related to admissions via A&E: 22 = Emergency: via general practitioner (GP) 23 = Emergency: via Bed Bureau, including the Central Bureau 24 = Emergency: via consultant out-patient clinic 28 = Emergency: other means, including patients who arrive via the A&E department of another health care provider. 3 Cause code A supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in HES. Cause code used: W54 = Bitten or struck by dog. 4 SHA/primary care trust (PCT) of residence SHA or PCT containing the patients normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. PCT/SHA data quality In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health authorities (SHA) and primary care trusts (PCT) in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result data from 2006-07 onwards are not directly comparable with previous years. Data have been presented for those SHA/PCTs which have valid data for the breakdown presented here. As a result some SHA/PCTs may be missing from the list provided. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
Mental Health Services: Prescriptions Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the safety of mental health nurse prescribing [325252] practices. Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department has made no recent assessment. Safety assessments of nurse prescribing practices are the responsibility of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of mental health prescribing.
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Mentally Disturbed Offenders: Homicide Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people convicted of murder in each year since 1990 had received specialist mental health care services in the 12 months prior to their conviction.
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Mr. Mike OBrien: We have made no such estimate.
Phil Hope: Precise annual data on the number of homicides or serious injuries in England committed by people with mental illness is not collected centrally. However, the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicides reports 50-70 homicides per year in England and Wales committed by current mental health patients and by others who had been in touch with mental health services in the 12 months prior to the homicide. Most severely mentally ill people are not violent to others and very few are a risk to the general population.
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Independent investigations of homicides involving people with a severe mental illness have found that not all such incidents are foreseeable or preventable. NHS: Medical Treatments Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical procedures had been undertaken in
respect of NHS patients in each wave 1 independent sector treatment centre on the latest date for which [325237] figures are available. Mr. Mike OBrien: The total number of medical procedures undertaken in each wave 1 independent sector treatment centre up to 31 January 2010 are summarised in the following table:
Procedures (discharges) 25,775 28,420 18,217 38,856 24,061 15,282 14,911 5,618 10,797 9,751 3,667 8,318 9,654 7,370 5,258 29,637 17,098 9,299 23,100 21,512 18,026 11 11,611 19,487 0 375,736 Diagnostic procedures 106,090 0 0 0 0 0 0 762 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25,969 0 0 21,539 0 78,722 56,249 289,331 Primary care episodes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,538 182,657 0 185,195
Treatment centre name Eccleshill NHS Treatment Centre Midlands NHS Treatment Centre Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre Greater Manchester Surgical Centre Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre Bodmin NHS Treatment Centre Boston NHS Treatment Centre Clifton Park NHS Treatment Centre The Cobalt NHS Treatment Centre Gainsborough NHS Treatment Centre New Hall NHS Treatment Centre Horton NHS Treatment Centre Blakelands NHS Treatment Centre Reading NHS Treatment Centre Nottingham NHS Treatment Centre at QMC Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre Kidderminster NHS Treatment Centre Mid Kent NHS Treatment Centre North East London NHS Treatment Centre Sussex Orthopaedic NHS Treatment Centre Havant NHS Diagnostic Centre Will Adams NHS Treatment Centre St. Marys NHS Treatment Centre Mid and South Buckinghamshire NHS Diagnostic Centre Total
Provider name Nations Healthcare Nations Healthcare PHG UKSH Netcare Healthcare PHG Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Ramsay Nations Healthcare Interhealth Interhealth PHG PHG Care UK Care UK Care UK Care UK Care UK
Pharmacy David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of medication were (a) received into pharmacies in and (b) prescribed in the adult custodial estate in England and Wales in the most [324861] recent year for which figures are available. Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally. The responsibility for commissioning offender health services in publicly run prisons in England has been fully devolved to national health service primary care trusts since 2006 and as such pharmacy services are commissioned locally. Local clinical audit and governance is in place for offender medication management as in the wider NHS. Responsibility for the commissioning and provision of health services for offenders in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government as it is for the population of Wales. Prescriptions: Fees and Charges Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who use a prescription pre-payment [324897] certificate.
Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department does not hold information on the number of people who hold a prepayment certificate (PPC). Data are only available on the number of PPCs issued. PPCs active on 24 March 2010 for England are detailed as follows:
Certificate duration 3 months 12 months Total Number of active prepayment certificates (Thousand) 170.2 646.9 817.2
Notes: 1. Active means the prepayment certificate expiry date was on or after 24 March 2010. 2. Figures may not add due to rounding. Source: NHS Help with Health Costs (HwHC) PPC database.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the review of prescription charges for people with long-term conditions; what timetable has been set for implementation; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Mike OBrien: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) on 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 61W. Smoking Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department had spent on its Quit Smoking application on the latest date for which [324895] figures are available. Phil Hope: As at 25 March 2010, the Department had spent 6,000 on its Quit Smoking desktop application and 10,000 on its Quit Smoking iPhone application. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had downloaded his Departments Quit Smoking application on the latest [324896] date for which figures are available. Phil Hope: As at 25 March 2010, the Quit Smoking desktop application had been downloaded 1,316 times, and the Quit Smoking iPhone application had been downloaded 5,080 times. Snow and Ice Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of his Department have taken authorised days of absence owing to severe weather in [324946] 2010.
Phil Hope: The Department does not hold information centrally on absences due to severe weather. Line managers are responsible for agreeing to practical and sensible measures (such as working from home and flexibility in working hours) to manage the effects of severe weather conditions. HOME DEPARTMENT Alcoholic Drinks: North West Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age people in each police force area in the North West in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Hanson: The number of the defendants found guilty at all courts for sale or allowing the sale of alcohol to a person under 18 all police force areas 2005 to 2008 can be viewed in the following table. The north west consists of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside which are shown in italics in the table. A penalty notice for disorder (PND) can also be issued for these offences. For England and Wales 2,058 PNDs were issued in 2005, 3,195 PNDs issued in 2006, 3,583 PNDs issued in 2007, 2,824 PNDs issued in 2008. Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be published in the autumn 2010.
The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selling alcohol to persons aged under 18, in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007, broken down by police force area 2005 Police force Area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria Proceeded against 14 10 9 8 14 8 13 8 35 2 8 5 117 11 3 2 14 89 27 11 16 253 3 11 79 Found guilty 10 9 7 5 12 6 6 3 7 8 5 92 8 1 1 10 65 15 1 11 206 1 6 55 2006 Proceeded against 5 24 27 6 11 1 8 6 7 16 10 160 2 40 6 2 32 45 10 34 236 13 41 Found guilty 5 22 21 6 7 1 7 4 10 10 112 35 3 2 22 31 1 16 199 10 23 2007 Proceeded against 1 2 10 6 13 1 7 5 2 3 14 3 35 4 24 5 2 27 55 3 28 176 2 7 12 Found guilty 1 1 10 5 13 1 7 13 3 30 4 21 3 1 21 49 3 20 137 2 7 4 2008 Proceeded against 8 8 9 10 4 17 1 3 7 4 10 39 9 2 1 6 33 9 6 24 76 1 5 13 Found guilty 6 8 7 8 3 16 1 3 6 2 7 29 6 2 6 27 9 6 17 65 1 5 10
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The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selling alcohol to persons aged under 18, in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007, broken down by police force area 2005 Police force Area North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales North West total England and Wales Proceeded against 3 11 18 20 3 13 4 15 7 19 76 15 23 6 16 10 55 238 1,084 Found guilty 1 9 8 12 3 11 1 5 7 15 63 11 9 4 12 10 41 179 772 2006 Proceeded against 68 37 10 23 4 18 33 36 2 10 74 17 10 18 21 4 72 233 1,199 Found guilty 19 29 9 21 2 17 20 14 2 7 60 10 6 15 14 4 58 157 854 2007 Proceeded against 29 5 9 26 5 11 20 1 5 57 9 6 13 13 8 29 97 693 Found guilty 11 3 2 18 3 11 14 1 4 49 7 5 3 8 7 23 77 525 2008 Proceeded against 1 7 4 19 1 8 7 2 1 3 44 9 1 4 9 11 23 109 459 Found guilty 1 4 4 16 1 6 5 1 3 32 7 1 3 7 8 17 83 366
Notes: 1. Data includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premisesLicensing Act 1964 S. 169 A & B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S. 1, Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.3 [Sen. Para. 4(1)). Sale of alcohol to person under 18Licensing Act 2003 S. 146 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18Licensing Act 2003 S. 147 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18Licensing Act 1964 S. 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 S. 17. Persistently selling alcohol to childrenLicensing Act 2003 S. 147A as added by Violent Crime reduction Act 2006. 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 police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3. The Total proceeded against statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical ServicesMinistry of Justice.
Alcoholic Drinks: Young Offenders
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females in each court service area aged between (i) 10 and 12, (ii) 13 and 16 and (iii) 17 and 18 years old were (A) proceeded against, (B) found guilty and (C) sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol-related [323234] offences in 2008.
Mr. Hanson: Information showing the number of males and females prosecuted at magistrates courts, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 2008 (latest available) broken down by police force area, can be viewed in Table l and Table 2. A penalty notice for disorder (PND) may also be issued for certain alcohol-related offences. The number of PNDs issued for alcohol-related offences 2008 can be viewed in Table 3.
Table 1: Number of males prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire 1 1 Found guilty 1 1 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 16 6 3 22 26 31 17 49 14 42 11 7 Aged 13-16 Found guilty 15 6 3 21 23 28 17 45 12 37 10 7 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 95 35 27 88 75 82 80 162 60 83 79 39 Aged 17-18 Found guilty 88 33 25 87 72 79 76 155 57 78 73 36 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1 1 1 1 1
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Table 1: Number of males prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Aged 13-16 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 43 19 5 13 31 88 11 10 49 30 9 7 202 23 15 48 18 3 4 23 19 6 24 28 75 8 6 18 16 8 1,103 Found guilty 42 19 5 12 30 82 10 10 41 26 8 5 177 22 13 42 15 3 4 22 16 6 21 23 60 8 5 15 15 7 988 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 170 152 43 30 109 213 43 54 137 174 56 27 451 83 61 120 77 34 43 126 91 35 101 150 174 19 40 71 83 82 3,954
Aged 17-18 Found guilty 166 146 42 30 100 193 37 47 124 163 55 26 407 80 60 106 75 34 41 117 85 35 97 139 153 17 38 65 79 79 3,695 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 29
Found guilty 2
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Alcohol-related offences for which cautions have been issued; (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licenced person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 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 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. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref: IOS 173-10 Table 2: Number of females prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Age 10-12 Sentenced to immediate custody Age 13-16 Sentenced to immediate custody Age 17-18 Sentenced to immediate custody
Proceeded against Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset
Found guilty
Proceeded against 4 3 5 10 13 9 19
Found guilty 4 2 5 10 12 8 18
Proceeded against 16 4 4 23 8 22 11 27 4
Found guilty 15 4 4 23 7 18 10 27 4
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Table 2: Number of females prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Age 10-12 Sentenced to immediate custody Age 13-16 Sentenced to immediate custody Age 17-18 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1
Proceeded against Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Found guilty 1 1
Proceeded against 11 5 1 7 12 1 2 14 30 18 3 3 122 7 3 20 3 3 7 1 2 5 11 33 1 4 3 5 400
Found guilty 10 4 1 6 12 1 1 14 23 15 3 1 110 7 3 16 3 2 5 1 2 4 9 27 1 4 3 4 351
Proceeded against 16 16 4 24 24 10 6 15 58 2 5 29 33 6 6 86 18 15 22 12 2 11 16 23 3 12 30 32 7 6 14 15 16 713
Found guilty 16 15 4 23 24 9 5 14 51 2 5 24 32 6 5 82 18 15 21 10 2 11 14 20 3 11 28 27 6 4 12 14 15 660
1 1
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Alcohol-related offences for which cautions have been issued; (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licenced person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 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 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. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref IOS 173-10 Table 3: Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to persons aged 16 and aged 17 to 18 for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 20081, 2, 3 Aged 16 Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire British Transport police Cambridgeshire Male 9 4 2 Female 1 2 Aged 17-18 Male 50 17 46 Female 14 2 13 Police force area Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset 6 38 3 Durham Table 3: Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to persons aged 16 and aged 17 to 18 for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 20081, 2, 3 Aged 16 Male 1 19 20 6 3 9 Female 1 7 3 2 1 3 Aged 17-18 Male 68 155 37 103 128 39 118 Female 12 54 12 34 28 11 14
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Table 3: Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to persons aged 16 and aged 17 to 18 for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 20081, 2, 3 Aged 16 Police force area Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Aged 17-18 Female 2 3 7 1 2 7 12 44 1 44 7 2 4 5 13 4 12 3 1 3 1 9 6 1 1 215 Male 31 19 123 105 65 109 228 651 24 16 1 498 219 49 118 54 517 69 398 77 13 18 132 59 19 86 366 202 51 22 51 98 35 5,322 Female 5 1 37 27 11 21 51 154 8 4 119 46 1 23 8 155 17 78 15 1 10 25 19 3 14 78 53 14 7 9 17 4 1,232
Male 1 16 6 14 24 25 140 3 98 17 2 20 11 34 8 46 7 2 4 3 4 4 46 14 14 1 2 7 0 652
A penalty notice for disorder (PND) may also be issued for certain alcohol-related offences. The number of PNDs issued for alcohol-related offences in 2008 can be viewed in table 3.
Table 1: Number of offenders aged under 18 cautioned1 for alcohol-related offences2, England and Wales, 2008, by age3, 4 Force 10-12 Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire City of London Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 13-15 8 13 11 14 10 34 7 15 4 15 12 4 2 15 37 3 16 4 10 129 25 3 3 1 26 6 8 24 66 1 5 16 13 10 Age 16-17 23 22 1 23 50 12 62 10 34 18 6 16 23 1 4 15 76 2 22 1 1 20 190 13 6 3 5 29 11 26 39 78 3 9 47 23 12 10-17 31 0 0 35 1 34 64 22 96 17 49 22 6 31 35 5 6 30 114 5 0 39 6 1 30 0 322 0 38 9 6 6 57 18 0 36 63 144 4 16 64 37 23
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 The Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 3 Data are published at Age 16 and over. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref: IOS 173-10
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) 10 to 12, (b) 13 to 15 and (c) 16 to 17 year olds were (i) cautioned and (ii) prosecuted for alcohol-related offences in each police [323235] force area in 2008. Mr. Hanson: Information showing the number of offenders cautioned and defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol-related offences in England and Wales 2008 (latest available) broken down by age and police force area, can be viewed in tables 1 and 2 respectively.
Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales
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Table 1: Number of offenders aged under 18 cautioned1 for alcohol-related offences2, England and Wales, 2008, by age3, 4 Force 10-12 England and Wales
1
Age 13-15 570 16-17 936 10-17
Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol-related offences1, England and Wales, 2008, by age and police force area2, 3 Age Force 1012 3 13-15 9 15 51 2 1 7 9 2 572 16-17 67 83 141 13 23 51 52 42 2,737 10-17 76 98 192 15 24 58 61 44 3,312
16
1,522 West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. 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 Alcohol-related offences for which cautions have been issued: (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licensed person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref: IOS 174-10 Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol-related offences1, England and Wales, 2008, by age and police force area2, 3 Age Force Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire City of London Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire 1012 1 1 1 13-15 7 2 14 12 16 14 19 5 20 5 2 23 13 1 5 25 47 1 18 8 6 11 2 140 5 30 4 1 14 5 1 16-17 49 20 16 53 52 72 48 120 28 89 38 27 87 86 17 34 59 189 25 29 117 95 27 61 22 440 30 104 50 15 30 72 46 18 10-17 56 22 16 68 0 64 88 63 139 33 109 43 29 110 99 18 39 84 237 25 30 135 103 33 72 24 580 35 134 54 15 31 86 51 19
Includes offences of: (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licensed person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref: IOS 174-10 Table 3: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 to 17 for alcohol-related offences England and Wales,20081, 2, 3 Force Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire British Transport Police Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk 2008 28 11 29 19 20 101 1 71 50 22 38 12 11 85 30 44 77 122 491 6 7 368 95 16 40 258 73 32 228 41 7
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Table 3: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 to 17 for alcohol-related offences England and Wales,20081, 2, 3 Force Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales Total
1
2008 12 54 15 10 36 185 110 29 12 18 41 11 2,966
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females aged between (i) 10 and 12, (ii) 13 and 16 and (iii) 17 and 18 years in each HM Court Service area were (A) proceeded against, (B) found guilty and (C) sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol-related [324160] offences in 2008.
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 The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 3 Centrally available PND data are published at age 16 and over. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Ref: IOS 174-10
Mr. Hanson: The Home Office cannot provide statistical information at an individual court level as this data along with offence details, gender and age information could potentially lead to the identification of an individual. Information showing the number of males and females prosecuted at magistrates courts, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 2008 (latest available) broken down by police force area, can be viewed in Table 1 and Table 2. A penalty notice for disorder (PND) may also be issued for certain alcohol-related offences. The number of PNDs issued for alcohol-related offences 2008 can be viewed in Table 3.
Table 1: Number of males prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley 1 1 Found guilty 1 1 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 16 6 3 22 26 31 17 49 14 42 11 7 43 19 5 13 31 88 11 10 49 30 9 7 202 23 15 48 18 3 4 23 19 Aged 13-16 Found guilty 15 6 3 21 23 28 17 45 12 37 10 7 42 19 5 12 30 82 10 10 41 26 8 5 177 22 13 42 15 3 4 22 16 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 95 35 27 88 75 82 80 162 60 83 79 39 170 152 43 30 109 213 43 54 137 174 56 27 451 83 61 120 77 34 43 126 91 Aged 17-18 Found guilty 88 33 25 87 72 79 76 155 57 78 73 36 166 146 42 30 100 193 37 47 124 163 55 26 407 80 60 106 75 34 41 117 85 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
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Table 1: Number of males prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Aged 13-16 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 6 24 28 75 8 6 18 16 8 1,103 Found guilty 6 21 23 60 8 5 15 15 7 988 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 35 101 150 174 19 40 71 83 82 3,954
Aged 17-18 Found guilty 35 97 139 153 17 38 65 79 79 3,695 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1 1 1 2 29
Found guilty 2
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Alcohol-related offences for which cautions have been issued; (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licensed person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 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 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. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Table 2: Number of females prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumbria North Yorkshire Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex 1 Found guilty 1 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 4 3 5 10 13 9 19 11 5 1 7 12 1 2 14 30 18 3 3 122 7 3 20 3 3 7 Aged 13-16 Found guilty 4 2 5 10 12 8 18 10 4 1 6 12 1 1 14 23 15 3 1 110 7 3 16 3 2 5 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 16 4 4 23 8 22 11 27 4 16 16 4 24 24 10 6 15 58 2 5 29 33 6 6 86 18 15 22 12 2 11 16 Aged 17-18 Found guilty 15 4 4 23 7 18 10 27 4 16 15 4 23 24 9 5 14 51 2 5 24 32 6 5 82 18 15 21 10 2 11 14 Sentenced to immediate custody
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Table 2: Number of females prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody for alcohol related offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3, 4 Aged 10-12 Proceeded against Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Aged 13-16 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 1 2 5 11 33 1 4 3 5 400 Found guilty 1 2 4 9 27 1 4 3 4 351 Sentenced to immediate custody Proceeded against 23 3 12 30 32 7 6 14 15 16 713
Aged 17-18 Found guilty 20 3 11 28 27 6 4 12 14 15 660 Sentenced to immediate custody 1 1
Found guilty 1
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Alcohol-related offences for which cautions have been issued; (a) Drunkenness simple. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licensed person. (d) Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws. (e) Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (f) Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. 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 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. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice Table 3: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and aged 17 to 18 for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 20081, 2, 3 Aged 16 Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire British Transport police Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Norfolk North Yorkshire Male 9 4 2 Female 1 2 Aged 17-18 Male 50 17 46 Female 14 2 13 Police force area Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England and Wales
1
Table 3: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and aged 17 to 18 for alcohol related offences, England and Wales 20081, 2, 3 Aged 16 Male 11 34 8 46 7 2 4 3 4 4 46 14 14 1 2 7 0 652 Female 5 13 4 12 3 1 3 1 9 6 1 1 215 Aged 17-18 Male 54 517 69 398 77 13 18 132 59 19 86 366 202 51 22 51 98 35 5,322 Female 8 155 17 78 15 1 10 25 19 3 14 78 53 14 7 9 17 4 1,232
6 1 19 20 6 3 9 1 16 6 14 24 25 140 3 98 17 2 20
1 7 3 2 1 3 2 3 7 1 2 7 12 44 1 44 7 2 4
38 68 155 37 103 128 39 118 31 19 123 105 65 109 228 651 24 16 1 498 219 49 118
3 12 54 12 34 28 11 14 5 1 37 27 11 21 51 154 8 4 119 46 1 23
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 The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 3 Data are published at Age 16 and over. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice
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Written Answers Antisocial Behaviour Orders
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Number of asylum applications1
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Number of cases yet to reach conclusion2 40,640
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued to people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or more years old in (i) England and (ii) Cambridgeshire [324753] in each of the last 10 years. Mr. Hanson: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available to courts from April 1999. The number of ASBOs issued at all courts in England and the Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice System area covering the period to 31 December 2007 (latest currently available) are shown in the table.
Number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued all courts1 in England and the Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice System (CJS) area, by age group2, 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2007 Area England 10-17 April 1999May 2000 JuneDecember 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1
2008 2009 Total
24,700 24,250 95,990
1 Numbers for Asylum Applications are from migration statistics published stats. 2 Please note that figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. This figure is the total number of unconcluded out of service standard cases. Cases within a six month period are considered in standard and therefore considered as work in progress, they are not considered to be outstanding applications.
The above figure (40,640) does not include cases being dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate (CRD)1.
1
Cambridgeshire CJS area N/k 104 11 10-17 18+ 1 N/k 5
18+ 63
This is because the Agency is unable to accurately report on these outstanding cases. As reported in February 2010 to the Home Affairs Select Committee, 52 per cent. of the concluded cases were data errors and required no further action. Therefore, any such report would be unable to accurately represent CRD cases with outstanding applications.
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Counter-terrorism David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which non-governmental organisations have received funding under the Prevent strand of the Contest counter-terrorism strategy to [318270] date. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 24 February 2010]: The Government fund a range of groups, including non-governmental organisations, under the Prevent strategy. The disclosure of specific or detailed information on which organisations and individuals are actively engaged in delivering the Prevent strategy could place them at considerable and unnecessary risk of harm, and would also threaten national security. I am, therefore, unable to provide specific details. Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to evaluate the effectiveness of his Departments Prevent programme; and if he will make a statement. [318539] Mr. Hanson: The effectiveness of the Prevent strategy, which forms part of Contest, the Governments counterterrorist strategy, is already under continuous review and evaluation. Key deliverables are routinely assessed in order to monitor progress against the strategy, the delivery of benefits and demonstrate value for money. Additionally, the effectiveness of the Prevent strategy is measured by NI
35: Building resilience to violent extremism and PSA Delivery Agreement 26: Reduce the risk to the UK and its interests.
190 244 598 1,291 1,493 971 869
148 165 679 2,013 2,344 1,509 1,250
6 6 8 52 70 27 17
1 2 10 3 14 15 4
1 5 23 34 16 16
Includes ASBOs issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which became available on 1 April 1999 and ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which became available on 2 December 2002. 2 No age details are available for the period April 1999 to May 2000. N/k indicates that the defendants ages were not reported to the Ministry of Justice. Notes: 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 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. 2. Previously issued data have been revised.
Asylum Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for asylum were received by the UK Border Agency [324517] before 1 March 2009. Mr. Woolas: The UK Border Agency have interpreted the question as asking for the number of asylum applications which were made before 1 March 2009 and which have been neither granted, withdrawn, are successful at appeal or removed. This would include applications made both to the New Asylum model (NAM) and cases within the CRD legacy. The number of outstanding asylum applications which were made since the introduction of the new Asylum model (NAM) in 2006 and prior to 1 March 2009 is contained in the following table:
Number of asylum applications1 2006 2007 23,610 23,430 Number of cases yet to reach conclusion2
As the Prevent strategy develops and progresses, we continue to develop further methods of evaluation. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the data collected on individuals through the Channel Project for identifying those vulnerable to violent extremism is shared with the [322928] security services.
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Mr. Hanson [holding answer 18 March 2010]: It has been the established policy of successive Governments to neither confirm nor deny in response to questions concerning the intelligence and security agencies. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place for individuals identified by the Channel Project to seek to have their details removed from police force records.
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hotlinewhich is continually manned 24 hours each day by specialist counter-terrorism officersas it provides the public with a facility through which they can confidentially provide information about suspected terrorist activity which could help to prevent a terrorist attack. Crime: Nature Conservation Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings officials of his Department have had with the (a) Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime and (b) UK National Wildlife Crime Unit on reducing the number of illegal badger killings in the last 24 months. [324633] Mr. Hanson: Officials from the Home Office have attended the steering group meetings of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime which occur three times a year. Officials have also attended the tasking and co-ordination meetings for the National Wildlife Crime Unit which also occur three times a year. We have not held separate meetings with either the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime or the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit to discuss illegal badger killings in the last 24 months. Crime: South Yorkshire Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serious crimes of each category have been recorded in (a) Sheffield and (b) [324964] South Yorkshire in each year since 1998. Mr. Hanson: The Home Office does not use the term serious crime. Data are provided for the following offence categories: violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. Data for South Yorkshire police force area are shown in Tables 1a to 1c from 1998-99 to 2008-09. Data for Sheffield Community Safety Partnership (CSP) are shown in Tables 2a to 2c. For CSPs (formerly known as CDRPs or Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships) data is available centrally from 2001-02 onwards. These tables have been placed in the Library. There was a major change in police recorded crime recording practices in April 2002 that means that figures from 2002-03 are not comparable with figures prior to that year. The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 brought in a more victim-focused reporting system, where victim accounts had to be accepted unless there was credible evidence to the contrary. In its first year, this was estimated to have artificially increased recording of violence against the person by 23 per cent. From l April 2008 there were also changes in offence classifications which for the first time collected separate information on grievous bodily harm (GBH) without intent (rather than as part of a broader other wounding category) and a clarification in the counting rules for grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent. This led to a step change in the levels of most serious violence for some police forces. This means figures for these offence categories for 2008-09 are not comparable with those for earlier years.
Mr. Hanson [holding answer 18 March 2010]: Under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Chief Constables of each police force are the Data Controllers of all information placed by that force onto local force systems. Only they can authorise the amendment or deletion of any record. Through the Data Protection Act a person may apply to the police, for disclosure of and disposal of any personal information held. The police should then make a decision regarding disclosure and disposal, on a case by case basis, under the terms of the Act. The management and use of information within the police service is done in accordance with Management of Police Information (MOPI) 2006 guidance. This sets standards for the review and retention of information and the disposal of information if it is no longer considered necessary for police purposes. The Code of Practice on the Management of Police Information (MOPI) defines policing purposes as: protecting life and property, preserving order, preventing the commission of offences, bringing offenders to justice and any duty or responsibility of the police arising from common or statute law. Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated for expenditure on advertising in respect of the anti-terrorist hotline in the financial year 2009-10; what payments his Department has made to each media outlet in respect of such advertisement; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such advertisement in meeting the objectives set for it; and if [324025] he will make a statement. Alan Johnson [holding answer 24 March 2010]: The total cost of advertising for the Anti Terrorist Hotline in 2009-10 was 1,005,587. A breakdown by media outlet is provided in the following table:
Media outlet National press London radio National radio TalkSPORT Womens magazines Door drops Minority press Wales press Welsh radio London press Social media Taxi trade press Total Payments made in 2009-10 () 299,630 170,876 159,175 100,090 96,648 72,713 38,361 24,442 15,981 13,664 10,245 3,762 1,005,587
Assessment of the 2009-10 advertising campaign will commence in April 2010. However, the police value the
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Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he plans to put in place to monitor and ensure compliance with the requirement that any electronic service provider tendering for Government contracts should deploy the list compiled by the Internet Watch Foundation in order to block access to websites known to host images [324130] of child sex abuse. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The Home Departments Commercial Directorate has worked with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to change the conditions under which contracts for internet services to Government Departments or Government Agencies were offered. OGC has recently issued procurement policy which requires all procurement specifications for the provision of internet related services to include a requirement that the service provider must block access to those sites specified on the Internet Watch Foundations (IWF) list. The policy will be circulated to the Home Departments procurement community to promote this policy. The main Home Department contract for IT services uses the IWF list to restrict access to the sites in question. As part of our contract management procedures this will continue to be monitored during the lifetime of the contract. As part of our commercial best practice we will monitor all procurement specifications for the provision of internet related services to ensure compliance with this requirement. Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Departments contract with Cable and Wireless for the provision of internet services expires; when he expects the tendering process for its replacement to begin; and what discussions he plans to have with (a) Cable and Wireless and (b) subsequent providers on access to sites identified with [324269] child abuse. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 25 March 2010]: The Home Office currently has the ability to access the internet via its service contract with Cable and Wireless under the Government Secure Intranet (GSi) framework via Buying Solutions. This framework expires in August 2011 with individual service contracts expiring no later than February 2012. It should be noted that the GSi is not the only or exclusive method by which the Home Office, or indeed any Government Department, can gain access to the internet. The tendering process for the replacement framework is already under way, beginning in December 2009 and targeted for delivery spring 2011. The replacement frameworks will require internet service providers to offer filtering facilities to block access to specific sites. We have been working with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to change the conditions under which contracts for internet services to Government or Government agencies were offered. It is now a requirement that all suppliers block access to those sites specified on
the IWFs list. This will apply to all new contracts offered for supply of these services, and we would strongly urge all suppliers, or those wishing to become suppliers, to ensure that they take the IWF list. Departmental Training Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2010, Official Report, column 81W, on departmental training, on what dates the sessions of media training were provided; which organisations provided that training; what the cost was of that training; and to which Ministers that training was provided. [315801] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 5 February 2010]: Ministers of the Home Department engaged in the following media training:
Liam Byrne on 23 January 2007 with Kim Fletcher; Meg Hillier on 11 July 2007 with Angela Coles; Alan Campbell on 17 October 2008 with internal training providers;
Information on costs relating to media training by external suppliers is not held centrally. Designated Public Places Orders Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been given to local authorities on the extent of geographical areas to which a Designated Public Places Order can be applied.
[324484]
Mr. Hanson: The Home Office published Guidance on Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO): For local authorities in England and Wales on 23 December 2008. This guidance can be accessed on the following website:
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/alcoholorders/ alcoholorders016.htm
DNA: Databases Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his contribution on Second Reading of the Crime and Security Bill, 18 January 2010, Official Report, column 35, if he will provide detailed information on each of the 36 cases of DNA data being held on the National DNA database for those previously arrested but not convicted of an offence in which DNA evidence was vital in securing a conviction in cases of (a) rape, (b) murder and (c) [318422] manslaughter. Alan Johnson [holding answer 24 February 2010]: The information given at Second Reading of the Crime and Security Bill was the outcome of an analysis by the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office (ACRO) and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) of information held on the police national computer, following consultation with the Senior Investigating Officers in each of the 36 cases referred to. In 2008-09 there were at least 79 DNA matches for rape, murder and manslaughter where the original sample was taken for an offence that did not result in a conviction. 36 of these matches were found to have a direct and
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specific value to the investigation. It is not our policy to release details of individual cases without the explicit consent of the victims or their families. In any case, some of the cases remain before the courts. Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any assessment has been made of the frequency of (a) arson in and (b) theft of [324726] household wheeled refuse containers. Mr. Hanson: Figures from the 2008-09 British Crime Survey show that in 4 per cent. of incidents of other household theft a wheelie bin/dustbin was reported as the item stolen. Information is not available for arson offences. From the information collected centrally on police recorded crime it is not possible to determine offences involving household wheeled refuse containers. Entry Clearances Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a temporary domestic worker visa to Ms Abieyuwa Omorogbe, with reference to the letter on the subject sent by the hon. Member for Totnes to the Minister for Borders and [325044] Immigration on 24 March 2010. Mr. Woolas: We have no record of a current visa application from Ms Abieyuwa Omorogbe. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules, and in the light of any representations from the hon. Member for Totnes. Entry Clearances: Domestic Service Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Totnes, of 17 March 2010, Official Report, columns 875-6, when he expects the Minister for Borders and Immigration to contact the hon. Member for Totnes regarding the Ministers decision on diplomatic domestic worker [324844] visas. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 29 March 2010]: I will write to the hon. Member for Totnes. European Prosecutors Office Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the proposal of the President of Eurojust that a European Prosecutors Office be established; and if he [324526] will make a statement. Meg Hillier: [holding answer 29 March 2010]: There is no proposal to establish a European Public Prosecutors Office (EPP). While the Lisbon Treaty created a legal base for an EPP any proposal would have to be agreed by unanimity of all member states. The UK would also have the choice whether or not to participate by virtue of our Justice and Home Affairs Opt-In Protocol. So, under no circumstances could we be obliged to take part in the creation of an EPP if a proposal was made.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the list of extremist websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations announced by the then Prime Minister on 5 August 2005 was first established; on what dates the list has been updated; whether the deportation of a foreign national has been (a) considered and (b) executed on the grounds of active engagement with one of the organisations on the list; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent edition of the list. [301377] Alan Johnson: The Prime Minsters announcement on 5 August 2005 set out a 12 point plan designed to counter the threat of terrorism. As my right hon. Friend the former Home Secretary said on 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1594W, significant progress had been made on the 12 point plan and that all counter-terrorist work was now subsumed into the Governments long-term counter-terrorist strategy (the Contest strategy). The Home Secretary may make a deportation order where he is satisfied that deportation is conducive to the public good. The basis for such a decision could include, for example, the individual being engaged in the promotion or dissemination of extremist material (including via websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations). The police and other law enforcement and intelligence partners work closely to identify sources of extremism. Where an individual is found to have been engaged in the encouragement of terrorism or dissemination of terrorist publications, the police and CPS would seek to prosecute them. In the case of a foreign national engaged in extremist activities, we seek to deport them. In the case of organisations, the Terrorism Act 2000 allows an organisation to be proscribed if the Home Secretary believes it is concerned in terrorism. The Terrorism Act 2006 extended the meaning of concerned in terrorism to include the unlawful glorification of acts of terrorism. I am not prepared to comment on individual cases of deportation. I can, however, confirm that individuals who are suspected to have engaged in extremist activity have been deported on grounds that their presence in the UK not being considered conducive to the public good. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 474W, which provide the number of foreign nationals deported from the UK on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour (relating to foreign nationals who foment hatred or violence in support of their extremist beliefs). The police and other counter-terrorism partners seek to identify extremist websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations. A list of proscribed organisations is available on the Home Office website at:
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorist-threat/proscribedterrorist-orgs/proscribed-terrorist-groups/index.html
For national security reasons it is not possible to provide details of all such websites, premises or organisations of concern.
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Written Answers Human Trafficking
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Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the victims of human trafficking who were returned to their country of origin in each of the last five years were (a) EU nationals, (b) European non-EU nationals and (c) from a country other than Europe; and what the cost to the public [325032] purse was in each of those years. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Tracking victims of human trafficking beyond the National Referral Mechanism reflection and recovery period is limited if there is no longer a risk to their safety or health and they have the right to remain in the UK (UK and EEA victims in particular). This makes it difficult to confirm the numbers of voluntary returns in this category and what associated costs there have been. There is currently no record of any enforced return of individuals conclusively found to be victims of trafficking returned to their own country. Human Trafficking: Prosecutions Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of people for human trafficking offences there were between (a) April 2009 and April 2010 and (b) April 2008 and [325033] April 2009. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: In the period 2008-09 there were a total of 124 prosecutions for human trafficking offences with a further 106 prosecutions in the period 2009-10. In many cases where there is insufficient evidence to support a prosecution for human trafficking, there are successful prosecutions resulting in convictions for associated serious charges such as rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment, managing a brothel or assisting unlawful immigration. Identity Cards Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Identity and Passport Service on upgrading the capability of identity cards; what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of that upgrade; [323938] and if he will make a statement. Meg Hillier: I have regular discussions with the Identity and Passport service about developments in the National Identity Service (NIS). In relation to upgrading the capability of identity cards, our ideas are at the technical development stage and are being explored as part of the work to develop identity services. No final decisions with regard to these services have been taken and no final costs have therefore been identified. Police: Bureaucracy Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what five types of activity, excluding front-line policing, accounted for most police [319522] officer time in each year since 1997.
Alan Johnson: Front-line policing was defined in Home Office Guidance on Statutory Performance Indicators for Policing 2007-08, to include the following activities which have been measured using policy activity analysis (AA). Dealing with crime incidents; Dealing with non-crime incidents; Visible patrol; Special operations/events; Investigate complaints; Deal with informants; and community involvement. In each of the years between 2003-04 and 2007-08, the first three of these categories were consistently the activities on which the police spent most time. After the activities which comprise front-line policing, the same five activities took up the greatest proportions of police time over the same 2003-04 and 2007-08 period. They were, in descending order of time taken:
Non-incident-related paperwork Briefings/meetings Other non-incident-related work Refreshments Other managerial/supervision.
The amount of time spent annually on these activities in total over the period 2003-04 and 2007-08 was as follows:
2003-04: 26.9 per cent; 2004-05: 7.6 per cent; 2005-06: 26.9 per cent; 2006-07: 24.3 per cent; 2007-08: 25.6 per cent.
To reduce paperwork burdens on police officers, the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08 in response to the recommendations by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service published in February 2009.
Table A: proportion of time spent or policing activities, by activity and year Activity Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime RTA fatal/serious RTA minor injury/ damage Traffic Other Public disorder Domestic dispute Complaint/nuisance Prostitution False alarms Missing person 2003-04 3.2 2004-05 2.9 200-06 3.0 200-07 3.0 200-08 3.3
3.0
3.4
3.9
4.4
4.1
2.0 3.1 1.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 3.4 2.3 2.2 4.4 0.9 1.5 2.8 1.8 1.5 1.1 0.1 0.3 1.1
2.0 2.8 1.3 1.8 1.9 1.3 3.0 2.4 2.3 4.2 1.1 1.6 3.0 1.9 1.6 1.1 0.1 0.2 1.1
2.3 2.5 1.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 3.1 2.8 2.3 4.4 1.2 1.5 2.9 2.1 1.8 1.1 0.1 0.2 1.1
2.2 2.8 1.3 2.0 1.9 1.5 3.4 2.6 2.5 5.5 1.2 1.5 2.9 1.6 2.0 1.2 0.1 0.2 1.4
2.3 2.8 1.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 3.4 2.8 2.2 5.4 1.1 1.3 2.7 2.0 2.2 1.0 0.1 0.2 1.2
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Table A: proportion of time spent or policing activities, by activity and year Activity Sudden/suspicious death Other non crime Visible Patrol Court duties/escort Special operations/events Investigate complaints Deal with informants Community Involvement Property enquiries Non incident enquiries Crime prevention activity Prison interviews Training Briefings/meetings Non incident linked paperwork Other non incident related work Staff development/ appraisal/personnel related Monitoring cellblock PACE (Domain 2) Relief custody duties (Domain 2) Call handling/relief control room duties/ enquiry desk Checking paperwork (supervisory) Budgetary/financial ID parades Other managerial/ supervision Refreshments Waiting time Total All crime All non-crime incidents 2003-04 0.7 3.2 14.8 0.5 2.2 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.3 1.8 0.5 0.1 2.0 6.9 7.8 4.5 0.8 2004-05 0.7 2.9 15.7 0.6 2.0 0.2 0.2 1.3 0.4 1.6 0.4 0.1 1.7 6.6 6.6 6.5 0.7 200-06 0.7 2.7 14.4 0.5 1.6 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.4 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.6 6.4 6.5 6.3 0.7 200-07 0.8 3.1 14.0 0.6 1.7 0.2 0.3 1.4 0.3 1.4 0.4 0.1 1.4 5.9 6.5 4.6 0.9 200-08 0.7 3.1 14.4 0.5 1.8 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.7 6.5 7.3 4.3 0.8
Mr. Hanson: Following the Policing Green Paper: Cm 7448 From the Neighbourhood to National: Policing Our Communities Together, Police Authorities are now responsible for setting local employment targets in agreement with forces and in consultation with communities. The Home Office does not hold information on police forces which have adopted targets or policies to recruit Travellers. Prisoner Escapes Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) escapes and (b) attempted escapes there have been from prisons in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement.
[325307]
0.3 0.5 0.2
0.4 0.6 0.1
0.4 1.2 0.2
0.3 1.1 0.2
0.3 0.4 0.1
1.8 0.2 0.2 2.9 4.8 0.2 100.0 30.1 15.1
1.6 0.1 0.1 3.2 4.7 0.2 100.0 29.3 15.2
1.6 0.1 0.3 3.2 4.5 0.3 100.0 30.7 15.3
1.6 0.1 0.3 3.1 4.2 0.3 100.0 33.1 16.0
1.8 0.1 0.1 3.3 4.2 0.3 100.0 32.6 15.6
Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply. The number of escapes from custody has been falling since 1995 when the current central recording system for this type of incident began; this is against the backdrop of an increasing prison population. Despite these successes in reducing escapes, work continues to identify and remove risks which could lead to escapes. The following table shows the number of escapes and attempted escapes by year from April 2007. There have been no escapes of category A prisoners from prison since 1995.
Prisoners escaping from prison in England and Wales between 1 April 2007 and end of February 2010 Escapes 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 (to end February 2010) 4 1 2 Attempted escape 60 45 39
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of police officer time spent (a) inside police stations and (b) on the street in each year since 1997.
[319532]
Notes: 1. All figures shown are for key performance indicator escapes recorded as part of the National Offender Management Service performance management system. 2. Attempted escapes include any attempt to breach the perimeter or incidents that are indicative of advanced planning for an escape or finds of equipment that could be used for an escape. 3. These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. 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.
Alan Johnson: No such estimate has been made centrally. Police: Manpower Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 591W, on travelling people, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance document on local employment targets for under-represented groups published by the [324530] Association of Police Authorities. Mr. Hanson: I will arrange for a copy of the guidance to be placed in the Library. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 591W, on travelling people, what information his Department holds on those police forces which have adopted targets [324532] or policies to recruit Travellers.
Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Benefit Fraud Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of investigations by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency concerned benefit fraud in the last 12 months;
[324763]
(2) whether the Serious and Organised Crime Agency routinely investigates cases of benefit fraud convictions for links to organised criminal activity.
[324764]
Mr. Hanson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Serious Organised Crime Agency was set up to tackle serious organised crime and to reduce the harm it causes to the UK. SOCAs priorities are determined by the Home Secretary and set out in the SOCA Annual Plan. They include class A drugs, organised immigration crime and fraud as well as cross-cutting priorities such as firearms and criminal finances and profits.
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SOCAs operational activity is aligned to the UK Control Strategy for Organised Crime. While SOCA has not led operational activity which primarily focuses on benefit fraud, in the last 12 months, instances of benefit fraud may be uncovered as part of a wider investigation.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many court orders the Child Support Agency has sought for the recovery of outstanding payments from non-resident parents in each of the last 10 years. (324689) The table below provides information on the number of liability orders granted in England, Wales and Scotland in each financial year from 2004/5 to 2009/10. Information prior to 2004 is unavailable as this was not recorded for management information purposes.
Number of liability orders granted in England, Wales and Scotland England and Wales 7,300 10,465 12,635 16,580 22,610 13,290
WORK AND PENSIONS Children: Maintenance Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many court orders the Child Support Agency has sought for the recovery of outstanding payments from non-resident parents in each of the last [324689] 10 years. Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
Year April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 April 2006 to March 2007 April 2007 to March 2008 April 2008 to March 2009 April 2009 to October 20091 (latest available information)
1
All 7,760 11,245 13,510 17,755 24,675 14,130
Scotland 460 780 875 1,175 2,065 840
Figures for 2009/10 are only available until October 2009. Notes: 1. The term court order is defined as a liability order. 2. A liability order is a document obtained from the court showing that they legally recognise that the debt is owing. This is the same in both England and Wales and Scotland. This is required before the CSA can use litigation powers (Diligence in Scotland). 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
The tables below show other Enforcement Actions, some of which include court action, that have been taken in England, Wales and Scotland in each financial year from 2004/5 to 2009/10. Information prior to 2004 is unavailable as this was not recorded for management information purposes.
England and Wales April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 April 2006 to March 2007 April 2007 to March 2008 April 2008 to March 2009 April 2009 to October 20091
Distress Actions Judgement Orders 3rd Party Debt Orders Charging Orders
1
4,765 1,315 1,235 845
9,225 2,330 1,710 1335
13,625 1,920 2,090 1,850
14,765 1,390 1,790 1,735
18,380 435 2,395 2,480
9,325 25 860 1,615
Latest available information Scotland April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 125 450 575 April 2006 to March 2007 275 610 860 April 2007 to March 2008 235 485 1045 April 2008 to March 2009 270 890 1,745 April 2009 to October 20091 140 345 580
Attachments Arrestments Bills of inhibition

1
120 475 250
Latest available information England, Wales and Scotland April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 75,760 138,300 78 390 15 35 5 April 2006 to March 2007 64,915 (8) 143,800 77 420 40 30 5 April 2007 to March 2008 74,550 153,900 76 480 25 15 5 April 2008 to March 2009 66,705 148,400 78 580 45 45 5 April 2009 to October 20091 38,195 143,900 80 440 20 35 5
New Deductions from Earnings Orders/Requests Stock of DEO/Rs charging at end of period DEO/R compliance at end of period (percentage) Suspended Committal sentences Committal Sentences Suspended driving licence disqualification sentences Driving licence disqualification sentences
n/a 127,200 78 225 5 25 5
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April 2004 to March 2005 Prosecution for nondisclosure of information

1 2
April 2005 to March 2006

2
April 2009 to October 20091 955
1,390
Latest available information Prosecutions for non-disclosure of information only available from October 2008 Notes: 1. Distress actions refer to bailiff actions in England & Wales. This is where, once the debt has been legally recognised, the agency has passed the debt to a bailiff company for collection (or equivalent). 2. Judgement orders apply only to England and Wales. This registers the person with a County Court Judgement Order, which remains on their credit record for six years. 3. Third Party Debt orders in England and Wales instruct a third party to pay any funds owed to, or held on behalf of, the non-resident parent to the agency instead. In practice this is typically used for banks and building societies. 4. Charging orders in England and Wales are where a County Court Order for the legally recognised debt is attached to the equity in the non-resident parents property. 5. Attachments refer to actions taken by Sheriff Officers in Scotland on the agencys instruction to attach certain goods and remove for auction if the debt is not settled. 6. Arrestments refer to actions taken by Sheriff Officers in Scotland on the agencys instruction to serve an arrestment on a third party holding funds owed to, or held on behalf of, the non-resident parent to pay to the agency instead. In practice this is typically used for banks and building societies. 7. Bills of Inhibition in Scotland do not attach directly to the non-resident parents property, but are a personal prohibition preventing heritable property being transferred, alienated or disposed of by the non-resident parent. 8. The number of new Deduction from Earnings Order/Requests showed a marked increase in January 2007. This was due to a fix on the CS2 system in December 2006 to suspend 8,500 ineffective Deduction from Earnings Orders on cases where employers had informed the agency that the non-resident parent on that case was no longer in their employment. Many of these were reinstated as Deduction from Earnings Order/Requests in January 2007 resulting in a large increase that is in effect not real. In order to allow more consistent comparisons, figures for January 2007 have been removed and therefore figures for April 2006 to March 2007 and August 2006 to July 2007 are underestimated by around 6,000 requests. 9. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Council tax benefit recipients average weekly amount: Great Britain Month () 10.10 10.80 12.13 13.12 13.58 14.13 14.62
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were processed by the Child Support Agency in each of the last 10 years. [324690] Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Council Tax Benefits Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many council tax benefit recipients there were in (a) each local authority area in the East of England and (b) England in each of the last 10 years.
[325157]
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
May May May May May May May
Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Source: Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system Quarterly 100 per cent. taken in August 2007 Council tax benefit recipients average weekly amount: November 2008 and October 2009: Great Britain Month 15.10 15.76
Helen Goodman: The available information has been placed in the Library. Council Tax Benefits and Housing Benefit Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly payment of (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit was to a (i) private renter and (ii) social tenant in each year since [316251] 1997. Helen Goodman: The available information is in the tables. Council tax benefit figures are not available by tenancy type.
Council tax benefit recipients average weekly amount: Great Britain Month 1997 1998 1999 2000 May May May May () 7.30 8.20 8.80 9.40
2008 2009
December December
Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. 3. Inaugural SHBE data was extracted at November 2008. 4. October 2009 represents the latest data held. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE). All housing benefit recipients average weekly amounts by tenure May 1997 to May 2007: Great Britain Month 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 May May May May May May May May May May Social tenant () 38.90 40.33 42.64 44.94 47.97 51.41 52.11 55.78 58.70 61.81 Private tenant () 57.95 58.83 60.11 61.51 64.36 68.63 71.53 76.23 81.71 85.09
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million (2010-11 prices)
All housing benefit recipients average weekly amounts by tenure May 1997 to May 2007: Great Britain Month 2007 May Social tenant () 65.38 Private tenant () 2010-11 forecast 88.91 Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Average amounts are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. 3. Social tenants comprise Local authority and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) tenants. 4. Private tenants include regulated and deregulated tenants. Source: Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system aggregate quarterly 100 per cent. taken in May in each year shown. Housing Benefit 20,776
Council Tax Benefit 4,959
Notes: 1. Figures are for expenditure by DWP through subsidies to local authorities in respect of payments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to claimants. They do not include benefit payments funded directly by local authorities, or subsidy paid by DWP to cover administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. 2. Figures for 2009-10 expenditure are for subsidy paid to local authorities up to and including February 2010. Sources: Local Authority and DWP financial data and 2010 Budget forecasts
Data for December 2008 and December 2009 are derived from the new Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) which is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems, whereas earlier years are derived from quarterly aggregate clerical returns. Figures from the two sources may not be directly comparable; the introduction of SHBE has improved the accuracy of HB/CTB statistics as it based on individual claimant records rather than summary statistics, has a higher completion rate from local authorities leading to less estimation of missing data, and is subject to more thorough quality assurance.
All housing benefit recipients average weekly amounts by tenure December 2008 and December 2009: Great Britain. Month 2008 2009 December December Social tenant () 68.61 72.42 Private tenant () 100.96 105.89
Departmental Accountancy Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1097W, on departmental accountancy, if she will place in the Library a copy of each of the five written ministerial directions. [320776] Jonathan Shaw: A copy of each of the Ministerial Directions will be placed in the Library. Parts of the Direction given on 15 September 1998 have been redacted in accordance with a confidentiality agreement reached at the time. Departmental Contracts Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will issue guidance on her Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts [324790] let by her Department. Jim Knight: DWP does not have plans to relocate any of its departmental jobs offshore. Bidders for departmental contracts may occasionally offer to move elements of their proposed delivery solutions offshore for value for money reasons. Any such proposals would be properly considered, on their individual merits, taking data security, our obligations to Public Contracts Regulations (2006), EU Procurement Directives and the WTO Government Procurement Agreements and best overall value to the UK taxpayer into account. Departmental Data Protection Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many data security incidents there were in her Department in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what estimate she has made of the [325294] number of persons affected. Jonathan Shaw: The Department published details of data security incidents which arose during 2008-09, including the numbers of individuals affected, in the annual resource account which was published on 21 August 2009. We will be publishing the information for the year 2009-10 in the next resource account. The information is currently being compiled and verified before it is laid before Parliament.
Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. 4. Inaugural SHBE data was extracted at November 2008. 5. October 2009 represents the latest data held. 6. Social tenants comprise Local authority and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) tenants. 7. Private tenants include regulated and deregulated tenants. Source: Single housing benefit extract 100 per cent. individual level data (SHBE).
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit in 2008-09; how much her Department has spent on each benefit in 2009-10 to date; and how much she expects to be spent on each benefit in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [316340] Helen Goodman [holding answer 8 February 2010]: The information requested is in the following tables.
million (cash) Housing Benefit 2008-09 expenditure 2009-10 expenditure 2009-10 forecast 2010-11 forecast 16,756 17,344 19,532 20,776 Council Tax Benefit 4,129 4,284 4,656 4,959 million (2010-11 prices) Housing Benefit 2008-09 expenditure 2009-10 expenditure 2009-10 forecast 17,432 17,734 19,971 Council Tax Benefit 4,295 4,381 4,761
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Written Answers Departmental Senior Civil Servants
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to her Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to her Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in [324804] real terms. Jonathan Shaw: The cost of the press office for the 12 months from March 2009 to February 2010 is 2,499,577 providing media handling for the Department, Ministers, Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions, Carers and Disability Service. This covers 50 members of staff who are based in London, across the English regions, Scotland and Wales. They provide a service to the Department and to journalists 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001. Figures for 1996-97 are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints her Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.
[325187]
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in her Department. [325054] Jonathan Shaw: Grade 2 as a description of staff level is no longer in general use. Senior civil servants in roles at a similar level to the former grade 2 are now referred to as being in Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3 and usually have the job title of Director-General. The Department has 11 full time Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3s including two in DWP sponsored Non Departmental Public Bodies; one in each of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. Employment Schemes: Young People Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether young people taking part in the Young Persons Guarantee are to be allocated for (a) job searches and (b) job interviews whilst taking part in one of the full-time options mandated through the [322167] guarantee. Jim Knight: Before a young person participates in the Young Persons Guarantee they will already have undergone an extensive period of supported job search and, where appropriate, will have received help with interviews for suitable job vacancies. Young people participating in the Young Persons Guarantee will continue to receive help with job search and interviews: As part of the in work support given to Future Jobs Fund employees, employers are expected to provide training and support to help them move into permanent, sustained employment. From April, Jobcentre Plus will also contact FJF employees as they come towards the end of their job to provide information about jobs available in the local area. This support will complement the activities employers are undertaking to help young people in to sustained jobs. Young people on other strands of the Young Persons Guarantee also receive tailored help with job search and interviews. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what programmes sponsored by her Department are designed to assist young people into employment in Leeds North West constituency.
[322703]
Jim Knight: We do not hold figures for the number of complaints received regarding difficulties operating the Departments website. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [325271] Jim Knight: Over the last three years the Department has spent the following on external website design consultants:
Website 2009 2008 DWP Corporate Office for Disability Issues Cost (000) 112 98
There are no costs recorded for 2007. The DWP Corporate website was redesigned as part of our response to the Sir David Varney transformational government recommendations that customer facing content should move to Directgov and employer facing content to Business Link. We are currently working with Cabinet Office to conduct a survey that will act as a benchmark to measure customer satisfaction of the site. The Office for Disability issues website was redesigned as part of improvement work using customer feedback and research. Formal accessibility audits are carried out every year to ensure the website continues meet customer needs. All external contracts are tendered within agreed DWP contractual framework agreements.
Jim Knight: Young people in the Leeds North West constituency are able to access a wide package of measures that the Government have implemented to address youth unemployment. From day one of their claim Jobseekers can access provision that includes targeted group sessions in jobsearch techniques, access to Local Employment Partnership vacancies and access to additional financial support towards the costs associated with finding work. We have also quadrupled funding to the Rapid Response Service which provides advice and support to people facing redundancy.
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Longer-term jobseekers who remain unemployed after six months can access provision that includes the Young Persons Guarantee, which offers the guarantee of a job, training or work experience to all long-term jobseekers aged 18-24, through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF), Routes into Work, Work Focused Training, the Community Task Force and provides access to help with self employment. To date, the Government have agreed to fund around 117,000 jobs through the FJF, and, while details of these jobs are not broken down to constituency level, we know that this total figure includes the creation of up to 734 FJF jobs by Leeds city council. The Backing Young Britain Campaign brings together business and public and voluntary sectors to provide jobs, internships, apprenticeships and work experience to young people aged 16-24. Eligible young people can also access a wide range of flexible Jobcentre Plus provision which is tailored to meet other needs, such as those with special needs due to a disability or who are lone parents. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals (a) are eligible for assistance under and (b) have participated in the Young Persons Guarantee scheme since its inception.
[325251]
Funeral payment awards made in Great Britain in each of the last three years Number 2008-09 41,000 Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data; for example, it does not include claims which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. Figures include awards made on re-consideration or appeal. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 Source: Annual reports by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund.
All aspects of the social fund are kept under review to ensure that they deliver relevant, timely and appropriate support to the right people. The Green Paper Social Fund reform: debt, credit and low income households was published on the 15 March 2010 and it includes some discussion of funeral payments. The consultation period began on 15 March 2010 and runs until 7 June 2010. Future Jobs Fund Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many successful bidders for Future Jobs Fund funding have (a) reduced the number of jobs to be created from the number of the original bid and (b) withdrawn from the scheme;
[323495]
Jim Knight: The information requested is as follows:

(a) The latest available figures show that 117,400 young people (please note these are provisional figures for February 2010 and are subject to change) have been claiming jobseekers allowance for six months or over, and all are eligible to access the wide range of provision available through the Young Persons Guarantee (YPG). (b) Figures on the number of young people who have participated in the YPG are currently unavailable. We are planning to publish statistics on the YPG later this year possible, in line with the UK Statistical Authorities Code of Practice on official statistics.
(2) what change there has been in the number of jobs to be created by successful bidders for Future Jobs Fund funding compared to the number of jobs [323559] contained in those bidders original bids. Jim Knight: No successful bidders have withdrawn from the Future Jobs Fund. The remaining information requested is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Hewlett Packard Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what effect the recent industrial action by Hewlett Packard employees has had on the payment by [325181] her Department of benefits by giro cheque. Helen Goodman: The recent industrial action by Hewlett Packard employees has had no effect on the payment of DWP benefits by cheque (formerly girocheques). Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether service level agreements between Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services and her Department have been breached since 22 January 2010.
[325182]
Foreign Workers Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the effects on expenditure on benefits of offshoring of jobs.
[324962]
Jim Knight: No specific estimate of the effect of offshoring on benefit expenditure has been made. Funeral Payments Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many funerals received funding from the Social Fund in each of the last three years; and what assessment her Department has made [324481] of trends in the cost of funerals. Helen Goodman: The available information is in the table.
Funeral payment awards made in Great Britain in each of the last three years Number 2006-07 2007-08 41,000 40,000
Jim Knight: There have been six minor breaches of the service level agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services since 22 January 2010. None of the breaches has affected the Departments service to its customers. The Department took appropriate action within the terms of the service level agreement.
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Written Answers Housing Benefit: Cambridgeshire
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Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Peterborough and (b) Cambridgeshire are receiving local housing [325062] allowance. Helen Goodman: The available information is in the table
Housing benefit recipientslocal housing allowance (LHA) tenants in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire; as at December 2009 Number City of Peterborough Cambridgeshire 3,520 4,990
Miners may also qualify under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 which makes lump sum payments to sufferers of certain dust related diseases. Jobcentre Plus Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus branches there were in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in (i) England and (ii) Wales in each of the last 10 years. [323316] Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is the responsibility of the chief executive, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested. Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus branches there were in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in (i) England and (ii) Wales in each of the last 10 years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am only able to provide information on Jobcentre Plus offices since April 2002, when Jobcentre Plus was created by the merger of the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency. Our public facing network is designed to provide reasonable access to our services throughout England and Wales. Offices open to the public are not categorised as constituting part of an urban conurbation or being sited within a rural location. Jobcentre Plus inherited around 1,500 offices from the merger of the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service in 2002. At the time of merger the two organisations had many offices which were geographically close to each other, often in the same street. We have modernised our Jobcentre network to improve customer service, rationalising our estate to provide excellent high street coverage and a single, integrated customer facing office, at the same time reducing cost to the tax payer. We remain the largest office network in Government with 741 modern Jobcentres. This high street presence is supported by 31 modern contact centres and 79 main benefit processing centres. The great majority of our services (in common with most large, modern organisations) are now also delivered through the telephone and internet. For example, to give customers more convenient access, we have almost half a million vacancies on-line at any time (our website receives close to one million job searches every working day), and new claims to benefit are predominantly taken by telephone with some taken on-line. In order to make our services more accessible to customers we are providing a range of support through outreach, often delivering advisory and other support on partners premises This has brought our customer facing services together in a more coherent and integrated network and I believe Jobcentre Plus is well-placed to respond to the full range of economic conditions. I hope this is helpful.
Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Local housing allowance tenants may include a small number of non-LHA cases making a new claim since 7 April 2008. This will include recipients in caravan accommodation. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 5. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and December 2009 is the most recent available. 6. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 7. Data from SHBE incorporates the local authority changes from 1 April 2009. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE).
Industrial Diseases: Compensation Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her policy is on compensation awarded to former coal miners diagnosed with work-related physical and mental medical conditions; [325308] and if she will make a statement. Jonathan Shaw: Jobcentre Plus administers the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits (IIDB) scheme which provides non-contributory no fault benefits for disablement at work arising from an accident or one of over 70 prescribed diseases known to be a risk of occupation. Miners may qualify for a payment if they have been disabled as a result of an accident or have one of the following diseases which have been specifically prescribed for diseases caused by work in the coal mining industry:
Prescribed Disease D12chronic bronchitis and emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Prescribed Disease A14osteoarthritis of the knee. Prescribed Disease B4ankylostomiasisexposure to blood sucking parasites and hookworms.
Jobcentre Plus: Recruitment Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Jobcentre Plus spent on recruitment in 2008-09; and what proportion of staff [321361] costs such expenditure represented. Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested. Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your questions asking how much Jobcentre Plus spent on recruitment in 2008-09; and what proportion of staff costs
Where appropriate, miners commonly claim for the following other diseases under the IIDB scheme, although these also cover other occupations:
Prescribed Disease A6bursitis (commonly known by miners as beat knee). Prescribed Disease A11Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, commonly known as vibration white finger. Prescribed Disease D1pneumoconiosis. Prescribed Disease A10-occupational deafness. Prescribed Disease D5non-infective dermatitis.
There may also be entitlement to Reduced Earnings Allowance if the date of onset of the disease is before 1 October 1990.
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such expenditure represented. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. There are a variety of activities that contribute to the cost of recruitment including the cost of training staff to undertake recruitment exercises; expenses such as travel and accommodation that may be incurred in attending interviews; the cost of hiring venues where required; publicity costs for recruitment campaigns; security and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks; administration services provided by DWP Shared Service; the cost of Jobcentre Plus staff time spent on recruitment, for example sifting applications and the use of external recruitment providers where necessary. Additionally, we advertise all our vacancies through Jobcentre Plus as a matter of course. These recruitment costs are not recorded separately within our financial systems so we cannot provide the amount spent on recruitment in Jobcentre Plus in 2008-09. I hope this information is helpful.
Income support (IS) and income-based jobseekers allowance (JSA (IB)) claimants by age, Great Britain, August 2009 Aged 21 years and under Aged over 21 years
All ages
JSA (IB)
1,055,700
262,000
793,700
Jobseekers Allowance Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged (a) under 25, (b) 25 to 50 and (c) over 50 years old (i) claimed jobseekers allowance and (ii) were helped into employment by Jobcentre Plus in each Jobcentre Plus [323819] district in each month from January 2008. Jim Knight: The available information on jobseekers allowance claimants has been placed in the Library. The Office for National Statistics also publishes voluntarily provided information on the numbers of people leaving jobseekers allowance for employment on the Nomis website. As the provision of this data is voluntary, it does not have sufficient coverage to give the complete picture. Jobseekers Allowance: East of England Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average duration of jobseekers allowance claim was in each local authority area in the East of England in each of the last (a) 12 months and [325158] (b) 10 years. Helen Goodman: The available information has been placed in the Library. Means-tested Benefits Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons with a national insurance number who are (a) 21 or under and (b) over 21 years old claim all means-tested benefits.
[319081]
Notes: 1. Figures for JSA (IB) have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Figures for IS are taken from 100 per cent. data and rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. JSA (IB) benefit type: The benefit type is defined as pay status at the case load datethis may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 5. JSA (IB) includes a small number of claimants with both contributory-based and income-based entitlement. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) Information Directorate, 100 per cent., 5 per cent. samples. Employment and support allowance (income-based) claimants by age, Great Britain, August 2009 All ages Number 190,380 Aged 21 years and under 29,840 Aged over 21 years 160,540
Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 4. ESA, income-based benefit type: The benefit type is defined as pay status at the case load datethis may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 5. Income-based ESA includes a small number of claimants with both contributorybased and income-based entitlement. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). Pension credit claimants, Great Britain, August 2009 Number Total 2,737,290
Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. These pension credit statistics are produced on a different basis to the early estimates. The latter are more timely but operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in them. 3. This data represents all claimants as this benefit is not paid to anyone aged under 60. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). Housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants by age, Great Britain, November 2009 All ages Housing benefit Council tax benefit 4,579,180 5,600,830 Aged 21 years and under 184,370 137,200 Aged over 21 years 4,394,520 5,463,300
Jim Knight: All claimants are required to have, or have applied for a national insurance number (NINO) when they claim benefits; however, possession of a NINO does not in and of itself confer any rights to benefits on its holder. The most recent available information is in the following tables.
Income support (IS) and income-based jobseekers allowance (JSA (IB)) claimants by age, Great Britain, August 2009 All ages IS 1,955,330 Aged 21 years and under 145,310 Aged over 21 years 1,810,010
Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases. 5. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and November 2009 is the most recent available. 6. There will be overlaps in data between housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB) and between HB/CTB and the other benefits shown in the preceding tables. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE).
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Written Answers Mortgages: Government Assistance
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The available information is in the table:

Income support, income-based jobseekers allowance and state pension credit claimants who are receiving assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme in the west midlands Quarter 1997 August November 1998 February May August November 1999 February May August November 2000 February May August November 2001 February May August November 27,500 27,000 26,700 26,300 27,700 27,800 27,300 30,900 30,300 29,800 29,100 34,000 33,000 32,600 31,300 35,600 34,800 Total support for Mortgage Interest population in west midlands
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households received assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme in [316828] each of the last 24 months. Helen Goodman [holding answer 10 February 2010]: Financial support for home owners who are having difficulty in meeting their mortgage payments is provided through the benefits system. Help is available towards the interest on mortgages (known as Support for Mortgage Interest) as part of income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and state pension credit. The following table shows the number of households who have received assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme each quarter since February 2008. The information requested is not available on a monthly basis.
Income support, income-based jobseekers allowance and state pension credit claimants who are receiving assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme Total SMI population February 2008 May 2008 August 2008 November 2008 February 2009 May 2009 August 2009 204,900 202,200 199,400 197,400 204,200 215,400 221,000
Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study totals. 3. Employment and support allowance was introduced in October 2008. No estimate is available yet for the number of employment and support allowance (income-related) cases. 4. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources. In this case reliable data for mortgage interest support is not available from the 100 per cent. data so the 5 per cent. data has been used, the latest of which is August 2009. 5. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. Residual minimum income guarantee cases are included in the income support figures. 6. Pension credit is claimed on a household basis and therefore the number of people that pension credit helps is the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are also claiming. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry Data, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
2002 February May August November 25,400 25,300 25,800 25,300
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the West Midlands have received assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme since its inception.
[325049]
Helen Goodman: Financial support for homeowners who are having difficulty in meeting their mortgage payments is provided through the benefits system. Help is available towards the interest on mortgages (known as Support for Mortgage Interest) as part of income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, and incomerelated employment and support allowance and state pension credit. Support for Mortgage Interest was available through supplementary benefit which was replaced by income support in 1988. A complete series of quality assured data is not available before August 1997.
2006 February May August 22,700 22,400 22,600
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New deal: Jobs (spells) in York parliamentary constituency
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Income support, income-based jobseekers allowance and state pension credit claimants who are receiving assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme in the west midlands Quarter November 2007 February May August November 2008 February May August November 2009 February May August 20,600 21,900 22,200 20,100 19,700 19,400 19,200 21,700 21,700 20,900 Total support for Mortgage Interest population in west midlands 22,200 Total 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Number New deal for young people 1,680 150 220 190 170 130 130 130 80 110 160 100 110 New deal for lone parents 1,780
1
New deal for disabled people 300

1 1 1 1
Total 3,760 150 320 310 310 310 300 350 320 300 480 370 230
10 10 20 40 70
100 120 140 170 160 200 200 120 210 230 120
110 40
2
New deal: Jobs (spells) in York parliamentary constituency Number New deal for young people Total since August 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009
1 1
New deal for lone parents 200 10 30 20 20 10 20 10 10 20 10 10 20 10
Total 360 20 40 30 30 10 30 20 20 30 30 30 50 20
Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures have been up-rated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study totals. 3. The quarter November 2007 is unavailable. 4. The quarter February 2000 is unavailable. 5. Employment and support allowance was introduced in October 2008. No estimate is available yet for the number of employment and support allowance (income-related) cases. 6. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources. In this case reliable data for mortgage interest support are not available from the 100 per cent. data so the 5 per cent data have been used. The latest of which is August 2009. 7. Pension Credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. Residual minimum income guarantee cases are included in the income support figures. 8. Pension credit is claimed on a household basis and therefore the number of people that pension credit helps is the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are also claiming. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry Data, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
160 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 20 20 30 10
New Deal Schemes Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) young people, (b) long-term unemployed, (c) disabled people, (d) lone parents and (e) people in total living in York have been assisted into work by the New Deal programmes (i) [322123] since 1997 and (ii) in the last 12 months. Jim Knight: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the new deal programme has helped more than 2.2 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998. The introduction of the Flexible New Deal will support the Governments aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for those people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment. The Flexible New Deal will be available in most areas of the country by October 2010. The available information can be found in the following tables:
Nil or negligible. 2 Not applicable. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some disclosure control has been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. The latest new deal figures are starting to show the effects of the introduction of the new Jobseekers Regime and Flexible New Deal (JRFND). The scheme is being gradually implemented in phase 1 areas from April 2009 and in the remaining phase 2 districts from April 2010. 3. The calendar year of starting new deal. Latest data are to August 2009. 4. The new deal for young people pilots began in January 1998 and full national roll-out occurred in April 1998. 5. The new deal for lone parents was introduced in October 1998. 6. The new deal for disabled people was introduced in July 2001. 7. Data are not available for new deal for disabled people as it was phased out in the area from April 2008 and replaced by another Government initiative known as Provider led (PI) Pathways to Work. 8. Data for all long-term (12 month) unemployed people moving into work through the new deal are not available. Flows between benefit data and new deal statistical information are not available. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.
New Deal Schemes: Chesterfield Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Chesterfield constituency have entered into work after participation [318626] in the New Deal programme since 1997. Jim Knight [holding answer 25 February 2010]: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the New Deal programme has helped more than 2.2 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998.
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The introduction of the Flexible New Deal will support the Governments aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for those people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment. The Flexible New Deal will be available in most areas of the country by October 2010. The following table sets out the numbers of people who have moved from the New Deal for Young People, the New Deal 25 Plus, the New Deal for Partners and New Deal for Lone Parents immediately into work. The latest data held is up to August 2009.
Numbers of people leaving New Deals for employment 1997 to August 2009: Chesterfield Westminster parliamentary constituency Total Employment New Deal For Young People New Deal 25+ New Deal For Partners1 New Deal For Lone Parents
1
expenditure, the figures in the following table therefore only include the direct staff costs of administering New Deal programmes (calculated on the basis of number full time equivalent staff delivering the programme) and are not directly comparable with the figures contained in the table above which include all administrative expenditure.
Expenditure on New Deal 2003-09 Period 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-091
1
Yearly outturn for New Deal programmes ( million) 559 588 512 449 515 446
Employment and benefits 160 60 10 210
Other 2,830 1,810 20 1,190
4,930 2,620 40 2,440
1,940 750 10 1,030
The measure used for New Deal for Partners is Leavers (Individuals) as spells are not available in these cases. Notes: Definitions and Conventions: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Westminster parliamentary constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and customers postcode. 3. Other includes: Benefits-Income Support, Benefits-Incapacity Benefit/ESA, Benefits-Other/Unknown benefits, Other known, and Off Benefits/ UnknownOther categories include people who may have found a job, but have not notified Jobcentre Plus. 4. Information for leavers on New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal for 50+ is not available. 5. We do not require people leaving the New Deal programmes to record exactly where they leave to. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate Published
Forecast outturn as reported in Departmental Report 2009. Notes: 1. Yearly outturn data includes programme and administrative expenditure but excludes the cost of AME training allowances. 2. The figures for 2002-03 include an estimate of administrative expenditure. 3. These figures are available in the Departmental Report 2009 which is available in the Library. Source: Department for Work Pensions, Employment Group Finance, Planning and Performance Division
The latest New Deal figures will be affected by the introduction of the new Jobseekers Regime and Flexible New Deal (gradual implementation started from April 2009). Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse of the New Deal 13 week programme was (a) in total and (b) per participant in the last 12 months; and how many people have participated in the programme in each year [324951] since its inception. Jim Knight: The information requested is in the following tables. Data has been provided for new deal for young people options and new deal 25-plus intensive activity period, both of which have a 13-week minimum duration.
Cost of new deal 13-week programme in 2008-09 Total spend () New Deal for Young People Options New Deal 25-plus Intensive Activity Period 84,200,000 85,100,000 Total starts (Number) 88,527 60,350 Unit cost ()
New Deal Schemes: Expenditure Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse of the New Deal programme has been in each year since its [322175] inception. Jim Knight: The available information can be found in the following table. Since 1998 the New Deal has led a major transformation in employment support for people in Britain. Together, the different New Deal programmes have helped around 2.25 million people into work.
Programme and administration expenditure on New Deal 1997 to 2003 Period 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 Yearly outturn for New Deal programmes ( million) 43 314 535 565 629 614
951 1,410
Notes: 1. Total starts are not individuals; people may start on the options/intensive activity period more than once. 2. The options have a minimum duration of 13 weeks. Total starts include starts on opportunities of up to 52 weeks duration. 3. The employment option and subsidised employment are not included. 4. Figures have been provided for 2008-09 as this is the last complete financial year. 5. Figures provided are programme costs only and do not include the costs of administering or referring people on to these programmes by Jobcentre Plus staff, or any incidental expenses such as travel or child care. Source: DWP: Provider Level Management Information System. New deal for young people, gateway start year on first option taken Calendar year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 All 57,830 89,150 71,560 55,390 54,600 52,280
From 2002-03 onwards HM Treasury agreed to simplify reporting arrangements and only required the Department to report on total New Deal expenditure. As the Department was no longer required to manage administrative budgets for individual New Deals managers were afforded extended flexibility in deploying the resources available to them. In addition to the programme
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New deal for young people, gateway start year on first option taken Calendar year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 All 48,010 43,500 58,070 68,440 64,600 80,810
Notes: 1. Definitions and conventions: Figures are displayed in thousands and rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Time series: calendar years. 3. The latest new deal for young people and new deal 25-plus figures are starting to show the effects of the introduction of the new jobseekers regime and flexible new deal (JRFND). The scheme is being gradually implemented in phase 1 areas from April 2009 and in the remaining phase 2 districts from April 2010. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate. New deal 25-plus, gateway start year on first option taken Calendar year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 All 5,630 20,750 18,330 24,440 44,830 44,260 37,130 33,450 37,280 61,290 65,170 50,290
Estimates of poverty, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allow a breakdown of the overall numbers in poverty at Government Office Region level. Therefore, information is available for the West Midlands Government office region, but not available for the city of Coventry. Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures are quoted to the nearest 100,000 and percentages are quoted to the nearest whole percentage point. The latest information relates to the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 in which there were around 200,000 pensioners in poverty (18 per cent.) in the West Midlands Government office region. Personal Income Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) children, (b) adults of working age and (c) pensioners were living in households with between 30 and 50 per cent. of median income in each year since 1997. [323481] Helen Goodman [holding answer 22 March 2010]: Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty as measured using the EU standard definition based on 60 per cent. of median income. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved. Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all. We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Targeted support, such as pension credit and additional funding for all pensioners has contributed to 900,000 fewer pensioners in relative poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99. For 1997-98 to 2001-02, only information for Great Britain is available. We have therefore presented information covering Great Britain only. Information splitting groups with incomes below 50 per cent. of median income is not presented in the Households Below Average Income series as it is an unreliable measure of poverty. Such data for households with an income lower than 50 per cent. of median are not considered to be accurate as an indicator of living standards. These figures are not National Statistics and caution must be applied because those people stating the lowest incomes in the Family Resources Survey, (the underlying data source for the Households Below Average Income series) may not actually have the lowest living standards. Using a threshold of 60 per cent. of median income is in line with international best practice. Poverty for working age adults is presented after housing costs. Child poverty is presented both before housing costs and after housing costs, and pensioner poverty is presented after housing costs, in line with the relevant public service agreements. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income for the three groups.
Notes: 1. Definitions and conventions: Figures are displayed in thousands and rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Time series: calendar years. 3. The latest new deal for young people and new deal 25-plus figures are starting to show the effects of the introduction of the new jobseekers regime and flexible new deal (JRFND). The scheme is being gradually implemented in phase 1 areas from April 2009 and in the remaining phase 2 districts from April 2010. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.
Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.
[324240]
Jonathan Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend, the Exchequer Secretary (Sarah McCarthy-Fry). Pensioners: Poverty Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her most recent estimate is of the number of pensioners in poverty in (a) [325083] Coventry and (b) the West Midlands. Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to him on 1 March 2010, Official Report, columns 896-97W. The Government use a basket of three key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner poverty. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, after housing costs.
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The information given in the following table should therefore be treated with caution.
The numbers of children, working-age adults and pensioners in households with incomes between 30 and 50 per cent. of contemporary median income, Great Britain 1997-98 to 2007-08 Million Children BHC 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 AHC 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.8 Workingage adults AHC 3.1 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.6 3.0 3.0 3.1 Pensioner AHC 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.8
Numbers and Proportion of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, Before Housing Costs, South West, 1994/95-1996/97 to 2005/06-2007/08 Number of children (million) 1995/96-1997/98 1996/97-1998/99 1997/98-1999/2000 1998/99-2000/01 1999/00-2001/02 2000/01-2002/03 2001/02-2003/04 2002/03-2004/05 2003/04-2005/06 2004/05-2006/07 2005/06-2007/08 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Proportion of children (percentage) 21 23 24 22 20 19 18 18 17 17 18
Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both the Households Below Average Income series and the Family Resources Survey are available in the Library. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures are single financial years. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development equivalisation factors. 6. The number working-age adults, pensioners and children have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand individuals. 7. Figures are only available covering the United Kingdom from 1998-99. 8. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP
Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both of these documents are available in the Library. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference periods for Households Below Average Income figures are single financial years. Three sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development equivalisation factors. 6. Information for adults includes those above State Pension age. 7. Numbers of children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP
Poverty: Ethnic Groups Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children from an (a) Black Caribbean, (b) Black African, (c) Black other, (d) Indian, (e) Pakistani, (f) Bangladeshi, (g) other Asian, (h) Chinese, (i) other ethnic minority and (j) mixed race background resident in (i) the East Midlands, (ii) Leicester and (iii) England are living in [323489] severe poverty. Helen Goodman: Between 1998-99 and 2007-08, some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty as measured using the European Union standard definition based on 60 per cent. of median income. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved. Child poverty statistics, published in the households below average income series, only allow a breakdown at country level of the overall number of children in relative poverty by ethnic group. This means information for (i) East Midlands and (ii) Leicester is not available. The ethnic groupings used in the table are the lowest level of breakdown available for the groups requested. This is because some of the groups asked for in the question have sample sizes which are too small to be reliable. Data are presented as three-year averages, due to variability in single-year estimates. There is no official or agreed definition of severe poverty. The households below average income series presents a range of low-income thresholds (based on
Poverty: Children Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children have been living in poverty in the South West in each year since 1993.
[315965]
Helen Goodman: Specific information regarding low income for the UK is available in Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2007-08. This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the numbers and proportions of individuals, children, working age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent. 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportions in persistent poverty. For children, it also contains a measure of combined low income and material deprivation. Estimates of poverty by region, published in the Households Below Average Income series, begin from 1994-95. The number and proportion of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, on a before housing costs basis, are in the table.
Numbers and Proportion of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, Before Housing Costs, South West, 1994/95-1996/97 to 2005/06-2007/08 Number of children (million) 1994/95-1996/97 0.2 Proportion of children (percentage) 21
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50, 60 and 70 per cent. of median income). Figures for England looking at the number of children in households below 60 per cent. of median are given in the table. Statistics based on other thresholds are given in the Households Below Average Income publication, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Numbers of children living in Black Caribbean, Black Non-Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi, Chinese and other groups, and mixed race background households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income before housing costs, England, 2005-06 to 2007-08 Ethnic group Black Caribbean Black Non-Caribbean Indian Pakistani and Bangladeshi Chinese and other groups Mixed race background
1
stressful time, particularly if the person contacted is a close friend or family member. Overpayments are written off if the deceased has no estate or there are insufficient funds in the estate. The following table details how much was paid to, and recovered from, the deceased as from 2006-07. The systems on which this information is based were only introduced during 2005-06 and comprehensive information is only available from 2006-07.
2006-07 Paid out ( million) As a proportion of benefit expenditure (Percentage) Recovered ( million) 62.0 0.05 38.0 2007-08 71.7 0.06 46.0 2008-09 77.4 0.06 51.0
Number of children (millions)

1
0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1

1
Source: Management Information from the Shared Services Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system.
Indicates less than 50,000 children. Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both the households below average income series and the Family Resources Survey are available in the Library. 2. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for households below average income figures are single financial years. Three survey year averages are given for ethnic group statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. Household ethnic group has been classified according to the ethnic group of the household reference person. The household reference person is classified as the highest income householder without regard to gender. This is consistent with the households below average income publication. 5. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses net disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 6. For the households below average income series, incomes have been equivalised using organisation for economic co-operation and development equivalisation factors. 7. Numbers of children have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand children. Source: Households Below Average Income, 2005-06 to 2007-08.
Social Security Benefits: Cambridgeshire Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received (a) jobseekers allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit in North West Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a [324755] statement. Helen Goodman: Unemployment in the UK at the end of 2009 was more than 450,000 lower than had been predicted at the time of the 2009 Budget. The available information is in the following table.
Number of claimants of jobseekers allowance (JSA), incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and income support (IS) in North West Cambridgeshire, as at August in each of the last 10 years As at August each year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 JSA 860 770 790 810 830 980 1,130 1,110 1,320 2,500 IB/SDA 2,880 3,020 2,990 3,080 3,150 3,230 3,290 3,370 3,480 3,110 IS 3,220 3,300 3,280 3,280 1,310 1,270 1,260 1,310 1,290 1,390
Social Security Benefits Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been (a) paid out and (b) recovered in benefits to dead people in [324411] each of the last 10 years. Helen Goodman: Unfortunately, through no fault of any individual, overpayments of benefit can arise following the death of a benefit recipient. Such overpayments normally arise as a result of the Department being notified of the death too late to stop an automated payment being made into the deceaseds account. We are doing all we can to improve the current process. We now receive electronic notifications of death from the Office for National Statistics on a daily basis. This will assist in enabling a prompt cessation of payments following death and reduce such overpayments occurring. As from early 2009 we have a system in place whereby registrars in England and Wales automatically inform the Department on a daily basis of deaths notified to them. The Scottish Registrars Office now notifies us of deaths by daily e-mail; this will be fully automated as from October 2010. The Department has a duty to seek recovery of all overpaid funds where it is reasonable and cost-effective to do so. However, we seek to do this as sensitively as possible, taking account of the fact that this will be a
Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Benefits are arranged hierarchically and claimants are assigned to the topmost benefit which they receive. 3. JSA: Claimant of jobseekers allowance. 4. IB/SDA: Claimant of either incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance. 5. Income Support: Claimants include lone parents and those not included in the IB/SDA figure. 6. Most existing minimum income guarantee cases (1.8 million) were migrated to pension credit when it was introduced in October 2003. Some residual cases remain. 7. This data does not include claimants of employment and support allowance introduced from October 2008. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claims for (a) disability allowance and (b) attendance allowance were approved made under special rules in the latest period [322179] for which figures are available.
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Jonathan Shaw: The available information is provided in the table.

Great Britain new claims for attendance allowance and disability living allowance by special rules year to August 2009 Benefit Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance Proportion of approved claims made under special rules (Percentage) 9.5 7.6
Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the table.

Total number of incapacity benefit referrals received by Atos Healthcare and the total number where an IB113 form was requested, October 2007 to October 2008. Percentage of referrals where a GP report was requested 13 13 14 14 13 13 13 12 12 12 12 12 14 13
Month October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 Total
Incapacity benefit referrals 157,450 172,627 93,527 117,143 106,102 90,202 107,539 94,609 102,460 104,015 84,417 102,069 107,211 1,439,371
GP report requested 19,731 23,017 12,643 16,659 13,406 11,387 14,363 10,986 11,990 12,347 10,244 12,647 14,588 184,008
Notes: 1. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 2. An on-flow to disability living allowance or attendance allowance is defined as someone who is shown as in receipt of either benefit on a quarterly data extract but did not appear on the previous quarterly data extract. These yearly figures are the sum of four quarterly on-flows calculated on this basis. This means that anyone flowing on and off the benefit between data extract dates will not appear in the figures. 3. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of disability living allowance claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5 per cent. sample data, or disabling condition is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100 per cent. total for the benefit. These figures have been scaled up to the overall total. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. Figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
Source: Atos Healthcare Management Information published to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for attendance allowance made under special rules were approved in [322181] each of the last five years. Jonathan Shaw: The available information is provided in the table.
Attendance allowance new claim awards for special rules by Great Britain by year August 2005 to August 2009 Awards 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 28,200 27,400 29,200 27,500 28,100
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of claims for employment and support allowance involved a request for medical information using an ESA113 form [323427] in each month since October 2008. Jonathan Shaw: The available information is the table.
Total number of employment and support allowance medical referrals and the total number where an ESA113 form was requestedOctober 2008 to February 2010. Employment and support allowance medical referrals October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 Total 191 10,226 26,453 43,035 48,149 55,567 52,244 53,364 58,016 59,314 57,661 62,792 61,813 67,480 54,794 58,898 62,770 Number of GP reports requested 0 175 743 1,564 2,374 3,078 2,832 3,453 4,029 4,028 3,623 4,405 4,465 5,238 4,871 5,247 5,163 Percentage of GP reports requested 0 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 7 6 7 7 8 9 9 8
Notes: 1. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 2. An on-flow to attendance allowance is defined as someone who is shown as in receipt of benefit on a quarterly data extract but did not appear on the previous quarterly data extract. These yearly figures are the sum of four quarterly on-flows calculated on this basis. This means that anyone flowing on and off the benefit between data extract dates will not appear in the figures. For the year to August 2008 the November 2007 data extract was unavailable for technical reasons. This means that on-flows for this year comprise on-flows from May 2008 to August 2008, from February 2008 to May 2008 and from August 2007 to February 2008. 3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 4. Caution: The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of disability living allowance claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5 per cent. sample data, or disabling condition is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100 per cent. total for the benefit. These figures have been scaled up to the overall total. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. Figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of claims for incapacity benefit involved a request for medical information using an IB113 form between October [323426] 2007 and October 2008.
Source: Atos Healthcare Management Information published to the Department for Work and Pensions.
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Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been claiming (a) an out of work benefit and (b) a combination of different out of work benefits continuously since 1997.
[306365]
Jim Knight [holding answer 14 December 2009]: The number of people claiming one of the key out-of-work benefits has fallen by over 350,000 since 1997. The available information is in the following table.
Number claiming jobseekers allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, or income support for 12 years and over, as at August 2009 Number Jobseeker Incapacity benefits All other income support 370 661,190 77,070
Helen Goodman: Between 1998-99 and 2007-08, some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty as measured using the EU standard definition based on 60 per cent. of median income. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved. The information as requested is not available for 1997. The available information for 2005 and the latest year for which figures are available have been placed in the Library. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people of working age in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency were claiming an out-of-work benefit in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the latest year for [324841] which figures are available. Helen Goodman: Unemployment in the UK at the end of 2009 was more than 450,000 lower than had been predicted at the time of the 2009 Budget. The available information has been placed in the Library. Welfare to Work: Standards Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will place in the Library a copy of her Departments most recent monthly summary report on the performance of all welfare-to-work [317617] providers against agreed targets. Jim Knight: A copy of the most recent report, which includes the cumulative performance of contracted provision up to the end of December 2009, has been placed in the Library, alongside the Departments Provider Performance Strategy and average monthly jobs graph. DWP is looking at making contracted performance information available on a regular basis via the DWP Website. The publishable version of the report has commercially sensitive and un-audited finance portions removed. Winter Fuel Payments: Cambridgeshire Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments were made by households in (a) North West Cambridgeshire, (b) Cambridgeshire and (c) Peterborough in the latest period for which figures are [325156] available. Angela Eagle: Information on winter fuel payment claims made by households in (a) North West Cambridgeshire, (b) Cambridgeshire and (c) Peterborough is not available. For winter 2008-09, the latest year for which information is available, the following numbers of winter fuel payments were made to households:
Number North West Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire 14,970 86,570
Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Benefits are arranged hierarchically and claimants are assigned to the topmost benefit which they receive. 3. For this analysis the claim start date has been used. 4. Job seekerclaimant of job seekers allowance. 5. Incapacity benefitsclaimant of either incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance. 6. Income supportclaimants of income support not included in the incapacity benefits figure. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Although this group of benefits are generally known as out-of-work benefits, income support and jobseekers allowance claimants can work for up to 16 hours a week. Where appropriate, those on incapacity benefits can also do some work under the permitted work rules. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on out-of-work benefits, including council tax benefit and housing benefit paid to households claiming out-ofwork benefits, in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the latest [324533] year for which figures are available. Helen Goodman: The available information has been placed in the Library. Information for housing benefit and council tax benefit paid to people claiming out of work benefits, at parliamentary constituency and local authority level, is not available. Benefit expenditure outturn and forecast information, including breakdowns by parliamentary constituency and local authority, is available at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp A copy of this information has been placed in the Library.
Figures for 2008-09 are in the process of being updated, and will shortly be published on the internet at the address above, and a copy placed in the Library. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of children were living in a household dependent on out-of-work benefits in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the [324839] latest year for which figures are available.
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Number Peterborough 13,500
Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2.Local Authorities and Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source: Information directorate 100 per cent data.
Written Questions: Government Responses Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she plans to answer question (a) 302791, on the Social Security Advisory Committee, tabled on 25 November 2009, (b) 307546 on parliamentary questions, tabled on 10 December 2009, (c) 314731, on employment and support allowance, tabled on 27 January 2010, (d) 305047, on Jobcentre Plus, tabled on 28 January 2010, (e) 314936, on Jobcentre Plus, tabled on 28 January 2010, (f) 314935 on benefit delivery centres, tabled on 28 January 2010, (g) 314937 on Jobcentre Plus, tabled on 28 January 2010, (h) 315694, on skills training, tabled on 1 February 2010, (i) 315695, on benefit claimants moving into work, tabled on 1 February 2010, (j) 315718, on Pathways to Work, tabled on 1 February 2010, (k) 315717, on Pathways to Work, tabled on 1 February 2010, (l) 315720, on allowance claims appeals, tabled on 1 February 2010, (m) 315716, on Pathways to Work, tabled on 1 February 2010, (n) 316364, on fraud, tabled on 3 February 2010, (o) 316100, on user acceptance testing, tabled on 2 February 2010, (p) 316097, on claims outcome information, tabled on 2 February 2010, (q) 316365, on benefit fraud, tabled on 3 February 2010, (r) 316098, on known fraud debt stock, tabled on 2 February 2010, (s) 316401, on fraud and staff, tabled on 3 February 2010, (t) 316398, on benefit fraud, tabled on 3 February 2010, (u) 316402, on social security benefit and fraud, tabled on 3 February 2010, (v) 316400, on fraud and staff, tabled on 3 February 2010, (w) 316399, on benefits and prisoners, tabled on 3 February 2010, (x) 316765, on alcohol misuse, tabled on 5 February 2010, (y) 316779, on the Institute for Fiscal Studies, tabled on 5 February 2010, (z) 316778, on obesity, tabled on 5 February 2010, (aa) 316776, on cancer, tabled on 5 February 2010, (bb) 316775, on problem drug users, tabled on 5 February 2010 and (cc) 316777, on drug and alcohol dependency, tabled [317700] on 5 February 2010. Jim Knight: I have replied to the hon. Members questions as follows:
(a) 302791 on 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 78W; (b) 307546 on 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1422W; (c) 314731 on 1 February 2010, Official Report, column 32W; (d) 305047 (315047) on 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 765W; (e) 314936 on 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1104W; (f) 314935 on 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1103W; (g) 314937 on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 461W; (h) 315694 on 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 579W; (i) 315695 on 15 March 2010, Official Report, column 606W; (j) 315718 on 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1034W; (k) 315717 on 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 98W; (l) 315720 on 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 40W;
(m) 315716 on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 463W; (n) 316364 on 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1421W; (o) 316100 on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 461W; (p) 316097 on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 459W; (q) 316365 on 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 105W; (r) 316098 on 16 March 2010, Official Report, columns 806-07W; (s) 316401 on 15 March 2010, Official Report, columns 597-98W; (t) 316398 on 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 807W; (u) 316402 on 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1105W; (v) 316400 on 15 March 2010, Official Report, column 597W; (w) 316399 on 25 March 2010, Official Report, column 421W; (x) 316765 on 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1039W; (y) 316779 on 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 727W; (z) 316778 on 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1042W; (aa) 316776 on 4 March 2010, Official Report, column 1315W; (bb) 316775 on 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1040W; (cc) 316777 on 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 199-200W.
Young People: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her most recent estimate is of the number of young people in Birmingham who have received assistance from the (a) Backing Young Britain and (b) Young Persons Guarantee programme.
[325166]
Jim Knight: Information on the number of young people who have received assistance from Backing Young Britain is not currently available; we are currently considering publication of relevant statistics at a future date. Information on starts on the various elements of the Young Persons Guarantee is not currently available but will be made available later this year through a statistical release. This is normal practice for the Departments employment programmes and allows time for the information to be collected, understood, verified and reported. CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Building Schools for the Future Programme: Berkshire Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been allocated to each school in (a) Reading East constituency and (b) Berkshire under the Building Schools for the Future Scheme; and when he expects each grant to be paid to the relevant local education [324574] authority. Mr. Coaker: School capital allocations are allocated at local authority level and no central records are maintained which distinguish between parliamentary constituencies. None of the authorities in Berkshire, including Reading, have yet entered the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Therefore no BSF funding has been allocated to schools in these authorities. BSF projects are prioritised based on educational and social need and on a local authoritys ability to provide robust evidence of their readiness to deliver. We are not yet able to say when the authorities will be invited to join the programme. However we are committed to seeing all local authorities enter the programme as soon as is practicable.
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Wight in each year since the inception of the [322914] programme. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 18 March 2010]: Table 1 details how many sure start childrens centres have been established (a) in district councils in Hampshire and (b) the Isle of Wight in each year since the inception of the programme.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start childrens centres have been established (a) in each district council area in Hampshire and (b) in the Isle of
Sure Start childrens centres established (designated) each year Local authority Hampshire Sub Total 11 Childrens centres mergers 0
Council Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council East Hampshire District Council Eastleigh Borough Council Fareham Borough Council Gosport Borough Council Hart District Council Havant Borough Council New Forest District Council Rushmoor Borough Council Test Valley Borough Council Winchester City Council
2003 0
2004 0
2005 0
2006 0
2007 0
2008 5
2009 2
2010 4
Total 11
Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire Total Isle of Wight
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 4
1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
4 5 3 4 0 4 9 5 4 3 46
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4
0 3 1 0 7 0 0 0 1 4 20
6 9 5 6 7 9 10 7 6 8 84
0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
6 8 5 6 7 8 10 6 6 8 81
Childrens Centres: Torbay Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start centres there are in Torbay constituency; and how [314611] many children are enrolled at such centres. Dawn Primarolo: There are a total of four designated Sure Start Childrens Centres in Torbay constituency reaching over 2,600 children under five and their families. Reach area defines those children and families with the opportunity to access childrens centres. Figures for the number of children under five and their families actually attending and using childrens centres are not collected centrally. Departmental Publications David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the [323465] forthcoming general election. Mr. Coaker: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to
Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website. Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the (a) average time taken to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by the Child Support Agency and its successor body in the latest period for which figures are available. [323963] Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
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Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish the travel guidance issued to staff at each of his Departments non-departmental public bodies. [314931] Ms Diana R. Johnson: Copies of the Departments non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) travel policy and guidance will be placed in the House Libraries in due course. Education Maintenance Allowance: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people from City of York constituency are in receipt of education maintenance allowance; and what the average monetary value of such allowances is. [324222] Mr. Iain Wright: This information is held by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). I have asked the LSCs chief executive, Geoff Russell, to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested. Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 24 March 2010:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question 324222 that asked: How many young people from City of York constituency are in receipt of education maintenance allowance; and what the average monetary value of such allowance is.
Information on the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year. EMA take-up for York Local Authority area in the 2009/10 academic year was, at the end of February, 1,520. The York average is unavailable but the value of all weekly payments released to learners nationally is 27.69. These figures comprise, historically, 80% of learners receiving 30, 10% of learners receiving 20 and the remaining 10% receiving 10. EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 is available on the LSC website, at the following address: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/ EMA_take_up.htm
Education: West Midlands Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent on (a) primary education, (b) secondary education and (c) adult education in (i) Coventry and [325047] (ii) the West Midlands since 1997. Mr. Coaker: The available information on how much has been spent on primary and secondary education is shown in the following tables. Adult education is a matter for the Department for Business and Innovation.
School-based expenditure in primary and secondary schools from 1997-98 to 2008-09 Coventry Primary education 1997-98 1998-99 Pre-primary and primary education 52,796,000 57,250,000 Secondary education 49,730,000 53,666,000 Total (including preprimary) 102,526,000 110,916,000 Total (excluding preprimary)
1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02
62,302,000 67,336,000 76,495,000
63,421,000 68,317,000 77,991,000
58,187,000 64,529,000 71,878,000
121,608,000 132,846,000 149,869,000
120,489,000 131,865,000 148,373,000
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
71,055,000 75,160,000 78,127,000 83,746,000 89,577,000 94,059,000 97,844,000
England
70,316,000 77,614,000 83,505,000 90,674,000 94,730,000 100,271,000 104,175,000
141,370,000 152,774,000 161,633,000 174,420,000 184,307,000 194,330,000 202,019,000
Primary education 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 8,602,543,000 9,425,272,000 10,495,632,000 10,584,953,000 11,379,539,000 11,900,153,000 12,721,978,000 13,394,477,000
Pre-primary and primary education 7,277,910,000 7,834,434,000 8,842,966,000 9,761,443,000 10,918,773,000
Secondary education 5,775,271,000 6,049,029,000 8,257,736,000 9,093,528,000 10,261,440,000 10,621,927,000 11,768,559,000 12,603,303,000 13,480,547,000 14,174,472,000
Total (including preprimary) 13,053,181,000 13,883,463,000 17,100,731,000 18,854,970,000 21,180,213,000
Total (excluding preprimary) 16,860,279,000 18,518,799,000 20,757,072,000 21,206,880,000 23,148,098,000 24,503,456,000 26,202,525,000 27,568,949,000
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England Primary education 2007-08 2008-09 14,184,037,000 14,421,551,000 Pre-primary and primary education Secondary education 14,908,771,000 14,976,736,000 Total (including preprimary) Total (excluding preprimary) 29,092,808,000 29,398,287,000
Notes: 1. The financial information used in the answer to this PQ is taken from the Departments section 52 data collection. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by CLG (formerly ODPM) to the section 52 form (now section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009) from the DCSF. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row. From 2002-03 school-based expenditure is taken from section 52 Outturn Table A line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 2001-02 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines 1 to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from section 52 Outturn Table 3 for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 and from the RO1 form previously. 3. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. 4. School-based expenditure in LA-maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 26 March 2010.
GCE A-level: Disadvantaged Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils receiving free school meals obtained three or more A-levels at A grade in the last year for which figures are [307326] available. Mr. Coaker: In 2008, 160 (3.5 per cent.) pupils eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. The percentage is of all pupils eligible for free schools meals entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A-level/Double Award in 2008. This figure relates to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.
GCSE Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in each local authority area achieved (a) five GCSEs or equivalent at grades A* to C and (b) five GCSEs or equivalent including English and mathematics at grades A* to C in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [310261] Mr. Coaker: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries. Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible for free school meals and (b) not eligible for free school meals were entered for GCSEs in [312467] each subject in 2009. Mr. Coaker: The information is shown in the following table.
The number and percentage of pupils entered for GCSEs in each subject in 2009 by free school meal eligibility Percentage of all FSM pupils at the end of key stage 4 4.7 4.0 4.0 72.5 41.0 9.4 72.5 90.5 91.6 8.2 1.4 9.4 7.4 10.6 0.6 6.1 4.7 5.1 7.7 4.6 14.9 18.1 4.0 23.8 Number of nonFSM pupils entered 67,757 64,334 64,231 378,560 275,635 39,902 378,603 487,358 489,359 63,908 10,583 58,591 49,547 60,360 5,325 34,133 28,372 46,167 63,969 19,158 137,972 160,715 39,641 135,362 Percentage of all non-FSM pupils at the end of key stage 4 13.4 12.8 12.7 75.1 54.7 7.9 75.1 96.6 97.0 12.7 2.1 11.6 9.8 12.0 1.1 6.8 5.6 9.2 12.7 3.8 27.4 31.9 7.9 26.8
Number of FSM pupils entered Biological Science Chemistry Physics Core Science Additional Science Additional Applied Science Single Award Science English Maths Statistics Design and Technology and Electronics Design and Technology and Food Technology Design and Technology and Graphics Design and Technology and Resistant Materials Technology Design and Technology and Systems Control Design and Technology and Textiles Technology Office Technology Information Technology Business Studies Home Economics Geography History Music Art and Design 3,525 2,985 2,954 53,925 30,470 6,965 53,927 67,351 68,130 6,112 1,028 7,003 5,498 7,889 436 4,551 3,465 3,791 5,696 3,401 11,049 13,466 2,951 17,714
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The number and percentage of pupils entered for GCSEs in each subject in 2009 by free school meal eligibility Percentage of all FSM pupils at the end of key stage 4 5.4 60.4 10.9 9.8 13.9 21.8 13.8 4.2 4.4 0.2 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.7 1.7 Number of nonFSM pupils entered 36,876 399,628 70,021 52,715 117,719 137,223 130,311 58,014 42,685 2,615 751 598 1,168 211 718 797 346 230 760 253 2,021 938 871 624 2,747 2,745 Percentage of all non-FSM pupils at the end of key stage 4 7.3 79.2 13.9 10.5 23.3 27.2 25.8 11.5 8.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.5
Number of FSM pupils entered Fine Art English Literature Drama Media, Film and Television Studies Physical Education Religious Studies French German Spanish Italian Arabic Bengali Chinese Dutch Gujarati Japanese Modern Greek Modern Hebrew Panjabi Persian Polish Portuguese Russian Turkish Urdu Urdu Notes: 1. Figures are revised. 2. Figures relate to pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools. Source: National Pupil Database 4,019 44,942 8,124 7,314 10,314 16,202 10,273 3,098 3,294 171 676 581 109 209 38 48 25 12 111 144 61 254 62 523 1,248 1,248
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of students in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) independent mainstream schools, (c) pupil referral units, (d) special schools, (e) grammar schools, (f) academies and city technology colleges and (g) other modern and maintained schools in (i) Wirral and (ii) England attained (A) five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A* to C, (B) five GCSEs at grades A* to G and (C) at least one pass at key stage [316831] four in each year since 1997. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 10 February 2010]: The following links give (a)-(g) for England and Wirral figures for all schools. Further information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. 1997/98Tables 3a and 4a.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000063/ index.shtml
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000377/ index.shtml
2002/03Tables 1 and 12.

2003/04Tables 1, 4 and 16.

2004/05Tables 2, 5 and 18.

2005/06Tables 2, 5 and 18.

2006/07Tables 3, 6 and 18.

1998/99Tables 1 and 2.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000163/ index.shtml
2007/08Tables 3, 6 and 18.

1999/2000Tables 1 and 2.
2008/09Tables 3, 6 and 16.

Figures for 1996/97 to 2003/04 relate to 15-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August). Figures from 2004/05 onwards relate to pupils at the end of key stage 4.
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Figures for pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at A*-C grade including English and Maths were first published in 2005. The first academies were opened in 2002 and the first figures were published in 2004. Grammar Schoolsare included in Selective Schools. Pupil Referral Unitsare included in Other Maintained Schools. Mr. Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in state schools in Wolverhampton achieved five GCSE grades including mathematics and English in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are [322257] available. Mr. Coaker: In 1997, 23.3 per cent. of 15-year-old pupils in maintained schools in Wolverhampton local authority achieved five or more GCSE1 at grades A*-C including English and mathematics. In 20092, 43.4 per cent. of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools in Wolverhampton local authority, achieved five or more GCSE1 at grades A*-C including English and mathematics.
1 2
Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: We do not specify how much time schools should spend teaching individual subjects. It is the role of schools and teachers to decide how best to organise learning, including ensuring that sufficient time is allowed to teach the statutory requirements for each subject at each Key Stage. Schools are free to choose which languages they offer. Since 2008, secondary schools no longer have to teach first a working language of the European Union before offering any other language. They can now teach any major world or European language. Examples given in the programme of study are Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Urdu. This should act as an incentive for schools to offer a wider range of languages. In primary schools, languages will become compulsory from September 2011, subject to parliamentary approval of the Children, Schools and Families Bill. Schools will be free to choose which languages to offer. Languages: GCSE Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved a grade A* to C at GCSE in (i) French, (ii) German and (iii) Spanish in each year since 2004.
[314217]
GCSE and equivalents. Revised data.
Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of students who are (a) partially, (b) fully and (c) not home-educated achieved an A grade in three or more GCSEs in the latest year for which figures are available; [325309] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. GCSE: Disadvantaged Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals did not achieve an A*- C grade at GCSE in both English and mathematics in 2003.
[318940]
Mr. Coaker: The number and percentage of pupils achieving grade A* to C in GCSE by free school meal (FSM) eligibility in each year since 2004 are shown in the following tables.
French FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 4,773 4,618 4,935 5,164 6,140 6,686 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.6 7.7 8.1 German FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 1,678 1,643 1,769 1,955 2,366 2,445 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 2.3 .2.2 2.3 2.5 3.0 3.0 Spanish FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 2009 2008 2007 1,725 1,618 1,474 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 2.3 2.2 1.9 non-FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 29,880 28,349 25,430 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 5.9 5.4 4.9 non-FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 42,366 42,695 44,855 49,137 55,738 57,861 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 8.4 8.2 8.6 9.5 11.1 11.4 non-FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 88,287 90,269 93,941 101,287 110,358 115,458 Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 17.5 17.3 18.0 19.7 22.0 22.7
Mr. Coaker: The information requested is provided in the following table:

15-year-old pupils1, 2 known to be eligible for free school meals who did not achieve an A*- C at GCSE in both English and mathematics GCSEs in 2002-03 Number 2002-03
1 2
Fifteen year old pupils pupils1, 2 known to not be eligible for free school meals who did not achieve an A*- C at GCSE in both English and mathematics GCSEs in 2002-03 Number 266,217 Percentage 53.9
Percentage 82.8
67,195
Aged 15 on 31 October 2002. Only pupils in maintained schools are included Source: National Pupil Database (2002-03 Final Data)
Languages: Curriculum Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has plans to increase the (a) time spent on study of foreign languages and (b) number of languages studied in [324643] schools; and if he will make a statement.
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Spanish FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 1.9 1.9 1.9 non-FSM Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades 23,890 22,558 21,546
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Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades 4.6 4.5 4.2
not include entries of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals. Figures for comprehensive schools are also included within the figures for maintained schools. National Safeguarding Delivery Unit Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, columns 1069-70W, on the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit, if he will place in the Library copies of the two progress reports submitted to the DA(FCY) ministerial sub-group in July and December 2009. [308986] Dawn Primarolo: Consistent with longstanding practice, proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees are generally not disclosed as to do so puts at risk the public interest in both collective responsibility and the full and frank discussion of policy by Ministers. Primary Schools: Finance Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Essex and (ii) Castle Point constituency have had revenue balances in excess [321437] of those predicted in each year since 1997. Mr. Coaker: Revenue balances for individual maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England are publicly available on the Departments website at:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/ financeandfunding/informationforlocalauthorities/section52/ schoolbalances/s52sb/
2006 2005 2004
1,486 1,482 1,551
Notes: 1. Figures are revised for 2009 and final for 2004 to 2008. 2. Figures relate to pupils in maintained schools at the end of key stage 4 for years 2005-09 and pupils aged 15 for 2004. 3. Percentages are based on all FSM/non-FSM pupils at key stage 4, not just those who attempt a GCSE in the relevant subject. Source: National Pupil Database.
Mathematics: GCE A-Level Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals in (i) maintained, (ii) comprehensive and (iii) independent schools were entered for further mathematics A-level in the most recent year for which figures are available.
[318673]
Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 25 February 2010]: In 2008, free school meals entries for further mathematics are given in the table.
Number of pupils eligible for FSM entered for GCE A level in further mathematics Comprehensive schools Maintained schools 42 53 Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM entered for GCE A level in further mathematics 1.0 1.1 Number of pupils eligible for FSM entered for GCE A level in further mathematics 2,499 3,743 Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM entered for GCE A level in further mathematics 2.2 2.7
Figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals. Percentages are of all pupils with appropriate free school meal eligibility in the relevant institution type who were entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008. Information on free school meal eligibility is not available for Independent schools. The figures also do
The Department collects data on the balances held by schools via the Section 52 Outturn statements (soon to be Section 251 Outturn statements). We have collected information on balances since 1999-2000. The Section 52 Outturn statements are completed by all local authorities in England and we request only the final figures for the schools in their area. We do not collect predicted figures. The Department considers excess balances as over 5 per cent. of budget share for secondary schools, and over 8 per cent. for all other schools. The following table provides the figures for the number of schools (primary and secondary) with balances exceeding 8 per cent. and 5 per cent. of total income in Essex from 1999-2000 to 2008-09. The Department does not hold figures by constituency.
The Education (Outturn Statements) (England) Regulationsschool level excess revenue balances1, 2, 3, 4, 5 figures for local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Essex local authority: 1999-2000 to 2008-09 Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 8 December 2009 Primary Schools with excess surpluses (exceeding 8 per cent. of total income for primary schools) Average value of surpluses over excess cut-off point ( per school) 20,078 27,074 32,686 27,137 Secondary Schools with excess surpluses (exceeding 5 per cent. of total income for secondary schools) Average value of surpluses over excess cut-off point ( per school) 106,738 128,877 124,897 138,756
Total number of primary schools 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 490 496 484 481
Total number of schools with excess surpluses 257 324 331 251
Percentage of schools with excess surpluses 52.4 65.3 68.4 52.2
Total value of surpluses over excess cut-off point () 5,159,931 8,771,932 10,819,083 6,811,333
Total number of secondary schools 80 79 80 80
Total number of schools with excess surpluses 32 34 27 15
Percentage of schools with excess surpluses 40.0 43.0 33.8 18.8
Total value of surpluses over excess cut-off point () 3,415,615 4,381,826 3,372,231 2,081,341
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The Education (Outturn Statements) (England) Regulationsschool level excess revenue balances1, 2, 3, 4, 5 figures for local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Essex local authority: 1999-2000 to 2008-09 Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 8 December 2009 Primary Schools with excess surpluses (exceeding 8 per cent. of total income for primary schools) Average value of surpluses over excess cut-off point ( per school) 29,327 30,427 33,954 35,847 35,641 35,328 Secondary Schools with excess surpluses (exceeding 5 per cent. of total income for secondary schools) Average value of surpluses over excess cut-off point ( per school) 92,375 106,343 109,237 120,462 188,858 224,572
Total number of primary schools 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1
Total number of schools with excess surpluses 219 247 221 222 244 207
Percentage of schools with excess surpluses 45.6 51.8 46.5 46.7 51.3 43.8
Total value of surpluses over excess cut-off point () 6,422,508 7,515,365 7,503,789 7,958,128 8,696,301 7,312,888
Total number of secondary schools 81 80 80 80 80 80
Total number of schools with excess surpluses 17 23 23 34 29 30
Percentage of schools with excess surpluses 21.0 28.8 28.8 42.5 36.3 37.5
Total value of surpluses over excess cut-off point () 1,570,367 2,445,881 2,512,459 4,095,696 5,476,888 6,737,165
480 477 475 475 476 473
A schools total revenue balance is calculated from the combination of any unspent allocations (including unspent Standards Fund grants) and the cumulative balance of income less expenditure from revenue funding sources during the financial year and any balances carried forward from previous years. This is drawn by adding together the unspent allocations and balance carried forward columns from local authorities Section 52 Outturn Statements 2001-02 (Table 2), Consistent Financial Reporting categories B01 and B02 from local authorities Section 52 Outturn Statements (Table B) 2002-03 to 2005-06 and Consistent Financial Reporting categories B01, B02 and B06 from local authorities Section 52 Outturn Statements (Table B) 2006-07 onwards. 2 Included are all local authority maintained primary and secondary schools correctly reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Outturn Statement. 3 In 2002-03 the Section 52 outturn categories were aligned with the Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) framework following the introduction of CFR to schools. Some inconsistencies with the balance figures reported by local authorities in 2002-03 were identified and consequently caution should be exercised when using the balance figures for that year. 4 School level revenue balances are not available prior to the inception of Section 52 for the 1999-2000 financial year. 5 A schools total revenue income for the year includes all revenue funding available to the year as well as any additional income generated by the school. This does not include any revenue balances carried forward from previous years.
Schools: Consultants Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will bring forward proposals for a register of consultants and investigators seeking [324737] work from schools and local authorities. Mr. Coaker: There are no plans for the introduction of a register of consultants and investigators who may be seeking work from schools and local authorities. The operation of disciplinary procedures, including those that result in suspension and possible dismissal is entirely a matter for local determination and schools and local authorities themselves will decide who to engage to provide any additional advice and support they feel they may need. Schools: Internet Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received from (a) schools and (b) representative groups in Gloucestershire on the effects of internet charges on schools in that area; what plans he has for the future funding of the Harnessing Technology [324768] Grant; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Secretary of State has received a representation from the head teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic primary school in Cheltenham and others in connection with broadband internet costs and the Harnessing Technology Grant. Inquiries have also been made by schools and other representative groups to Becta, the Governments educational technology agency which covers these areas. Becta have replied to correspondents on these issues, on behalf of my Department, both in Gloucestershire and in relation to other counties affected by high internet
charges. We sympathise with this situation, particularly with small schools that have faced increased costs. The Harnessing Technology Grant is a capital grant and can therefore only be used for capital expenditure. Broadband connectivity costs are a revenue cost, therefore the Harnessing Technology Grant cannot be used for this purpose. This has always been the case since the Harnessing Technology Grant was introduced and no changes to rules around the capital of the grant have been made. Unfortunately it is not possible to reclassify this capital funding as revenue, as some schools have requested. Broadband costs should be taken from the revenue funding that is provided for ICT in schools, but we do appreciate that there can be pressures on these budgets. Becta continues to offer advice to all local authorities in the regions on these issues, and have specifically said that their regional delivery team colleague would be happy to meet representatives of schools in Gloucestershire, together with local authority officers to explore ways of addressing the issues. The Harnessing Technology Grant itself is based on a funding formula which includes a built-in sparsity element, which helps schools in rural areas in acquiring technology, but as described above this is a capital grant and should not be used for revenue costs. 603 million has been made available through the Harnessing Technology Grant in each of the three years of the current spending review period. 201 million will be available in the 2010-11 financial year. Provision after that will be subject to the usual discussion around the next comprehensive spending review period. Science: GCE A-level Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals passed three A levels including (a) chemistry, biology or chemistry and
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biology and (b) a science or mathematics subject in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are [311213] available. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 18 January 2010]: The information available is given in the following table:
Pupils eligible for free school meals who passed three A-levels including selected subjects in 2008 Subject Chemistry Biology Chemistry and Biology A science or mathematics Source: National Pupil Database (NPD) Number 519 622 388 1,161
Dawn Primarolo: Funding for the Booktrust programme as referred to in Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper is 18 million in 2009-11. This programme continues to provide free book packs to families with young children at six-nine months, 18 months and three years, each giving age appropriate childrens books and advice to parents and carers to promote shared reading, storytelling and rhymes in the home. Sure Start Programme Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start childrens centres there are in each (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) region and (c) local authority area.
[325026]
Pupil level data relating to eligibility for free school meals were not collected in 1997. These figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, ie 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only and do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals. Science: GCSE
Dawn Primarolo: Table 1 gives the numbers of designated Sure Start childrens centres in each Government office region and table 2 the numbers of childrens centres in each local authority area, at the end of February 2010. The numbers of childrens centres in each constituency are not collected centrally.
Table 1: Designated Sure Start childrens centres Region Number 306 396 543 187 459 548 313 374 378
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals attended schools which did not enter at least one pupil in at least one science subject at GCSE in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.
[311212]
East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East South West West Midlands Yorks and Humber Table 2: Designated Sure Start childrens centres Region EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EM EM EM EM EM EM EM EM EM LON LON LON LON Local authority Bedford Borough Cambridgeshire Central Bedfordshire Essex Hertfordshire Luton Norfolk Peterborough, City of Southend on Sea Suffolk Thurrock Derby, City of Derbyshire Leicester, City of Leicestershire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Nottingham, City of Nottinghamshire Rutland Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 18 January 2010]: Of all pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 that are eligible for free school meals in maintained schools, 1,172 pupils (1.6 per cent.) were on roll at schools, in January 2009, that entered no pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in at least one science subject in 2009. Data for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals were entered for a GCSE in biology in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for [317221] which figures are available. Mr. Coaker: Of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in 2009, in maintained schools, eligible for free school meals, 3,525 were entered for biology GCSE. Comparable figures for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in 2005, in maintained schools, eligible for free school meals, 1,674 were entered for biology GCSE. Support for All: The Families and Relationships Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been allocated to rolling-out free bookshop book packs as announced in Support for All: the Families and [318386] Relationships Green Paper to date.
Number 15 37 22 79 76 22 53 15 14 48 15 18 54 23 41 48 49 16 55 2 16 18 13 14
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Table 2: Designated Sure Start childrens centres
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Region LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON LON NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW NW
Local authority Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham London, City of Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster, City of Darlington Durham Gateshead Hartlepool Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Redcar and Cleveland South Tyneside Stockton on Tees Sunderland Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Bolton Bury Cheshire East Cheshire West and Chester Cumbria Halton Knowsley Lancashire Liverpool Manchester Oldham Rochdale Salford Sefton
Number 18 17 26 22 24 24 19 15 17 13 13 12 14 16 8 11 28 17 1 11 20 14 9 21 14 23 17 23 15 6 43 15 8 13 18 12 20 12 12 11 17 13
Region NW NW NW NW NW NW NW SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW SW WM
Local authority St. Helens Stockport Tameside Trafford Warrington Wigan Wirral Bracknell Forest Brighton and Hove Buckinghamshire East Sussex Hampshire Isle of Wight Kent Medway Milton Keynes Oxfordshire Portsmouth Reading Slough Southampton Surrey West Berkshire West Sussex Windsor and Maidenhead Wokingham Bath and North East Somerset Bournemouth Bristol, City of Cornwall Devon Dorset Gloucestershire Isles of Scilly North Somerset Plymouth, City of Poole Somerset South Gloucestershire Swindon Torbay Wiltshire Birmingham Coventry Dudley Herefordshire Sandwell Shropshire Solihull Staffordshire Stoke on Trent Telford and Wrekin Walsall Warwickshire Wolverhampton Worcestershire
Number 12 19 17 16 12 20 15 8 15 35 35 81 8 91 19 19 44 16 13 10 14 65 10 49 7 9 11 7 24 36 43 23 33 1 13 17 8 36 13 11 7 30 75 23 20 12 21 18 14 54 16 13 17 39 18 34
13 18 14 17 20 22 7 15 79 26 40 16 17 16 15
WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM
YH YH
Barnsley Bradford
19 40
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Region YH YH YH YH YH YH YH YH YH YH YH YH
Local authority Calderdale Doncaster East Riding of Yorkshire Kingston upon Hull, City of Kirklees Leeds North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire North Yorkshire Rotherham Sheffield Wakefield
Number 16 21 19 20 32 58 14 12 37 22 36 23
Region YH
Local authority York, City of
Number 9
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was allocated to Sure Start in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) region in each year since the [325027] programme started. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Department does not collect information by constituency. Sure Start allocations were made to local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for managing Sure Start activity across their area and will decide how much to spend in each constituency. The Sure Start funding allocated to each region since the programme started is given in Table 1 as follows.
Table 1. Sure Start funding allocations by Government office regions 1999-2000 Revenue East of England East Midlands Greater London North East England North West England South East England South West England West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Total 20,043,508 14,297,582 32,229,445 5,673,213 24,277,665 38,931,706 21,533,970 18,205,989 16,368,967 191,562,045 2000-01 Revenue 31,518,124 24,441,880 66,882,810 15,445,736 50,611,644 55,170,211 35,531,255 36,611,980 36,578,882 352,792,522 2003-04 Revenue East of England East Midlands Greater London North East England North West England South East England South West England West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Total 35,919,076 45,394,054 102,705,690 56,562,964 105,938,322 51,796,246 42,591,345 64,606,486 67,643,111 573,157,294 Capital 2,660,821 1,015,694 6,065,398 1,848,490 2,110,147 1,843,397 1,650,528 3,605,196 3,845,273 24,644,944 2006-07 Revenue East of England East Midlands Greater London North East England North West England South East England South West England West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Total 78,484,923 82,463,531 196,351,280 79,604,799 179,079,554 111,695,321 77,144,126 122,583,930 120,307,067 1,047,714,531 Capital 27,883,222 22,398,077 48,514,164 13,226,762 36,057,692 42,089,009 24,042,982 31,076,015 26,966,653 272,254,576 2008-09 Revenue East of England East Midlands Greater London 110,907,991 107,622,263 249,018,438 Capital 33,757,225 22,851,117 56,339,417 Total 144,665,216 130,473,380 305,357,855 Revenue 136,587,997 125,780,024 295,535,902 Total 106,368,145 104,861,608 244,865,444 92,831,561 215,137,246 153,784,330 101,187,108 153,659,945 147,273,720 1,319,969,107 Revenue 91,841,007 92,299,850 209,218,266 78,968,265 188,227,296 127,132,586 90,156,480 132,399,813 132,950,458 1,143,194,022 Total 38,579,897 46,409,748 108,771,088 58,411,454 108,048,469 53,639,643 44,241,873 68,211,682 71,488,384 597,802,238 Revenue 105,528,958 126,070,925 287,237,921 143,187,025 284,689,005 153,230,897 117,284,366 181,065,306 189,860,030 1,588,154,433 2001-02 Revenue 37,437,420 33,402,830 76,713,495 23,273,623 65,603,851 70,566,324 45,029,438 48,503,077 48,095,722 448,625,780 Revenue 49,485,557 37,874,539 79,415,189 20,003,787 68,245,609 92,081,432 56,212,800 49,318,215 48,142,976 500,780,104 2002-03 Capital 2,042,587 1,704,998 4,970,029 1,495,777 3,121,816 3,291,810 1,915,448 2,290,218 2,126,564 22,959,247 2004-061 Capital 18,258,719 27,535,534 68,644,344 29,948,724 71,249,942 22,620,266 20,986,070 47,298,847 47,815,746 354,358,192 2007-08 Capital 56,157,959 47,272,341 97,697,420 24,026,753 70,608,390 84,510,408 48,410,334 61,027,233 54,977,589 544,688,427 2009-10 Capital 89,800,385 56,284,903 129,447,114 Total 226,388,382 182,064,927 424,983,016 Total 147,998,966 139,572,191 306,915,686 102,995,018 258,835,686 211,642,994 138,566,814 193,427,046 187,928,047 1,687,882,449 Total 123,787,677 153,606,459 355,882,265 173,135,749 355,938,947 175,851,163 138,270,436 228,364,153 237,675,776 1,942,512,625 Total 51,528,144 39,579,537 84,385,218 21,499,564 71,367,425 95,373,242 58,128,248 51,608,433 50,269,540 523,739,351
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2008-09 Revenue
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2009-10
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Capital 14,113,402 38,538,278 50,892,500 31,022,746 28,949,795 29,243,066 305,707,546
Total 102,926,516 249,320,557 205,096,224 133,643,609 182,231,326 178,950,578 1,632,665,259
Revenue 99,713,407 238,241,709 190,672,412 121,853,824 175,695,599 170,498,402 1,554,579,276
Capital 26,769,768 75,123,233 122,711,970 66,455,147 69,132,240 61,451,826 697,176,586
Total 126,483,175 313,364,942 313,384,382 188,308,971 244,827,839 231,950,228 2,251,755,862
North East England North West England South East England South West England West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Total
1
88,813,114 210,782,279 154,203,724 102,620,863 153,281,531 149,707,512 1,326,957,713
Local authorities received a two year allocation in 2004-06.
Sure Start Local programmes (SSLPs) were the precursors of Childrens Centres. SSLP revenue allocations prior to 2003-04 are not readily available at a local authority level and are not shown in table 1 above. The expenditure for SSLP revenue from 1999 to 2003 is shown in Table 2 as follows.
Table 2: Sure Start Local programme expenditure by local authorities from 1999 to 2003 1999-2000 SSLP revenue expenditure 3,196,391 2000-01 32,832,645 2001-02 104,776,562 2002-03 174,277,508
Mr. Coaker: The information requested is as follows: (a) Literacy Test

In 2007-08, 3,760 entrants to teacher training courses had to re-take the literacy test once. The number of entrants who re-took the test twice or more times was 2,490.
(b) Numeracy Test

In 2007-08, 3,260 entrants to teacher training courses had to re-take the numeracy test once. The number of entrant who re-took the test twice or more times was 3,480.
Teachers: North West Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers in full-time employment there were in (a) the North West and (b) Manchester Central constituency in each year [324884] since 1997. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The following table provides the full-time number of teachers employed in local authority maintained schools, city technology colleges and academies in the north west Government office region and Manchester Central constituency in each January, 1997 to 2009.
Full-time regular teachers (excluding occasionals) in local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units, city technology colleges and academies, January 1997 to 2009 Coverage: North West Government office region (GOR) and Manchester Central parliamentary constituency (PC) January 1997 North West GOR1 55,950 55,770 56,380 56,350 56,460 57,170 57,220 57,110 56,950 56,850 55,500 54,860 55,080 Manchester Central PC2
3
SSLPs were given multi year capital allocations from programme inception to the end of 2005-06. Therefore it is not possible to disaggregate allocations by financial year. The total SSLP capital allocation is shown in Table 3 as follows.
Table 3. SSLP Capital allocation from 1999-2006 by Government office regions East of England East Midlands Greater London North East England North West England South East England South West England West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Total 25,226,389 41,078,839 88,741,966 61,642,396 85,947,406 30,979,684 31,684,627 50,505,885 63,830,952 479,638,144
Teachers: Armed Forces Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many former service personnel have entered the teaching profession as a result of his Departments Transition to Teaching programme since the programme was established.
[304898]
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1
650 650 610 600 600 570 570 540 550 550 570 580
Mr. Coaker: The Transition to Teaching programme was launched in July 2008. 14 ex-service personnel have been supported in total, with 11 still involved in the programme in the following capacities:
two are on Initial Teacher Training (ITT) five are actively considering applying for ITT four are being supported by advisers in making a decision.
Teachers: Literacy and Numeracy Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many entrants to teacher training courses re-took (a) literacy and (b) numeracy tests (i) once and (ii) two or more times in [318453] the last year for which figures are available.
Source: Local authority maintained schools (618g), city technology and academy teachers (school census). 2 Source: school census. 3 Not available. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Truancy Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath of 3 March 2010,
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Official Report, column 1301-2W, on truancy, what the figures for (a) prosecutions and (b) average fines are for each (i) constituency and (ii) local authority area; [324760] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Coaker: Figures for (a) prosecutions and (b) average fines, relating to parents not ensuring their child attended school, are not available by either (i) constituency or (ii) local authority area. Young People: Unemployment Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents aged between 16 and 18 years old were not in education, employment or training in each quarter of each year since 1997. [317652] Mr. Iain Wright: Quarterly estimates of the number and proportion of young people aged 16-18 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are produced from the labour force survey (LFS). The sample size of the quarterly LFS is too small to allow robust estimates of the proportion of 16 to 18-year-old parents who are NEET.
Chris Bryant: I was dismayed to learn of the killing of Mr. Hurtado, who was President of the Human Rights committee of La Catalina, in the La Macarena region, and who had met members of the Justice for Colombia delegation that visited Colombia in December. I have received no reports about the involvement of members of the Colombian armed forces in the killing of Mr. Hurtado. However, our ambassador in Bogota has requested updates on the progress of the investigation into his killing from the Director of the Presidential Human Rights Programme and the Head of the International Relations Unit at the Colombian Prosecutors Office. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for [324439] staff leisure in each of the last five years. Chris Bryant: No money has been spent on rooms for staff leisure on the UK estate in the last five years. Information on the overseas estate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324561] staff. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides space free of charge to house the gym in King Charles Street in the UK. The cost of the gym equipment and running costs of the facility are paid entirely by gym members subscriptions. This information is not held centrally for overseas posts and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last [324677] five years. Chris Bryant: These data are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324976] Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) has power factor correction equipment installed on one power supply to the King Charles street building and to selected buildings within the Hanslope Park site. No voltage optimisers or equivalent technologies are installed in the remaining FCO buildings in the UK. Information on this type of equipment within the global FCO estate is not held centrally. Details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Colombia: Human Rights Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Colombian authorities on the recent assassination of Colombian human rights defender Jhonny Hurtado and its effects on the human [324085] rights situation in that country. Chris Bryant: Our ambassador in Bogota has expressed his concern and dismay at the assassination of Mr. Hurtado and has requested updates on the progress of the investigation into his killing from the Director of the Presidential Human Rights Programme and the Head of the International Relations Unit at the Colombian Prosecutors Office. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct HM Ambassador in Bogota to raise the recent assassination of Colombian human rights defender Jhonny Hurtado and its effects on the human rights situation in that country with the Colombia office of the UN High [324086] Commissioner for Human Rights. Chris Bryant: Our ambassador does not intend to raise this case with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia. However, he has raised Mr. Hurtados assassination with the Director of the Presidential Human Rights Programme and the Head of the International Relations Unit at the Colombian Prosecutors Office. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports on the possible involvement of soldiers of the 7th Mobile Brigade of the Colombian Army in the recent assassination of Colombian human rights defender Jhonny Hurtado; and if he will make a [324087] statement.
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on antique furniture in each of the last five years; and what items were purchased. [325109] Chris Bryant: This information is not held centrally and is only available at disproportionate cost. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office uses its existing stocks of furniture, including modern, reproduction and antique, to furnish its estate wherever possible. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three [325197] years; and if he will make a statement. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Offices (FCO) web presence comprises over 250 websites, in 40 languages with 35 million visitors a year (2008-09 statistics). Over the last three years the FCO presence has evolved from a main website and web platform hosting a number of embassy websites (2003-08) to a completely new web platform hosting all of the FCOs websites plus FCO blogs and campaign sites. Due to these significant changes we do not have full and comparable data for the last three years. The FCOs website templates are compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, and during the development of the website the FCO conducted user testing to improve accessibility. The FCOs accessibility statement for its website is available at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/accessibility
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has incurred expenditure on (a) foreign exchange derivatives and (b) consulting on currency hedging strategies in each of the last three years.
[325123]
Chris Bryant: Prior to May 2008 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office purchased our foreign currency requirements at the spot rate at the time we needed the currency. From May 2008 we began a foreign currency forward purchase programme. The forward purchase contracts are placed via the Bank of England. HiFX Intelligent Financial Services provide ongoing specialist consultancy support at a cost of 3,000 per month + VAT. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 28 October 2009, Official Report, column 381W, on departmental telephone services, whether his Department has awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to its travel advice telephone [324115] information line. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office awarded MM Group the contract to run its Travel Advice Help Line from 13 February 2003. MM Group were acquired by Teleperformance in 2004. The contract is managed by the Central Office of Information. Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which companies his Department sourced temporary staff in each of the last three years; how many temporary staff his Department employed in each year; and what the monetary value of the contracts with each such [320017] company was in each such year. Chris Bryant: The following tables show the number of temporary staff the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recruited in the UK in financial years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 on short-term civil service contracts. They do not include staff recruited locally to work at posts overseas. We could not obtain figures for these without incurring disproportionate cost.
Temporary employees recruited into FCO 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 55 51 51
A website user experience manager oversees accessibility issues. Users can give feedback on the website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/feedback
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will [325215] make a statement. Chris Bryant: Design costs for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) main website were wrapped up with other technical and functionality costs and so it is not possible to calculate the exact cost of external website design consultants without incurring disproportionate cost. The FCO also contributes towards websites for specific campaigns and projects aimed at delivering consular and foreign policy objectives. The costs of external websites design consultants for all websites hosted or supported by the FCO are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were. [324713] Chris Bryant: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In September 2006 the FCO devolved the responsibility for hiring temporary staff from agencies to directorates. FCO directorates have been able to choose from a selection of employment agencies under the national framework for temporary staff. Most of these are for the supply of Administrative Officer (FCO Grade A2) staff in London. The agencies that have been used are : Eclipse, Manpower, Select Appointments , Adecco, Hays and Kelly Services.
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In July 2009, the FCOs Corporate Procurement Group negotiated a single contract on behalf of the whole organisation with Hays Specialist Recruitment for the provision of temporary agency staff. The aim is to give more effective controls, secure better management information, simplify requisition processes and deliver better value to the taxpayer. The contract became effective on 1 March 2010 when it was introduced to three key FCO Directorates, with others rolling out a phased approach over the next three months. Amounts paid (including VAT) to the main UK agencies used by the FCO since 2006 are as follows:
Supplier Eclipse Manpower Select Appointments Adecco Hays Kelly Services 2006-07 401,840 491,762 54,710 175,685 300,401 53,865 2007-08 305,9512 279,457 43,232 35,856 547,830 11,858 2008-09 179,154 217,897 0 6,762 670,328 0
media freedom and human rights are key to maintaining international support. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant) raised these issues with the Georgian Foreign Minister in October 2009, and the Prime Minister in November 2009. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of (a) media freedom, (b) human rights, (c) democracy and (d) the rule of law in Georgia; and if he will make a statement. [324652] David Miliband: Georgia is making some progress towards necessary reforms in these areas. Public trust in the media is low and there are concerns about a lack of transparency surrounding ownership of the media. Georgia has taken steps to improve human rights and detention conditions, but can still do more to investigate the alleged harassment of opposition activists and take action against security forces responsible for such harassment. Georgia has improved its electoral code, with support from the Venice Commission but Mays local elections will be an important test for the new arrangements. We, with our partners, will continue to monitor the human rights situation closely, raise areas of concern, and support Georgias efforts to meet international human rights standards. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the President of Georgia on the conduct of forthcoming elections in that country; and if he will [324653] make a statement. David Miliband: I raised Georgias elections when I met President Saakahsvili in February. I reminded him of the importance we attach to free and fair elections, and to Georgias continued democratic and judicial reforms. We regularly discuss and encourage these reforms with Georgian Government Ministers. We have made clear that free and fair elections are important in demonstrating Georgias progress in taking forward political reform, underpinning Georgias strategy of engagement with the separatist regions, and moving towards greater integration with the EU. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources (a) the Government, (b) the EU, (c) the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and (d) other international institutions have provided for monitoring the forthcoming elections in Georgia; and if he will [324654] make a statement. David Miliband: Georgia has invited Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observers to monitor the May elections, which will be a key test of Georgias democratic credentials. We welcome this invitation: the presence of OSCE monitors will help increase transparency. The UK, our EU partners and other OSCE participating states are considering how best to support the OSCEs call for up to 30 long-term and 350 short-term observers. In addition, our embassy plans to observe the elections in close coordination with other missions and local civil society organisations.
FCO Services (FCOS) is an executive agency of the FCO and has been operating independently as a trading fund since 1 April 2008. It is not possible to provide details on the number or cost of temporary staff FCOS employed during the period requested without incurring disproportionate cost. Georgia: Politics and Government Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Georgian government over the screening on Georgian television on 15 March 2010 of a film purporting to represent a Russian invasion of Georgia; and if he will make a statement.
[324650]
David Miliband: Our ambassador in Tbilisi met Georgian Foreign Minister Vashadze on 17 March to discuss Imedi Televisions 13 March news broadcast, which simulated a Russian attack on Georgia. The ambassador also made our position clear in a public letter to Imedi, in which he described the broadcast as irresponsible, and protested against the unauthorised and misleading use of images of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and himself. The Georgian Government have acknowledged our concerns over the use of this footage, and the risks the programme posed to stability in Georgia. Imedi has written to our ambassador and publicly apologised. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the President of Georgia on (a) media freedom, (b) human rights, (c) democracy and (d) the rule of law in Georgia in the last 12 months; and if he [324651] will make a statement. David Miliband: I raised the importance of continued Georgian efforts to reform in these areas when I met President Saakashvili on 18 February. We continue to remind the Georgian Government, including at ministerial level, that commitment to reform, particularly judicial and electoral reform, and strengthening democracy,
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Government Communications Headquarters Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the critical facilities managed by Group 4 Securicor (G4S) are at GCHQ that are referred to on page two of the unprinted paper reported to the House by the Defence Select Committee on 10 February 2010; and if he will [324856] make a statement. Chris Bryant [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The services provided by Group 4 Securicor (G4S) help ensure that GCHQs office facilities are: secure, fit for purpose and maintained to appropriate standards of cleanliness. G4S also provide catering and other logistical support (e.g. mail and recycling services). Intelligence and Security Committee Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 997, on Intelligence and Security Committee, if he will take steps to ensure that when the current committee members stand down, there will be no attempt to interfere with the Committees secretariat in the intervening period before a new committee is [324199] appointed; and if he will make a statement. The Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply. The committees staff are civil servants. Like other civil servants they remain in post during an election campaign, bound by the usual rules of political impartiality. Marine Resources and Fisheries Consultants: Contracts Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government contracts have been awarded to Marine Resources and Fisheries Consultants Ltd. since January 2008; and what the monetary value of such [324635] contracts is. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has never awarded a contract to a company called Marine Resources and Fisheries Consultants Ltd. The FCO has however awarded one contract to the Marine Resource Assessment Group (MRAG) Ltd. since January 2008. The contract is for the provision of technical and scientific fisheries advice in relation to the UKs Overseas Territories and was awarded after the conclusion of a competitive tender exercise, in line with public procurement guidelines. The contract is a call-off contract and the value of the contract is therefore subject to variation depending on the amount and type of work undertaken. During the 2008-09 financial year the amount spent on this contract was 200,296.85 excluding VAT. Middle East: Armed Conflict Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the number of (a) rockets and (b) mortar bombs launched into Israeli territory from (i) Lebanon and (ii) Gaza since 1 January 2010; what reports he has
received of the number of persons (A) killed, (B) seriously injured and (C) slightly injured; and if he will make a statement. [324397] Chris Bryant: According to our information, in 2010, as of 10 March, there have been 41 rockets and 28 mortars fired at Israel from Gaza. There has been one fatality (a foreign worker) in 2010 in Southern Israel as a result of a rocket attack, and no injuries. Additionally two Israeli soldiers were killed on 26 March following a clash with Palestinian militants. There have been no cross-border rockets or mortars fired into Israel from Lebanon this year. Middle East: Peace Negotiations Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on [323631] the teaching of Arabic in Israel. Chris Bryant: The UK regularly raises concerns regarding coexistence between the Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. I discussed these in my meeting with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister on 9 February. We also highlighted the issue in the 2009 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights, which was published on 17 March. Additionally the UK has provided over 100,000 of financial support to educational projects which promote coexistence, including the teaching of Arabic, between Jewish and Arab children in Israel. Morocco: Fishery Agreements Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to call for the suspension of the [324141] EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement. Chris Bryant: The Government have no plans at present to seek the suspension of the EU Fisheries Agreement with Morocco. Morocco: Political Prisoners Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request HM Ambassador in Morocco to seek information on the detention by the Moroccan authorities of (a) Ali Salem Tamek, (b) Brahim Dahane, (c) Ahmed Nasiri, [324139] (d) Yahdih Tarouzi and (e) Rashid Sghir. Chris Bryant: We are aware of the arrest of these five people, and two others, at Casablanca airport on 8 October 2009. The Moroccan authorities have publicly stated that the individuals are being held in relation to charges of treason and conspiracy against the state with enemy forces. Six remain on remand in Morocco. One has been released pending trial. We and our EU colleagues continue to monitor the case. We have discussed this with the Moroccan authorities on several occasions and underlined the importance of a free and fair trial. We are also in contact with local
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Written Answers Western Sahara: Fisheries
1002W
non-governmental organisations who are following the case. Some of these been granted access to visit the individuals in prison and have stated their intention to observe the trial. Sudan: Politics and Government Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with (a) the Westminster Foundation, (b) the Interparliamentary Union and (c) other international bodies the funding of opposition parties in Sudan prior to the forthcoming election and referendum in that [324743] country. Chris Bryant: Under The Sudanese National Elections Act 2008, political parties cannot finance their campaign activities through any financial and material support, donations or other means of support from foreign countries or any foreign body. It is for the National Elections Commission to disperse Government of National Unity funds to opposition parties. The UK does however provide funding to the UN Development Programme Strategic Partnership Fund which has supported political parties training and capacity development. Tibet Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the issue of Tibet during his recent visit to China.
[324701]
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been discussions at joint committee meetings between the European Commission and Morocco on the effect on the Saharawi and other peoples of the Western Sahara of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement. [324135] Chris Bryant: We are not aware at such discussions having taken place. Fisheries agreements with third countries such as the agreement with Morocco fall within the exclusive competence of the European Union and it is therefore the European Commission which negotiates the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Morocco on the member states behalf. World War II: Anniversaries Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he received on the attendance of UK nationals at the commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS veterans in [325035] Riga on 16 March 2010. Chris Bryant: We have received no reports of UK nationals attending the commemoration this year, but the event did go ahead and was attended by veterans of the Latvian Legion and their supporters.
Chris Bryant: During my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretarys visit to China he raised the issue of Tibet with Premier Wen and Foreign Minister Yang. He expressed our continued concern at the situation in Tibet, including the heavy security presence, and restrictions on freedom of expression and religion. He welcomed the resumption of the talks between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama but emphasised that the talks must be substantive to be successful. Following this visit, the UK and China held a human rights dialogue on 18 March 2010. At this we pressed for access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region for diplomats and journalists and expressed concern over the numbers in detention following the March 2008 unrest, and related death sentences. We also expressed concern over cultural rights and religious freedom in Tibet. In advance of the dialogue we handed over a list of individual cases of concern, which included 17 Tibetan cases. We have yet to receive a response on any of the cases. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just published its annual report on human rights. China was once again listed as a country of concern. A copy can be found on the FCO website. In it I have made clear that promotion of human rights is a fundamental part of our relationship with China. Significant progress has been made in economic and social rights, with 500 million raised out of poverty in just 30 years. But progress in civil and political rights has been much slower. It is in our interests to help China move towards greater respect for human rights, transparency and accountability.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last [324680] five years. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has not spent any money on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; [324716] and what those items were. Mr. Michael Foster: The requested information is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate costs to disaggregate from overall programme costs. Departmental Public Expenditure Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has incurred expenditure on (a) foreign exchange derivatives and (b) consulting on currency hedging strategies in each of the last three years.
[325122]
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Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not incurred any expenditure on (a) foreign exchange derivatives or (b) consulting on currency hedging strategies in the last three years. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Biofuels Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his Departments consultation on the Renewable Heat Incentive, if he will make an estimate of the effect on (a) morbidity and (b) mortality of the implementation of the 2020 biomass targets under the [323954] renewable energy strategy. Mr. Kidney: The Renewable Energy Strategy promotes the uptake of biomass as one of a range of renewable fuel sources for the production of heat and electricity. It does not include specific targets for biomass within the overall target for renewable energy in 2020. The impact assessment accompanying the consultation on the Renewable Heat Incentive sets out the likely impact on health costs of changes in air quality, based on a range of scenarios for scale of biomass uptake, type of locations and quality of emission performance. The consultation proposes the introduction of emission standards which will reduce the impact on air quality. Work continues to quantify the scale of uptake and the impact of the resulting change in air quality on public health and the achievement of air quality objectives. Biofuels: Carbon Emissions Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his consultation on the Renewable Heat Incentive, if he will (a) estimate the cumulative emissions of black carbon from biomass boilers by 2020 and (b) assess the likely effects on global warming of the black carbon emitted [323767] from those boilers by 2020. Mr. Kidney: We recognise that, compared with most climate gases, black carbon is a powerful warming agent (a 100-year global warming potential approximately 650 times that of carbon dioxide ) but it has a very short average lifetime (residence time) in the atmosphere (up to a week or two). It is removed by rain and snowfall, and through direct deposition on land surfaces and the surface of the ocean. We are working collaboratively within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europes convention on long-range transboundary air pollution to examine the significance of black carbon. Estimates are not currently available on black carbon emissions from biomass boilers in the UK. However, we expect that the proposed emission standards to be introduced under the RHI will have a significant impact in reducing concentrations of black carbon compared to the current situation. Carbon Emissions Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs the likely consequences of publishing estimates of the effect on the UK of a reduction in the UKs carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020.
[324727]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at which various topics are discussed. Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how often his Department plans to assess the effectiveness of eligible carbon emissions reduction target measures in reducing [324867] emissions; and if he will make a statement. Joan Ruddock: The supplier obligation (now termed the carbon emissions reduction target) has been set over three year cycles to allow Government to evolve the scheme so that it only pulls through products with the most potential to provide for household sector carbon emissions reductions. An independent assessment is commissioned at the end of each three year phase, building on the cost-benefit assessment undertaken and published at the launch of each scheme. Independent analysis of the three year supplier obligation scheme ending March 2008 showed it to have been extremely effective in deliverythat for every 1 added onto GB household bills to pay for the obligation, benefits equate to an average saving of 9 per household bill over the lifetime of the measures. The carbon emissions reduction target which ends in March 2011, is also believed to be highly cost-effective. We know for instance, that insulation measures make up over 60 per cent. of savings to targetequivalent to some four million households receiving insulation measures. Carbon Sequestration Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made in the competition to build a commercial scale carbon capture and storage power plant; and if he will [325262] make a statement. Mr. Kidney: On 12 March we announced that funding has been awarded to E.on and Scottish Power to support Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies as part of the competition to build a commercial scale carbon capture and storage demonstration plant. The studies will be completed within 12 months, after which the winner will be selected. Climate Change: Costs Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the net cost to the Exchequer of the Governments Climate Change Agreements in each of the last five [320513] years. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply. Estimates of the cost to the Exchequer of the Governments Climate Change Agreements were published in Table 7, of the 2009 pre-Budget report, Tax Ready Reckoner, as follows:
CCA net cost estimates Fiscal year 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 million 350 350 280
Estimates of costs associated with Climate Change Agreement were not published prior to 2006-07.
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Climate Change: International Cooperation
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what conditions are attached to the fund committed by the UK to help flight climate change by tackling deforestation between 2010 and 2012 and announced at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit; how the fund will be administered; and whether the fund will be subject to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate [324628] Change guidelines.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in the last five years; and at what cost. [324346] Joan Ruddock: No smoking shelters have been built for DECC staff since this Departments inception in October 2008. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in [324437] each of the last five years. Joan Ruddock: Since its inception in October 2008, this Department has not spent anything on rooms for staff leisure. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 61W, on departmental information officers, what the (a) job title, (b) division and (c) responsibilities are of each of [324307] the embedded communicators. Joan Ruddock: The job titles, divisions and responsibilities for each of the 11 embedded communicators in the Department are set out in the following table.
Responsibilities Advising on climate science communications as required, including briefings, cross-governmental coordination, and relationships with external organisations on communicating science. Ensuring the consultation on draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure was thorough and effective; running public events and stakeholder workshops relating to the consultation; assisting members of the public with any queries and managing the consultation website. Cross-cutting ministerial briefing and speeches.
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: At Copenhagen my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the UK would provide 300 million in 2010-12 to help tackle deforestation, as a contribution to the $3.5 billion committed by donors and representing 20 per cent. of the UKs 1.5 billion fast start finance. This funding will go to developing countries where there are the best opportunities for tackling emissions from deforestation in ways which also reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. The support will be delivered through multilateral funds (e.g. Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Forest Investment Programme, Congo Basin Forest Initiative) and bilateral programmes. The UNFCCC guidelines are still under consideration. The UK will seek to apply best practice and take account of progress in the climate negotiations.
Division Climate, Energy, Science and Analysis Job title Senior Scientific Officer
Energy Markets and Infrastructure
Higher Executive Officer
Energy Markets and Infrastructure International Climate Change
Coordinating cross-Government international climate change communications, including managing the Act On Copenhagen website and the international climate change area of the DECC website. Leading on the Divisions engagement with youth, science and health stakeholder groups. Co-ordinating UK stakeholder engagement on international climate change, including with business and trade unions. Leading the Divisions stakeholder engagement team, including use of cross-Government digital diplomacy. Engaging with NGOs, faith, culture and community groups on international climate change.
International Climate Change
Grade 7
Grade 6
Office for Nuclear Development
Grade 6
Provision of communications advice to the Nuclear Unit, ministerial briefing and speech writing, answering correspondence, liaising with Press Office and engaging with stakeholders.
Office for Nuclear Development
Grade 7
Provision of communications advice to the Nuclear Unit, ministerial briefing and speech writing, answering correspondence, liaising with Press Office and engaging with stakeholders.
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Job title Higher Executive Officer
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Responsibilities Conducting stakeholder engagement and communications around the Severn tidal power feasibility study.
Office of Renewable Energy Deployment
Departmental Legal Costs Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent in (a) legal fees and (b) compensation on legal cases concerning remuneration of its employees since it [322058] was established. Joan Ruddock: The Department has spent nothing on such legal fees or compensation. Departmental Manpower Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff of his Department and its predecessors managed out in the last five years who [313844] remain working in the public sector. Joan Ruddock: The term managed out is not used within the civil service, so we have considered this question as applying to redundancies. DECC does not record whether staff who have been made redundant have remained working in the public sector. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department were since its inception; and what the (a) cost and (b) [324668] purpose of each such event was. Joan Ruddock: The Department has not hosted any hospitality events. Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.
[323862]
Warm Front scheme The Warm Front Scheme is designed to tackle fuel poverty. The scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Information is available from eaga, the scheme manager, on a constituency level. During the period 1 June 2000 to 31 January 2010 the Scheme has assisted 2,557 households in the Eddisbury constituency. Regional greenhouse gas emissions Climate change mitigation needs to be tackled at both national and local levels. Estimates of carbon dioxide emissions at local authority level are produced annually by AEA on behalf of DECC and are published as national statistics at the following link:
http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/ climate_change_gg_emissions/uk_emissions/2007_local/ 2007_local.aspx
There are practical considerations which mean that emissions data are not calculated at a constituency-level. Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) The CERT is set at a Great Britain-wide level. Given the terms of the legislation, Government have no existing powers to require energy suppliers to report where they have installed measures. However, DECC is working with energy suppliers and the Energy Saving Trust with the aim of being able to report on the number of CERT measures professionally installed at a constituency level in future. Other policies A number of DECCs policies operate at the national rather than local level, which means that data at a constituency level is not gathered. For example, national policy statements on energy infrastructure will lead to faster and fairer planning across the country and a diverse low carbon energy mix. In addition, some policies are not yet fully operational or are too new for their effect to be measured. The Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) began on 1 September 2009 and there are currently six live CESP schemes, one in Walsall, one in Bristol and four in Birmingham. We expect around 100 schemes nationally over the next three years. Ofgem is due to provide its first statutory CESP progress report to the Secretary of State on 1 May 2010. The feed-in tariff and renewable heat incentive clean energy cashback schemes will begin on April 2010 and April 2011 respectively. Energy Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 5.4, page 44 of his Departments report on Energy Market Assessment of 24 March 2010, what criteria will be used to identify interested parties with which to enter into a dialogue in the next stage of [325160] consultation.
Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has implemented policies to address greenhouse gas emissions, fuel poverty, the low carbon economy and energy security. The Department does not have readily-available data at the constituency level for the impact of these policies with the exception of Warm Front, for which data have been provided. This practical limitation means that preparing an estimate at the constituency level or a similar level of regional disaggregation would incur disproportionate costs above the 800 limit for answering a parliamentary question.
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Mr. Kidney: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has ongoing dialogue with a wide range of groups ranging from energy investors, the regulatory community, economic and strategy consultancies, green NGOs, consumer groups, the Committee on Climate Change and others. The Department will discuss the energy market assessment with organisations from across this spectrum. Energy Supply Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what response he plans to make to the Project Discovery report published by [325263] Ofgem on 3 February 2010. Mr. Kidney: On 12 March we announced that funding has been awarded to E.on and Scottish Power to support Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies as part of the competition to build a commercial scale carbon capture and storage demonstration plant. The studies will be completed within 12 months, after which the winner will be selected. Energy: Billing Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanisms will be used to ensure that energy suppliers do not charge their
customers more than the cost of what they pay towards meeting their Carbon Emissions Reduction Target obligations onto the consumer; and if he will make a statement. [324866] Joan Ruddock: The Governments Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy published in early March set out the importance of greater transparency of energy bills, including around cost information. We continue to develop the detail of this post 2013 energy company obligation, and will pursue new powers as necessary. Energy: Buildings Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) local authority and (b) housing association homes in City of York constituency have had energy efficiency improvements in each of the last five years; and what the average cost per dwelling to the public purse of [324219] those improvements was. Joan Ruddock: The Government have set the Decent Homes Standard, whereby social landlords are challenged to make homes warm and weather proof, with modern facilities. The following table shows the number of local authority homes in the City of York that have had energy efficiency improvements in the last five years and the total cost of these improvements.
Number of LA dwellings that had central heating, windows and insulation installed, and associated expenditure, City of York, 2005-09 Central Heating Dwellings 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 488 671 685 918 573 Expenditure (000) 995 1,545 2,797 2,654 1,496 Windows Dwellings 685 220 45 166 Expenditure (000) 769 550 71 267 Insulation Dwellings 24 9 178 117 Expenditure (000) 3 1 26 21
Source: Annual returns to Communities and Local Government.
It is not possible to derive average costs per dwelling since not all dwellings will have had all three elements of works carried out. The Government do not collect data about housing association expenditure. Energy: Conservation Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide saved for the different types of commercially available domestic energy efficient technologies, including circulator pumps; and if he will make a statement.
[324214]
Joan Ruddock: This question was considered in the recent CERT extension impact assessment, which can be accessed via the link provided1. The cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide saved can be determined for a range of technologies from the information provided in tables 1 and 2. The cost per kilogram can be determined by dividing the total cost for the measure, shown in table 2, by the relevant life time carbon dioxide savings shown in table 1 (multiply the figures shown in table 1 by 1,000 to obtain kilograms of carbon dioxide). The Department does not hold this information for circulator pumps.
1 This information was extracted from pages 55 and 56 of die Impact Assessment for the CERT consultation and can be accessed via the following link: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ cert_ext/cert_ext.aspx
Table 1: Lifetime CO2 saving score per measure, in the priority and non-priority groups Lifetime CO2 savings per measure tCO2 (lifetime) Carbon saving measure Insulation Cavity wall insulation Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) Loft insulation (DIY) SWI external Lifetime (years) 40 40 40 40 30 PG 23.74 14.70 4.34 9.40 62.02 Non-PG 26.34 18.10 5.34 11.58 68.83
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Table 1: Lifetime CO2 saving score per measure, in the priority and non-priority groups Lifetime CO2 savings per measure tCO2 (lifetime) Carbon saving measure SWI internal Insulated wallpaper Tank insulationtop-up Glazing E to C rated Draughtproofing Lifetime (years) 30 30 10 20 20 PG 58.64 20.17 1.98 1.52 2.32 Non-PG 65.08 22.38 1.98 1.72 2.86
Heating
12 20 12 12 20 20 20 25 40 15 30 40 30 6
3.95 74.97 0.38 3.09 11.10 3.99 95.84 8.14 95.97 42.57 96.48 20.42 106.41 5.44
4.47 84.94 0.44 3.57 12.58 4.52 108.60 8.14 108.75 48.23 107.07 22.66 118.08 6.17
Lighting
8 6.51 18
0.05 0.02 0.14
0.05 0.02 0.14
Appliances
A rated cold appliances A rated wet appliances iDTVs PC mains panels Energy saving kettles LNBs A++ cold appliances A++ wet appliances
1 1 1
5 5 7 12 12 0.15 0.04 0.04 0.58 0.11 0.16 0.04 0.04 0.58 0.11
Microgen
Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) micro Wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) micro Hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec)
25 10 20 22.5 15
22.78 3.78 26.44 84.98 2.91
22.78 3.78 26.44 84.98 3.30
Other
RTDs Advice only
15 7.5 Table 2: Assumed costs of measures
0.996 0.6675
0.996 0.6675
No longer eligible Basic installation cost Carbon saving measure All 380 286 286 120 8,500 5,100 3,700 PG 356 268 268 107 7,969 4,781 3,469 non-PG 395 297 297 128 8,830 5,298 3,843 Administration cost PG 87 70 70 32 293 273 256 non-PG 71 57 57 28 225 210 198 Total cost PG 443 338 338 138 8,262 5,054 3,725 non-PG 466 355 355 157 9,054 5,508 4,042
Insulation
Cavity wall insulation Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) Loft insulation (DIY) SWI external SWI internal Insulated wallpaper
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Table 2: Assumed costs of measures
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Basic installation cost Carbon saving measure Tank insulationtop-up Glazing E to C rated Draughtproofing All 14 212 101 PG 14 199 94 non-PG 14 220 105 Administration cost PG 4 55 28 non-PG 3 45 24 Total cost PG 18 253 123 non-PG 17 265 128
Heating
212 2,014 90 148 1,417 1,000 7,200 3,500 11,360 5,844 9,281 4,250 350 2,500
209 1,888 84 139 1,399 988 7,110 3,500 10,295 5,771 9,165 4,197 346 2,500
214 2,092 94 154 1,428 1,008 7,256 3,500 12,021 5,889 9,353 4,283 353 2,500
57 216 26 40 192 164 289 257 301 281 298 267 85 236
44 169 21 33 147 125 220 194 231 214 226 203 65 179
266 2,104 110 179 1,592 1,151 7,399 3,757 10,596 6,052 9,463 4,463 430 2,736
258 2,261 115 188 1,575 1,133 7,476 3,694 12,252 6,103 9,579 4,486 418 2,679
Lighting
1.10 2.50 8.00
1.10 2.50 7.00
1.10 2.50 8.62
0.36 0.82 2.29
0.27 0.62 2.14
1.46 3.32 9.29
1.37 3.12 10.76
Appliances
A rated cold appliances A rated wet appliances iDTVs PC mains panels Energy saving kettles LNBs A++ cold appliances A++ wet appliances
1 1 1
25 17 10 25 17 10 100 100 25 17 10 100 100 8 6 3 30 30 6 4 2 23 23 33 23 13 130 130 31 21 12 123 123
100 100
Microgen
Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) Micro wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) Micro hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec)
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 600
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 563
6,338 3,200 1,890 21,000 623
285 251 216 315 119
216 190 163 239 96
6,623 3,451 2,106 21,315 681
6,553 3,390 2,053 21,239 719
Other
1
RTDs Advice only
20 35
20 35
20 35
6 11
5 8
26 46
25 43
No longer eligible
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average payback period is for the different types of commercially available domestic energy efficient technologies, including circulator pumps; and if he will [324215] make a statement.
work but incorporate a level of subsidy provided by suppliers under the CERT programme.
Annual saving (/yr) Around 150 Around 45 Around 115 Emissions savings (kgCO2/ yr) 750 200 630
Measure Loft Insulation (0-270mm) Loft Insulation (50-270mm) Cavity Wall Insulation
Installed cost Around 250 Around 250 Around 250
Installed payback ~ 2 yrs ~ 6 yrs ~ 2 yrs
Joan Ruddock: Information on payback periods for some technologies under the CERT regime is shown in the following table. Savings figures are approximate and are based on a typical three-bed semi-detached home. Installed costs are not the full economic cost of the
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Measure Internal wall insulation External wall insulation Draught proofing Floor insulation Hot water tank jacket Gas Boiler (replacing G rated with A rated)
Annual saving (/yr) Around 380 Around 400 Around 25 Around 60 Around 35 Around 190
Installed cost 5,500 8,500 -
Installed payback ~ 20 yrs ~ 25 yrs ~ 8 yrs ~ 8 yrs ~ 1 yrs ~ 13 yrs
Emissions savings (kgCO2/ yr) 2100 2200 130 320 200 1000
Government-commissioned research indicates that, in 2008-09, employment in the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector was approximately 910,000. This research includes regional level data and is available online at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/Policies/business-sectors/low-carbonbusiness-opportunities/market-intelligence
10,500 14,500 Around 200 Around 500 Around 50 Around 2500
Natural Gas: Storage John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to prohibit exports of gas in circumstances in which gas is also being removed from storage in the UK. [318582] Mr. Kidney: No. One of the strengths of the British gas marketdemonstrated in the coldest winter for some 30 yearsis the resilience provided by its diverse and over-sized gas supply infrastructure. Arbitrarily constraining the use of one kind of supply infrastructure could have harmful unintended consequencesfor example, in forcing the gas market to use more expensive supplies from time to time, and, in the longer term, in damaging the commercial incentives to construct gas supply infrastructure. Ultimately this could mean higher prices, and less reliable supplies, for consumers. Power Stations: Carbon Emissions Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the level of carbon emissions from power stations in the latest period for which figures are available.
[325285]
Information available at:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ cert_ext/cert_ext.aspx
The actual payback period is a function of the cost of the technology, the cost of installation, the actual number of running hours per year and the cost of the fuel saved per year. As these variables are influenced by commercial considerations, which are different for each technology, and as each installation is bespoke, the actual payback period will vary considerably. Circulator pumps are consumers of energy, though some operate more efficiently than others, particularly those that can modulate their output to match the load. We do not have the information on the payback periods for circulator pumps. Energy: Prices Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the cost per unit to the customer of domestic gas and electricity in each year from 2010 to [325264] 2020. Mr. Kidney: The Department does not make forecasts of gas and electricity retail prices since the Government do not take a view of what prices will be set in competitive markets. However, the Department uses a range of assumptions of the future wholesale prices of fossil fuels in the DECC energy model representing different scenarios for future wholesale prices. The most recent published results of the DECC model projections including retail prices were published with the Low Carbon Transition Plan:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/ viewfile.ashx?filepath=statistics/proJections/ 1_20090715101435_e_@@_tablee.xls&filetype=4
Joan Ruddock: The provisional 2009 GHG national statistics released on 25 March 2010 show that emissions of CO2 from power stations were 150.5MtCO2. For those power station emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) operators must submit verified emissions data to the regulators for 2009 by 31 March 2010. In 2008 the UK power sector in the EU ETS emitted 172.4MtCO2. The 2009 data submitted by operators will be available on the European Commission website from early April 2010 and a summary report of checked UK data will be published later in the year. Renewable Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of energy generated from [325245] renewable sources. Mr. Kidney: The latest estimate was published in the 2009 edition of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, and relates to the calendar year 2008. Based on the agreed methodology used to monitor the EU Renewable Energy Directive, 2.3 per cent. of energy was derived from renewable sources during 2008. The 2009 estimate will be published in the 2010 edition of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. Additionally, provisional 2009 data on electricity generation were published in the March 2010 edition of Energy Trends. This showed that when excluding an estimate for non-bio degradable waste use, around 6.6 per cent. of electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2009.
A copy of the Low Carbon Transition Plan projections will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Environment Protection: Job Creation Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many green jobs have been created in each constituency since June 2007.
[324850]
Joan Ruddock: The Government do not collate such data at a constituency level.
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BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Advantage West Midlands Mr. Purchase: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Advantage West Midlands has allocated to the West Midlands since the agencys creation. [322260] Ms Rosie Winterton: The Advantage West Midlands spent 2,177 million grant-in-aid from 1999-2000 to 2008-2009 and this has been put to very good use in the region. For example;
Business Link West Midlands (funded by AWM) assisted 139,000 regional businesses and helped create 6,500 business start ups during 2008/09. Since 1999, when we created the RDAs, AWM has helped attract 880 inward investments resulting in safeguarding or creating 138,500 jobs in the process. Since 2002 the West Midlands Manufacturing Advisory Service has helped more than 5000 manufacturing companies to improve efficiencies and in the process helped add 150 million to their turnover.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made in the replacement of the highly active storage [325023] tanks at Sellafield. Mr. Kidney: The Replacement Highly Active Storage Tank project has completed a detailed optioneering process to a point where a single solution has been selected. As part of this stage a preliminary safety case, which has been subject to regulatory assessment, has been prepared and an outline design has been completed and approved. Replacement tanks are forecast to commence active commissioning in 2018. Wind Power Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has undertaken research into the comparative effectiveness of wind turbines and fossil fuel generation in producing electricity; and if he will make a [320976] statement. Mr. Kidney: The usual approach of assessing the effectiveness of different electricity generation technologies is to use the levelised cost of generating one megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity. The analysis underpinning Renewable Energy Strategy, published in July 2009, used assumptions on the generating costs and wider impacts of wind generation. Full details of which are set out in Element (2009) and Redpoint/ Trilemma (2009), which are available on the DECC website.
Table 1: Levelised cost estimates for wind generation plant Technology Wind generation plant Onshore wind Offshore wind 74-103 112-131 Levelised cost (/MWh)
Apprentices: Cambridgeshire Mr. Vara: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Government funded apprenticeship places were available for young people in North West Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five [324754] years. Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts in North-West Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency for learners aged under 19, from academic year 2004/05 to 2008/09.
Table 1: Apprenticeship Programme starts in North-West Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency by under 19 year olds, 2004/05 to 2008/09 North-West Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 250 170 210 210 190
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have published estimated levelised costs (/MWh, in 2008 prices) associated with 1 MWh of electricity generated, for their December 2008 report:
http://www.theccc.org.uk/pdf/TSO-ClimateChange.pdf
Their analysis for fossil fuel plant is set out in table 2 and include construction, operation and maintenance costs and the cost of carbon allowances (EU ETS).
Table 2: Levelised cost estimates for fossil fuel generation plant Technology Coal-fired plant Coal (pulverised fuel)central fuel Gas-fired plant CCGTcentral fuel 53 54 Levelised cost (/MWh)
Notes: 1. Figures for North-West Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on age at start of programme. Figures include learners aged 16 to 18-years-old and a small number of under 16s. 4. Figures include Apprenticeships, Advanced Apprenticeships and Higher Level Apprenticeships. Source: Individualised Learner Record
Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 25 March 2010:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrmar10
Bankruptcy Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many individuals resident in each constituency (a) in total and (b) aged over 65 years were subject to a bankruptcy order in each quarter between Quarter 2 of [324486] 1997 and Quarter 4 of 2009.
It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers. In reality, there are large uncertainties and ranges around these figures.
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Number of policies 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 3 1 1 3 1 4 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 4 3 1 1
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Value of policies () 50,000 15,000 10,000 84,865 600,000 302,000 482,000 750,000 90,000 83,000 90,000 20,000 40,000 150,000 470,000 100,000 20,000 100,000 240,000 100,000 20,000 60,000 35,000 50,000 60,000 125,000 2,875,000 40,000 44,000 75,000 100,000 175,000 15,000 900,000 100,000 100,000 446,000 200,000 201,000 200,000 2,000,000 50,000 100,000 3,000,000 50,000 402,000 30,000 200,000 605,000 25,000 176,000 300,000 25,000 15,000 203,000 55,000 10,500 120,000 79,500 150,000 70,000
Ian Lucas: Statistics for bankruptcy orders in England and Wales broken down by constituency and age are currently available on an annual basis only and from 2000 to 2008. Sub-national figures for 2009 will be published by the Insolvency Service later in 2010. The table exceeds the size that can be incorporated within the answer and so will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Business Link Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Birmingham had received a free health check from Business Link on the latest date for [325167] which figures are available. Ms Rosie Winterton: 2,848 businesses in Birmingham have received a health check from Business Link West Midlands since the scheme was introduced in October 2008. Of these, 2,058 were firms which employ nine staff or less; a further 579 were businesses with between 10 and 49 staff. Business: Government Assistance Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many guarantees for each type of asset have been provided under his Departments Working Capital [324488] Scheme in each constituency. Ms Rosie Winterton: Under the Working Capital Scheme the Department has provided to two banks 2.2 billion of guarantees on portfolios of commercial loans to free up regulatory capital for new bank lending to UK companies. The scheme does not provide guarantees on assets, and the loan portfolios do not identify parliamentary constituencies. Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been provided under his Departments Capital for Enterprise Fund in each [324489] constituency. Ms Rosie Winterton: To date the appointed fund managers of the Capital for Enterprise Fund have made offers totalling 96.7 million to 65 businesses. 26 investments have been made totalling 36.5 million. I am not providing a breakdown by parliamentary constituency as this could make it possible to identify the individual companies that have received support. Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what guarantees have been provided under his Departments Trade Credit Insurance Scheme in each constituency.
[324490]
Constituency Altrincham and Sale West Amber Valley Beaconsfield Belfast South Birkenhead Birmingham, Ladywood Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath Bolton South East Bradford North Bristol West Broxbourne Burnley Cannock Chase Chipping Barnet Cities of London and Westminster Cleethorpes Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill East Hampshire East Londonderry Eccles Elmet Exeter Faversham and Mid Kent Folkestone and Hythe Harlow Heywood and Middleton Holborn and St. Pancras Huntingdon Islwyn Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle Luton South Manchester, Blackley Mid Ulster Middlesbrough Mole Valley Neath Normanton North Devon North East Milton Keynes North Warwickshire Northampton South Nuneaton Ochil and South Perthshire Reading West Redcar Richmond Park Saffron Walden Scunthorpe Sheffield, Attercliffe Sherwood Shipley South Derbyshire Stirling Stourbridge Sutton and Cheam Telford Tyne Bridge Vale of York Walsall South Wansdyke Welwyn Hatfield
Ms Rosie Winterton: At scheme closure on 31 December 2009, 109 policies had been written under the scheme to a value of 18,583,865. This is broken down by constituency as follows:
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Reading East Constituency
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Constituency West Bromwich West Woking Wokingham Wolverhampton North East Wolverhampton South West Wyre Forest
Value of policies () 87,500 675,000 162,500 50,000 275,000 50,000 18,586,865 Up to 20,000 50,001 to 100,000 100,001 to 150,000 150,001 to 200,000 200,001 to 250,000 Total
2006 2 0 1 0 7
2007 3 0 0 1 7 Berkshire
2008 2 0 1 1 6
2009 1 0 0 0 1
Total 8 0 2 2 21
2006 5 22 22 14 3 1 67
2007 2 16 14 6 0 2 40
2008 5 18 12 3 2 2 42
2009 1 4 1 1 2 0 9
Total 13 60 49 24 7 5 158
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for funding under the Small Firms Guarantee scheme have been received by small firms based in (a) Reading East constituency, (b) Berkshire and (c) the South East in each of the last five years.
[324575]
20,001 to 50,000 50,001 to 100,000 100,001 to 150,000 150,001 to 200,000 200,001 to 250,000 Total
Ms Rosie Winterton: Under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee the number of loans made to small firms based in the Reading, East constituency, the county of Berkshire, and the south-east region in each year from 2006 are as follows:
2006 Reading, East Berkshire South East 7 67 410 2007 7 40 377 2008 6 42 304 2009 1 9 50 Total 21 158 1141
Business: Southend-on-Sea Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase investment in industry in Southend[324387] on-Sea; and if he will make a statement. Ms Rosie Winterton: The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) works with local and regional partners to ensure effective investment in Southend-on-Sea and support the business community there. EEDA has committed to invest a further 2.485 million over the coming financial year to further expand the facilities at the university of Essex and encourage the growth of the digital technology sector in Southend. This is in addition to essential business support services like Business Link, support for inward investment and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which are available to businesses in the area. Career Development Loans Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) cash cost and (b) resource cost is of career development loans in England for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.
[324993]
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee replaced the Small Firms Loan Guarantee in January 2009. Businesses would apply for a loan from any one of the participating accredited lenders who would assess which form of lending, including a SFLG backed loan, was most appropriate. We do not hold figures for those businesses which were instead offered a normal commercial loan, or were rejected for failing to meet the lenders commercial criteria. Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many grants to small firms based in (a) Reading East constituency and (b) Berkshire under the Small Firms Local Guarantee scheme were between (i) 5,000 and 20,000, (ii) 20,001 and 50,000, (iii) 50,001 and 100,000, (iv) 100,001 and 150,000, (v) 150,001 and 200,000 and (vi) 200,001 and 250,000 in each of the [324576] last five years. Ms Rosie Winterton: The Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) data in the form requested are only available from December 2005. The Enterprise Finance Guarantee replaced the Small Firms Loan Guarantee in January 2009. The breakdown of the number of loans to small businesses based in the Reading East constituency, and the county of Berkshire in the amounts specified in each full year from 2006 are as follows:
Reading East Constituency 2006 Up to 20,000 20,001 to 50,000 1 3 2007 0 3 2008 1 1 2009 0 0 Total 2 7
Mr. Lammy: On 1 July 2009, Government began an enhanced version of Career Development Loans (CDLs) called Professional and Career Development Loans (PCDLs). For 2009-10, the cost of administering these programmes across the UK is expected to be 21.8 million. In 2010-11, as more loans are delivered, the programme is expected to cost around 30 million. England accounts for around 90 per cent. of the PCDL market. These programme costs cover: interest payments made by Government to support the individual while in learning; liability as a result of defaulted repayments; administration costs associated with the devolved administrations and of small-value loans; and marketing. Final costs are also dependent on a number of other factors, including the Bank of England base rate and the level of take-up of loans offered.
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure since it was established. [324431] Mr. McFadden: This Department has not spent anything to date on rooms for staff leisure since its inception in June 2009. I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly. Letter from Gareth Jones:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 March 2010, UIN 324431, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Companies House has not spent any money on rooms for staff leisure since the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was established in June 2009.
2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
0 0 65,400 52,900 376,800
The figures above are inclusive of VAT. The figure for 2009/10 includes costs associated with the major refurbishment of our main ministerial building at 1 Victoria street, enabling the Department to vacate Kingsgate house, London, which currently costs 10 million per annum to run, when the lease on this building expires in March 2012. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.
[324983]
Letter from John Alty, dated 24 March 2010:

I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22nd March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Prior to 5 June 2009, when the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was formed, the Intellectual Property Office set aside some rooms for staff leisure. However, since that date the IPO has not incurred any expenditure on rooms for staff leisure other than heating, lighting etc.
Mr. McFadden: The Department is currently in the process of implementing a project to install voltage reduction equipment at its 1 Victoria Street HQ building and this work will be completed towards the end of 2010. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in financial [324819] year 1996-97, expressed in current prices. Mr. McFadden: The total staff costs for press office staff in the financial year 2009/10, up to the end of February 2010, are 1,350,000. This includes staff costs for press officers and support staff working in the press office. A breakdown of costs just for press officers and excluding non-press officers could be provided only at disproportionate costs. The number of press officers currently at BIS is 29. This combines the press offices from the former BERR and former DIUS. The press office co-ordinates all the media handling for the Departments current 10 Ministers and the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. The number of press officers in 1997 was 20. The staff costs are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. Departmental Pay
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated March 2010:

The Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure since it was established. The Insolvency Service does not have specific rooms set aside for leisure purposes within any of its offices. The Insolvency Service does, however, provide in each of its offices, at least one multi-purpose area for staff to utilise for rest periods or work related meetings. The Insolvency service was established in 1990 but there are records of a limited number of previous office premises that offered a specific room for leisure purposes, retrieving and collating the information required would incur a disproportionate cost and this information has not been supplied.
Letter from Peter Mason,, dated 30 March 2010:

I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (formerly National Weights and Measures Laboratory) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 22 March 2010 reference 2009/1821 to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure since it was established. The NMO has spent a total of 180.33 on rooms for staff leisure. This was for a fridge (159.99) and a toaster (20.34).
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessor spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments [324670] undertaken in each of the last five years. Mr. McFadden: Over the last five financial years, this Department and its predecessors have spent the following amounts on interior design in relation to office refurbishments:
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department has allocated for [306391] bonuses for staff in 2009-10. Mr. McFadden: An element of the BIS overall pay award for staff below the SCS is allocated to nonconsolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form
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part of the pay award. There are two types of award: in-year bonuses, which consist of special individual performance awards and non-pay rewards that recognise strong performance in particularly demanding tasks for situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award. Annual performance awards are paid to members of staff who receive a highly successful performance rating. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. Performance awards for the SCS are part of the pay system across the whole senior civil service, and are used to reward high performance sustained throughout the year, based on judgments of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The performance
Amount of money allocated for in year performance awards 427,578 Currently unavailable
related pay scheme is designed to help drive high performance and support better public service delivery. Performance awards are non-consolidated and non pensionable. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the SCS is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. BIS was formed through a MOG change that occurred in June 2009. The Department was created by merging the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Due to the timing of the MOG change it was decided that both Departments would continue with separate remits for 2009-10 before producing a single BIS remit for 2010-11. The two former Departments have allocated the following amounts of money for performance awards in 2009-10:
Total amount of money allocated for performance awards in 2009-10 1,358,878 n/a
Department BERR DIUS
Amount of money allocated for annual performance awards 931,300 280,756
Notes: 1. The data included covers all staff below the SCS. 2. For the SCS the Senior Salaries Review Body determines the level of expenditure to cover bonuses. 3. The DIUS data for the in year performance award budget is currently unavailable as these are held locally at an individual group level. The in year performance bonuses that were awarded in 2008-09 totalled 13,855.
Mr. Scott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in [306489] each year since 2003. Mr. McFadden: An element of the BIS overall pay award for staff below the SCS is allocated to nonconsolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award. There are two types of award: in-year bonuses, which consist of special individual performance awards and non-pay rewards that recognise strong performance in particularly demanding tasks for situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award. Annual performance awards are paid to members of staff who receive a highly successful performance rating. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. Performance awards for the SCS are part of the pay system across the whole senior civil service, and are used to reward high performance sustained throughout the year, based on judgements of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The performance related pay scheme is designed to help drive high performance and support better public service delivery. Performance awards are non-consolidated and non pensionable. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the SCS is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. BIS was formed through a Machinery of Government change that occurred in June 2009. The department was created by merging The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and The Department
for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). DIUS and BERR were themselves created as part of a Machinery of Government Change in June 2007. This means that BIS in its current format did not exist to award performance awards in previous years. The information as follows has been drawn from various data sources and provides details for both of the former departments that were merged to create BIS.
Financial year 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04
1
BERR 2,827,223 2,958,888 3,023,849 2,330,532 2,061,772 2,026,477
DIUS 473,026 207,041

1 1 1 1
DIUS was created by a MOG change that occurred in June 2007 and did not exist before this date. The majority of annual bonuses paid to staff in 2007/08 were issued by the departments that staff had transferred from.
Departmental Rail Travel Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent of first-class rail travel for (a) Ministers and (b) staff of each grade in his [325134] Department in the last 12 months. Mr. McFadden: Following a machinery of government change the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was formed in June 2009. The following figures include former BERR and DIUS before the merger. The amount spent on first class rail travel for the period March 2009-February 2010 was:
Rail: 643,890figures include overseas rail travel
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All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. The Department does not hold separate records of the travel undertaken by Ministers as opposed to those undertaken by civil servants, to provide this information would entail disproportionate costs. Cabinet Office provides an annual list of overseas travel over 500 undertaken by Ministers. The 2008/09 list was published on 16 July 2009 and can be viewed at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ ministers/travel_gifts.aspx
available for development in the regions. The following table shows the amounts spent by AWM, NWDA and SEEDA on accreditation:
Accreditation costs (individual registration costs) () RDA AWM NWDA SEEDA
1
2010 2,575
1
2009 2,488 1,015 1,491
2008 3,980 None 4,906
2007 3,016 None 6,556
1,130 2,500
Approx. Expected costsinvoice not received as yet.
Departmental Senior Civil Servants Mr. David Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his [324954] Department. Mr. McFadden [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Grade 2 as a description of staff level is no longer in general use. Senior civil servants in similar sized roles are now referred to as being in pay band 3 and usually have the job title of director general. BIS currently has 11.9 full-time equivalents at this level. Enterprise Europe Networks Robert Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in which Government Office regions regional Enterprise Europe Networks have been established; and what funding (a) his Department, (b) Business Links and (c) regional development agencies have provided to [323051] such networks. Ms Rosie Winterton: Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) consortia cover all Government office regions. This includes a joint consortium for East and West Midlands. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not directly funded the network. In three regions EENs have received funding totalling 55,437 from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). BIS, along with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is a parent Department of UKTI. No funding has been provided to the EEN by Business Links. Six regional development agencies (RDAs) have provided funding for the UK EEN totalling 2,212,485. Housing: Conferences Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent by the (a) South East, (b) West Midlands and (c) North West Development Agency on accreditation for the MIPIM International Property conference in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010 [323250] to date. Ms Rosie Winterton: The RDAs attend the MIPIM International Property conference to attract inward investment to the regions and to showcase land that is
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister Department for Business, Innovation and many representatives of the East Development Agency attended the International Property conference in (a) 2008 and (c) 2009.
of State, Skills how Midlands MIPIM 2007, (b)

[323252]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows.

Number of emda staff attending 2007 2008 2009 6 4 1
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representatives of the North West Development Agency attended the MIPIM International Property Conference in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.
[323253]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:

2007: No attendance from NWDA 2008: No attendance from NWDA 2009: One person from NWDA attended.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representatives of the South East Development Agency attended the MIPIM International Property Conference in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.
[323254]
Ms Rosie Winterton: SEEDA attends MIPIM to attract inward investment to the region and to showcase land that is available for development in the South East.
Number of representatives 2007 2008 2009 20 12 2
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent by the South East Development Agency on (a) travel and (b) accommodation for representatives attending the MIPIM International Property Conference in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.
[323255]
Ms Rosie Winterton: SEEDA attends MIPIM to attract inward investment to the region and to showcase land that is available for development in the South East.
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Travel ()
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Accommodation () 10,273 7,342 1,112
2007 2008 2009
13,129 13,012 1,919
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent by the East Midlands Development Agency on (a) travel and (b) accommodation for representatives attending the MIPIM International Property Conference in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.
[323256]
The ONS are due to publish the next set of balanced UK National Accounts, which will include balanced figures for 2008, in July this year. Currently, the ONS provisionally estimates that manufacturing GVA accounted for 12.3 per cent. of total UK GVA at current prices in 2008. The ONSs early provisional estimates for 2009 suggest that last year manufacturing accounted for 11.8 per cent. of total UK GVA at current prices. This early estimate put the value of manufacturing output at 148.7 billion in 2009, close to the 150.2 billion of manufacturing output produced in 1997.
1
Gross value added is the output measure of GDP, but minus taxes less subsidies on products (such as VAT).
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is tabled as follows:

Accommodation costs 2007 2008 2009 4,072 5,700 1,696 Travel costs 3,329 2,915 1,044
North West Development Agency: Visits Abroad Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent by the North West Development Agency on (a) travel and (b) accommodation for representatives attending the MIPIM international property conference in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.
[323281]
Learning Disability Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the funding required by local authorities to administer the provision of learning for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a [322924] statement. Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 18 March 2010]: I have been asked to reply. The primary source of funding for additional support for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) aged 16 to 18 is Additional Learning Support Funding (ALS). In 2009-10 this system was administered by local authorities (for school sixth forms) and by the Learning and Skills Council (for other provision 16 to 18). In the 2009/10 academic year the budget for ALS in school sixth forms and 16 to 18 FE provision is 275 million. From April 2010 local authorities will assume responsibility for funding all education and training provision for 16 to 18-year-olds. In the 2010/11 academic year local authorities will be allocated 289 million for ALS in school sixth forms and 16 to 18 FE provision to reflect these new responsibilities. Manufacturing Industries Mr. Wareing: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what percentage of gross domestic product the manufacturing industry generated in (a) 1997 and (b) [324772] 2009. Ian Lucas: The latest year covered by most recent fully balanced UK National Accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is 2007. Manufacturing gross value added (GVA) accounted for 20.3 per cent. of total UK GVA1 at current prices in 1997, compared to 12.4 per cent. in 2007.
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 22 March 2010]: NWDA Response:

2007: No attendance from NWDA 2008: No attendance from NWDA 2009: One person from NWDA attended. Flight303
Accommodation1,105 (This is high because you have to take accommodation for minimum of five nights during the MIPIM period, all Cannes hotels operated this principal during 2009). One North East: Public Relations Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 298W, on One North East and North East Economic Forum: public relations, for what reason the Regional Development Agency chose to use the services of [324202] Sovereign Strategy. Ms Rosie Winterton: North East Economic Forum (NEEF) events have been sponsored by a number of public and private bodies including One North East. In March 2006, One North East agreed to sponsor NEEF to deliver a series of events to debate economic issues affecting the North East. One North East paid 23,500 in March 2007 for this sponsorship. The payment was made to Sovereign Strategy as it is the company which manages the administration of NEEF. NEEF is a separate company registered with Companies House. One North East has no current contract with Sovereign Strategy. Regional Planning and Development: Finance Robert Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) regional development agencies have allocated to [308696] regional design panels since their inception.
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Ms Rosie Winterton: Regional Design Panels (RDPs) are mainly funded by the RDAs. EEDA, NWDA, SEEDA, SWRDA and YF are the sole fund providers for their RDPs. AWM and LDA provide contributions to their RDP. ONE does not provide any funding to its RDP.
The following table gives a breakdown of both core and project funding provided by RDAs for Regional Design Panels (RDP) in their region. Where no data is provided, the RDP in that region was not yet in operation.
000
RDA AWM EEDA EMDA LDA NWDA ONE SEEDA SWRDA YF
2002-03 46
2003-04 30 131
2004-05 16 40 102
2005-06 30 15 141 72
2006-07 43 100 40 25 141 96
2007-08 194 67 20 107 141 120
2008-09 150 128 20 0 115 163 80
2009-10 150 100 20 15 133 0 140 59 50
I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly. Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 18 December 2009:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15 December 2009, UIN 308696, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Companies House has not allocated any funding to regional design panels since their inception.
exchange rate have given rise to increases in international subscriptions costs of 13.45 million at NERC and 31.63 million at STFC. The Department has provided additional allocations of 12.45 million to NERC and 28.63 million to STFC to compensate them for these extra costs. Space Technology: Finance Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the creation of the proposed new UK space agency, including the (a) rebranding of the British National Space Centre and (b) public consultation conducted in 2009 on the civil space sector. [324602] Mr. Lammy: The direct cost of creating the new UK Space Agency and rebranding the British National Space Centre (BNSC) is 46,500, relating to the launch event itself (note that this event also included the launch of the Government response to the Space IGT), the development of the logo, the protection of trademarks on the name and logo within the UK, and the website revamp. The public consultation was run via the BNSC website and managed within the remit of existing BNSC staff, so did not involve any direct additional costs. Students: Disabled Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Student Loans Company follows in administering the disabled students allowance in order to ensure that companies supplying specialist equipment to recipients have the capacity to deliver (a) the volume of equipment tendered and (b) ongoing support for the [324700] duration of a students course of study. Mr. Lammy: There is no contractual relationship between the Student Loans Company (SLC) and companies supplying specialist equipment which may be purchased by recipients of disabled students allowances (DSAs). The Department recommends that SLC deals with suppliers audited by the disabled students allowancesQuality Assurance Group1 and committed to specific service
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 21 December 2009:

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what funding (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) regional development agencies have allocated to regional design panels since their inception. The Insolvency Service does not have any involvement in regional design panels.
Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 22 December 2009:

I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15 December 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Intellectual Property Office do not provide funding to regional design panels.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 21 December 2009:

I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 15 December 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Since the formation of the National Measurement Office in April 2009, the Agency has not allocated any funding to the regional design panels.
Research Councils: Finance Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to each research council of fluctuations in the sterling exchange rate in the financial year 2009-10; and how much his Department has allocated to compensate research [323383] councils for such fluctuations. Mr. Lammy [holding answer 25 March 2010]: For financial year 2009-10 the movements in the sterling
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level agreements (which include a requirement to provide support for the duration of the students course). However, DSAs are personal grants to individual students who are entitled to use whichever supplier they wish.
The disabled students allowancesQuality Assurance Group is a registered charity which provides a quality assurance service for assessment centres in the delivery of the disabled students allowances in England and Wales.
1
I am unable to provide any estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of trade union activity, as this would incur disproportionate cost.

I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 01 March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. There were 255 days of allowed staff time spent on trade union activity in the Intellectual Property Office in 2008/09. This came at a cost of approximately 58,000 based on the average cost of the staff involved.
Tractors: Government Assistance Mark Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the merits of a scheme to provide a financial incentive to replace old tractors. [325301] Ian Lucas: I fully appreciate the impact the recession has had on all parts of the UK economy. We do not have any plans to introduce any additional financial incentive to replace old tractors. Trade Unions Mr. Syms: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many days staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity.
[320618]
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 11 March 2010:

I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister of State, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills how many days staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity. The National Measurement Office (NMO) is part of the Partnership Agreement with the Cabinet Office and the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU) and also the Joint Agreement between the Permanent Secretary and the constituent Trade Unions FDA, PCS and Prospect. Under the Agreement and through the Departmental Whitley Council, NMO affords facility time to those members of staff acting as Accredited Officials up to a maximum of 25 days a year paid special leave (40 days for members of the National Executive). Time off for union activities has to be agreed and all time is recorded on the Agency time recording system. Under the Agreement on Facilities for Industrial Relations Activities and Trade Union Activities members may be granted reasonable paid time off for specific union activities as laid out in the agreement and we follow the ACAS Code of Practice Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities. The relevant time recording system was introduced in April 2009 and data is therefore available only for the 11 months to end February 2010. During that period, 9.5 days (66.56 hours) have been credited for union activities. As individual members are from different grades, it is not possible to provide a cost in the time allocated for the reply.
Mr. McFadden: This Department currently employs 3.0 full time departmental trade union side officers at an approximate cost of 90,000. Across BIS, approximately 100 people have facilities time arrangements. The majority of these are very small allocations. It is not possible to provide figures for this except at disproportionate cost. I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly. Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 16 March 2010:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 1 March 2010, UIN 320618 to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. In the financial year 2009-10 Trade Union representatives used a total of 229.5 days facility time at an estimated cost of 19,350.00. The facility time granted to Trade Union representatives in Companies House is in line with the ACAS Code of Practice Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities.
TREASURY Air Passenger Duty Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors were taken into account in setting the level of air passenger duty in respect of journeys to the Caribbean; and if he will make a statement. [324736] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In reforming air passenger duty (APD) in 2008 the Government sought to ensure that flying contributes fairly to the public finances and, by introducing distance bands, to strengthen the environmental signal of the tax. Rates are set after careful deliberation by Ministers, taking into account all relevant factors. Ticketing systems are mainly based on national territories, and as such it is straightforward to base the tax rates to specific destinations on countries, where the capital city is the natural proxy for the country. APD levels on journeys to Caribbean countries are therefore based on the distance between their capitals and London. Banks: Finance Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assets are insured under his Departments Guarantee of Asset-Backed Securities.
[324485]
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 9 March 2010:

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many days staff in The Insolvency Service spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available, and any estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of this activity. The number of recorded days that staff in The Insolvency Service spent on trade union activity from 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009 was 122.93 (full-time equivalent). It should be noted that this figure is likely to be an under-estimate. Some staff that are not trade union officials but are trade union members, may engage in trade union activities e.g. attendance at officially sanctioned trade union meetings, for which no central records are kept. Additionally, the figure excludes any management involvement in trade union activities e.g. attendance at Whitley meetings (the main employee relations communication and consultation forum with trade unions).
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Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government announced the asset-backed securities (ABS) guarantee scheme in January 2009, as part of a package of measures to stabilise financial markets, support lending to the economy and promote the transition towards a sustainable unguaranteed market. The ABS guarantee scheme closed on 31 December 2009. Ms Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public funding has been provided to assist [325069] banks since the start of the credit crunch. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Details of the financial support provided to UK banks are provided in Budget 2010 and the Treasurys Resource Accounts. Banks: Loans Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Statement of 24 March 2010, Official Report, column 258, how much of the 94 billion of new business loans will be provided by (a) RBS and (b) Lloyds TSB; and what steps he plans to take should either bank not meet its [325161] loan targets. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: For the second year of the Lending Commitments, Lloyds Banking Group have agreed to lend 44 billion to businesses, and RBS have agreed to lend 50 billion to businesses. If the Governments judgment is that either bank has failed to meet their lending commitments for year two, or has seriously breached the behaviours set out under their SME Customer Charters, the Government will inform UK Financial Investments, which will work with the remuneration committees of the relevant banks to determine the appropriate consequences of the breach of the year two commitments or the customer charters to the relevant executives. Banks: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people resident in City of York constituency who have benefited from the Governments guarantee to depositors with Icelandic banks; and what estimate has been made of the average monetary value of their [324226] deposits. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Using orders made under the Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008, the retail deposit business of the UK subsidiaries of Kaupthing and Landsbanki respectively, Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander (KSF) and Heritable, were transferred to ING. At the time of the transfer approximately 3.6 billion was paid to ING by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the Treasury to facilitate the transfer of the retail deposit business. No estimate has been made specifically of the number of KSF and Heritable retail depositors living in York and the corresponding value of their deposits. Retail depositors with Landsbanki (Icesave) are being compensated on an individual depositor-by-depositor basis by the FSCS. According to the FSCS about 2,369 retail depositors living in York have received payments
from the FSCS. The total sum paid to retail depositors living in York is about 47.3 million, an average of 20,000 per depositor. Business: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Birmingham had received assistance from the Business Payment Support Service on the latest date for which figures are available.
[325165]
Mr. Timms: Since its introduction on 24 November 2008, and up to 21 March 2010, HM Revenue and Customs Business Payment Support Service (BPSS) has agreed over 307,000 time to pay arrangements with businesses in the UK to spread tax payments of just under 5.2 billion over an agreed period. During the same period, the BPSS has agreed around 3,800 arrangements worth 71 million in Birmingham. Cheques Mr. Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has had discussions with (a) pensioner groups and (b) other representatives of vulnerable people on proposals to end the cheque clearing system;
[324041]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Payments Council on plans for alternative payment methods for cheque users should the cheque clearing system be [324042] ended. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The closure of cheque and credit clearing, the UK system that processes cheques, is a commercial decision for the Payments Council, an independent body that sets the strategy for UK payment systems, will take. However, the Government recognise that certain groups (in particular the elderly, small businesses and the Third Sector) still value and are highly dependent on the cheque as a method of payment. We believe it is imperative that adequate alternatives are in place for all users of cheques, ahead of any potential closure of the cheque clearing system. The Government have received representations on cheques directly from members of the public and Members of Parliament. Treasury officials are engaging with the Payments Council to ensure that the concerns of all cheque users are fully represented in any final decision to be taken in 2016 regarding the closure of the cheques clearing system. Council Tax: Valuation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 26 June 2003, paragraph 5, if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper on recommended choice of Automated Valuation Model [324168] vendor. Ian Pearson: This paper contains commercially sensitive information on the companies involved in the selection process and cannot be placed in the public domain.
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 19 October 2004, paragraph 3.5, if he will place in the Library a copy of the due diligence [324318] review conducted by the IAAO. Ian Pearson: This review provides a description of the Valuation Office Agencys (VOAs) implementation of automated valuation modelling technology and a detailed analysis of the results it achieved. This is commercially sensitive and cannot be placed in the public domain. Credit Unions Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the provision of (a) financial and (b) other support for credit unions; and if he will make [324960] a statement. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Government have set aside almost 100 million as Growth Fund money for onward lending by credit unions and community development financial institutions. Over 240,000 credit union members have benefited from these loans to date with the average loan being around 450. The Legislative Reform Order for Industrial and Provident Societies and credit unions is currently passing through Parliament using the super-affirmative procedure, while the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act received Royal Assent on 11 March. We announced at Budget 2010:
The Government will continue to work to improve the supply of affordable credit for low-income households, including by supporting third sector lenders. It will consult on options to make sure banks make an appropriate contribution to community lenders through regulatory action or a new community levy to be funded by retail banks.
The Office of Government Commerce spent 10,000 upgrading shower facilities in 2009, with no other separately distinguishable expenditure for earlier years. The UK Debt Management Office does not have any rooms allocated purely for staff leisure purposes. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff. [324553] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In 1 Horse Guards road, the Treasury Sports and Social Club allow the company Energy Fitness Professionals to run a gym and classes to which it provides no financial subsidy other than providing Energy Fitness Professionals with the free accommodation. Rosebery Court in Norwich has one gym, run by the Rosebery Court Sports and Social Club. Gym users pay to use this gym directly to the social club, and it is not subsidised by either the social club or the department. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken [324684] in each of the last five years. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 March 2010, Official Report, column 266W. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings [324968] occupied by his Department. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In March 2009, HM Treasury Group was the first central Government Department to achieve the Carbon Trusts Carbon Standard for sustained improvement on a range of environmental indicators across its estate, and is committed to further improvements. It has achieved this without the installation of voltage optimisers or similar technology but keeps this under regular review. Departmental Furniture Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on antique furniture in each of the last five years; and what items [325112] were purchased in each such year. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has not purchased any antique furniture in the past five years. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices.
[324802]
These initiatives show the Governments commitment towards credit unions and other mutual societies in the role they play in providing greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector. Departmental Advertising Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) his Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) the Valuation Office Agency has incurred expenditure on Google Adwords [323516] in the last 12 months. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has not spent any money on Google Adwords. HM Revenue and Customs and the Valuation Office Agency spent 550,000 and 37,000 respectively on Google Adwords in the last 12 months. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last [324428] five years. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury spending on rooms used for staff leisure is limited to standard maintenance costs and is therefore indistinguishable from spending on rooms used entirely for business purposes.
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Number of staff >6 months
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 190W, to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Shapps). Information on the cost of employing Press Officers in 1996-97 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its Departments website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325189] make a statement. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has received no complaints regarding difficulties operating its website in each of the last three years. Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325207] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has not spent any money on external website design consultants between 2006-07 and 2008-09. Departmental Manpower Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many employees in (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies are in transition prior to being managed out; how long on average the transition window between notification and exit has been in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the salary costs of staff in transition in each such year; and what proportion of employees in transition were classed as being so for more than six [313233] months in each year; (2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies managed out in the last five years who remain working [313847] in the public sector. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Employees across the Treasury Group are kept informed of any forthcoming changes in organisational roles or functions, and full support is given to employees. Staff have six months notice, more in the case of disabled staff, in order to find alternative employment. Information covering HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is set out in the following table. The Treasury and OGC figures for 2008-09 relate to additional time given to employees to seek alternative employment elsewhere in the civil service. The Debt Management Office (DMO) has not had any employees in transition over the last five years. Estimates of salary costs, and of the percentage of former staff who remain in the public sector, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Organisation HM Treasury 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 OGC 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Average time (months)
4.0 0.0 6.0 4.8 14.0
5 0 <5 <5 <5
0.0 0.0 0.0 6.3 15.0
0 0 0 34 14
Information relating to fewer than five cases has been withheld where this could lead to the identification of protected personal information. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on (i) alcohol and (ii) entertainment in [305530] the last 12 months. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In 2008-09, the Treasury spent 91,000 and the Office of Government Commerce 1,000 on official entertainment. For information on alcohol spending by the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the hon. Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave on 9 March 2009, Official Report, column 103W, to the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson). The Debt Management Office spent 10,000 on official entertainment in 2008-09, of which 2,000 was spent on alcohol. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Departmental Surveys Mr. Grieve: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his [322563] Department and its agencies. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Summaries of the results for HM Treasury and Office of Government Commerce have been placed in the Library. The Debt Management Office (DMO) will place a copy of the results of its survey results in the Library after they have been shared with DMO staff. Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which companies his Department sourced temporary staff in each of the last three years; how many temporary staff his Department employed in each year; and what the monetary value of the contracts with each such company was in each such [320012] year.
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Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has used the following companies to provide temporary staff in 2008-09. Information on the numbers of temporary staff employed is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Year 2008-09 Supplier name Brook Street (UK)Ltd. Huntress Search Ltd. Kelly Services (UK) Ltd. Office Angels OSR Recruitment Services Reed Employment plc Reed Personnel Services plc Total 6,000 1,000 145,000 1,000 4,000 1,000 158,000
many new conservatories local authorities have notified to the Valuation Office Agency in the last 12 months.
[324169]
Ian Pearson: This information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. Islamic National Bank: Palestinians Mr. Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on freezing by the US administration of assets of the [325225] Islamic National Bank based in Gaza. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers have discussions with a variety of individuals and organisations, including international partners, as part of the process of policy development and delivery on counter-terrorist finance. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Governments practice to provide details of all such discussions. Minimum Wage: North West Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) penalty notices and (b) financial penalties have been issued to employers in each local authority area in the North West for paying employees at rates below the national minimum wage in each of the last five years; and if he will make a [325041] statement. Mr. Timms: Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. From 6 April 2009, the national minimum wage (NMW) enforcement regime includes the issue of an automatic penalty in most cases of minimum wage non-compliance. The information requested at a regional level is provided in the following table. HMRC does not maintain statistical information by local authority areas. All penalties issued have a financial amount payable.
NMW penalty notices issued by HMRC to employers in the north-west 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009 (to February 2010) 0 0 1 1 33 notices of underpayment issued with penalties
Details for the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 were contained in the answer provided to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 799W. Hamas Mr. Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to freeze the assets of financial institutions operating in UK jurisdictions [325223] which provide banking facilities to Hamas. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Hamas (including its military wing, the Izz-al-Din al-Qassem Brigades) is subject to an EU asset freeze under Council Regulation (EC) No. 2580/2001. The Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2009 provides enforcement provisions in the UK in respect of this Regulation. Hamas military wing is also proscribed in the UK. As such, any financial institutions or other persons that hold or operate accounts for Hamas (including its military wing) are required to freeze those accounts. In addition, the asset freeze prevents financial institutions and others from making funds, economic resources or financial services available to Hamas. The prohibitions in the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2009 apply to persons in the UK and British citizens elsewhere, including corporate bodies incorporated or constituted under the law of any part of the UK or a Scottish partnership, including banks, financial institutions, charitable organisations and nongovernmental organisations, in the UK or established under UK law. Hotels Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely annual savings to the public purse of the use by Government Departments of the Expotel facility for hotel bookings.
[324212]
Money Laundering Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incidents possibly related to money laundering (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise have reported to the appropriate investigative agencies in each year since 1997; and how many prosecutions resulted from these reports in each [314007] year. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is authorised to investigate money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as was the former HM Customs and Excise (HMCE). HMRC
Ian Pearson: It is for the relevant public sector body to account for their savings through the use of the Expotel contract. Housing: Valuation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 265W, on valuation, how
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officers investigate money laundering with their own resources, and will not generally make disclosures to another agency. However where HMRC (and previously HMCE) detect money laundering that is related to offences which are outside the remit of HMRC, for example people trafficking or robbery, it may refer those to another agency that has primacy in the respective area. Since 2001, 47 money laundering cases have been referred to other agencies. Powers to allow the former Inland Revenue to pass disclosures relating to incidents of suspected money laundering to other investigatory agencies came into force with other provisions of the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 on 14 December 2001. Prior to the merger of HMCE and Inland Revenue in April 2005, the Inland Revenue made 16 disclosures to the appropriate agencies. HMRC, under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, is the supervisory authority regulator of High Value Dealers, Money Service Businesses, Trust or Company Service Providers, and Accountancy Service Providers. In relation to these areas, if HMRC knows or suspects that a person is, or has, engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing, it has an obligation to inform the Serious Organised Crime Agency. HMRC has made 15 referrals to SOCA since the 2007 regulations came into force. Disclosures to other agencies by HMRC relating to money laundering can be used by other law enforcement agencies in a variety of ways to detect crime and trace the proceeds of criminal activity. For example, such information may contribute to an ongoing investigation, trigger a new investigation or be held on the relevant intelligence database for future cases. HMRC does not know the outcome of all referrals and given the variety of ways in which information is used, it is not possible to link particular disclosures with particular prosecutions and convictions in the majority of cases. Non-domestic Rates: Ports Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to page 6 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, what assessment has been made of the effect in ports on corporation tax revenues of the new regime of retrospective business rates; and what methodology is used to assess the effect of (a) lower and (b) higher business rates on corporation tax [323179] revenues. Ian Pearson: As regards the backdating of non-domestic property rateable values in English and Welsh ports, the payment scheme introduced to allow affected business to spread their liabilities over eight years was judged to have a negligible impact on corporation tax revenues. In the case of the extension of temporary rate relief for empty business properties (Explanatory Memorandum to the Non-Domestic Rating Amendment Regulations 2010 No. 408) the methodology underlying the corporation tax implications, referred to on page 6 of the impact assessment, was covered in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the accompanying Evidence Base.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) monetary value of retrospective business rate demands for port businesses, excluding the sum payable in respect of the current period; and how many newly-assessed businesses have (i) paid in respect of the new assessment and (ii) paid or made a contribution under his extended payment proposals.
[323596]
Barbara Follett [holding answer 25 March 2010]: I have been asked to reply. As at 23 December 2009, the Valuation Office Agency have advised my Department that 724 newly assessed, port based properties are liable for backdated rates to 1 April 2005. An estimate of the monetary value of the backdated liabilities was made in respect of all ratepayers (not just port based properties) and was published in the impact assessment alongside the Explanatory Memorandum for the Non Domestic Rating (collection and Enforcement) (local Lists) (England) (Amendment) regulations 2009
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/em/uksiem_20090204_en.pdf
This states that the estimated backdated liability, before the application of any reliefs, is forecast to be approximately 131 million and the cost of the scheme to be approximately 33 million. The Government have listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some situated in ports. It has legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent. As at 8 October 2009, local authorities have reported that ratepayers occupying 221 properties within ports had fully discharged their backdated liability and ratepayers occupying a further 200 business properties within ports had been granted a schedule of payments. The Government do not have information on how many payments, or of what amount, the 200 properties with schedule of payments agreements have made. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of (a) the Conservative Party and (b) the Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or [324403] special advisers in the last 36 months. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Details of opposition policy costings undertaken by the Department are contained in two FOI releases published in February on the Departments website. They can be found at the following addresses:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ foi_opposition_costings_170210.htm http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ foi_opposition_costings_050210.htm
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Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people with a BT postcode paying income tax as part of the Pay As You Earn system in 2009 had more than one income stream.
[323591]
measurement criteria to evaluate performance against them, are set out in the Departments annual business plans, available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm
Information on data security incidents in 2008-09 is published on page 15 of HMRCs 2008-09 accounts; available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0809.pdf
Mr. Timms [holding answer 23 March 2010]: From the Survey of Personal Incomes, HM Revenue and Customs estimates that 629,000 taxpayers in Northern Ireland had employment income for 2007-08, the latest year available. The survey does not count the number of separate income sources. Poverty Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the measures to promote employment as the best route out of poverty, referred to in Chapter 2 of Ending Child Poverty: Mapping the Route to 2020 apply to (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) [325072] Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply The purpose of the strategic direction paperEnding Child Poverty: Mapping the route to 2020 is to set out the Governments strategic direction and key priorities for ending child poverty by 2020 and beyond and paves the way for the National Strategy which will be published next year. It is not for the strategic direction paper to set out the detailed policies and implementation plan needed to achieve the targets set out in the Billthis will be the task for the National Strategy. The listed employment measures in chapter two of Ending Child Poverty: Mapping the route to 2020 are suggested policy areas for the next strategy to take into account rather than policies to be implemented across the UK. Alongside the full UK strategy, the devolved Administrations will each produce strategies to cover non-reserved areas. The UK Government will continue to work closely with all three devolved Administrations to promote consistency in the policies that are being delivered for children across the UK and so the respective child poverty strategies compliment each other. Revenue and Customs: Data Protection Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) from what baselines HM Revenue and Customs will measure progress against its strategic objectives in respect of data security between 2009 and 2012; and by what mechanism such progress will be (a) [325293] measured and (b) evaluated; (2) pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 74W, on Revenue and Customs: data protection, how many data security incidents there were in his Department in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the [325295] number of persons affected. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) plans to achieve its data security targets, and the
Information for 2009-10 will be published in HMRCs 2009-10 accounts. Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish his Departments evaluation of the trials involving the collection by commercial agencies of debt owed to HM [325292] Revenue and Customs. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs currently expects to be able to publish a summary of the small scale pilot to test the use of commercial debt collection agencies by autumn 2010. Stamp Duty Land Tax Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received in stamp duty land tax for purchases over 500,000 in each year since 1997.
[325229]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimated stamp duty land tax (SDLT) receipts for purchases over 500,000, available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-3.xls
are given in the following table for years from 1997-98:

Estimated SDLT1 receipts million 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1
640 1,140 1,580 1,930 1,885 2,050 2,125 2,825 3,935 4,975 5,410 2,740
This was stamp duty on land and property prior to December 2003.
Estimates for 1997-98 to 2000-01 were published in previous years at the same web address. Taxation: Highland Airways Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether HM Revenue and Customs provided assistance to Highland Airways through the [325286] business payments scheme; (2) whether HM Revenue and Customs had discussions with Highland Airways prior to its entry [325287] into receivership.
1047W
Written Answers
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1048W
Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs is under a strict, statutory, duty of confidentiality and cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual businesses. Taxation: Holiday Accommodation Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he made an assessment of the merits of bringing forward proposals to extend the provisions of the Furnished Holiday Lettings rules to all UK owners of furnished holiday accommodation in the UK and [324520] other EEA countries. Mr. Timms [holding answer 29 March 2010]: An assessment of extending the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) rules to those with furnished holiday accommodation in other EEA countries was included in the impact assessment published alongside the 2009 pre-Budget report, available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2009/furnished-holiday-ia3760.pdf
Mr. Timms: The information requested is set out in the following table. The figures are based upon an allocation of total costs for the Department. HMRCs reporting systems do not allow for costs to be reported at the level of budget heading. The figures reflect a period of significant change across HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, and the creation of the UK Border Agency. Consequently, the allocations of overhead costs have not always been consistent as structures change, and improvements are made.
million HMRCs administrative costs 2005-06 Pay-asyou-earn Selfassessment National Insurance 919.2 867.1 360.6 2006-07 944.4 926.7 338.1 2007-08 949.3 805.0 374.0 2008-09 951.5 899.3 346.2
Taxation: Personal Records Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) hon. Members, (b) noble Lords, (c) researchers, (d) former elected representatives, (e) local authority councillors and (f) members of the armed forces are eligible for special category status for personal tax records held by HM [324326] Revenue and Customs; (2) how many staff members of (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Valuation Office Agency have their personal tax records given a special category [324327] classification. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) applies high standards of confidentiality and security to all customer data. The provision of additional safeguards in respect of data relating to certain categories of individuals is an operational matter for HMRC. I am able to confirm that Ministers of the Crown, some Elected Representatives and certain other individuals are subject to additional safeguards. All HMRC staff are subject to additional safeguards for reasons of propriety. Taxation: Self-assessment Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are estimated to have been late in filing their tax returns by 31 January 2010.
[323326]
A large part of the increase in reported cost between 2005-06 and 2006-07 was due to the introduction of a new financial system in April 2006. This system allowed additional costs that were previously treated as departmental overheads to be directly allocated to business functions. This resulted in the increase of costs directly attributed to income tax functions. Departmental restructuring during 2007-08 affected the way in which cost allocation data was captured during the year. As a consequence of this, the figure of 805 million for administering income tax self-assessment during 2007-08 is likely to be understated. Valuation Office Agency: Contracts Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010, Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, how much was spent with Gfk NOP Ltd. in 2008-09; what polling and opinion research was purchased by the Valuation Office Agency from GfK NOP Ltd.; and for [323193] what purposes. Ian Pearson: Expenditure incurred by the Valuation Office Agency in relation to GfK NOP Ltd. was 84,919. No polling material was purchased. Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010, Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, how much was spent with Speakers for Business in 2008-09; which speakers were hired; and for what purposes.
[323195]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 22 March 2010]: 1,165,538 self-assessment tax returns were not filed by 31 January 2010. Taxation: Self-assessment and PAYE Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the cost under each budget heading was of administering the (a) Pay-As-You-Earn and (b) self-assessment system in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) [312331] 2008 and (iv) 2009.; (2) how much it cost to operate PAYE, Self Assessment and national insurance in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009, broken down by budget [313970] heading.
Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency spent 2,375 on Speakers for Business. This related to speaking engagements from Professor Richard Scase and Col. Bob Stewart and related to staff training and development on leadership and managing change in the finance function of the VOA.
1049W
Written Answers VAT: Churches
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1050W
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in favour of the extension of the provisions of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond March 2011; and if he [325260] will make a statement. Mr. Timms: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Governments practice to provide details of all such representations. The future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond March 2011 will be considered in the spending review later this year. Welfare Tax Credits Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many checks his Department carried out on (a) expenditure on (i) food and (ii) childcare by and (b) bank statements from more than six months previously of recipients of tax credits in each year since 2005; what criteria are used to decide to carry out such [324123] checks; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Timms: The information is not available. For information relating to HM Revenue and Customs compliance checks on tax credits awards I refer the hon. Member to the information published in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Comptroller and Auditor Generals standard reports. Information for years up to and including 2007-08 can be found in table 6 on page R15 of the 2007-08 report published at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-dep-acct0708.pdf
1 Full value = residential property transactions where the full price has been paid. The figures exclude a number of transactions including Right to Buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a gift and properties sold under a compulsory purchase or court order.
Ministerial Policy Advisers Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dundee East of 12 March 2010, Official Report, column 545W, on Ministerial policy advisers, what contractors from each company were employed by the Communications Directorate; and what the cost to the [324830] public purse was of each contract. Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice was formed in May 2007 and is one of the largest Government Departments. Communications, including the work of the press office, is an important element of this. The Ministry of Justice press office operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, dealing with all media relations for the Department and its Agencies from the international, national and regional media. Communication in all its forms is an important element of ensuring that the public know and understand the work of the Ministry of Justice and its Agencies. Contractors and agency staff play a part in the functioning of the Communications Directorate where expert knowledge is required for a defined period of time. Contractors and agency staff who work as communications officers include press officers, intranet/ internet staff, event organisation, marketing and publishing staff and others involved in communications roles. Support staff and consultants are excluded from the following information. Under the Data Protection Principles in the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), it is not possible to disclose the positions of each individual contractor or agency staff member as it would breach the fair processing principle. The individual to whom the personal data relate has a reasonable expectation that the Department would hold that information in confidence. However, outside of the Act this information can be provided at agency level. The amount spent in 2008-09 by agency:
Agency Adecco Badenoch Beetroot publishing Brook Street Central Office of Information (including GovGap) Hays Hudson Human Resources Huntress Inkhorn Levy Michael Page Morgan Hunt Parity Sands Self-Employed Starflash Venn Expenditure () 2,208 190,438 2,350 9,021 263,688 29,269 8,591 47,468 37,076 60,154 44,677 536,336 262,609 19,269 262,313 686 5,840 42,974
Similar information for 2008-09 is included in table 33 on page R41 of the Standard Report published at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0809.pdf
Providing further information about the criteria used to carry out such checks might assist those attempting to defraud the system.
JUSTICE Land Registry Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate the Land Registry made of the average price of (a) a detached house, (b) a semi-detached house, (c) a terraced house, (d) flat and (e) an average dwelling in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) the most recent period for which figures are available in (A) England, (B) each Government Office region and (C) [324536] each local authority area. Mr. Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information based on the total number of residential properties sold at full value1 in the requested categories in 1996 and 2009, for (A) England and Wales and (C) each local authority. Land Registry do not hold figures broken down by Government office region. The information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
1051W
Agency VMA Grand Total
Written Answers
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1052W
Expenditure () 241,332 2,066,299
The amount spent in 2007-08 by agency:

Agency Adecco Badenoch BNB Recruitment Consultancy Capita Central Office of Information (including GovGap) Certes Generic Recruitment Hays Specialist Recruitment Hudson Huntress JCT Communications Levy Michael Page Morgan Hunt Reed Sands Self-Employed Venn VMA Grand Total Expenditure () 11,974 76,636 13,953 45,000 45,364 4,676 30,848 952 133,295 9,593 6,960 5,054 98,125 123,825 56,668 73,837 22,684 29,592 185,000 974,037
Claire Ward: It is possible for a parish warden to be accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. In granting accreditation, the chief officer of the local police force may also grant powers that include a power to issue penalty notices for disorder. Parish council representatives also have powers to issue other fixed penalty notices. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 allows parish councils to prosecute, in the magistrates court, those that are suspected of committing an offence against a dog control order, or who are suspected of having committed a litter, graffiti or fly-posting offence. The Act gives the power to parish councils to authorise staff to issue fixed penalty notices to alleged offenders as an alternative to prosecution. Approved Premises: Prisons Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) custodial institutions and (b) approved premises there are in each constituency or smallest comparable local area for which figures are [324788] available. Maria Eagle: Details of custodial institutions (including young offender institutions and immigration removal centres operated by the National Offender Management Service, secure training centres and secure childrens homes) and approved premises in each constituency are set out in the following tables:
Custodial institutions by constituency Constituency Arundel and South Downs Aylesbury Banbury Bedford Berwick-upon-Tweed Birmingham Ladywood Bishop Auckland Blaby Boston and Skegness Bridgend Bristol West Bromsgrove Broxtowe Buckingham Burton Cambridgeshire North East Canterbury Cardiff Central Chelmsford West Chorley City of Durham Copeland Daventry Derbyshire South Derbyshire West Devizes Devon West and Torridge Don Valley Doncaster Central Dorset North Dorset South Dorset West Dover Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush Number 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1
The costs of press and communications officers relate to the Communications Directorate at the Ministry of Justice headquarters and communications functions in its four executive agencies (HM Courts Service, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian). The growth in expenditure on press officers and communications officers reflects the significantly increased size and remit of MOJ compared to its predecessor, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and a consequent need to increase the number and capability of staff employed. To meet the challenge, a number of communications-led projects were undertaken which required the employment of specialist contractors by the MOJ HQ Communications Directorate, for a limited period of time which further increased costs in 2008-09 on a one-off basis. A minor proportion of these costs have been estimated where separate records had not been kept at the time. Expenditure on communications officers by the National Offender Management Service is not directly comparable between years and includes only the central internal communications unit. Furthermore, 2007-08 figures exclude the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This is due to reorganisation within the Department between the two financial years. Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 947W, on anti-social behaviour: fixed penalties, what powers representatives of parish councils have to issue penalty notices for disorder; and what changes there have been to parish councils powers to issue fines [324840] or fixed penalty notices since 1997.
1053W
Written Answers
Custodial institutions by constituency
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
Custodial institutions by constituency
1054W
Constituency Eccles Elmet Erith and Thamesmead Exeter Fareham Faversham and Kent Mid Feltham and Heston Fylde Gloucester Gosport Haltemprice and Howden Harborough Henley Hertfordshire South West Hexham Hull East Huntingdon Isle of Wight Islington North Islington South and Finsbury Kingswood Knowsley North and Sefton East Lancaster and Wyre Leeds North West Leeds West Leicester South Leigh Lewes Lincoln Liverpool Walton Maidstone and The Weald Manchester Blackley Medway Mid Norfolk and North Norfolk1 Milton Keynes South West Mole Valley Monmouth Neath Newark Norfolk South West Northavon North West Durham Norwich North Nottingham East Peterborough Portsmouth South Preston Rayleigh Reading East Reigate Richmond Richmond Park Rochdale Rugby and Kenilworth Rushcliffe Rutland and Melton Sedgefield Selby Sheffield, Hallam Sherwood Shrewsbury and Atcham Shropshire North Sittingbourne and Sheppey Sleaford and North Hykeham Spelthorne
Number 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1
Constituency St. Helens North Stafford Staffordshire Moorlands Staffordshire South Stockton North Stockton South Stone Streatham Suffolk Coastal Suffolk West Surrey Heath Swansea West Tamworth Tatton Tooting Totnes Tunbridge Wells Wakefield Warrington North Waveney Wellingborough Wells Winchester Worcestershire Mid Yorkshire East
Number 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 One prison crosses the boundaries of the constituencies of Mid Norfolk and North Norfolk.
Approved premises by constituency Constituency Aldridge-Brownhills Batley and Spen Battersea Beckenham Bedford Billericay Birmingham, Edgbaston Birmingham, Parry Barr Birmingham, Selly Oak Blackburn Bournemouth East Brent East Bridgwater Brighton, Kemptown Bristol North West Bristol West Bury North Camberwell and Peckham Cardiff West Carlisle Central Suffolk and North Ipswich City of York Clwyd South Congleton Conwy Denton and Reddish Derby North Dewsbury Doncaster Central Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush Eccles Ellesmere Port and Neston Falmouth and Camborne Fareham Number 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
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Approved premises by constituency
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
Approved premises by constituency
1056W
Constituency Gloucester Guildford Havant Heywood and Middleton Holborn and St. Pancras Hyndburn Ipswich Islington North Kingston upon Hull North Leeds Central Leeds North West Leicester South Lewisham West Lincoln Liverpool Riverside Liverpool Wavertree Luton South Maidstone and The Weald Manchester Central Manchester, Withington Middlesbrough Milton Keynes South West Newcastle-under-Lyme Northampton North Norwich North Nottingham East Nottingham South Nuneaton Oldham West and Royton Oxford East Peterborough Plymouth, Sutton Reading West Redcar Richmond Park Rotherham Scunthorpe Sheffield Heeley
Number 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Constituency Sherwood South Dorset Southampton Test Stafford Stoke-on-Trent Central Streatham Sunderland South Swansea West Tyne Bridge Wakefield Warley Warwick and Lemington West Ham Windsor Wolverhampton South East Worcester
Number 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Burial Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many welfare burials there were in each [323587] of the last five years. Bridget Prentice: The data requested are not held centrally. Convictions: Hunting Act 2004 Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions, (b) convictions and (c) cautions there have been for each offence under the Hunting Act 2004 in each year since the Act came into [324881] force. Claire Ward: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, and the number of offenders cautioned, in England and Wales for offences under the Hunting Act 2004, from 2005 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table. Cautions and court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be published in the autumn, 2010.
The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, and the number of offenders cautioned1, 2 for offences under the Hunting Act 20043, England and Wales, 2005 to 20084, 5, 6 Offence description Hunting a wild mammal with a dog - sections 1 and 6 Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 Proceeded against 2 10 57 41 Found guilty 2 4 44 31 Cautioned 1 8 4
Knowingly permitting land to be entered or used in the course of hunting a wild mammal with dogssections 3(1) and 6
2005 2006 2007 2008
Knowingly permitting a dog to be used in the course of hunting a wild mammalsection 3(2) and 6
2005 2006 2007 2008
Participating in a hare coursing event - sections 5(1)(a) and 6
2005
1057W
Written Answers
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1058W
The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, and the number of offenders cautioned1, 2 for offences under the Hunting Act 20043, England and Wales, 2005 to 20084, 5, 6 Offence description Year 2006 2007 2008 Proceeded against 1 Found guilty Cautioned
Attending a hare coursing event - sections 5(1)(b) and 6
2005 2006 2007 2008
Permitting a dog to participate in a hare coursing eventsection 5(2)
2005 2006 2007 2008
All offences
2005 2006 2007 2008
2 11 62 44
2 5 48 33
1 8 4
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. 2 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. 3 Came into force on 18 February 2005. 4 The court proceedings statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 5 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. 6 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice
Convictions Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) adults and (b) juveniles in each constituency were convicted of (i) violence against the person, (ii) sexual offences, (iii) robbery, (iv) burglary and (v) theft in each year between 2005 and 2008.
[324607]
Claire Ward: The following table shows the number of defendants found guilty at all courts for violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary and theft and handling stolen goods, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, from 2005 to 2008. Court proceedings data are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Avon and Somerset Offence type Violence against the person Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 147 11 132 53 308 651 2006 159 11 131 51 357 709 2007 169 16 147 59 387 778 2008 162 11 138 60 345 716 2005 770 83 488 87 2,191 3,619 Age 18 and over 2006 758 89 426 97 2,107 3,477 2007 762 97 434 105 2,428 3,826 2008 794 99 523 114 2,737 4,267
Bedfordshire
Violence against the person Sexual offences Burglary Robbery
62 6 85 61
63 3 89 62
64 4 72 55
81 4 61 60
307 39 176 44
303 35 158 53
298 41 156 54
315 34 186 63
1059W
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30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1060W
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 175 389 2006 129 346 2007 153 348 2008 97 303 2005 1,208 1,774 Age 18 and over 2006 896 1,445 2007 940 1,489 2008 922 1,520
Cambridgeshire
Violence against the person Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total
115 11 73 23 212 434
70 7 61 20 202 360
84 8 84 36 203 415
82 6 53 23 180 344
398 51 203 47 1,076 1,775
388 67 179 25 1,084 1,743
389 40 195 46 1,016 1,686
427 76 219 52 1,329 2,103
Cheshire
159 12 154 34 284 643
205 16 113 32 308 674
179 9 106 26 265 585
130 13 94 30 235 502
629 80 293 35 1,247 2,284
678 89 277 72 1,426 2,542
740 84 319 75 1,631 2,849
627 101 339 69 1,769 2,905
City of London
1 1
1 1
43 5 29 2 322 401
34 5 17 5 282 343
23 3 11 332 369
40 4 18 3 367 432
Cleveland
83 6 90 21 257 457
123 13 105 17 271 529
114 6 113 16 320 569
119 9 84 19 344 575
486 43 342 46 1,458 2,375
597 74 353 48 1,419 2,491
579 56 393 35 1,658 2,721
576 68 435 70 2,153 3,302
Cumbria
101 9 64 6 221 401
110 6 63 1 226 406
81 4 89 4 214 392
89 5 65 3 200 362
442 46 150 11 868 1,517
382 38 146 7 786 1,359
377 46 135 12 857 1,427
395 39 172 15 944 1,565
Derbyshire
191 13 76 33 255 568
132 12 91 50 275 560
176 7 114 40 314 651
134 12 93 36 270 545
711 79 311 56 1,372 2,529
539 146 265 45 1,131 2,126
591 122 318 69 1,201 2,301
518 93 277 83 1,403 2,374
Devon and Cornwall
Violence against the person
142
115
115
139
770
699
648
652
1061W
Written Answers
30 MARCH 2010
Written Answers
1062W
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 12 91 21 411 677 2006 2 101 22 314 554 2007 10 131 26 385 667 2008 14 89 18 329 589 2005 101 330 49 1,535 2,785 Age 18 and over 2006 109 278 45 1,341 2,472 2007 112 336 51 1,386 2,533 2008 117 394 45 1,682 2,890
Dorset
79 4 38 7 188 316
77 4 41 15 180 317
68 2 50 6 179 305
52 5 28 9 160 254
369 51 196 23 1,061 1,700
329 52 141 25 835 1,382
310 40 160 22 877 1,409
282 61 158 28 982 1,511
Durham
132 11 112 1 229 485
150 14 79 8 218 469
146 4 103 21 258 532
117 8 59 10 198 392
526 59 248 17 925 1,775
548 52 211 32 884 1,727
566 57 271 31 1,017 1,942
522 67 266 42 991 1,888
Essex
178 6 172 43 520 919
170 6 189 54 527 946
173 5 176 60 578 992
170 9 129 49 536 893
654 95 350 88 2,213 3,400
638 83 311 72 2,164 3,268
740 76 374 85 2,399 3,674
700 100 332 81 2,381 3,594
Gloucestershire
71 4 26 16 155 272
62 3 53 34 170 322
57 6 52 16 199 330
56 4 39 8 167 274
296 50 185 22 972 1,525
284 60 121 32 664 1,161
207 44 118 48 640 1,057
303 39 197 41 1,064 1,644
Greater Manchester
572 39 505 272 1,283 2,671
522 29 516 298 1,021 2,386
526 34 437 320 1,195 2,512
487 29 451 245 1,011 2,223
2,274 253 1,211 400 5,993 10,131
2,539 274 1,303 448 5,948 10,512
2,540 284 1,316 420 6,079 10,639
2,262 293 1,325 436 6,129 10,445
Hampshire
261 15 192 39 839 1,346
248 18 237 74 725 1,302
276 22 195 61 822 1,376
269 23 211 43 708 1,254
1,052 146 409 92 2,516 4,215
1,096 136 390 82 2,053 3,757
1,039 143 372 88 2,386 4,028
1,097 164 407 93 2,997 4,758
1063W
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30 MARCH 2010
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1064W
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 Age 18 and over 2006 2007 2008
Hertfordshire
146 2 81 50 323 602
111 7 106 54 288 566
116 10 87 26 271 510
85 6 64 50 261 466
537 75 206 48 1,402 2,268
468 66 217 75 1,225 2,051
403 77 211 71 1,202 1,964
397 57 234 74 1,283 2,045
Humberside
142 16 167 33 402 760
161 13 160 39 309 682
176 15 161 39 407 798
156 9 137 35 379 716
659 100 389 47 1,700 2,895
693 96 372 73 1,269 2,503
777 89 397 70 1,399 2,732
703 99 401 98 1,441 2,742
Kent
148 6 155 34 540 883
144 3 175 36 470 828
125 2 177 59 588 951
152 11 143 39 471 816
575 97 403 62 2,325 3,462
623 83 360 81 1,851 2,998
655 108 462 87 1,801 3,113
760 153 470 91 1,833 3,307
Lancashire
278 24 294 52 462 1,110
311 20 313 79 527 1,250
319 25 331 93 558 1,326
271 18 274 89 446 1,098
1,073 133 648 121 2,698 4,673
1,287 158 745 119 2,512 4,821
1,397 196 817 158 2,822 5,390
1,350 183 730 150 2,910 5,323
Leicestershire
155 15 132 43 386 731
151 8 128 51 339 677
165 19 99 54 414 751
144 5 111 46 315 621
734 90 271 65 1,477 2,637
615 82 276 48 1,400 2,421
609 91 283 61 1,453 2,497
563 77 300 74 1,351 2,365
Lincolnshire
66 5 63 2 125 261
44 5 36 9 141 235
59 6 49 8 146 268
52 3 46 4 139 244
300 60 175 17 954 1,506
358 54 174 21 1,021 1,628
351 53 177 14 1,013 1,608
373 49 185 25 1,243 1,875
Merseyside
261 13 232 68
297 13 224 89
293 15 239 100
253 15 165 53
1,160 106 463 133
1,238 106 467 165
1,211 105 534 135
1,142 95 525 117
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The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 431 1,005 2006 407 1,030 2007 485 1,132 2008 348 834 2005 2,926 4,788 Age 18 and over 2006 2,508 4,484 2007 3,118 5,103 2008 3,129 5,008
Metropolitan Police
1,057 66 594 1,106 1,688 4,511
1,092 57 624 1,533 1,850 5,156
1,142 78 682 1,791 2,199 5,892
1,333 87 562 1,570 1,949 5,501
5,003 546 2,437 847 11,878 20,711
5,076 613 2,468 1,041 12,709 21,907
4,868 629 2,457 1,136 12,650 21,740
5,451 692 2,604 1,175 12,891 22,813
Norfolk
58 11 39 4 170 282
69 5 57 9 197 337
55 8 53 5 204 325
76 11 49 10 204 350
365 70 177 29 1,183 1,824
401 71 160 27 1,320 1,979
360 91 165 41 1,215 1,872
344 83 178 39 1,214 1,858
North Yorkshire
68 3 40 10 220 341
91 8 62 7 239 407
120 7 67 11 290 495
102 10 60 7 278 457
445 62 198 36 1,289 2,030
408 60 187 27 1,093 1,775
479 85 165 24 1,018 1,771
442 59 213 16 1,208 1,938
Northamptonshire
40 3 32 14 53 142
35 44 20 84 183
45 51 55 185 336
64 2 65 40 155 326
329 37 159 47 975 1,547
290 39 172 43 853 1,397
271 50 138 59 742 1,260
359 55 196 61 926 1,597
Northumbria
308 14 165 46 647 1,180
233 14 205 43 634 1,129
309 21 190 48 812 1,380
313 15 161 38 737 1,264
1,072 121 510 115 3,073 4,891
1,109 139 555 124 3,171 5,098
1,218 136 625 126 3,583 5,688
1,133 130 615 95 3,805 5,778
Nottinghamshire
152 17 213 118 398 898
163 7 210 86 367 833
181 16 192 84 317 790
150 10 170 63 295 688
685 99 422 105 2,030 3,341
692 97 447 114 1,835 3,185
673 104 450 69 1,933 3,229
633 91 537 128 2,088 3,477
South Yorkshire
Violence against the person
213
215
214
246
939
968
1,003
1,067
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The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 16 154 78 527 988 2006 15 149 74 498 951 2007 6 155 101 571 1,047 2008 12 156 75 479 968 2005 138 535 104 2,860 4,576 Age 18 and over 2006 114 558 137 2,544 4,321 2007 114 578 145 2,756 4,596 2008 110 678 120 3,475 5,450
Staffordshire
154 13 112 23 321 623
132 11 109 25 259 536
129 13 81 20 316 559
108 11 91 30 238 478
583 93 305 50 1,508 2,539
659 96 299 40 1,391 2,485
631 106 369 53 1,578 2,737
654 85 328 53 1,688 2,808
Suffolk
102 8 99 12 322 543
109 9 84 16 315 533
86 5 88 24 252 455
62 7 58 27 176 330
383 65 149 30 885 1,512
462 64 148 25 833 1,532
396 58 160 20 886 1,520
352 54 131 28 829 1,394
Surrey
57 3 47 28 174 309
70 2 57 31 172 332
59 1 48 19 194 321
44 3 44 18 171 280
216 34 178 46 775 1,249
256 50 153 64 690 1,213
287 51 161 65 810 1,374
293 57 151 35 976 1,512
Sussex
160 14 127 43 557 901
168 15 129 43 510 865
208 17 128 38 543 934
163 9 114 31 517 834
620 80 336 58 1,843 2,937
680 107 337 63 1,764 2,951
709 129 328 82 1,919 3,167
732 116 314 86 2,171 3,419
Thames Valley
183 7 184 60 552 986
191 16 172 72 539 990
191 15 183 73 593 1,055
158 13 149 94 504 918
862 147 501 143 2,629 4,282
957 147 477 117 2,568 4,266
918 144 491 141 2,674 4,368
931 131 532 148 2,885 4,627
Warwickshire
46 2 41 21 107 217
62 4 44 21 135 266
46 6 35 11 142 240
53 2 50 6 121 232
243 28 130 33 460 894
264 29 103 49 576 1,021
256 26 115 38 574 1,009
247 34 137 35 636 1,089
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The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 Age 18 and over 2006 2007 2008
West Mercia
166 27 131 30 331 685
185 15 125 21 376 722
182 18 130 23 383 736
145 12 125 21 326 629
672 111 319 45 1,676 2,823
724 102 334 62 1,606 2,828
727 91 273 52 1,669 2,812
677 78 295 42 1,834 2,926
West Midlands
416 38 288 335 827 1,904
514 35 283 367 938 2,137
477 29 296 358 994 2,154
452 30 253 355 841 1,931
2,111 257 1,016 431 5,563 9,378
2,334 268 1,126 449 5,869 10,046
2,133 287 1,152 483 6,528 10,583
2,096 274 1,138 460 6,865 10,833
West Yorkshire
289 25 435 180 956 1,885
236 24 334 155 823 1,572
264 21 330 215 941 1,771
267 25 416 211 856 1,775
1,448 225 962 218 4,199 7,052
1,226 189 931 202 4,168 6,716
1,384 221 1,065 275 4,564 7,509
1,489 215 1,048 272 4,941 7,965
Wiltshire
67 4 72 11 191 345
92 8 84 10 193 387
66 5 59 21 162 313
81 4 36 9 130 260
332 38 155 28 800 1,353
368 51 157 23 715 1,314
330 36 131 31 676 1,204
344 43 138 36 608 1,169
Dyfed-Powys
55 3 42 1 124 225
45 1 54 9 111 220
57 6 57 6 105 231
34 2 52 3 131 222
307 34 105 9 504 959
305 20 109 11 474 919
309 24 127 7 471 938
224 23 159 19 496 921
Gwent
89 9 73 13 176 360
92 5 99 14 175 385
101 3 86 13 174 377
63 7 67 12 163 312
396 57 200 28 775 1,456
474 51 207 21 834 1,587
465 56 204 12 857 1,594
368 35 184 23 870 1,480
North Wales
100 4 81 10
112 5 72 11
94 5 62 13
91 11 71 6
504 50 194 13
565 47 211 26
558 55 205 26
526 68 245 21
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The number of persons found guilty at all courts for selected offences, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2005-081, 2, 3 Age 10-17 Police force area Offence type Theft and handling stolen goods Sub-total 2005 214 409 2006 162 362 2007 172 346 2008 190 369 2005 884 1,645 Age 18 and over 2006 748 1,597 2007 860 1,704 2008 1,050 1,910
South Wales
159 27 139 24 497 846
189 23 159 39 358 768
172 34 146 61 330 743
173 15 132 63 354 737
1,221 120 445 77 2,487 4,350
1,032 101 462 69 2,134 3,798
1,085 75 542 92 2,112 3,906
981 117 553 101 2,471 4,223
Total
Violence against the person Sexual offences Burglary Robbery Theft and handling stolen goods
7,428 554 6,042 3,079 17,059 34,162
7,520 492 6,167 3,701 16,340 34,220
7,679 543 6,131 4,115 18,220 36,688
7,378 517 5,415 3,618 15,954 32,882
33,501 4,254 16,909 4,004 86,715 145,383
34,344 4,409 16,788 4,404 82,701 142,646
34,272 4,532 17,690 4,714 87,730 148,938
34,141 4,618 18,467 4,857 94,967 157,050
Total England and Wales

1
The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice
Convictions: Badgers Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people have received custodial sentences which have not been suspended for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in each year since 2007; what the length of each such sentence was; on what dates such sentences were handed down; and how much has been received in fine payments for offences under the Act in each year since it came into [324492] effect; (2) how many people have been (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of offences under the provisions of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in [324634] each year since 2007. Claire Ward: The available information is provided in the following tables. Data for 2009 will be available when Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published later this year.
The specific date when a sentence was passed cannot be provided as this would allow an individual to be easily identifiable which is contrary to the Ministrys data protection policy. Information has therefore been provided on the month sentence was passed. The total fine payment rate is not available for specific offences, but information has been provided on the number of fines and the total monetary value of fines imposed under the Protection of Badgers Act. The overall estimated fine payment rate for all financial penalties by financial year is shown in the following table:
Financial year 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Payment rateEngland and Wales (percentage) 74 80 83 92 95
Data on payment rates prior to April 2003 is not calculated in a comparable manner.
Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2007 and 20081,2,3 2007 Statute Badgers Act 1973 as amended by Criminal Justice Act 1991 S.26 and Badgers Act 1991 S.1 Offence description Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts Proceeded against 20 Found guilty 6 Immediate custody
4
20083 Proceeded against 22 Found guilty 11 Immediate custody

5
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Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2007 and 20081,2,3 2007 Statute Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Offence description Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified Proceeded against 10 Found guilty 5 Immediate custody 0 Proceeded against 14 20083 Found guilty 11 Immediate custody 0
1 The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. 4 An immediate custodial sentence of four months passed in June. 5 One sentence of six months passed in March, one sentence of one month passed in December. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice
Number of fines and monetary value of fines imposed under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, 1992 to 2008 1992 Number of fines issued Value of fines imposed ()1 31 5,500 1993 23 5,425 1994 15 3,760 1995 18 7,250 1996 8 2,000 1997 6 2,100 1998 10 2,215 1999 14 580
Custodial Treatment: Females David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to ring fence savings from a reduction in custodial capacity for women to support womens community provision; and if he will make a statement. [325131] Maria Eagle: In December 2009 the Government committed to reduce the womens prison estate by 400 places by March 2012 and to divert resources from custody to the community to help sustain the multi-agency Womens Community Projects (WCPs) and other community provision established through grant funding. Subject to a sustained reduction in the womens prison population and evidence of the impact of the WCPs the National Offender Management Service has agreed to release funding that will be used by the directors of Offender Management to help sustain existing provision and to continue to develop a network of community provision which meets the needs of women offenders and women at risk of offending. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: North West Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions were brought and (b) convictions were secured for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each local authority area [325040] in the North West in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009. Claire Ward: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, in the North West Government office region, by police force area, in 2008 (latest available) is shown in the following table. Court proceedings data are not available at local authority area level. Court data for 2009 are planned for publication in autumn 2010.
Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the North West Government office region, by police force area, 20081, 2 Police force area Cheshire Cumbria Greater Manchester Proceeded against 19 16 46 Found guilty 14 10 34
2000 Number of fines issued Value of fines imposed ()1

1
2001 31
2002 22
2003 2004 13 9
2005 2006 2007 9 4 275 4
2008 13
14
1,415 2,185 1,285 4,960
860 2,510
310 3,015
Due to changes in the way these figures have been extracted they may show small differences to previously released figures. Notes: 1. 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. 2. This data has been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. This data is presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe. Source: Justice StatisticsAnalytical Services, Ministry of Justice
Crime Prevention: Females David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will continue funding after March 2011 for the one-stop shop womens community projects to prevent and reduce offending by women funded from the 15.6 million announced in February 2009. [325132] Maria Eagle: Work is now well under way to sustain this approach. Directors of Offender Management (DOMs) are currently working to support the Womens Community Projects (WCPs) in their future sustainability efforts and to demonstrate their effectiveness at providing effective interventions for women offenders and women at risk of offending. DOMs, in conjunction with probation trust/boards, will have a lead role in ensuring appropriate commissioning and joint commissioning of services for women offenders to draw in the services of a range of local agencies. Every one of the DOMs new commissioning plans includes a focus on women and they now manage all of the contracts for the WCPs. New performance monitoring arrangements in place will also ensure that we continue to meet the specific needs of women in the criminal justice system.
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Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the North West Government office region, by police force area, 20081, 2 Police force area Lancashire Merseyside Total North West region
1
Number of voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies Ministry of Justice HQ National Offender Management Service Her Majestys Court Service 1 voltage optimisation unit 5 voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies installed 39 voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies installed in various buildings across its estate 1 unit currently installed across its estate 22 voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies installed 4 voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies installed 72
Proceeded against 40 51 172
Found guilty 28 43 129
The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.
Tribunals Service Her Majestys Land Registry National Archives Total
Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices.
[324798]
Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last [324424] five years. Mr. Wills: The Ministry Justice does not hold a central record of leisure room facilities across its estate. Details of these can be obtained only by contacting each area of the Department and its agencies individually which would incur a disproportionate cost. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department provides subsidised [324557] gym facilities for its staff. Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice does not provide subsidised gym facilities for its staff. A small number of workplace gyms are available to departmental staff but their running costs are met entirely by unsubsidised membership fees. Gym contracts are run either by an external provider or by a committee of staff members. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessor spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five [324687] years. Mr. Wills: Interior design is included within the total office refurbishment scheme costs across the Ministry of Justice estate and could only be made available at disproportionate cost. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his [324972] Department. Mr. Wills: The following table shows how many voltage optimisation units and equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by the Ministry of Justice.
Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice press office operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, dealing with all media relations for the Department and its agencies from the international, national and regional media. Communications in all its forms is an important element of ensuring that the public know and understand the work of the Ministry of Justice and its agencies and how taxpayers money is being spent. Information relating to the Lord Chancellors Department (the Ministry of Justices last but one predecessor) could be retrieved only at disproportionate cost. Press officers The cost of press officers, including contractors and agency staff and excluding support staff, is as follows:
000 2008:09 2,219
Communications officers Media officers are interpreted as communications officers in this answer. They include intranet/internet staff, event organisation, marketing and publishing staff and others involved in communications roles. Expenditure, including contractors and agency staff within the head office team, is as follows:
000 2008:09 4,694
The costs of press officers and communications officers relate to Ministry of Justice headquarters and its four executive agencies (HM Courts Service, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian). Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325193]
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Mr. Wills: No formal complaints in relation to the Ministry of Justice website have been received in the last three years. However users are invited to help the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to maintain the quality of the website by providing comments and suggestions for improvement. All comments received are investigated and actioned as part of MoJs ongoing programme of website maintenance and support. Numerical records for comments received are not held centrally and it would not be possible to collect this information from previous years except at disproportionate cost. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three [325211] years; and if he will make a statement.
Calendar year 2008
Item Mouse Mats Pens Leaflets Banners and Stands Letterheads, complement slips Posters Lanyards Mugs Polo Shirts Total
Cost ()1 1,901 1,783 15,654 2,444 556 6,412 1,888 1,163 708 32,509
2009
Pens Leaflets Banners and Stands Posters Post-it Notes Letterheads, complement slips Lanyards Glass Awards Table Cloth
409 6,188 2,829 4,386 409 483 753 778 280 921 17,436
Mr. Wills: Expenditure on external website design consultants in each of the last three years for the departmental websitewww.justice.gov.ukwas as follows:
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 30,960 37,409 8,250
These figures include costs for website design changes. External maintenance, content management and training costs for in-house staff are not included. The majority of work done to support and develop the Departments external website is carried out by in-house staff, who manage the website content and also the design, testing and implementation of improvements to the website on an ongoing basis. As there is more use of the internet for Government services, we need to make information about the work of the Department more readily available to citizens and the media, enhancing transparency and accountability for what we do. All our internet userswho include legal practitioners, academics and researchersare able to use the range of resources published on our website either to work more efficiently within the justice system or to engage with the Departments day-to-day work and to contribute to our published consultations on proposals for change. Our investment in web services aims to enhance the user experience, providing easier access to MoJ information and services and delivering in a way that meets audience needs. Departmental Marketing
Polo Shirts Total

1
These figures are exclusive of VAT.
The largest item of expenditure was on leaflets to explain to the public the functions and services delivered by the Ministry of Justice as a new Department of State.
Her Majestys Court Service Financial Year 2007-08 Item Key rings Pens Mouse Mats Probate Balloons Puzzles Total Cost ()1 2,753 1,571 715 583 825 6,447
2008-09
Key rings Pens Marketing Materialspens, pads and pencils Mouse Mats Total
2,797 6,004 725 2,420 11,946
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five [324717] years; and what those items were. Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. Prior to 2007-08, the information requested can be extracted from predecessor departments only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on branded promotional items in the last two years is shown as follows:
These figures are exclusive of VAT.
In 2007-08 HMCS purchased branded trophies for the HMCS Awards at a cost of 414.68 (exclusive of VAT).
Office of the Public Guardian Item Banners and Stands 1,200 Launch Leaflets Recycled pens Trio Highlighters Post-it Note pads Recycled Mouse pads Cost ()1 432 253 3,183 2,553 2,055 927
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Employment Tribunals Service: Rules of Procedure

Cost ()1 638 2,138 1,003 14,950 12,410 2,086 1,081 43,709
Item Mint Cards Bags Mental Capacity Act DVDs DVD production Forms and guidance CDs Who would look after your finances? leaflet Sundry other items Total
1
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when revised court civil procedure rules relating to unpaid employment tribunal awards will come into effect. [325332] Bridget Prentice: The revised civil procedure rules relating to unpaid employment tribunal awards are due to come into effect on 6 April 2010. Funerals: Local Authorities Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate has been made of the number of funerals which were carried out by local authorities in [324482] the last 12 months. Bridget Prentice: We have not made any such estimate, the information is not held centrally. General Election 2010: Isle of Wight Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of transporting election literature for Freepost delivery from the Isle of Wight to Portsmouth; and what requirements there are on candidates to declare the cost of delivering election [325051] literature. Mr. Wills: Under section 91 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (the 1983 Act), candidates at parliamentary elections are entitled to send free of charge for postage either one election communication to each elector, or one to each household, in the constituency in which they are standing, subject to any reasonable terms and conditions specified by the universal service provider (the Royal Mail). The cost of the delivery of candidates election communications to UK addresses by the universal service provider is met by the Consolidated Fund. The Government have made no estimate of the cost of transporting election literature from one location to another for onward delivery by the universal service provider under the provisions of the 1983 Act, since these costs are not met from the Consolidated Fund. Under the provisions of the 1983 Act, within 35 days after the day on which the result of the election is declared, the election agent of every candidate is required to deliver to the appropriate officer a statement of election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate. Election expenses are those which are used for the purposes of the candidates election and are incurred in respect of matters listed in Part 1 of schedule 4A of the 1983 Act. Under that schedule, expenses in respect of unsolicited material addressed to electors include design costs and other costs in connection with preparing, producing or distributing such material. HM Courts Service: Debt Collection John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court enforcement officers HM Courts Service have employed in each financial year [323981] since April 2005.
These figure are exclusive of VAT
All of the above expenditure was incurred when the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) was created on 1 October 2007 as a result of the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The purpose of the promotional items was to raise public awareness of the Office of the Public Guardian and its new responsibilities. DVDs and CDs were distributed to OPG customers from October 2007 until stocks ran out in 2009 (CDs) and early 2010 (DVDs). Banners ordered for the launch of the OPG have subsequently been used at exhibit opportunities from 2007 to date, together with other leftover items. Tribunal Service In 2007-08 the Tribunal Service purchased 2,000 ecofriendly cotton bags for 2,241 (exclusive of VAT). There was no promotional spend in 2008-09. National Offenders Management Service The National Offenders Management Service (NOMS) accounting system does not enable expenditure on promotional items to be identified separately from other office supplies and stationery expenditure. Promotional expenditure could only be identified by circularising local NOMS business units, including 134 prisons and 42 local probation boards and trusts, who would be required to examine their local records to identify relevant expenditure, this would incur disproportionate cost. Electoral Systems Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the cost of holding a general election using (a) the existing electoral system and (b) the alternative [324493] vote system. Mr. Wills: The Government have now made the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers Charges) Order 2010. From the information set out in that order it can be estimated that in Great Britain if the forthcoming general election is held on 6 May 2010 and therefore combined with other elections to be held on that day, the cost of the conduct of the poll would be 82.1 million; if it is held at any other time, the cost of the conduct of the poll would be 89.6 million. We have not carried out a detailed assessment of the possible cost of conducting a general election under the alternative vote system. However, the features of a general election using the alternative vote system would broadly be the same as under the existing system: for example, in terms of the provision of ballot papers and polling stations. The count process might take longer in some cases, where no candidate wins outright on the first round; however, recounts may already extend the time taken to count under the existing system.
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Bridget Prentice: The number of court enforcement officers employed by HM Courts Service in each financial year is shown in the following table.
Total 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 561 575 541 492 497
Mr. Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information based on the total number of residential properties sold at full value1 for 2009. The figures cover each local authority in England and Wales. The information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Full value = residential property transactions where the full price has been paid. The figures exclude a number of transactions including Right to Buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a gift and properties sold under a compulsory purchase or court order.
1
Human Trafficking: Convictions John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court enforcement officers HM Courts Service employed in each HM Court Service region in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007, (d) 2008 and [323982] (e) 2009. Bridget Prentice: The number of court enforcement officers employed by HM Courts Service by regions between 2005-09 is shown in the following table.
Region London Region Midlands Region North East Region North West Region South East Region South West Region Wales Region Total (a) 2005 98 104 109 (b) 2006 95 108 118 (c) 2007 87 103 113 (d) 2008 78 101 105 (e) 2009 71 99 94
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) British and (b) non-British citizens have been (i) convicted and (ii) imprisoned in relation to human trafficking offences in each year [314749] since 1998. Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply. The offences of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour were introduced under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004. From the commencement of these Acts until the end of 2008 there were a total of 113 convictions resulting in 110 terms of imprisonment. Of those convicted and imprisoned up to the end of 2008, six were British citizens and 107 non-British citizens. The statistics broken down by year of sentence are as follows:
Total British National 0 1 1 1 3 Foreign National 3 20 28 21 35
82
81
92
90
85
56
53
51
45
42
52
55
42
36
61
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
3 21 29 22 38
60 561
65 575
53 541
37 492
45 497
House of Lords: Reform Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the annual running cost of an elected second chamber of (a) 435 and (b) 300 members; and what the estimated cost of transitional arrangements would be in each case. [324495] Mr. Wills: The overall cost of a reformed second chamber is subject to a number of variables. As set out in the 2008 White Paper, the Governments intention is to ensure that the cost of a reformed second chamber is maintained at the current or at a lower level. The extra support costs which full-time elected members might require will be offset by the fact that with fewer members, the reformed second chamber will be smaller than the current House of Lords. The exact cost of the reformed second chamber will depend on the pay and allowances of Members. Housing: Sales Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many residential property transactions there were in each local authority area in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
[324693]
Figures for the full year of 2009 are not yet available. Legal Aid: Gurkhas Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much the Legal Services Commission has paid to (a) Howe and Company and (b) each other company in respect of legal aid for ex-Gurkhas [321264] wishing to settle in the UK; [R] (2) how many ex-Gurkhas had been granted legal aid in respect of their application to settle in the UK on the latest date for which figures are available. [R] [321265] Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much legal aid has been paid to Howe and Co. for the provision of immigration advice to [322321] former Gurkha soldiers; (2) how much on average has been paid in legal aid for each case in which Howe and Co. has represented [322322] former Gurkha soldiers. Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission records the number of claims from providers for immigration cases but not in greater detail. There is therefore no record of the number of ex-Gurkhas granted legal aid in respect of their application to settle in the UK or the legal aid costs involved in their application.
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However immigration entry clearance applications funded through legal aid are paid at a fixed fee of 260 plus any disbursements, unless they are exceptional. In the last two years Howe and Co. have made claims for 52 cases that include applications for entry clearance. As stated above it is not possible to confirm how many of these relate to ex-Gurkhas. Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to monitor the standard of legal advice provided to ex-Gurkhas by (a) the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemens Organisation [321266] and (b) Howe and Company. [R] Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission is responsible for monitoring the standard of publicly funded legal advice provided under the legal aid scheme by contracted suppliers. This includes strict contract quality standards, audit and peer review. The firm Howe and Co. holds a contract with the Legal Services Commission and would be expected to comply with requirements administered by the Law Society to ensure all advisers doing publicly funded work are properly accredited. The Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemens Organisation based in Nepal does not provide publicly funded legal advice. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Legal Services Commission on the provision of legal aid to firms representing former Gurkha soldiers.
[322320]
National Offender Management Service: Manpower David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people were employed by each director of offender management within the National Offender Management Service on the latest date for which figures are available; [324859] (2) how many staff were employed in (a) Prison Service area offices and (b) Regional Offender [324860] Management offices on 1 January 2008; (3) how many people were employed in the National Offender Management Service head office and regional offices at 31 December in each year from 2004 to 2009.
[324869]
Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to answer I gave the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 9 March 2010, Official Report, column 246-48W. Information on the number of staff employed in Regional Offender Management Offices in January 2008 is not available. At that time the staff reported to the Home Office but the records are no longer available and would require a substantial reactivation exercise that would entail disproportionate cost, to obtain. The closest available data relates to October 2008, when there were 451 staff in Prison Service area offices and 119 staff in Regional Offender Management offices. The number of staff employed within each office is provided in the following table:
Staff employed within Director of Offender Management Offices, 31 December 2009 Region East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and Humberside Total
1
Bridget Prentice: Lord Bach the Minister responsible for Legal Aid in England and Wales met Legal Services Commission (LSC) officials on this subject on 10 and 25 March 2010. LSC officials interviewed staff from Howe and Co. to ensure that the firm has acted in accordance with the terms of its contract and the provisions of the Funding Code. Local Inmate Data System IT system David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Local Inmate Data System IT system was introduced for prisons in England and Wales; and whether his Department plans to upgrade or replace [324865] the system. Maria Eagle: The Prison Service Local Inmate Database System (LIDS) was introduced in 1989. It is being replaced by a new case management system, called Prison-NOMIS (Prison-National Offender Management Information System). Prison-NOMIS is a national system with a centralised database. It is on schedule to be deployed to public prisons by summer 2010.
Staff-employed 53 50 32 40 81 98 31 26 38 35 483
Staff declared surplus1 2 1 6 5 19 8 8 0 6 6 61
Vacancies 8 14 13 2 12 23 14 12 13 3 114
Staff declared surplus are also included in the Staff employed column.
The process of change in the NOMS organisations in the nine English regions and Wales in 2009, covered 576 jobs and the new structure, which is now in place, has reduced this number by 180 to 396. The information for the national headquarters does not include staff reporting through the NOMS Shared Service Centre or area service teams who are based in prisons but organised on a regional basis.
Regional and National headquarters 31 December 2004 to 2009 Region Area/Regional Office East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East 2004 37 34 25 20 126 125 2005 54 44 28 28 182 143 2006 61 47 30 38 210 127 2007 56 44 28 38 205 116 2008 62 56 37 41 80 121 2009 53 50 32 40 81 98
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Regional and National headquarters 31 December 2004 to 2009 Region South west Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and Humberside 2004 r32 13 49 39 2005 36 16 48 48 2006 34 19 54 55 2007 26 18 42 29 2008 25 27 34 35 2009 31 26 38 35
Area/Regional Office Total
501
627
675
602
518
483
National Headquarters1
1
1906
1351
1398
1297
2207
2188
In 2005 a large number of staff transferred to the original NOMS headquarters, which was part of the core Home Office. The staff transferred back in 2008 when NOMS HQ was formed. These staff are not included in the table for the period when they were part of the core Home Office.
Polling Stations Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the provisions of the Electoral Administration Act 2005 on signing at polling stations [324483] have not been commenced. Mr. Wills: The Government have not yet concluded how this measure could most effectively be implemented. We must ensure, however, that any approach to this issue is aligned with other reforms to the registration and electoral processes. Prison Service: Pensions David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether long-term state pension costs of retired staff are taken into account when calculating the cost [324868] of a prison place in England and Wales. Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 9 March 2010, Official Report, column 248W. Prison Service: Uniforms Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what protective equipment and clothing is [324088] issued to prison staff. Maria Eagle: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to carry out an assessment of the significant risks to which staff are exposed and to implement control measures effectively to manage the risks. Control measures may include provision of personal protective equipment. The range and type of equipment provided will depend on the risk. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) carries out risk assessments for the different duties staff conduct. In the case of staff working in Prisons, a variety of personal protection equipment and clothing is provided, dependant on the situation and duties staff are conducting. Types of safety equipment made available to staff would include safety footwear, gloves, overalls, high visibility jackets, hard hats and protection in the event of cold weather and for the head, eyes, hearing and respiratory system. Control and restraint equipment and clothing such as helmets, shields, fire resistant overalls and leg protectors are also available to specially trained prison officers.
Batons are carried by staff trained in their use in those prisons in which their deployment has been approved. Vests which offer ballistic protection, including protection against knives, are provided to a range of prison staff in circumstances where particular risks exist including some local and national control and restraint operations and some operations involving specialist interventions. Prisoners David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any prisoners have been charged with the offence of corrupting a public official during the last 12 months. [324862] Claire Ward: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 4 March 2010, Official Report, column 1346W. Prisons John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent estimate he has made of the level of serious organised crime involving drug trafficking in [323926] prisons in England and Wales; (2) what estimate he has made of the number of serious organised crime activities being carried out in [323980] prisons in England and Wales. Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1470W. Covert criminal activity is, of its nature, very difficult to quantify. Prisons have a well established security information reporting framework. Where concerns are identified about a prisoners potential criminal activity, prisons can draw on a range of measures to identify and disrupt that activity. The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals whilst in prison. Prisons: Mobile Phones John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of illicit mobile telephones in prisons in England and
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Wales in each of the last 12 months; how many of those telephones were found in the possession of (a) staff and (b) prisoners; and how many were found in [323925] communal areas in each such month. Maria Eagle: The Government are committed to reducing the number of mobile phones in prisons. We have already strengthened the law through the Offender Management Act 2007, which made it an offence with a penalty of up to two years imprisonment to bring a mobile phone or component into a prison. We are also taking forward legislation through the Crime and Security Bill to criminalise. the possession of devices, including mobile telephones within a prison without authorisation. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold centrally disaggregated information on the location or ownership of phones seized. Many phones and component parts are not attributable to individuals. Prisons in England and Wales are instructed to send mobile phones and SIM cards found to a central unit for analysis, it is from this units records that this answer is based The figures contained in the
tables have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing data, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. These data are not subject to audit. The figures understate the actual number of finds, because they do not include items retained by the police for evidential purposes and phones not submitted for other reasons. It is not always appropriate to send phones to the central unit and some phones sent are not interrogated. These have not been included in these figures. NOMS is putting in place new procedures to improve the accuracy of these statistics. Tackling mobile phones in prison presents substantial and increasing technological challenges, and while the numbers of phones found clearly indicates the scale of the challenge, it is also a reflection of prisons increasing success in finding them and better reporting. The following table shows the number of mobile phones and SIM cards that have been received from each of the prisons over the last 12 months.
Mobile phone and SIM cards submitted to central unit (March 2009-February 2010) March M High Security Belmarsh Full Sutton Frankland Long Lartin Manchester Wakefield Woodhill Whitemoor Total London Brixton Feltham Holloway Latchmere House Pentonville Wandsworth Wormwood Scrubs Total Wales Cardiff Swansea Usk/Prescoed Parc Total South East Albany Aylesbury Blantyre House Bronzefield Bullingdon Camp Hill Canterbury Coldingley 1 3 4 1 2 4 3 1 1 2 2 1 6 2 1 1 4 1 2 5 1 2 4 1 3 1 2 2 2 12 3 3 3 11 4 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 4 1 3 1 8 4 1 2 3 7 4 1 4 2 1 3 2 2 4 1 3 2 6 1 3 1 5 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 5 3 4 4 11 4 5 4 13 3 1 1 5 2 1 3 3 5 1 1 10 3 3 1 7 1 6 1 8 1 5 2 8 14 8 8 30 13 7 7 27 25 10 1 9 14 59 23 12 1 12 9 57 1 14 1 17 8 41 1 11 15 12 39 7 10 3 4 17 8 49 6 12 4 2 10 6 40 3 3 10 21 5 42 2 2 14 19 6 43 7 1 15 13 36 9 1 13 4 11 38 2 3 1 2 10 12 30 2 5 1 11 15 34 1 1 3 2 7 1 1 3 2 7 8 8 6 6 1 12 1 14 2 2 15 1 20 1 1 2 2 1 2 5 5 5 3 4 7 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 5 6 1 1 2 S April M S May M S June M S July M S August M S September M S
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Mobile phone and SIM cards submitted to central unit (March 2009-February 2010) March M Cookham Wood Dover Downview East Sutton Park Elmley Ford Grendon Haslar Highdown Huntercombe Kingston Lewes Maidstone Parkhurst Reading Rochester Send Springhill Standford Hill Swaleside Winchester Total South West Ashfield Bristol Channings Wood Dartmoor Dorchester Eastwood Park Erlestoke Exeter Gloucester Guys Marsh Leyhill Portland Shepton Mallet The Verne Total East of England Bedford Blundeston Bullwood Hall Bure Chelmsford Edmunds Hill Highpoint Hollesley Bay Littlehey The Mount Norwich Peterborough Warren Hill Wayland Total 4 3 6 9 2 1 1 13 3 42 2 1 3 3 6 1 7 1 11 4 39 1 1 3 3 9 1 1 2 21 1 3 3 1 7 4 1 1 21 1 1 2 1 5 6 1 18 7 4 2 48 1 2 1 3 5 5 22 8 9 5 61 2 2 2 1 1 1 15 2 6 3 35 5 1 1 1 12 5 4 29 2 3 2 1 10 3 6 28 1 1 3 3 1 6 3 3 14 3 9 5 51 3 5 2 15 12 1 10 7 55 3 5 4 8 13 1 12 5 51 1 1 4 1 5 8 13 33 1 1 1 1 3 4 7 10 28 1 6 8 1 2 3 21 2 6 6 3 3 3 23 3 4 1 2 1 1 5 1 18 1 3 4 1 3 2 4 2 20 6 10 2 9 1 4 9 1 5 47 6 8 7 8 7 6 1 4 47 1 6 3 3 1 9 1 3 3 30 1 6 3 3 1 7 2 1 2 26 7 1 4 3 19 6 3 43 9 2 5 1 15 8 2 42 2 3 5 3 4 1 1 26 10 1 56 2 3 5 1 6 1 1 17 5 1 42 2 3 1 2 3 18 1 2 32 2 6 1 1 4 3 17 2 2 38 5 1 2 3 47 1 3 1 1 16 1 2 2 S 2 5 1 1 14 2 2 6 2 6 1 3 2 57 April M 2 1 5 1 18 6 1 2 4 1 46 S 2 1 2 1 9 2 1 2 4 3 36 May M 6 1 2 2 2 1 5 16 6 48 S 6 2 4 1 1 3 10 7 42 June M 1 4 1 3 2 8 8 6 44 S 1 4 1 4 1 5 4 10 36 July M 1 1 5 1 3 2 2 2 8 14 10 1 71 S 2 1 1 4 1 3 3 2 3 3 6 11 9 66 August M 8 1 5 2 1 2 2 1 6 9 46 S 5 2 4 2 3 1 4 1 3 8 44 September M 2 4 4 5 10 1 6 4 2 56 S 7 3 6 9 1 5 5 1 53
East Midlands Ashwell Fosten Hall 5 3 2 2 4 4 2 1 2 1
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Mobile phone and SIM cards submitted to central unit (March 2009-February 2010) March M Gartree Glen Parva Leicester Lincoln Lowdham Grange Morton Hall North Sea Camp Nottingham Onley Ranby Rye Hill Stocken Sudbury Wellingborough Whatton Total West Midlands Birmingham Brinsford Dovegate Drake Hall Featherstone Hewell Shrewsbury Stafford Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall Werrington Total Yorkshire and Humberside Askham Grange Doncaster Everthorpe Hull Leeds Lindholme Moorland open Moorland closed New Hall Northallerton Wealstun Wetherby Wolds Total North West Altcourse Buckley Hall Forest Bank Garth Haverigg Hindley Kennet Kirkham Lancaster Castle Lancaster Farms Liverpool 11 5 6 7 2 6 9 6 4 6 2 10 21 8 5 1 1 43 21 12 2 1 42 18 4 2 11 25 21 3 2 10 29 12 3 1 3 1 24 29 11 2 1 2 1 22 30 16 3 4 9 7 2 7 19 2 4 5 6 1 8 11 13 17 1 9 63 2 3 13 15 19 1 2 13 3 1 10 6 1 1 2 15 3 9 13 9 3 1 12 2 10 1 7 10 4 4 6 32 1 6 11 2 3 7 30 12 3 3 3 2 1 1 2 27 11 2 7 2 5 3 1 1 32 7 4 5 1 2 1 9 29 10 1 5 2 1 10 29 1 16 2 7 14 3 1 5 49 15 1 7 8 3 1 6 41 9 4 2 17 2 34 5 3 1 20 1 5 35 10 1 2 11 2 2 2 6 36 1 11 2 8 1 2 2 4 31 2 5 11 1 6 4 15 44 2 11 9 3 7 5 13 50 4 1 3 1 1 1 4 15 6 4 2 5 2 2 21 2 1 1 2 10 1 3 2 22 1 2 2 10 1 4 1 21 5 3 4 2 8 1 23 7 3 1 7 7 1 26 4 2 11 8 1 1 4 6 1 38 1 2 18 10 1 6 5 1 44 6 8 8 9 2 5 2 40 6 7 12 14 2 3 4 3 51 12 6 2 12 3 5 2 42 8 4 3 1 12 2 6 4 40 5 1 5 13 2 4 1 31 9 1 3 6 1 1 21 1 3 1 1 2 3 2 4 11 5 38 S 1 4 1 2 2 6 1 4 4 9 6 43 April M 3 4 3 1 1 6 5 10 35 S 2 7 2 8 5 11 37 May M 5 2 3 1 8 1 20 S 4 5 5 7 1 22 June M 7 1 3 2 4 16 1 14 52 S 6 2 4 1 5 24 1 1 13 61 July M 1 7 4 4 2 3 8 2 31 S 9 10 3 7 3 2 20 1 57 August M 1 6 1 3 1 21 2 11 47 S 1 5 1 1 16 2 8 36 September M 10 1 2 3 1 3 1 5 8 1 1 36 S 7 2 3 2 3 1 4 5 1 1 30
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Mobile phone and SIM cards submitted to central unit (March 2009-February 2010) March M Preston Risley Styal Thorn Cross Wymott Total 10 5 2 54 S 16 8 1 1 63 April M 6 6 1 18 110 S 8 7 2 16 111 May M 2 1 11 74 S 2 2 8 77 June M 5 10 1 8 97 S 8 15 1 6 99 July M 1 7 10 66 S 5 9 8 67 August M 3 2 2 5 131 S 3 4 2 9 85 September M 4 2 10 63 S 2 2 9 63
North East Acklington Castington Deerbolt Durham Holme House Kirklevington Grange Low Newton Total 2 1 3 9 15 2 2 2 3 9 4 7 11 3 3 5 11 1 1 4 6 1 3 4 1 9 0 1 1 2 1 1 9 11 1 2 3 9 3 2 1 15 7 5 1 2 15 5 3 3 5 16 6 5 5 2 18
Grand total
262
284 October M S
363
357 November M
353
377 December
407
396
376 January
425
476 February
393
355 Total
345
High Security Belmarsh Full Sutton Frankland Long Lartin Manchester Wakefield Woodhill Whitemoor Total London Brixton Feltham Holloway Latchmere House Pentonville Wandsworth Wormwood Scrubs Total Wales Cardiff Swansea Usk/Prescoed Parc Total South East Albany Aylesbury Blantyre House Bronzefield Bullingdon Camp Hill Canterbury Coldingley Cookham Wood 6 4 3 5 7 4 1 6 6 2 3 1 6 2 1 13 2 2 1 2 1 1 14 3 3 1 1 1 1 15 1 2 1 2 14 2 2 1 2 1 67 14 15 28 6 14 13 4 1 70 2 19 24 6 9 13 5 5 4 9 3 4 1 8 1 4 1 6 1 5 6 4 11 1 1 17 6 11 1 1 19 2 3 2 7 3 3 5 11 1 1 2 1 1 27 42 5 13 87 27 42 4 17 90 14 8 2 21 5 10 60 12 9 1 18 4 7 51 4 3 2 16 14 39 4 2 3 14 18 41 2 3 2 5 17 9 38 6 3 2 19 9 39 9 4 1 9 3 18 44 9 2 1 5 1 15 33 10 2 3 23 50 8 96 11 2 1 18 60 11 103 77 81 6 21 156 96 127 564 76 82 10 6 138 107 126 545 1 1 1 3 1 6 2 9 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 2 7 1 1 9 11 1 1 12 14 4 2 6 4 5 1 10 1 1 0 7 50 0 2 8 69 3 10 0 12 55 0 2 11 93
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October M S 4 2 1 1 9 6 1 1 2 7 6 1 47 1 1 6 6 1 47 November M 5 1 1 1 1 2 1 18 6 48 S 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 11 11 38
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January February S 2 1 2 1 4 6 1 1 5 5 3 55 M 6 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 5 47 S 18 1 1 1 5 2 2 1 4 2 5 1 64
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Total M 41 2 2 31 6 19 1 44 7 1 2 27 27 12 10 8 25 89 73 10 599 S 36 3 3 38 8 10 1 34 10 0 6 37 31 13 18 10 19 62 78 11 577
December M 9 4 1 1 5 1 1 4 7 45 S 5 5 1 2 2 4 3 1 2 5 39
M 4 1 1 1 4 5 1 5 8 2 54
Dover Downview East Sutton Park Elmley Ford Grendon Haslar Highdown Huntercombe Kingston Lewes Maidstone Parkhurst Reading Rochester Send Springhill Standford Hill Swaleside Winchester Total South West Ashfield Bristol Channings Wood Dartmoor Dorchester Eastwood Park Erlestoke Exeter Gloucester Guys Marsh Leyhill Portland Shepton Mallet The Verne Total East of England Bedford Blundeston Bullwood Hall Bure Chelmsford Edmunds Hill Highpoint Hollesley Bay Littlehey The Mount Norwich Peterborough Warren Hill Wayland Total East Midlands Ashwell Fosten Hall Gartree Glen Parva Leicester
6 2 2 1 5 4
1 4 2 3 1 1 2 2 3 7 2 28
1 3 2 2 1 3 1 4 8 2 27
3 1 1 1 9 18 3 36
1 1 2 3 15 1 23
1 2 6 3 1 11 12 1 37
3 5 2 1 13 11 1 36
2 3 1 1 8 5 1 21
1 3 1 1 6 4 2 18
6 1 4 1 14 3 3 32
14 1 1 1 12 4 1 34
11 36 33 47 7 7 6 15 11 131 62 0 8 27 401
13 34 53 37 6 11 2 19 10 104 57 0 8 22 376
2 5 1 10 12 7 6 43
2 3 11 11 10 6 43
1 2 1 11 3 3 1 22
2 4 5 1 3 17
2 1 2 12 5 9 31
1 2 8 3 11 25
3 3 13 8 8 5 40
2 3 1 3 11 8 11 6 45
3 1 3 7 8 4 26
2 2 4 2 5 3 1 19
7 17 1 0 12 21 30 94 5 109 15 84 0 29 424
7 21 1 2 11 18 36 63 6 114 17 93 0 40 429
2 1 2
1 1 1 2
3 1 2
4 1 4
12 0 18 6 44
15 0 23 8 43
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October M S 4 8 8 2 15 38 November M 3 3 6 10 27 S 2 3 10 6 24
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January February S 2 6 5 2 13 33 M 1 6 1 7 4 2 27 S 1 7 1 17 3 1 39
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Total M 28 0 2 36 10 10 18 107 21 2 84 0 398 S 33 0 2 41 23 6 15 132 24 1 87 0 453
December M 3 3 1 4 6 10 29 S 5 3 1 3 8 11 33
M 2 5 1 10 23
Lincoln Lowdham Grange Morton Hall North Sea Camp Nottingham Onley Ranby Rye Hill Stocken Sudbury Wellingborough Whatton Total West Midlands Birmingham Brinsford Dovegate Drake Hall Featherstone Hewell Shrewsbury Stafford Stoke Heath Swinfen Hall Werrington Total Yorkshire and Humberside Askham Grange Doncaster Everthorpe Hull Leeds Lindholme Moorland open Moorland closed New Hall Northallerton Wealstun Wetherby Wolds Total
5 5 3 7 1 10 33
11 3 13 12 1 1 1 1 43
9 5 14 2 8 1 1 3 3 46
10 4 2 1 10 1 1 1 1 31
11 1 5 5 7 1 1 1 32
6 4 6 2 1 2 21
9 2 8 3 1 1 2 3 29
16 3 3 1 6 2 1 32
15 3 4 6 3 31
10 3 4 17
7 4 5 1 17
91 36 30 0 37 88 8 7 31 24 3 355
88 33 42 0 52 88 6 5 33 28 4 379
1 9 3 1 1 1 8 24
6 2 8 1 1 1 9 28
1 4 5 5 1 3 7 26
1 4 5 9 2 1 3 7 32
2 2 7 4 1 1 5 22
1 4 4 5 2 1 2 19
1 1 15 2 2 11 32
1 2 9 1 11 24
2 7 3 1 2 4 19
1 7 4 1 2 1 16
0 8 47 24 43 104 27 21 0 1 21 6 72 374
0 13 42 28 52 89 24 22 0 1 27 5 64 367
North West Altcourse Buckley Hall Forest Bank Garth Haverigg Hindley Kennet Kirkham Lancaster Castle Lancaster Farms Liverpool Preston Risley Styal Thorn Cross Wymott 17 5 1 17 20 11 3 1 7 16 3 1 2 1 17 11 3 2 10 63 3 4 4 51 10 6 4 3 61 2 4 2 1 17 8 9 4 1 30 2 3 2 6 2 21 3 3 7 4 25 1 2 2 5 11 4 2 9 3 69 5 5 3 3 30 4 14 2 8 2 73 5 8 1 3 13 7 20 4 5 2 76 1 17 4 11 55 1 2 2 1 6 3 75 1 16 5 40 14 3 2 4 5 3 354 6 47 62 38 4 46 260 5 34 168 28 60 6 33 81 357 6 47 71 56 4 30 89 6 35 177 44 77 5 33 76
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October M S 66 November M 148 S 109
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January February S 141 M 179 S 168
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Total M 1,232 S 1,113
December M 83 S 64
M 145
Total North East Acklington Castington Deerbolt Durham Holme House Kirklevington Grange Low Newton Total Grand total
82
1 1 1 1 1 9 14 386
1 1 1 1 6 10 373
8 4 2 14 399
5 3 5 13 337
8 1 4 4 7 24 350
5 1 2 5 2 15 325
12 1 5 3 21 430
10 1 1 4 2 18 423
2 2 1 3 8 459
3 2 1 2 8 479
53 3 2 14 28 55 0 155 4,616
43 3 4 17 31 33 0 131 4,514
Prisons: Mother and Baby Units Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date his Department ceased to collect data on the number of women who had given birth [318049] while serving a sentence of imprisonment. Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) withdrew the mother and baby unit (MBU) database from service in April 2009, as over time the data collected and the database itself had become distorted. The databases primary purpose was to collect information required to centrally manage and monitor demand for places in MBUs. Revised data requirements and a new reporting system have been introduced to fulfil this function. The database was also used to centrally record a range of information in order to answer queries about wider maternity-related issues. This data continues to be recorded locally for operational purposes. Given the level of public and parliamentary interest in this field, further work is being undertaken to examine the feasibility of developing a new central collection system. This work will not be completed until later this year, but a significant amount of the data should be available from early summer. Every effort will be made to consolidate historical data as far as possible. Property: Sales Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average sale price of a property previously purchased for more than 1 million was in [325230] each of the last three years. Mr. Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information based on residential properties sold at full value1 of more than 1 million for each of the last three years in England and Wales.
Full value = residential property transactions where the full price has been paid. The figures exclude a number of transactions including right to buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a gift and properties sold under a compulsory purchase or court order.
1
Average price of properties over 1 million 2007 2008 2009 1,703,929 1,764,024 1,685,369
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many homes have been purchased for more than (a) 500,000 and (b) 1 million in each year since [325231] 1997. Mr. Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information based on the total number of residential properties sold at full value1 in England and Wales from 1997 to 2009, as follows:
1 Full value = residential property transactions where the full price has been paid. The figures exclude a number of transactions including right to buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a gift and properties sold under a compulsory purchase or court order.
Over 500,000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 3,392 4,119 6,863 9,815 12,588 18,359 19,669 27,079 26,981 42,451 52,273 27,356 25,450
Over 1 million 518 682 1,117 1,797 2,204 2,935 2,823 3,963 3,818 6,333 8,531 5,008 4,535
The numbers in the over 1 million column are also part of the total in the over 500,000 column. Public Expenditure Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of (a) the Independent Commission on the Voting System, (b) the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords, (c) the production of the White Paper on The House of Lords-Completing the Reform and (d) the production of the White Paper on An Elected Second [324494] Chamber.
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Mr. Wills: The Stationery Office has provided the following costings:
The publication costs of (a) the Report of Independent Commission on the Voting System was 3,001.00 for Cm 4090-1 and 972.00 for Cm 4090-11; (b) the Report of the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords was 31,090.9; (c) the White Paper The House of Lords-Completing the Reform (Cm 7027) was 12,353.00; and (d) of the White Paper An Elected Second Chamber (Cm 7438) was 20,389.57.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of offences related to failure to purchase a television licence in each year since 1997. [324382] Claire Ward: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for TV licence evasion in England and Wales 1997 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. Court data for 2009 are planned for publication in the autumn, 2010.
Information on the other costs is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for television licence evasion1, 2, England and Wales, 1997 to 20083, 4 1997 Proceeded against Found guilty
1
1998 96,616 76,605
1999 68,778 55,813
20005 120,626 105,318
2001 96,471 83,739
2002 110,160 96,589
2003 93,897 79,856
2004 106,435 89,240
2005 122,923 104,930
2006 130,019 115,470
2007 135,508 120,874
20086 134,518 120,785
92,728 76,984
For 1997 to 2007 as well as television licence evasion, these data include proceedings for summary offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to 1967. 2 For 2007 and 2008 these figures relate to the offence Television Licence evasion - Communications Act 2003. 3 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it 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. 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. 5 Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. 6 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Note: Wireless Telegraphy Act offences (mainly television licence evasion) prosecutions increased by 75 per cent from 1999 to 2000. These figures fluctuate from year to year depending on the level and manner of enforcement by the licensing authorities. The increase in prosecutions in 2000 was largely due to changes in visiting practices so that enforcement visits to households took place at times when TV was more likely to be watched. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice
Wills Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase the number [324939] of people who make wills. Bridget Prentice: There are no specific initiatives currently under way to increase the number of people who make wills. Nonetheless, we encourage people to do so by keeping the process relatively straightforward and inexpensive and by providing information about how it can be done on government websites, such as those of Her Majestys Courts Service, Her Majestys Revenue and Customs, and Directgov. Young Offender Institutions David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding his Department has allocated to the development of the new Young Offender Institution at Glen Parva; when he expects it to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement. [325133]
Maria Eagle: The funding currently allocated for the proposed 360 place young offender institution (YOI) at Glen Parva is approximately 80 million. The YOI is currently planned for delivery in mid-2012. The operation of the establishment will be subject to a competition to start later this year, and decisions on the appropriate level of build up of young people will be made in conjunction with the selected operator. Youth Custody Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the maximum population capacity of each (a) secure childrens home, (b) secure training centre and (c) young offender institution was in each year [323894] since 2002. Maria Eagle: The following tables provide the information, as at 1 April in each year since 2002: the maximum number of secure children home places provided under contract to the Youth Justice Board; the maximum capacity of each secure training centre; and the maximum number of places for young people under 18 at each young offender institution which accommodates young people under that age.
Places at secure childrens homes contractually provided to the Youth Justice Board, as at 1 April: 2002-09 Aycliffe Young Peoples Centre 30 35 30 Briars Hey (Orchard House) 4 7 0
Aldine House 2002 2003 2004 6 4 5
Atkinson Unit 11 11 10
Barton Moss Secure Unit 17 18 20
Brunel Unit 0 6 0
Clare Lodge 8 8 0
Clayfields House 9 9 12
Dales House 6 8 0
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Places at secure childrens homes contractually provided to the Youth Justice Board, as at 1 April: 2002-09 Aycliffe Young Peoples Centre 30 30 30 30 30 Briars Hey (Orchard House) 0 0 0 0 0
Aldine House 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 5 5 5 5 5 Dyson Hall (Gladstone Unit) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 9 16 16 16 16 16 0 0 St. Johns Tiffield 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0
Atkinson Unit 10 10 10 10 10
Barton Moss Secure Unit 20 20 20 20 20
Brunel Unit 0 0 0 0 0
Clare Lodge 0 0 0 0 0
Clayfields House 12 12 12 12 12 Red Bank Community Centre 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28
Dales House 0 0 0 0 0 Redsands (Oak House) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Moor Secure Unit 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 Stamford House 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hillside 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 15
Lincolnshire Unit 4 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 Sutton Place Safe Centre 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Kyloe House 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Leverton Secure Unit 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Swanwick Lodge 5 8 10 10 10 10 10 10
Orchard Lodge 16 18 18 18 18 18 16 16 Thornbury House 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stoke House 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vinney Green 18 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Total 254 297 235 235 235 235 218 219
Note: Capacity shown includes YJB-contracted beds only; some secure childrens homes have additional beds for looked-after young people. Capacity of secure training centres, as at 1 April: 2002-09 Medway 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1
Hassockfield 42 42 42 42 42 58 58 58
Rainsbrook 44 76 76 76 76 87 87 87
Oakhill1 0 0 0 80 80 80 80 80
Total 130 194 194 274 274 301 301 301
44 76 76 76 76 76 76 76
For a number of periods up to 2008, occupancy levels at Oakhill were capped below the maximum capacity level. Number of places for young people under 18 in young offender institutions, as at 1 April: 2002-09 Ashfield Brinsford 224 224 224 224 224 168 112 112 Lancaster Farms 130 130 130 130 Brockhill 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 New Hall 48 48 48 48 Bullwood Hall 30 30 30 30 0 0 0 0 Castington 280 280 168 168 168 168 168 168 Stoke Heath 202 202 202 202 Cookham Wood 0 0 0 0 17 17 157 157 Thorn Cross 60 60 60 60 Downview 0 0 0 16 16 16 16 16 Warren Hill 213 213 216 216 Eastwood Park 10 10 10 10 16 16 16 16 Feltham 240 240 240 240 240 240 240 240 Foston Hall 0 0 0 0 0 16 16 16 Hindley 192 192 192 192 192 192 192 440
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
303 202 202 360 360 400 400 400
Huntercombe 2002 2003 2004 2005 360 360 360 360
Onley 240 240 0 0
Parc 28 28 28 36
Werrington 132 132 132 132
Wetherby 360 360 360 360
Woodhill 0 0 0 0
Total 3,066 2,965 2,602 2,784
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Lancaster Farms 250 250 240 0 New Hall 26 26 26 26
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Warren Hill 222 222 222 222
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Huntercombe 2006 2007 2008 2009 360 360 360 360
Onley 0 0 0 0
Parc 36 64 64 64
Stoke Heath 202 202 202 202
Thorn Cross 60 70 0 0
Werrington 160 160 160 160
Wetherby 360 360 360 408
Woodhill 8 8 0 0
Total 2,917 2,955 2,951 3,007
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the size of the juvenile custodial population is; what assessment he has made of recent and likely future trends in that population; and what assessment has been made of required levels of future [324886] capacity in the juvenile custodial estate. Maria Eagle: At the end of January 2009 (the latest date for which verified figures are available) there were 2,096 young people under-18 in custody. Over the last 18 months, there has been a very significant decrease in the size of the under-18 custodial population. At the end of June 2008, there were 3,029 young people in custody. Since then, the population has fallen by 31 per cent. In the light of this developing trend, the Youth Justice Board has acted to remove spare capacity in the under-18 estate, beginning with the decommissioning of under-18 places at Brinsford YOI. In addition, we have recently announced the decommissioning of places at Castington YOI. We will continue to keep the under-18 population under review and to ensure that the capacity of the estate is adjusted to take account of the number of young people it needs to accommodate. Youth Justice Board: Crime Prevention David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by the Youth Justice Board on crime prevention programmes in 2008-09. [324872] Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 943W. Youth Justice Board: Custodial Places David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of the Youth Justice Boards budget was spent on purchasing custodial places in [324871] 2008-09. Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 665W. Youth Offending Teams: Youth Justice Board David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the change in real terms in spending on (a) the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales and (b) local youth offending teams was between 2000 [324870] and 2007. Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 802W.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Affordable Housing Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were purchased through (a) HomeBuy Direct, (b) new Build HomeBuy, (c) Open Market HomeBuy, (d) the First Time Buyers initiative, (e) Social HomeBuy and (f) Rent to HomeBuy schemes in each year from the inception of each scheme to 2006.
[324026]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) to the hon. Members for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 25 November 2008, Official Report, column 1282W and Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 30 April 2009, Official Report, column 1400W. HomeBuy Direct and Rent to HomeBuy were not operational in 2006. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made for the purposes of the allocation of regional funding by the Homes and Communities Agency of the likely number of New Build HomeBuy [324152] completions in each region in 2010-11; (2) what estimate he has made for the purposes of the allocation of regional funding by the Homes and Communities Agency of the likely number of Rent to HomeBuy completions in each region in 2010-11.
[324153]
John Healey: These HomeBuy schemes form part of the funding made available for affordable housing through the Regional Housing Pot. Regional allocations for 2010-11 were set out in a letter from Communities and Local Government to Regional Assemblies on 12 December 2007. The distribution between Regions was arrived at by means of the Housing Needs Formula which reflected key policy objectives. It was not split by individual affordable housing products. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in each constituency have participated in [324487] the Homebuy Direct scheme to date. John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agencys Information System does not collect such data on a constituency basis. Affordable Housing: Finance Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much funding his Department allocated under the New Build
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million
HomeBuy scheme in each region in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how much such funding has been [324145] allocated for (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; (2) how much funding his Department allocated under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each region in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how much such funding has been allocated for (i) 2010-11 and (ii) [324147] 2011-12; (3) how much funding his Department allocated to each region for low cost home ownership programmes in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 to date;
[324148]
Region East Midlands East Midlands East Midlands East Midlands Total East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England Total London London London London London London Total
Sub-region Rural East Southern Growth Three Cities
2008-09 9.19 12.84 21.49 47.27
2009-10 11.16 14.97 19.98 54.23
Total 20.36 27.81 41.47 101.50
Bedfordshire Cambridge Greater Norwich Haven Gateway London Commuter Belt Peterborough Rural East Anglia Thames Gateway Yarmouth and Lowestoft
27.70 19.21 7.90 6.85 22.60 7.67 4.25 10.20 0.12 106.52
27.04 11.37 5.25 14.75 31.85 9.11 1.58 10.69 1.79 113.44
54.73 30.58 13.15 21.61 54.46 16.79 5.84 20.89 1.91 219.95
(4) how much funding his Department allocated under the HomeBuy Direct scheme in each region in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how much such funding has been allocated for (i) 2010-11 and (ii) [324157] 2011-12. John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1127W, which provided allocations by region for HomeBuy Direct, New Build HomeBuy, Open Market HomeBuy, First Time Buyers Initiative, Social HomeBuy and Rent to HomeBuy. In addition the following table shows the allocations provided by region in 2008-09 for New Build HomeBuy, Rent to HomeBuy, and low cost home ownership. There were no HomeBuy Direct allocations in 2008-09.
million Region East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber Total Source: Homes and Communities Agency New Build HomeBuy 18.64 24.41 178.16 4.78 44.71 52.44 19.03 28.29 17.65 388.11 Rent to HomeBuy 14.70 22.52 93.15 0.99 15.38 9.23 7.67 6.58 6.56 176.79 Low cost home ownership
East North South East South West West
133.46 102.93 69.87 56.85 89.47 452.58
168.06 74.65 92.58 61.47 57.81 454.57
301.52 177.58 162.46 118.32 147.28 907.15
North East 47.27 106.52 452.58 9.35 68.03 156.98 63.94 57.47 35.00 997.13 North West North West North West Total North West North West North West North West North East North East North East North East Total
County Durham Northumberland Tees Valley Tyne and Wear
2.16 0.71 4.59 1.88 9.35
7.31 3.50 12.50 10.01 33.33
9.48 4.22 17.09 11.89 42.68
Cheshire Cumbria East Lanes Greater Manchester Merseyside West Lanes
4.11 0.92 5.91 27.30 18.65 11.14 68.03
3.41 2.63 2.76 36.09 15.67 10.80 71.35
7.52 3.55 8.66 63.39 34.32 21.94 139.38
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department allocated to each sub-region for low cost home ownership programmes in spending period (a) 2008-11, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 to date; and how many such homes are expected to be [324158] completed in each sub-region. John Healey: The table shows allocations made through the Homes and Communities Agencys Affordable Housing programme for low cost home ownershi8p programmes by sub-region. The allocations shown are in respect of those made each year for 2008-09 and 2009-10 to end of February 2010 respectively. Allocations in 2010-11 will not be made until the next financial year.
million Region East Midlands East Midlands Sub-region Northern Peak 2008-09 2.33 1.42 2009-10 7.23 0.89 Total 9.55 2.31
South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East
Ashford Blackwater Valley Canterbury and East Kent Crawley/ Gatwick Eastbourne Guildford/ Woking Hastings and Rother High Weald Inner North Inner South Inner West Isle of Wight Maidstone Milton Keynes/ South
4.67 4.99 3.75 3.97 0.30 14.76 0.16 0.95 2.03 6.78 5.39 5.60 4.69
11.92 16.12 3.26 4.70 0.46 5.31 1.30 1.73 5.52 2.79 6.02 1.65 3.14
16.59 21.11 7.01 8.67 0.76 20.07 1.46 2.68 7.55 9.56 11.41 7.25 7.83
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million Region South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East Total Sub-region Midlands North Hampshire-M3 North Kent Oxford City Region Reading-M4 West South Hampshire Sussex Coast West Kent 2008-09 9.43 4.12 9.94 9.15 24.73 22.71 15.96 2.90 156.98 2009-10 14.32 10.21 13.76 5.76 17.60 19.22 13.05 4.70 162.55 Total 23.75 14.33 East Midlands 23.70 14.92 42.33 41.93 29.01 7.60 319.53 East Midlands Total East of England East of England East of England East of England East of England Bedfordshire Cambridge Greater Norwich Haven Gateway London Commuter Belt Peterborough Rural East Anglia Thames Gateway Yarmouth and Lowestoft Region East Midlands Sub-region Southern Growth Three Cities 2,008 500 893 2,001 2,009 435 762 2,029
Total 935 1,655 4,030
996 696 308 353 773
811 527 196 614 983
1,807 1,223 504 967 1,756
South West South West South West South West South West South West
Bournemouth and Poole Cornwall Exeter Gloucester and Cheltenham Plymouth Polycentric Devon and Cornwall Salisbury South Somerset Swindon Taunton Torbay West Cornwall West of England Weymouth -Dorchester
5.53 0.00 17.76 1.47 2.43 2.06
6.79 5.65 14.31 19.27 6.84 3.04
12.32 5.65 32.07 20.74
East of England East of England East of England East of England
227 158 354 27
331 66 333 63
558 224 687 90
9.27 5.10 East of England Total
3,892
3,924
7,816
South West South West South West South West South West South West South West South West South West Total
0.83 2.03 4.47 0.25 0.34 4.26 21.46 1.05 63.94
0.00 2.23 22.67 6.24 0.47 0.00 29.30 1.18 117.99
0.83 4.26 27.14 6.49 0.80 4.26 50.76 2.23 181.93 North East North East County Durham Northumberland Tees Valley Tyne and Wear 86 53 185 85 409 328 158 583 420 1,489 414 211 768 505 1,898 London London London London London London Total East North South East South West West 2,749 1,674 1,846 1,271 1,743 9,283 2,984 1,705 1,715 1,227 1,249 8,880 5,733 3,379 3,561 2,498 2,992 18,163
West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands Total Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Total Grand Total
Central North South West
44.50 4.39 5.77 2.81 57.47
56.48 6.75 8.14 3.63 75.01
100.98 11.14 13.91 6.44 132.48
North East North East North East Total
North West Humberside North Yorkshire South Yorkshire West Yorkshire 3.00 5.12 8.02 18.86 35.00 997.13 13.00 7.20 17.96 30.72 68.87 1,151.34 16.01 12.31 25.98 49.57 103.87 2,148.47 North West North West North West North West North West North West Total
Cheshire Cumbria East Lanes Greater Manchester Merseyside West Lanes
262 36 207 892 644 270 2,311
125 107 96 1,324 602 411 2,665
387 143 303 2,216 1,246 681 4,976
South East South East South East
Ashford Blackwater Valley Canterbury and East Kent Crawley/ Gatwick Eastbourne Guildford/ Woking Hastings and Rother High Weald Inner North Inner South Inner West
181 163 154
288 450 148
469 613 302
Source: Homes and Communities Agency
The following table shows the number of low cost home ownership completions (forecast or actual) arising from those allocations provided by the year of the allocation and not by year of completion.
million Region East Midlands East Midlands East Midlands Sub-region Northern Peak Rural East 2,008 145 53 410 2,009 306 32 494 Total 451 85 904
South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East
148 6 493 16 47 82 216 207
171 21 150 46 52 251 87 191
319 27 643 62 99 333 303 398
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million Region South East South East Sub-region Isle of Wight Maidstone Milton Keynes/South Midlands North Hampshire-M3 North Kent Oxford City Region Reading-M4 West South Hampshire Sussex Coast West Kent 2,008 137 190 2,009 59 102 Total 196 292
South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East South East Total
335 200 505 345 750 784 456 91 5,506
515 372 559 184 476 501 331 153 5,107
850 572 1,064 529 1,226 1,285 787 244 10,613
Mr. Ian Austin: Boroughs targets for provision of affordable housing are set in Core Strategies and, where they exist, saved policies from Unitary Development Plans. Where neither is in place the existing London Plan policy that 50 per cent. of all new housing across London should be affordable would apply. Borough targets for provision of affordable housing are set out in the following table:
Borough Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden City of London Croydon Ealing Target 50 per cent. 50 per cent. 35 per cent. 50 per cent. 35 per cent. 50 per cent. 50 per cent. 40-50 per cent. 50 per cent. London Plan target applies 35 per cent. minimum (50 per cent. on Greenfield or readily developable former employment land) London Plan target applies London Plan target applies 50 per cent. London Plan target applies 50 per cent. London Plan target applies London Plan target applies London Plan target applies London Plan target applies 30-50 per cent. (50 per cent. on schemes of 25 units or more) 40 per cent. (50 per cent. with grant) 35 per cent. London Plan target applies London Plan target applies 50 per cent. 50 per cent. 50 per cent. (35 per cent. or 40 per cent. in Central Activities Zone, central London) 50 per cent. 50 per cent. (35 per cent. on individual privately owned sites), adopted for development management purposes 50 per cent. London Plan target applies 50 per cent. (10-30 per cent. in Central Activities Zone, central London)
South West South West South West South West
Bournemouth and Poole Cornwall Exeter Gloucester and Cheltenham Plymouth Polycentric Devon and Cornwall Salisbury South Somerset Swindon Taunton Torbay West Cornwall West of England Weymouth Dorchester
104
181 171
285 171 1,028 635
Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark
615 56
413 579
South West South West
92 114
232 130
324 244
South West South West South West South West South West South West South West South West South West Total
26 64 264 26 30 238 631 54 2,314 953 33 3,630 76 627 226 9
26 140 891 252 39 238 1,584 87 5,944
West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands Total Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and The Humber Total Grand Total
Central North South West
1,866 244 298 97 2,505
2,020 261 232 122 2,635
3,886 505 530 219 5,140
Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster
Humberside North Yorkshire South Yorkshire West Yorkshire
127 218 301 766 1,412
548 236 673 1,250 2,707
675 454 974 2,016 4,119
Affordable Housing: Sustainable Development Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2010, Official Report, columns 880-1W, on housing: sustainable development, what the cost to his Department was of the stand at Ecobuild; if he will publish on his Departments website a copy of each speech; and whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his Departments policies of the [324831] Ecobuild event. John Healey: The cost of the Departments stand at the Ecobuild conference was 24,000, excluding VAT.
29,633
33,066
62,699
Affordable Housing: Greater London Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the target is for the provision of affordable housing in each London [325297] local authority.
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Where formal presentations were made by officials at the conference, copies are available on the Ecobuild conference website at:
www.ecobuild.co.uk/seminars.html.
The popularity of the Ecobuild event has confirmed for me the commitment of the industry to improving the sustainability of homes and industrys positive response to this Governments polices for promoting sustainable homes. Allotments Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to Baroness Byford of 18 March 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 213WA, on allotments, how many applications to dispose of statutory allotments were (a) submitted, (b) approved and (c) rejected in each local authority area in each year since [324779] 1997-98. Barbara Follett: A table providing data, broken down by year and local authority area, on the number of consent to dispose of statutory allotments applications which were submitted, granted and refused from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2009 has been placed in the Library of the House. We do not hold complete data for years prior to 2000. Where applications were neither granted nor refused, they were either withdrawn, consent was not required or were otherwise invalid. Council Housing Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have banned domestic cats or dogs from new housing as part of a Special Protection Area [323100] strategy. Mr. Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 831W. Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were on the local housing waiting list in (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (b) each local authority area in the East of England and (c) England (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) on the latest date for which information is available. [325333] Mr. Ian Austin: Information is available on numbers of households rather than people. Information is not available for constituencies. The number of households registered on social housing waiting lists in each local authority, each region, and in England, as at 1 April each year from 1997 to 2009, is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. The link for this table is given as follows:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/ table600.xls
Mr. Ian Austin: The Department allocates funding to local authorities with arms length management organisations (ALMOs) in the form of supported capital expenditure via the housing finance subsidy system. Local authorities, including those in London, allocate funding to their ALMOs via a management fee. This is a contractual matter as agreed between the local authorities and their ALMOs. The Department does not hold a record of the proportion of the budget of each arms length management organisation that is recharged to its parent local authority. Council Housing: Property Transfer Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority had in unspent capital receipts from the sale of council housing on the most recent date for which figures are available, listed in descending order of [325300] amount of receipts. Mr. Ian Austin: The information requested is not held centrally. Council Tax Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on average what the council tax band was of a (a) two, (b) three and (c) four bedroom house in the latest period for which [324033] figures are available. Barbara Follett: It is not possible to determine an average in the manner requested, however:
the band which has most frequently been applied to a two-bedroom house in England (as at 31 December 2009) is band A. the band which has most frequently been applied to a threebedroom house in England (as at 31 December 2009) is band C. the band which has most frequently been applied to a four-bedroom house in England (as at 31 December 2009) is band E.
Each of the three dwelling types has valuation list entries across all eight council tax bands. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments [324364] staff in the last five years; and at what cost. Barbara Follett: One smoking shelter has been provided at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead at a cost of 4,112.50 inclusive of VAT. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last [324673] five years. Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government has spent 403,606 excluding VAT, on interior design in relation to office refurbishments since its inception in May 2006. The projects are part of the departments estates efficiency strategy, resulting in running cost efficiencies of 8 million per annum.
Council Housing: Greater London Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the budget of each arms length housing management organisation in each London local authority was recharged to the local authority in each of the last three years. [325296]
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding [324794] for contracts let by his Department. Barbara Follett: The Department does not have an Offshoring policy. It is a procurement option which can be justified if it delivers value for money and is consistent with EC Procurement regulations. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324980] Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government has yet to install any voltage optimisers in its main buildings. A number of feasibility studies have been undertaken but installation has been delayed until our buildings are at maximum occupancy. Only then will we have a full understanding of the appropriateness and return on investment of this type of technology relative to our specific buildings. The Department is strongly committed to reducing its energy demand and related carbon emissions, and is installing a range of energy efficient technologies in its buildings including:
Free cooling circulation for kitchen air supply Lower energy lighting with high frequency ballasts, and LEDs Boiler optimisers High efficiency chillers with heat recovery.
Due to the need to reconcile the changes in personnel and in internal accounting practices in the intervening period, figures for the financial year 1996-97 would only be available at disproportionate cost. Departmental Public Expenditure Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what capital projects his Department expects to have in 2010-11; and what the budget for each will be in that year.
[324502]
Barbara Follett: Capital expenditure is incurred by my Department and its Executive agency the Planning Inspectorate either to support its day to day running (mainly of the estates and IT systems), and that of its agency, or on key national fire resilience projects where the Department manages procurement for the fire service generally (Firelink and FiReControl). The budgets allocated to these projects for 2010-11 are set out in table A. However, the majority of the Departments capital programmes are delivered through arms length bodies (the Homes and Communities Agency and the regional development agencies) and local authorities. The budgets allocated to these programmes for 2010-11 are set out in table B. Finally, my Department contributes to the funding of the infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games for which there is a budget of 442 million in 2010-11.
Table ACapital projects in the Department and its Executive agencythe Planning Inspectorate Financial year 2010-11 plans Projects Investment in Ordnance Survey Control Rooms equipment Planning Inspectorate equipment and computers Strategic information technology Investment in Coalfields Enterprise Fund Enhanced Local Government Accrual Reporting System Firelink equipment CLG building improvements Electronic Data Records Management System Government Offices building improvements Fire and Rescue Services Improvement Accounting system enhancements New Dimension equipment E-Planning information technology Total Capital budgets1 ( million) 14.800 9.199 6.331 7.034 5.000 3.500 2.200 2.180 2.000 2.860 1.083 1.350 1.582 1.000 60.119 Table BCapital grants Financial year 2010-11 plans Programmes Homes and Communities Agency Arms Length Management Organisations Regional Development Agencies CLG Support Regional Housing Pot Grant Housing Market Renewal Fund Local Authority Supported Capital Expenditure (Decent Homes) Capital budgets1 ( million) 3,538.396 594.000 543.322 301.752 286.000 258.755
In 2009, the Department reported a 33 per cent. reduction in carbon emissions from its central offices and achieved the Carbon Trust Standard, demonstrating a sustained commitment to carbon management, and a proven track record of year-on-year energy reduction. Departmental Furniture Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on antique furniture in each of the last five years; and what items were purchased. [325110] Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not purchased any antique furniture during the last five years. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, [324810] expressed in real terms. Barbara Follett: The total expenditure by this Department on the combined costs (including salary, employers national insurance contributions and pension costs) for all press and media officers employed during the financial year 2009/10 was 964,064.86.
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Table BCapital grants Financial year 2010-11 plans
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Programmes Disabled Facilities Grants Gap Funding for Large Scale Voluntary Transfers Community Infrastructure Fund Fire Credit Approvals Public Service Agreement Performance Fund Fire and Rescue Services Improvement programme Improvement, Transformation and Efficiency New Deal for Communities Thames GatewayLondon Urban Development Corporation Support for Voluntary and Community Sector Sustainability Growth Areas New Growth Points and ECO Towns Thames GatewayThurrock Urban Development Corporation Local Enterprise Growth Initiative Other Growth Areas: West Northants Urban Development Corporation Coalfields Regeneration Trust Renewing Neighbourhoods General Greater London Authority Grant Valuation tribunals Fire Service Statistics Local Government Standards Board Leasehold Advisory Services Housing Defects Grants Total
1
Capital budgets1 ( million) 168.800 139.000 135.025 70.824 47.000 45.694 42.870 43.340 33.000 27.283 25.000 20.000 18.649 7.065
England was from (a) central Government grant, (b) council tax and (c) other sources in the most recent year for which figures are available. [325073] Barbara Follett: The proportion of the income from central government grant, council tax and other sources for each fire and rescue authority in England in 2008-09 is in the following table.
Percentage Central Government grant Greater Manchester Fire and CD Authority Merseyside Fire and CD Authority South Yorkshire Fire and CD Authority Tyne and Wear Fire and CD Authority West Midlands Fire and CD Authority West Yorkshire Fire and CD Authority Avon Combined Fire Authority Bedfordshire Combined Fire Authority Berkshire Combined Fire Authority Buckinghamshire Combined Fire Authority Cambridgeshire Combined Fire Authority Cheshire Combined Fire Authority Cleveland Combined Fire Authority Derbyshire Combined Fire Authority Devon and Somerset Combined Fire Authority Dorset Combined Fire Authority Durham Combined Fire Authority East Sussex Combined Fire Authority Essex Combined Fire Authority Hampshire Combined Fire Authority Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority Humberside Combined Fire Authority Kent Combined Fire Authority Lancashire Combined Fire Authority Leicestershire Combined Fire Authority North Yorkshire Combined Fire Authority Nottinghamshire Combined Fire Authority Shropshire Combined Fire Authority 64.4 62.0 60.8 59.4 66.6 62.9 56.0 40.4 47.0 41.5
Council tax 34.0 34.4 36.1 35.4 29.7 36.3 42.5 57.2 51.8 53.3
Other sources 1.6 3.7 3.0 5.1 3.7 0.7 1.5 2.4 1.2 5.2
6.650 6.425 1.600 0.400 0.271 0.230 0.132 0.070 6,361.553
47.5
51.0
1.5
These budgets are current, and may be subject to change through the Supplementary Estimates process based on decisions by Ministers.
43.1 67.7 46.8 47.8
55.4 30.2 51.5 48.6
1.5 2.1 1.7 3.6
Fire Services: Emergency Calls Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 714W, on fire services: emergency calls, what the original timetable was for the launch of the SMS emergency number; what the original budget was; what the expected go-live date is; and what operational costs [323146] have been incurred to date. Mr. Malik: The emergency SMS trial was launched by British telecommunications PLC on 14 September 2009 in accordance with the agreed with the mobile service providers and emergency services and is available nationally. BT is currently developing plans for providing capacity and resilience in the system which will allow the arrangements to be regarded as providing a full, rather than a trial, service. The service is being provided by BT and the mobile service providers at no cost to the emergency services, who should incur no operational costs. Fire Services: Finance John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the income of each fire and rescue authority in
37.7 47.0 37.6 44.2 44.2 37.5
50.0 52.8 61.2 54.2 53.8 59.0
12.3 0.3 1.1 1.6 2.1 3.5
53.9 42.1 53.8 55.0
44.1 52.9 44.3 43.9
1.9 5.0 1.9 1.1
43.7
55.4
0.8
49.0
45.0
6.0
37.1
59.6
3.3
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Percentage Central Government grant Staffordshire Combined Fire Authority Wiltshire Combined Fire Authority 43.4 39.9
Council tax 55.0 58.5
Other sources 1.6 1.6
Source: Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) returns and capital outturn (CO) returns
the proximity of this date to the Olympic games, I have written to the chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to ask if they wish to move this date back until after the Olympics. I have also offered to explore the possibility of moving their current control into the Regional Control Centre so that London can benefit from the facilities and enhanced resilience the new building offers during the Olympics. I await LFEPAs formal response. Fire Services: Risk Assessment Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud of 16 December 2009, Official Report, columns 1269-70W, on fire services: risk assessment, what the risks identified on the FiReControl risk register are; what level of risk is assigned to each; and what steps are being taken to mitigate each risk. [324009] Mr. Malik: The FiReControl risk assessment is published as Appendix M of the FiReControl Full Business Case, published in May 2009. These risks are organised under nine main categories, with the level of risk and the mitigation set outthese are kept under review. The business case can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/ fcbusinesscasepart2.pdf
The definition of central Government grant used here is the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates), specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF) (i.e. revenue grants paid for councils core services), specific and special revenue grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), area based grant (ABG) and expenditure financed by capital grants from central Government. The definition of council tax used here is council taxes financed from council tax benefit grant but excludes council taxes financed from local authority contributions to council tax benefit. Other sources is defined as sum of interest and investment incomeexternal receipts and dividends, sales fees and charges and in-year capital receipts. Other sources exclude income reported by local authorities under other income in RO returns as this includes internal recharges, which distorts the comparative figures on income. Comparison across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities. Fire Services: Greater London Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the letter of 9 March 2010 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, what consideration Ministers in his Department have given to postponing the opening of the new London Regional Fire Control Room until after the London 2012 Olympics. [324620] Mr. Malik: Under current planning assumptions the Regional Fire Control Centre for London is due to become operational during September 2011. In view of
Fires: Hoaxes and False Alarms Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false fire emergency calls were received in each fire authority in the North West [325039] in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009. Mr. Malik: The relevant data that are held centrally are for financial year periods and cover all emergency calls, with no distinction as to whether relating to a reported fire or other type of incident. In preparing this answer it became evident that the figures provided in the answer to a very similar question on 28 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1170-76W, were of numbers of false alarm incidents attended, rather than of emergency calls. The data available for the periods requested by both questions are therefore shown in the tables.
Total emergency calls1 handled, fire and rescue services in the north-west, 2002-03 to 2008-09 2002-03 Cheshire Cumbria Greater Manchester Lancashire Merseyside North West
1
2003-04 33,506 14,710 113,111 53,171 72,236 286,734
2004-05 29,254 14,594 88,927 44,383 61,459 238,617
2005-06 28,757 14,082 89,066 42,189 58,635 232,729
2006-07 28,435 13,258 95,724 44,727 61,506 243,650
2007-08 24,294 12,199 85,026 38,471 52,524 212,514
2008-09 22,300 9,411 75,010 34,849 45,537 187,107
31,102 13,444 101,348 48,508 68,494 262,896
Duplicate calls for incidents counted individually Source: Annual Returns from Fire and Rescue Services to Communities and Local Government Malicious false alarm calls handled, fire and rescue services in the north-west, 2005-06 to 2008-091 2002-03 to 2004-051 2005-06 785 450 5,128 2006-07 636 447 5,061 2007-08 570 407 4,493 2008-09 432 349 3,062
Cheshire Cumbria Greater Manchester
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Malicious false alarm calls handled, fire and rescue services in the north-west, 2005-06 to 2008-091 2002-03 to 2004-051 Lancashire Merseyside North West
1
2005-06 1,758 1,568 9,689
2006-07 1,714 1,188 9,046
2007-08 1,476 1,024 7,970
2008-09 1,498 723 6,064
Data prior to 2005-06 not held centrally Source: Annual Returns from Fire and Rescue Services to Communities and Local Government
Home Information Packs Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of written correspondence sent by the Home Departments Design and Technology Alliance to his Department on inclusion of a home security assessment as part of a home information pack. [319044] Mr. Ian Austin: We are not aware of any correspondence with the Design and Technology Alliance about the inclusion of a home security assessment in the home information pack. Homelessness: Reading Berkshire Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he made of the number of people homeless in Reading East constituency in each year since 1997. [324577] Mr. Ian Austin: Homelessness prevention measures funded by Communities and Local Government have had a major impact. In the last six years the quarterly level of statutory homelessness cases has reduced by 71 per cent. Information on homelessness is not collected at constituency level. Summary tables including the number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty by each local authority as at the end of each year between 1997-98 and 2008-09 have been deposited in the Library of the House as stated in the question from the hon. Member for Castle Point on 23 June 2009, Official Report, column 843W. Information has also been collected and reported since 1998 on the number of people who sleep roughi.e., those who are literally roofless on a single night. Local authority data and count guidance can be found on the CLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ statistics/roughsleeping2009
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 271-72W, on housing: conferences, in which hotel (a) Homes and Communities Agency employees and (b) his Departments officials were accommodated for the MIPIM International Property Conference 2009.
[325274]
Barbara Follett: For HCA attendees, three self-catering apartments were hired at a minimum hire of one week and were used for hosting key meetings and briefings and offering basic office facilities. Departmental officials stayed in Apartment 22, 6 Rue Moliere. Homes and Communities Agency: Travel Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 271-72W, on housing: conferences, how much of the Homes and Communities Agencys expenditure on travel was for (a) rail fares, (b) taxis and (c) air travel.
[325273]
Barbara Follett: The total return air travel cost was 1,528. Airport car transfer Nice/Cannes was 270. No rail costs were incurred. Housing Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what local priorities the Homes and Communities Agency has set for the Investment Statement of each region; and what assessment he has made of the progress of each region in meeting each regional priority target in (a) each of the last three years and (b) the spending period [324151] 2008-11. John Healey: For the National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11, the Housing Corporation included as part of their prospectus a summary of regional priorities based on regional assemblies regional housing strategies. In addition, each Housing Corporation region produced an investment statement setting out the regional investment priorities. The link to the website is as follows:
http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/nav.394
Homes and Communities Agency: Hotels Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 271-72W, on housing: conferences, how much of the Homes and Communities Agencys expenditure on accommodation was related to (a) hotel room bookings and (b) use of mini-bar and dining facilities.
[325272]
Barbara Follett: Cost of hotel room bookings for the HCAs attendance at the MIPIM conference in March 2010 was: 4,282 plus a transaction fee of 124. No costs were incurred for use of the mini bar or dining.
The Housing Corporation and now the Homes and Communities Agency publish regional investment statements on their website on a quarterly basis. The links to the websites are as follows:
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/inyourarea http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/nav.394
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Investment decisions taken by the Homes and Communities Agency must fit with local, regional and national priorities. The Housing Corporation for 2007-08 published an outturn statement reporting on delivery in each region in that particular year on their website, in addition to their annual report. Housing: Asbestos Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) owners of other publicly-funded housing are required to take in order to (i) remove and (ii) mitigate risks from asbestos in their properties; what requirements there are to provide information to tenants on the (A) presence of and (B) risks from asbestos; and if he will [325290] make a statement. Mr. Ian Austin: All sectors of social housing are covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) which lists asbestos as potential category 1 hazard. In assessing asbestos as a hazard, landlords need to take account of its location, potential for damage, extent of any present damage and whether it is a chrysotile or amphibole product. Asbestos removal should be carried out in conjunction with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance and should normally be done by a contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. Mitigation of risk from asbestos is covered in the HHSRS guidance, section 4, full detail as are available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/ 142631.pdf
Asylum seekers do not have access to public funds and are therefore not entitled to the benefits of social housing. Consequently, the Homes and Communities Agency cannot develop housing for them. However, the HCA can develop homes which refugees (who do have a form of leave which allows them some access to public funds) can access. Information about refugees housed by housing associations is captured in two sets of statistics via the:
1. Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) which contains information about the number of units intended for refugees, and asylum seekers under the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) contracts: www.rsrsurvey.co.uk 2. Continuous Recording of Lettings and Sales (CORE) which captures information about new lettings including, since April 2006, where tenants were housed by the Asylum Support Service immediately before their new letting: https://core.tenantservicesauthority.org 3. Home Office collect figures on the number of asylum applications each year in their control of immigration quarterly stats release: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylumstats.html
Housing: Capital Investment Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what capital projects the Homes and Communities Agency will have in 2010-11; and what the budget for each is in that year.
[324503]
There is no requirement for social landlords to inform residents about the presence of asbestos in their stock. The HHSRS guidance advises that where asbestos has been identified as present, the material should be in good condition, sealed, inaccessible, labelled and the location recorded by the landlord. Information on the risk from asbestos is available to tenants from local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive and the Direct.gov website. There is no requirement for landlords to provide this information although many choose to do so. Housing: Asylum Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to pages 125 and 126 of the Equality and Human Rights Commissions report on Refugees and asylum seekers: a review from an equality and human rights perspective, whether (a) the Housing Corporation and (b) the Homes and Communities Agency had any role in the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers; and what records his Department holds of the housing associations which (i) provide and (ii) facilitate [324732] accommodation for asylum seekers. John Healey: The Housing Corporation did not have a direct role in the provision of housing for asylum seekers. However, the Corporation did fund research and develop a range of policies that aimed to improve conditions for refugee communities and new migrants.
John Healey: Details of the Homes and Communities Agencys (HCA) planned expenditure by programme for 2010-11 can be found in HCAs Corporate Plan. Details of all of HCAs approved capital projects for 2010-11 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Housing: Conferences Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) the Homes and Communities Agency on accreditation for the MIPIM international property conference in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009; and how much has been spent in 2010 to [323248] date. Barbara Follett: The Department made the following spend on accreditation at the MIPIM conference in the years given:
Accreditation was included as part of a participation package equating to 675 (plus VAT) per delegate in 2007; Accreditation was included as part of a participation package equating to 700 (plus VAT) per delegate in 2008; and 1,500 (plus VAT) in 2009.
No departmental Ministers or officials attended in 2010. The Homes and Communities Agency was established in December 2008 and has, therefore, only attended the conference in 2009 and 2010. Its spend on accreditation was:
10,862 in 2009; and 2,981 in 2010.
These costs were inclusive of taxes and foreign currency charges.
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Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of the Homes and Communities Agency will attend the MIPIM international property conference in March [323249] 2010. Barbara Follett: Two delegates from the Homes and Communities Agency attended the conference. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, columns 272-73W, on housing: conferences, what the job title was of each Homes and Communities Agency employee who attended the MIPIM International [325275] Property Conference 2009. Barbara Follett: The Homes and Communities Agency had seven officials in attendance at the MIPIM conference in 2009. Their job titles are as follows:
Chairman Chief Executive Director New Ventures and Partnerships Head of Marketing Senior Corporate Marketing Executive Corporate Marketing Executive.
The Design for Manufacture lessons learnt publication is available at:

http://www.designformanufacture.info/lessonslearnt.htm
The Homes and Communities Agency intend publishing Lessons Learnt II shortly.
Total number of homes to be built 145 151 Target total of 60,000 homes to be built1 56 46
Sites Oxley Park, Milton Keynes Allerton Bywater Millennium Community, Leeds Upton, Northampton Renny Lodge, Newport Pagnell School Road, Hastings Horns Cross, Dartford Linton Hospital, Maidstone Park Prewett, Basingstoke Oxford Road, Aylesbury Rowan Road, Merton
1
158 68 12 37 150 137 102 217
50 21 4 13 45 42 40 65
Unable to report back on number of completed 60,000 homes until the programme is over and all sites fully built out and developed.
Housing: Olympic Games 2012 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been provided by (a) his Department and (b) the Homes and Communities Agency for the development of the Olympic Village on the London 2012 Olympic Games site; and how much more [321197] funding he expects to be provided. Mr. Malik: Communities and Local Government contributes alongside other funding departments within the overall 9.325 billion Olympic Budget. The gross construction cost of the village is l,095 million. This includes post-games transformation for legacy use. The Homes and Communities Agency is providing a grant of 110 million to Triathlon Homes toward the social housing element which is included in the overall cost. No further funding is expected to be provided. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of the homes provided in the Olympic Village after the London 2012 Olympics (a) will be (i) flats and (ii) houses and (b) will have (A) one, (B) two and (C) three [321198] or more bedrooms. Mr. Malik: There will be 2,818 apartments and town houses in the Olympic Village, 1,379 of which will be affordable. The following table sets out the current plans for different tenures.
Market 4 bed town houses 3 bed (including town houses) 2 bed 1 bed Studio 101 453 725 155 5 Intermediate 23 190 116 Social rented 160 162 287 66 Additional intermediate 98 234 43
Housing: Construction Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many 60,000 homes have been built following the Design for Manufacture competition to date; in which locations have such homes been built; and what the average sale [323047] price has been; (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the construction costs of new housing of the Design for [323048] Manufacture competition. Mr. Ian Austin: The Design for Manufacture competition launched in April 2005 is run by the Homes and Communities Agency (formerly English Partnerships) on behalf of Communities and Local Government. The competition was the Governments challenge to the housebuilding industry to build high-quality, well-designed homes for 60,000. The figure of 60,000 relates to a target cost for building a two bedroom home and does not reflect the sale price. Developers are responsible for final sales for individual homes setting prices in accordance with local market conditions. The programme comprising ten sites is currently on track to deliver the target of building 30 per cent. of the homes on each site for 60,000 The Homes and Communities Agency will report back on the exact number of 60,000 homes built on each site following completion of the programme. The sites and target number of 60,000 homes to be built are listed in the following table. A detailed publication on the lessons learned so far from the Design for Manufacture competition was published by English Partnerships in June 2006. It sets out the 10 initial lessons learnt including one about constructions costs. The overall assessment was that these costs can be controlled whilst at the same time improving the quality of homes being developed.
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30 MARCH 2010
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Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is charged by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment for Building for Life assessor [321549] accreditation. Mr. Ian Austin: Building for Life assessor accreditation is free of charge for one officer from each English local authority. Additional officers are charged 360. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local planning authority staff have been trained by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment to become accredited Building for Life [321550] assessors.
Mr. Ian Austin: 404 have local authority officers started the training since the programme started in January 2009. Of these, 229 have now completed the full accreditation. Kent Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what schemes in Kent Thameside have received funding from his Department and its executive agencies in each of the last five years; and how much funding was allocated to [323059] each of those schemes. Mr. Malik: The following table sets out the funding provided by the Thames Gateway programme to projects in Kent Thameside in each of the last five years.
Project A2 Activity Park and Northfleet Urban Area Acquisition of Beauwater Sports Ground Action NowGravesend Heritage Quarter Brooklands Lakes improvements and feasibility study Cobham Heritage Park: South Lodge and Barn Cobham Heritage Park: West Park Communities Learning Facilities Creating Greener Lifestyles and Green Gym Darenth Sporting Connections Darenth Woods Green Links Project Dartford Creek investigations Dartford Greenheart Dartford Heath Dartford Northern GatewayCPO Strategy Dartford Town Centre : Darenth Gateway Study Dartford Town Centre : Darenth Valley Path Dartford Town Centre : Environmental Improvements Dartford Town Centre : Market Street Acquisition Dartford Town Centre : Matrix Centre Acquisition Dartford Town Centre : Milestone Garage Acquisition Dartford Town Centre : Steam Crane Wharf Works Dartford Town Centre : Unwins Depot Dartford Town Centre Land Acquisition Dartford Town Centre Townscape Heritage Initiative
2005-06 0 0 0
2006-07 0 0 0
2007-08 0 139,078 93,829
2008-09 311,095 0 0 0
2009-10 879,375 0 0 0
0 0 238,628 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100,000 0 0 160,000 1,923,000 350,000
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38,655 413,779 0 0 0
779,000 359,976 0 21,400 668,000 95,300 0 0 38,680 0 0 297,345 1,071,221 0 0 0
300,000 0 0 0 0 0 20,000 40,000 0 420,000 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 930,000 824,909 0 425,000 0 0 0 0 0 0
133,800 7,952,000 3,545,000 0
0 169,000 0 0
0 129,000 0 59,147
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
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Project Dartford Town Centre: Glaxo East Site Dartford Town Centre: Viability and Master Planning Ebbsfleet Connections Enhancing The Enchanted Woodland FastrackAdditional LTP Assessment FastrackDelivery of the Project FastrackImplementation Strategy Study Fastrack: Northfleet Embankment Fastrack: PPP/PFI Project Development Fastrack: Vehicle Procurement Flying Start: Development Plan GKA: Wilmington Hall School GKA: North Kent Construction Skills Centres GKA: Darent Federation Axton Chase GKA: Darent Federation Dartford GKA: Northfleet Arts Centre GKA: Project Office Retention GKA: Temple School GKA: Thamesview School GKA: Westlands School Gravesend Community Woodland: Acquisitions Gravesend Community Woodland: Consultation Gravesend Community Woodland: Contingency Gravesend Community Woodland: Habitat Gravesend Community Woodland: Infrastructure Gravesend Community Woodland: Initial Site Works Gravesend Community Woodland: Site Delivery Team Gravesend Community Woodland: A2 Footbridges Gravesend Old Town Hall phase 1 Gravesend Riverside Leisure area Gravesend Station Quarter Masterplan Gravesend Town Centre Initiatives Gravesend Transport Quarter Gravesend Transport Quarter Pt A Great Expectations: Thames and Medway Canal Cluster Green Cluster MasterPlans for North Kent Green Grid: Ancient Woodlands Country Park Green Grid: CAMS
2005-06 22,183 329,891
2006-07 0 0
2007-08 0 0
2008-09 0 0
2009-10 0 0
0 0 27,315 0 0 0 936,752 2,500,805 0 0 0 17,450 17,450 35,000 0 60,000 60,000 60,000 0 164,000 38,831 5,000 40,000 135,000 122,000
0 0 0 320,681 0 0 0 0 100,000 30,700 0 0 0 0 29,307 0 0 0 0 166,000 109,590 713,000 884,000 0 154,000
48,200 26,500 0 795,154 0 32,748 0 0 0 0 2,200,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 86,000 72,518 52,000 28,000 0 125,000
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 58,300 0 0 0 0 0 3,700 377,591
766,971 0 0 0 0 0 25,000 0 0 0 0
203,999 0 134,969 0 0 0 199,788 0 170,000 0 0
0 950,000 0 0 0 750,000 0 77,000 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 3,000,000 0 1,331,310 0 0 0
1131W
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Project Green Grid: Central Plaza Green Grid: Dartford Heath Green Grid: Enhancement of Darent Valley study Green Grid: Hillyfields Green Grid: Managing the Marshes Green Grid: Ordnance Road Study Green Grid: Shorne Wood Country Park Green Grid: Swanscombe Heritage Park Heritage Quarter Design Homes and Roads Engineering Studies Innovation Centre Jeskyns Additional Spend Managing the Marshes Dartford North East Gravesend : Accommodating Excellence North East Gravesend: Gravesend/Canal Basin North East Gravesend: Viability and Master Planning North Kent Environment: Ranscombe Farm North Kent Environment: Regional Park Norfhfleet Embankment: Red Lion Wharf Northfleet Embankment fees Northfleet Urban Country Park Roman Road Cycle Path SCC Sports Complex SEEDA Thames Gateway Project Delivery Shorne Marshes and Shornemead Fort SRC: Transport Assessment and Feasibility Study Stone Discovery Park Phase 1 Strategic Site Acquisition Strategy and Action Plan SUSCON Skills and Learning Centre SUSCON Skills Academy Swanscombe Heritage Park Swanscombe Regeneration Swanscome Peninsula Feasibility Study Thames and Medway Canal Study The Bridge Innovation Lab The Old Rectory Town Centre Regeneration Gravesend TT Demolition Vocational Learning Centres
2005-06 178,664 153,778 20,000 142,986 18,429 0 762,730 142,089 175,207 0 49,695 0 1,045,200 500,000 0 226,720
2006-07 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 220,000 1,830,280 0 0 0 250,000 0
2007-08 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 423,557 1,620,025 45,000 0 0 0 0
2008-09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -83,919 0
2009-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23,465 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 404,129 0 0 0 0 1,229,480 0 1,960,000
0 0 0 0 0 0 310,000 300,000 2,788 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10,449 0 0 0 76,423 131,425 0 220,000 172,212 0 62,000 0 134,000 0 112,193 0 0 60,667 197,942 0 0 0 0
0 0 25,000 125,000 0 0 0 -28,288 -5,946 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71,000 0 1 0 0 0 0
0 0 220,000 200,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,250,000 0
Leasehold Valuation Tribunal Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many cases were brought to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal by local authority leaseholders in each local authority
area in each year since 2005-06; and how many of these [325302] were wholly or partially upheld. John Healey: The number of cases brought to the leasehold valuation tribunal by local authority leaseholders in each local authority area from 2005 to 2010 are
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shown in the following table. It is not possible to say how many of these were wholly or partially upheld without disproportionate cost.
Local authority Eastern Braintree Brentwood Colchester Dacorum Harlow Norwich Oxford Slough Southendon-Sea St. Albans Tendring Three Rivers London Barking and Dagenham Barnet Brent Camden City of London Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster 3 1 4 17 1 0 2 1 10 4 0 0 1 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 1 28 1 0 0 1 13 0 3 0 0 6 3 7 3 0 1 1 0 23 1 1 0 0 9 4 0 0 0 2 0 7 2 1 2 2 4 22 0 2 1 1 2 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 1 21 0 1 2 0 6 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 10 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 10 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Local authority North Warwickshire Nuneaton and Bedworth Sandwell Solihull Tamworth Northern Berwick upon-Tweed Burnley East Riding of Yorkshire Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle upon Tyne North East Lincolnshire Oldham Rochdale Sheffield South Lakeland South Tyneside Stockport Southern Adur Arun Ashford Bath and North East Somerset Brighton and Hove City of Bristol Cheltenham Dartford Dover
2005 0 0
2006 0 0
2007 0 1
2008 0 0
2009 1 0
2010 1 0
1 0 3
0 0 4
2 0 0
4 1 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
1 1 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
0 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
0 0 1 1
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
2 4 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
0 1 1 0 0 5 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
12 1 0 1 0 16 2 2 0 1 2
51 2 4 3 0 30 0 4 1 5 0
15 4 0 5 2 18 0 6 1 3 0
4 2 0 3 2 16 2 1 0 2 6
4 2 0 1 1 29 0 1 0 7 1
0 1 0 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 0
Guildford Medway Plymouth Poole Portsmouth Shepway Southampton Swindon Torridge
Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme: Cheshire Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms were used by his Department in determining the level of Local Authorities Business Growth Incentives Scheme grants allocated to (a) East Cheshire Local Authority and Council and (b) West [324997] Cheshire Local Authority and Council.
Midlands area Birmingham Bromsgrove Broxtowe Dudley Leicester Lichfield 1 0 0 0 2 6 6 1 0 0 1 11 1 0 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
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Barbara Follett: The current methodology for the calculation of the LABGI grants, which has applied in 2009-10 and 2010-11, is set out at paragraphs 16 to 19 of the Governments response to its consultation, published in July 2009, which can be viewed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/ pdf/1291741.pdf
bedsit, (ii) a one-bedroom property, (iii) a twobedroom property, (iv) a three-bedroom property and (v) a four-bedroom property when the highest rents are excluded from the calculation. [325129] Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply. The Local Housing Allowance was rolled out from 7 April 2008 and is a more transparent way of calculating the rent element of housing benefit for people living in the deregulated private rented sector who make a new claim for housing benefit or for existing customers who change address. Local housing allowance rates are set monthly by the Valuation Office Agency in England, Rent Officers Wales and Rent Service Scotland. They are published monthly by each local authority and at:
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/secure/default.aspx
The same approach has been applied to all local authorities in England. Local Government Finance: Northampton Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government provided in grants to Northampton Borough Council in (a) 1997, (b) 2001, (c) 2005 and (d) the last year for which figures are available.
[325068]
Barbara Follett: The information requested is tabled as follows:

Central Government grant 000 1997-98 13,863 2001-02 15,692 2005-06 18,718 2008-09 22,334 Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn Summary (RS) returns.
The definition of central Government grant used here is the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates), and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for councils core services. In past years, where applicable the SSA reduction grant and Central Support Protection Grants have also been included. For 2008-09 it also includes Area Based Grant. Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area. Comparison across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities. Local Government: War Memorials Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role local authorities have in the construction of new war [312007] memorials. Mr. Ian Austin: As has been the case since 1948, planning permission for any war memorial that constituted development would have to be granted by the local planning authority. Local Housing Allowance Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the (a) percentage and (b) cash change in level of local housing allowance in each area for (i) a
In Budget 2010 the Government announced that the top 1 per cent. of rents nationally would be removed from the market evidence for all bedroom sizes one to five in the calculation of local housing allowance rates, except the shared room rate. This will take effect for new claims from October 2011 and existing customers will be affected when their benefit rate is reviewed, usually at the anniversary point of their claim. The estimates the Department for Work and Pensions have made on the impact of this measure on local housing allowance rates are based on the latest available list of rents from the Valuation Office Agency which relate to April 2009. Due to substantial changes to broad rental market area boundaries and local housing allowance rates since April 2009, and potential for further changes in the near future, it is not appropriate to break these figures down to identify impacts on specific areas. According to our estimates, had the policy been introduced in April 2009, the number of customers who would see a decrease in their local housing allowance rate under this measure is around 2 per cent. of the local housing allowance caseload. The average loss for these customers is 24 (at April 2009 prices) although there is large variation on this from area to area and customer to customer. A few customers, such as those in five-bedrooms in Central London, could see their awards decrease by significant amounts, while others would see their benefit change marginally. Low Incomes Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many adults of working age were living in income-deprived households in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency according to the most recent indices of [324616] multiple deprivation data. Ms Rosie Winterton: The English Indices of Deprivation have, since 2004, been produced at Lower Level Super Output Area (LSOA) level. LSOAs are smaller than constituencies and are designed to remain consistent in size, and over time, to allow more detailed identification of pockets of deprivation. This also overcomes difficulties in producing statistics for electoral wards and parliamentary constituencies which are associated with frequent boundary changes. There are 32,482 LSOAs in England with an average population of 1,500 people.
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The income scale measure from the local authority summaries for the 2007 indices represent the number of people within an area experiencing income deprivation. The local authority summaries can be downloaded from the CLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/xls/ 576504.xls
Members: Correspondence Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to reply to the letter of 15 February 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to [325127] Mr J. Skelton. Mr. Ian Austin: A reply was sent on 29 March 2010. Mortgages: Government Assistance Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in each constituency have received financial support under the Homeowner Mortgage Support [324619] Scheme to date. John Healey: For management information on Homeowners Mortgage Support I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), on 16 December 2009, Official Report, column 1297W. This information is not monitored at constituency level. Non-domestic Rates: Licensed Premises Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether new requirements on licensed premises will be considered a material change of circumstances by the Valuation Office Agency for the purposes of business rate [324039] valuations and revaluations. Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply. Whether or not any of the new requirements on licensed premises will constitute a material change in circumstances in the context of non-domestic rating valuations is dependent on the matter in question coming within the definition of such circumstances contained in schedule 6 paragraph 2(7) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. Guidance on the interpretation of these provisions, as informed by legal advice and decisions of the courts, is contained within the Valuation Office Agencys Rating Manual in Volume 2Section 5. This is available online under the publications section of the VOAs website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
Barbara Follett [holding answer 25 March 2010]: As at December 23 2009, the Valuation Office Agency have advised my department that 724 newly assessed, port based properties are liable for backdated Rates to April 1 2005. An estimate of the monetary value of the backdated liabilities was made in respect of all ratepayers (not just port based properties) and was published in the impact assessment alongside the Explanatory Memorandum for the Non Domestic Rating (collection and Enforcement) (local Lists) (England) (Amendment) regulations 2009:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/em/uksiem_20090204_en.pdf
This states that the estimated backdated liability, before the application of any reliefs, is forecast to be approximately 131 million and the cost of the scheme to be approximately 33 million. The Government have listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some situated in ports. It has legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent. As at 8 October 2009, local authorities have reported that ratepayers occupying 221 properties within ports had fully discharged their backdated liability and ratepayers occupying a further 200 business properties within ports had been granted a schedule of payments. The Government does not have information on how many payments, or of what amount, the 200 properties with schedule of payments agreements have made. Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals for a moratorium on issuing of retrospective business rate demands on newly-assessed [324133] port companies. Barbara Follett [holding answer 25 March 2010]: There are currently no plans to introduce a moratorium. The Government have listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some within ports. They have legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent. As at 8 October 2009, local authorities have reported that ratepayers occupying 221 properties within ports had fully discharged their backdated liability and ratepayers occupying a further 200 business properties within ports had been granted a schedule of payments. Non-domestic Rates: Valuation Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications for fast-track reassessment of retrospective business rates the Valuation Office Agency has received to date; and how many weeks the Valuation Office Agency has taken to conduct such reassessment in the case of each (a) completed and (b) [324610] uncompleted application to date.
Non-domestic Rates: Ports Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the amount of retrospective business rate payments (a) owed by newly-assessed port companies, (b) paid in full by such companies to date and (c) paid in first instalments under the scheme for paying rates off over eight years; how many companies have (i) paid in full and (ii) paid a first instalment; and what the estimated cost of the deferral scheme is to the public [324132] purse.
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Written Answers
Table 1: Take-up of SBRRnumbers claiming 2006-07 2007-08 433 575
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Barbara Follett: In fairness to all ratepayers, the Valuation Office Agency has applied the fast track arrangements to all rating appeals on properties (hereditaments) within the 55 ports and container terminals in England and Wales, not just those properties that have had a retrospective assessment back to 1 April 2005. The fast track arrangements were introduced on 24 November 2008. Up to 17 March 2010, 1,026 appeals have been subject to the fast track arrangements, (a) 644 appeals have been resolved and the average time taken to conclude each appeal has been 24 weeks. (b) There are 382 appeals outstanding and the average discussion time for these appeals is 30 weeks. Non-domestic Rates: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many business premises in York have rateable values for 2010-11 of (a) less than 6,000 and (b) between 6,000 and 12,000; and how many of each of these categories of premises qualify for small business rate [325124] relief. Barbara Follett: There are 1850 hereditaments with a rateable value less than, or equal to, 6,000 and 1300 hereditaments with a rateable value greater than 6,000 and less than, or equal to, 12,000 in the City of York The report Small Business Rate Reliefimproving evidence on eligibility and take-up was published on December 9 2009 and it estimates that of the approximately 1.2 million non-domestic properties in England which fall below the current rateable value (RV) thresholds for SBRR, around 575,000 are occupied by eligible small businesses. This report has been validated by an independent peer review and is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
2008-09 462 575
Number of hereditaments actually claiming SBRR (thousands) Number of hereditaments estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses (thousands) Percentage of estimated eligible actually claiming
396 575
69
75
80
Table 2: Take-up of SBRR 2005-06 to 2008-09relief 2005-06 Total relief that would be paid out if all properties estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses were to claim1: ( million) Relief actually claimed: ( million) Percentage take-up2:
1
2006-07 300
2007-08 315
2008-09 325
295
202 69
237 78
259 83
298 92
For details of how this estimate was made please see the paper Small business rate relief-improving evidence on eligibility and take-up: Methodology. 2 Percentage of total relief, which would be paid if all eligible small businesses claimed it, that was actually paid.
Parallel Place Reviews Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which local authority areas parallel place reviews are being [324015] undertaken. Ms Rosie Winterton: We do not have a list of all of the parallel places undertaking Total Place type activity. The Total Place pilots have demonstrated that the application of Total Place principles can bring benefits in service improvements and savings to all places and we would encourage all places to pursue this agenda. Repossession Orders: West Midlands Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to assist homeowners at risk of repossession in (a) Coventry and (b) the West [325048] Midlands. John Healey: Government have taken early and concerted action to provide people facing the threat of repossession with help at every stage of the process. Recent figures indicate that actions taken to help families avoid repossession are having some impactmore families are getting help to stay in their home. Total repossessions in 2009 were 46,00039 per cent. fewer than originally predicted by the CML and around half the rate of repossessions in the last recession in 1991. Coventry has been identified as a repossession hotspot and as such has been specifically targeted through the preventing repossessions awareness campaign. Social Rented Housing Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many units of social housing have been sold on the open market by registered social landlords (a) nationally and (b) in [325298] London in the last five years.
This methodology can only be applied to England as a whole. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate how many non-domestic properties qualify for SBRR in the City of York. However, new experimental statistics on the number of hereditaments claiming small business rate relief (SBRR) published on the Communities and Local Government website on 25 February 2010, show that 462,000 hereditaments in England were benefiting from SBRR on December 31st 2008. By applying that figure to the eligibility estimates made for the 2005 rating list it is estimated that around 80 per cent. of eligible hereditaments in England were claiming SBRR in 2008-09 - see table 1 as follows. Relief granted to small businesses has increased since SBRR was introducedfrom 202 million in 2005-06 to 298 million in 2008-09. This represents a real terms rise of 34 per cent. Furthermore, in 2008-09, 92 per cent. of the total relief available was claimedsee table as follows. This statistical release is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ statistics/sbrrfeb2010
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Mr. Ian Austin: The number of registered social landlord sales to the private sector in England for the last five years are published by the Tenant Services Authority.
2004-05 Disposals to the private sector Other disposals Total 3,157 2005-06 2,734 2006-07 3,257 2007-08 1,722 2008-09 1,457
House. As the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was established on 1 December 2008, the figures for the HCA cover only 1 December 2008 to 31 March 2009. Further to my earlier answer referred to above, a small number of additional suppliers to the Standards Board have been identified and these have been included in the new list. Tenancy Deposit Schemes Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints his Department has received on MyDeposits.co.uk in each year since its inception.
[325059]
2,399 5,556
1,202 3,936
1,235 4,492
1,067 2,789
950 2,407
Part K, lines 20 to 24 (2006-07 to 2008-09) Part K, lines 17 to 21 (2005-06) Part K, lines 18 to 22 (2004-05) Notes: 1. Units: self-contained and shared bedspaces combined. 2. From 2005-06, RSLs that completed the short form were not required to complete this Part K. 3. From 2006-07, short returns were completed by RSLs who own and/or manage 999 units or less (previously this threshold was less than 250 units). 4. Figures may not add up due to rounding. 5. As disposals are in the long form only, this has been re-calculated for 2005-06 to reflect the threshold change in 2006-07. Source: Regulatory and Statistical Returns by Registered Social Landlords reported to the Tenant Services Authority.
As RSLs operate across regional boundaries and the data are reported as totals by each RSL, it is not possible to provide reliable estimates for London only. It should be noted that a large (but unquantifiable) proportion of disposals on the open market are of dwellings built specifically for outright sale, the proceeds of which support the social housing programme. Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of households in London who are (a) social tenants and (b) on housing waiting lists have household incomes above (i) 30,000, (ii) 40,000 (iii) 50,000 and [325299] (iv) 60,000. Mr. Ian Austin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Social Rented Housing: Greater London Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing nominations have been made by each London local authority in each London sub-regional partnership since the inception of such partnerships.
[325277]
Mr. Ian Austin: The Department has no role in dealing with complaints about the tenancy deposit protection scheme providers. Complaints about the handling of tenancy deposit protection cases are dealt with by the three scheme providers through their own formal complaints procedures. Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the operation of the Housing Act 2004 in respect of the regulation of licensed deposit-takers for the purpose of protecting tenants deposits, with particular reference [325060] to MyDeposits.co.uk. Mr. Ian Austin: As with any new legislation, we are monitoring the implementation of the tenancy deposit protection provisions in the Housing Act 2004. However, we have no plans to make any amendments to the legislation at present. Travelling People: Caravan Sites Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 720W, on travelling people: caravan sites, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Inspectors [323147] Handbook. Mr. Malik: A final copy of the Inspectors Handbook chapter relating to Gypsy and Traveller Appeals will be placed in the Library of the House when it is published. Warm Front Scheme Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to provide funding to local authorities for the purpose of assisting them to meet the new Warm Homes standard; what methodology will be used to assess compliance with that standard; and what timetable he has set for that standard to be [323987] met. John Healey: Warm Homes, Greener Homes: A Strategy for Household Energy Management explains that the delivery of the new Warm Homes standard will be supported by a new energy company obligation and the Renewable Heat Incentive. It also explains how the Department will now work with the social housing
John Healey: This information is not held by my Department. Standards Board for England: Procurement Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 778W, on the Standards Board for England: procurement, how much was spent on contracts with each supplier of the (a) Standards Board for England and (b) Homes and Communities Agency in 2008-09.
[324004]
John Healey: A new list for both bodies, now also showing how much was spent with each supplier in 2008-09, has been deposited in the Library of the
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(a) Granted/granted in part
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sector to develop the detail of the standard, the timing of its delivery, and the methodology for assessing how and when it will be met. Wind Power: Planning Permission Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for which wind farms planning permission was (a) granted and (b) refused at appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years; and for what reasons in each case.
[325283]
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
(b) Refused 0 7 5 9 0
3 1 2 9 22
Mr. Ian Austin: There were a total of 67 appeals, relating to more than one wind turbine, decided between 2005 and 2009. The outcomes for these cases are shown in the table.
The reasons for the outcome in each case were different, as each case was considered on its individual merits. The reasons are shown on the individual decisions. Copies of 56 of the appeal decisions have today been placed in the Library of the House. The files and formal appeal decisions for the remaining 11 cases are no longer held by the Planning Inspectorate.
7MC
30 MARCH 2010
8MC
Number Low 85,600 85,600 85,600 86,000 84,100
High Medium 86,700 86,900 86,900 87,300 85,600
JUSTICE Prisoners Release Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the size of the prison population in each month up to the end of 2015 following ending of the End of Custody Licence [320059] Scheme. [Official Report, 8 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 94-96W.] Letter of correction from Mr. Jack Straw: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 8 March 2010. The error occurred in the figures given for the period December 2012 to June 2015 relating to the high projection. The correct answer should have been; Mr. Straw: The Ministry of Justice produces annual projections of the prison population in England and Wales, most recently in August 2009. These project the prison population under three different scenarios, based on different assumptions about future sentencing trends. Other impacts included in the projections, such as those of legislation and processes, are applied equally to all scenarios. These cover the anticipated impacts of policy and process initiatives that have agreed implementation timetables. These assumptions and anticipated impacts have remained unchanged since 2008 projections. End of Custody Licence (ECL) was introduced on 29 June 2007. Under this scheme a prisoner who was given a determinate custodial sentence between four weeks and four years can be released on licence up to 18 days before the end of their sentence. Because there was no agreed timetable for its conclusion, its effect was included throughout the projection period. In the second half of 2009, the caseload of prisoners on ECL has been between 1,000 and 1,200:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/ endofcustodylicence.htm
August September October November December 2011 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2012 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2013 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2014 January February March April May June July August September October November
87,600 87,900 88,000 88,500 86,800
87,700 88,000 89,000 88,900 89,200 89,800 90,400 90,400 90,500 90,600 90,800 88,600
86,400 86,600 87,600 87,300 87,500 88,100 88,600 88,500 88,600 88,600 88,700 86,400
84,800 84,900 85,800 85,500 85,600 86,100 86,500 86,400 86,400 86,400 86,400 84,000
89,700 90,600 90,800 90,900 91,200 91,400 91,900 91,800 91,900 91,900 92,000 89,700
87,500 88,300 88,500 88,500 88,700 88,900 89,200 89,100 89,100 89,100 89,000 86,700
85,000 85,800 85,900 85,800 85,900 86,100 86,300 86,100 86,000 86,000 85,900 83,400
The scheme ends on 12 March this year as it was recently announced. As result of this, it is expected that by the end of March 2010, the prison population will be 1,000 to 1,200 higher than was anticipated in the current published prison population projections. This effect will carry on from March 2010 estimates onwards. Here are last years projections plus 1,200:
High 2010 March April May June July 86,000 86,200 86,200 86,900 87,800 85,400 85,600 85,500 86,100 86,900 84,700 84,800 84,600 85,100 85,900 Medium Number Low
90,700 91,600 91,800 91,800 92,100 92,300 92,700 92,600 92,700 92,700 92,800 90,600
87,700 88,500 88,600 88,500 88,700 88,800 89,200 89,000 89,000 89,000 89,000 86,700
84,300 85,100 85,100 85,000 85,100 85,200 85,400 85,200 85,100 85,000 85,000 82,600
91,700 92,600 92,900 93,000 93,200 93,600 94,000 94,000 94,100 94,200 94,400
87,700 88,600 88,800 88,800 89,000 89,200 89,600 89,500 89,600 89,600 89,700
83,500 84,300 84,500 84,400 84,500 84,700 85,000 84,800 84,800 84,800 84,800
9MC
30 MARCH 2010
10MC
High December 2015 92,100
Medium 87,400
Number Low 82,400
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of installing the Human Resources Information System (Oracle) in his Department has been to date. [320812] Mr. Sutcliffe: Since October 2008, the cost of installing the Oracle Human Resources Information System in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been 544,563.26. The correct answer should have been: Mr. Sutcliffe: Since October 2008, the cost of installing the Oracle Human Resources Information System in the Department for Culture Media and Sport has been 558,650.45. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on external consultants in respect of the Human Resources Information System (Oracle) to [320813] date. [Official Report, 9 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 174W.] Letter of correction from Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Dr. McDonnell) on 9 March 2010. The full answer given was as follows: John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on external consultants in respect of the Human Resources Information System (Oracle) to [320813] date. Mr. Sutcliffe: Since October 2008, my Department has spent 294,849.19 on external consultants in respect of the Human Resources Information Systems (Oracle). The correct answer should have been: Mr. Sutcliffe: Since October 2008, my Department has spent 308,936.38 on external consultants in respect of the Human Resources Information Systems (Oracle).
January 93,200 88,400 83,400 February 94,200 89,300 84,200 March 94,500 89,500 84,300 April 94,600 89,500 84,300 May 94,800 89,700 84,400 June 95,100 89,900 84,500 Note: These figures will be revised in this year (2010) publication.
These figures will be revised in this years (2010) publication. More details on the projections may be found in the latest published bulletin, Prison Population Projections 2009-2015Ministry of Justice Statistics Bulletin, 28 August 2009. This is available at the following webpage:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm
also available the statement made by the Secretary of State for Justice on the subject of the release of prisoners under the early release scheme at:
House of Commons Hansard Debates for 22 Feb 2010 Vol. 506 c.27
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Departmental Databases John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of installing the Human Resources Information System (Oracle) in [320812] his Department has been to date. [Official Report, 9 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 174W.] Letter of correction from Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Dr. McDonnell) on 9 March 2010. The full answer given was as follows:
ORAL ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
HEALTH........................................................................ Administrative Tasks (Nurses).................................... Cancer Survival Statistics ........................................... Carers Strategy ........................................................... Community Health Services (Worcestershire) ............. Confidential Settlements............................................. End-of-life Care Strategy ............................................ Expenditure Changes.................................................. Maternity Services ......................................................
617 627 628 624 630 629 622 625 619
HEALTHcontinued
Medicines (Parallel Exports)....................................... Mid Essex Hospital Trust ........................................... Musculoskeletal Diseases............................................ National Dementia Strategy ....................................... NHS Staff (Assaults).................................................. Paediatric Cardiac Surgery ......................................... Topical Questions ....................................................... Trained First-aiders .................................................... 618 622 621 630 617 629 632 627

Col. No. Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS .................. 89WS National Measurement Office (Performance Targets) .................................................................. 89WS CABINET OFFICE ........................................................ 90WS Mutuals ...................................................................... 90WS CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES .................. 90WS Safeguarding Children ................................................ 90WS School Teachers Review Body Recommendations ...... 91WS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ....... Park Home Site Licensing Provisions ......................... Petitions Duty............................................................. Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Local Spending Reports)....................................... 93WS 94WS 93WS 95WS
HOME DEPARTMENTcontinued
Visa Waiver Test ......................................................... 108WS HOME DEPARTMENT................................................ 105WS Police Pensions ........................................................... 105WS Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme............................................................. 106WS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ......................... 109WS High-level Meeting on HIV (East and Southern Africa).................................................................... 109WS World Bank ................................................................ 110WS JUSTICE ........................................................................ Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses ................... Freedom of Information Act (Designation of Public Authorities) ............................................................ Funding of Political Parties (Inter-Party Talks).......... Her Majestys Land Registry (Key Performance Indicators and Targets)........................................... Probation Trusts ......................................................... Public Inquiry............................................................. Rights, Responsibilities and Values............................. TRANSPORT ................................................................ Highways Agency (Business Plan Target) ................... Local Transport Act 2008 (Quality Contracts Schemes) ................................................................ Motoring and Freight Services (Ministerial Targets) .. Severe Winter Weather (Lessons Learned) .................. 110WS 112WS 110WS 113WS 112WS 113WS 114WS 114WS 115WS 115WS 116WS 118WS 116WS
DEFENCE ...................................................................... 95WS Armed Forces Compensation Scheme ........................ 95WS Government Profit Formula ....................................... 97WS ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS ..... Adapting to Coastal Change ...................................... Departmental Expenditure Limits (Budget Control Totals).......................................... Rural Payments Agency (Performance Targets 2010-11) ................................................................. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .......... Consular Fees Order 2010 .......................................... General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Councils............. Western European Union (British Membership)......... 98WS 98WS 98WS 99WS 99WS 99WS 100WS 103WS
TREASURY ................................................................... 89WS Buying Solutions (Targets for 2010-11)....................... 89WS Finance Bill 2010 ........................................................ 90WS WORK AND PENSIONS .............................................. Executive Agencies and Crown Non-departmental Public Bodies.......................................................... Fatal Construction Accidents ..................................... Social Fund Allocations ............................................. 120WS 120WS 121WS 122WS
HEALTH........................................................................ 104WS Building the National Care Service............................. 104WS HOME DEPARTMENT ............................................... 107WS Cyber Crime Strategy ................................................. 107WS
PETITIONS
Col. No. Col. No.
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES .................. Free School Meals (Stoke-on-Trent) ........................... COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ....... Planning (Elvaston Castle Country Park) ...................
21P 21P 22P 22P
PRESENTED PETITION.............................................. Equitable Life (Birmingham, Northfield)................... HEALTH........................................................................ Dementia Research.....................................................
21P 21P 23P 23P
Col. No.
Col. No.
HEALTHcontinued
Spinal Cord Injuries (Physiotherapy).......................... HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION .................. Bellamys Bar Closure ................................................ 24P 25P 25P
TRANSPORT ................................................................ Night Buses (New Addington, Croydon) .................... Traffic Accidents (Addiscombe, Croydon) .................. Traffic Accidents (Coombe Lane, Croydon) ............... Tram Overcrowding (Croydon) ...................................
26P 26P 26P 27P 28P
WRITTEN ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS .................. Advantage West Midlands .......................................... Apprentices: Cambridgeshire...................................... Bankruptcy................................................................. Business: Government Assistance ............................... Business Link Birmingham......................................... Business: Southend-on-Sea ......................................... Career Development Loans ........................................ Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Pay....................................................... Departmental Rail Travel ........................................... Departmental Senior Civil Servants............................ Enterprise Europe Networks ...................................... Housing: Conferences................................................. Learning Disability ..................................................... Manufacturing Industries ........................................... North West Development Agency: Visits Abroad....... One North East: Public Relations............................... Regional Planning and Development: Finance ........... Research Councils: Finance ........................................ Space Technology: Finance......................................... Students: Disabled ...................................................... Tractors: Government Assistance ............................... Trade Unions.............................................................. CABINET OFFICE ........................................................ Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Freedom of Information...................... Departmental Marketing ............................................ Departmental Waste ................................................... Government Communications.................................... Government Departments: Training ........................... Iraq Committee of Inquiry ......................................... Job Creation: Coventry............................................... Lobbying .................................................................... Newspaper Licensing Agency ..................................... VAT: North West ........................................................ CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES .................. Building Schools for the Future Programme: Berkshire ................................................................ Childrens Centres: South East.................................... Childrens Centres: Torbay.......................................... Departmental Publications ......................................... Departmental Telephone Services............................... Departmental Travel ................................................... Education Maintenance Allowance: York................... Education: West Midlands.......................................... GCE A-level: Disadvantaged...................................... GCSE ......................................................................... GCSE: Disadvantaged................................................ Languages: Curriculum .............................................. Languages: GCSE ...................................................... Mathematics: GCE A-Level ....................................... National Safeguarding Delivery Unit ......................... Primary Schools: Finance ........................................... Schools: Consultants .................................................. Schools: Internet......................................................... Science: GCE A-level.................................................. Science: GCSE............................................................
1018W 1018W 1018W 1018W 1019W 1019W 1022W 1022W 1023W 1024W 1024W 1024W 1026W 1027W 1027W 1027W 1029W 1029W 1030W 1030W 1030W 1031W 1032W 1032W 1033W 1033W 890W 890W 890W 890W 891W 891W 891W 891W 892W 892W 892W 892W 970W 970W 971W 971W 971W 972W 973W 973W 974W 975W 976W 979W 979W 980W 981W 982W 982W 983W 983W 984W 985W
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIEScontinued

Support for All: The Families and Relationships ........ Sure Start Programme ................................................ Teachers: Armed Forces ............................................. Teachers: Literacy and Numeracy .............................. Teachers: North West ................................................. Truancy ...................................................................... Young People: Unemployment ................................... COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ....... Affordable Housing .................................................... Affordable Housing: Finance...................................... Affordable Housing: Greater London......................... Affordable Housing: Sustainable Development .......... Allotments .................................................................. Council Housing......................................................... Council Housing: Greater London ............................. Council Housing: Property Transfer ........................... Council Tax ................................................................ Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Contracts ............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Furniture ............................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Public Expenditure .............................. Fire Services: Emergency Calls ................................... Fire Services: Finance................................................. Fire Services: Greater London.................................... Fire Services: Risk Assessment ................................... Fires: Hoaxes and False Alarms ................................. Home Information Packs ........................................... Homelessness: Reading Berkshire............................... Homes and Communities Agency: Hotels .................. Homes and Communities Agency: Travel ................... Housing ...................................................................... Housing: Asbestos ...................................................... Housing: Asylum........................................................ Housing: Capital Investment ...................................... Housing: Conferences................................................. Housing: Construction ............................................... Housing: Olympic Games 2012 .................................. Housing: Standards .................................................... Kent............................................................................ Leasehold Valuation Tribunal..................................... Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme: Cheshire ................................................................. Local Government Finance: Northampton ................ Local Government: War Memorials ........................... Local Housing Allowance........................................... Low Incomes .............................................................. Members: Correspondence ......................................... Mortgages: Government Assistance ........................... Non-domestic Rates: Licensed Premises ..................... Non-domestic Rates: Ports ......................................... Non-domestic Rates: Valuation .................................. Non-domestic Rates: York.......................................... Parallel Place Reviews................................................. Repossession Orders: West Midlands.......................... Social Rented Housing ............................................... Social Rented Housing: Greater London.................... Standards Board for England: Procurement ............... Tenancy Deposit Schemes........................................... 985W 986W 991W 991W 992W 992W 993W 1106W 1106W 1106W 1111W 1112W 1113W 1113W 1113W 1114W 1114W 1114W 1115W 1115W 1115W 1115W 1116W 1117W 1117W 1119W 1120W 1120W 1121W 1121W 1121W 1122W 1122W 1123W 1123W 1124W 1124W 1125W 1126W 1127W 1128W 1131W 1134W 1135W 1135W 1135W 1136W 1137W 1137W 1137W 1137W 1138W 1139W 1140W 1140W 1140W 1141W 1141W 1142W
Col. No.
Col. No.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT continued

Travelling People: Caravan Sites ................................. 1142W Warm Front Scheme................................................... 1142W Wind Power: Planning Permission .............................. 1143W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ............................... BBC............................................................................ Cricket: Broadcasting ................................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Official Hospitality .............................. Hotels ......................................................................... Newspaper Licensing Agency ..................................... Royal Parks Agency.................................................... Sports: Training .......................................................... Swimming: Birmingham ............................................. Swimming: Training ................................................... DEFENCE ...................................................................... Armed Forces: Health Services ................................... Armed Forces: Housing.............................................. Armed Forces: Lost Property ..................................... Armed Forces: Merseyside.......................................... Armed Forces: Rescue Services................................... Armed Forces: Training .............................................. Cluster Munitions....................................................... Defence Academy ....................................................... Defence: Expenditure ................................................. Defence: Finance ........................................................ Departmental Official Hospitality .............................. Departmental Public Expenditure .............................. Future Large Aircraft ................................................. HMS Vanguard: Accidents ......................................... Land Mines: Bomb Disposal ...................................... Lionel Crabb............................................................... RAF Menwith Hill ..................................................... Territorial Army: Pay ................................................. United States Africa Command.................................. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE .......................... Biofuels....................................................................... Biofuels: Carbon Emissions........................................ Carbon Emissions....................................................... Carbon Sequestration ................................................. Climate Change: Costs ............................................... Climate Change: International Cooperation............... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Legal Costs .......................................... Departmental Manpower ........................................... Departmental Official Hospitality .............................. Departmental Written Questions ................................ Energy ........................................................................ Energy: Billing ............................................................ Energy: Buildings ....................................................... Energy: Conservation ................................................. Energy: Prices ............................................................. Energy Supply ............................................................ Environment Protection: Job Creation........................ Natural Gas: Storage .................................................. Power Stations: Carbon Emissions ............................. Renewable Energy....................................................... Sellafield ..................................................................... Wind Power ................................................................ ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS ..... Badgers: Crime ........................................................... Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental: Location ............................................. Departmental Lost Property....................................... Departmental Marketing ............................................ Departmental Public Consultation ............................. Departmental Sick Leave............................................ Departmental Travel ................................................... Dogs: Animal Breeding .............................................. 854W 854W 855W 855W 855W 856W 856W 856W 856W 857W 857W 860W 860W 861W 862W 862W 862W 866W 870W 871W 871W 871W 871W 872W 872W 872W 873W 873W 873W 873W 874W 1003W 1003W 1003W 1003W 1004W 1004W 1005W 1006W 1006W 1007W 1007W 1007W 1007W 1008W 1009W 1010W 1009W 1015W 1009W 1015W 1016W 1016W 1016W 1017W 1017W 882W 882W 883W 882W 883W 884W 884W 884W 885W 885W
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS continued

Flood Control: Finance .............................................. Heathrow Airport: Exhaust Emissions ....................... Japanese Knotweed: Weed Control............................. Members: Correspondence ......................................... Nature Conservation .................................................. Peat: Compost ............................................................ Pet Travel Scheme ....................................................... Rural Payments Agency: Telephone Services .............. Sewers......................................................................... Waste and Resources Action Programme ................... Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges.............................. Water Charges: Housing ............................................. Zoos: Standards.......................................................... FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .......... Colombia: Human Rights .......................................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Furniture ............................................. Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Marketing ............................................ Departmental Public Expenditure .............................. Departmental Telephone Services............................... Departmental Temporary Employment ...................... Georgia: Politics and Government.............................. Government Communications Headquarters ............. Intelligence and Security Committee .......................... Marine Resources and Fisheries Consultants: Contracts................................................................ Middle East: Armed Conflict ..................................... Middle East: Peace Negotiations ................................ Morocco: Fishery Agreements.................................... Morocco: Political Prisoners....................................... Sudan: Politics and Government................................. Tibet ........................................................................... Western Sahara: Fisheries........................................... World War II: Anniversaries ....................................... HEALTH........................................................................ Accident and Emergency Departments....................... Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards ..... Alternative Medicine .................................................. Arthritis: Health Education ........................................ Arthritis: Health Services............................................ Cancer Treatment: NICE............................................ Carers Allowance ....................................................... Cervical Cancer: Health Education ............................ Construction: Health Hazards.................................... Contraceptives............................................................ Dementia .................................................................... Departmental Food .................................................... Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Temporary Employment ...................... Diabetes...................................................................... Diabetes: Health Services............................................ Diabetes: Nurses......................................................... Drugs: Rehabilitation ................................................. Genito-Urinary Medicine ........................................... Health Services: Finance............................................. Health Services: Merseyside ....................................... Health Services: Yorkshire and the Humber ............... Heart Diseases: Health Services.................................. Injuries: Dogs ............................................................. Life Expectancy: York ................................................ Mental Health Services: Prescriptions ........................ Mentally Disturbed Offenders: Homicide................... National Care Service ................................................. NHS: Croydon............................................................ NHS IT Programme................................................... NHS: Medical Treatments .......................................... Pharmacy ................................................................... Prescriptions: Fees and Charges ................................. Smoking ..................................................................... 886W 886W 887W 887W 887W 888W 888W 888W 889W 889W 889W 889W 889W 993W 993W 994W 994W 995W 995W 995W 996W 996W 996W 997W 999W 999W 999W 999W 1000W 1000W 1000W 1001W 1001W 1002W 1002W 893W 894W 895W 894W 895W 896W 894W 897W 897W 898W 898W 899W 899W 900W 900W 901W 901W 901W 902W 902W 903W 903W 904W 904W 906W 894W 905W 906W 893W 893W 893W 907W 907W 907W 909W
Col. No.
Col. No.
HEALTHcontinued
Snow and Ice .............................................................. Violence Against Women and Children ...................... HOME DEPARTMENT................................................ Alcoholic Drinks: North West .................................... Alcoholic Drinks: Young Offenders............................ Antisocial Behaviour Orders....................................... Asylum ....................................................................... Counter-terrorism....................................................... Crime: Nature Conservation....................................... Crime: South Yorkshire .............................................. Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Training ............................................... Designated Public Places Orders................................. DNA: Databases......................................................... Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal................................ Entry Clearances ........................................................ Entry Clearances: Domestic Service ........................... European Prosecutors Office...................................... Extremist Websites...................................................... Human Trafficking ..................................................... Human Trafficking: Prosecutions ............................... Identity Cards............................................................. Police: Bureaucracy .................................................... Police: Manpower ....................................................... Prisoner Escapes ......................................................... Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Benefit Fraud . HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION .................. Catering: Subsidies ..................................................... Departmental Energy ................................................. Nurseries .................................................................... INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ......................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Marketing ............................................ Departmental Public Expenditure .............................. JUSTICE ........................................................................ Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties......................... Approved Premises: Prisons........................................ Burial.......................................................................... Convictions................................................................. Convictions: Badgers .................................................. Convictions: Hunting Act 2004 .................................. Crime Prevention: Females ......................................... Custodial Treatment: Females .................................... Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: North West...................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Marketing ............................................ Electoral Systems........................................................ Employment Tribunals Service: Rules of Procedure ... Funerals: Local Authorities ........................................ General Election 2010: Isle of Wight .......................... HM Courts Service: Debt Collection .......................... House of Lords: Reform............................................. Housing: Sales ............................................................ Human Trafficking: Convictions ................................ Land Registry ............................................................. Legal Aid: Gurkhas .................................................... Local Inmate Data System IT system ......................... Ministerial Policy Advisers ......................................... National Offender Management Service: Manpower.. Polling Stations........................................................... Prison Service: Pensions ............................................. Prison Service: Uniforms ............................................ Prisoners..................................................................... Prisons........................................................................ Prisons: Mobile Phones .............................................. Prisons: Mother and Baby Units ................................ Property: Sales............................................................ 909W 894W 910W 910W 911W 927W 927W 928W 930W 930W 931W 932W 932W 932W 933W 933W 933W 933W 934W 935W 935W 935W 935W 937W 938W 938W 857W 857W 858W 858W 1002W 1002W 1002W 1002W 1049W 1051W 1052W 1056W 1057W 1071W 1056W 1073W 1074W 1074W 1075W 1075W 1076W 1076W 1077W 1079W 1080W 1080W 1080W 1080W 1081W 1081W 1082W 1049W 1082W 1083W 1050W 1084W 1085W 1085W 1085W 1086W 1086W 1086W 1099W 1099W
JUSTICEcontinued
Public Expenditure ..................................................... Television: Licensing................................................... Wills ........................................................................... Young Offender Institutions ....................................... Youth Custody............................................................ Youth Justice Board: Crime Prevention ...................... Youth Justice Board: Custodial Places........................ Youth Offending Teams: Youth Justice Board ............ LEADER OF THE HOUSE .......................................... Petitions...................................................................... NORTHERN IRELAND ............................................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. PRIME MINISTER ....................................................... Lord Chancellor: Pensions.......................................... Unite .......................................................................... SCOTLAND .................................................................. Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Marketing ............................................ SOLICITOR-GENERAL ............................................... Fraud: Prosecutions.................................................... TRANSPORT ................................................................ Automatic Number Plate Recognition ........................ Aviation: Security ....................................................... Cycling: Accidents ...................................................... Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Official Hospitality .............................. Departmental Senior Civil Servants............................ East Coast Railway Line............................................. Network Rail: Industrial Disputes .............................. Network Rail: Manpower ........................................... Railways: Accidents .................................................... Railways: Bus Services ................................................ Railways: Chesham..................................................... Railways: Construction............................................... Roads: Accidents ........................................................ Roads: Repairs and Maintenance ............................... Rolling Stock .............................................................. Waterloo Station......................................................... TREASURY ................................................................... Air Passenger Duty..................................................... Banks: Finance ........................................................... Banks: Loans.............................................................. Banks: York................................................................ Business: Birmingham ................................................ Cheques ...................................................................... Council Tax: Valuation ............................................... Credit Unions ............................................................. Departmental Advertising .......................................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Furniture ............................................. Departmental Information Officers ............................ Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Manpower ........................................... Departmental Official Hospitality .............................. Departmental Surveys ................................................ Departmental Temporary Employment ...................... Hamas ........................................................................ Hotels ......................................................................... Housing: Valuation..................................................... Islamic National Bank: Palestinians ........................... Minimum Wage: North West ...................................... Money Laundering ..................................................... Non-domestic Rates: Ports ......................................... Opposition.................................................................. PAYE: Belfast ............................................................. 1100W 1102W 1101W 1101W 1102W 1105W 1105W 1105W 859W 859W 854W 854W 854W 854W 854W 859W 859W 859W 860W 860W 860W 874W 874W 875W 875W 876W 876W 876W 877W 877W 877W 878W 879W 879W 879W 880W 880W 880W 881W 1034W 1034W 1034W 1035W 1035W 1036W 1036W 1036W 1037W 1037W 1037W 1038W 1038W 1038W 1039W 1039W 1040W 1040W 1040W 1041W 1041W 1041W 1042W 1042W 1042W 1043W 1044W 1045W
Col. No.
Col. No.
TREASURYcontinued
Poverty ....................................................................... Revenue and Customs: Data Protection...................... Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection...................... Stamp Duty Land Tax ................................................ Taxation: Highland Airways ....................................... Taxation: Holiday Accommodation............................ Taxation: Personal Records ........................................ Taxation: Self-assessment ........................................... Taxation: Self-assessment and PAYE .......................... Valuation Office Agency: Contracts............................ VAT: Churches............................................................ Welfare Tax Credits .................................................... WALES .......................................................................... Departmental Buildings.............................................. Departmental Energy ................................................. Departmental Internet................................................ WOMEN AND EQUALITY .......................................... Departmental Food .................................................... Equality Bill................................................................ Hotels ......................................................................... WORK AND PENSIONS .............................................. Children: Maintenance ............................................... Council Tax Benefits................................................... Council Tax Benefits and Housing Benefit ................. Departmental Accountancy........................................ Departmental Contracts ............................................. Departmental Data Protection ................................... Departmental Information Officers ............................ 1045W 1045W 1046W 1046W 1046W 1047W 1047W 1047W 1047W 1048W 1049W 1049W 858W 858W 858W 858W 853W 853W 853W 853W 939W 939W 941W 941W 944W 944W 944W 945W
WORK AND PENSIONScontinued

Departmental Internet................................................ Departmental Senior Civil Servants............................ Employment Schemes: Young People ......................... Foreign Workers ......................................................... Funeral Payments ....................................................... Future Jobs Fund ....................................................... Hewlett Packard ......................................................... Housing Benefit: Cambridgeshire ............................... Industrial Diseases: Compensation............................. Jobcentre Plus............................................................. Jobcentre Plus: Recruitment ....................................... Jobseekers Allowance................................................. Jobseekers Allowance: East of England ..................... Means-tested Benefits................................................. Mortgages: Government Assistance ........................... New Deal Schemes ..................................................... New Deal Schemes: Chesterfield................................. New Deal Schemes: Expenditure ................................ Opposition.................................................................. Pensioners: Poverty..................................................... Personal Income ......................................................... Poverty: Children........................................................ Poverty: Ethnic Groups .............................................. Social Security Benefits............................................... Social Security Benefits: Cambridgeshire.................... Social Security Benefits: Disabled............................... Unemployment Benefits ............................................. Welfare to Work: Standards........................................ Winter Fuel Payments: Cambridgeshire...................... Written Questions: Government Responses ................ Young People: Birmingham ........................................ 945W 946W 946W 947W 947W 948W 948W 949W 949W 950W 950W 951W 951W 951W 953W 955W 956W 957W 959W 959W 960W 961W 962W 963W 964W 964W 967W 968W 968W 969W 970W
MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS
Col. No. Col. No.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ............................... Departmental Databases ............................................
9MC 9MC
JUSTICE ........................................................................ Prisoners Release........................................................
7MC 7MC
Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editors Room, House of Commons, not later than Tuesday 6 April 2010
Volume 508 No. 66
CONTENTS
Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 617] [see index inside back page]
Secretary of State for Health

Drug Classification [Col. 639]
Answer to urgent question(Mr. Hanson)

Tax and Financial Transparency [Col. 648]
Bill presented, and read the First time

Control of Dogs [Col. 649]
Motion for leave to introduce Bill(Martin Linton)agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation [Col. 652]
Fourth days debate Resolutions agreed to

Personal Care at Home Bill [Col. 777]
Lords amendments considered

Children and Young Persons [Col. 782]
Motion(Mark Tami); Division deferred till Wednesday 7 April

EU Strategy on Jobs and Growth [Col. 783]
Motion(Mark Tami); Division deferred till Wednesday 7 April

Petitions [Col. 784] Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund [Col. 791]
Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall
Speakers Conference [Col. 159WH] High Speed Rail (Government Policy) [Col. 181WH] Early Intervention [Col. 203WH] UK Chemical Industry [Col. 210WH] Motorways and Trunk Roads (Litter) [Col. 218WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment
Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 89WS] Petitions [Col. 21P]
Observations
Written Answers to Questions [Col. 853W] [see index inside back page] Ministerial Corrections [Col. 7MC]
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Volume 508 No. 67
HOUSE OF COMMONS
OFFICIAL REPORT
(HANSARD)
500
797
6 APRIL 2010
798
House of Commons
Tuesday 6 April 2010 The House met at half-past Two oclock PRAYERS [MR. SPEAKER in the Chair]
David Miliband: I am sorry that this will be the last occasion on which my hon. Friend asks a question in this House; she has raised a very important point. On education, one can point to a qualitative shift. There are now, after all, about 6 million to 7 million children in school in Afghanistan, nearly half of them girls, which is a complete revolution in comparison with a decade ago. In other areas, however, as we heard from the civil society representatives at the London conference, progress has been much slower, including in areas such as political representation and health care, which my hon. Friend mentioned. Mr. William Hague (Richmond, Yorks) (Con): Amidst all the debates that we will have in the coming election campaign, should we not all remember that throughout every hour of it we have 10,000 British servicemen and women in real battles in Afghanistan and that their role must be a paramount concern for whoever is elected on 6 May? Is it not true that the military advances made on the ground will be of long-term benefit only if the Afghan political processes also succeed and are seen to be legitimate? When the Prime Minister announced UK strategy for Afghanistan in November last year, he pledged that President Karzai would ensure that all 400 Afghan provinces and districts had a governor free from corruption and appointed on merit within nine monthsby August this year. Is the Foreign Secretary confident that such benchmarks will still be met? David Miliband: Perhaps you will allow me, Mr. Speaker, to say that I thought it completely appropriate for the Prime Minister when he spoke in Downing street this morningand for the Leader of the Opposition when he made his response and for the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who I think took time out from the hurly-burly and political battles that the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) mentionedto say that this election campaign provides a chance not to forget what is going on in Afghanistan, but to discuss with and engage the British people on that issue. That is something that Iand, I hope, other right hon. and hon. Members will be keen to do, because this is the time to engage the British people on the sacrifice being made and the purposes behind it. As to President Karzais commitment, I believe that it was in his inaugural speech in the third week of November when he made the commitment to the transfer of security leadership and to extend governance issues in respect of corruption. The Prime Ministers commitment remains. Early signs, over the three or four months since the announcement, have been positive and a number of provinces have had replacement governors who are, I think, an improvement on their predecessors. Mr. Hague: In light of all that, should we not all accept how alarming it is to those who support the efforts of British forces in Afghanistan to read so many reports in recent days of apparent division between President Karzai and western nations? Given that steps to reduce corruption and to improve local government are vital for the counter-insurgency effort, is the Foreign Secretary absolutely confident that relations between this country and the US on the one hand and President Karzai on the other hand are as they should be, and that there is a clear enough mutual understanding of the approach needed to handle the situation in Kandahar, to conduct the elections well in September and to make

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE The Secretary of State was asked Afghanistan 1. Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): Whatassessmenthehasmadeof developmentsinAfghanistan since the London conference of January 2010. [325349] The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): Since the London conference, the Government of Afghanistan have made progress on some of their commitments, including the Afghan Cabinets decision to approve the sub-national governance strategy and President Karzais recent decree boosting the high office of oversights powers to tackle and investigate corruption. In other areas, progress is slowtoo slow. We continue to work with the Afghan authorities to encourage similar progress to be made in those other areas. Andrew Selous: One area of our policy in Afghanistan where, tragically, another British soldier lost his life at the weekendon which I believe the Government have failed very badly is explaining to the public why we are there. Does the Foreign Secretary believe that that is the case and, if so, what is he going to do about it? David Miliband: Every death of a British soldier in Afghanistan is a tragic event, and I think that the hon. Gentlemans attempt to link this to a particular Government decision is unwise and not worthy of him. There is unity across the House that the border lands of Afghanistan and Pakistan are the gravest terrorist threat to this country and that stability in Afghanistan is absolutely essential not only to countering the threat that al-Qaeda might re-establish itself there, but to achieving stability in Pakistan. That is the fundamental reason why we are there, and it is why all three major political parties support our presence there. We all know, however, that there will not be a military solution in Afghanistanthe combined military and civilian effort will create the conditions for a political settlement, which is, after all, the only way to provide stability in that country. Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of developments in Afghanistan regarding the well-being of women and their health, education and ability to work for their families?
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progress on the integration and reconciliation process? Is he happy that all that is as it should be? Is not agreement on such things indispensable to our success in Afghanistan? David Miliband: Agreement on such things is, indeed, indispensible, but verbal agreement is, of course, only one step in the process. I am absolutely confident that since the London conference there has been renewed unity not only between Britain and the United States but across the international coalition about the military and civilian strategy that is needed and the political settlement that can be generated. In respect of the Afghan Government, as I said in Kabul in November, words must be turned into deeds. That is the case both now and in the run-up to the Kabul conference, which is the moment when the international effort generated in London and the Afghan effort mobilised locally by a new Governmentwhose Cabinet has not yet been fully appointed, which points to some of the problems that existwill need to be joined. That will be a very important moment to judge progress and how much confidence we should have. It would be unwise at this stage to say anything other than that we must continue to press very strongly on the agenda that President Karzai set out in November and that we have committed toand we want to see it matched. Finally, if you will allow me, Mr. SpeakerI apologise for talking at such length, but the Afghan issue is so importantthe right hon. Gentleman has referred to comments made at the weekend. It is very important that we say very clearly that any suggestion that Britain, or any other country, has irregularly interfered in the election processes of Afghanistan is completely without foundation. Our troops were there guaranteeing the safety of people seeking to go and vote. I am sure that it is a unified position across this House to have absolutely no truck with such malign suggestions, especially about our troops, but actually about our whole country. Sir Menzies Campbell (North-East Fife) (LD): I associate myself and my hon. and right hon. Friends with the Secretary of States observations about Afghanistan and the debt that we owe to those who serve there, but, in his usual restrained way, he has not, I think, given the House a full and proper account of the Governments response to these extraordinary and bizarre allegations of external interference in the presidential elections. What representations has Her Majestys Government made to President Karzai about these allegations, and if he is to be the centrepiece of political development, how can we have confidence when he makes such remarks? David Miliband: I pleaded with Mr. Speaker to allow me to get in an extra sentence or two in order to address that, and I am sorry if that did not provide the comprehensive answer that the right hon. and learned Gentleman wanted. The Prime Minister spoke to President Karzai on Sunday, when he made absolutely clear our position in respect of these allegations. President Karzai did not repeat the allegations; in fact, he committed himself to working with the United Kingdom, but as I said in respect of an earlier question, it is important to turn those assurances into deeds. President Karzai is the elected leader of Afghanistanhe is the choice of the Afghan people. He certainly got more votes than any other candidate in the election, and it is by virtue of that election that he is our partner in securing our interests in that country.
2. Mr. Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): What his policy is on the future of the European [325350] Security and Defence Assembly. The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): Following the lead we in the UK gave last week, as laid out in my written ministerial statement, all 10 member states have agreed to close the Western European Union. We believe that future arrangements for inter-parliamentary dialogue should reflect the intergovernmental nature of European security and defence policy, should involve all EU and non-EU European allies and should be cost-effective for the British taxpayer. Mr. Chope: I thank the Minister for that response, but is he not closing down one organisation without clearly setting out the arrangements that he wishes to put in place for the proper scrutiny of international defence issues? Chris Bryant: That was not a unilateral decision, although the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that Britain took the lead. Many countries said that they wanted further action and that the architecture for examining common security and defence policy in Europe was no longer sufficient, but they did not want to do anything about it. We took the courageous step of saying that we wanted to withdraw. We now have a year during which we can negotiate precisely what the future structure should look like. I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman and others who have sat on the Assembly, but it was costing us some 2.3 million a year, and we believe that that money could be better spent elsewhere. Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab): Whether it is the WEU or the Council of Europe, is the Minister satisfied that we increasingly only have structures that serve those countries which are member states of the EU and that therefore marginalise those countries which are not? I think that that will do us long-term damage. Chris Bryant: The complexity of the WEU was that it had so many different categories of membership. There were the 10 core member countries, but all 27 members of the EU were allied, and then there were other countries, such as NATO allies, who took on observer status. That is why we believe that now is the right time to put together a more appropriate structure, so that the Parliaments around Europe, including our allies such as Turkeyone of the countries which my hon. Friend may have been alluding tocan closely scrutinise the common foreign, defence and security policy that has developed across the whole of Europe. Mr. Mark Francois (Rayleigh) (Con): The Minister pointed out in his written statement of 30 March that the EUs common security and defence policy remains intergovernmental and is thus a matter for national Parliaments. How does he see these arrangements operating in future, and how will he accommodate NATO allies such as Turkey and Norway, which are associate members of the current Assembly but which are not in the EU? How is this actually going to work?
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Chris Bryant: One of the most important things is that we ensure that we have a cost-effective structure. The costs that have been incurred by the WEU Assembly alone for the United Kingdom over the past few years have been phenomenal. We believe, as does every other country among the 10 core members, that it is right to wind up that organisation. We do not believe it would be rightI can probably garner the hon. Gentlemans support for this, at leastfor the European Parliament to take on responsibility for considering this matter. We believe that it is clearly laid down in the Lisbon treaty that that should not be a responsibility for the European Parliament. I look forward to debating some of those issues with him over the next few weeks, since he has already turned down five debates with me on Europe since the beginning of the year. Middle East Peace Process 3. Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) (Lab): What his most recent assessment is of progress in the middle east peace process; and if he will make a [325351] statement. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Ivan Lewis): We welcome the Quartets determination to move swiftly to proximity talks addressing issues of substance. We continue to press both sides to show the courage, commitment and compromise needed to make real progress. The UK remains determined to do everything possible to achieve comprehensive peace in the middle east. Richard Burden: You will know, Mr. Speaker, that although all hon. Members in this place spend most of their time taking up issues at home, issues that arise abroad affect us all. Does my hon. Friend share my concern at the escalating violence in Gaza, and will the UK Government make it clear to the Israeli authorities that we will oppose any repeat of Operation Cast Lead and that no UK arms or equipment should be used in any such operation? Mr. Lewis: My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to our concerns about the escalation of violence over the weekend. We want to see an immediate end to all violence in Gaza. The rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel must stop, and we also urge restraint from the Israelis. More fundamentally, we want to see Israel remove all obstacles to humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza, and we want to see the release of Gilad Shalit. Both steps would be important confidence building measures in support of the peace process. Mr. Paul Keetch (Hereford) (LD): Will the Minister give his most recent assessment of progress in the middle east peace process in relation to the former Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair? Will he give us one concrete thing that Mr. Blair has achieved? Mr. Lewis: I was going to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his contribution to this House over a number of yearsI still dobut I can give more than one example. One of the most important sources of progress in the middle east in recent times has been the improvement in economic development and enhanced
security in the west bank. The former Prime Minister has played a crucial role in making that progress possible alongside President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. Mr. Keetch: Will the Minister tell us how many Foreign Office resources have gone into supporting Mr. Blairs role? How many diplomats and how many security people have been involved? Should not that money have been diverted to the Foreign Office team on the ground? Is not that the best way for British foreign policy money to be spent? Mr. Lewis: The hon. Gentleman should be aware that the former Prime Minister was appointed by the Quartet. He is the Quartets representative in the region, and an appropriate level of resource is deployed by the United Kingdom to support his efforts in that role. I must say to the hon. Gentleman that it is disingenuous to ask questions to which he has already received the answers in writing. Mrs. Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): What role is Iran, with its opposition to Israels very existence, playing in Gaza in escalating violence and supporting Hamas? Mr. Lewis: My hon. Friend is right to raise concerns about the interference of Iran in Gaza and elsewhere in the middle east. There is no doubt that Iran poses a threat not only because of the development of its nuclear weapons but because of its continued support for a variety of terrorist organisations in the middle east that destabilise sovereign states. We need to be clear. If there is to be stability and progress, it is important that we take the role and threat of Iran seriously. Mr. David Lidington (Aylesbury) (Con): First, I agree with both the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) and the Minister about the priority that needs to be given to trying find a peaceful way forward in Gaza at the moment. Does the Minister agree that it would help us in trying to persuade the Israeli authorities to reopen the border crossings if they could be given the assurance that effective measures are in place to stop the smuggling of arms and explosives into the Gaza strip? In that context, can he say why, more than 12 months after our Prime Minister said that he was looking for ways to use British naval resources to stop such smuggling, no action seems to have been taken? Mr. Lewis: UN resolution 1860 makes the importance of stopping smuggling very clear, which is the point that the hon. Gentleman has raised. Surely he is aware of the significant development in relation to Egypt creating a security strategy, which means that there is a serious reduction in the capacity of those who seek to smuggle those weapons, goods and services. As he is aware, that is vital not only for security, but because Hamas collects taxes and benefits from the smuggling of goods and services. Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): Has the Minister seen the article in the 29 March edition of The New Yorker by its editor, David Remnick, who is a staunch supporter of the state of Israel? Mr. Remnick writes:
Without the creation of a viable contiguous Palestinian stateit is impossible to imagine a Jewish and democratic future for Israel.
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When are the Israeli Government going to be persuaded not only that the oppression of Palestinians is wrong in itself, but that it jeopardises the future of the Jewish state? Mr. Lewis: The article to which my right hon. Friend refers is entirely consistent with statements that have recently been made by President Peres of Israel. It is very clear to us that there is urgency in terms of progress in the peace process, which relates to the creation of a viable Palestinian state alongside an Israel that is free from the threat of terrorist attack, the final status issues being dealt with as quickly as possible, borders being consistent with 1967, the status of Jerusalem, refugees and the offer from the Arab League to normalise its relations with Israel. The only recent glimmer of hope has been the Arab League summit at which Arab League leaders expressed their support once again for proximity talks and reiterated their offer, in return for two states, to normalise relations with the state of Israel. Turks and Caicos Islands 4. Mr. Eric Illsley (Barnsley, Central) (Lab): What steps his Department is taking to improve the governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands. [325352] The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The finances and governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands were in a sorry state when we were forced to suspend constitutional Government. We are now working through the Governor on stabilising the public finances, on immigration issues and on issues relating to Crown land. The special investigation and prosecution team is in place and working. Mr. Illsley: The Foreign Affairs Committee has recently been made aware of serious concerns about the special investigation teams current investigation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, namely about the lack of adequate resources to fund the investigation and about the timetable that will lead to the ending of direct rule from the UK as early as 2011, which might not allow for a complete investigation. Will he address those issues? Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to make sure that a full investigation is conducted. That is why I am working very closely with colleagues in the Department for International Development to see whether there is a means of ensuring that the investigation team has the moneys to find out the truth, which is sorely needed in TCI. In that case, the moneys would be returned once assets were sequestered as a result of criminal investigations. We need to return as fast as possible to elections in TCI, because otherwise people will think that this is a return to colonial rule. Afghanistan 5. Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton) (Lab/Co-op): What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the coalition in achieving the UKs foreign policy [325353] objectives in Afghanistan. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): We regularly assess the progress that we are making in Afghanistan to secure our goal of an Afghanistan that can no longer be a haven for
international terrorism. Key indicators include the development of the Afghan national security forces, the delivery of public services and the development of the economy. The London conference reiterated the unity and coherence in the international effort, aligning this behind a clear Afghan plan. Linda Gilroy: I thank my right hon. Friend for that response. Pakistan is very important to the effectiveness of the coalition in these matters. Will he tell the House what ongoing discussions there are with the Pakistan Government to encourage them in what they have been doing to bring security to the border with Afghanistan, so that there is no hiding place for terrorists and insurgents there? David Miliband: My hon. Friend makes a very important point. For the first time, we have complementary pressure on both sides of the Durand line. It is also significant that, for the first time since 1947, there are more Pakistani troops on the Afghan border than on the Indian border. That is a very significant development: Pakistan has taken severe losses, but it has moved its deployments. The meetings held the week before last between the Pakistani Foreign Minister and the leaders of the armed services in Washington were absolutely critical, as they renewed and reformed the US-Pakistan relationship, which is critical to Pakistans role in helping to achieve stability in Afghanistan. Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): I associate the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru with comments already made in support of service personnel on operations. The Pentagons top commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, has said that corruption in the Karzai Government could ruin the coalition strategy in Afghanistan, so does the Secretary of State understand why a growing number of people in the UK are asking why our young men and women are dying every day in support of a Government largely built on graft, cronyism and electoral fraud? David Miliband: I am glad of the hon. Gentlemans commitment to support the troops who are there, which I know is genuine and real. However, by saying what he has, he is recognising that they are there to ensure our own security. The Afghan Government are a partner in achieving that. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that corruption is a cancer at the heart of any society. A society trying to fight a counter-insurgency is doubly cancerous: that is why the London conference placed such emphasis on it, and why we must hold President Karzai to his commitment in his inaugural speech to clamp down on what he called the culture of impunity in respect of corruption. Zimbabwe 6. Mr. Ian Taylor (Esher and Walton) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of progress towards political reform by the Government of Zimbabwe.
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9. Mr. Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of progress towards political reform by the Government of Zimbabwe.
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The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Ivan Lewis): Hardliners in Zimbabwe continue to obstruct political reform. Effective implementation of the media, electoral and human rights commissions agreed by the parties to the global political agreement in December is absolutely essential. Mr. Taylor: Has the Minister noticed the case of Owen Maseko, the artist who has been imprisoned and harassed because of his depiction of the terrible carnage that went on in the 1980s under President Mugabe? Is this a sign that the problems in Zimbabwe are continuing, and that a political settlement is still very far from certain? Mr. Lewis: I am sure that hon. Members in all parts of the House want to pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for his many years of outstanding service to this House on a variety of very important issues. On the substantive issue that he has raised, the continued flagrant abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe of course remains a concern, as does the lack of political progress on reform. We very much welcome President Zumas renewed leadership on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, which we think is very important. We hope to have a report back from the recent visit to Zimbabwe within days, so that we can be clear about the implementation of reforms going forward. Mr. Holloway: The Minister has spoken about President Zumas package of measures to facilitate some sort of agreement. What chance does he give those measures? Mr. Lewis: I am not a betting man, other than on the outcome of the forthcoming election. The serious point is that hon. Members in all parts of the House have called for South Africa to play a responsible leadership role for a long time. We all know that it is in the best place to influence real change in Zimbabwe. We believe that President Zumas efforts are new and potentially radical, so this is a source of optimism and hope, to use a current phrase. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Lab): Will the Minister bring me up to speed on the extent to which the Financial Services Authority or his own Department have managed to determine the location of Mr. Mugabes laundered money? Mr. Lewis: The EU agreed in February to extend its targeted measures, which include an arms embargo, asset freezing and travel bans. Those measures are now affecting 31 companies and 198 people. On the specific point that my hon. Friend raises, I shall get back to him in due course. Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): At the founding of Zimbabwe, the UK put significant resource into helping the development of infrastructure education systems and the training of peoplethrough a wide range of organisations, including the TUC. A lot of the beneficiaries of those programmes have, of course, become the targets of Mugabe. Will the Minister work with his friends in South Africa to help to restore some of those links and get education programmes in which we can play a role back on the table?
Mr. Lewis: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that co-operation and collaboration, which achieved so many positive results. The UK is currently the second-largest bilateral donor to Zimbabwe, providing 60 million in aid, which is spent primarily on health but also on education. We remain deeply concerned by the intimidation, arbitrary violence, repressive legislation and curbs on press freedom that violate the rights of the Zimbabwean people. That is why political reform is so important. Iraq 8. Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): What assessment he has made of the implications of the outcome of the recent elections in Iraq for UK policy [325356] in the region. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): The 7 March election was evidence of Iraqs progress towards full democracy, a particularly important development in the middle east. It is important that the result is respected by Iraqs political leaders. It is also the case that Iraqs neighbours have a key role in supporting Iraqs democratic future. A democratic Iraq can play an increasing part in maintaining a stable and secure middle east. Meg Munn: I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer and welcome the progress being made. In terms of further progress for Iraq, does he agree that contact with businesses is enormously important? Will he continue to do all that he can to improve the situation, particularly in relation to visasthe current arrangements mean that Iraqi business people are more likely to go to Europe than the UK? David Miliband: My hon. Friend speaks with a good deal of expertise in these matters. She is absolutely right: as we have drawn down our military contribution in Iraq, there is growing importance for our economic, political, cultural and educational engagement with Iraq. That was the purpose of the Iraq investment conference in April 2009, and we are absolutely determined to make sure that British companies get the full benefit of a growing and more stable Iraq. Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con): In the parliamentary elections five years ago, the then Prime Minister sent people out from the policy unit here to assist then Prime Minister Allawi with his election campaign, which actually looked like fairly discreditable interference in the affairs of Iraq. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that Mr. Allawi succeeded this time without the assistance of anyone from the United Kingdom? David Miliband: Certainly, I have no information to suggest that there was any support from the United Kingdom in that respect. Of course, as the hon. Gentleman knows, on that occasion the result did not work out in favour of the Government in the Iraqi election. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): I hope we continue to assist Iraq by all means possible, particularly in rebuilding the rule of law. I want to place on record an e-mail that I received a few days ago from the very brave judge who sentenced Saddam Hussein to death:
I amformer chief investigative judge in the Iraqi High TribunalI am writing today after a long time to say thank you very much for your help
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which means this countrys help

to restore the Iraqi justice and rule of law. Without your support we could not have done what we did.
that that remains the same. Frankly, no matter how much argy-bargy there is, we will always return to the principle of self-determination for the Falkland Islanders. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab): It is all right for the Minister to say that it is not having an impact, but there is an impact: there are threats against companies that do business in the Falklands and that want to do business there in the future. Has not the time come for the Minister or the Secretary of State to visit the Falkland Islands to show their solidarity to the people who live there? Chris Bryant: I am grateful to my hon. Friend; I think that he is now the second person who has offered to send me off to the Falkland Islands during the general election campaign, but I am not sure whether he is recommending that that should happen before I submit my nomination papers. The serious point is that I had conversations with the Argentine Foreign Secretary during the inauguration of the new President of Chile in Santiago a couple of weeks ago, and it is very clear from those conversations that the Argentines have no intention of blockading the Falklands. They do not want to talk about war. They do not wantand it would be inappropriate for any of usto raise the temperature of the conversation that we are having. In my conversations with people from the Falklands, I have made it clear that, if they want a Minister, they can have one as soon as they want them to visit. Dr. William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Will the Minister be very clear in saying that he will vigorously defend the rights of the Falkland Islanders to remain within the United Kingdom family and that they will not be used as a trade-off for oil exploration? Chris Bryant: I do not know whether I can make it any clearer than I already have: we are absolutely certain about our sovereignty. We rest our case firmly on the United Nations principles, which state that the selfdetermination of the people on the islands is vital. We believe that we have stronger cards now, because the European treaties also happen to make it clear that the Falklands remain an overseas territory, as part of the United Kingdom. We are not complacent about this, but we are very determined. Burma 12. Mr. Jim Cunningham (Coventry, South) (Lab): What his most recent assessment is of progress towards [325360] democratic reform in Burma. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Ivan Lewis): Forthcoming elections in Burma will be neither free nor fair. Election laws published in March are restrictive and unfair. Mr. Cunningham: What discussions has my hon. Friend had with our international partners regarding the release of political prisoners in Burma? In particular, what role has China been playing? Mr. Lewis: My hon. Friend has a long track record of raising issues to do with Burma. It is important that the House continues to shine a light on events in Burma. As our Prime Minister said recently, the new election laws
David Miliband: Although my right hon. Friend is not retiring, I think the whole House owes her a huge debt of gratitude for the way in which she has conducted her work as the Prime Ministers special representative on human rights in Iraq. She has stood up for the rights of people in Iraq in a remarkable way, and although there was deep division in the House on the Iraq war, I hope that there is unity around the commitments that she has reported and made in respect of human rights, an independent press and a free and independent judiciary. Argentina 10. Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the state of relations [325358] between the UK and Argentina. 11. James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the state of relations [325359] between the UK and Argentina. The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): We have a very close and productive relationship with Argentina on a range of issues, including in the G20, on climate change, sustainable development and counter-proliferation. We have absolutely no doubts whatever about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, nor over the islanders right to develop a hydrocarbon industry within Falkland waters. Dr. Lewis: Is the Minister satisfied that there remains enough defence capability in the Royal Navy to deter Argentina from any mistaken reversal of position, going back to military adventurism, given that we now have almost as few destroyers in the Royal Navy as there are Liberal Democrat Members attending this session of Foreign Affairs questions? Chris Bryant: I am not in charge of Liberal Democrat attendance, although it is sometimes better to have fewer rather than more. We are confident that we have what we need to be able to maintain the security of the islands, but it is important to bear in mind that the Argentines have made it very clear, even in some of the noises off that they have been making, that they are not talking about blockading the Falklands, and they are not talking about returning to the 1980s. That should be a reassurance to us all, although of course we should never be complacent. James Brokenshire: The Minister will be aware that the Argentine Government have introduced new permit rules for ships travelling to and from the Falkland Islands. What impact is that having on the islands, and what steps is he taking to have those permit rules lifted? Chris Bryant: Obviously, it is for the Argentines to make whatever declarations they want to make, but they have not made it clear what will follow on from the laws that they passed a few weeks ago. So far, as I was telling the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), there has been no blockade of the islands; there has been no impact on the islands, and I very much hope
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are totally unacceptable. The targeting of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy is particularly vindictive and callous. As a consequence of those new laws, the NLD has now said quite rightly that it is unable to participate in elections that will be illegitimate. Of course, we work with our international partners, especially those countries that have the biggest capacity to influence the situation in that country, and we continue to raise Burma with the Chinese. Mr. Keith Simpson (Mid-Norfolk) (Con): The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma has made the unusually strong recommendation that the UN should consider establishing a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese regime. Last month, the UK ambassador to the UN said that Britain would support the establishment of a commission of inquiry. What steps are the Government taking to build an international coalition to take that forward, particularly by working with countries such as Australia that have already expressed strong support? Mr. Lewis: First, we are pursuing an arms embargo against the regime in Burma with our international partners. We want the UN to take action as soon as possible on that initiative of our Prime Minister. We support a commission of inquiry in principle, but it is important that we do not propose a vote at the UN on such an issue when we do not have sufficient international support for it to be successful. If that were to happen, it would give false comfort to the regime, so a lot of work must be done to build sufficient consensus to ensure that there is maximum international support for establishing such an inquiry. Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does my hon. Friend realise just how much frustration is felt by those of us on both sides of the House who have campaigned on Burma for many years when we see so little progress? In his response to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham), he did not say when we will ask China to face up to its responsibilities in the region and the country. Mr. Lewis: Mr. Speaker, this is an opportunity to pay tribute to your personal role in ensuring that the issue of Burma continues to be a high priority for parliamentarians inside and outside the House. My hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently visited China, and this was one of the issues on his agenda. We make it clear in our bilateral and multilateral discussions, including with ASEAN and China, that everything possible must be done to put pressure on the regime so that it understands that until it is committed to democratic reform and free and fair elections, its isolation in the world will inevitably continue. EU Budget (Reform) 13. Mr. Shailesh Vara (North-West Cambridgeshire) (Con): What recent discussions he has had on prospects for reform of the EU budget; and if he will make a [325361] statement.
The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): Reform of the EU budget was last discussed at the December European Council. Heads of Government agreed that the Commission should produce a report in order for the Council to provide orientations on priorities during 2010. Her Majestys Government remain committed to far-reaching reform of the EU budget. Mr. Vara: I am grateful to the Minister for those comments. In 2005, however, the Government gave away 7 billion of money that was due to us from the European Union rebate in return for a complete review of the EU budget, which was supposed to have finished by the end of 2009 but clearly has not happened so far. By breaking their promise, and effectively giving away 7 billion of British taxpayers money for nothing, have we not seen how useless the Government are at standing up for Britains interests? Chris Bryant: I really like the hon. Gentleman, but he sometimes speaks the biggest load of tosh when he absorbs everything that is poured out by his Front Benchers. The truth of the matter is that he, like many hon. Members, voted for enlargement of the European Union. We believed that it would be in the interests of this country to bring 10 new countries, and then a further two, into the European Union because we would be able to improve trade with them and they would be able to improve their human rights. However, we cannot wish something and not will the means, and if those new countries were to join the European Union, someone would have to pay that billwe were prepared to step up to the mark. It is a shame that the hon. Gentlemans party has become so Europhobic that it dare not even look at the facts. Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): Will the Minister reassure the House that, in any discussions on the reform of the budget, we will not lose sight of the goals that were set by the Lisbon agenda at the European Council in 2000? Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that we need to ensure that Europe is competitive, and able to compete for new jobs and to be part of future economic models, rather than relying on its historical system of budgetary expenditure. That is why we have supported reform of the common agricultural policy for a long time, and I personally believe it is morally offensive that Europe should overpay so that other parts of the world are not able even to compete on a fair basis. Overseas Operations (Financing) 15. Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the financing of his Departments overseas operations; and if he will make [325364] a statement. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written statement of 10 February, in which I made it clear that I have agreed a package of measures with the Treasury to offset the foreign exchange pressures on the
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FCO budget in the year ahead and allow us to continue to deliver a world-class and comprehensive diplomatic service. Mr. Boswell: At this stage of my political career, may I drop any ritual references to the Governments overall difficulties with economic management or their shedding of the overseas pricing mechanism, which has given rise to these difficulties? Let us concentrate on the main point. Does the Foreign Secretary accept that Members on both sides of the House want this country to have a first-class foreign service representation and will not tolerate any deviation from that? David Miliband: Yes. Afghanistan 16. Hugh Bayley (City of York) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the likely outcome of the forthcoming shura to be held by President Karzai of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [325365] Mr. Mark Francois (Rayleigh) (Con): Sixteen comes directly after 15. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): Indeed; I am grateful for the help from the Opposition Front Bench. The forthcoming peace jirga will be the Government of Afghanistans opportunity to secure the support of the Afghan people for their reintegration and reconciliation proposals. To deliver this support, we encourage the Government of Afghanistan to make this event as inclusive as possible. Hugh Bayley: Afghanistan needs a politics of national unity to defeat the Taliban and corruption, and to create conditions that will allow British troops to leave. What is my right hon. Friend doing to try and ensure that when the Loya Jirga is held later this month, it ends up creating a more inclusive politics for Afghanistan? David Miliband: My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The greatest resource for international forces and for the Afghan Government is that less than 10 per cent. of the Afghan people want the Taliban back. There is widespread hatred for the brutality that they represent. However, a political settlement for Afghanistan is something that this Government have been advancing for some time, saying clearly that the purpose of military and civilian effort is to create the conditions for a political settlement. The peace jirga is the first chance to take that forward. It is not about negotiations, but about preparing the ground. We want it to be as wide as possible1,200 to 1,500 participants have been mentioned. I welcome that. It is also important to say that all the tribes of Afghanistan must have a say in that future political settlement. It is not a matter of including former insurgents, only to find that northerners then leave the political settlement. It is important that all the ethnic tribes are balanced in a political settlement that can endure. Topical Questions T1. [325374] Mr. Eric Illsley (Barnsley, Central) (Lab): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): On 1 April I announced that I had instructed the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner to declare a marine protected area in the territory, which will include a no-take marine reserve. By establishing this marine protected area, the UK has created one of the worlds largest marine protected areas and has doubled the global coverage of the worlds oceans benefiting from protection. I wish to emphasise that the creation of the MPA will not change the UKs commitment to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes. It is also without prejudice to the outcome of the current pending proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights. The BIOT administration has been tasked with taking the establishment of an MPA forward in order that this is achieved in a realistic, sustainable and affordable way. Finally, on a separate topic[HON. MEMBERS: This is a different question.] No. On a separate matter, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will allow me to say, I am sure on behalf of the whole House, that we utterly condemn yesterdays attack on the US consulate in Peshawar and the earlier suicide attack in Lower Dir. There can be no justification for these bloody acts. Mr. Illsley: May I return my right hon. Friend to the question that was raised a few moments agothe problems that some of our overseas posts are experiencing as a result of exchange rate fluctuations? Surely it cannot be right that some of the staff at our overseas posts have to volunteer to work for a period for no salary to make up the posts funding. Can we reinstate the overseas pricing mechanism and reinforce the measures that my right hon. Friend mentioned a few moments ago? David Miliband: That is certainly one of the issues that will be considered in the next comprehensive spending review. The 75 million that has, in effect, been added to the Foreign Office budget for this year will ensure that the comprehensive first-class global network that we have is maintained and developed. Mr. William Hague (Richmond, Yorks) (Con): May I associate the Opposition utterly with what the Foreign Secretary just said in condemnation of the attack on the US consulate in Peshawar? Following up the question by the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley), will the right hon. Gentleman look again at the recent report of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which warned of very severe strains on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
an unacceptable risk to the FCOs ability to perform its functions
as a direct result of his decision to transfer the entire exchange rate risk of the Foreign Offices expenditure to the Foreign Office for 2008-09? Given that no other major Foreign Ministry in the world conducts its affairs in that ridiculous way, will he now concede that it was a grave and short-sighted error and join me in saying that, whoever the Foreign Secretary is in one months time, they should pledge to reverse that bad decision? David Miliband: I think the right hon. Gentleman will find that many other countries are having to make the sort of efficiency savings that the Foreign Office in this country has made. As he will have seen, the French
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Foreign Ministry and those of other countries are facing severe budgetary strain, and we make no apology for taking our efficiency measures seriously. However, I thought that he would want to welcome the fact that we have secured the 75 million to ensure that, when the Labour party returns to the Government Benches in one months time, we are able to ensure significant long-term progress through the comprehensive spending review. T2. [325375] Mr. William Bain (Glasgow, North-East) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend recollect that in 1997 this country was politically isolated in Europe and the social chapter had shamefully been left unsigned? Does he agree that great progress has been made in areas from justice to climate change through a more positive engagement in the intervening 13 years? Would that not be put at risk if we were to become the great ignored of the EU in the coming weeks? David Miliband: My hon. Friend makes an important point. The pro-European part of the Conservative party is leaving this House, and we have already paid tribute to one such right hon. Gentleman. In 1997 this country was a source of despair to its friends and disdain to its enemies, and that has been reversed over the past 13 yearson Europe, on overseas aid spending and on a range of human rights and other democracy-promotion issues. We will fight this election proud not only of our foreign policy record, but of the fact that we are going to be proactively and positively engaged with the European Union. T4. [325377] Mr. Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): I cannot believe that the Foreign Secretary tried to suggest with a straight face that scrapping the overseas pricing mechanism was a good idea, or that he defended it. How can he seriously suggest that subjecting to the mercies of the foreign exchange market the budget of his Department and our ability to project our influence overseas is a good idea? Did he really sign up for it? David Miliband: I certainly did not say anything other than that the efficiency savings that we are making are important. The hon. Gentleman is very welcome to check Hansard in the leisure time that he has over the next three or four weeks. However, the fact is that we run a comprehensive service, with 261 posts throughout the world. It is widely recognised for its influence both in bilateral and multilateral relations, and long may that continue. T3. [325376] Mike Gapes (Ilford, South) (Lab/Co-op): Almost one year ago the Sri Lankan civil war came to an end. Some 280,000 Tamils were then put in detention, and 70,000 people in Sri Lanka are still in detention camps. What are our Government doing to press on the Sri Lankan Government the need to ensure that the Tamil population are completely released and reintegrated into society, so that they feel that they have a stake in a future Sri Lanka? The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Ivan Lewis): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that issue. We have provided 13.5 million of assistance in the post-conflict period to help almost 300,000 people who have been displaced by fighting. Of
course, there has been some progress in terms of the number of people in camps falling to about 80,000, but that is not good enough. The Government will continue to apply pressure to the Sri Lankan Government until all those people are allowed to return home safely and freely. T6. [325379] Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Does not the Secretary of State agree with the Foreign Affairs Committee that the current exchange rate pricing mechanism for the Foreign Office is simply unsustainable? The extra 75 million is welcome, but it is a one-off, and this is not an issue that can wait for a comprehensive spending review. Does not the Secretary of State think that he should negotiate a new bilateral deal with the Chancellor of the Exchequer? David Miliband: I think that on reflection the hon. Gentleman, who I know follows these matters carefully, will understand that that would not be a very sensible course. Any Government after the general election will have to set a framework for public spending for all Departments, and it is quite right that the Foreign Office has negotiated a special bilateral agreement for this year. That is very important, but it is also important that we then take a long-term look at the funding of the Foreign Office and other Departments. The ability to do so on a three-year or even longer-term basis is a good thing, and that is the right way to proceed. T5. [325378] Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/ Co-op): In the nearly three years during which my right hon. Friend has been Foreign Secretary, has he ever taken a Labour fundraiser with him when meeting the leader of a foreign country? David Miliband: No, I certainly have never taken a Labour fundraiser to a meeting with a foreign Government, and I look forward to the day when the shadow Foreign Secretary can give me a straight answer to the question whether Lord Ashcroft has ever been taken to meetings with foreign Governments in places where Lord Ashcroft has business interests. I have written to the right hon. Gentleman three times about that; I know that the postal service has its problems, but we have never had a reply. Mr. Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, but we must press on. T8. [325381] Mr.ShaileshVara (North-WestCambridgeshire) (Con): Following the recent worrying events in South Africa, what discussions has the Foreign Secretary had with his overseas counterpart to ensure the safety and security of British football fans who will be travelling to South Africa later in the year to the World cup finals? Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): English football fans. David Miliband: I hope that all UK citizens will be supporting the English team, and I am sorry if the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) wants to distinguish between English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fans in respect of the World cup. Obviously, we talked about the issue when we met the South African President
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and South African Foreign Minister during the state visit last month. They are taking the issues of security and wider provision for fans extremely seriously. The bilateral engagement between our two countries is of a very high order on this important issue. T7. [325380] Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): Will the Secretary of State tell us what representations were or will be made by him to the Israeli Government in relation to the Palestinian and Arab Christians who were denied access to the holy places over Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar? Will he do all he can to ensure that access is given to Palestinian Arabs, who are a minority, so that they can celebrate that important feast in future? Mr. Ivan Lewis: First of all, I am sure I speak on behalf of Members on both sides of the House in paying tribute to my hon. Friends unique contribution to the affairs of this House. I shared a corridor with him when I started my parliamentary career; I shall leave it at that. It was a tremendous privilege to get to know him. My hon. Friend has raised an important issue. One of the constant conversations that we have with the Israeli Government is about ensuring that there is maximum support for interfaith harmony in Israel and that any restriction of movement is lifted, other than in the most extenuating of security circumstances. T9. [325382] Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex) (Con): Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that it is his Governments policy to increase the British contribution to the European Union by billions of pounds and to pay for that by cutting back on the funding of British overseas postings run by his Department? Because that is the net result. The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, because he is quite an intelligent man; that that is not the policy of this Government nor, indeed, of his party. Barry Gardiner (Brent, North) (Lab): I hope that my right hon. Friend recalls the Royal Societys prognosis of July last year that tropical coral reefs might survive on this planet for only another 40 years because the rate of destruction was so great. Does he understand the very real hope that his announcement on Friday of last week, about the designation of the marine protected area in the Chagos archipelago, has given ocean scientists around the globe? David Miliband: Last weeks announcement has been widely welcomed in the scientific and environmental community, and for good reason. A unique resource is being created for the futurefor all future generations, for the planet, for scientific research and for the protection of the environment. It is a very good symbol of the sort of internationalism and the sort of responsibility that this country should stand for. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): As one who believes that our country is extremely well served and represented by our diplomatic service, may I ask the Foreign Secretary to assure the House that there are no plans to close or amalgamate any of our embassies?
David Miliband: I have spoken to the hon. Gentleman on many occasions and have come to know his wisdom and his commitment to the House and to our political system. I hope that he will not be too embarrassed if I pay tribute to him from this side of the House and thank him for his very many years of outstanding service, not just to his constituents but to the House. I know that we have tried to remove him at successive general elections, but without much success. In respect of the Foreign Offices 261 posts around the world, we keep all our posts under very close review but there are no plans at the moment to close any embassies. Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab): It is not just that Palestinians in Jerusalem and East Jerusalem are being prevented from praying; they are having their houses confiscated in ever-increasing numbers as well. Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of those Palestinians are having to seek asylum in this country, and should they be audacious enough to return to their own country and step off the plane at Tel Aviv, they are in danger of being tortured, put back on a plane and returned to Britain? David Miliband: My hon. Friend makes a very important point. I wish him well in his retirement and thank him for all his service to his constituents, and of course to our party and the House. Jerusalem is rightly at the centre of all the great religions; it is a tinderbox. It is very important that all sides are very careful in the actions that they take in that respect, and that the rights of all denominations and all faiths are respected in that special place. The committees and other structures that have been created to govern the holy sites are there for a purpose, and the rules and norms that they have established need to be adhered to very closely indeed. Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): The people of Estonia have held this country in particular regard ever since the intervention of the Royal Navy in their war of independence after the first world war. In fashioning the future foreign and defence policy of this country, will this Government and the next never forget the professionalism and sacrifice of Estonian forces fighting alongside British forces in Afghanistan and the professional and courageous military personnel who, on a tiny budget, show courage above all possible expectations? Chris Bryant: I think that the hon. Gentleman is the last of the parliamentary swans making their swansong at questions this afternoon, but he is a very fine swan indeed. He has been a great Member of this House and I pay tribute to him and to the many other retiring sensible, pro-European Conservatives who still exist. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about Estonia and its contribution. Our troops, in Afghanistan now and in previous conflicts, have known perfectly well that the Estonians have been very strong and successful allies of ours. Christopher Fraser (South-West Norfolk) (Con): Further to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), does the Minister agree that NATO should be the cornerstone of European defence?
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Chris Bryant: Yes I do, and I am delighted that the Lisbon treaty makes that clear. Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): Following on from the question by the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Meg Munn) about business in Iraq, is the Foreign Secretary aware that businesses that I speak to feel that the British Government are not supporting them adequately? Given that Iraq has the worlds second largest oil supply and that there is a desperate need to rebuild its infrastructure after the war, what more can
he do to build ties with the incoming Iraqi Administration so that British business can do more business with Iraq? David Miliband: This is the only European country that has held an Iraq investment conference and we are committed to UK Trade and Investment and other embassy functions that support commercial diplomacy. The hon. Gentlemans question would be better if he could give me any details of companies that he says have been frustrated. We would be very happy to work with them, because I assure him that many other companies are delighted rather than frustrated.
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3.33 pm Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab) (Urgent Question): To ask the Foreign Secretary if he will make a statement on the declaration of a marine protected area around the Chagos islands and what consultation took place before the announcement was made. The Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant): On 1 April 2010, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced the creation of a marine protected area in the British Indian Ocean Territory. It will include a no-take marine reserve where fishing will be banned. The creation of the MPA is a major step forward for protecting the oceans not just around the territory itself but throughout the world. The decision to establish a marine protected reserve was taken following a full public consultation and careful consideration of the many issues and interests involved. The response to the consultation was high, with more than a quarter of a million people registering a view. The great majority of those responses came in the form of petitions, but the response was so wide-ranging that it was global, including from private individuals, academic and scientific institutions, environmental organisations and networks, fishing and yachting interests, members of the Chagossian community, British Members of Parliament and peers and representatives of other Governments. The great majority of respondentswell over 90 per cent.made it clear that they supported greater marine protection of some sort in the Chagos archipelago in principle. However, the views on the proposal were mixed and the responses were not confined to the options listed in the consultation document. The announcement is the first key step in establishing an MPA. There is still much work to be considered and we intend to continue to work closely with all interested stakeholders, both in the UK and internationally, in implementing the reserve. Jeremy Corbyn: The Minister must be aware that on 10 March I was given an undertaking in a Westminster Hall debate that consultation with interested parties, Members of Parliament and the Chagossian community would take place before an announcement was made. No such consultation has taken place, and there has been no communication with me as chair of the all-party group on the Chagos islands or with the Chagossian communities living in Mauritius, the Seychelles or this country. The Minister will also be aware, because he gave the apology on behalf of the Government, that a terrible wrong was committed against the Chagos islanders in the 1970s and 1980s, when they were driven out to make way for a US base. Every other marine protected area proposed anywhere in the world by anybody includes a local human element to protect the zone. He knows full well that the Chagos islanders support the MPA, but not with a no-take policy; they support it with a sustainable fishing policy that will enable a sustainable community to return to their islands to live and look after the MPA. Finally, the Minister will also be aware that later this year the islanders long fight for justice and human rights, which has been fought so that they can return to
their islands, will be heard at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Many of us believe that the islanders will be victorious. At that point, will he accept that the islanders return can also be protective of the environment from which they were so cruelly snatched all those years ago? Chris Bryant: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the work that he does as chair of the all-party group. He has brought the views of the Chagossians to the attention of many people in this House and further afield, expressing with clear articulateness their rights and needs. However, I should just say to him that our decision to set up the MPA has no effect on our relationship with Mauritius; it does not change one jot the guarantees that we have made to its Government. Nor does it have any effect on our relationship with the Americans in respect of Diego Garcia or on the hearings that will be held later this year at the European Court of Human Rightsthis decision is entirely without prejudice to those. I apologise to my hon. Friend and to the House, because it became clear to us that, notwithstanding the commitment made to him in the debate, no further information could have come in that would have made any difference to the decision on the protection of the marine environment in the British Indian Ocean Territory. He referred to the question of whether there should be a no-take agreement or a sustainable fishing arrangement. The truth is that very few sustainable fishing arrangements around the world have ever been successful, which is why we believe it vital that there should be a no-take arrangement in this area. Extensive consultation did take place over several months, including with my hon. Friend, part of which was, of course, the Westminster Hall debate that he led. Mr. Keith Simpson (Mid-Norfolk) (Con): I congratulate the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on raising this urgent question. He initiated the debate in Westminster Hall and the Minister might wish to think again about what the hon. Gentleman said about the lack of consultation with the Chagossians; at the very least, even at the public relations level, that was unfortunate. It is appropriate that the House considers these issues before Parliament is dissolved, given that the Chagos islanders case is before the European Court of Human Rights. There is a great deal of sympathy from those on both sides of the House for the plight of the Chagossians, and their interests must be placed at the heart of any decisions made about their homeland. I would like briefly to put two or three questions to the Minister. What discussions have the Government had with the Government of Mauritius since the Foreign Secretarys announcing the creation of the marine protected area in the Indian ocean, which the Conservative party welcomes? The Foreign Secretary said in his statement last week that the creation of the reserve
will not change the UKs commitment to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes.
Will Mauritius be legally liable to continue the marine protected area when that occurs? What safeguards will be put in place to ensure the long-term protection of the marine area and, in particular, any investment that the UK and other partners make in the development? Furthermore, what discussions have been had with regional
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states, such as Maldives and Seychelles? Are they supportive of the idea of a marine protected area? Finally, what steps are the Government planning to take to ensure effective enforcement of the ban on illegal fishing in the zone, and how will they ensure that the marine protected area is not simply a paper proposal without practical impact? Chris Bryant: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his broad support for the measures that we are undertaking. I think that all Members of the House are keen to ensure that one of the areas of greatest biodiversity in the world, which is within British territory, can be protected for the future. The hon. Gentleman asked some specific questions, including about what consultations and discussions there were with Mauritius. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke on Thursday with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and there have been extensive discussions with others in the area. I should say, in answer to the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North, that one of the things we have to do over the next few months is lay out precisely how the reserve will function. During that process, of course we have to discuss specific elements with the Chagossians, their representatives and Members of both Houses, and we are keen to do that. The hon. Gentleman asked about the fishing. He will know that the British Indian Ocean Territory is particularly important not only because 784 different kinds of fish live on the coral reefs, but because many fish migrate through the territory, and it is the fishing of those migratory fish in the territory that is providing a major problem for fish stocks across the whole of the Indian ocean. That is why we believe that this is a particularly important moment. We will be suspending the three licences presently made available, which bring in something like 1 million a year, and finding the money elsewhere. Mr. Paul Keetch (Hereford) (LD): I also congratulate the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on raising this issue. Following the hon. Gentlemans important question about consultation, will the Minister say whether the Chairman and Members of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which in this Parliament carried out an inquiry into our overseas territories, were consulted? Again following on from the hon. Gentlemans questions, will the Minister assure the House that the creation of the MPA, which the Liberal Democrats would, of course, automatically support, will not affect the ability of the Chagos islanders to return and have a sustainable community? Finally, will the presence of nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed US warships be permitted within the zone of the MPA? Chris Bryant: I hope that the hon. Gentleman understands that the Government feel deep regretmany right hon. and hon. Members have also expressed such regretfor how the Chagossians were treated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, we believe that that has now been settled in the highest court of this land by the Law Lords. Yes, a court case will be heard in the European Court of Human Rights, but this is an important step to take, notwithstanding any possible discussions or judgment handed down by the Court, because we believe that the biodiversity in that territory is essential to the world. [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman asks
from a sedentary position whether the Foreign Affairs Committee was consulted. The whole House was consulted, the country was consulted, and we extended the consultation process by weeks so that others could take part. I must say that many Foreign Office consultations get hardly any replies at all, even from the Liberal Democrats, and yet in this case more than 250,000 people expressed their view90 per cent. of them in support of the MPA. Notwithstanding the rows that some people want to raise about the process, I hope that they support the policy that we are adopting. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Speaker: Order. This is a matter of considerable interest, as is reflected in the number of Members seeking to catch my eye, and I should like to accommodate everybody. There is, however, pressure on time, so pithy questions and answers are the order of the day. Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend the Minister will know that the vast majority of endangered species are in British overseas territories, rather than on the UK mainland. The Government have been criticised in the past for not paying enough attention to this aspect of our overseas territories. What effect will the proposed area have on protecting endangered species? Chris Bryant: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question, and I pay tribute to her because, when she had responsibility in the Foreign Office for the overseas territories, she started a lot of the work that has enabled us to undertake such work now. Reference was made earlier to the coral reefs in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Actually, it is one of the few areas in the world where the coral reefs have been rapidly growing again, and that is because of the work that we have been able to do in recent years. We will now be able to do more. There are 220 species of coral there, many of which are specific to the Chagos islands, and we will be able to protect them by establishing the MPA. Peter Bottomley (Worthing, West) (Con): Will the Minister try again to explain what happened between 10 March and 1 April, the first day after Parliament rose for Easter? Will he also kindly explain the size of the proposed area, and tell us whether the Chagossians return to the islands will be affected by these proposals? Chris Bryant: There will be absolutely no effect on whether Chagossians have a right or do not have a right to return to the islands by virtue of the announcement that we have made. I thought that I had made that clear already Peter Bottomley indicated dissent. Chris Bryant: The hon. Gentleman is shaking his head, so I have obviously misunderstood the precise nature of his question. Doubtless he will inform me of it later. He also asked what happened between 10 March and 1 April. We made the decision that no further information could possibly be garnered that would affect whether it was right or not to establish a reserve now. That is why we decided to act. We believe that it is in the interests not only of the territory itself but of the whole of the Indian ocean and of the biodiversity of the planet that we start the MPA as soon as possible.
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Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): The Minister has still not explained the reason for the urgency. The consultation ended only on 5 March, and the facilitator herself said that the process would take three months, so why has this been rushed through? Will he also answer this question: does this decision not rule out the Chagossian people ever going back to live there? Chris Bryant: As my hon. Friend knows, we do not believe that the Chagossians will be returning to the islands[HON. MEMBERS: Ah!] But this particular decision has nothing to do with that. It is completely separate from the decision, in its entirety. As I have already said, the House of Lords has made it clear that the position of the UK Government is correct in law, and the only place where there is now contention is in the European Court of Human Rights. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Does the Minister accept that he has just let the cat out of the bag? What he has just said clearly indicates that he is trying to separate the MPA from the rights of the Chagossians, who, as the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) said in our debate the other day, are regarded as having been subjected to a terrible wrong. Given the Ministers much vaunted interest in human rights, would he be good enough to understand that some of us believe that when we are offered consultation, we expect to get it? Chris Bryant: There has been substantial consultation. This has been one of the most far-reachingand the most replied-toconsultations that the Foreign Office has engaged in. More than 250,000 people took part in it, and 90 per cent. of them supported the idea of creating an MPA. However, this decision has nothing to do with the rights, or the lack of rights, of people to return to the islands of Chagos. Yes, I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman that what happened in the 1960s and early 70s was absolutely shameful. I agree with him that the early compensation that was paid was also shameful. Later compensation has been paid something in the region of 14 million in todays terms. However, it would be unrealistic to expect the Chagossians to return to those islands, however much individual Members of this House might want that to happen. Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney, North and Stoke Newington) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend accept that he cannot hide behind environmentalism to mask what many of us fear is an encroachment on the rights and legitimate expectations of the Chagossian people? He argues that the consultation he carried out approved a measure of support for further marine protection, but does he not accept that very few people want further marine protection at the expense of the Chagossian islanders, which is what the House is concerned about this afternoon? Chris Bryant: The extension of the marine protected area and the new measures we are taking will not have any direct or indirect effect on the rights or otherwise of Chagossians to return to the islands. These are two entirely separate issues. Some have suggested that one should protect humans and not bother to protect the marine environment[Interruption.] I know that that is not what my hon. Friend is saying, but in order to protect those who fish across the whole of the Indian ocean I believe that we have to protect the marine environment.
Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con): Given that the Minister has called the treatment of the Chagossians shameful, does he not understand the concerns reiterated on his side of the House by the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) that this is being rushed through in double-quick time? That will lead manyand not just the usual suspectsto suspect that the Government are using the environmental issue as a fig leaf for the continued abuse of these human rights. Chris Bryant: I have to underline for the hon. Gentleman that the environmental issues are very significant. The tuna that pass through the British Indian Ocean Territory feed many people across the east coast of Africa. Those supplies are being rapidly diminished. We need a no-take policy across the area. There are many other elements of biodiversity on the islands that we need to protect, but the decision has nothing to do with the rights or otherwise of the Chagossians to live on the islands. Laura Moffatt (Crawley) (Lab): One of the most important groups of Chagossians were consultedthe large group who live in Crawley. They were very clear that they wanted the marine protected area, but they were keen to keep a foothold in their history. Although most will decide to remain in CrawleyI am very glad they will do sothey are keen to have a stake in the islands future. Can the Minister give us any assurance about that? Chris Bryant: I should pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who has one of the largest Chagossian communities in the country in her constituency; I know that various Foreign Office Ministers have met her and the community. She is absolutely right that there should be an ongoing connection between the Chagossians and what happens with the MPA. That is why, as I said earlier, I am keen to ensure that, if I still hold this post after the general election, we have ongoing discussions with the Chagossian community in this country and further afield so that the implementation of the MPA meets the requirements and needs of the Chagossians. Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): Will the Minister clarify what would happen if the islanders returned and were unable to fish, as that would make it difficult for them to live? If they return, will they still be able to fish under the new regime? Chris Bryant: As I said earlier, we believe it difficult and next to impossible to create a sustainable fishing regime in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Wherever it has been attempted elsewhere, it has failed. At the moment, the Chagossians have chosen not to take up any of the three fishing licences available within the British Indian Ocean Territory, but there are many elements involved in the question of whether life would be sustainable on the islands for the Chagossiansnot least the fact that many of the buildings in which they lived back in the 60s and early 70s are no longer habitable. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend needs to be aware that this issue will not go away. Will he explain why conservationists and scientists feel that they have been used by the Government in their introduction of the marine protected area as a way of stopping the Chagossians from going home?
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Chris Bryant: Well, I am sorry. I am fond of my hon. Friend and I am sad that he has made that point this afternoon, as what he said is not my experience. The non-governmental organisations that I have spoken to have made it clear that they fully support the MPA. Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): Impressed though the House may be with the Ministers marine knowledge of the Chagos islands and his Rumsfeldlike impressions in not needing to know what he does not know, will he tell me what livelihoods remain for the Chagossians, many of whom live in my area of West Sussex? Secondly, will he tell us whether any pressure was brought to bear on him by his American counterparts in the naval base nearby? Chris Bryant: Absolutely no pressure was brought to bear by the United States of America on me or anybody else. I am not in charge of the community in the United Kingdom; I have responsibility only for the British Indian Ocean Territory itself. Barry Gardiner (Brent, North) (Lab): May I urge my hon. Friend to stick with the science, because he is absolutely right? A no-take zone in the area is vital; upon it depend the livelihoods of more than 500 million people in the Indian ocean territories, because those coral reefs represent the seed bed for most of the marine fish life in the Indian ocean. It is an absolutely vital resource, and he must absolutely stick with the science. May I further urge my hon. Friend to understand that the coral reefs there are so sensitive and pristine that the scientists who work there do not even wear sun tan lotion for fear of contaminating the coral? Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I pay tribute to him for his long-term interest in these matters. The larger grouper fish and the wrasse are almost fading into non-existence in other parts of the Indian ocean and, without the protection that we will be able to provide in the British Indian Ocean Territory, they could well become extinct, thereby depriving many millions of people around the Indian ocean of any means of living at all. Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend think that the late Robin Cook, who is the only Foreign Secretary really to have recognised the rights of the Chagos islanders, would have endorsed this decisionand if Robin Cook had taken this decision, does my hon. Friend not think that the least he would have done would be to come personally to the Dispatch Box to defend it? Chris Bryant: Well, I am absolutely certain that Robin Cook would have wanted to bring forward the protection for the biodiversity in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Business of the House

3.57 pm The Leader of the House of Commons (Ms Harriet Harman): I should like to make a business statement. Following the Prime Ministers announcement earlier today, the business for this week will now be as follows: WEDNESDAY 7 APRILConsideration of a business of the House motion to facilitate business to prorogation, followed by remaining stages of the Bribery Bill [Lords], followed by consideration in Committee and remaining stages of the Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill [Lords], followed by motion relating to the draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010, followed by remaining stages of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill, followed by all stages of the Appropriation Bill, followed by all stages of the Finance Bill, followed by consideration in Committee and remaining stages of the Digital Economy Bill [Lords], followed by, if necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. The House may also be asked to consider any Lords messages which may be received. THURSDAY 8 APRILRemaining stages of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Crime and Security Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Children, Schools and Families Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Energy Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Financial Services Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Flood and Water Management Bill, followed by, if necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. The House may also be asked to consider any Lords messages which may be received. The House will not adjourn until Royal Assent has been received to all Acts. The House will be prorogued when Royal Assent to all Acts has been signified. Parliament will be dissolved on Monday 12 April by proclamation. As the Prime Minister announced this morning, Her Majesty will summon the new Parliament to meet on Tuesday 18 May. Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire) (Con): I thank the right hon. and learned Lady for her statement. May I say how delighted we are on these Benches that the Prime Minister has at last pushed the button and called the election? We relish the prospect over the next four weeks of taking our argument for lower taxes on jobs, less waste and reduced debt across the country. On the forthcoming business, will she confirm that there will be Prime Ministers Question Time as usual tomorrow, oral questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on Thursday and no interruption to the schedule for Adjournment and Westminster Hall debates? Does she accept that we will enter into constructive discussions with the Government about the Bills in the pipeline, balancing the need for scrutiny with the need to get certain legislation on the statute book without further delay? For the benefit of the whole House, will she tell us how long the debate will be on tomorrows business motion? So that the House can pace itself, will she tell us how long she expects the House to spend on each of the Bills whose titles she has just read out?
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[Sir George Young] Finally, as she has made no announcement about the draft Standing Order on the Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, will she now confirm that the Government have finally kicked into the long grass the proposals to set up a business committee? Will she confirm that it will fall to the next Government to introduce this important House of Commons reform? Ms Harman: I can confirm that there will be questions to the Prime Minister in the usual way and that there will be questions to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. We will table the programme motion this afternoon, so hon. Members will be able to consider it, and it will then be debated. Obviously, the length of the debate on the programme motion will be a matter for Mr. Speaker. As far as the draft Standing Order is concerned, following the Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, we have agreedthe House has agreedthe election of Select Committee Chairs, the election of members of Select Committees and that Back-Bench Members should be able to Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con): Thats a no, then. Ms Harman: I am just trying to explain to the House the progress we have made. Back-Bench Members will be able to table motions that can be voted on. The House has resolved to agree that there should be a Back-Bench committee for House business. We have drafted the Standing Orders that would give effect to that and they have been tabled. I think it is wrong for hon. Members who did not win the vote to table amendments that serve as an objection and I would therefore ask hon. Members who have tabled amendments to withdraw them so that we can approve the Standing Orders. They do no more and no less than give effect to the resolution that the House has already expressed of wanting to proceed with a business committee. I think hon. Members should withdraw their amendments, which serve as an objection, so that we can conclude the matter in this Parliament. If that is not the case, and Members persist with their amendments, we will at least have made progress on all the things I have listed. The House will have decided in principle to make progress but the Standing Order change, which we have already drafted, could be done as the first act of the next Parliament. David Howarth (Cambridge) (LD): I apologise for the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) who, for obvious reasons, is in Somerton and Frome, from where, I am sure, he will be deservedly returned, as will my other right hon. and hon. Friends who are standing again. May I ask the Leader of the House about the Digital Economy Bill? The proposal appears to be to take the Second Reading today and all the remaining stages tomorrow. Given that there are a number of highly controversial proposals in the Bill, especially that about web blocking, surely now that we are in the wash-up, the most appropriate thing for the Government and the Leader of the House to do at this stage is to say that the Government will not proceed with those controversial parts of the Bill. That will save us all a lot of time and trouble over the next two or three days.
I welcome the fact that the vulture fund Billthe Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Billand the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill are both on the list. That is very welcome. It seems to me to be extraordinary, however, that the proposals of the Wright Committee on a Back-Bench business committee, which the Leader of the House has herself put forward, are not on the list. She seems to be saying that those measures are not on the list simply because a few Members are opposing them, but there are, equally, a tiny number of reactionary Members opposing those two Bills. Surely those three measures are in the same position. It is in her gift to bring forward the Wright Committee proposals at this stage. On three separate occasionsthree weeks in a rowshe undertook to put those proposals to the House. Surely it is a breach of faith for her to refuse to do so now. Ms Harman: As far as the Digital Economy Bill is concerned, the hon. Gentleman is right to say that there will be a full Second Reading debate today, so it will have a normal Second Reading debate. It has had considerable scrutiny already in the House of Lords: it had seven days in Committee, which is more than any other Bill in the programme, and three days on Report, whereas every other Bill in the programme had only one day. However, I know that Members want it to be scrutinised in this House too, and there will be a further chance for scrutiny at the time of making the regulations to give powers to the courts to block access to internet sites in relation to copyright infringement. As that element of the Bill has generated much debate, those regulations will be subject to a super-affirmative procedure, which will operate in the following way. There will be a public consultation on the draft regulations prior to their being laid in Parliament and they will be laid in draft in the House with an explanation of why they satisfy the necessary thresholds required to make the regulations. Those thresholds are set out in the Bill. At the same time, the public consultation response will be published. Draft regulations will sit in the House for 60 days and, at the same time, Committees of both Houses will consider them. That is the critical part of the super-affirmative procedure. It allows Committees, including Members of this House, to consider the provisions even though there will not be Committee stage in the normal way. Final regulations that take into account the recommendations of the Committees will be laid in Parliament and will be subject to the normal affirmative procedure. Of course, the Bill will make progress in the wash-up only on the basis of consensus. Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): May I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend on including the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill in tomorrows business? That demonstrates not only the Governments profound commitment to international development but the fact that they listen to the House of Commons. Has she received any indication that the Bills passage through the House of Lords will be facilitated so that it can receive Royal Assent before Dissolution? Ms Harman: I thank my right hon. Friend for his words about the vulture funds Bill, which has considerable support across the country. We expect and hope it to make good progress in the House of Lords. As I have said at successive business questions on Thursdays in
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the House, it was disappointing that Opposition Members blocked it. They needed only to drop their objections for it to go through, and now they have seen the light and dropped them, so we hope it will go through and become law. Mr. Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con): The wash-up following the decision to dissolve Parliament is, by tradition and convention, always uncontentious and by agreement. Significant parts of the Digital Economy Bill are highly contentious and it is the view of many that it should not be debated at all following the announcement of Dissolution and that it could and should properly be left to a future Government, which could be done very swiftly indeed. Unless the right hon. and learned Lady is prepared to give a clear undertaking that the contentious parts of the Bill will be dropped, it will not go through. It is not good enough to say that it will be left to a statutory instrument in a future Parliament. Ms Harman: But I was trying to explain to hon. Members that there will not be just the normal affirmative procedure, which does not allow for a Committee and for amendments to come from a Committee. If one thinks about what a Committee stage does, one sees that it allows Members of the House to consider the Bill in detail and to make amendments to it. The superaffirmative process that I have announced to the House, which will apply in the case of these contentious measures, will provide scrutiny by Members of this House in a Committee stage that can then lead to amendments. Therefore, whatever the House does by agreement in the wash-up will not come into force until there has been a Committee stage, in effect, under the super-affirmative procedure. I think the hon. Gentleman had worked out his concerns and objections before hearing my explanation that we would deal with the matter in this different way. This is something that can be discussed further when the Secretary of State moves the Bills Second Reading later today. Hugh Bayley (City of York) (Lab): The York-based company Jarvis made more than 1,000 track-renewal workers redundant last week. The skills of a work force are essential to the future of the railway. Network Rail is retendering the Jarvis work, and whoever wins it must re-employ the Jarvis workers. If my right hon. and learned Friend cannot find time for a debate on this important matter before Parliament is dissolved, will she at least ask the Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humberwho I know has had many discussions about the matterto meet me urgently to discuss these workers jobs? Ms Harman: I entirely take the point that my hon. Friend has made. He is absolutely a champion for people employed in his constituency, and he is understandably very concerned about the Jarvis employees who have been made redundant. I will ask the Secretary of State for Transport and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills to meet him so that he can discuss how to reassure his constituents and lay their concerns to rest. Alistair Burt (North-East Bedfordshire) (Con): The right hon. and learned Lady may recall that, at the last business questions, I made an intervention about the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill,
which I was promoting. In response, she saidaccurately perhaps, but slightly sharply for herthat I was earnest but not relevant. She has included the Bill in the wash-up, so may I thank her most warmly on behalf of all those, both in the House and outside, who have promoted it? I ask her to do her very best to ensure that the Bill goes through, given that the official Opposition have always supported it. Ms Harman: I was going to apologise for making perhaps waspish comments to the hon. Gentleman, but unfortunately I cannot remember at all the exchange that we had. However, he is right to say that the Bill is important, and he has played an important role in it. With the support of all sides of the House, it will become an Act of Parliament. Mr. Tom Watson (West Bromwich, East) (Lab): I would have found the delegation to a Committee of controversial elements of the Digital Economy Bill more reassuring had I not seen item 12 on todays Order Paper. The Draft Conditional Fee Agreements (Amendment) Order 2010 was rejected by a Committee last Thursday but, less than a week later, it is being reintroduced by the Secretary of State for Justice. Even at this late stage, will my right hon. and learned Friend consider making representations to remove those controversial measures from the draft Bill? Ms Harman: My hon. Friend can be reassured that the motion on the Order Paper to which he refers will not be moved today. It might be on the Order Paper now, but it is not going anywhere. Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon) (LD): On 11 March, the right hon. and learned Lady said that
it is gratifying that there were very big majorities in the House last week to resolve this matter and move forward. We have the resolutions of the House. My task now is to make sure that the House is given an opportunity to endorse the Standing Orders that will give effect to them. My mandate is the will of the House as expressed in the resolutions. We need Standing Orders to give effect to themnothing less.[Official Report, 11 March 2010; Vol. 507, c. 433.]
Through you, Mr. Speaker, may I urge the Leader of the House to explain why she is reneging on a commitment that she gave for two weeks runningthat if there were objections to the Standing Orders, they could not go through on the nod and that she would make time for the will of the House to be made clear? In her own words, it is her duty and responsibility to ensure that that happens. Ms Harman: First, we should remind ourselves that the overwhelming majority of the Wright Committees important proposals have gone through. Secondly, we have drafted the Standing Orders that give effect to the will of the House, and it is disappointing that they are being blocked. However, the Standing Orders have been drafted and are available for the House, and there will be an opportunity when the House returns for them to be put into effect. The objections are there. If they are taken off the Order Paper, they can be dealt with and go through as remaining Orders of the Day. If they do not, the hon. Gentleman should not be alarmed. All is not lost. They will remain there; they represent the will of the House, as expressed by a large majority, and it can happen as soon as the new Parliament arrives.
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Mr. Ian Davidson (Glasgow, South-West) (Lab/Co-op): Will there be an opportunity to discuss the business of Government during the election period? In particular, will subcontracts continue to be let for the aircraft carrier order in my constituency? Given that the Royal Navy and the aircraft carrier are under threat from the official Opposition, it is obviously something of great interest to many of my constituents. Mr. Speaker: The relationship to the business motion is extremely tangential, but I am sure the Leader of the House will deal with it. Ms Harman: My hon. Friend will be reassured, as all Members should be, that although this country, as we know, remains in a fragile economic situation, we are on the right path. Businesses are beginning to grow and unemployment is beginning to fall, but we will continue to make sure that we take the right decisions for the future of the economy. Businesses will be able to look to the Government to be sure that we stand beside themwe do not let the recession take its course, as the Opposition would. Mr. Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) (Con): In the very short time available before Parliament is dissolved, could the Leader of the House find time for a short debate on the decision by NHS West Sussex to close two very popular dental surgeries? One is at Maywood health centre in Bognor Regis and one is at Flansham Park. The decision has baffled the 4,000 patients who are registered with those dental surgeries. I have written to the Secretary of State for Health to enlist his support, but a debate would be helpful in
trying to persuade NHS West Sussex to reverse that wrong and unpopular decision. Ms Harman: Obviously, as the hon. Gentleman will know, that is a matter for local decision making. He has written to my right hon. Friend and will await a reply. He will know that his constituents, like all our constituents, have benefited from the massive increase for NHS funding, including in primary care and dental services. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): The Leader of the House has listed approximately a dozen measures to be discussed in the next two days. She did not tell my right hon. Friend the shadow Leader of the House how much time she expected each measure to take. Will she now do so? Will she also allow the House to sit on Friday so that the Standing Orders can then be approved properly on that day? Ms Harman: A programme motion will be tabled this afternoon and will be debatable tomorrow. Mr. Don Foster (Bath) (LD): A few minutes ago, the Leader of the House told us that the controversial elements of the Digital Economy Bill, in relation to the application of technical measures, would be covered by the super-affirmative procedure. Can she confirm that it will apply to clause 11 as well as clause 18? She told the House that the Bill would go through only as a result of consensus. Can she define what she meant by consensus? Ms Harman: There is plenty of opportunity to discuss all this in detail with the Secretary of State when he brings forward the Bill for its Second Reading.
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Waste Recovery and Disposal Facilities (Public Consultation)
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Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23) 4.18 pm Nadine Dorries (Mid-Bedfordshire) (Con): I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require planning authorities to conduct a local referendum before considering planning permission for new large-scale waste recovery or disposal facilities which involve the recovery or disposal of waste from more than one county area; to provide that planning authorities and the Secretary of State must not grant planning permission if the result of such a referendum indicates that local people do not wish a facility to be developed; and for connected purposes.
In the last 10 years society has dramatically altered. Twenty-four hour access to rolling news and media and widespread and easily available access to the internet mean that todays individual is far more enlightened in terms of information than ever before. People are more aware of what is happening within their own communities and where their money is being spent. If a community requires more homes, a school or a hospital, traditionally developers have worked with local councils and provided a solution. One could argue that, via the process of democracy, local people have their views and concerns more or less met within the provision of the planning decision-making process, but that is not always the case. Often, despite extensive consultation, the wider community view may not necessarily reflect the opinions of those citizens whose lives and environment will be deeply affected and impacted upon by a decision that has been taken elsewhere and, ultimately, local people feel powerless to control their quality of life. When we live with what is recognised as a broken society, it is important that the process is reversed and that local people are once again empowered. Local empowerment is vital when the objective of a Government is to roll back the boundaries of the state to reverse what we have today, which is a big state centralising power and local people who feel helpless. We need citizens to become more involved in how their communities function and are shaped, to become community shareholders by taking ownership for the residents of today and future families of tomorrow. My party has already articulated the desire to establish local housing trusts, which will enable local people to get together, form a trust and dictate how local housing needs will be met. Local people will drive the local housing growth agenda. They will be empowered and in control. We have exciting new policies in education that will enable local parents to establish and run local schools. However, my Bill proposes a further approach when the need for larger infrastructural facilities is required in a local community. An area of Mid-Bedfordshire, which incorporates the communities of Stewartby, Marston Moretaine, Brogbrough and Lidlington, has been targeted for some time by the Government for development and growth. Not surprisingly, people who live in that targeted area would like some say in how it grows. A proposed inappropriate eco-town has already been successfully fought off by engaged and active local residents. As a
result of European legislation and the need to cease using landfill and to create energy-from-waste facilities, Rookery Pit, within that growth area, has been designated as the preferred site for an energy-from-waste plant. That has raised a number of issues. A large American companyCovantahas maximised the opportunity to enter a sham process of local consultation and public relations, to try to convince local people that it has in some way advanced as a preferred developer and operator. The company has even indicated to me and other people that it is talking to local planners, which is not the case. The fact is that many organisations may tender, and probably will do so, to build the energy-from-waste plant at that location. Bedfordshire has an excellent recycling record and already recycles 44 per cent. of its waste. I am sure that the majority of people in Bedfordshire understand the need to cease landfill and to burn what rubbish is not recycled, thereby creating clean energy in the process, but they do not understand why Bedfordshire should process the waste for Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire or anywhere elsecounties that are quite capable of providing facilities to cater for their own waste. It is time for the people who will be affected by such a proposal to be not only consulted but given a vote and the power to decide how and in what way their community and environment will alter. There is strong local opposition to the Covanta proposal, which in no real way benefits the local economy but aesthetically damages the local environment. From many of the beauty spots in MidBedfordshire, the Millennium park, Ampthill park and Houghton house and, indeed, the home of my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), the Covanta proposal would blight the landscape, and all will be able to see the proposed development. The hope of Mid-Bedfordshires economic growth targets being attained via tourism would be dashed in one planning approval. The already congested M1 and A421 would become blocked with the congestion and fumes from lorries carrying waste from other counties. They would use the same motorway junction as the traffic for the proposed Center Parcs site, which has yet to be built, and the assessment of the traffic on that junction has yet to be carried out. The size and scale of the proposed Covanta site make landscaping and disguise almost an impossibility even after five years of established growth and screening. The building would be half the height of Big Ben, which stands at around 80 metres high, and the chimneys of the proposed plant would stand at 145 metres. Mid-Bedfordshire cannot boast many hills, so I hope that the comparison with Big Ben and our flattish landscape provides some perspective on the visual impact that such a facility will have. Therefore, given the enormous negative impact that a waste facility catering for more than the requirements of Bedfordshire would have on people living in and around the designated area, those people should be given a greater say in what happens. The Bill proposes holding a local referendumthe results of which the Secretary of State would honourthat would genuinely harness local opinion and allow a yes-or-no decision to be taken on the size and capacity of such a facility. Facilities of Covanta proportions can be disguised in the wonderful, large-scale USA, but England is a fairly small island that is already becoming over-populated.
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[Nadine Dorries] We have no capacity for a facility of the size of the Covanta proposal. We have no spare air in Bedfordshire for errors of toxic fumes, we have no vista or horizon large enough to accommodate a facility the size of the Covanta proposal, and local people are running out of patience. Residents not only will have to deal with fumes and pollution from backed-up lorries on the A421, but will experience light pollution as the area will be plunged into almost perpetual daylight. Very few jobs will be created by the facility and there will be very little benefit to the economy. Overall, one can only envisage a damaging and negative effect on the daily life of local residents. Residents do not say that there should be no such facility; they believe that a facility is required to deal with Bedfordshires waste, but not one of the size proposed, so they would like more say about what happens in their local area. Question put and agreed to. Ordered, That Nadine Dorries present the Bill. Nadine Dorries accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 23 April, and to be printed (Bill 102).
Digital Economy Bill [Lords]

[Relevant Documents: Third Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, on Channel Four Annual Report, HC 415, and Fourth Report from the Committee, on Future for Local and Regional Media, HC 43; and Fourth Report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, on Broadband, HC 72.] Second Reading 4.27 pm The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. It is important to acknowledge at the outset that the timing of our Second Reading debate is unusual, as I think that we would all accept, and I shall set out more detail about that in a minute. The substance of what we are considering, however, is how we protect and build on the great British success stories that are our digital and creative sectors. The United Kingdom is now No. 1 in the world in those sectors, measured as a proportion of our gross domestic product. The creative industries have grown at twice the rate of the economy as a whole over the past 10 years, and they should do so again over the next 10, thus helping to create many of the jobs of the future. The speed of that growth has been more than matched by the speed of technological change. Many of us will be carrying communications devices that we could not have imagined even five years ago. Hon. Members might even be using them as I speak, given that the rules in this place were sensibly relaxed a few years ago. Mr. Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con): What about pagers? Mr. Bradshaw: Pagers are long obsolete, as the hon. Gentleman will know. Most of us, and certainly our children, are consuming music, film, books and other creative content in ways that would have baffled previous generations. The digital revolution has brought huge benefits and opportunities for a country such as Britain that is creative, innovative and flexible, but such rapid change also brings challenges. The overriding challenge that the Bill tries to address is that of keeping the legal framework that applies to our digital and creative sectors up to date in such a fast-moving world. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Will the Secretary of State be kind enough to explain why his name did not initially appear next to the statement on compatibility with the European convention on human rights? Is there a mysterious reason, was it an oversight, or did the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), who is sitting next to him, just get there slightly ahead of him? Mr. Bradshaw: I am sure that there is an innocent explanation. Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): My right hon. Friend is right to mention the success of the creative industries. With reference to our children, the industry must act responsiblywith respect to video games, for example. Such responsibility must accompany the success of the digital revolution.
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Mr. Bradshaw: Indeed, and there are important provisions in the Bill that will help strengthen the protection of children in respect of video games, about which I shall say a little in a moment. It is not ideal that the Bill is not likely to enjoy full debate through its Committee stages in the House, but at the end of a Parliament there are always Bills to which that applies. This was the case in 2005 with a number of Bills, including the Gambling Act, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act and the Disability Discrimination Act, none of which was completely uncontroversial. Mr. John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford) (Con): Will the Minister give way? Mr. Bradshaw: I give way to the Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Mr. Whittingdale: I am grateful to the Secretary of State. I was the shadow Secretary of State during the wash-up last time, when the Gambling Act was considered. That Bill had undergone full scrutiny in Committee of the House of Commons. Can the right hon. Gentleman give an example of a major Government Bill that generates substantial opposition that has a Second Reading one day and goes into wash-up for completion the next day? Mr. Bradshaw: I do not want to read out the entire list of Bills. I have a much longer list, but I will let the hon. Gentleman have it and he can refer to it in his speech, if he wishes. If the Bill gets on to the statute book, it will be with the co-operation of the main Opposition party and, I hope, the Liberal Democrats and others too. One of the Bills strengths is that most, if not all, of it enjoys a good level of cross-party support. If it did not, its prospects of surviving the wash-up negotiations that will take place between now and Prorogation would be slim indeed. Mr. Tom Watson (West Bromwich, East) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend agree that there might be a deal with the Tory Front-Bench and the Lib Dem Front-Bench teams, but that the 20,000 people who have taken the time to e-mail their MPs about the Bill in the past seven days are extremely upset that the Bill will not receive the scrutiny that it deserves and requires? Mr. Bradshaw: We are all aware of the e-mails with which we have been inundated in recent days. I am sure my hon. Friend is also aware of the competing newspapers adverts today from the unions and trade organisations representing those who work in the creative sector who, with respect, probably number hundreds of thousands and feel it is important that the work that they create is not devalued by an issue that we will shortly discuss in more detail. They feel just as strongly that they need the legislation now as the people he mentioned think we should not pass it. John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD) rose Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire) (Con) rose Mr. Bradshaw: No. I shall make some progress. Many hon. Members want to speak in the debate, and if I take too many interventions, they will not get the chance to make their speeches.
It is not true to say, as some have claimed, that the provisions of the Bill have not already been the subject of considerable discussion. Many of them have been heralded for some time in the reports of Select Committees of both Houses, including our own Select Committee chaired by the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale). Many of them were contained in the Governments Digital Britain White Paper published last summer after a years meticulous work by my former ministerial colleague, Lord Carter. That report was subject to a full public consultation and rigorous scrutiny by the relevant Select Committees of both Houses. More recently, the Bill passed through the other place which, as I am sure hon. Members will recognise, contains a large number of peers who show a great interest in these matters. That is perhaps why the Bill took a month longer than we would have hoped to complete its Lords progress. It was debated for 12 full daysmore than 50 hourson the Floor of the other House, during which some 700 amendments were tabled. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House reminded colleagues in Business questions, it had more debating time in the other place than any other Bill in this parliamentary Session. Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Will the Secretary of State look back in history and see what happens to legislation that gets pushed through the House quickly, without consultation? It looks as though we could push some measure throughperhaps there will be a little stitch-up between the three Front-Bench teamsbut out there, ordinary people, many of whom have only begun to realise the repercussions of the Bill, will feel totally let down by Parliament, just before a general election. Mr. Bradshaw: With respect to my hon. Friend, I suggest that in her constituency many ordinary people, as she refers to them, who work in the film, TV and creative sectors desperately want this Bill, and their voices should be heard, too. Several hon. Members rose Mr. Bradshaw: I give way to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff), the Chairman of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. Peter Luff: Does the Secretary of State acknowledge also the role of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in this Bill and, in particular, the report that is tagged to this debate, the Committees report on broadband, to which Ofcom has had the decency to reply in time for the debate, but to which sadly the Business Department, despite having a response ready, has not actually responded? It would have been good to have had this debate on the basis of the fullest available information, and I urge the right hon. Gentleman to reflect on the lack of detail available to Members in scrutinising the Bill. Mr. Bradshaw: I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), will want to respond to the hon. Gentlemans point when he sums up at the end of the debate.
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Alun Michael (Cardiff, South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op): Will my right hon. Friend give way? Mr. Bradshaw: I shall give way one more time and then make some progress. Alun Michael: Does my right hon. Friend accept that what is important in terms of this Bill is putting a framework into place, and that there needs to be a good deal of flexibility thereon? I heard one person this morning criticise the fact that Ofcom will produce guidance in consultation with the other parties, but I thought that that was a potential strength of the Bill. Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend is absolutely right about that. During the Bills passage through the other place, 700 amendments were tabled. The Government listened to the concerns that were raised, and we either accepted a number of amendments or made some of our own. I hope that those hon. Members who have followed this discussion for some time will agree that, for the most part, the Bill has arrived here in better shape as a result. I can understand the frustration felt by colleagues that the parliamentary timetable means it unlikely that they will have the chance to get their teeth into the detail of the legislation as they would have liked, but I hope that the House will support the Bills Second Reading and recognise both the importance of passing many of these measures now and the potential damage to our digital economy and our creative industries if we fail to do so and there is further delay. Let me turn to the contents of the Bill. I have already outlined to the House the importance of the digital economy and our creative industries to Britains economy. But, hundreds of millions of pounds a year is haemorrhaging from our creative industries because of unlawful file sharing, and that is not a harmless or victimless activity. It deprives our musicians, writers, film makers, actors and other artists of their livelihood, and if we do not do something about such activity it will pose a serious threat to our creative sectors and Britains leadership in them. We believe that the provisions in the Bill balance protection for our creative artists with a fair deal for consumers without trampling on the openness that makes the online world the gateway to new experiences and greater democratic freedoms. The Bill introduces obligations on internet service providersthe ISPsto send letters to subscribers who are linked to an alleged infringement, and to record the number of notifications with which each subscriber is associated. Copyright owners will be able to apply for a court order to access the names and addresses of alleged serious infringers and take targeted legal action. We expect that those initial measures will be effective and anticipate that, on receipt of such letters, the vast majority of subscribers will seek legal alternatives. There is research and real-world experience to back that up. The Bill also introduces a power to impose on ISPs a further obligation to apply technical measures against the most serious infringers. To give the initial obligations time to work, those measures cannot be introduced for 12 months from when the code comes into effect. Any decision to introduce them would be based on a careful examination of the evidence, including an assessment and a progress report from Ofcom. That includes looking to see whether copyright owners have played their part in relation to education and developing legal offers.
John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): Although I accept everything that my right hon. Friend says, and accept everything behind those comments, my great fear is that we will turn children into criminals. The Bill is not supposed to do so, but there is nothing in it to protect the child in such cases. Mr. Bradshaw: With respect, I must say that my hon. Friend is wrong. The Bill does not contain any provision that turns children into criminals. The safeguards that I have already outlined, and will continue to outline, ensure that that is not the case. The measures to which I was referring would be introduced only after warnings to subscribers and in conjunction with a clear route of appeal. Although a technical measure might include temporary suspension of accounts, it will not involve permanent disconnectionas has so often been misrepresented. Mr. Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP): Will the right hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Bradshaw: I shall not. I shall make some progress if the hon. Gentleman does not mind. I have focused on measures to tackle unlawful file sharing, but we have stressed all along the importance of developing legitimate paid-for downloading models. The problem, however, is that those will become widespread and sustainable only if there is a proper legal framework to tackle unlawful downloading. Mr. Brian Binley (Northampton, South) (Con) rose Mr. Weir rose John Hemming rose Mr. Bradshaw: No, I shall not give way. Many people want to speak in this debate and I want to make progress so that they get the chance to do so. Unlawful file sharing using peer-to-peer networks is not the only way in which copyright can be infringed online; according to industry estimates, about a third of current infringements are already carried out in other ways. Originally, the Government wished to future-proof the legislation with what used to be clause 17, which would have provided powers to take action against other forms of online infringement. That clause, however, was too much for Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers in the other place, who tabled a new clause 18 to allow site blocking. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) smiles, as well he might; he wrote the clause and has since disowned it. I shall come to that in a moment. The Government had problems with that clause for a number of reasons, as did both Opposition parties subsequently. The hon. Member for Bath was so monstered at the Liberal Democrat spring conference for having proposed such a draconian measure that he did not even dare turn upneither did his noble Friend in the House of Lords. They were both so monstered in their absence for having supported such a draconian measure that they now appear to have changed their whole position on the Bill. No doubt the hon. Gentleman will explain himself in due course.
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To accommodate the changing positions of the Opposition parties, we have drafted the current clause 18, which is far more proportionate than what was suggested by the hon. Gentleman. It would require full consultation and the approval of both Houses by super-affirmative resolutions. I hope that that will meet the approval of the House. One of the other big challenges that we face in the digital age is how to protect and guarantee television and radio content that the public want and value. As has been highlighted again today by the Select Committee report, the issue is most acute in the case of regional news on ITV in England and ITV news for the nations in Scotland, Wales and, to a lesser extent, Northern Ireland. The Bill will secure the future of quality news on ITV in the regions and nations of the UK. Just before Easter, I was delighted to announce the three preferred bidders for pilots for these new independently funded news consortiums in Scotland, Wales, the north-east of England and Scottish borders. I deeply regret the position that the Conservative party has taken on the issue. I do not know anyone in the media world who believes that the market will secure the future of the quality TV news that the public expect. At this late hour, I appeal to the shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to think again before he signs what could be the death warrant for plurality in the regions and nations news. Other measures in the Bill are aimed at securing a healthy and diverse future media landscape and include an updated remit for Channel 4, ITV and Five, so that they can respond more flexibly to changes in the market and peoples viewing habits. The Bill not only deals with the creative and broadcasting content that we value; it also helps to modernise our digital infrastructure. The switchover to digital radio has probably aroused more interest than any other issue in the Bill except that of unlawful file sharing. The target date of 2015, set by the Government, is an incentive not an ultimatum. We have made it clear that a decision on digital switchover will not be made until national DAB coverage is comparable to that of FM, until local DAB reaches 90 per cent. of the population and all major roads and until 50 per cent. of listening is through digital means. Once all those criteria have been satisfied, there will be at least two years before switchover takes place, at which point we expect coverage and listening to reach nearly universal levelsthat is, about 98.5 per cent. judged by television reach. The Bill also implements the recommendations of Tanya Byron on the classification of video games, an issue referred to a little earlier. It enhances Ofcoms duties on investment in infrastructure and public service media content. It provides the regulator with additional powers to support the modernisation of the mobile network spectrum. It supports the efficient and effective management and distribution of internet domain names and updates the regulation of copyright licensing and public lending rights for the digital age. The Bill will ensure that Britains digital economy and creative industries can build on their success, continue to thrive and lead the world. I commend it to the House. 4.44 pm Mr. Jeremy Hunt (South-West Surrey) (Con): This afternoon, on the very day when time has finally been called on a weak, dithering and incompetent Government,
we are faced with a weak, dithering and incompetent attempt to breathe life into Britains digital economy. One does have to admire the Governments chutzpah, because one of their five key election pledges is apparently to build a high-tech economy. This afternoon the country will be able to judge them by their record, because we have an entire parliamentary Bill setting out their vision one of the very last that this Parliament will debate. Instead of a big, ambitious vision for this country, we have a digital disappointment of colossal proportions. As well as the controversial measures it does contain, we should not forget what it does not contain, because it is a catalogue of ducked decisions. The Government have ducked sorting out digital radio switchover, which the Secretary of State has just talked about. They are giving Ministers the power to switch over in 2015, yes, but without taking any of the difficult measures necessary to make it practical or possible. They have ducked reforms to help our struggling local newspaper and radio sector, when local newspapers are closing every week and local radio stations are losing so much money that their very existence is being cast into doubt. The Government have ducked reforms to give Britain a credible path towards super-fast broadband, leaving us languishing with one of the slowest broadband networks in the developed world. They have ducked public service broadcasting reform, failing both to clarify the limits to commercial activity by the BBC and to ensure that it has strong competition from an independent sector that will still be burdened by outdated regulation. David Cairns (Inverclyde) (Lab): Will the hon. Gentleman take this opportunity, then, categorically to rule out the privatisation of Channel 4 if his party is returned to power? Mr. Hunt: I am very happy to give that assurance, because we want Channel 4 to provide strong competition for the BBC for the type of programmes that the market will not provide. We are one of the few countries in the world that has such competition in the non-commercially viable parts of the sector. Channel 4 was set up by the last Conservative Government and we are proud to have done that. One final thing that the Government have ducked, which is incredibly disappointing, is the possibility of giving the public a right to access Government data sets, which was mentioned in the Digital Britain White Paper, and which President Obama has successfully introduced in the United States. It would have been a huge leap forward for our digital economy for people to be able to access those data. John Hemming: I refer the House to my declaration of interests, which refers to my rather minor activity as a music publisher, among other things. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that in allowing the copyright that local authorities often require for Freedom of Information Act purposes, the Government have gone one step worse? People can be cut off for looking up freedom of information on the net. Mr. Hunt: I share the hon. Gentlemans concerns. The presumption should be that the public have a right to see Government data sets unless there is a very good reason why they should not. Allowing members of the public to mine those data has huge potential in all sorts of ways.
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Mr. Mark Lancaster (North-East Milton Keynes) (Con): On the subject of the Government ducking issues, does my hon. Friend not feel that it is incumbent on them to outline exactly which elements of the Bill will be subject to the super-affirmative procedure that the Leader of the House referred to earlier? Mr. Hunt: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and there is another reason, which I shall come to in a minute, why we need to be clear about what safeguards the Government are going to put in place. Peter Luff: I cannot resist the pun: another of the ducked decisions is on ducts. Is my hon. Friend aware that access to ducts other than BTsfor example, waterways and sewersis currently outside Ofcoms powers? Its response tells us that
regulatory intervention in relation to infrastructure beyond the telecommunications sector would be a matter for the Government.
The Bill should be explicit about that, to achieve the investment in broadband that we want. Mr. Hunt: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, and indeed the Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, which he chairs, wrote an excellent report on that very topic. If we are to stimulate investment in next-generation fibre networks, we need to break open all the infrastructure monopolies, whether on pylons, water mains or sewers, not just those on BTs ducts and pipes. That is the only way that we can stimulate such investment, and it could have been in the Bill, because it requires primary legislation. It is not: another opportunity has been missed. All too often, where the Government have suggested change they have resorted to the Labour comfort zones of tax, regulation and subsidy as the answer to every problem. On tax, there is a phone tax to pay for nextgeneration broadband, which means that older people who do not use the internet will be paying for younger people who want faster connections. Even on the Governments own figures, such a tax would put 200,000 people off taking up a broadband connection. On regulation, the Governments reliance on Government levers is so heavy that Ofcom is mentioned 187 times in just 50 clauses of this Bill. Mr. Sin Simon (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab) rose Mr. Hunt: I shall give way in a moment. On subsidy, we find the misguided attempt to prop up ITV regional news by tapping into the BBC licence fee. As a former US President once said, the trouble with government is that it always thinks:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidise it.
Mr. Hunt: First, I should say that I am prepared to concede that some progress has been made in opening up Government data sets, but the process needs to go much further. The law needs a presumption that the public can access those data, rather than a presumption that they cannot unless there is a very good reason for them to do so; a big psychological shift needs to take place. There is no question of our party colluding with the Government. We have examined this Bill clause by clause, and we agree with the hon. Gentleman that it could have been massively improved had this House been able to give it proper scrutiny in Committee. The Government have had plenty of opportunities to allow such scrutiny, and it is a matter of huge regret that we have not been able to provide it. This concern is shared by the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson), by my hon. Friends the Members for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) and for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff)the Chairs of the two Select Committees and by many other Members in this House. Mr. James Arbuthnot (North-East Hampshire) (Con): Is there not one other thing that the Secretary of State ducked: an explanation of why this Bill has been started so late in this parliamentary Session, which means that we have to rush it through? The Bill includes the stuff about orphan works, which for some reason the Secretary of State did not mention, and for which he has given no explanation whatsoever? Mr. Hunt: As ever, my right hon. Friend makes an important point. Orphan works legislation is incredibly important, because there is a potentially huge benefit in being able to unlock for the public archives such as those of the British Library, the BBC and universities, but there is a big problem in establishing the ownership of the rights to those works. This Bill was an excellent opportunity to sort out that problem, but under its provisions as drafted, it would be possible for someone to remove an image and all its identifying marks, and for that image then to end up being pirated all over the world. Again, these provisions could have been sorted out and improved by proper scrutiny in Committee in the House of Commons. Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): I am delighted that my hon. Friend has drawn attention to that matter. I know that the photographic industry is terribly concerned that there is no way in which a photograph on the internet can be protected from having its provenance removed. It seems that there is a culture of, Use it now and pay laterif youre found out. That will deter photographic agencies from putting their data on the internet in the first place. Mr. Hunt: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why we cannot support clause 43. We would like to support the objectives of that clause on orphan works, but unintended consequences occur unless the wording is right, as the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) pointed out. The question is: why has a debate on such a crucial Bill been left to the very last minute? The Government could have brought this Bill before Parliament ages ago, because these issues have been in the public domain for years. Dr. Tanya Byron, whom the Secretary of State mentioned, told the Government two years ago that a new age-rating system
We find the same thing in this Bill: New Labour, new taxes; new Labour, new regulation; and new Labour, new subsidies. New thinking this is not; nor is it a new economy. Mr. Watson: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would wish to acknowledge the great progress that has been made on data sets. Just last week, Ordnance Survey released its geo-spatial data, which are the jewel in the crown for the Free Our Data campaign; I know that he would wish to give credit for that. Even at this late stage, is he determined to collude with the Government in forcing through the copyright infringement parts of this Bill?
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for video games was needed. The Gowers review of intellectual property is so old it is practically out of copyright. Ofcom wanted the Government to establish a new model for public service broadcasting regulation six years ago, but as the Government have progressively run out of steam, we have had a lighter and lighter parliamentary timetable, and instead of getting on with it, we have had endless dithering and prevarication. Mr. Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con): In business questions, I raised the point that the wash-up is supposed to be for non-contentious material. I do not for one moment believe that my hon. Friend has colluded with the Government; that is not his nature. A smallindeed, pitifulamount of this very modest Bill is acceptable to probably everybody in the House. However, it is not satisfactory for a Bill to be effectively rewritten and subjected to a super-affirmative resolution. Would it not be better for him to resist the bad bits of the Bill in their entirety and let a new Conservative Government bring in a decent Bill? Mr. Hunt: I share my hon. Friends concerns, and the principles that he has outlined are, broadly speaking, the principles that we have been following. I think that he will understand, howeverI have spoken to him about thisthat we cannot reject the Bill in its entirety, because it contains some very important measures. However, I shall come on to talk about what we will do with some of the more contentious areas in the Bill. Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): I think what people outside the House want is an assurance that the good, as well as the bad, will be properly scrutinised. If this miserable Government cannot plan the timetable to give us that time, why can my hon. Friend not offer us that pledge, on the assumption of a Conservative victory in the election? Mr. Hunt: We are stating categorically that we reserve the right to review anything that becomes law as a result of the wash-up, if we win the next election, and we will indeed review it, if it turns out that the legislation is flawed. However, the country and the digital industries that the Secretary of State talked about are in an invidious position. Legislation is urgently needed to protect jobs, and their competitive position. It has taken this Government 13 years to bring these issues before the House, and the industries are worried that if the whole thing is killed now, they might again have to wait a very long time, and that their competitive position will be eroded. The Government have left industry in an extremely difficult position. My particular bugbear is their obsession with consultations and reviews. We have had two public service broadcasting reviews, and two consultations on community radio, two on the phone tax, two on product placement, one on video games, one on regional news, one on listed events and one on spectrum. When Stephen Carter took over the broadcasting and communications brief, we hoped that that might change, but when he published his Digital Britain final report we had another 12 consultations, and even he, despite having accepted a peerage, was not prepared to stay even 12 months to see his report turned into legislation.
We agree with the Secretary of State about the critical importance of the digital and creative industriesthe largest independent television production sector in the world, the second largest music exporter in the world and, depending on how we measure them, the third largest film and video games industries in the world. When we desperately need to rebuild a broken economy in proven areas of British competitive advantage, what way is this to treat those industries, and what way is this to treat Parliamentdenying us the chance to debate, scrutinise and amend this vital legislation? Mr. Binley: My hon. Friend is a great supporter of the music industry, which at the moment is losing about 200 million a year from illegal downloads, but receiving very little help from the service providers. Will he give an undertaking that when he is the Secretary of State, he will ensure that the cost of informing infringers is shared more fairlyperhaps on a 50:50 basisto protect artists rights, and that we do more in that respect? Mr. Hunt: My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the issue of costs, because that is very important. There is a need for responsibility on both sides of this debate. Internet service providers have to recognise that they have a critical role in tackling digital piracy, and it is not satisfactory for them just to say that they are a mere conduit and can have no responsibility for what is carried on their networks. On the other hand, however, the legal costs of securing court orders must be borne by the rights holders, whether in the music, film or sports industries, because they are the ones with the commercial interest in ensuring that digital piracy is stamped out. So getting that balance right is one of the areas of which it would have been good to have had much more scrutiny. Mr. Cash: In relation to the clauses that deal with infrastructure, does my hon. Friend agree that there is a serious problem with the basic question of digging holes? All over the country, holes are being dug without the necessary degree of coherence to facilitate movement on our roads. Does he agree that if we had the chance, we would introduce measures to bring coherence to the public utilities street works codes? Mr. Hunt: My hon. Friend makes an important point, and I commend to him what the Mayor of London has done to try to bring order to that particular element of chaos. I want to say plainly to the Government that, while we recognise that some parts of the Bill will have to be let through if we are to avoid serious damage to the economy, other parts of it are totally unacceptable, and we will use every parliamentary means at our disposal to remove them. They include the additional duties for Ofcom, which are at best unnecessary and at worst completely distorting. For example, the duty to promote investment in communications infrastructure is already covered by the Communications Act 2003. Indeed, following a year-long campaign by the Conservatives, with support from the Select Committee, Ofcom did precisely that by announcing a consultation to allow other people access to BTs ducts and poles in order to lay super-fast broadband fibre. However, there are no measures in the Bill to broaden that access to sewers, water mains and electricity pylons. Where are the measures to make it
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easier to get planning approval for fibre? Where are the proposals to regularise business rates so that they do not discourage investment in fibre? They are not in the Bill. For this Government, the answer is not to do something but to lay yet another regulatory duty on Ofcom. In this case, that duty is unnecessary, bureaucratic and costly, and it will go. John Robertson: It is not for me to give the hon. Gentleman a history lesson, but he might perhaps remember what happened when the Conservative Government completely tore up the road works legislation so that the Clyde cables could be put into the ground. That played havoc with the streets of Glasgow, and even today we have roads that have never recovered from what his party did to the infrastructure of the area, thanks to all the cable and TV people. Mr. Hunt: All I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that, thanks to the actions of the last Conservative Government, we now have a cable network covering half the country that has not cost the taxpayer a penny, a satellite network covering the whole country without any cost to the taxpayer, and a deregulated telecoms infrastructure that has made our international calls the cheapest in the world. That is all because we understand how proper regulation can work. Another part of the Bill that is totally flawed covers the Governments plans for regional news. The Bill makes provision to subsidise ITV regional news by accessing the licence fee. Our starting point has to be, however, that our local media are in crisis, that newspaper and commercial radio groups are under severe pressure, and that we have never had proper local television in this country. London, Ontario has two local TV stations, despite being one twentieth the size of our London, which has none. Birmingham, Alabama has eight local TV stations, despite being only a quarter the size of our Birmingham, which has none. So will the Bill sort that out? No, it will not. Instead, Government subsidies will solidify the old, failed regional news model, encouraging media groups to put all their energy into lobbying Ministers for more subsidy, rather than finding models that attract viewers and listeners in the marketplace. Instead of measures to stimulate investment, innovation and change, the Bill proposes plans for regulation and subsidy that are so flawed that even ITV now thinks they will make a bad situation worse. ITV is right, and that clause will go. We have already mentioned another fundamentally flawed proposalclause 43, which deals with orphan works and extended licensing. These measures have the right intention, and with proper scrutiny could have yielded huge benefits for consumers and authors alike. Kate Hoey: Will the shadow Secretary of State reiterate a point? He probably realises that the UK photography industry has got together, is well organised and is keen to work with the Government to secure legislation that is right; what they do not want is something to be pushed through. Will the hon. Gentleman reiterate what I thought I heard him say earlierthat the Conservative Front-Bench team would not allow clause 43 to go through?
Mr. Hunt: I am happy to reiterate my opposition to clause 43, and to say that we are not prepared to let it through as part of the wash-up process. What is needed is a proper reform of copyright law, and my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie) has said that under a new Conservative Government he will ensure that such proposals are put before the House. Let me provide an example of where this is already going wrong. An image of none other than the great Lord Mandelson himself is apparently being used to market a Russian vodka, with the caption, When only the best is good enough. If ever we needed proof that captions to pirated images can be misleading, surely that is it. We cannot support these measures as they standbut what an opportunity has been wasted. Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): The hon. Gentleman has been explicit in saying that his party will resist clause 43, and some other parts of the Bill, in the wash-up. He has not been explicit, however, about clauses 10 to 18. If I understood him correctly, he said that if they did not work he would change them when the Conservatives were in government. Can he therefore explain the difference? Mr. Hunt: I absolutely can explain the difference. The measures to which the hon. Lady refers are so critical for the 2 million jobs of people employed in the digital and creative industries that there would be an economic cost if we were to delete all the relevant clauses there. I would not want to look those people in the eye and say that we had done nothing to help them. These measures are imperfect and I am concerned that they will not be effective, but I am satisfied that on the balance of our responsibilities to the people working in these industries, the sensible thing to do is to let them through but give a clear undertaking that if a Conservative Government are elected, we will amend, change or delete measures as necessary with the utmost speed, to ensure that they do not do the kind of damage about which I know hon. Members throughout the House are concerned. Mr. David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): I am full of admiration as my hon. Friend has striven to make the Bill workable, but I am still concerned about the unintended consequences highlighted by the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey). Is he saying that he is going to allow these elements of the Bill through, but then, if the Conservatives are in government, create a new parliamentary opportunity to review them, or is he going to take a chance on them not working? I have to say that if it is taking a chance on them not working, I will not vote in favour of the Bill. Mr. Hunt: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his intervention. I share his concerns about the process, but if he looks at the measures he will see that there are quite long time gaps before it will be possible for a Secretary of State to lay regulations before the House to allow, for example, for the suspension of internet accounts. There is a period of time during which we can come to understand the likely impact of these regulations and how they could be framed in order to avoid unintended consequences. One thing that particularly concerned me about the drafting of the regulations at an earlier stage was the chilling possibility that a rights holder could contact an internet service provider directly and say, Were concerned
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about this website. If you dont block access to it well get a court order, and youll be lumbered with the costs because you havent behaved reasonably. My hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley), who was here earlier but is no longer in his place, raised the issue of costs. It is very important to frame costs issues so that only where a court order has been properly obtainedin other words, where there has been due processcould access to a website be blocked. To answer my right hon. Friends question, yes, we absolutely are making a commitment that if these regulations are flawed and have unintended consequences we will bring measures before the House as a matter of urgency; it is incredibly important to get them right. Mr. Don Foster (Bath) (LD): I note the hon. Gentlemans point about ensuring that if these measures go ahead the regulations that follow will have to be absolutely right. Does he therefore agree that clause 11 should include a requirement for a super-affirmative resolution, not only stipulating that there must be more consultation but providing an amendable resolution for the new House then to be able to consider and, if necessary, amend? Mr. Hunt: I would like to know whether the hon. Gentleman is asking for a super-affirmative resolution on the clause that his party proposed in the House of Lords but is now campaigning against, because I am not sure that the original intention behind super-affirmative resolutions was to clear up the mess caused by Liberal Democrat YouTube U-turns. However, we want proper safeguards for all these measures, and particularly measures involving copyright infringement, because we have to ensure that they are used only in extremis. Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con) rose Mr. Hunt: I shall give way, but for the last time. Robert Key: Is my hon. Friend content with clause 31, on the digital switchover? It is estimated that the costs to the consumer will be 800 million, and there is no sign of manufacturers of DAB radios producing cheap radios, no estimate of the cost of throwing away millions of existing FM sets, no sign that the motor car industry is going to come up with the goods[Interruption.] A Labour Back Bencher says, Yes there is, but I have read all the papers and although there are one or two pious hopes, there is nothing more than that. This will be extremely expensive, and the 2015 deadline is unattainable. Is my hon. Friend content, therefore, or will we make some further promises? Mr. Hunt: I share my hon. Friends concerns, because I think that clause is so weak that it is virtually meaningless, as it gives the Secretary of State the power to mandate switchover in 2015 but the Government have not taken the difficult steps that would have made that possible, such as ensuring that the car industry installs digital radios as standard, as my hon. Friend suggests, and that there is proper reception on all roads and highways. As a result, a lot of people are very concerned that 110 million analogue radios will have to be junked in 2015. In particular, I would have liked the Government to find out whether we could move from DAB to the DAB plus technology, which most people think will be far more effective. If they had done that, this measure would not threaten smaller local radio stations.
Mr. Simon rose Mr. Hunt: I will give way to the former Minister with responsibility for creative industries, and then I will make some progress. Mr. Simon: Given the hon. Gentlemans desire to move to DAB plus, what does he suggest the 8 million people in this country who have bought very expensive DAB radios should do? Mr. Hunt: First, let me say that when the hon. Gentleman stepped down as Minister for the creative industries, it was a great shame that he was not replaced. It would have helped in the sensible framing of the Bill if we had had a Minister with that responsibility now, but there is none. The answer to the hon. Gentlemans question is simply this: when we migrate from one technology to anotherwhether analogue to DAB, or DAB to DAB pluswe need some kind of help scheme, as we have with TV digital switchover, but there is no mention of a help scheme in this Bill. That serves to highlight why the Government have ducked the important decisions. I conclude by talking about what this Bill should have contained. It should have asked one simple question: what needs to be done to stimulate investment in Britains digital and creative industries by both domestic and international companies? Companies that thrive in the digital world tend to be small, nimble and fleet of foot. They thrive on competition and deregulation, not subsidy and regulation. A Conservative Government will end the micro-regulation of the broadcasting sector. We will stimulate investment in a new generation of local television, radio and newspaper companies by removing the crossmedia ownership rules at the local level. Because we want these companies to employ more people, we will reverse the tax on jobsthe national insurance increase that the Government plan, and we will go further, encouraging job creation by ensuring that start-up companies need pay no national insurance at all on their first 10 employees for the first year. We will reduce corporation tax by simplifying complicated allowances, aiming for Britain to have one of the most competitive tax rates in Europe. That will help all companies, but in the creative and digital space people need something morea proper digital infrastructure. By considering some of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, we will deregulate access to BTs ducts and pipes, as well as water mains, sewers and pylons, and stimulate investment in next-generation broadband by other players, not simply depend on BT. Where the market will provide, we will let it; where it will not, we have said we will continue the levy on the licence fee that is currently imposed for digital switchover, to ensure that no one is left out of the digital revolution, especially in rural areas. In short, we could have had a proper Digital Economy Bill. We wanted an iPod, but we got an Amstrad. We wanted digital switchover, but we ended up with analogue switch-off. It is time to reboot Britain, and only the Conservatives can deliver that. Several hon. Members rose Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): Order. I remind all right hon. and hon. Members that Mr. Speaker has imposed a 12-minute limit on Back-Bench contributions.
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Alun Michael (Cardiff, South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op): The hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) ended his speech by referring to the fast-moving and nimble industry, and he is right in that. In my short speech I want to refer specifically to internet-related and people-related issues, and to what is and what is not in this Bill, as good governance of the internet and the part that legislation and regulation should play have been of great interest to me in recent years. Perhaps I should explain that the word interest does not mean that I have any personal interest in these issues, but that some of the costs of travel in putting the British Parliament and the UK in general at the cutting edge of internet governance have been met by Nominet, the not-for-profit company that is the UKs domain name registry, and by EURIM, the not-for-profit company that brings together parliamentarians and industry in large numbers to address the public and industry interests in information and communications technology issues and that works with other all-party groups for that purpose. I welcome the framework for domain name registration offered in the Bill and I note specifically that an undertaking was given in the other place that the powers that are given to Government would be used only if necessary. I hope that my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will reinforce that undertaking when he sums up the debate. My interest arises simply because the internet is now enormously important to every single one of us, whether we are technically minded or not and whether or not we use the internet. I want our children and grandchildren to be safe users of the internet and I want people to feel safe, which is essential if we are to overcome the growing digital divide. If we are to bring that about, we need standards of behaviour on the internet, just as we do in the real world. Such standards need to be underpinned by legislation, which is why I welcome the Bill, but I also want to warn against the drift into overreliance on legislation which has bedevilled us in how we have dealt with bad behaviour in the real world for decades, if not centuries. That is not a new idea. Gibbon, in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, told us that laws rarely prevent what they forbid. As a legislator, it seems to me that legislation is precious and should be used sparingly and flexibly. The internet is so fast, so pervasive and so international that firms are often making profits now from products that they had not even started to design only a few months ago. That means that legislation will find it extremely difficult to keep pace. We, as legislators, need to adopt a different approach to deal with those issues. The Bill meets my criteria, because it includes necessary elements but demonstrates potential for flexibility. That is important because of the wide-ranging nature of activity. Ofcom has been very successful in working with industry, in working in the interests of the public and of business, and in teasing out ways of making changes over time. The Digital Britain final report, last July, was an enormously ambitious project that sought to bring together a huge number of strandsindeed, some nine or 10 Government Departmentson a range of issues which are almost as broad as the whole statute book and not just a single Bill. When I dealt with the Company
Law Reform Billthe biggest Bill in historyI thought that was complex, but the internet and the issues that are dealt with in Digital Britain are far more complex. In that regard, I am pleased that not all of that scope is being approached through legislation. We need flexibility and, I suggest to my right hon. Friends on the Front Bench, not so much consultation, but partnership. We need to bring together those who have a part in industry, users and those who are developing usage, to deal with complex issues in a speedy way that reflects change over time. There are some enormously important matters of definition behind the Bills content. There is the question of how its measures will affect small businesses, hotels, community centres and librariesthe sort of organisations that provide internet access. Those places are vital to getting people connected, to bridging the digital divide and to people who travel and move around a great deal. They are sometimes a lifeline for internet users who cannot afford their own dedicated connection and equipment. What does the legislation mean? There are a number of technical measures that public access organisations can take to protect themselves partially, but they are expensive, difficult to manage, restrictive and not difficult to circumvent. Many places may simply withdraw access rather than risk going to court or having to spend a great deal of time, effort and money on restricting or modifying their networks. That is an important point, because the greater the restrictions and the limits on flexibility, the more we build in and continue the dangers of the digital divide. A Minister in the other place sought to reassure people regarding these issues, but they still cause great worries. I ask the Government to address that area, not necessarily through over-meticulous regulation, but by working with industry, users and the sorts of organisations I have mentionedthey could use the internet crime reduction partnership, which I chairto design solutions. Let us have co-operative solutions. Let us do this together and recognise that too much legislation, and definitions that are too narrow, might produce obstructions. That different model has been tried and tested. We saw in the blocking of child abuse sitesI do not use the word pornography, because we are talking about the abuse of childrenthe great danger of an impetus towards instant legislation. People get angry about that sort of issue and say that there ought to be a law against it. Why has there not been a law? It is partly because the activity itself is illegal and partly because people recognise the complexity of dealing with the internet in that regard. What we have seen in that area is a consensus that was achieved in partnership, going back to the very last days of the previous Conservative Government. It started with industry working with the Government; Parliament providing engagement across parties; childrens charities showing enormous leadership; and, particularly not necessarily immediately, but after timethe full engagement of the industry. The conclusion that has been drawn from reviewing that activity is that we achieved far more together, in a year or so, than we could possibly have achieved in 10 years of simply using a legislative and regulatory approach. That is a good lesson. It might be comparatively simple to get unity of purpose against child abuse, as it is one of the simplest things to deal with, but agreement on issues of regulation
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and other aspects of internet use is far more complicated. However, that does not mean that we should not put our energies in that direction and seek to achieve an approach to regulation, legislation and good behaviour that depends on people working together co-operativelyin a consensus or coalition of the willingagainst those who would damage industry, society and our infrastructure. We know that those people are out there and are acting in great numbers at the present time. I support the Bill, but I call on the Government to reform the way that, going forward, its internal governance is undertaken. There is a tendency at the end of a piece of legislation to disband the Bill team and have new people writing the regulations. Instead, I hope that the Government, industry and userswider civil society, as it might be calledwill work together to ensure that we get something that matches the internets speed of development and international reach. In the internets early days, there was a mythology that it would be characterised by absolute freedom, but that idea was as fragile and unrealistic as the talk of freedom of behaviour in the 1960s. An enormous amount of internet-related activity is based on trust and the quality of relationships. We need to interfere as little as possible with the energy, creativity and imagination that has driven the internet since its birth. My plea is for a light touch from the Government, and for careful work in the international dimension to achieve the necessary protections mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State when he introduced the Bill today, without slowing the speed of growth and development, or the development of imagination and creativity. I heard one critic complain this morning that all the detail would not be in the primary legislation but would be left for Ofcom in developing guidance. That is true, and legislators are of course fearful when that is the case, but it is also a great reassurance. It offers a new way of doing things if we can avoid the temptation to fall back on Whitehalls traditional approach of definition from the centre, and look instead to securing greater engagement from the creative individuals across industry and business who have such a great part to play. Ofcom has demonstrated a capacity to work in that way. I hope that the Minister who sums up the debate will indicate that expectation of how Ofcom and Government Departments will use the powers available to them under the Bill. If that is the case, I will be happy to support the Bill going through into legislation. 5.26 pm Mr. Don Foster (Bath) (LD): It is totally inappropriate for a Bill as important as this to be given so little time for debate in this House. I should remind the House that it would have been possible to handle this rather differently. After all, there were lengthy deliberations in another place, but all stages were completed some three weeks ago, on 15 March. Since then, there have been many days when we could have debated the Bill, and I am particularly mindful of the fact that the business allocated by the Governments business managers collapsed early on a number of those days. Surely that is another reason why it would be a good idea to have a Back-Bench committee deciding the business of the House.
Notwithstanding my concern about that, I reject the view expressed by some that only a few elements of the Bill have universal support and are not especially contentious. In fact, I believe that large chunks of the Bill are important but not controversial, and that they should go through. An example would be the proposal, to which reference has already been made, to change the power of the Secretary of State in relation to internet domain registries. Another example, which has not been mentioned so far, is the proposal to extend the remit of Channel 4. Another example that has been touched on but not developed is the proposal to adopt the pan-European games information classification system for video games, and another that has not been mentioned before is the proposal to change the definition of public lending rights to include audio books and e-books. All those important measures, and many others, are in the Bill. There is a great deal of support for them, and I hope that we will find a way to get them through. I do not want to go into detail about any of those proposals, but the one to extend the remit of Channel 4 is particularly important. Clauses 22 and 23 are designed to update Channel 4s remit to reflect the changing nature of public service broadcasting in a digital age. The House should recall that, when it was launched, Channel 4 was a single, analogue, linear television channel, whereas today it has a suite of channels and services that includes E4, Film4 and channel4.com. Mr. Redwood: Is it not an unprecedented discourtesy to the House of Commons for a Government to introduce the Second Reading of a substantial Bill after they have announced that we need a general election? What kind of treatment of the House of Commons is that? Mr. Foster: I agree entirely with the right hon. Gentleman. As I pointed out earlier, given the enormity of the Bill and the important provisions it contains, it would have been perfectly possible to timetable it much earlier so that we were not in the difficult situation in which many of us now find ourselves. However, that does not prevent us from getting on with some of the important provisions, not least in relation to upgrading the remit of Channel 4. It is worth reflecting that nothing commissioned by Film Fourfrom My Beautiful Launderette to The Last King of Scotlandhas ever formally counted towards Channel 4s public service delivery, yet the channel has been a huge catalyst in developing the creative industries in this country and the Bill now makes it a formal requirement that the role be continued. It also makes it a requirement that Channel 4 make a contribution in the crucial area of childrens broadcasting. I welcome that element of the Bill. Mr. Sin Simon (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab) rose Mr. Foster: I give way to the hon. Gentleman who served valiantly as a Minister for a brief period on this important issue. Mr. Simon: Having spoken so eloquently and rightly about Channel 4, will the hon. Gentleman say a few words about the new powers for the Secretary of State to vary the public service licence obligations of Channels 3 and 5?
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Mr. Foster: I will, in so far as to say that as we move into a digital era, updating all those things is crucial, which is why it is important that elements in the Bill covering such issues should be allowed to go ahead. It is equally important to acknowledge the need to move forward in respect of radio services, and not just concentrate on television. Mr. Watson rose Mr. Foster: I give way to another hon. Member who has worked hard in that area. Mr. Watson: The hon. Gentleman is a great man. I find it ironic that I so often follow him these days. He says that there is a great deal of consensus on the Bill among the three parties. If so, what is the hurry? Why do we not just deal with it straight after the election? We could do it consensually and have a proper debate. Mr. Foster: The hon. Gentleman would be right if I had total confidence that whoever formed the next Government would find time to start the whole process all over again. Where there is consensusa word used by the Leader of the House earlierit seems sensible to move forward and get those provisions on to the statute book. We could then have deliberation and debate about the controversial issues and how to progress with them. When there is consensus we should definitely be moving forward. Notwithstanding the many concerns that have been raised over the past few months about the move from analogue to digital radio, broadly speaking there is now consensus about that measure. The Secretary of State has laid down clear criteria that have to be met on listenership and coverage before the two-year starting pistol can be fired. Of course, there have been concerns. For example, some people thought that FM would be dropped, but we know that it will not be dropped; indeed, FM could become a new vibrant platform for local and micro-local radio stations and given more power. Possibly, Ofcom could start to give them even longer licences. With all the conditions that have been inserted, that is another exciting provision that we should acknowledge and accept so that everyone can have the real benefits of the digital radio era, in terms of greater interactivity and so on. The Government have done a disservice by failing to promote the real benefits of digital radio as effectively as they could. It is not surprising that the Committee in their lordships House castigated the Government for their failure. The industry could have done more. It is a pity that it has taken so long for FM to be included in all the DAB radios now on sale. It is only very recently that we have heard of the launch of the mechanism that will ensure people can have a single tuner covering DAB and FMa single EPG, or electronic programme guide. That is welcome, but the work could have been done sooner. There is controversy about some aspects of the Bill, some of which relates to the independently funded news consortiums. On the Liberal Democrat Benches, we welcome the trials that are taking place to find new and imaginative ways of filling the gap that is being created on the ITV regional news platform.
Those who have bid to become involved in the trials have already made some imaginative proposals. However, the Bill will merely give a power to a future Secretary of State to roll that out more widely if, first, an acceptable source of funding can be found and, secondly, the Secretary of State agrees to do so. I fail to understand why the Conservative party is so adamant about deleting that part of the Bill, because it does not need to do so. It could let the trials roll on, and if it is not satisfied with their outcome, it need not have a wider roll out, so the Liberal Democrats will certainly do everything that we can to help that part of the Bill to pass. I hope that just because the Conservatives are unhappy with the proposal, the Secretary of State will not suddenly roll over and say that he will drop it, because I think that, together, we can get it through. David Cairns: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Conservative partys position had some intellectual coherence when it was predicated on the notion that it would not touch the underspend in the digital switchover element of the licence fee, because that had to be returned to the licence fee payer? The Conservatives have now abandoned that principled position and will use that underspend for super-fast broadband roll out, which makes a complete mockery of their previous principled position. Mr. Foster: There is a slight mockery in respect of the Conservative partys position on BBC funding. The House will recall that, not so long ago, the Conservatives proposed that the annual licence fee uplift be frozen, but a few months later they said they did not want to interfere in the long-term setting of the licence fee settlement. They then told us that they were not going to touch the underspend on the targeted assistance scheme, but now they are doing so. Finally, they said that no money would be needed to support the roll-out of broadband, but suddenly, having opposed the Governments use of top-slicing a licence for one projectin this case, independently funded news consortiumsthey will use a top-slicing of the BBC licence fee to pay for the broadband roll-out. However, the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Vaizey) is desperate to speak, so I shall happily give way to him. Mr. Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con): I do not want to interfere in a discussion of Conservative policy that does not involve a Conservative, but at least we are not proposing an amendment in the other place and then opposing it in the House of Commons. Mr. Foster: I am coming to that, so if the hon. Gentleman can be patient for a second, he will learn all about it. Let me turn to copyright, which is one of the most controversial bits of the legislation. We have made it clear on numerous occasions that we are very keen to do all that we can to support the creative industries, which are developing faster than any other part of the economy. We genuinely believe that they will be one of the key drivers to get us out of the recession and to help this countrys economy move forward. We are therefore deeply concerned about anything that will prevent that from happening. We are well aware that a report was published only a few weeks ago, on 17 March, that predicted 250,000 jobs in the UKs creative industries could be lost by 2015 if current trends in online piracy continue. The
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Secretary of State has already referred to the hundreds of millions of pounds that are being lost to our music, video games and film industries because of illegal activity on the internet. We do not share the view of those who believe that no action should be taken to address the problems caused by copyright infringements on the internet, but the problem is that the Governments solution is predominantly encompassed in clause 17an all-embracing clause that gives huge new unfettered powers to a future Secretary of State to address such issues. We felt that that Henry VIII clause was a step too far. The Secretary of State rightly acknowledged that the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in another place ensured that that clause was dropped, but that does not mean to say that something should not be done. The early clausesthose up to clause 17contain measures to address the problem created by illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, which is responsible for about two thirds of the illegal activity currently taking place. As a result of lengthy discussions in another place, several changes were made to the Governments original proposals. They mean that no so-called technical measures, such as bandwidth shaping or temporary account suspension, will be possible unless copyright infringers are notified by letter, without there being any risk of their internet connection being affected for at least a yearthe Secretary of State rightly mentioned thatunless an evaluation of the effectiveness of soft measures is undertaken; unless an evaluation of the need for, and likely effectiveness of, technical measures has been completed; unless further consultation has taken place; unless proposed legislation is brought before the new Parliament for decision; and, crucially, unless the principle of innocence until proven guilty is maintained throughout the process, coupled with the right to appeal to an independent arbiter. There has therefore been significant progress, but even more needs to be done if this aspect of the Bill is to be acceptable, so I shall propose three additional measures. Eric Joyce (Falkirk) (Lab): I accept that progress has been made, but does the hon. Gentleman agree that it is significant, to use his word, that it would still be possible for someone to be disconnected under the Bill without the matter going to a court? Mr. Foster: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that point, and that is why I want to outline these three additional things that must be done. The first phase of the process is that Ofcom must draw up the initial obligations code. If the Bill is passed as it stands, it will be required to do that within six months, or in any period of time determined by the Secretary of State, so the time period could be very short or incredibly long. We believe that the six-month proposal is inappropriate, not least because in addition to the initial consultation, the preparation of the draft code, the consultation on the draft and the issuing of the final code, there must be three monthsconsultation with the European Union. All that cannot be done in just six months, so we propose the longer time period of nine months. However, given that there is urgency that action is takenwe cannot delay for everwe propose deleting the Secretary of States power to determine any length of time. Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): The hon. Gentleman will understand my difficulty in trying to understand Liberal policy, given the number
of flip-flops that there have been. Will he be absolutely clear about his position in the light of several reports in the media in the past few days? Will clauses 4 to 17 have Liberal support as the Bill goes through the wash-up? Mr. Foster: The Bill will have Liberal Democrat support as it goes through the wash-up, subject to the three conditions that I am outlining, each of which it would be easy for the Government to accede to. I referred to the second condition in an intervention on the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt), as well as in a question to the Leader of the House. We believe that technical measures are a drastic step that should never be taken unless it proves absolutely necessary, so the next Parliament deserves to be given the maximum opportunity to scrutinise any such proposals. We also think that an amendable measure should come before the new House of Commons, which is why we suggest that clause 11 should provide for the super-affirmative procedure, as is proposed for clause 18. The third point that needs to be dealt withit was not adequately addressed in another placerelates to universities, libraries and small businesses. The networks set up by such organisations have limited control over their users. Such organisations, especially hotels and internet cafs, provide hundreds and thousands of wi-fi hot spots throughout the country, and they will be very vulnerable to the legislation. There is often only one IP address for many terminals, as is the case in the Houses of Parliament. We believe it is important that an amendment should be tabled to deal with these concerns. The Government said that they can be dealt with in the code, but we would prefer a clearer guarantee written into the Bill. Mr. Watson: The hon. Gentleman is still a great man, but I have been around the houses a little bit in the past 10 years. What I am witnessing now are some tiny hurdles that the Minister is likely to jump over by 10 pm so that the hon. Gentleman can join the cabal of the Tory and Labour Front-Bench teams to support the Bill. I want to make it clear that he will not get away with it this time. Mr. Foster: I am not trying to get away with anything. I hope the hon. Gentleman, who supports our creative industries, agrees that the illegal activity on the internet is costing them dear. To do nothing would be unacceptable. There has been lengthy discussion of the issue for many years, and if we can get over what he describes as small hurdles with the Government, we should proceed. We will support the necessary measures. Mr. Simon rose Mr. Foster: I give way briefly, but I am keen to make progress as others want to speak. Mr. Simon: The hon. Gentleman will have seen my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) and his comrades shaking their heads when he asked whether they agreed that there was significant loss, which was damaging our economy. Mr. Watson: I was not shaking my head. Mr. Simon: Is not the bottom line that they do not agree, and do not accept that there is a problem?
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Mr. Foster: If they do not accept there is a problem, I am not with them. Mr. Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow) (Lab) rose Mr. Foster: I want to make progress and deal with the issue of site blocking. When we got rid of clause 17 in another place, we acknowledged that although two thirds of the illegal activity was peer to peer, one third involved people accessing illegal websites. We believe that action should be taken. In another place we proposed, at very short notice, an amendment that we thought would deal with that. [Interruption.] The Secretary of State laughs. The amendment became the subject of major debate, as he well knows and as he saidI acknowledge itin my party at our party conference, and among many other people as well. As a result, attempts were made to improve the amendment, but the Government assured us that they would introduce a new clause that would solve all the problems. I welcome the fact that it includes the superaffirmative resolution. However, if one looks at the details of the new clause 18, it is clear that it still contains many significant faults. Fiona Mactaggart: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Foster: No. Clause 18 penalises sites that facilitate access or that are used for or in connection with an activity that infringes copyright. That is far too wide-ranging and puts even sites such as Google at risk. There is no indication that rights holders must take reasonable steps to notify the site owner before seeking an injunction. The proposed injunction would be indefinite, which is inappropriate. Injunctions, it appears, do not cover all service providers, allowing infringing customers to move to different providers. The key fault is that there has not been enough time, as there was in relation to peer to peer, for consultation on such an important measure. Having made an effort to deal with the problem, we do not believe that it is appropriate, in the short time allowed by the wash-up, to go ahead with that clauseI am glad the hon. Member for Wantage is clear about that. The last area of controversy is orphan works. The vast majority of the people to whom I, and no doubt other hon. Members, have spoken recognise that it is crazy that so much material with no known copyright ownersso-called orphan workscannot be digitalised and made available online, with the proviso that if the copyright owner were traced, he or she would be rewarded for the work. Some estimates suggest that there are 50 million orphan works, such as oral histories, personal letters, films and drawings, held by libraries, museums and archives which have no right to make them accessible. We welcomed clause 43 when it first appeared, as it seemed a sensible way forward. Then, as everyone knows, our attention was drawn to the real problems that affected one group of people photographersand the clause became far from uncontroversial. They have given many compelling reasons why clause 43, as it stands, should not proceed. The hon. Member for South-West Surrey went through many of them, so I shall not repeat them, but if the
clause is allowed to proceed we will have to find a solution to the problems and concerns of photographers. Simply deleting it would not solve the problem, because that would prevent many good things from going ahead, so in the limited time available we hopealthough it might not be possibleto produce a series of amendments that would remove certain types of photography from the Bill. The amendments would exclude all photographs taken since 1950, allowing for the cultural use of works that are historic or of cultural value, without drawing later commercial or amateur work into the scheme. The measure would not be foolproof, but for the purposes of exclusion it would be easier to identify post-1950 photography than commercial photography. Post-1950 is a clearer definition than contemporary photography, and such an approach would help to prevent the commercial exploitation of amateur photography found online. We believe that it is possible to develop such an amendment, and we hope to produce it this evening for debate tomorrow, but I make it clear that if that approach, or something similar, cannot be found to address the concerns of photographers we will be forced to join the moves to delete the clause. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Lab): One problem with the hon. Gentlemans proposal is that many big libraries photograph original photos out of copyright in order to claim a new copyright. Unfortunately, his suggestion would only increase such practice; it would not represent a solution. Mr. Foster: I do not want to take up the Houses time, because we can discuss that issue during our debate about the amendment tomorrow. However, I hope that we have found a way of solving the problem. Fiona Mactaggart: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Foster: No, I must finish. It is crucial that we find a solution to the concerns of photographers before we allow clause 43 to proceed. In this legislation there is a great deal of good stuff to support our creative industries, but regrettably we have a totally inadequate amount of time for deliberation in this House, and in fairness we could not allow the controversial elements that I and others have raised to proceed either today or in the future. Several hon. Members rose Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I remind the House that Mr. Speaker had imposed a time limit of 12 minutes on Back Benchers contributions. In the past half hour or so, a number of Members have decided to withdraw from the debate. I am therefore using the powers under Standing Order No. (47(1), which allows for the variation of speaking time, so, if Back-Bench Members now wish to, they may speak for up to 15 minutes. My apologies to the Back-Bench Member who has already spoken. 5.53 pm Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow my great friend, the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster). Judging by what Opposition
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Front-Benchers said, I thought for one moment that he was going to be the MP for Bath and Munster, but perhaps not. I pay great thanks to the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), who is on the Treasury Bench before me. During the past 13 years, he has been most civil and courteous about all IT matters on which I have gone to see him, and he even had time last week at 9 oclock to fit me in and go through the Bill, so I thank him. I thank also Lord Carter, now Lord Carter of Parisnot just in another place but in another countryfor having had the vision to write the original White Paper. However, I sense that the Bill has not captured all of its contents, and I agree with everyone working in the digital UK marketplace: the Bill ought to have had a Committee stage and a Third Reading. Indeed, I am mystified as to why it did not start its parliamentary journey in this House, but we are where we are, as we often say. Let me note four things that concern me most about the overall vision. I cannot see how the Bill takes on India or China; I simply cannot see a single provision that does so. They are not going to settle for 2 megabytes; they are going to settle for 100and much, much more. If one talks to Tata and Reliance in India, one finds that the major cities in India aim to be far more ambitious. The situation is much easier in China: they can insist on such development, and they will deliver it, as they are doing in Shanghai, Guangdong province, parts of Hong Kong and in Beijing. If our creative industry is so important to us over the next 10 years, we should be far more ambitious. If we were having this debate in 2020 and looking back, we would say that it was pretty poor just to settle for as little as 2 megabytes. Mr. Simon: Will my hon. Friend give way on that point? Derek Wyatt: No, not yet. In January this year, Google had a problem in China, and it forgot to think about where it would take its problem. It decided then that it did not need to talk to the State Department in Washington, but it certainly is now, and the one good thing about Googles demise in China was a brilliant speech by Hillary Clinton about what the internet is and what it stands for. Her vision of what can be delivered through the internet is what is lacking from this Bill. The issue is more perplexing when we think that the Treasury gave Google a two-year moratorium on paying tax in the United Kingdom. That is staggering, and it is made more staggering when we read what ITV sent us this morning, which said:
Google will take more advertising revenue this year in the UK than the whole of commercial television.
I wonder where it will pay its tax. I doubt that it is in the United Kingdom. We should adopt a much tougher approach to the internet, so, given that we have established Ofcom, which is one of the leading communication organisations in the work, naturally my instincts were to say that the Bill ought to provide for it to have the legislative feel for the internet. Then I started to think, Hang on, how big could Ofcom get? However, it has started that journey,
given that it already has some responsibilities for the internet, so it is quite hard to take those away. However, I feel that the British Library has the most fantastic sense of what the internet is and what it can do. I also feel that the Oxford Internet Institute could also be a stakeholderI am bound to say that because I founded it. What we are lacking, and what was missing from the Google-State Department debate in January, is the forum in which todays discussion about the internet could be considered. What is more, we are not expert enough to have that discussion, so we need to find a via media of groups and stakeholders, some of whom I have outlined, with whom we could trial such a proposal and ask them to debate those issues with us. Last year was the 20th anniversary of the UN convention on the rights of the child, but that convention is about offline rights, not online ones. What a good thing it would have been if the Bill had insisted that the convention cover online rights, too. I am certain that if it had, we would have been able to persuade if not Barack Obama, at least Michelle Obama to get the United States finally to sign the convention. In that sense, I do not feel that the Bill has the overarching vision that the White Paper cogently expressed to begin with. Let me turn to the more controversial aspects of the Bill, especially clause 18. I am a writer and a former publisher who has produced television programmes and is mad on music, so of course it cannot be right to steal other peoples intellectual property. I debated my view with the Under-Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, and pointed out that we give Ofcom the right to look after radio, spectrum, mobile and television matters, but not internet service providers. Would things not be much simpler if there was a charter between ISPs and Ofcom, outlining the conditions that enable people to hold a licence in the United Kingdom? If that were to include all that we have discussed today about stealing copyright, the Bill would not be so contentious. However, it is contentious because we do not think that anything will come from it. I was opposed to legislation on file sharing, but I was in Washington with my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson), who gave a very great speech there, and I am persuaded that we should at least trial some legislation on file sharing and copyright. We have been inundated by creative people in Britain, who are desperate for us to try it. The solution is not prefect, but we should try it. The hon. Member for Bath mentioned clause 43. Listen, if we want the smartest, most creative industry, we have to tackle intellectual property and copyright together. They cannot just be shunted in as a couple of paragraphs; they are so fundamental to the reason why people write music, sing or create whatever they do. I wish that we did not have to go forward with clause 43. What we need is a brand new intellectual property Act, but we are not going to get that from this debate. I hope that the next Government, whoever they are, will see that we have to build bricks into the wall if we are going to be the best in the world in 2020. I have mentioned one of those bricks. On photography, people accessing the Getty collection, for example, get a low res, so they cannot steal the intellectual propertywell, they can, but it would be no good for reproduction. I am mystified about why photographers do not do that unilaterally. If a cost
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[Derek Wyatt] element is involved, we could say to Ofcom, Listen, deliver us a piece of software that would do that for them. That is a bit over the top, I know, but there is a way of solving the issue from a software point of view. I turn to the issue of orphan works. Extraordinarily, the simplest thing is to charge people for the use of anything, even if the copyright owner cannot be found. The money can then be put into an orphan fund, and young musicians from school, older musicians from elsewhere or writers who need help could access that fund. If and when the original copyright holder is foundthat is pretty unlikelythe money would still be there and they could still claim for it. I wish that we had done that, too. I will not rehearse every argument about the future of Channel 4 and public sector broadcasting. We have really missed an opportunity with Channel 4 by not giving its online activities a public sector role. For instance, why was it not given the opportunity to run direct.gov.uk? The channel would have made it spankingly brand new and sexy, attracting hugely greater numbers of peoplealthough the numbers are not bad as they are. We in Government always think that we have to do such things, but if we had given a public sector broadcaster such as Channel 4 a substantial part of the online world, that would have been such a challenge to the BBC; it would have sharpened its reflexes. I am sorry that that chance has been missed. In 1997-98, we were trying to persuade Chris Smith, the then Secretary of State, to bring forward the digital switchover. Everyone said that it would be a nightmare, and we fudged it over seven years. By the opening year, however, 90 per cent. of the population already had a digital TV set, so we did not need the 600 million that we are arguing about now. We are early adopters in this countrythe car industry is evidence of that, as digital radios are installed in cars. Digital radio prices are down. As has been said, we can use FM for something else. I do not think that there would be problem if we went for digital radio in 2015, and I congratulate Andrew Harrison, Lisa Kerr and Darren Henley for making a cause of the issue. Radio used to be a Friday afternoon activity for any bit of policy, and it is nice to see that digital radio is now discussed on a Tuesday. This will probably be my last speech here, and I wish the House well. Thank you. 6.3 pm Mr. John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford) (Con): I rise with some sadness to speak about the Bill. There is an awful lot in it that I support and that I think is important for the future of the creative industries. However, in almost every case there are still big questions, potential flaws and probably unintended consequences. In each case we might have been able to discover some of those issues and put them right, had we had the opportunity. I entirely agree with those who have spoken: there is no reason why this Bill suddenly has to have its Second Reading the day the general election is called. The Secretary of State says that there are precedents for that, but I simply do not believe that a controversial major Government Bill, which will have huge implications
for so many industries, has ever had its Second Reading the day before wash-up, so that it has no Committee stage whatever. Part of the problem is that the Bill does not command complete support. There are people out there who are profoundly unhappy and will try to resist some of its provisions. The fact that it will not have had full scrutiny by Parliament will mean that they will argue that it does not command full legitimacy; they will feel that that gives them more cause to oppose it and circumvent its provisions. That is sad and worrying because the measures in the Bill to protect the creative industries are important. Furthermore, for reasons that I shall come to, I have concerns that the provisions can be circumvented. It is true that the Bill has had lengthy scrutiny in the House of Lords, and some amendments passed there have improved it. However, there are profound constitutional concerns about how we have handled this matter. Lord Puttnam has described the timetable as almost insane. Our approach should be to ask ourselves what in the Bill is absolutely necessarywhat is really urgent that we have to pass now. I am not sure that we should pass any provision that does not meet that test. As my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) said, the first few clauses of the Bill, which give new powers to Ofcom, are not necessary. They could also be confusing. Ofcom is primarily an economic regulator. If we give it other duties, that will cause confusion about what its priorities should be. My hon. Friend is right to say that we should not proceed with that particular element of the Bill. The measures on file sharing are in a different category. There is no question but that piracy of creative content is doing huge damage to our music, film, television and games industries. It is already undermining the economic viability of those industries, yet we are still only in the early stages of the broadband revolution. We all share a desire to move to a world in which broadband speeds are much faster. The hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) suggested that 100 megabits would be involved, but we are some way short of that. Clearly, however, it is going to get faster, so the potential for piracy will increase dramatically. At the moment, it takes a long time to download an HD movie, but when we move to a world in which such a movie can be downloaded in a matter of minutes, we will see real problems with piracy. It is terribly important that we take measures to deal with that. However, there are real problems with each of the measures proposed. On file sharing, culprits are to be identified by asking internet service providers to identify their customers through their internet protocol, or IP, addresses. Nobody has yet explained to me how we will deal with university halls of residence; one has to suspect that a large proportion of the occupants of those are likely to be involved in illegal file sharing. Nobody has explained how we are to deal with internet cafs and wi-fi zones, all of which are proliferating. It cannot be right for us to cut off the whole of Starbucks just because one person went in for a cup of coffee and illegally shared files. The second provision, on site blocking, was introduced at a very late stage. Again, there is no question but that piracy is taking place not only through file sharing but through the accessing of illegal websites. The provisions that have now been introduced, which I assume will also
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pass, still raise serious questions. Is it proposed that a rights holder will have to take out individual injunctions against every single internet service provider? Unless they do, as soon as one ISP blocks access, the people who want to obtain illegal content will simply transfer their business to the next ISP. It is very simple to set up a proxy server. If access to a website is blocked, those in the business of distributing illegal content will set up a proxy server somewhere else; instead of going through the front door, everybody will simply come in through the back door. If that proxy server is cut off, another will follow. I support the measures because we need to send a signal that we take the issue of piracy seriously and we want to tackle it. However, let us not think that they will put an end to it. Those who are technically literate will very quickly find a way around them. I hope that the Secretary of State is right and the vast majority of people will mend their ways on receipt of a warning that they are doing something illegal, but I am not wholly confident. In the long term, we will have to look for other solutions. There may be technical meanstechnology such as content ID, which can identify the individual data coming down the network, might be a way forward. However, the real way forward is to educate people that they should not be doing something, and one has to say that we are failing in that challenge at the moment. We have to get the message across that pirating created content is not only illegal but will put businesses in real jeopardy unless people desist. I support the proposals, but I am not at all convinced that they will achieve the objective that the Government have set. I now turn to DAB radio. Commercial radio and the BBC have invested huge amounts in moving to DAB, and commercial radio in particular is now in real economic difficulties, as the report that my Select Committeethe Culture, Media and Sport Committeeissued this morning explains. There is no doubt that one burden on it is having to broadcast in analogue and digital simultaneously, and it would provide some help if it had a firm pathway to a future in which it need only broadcast in DAB. I believe that the 2015 date, which I know is not in the Bill, is unrealistic. It is sensible to set a date, but most people believe that that is probably too ambitious, because of the single problem of car radios. Yes, some manufacturers are beginning to fit DAB radios in cars, but there is a huge reservoir of cars that will not have them for a very long time. We must get to a point at which an in-car radio can easily be converted to DAB. The device that is on the market at the moment, which I have in my car, has so many wires, antennae and bits of equipment that I do not believe it will be taken up with great enthusiasm. My hon. Friend the Member for South-West Surrey is quite right to hope that one day we will have local television news services. That is the objective, but we are still some way off. The Government brought forward the proposal for independently funded news consortiums, in which my Select Committee saw some attraction, but clearly that is not going to get through this week. There is, perhaps, an alternative way now. The new chairman of ITV has indicated that he might be willing to continue to provide regional news, which is a welcome development, but he will need some help if he is to do that. It is clear that the public service obligations and regulatory burdens of contract rights renewal are imposing real costs on
ITV. If we are to help it continue to provide the public service programming that we want to see, such as regional news, one way we can help is to lift those regulatory burdens, including CRR. I share the enthusiasm for Channel 4 and welcome the fact that its remit is being updated. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee drew attention to the lack of accountability in the current structure of Channel 4, and I welcome the provisions that will require it to give greater detail to Ofcom about how it is meeting its public service remit. I am concerned that it is not subject to the same provisions as the BBC, for instance, on the potential impact of its activities on commercial competitors. Although it does not receive public subsidy, it is nevertheless owned by the state and needs to look carefully before moving into areas in which commercial competitors are already present. I should like there to be at least some recognition of that. There are provisions in the Bill relating to video games classification. Many Members who are currently in the Chamber will have participated in long debates about whether that should be responsibility of the British Board of Film Classification or whether the pan-European game information system should be used. That has now been resolved, although there are still one or two issues of some concern. I would be grateful if the Minister confirmed the Governments intention to recognise the potential loophole that exists in the case of sport and music videos, which are a method by which wholly inappropriate content can sometimes be viewed by people who are under age. The Government have suggested that they are willing to address that. In general, I will be pleased if the important provisions on video game classification pass on to the statute book. Clause 43, on orphan works, and the subsequent clauses dealing with extended collective licensing, have been mentioned. That is another terribly sad subject, because the wish to use some of the creative content currently locked in libraries, museums and the BBC is absolutely right. The motivation behind clause 43 is entirely admirable, but again, it was not properly thought through and there are genuine concerns about the conditions in which it will operate. There is supposed to be a market rate, but what is the market rate for a photograph that has never been used? Photographs have hugely varying costs depending on who took them, their content and their age, yet it is suggested simply that there should be a market rate. There is also concern about the so-called diligent search that the collecting agency is supposed to carry out, and how diligent it will actually be. Photographers have also expressed concerns to us about how metadata can fall off a photograph accidentally, or perhaps even deliberately through the actions of those who want to exploit it. It is sad, but there is no question but that clause 43 in its current form is not fit for purpose. In the circumstances in which we find ourselves today, without any ability to consider properly how the clause can be amended, my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Surrey is right to say that it should not be passed. That is a missed opportunity, because we have not had time to go through the Bill properly. I welcome the provisions to extend public lending right into the area of e-books, which may become much more popular in the near future. The hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) is quite right to say that they will be universally supported.
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[Mr. John Whittingdale] The final clause about which I have some concern is clause 46, which has not been mentioned this afternoon. In the House of Lords my party rightly identified what was then clause 17 as giving the Secretary of State sweeping powers to amend legislation by order and, essentially, bring in whole new areas of copyright law without proper debate. Clause 46 appears remarkably similar in that it provides the Secretary of State with general powers to amend legislation by order. I hope that that is not right, and that it is not a Henry VIII clause. I would be grateful if the Minister could confirm that, because if it is a Henry VIII clause, providing such wide powers, we should not pass it. Although there is a great deal in the Bill that I support, I still fear that some measures that will go through have considerable flaws, and that we may well have to revisit them in future. There are other clauses, which my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Surrey identified, that we should not be prepared to pass. 6.17 pm Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby) (Lab): It is rather sad that we should devote one of the last major debates of this Parliament to such a sprawling rag-bag of a Bill. It is difficult to get a solid core to bite on and a solid argument to put, because it is very much like the curates television. It is good in parts, but has large areas of dross and boredom and is bad in other parts. It is therefore difficult to come to any conclusion other than the one that a number of Labour Members have argued that we should delay consideration until a better time when we can give the Bill more serious concern and preoccupation. I heard all the Secretary of States answers about how the House of Lords has devoted its usual frenzied, hectic consideration to the Bill, full-time, for months and months, and how the Government have conducted a full consultation with all the outside interests. However, I am suspicious, because if it has had such full consideration, why are so many of my hon. Friends upset at the speed at which it is going through? Why am I getting more e-mails than I can competently deal with now that I am in half-campaigning mode, saying, This is a bad Bill. Stop it. We dont want it and we are threatened, from people more active and interested in the internet than I am? The e-mails are mainly from young people, who feel threatened by the Bill. They may be wrong, they may not be threatened by it and the procedures for cutting off their access through the service provider may be fair, just, wholesome and very effective, but they still feel threatened. It will take time to explain things to them, and to examine their worries and discuss them. When I have replied to their e-mails, their answer has always been, This is a Bill on which the big boys, the big corporations and the big businesses, which are now involved in the internet, have all been well consulted. Their voices have been well heard and they have dominated the consideration of the Bill. It is far too favourable to them and far too unfavourable to the little guy. The little guyin particular, the people indulging in harmless file sharing out of interestis how the people writing to me see themselves.
That is a complex argument, but it is true that the big corporations and big business have loud voices and that the House of Lords is a natural forum for the expression of those loud voices and opinions. When discussing the Bill we have talked about peer-to-peer transfers, but peer-to-vested-interest transfers are a major part of the process. Pete Wishart: I am following the hon. Gentlemans remarks with great interest. Does he actually believe that there is a problem with illegal file sharing, as has been outlined by the Secretary of State? If we do not take the measures in the Bill, what would the hon. Gentleman do to try to tackle it? Mr. Mitchell: My answer is simple: I do not know. That is why I do not want the Bill to be rushed through; my education is involved here, as well as the education of all the people who are concerned about this throughout the country. The House will often find it difficult to come to a verdict on these issues without hearing further explanation and having further discussion, without the Committee work that is involved and without the hearings involved in pre-legislative scrutiny, which Lord Puttnam has told us that we should have had on this Bill. So I am not going to propose an alternative solution, but I am worried that the one proposed in the Bill frightens a lot of people in the country. I want to allay their concerns and to be able to explain to them that it is not damaging and it is not dangerousif that is indeed the case. I do not know whether it is. So another argument for having further consideration of the Bill is that the voice of the young is saying, This threatens us. These people may be nerds, fanatics or zealots for all I know, but they are concerned and worried, and they will not be bullied into accepting the Bill. We have to weigh their voices, listen to what they are saying and discuss their concerns. I cannot do that and the House cannot do it if we are half in campaigning mode, if most Members minds are back in their constituencies and if most Members are worrying about what will happen to them or are thinking about the coming joys of retirementthat is a pleasant occupation, which I hope I shall not be enjoying. We cannot give full consideration to the Bill in that state of mind. Logic says to the Government and the precautionary principle says to me, If it is doubtful, if you are not sure, if you have not consulted and if there are voices that need to be heard, do not rush into doing anything. In particular, do not rush into legislation. What would a delay of another three months or so in order to discuss the Bill properly and give it full consideration do? There would be no danger in taking such an approach. A delay of three months would not produce the collapse of the creative industries, which has been held up as the threat hanging over us. This needs to be settled and discussed by the Commons through its full procedures; this should not be a rushed Bill, carried on the basis of the half attention of a discredited, dying and distracted Parliament. If the Bill is passed in that form, it will not have legitimacy and consent, and it will not be accepted in the way that it needs to be. There is, thus, a strong argument for delay. The Government say that they are going to provide for all this in regulations, but regulations do not receive the full discussion. Thus, they do not carry the full confidence of the people on whom they are imposed that having a full discussion in this House would.
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I can best voice the concerns that have been put to me by quoting from an e-mail from a woman, who cites the words of Charles Stross. The e-mail states:
This seems to be a draconian and heavy handed bill aimed at appeasing big business and I do not believe its being granted royal assent is in the best interests of British citizens.
Why is that? Well, Mr. Stross has said:

Im a self-employed media professional working in the entertainment industry, who earns his living by creating intellectual property and licensing it to publishers. You might think Id be one of the beneficiaries of this proposed law: but youd be dead wrong. This is going to cripple the long tail of the creative sectorit plays entirely to the interests of large corporate media organizations and
messes
on the plate of us ordinary working artists.
I was selectively quoting there. Mr. Stross continues:

Want to write a casual game for the iPhone and sell it for 99 pence? Good luck with thatfirst youll have to cough up 50,000 to get it certified as child-friendlyWant to publish a piece of shareware over BitTorrent? Youre
up against it there, mate

all it takes is a malicious accusation and your ISP (who are required to snitch on p2p users on pain of heavy fines) will be ordered to cut off the internet connection to you and everyone else in your household. (A really draconian punishment in an age where its increasingly normal to conduct business correspondence via email and to manage bank accounts and gas or electricity bills or tax returns via the web.) Oh, you dont get the right to confront your accuser in court, either.
Nobody can be happy with legislation passed on that basis. I wish to comment on other aspects of the Bill that concern me and I would like these to be discussed at some length. I cannot agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) in his analysis of the digital radio switchover. Clearly the industry, in the main, supports digital switchover, but of course a switchover to DAB radio by 2015 is wholly impractical and out of the question because that is too soon. It will be much more difficult to switch over to digital radio than it was to switch over to digital TV, because that process was helped by the mass subscription to Sky and by the development of Freeserve. Such provision does not exist in respect of radio, because there are 120 million radios in this country and sales of digital radio have not taken off. Digital radio is quite expensive and if we make it compulsory, that will be a heavy tax on the consumer. One of the lower prices for a digital radio is about 85, and that price has increased with devaluation. So this would be a heavy burden to impose on the consumer, and if we require switchover, it would leave about 120 stations still on FM and locked out in the cold. We do not have to switch over at this speed and we do not have to switch over to DAB because we could move to DAB plus, which would allow both services to be run concurrently. I am worried about the digital switchover for radio, because the crucial factor here is car radios, for which the technology is never sold effectively. Like the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale), my experience with DAB in the car has been totally unsatisfactory. Not only is it messy, but it is difficult to pick up a station, and the signal cuts in and out and fades away, so one is constantly having to switch back to FM. Digital car radio sales are crucial, but such sales have been low and there is no sign of their taking off.
Only 1 per cent. of cars are fitted with a digital radio, and until there is a mass fitting of digital car radios we shall not be able to have an effective switch-off. I am worried about that provision. The photo provisions have been well dealt with. The hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) mentioned the access to orphan works, which we all welcome, but let us not forget that that can be a threat to existing photographers, for whom their photography is a living and who thus need the royalties to be paid. As Tom Stoddart, a well respected and well known photographer, has said in submissions to us, the metadata that are attached to the photograph can be simply cut off, junked and lost, so there is no attribution to an author. There is no definition of the search that the photograph user has to make. It could be totally perfunctory, and used in undesirable situations and without payment to the author of the photography. That problem with so-called orphan works is not satisfactorily dealt with in the Bill. My last point concerns regional television. I grew up in regional television and I am a strong supporter of it, and the way that ITV has been treating its regional commitment is outrageous. It should have been held more firmly to the contract pledges that it submitted when it got the contracts in the first place. Ofcom has given it an easy option, and so has failed in that respect. The experiment with three new providers is a brave and effective one, and I am glad to see it going ahead in Tyne Tees, Scotland and WalesI hope it is successfulbut it does not have a firm financial base. The original hope was to cream something off the licence fee, but that has not happened. There will be a substantial cost to the operation, and an even bigger one if it is extended to other companies, as it should be if ITV is going to wriggle out of its regional commitments. The Conservative partys hope that the market will provide is laughable. The market certainly will not provide regional television; it is a regulatory requirement. It is ridiculous to argue that the ITV companies are so overregulated that they cannot provide regional television, because it is regulation that is keeping regional television thereand we want to keep it. I wish the experiment success. It is a brave idea on the part of Ministers, but it needs a firm financial base if it is to be extended to other companies and organisations, as it should be. ITVs roots have to be in the regions, because that is how it builds up its audience in the early part of the evening. Only an ITV that provides effective regional television can compete with the BBC. Regional television has increased and improved enormously over the past few years, and is now leading the field. ITV needs to fight back, and if we can help it with these sorts of provider experiments and by providing a new financial basis, we should do so. I do not want to continue at length sorting through this rag-bagone never knows what kind of smelly garments one will find when sorting through such a rag-bagbut it is unsatisfactory that we are putting this rag-bag into the wash-up. I know that hands that do dishes can be as soft as your brain, with bright, green Fairy liquid, but a wash-up is not a satisfactory way of dealing with measures as important as this to the future of radio, television, the internet, and the music and film industries. We should not be considering this at this hectic, break-neck pace; we should be postponing it for
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[Mr. Austin Mitchell] three months and giving it full and proper consideration in the next Parliament, when Labour can reintroduce the Bill and we can get back to it. 6.33 pm Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire) (Con): It is a great pleasure to speak after the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell). His optimism will ultimately prove to be misplaced, I hope, but I found myself in total agreement with the broad thrust of his remarks. The hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) talked in his interesting remarks about the lack of vision in the Bill. Legislation is not always the best place to find vision, as a general rule; the nearest we get to it in this legislation is the titlethe Digital Economy Bill. As the hon. Member for Great Grimsby said, it is a rag-bag of measures that do not live up to that relatively grand-sounding title. I cannot overestimate the importance of the Billor, at least, of the things that it deals withto the future of the British economy, society and culture. The internet has already transformed our liveseven now, as I speak, I see hon. Members tweeting and taking text messages. I welcome that, but the transformation has only just begun, and getting this right is hugely important. I have some sympathy with the Government. I was a special adviser at the Department of Trade and Industry when the then Government produced the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, and even then we were discussing, at official level, how to cope with legislation that can keep pace with environments as fast changing as those we are dealing with in this Bill. That was before the digital revolution, and the rate of change has been transformed. Nevertheless, this is the most profoundly unsatisfactory constitutional process I have engaged with in my 18 years in the House. In his opening remarks the Secretary of State promised my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) that he would write up a list of precedents, but I do not believeI could be proved wrongthat there is a single precedent for giving a major and controversial Bill a Second Reading once a general election has been announced. It is a scandal that the House is being asked to agree that tonight. I have given the matter careful consideration and I make this commitment: if there is a Division, I will support the Bill because, under a true constitutional process, it deserves a Second Reading; it does not, though, deserve what will happen to it thereafter. However, I broadly support the aims and objectives of the Bill and will vote for its Second Reading should there be a Divisionbut I shall do so under duress and protest, because I hate and loathe the process in which I am forced to participate. I was disappointed even by the length of the Secretary of States opening speech. He rattled through whole sections of the Bill in sentences and phrases, when the normal process is to explain what each clause or group of clauses will do. He gave us an 18-minute tour dhorizon rather than a serious analysis of the Bill, which denied many hon. Members the opportunity to cross-examine him on details. That cross-examination matters. It matters also that my hon. Friend the Member for South-West
Surrey (Mr. Hunt), the shadow Secretary of State, was so responsive to interventions, because I hope that he will be responsible for implementing the provisions of the Bill when it becomes an Act. Things he says from the Dispatch Box are important for the assurance they provide to the outside world. I would have liked many more opportunities to get such assurances from the Secretary of State, but because of the nature of his speech they were not forthcoming. The following is extraordinary. On 23 March, I received a letter from Lord Young of Norwood Green, the Minister with responsibility for postal affairs and employment relations. I do not think that my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford, who is the Chairman of the other relevant Select Committeethe Culture, Media and Sport Committee has received such a letter. It lists 22 letters of clarification and explanatory notes made available after the House of Lords debates. I have not had the opportunity to examine all 22 notes and letters of clarification, although I have examined one or two of those on issues of particular concern to me. Nevertheless, here is a level of detail still being explained in correspondence to the House. I have a particular concern that I believe I can drop given the limited time of my speech, I will do soabout the requirement on Ofcom to have a health check on the nations communications infrastructure and services. The directory inquiries service providers were worried that the current wording fails to consider barriers faced by consumers accessing third-party services. I understand that a MinisterI do not know which onehas corresponded with the directory inquiries providers and given them reassurances. I hope that that letter will be put on the public record, although it would have been much better to have won those reassurances before the Committee, so that the internet and business communities could have known what was being said, rather than their being provided in back letters between Ministers and special interest groups. Having said all thatI have said already that I will support the BillI believe that the Government are right, at the end of the day, to choose creativity over internet freedom. I believe that that fundamental choice, which is made in the Bill, is the right one to make. I will not labour the points made by the Creative Coalition Campaign, which I agree with strongly, about the importance of the creative arts and industries to the UK; I say simply that every industry operating in the UK is creative, and I do not particularly like the phrase creative industries. In the modern world, Rolls-Royce has to be as creative as video games providers. The creativity that the Bill seeks to protect lies at the heart of Britains future economic success, so the Governments basic choice is right. Mr. Simon: I suspect that the hon. Gentleman may agree with me. Does he not think that the choice between creativity and internet freedom is a false one? The freedom to take other peoples content is not real freedom. Peter Luff: I agree absolutely with the hon. Gentleman, whom I wish had had the tenacity to see this Bill through to the end of the Parliament, rather than giving up halfway through. However, he is right, and I shall come back to that in a moment. Some of the fears of
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the internet community are misplaced. He is also right that in a responsible society, we respect other peoples rights. I would have liked to speak on many areas, but in my brief time I shall concentrate on just four: Ofcom, file sharing, spectrum and orphan works. On Ofcom, I am personally disappointed that there is no provision in the Bill for the transfer of Postcomms services to Ofcom. That could, and should, have been part of the Bill. The transfer is logical given the convergence of technology and the fact that postal services compete with internet and broadcast technologies. That has no relationship to the privatisation or part-privatisation of Royal Mail Group. Those changes could have been made in the Bill, giving Postcomm and Ofcom the regulatory certainty that they need to plan their futures. The Bill is weak on investment in broadband. My Committee produced a lengthy report, which is tagged to this debate. As I said, the Minister indicated that the Governments response was ready, but sadly he has not been able to publish it as a Command Paper yet; I wish he had. My report deals with a range of controversial issues, one of which is not covered by the Bill at allit is in the Finance Billand that is the 50p monthly levy on telephones. I shall let out a small secret from my Committees deliberations: it was the Labour members of the Committee who were particularly exercised by what they saw as a regressive and poorly targeted tax. We are to have no opportunity to debate that provision on the Floor of the House, because the Finance Bill is also going into the wash-up, which is quite extraordinary. I would like to see in the Bill a definition of what constitutes 2 megabits per second. I know that the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey was rather dismissive of 2 megabits per second, but for many small businesses and rural dwellers, getting reliable access to a minimum of 2 megabits per second would transform their lives. It is enough for BBC iPlayer, after all, and most commercial transactions can easily be done using that speed, but it is often not available. Putting an emphasis on the universal service obligation could really unleash the creative energies and commercial opportunities that many people are currently denied. So my message to the Government is this: let us not deride the Mini, even though we all aspire to the Rolls-Royce. I am worried about the provisions relating to Ofcom in clauses 1 to 3. I am not convinced that they will not dilute its focus on consumers and competition. Sky has told us in its briefing on this debate that
the new duties represent an unwarranted, ill defined and unnecessary intervention that is likely to distort the balance of Ofcoms priorities to the detriment of competition and consumers and result in unforeseen consequences.
I turn next to file sharing. My hon. Friend the Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford, the Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, made a fine speech, and I have little to add to that, except to say that the provisions of the Bill have been misunderstood by many campaigners. They really are far less draconian than people think. A year of warning letters will precede any technical action, and such action will begin with throttling access rather than cutting it off. The cut-off will come later. There are also to be rights of appeal. I ask the campaigners to balance their interests against those of the creative industries, as the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) rightly suggested. I am always struck by what Sky has to say, and I was certainly struck by its evidence to the Committee. It has a foot in both camps, as an internet service provider and a creative content provider. I know that it had a big internal debate about where the balance of its interests lay, and it concluded that it was with the Bill, with creativity and with protecting content. Frankly, if Sky, as a big ISP, can manage that, I am sure that everyone can. However, I note its concern that
measures need to be widely applied which is why the notification obligations must apply to all ISPs and that in the apportionment of costs Ofcom should have regard to the principle of beneficiary pays, which in this case is content ownersSky as a content owner will expect to pay the full cost of participating.
There is still a debate to be had about the details of those provisions. I accept the concerns that my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford expressed about student halls of residence, although I have no idea why he should pick on students as illegal file sharers. Concerns have also been expressed by the Federation of Small Businesses, which points out that many of the problems occur
on communal computers, such as those in internet cafs, and various other small business outlets that could include pubs, shops, hotels and even home officesin short a significant proportion of our members.
It is no exaggeration to say that, unless those concerns about illegal file sharing in public places are properly addressed, this could be the end of public wi-fi, which would be very serious indeed. There could be technical solutions to those concerns, but we need to have them spelled out. Unfortunately, we do not have time to do that in this debate; nor will we have time in the Bills short Committee stage tomorrow. A full Committee stage would have enabled that issue to have the attention that it deserves. I am largely unsympathetic to the concerns of the big ISPs, but BT has made some important points in its representations, particularly that
the rights holder must show the court that he has taken all reasonable steps to enforce his rights.
There is that phrase again: unforeseen consequences. The Bill will have so many of them, and that is why it needed a Committee stage. I am pleased to have had Ofcoms response to many of these proposals. It appears to welcome the investment role that it will be given under the new powers, but it has also expressed a clear concern about the lack of broader powers to achieve the greater duct access necessary for the more commercial role in next-generation access that could be achieved by the market, given the right regulatory framework.
That, too, is something that we should have had an opportunity to look at in detail, but that opportunity has been denied. I shall turn briefly to spectrum[Interruption.] I hear cheers from my Front Bench. I am gaining a certain reputation for speaking up for radio microphones, so it will not surprise the Financial Secretary to the Treasury or the Minister with responsibility for Digital Britain to learn that I want to talk about that today. A massive windfall is coming the Treasurys way, and I am told that it is not included in the Red Book figures, so it
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is extra money to help to pay down the debt in a year as yet unspecified. There are still, however, big questions about the future of radio microphones. As the digital dividend rolls out, some people are losing out. They did not ask to move, and they get no benefit from moving. They include those in the programme making and special events sector, which brings huge social, economic and cultural benefits to citizens and consumers in the UK through a wide range of activities including film production, musical theatre, news gathering, television, sports events, live music and even church ceremonies. Indeed, I have the whole of the Church of England on my side in relation to early-day motion 323. It is still not too late to sign that motion, and I thank the 164 hon. Members who have already done so. I am confused by the Bill. The Government say that decisions must be made about spectrum allocation under the powers laid out for Ofcom by Parliament, but Ofcom has said that
the final decision on the level and basis of this funding is entirely a matter for Government.
Many photographers rely on the exploitation of the intellectual property rights that flow from their work. As the campaign group to stop clause 43 points out, the clause says that
if someone finds your photograph, wants to use it and decides that they cant trace you, they can do whatever they like with it after paying an arbitrary fee to a UK Government-appointed licensing body. Youll never know unless you happen to find it being used in this way.
We have seen graphic examples in our post and e-mail of images being used in ways never before seen. Those practices have resulted in the people who took the photographs losing money. Ironically, there has been a spectacular demonstration of that only in the last few days. I am indebted to Jeremy Nicholl, whose blog I shall quote fromor, perhaps, paraphrase; I do not want to be accused of plagiarism on this of all occasions. About last weekends now famous Ashes to Ashes Gene Hunt poster featuring the actor Philip Glenister, the blog states:
But for those in the UK creative industry there is a far more interesting question: how did the Labour party get permission to use the Glenister image? The answer is: they didnt. In the clause 43 spirit of log on, go everywhere, steal everything, the image was apparently downloaded by a Labour party activist, adapted by advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi, then approved by government ministers David and Ed Miliband. Alarm bells, anyone? The poster manages to break just about every rule in the intellectual property handbook, and with entirely predictable results. Glenister has apparently said he is unhappy about the use of his image for political purposes. Doubtless lawyers for German car maker Audi will be interested in how one of their products came to be used to promote a British political party. And BBC chiefs are reportedly furious at the misuse: We would never have given permission for any political use of one of our programmes, one senior executive is reported as saying. Quick, define irony.
There is confusion, and I wonder whether the Minister will maintain that the decision must be made under Ofcoms powers, rather than by the Governmentand, if so, why. The Government claim that they do not need to provide funding because good notice has been given, but even now they do not know what the spectrum is going to be. In Ofcoms recent annual plan, it suggested that the details for the alternative spectrum will be provided only in the third quarter of this year, some five years after the eviction of the programme making and special events sector was announced. I have spoken to the Minister about the Governments pledge that no one would be better or worse off, and I will not weary him by going over the details again today. I repeat, however, that if residual value compensation does not cover the cost of replacing existing equipment with alternatives that do the same job, recipients will be left worse off. The Government have indicated that they want to take that issue seriously, and I hope that they will. Turning to the time scales involved, why has all this taken so long? Here we are, right at the end of the process, and we still do not have answers to the really important questions. Small businesses and freelancers need to make significant investments running into many millions of pounds, but they are being left in considerable uncertainty. There is a real risk that there could be a big hiccup in the provision of radio microphone services. When they go, we will realise how much we miss them. My fourth area of concern is orphan works. The rest of the Bill seems to get it right on property rights, and it is therefore surprising that clause 43 seems to get it so badly wrong. I am an amateur photographer, although I have never made a penny from any photograph that I have taken. I am Mr. May in the House magazine calendar; I was photographed in front of Caerhays castle. I might be the election month pin-up, but I am getting no money for that photograph. I declare my interest, however.
Mr. Watson rose Peter Luff: I will give way to the hon. Gentleman. I ought to give him a chance to speak up for his party. Mr. Watson: I admire the hon. Gentlemans point. That message was mixed by Labour spin doctors, then remixed by Conservative spin doctors. He is proving the point that mixing culture and the power of sharing are new in the internet age. That is precisely why the Bill is so incompetent. We are not going to stop people sharing content with each other and using it creatively to create new things. He should be proud that young people are mixing up these images to engage in political debate. Peter Luff: Ah, that is a very interesting point. I was with the hon. Gentleman for quite a lot of that intervention, although, as a Select Committee Chairman, I try to be neutral and impartial on these matters. I thought that the reference to the Audi was a reference to my party, rather than to his. His last comment really worried me, however. I am not proud that our two great political parties are exploiting intellectual property inappropriately and without permission. I am ashamed of that, and he should be ashamed of it, too. He should not give any succour to those who abuse intellectual property. We should not forget that the BBC, as this blog says, is one of the main proponents of a Bill to allow use of other peoples images in ways they did not envisage without permission or payment, yet it is furious that without permission or payment someone has taken a BBC image and used it in a way that the BBC did not envisage.
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What is interesting is that this guy has done some research. He says that
a quick search of the internet reveals the original photograph hosted here
he has the hyperlink on his blog

complete with all the BBC copyright information: it even very helpfully has a contact number for those who wish to use the picture legally.
It concludes:
For any other purpose whatsoever, including advertising and commercial prior written approval from the copyright holder will be required.
It ends with reference to Caption writer: Greg King and provides the telephone number 0208 225 8543. Anyone up for this, gentlemen or ladies, can get retrospective permission and pay a fee to the provider of the photograph. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Peter Luff: No, I have already given way twice and I have no more time. I have considerable sympathy with those who believe in the need for a new intellectual property Act, but we do not have time for that. This Bill is the best of a bad job; it can be improved in the wash-up, but not enough. It is a shame, but we have to support it. 6.50 pm Mr. Sin Simon (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab): In common with my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt), this will be the last time I speak in the House. It would be fair to describe my feelings as bitter-sweet. When I was a Minister, I had some input into some aspects of the Bill, but I largely inherited it from Stephen Carter. The Digital Britain White Paper was published in the week I became a Minister. I would like to spend a few minutes paying tribute to Stephen Carter and the work he did on that White Paper. It is unusual in government for any measure, particularly one so wide ranging and cross cutting, to be so clearly and singularly the work of one man. This one cuts across super-fast broadband, mobile telecoms, anti-piracy, radio, public service broadcasting and Ofcom. In the months I have spent on the Bill since last summer, it has became apparent to me what an extremely impressive piece of work it was. Good government consists in surveying the scene, analysing the information, making a policy, taking decisions and implementing them clearly. I agree that the Bill, as amended, partly by me, is not so visionary a work. Given its more practical nature, that is perhaps inevitable. The White Paper, however, in the way it built coalitions, found consensus and struck balances from sector to sector, was a really outstanding and visionary piece of work. Great credit accrues to Stephen Carter for what he did. The most obviously fractured coalition in the Carter consensus revolves around the contentious and controversial issue of illegal downloading. The advocates of illegal downloadingfor that is what it ishave succeeded in painting a picture that is very seductive, but very misleading. The best way to illustrate this is by means of an old-tech linear-medium metaphor. In this metaphorical world that they have constructed, my hon. Friend the Member
for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson), who is in his place but not paying attention, is Luke Skywalker. He is the little guy, the plucky loner fighting the machine. Clay Shirky is Obi Wan Kenobi, the wise, broad, almost mystical guru figure. Peter Mandelson is obviously Darth Vader. Rather more counter-intuitively, howeverthis is where the metaphor begins to fracturethe evil Sith Chancellor Palpatine, the most evil universally bad figure of all, turns out to be Steven Spielberg. That is who Luke Skywalker is fightingthe ultimate rights holder, the acme of creative content ownership. When Spielberg turns out to be the ultimate evil, we know that the metaphorotherwise quite cleverly constructed by the freedom fightersis not just flawed, but misleading, damaging and dangerous. When Spielberg is the ultimate evil, it turns out that creativity is the enemy. It is creativity that Luke and his pals are after. Mr. Watson: Will my hon. Friend provide me with any example of Steven Spielberg being described as the ultimate evil in this debate? I have not read a single such piece, even though I revere Clay Shirky. Mr. Simon: It is not those people who couch the metaphor in these terms; I am articulating the metaphor, but the underlying truth is exactly how they seek to characterise the debate. It is very misleading, although it serves them very well. It is Spielberg and George Lucas who are the enemy, along with Andrea Arnold, Shane Meadows and talented, not rich, low-budget British film makers. Yes, the Beatles and the Stones are also the enemy, as are young unsigned bands. I am not talking about super-rich rock stars and film producers, but about struggling young musicians, ordinary jobbing and grafting musicians and film makers[Interruption.] When I mentioned ordinary, jobbing and grafting musicians, the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) was bouncing around in his seat in what I take to be agreement. The 6.4 per cent. of GVAgross value addedthat we derive from these industries is not all about big corporate fat cats, as we are talking about measures to deal with illegal downloading, which are supported vehemently by all the creative unions, indeed all the major unions. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of highly skilled, high-value and high-quality jobs. It is not as simple as Luke against the evil Sith Lord Spielberg. Having constructed a fantasy metaphor for themselves to inhabit, the young Skywalker and his wrong-headed pals set up a completely false association of two completely separate issues. In respect of the first, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property will not agree with everything I am going to say, although I suspect he knows that I am right. Copyright and licensing in this country and in the world need fundamental reform. We are in a new age, and we need completely new paradigms; the likes of creative licensing need to be extended and institutionalised; and we need a much wider, broader and more flexible system of collective licensing across the board in this country. The content industries also need to find completely new distribution models and need to work much harder at new business models. Fundamentally, they need to accept that in the future they will have to work on lower margins; they will make less money and will have to
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[Mr. Simon] work harder and do more for less. They need to get that into their heads and re-evaluate the business models. They can still survive; they can still exist; we still need them; we still need to lead the world in what we do, but they have to change radically and do it differently. I agree with all that and I believe that Luke and his pals agree with it, too. All those things are true, but it does not follow from this that it is no longer appropriate to enforce the law as it stands. Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): I am listening with great interest to my hon. Friend and I am a great follower of Star Wars. I realise now, however, that my hon. Friend has identified himself as Yoda. Mr. Simon: It would be un-humble for me to comment on that, but I shall take it as the compliment I assume to have been intended. It does not follow from the great need we have for reform that it is wrong to enforce the current law. Unlawful downloading is already illegal and has been for a long time. Copyright is not dead just because of the internet. Ownership is not old hat. Regulating the internet is not Luddite or immoral or stupid. It is technically possible, morally right and economically necessary. The fundamental issue here is the correct response to widespread lawbreaking. The answer is not to abrogate the law; the answer is to enforce the law, and that is what these measures do. Jeremy Corbyn: I understand the point my hon. Friend is making, but does he not think there is a danger that the Bill will criminalise large numbers of imaginative young people and education establishments who frequently share material on the internet and use the medium as a form of creative expression? Are we going to kill all that off and cut people off as a result of this Bill? Mr. Simon: No, it does not criminalise anybody; all it does is simply seek to enforce the existing law. We should, however, be very careful that the Bill does not have the unintended consequence of bringing about the end of public wi-fi. I was assured by the experts in the various Departments involved in this legislation that there were clearly existing technical measures that made it perfectly possible to run public wi-fi with these measures. Jeremy Corbyn: How? Mr. Simon: Obviously, I do not claim to know what the technical measures are, but when I am told that they exist, I take it in good faith that they do exist, and unless my hon. Friend can prove to me that they do not exist Jeremy Corbyn rose Mr. Simon: My hon. Friend cannot prove that to me, however, as I am not going to give way to him again because I have not got the time. Alun Michael: Will my hon. Friend give way? Mr. Simon: Very briefly.
Alun Michael: On the point about the only answer being to enforce the law, may I repeat what I said earlier, which is that finding more co-operative ways of doing things that create an environment in which people are less likely to break the law is how to bring all parties together, and that that is how we need to address the governance of the internet? Does my hon. Friend agree that that is the approach we should adopt, rather than an old-fashioned enforcement approach, with legislation and enforcement being seen as the only ways to deal with any problem? Mr. Simon: I agree, but my point is that it is not an either/or choice. We need fundamental reform and a whole new system of licensing. We need to legislate for sharing, and in future we need to do things in a different way that allows people to reshape, reuse and remix content. Alun Michael: And share in the way that we legislate. Mr. Simon: Yes, and we need to share in the way that we legislate, but that does not mean that we abrogate the existing law as if copyright and ownership all of a sudden mean nothing in this country. Jeremy Corbyn: Will my hon. Friend give way for 30 seconds? Mr. Simon: I will give way for 10 seconds. Jeremy Corbyn: Is it really right to contemplate cutting people off from access to the internet at the same time as the Government are spending oodles of money persuading people to get on to the internet and to be accessible? Mr. Simon: This Bill is not about cutting people off from the internet. There is a very long process for that, which takes at least a yearprobably more, in fact. People get letter after letter, then there are two appeals, the second of which is to a judicial tribunal. It is very unlikely that anybody will be cut off as a result of this legislation. If they are cut off, they will be the most recidivistic and unreasonable people who, frankly, deserve to be cut off. Millions of ordinary people who are currently doing something that is unlawful will stop because a new mechanism will educate and inform them about this thing they are doing that they should not be doing. This is a big Bill and I do not want to talk only about that issue, which has become very controversial. It is also very important to touch on the provisions to do with public service broadcasting. The hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) is no longer in his place, but he mentioned the changes to the Channel 4 remit. I agree with everything he said. Currently, only core channel linear content counts towards Channel 4s public service remit, but this Bill changes that. Under the current remit, Film4 commissioning Slumdog Millionaire did not count, and neither did E4 commissioning Skins. The new remit gives Channel 4 an obligation to commission and acquire original British film. That is incredibly important for the British film industry. It gives Channel 4 an obligation to operate in the digital sphere, which is obviously important, and it gives it obligations with respect to commissioning content for older children something in which we have a great history but where we are lagging sadly behind at present.
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The radio provisions are one of the best examples of the Carter success. From a starting point of great knowledge and expertise, he took a position and plotted a course to drive it forward. I think that digital switchover for radio will happen by 2015, and I think it will happen as successfully and relatively painlessly astouch woodthe transition to digital television is happening and has already happened. As for video, in respect of the Bills embracing of the pan-European game informationPEGIstandards, it is important that we in this House and the Government recognise more than ever that the video games industry is already very important to our national economy. Given the right support and value, it can be a fundamental driver of economic growth in this country over the next couple of decades. We have already done a lot through measures such as the tax incentives in the Budget, and a lot of work and investment has gone into skills and the research and development of video games. This measure in the Bill is widely welcomed as well, but we need to do more and keep driving things forward because other countries are driving harder and harder every month. Mr. Vaizey: As I am not summing up for the Opposition Front-Bench team, I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman will indulge me if I simply say how much I have enjoyed his speech, what great affection and respect I have for him, and that I wish him well in his retirement. Mr. Simon: The hon. Gentleman is very kind; I do not deserve such kindness, but he is a very old friend of mine, and I can only imagine that that is the explanation for it. In conclusion, let me just say to Stephen Carter, RespecMembers will note that I did not pronounce the t, as I believe one is not supposed to do soon an outstanding piece of work. Obviously, this is not the perfect Bill, but it is a good Bill. The Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property (Mr. David Lammy): As my hon. Friend mentioned me, I just want to associate myself with his remarks on copyright and also refer him to the copyright strategy, because he suggested there might be some distance between us, and I wanted to say that there is not. The Government accept that copyright is here to stay but is subject to further reform, and I wish my hon. Friend well in Birmingham. Mr. Simon: On all counts, I am very grateful and stand roundly corrected. Let me just say in conclusion that this is a big and important Bill that addresses a massive part of our economyit is a bigger part of our economy than of any other major economy in the world. Some of the Bills provisions are about peoples moral rights, but others are about peoples jobs and livelihoods, our national prosperity and the ability of our citizens to live in a country where they can do the kind of things world citizens should in future be able to do. This is a good and important Bill, which I am proud to support by speaking in this Chamber now, for the last time. 7.8 pm Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): I congratulate the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) on making such a fine final speech, and I am sure the force will be with him as he goes off to fight the mayoralty in Birmingham. He will probably go
down in the record books as the last Labour creative industries Minister, given that he was not subsequently replaced in that post. I also refer to my entry in the Register of Members Financial Interests. I want to take you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, on a perfect Saturday afternoon shopping trip. You have had a fantastic fix of retail therapy and you cannot wait to try out all the new goods you have legitimately bought. Then you come across your local record store and you cannot believe what you see, because hanging in the window is a sign saying, Everything inside absolutely free. Being the music fan that I know you are, Mr, Deputy Speaker, you are in there like a shot, helping yourself to the top 10 albums. You also take the opportunity to fill some of the gaps in your back-catalogue of favourite artists. You might even think about acquiring the fantastic new album by MP4, the worlds only, and best, Parliamentary rock band. In another aisle in the shop there are all the blockbuster releases from the cinema, and you help yourself to them, too, and on the way out there is a shelf with items by the cream of the UKs games industry, and you take a couple of them as well. As you leave, the very nice young man behind the counter says, Come back any time, sir, you know were open all hours. That would be patently absurd and ridiculous, but that is what happens online every second of every day. Goods, digital services, films, computer games and music are simply given away for nothing fantastic works of art, reduced to commodities and products of no value at all. Nobody refers to such activity as giving things away, or, heaven forbid, as stealinglet us not even go there! It is simply sharing, or peer-to-peer file sharing, to give it its proper name. You might be thinking, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that this is a fantastic idea, and asking why hon. Members are not rushing down to their manufacturing sector or retail outlets to demand that their goods should be shared, too. If it is good enough for the online world, surely it is good enough for these more tangible productsfor the electronic goods and furniture that these small businesses make. No, that would be even more ridiculous, because it would ruin any notion of a functional, rational economy. It seems that it is all right for that to happen online and what we are doing has ruined any notion of a functioning, rational digital economy. If we are serious about trying to grow our digital economy and about ensuring that we have the best creative economy in the world, we must ensure that artists, writers and creators are rewarded for the work that they do. If we do not, we will go nowhere. One group of people is totally overlooked in this debate. It is not the powerful and influential internet service providers, nor the rights holders, nor, bless them, the consumers, but the artistthe creator, the designer, the inventor. They seem to be totally ignored and forgotten about in this debate. There is no digital economy without the content and no creative industry without the creator they should be at the heart of all our consideration about the digital economy and the creative industries. It is their imagination that fires it. They must be rewarded for the works that they produce. So, how does this Bill intend to address that problem? I have seen the hyperbole given by the ISPs and their digital rights friends. I have seen the lightsabers brought out by the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East
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[Pete Wishart] (Mr. Watson) and his merry bunch of friends. It is almost impossible to reconcile what they are saying with what has been proposed. If people were to listen to them, they would think that the Government were going to a big switch and turning the internet off Armageddon online. I have read clauses 5 to 17, and all they say is that people will get a lettera notificationthat will ask them, ever so politely, to stop what they have been doing. It will just say, Stop. What you are doing is illegal. Please dont do it anymore. If they ignore that letter, a second letter will come through. It will perhaps be a little sterner. It will probably outline some of the damage that their illegal activity is doing, tell them that there are alternative sites that they might use and say that they are taking products for nothing. Mr. Simon: Has the hon. Gentleman noticed that the people who argue that these measures are far too draconian are the ones who, when we say that we are just going to send letters, say, Oh, that wont workjust sending them letters. They wont take any notice? Pete Wishart: That is the thing. All the e-mails that I have received keep on telling me that the Governments proposals will never work, so, if it is never going to work, why are they getting so upset about it? It is ludicrous and I do not understand it. I know that the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East will get to his feet soon and perhaps he will explain that one to meI have no idea. If this is not going to work and does not concern them, what are they all getting upset about? Of course, if there is going to be online infringement and serious abuse of other peoples property, it is right, proper and appropriate that some sanction should be applied. Even the serial abusers of other peoples work would expect that. Of course they should expect it. It is illegal. If someone takes something for nothingif they steal the works of other peoplethey should expect a sanction at the end of it. However, the process is lengthy. People will receive letter after letter saying, Please stop now. Then, possibly, they will be given some sort of sanction. An appeals process will be available if they feel that they have been wrongly identified, but surely it is right that some sanction should be applied. There is a solution. If people are carrying out this activity, they should not do it anymore. They should just stop. That is the way to solve this. It works both ways. They know that they are doing something wrong; these serial abusers who take so much music and so many films and games for nothing know that. Those who wilfully continue to abuse the property of others must face some sort of sanction. Michael Connarty: I am grateful to another vice-chairman of the Performers Alliance group in this House for giving way. Is it not a myth that co-operation, as we have heard, could somehow solve this? People are not talking about co-operating and sharing their own thoughts and content, but are stealing someone elses content and sharing that. There is an Armageddon, which has partially arrived in Sweden, where the Pirate party, whose leader is in jail, won seats in the European Parliament on the basis that everybodys workincluding MP4sshould be free.
Pete Wishart: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, and I pay tribute to the work that he does as chair of the all-party jazz appreciation groupI know that that is something that he particularly enjoys. He is absolutely rightit is not sharing, but taking. Nothing is shared by the people who take this for absolutely nothing. They are not giving anything back in return. Who opposes these measures? Of course, the powerful internet service providers and their digital rights friends do not like them. The ISPs are the pipes that allow such activity to take place, but they have to accept their responsibility for what is provided by their hugely lucrative infrastructure. To try to solve this problem, they have been encouraged, persuaded and asked to come to the table to try to deal with it. However, apart from Sky and Virginwho are content rights holders themselvesthey have wilfully refused to co-operate or participate, so they must now be obliged to do so by legislation. They have had their chance to come to the table. Mr. TalkTalk and Mr. BT have been sending me all these briefings about freedom and human rights, but the only people in the disconnection business are TalkTalk, BT and the other ISPs, when they do not get their share. It is all right for the rights holders to give their stuff away for nothing. Mr. TalkTalk and Mr. BT should lead by example and let access be allowed for nothing. Somehow, I do not think that they will be taking up that particular offer. This is where we are in the debate. It is all right for somebody else to give something away for nothing, but if they are asked to give something away, they will not be interested at all. We should be careful in the lessons that we take from TalkTalk, BT and the rest of the ISPs. Mr. Simon: If someone has a relationship with BT and does not pay their bill, what happens? What is the process, as a rule? Pete Wishart: As I understand it, if someone does not pay their bill to BT or TalkTalk for their internet service provision, they get cut off. That is what happens. This is the key pointit is all right for everybody else to give their works away for nothing, but they are not prepared to do that themselves. Of course, we are preached to about human rights and proportionality. What about the human rights of the artists? What about their interests? What about the proportionality of getting a crust for what they produce? Surely that is important, too. These powerful vested interests have objected to any and every measure to tackle illegal file sharing. Every proposal has its faults, every suggestion is a suggestion too far. Fault must be and will be found in every method of trying to tackle this. Those with vested interests simply do not want a solution to illegal file sharing and they will never agree to any proposal to address these problems. I accept that there are issues with the Bill. There are certain things that we have to reconsider and that have to be addressed. It is not the most elegant solution for the internet account holder to be targeted, but there is no other way to do it. I have not heard any other way of trying to find out how to bring these infringers to task. There is no good way. Being an internet account holder should come with the responsibility to ensure that no illegal activity is conducted in their name or under their contract. There are issues to do with wi-fi hot spots and with universities and colleges, but it takes good faith to fix this. I take for granted everything that the hon.
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Member for Birmingham, Erdington said when he argued that there are solutions. Some people do not want to know about the solutionsthey only want to highlight the problems and the difficulties. Of course there are solutions. If people of good faith are prepared to work together, we can, of course, ensure that they are solved, but some are not interested in working together to solve this because they do not want to solve it at all. The Musicians Union reminds us that the average musician earns less than 14,000. Losing royalties makes the day-to-day struggle even harder. We have heard from the rich, powerful musiciansthose who have already made their fortunes from selling their records. If they want to give their music away for nothing and use it as a loss leader to sell other products, that is fine. No one is stopping them from doing that. If they want to give their work away for nothing, they can, but they should not make the rest of the music community and musicians who are finding it tough to make some sort of living subscribe to that. I spent 17 years in the music industry and I made a reasonable living out of being a musician and plying my trade, but I saw people who did not. The vast majority of musicians who I know do not earn that kind of money. When they get a hit singlewhen they get that lucky break from producing a fantastic songthey are entitled to absolutely every penny that comes from the work that they have produced. The Musicians Union is hand in hand with all the other unions that are involved in this debate and want to see the aims of the Bill realised. I was grateful to see the letter today in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, I think, from the head of the TUC. The unions and the creative industries have united to ensure that this legislation will happen. Millions of jobs are involved. If we do not deal with this issue, it will have an impact on jobs and prosperity in every constituency. That is why it must be addressed. We have to recognise that our international competitors are moving to protect their digital economies and their creators to ensure that their creative economies keep growing. If we do not act now, there is a strong chance that we will be left behind. If we are to realise our ambition to be a worldwide hub for the creative industries, we have to protect our artists, designers, inventors and creators. I want to speak briefly about some of the other issues in the Bill. I welcome the DAB radio switchover, which is a good measure, but I ask the Minister to have some sort of respect for all the analogue equipment, such as microphones, that was previously used. We have to find something to do with all that. I, too, have great reservations about clause 43. As I have already said, everyone should be rewarded and valued for the work they produce, so I am totally with the photographers. We should ensure that they are similarly rewarded. The orphan works idea is a fantastic one, and it is right that those pieces should be brought back into public use, but we have to be very careful about the impact that will have on photographers. I support the measures in relation to Channels 4 and 3 and Five, and I think that what is proposed for Ofcom is a reasonable, workable and sensible solution for the future. I must say that I feel thoroughly let down by the Governments Business, Innovation and Skills team on this Bill. The way that the Bill has worked its way through Parliament has been an utter disgrace. The Bill should have started in this House; it should have been the business of democratically elected Members of
Parliament, not of unelected appointees, cronies and donors. It should have been debated in this place. There is absolutely no reason whatever why the Bill could not have been initiated in this House. I am a Scottish National party Member, and my party does not have any peers in the House of Lords. This is the first time that my party and Plaid Cymru have had a chance to look at the Bill. Surely, it is not right that political parties in this House cannot get proper scrutiny of Bills when unelected peers, appointees, cronies and donors can. Surely, it is our business, and the opportunity for us to have a say on such important measures, especially those that have so exercised our constituents, must be ensured. It is an absolute disgrace that we have not been able to consider the legislation properly. I hope that the Minister will make sure that all of us are included in any wash-up discussions and procedures. It will not be good enough simply to allow us one Second Reading: we have to be centrally, critically and crucially involved in all wash-up discussions. It is not on for the Minister to think that he can casually exclude this Houses parties from exercising democratic scrutiny. The process has been a mess and a disgrace, but we need the measures in the Bill. We do not have any more time; we are bleeding money, jobs and industry from creative endeavours; we need this legislation now, and that is why I will support the Bill this evening. Our creators, artists, inventors and designersthe cream of the UKs creative industrieswant this Bill, so that we can continue to have the best creative industry and digital economy. I urge all hon. Members to support the Bill, but I ask that we should, please, never do things this way again. 7.24 pm Mr. Tom Watson (West Bromwich, East) (Lab): It is of great personal amusement to me that I happen to be following the previous two speakers. My very good friend the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) made an impassioned plea for his trade, and I understand his arguments even though they were slightly angry and vexatious at times. You might not know this Mr. Deputy Speaker, but I am something of a rock hero myself, having been a guest lead singer with the hon. Gentlemans band. I sang Teenage Kicks at another Members 50th birthday, and I know that the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire would have cleared the copyright and intellectual property licence and all that, because he would not have let me perform live unless he had. May I also spend some time thanking my very good friend, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon), for his contribution and for his friendship over the years that he has been in this House? He has made a huge difference and has cheered us all up. I have had a few drinks with him in bars similar to those in Star Wars, and I forgive him, because I think he has just referred to me as the estranged child of Peter Mandelson. If that is the case, he has used his uncanny political antennae to be, once again, ahead of the game. We shall miss you, Sin. This week marks the tercentenary of the Statute of Anne, 1710, which was the worlds first copyright law. It opens with the words:
Whereas Printers, Booksellers, and other Persons have of late frequently taken the Liberty of Printing, Reprinting, and Publishingwithout the Consent of the Authors or Proprietors
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[Mr. Tom Watson]

of such Books and Writings, to their very great Detriment, and too often to the Ruin of them and their families: for Preventing therefore such Practices for the future, and for the Encouragement of Learned Men to Compose and Write useful Books.
So the whole copyright settlementI cannot be the only one to see the irony of thiscame about because the British publishing industry was exploiting our creators and not giving them adequate remuneration for their work. Some 300 years on, a central question for any Government to ask themselves is how they can encourage more people to express themselves by using their creative talents to strengthen our society. Another central question for modern Governments to ask is how they will contend with the disruptive force of the internet. That is a question that we should be answering when we are framing legislation in this House. I do not believe that this discussion will end today. It will dominate debates in this House for years to come. The next generation of MPs will have to contend with the direct implications that our regulatory moves in the internet sphere will have for the kind of society that we want to live in, and how they will impact on the rights that we all expect to have. How do we promote freedom of speech and balance it against rights to privacy? How do we contend with issues of centralised data gathering and storage by Governments versus rights of control over our own personal information? How do we balance the right to protect intellectual property that the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire has talked about against rights of fair use? How do we balance peoples right to express their views freely against the need to protect individuals from obscene forms of cyberbullying, for example? There is an emerging recognition that we need to break down the digital divide in this country, so that there is a right to access the world wide web through universal broadband access. Politicians on both sides of the House have talked about access to the internet as an emerging right. That is why, at the higher end of the debate, people are extremely concerned that on one level we are talking about access to the internet being a right and that, on another, we are talking about practical measures such as removing peoples access to knowledge albeit after sending a letterand removing the ability to share knowledge using the internet. It is a very great pity that the Bill cannot be tested in Committee in the light of some of those questions. As a twice ex-Whip, I am rather embarrassed by the fact that the Bill is being railroaded through in the wash-up. Frankly, there has been a squalid deal between the three Front Benches, and they should be ashamed of themselves. The people who care about this Billand there are many out therewill see that for what it is. Before I concentrate on the parts of the Bill that particularly concern me, I want to list the commendable elements that deserve very great praise. First, the proposal on video games classification is long overdue and will give clarity to many families around the country about what content of video games is appropriate for their children to consume. The video games industry in this country has a very big future. It currently employs something like 28,000 people, but with the right Government intervention, there is no reason why we could not have quadruple or quintuple that number of people working in the industry in years to come.
Britain dominates the world when it comes to creativity, and any measure that will help consumers to accept that is to be welcomed. If the PEGIpan-European game informationclassification system is adopted, I know that the industry will engage in a public education campaign, and we should commend it for that. The proposed new remit for Channel 4 to produce high-quality digital content is also a good idea, although, like my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt), I would have liked it to go further. Channel 4 is this countrys digital pioneer: it does amazing things on very small budgets, and I had hoped that the regulatory regime offered in the Bill could have harnessed its creative endeavours a little more. We have talked already about the new powers for Ofcom to regulate the electromagnetic spectrum, and I am especially pleased that the Bill will extend public lending right to e-books and spoken-word books. There are some very good measures in the Bill and, unlike some other contributors, I believe that the Government have much to be proud of in the digital space. Just last week, in an inspired move, we made 1:10,000 geo-spatial mapping date free for reuse through the Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey geo-spatial data is the jewel in the crown for data mashers up and down the country, and the move will foster a great sense of innovation and an explosion of creativity in the digital space. Freeing up data, liberating talent and catalysing creativity: these are the elements that we should be exploring in the Bill. Earlier, I said that this debate was not new. We have been contending with ways to manage our collective intellectual capital since the Sumerian merchants of 5,000 BC made small marks on clay tablets to show their daily trades. The difference today, of course, is the sheer scale of the task. How do we contend with what Richard Saul Wurman describes as a tsunami of data? Human beings produce five exabytes of recorded information in a year; that is 40,000 times the number of words stored in the British Library. Kryders law is the almost mystical formula that says that digital capacity will double every 13 months. It means that we can now super-process acres of data that could not be digested even 10 years ago. If the law remains accurate, we will be able to store all the content ever created in history on a single iPod by 2025. Given the level of technological advance and the pace of change, is it any wonder that many people believe that the current measures for policing file sharing are simply pointless? Cheaper computing has created an industry and new thinking on information technology. In his book Wethink, Charles Leadbeater makes the point that
thanks to rising educational attainment, spreading communications and cheaper technology, innovation and creativity are becoming increasingly distributed.
I think that the measures in this Bill will make it harder, not easier, for people to share knowledge and ideas through the internet and I am, frankly, baffled as to why any political party, on left or right, would want to go down that route. I know that the worthy intention of those on all three Front Benches is to defend our creative industries. Everyone in this Chamber wants to do that, even though
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my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington has comically parodied my position, to the amusement of all. However, more enlightened members of both main parties privately tell me that they know that the copyright measures in this Bill are nonsensical. They say that they will give the big publishing interests that dominate the debate in this country a period of respite, during which they can compose themselves while they consider their next moves in the internet age. I admire the Bills motives in respect of copyright, but there is an opportunity cost associated with defending old publishing interests. Innovations will not stop in our competitor countries while we give the UK record industry time to think. There is a less charitable, more sinister view of this Bill. I readily admit that it might play into the conspiracy theories so ably portrayed by the previous two speakers, but the attempts to create artificial scarcity with information goods represent a second enclosure movement in this country. The intangible assets of our society are being packaged up in a contemporary expansion of intellectual property. As the Bills supporters and critics make claim and counterclaim about the economic benefits of the measures contained in it, one thing has been abundantly clear to me throughout the debate. It is that there has been a huge and unprecedented lobbying operation by the old publishing interests. They are the beneficiaries of enclosure, and they have dominated the argument for months. Michael Connarty: I respect my hon. Friends forward thinking, but he obviously has not studied his history. The enclosure movement took away the enclosures around small fields to make larger fields so that larger technologies could be used. When all enclosures were taken away in America, the ultimate result was that the wind blew the topsoil off the land and the people starved. I think that he has got his analogy entirely wrong. Mr. Watson: My hon. Friend and I could debate the historical complexities of the enclosure movement, but I have only four minutes left. Perhaps we could have that discussion afterwards. The big publishing industries tell us that an expansion of property rights and enforcement are essential to fuelling progress and continuing innovation in this sector. They believe that we need more copyright laws, a scaling up of enforcement, more policing of the internet, and a greater intolerance of that most human of traitssharing. This Bill, outrageously in my view, is going to be forced through in the wash-up. When it is passed, however, there will remain some unpalatable truths that the next Government, and advocates for the position of big publishing in Government, must deal with. The internet exists, and it is not going away. Whatever technical measures are taken to enforce scarcity will fail. Even in China, where there are 30,000 internet police, people are sharing ideas, information, news, music and art at an ever increasing rate. It is hard to describe to colleagues how our digital nativesthe people who entered the world of work without thinking of the internet as a new technology think about the anachronistic ideas that underpin the thinking behind this Bill. They understand the power and the beauty of the serendipitous hypertext link, and
believe that it is part of human nature to take an idea and use itto play with it and remix it into something new, as the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) described. If hon. Members are beginning to think that I have taken leave of my senses with that comment, they should think about the Gene Hunt poster. What are the barriers to entry for young people who want to make a political statement? To take control of two images, they would have to sign a cumbersome licensing deal so that they could remix them and thus spark a debate, but in fact the remix event that took place caused thousands of young people to talk about the future. If we do not accept that that represents a cultural change in Britain, we will be forever doomed to holding debates that will appear merely futile to those young people. The hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale)the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committeeand I often look in different directions on policy, but we agree solidly that making legislation on the hoof, as we are doing now, lets the law of unintended consequences kick in. The hon. Gentleman talked about legitimacy. I shall quote from one of the great copyright debates of 1841. Talking about reform of the then law, the great Lord Macaulay said:
At present the holder of copyright has the public feeling on his side.
That might be true.

Those who invade copyright are regarded as knaves who take the bread out of the mouth of deserving men. Everybody is well pleased to see them restrained by the law, and compelled to refund their ill-gotten gains. No tradesman of good repute will have anything to do with such disgraceful transactions. Pass this law: and that feeling is at an end. Men of a character very different from that of the present race of piratical book-sellers will soon infringe this intolerable monopoly. Great masses of capital will be constantly employed in the violation of the law. Every art will be employed to evade legal pursuit; and the whole nation will be in the plot. On which side indeed should the public sympathy be when the question is whether some book as popular as Robinson Crusoe[Official Report, 5 February 1841; Vol. 56, c. 356-7.]
I end there, because I am nearly out of time. There is no legitimacy in these measures, and the Bill will be honoured in the breach. 7.41 pm Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): It is a disgrace that the House is not treated with courtesy by the Government. It is quite wrong that a Bill of such importance and magnitude was not tabled earlier. It is quite wrong that there is an attempt to rush through all parts of the Bill without proper scrutiny and debate. Not so long ago there was general agreement on both sides of the House that the House had not done a serious enough job of scrutinising legislation and providing the kind of commentary and critique of draft legislation that it should. The House was right to understand that there is a concern out in the country that this Parliament, of all Parliaments that I have had anything to do with, has let down the public by not getting sufficiently involved, and not finding a way of making the Government give it enough time to do the job properly. We have heard from Members on both sides of the House why we need time to discuss the Bill. There may be quite a lot of agreement about some of the important
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[Mr. John Redwood] things in the Bill. I am sure that no one in the House begrudges a great artist or creator of music or words fair return for their labour, but many complicated issues are involved in determining how we secure that return without impeding too much on everyone elses freedoms. It is difficult to do it in the rather clumsy way that the Government have come up with so far in the relevant early clauses of the Bill. We need scrutiny not just of the things that cause disagreement across the Chamberthere are several of those, as we heard from Front-Bench speakers on both sides of the House at the opening of the debate. We also need scrutiny of the things that the Chamber largely agrees about, because it is in those areas that it is more likely that mistakes will be madethat the language will be wrong and that the Bill will not carry into effect what the House wishes, because the Bill will have got through without the challenge that we need. It was for good reason that our predecessors in this place said that there should be a Second Reading of Bills to discuss the principlesIs it a good idea to have a Bill on this at all? Broadly, how do we go about doing it?then a little pause to reflect on the Bill, and then a Committee stage, on the Floor of the House for important Bills or upstairs for others. Members of the House most interested in the legislation could go through the Bill line by line, mainly asking the question, Will this particular phrase, clause or line help us achieve the aim of the Government?or the common aim where there is general agreement. This Government have had 13 years to introduce important legislation on the digital revolution. I cannot believe that any previous Government dared to hold a Second Reading of an extremely important Bill after they had announced the intent to dissolve the House as quickly as possible. It beggars belief that this Government could insult the Commons, and the public we represent, in that way so shortly after it was a matter of common agreement that we needed to do a better job of scrutinising, debating and discussing legislation for the sake of enacting legislation that works. The legislation has 11 principal areas and themes. The debate in this shortened time available for Second Reading may discuss only three or four of them in detail; most will go unremarked, or will be mentioned en passant by speakers mainly interested in something else, because there is not even proper time for a full Second Reading debate, because there were questions, statements and so on before we got to Second Reading and we are all under time pressures to limit our speeches as a result. Naturally, Members are concentrating on the things that are most difficult or that matter most to them, so those of us concerned enough to be in the Chamber will only be able to discuss some elements. It is quite understandable that, now that an election has been called, some Members feel they have duties elsewhere. If they feel that they are not immediately required for a vote, they may be tidying up their affairs or communicating with their constituents. This is not a good time to be discussing something so technical, difficult and important. One of the big issues that we have heard about so far relates to the powers that the Secretary of State should take under the legislation and the powers that should be delegated to Ofcom to tackle copyright infringement.
The House will know that I am the author of johnredwood.com. Members may know that I do not seek to charge anyone for using that wonderful resource about modern British politics, and they may also know that I have received several offers from people wishing to advertise on my site for a reasonable fee and I have always turned them down because I do not want it to be a commercial site. Like me, many people see the web as a wonderful means for creating a community of people interested in a subject that matters to them. It can create argument, discussion and debate, and provoke ideas, viewpoints and discussion, which is entirely helpful to the democratic process or whatever interest has led people to set up a site. As has been said, even under this rather crude legislation, there is nothing to stop people such as me continuing to offer a free service without worrying about infringement of copyright. I should be happy for anyone to reproduce anything I have written on the site as long as they do not libel me or lampoon it too much. It is perfectly good for people to use the site; it shows that the site is of interest and of use. However, there are people who are trying to make a living from their creative work and they naturally want a sensible legal framework that enables them to protect their legitimate intellectual property and to continue to make a living. We know that the internet has brought great good. It has involved many more people in many more activities. It informs people much better and enables them to research much more quickly and easily topics of interest to them. It allows communities to communicate one with another and allows events to be publicised. It brings all sorts of goods to local society. I hope Members share the perception that there is much good in the internet and would not want the legislation to damage in any way the good that the internet can do. Let us think about the comparison with protecting the copyright of an author who chooses to publish their written words not on the web but in the form of a newspaper or magazine article, or a book. In the past, many of us in the House have written articles or books for which we may have been paid small sums. We have some protection in the copyright under existing copyright laws. The House should remember, however, that there is no comprehensive protection in copyright law for the written word published in those ways. If I publish an article or a book, I am sure that people may lend the book or article to others for free, and I have no right to say, You must not do this. I demand a royalty every time that book or article is lent to somebody. We do not go that far. We feel that it is part of a free society to allow people to lend books or articles to their friends, family, neighbours or whoever. It is also probably the case that, quite often in the furtherance of education, the better articlesone hopes and the better chapters or sections of books are reproduced on copying machines and used as teaching materials that are provided to pupils and students in schools and universities. I am sure that very often the school or university does not bother to contact the author to seek permission and does not bother to ask the author whether they would like a token payment to allow them to reproduce such material. It would be a pretty odd author who got really hot under the collar about that and started to sue the schools, although they could, because they would understand that such activities are
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quite helpful to them in building their reputation and name in some waysagain, assuming that their work is not lampooned or completely shreddedand one has to live in a free society and we want people to be educated. We should approach any suggestion that we need tighter regulation of the internet with that in mind. We are not looking for something completely comprehensive. We need to live and let live. Quite a large number of people outside the House are worried about our rushing through, for example, clauses 10 to 18 tonightif that is a serious proposition between the two Front-Bench teamsbecause although if many of those people were challenged they would probably say, Yes, of course, someone who has sung or written a great song should get some money for its reproduction, they are very worried that we will criminalise people who are doing very minor things that are quite normal to do with, for example, copies of magazines and newspapers, that we will get the wrong people, or that the person who has a series of internet facilities in an organisation will be picked on when they cannot control the use of such material or cannot even establish who used it or whether it was a persistent offence. A lot of this could be sorted out if we had time to go into the detail and if we had time to examine the language that the Government propose, to discover whether they have got the balance right. All hon. Members would agree, from whichever direction they approach this argument, that we need a balance. No one says that there should be no copyright at all for anything. No one would take the opposite extreme and say that, every time that anyone says, does, sings or whatever anything, that creates an important copyright that they should be able to defend against everyone. That would be ludicrous, and it would greatly extend our traditional copyright law on newspapers and books. We need a workable compromise. I will not have time to consider these clauses in any detail, I am afraid, because my time will be artificially restricted by the guillotine and the proposals for today, although they are wide-ranging enabling clauses. If people are worried, such clauses lead to greater suspicion. We are invited to believe that, under the orders that will implement these wide-ranging clauses, provisions will be made that will produce such a judicious balance. We are being asked to buy a pig in a poke, or to sign a rushed cheque against an invoice that we have not been sent. That is not good practice. We need more from Ministers to persuade us that they have thought through these complicated issues about balance and that they have in mind practical orders that would not make unreasonable intrusions into the freedom of those who provide such web and internet services and would not restrict the rather minor examples of freesharing that are common in a free society and that one needs to be able to enjoy. Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge) (LD): Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that any draft orders under the Bill, if it goes forward, should be amendable? My hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) intends to make that proposal, and we hope that the Secretary of State will take it on board. Mr. Redwood: That would be most unusual. I have served on a good many order-making Committees in my time, and one of the most unsatisfactory things is
that it is a take-it-or-leave-it process and the Government always say to vote to take it. So we can argue an extremely fine case and say that sentence 3 should be rephrased in the Governments interest, and they will still do absolutely nothing about it because the junior Minister does not have the power or the interest and intends to ram the order through in its current form. That naturally leads to suspicion, most obviously among hon. Members, but also outside the House. If we leave all the big judgment calls on the censorship of the webthis is really about censorshipto a set of orders that we cannot see and do not know about, it is asking too much, this close to a general election. This is extremely sloppy work, which we all find very worrying. I am glad that my hon. Friends who sit on the Front Bench find some things in the Bill with which they profoundly disagree. I am tempted to say that the Government should take the whole thing back and do their homework properly, and it would be for the new Government to sort all this out when they are chosen by the British people on 6 May, but I understand that the mood of the House is to try to reach some kind of accommodation. I urge my hon. Friends to be extremely firm, because we have absolutely no need to take half-baked and ill thought-out legislation from the Government this late in the day, when it is their fault that we are in this position, as they had five years and a thumping great majority to put any sensible proposals through the House that could have come to the relief of the creative industries. They chose not to do that, and they are now attempting to bounce us at 5 minutes after midnight, when it is already well known that the House is closing down with the current management and all will be put out to the electorate to decide who should run it in the future. My hon. Friend the Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt), who initiated the debate for the Opposition, very wisely said that the Government are showing their true socialist colours and that all they ever believe in is more taxes, and there is more tax in this legislation, more regulation, and there is tons more regulation for Ofcom of a kind to be specified later in orders, and more subsidy, when all else fails or when they are trying to do something that the market and the general public are not sufficiently interested in for it to be a commercial proposition. The Bill has all three elements. That is surely another reason why my hon. Friends who sit on the Front Bench should be extremely sceptical about allowing great chunks of the legislation through, when there is concern outside and a lack of precision in the legislation, when these unwelcome features will intrude into an area of business and social life that is a great success in this country under the current regime, which is perhaps a little chaotic, and when we should be proud of so much achievement in the world of the web and in the creative industries that we see outside. Unfortunately, my time is up. I wanted to speak about half a dozen other important elements of the Bill, but I am not allowed to do so, only because the Government, once again, so hate the House of Commons that they will not give us time to consider these measures properly. 7.57 pm John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), because that means that he has finished.
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[John Robertson] He adds to the point scoring of the hon. Members for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) and for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) against the Government and the Bill, but they then turned around and said that they will support it. It would appear that, as my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) would say, they have capitulated to Ministers. I am quite happy for them to do so; I know that my hon. Friend will not be, but there we go. Regrettably, I agree with much of what was said by the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart), but I am sure that I can find something that I do not agree with in what he said. He will also support the Government tonight, which obviously makes a pleasant changenot something that he does very often. Sadly, now that the election has been called, my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) will be leaving us. He and I have been joint chairs of the all-party parliamentary group on communications. He is a great man who has great ideas, and I certainly listen to him. I hope that he will go on to greater things in the years to come. I will miss him in the group, and I am sure that the House will be a poorer place for his having passed on to other things. I agree with a lot of Opposition Members and some of my hon. Friends in that I regret the fact that the Bill did not start in this House. I have always felt that we, as Members elected by the people, should have the first say on any Bill and that the other place should scrutinise what we do. That is particularly the case for a Bill such as this, which will have a great impact on many of my constituents. The number of e-mails that I have received over the past month or so shows that more people are interested in the Bill than I had thought, so we should have proceeded in that way. However, as we heard earlier, we are where we are and we have to move on; I just wanted to put that on record. I want to touch on some aspects of the Bill relating to broadband that have perhaps not been discussed. I should declare an interest: I worked for BT for 31 years and my wife still works for the company, which explains why I might be nicer to BT than the loyal Opposition. The Opposition still have hang-ups about British Telecom and the BBC. It is a bit like the attitude of the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) towards Europe unfortunately he is no longer in the Chamber. He cannot get his head around normal things when talking about anything to do with Europe and, sadly, the same applies to the Conservative party when it talks about BT and the BBC. Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): The hon. Gentleman has declared his interest in BT, but he also came out with some interesting remarks about the Conservatives position. I shall put a straightforward question to him: is it right or wrong that BT should be able to keep control of its ducts? Why cannot we open up those ducts so that other competitors can use them? Surely that is a much cheaper way to allow broadband to be shared than that which the Government propose. John Robertson: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments; funnily enough, that is where my speech is going.
Part of my job in the industry related to the people who maintained the ducts and put cables down them. When the law was changed around the time of privatisation, cable companies were allowed to dig up our streets. They destroyed our pipes, ducts, pavements and roads, especially in my constituencyOld Drumchapel and Blairdardie were a nightmare afterwardsbut did not reinstate everything as it was. I have a great fear that the Conservative party wants to give free access to the ducts, as well as to water, the sewers and electricity pylons, but I do not believe that that access can be free. Not just anyone can be allowed to interfere with the infrastructure of our water and electricityor any form of our utility and communications networkswithout someone overseeing the process. I would not have a problem with Ofcom, Ofgem or Ofwat carrying out such oversight but, in this instance, the company that has carried out the role is BT. It must be more open by allowing other companies to use its facilities and equipment, and I think that it is going down that road, but I do not believe in a free and open market in the way that the hon. Gentleman does that would allow companies to come along with cowboys who would destroy our infrastructure. I can tell him from first-hand experience that that was exactly what happened, and I had to pick up the mess and talk to the customers who blamed BT for it, although it was not the companys fault. The points that the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) made about BT showed that he had no idea about how to maintain an infrastructure of such size. Whether one is dealing with ducts, pylons, or water and sewerage, there must be someone who knows exactly how they are maintained. If companies are then allowed to carry out work, they must do so according to that persons rules. We hope to roll out 2 megabits per second broadband to everyone, which is quite ambitious, as other countries provision does not go as high as that. However, that means absolutely nothing if it is not possible to achieve that speed. The Bill does not address in any way, shape or form the great problem of bit rates for uploading and downloading. Broadband equipment is sold that will allow someone to get 8 megabits per second, but that is a maximum figure. If Ministers were to guarantee the people of this country a minimum of 2 megabits per second, I would say, Wow! That would be some feat. However, saying that everyone will get 2 megabits per second means absolutely nothing if the majority of people end up with only 1 megabit or even 0.5 megabits per second. The companies that sell on broadband need to be brought into line. There is talk of speeds of 100 megabits per second, and then we will talk about 200, but that will mean nothing if it is impossible to achieve that speed. The Bill should set out a minimum of figure, rather than a maximum. The maximum figure means nothing if everyone in an area is using broadband at the same time, because they all suffer and are no better off than when they used the modems in their computers. I fully support Ministers in what they are trying to achieve, but we should be a bit more on top of the companies in question. My right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary knows how I feel about the 50p levy. People in my city of Glasgow can get broadband, but the uptake is between
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30 and 40 per cent., which is well below the British average of 60 per cent. I do not know how take-up can be encouraged when a 50p levy is being introduced on the poorest people who will not have broadband or any thoughts of getting it, but will be stuck with paying an extra 6 a year. That will drive people on to cheap pay-as-you-go mobiles, which is the way in which most poor people in my constituency communicate. People using those mobiles will be asked to pay nothing, or at least very little, so we must look at the proposal again. As has been said, I spoke about file sharing at a conference in Washington. If it is any consolation to hon. Members, there might be the same problem there as here, as there was no consensus on whether file sharing should be allowed. I would say to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East and others who feel that the Bill should be thrown out that we need to start somewheredoing nothing is not an option. It is not the Elton Johns and Paul McCartneys of this world but the small people we have never heard ofthe Joe Bloggs of the music worldwho need some kind of protection as they try to make their living. They cannot have people stealing their endeavours and taking away their hard-earned rights to money that could make a difference to them and their families. Eric Joyce: I completely sympathise with what my hon. Friend says about the much needed earnings of Joe Bloggs, but does he agree that enacting flawed legislation is the wrong way to proceed? John Robertson: I understand what my hon. Friend is saying, but it is a little like my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) who, when asked what he would do, said he did not know. I know that we have to do something. Identifying people and writing to them is a long process, but my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) made a good point. By the time people are at risk of being cut off, they probably deserve to be cut off. The problem arises when young people are involved. I go back to an intervention that I made on my own Front-Bench team, about whether we should criminalise young people for doing something that all their friends are doing. I may own a computer and have access to the internet, but my child is using it to download material and put it on their iPod, MP3 player or whatever they have, and I get the blame for it because access was granted to me. I hope it would be possible to make that clear in response to letters telling me that I was doing something illegal. Children are not always great at telling their parents everything they do. What are we going to do to safeguard the child who is doing only what their friends at school are doing? They do not believe they are doing anything wrong. We need to educate them. The other problem is how we educate the parents. Children now know a lot more about the internet and how to use it than their parents. There does not seem to be anything in the Bill to cover a parent who, by accident, falls foul of an ISP because of their childs downloads. Mr. Watson: To stretch the metaphor used by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon), I feel the force in this one. I sense that my
hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson) has doubts about the practical enforcement of the measures in the Bill. Does he believe that we are walking down a road that we might later regret? John Robertson: I understand what my hon. Friend says. I will not go back to the Star Wars reference, because it might be said that I look more like Chewbacca than Obi-Wan. However, it was a good metaphor for thinking that we are doing the right thing when we are not. I believe that that is what my hon. Friend is doing. His ideals are correct, but by saying that we should do nothing, all he is doing is encouraging illegal downloading. If, after all the time and effort that has been expended discussing the issue in this place, we come to the conclusion that we should do nothing, we are, in effect, telling the public that that is legal and they can do what they want. That is not right. Michael Connarty: I compliment my hon. Friend on the part of his speech that I heard earlier. This is a fringe discussion. As boasted in the e-mails that we receive, 17,000 people have written in on the issue over the past week. As my hon. Friend pointed out, 50 per cent. of Glasgow city do not have access to the internet. That is the great problem. People cannot get on to the internet and get access to the new technology. That, surely, must be the priority for the Government and every other Government. John Robertson: That needs no answer from me. My hon. Friend is spot on. In conclusion, doing nothing is not an option. If we do nothing, we send out a bad messagethat I can download anybodys work, anybodys films, anybodys music, I can steal any photograph I like or do anything else I want, and Parliament has told me that is okay. The politicians in the House will have said that today, by not backing the Bill. I do not want to go down that road. There is much work to be done. No matter who wins the next election, they will have to pick up the issue and run with it. I believe that will be us; I hope it is, because we will do it justice, whereas the Opposition parties will act in their own self-interest. The important thing is to make sure that the people are looked after, but that if they take somebodys work or somebodys livelihood, they pay for it. 8.14 pm Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): In my maiden speech, I spoke about the human right to read, because it seemed to me that access to the printed word ought to be treated as a human right. One of the interesting aspects of the debate about the internet is the growing recognition that in exactly the same way, because it gives access to information, we should treat the right to access to the internet as a human right, and that if we recognise it as such, we will create a better, more equal, more informed, more educated, better connected society. I represent a town that generates a huge amount of wealth in the creative industries, and I am very concerned to ensure that creative individuals are properly rewarded for their talent and their contribution. The Secretary of State referred to the growth of the creative industries in the UK compared with that in other countries over the past decade. I was proud to act as Parliamentary Private
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[Fiona Mactaggart] Secretary to the first ever Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who, I believe, played a critical role in recognising the strength of the creative industries. We are about to make a mistake, not because of mala fides or bad faith on the part of the Government or the Opposition, but in the way that Parliament often makes its biggest mistakes, which is when all parties agree. In those circumstances, we take short cuts, make mistakes for good reasonsin this case, to protect creative professionalsand end up with bad laws. Many of us can quote examples of bad laws that have been passed. Sometimes they are bad in their executionthe Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is frequently citedand sometimes they are bad because, even though we keep trying to get the legislation right, we do not succeed, even though it is right in theory, such as making fathers pay properly for their children. I do not know why I still have so many such cases turning up at my advice surgery, but I know I am not alone in that regard. The parts of the Bill which are designed to protect copyright on the internet, to prevent file sharing and so on are hugely at risk of going down that road. I was rather entertained by the comments of the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) who, at one point, drafted an amendment and within a few hours was campaigning against said amendment. That illustrated the point very well, because he was trying to deal with what he saw as a wrong. It turned out that that was not very popular in his party and the amendment did not do what he wanted it to do, so he tried to amend it again. That is what the Committee stage of a Bill is for. I am deeply concerned that what we are about [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Bath might agree, but he will be part of the Front-Bench conspiracy that makes us end up with an unamended Bill and without the scrutiny that we need. This Parliament has shown itself to be utterly feeble in so many ways, and in our dying days we really should not continue to be utterly feeble. Mr. Don Foster: Will the hon. Lady give way? Fiona Mactaggart: I shall give wayalthough the hon. Gentleman did not give way to me. Mr. Foster: I gave way to Members on numerous occasions, and I am therefore particularly grateful to the hon. Lady for giving way. May I make it absolutely clear that if clause 18 remains in the Bill, we will vote against the Bill on Third Reading? I do not think anything could be clearer than that. Fiona Mactaggart: The hon. Gentleman has an advantage over me, as does BT, because they have seen a new version of that clause, but I have been to the Vote Office and I am not aware of what the clause says. I speak as a parliamentarian, within hours of the Bills Committee stage, and I am unable to see that new version, so I do not know what is going to be proposed. He might well know, but I do not. I went to the Vote Office to ask for a copy, as is usual for a Back Bencher, and I spent quite a long time standing there, but there is a simple reason why the Vote Office cannot provide me with one: we have not yet given the Bill a Second Reading, and the Vote Office does not provide amendments to a Bill until it has had its Second Reading.
Right now our debate is closer to that which we would expect in Committee. People are focusing on little bits of the Bill and talking about potential amendments; they are not talking about the principles, because interestingly the pretty much shared viewwith some tensionsis that we need to address certain principles. I found myself, scarily for the second time in two weeks, strongly agreeing with the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood)not a man with whom I have frequently agreed. However, his point is that sharing can sometimes enhance understanding and knowledge. I discovered the work of Christopher Brookmyre because Waterstones published some free chapters of his books. I read them and then bought all his books, and that is not unusual. I was completely unaware of Ashes to Ashes and Gene Hunt, so when I saw the advertisement that everyone was going on about I had no idea why it was clever because I had never watched that programme. However, one thing about shared intellectual property is that it can create a market for that property, and I am frightened that the Bill does not address that issue with enough subtlety. We are not creating the opportunities to make the most of the internet and commercial exploitation. As I understand copyright law, it bites not when somebody copies a chapter of a book for their own interest, or borrows a book from a friend, but when someone tries to make a profit out of somebody elses intellectual property. That has traditionally been the area in which copyright law bites. On the Bills approach to that issue, there will be mums throughout the country running internet microbusinesses, booking nannies or finding cleaners, for example, and I am anxious that if their sons illegally file share, those mums will end up having their businesses closed down. The parliamentary scrutiny process is designed to eliminate such risky consequences, but I predict that unless we properly scrutinise this legislation such businesses throughout the country will be closed down. The hon. Member for Bath said, Is it all right if it is a special super-scrutiny system that has to be amended? and so on. I have not seen one of those systems. We should do more through secondary legislation, but he and I have sat on secondary legislation Committees and they are not places where scrutiny occurs; they are another example of pathetic oversight by Parliament. I said earlier that this Parliament has let itself down. If we allow this Bill to go through in this way, with a Second Reading after the election has been called, we will demonstrate that the public are right to think that we are pretty pointless, and that we do not have the courage of our convictions. Every single Member will demonstrate it. Every single Member who argued for parliamentary reformI see some present, including the hon. Member for Bathwill shame themselves if they consent to this process. However important the Bill is, it will be just as easy for a new Government to say, We will put in place these building blocks if they are so essential. It is just not acceptable for the Opposition Front Benchers to say, Whoops! If it doesnt work, well come back with something a month later. They are actually saying, Were not prepared to do our job. However, I am prepared to do my job. I do not believe that this is the right way to proceed, and unless the Minister says in summing up something utterly compelling about how those issues will be dealt with, I will not be able to find it in me to support the Bill.
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8.25 pm Mr. Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow) (Lab): I shall try to be brief, because many of the issues that I wanted to discuss have been covered. This is probably the last time I will speak in the House, so I am glad to be discussing an important Bill. Most of the comments have been about file sharing and internet access, and there have been a few about orphan works. Other important aspects that most of us think worth while have also been mentioned. Only two clauses deal with video games, but absolutely everybody thinks them worth having. Perhaps the clauses dealing with the future of Channel 4 do not go as far as they should, but they are worth while. There are also clauses dealing with public lending rights, and most in the radio industry say that they favour the provisions on local radio, although a minority do not want them. A lot of the Bill might not be perfect and could have gone a lot furthersome Members have mentioned wider issues that should have been looked atbut much of it is good and worth having. From my point of view, the real problem with the Bill is what my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) has just been discussingthe process that we are using to deal with it. Obviously, the clauses that deal with copyright infringement are the really controversial ones. In his opening speech, the Secretary of State mentioned the length of time taken in the Lords to consider the provisions on that issue, and the fact that the Bill arrived back in the Commons, from the Lords, a month later than expected. He seemed to use that as a justification for not spending much time on it in the Commons. I would come to exactly the opposite conclusion: if a Bill has spent so long in the Lords that it has ended up coming back here a month later than expected, that tells me that it involves complex and controversial issues and needs some real scrutiny in this place. It is not going to get that, and that is the problem. I probably agree with a lot more of the Bill than some of my colleagues who spoke earlier and some who have yet to speak. I have not pleased some of the people who have sent me e-mails about the subject and seem to argue that we should not do anything about illegal file sharing. That is not because I am particularly concerned about the profits of the big players in the music and film industries. Like some others who have spoken, however, I am concerned about the effects on the livelihoods of individual performers and artists. They are not necessarily high earners and they do not necessarily get huge royalties. Furthermore, it is not anachronistic to support the trade unions that represent those people and say that they think something needs to be done about illegal file sharing. Some of the arguments put by those who sent e-mails and lobbied about the Bill seem completely spurious. For instance, to suggest that a little research somewhere that says that people who illegally download also spend more, and that that somehow justifies the illegal downloading, seems total nonsense. If I went into a book shop or record shop and stole a CD or book, it would hardly be acceptable for me to say in my defence, Well, actually I spend more than average in this shop. I would be laughed out of court. It is theft to do that, and it is theft knowingly to download something illegally. Of course, if an artist wants to make their work freely available on the internet in the hope that it will encourage someone who listens to it or reads it to go and buy more
of their stuff, that is fine, but it should be under the artists control. They should make the decision and have control of their own work. The problem is how we can ensure that and whether the detail in the Bill does so in the right way. The Digital Britain White Paper rightly contained a lot of discussion about educating people. I suspect that often, people who download illegally do not really attribute any value to what they are downloading. That is not surprising considering the price that DVDs are often sold for in the shops now. Pretty well every Sunday of the year, one can pick up a newspaper that has a free DVD with it. To some degree, people thus get a false idea of the value of what they download. There should be education, and perhaps the warnings suggested in the Bill will work, but I am not convincedthey may work on some individuals, but not on those who create the websites that generate illegal downloads and offer the software that allows people to overcome DVD encryption and the like. The problem is quite clear. As has already been said, we will not have the time to deal with the Bill properly, work through the detail and get it right. As my hon. Friend the Member for Slough rightly said, when Bills are rushed through with agreements between the Front Benchers, that is often a bad sign. It often means that the detail has not been examined, which proves to be a problem later. We have not seen what the new clause 18 will mean, or at least those of us on the Back Benches have not. It seems from what was said earlier that there will be a deal between the Front-Bench teams. Mr. Don Foster indicated dissent. Mr. Gerrard: I notice the Liberal Democrats are still denying that there might be one. I am interested in their position on clause 18having proposed it, they later decided that it was a dreadful thing and had to be opposed. Mr. Foster: Not enough consultation. Mr. Gerrard: The hon. Gentleman may say that, but I suspect that it had rather more to do with a campaign that came rumbling along, with a lot of e-mails being sent, and in typical Liberal Democrat fashion they jumped on the campaign, no doubt thinking that it would get them one or two votes. The serious point is that we will not have enough time tomorrow. We should not be rushing through a Bill that could have serious effects on individuals. We have heard in earlier comments that the provisions on orphan works might not end up in the Bill. They started as a discussion about opening up the use of archives at the British Library, photograph libraries and so on, where there is a lot of interesting stuff whose copyright holder nobody knows. The Bill now seems to have moved a long way from that. One or two professional photographers who have approached me about it are worried what the effect on their work may be. Although the Bill states that people are supposed to search for the copyright holder, will they actually do so or will it provide an opportunity to exploit the work of someone who will then have the problem of tracking down their work and getting it taken off the register? Again, the problem is the detail of the provisions and the process that we are going through. I do not know, because I have not seen the timetable motion, but I suspect that we will have no more than two hours to deal with the
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[Mr. Gerrard] Committee stage, Report and Third Reading. That is not how we should be going about legislation such as this, although I must say that I have a lot of support for the principles of the Bill. Mr. Foster: My understanding of what the Leader of the House said is that there will be two hours in total for the Committee stage, Report and Third Reading. Given that we have a timetable motion before us tonight that says that an hour will be given to Third Reading, we will therefore have one hour in total for the Committee and Report stages. Mr. Gerrard: If that is the caseI have not seen the motionit illustrates exactly the point that I am making and that other hon. Members have made, which is that that is a totally inadequate amount of time in which to debate this. We will end up with something going through on the basis of a deal done by the two Front-Bench teams. It will be a deal whereby nobody else will have had any input, we will not be able to debate it properly and we will not be able to get to the detail. Irrespective of however much I agree with the principles behind the Bill, that is way to go about our business and it will not inspire the confidence of people outside this place that we have produced legislation that should be respected. 8.36 pm David Cairns (Inverclyde) (Lab): So many hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard), began their speeches by saying that it was likely to be their last speech in the Chamber. I fervently hope that this is not my last speech in the Chamber, as I sincerely hope to be returned on 6 May. If I am not and the good people of Inverclyde elect someone else, so be it and good luck to them, because it has been a blast. The casual observer of todays debate and of the whole process of this debate could be forgiven for thinking that the Bill contained one big measure and lots of piddling little things that do not really matter. That has been reflected in the content of many of the speeches, and I hope to buck that trend by devoting the bulk of my comments to things other than illegal file sharing or downloading. I have become a bit frustrated at some of the extreme language being used by those on both sides of this debate. It seems that the Bill either protects vital creative industries people, living from hand to mouth in garrets, from rapacious internet service providers who will not get off their backsides to do anything about theft or is a draconian attack on the very fabric of the internet itself by fat-cat record company bosses hellbent on protecting their interests and so on. My hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson), who is not in his place, rejected the analogy or metaphor suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) relating to the Sith and Darth Vader. He is back in his place nowI was just referring to him as he appearedso I can tell him that he is right to take issue with a metaphor with which he does not agree. He may intervene if he wishes, but I wonder what he would say to a constituent of mine from whom I received a e-mail today saying that he was not going to vote for me or anyone else in my constituency in the general election because he thought that what the Government were doing was the
same as what the ayatollahs in Iran and the geriatric dictatorship in China do to curtail internet freedom. That is clearly bonkersI could be insulting my constituent here, but he has already said that he is not going to vote for meand profoundly unhelpful. Those of us who may have doubts or reservations about the efficacy of the particular method that the Government are adopting to deal with the issue are not enticed to support those efforts by being told that if we support the Government, we are akin to the ayatollahs or the despots of Beijing. Such language is particularly unhelpful. I happen to think that the Government are on the right track here, although I do not know whether the proposed measures will work. I tend toward the view that they will probably be less efficacious than draconian or dictatorial, but I am happy to be persuaded of all the necessary safeguards that have been suggested. I join the consensus in expressing regret at the lack of a Committee stage when we could have tested some of the proposals with probing amendments and so on. Having said all that, I do not wish to say more about illegal file sharing or downloading because I wish to discuss other parts of the Bill that have not been adequately addressed so far in this debate. I want to focus my remarks on the parts of the Bill dealing with broadcasting policy and issues, especially the role of Channel 4 and the future of regional news on channel 3. I shall declare a couple of non-pecuniary interests: First, I am the chair of the all-party group on Scottish broadcasting and, secondly, I am most of the way through an Industry and Parliament Trust fellowship with the broadcasters. I have been hosted by STV, Channel 4 and now the BBC. The Bill contains very important measures for Channel 4, but the one thing it does not contain is a proposal to privatise the channel, which I warmly welcome. I also genuinely warmly welcome the clear, unequivocal commitment from the shadow Secretary of State, in response to an intervention from me, that a future Conservative Government will rule out privatising Channel 4. That is an important and clear commitment, and it means that we can now afford Channel 4 the comfort and security of knowing that its unique structureessentially, it is the first public-private partnershipwill be guaranteed. That will afford Channel 4 a degree of comfort as it makes its plans for the future. However, I must say to the Opposition Front-Bench team that when the shadow Secretary of State gave that firm commitment not to privatise Channel 4, the looks on the faces of some Conservative Back-Back Members did not betray uniform happiness and delight, although personally I welcome the commitment. I am also a political realist, however, and I know that after the election, whoever wins, the beady eyes of the Treasury will be scanning the entirety of the public sector, looking for savings, cuts, efficienciesor whatever language we useand I absolutely guarantee that, during that process, some bright spark in the Treasury will come up with a plan to privatise Channel 4. It is inevitable. In parenthesis, I add that I am pleased that Channel 4 has recruited its own set of beady eyes from the Treasury in the form of its new chairman, who hopefully will see off this encroaching threat. However, that proposal will be made, so I am pleased that we have a clear political steer from all the parties that it will not see the light of day in this place.
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The Bill gives us a very good opportunity to restate the importance and significance of Channel 4 to the UKs broadcasting environment. It has made an outstanding contribution over nearly 30 years through its original, vibrant, creative, groundbreaking, sometimes irritating and often controversial content. However, it has also made an incredibly important contribution to the industry. It has fostered and helped to develop a thriving and vibrant independent television production sector in this country, but it does not always get the credit for that. As I said, Channel 4s structure is unique. It is a publicly owned company and does not have shareholders, but has to make its living in the marketplace. That dynamic is very important and explains why, along with the BBC and purely commercial channels, there is room for Channel 4. I am happy, in a rare moment of cross-party consensusnot some underhand conspiracyto say to the Conservative Front-Bench team that that success is testimony to the work of the previous Conservative Government who set it up as public-private partnership. Long may it continue. We have heard that the Bill proposes to update Channel 4s remit, and as the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) pointed outpresumably because he read the same Channel 4 briefing as I didin 1982, when it was founded, Channel 4 was a single linear television channel delivering all of its public service broadcasting content through one outlet. It was a single television station. That situation is unrecognisable today, with E4, More4, 4Music, Film4 and all the online content, none of which counts towards Channel 4s remit. We need to refresh the remit for the 21st century. More and more of Channel 4s PSB content will be delivered away from the core channel, and much of it will be online and will never actually be broadcast on the core channel. That is why it is important that we refresh the remit. Brief mention has been made in passing to the importance of the remit embracing Film4. That is extremely important. Until I did my Industry and Parliament Trust fellowship placement with Channel 4, I imagined that Film4 was a huge entity, with lots of people working for it and a budget of tens of millions of pounds, but it is not. It consists of a handful of peopleincredibly dedicated and inspired individualswith a budget somewhere south of 10 million. They have made an astonishing contribution to the UK film industry, with the success of Slumdog Millionaire and The Last King of Scotland, among others. The Film4 people have told me that they wanted film to be included in the remit because they have seen their budgets shrinking and they know that what they have done so far does not count in regard to the current remit. They feel that films inclusion in the remit would protect them from further cuts, and I think that that is right. One important thing that the Government have not included in Channel 4s new remit certainly merits an airing here tonight. There is no mention of the channels obligations to the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. That is a source of extreme annoyance and controversy in the independent production sector throughout the UK. I know from my dealings with those in the independent production sector in Scotland, for example, that they do not feel that they get a fair crack of the whip from Channel 4.
Channel 4s response would probably be that it had never been told that part of its remit was to foster independent TV production sectors on a quota basis throughout the nations and regions of the UK. Channel 4s nations and regions supremothe redoubtable Stuart Cosgrove, who is based in Glasgowwould probably also point out that the channel commissions 35 per cent. of its original production outside London, involving some 120 million in a good year. Channel 4 is not the BBC, however. It does not employ lots of programme makers that it can move around the country, so it cannot meet those targets easily unless there is a vibrant, thriving creative industry sector coming forward with commissions in the nations and regions. We therefore have a bit of a chicken and egg situation. I am passionately committed to increasing TV production outside London, and I believe that Channel 4 has a role to play in that regard. I hoped that the Bill would have a Committee stage because we could have kicked around some of these ideas at that point. We are not going to have an opportunity to do that, however. Having said that, it is incredibly important that the BBC has made a commitment to out-of-London broadcasting. It has made commitments in Cardiff, and through Media City in Salford. It has also made a commitment through the 188 million of investment in Pacific Quay in Glasgow. That is an incredibly important commitment that will do a great deal to foster an independent TV production sector in Scotland, and perhaps we will see more commissions from Channel 4 as a result. I want to turn to the proposals for the independently funded news consortiumsthe IFNC projecton channel 3. This is a thorny issue, and the Conservatives have indicated their staunch opposition to the policy again this afternoon. It is important to remember how we reached this point. We reached it because ITV stated categorically to the Government that it was not prepared to continue to make regional news at a loss. Ofcom has allowed ITV in England and Wales to reduce its regional news output and massively to extend the geographical scope of the regions. In my viewand in the view of many othersthis has led to a dilution of the quality of regional news on ITV. The Government believe passionately that there is a democratic imperative to ensure that people throughout the country are not solely reliant on the BBC for the provision of regional news, and they are right. When Michael Grade was chief executive and chair of ITV, he set his face against any public subsidy for ITV in this area. He said, We want out of this. Well give you a half-hour slot in our schedule, and you can put in it whatever you want. That is where the whole IFNC project had its genesis. However, we now hear from ITVs new chairman that ITV is not entirely convinced that that was the right thing to do. It does not want to give up a valuable half-hour slot in its schedules with no guarantees about the quality or the revenue involved, and it now wants to come back into the business. If IFNCs are to be ditched as part of what is going on behind closed doors between those on the Front Benches as part of the wash-up, it is imperative that all the parties say how they intend to fund regional news on channel 3. There could be a market solution to this question. Perhaps if the contract rights renewal regime
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[David Cairns] were to be scrappedas I think it should be; its regulation has long since served its purposethat revenue could be used to help channel 3. Perhaps product placement could also help. The Government are going somewhat in that direction, although I think that they are being too timid. None the less, product placement on ITV would be an innovation, and perhaps caution would be wise. It may be that if we address the issue of advertising minutage, all these things together will bring increased revenue to ITV. That is well and good, but ITV must then fulfil its side of the bargain and say that it will use that money to invest in original content in the UK and to support and sustain regional news on ITV. If that is the deal, fine. I can live with it, but what we cannot live with is independently funded news consortiums being ditched with absolutely no understanding of how channel 3ITV, and I include STV and UTVare to be funded. As I have said, the Bill deals with incredibly important broadcasting issues. Everyone has a view on the telly, and 99 per cent. of our constituents have at least one telly. The Bill will have an important effect on ITV news and Channel 4, which is why I hope that, whatever deal is done on illegal file sharing, the whole Bill does not get derailed. It is vital to refresh and update Channel 4s remit and it is vital to have some clarity on how ITV is to proceed in the crucial continuation of regional programming and news in the devolved nations as well. 8.51 pm Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): It is a great pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Inverclyde (David Cairns), who made a powerful speech. I think he may have instituted a parliamentary first by referring to one of his constituents as bonkers. Certainly none of my constituents in Selby are bonkerswell, perhaps just a few. My hon. Friend did the House a service in clarifying the position on Channel 4, which can now plan for the future with certainty, given the assurances from both Front-Bench teams this evening. I shall not repeat his litany of the great achievements of Channel 4. An important feature of the Bill is to widen its remit and recognise its multifarious activities. My hon. Friend missed out Channel 4 News, Dispatches and also Channel 4 racing, which I would like to mention as another of its great contributions to the life of the nation. My hon. Friend was perhaps the first in the debate to talk seriously at length about regional news. A year ago everyone was doing that; there is now a hiatus and it looks as if the clauses on regional news are going to be lost. He is quite right that if that is going to happen, there must be something to replace them. I always thought that under the previous chairman of ITV, Michael Grade, the case that ITV regional news must necessarily collapse was overstated. There is a residual value in the licencenot least the third place on the EPG, or electronic programme guide. If deregulatory measures can be introduced, an economic model can stack up to fund the future of ITV regional news. That question is particularly relevant in Scotland, as Scottish Television has to be considered separately. If independently funded news consortiums are not going to appear, all parties have to think about how to keep regional news
on the air. Part of the contribution should come from the residual value of the licence that ITV already has, and perhaps ITV can gain some assistance from other measures. There have been some magnificent speeches in this debate. A number of right hon. and hon. Members have pointed out that it is completely unprecedented for a controversial Bill to appear in this House after the Prime Minister has gone to the palace to ask for a Dissolution, and to be dealt with in the wash-up the next day. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport did his best at the beginning of the debate to try to find some precedents, but all those he mentioned, including the Gambling Act 2005, had already had a Committee stage. I looked at all the Bills that received a Second Reading after a Prime Minister had gone to the palaceI went back as far as 1987so I challenge the Financial Secretary to consider what he regards as the most controversial non-Finance Bill to go through the House in this way. I managed to find the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Bill in 1987, the Architects Bill in 1997, the Lieutenancies Bill in 1997 and the International Organisations Bill in 2005. What they all shared in common was that there was no dispute between hon. Members in respect of them. It really is shameful that we are proceeding in this way. Some hon. Members have said that it is a price worth paying, or that it has to be done now and we are where we are. Well, it does not have to be done now. This House is alive and kicking for another 48 hours. I always take great notice of what Chief Whips say, and the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip inspired the following headline in The Guardian newspaper last week:
Liberal Democrats say Digital Economy bill should wait for next government.
The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip was reported to have

hoped that the arguments being put forwardthat the issues needed more debate than has been possiblemight sway one of the other parties into delaying its passage.
He was reported to have said that he hoped

that the government and the Conservatives will agree that it shouldnt proceed at this stage.
I had great hopes of the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), therefore, but that did not quite seem to be his message today, so there has been a slight shift in positionand not the first one. I have great admiration for the hon. Gentleman, however, and I know he has to accommodate different members of his own party, as we all do. The position that he has now come to is an interesting one, and I shall return to it. Two great debates on this Bill, with commercial interests on both sides, have been referred to tonight. I will not rehearse all the arguments, but one of the debates is on digital radio. The Opposition Front-Bench team seems to be saying that it opposes the current model the Government are suggesting. The Opposition spokesman suggested that he was now in favour of DAB plus. It is interesting that hundreds of radio stations listened to by our constituents throughout the land, such as Minster FM, are being offered no digital future whatever in this Bill. What they are being offered, at best, is a place on a joint FM and digital electronic programme guide that is still being developed, and even if they get on that device, they will still not have all the advantages of
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being a digital station in terms of extra advertising potential and so forth, and they will be very much second-class stations. Under the Bill as currently drafted, that is the future. Helpful amendments were tabled by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords suggesting that before any switchover there should be full consideration of all local and community stations. I will retable those amendments today; I hope that the hon. Member for Bath will support them, and that they might tempt the Conservative Front Bench, too, in the negotiations for the wash-up. There is another side to the debate, to do with the BBC and some other digital radio interests. This reinforces the point that we should still have a full Committee stageand if we cannot have that, we should pass the Bill on to our successors. Many Members have mentioned activities by those in another place, saying that they have sat up through the night and considered these measures in great detail, so we need not trouble our little democratic heads with them too much, because they have done the business for usbut an awful lot has been happening down there in the other place. The hon. Member for Bath has been accused of writing new clause 18. He is not its author, however. I was at a reception where five separate lobbyists all claimed to be its author. Indeed, a gentleman who goes under the name of Richard Mollet is one of the lobbyists on one side of the debate, and a memo of his was exposed to the world. He wrote:
Some of the amendments I distributed yesterday were ruled out of order by the Public Bill Office, on the grounds that they were introducing too dramatic a change.
(Mr. Redwood), who acknowledged the rights of rights holders and the need for copyright. He also said that this was a question of balance, and pointed out the benefits of sharing ideas and the creative impact that it can have. There are some bands whose whole profile has been generated by sharing, and they are now making an awful lot of money from live gigs and so on. Such ideas can challenge some peoples business models, but because they are complicated it is even more important that the Bill should not be rushed through in a massive hurry. Pete Wishart: We have heard about the views of all the lobbyists who have been making an impact, but what is the hon. Gentlemans view? Should file sharing be addressed? If these measures are not sufficient, what would he do? Mr. Grogan: We have to address the issue of illegal file sharing. My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) mentioned Lord Carter, and I would go back to Lord Carters original ideas, which involved strong letters, education, the possibility of further action and the encouragement of new economic models. Those ideas have now been chilled. People like Virgin Media were doing deals with creative companies, but now some of the old-style companies are saying, Perhaps we dont need to do these deals with the ISPs, because well have more administrative measures and the cutting-off will happen much earlier than Lord Carter envisaged. We all know what happened: I do not want to be accused of being a conspiracy theorist, but we all know that Lord Mandelson had one of his meetings in Corfu with some people were very prominent in the Hollywood industry and Mr. Vaizey: Name them. Mr. Grogan: There is a whole list. Lord Mandelson is a very important figure and he shifted the Governments policy on this issue. It is not a question of doing nothing. There was the Lord Carter White Paper, which this House could have united behind. That has been massively changed, largely through the influence of Lord Mandelson and those who ably advise him. If we proceed in this way, we in this House will be abrogating our responsibilities. As we were reminded earlier, when we were elected to this House we were elected to scrutinise, to debate and to challenge the assumptions of those outside who lobby us. We cannot possibly do that properly with this Bill. At least we have heard a concrete Liberal Democrat position: the Liberal Democrats are saying that they will not vote for Third Reading unless clause 18, which is so complicated and mired in controversy, and involves the blocking of websites and so on, is dropped Mr. Vaizey: They put it in. Mr. Grogan: I know that they put it in, but there is joy in heaven when a sinner repenteth. At the very least, I hope that the House will back the minimalist position whatever the electoral reasons that inspired it may be. I can tell those on the Front Bench that when that moment is reachedat 10 or 11 oclock tomorrow nightthere might not be that many people around. I hope that all those who are listening to the debate on BBC Parliament or following it on the internet will urge their MPs who are around to remember that if the Bill gets a Second Reading today, there is still Third Reading, and the question of clause 18. This fight is not over yet.
Apparently, amendments were being handed out by both sides. Mr. Don Foster: We are greatly enjoying the hon. Gentlemans speech, but I should gently point out to him that Richard Mollet is none other than the Labour party candidate for South-West Surrey. Mr. Grogan: Exactly, and if I go any further I will be accused of being a conspiracy theorist, because Mr. Mollet will, no doubt, have many happy hours talking to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt). Mr. Mollet also wrote:
As for the House of Commonswhich will be sent the Bill next weekthere is a strange sense of detachment. MPs with whom we spoke back in Autumn are already resigned to the fact that they will have minimum input into the provisions from this point on, given the lack of detailed scrutiny.
We should not take our orders from such a lobbyist, even if he is a Labour parliamentary candidate. The influence of lobbyistsI acknowledge that they have come from both sides, and they should be doing their job and putting forward their ideas to Front Benchers and Back Benchers in the Lordsmakes it even more important, given all that has happened in the past few weeks and in the past year, that this House should say, No, were not going to pass this Bill by means of a thinly attended debate tonight, and the wash-up tomorrow. Yes, the Bill deals with important issues to do with the future of our digital economy. We have heard some impassioned speeches tonight from many hon. Members. Some Members missed the extremely powerful speech made by the right hon. Member for Wokingham
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Eric Joyce (Falkirk) (Lab): I am very pleased to be able to follow a number of high-quality speeches. It seems to me that everyone said more or less the same thing, which is that this is much-needed legislation and that it is flawed. Some people think it should go through anyway and that if it is flawed, we will fix it later, whereas other people think that it should not. I belong to the latter group. The right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) encapsulated much of what I think. I could almost splice what he said with what my hon. Friends the Members for Selby (Mr. Grogan) and for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) said and sit down. However, I will not, as everybody will be pleased to hear. I want to reflect on a couple of points made by those on the Front Benches. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State started out by saying, We have not had much time. What a pity; I wish we could have had more. That strikes me as being a bit like the referee at a Celtic-Rangers football match watching Celtic score a goal in the first minute and then promptly blowing the whistle for full time and saying, Sorry guys, I wish we had a bit longer, but there it is. Its getting a bit dark. Maybe we should have started the match a little earlier. Much as every Celtic supporter at the moment would probably like that to be the case, I do not think that would work. The Conservative Front-Bench spokesman made a perfectly logical and correct point about the problem that photographers have with clause 43. That problem is widely known about; indeed, I think that the Government have probably already accepted it. They are then going to railroad the whole thing through. The Liberal Democrats Front-Bench position is a little more opaque. I am not exactly sure what they are saying because their excellent hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) raised what seemed to be countervailing points of his own. They seem to have left things at saying that it is still possible for clause 43 to be amended in some way, although nobody else agrees with that now that it has gone, but the Lib Dems seem to want to keep it alive. I say the Lib Dems as a plural, but only one person from the Lib Dems has spoken tonighttheir Front-Bench spokesman. The massed ranks of the Lib Dems on Twitter have not bothered to come along to support him. Instead, they are saying the opposite all over the internet. The Liberal Democrats also seem to have left open the possibility of people being disconnected from the internet without their having access to any kind of court proceedings. I know that I have been the beneficiary of some crowdsourcing about this on the internet. The HADOPI case in France, of 10 June 2009, has been raised by the Law Society of Scotland in this regard. That case led the French to amend their legislation to ensure that if people were going to be disconnected, they would have a chance to test that decision in court. Mr. Simon: But is it not the case that after a year, and lots of letters, people will get a first right of appeal to the Ofcom appeal body and then a second right of appeal to a first-tier tribunal, which is a judicial body? That is a court. Why do people keep saying that there will be no court appeal? There are two appeals, the second of which is judicial.
Eric Joyce: My hon. Friend is correct, but I do not regard a tribunal as the same thing at all. Things are being put through in the Lords, and we have been told many times, both before tonight and, indeed, tonight, that there has been bags of scrutiny by the unelected Lords next door. Hon. Members have said that the experts have got one or two things tied up, and have talked about not having a complete grasp of some issues. I understand that there are technicalities about how people are disconnected, constrained, blocked and so on, but we have put great trust in experts and in the House of Lords. Of course, it would save a great deal of time with our future proceedings if we simply said, Theyve scrutinised it next door, so we can just knock it down to an hour in this place. Mr. Watson: A number of hon. Members on both sides of the House have likened copyright infringement to shoplifting and stealing. If that is the case, why should not such people have their day in court like any other thief ? Eric Joyce: I profoundly agree with my hon. Friend. That is precisely what most people out there would say; indeed, people are saying that. We have rather blithely ignored the fact that thousands of peoplenot just an lite group of people on the internet with special interests are making these very points on various things like the #hashtags on Twitter #DEBill and #DEB and we are casually pushing them aside and saying that we will put through this flawed legislation regardless of the views of those digital natives who know what they are talking about. Mr. Simon: I apologise for arguing with my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) through my hon. Friend, but going back to his assertion about people not getting their day in court, I repeat that the second appeal is to a first-tier tribunal, which is a judicial body. Why do people keep saying, We want our day in court? They will get their day in court if they insist on breaking the law. Mr. Watson: Shoplifters do not go to a tribunal. Eric Joyce: Indeedthey go to court. They get their day in court. Would we pass legislation saying, Lets not bother with shoplifters going to court. Well just have a tribunal that is heard by one quasi-judge, or judge, and he or she will make a decision? Of course we would not accept that. We are talking about lawbreaking, and such cases deserve to be tested in court. That is a pretty basic proposition. My objection is no different from the one made by many other hon. Members. The hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) made some very good points about peoples need to earn a living, and I do not dispute for a second that powerful vested interests have argued against the Bill. However, he would not dispute that powerful interests have argued for it. I have seen members of the Musicians Union arguing against his position, on Twitter and elsewhere. There are not manyI think that the hon. Gentleman probably represents a majority of Musicians Union membersbut it is a fact that there are disparate views out there that we are simply not paying heed to. When we say that it is a pity that we have not had long enough to debate this Bill, people outside the Chamber will wonder why that
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is. Usually, a Bill like this would get 40 or 50 hours in Committee and another three or four on Third Reading. We are cutting all that back to one hour of scrutiny tomorrow, but that will not really be serious scrutiny at all. I shall end with a political point about the Liberal Democrats. @Ironjolt joked on Twitter recently that the party was desperate to be in a three-horse race. However, given that there have been no speakers at all from the Liberal Democrat Back Benches, it is clear that it is not even able to supply the back end for a panto horse. That is a great pity for its members, but does not greatly surprise me. I shall conclude my brief remarks by saying that the Conservatives are willing to let this flawed Bill go through so that they can correct it after the general election. That is not what I want. I want this flawed Bill to be put off until after the general election, so that the inevitable Labour Government will be able to amend it properly. 9.11 pm Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con): It has been a very interesting debate, with a single theme unifying the contributions from Back and Front Benches across the Housethat the Government appear to be rushing through an important piece of legislation without due scrutiny in the House of Commons. After 13 years of digital dithering, this Bill is all they have to show on the digital front. It is a missed opportunity of massive proportions. Not only is it discourteous to rush such a significant measure through Parliament in the dying days of a failed Government, but it is also incompetent. Mr. Simon: I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman so early in his remarks, but we all know that the Government can get the Bill through only if the official Opposition support it wholeheartedly, especially in the House of Lords. Surely that is a bit like trying to have his cake and eat it at the same time. Adam Afriyie: That was a great attempt at distortion and distraction, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that we will not allow measures that we disagree with to go through. Therefore, I can say categorically that we will not allow clauses 1, 21 and 43 to go through. We have a very clear position on this Bill, whereas the Government seem to be all over the place and unable to focus on what they hope to achieve. Mr. Grogan: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way, but a further point of clarity would be useful. I noticed him nodding when various hon. Members spoke about the lack of time for debate: will the Opposition Front Bench vote for the programme motion this evening? Adam Afriyie: We have made it very clear where the red lines are. We are very keen that this Bill does get to Committee, if only for a short time. It is already reprehensible that the Government, who have been in office for 13 years and who began work on this Bill five years ago, should bring it forward only at this last minute. We want to examine what is available for examination in whatever time we have, but we will not cross our red lines.
Mr. Don Foster: I apologise for interrupting the hon. Gentleman, but I want to be helpful. He said that the Conservatives were unhappy with clause 23, which is entitled Monitoring and enforcing C4Cs media content duties, but I suspect that he was referring to clause 29. Adam Afriyie: I thank the hon. Gentleman for recognising that I misspoke. I meant to refer to clause 29, as opposed to clause 23. We will not allow clauses 1, 29 and 43 Peter Luff: You said clause 21. Adam Afriyie: I meant to say clauses 1, 29 and 43: those are the ones that we will not allow to go through. Fiona Mactaggart: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Adam Afriyie: I should like to make a little more headway and then I will give way several times, as we shall not have much opportunity beyond today to examine the legislation. At the height of the dotcom boom, new Labour talked about modernising Government IT. They talked about the digital economy, but they were not digital natives, so they created an e-unit, an e-envoy and even an e-Minister. In fact, they slapped an e in front of anything that moved. While the pace of technological change was breathtaking, the response from the Government certainly was not. They have had ample opportunity to face up to the realities of the digital economy and the digital age, but they have failed to do so. They promised competition and innovation in the media industry, but they have chosen to subsidise and entrench old business models. They promised a modern communications infrastructure but they have delivered some of the slowest broadband speeds in the world. We are ranked 40th in the world. Labour has left Britain in the broadband slow lane, behind countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. That was a fantastic achievementand that was irony. The Government promised a copyright system fit for the digital age. In the meantime, the music and film industries have lost millions, if not hundreds of millions, through illegal downloads. What is Labours answer to the new digital economy? Old-style taxes, old-style subsidies and old-style regulation. The Bill is nothing like the measure we wished to see. It is nothing like a Bill that will kick-start the digital economy. It is a Betamax Bill from a bewildered Government who seem startled and dazzled by the lights of modernity and the open data challenges. There have been some fantastic contributions to the debate. There were good speeches from both sides, and it is frustrating that there has not been time to examine the issues more carefully. My right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr. Davis) said clearly that he was completely opposed to the Bill unless there was time to scrutinise and review particular aspects relating to civil liberties. I salute his integrity on those issues. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff), who is Chairman of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, pointed out that a large part of the Bill relates to the business aspects of the digital
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[Adam Afriyie] economy and that there has not been time to examine them in detail. I shall come to some of his other remarks in a moment. The right hon. Member for Cardiff and Penrith Alun Michael: May I correct the hon. Gentlemans geography? Penrith is not within the boundaries of my constituency, which is Cardiff, South and Penarth. Adam Afriyie: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that correction. He gave a considered and balanced view. He was pleased with the reserve powers for Nominet, and concerned about internet safety issues. He was remarkably open to market mechanisms, or other ways of enabling internet access that did not require cumbersome legislation. I very much welcomed those comments and the fact that he wanted to avoid intervention on a large scale. The hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), the Lib Dem Front-Bench spokesman, observed that there were some good parts to the Bill, but that the failure to have proper scrutiny was making life difficult. I thoroughly enjoyed the acrobatics he described when reconciling presenting an amendment in the Lords and campaigning against it the following morning. I am surprised he did not bump his head on the bath. The hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) paid tribute to Lord CarterI think he referred to him as Lord Carter of Parisand was particularly concerned about whether the Bill recognised the importance of next generation high-speed internet access, akin to ambitions in China and India. The hon. Gentleman said clearly that he felt the Bill lacked vision and that it was a missed opportunity on Channel 4. Like several other Members, the hon. Gentleman observed that it was his last speech in the House of Commons. We wish them well in their life beyond this place. What was most significant about his contribution was that he considered the practical measures that would have made the Bill better legislation. My hon. Friend the Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale), who is Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said that the lack of scrutiny might well lead to a lack of legitimacythat is an important point to hold on toand that proving identity would be difficult in relation to university students in halls of residence and internet cafs. The hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) used an interesting term about the Bill. He said that the process and the ragbag of measures were akin to dross and that he had serious concerns about the digital switchover. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire, who is the Chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, said that the legislation would have a great impact on the economy, society and culture of Britain and that this was the least constitutionally satisfactory process in his entire time in Parliament. That says a lot, as he has been a Member for a long time, and that sentiment was echoed by many other hon. Members. He recognised the balance between freedom of expression and creativity and the absence of a definition of what 2 megabits per second actually means. That is an important observation, because if such speeds are only sporadically
available, even though the headline rate is 2 megabits per second, many of the activities that we wish to undertake on broadband simply will not come about. Peter Luff: I am most grateful to my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. I should warn him not to praise me too much; the Twittersphere hates me tonight, so he should be careful about doing so. Adam Afriyie: I thank my hon. Friend for the warning, but his observations were balanced and fair, and he recognised both sides of the issues. In many ways, Twitter and many of the modern forms of communication are at the heart of what we are talking about today, and perhaps parliamentarians should be a little more relaxed about the public expression of differences, because that adds to our understanding of these issues. Pete Wishart: I have been even more disgraced on Twitter this evening. I do not mind what was said about my contributions, but having a go at my shirt was far too much. Adam Afriyie: The shirts and blouses that Members of Parliament may wear are important international issues, and I am glad that those who are wired in are discussing our sense of dress, as well as the points that we make. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire also mentioned in particular clause 43 about orphan works and photo issues. I am glad that he did so; that is one of our red lines. We will not support any regulation that includes clause 43. Fiona Mactaggart: I am interested in the hon. Gentlemans reference to red lines. It seems that he is able, without there having been a vote, to declare some red linesan opportunity that is not available to Back Benchers during the wash-up process. Does he feel that it is satisfactory that he and his Front-Bench colleagues can keep red lines, when issues that hon. Members on both sides of the House have expressed concern about will not be dealt with in that way? Adam Afriyie: I am quite surprised that the hon. Lady asks an Opposition Front Bencher that question when her Government have hastily rushed through the Bill, which has not had sufficient time for scrutiny. We will work and make decisions in the best interests of the country and the creative industries and for the future of digital Britain, even if we are delivered a dogs dinner by the Government. I thought that the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon), a former Culture, Media and Sport Minister, made a carefully considered contributionI should not sound surprised, should I? He pointed out that it needs to be acknowledged that illegal downloading is property theft, no matter how one looks at it. He also said that new business models for content delivery and economic value added are already available and that they are technically possible, morally right and economically necessary. If only his concerns had been echoed by his Front-Bench colleagues, the Government might have taken the issues more seriously and brought the Bill before the House two or three weeks ago, so that we could have had time to contemplate them more closely. However, the hon. Gentlemans contribution was well informed, lucid and, in some aspects, other-worldly.
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Kate Hoey: I am a little concerned because the crux of much of the debate has been the way in which the Bill is being pushed through without genuine scrutiny. I would not want to support such a ludicrous timetabling motion, but I do not think that we would be able to carry a vote. Will the hon. Gentleman explain how it can be sensible to have a short Committee stage tomorrow? It will not be possible to do anything, so let us turn this out tonight. Adam Afriyie: I share those concerns. We are keen that we use whatever time is available at this fag end of a Parliament to scrutinise the Bill, if only for an hour. Clearly, any Member of the House may object to the programme motion, and we shall see what happens. The hon. Member for Penrith Pete Wishart: Perth and North Perthshire. Adam Afriyie: I apologise to the hon. Gentleman [Interruption.] Yes, I am obsessed with Penrith. I made my notes in the absence of an opportunity to use technology in the Chamber and it is difficult to read my poor handwriting. The hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) made a passionate speech in support of the sanctions in the Bill against those who steal not only his intellectual property and collective works, but those of many people in a similar position. His plea will be recognised throughout the country and a balanced debate is required. It is delightful to learn that the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) is the estranged son of the dark lord, whichever dark lord that might be. I welcomed many of his balanced comments. His speech was impassioned yet thoughtful. He balanced freedom of speech with the privacy of the individual, and when he talked about intellectual property versus fair use, he tipped the balance towards what he saw as the future for the United Kingdom, rather than our approach of the past. He referred quite often to squalid deals, but I reassure him that we are here at the last moment before Parliament shuts downat five minutes to midnight because his Government failed to bring the Bill forward earlier. Mr. Watson: But for perhaps the first time in the hon. Gentlemans parliamentary career, he can stop this if he chooses. Destiny is in your hands; seize the moment! Adam Afriyie: My blood is pumping, but it was pumping before the hon. Gentlemans words of encouragement. I assure him again that Conservative Members will do our utmost to ensure that those aspects of the Bill that have not been correctly considered do not go through. We will not move from that position because this is not about party politics or electioneering; it is about ensuring that this country has the legislation that it requires. My hon. Friend the shadow Secretary of State gave the further commitment that we completely reserve the right to revisit any measures that might go through the House this side of the election. From my and my partys perspective, it is quite clear that we need an update of intellectual property law and copyright law, so we are committed to carrying that out. We will do our utmost to allow through the bits of legislation regarding which we think that there is time to make corrections, if they are needed. The hon. Member for
West Bromwich, East said that there are unpalatable truths to deal with. I can assure him that an incoming Conservative Government would take the bull by the horns. My right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) gave an experienced and considered exposition of the dangers of the hasty treatment of legislation, and of the lack of scrutiny. He pointed out that even on Second Reading, there were about 11 themes in the Bill that needed to be discussed. Contributions from around the Chamber have touched on many of those themes, but we have not dealt with them in as much detail as we should have done. The hon. Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson) actually agrees with the Conservative policy that we should consider opening up and enabling access to the ducts. We go further and say that that should apply also to the sewers and any other medium through which cable can be run and digital transmission can take place. We do not see that the only tool available to a Government is draconian legislation forcing measures through by the centre. We recognise that we have had a thriving and booming mobile phone sector and cable sector in the absence of the type of measures that the Government seem to wish to take. John Robertson: Far be it from me to correct the hon. Gentleman, but I said that although I do not have a problem with opening up the ducts or sewers, or with pylons, somebody must be in control to make sure that things are run properly. Cowboys cannot be allowed to come in, as happened in the past, and ride roughshod over the infrastructure. Adam Afriyie: I thank the hon. Gentleman for the clarification. Mr. Redwood: The main issue that I was raising in my speech, as my hon. Friend may recollect, related to clauses 10 to 18, which are a blank cheque saying that orders will be laid in due course. We have no idea whether they would work or how they would be constructed. Is my hon. Friend sure that it is possible to construct sensible orders out of the chaotic haste of that part of the Bill? Adam Afriyie: It would be an enormous challenge, which is why we have left open the opportunity to revisit the Bill, if it goes through and if there is a Conservative Government. It is not just the Bill that requires further work. There is a lot more work to be done to ensure that Britain is at the forefront of the digital revolution, rather than a laggard, as we are at present. The hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) made a clear and robust speech, commenting that it was utterly feeble that in their dying days, a Government should try to introduce such legislation. She also rebuked those on the Opposition Front Bench for perhaps being in cahoots. I reiterate that we are clear that in our approach to the Bill, we will defend the interests of the country and we will not budge on the clauses that I mentioned. Fiona Mactaggart: The hon. Gentleman misquoted me. I did not say that the Government were being feeble. I said that Back-Bench Members and Opposition FrontBench Members are being feeble by failing to scrutinise what the Government offer us.
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Adam Afriyie: That is a curious comment, given that it is the hon. Ladys Government who have introduced the Bill in massive haste. I thought that she was being altruistic and impartial in her comments, but striking out any contribution from her own Government to the chaos that we see this evening seems a little one-sided. The hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) pointed out that there were some good clauses in the Bill. He was critical of the process that the Government have adopted, and observed that the fact that the Lords had taken such a long time to consider the Bill might be a bad sign. He suggested that it might be a more complicated and difficult piece of legislation than it seemed, and that therefore the House needed to concentrate on it. He pointed out that clause 43 on orphan works was not adequately thought through and he did not support it. The hon. Member for Inverclyde (David Cairns) made a constructive contribution. He praised the public-private partnershipadmittedly introduced by the previous Conservative Governmentand the way in which it worked, and he raised many issues about the provision of local and regional news. The hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), apart from having a few constituents who may be bonkers, observed that there was a challenge because of the shameful abuse of the process, and he was challenged to find a precedent of such importance in any wash-up prior to the Dissolution of Parliament. The hon. Member for Falkirk (Eric Joyce) said, Dont let this through, and there was some debate about the redress to legal process for those who are accused. On the economy, there are some useful aspects of the Bill. There is some merit in establishing reserve powers on the domain name system, and the proposals to tackle online copyright infringement are long overdue. Anti-piracy measures should recognise new technologies, and thankfully the Government have backed down on their draconian plans under the old clause 17. However, it is an insult to democracy and to this House not to make sufficient time to scrutinise the proposals in more detail. We strongly oppose Labours old-style subsidies that embed old-style business models, and we oppose unnecessary regulatory burdens. The Government have failed to explain why Ofcom requires additional duties, hence the opposition to clause 1. Ofcom already considers the state of infrastructure, and there is now a serious risk that the new duties could distort its objective of sustaining competition. That measure is nothing more than a shabby political dividing line of the Prime Ministers making. I have also said many times before that we need a workable system for dealing with orphan works. If the Government had provided the time, rather than a cobbledtogether mismatch, Britain could have led the world with a state-of-the-art copyright system. The Gowers review was published in December 2006, so they have had four years to find a solution, but this incompetent Government now want to force through substantial changes with insufficient scrutiny. Many hon. Members have highlighted the serious questions about clause 43, and with the Governments consultation on copyright exceptions in its second phase it is clear that the copyright debate is not over yet. We
are committed to updating our copyright system for the digital age. In the interests of the country and the economy, a Conservative Government would retain the right and maintain the intention to revisit orphan works, in addition to extended collective licensing, as part of a broader copyright update. Old-style taxes, old-style subsidies, old-style regulation: that is Labours plan for the digital economy. After three Parliaments of digital dithering, they have left us at the last minute with some botched legislation. This is a washed-up Bill from a washed-up Government. There is a clear choice at the election: five more years of old-style, old-fashioned Labour dithering, or a new Government with the energy, ideas and leadership to deliver for Britains digital future. 9.38 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Stephen Timms): We have had a good debate about the Bill. My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) made an excellent speech, and I join him in paying tribute to Stephen Carter, who through his work on the visionary Digital Britain White Paper, which was published in June last year, started us on this road and did a great service to the House and the country through his work. We have had a good debate today, and there has been a long debate in the other place about the measures before us in the Bill. It is now for the House to determine whether the Bill be given a Second Reading. Some have argued that it should not, given the extent of concern about the Bills measures to tackle copyright infringements. I shall be completely straightforward about my views; I shall not, like the Opposition Front Benchers, try to face both ways. My view is that it should be given a Second Reading, because it is right that we support the creative industries and make progress on the other measures that the Bill addresses. I should point out that although it is opposed by some from whom we have heard, the view that we need to press on and make progress is strongly supported by the Creative Coalition Campaign, which includes trade unions that have rightly said that we must not let this opportunity pass. If we did not allow the Bill its Second Reading, we would be taking no action on copyright infringement at allfor several months at least, and possibly for much longer. Some, of course, would welcome that. Some want the current ability to download unlawfully not to be fettered. But according to the Bills impact assessment, the annual cost of online copyright infringement for UK industry is estimated at 400 million for music, film and TV. Meanwhile, the International Chamber of Commerce estimates the total annual cost at more than 1 billion a year. Given the importance of the creative industries, with their high growth rates, as we come out of the downturn we cannot afford a long delay in addressing the problem. Legislation alone, of course, is not the answer; I agree with the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale), the Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chairman, on that. Lots of other things will need to be done as well. We certainly need the creative industries to help educate consumers about the damage caused by piracyand the straightforward fact that it is
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wrongand to try out new approaches and develop online business models that offer consumers what they want at a price that they are willing to pay. Those business models are starting to be developed. We are certainly seeing some encouraging moves on education and I hope that we will hear more about that in the next few weeks. It is fair, however, to make some criticism of the creative industries for being rather slow in coming forward with online business models that can work. In the end, however, people cannot develop a business model if they are having to compete with others who offer their products for free. There need to be back-stop safeguards to assure legitimate businesses that they will not simply be competing with those who have taken unlawfully what they have paid to provide. I turn to unlawful file sharing using peer-to-peer networks. I expect that the initial measures, which require internet service providers to write to customers who download copyright material without paying for it, to lead to a substantial reduction in the scale of the problem, and I think those measures are pretty widely supported. I hope that that will be enough to achieve a 70 per cent. reduction, as is our aim. If it is, the technical measures set out in the Bill will not be needed. However, we cannot guarantee that the provision will lead to that scale of reduction, so we need to be able to back up those initial measures with technical measures, including the possibility of temporary account suspension. Accounts would not be suspended lightly. The Bill provides robust safeguards. Multiple letters will have been sent before technical measures are considered. If a technical measure is imposed, the subscriber affected can appeal and the measure will not be imposed until the appeal has been determined. I understand the concern, expressed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael), for example, about the danger of technical measures being taken against broadband in public libraries or universities, or against public wi-fi services. I do not think that it would be right to provide a blanket exemption for those services. However, the Bill requires Ofcom to draw up a code to govern how technical measures would be applied. The code will need to recognise and address the particular position of public services and institutions of that kind. We would not regard any assessment by Ofcom, under clause 10, as satisfactory unless it took account of the impact on public libraries, universities and public wi-fi services. Alun Michael: Will my right hon. Friend also undertake to require Ofcom to engage those bodies in designing something that suits how they work as well as meeting the clearly important requirements in the Bill? Mr. Timms: Yes, it will be important for Ofcom to have exactly that kind of discussion, to ensure that it draws up the code that is needed. Peter Luff: Will small businesses be included in that list? Mr. Timms: I am not sure which small businesses the hon. Gentleman is referring topublic wi-fi services? Peter Luff indicated assent.
Mr. Timms: There will certainly need to be discussion with them, yes. Unlawful file sharing using peer-to-peer networks is not the only form of online copyright infringement. It is the biggest today, but the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) made the point that perhaps a third of infringements are accounted for by other approaches. There will be new approaches in the future and legislation will be needed to address them. I regret that an amendment in the other place supported by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats removed the flexibility to tackle new forms of copyright infringement in future and instead introduced clause 18, which, in its current form, is highly problematic in a number of ways. It is a major change and there has been absolutely no consultation about it so far, and it would be unenforceable given the requirements of the technical standards directive. We have therefore drawn up an amended version to address those problems. It is available on the Bill website, although not yet in the Vote Office, for reasons that my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) explained. The amended clause will provide a power to make regulations and require that they be properly consulted on, and it will not fall foul of the technical standards directive. We can then consider further the case for such regulations, assess their benefits and consider the proportionality of suggested remedies to the problem. We can consider what the regulations need to do, when they are appropriate and what safeguards are needed. Regulations brought forward under the amended clause 18 will have to go through the super-affirmative procedure, allowing the maximum possible parliamentary scrutiny, including the ability for a Committee of either House to recommend changes to the terms of the regulations. I hope the House accepts that that will allow a high degree of parliamentary scrutiny beyond the agreement of the Bill, so that we can consider precisely how the amended clause 18 is to be given effect. Mr. Redwood: Will the Minister explain what would happen if someone had paid for an article or some content from a paid-for site? What would they be allowed to do? Could they invite people in their home to read it for free online at their convenience? Could they print it out and circulate the print-out to friends or family, and could they make multiple copies? Is it just sending it around electronically that is illegal? I would be grateful to know what the crime is. Mr. Timms: I think that the right hon. Gentleman is barking up the wrong tree. The owner of the copyrightthe person who is responsible for the content, such as the right hon. Gentleman himself in the case of his blog, which he told us aboutcan do what he likes with that content. The amended clause 18, which is to provide a power to make regulations rather than change the law directly, will allow a copyright holder to apply for a court order to block access to a website. Mr. Redwood: The Minister cannot say that I do not understand the matter. I am asking him how far someone could go in using something that they had paid for before falling foul of his proposal. It is a very reasonable question.
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Mr. Timms: But the author of the content will not fall foul of the proposal. I do not imagine that the right hon. Gentleman will apply for a court order to block access to a website that holds his content. A music maker such as the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) might wish to do that, but the right hon. Gentleman clearly would not. Mr. Redwood rose Mr. Timms: I need to make some progress. Nothing illuminates the vacuity of the Conservative partys policy platform better than the vacuity of its policy on broadband. It is very depressing that the Conservatives have added to their yawning credibility deficit by supporting the end but refusing to support the means to roll out next- generation broadband in rural areas. They simply do not have a credible policy. For a long time they maintained that minor regulatory tweaks would be sufficient to unleash the scale of investment necessary. I am glad that they have now admitted that public funding will be needed for next-generation broadband in rural areas, as it most certainly will, but they have identified a funding source that will not be available for another three years. Taking their approach would be a disastrous betrayal of rural businesses, of young people and schools in rural areas, and of people living in rural areas who want to work from home. Virgin Media will offer 100 megabits per second services across its entire network serving urban areas by the end of this year. Why do the Conservatives think that rural areas should wait for another three years before they get any help? Mr. Hunt: We do not, which is why we have said that we think that the digital switchover surplus should be used to help fund rural broadband. Mr. Timms: That money will be available, on the hon. Gentlemans proposition, only in the new licence fee settlement for the BBC and so will become available for 2013. The money for the period between now and the end of the current licence fee period has already been spoken for. The hon. Gentleman argued at the start of this debate that the market can ensure a diverse provision of regional independent news, but the truth is that despite the popularity of regional ITV news, it is under severe threat, as my hon. Friend the Member for Inverclyde (David Cairns) and others rightly pointed out. The Bill offers a multi-media model with potentially lower production and distribution costs which can meet audiences needs. We propose to fund the pilots through a small element of the digital switchover underspend and then decide on longer-term funding later, in the light of the pilots. Mr. Foster: The Minister knows that I entirely agree with him on that point, but the hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) warned us earlier to beware what Chief Whips say, and I am receiving messages that the Government Chief Whip has acknowledged that clause 29 will be dropped by the Government. Can the Minister confirm that that is categorically not the case and that they will press it as far as they can? Mr. Timms: We certainly will press the clause as far as we can. We have heard the Conservatives describe their red lines and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, those on
the Conservative Benches are in a stronger position at this stage in the process than would otherwise be the case. Mr. Vaizey: How is the Minister proposing to use the digital switchover surplus for IFNCs, given that he has just said that it is not available until 2013? Mr. Timms: The scale of funding that the Conservative party is talking about is certainly not available until the new licence fee round is agreed. Indeed, I would argue that if the Conservatives think that the BBC can be run for a lower price, they should reduce the licence fee, not use it to fund other things. It would be far better to have a transparent and clearly identified source of reliable funding, as we propose with the phone line levy. The case for a new ability to license orphan works is a very strong one. Many films, for example, some in the BBC archive, cannot be seen at all today because nobody knows who owns the copyright. It would be a criminal offence to show those films and that problem needs to be fixed. In the past few weeks, we have heard a good deal about the worries of photographers that clause 43 would allow people to exploit their work by claiming it to be orphan. I understand and sympathise with those concerns, and I agree that they need to be addressed, but clause 43 would allow us to do that. In the end, if photographers were not satisfied that we were able to produce orphan rights regulations that met their needs, we would not proceed with the regulations. I welcome the statement about clause 43 made last week by a number of photography organisations, including the Association of Photographers, the National Union of Journalists, the Royal Photographic Society and Getty Images, welcoming changes made to the Bill in the other place and looking forward to working with Government on the regulations to be made under clause 43. Mr. Watson: I have great admiration for how my right hon. Friend is putting his case, but I still have grave reservations about clauses 11 to 18, and it is with the greatest regret that I say that, although it is clear that the three Front-Bench teams are determined to railroad this through on Second Reading, if the Government cannot move on those clauses tomorrowwe will have only an hour on Third ReadingI will not be able to support the measures at the crucial vote on Third Reading. I am sure that I speak for other colleagues. Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend, in his thoughtful speech, made his position clear. I say to him that our choice is between acting and not acting on unlawful downloading. That is the choice that the House needs to make, and I think that there is broad agreement across the House on the need to act in the way the Bill sets out. I shall comment on some of the others points made in the debate. My right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth asked me to confirm that the powers in respect of Nominet would be used only as a last resort, and I can indeed give him that assurance. The hon. Member for Bath, who has entertained the House with the Liberal Democrats policy changes, suggested having a super-affirmative procedure for clause 11. Actually, that clause is drawn pretty tightly, and the power can be used only following an assessment by Ofcom. So although I think it is appropriate for clause 18, I do not think that such an additional safeguard is appropriate for clause 11.
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I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Derek Wyatt) for his contribution to this debate throughout his time in the House and for his contribution outside the House in creating the Oxford Internet Institute, for example. I wish him well for the future. The hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford was right to underline the huge damage being done by piracy, but as I said earlier I agree that legislation on its own is not the sole answer. Mr. Whittingdale: There is concern among some who have looked at the Bill that clause 46 might have similar sweeping powers to the unlamented clause 17. Will the Minister confirm that that is not the case? Mr. Timms: Yes, I can. Clause 46 gives powers only to make amendments consequential on other parts of the Bill. The hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff)I enjoyed his Committees report on broadband, and I, too, would have liked the response to have been published by todaymade important points in his report and speech about 2 megabits per second. I agree that about 10 per cent. of homes still cannot get a 2 megabit per second broadband service. We need to make sure that they all can. Broadband Delivery UK, which started work just a few weeks ago, will be working up that definition. We have had a very good debate. The digital economy and our creative industries are a source of great strength for the UK and our economy. There are enormous opportunities ahead. The digital economy holds out vast opportunities for the UK. The Bill will enable us to realise those opportunities, and I commend it to the House. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 63), That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.(Mary Creagh.) Question agreed to. Committee tomorrow. DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL [LORDS] (MONEY) Queens recommendation signified.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52 (1)(a)),
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Digital Economy Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided.(Mary Creagh.)
Question agreed to. DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL [LORDS] (WAYS AND MEANS) Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52 (1)(a)),
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Digital Economy Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise (a) provisions by virtue of which holders of radio licences granted under the Broadcasting Act 1990 or radio multiplex licences granted under the Broadcasting Act 1996 are or may be required to pay sums to the Office of Communications in connection with the renewal of such licences, (b) provisions by virtue of which holders of licences granted under section 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 in accordance with regulations under section 14 of that Act (licences allocated by auction) may be required to pay sums to the Office of Communications in connection with such licences, and (c) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund. (Mary Creagh.)
Question agreed to. EQUALITY BILL (PROGRAMME) (NO. 2) Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)),
That the following provisions shall apply to the Equality Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 11 May 2009 (Equality Bill (Programme)): Consideration of Lords Amendments 1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at this days sitting. Subsequent stages 2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put. 3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.(Mary Creagh.)
Question agreed to.
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Consideration of Lords amendments Clause 9 RACE 10 pm The Solicitor-General (Vera Baird): I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 1. Mr. Speaker: With this, it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments 2, 29, 34 to 38, 53, 63 and 82. Lords amendment 84, and amendment (a) thereto. Lords amendments 85, 90, 91, 93 to 95, 106, 108, 109, 111 and 112. The Solicitor-General: The amendments in this first group all relate to the scope of the Bill and are either concessionary or clarificatory. They are fairly random in their subject matter, so I shall take them in numerical order. Lords amendment 1 provides a power to add caste as a subset of race, which is covered by clause 9. The case for legislating against caste discrimination has been argued with passion during the Bills passage by Members of this House and in the other place. We have seen a good deal of evidence that caste can affect how people in Britain are treated, but the evidence has largely been about discrimination in relation to personal or social situationsfor instance, the choice of who a person should marrythat are well outside the scope of discrimination law. The small amount of mainly anecdotal evidence of caste discrimination occurring in areas covered by the Billemployment, education and the provision of services, for exampleemerged late in the day, when the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance published a report last November. The Government acted on that report and asked the Equality and Human Rights Commission to undertake further in-depth research, but it did not wish to do so. We immediately commissioned the National Institute of Economic and Social Research to undertake further research into the nature and extent of the problem. That research is under way, and it involves talking to a wide range of community stakeholders and conducting detailed face-to-face interviews with about 35 people who claim to have experienced caste discrimination. The report from this in-depth study is due in August. Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Will the Minister explain whether this provision is to be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure? I am looking at clause 199, and I do not see that any requirement for such a provisionincluding a power to amend the Actto be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. It is bad enough to have a Henry VIII clause, let alone this. The Solicitor-General: It is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure; I can assure the hon. Gentleman of that. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): I am pleased to be able to intervene on my hon. and learned Friend as chair of the Dalit Solidarity Network trustees. I welcome the amendment and her response to it. Will
she tell us who will evaluate the report that she has commissioned, and when she expects that evaluation to be complete so that whoever is the Minister at that time can introduce the necessary regulations? The Solicitor-General: The process should be that the report comes out in August and if there is evidencewe intend to disclose and discuss it with all the stakeholders that brought the issue to our attentionamendment 1 would ensure that, if necessary, we could introduce an amendment through secondary legislation to include race and caste in the definitions. I hope that my hon. Friend finds that process acceptable. It is, of course, a precautionary measure, as it were, because we do not yet know what the research will show. We have every intention, now that we have some evidence, of plumbing to the depths to decide whether there is a need to legislate to protect another subset of persons. I move swiftly on to deal with school issues through amendments 2 and 29 to clauses 17 and 84, which are about protecting pregnant schoolgirls and young mothers from discrimination in school. Already in place are duties on schools and local authorities to provide suitable education for all children. There is guidance for schools on the issue of school-age parents, which we initially felt was sufficient to provide protection for girls who got pregnant at school without extending discrimination law in this area. However, we have listened to the concerns raised and we are now prepared to extend protection from discrimination here as well to provide clarity and certainty. To move briefly into party politics, amendments 34 to 36 amend clauses 104 and 105, dealing with the selection of candidates by political parties. They add an explicit proportionality test for the positive action that might be taken to reduce inequality in our democratic institutions. Action might be taken, for instance, to encourage greater participation by people from black and ethnic minority communities through proportionality; it might, for example, be proportionate to target extra training, mentoring or funding to prospective candidates from under-represented groups, but not to provide such support only to them to the exclusion of others. However, this proportionality test will not apply to the time-limited legislation to permit all-women shortlists, because we feel that the time limiting, until 2030, is already a proportionate way of tackling the serious and continued under-representation of women in Parliament and other elected institutions. Still on the subject of party politics, amendments 37, 38, 63, 106 and 111 arise out of a recommendation from the Speakers Conference. They would insert a new clause 106, which would give Ministers power to require registered political parties to publish data relating to the diversity of candidates seeking selection. The point is to help to disclose any under-representation with a view to identifying barriers that might be causing it. Let me be clear that nothing in the provision will require a potential candidate to disclose any personal information he or she does not wish to disclose, and that the requirement to publish will apply only to anonymised data from which nobody can be identified. Mr. Cash: There is support on this side of the House for more women in Parliament. Will the Minister explain whether these provisions carry any sanction and, if so, what it is?
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The Solicitor-General: We hope that everyone will co-operate, and we hope that the hon. Gentleman will encourage that co-operation in the usual way he encourages these radical and progressive measures to bear full fruit. Mr. Cash: Will the Minister give way again on that point? The Solicitor-General: I want to make some progress, if the hon. Gentleman does not mind. Following full consultation, including with political parties, the Electoral Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, regulations will set out among other things which protected characteristics must be reported on, when, for what period the data are to be published and in respect of which elections and which political parties. This means that the requirements can be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances. For instance, it will be possible to require just large political parties to report and for the reports to cover only sex and race and only in respect of general elections. As I say, the details will be the subject of full consultation before any requirements are imposed. Turning to deal with civil partnerships, amendments 53, 85 and 112 would insert new provisions into the Bill to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004. They would remove the express prohibition on civil partnerships taking place in religious premises. This change applies only to England and Wales because civil partnership is devolved and any decision on this issue for Scotland and Northern Ireland would be a matter for them. These amendments were tabled in the other place on Report by Lord Ali and pressed to a Division. The Government allowed a free vote because it seemed to us to raise a matter of religious freedom and conscience. The vote was won in the Lords, and once the other place had made it clear that it intended the amendment to be accepted, we assisted to make sure that it would be effective. Let me make it clear that no religious group or denomination will be forced to open their place of worship to civil partnership if it does not want to; no proprietor of religious premises or religious denomination will be liable for discrimination if they do not post civil partnership registrations on their premises. That has to be applied for in order for such premises to be used for civil partnerships; it is left that way around, and the regulations governing the approval will be able to say, for instance, who can make an application on behalf of which denomination, and clearly that can be done only with proper consultation. A couple who wanted to register their civil partnership in a church that had not been approved for it could not do so, therefore, and they could not require a denomination to seek approval to enable it. On harassment, amendments 82 and 84 would amend the general interpretation clause to make it clear for the avoidance of doubt that where harassment is not explicitly prohibited, for example in harassment related to religion, belief or sexual orientation in school, protection is none the less available through the provisions prohibiting direct discrimination by subjecting a person to a detriment. Therefore, a pupil who is harassed, in the commonly understood sense of the word, by a teacher as a result of his or her religion, belief or sexual orientation, can bring a claim for direct discrimination if the treatment causes that pupil to suffer a detriment.
An amendment opposed to this Lords amendment has been tabled by the hon. Members for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) and for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), which would mean that in those areas where harassment is not specifically prohibited, a person bullied because of his or her religion or belief will not have a remedy under the Bill. Imagining that the motivation behind their amendment is a concern that even the current approach makes it too easy for those with religious sensitivities to complain, let me say that in the case of employment the specific definition of harassment for religion or belief has been in place since 2003, and in the case of goods and services the detriment element of the definition of religious or belief discrimination has been in place since 2007, and in neither area has significant trouble or problem arisen. I am sure Members will agree that it will be better that, for instance, a Muslim schoolboy subjected to bullying by a school playground supervisor because of his religion should have a remedy. For this reason, I will ask the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Lady to withdraw their amendment. Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon) (LD): I would be grateful if the hon. and learned Lady would just clarify why she felt this amendment was needed at all, if it has always been the case that there was this recourse to detriment. If that is so, what does this amendment that the Government inserted in the Lords add to the current position? The Solicitor-General: I think it makes it very much clearer, which is very important, especially for legislation that simply will not work unless it is accessible, comprehensible and understood by everybody who wants to be protected by it. Amendments 90 and 108 on gender reassignment would amend schedules 3 and 24 to make it clear that it is not unlawful discrimination for a minister of religion to refuse to solemnise the marriage of a person if he or she reasonably believes the person has undergone gender reassignment. These amendments take account of the different arrangements governing marriages in the Church of England and the Church in Wales, where ministers are required to marry qualifying couples, the corresponding arrangements in Scotland and the different arrangements applying to marriages in registered buildings and other religious marriages. That preserves the existing provision under the Marriage Act 1949, which might otherwise have been in doubt given the Bills extension of protection from gender reassignment discrimination to the exercise of public functions. That is a very specific provision. 10.15 pm Let me turn briefly to broadcasting. Amendments 91 and 109 amend schedules 3 and 24, in response to broadcasters concerns, simply to make it clear that nothing in the Bill is intended to undermine their editorial independence. The amendments put it beyond doubt that the services and public functions provisions do not apply to broadcasting and distribution of content services. Mr. Cash: On the question of the editorial matters of the BBC, is the Minister satisfied that the rules regarding editorial policy embodied in the charter and in the guidelines adequately provide the degree of impartiality that is necessary in our present-day democracy? Does she think, perhaps, that the editorial policy needs to be tightened up?
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The Solicitor-General: I am not sure what day Department for Culture, Media and Sport questions is, but I think that question was an excellent one formulated for the next event. This is the Equality Bill. [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker: Order. I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but I say to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash), who is an experienced and senior Member of the House and who is well able to make his point when he is on his feet, that he should not also seek to make it from his seat. The Solicitor-General: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Amendments 93 to 95 dip back into the religious world and the occupational requirement exception for organised religion in paragraph 2 of schedule 9a paragraph and schedule with which we became very familiar in Committee. These amendments were opposed by the Government and would remove from the religious occupational requirements exception the proportionality test and the definition of the very narrow range of religious jobs that the exception covers. These elements, though, would remain implicit because they are in the current law. Although we regret that their lordships did not see the value of the clarifying provisions in the Bill and voted to accept these amendments, the fact remains that the Bill, as amended, has the same effect as the existing law. With that in mind, the Government have decided not to seek to reject these amendments. Again, the hon. Members for Oxford, West and Abingdon and for Hornsey and Wood Green are resisting amendments 93 and 94, which remove the express proportionality test. I can only reiterate what they have heard me say many times beforethere will be no reduction in protection as a result of the Lords amendments. We talked a lot in Committee about the High Court casethe Amicus case, as we call it. In the view of the High Court, the existing exception
has to be construed purposively so as to ensure, so far as possible, compatibility with the Directive
Assent before the House is dissolved. The reason for that is because it consolidates nine Acts of Parliament, 100 pieces of secondary legislation and 2,500 pages of guidance, and because it has been welcomed by many organisations as broadly simplifying and making more straightforward the existing law. What we have said is that we do not agree with three parts of the Bill. If we form the Government after the next election, we will not bring those three requirementssocio-economic duty, the mistaken way in which the Government are tackling equal pay, and positive action, which I shall mention laterinto force. The House will be pleased to know that I do not plan to speak to every amendment that the Solicitor-General has set out. I shall simply pick on one or two of them. Dr. Evan Harris: Before the hon. Gentleman does that, will he make it clear whether his position is the same as that expressed by his colleague, the shadow Home Secretary, that bed-and-breakfast owners should be entitled to exclude people on the ground of their sexual orientation? The Conservative partys position on that issue, which relates to schedule 23, is not clear, but I think that lots of people would want to know what it is. Mr. Harper: I am very pleased that the hon. Gentleman asked me that. I thought that someone would, and if it had not been him, I suspect that it would have been the Minister for Women and Equality, if she had been taking this business through, given that she cannot resist the opportunity to do so sometimes. I will be very clear. My hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) has said himself that he voted in favour of those sexual orientation regulations. He is content with the law as it is and he does not seek to change it. On that, he is in line with the rest of the party. We support that part of the Bill and we do not propose to change it. I think that is abundantly clear. Jeremy Corbyn: If there is no intention to change the law, why on earth did the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) make the suggestion that the law needed to be changed? Mr. Harper: I have just set out my hon. Friends position. [Interruption.] No, it is what he said, and I have just made very clear the position of both my hon. Friend and the Conservative party. That is very clear and does not need repeating. On Lords amendment 1 on caste, which I know the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) is interested in, the Solicitor-General made a very clear exposition of the need for the amendment. We discussed it in detail in Committee, and there was consensus that if there was clear evidence of harm and of a need for the measure, it made sense to have it in the legislation. I support having caste as a subset of race rather than inventing a new protected characteristic, and I think it would be sensible for whoever forms a Government after the next election to look very clearly at the evidence and to make a decision on that part of the legislation depending on whether there is evidence of harm. On Lords amendments 34 to 38 on reporting the diversity of candidates, there was a very good debate in the House of Lords. My noble Friend, Baroness Morris of Bolton, set out our position clearly, and we are very
that underlies it. As a proportionality test is required by that directive, the exception must be construed compatibly with that. The removal of the express proportionality test will not change the legal effect of the exception. The House might recall that it was mentioned on Report and Third Reading that the European Commission had delivered a reasoned opinion in November 2009 on two aspects of our implementation of this directive. We have now responded to that opinion, although the correspondence is kept confidential. However, as my noble Friend Baroness Royall explained on 25 January in the debate in Committee in the other place, we did not inform the European Commission that the Bill will amend regulation 7(3) of the 2003 regulations, which paragraph 2 of schedule 9 replaces, to bring the position into line with the directive. We did not say that because the existing legislation already complies with the directive. I ask the House to agree to these amendments. Mr. Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): It is worth saying briefly at the outsetfor the avoidance of doubt, and particularly because the Minister for Women and Equality, the right hon. and learned Member for Camberwell and Peckham (Ms Harman) goes around saying such thingsthat the Conservative party has never opposed the Bill. We are very pleased that it is nearing the end of its progress and that it will get Royal
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happy to support the proposals. I had a good discussion with the Solicitor-General, and received assurances that talks would take place with all political parties about how this might happen. I am glad that she reiterated the proposition, which was echoed by the representatives of the three main parties, that having diversity reporting on gender and ethnicity probably made sense to start off with. There are a number of other problems, however. You will be aware, Mr. Speaker, that just last week the Commons had the opportunity to discuss in Westminster Hall the report from your Speakers Conference on parliamentary representation. We had a good debate, led by the conferences vice chairman, the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg), and we discussed some of the issues associated with difficulties in identifying candidates with a disability. Sometimes they are unwilling to be identified as disabled, and there are many problems in measuring disability. I therefore think that it probably makes sense to start off with reporting on gender and ethnicity. We can see how that works and whether it drives the necessary change before we consider reporting in other areas. I want to touch on Lords amendments 93 to 95. For the avoidance of doubt, I must tell the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) that we will not support his motions to disagree with the Lords in their amendments 93 and 94 if he presses them to a vote. We were very pleased that the Lords passed these three amendments, as we believed that the Government were narrowing the scope of the exemptions available to religious organisations. The Government said that that was not their position, but we thought that it was, so we can all be happywe have changed the Bill, which the Government now say does what they intended in the first place. In Committee, the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) pressed what is now Lords amendment 95 to a Division. We supported him and, although we were unable to win, I am pleased that these three amendments were moved in the House of Lords by my noble Friend Baroness OCathain. With her assistance, we were able to get support there to change the Bill, and I know that the Government have made the commitment that they will not try to change it back in this House. It is worth noting that the bulk of Labour and Liberal Democrat peers voted not to change the law. Support came predominantly from Conservative peers, Cross Benchers and a number of the Lords Spiritual. Colleaguescertainly on our Conservative side of the House may wish to let religious organisations in their constituencies know who stuck up for them when necessary in the upper House. Dr. Evan Harris: What about the gay communities in their constituencies? Mr. Harper: From a sedentary position, the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon asks about the gay communities in constituencies, but these measures are not purely about sexual orientation. For example, they allow a Church to require that a married priest conduct himself in accordance with his marriage vows and not be unfaithful to his wife. The measures are not about sexual orientation at all. To be fair, that was how the matter was reported by many of the news organisations, but that was not what they were about.
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): It is curious that the Government have not taken the opportunity to close the existing loophole on siblings ability to inherit, for example. A similar loophole in respect of gays and other minorities has been closed, and that is welcome, but does my hon. Friend know why the Government did not use this Bill to extend such rights to siblings? There is great support on both sides of the House for closing that long-standing loophole. Mr. Harper: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question, although I do not think that it affects any of these amendments. I understand her concerns, given the advent of civil partnerships: family members of people involved in such partnerships have not been able to understand why they cannot take advantage of inheritance tax rules. That is what I think that she is referring to, although I do not think that this Equality Bill is the right place to address her perfectly good questions. Perhaps they should be addressed elsewhere, and I am sure that she will raise them in future debates. I shall draw my remarks to a close by saying that we welcome this group of amendments. If the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon presses any of his amendments to a vote, I am afraid that we will not support him. Dr. Evan Harris: First, I can assure the House that we will not press my amendments to a vote so, if they trust me, those hon. Members who are hanging around can relax. However, they all seem to be staying, which I guess is fair enough. It is interesting to hear the Conservatives say they generally support the Bill. Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): I dont. Dr. Harris: I suspect the right hon. Lady speaks for a large number of her colleagues in the country as a whole. However, the Conservative Front-Bench speakers say that in general they do not oppose the Bill, and I believe them. They do not oppose it, because it is not a radical Bill. As the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) made clear, it is mainly a reorganising Bill, and it has missed huge opportunities to be much more radical. The Government cannot say both that the Bill is radical and that the Conservatives who support it are anti-equality. In many cases, the Conservatives are anti-equality, but the Bill is not the test that shows itexcept in the three areas mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. It is unfortunate that even though the Bill was amended in the Lords it is not as strong as it could be in many respects. 10.30 pm I should like to press the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on the question about the shadow Home Secretary. If the shadow Home Secretary does not think the Bill should be changed, was he advocating that the law be ignoredan unusual position for a shadow Home Secretarywhen he said that people should be able to exclude other people on the basis of sexual orientation? I fear that question will go unanswered. We welcome Lords amendment 1. Members may recall that Liberal Democrats in this House first raised the issue. We did not have a great welcome from the
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Minister in Committee, but on reflection in the Lords, and thanks to the work of Lord Avebury and Lord Harries of Pentregarth, among others, the Government were persuaded to compromise, so we have a provision that is welcome as far as it goes. There were a number of amendments on equal pay, including on comparators. The Government have accepted amendments proposed by my noble Friend, Lord Lesteror that they tabled following discussion with him. Those amendments are welcome because they improve the equal pay situation. However, we regret the fact that the pay audit provisions in the Bill are still weak, because we were unable to get a majority for amendments in the Lords, despite our best efforts. Of course, the Conservatives think that even measures requiring companies to carry out audits at a certain point go too far, which says a lot about the Conservative commitment to equality. I particularly welcome Lords amendment 29, the Governments concession on pregnancy in schools. The issue was raised in Committee in the House of Commons and I am pleased that the Government were persuaded that it was wrong not to make it explicit in the Bill that pregnant schoolgirls should not be exempted from some of the equality laws. That is important. We welcome Lords amendments 34 to 38, which deal with diversity in the range of candidates. I endorse what has been said about the work of the Speakers Commission in that respect. I have sympathy for the Governments position, as expressed in the House of Lords, on civil partnerships on religious premises. It is not ideal to use the Equality Bill to change civil partnerships from being the equivalent of a same-sex civil marriage. The introduction of language about religious buildings or religious services would mean that there was no longer a read-across between civil marriage and civil partnership. The most effective way of dealing with what I recognise is a legitimate wish of people to have a religious aspect to their civil partnership would be to provide for same-sex marriage and amend the Marriage Acts. My party has been very clear: we think society has moved on sufficiently for the Government and the House to take a lead on that. It happens in other jurisdictions, and it is unfortunate that the Government will, as I suspect, leave office after 13 years without having been able to make an advance in that respect. Things are now made more complicated, in terms of what is civil about civil partnerships, by the fact that that had to be the necessary compromise. Lords amendment 84 is the extra provision that the Government included. The reason why I express concern about that Lords amendment, especially as it relates to religion and belief, is to ensure that we have as much freedom of speech and expression as possible for religious people. The House has resisted, as has the House of Lords rightlya free-standing provision on harassment on the grounds of religion and belief in the delivery of services. Yes of course, in employment it is right and proper to have such a provision, but outside employment there are real concerns that if one enables people to take harassment proceedings on the basis of feeling that their dignity has been infringed or that they have been exposed to an offensive environmentthat is the terminology of harassment lawit would mean that, for example, Christian hotel owners who display a poster, crucifix or some such thing in the public areas of
their business where their customers will see it might well find themselves open to complaints that people are being harassed. The Solicitor-General: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Dr. Harris: I will give way in a moment. I know that such things are not covered by this provision, but I am concerned that it introduces such an offence by the back door, and will encourage such action by people who are over-sensitive to statements or expressions of belief by people who have strong religious feelings. Although I may not agree with the strong exposition of religious belief, I am second to none in my concern that that freedom of speech should be protected. If the Solicitor-General wants to intervene, as she indicated a moment ago, I would be grateful if gave an assurance that it is not her intention to include a harassment provision. The Solicitor-General: I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to intervene. He is utterly wrong, but he knows that, because he said this about six times in Committee, and I have told him six times that he is wrong. The case law is incredibly clear. For the sixth time, let me say that it is called Driskel v. Peninsula Business Services, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal made it clear that where the facts simply disclose hypersensitivity on the part of the applicant to conduct that was not perceived by the alleged discriminator as being to their detriment, there is no discrimination. I am sorry, but the hon. Gentleman is terribly wrong. Dr. Harris: We could not have had this discussion in Committee, because the provision in Lords amendment 84 was introduced on the last day in Committee in the House of Lords and was never debated in Committee in this House. The Solicitor-General: That is completely wrong as well. The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that we had this very same debate on about 15 different amendments all the way through our consideration in Committee. Forgive me, but he is verging on the disingenuous by pretending that this is something new. It clearly and totally is not. Dr. Harris: The suggested words, which appear in what would be clause 210(5) if we accepted the amendment, are completely new. At no point, because no hon. Member supported a free-standing religious harassment provision, was this debated in Committee. It was not even fully debated in the House of Lords. That is a symptom of what we have seen in the passage of this Bill, which is being rushed through at the very end of this Parliament. Mr. Cash: I have crossed swords with the hon. Gentleman on a number of occasions in relation to religious susceptibilities. Is he saying that he believes thatquite rightlyChristians who wish, for example, to wear crucifixes round their necks should be entitled to do so in circumstances of the kind that he describes? Will he be quite explicit about that?
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Dr. Harris: The hon. Gentleman invites me to make a distinctionI am happy to do sobetween peoples ability to express their religious views wherever and whenever in employment, which, as the Court of Appeal has said, can be legitimately restricted without its being either direct or indirect discrimination. I urge him to read the Court of Appeals judgment in the case of Eweida from beginning to end, because it is absolutely clear on that point, but that is separate from what should concern all of us: the possibility of people who use a servicewhether a public service or, particularly, a commercial servicetaking offence at someones expression of religious views. We cannot have that, and despite the Ministers normal bluster, she has not explained why, if this measure was not necessary, it has been brought in. A problem will be created when people read that the fact that there is no provision on harassment on the grounds of religion
does not prevent conduct relating to that characteristic from amounting to a detriment for the purposes of discrimination within section 13.
Parliament is saying that it is acceptable for someone such as a youth worker in a church to be sacked because it is found that they are gay, even though they are doing a perfectly good job, and that there need be no proportionality. John Mason (Glasgow, East) (SNP): I must challenge the hon. Gentleman on his use of the word acceptable. Many churches and religious organisations think that what they believe and what they do are inherently tied together, and it is impossible to say that someone is doing a job acceptably if they are working against the beliefs of that organisation. Dr. Harris: There is a fundamental problem. It is absolutely right that religious organisations should have the exemption for jobs that the Government tried to set out clearly in paragraph 2(8) of schedule 9, which Lords amendment 95 removes. The Government amended the original poorly framed provision to make it even clearer, and it stated that the right to discriminate should be restricted essentially to priests and people who directly teach scripture. Youth workers, however, do not do that, and it is wrong to destroy the career of someone who has devoted their life to helping children purely on the basis of their sexual orientation when that has nothing to do with the delivery of their job. It is unfortunate that the Government are facing infraction proceedings even on the existing measure, after we removed their attempt, as they put it, to clarify. The Government are right and the Conservatives are wrong about this being a sufficient narrowing of the exemption. That is why we opposed it. We thought the exemption should have been narrowed somewhat. The fact that the Government ended up being defeated on a measure that did not achieve what it should have achieved shows that this part of the Bill has been badly handled. At this stage of the Parliament and at this hour, it is inappropriate to seek to divide the House on these matters, but I hope it is clear that the Liberal Democrats believe that although this is a good Bill, and that many of the measures in it are welcome, it could have gone much further in achieving the equality that many of us say we want to see, and which many of us believe is needed. 10.45 pm John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I shall speak to amendment 1, and welcome the Governments acceptance of the Lords amendment. The background to it has been described, but the process started with representations received by a number of us from constituents and organisations such as the Dalit Solidarity Network and a series of temples across the country, led by the Shri Guru Ravi Dass temple in Southall, where representations were made to us about some of the horrendous implications of caste discrimination transposed from the Indian subcontinent to this country. The matter was raised on Second Reading by Members across the House, and debated in Committee. My hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) tabled an amendment to outlaw caste discrimination immediately. The Government were not convinced that there was sufficient evidence, so I tabled an amendment that would give Ministers the power to
It might well be that a detriment is a higher threshold than that for a harassment claim, and that is dealt with in detail in an article by Michael Rubenstein in the March 2010 Equal Opportunities Review, which I commend to the Minister. The article points out, inter alia, that the threshold is not greatly different, and I am worried that even hypersensitive people whose cases would fail in the first instance will bring forward such cases because of sensitivity. Mr. Cash: Much of the law in this area is based on matters that arise from the European convention on human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the strictures that the Lord Chief Justice gave in his speech to the Judicial Studies Board on 17 March about judges who were overindulging their enthusiasm for human rights law? Perhaps this is yet another example, and just as the hon. Gentleman suggested that I should read the case in question, I suggest that he might like to read what the Lord Chief Justice said only a few days ago. Dr. Harris: I shall do that; we will have some time off for good behaviour in a few days. However, I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman, of all people, does not know that law in this area is framed by a European Union treaty to which we are signed up Mr. Cash rose Dr. Harris: I do not wish to go into that area, but I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will have an opportunity to catch your eye, Mr. Speaker. I want to draw my remarks to a close by dealing with the final area of concern: Lords amendments 93 to 95, and especially Lords amendments 93 and 94, to which my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) and I have tabled motions to disagree. In normal circumstances, I would seek to press those motions, but in resisting the Lords I amunusually for memerely backing the Governments position. The fact that the Government are not backing their own position is a sign that they have run out of the time, if not the energy, to say to the Lords that it is not acceptable for them to remove the proportionality requirement. That requirement is in the directive, and it should be made clear. It is extremely disappointing that
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outlaw caste discrimination when they became convinced of the evidence. That was taken up in the Lords and has been accepted by the Government. It is rare for a Back Benchercertainly for this Back Bencherto convince the Government about an amendment to a Bill, and I am grateful that they accepted this one. I am grateful for the co-operation that we received from the Front Bench and the flexibility that has been shown. The legislation will tackle discriminatory practices in this country which have scarred the lives of many people, and continue to do so, in all their activities in our society. The Minister said that the report could be produced within months. There will be further consultation on the basis of the evidence in the report, and the measure will be subject to an affirmative resolution of the House. One of the issues in the first round of consultations was that the scope of those consultations did not extend to the wide range of organisations that represent the victims of caste discrimination. The consultation largely took into account the views of organisations representing some of those who have been involved in caste discrimination. I urge upon the Government, and subsequent Governments, the need for care. When the evidence report is produced, there should be thorough and exhaustive consultation with a wide range of organisations, particularly those such as the Shri Guru Ravi Dass temples, that represent people in our society who have hard and solid experience of caste discrimination over generations. I hope that a speedy report can be brought to the House through the affirmative resolution procedure, and that at long last we can put into our unwritten constitution laws, such as exist in the written Indian constitution, that will outlaw caste discrimination once and for all, and give some protection to those who have suffered from it for generation after generation. John Mason: I echo the welcome that has been given to the Bill. It is a good Bill, and it is good that it will get throughbeforeDissolution.Therewasroomforimprovement, and some has been achieved via the House of Lords. The inclusion of caste is welcome, and on other matters the Government have given the assurances and the clarification that were sought in Committee and elsewhere. On employment, we certainly want employers to get the best person for the job, but I welcome the restrictions on what they can ask before people are appointed. I am happy to agree with the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) that many measures are not as strong as they could have been, and I agree that the Bill could have been stronger on many issues. It could have done with a purpose clause, as we said in Committee, and with guidance on how the courts are to deal with conflicts between different protected characteristics. As we also said in Committee, there is some concern among religious schools that when there is a conflict between two different protected characteristics, religion comes last. I accept that in Committee the Solicitor-General gave an assurance that that was not the Governments intention, but it would have been good to say so in the Bill. On a personal note, I welcome Lords amendments 93 to 95, and in particular amendment 95, the subject of which has been debated at length in Committee and on
the Floor of the House. The wider religious public felt that the Bill represented a tightening of the previous legislation, whatever the Government might have said, and it would have incorporated positions that the Government had not intended to include. Youth workers were originally mentioned in the explanatory notes, and some did not realise that such workers are in many ways junior ministers, or junior priests, who lead young people spiritually in just the same way as ministers, priests and pastors. Within church and religious organisations, belief and practice are seen as important and tied together, and to say, Such and such behaviour has nothing to do with the job, shows a lack of understanding about what religious people think. It was disappointing that the Government did not give ground on those issues before, but I welcome their acceptance of the idea now. That leaves in the air the relationship between the Church and the state, but that question is somewhat wider than our debate about the Bill. However, the state must be wary of becoming too involved in religious groups and how religious organisations operate. The danger is that many law-abiding citizens may be unnecessarily antagonised, and we do not want to go there. However, I welcome the Bill as a whole, and the amendments. Jeremy Corbyn: I shall be brief, because there is not much time and others might wish to say something. First I thank all those who helped to support the agreement on the amendment about discrimination by caste and descent, otherwise known as discrimination against Dalit peoples. There has been a long campaign by many people, and my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) has played a big part in that, as have others. I was pleased that the Lords finally inserted that measure, because it at least recognises that in this country there is a problem of discrimination by caste and descent. It is a tiny part of the massive amount of discrimination that exists throughout the world, whereby 200 million lower-caste individuals are systematically discriminated against. In parts of the sub-continent they are killed, they live awful lives, do awful jobs, end up fundamentally underachieving, and their children are unable to receive a proper education. I say that because India has, on the face of it, a constitution that absolutely outlaws such discrimination, yet it goes on because of the lack of representation, the authorities lack of will to investigate and a lack of any ability to prosecute those who perpetrate it. Discrimination in this country is nothing like as bad as that, but there is evidence of systematic discrimination, and I am pleased that the Minister has ordered an investigation. I am extremely disappointed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission refused to undertake it, because its function is to investigate discrimination, particularly when there is prima facie evidence that it should be investigated. I hope that the commission will mend its ways on that matter. If and when we reach the point at which regulations must be introduced, I hope that the House will support them. Above all, I hope that any cases that are brought to the attention of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, or any other competent authorities at that point, will be investigated, and where necessary prosecuted, so that we are quite clear that in this country we are not
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prepared to accept such discrimination, and that in the councils of the world, British Government representatives will act accordingly to ensure that it is outlawed worldwide. Such discrimination is monstrous, and it is practised against a large number of people. I am pleased that we have made this progress today, and I thank the Minister for it. Mr. Cash: I would like to draw the Ministers attention to the explanatory notes and the fact that, in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon has said she believes that the Bills provisions are compatible with convention rights. In respect of that, I should like to comment briefly on and quote from the recent important and seminal speech by the Lord Chief Justice himself about these matters. He said:
The primary responsibility for saving the common law system of proceeding by precedent is primarily a matter for us as judgesAre we becoming so focussed on Strasbourg and the Convention that instead of incorporating Convention principles within and developing the common law accordingly as a single coherent unit, we are allowing the Convention to assume an unspoken priority over the common law? Or is it that we are just still on honeymoon with the Convention? We must beware. It would be a sad day if the home of the common law lost its standing as a common Law authority.
mask slips. His colleagues show him up. Contrary to what has just been asserted, the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) undoubtedly said that a bed-and-breakfast trader should be allowed to turn a gay couple away. The Bill will work only if it is driven and pressed through society. I have listened to all that is said by the hon. Gentlemans colleagues when the mask slips, although he is strong and fair on equality. Older people, women, victims of caste discrimination and the many other people whose lives will be improved by the Bill know perfectly well that the only Government who will drive it forward are the next Labour Government. Lords amendment 1 agreed to. Lords amendment 2 agreed to. 11 pm One hour having elapsed since the commencement of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments, the proceedings were interrupted (Programme Order, this day). The Speaker put forthwith the Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time (Standing Order No. 83F). Lords amendments 3 to 114 agreed to.
I too make those points, and many others are contained in that very important speech made by the Lord Chief Justice on 17 March. Mr. Geoffrey Robertson QC has made similar remarks with regard to the European convention. Such concerns lie at the heart of a lot of this legislation. Many of us are very keen on the idea of fairness and equality, but should that stem exclusively from abstract principles adjudicated in Strasbourg? As the Lord Chief Justice also points out, there is now an overlap with the European Court of Justice; I have been warning about that in the House for several years. We are moving in a direction that has been referred to by the Lord Chief Justice, Geoffrey Robertson QC and Lord Hoffmann in a speech that he made some months ago. Many distinguished Members and former Members of the House of Lords are demonstrating that we Conservatives are right in questioning the extent to which the human rights culture, as expressed most recently by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, is going way off track. The Solicitor-General: With the leave of the House, Mr. Speaker, I shall reply to the debate. As ever, the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) has over-argued his case. I hope that he sometimes has pause for thought about how conjuring up surreal incidents of harassmentputting forward examples that have never existed and suggesting that people behave as outrageously as he wants to suggestcan be divisive. The Liberal Democrats have broadly supported the Bill, and we are glad of that; I am just sorry that the hon. Member for Forest of Dean cannot understand how extreme his views are. The Tories say that they are in favour of the Bill, but they have ended as they began, wanting only to codify and streamline, showing no interest in mobilising the public authorities to tackle further socio-economic inequality and no interest in positive action, and coming out against anything likely to be effective in improving equal pay. Although at the Dispatch Box the hon. Gentleman no doubt believes that his party is pro-equality, when its Members are off camera they are different, and the

DELEGATED LEGISLATION Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS
That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendments to Part 18A etc.) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.(Lyn Brown.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
That the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Transport) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 4 March, be approved.(Lyn Brown.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), COMPANIES
That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Liability of Issuers) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 8 March, be approved.(Lyn Brown.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), CRIMINAL LAW
That the draft Al-Qaida and Taliban (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 15 March, be approved. (Lyn Brown.)
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)),
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That the draft Damages-Based Agreements Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 16 March, be approved.(Lyn Brown.)
Question agreed to. PETITIONS Equitable Life (Hornsey and Wood Green) 11.1 pm Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green) (LD): The petition states:
The Petition of residents of the constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green in the Greater London region of the U.K. regarding the Governments response to the Parliamentary Ombudsmans reports on Equitable Life, Declares that the Petitioners either are or they represent or support members, former members or personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society who have suffered maladministration leading to injustice, as found by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in her report upon Equitable Life, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2008 and bearing reference number HC 815; and further declares that the Petitioners or those whom they represent or support have suffered regulatory failure on the part of the public bodies responsible from the year 1992 onwards, but have not received compensation for the resulting losses and outrage. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000736]
Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): It is my great pleasure to present my petitions after a very good Member, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), and that they have been provided for by the very effective campaigning of the vivacious students of Coloma convent high school. The first petition states:
The Petition of the students of Coloma Convent High School and the people of Croydon, Declares that cosmetics testing on animals is unethical and should be banned. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring in a bill to outlaw the testing of cosmetics on animals. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000818]
Size Zero Models Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): The second petition states:
The Petition of the students of Coloma Convent High School and the people of Croydon, Declares that size zero models set an unhealthy and unrealistic example to young girls, and influence the incidence of eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to introduce industry guidelines for the responsible employment of healthy models and guidelines for the media to ensure the responsible portrayal of women. And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000817]
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Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.(Lyn Brown.) 11.5 pm Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): I think that I should apologise to the House on two counts. The first is because I said only a couple of days ago that I was making my last speech in this House, but that was before I realised that I was going to be lucky in the lottery at the last moment. The second reason why I should apologise, if not to the House, certainly to the Minister, is because this is the second time within seven days that I have caused him to be detained late at night to answer a constituency case. This serious case demonstrates a malaise that is only too prevalent in official lifeI hope that I may put it that wayin this country. I do not even say that that is solely the fault of this Government, because this malaise has been creeping up on us for a long while. However, this Governments obsession with targets and driving everything by numbers has meant that the malaise has intensified under them. The case of Mrs. Gladys Taulo is a very good illustration of that, because when officials are told that they have to work to targets and they have to secure a certain number of removals or a certain percentage of enforcements, it means that they are not going to spend a great deal of time on one very difficult case if they can push the score up by dealing with 20 easy cases in the same period. So, instead of pursuing immigration cases involving those people who have deliberately defied our law, who have come to this country unlawfully and who have disappeared and are very hard to trace, officials find it much easier to go for the people whose whereabouts are known and who are operating and functioning in society according to the law but who have committed, sometimes inadvertently, some technical breach of the law. They may not even have committed that, and such is the case of Mrs. Gladys Taulo. Let me say at the outset that when I raised the other case, that of my constituents Mr. and Mrs. Acott, in this place last week the Minister was extremely encouraging towards me and I am very hopeful that that encouragement will result in positive action. I hope that he will be equally encouraging tonight in respect of the case of Mrs. Taulo. She is a senior care worker who came to this country perfectly lawfully on a work permit in November 2004. She came with a national vocational qualification level 3 qualification and she came to work as a senior carer at Winterwood UK Ltd, trading as Barty nursing home. She did that work in a most satisfactory fashion and she extended her work permit with the same employerI stress thatin November 2006, when her leave was extended by the Home Office up to November 2009. By November 2009, my constituent had been in this country lawfully on a work permit and had been doing a vital job. Mrs. Taulo is accompanied by her husband and three children, two of whom are at sensitive stages of schooling. One is 19, but one is 17 and doing A-levels and one is 14 and embarking upon a GCSE course. Therefore, the uncertainty to which the family have become subject, which I shall explain in a moment, is having a disturbing and unsettling effect on them all.
My constituent worked continuously for the employer named on the work permit, but she also took up part-time employment at a nursing home managed by Allied Healthcare Group. Her solicitors have stated clearly to the Home Office that the employment was not for more than 20 hours per week. My constituent never stopped working in all this time for her specified employer, and she only took up part-time work with the other employer. In July 2008, the Home Office intervened in her immigration status and served removal directions on the basis that she should not have taken up her second employment. There followed a series of appeals that, the Minister will doubtless tell the House, were not successful. Initially, Mrs. Taulo believed that she had been wrong to take up the secondary work, which I stress was over and above her full-time work for the employer named on the work permit. That never changed; the work was secondary to that and taken up outside her normal working hours. She did it because there was a shortage of carers and because the employer very much wanted her to do it. However, she also did it to improve her own position. Considering the number of those who would come here and seek to be maintained at a cost to the public purse, I would say that it is admirable that she sought to add to her income by doing a useful job in exactly the same field as, and over and above, her main job covered by the work permit. Mrs. Taulo worked for only one other nursing home, so it is not as though she was down with an agency and working all hoursthat nursing home was managed by the Allied Healthcare Groupand she worked, as I said, for fewer than 20 hours a week. She carried on working a full week with her specified employer. Initially, she believed that she should not have done that, but in fact she has been advised that, according to immigration law, it is permitted for a work permit holder to take up supplementary employment, provided it is for not more than 20 hours a week and that it is outside his or her normal working hours. Those conditions were met in the case of my constituent. Mrs. Taulo and her solicitors sayand on the information available to me, I would saythat she has not breached paragraphs 128 to 130 of the immigration rules relevant to work permit holders. Nor has she failed to observe any condition of leave to enter or remain, and therefore she is not a suitable person to have removal proceedings taken against her. Yet, everybody has been obdurate, including the Home Office, in insisting on this removal. [Interruption.] The Minister looks as though he is about to dispute that statement, so I shall look forward to hearing from him; I would love him to dispute it. If he is not obdurate, if he has changed his mind and if the previous letters that we have on file from the Home Office are all wrong, I will rejoice and regard it as a splendid ending to my time in the House, and I shall give the Minister all credit and say what a reasonable Minister, in this instance at any rate, he has been. I hope very much that the Home Office has not been obdurate, but according to all our papers and previous replies, it has been. Discretion and common sense should prevail. I would say that kindness also should prevail, given the situation with the family: the husband is receiving health care and two of the children are at vital stages of their education. However, discretion and common sense, above all, should prevail. Had Mrs. Taulo departed from her
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[Miss Ann Widdecombe] named employer and been working all over the place, and had she departed from the field of work on the basis of which she was allowed to enter this country in the first place, I would say that the Home Office was justified, but she has not been doing any of that. To insist on removal, which is a tremendously serious step, is not only unfair to the family but completely detrimental to those who depend on that lady for the job that she does. If she goes, who will be the carer? Who else is going to do the job? Someone else coming in on a work permit. It would be in everyones interestincluding the public interestif that lady and her family were allowed to stay, having been in this country quite lawfully since 2004. I very much look forward to the Ministers reply, and if he wants to throw in two lines on the Acott case as well, I would be delighted. 11.15 pm The Minister for Borders and Immigration (Mr. Phil Woolas): I should like to offer more than the traditional congratulations to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on securing this debate; she has now had two in two weeks. I would like to quote briefly from this weeks House magazine, in which she has the quote of the week. She says:
I always imagined that when I was making my last speech and about to depart, I would be sadinstead of which I find my uppermost sentiment is one of profound relief.
I also hope that the right hon. Lady will speak out in favour of the enforcement of the rules. She has raised the case of this particular family, and I am allowed to respond. The family is in education, and it is using the national health service. I have no doubt whatever that the lady in question has contributed significantly and that she has paid taxes, but you cannot have it both ways. Well, you can, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because you are the Deputy Speaker, but one cannot have it both ways. One cannot be in favour of controlled and managed migration that does not allow anyone to operate outside the rules or to use the NHS or the education service, but then say that we should not implement the rules. I shall turn to the specific points of this case, because I am sure that they will be of more interest to the right hon. Lady. Before I move on, I should say that a letter is in the post and on its way Miss Widdecombe: Is it encouraging? Mr. Woolas: It is not discouraging. We could perhaps talk outside this debate about the way forward, when the right hon. Lady has considered the letter. Let me turn to the particular case. The right hon. Lady has outlined the background to it. It comes down to the point that a work permit and an extension to it were granted. Then, in 2008, a local immigration team in Kent investigatednot, as I understand it, the specific lady, but the employer. That again meets the right hon. Ladys point about targets, as this did not happen in any way because this lady was a soft target or anything like that. However, she was served with an IS151A, which the right hon. Lady will remember is a notice to a person liable to removal as a worker in breach of condition under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which invalidated her work permit. Incidentally and for the record, contrary to the accusation that the Government had an open-door policy at that stage, the 1999 Act toughened up the immigration rules. Mrs. Taulo was permitted to work for two employers under the terms of her work permit, but only within the hours allowed. There was a breach of the conditions of the work permit, which led to the IS151A. There was a mistake at that stage of the case, which, after my investigations, I have been able to highlight. The order was mistakenly issued on the basis that Mrs. Taulo could not work for both companies. As the right hon. Lady said, that is not the case; it is permissible to work for two or even three employers, as it is the total hours that count. This was correctly served on Mrs. Taulo, however, on the basis of the number of hours she worked. Mrs. Taulo was advised of her right to an out-of-country appeal against the decision to invalidate the leave. However, an in-country appeal was incorrectly lodged against that decision to curtail her leaveand the decision was not, of course, taken by the UK Border Agency. Leave had not been curtailed; it had been invalidated. I know that the right hon. Lady understands the difference, as she has done this job herself. As there was no in-country right of appeal, the appeal was invalid and it should have been struck out. I have no information to explain why it was not struck out or why the appeal continued, but in any case the judge dismissed the appealthe right hon. Lady predicted this part of my speech upholding the decision to serve the IS151A, stating that
I do not know whether she feels that again this evening. I would like to tell her that the House will miss her. She brings the House into good repute. She and I disagree on many matters politically but, as I said the week before last, we agree on more things than people would expect. I should like to make a partisan point at this stage. The right hon. Lady said that there was a problem with targets in this country, and that we went for the easy cases because of those targets. That is not our policy, however. The criteria that we apply put the harmful cases at the top. The removal of foreign national prisoners is an example. Every day, in some of the tabloid newspapers, we see instances of our fighting exactly those cases, and expending significant resources on doing so. Of course we should apply common sense, and I shall demonstrate how we are doing so, but we cannot run the immigration system on a whim. There are rules and laws that have been passed by the House, and in this particular case the lady in question was outside the rules. Were I to say that I would not enforce them because she was a nice lady, or for some other reason, I would be subject to ridicule. To continue with my partisan point, I presume that, if the right hon. Lady is against targets, she will be speaking out in the next few weeks against her own partys ridiculous immigration policy, which is based entirely on a targeta capthat would be damaging. The cap would be applied to tier 1 and tier 2 cases exactly like this one, and people would be excluded not on the basis of common sense but on the basis that the cap had been reached. Whatever the needs of the care sector, for example, no one would be allowed in. Apart from being impractical, that is exactly the kind of policy that brings targets into disrepute. The Opposition criticise us for having targets, but they are proposing just such a policy to replace ours, so I hope that the right hon. Lady will speak out about that.
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removal would not breach article 8, as it had been claimed. Further appeal was lodged in the High Court. It is at this point that the public start to get frustrated by the seemingly endless delays in the courts, but on 10 October 2008 Mrs. Taulo was deemed appeal rights exhausted and liable to removal. In February 2009, Mrs. Taulo was interviewed in connection with her childrens education and it was agreed that it would not be appropriate to pursue enforcement action because of the timing of the A-levels being studied by one of the children. We provide that flexibility. Again, I am heavily criticised, as is anyone holding my position, for providing that flexibility, which is sometimes difficult to explain to constituents. However, let us think about moving forwards, which is what the right hon. Lady wants to hear. Mrs. Taulo is permitted to make an in-country, online application under tier 2 of the points-based system. That procedure will tell her immediately whether she has enough points to succeed. Mrs. Taulos employers would need to obtain a certificate of sponsorship if they have not so already, although I imagine they would have in this sector of work. The UK Border Agency will take no enforcement action against Mrs. Taulo or her family while her application is processed or during the three months before any of her children sit any final examsGCSEs, A-levels or their equivalent. I hope that is helpful, but I do not intend to go into too much detail on the procedure. It is best if we can proceed on the basis I have set out, if, of course, that is what the lady in question and her family want to do. If that is the case, for my part, I will ensure that no enforcement action is taken in the meantime. Turning to the wider policy, to be fair to the right hon. Lady, she did not specifically criticise UKBAindeed, she did not even mention it. She did mention the culture of targets, however, and any person with common sense understands the point she makes. The agency does not just bear that in mind: through our board and management structures, it looks to see that there are no unintended consequences of the application of targets. We apply the criteria in such a way that the most harmful cases are handled first, which normally means those where there is criminal activity or the fear of it , or where there is the actuality or fear of violence within the family. We also expedite cases where it is relatively easy to remove, because there is a wider saving to the taxpayer in that. However, I should emphasise that in this case the lady was not targeted, as the impression may have been given.
One advantage of the points-based system for temporary work and study is the ability to hold the sponsor to account as well as the visa holder; in this case that was an employer, while in tier 4 cases it would be a college or institution. That system is proving to be successful in managing migration, although at the fringes there are, of course, relatively petty and unintended breaches of the rules. I can only take the right hon. Ladys word for it that in this case there was an unknown or unintended breachit was to do with the hours and not the fact that there were two employersbut that takes us into a difficult area for public policy management where rules are involved. We are dealing with significant numbers of people in the work permit system, and there are bound to be such cases at the edges. Miss Widdecombe: Does the Minister not agree that where there is a small and possibly unintended breach, a proportionate response is simply to let the person know of the breach, to require them to desist from it and to warn them that any future such breach will result in removal, rather than to move in a heavy-handed fashion to remove them in the first place? Mr. Woolas: The right hon. Lady asks a difficult question of the enforcement officers and I would defend the enforcement officers, who use proportionate action. I remind the House that this lady was not removed, even though it was within the power of the officers to remove her. Of course, the work permit would have been invalid by now in any event. What pains meand not just in this caseis the use of the legal system when a conversation and good advice might better solve the problem for all concerned. I am just about out of time, but I was saying that the sponsorship system allows such enforcement. Of course, we are dealing with an area where rules are extremely complicated by their very nature. As they bed in, we will increasingly see the benefits of the system. I thank the right hon. Lady for the courtesy that she has shown. I hope that this is not my last speech in the House of Commonsalthough the good people of Oldham, East and Saddleworth will decide thatbut, whatever the outcome of the election, it has been a pleasure to work with her. Question put and agreed to. 11.29 pm House adjourned.
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Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.(Mr. Hanson.) 9.30 am Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney, North and Stoke Newington) (Lab): I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on gang crime in London. This will be my last speech of the current Parliament, and I am fortunate indeed that it is on a subject on which I have worked in different ways all my political career. One of the first things I did as a young woman interested in wider society was help out at a youth club in Paddington, so the issues have always been close to my heart. It is an important subject also because it speaks to social cohesion, to our sense of community and to what is happening to our young people. Gang crime is of great concern to all our constituents in London, but it would be wrong to move on and discuss my concerns without talking first about what my Government have done on the subject, not least because it will save the Minister from having to go over it. Gangs are part of the wider serious youth violence agenda, and my Government have spent more than 17 million on that agenda since September 2007. Through my Governments work, we have seen tougher enforcement and sentences and new legislation to tackle violent crime and gangs. The Government have also introduced gang injunctions, which enable local authorities and the police to tackle over-18s involved in gang-related violence by banning them from meeting other gang members, wearing gang colours, hanging around in certain locations and owning dangerous dogs. We are looking to extend that tool to 14 to 17-year-olds. Under a Labour Government we have seen a tightening of the law on gun crime and the introduction of a minimum sentence of five years for possession of an illegal firearm. I have campaigned successfully for a ban on replica weapons, because much of the gun crime in London is perpetrated not with real weapons, but with replica guns that have been rebored for shooting. The Metropolitan police have also put in place various operations to deal with gun, gang and knife crime, including Operation Blunt, which was set up after the murder of Robert Levy in Hackney in 2005, and I pay tribute to the work his father has done since then on gangs, guns and knives. We have consistently provided funding for local institutions best placed to work on measures that help young people to leave gangs. In April 2010 the Government are pledging a further 5 million to tackle knife crime and serious youth violence. Having set out my Governments achievements on the issue, and not wishing to detract from what they have done, I will say that we all know that it is not just a question of money, and certainly not just a question of legislation. Some of the legislation to which I have
referred has not been used very much so far. It is a multi-dimensional subject, and I want to touch on some of those dimensions in my remarks. As a consequence of the work that the Government and the Metropolitan police have done, we have seen an overall drop in crime in London. Statistics from the Metropolitan Police Authority from the 12 months to February 2010, when compared with figures for the previous year, appear to show that knife crime in London has decreased, as has youth violence. The position in my constituency is similar. In fact, the figures seem to demonstrate that crime in Hackney is at its lowest level for 10 years, and I would like to take the opportunity to praise publicly the police in my constituency, particularly the borough commander, Steve Bending, for their hard work in achieving that milestone. The figures show that the borough has seen a 7 per cent. reduction in knife crime and an 8.6 per cent. reduction in serious youth violence. However, as a former Home Office official, I know that it is possible to debate the figures. Such statistics are sometimes a matter of art, rather than science. Fear of gang crimenot just the fear of being the victim, but the fear that mothers have about how safe their children are on the streetshas never been higher in my constituency, despite the welcome drop shown by the statistics. When we read about gang crime in the papers, we read about the victims and the gang members are often demonised. None the less, for every gang member and every victim of a gang member there are mothers, parents, families and communities that have been traumatised, and that is what makes it such a widespread concern. Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) (LD): I pay tribute to the hon. Lady for securing the debate and for the work she has done on the matter, as I have had the privilege of doing some of that work with her. Does she agree that it would help hugely, particularly in relation to the fear of crime, if we could get the statistics agreed politically, as it were, and thereby avoid the alarmist reporting, sometimes by political parties and candidates, that makes the situation sound and feel worse than it is? If we could get that sort of agreement even in London between all the parties as a starting point in the next Parliament, we would at least reduce some of the alarmist material that is put through peoples doors and read in the papers. Ms Abbott: That is an interesting and constructive point. In my speech I will try to distinguish between the fear of crime and the actuality of crime, which is why I started by setting out the statistics. One of the things that whips up the public on gang crime is the reporting of it, partly by some of our colleaguesit is true of all partieswho sometimes slip into using the issue to whip up fear and detract attention from the welcome actual drop in crime. If we could move forward in the next Parliament, perhaps with the leadership of the Metropolitan Police Authority, to have agreed figures for crime in London, that would at least provide a sensible basis for debate. We hear much about knife crime in London and read about it in both the local and national papers, but the national press rarely mentions the fact that the knife crime capital of this country is Glasgow and has been for many years, because knives have traditionally been
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the way in which Glasgow criminals settle their disputes. The impression we might have, however, is that the knife crime capital of the country is Southwark, Hackney or Lambeth, so to be able to go forward on the basis of mutually agreed figures would be a real step forward. I warn against alarmism and point to the welcome drops in crime shown in the official figures, but sadly the incidence of gun crime, rape and offences of violence against the person is on the rise in my constituency, as it is in the whole of London. Those are specific crimes, so to highlight them is not to say that crime as a whole is rising in London, because clearly it is not, but those specific crimes are rising. It is not unreasonable to suggest that gun crime, rape and offences of violence against the person are sometimes related to gangs. It is not just a question of statistics. Recently we saw an extraordinary incident of alleged gang crime in Victoria station, just a few hundred yards from here. It appears that two gangs converged on the station and, in plain sight of hundreds of commuters, decided to take their feud and warfare to another level. Commuters in Victoria station witnessed a 15-year-old boy being stabbed in the chest in the ticket hall during the rush hour. Witnesses say that the culprits were wearing school uniform. As many as 12 young people could face charges in what is believed to have been a pre-arranged fight in which children turned up armed with knives. I ask Members to pause and think about that. We all know about schoolboy and schoolgirl angst and tensions. We all know about schoolboys fighting and, perhaps, about gangs, but what in the culture of this city makes gangs of schoolboys and schoolgirls feel able to stab each other in plain sight during the rush hour? Does that not suggest that we have moved on from the situation 10 or 20 years ago to a very different and alarming situation in which peoples loyalty to their gang, their determination to gain respect and their disdain for wider society overrides the caution that kept young people from having knife fights in plain sight, even a decade ago? Sadly, even in Hackney, in my constituency, we have seen some unfortunate incidents of gang crime. I have with me the latest edition of the Hackney Gazette. The title on the front page is, The Scourge of Teen Violence. Further on in the paper, an article states:
Gun and knife crime on Hackneys streets reached a terrifying peak last week in three days of violence in which a young footballer was stabbed to death and teenagers were targeted in two separate shootings.
One of those people was Godwin Lawson, a 17-year-old promising footballer, who was stabbed to death in Amhurst Park, Stamford Hill, in my constituency, in the early hours of last Saturday. Another incident saw shots fired in broad daylight while parents collected their children from a nursery in Allen road, Stoke Newington. Witnesses reported seeing two young people, one carrying a gun and one brandishing a knife, chasing another youth who was forced to take sanctuary in a shop. Just the week before, a young Turkish mother was shot dead at close range after answering a knock on the door to her mothers flat. Something about these incidentsnot just the violence as such but the brazenness and the fact that young people feel no fear and, paradoxically, almost that they
have nothing to live foris chilling. It represents a step change from the kind of schoolboy fighting and incidents with which many of us will be familiar. Gun crime is a particular issue in London, partly because we seem to have more gangs. However, we have to be careful about what we define as a gang. A group of young men is not a criminal gang just because they are hanging about on the street. Many of those young guys hang about on the street because they live in two-bedroom flats with half a dozen siblings. Hanging about on the street is what they know, and they make a practice of looking as frightening as possible when actually they are not about serious criminal business. None the less, there are real criminal gangs in the city. In 2007, it was said that 169 separate gangs were operating in London, and that Hackney, in my borough, had the most gangsa total of 22. Again, we need to be careful. Not all the groupings are criminal gangs. The London-wide figure of 169 in 2007 was down on the figure of 200 in 2005, but it is still alarming. I live on Middleton road in Hackney. One end of the road is dominated by the Holly Street gangit is the gang next door to meand the other end is dominated by the London Fields gang. I remember on my way home one evening talking to a young boy who was complaining that there was nothing to do in Hackney. I asked him, What do you mean there is nothing to do? The council has just built a brand new swimming pool in London Fields. He said, But you dont understand. For me to walk from herewe were at my end of the roadup to the London Fields lido means going into the territory of the London Fields gang, and I just cant do that. One can exaggerate the issue of postcode gangs, but they are real, and they affect how young people, certainly in my borough, feel able to live their lives. They are real to women I know who are frightened that, if their son is waiting at a bus stop or walking down the street and is perceived by other young men to be someone from another postcode who should not be there, he will be at risk. They create all kinds of issues in organising youth provision, because one can put such provision in an area and think that it is well placed, but people from a particular postcode who might be physically near it will not come. Postcode gangs are a genuinely new phenomenon, and young people are terrified of crossing the street or riding a bus into another postcode for fear of stepping into another gangs territory. Some of these gangsthis is certainly the case in Hackneyoperate in areas next to houses worth 1 million. One of the glories of London is that it still has a diverse and mixed community, but, unlike some other parts of the world, it means that we cannot say that gang culture is something that operates at some remove, in some remote ghetto at the edge of the city, as it does in Paris, for instance. In inner London, one is never that far from a postcode where some gang is operating, so gangs and the related youth criminality are not something from which people in more prosperous parts of the city can turn away. Why do young people join gangs? As ever, young people join gangs, even harmless social gangs, because they want a sense of belonging. They want mates, and they want to be able to function socially. Some of us will remember Just William and the outlaws. That little gang was perhaps the archetypal gang: young men
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gathered together, glorying in their sense of togetherness and keeping just this side of what grown-ups would like. Unfortunately, the Just William kind of gang has morphed into the gang problem that we see on the streets of London. What is the source of the problem? I would say that the underlying issue is education. By and large, young men who are at school or college doing AS or A-levels are not taking part in gangs. However, those who have aspirations and are trying to study may get caught up on the fringes of gang culture. That has happened to the children of friends of mine. Friends have been shocked to discover that their sons, who are intelligent, and who are studying and working hard, are involved on the fringes of gang culture because if they did not appear to be willing to relate to the gang culture in their school or community, they would be outsiders. They would feel that they did not belong. Any hon. Member who is a parent will know that there is nothing more important to young boys than belonging. There is the social thing, but there is also education, as I said. There is no question but that the continuing achievement gap between black boys and the wider school population has some bearing on the involvement of African-Caribbean boys in gangs. That is why, since the 1990s, I have worked on the issue. I have convened think-tanks and organised conferences. I set up a project, London schools and the black child, and for the past seven years have organised an awards ceremony here in Parliament for Londons top-achieving black children in order to reward and try to highlight those young people, both male and female, who are bucking the trend, going to school and university, getting top grades and studying law, medicine and so on. However, the stereotype of black young people and gangs is pernicious. I organised my last awards ceremony for October 2009. We had Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic gold medallist, and several television celebrities handing out awards. When we tried to interest the Evening Standard in the event by saying that it was to be held at the House of Commons, that we would have celebrities and that we would give awards to children who had 11 A*s at A-level, we encountered great resistance. Finally, it rang and asked, Are any of these young people ex-gang members? We said, No, and it said that it was not interested. In other words, young people are a story if they are a stereotype, but a young person working hard and trying to do well at school does not fit the story. If we are going to deal with gang culture, we have to continue to address the educational gap faced by young black men and, increasingly, young Turkish men at school. The surest way of keeping young people out of the gang culture is showing them a way forward through education and the wider society. I would not want to leave this subject without saying what Hackney schools are doing on this issue. Last month I visited Tyssen primary school, which is targeting underachieving Afro-Caribbean students with an innovative programme that engages them by using Nintendo DS Brain Training, which has been successfully driving up their results, particularly in maths. Other schools in the area, including Hackneys first academy, Mossbourne, under the inspired leadership of Sir Michael Wilshaw, are working with and driving our young people of all colours to get some of the best educational results in the country.
Educational underachievement is an underlying issue in respect of gang culture. Another issue is the lack of role models, which the Government have addressed with their REACH programme of role models. None the less, the best role models are those people see in their own family. Both my parents came here from Jamaica and both of them left school at 14. When my brother and I were children our father went out to work every day God sent and, on a Friday, brought home his wage packet to my mother. That was our model of a real black mana man who went out to work and looked after his family. He may have been a bit harsh and strict, but he had an unbending notion of financial responsibility. Sadly, in the estates around me in Hackney there are communities of young people who do not have male-headed households and do not see men or women going out to work every day. A father or mother, or a relative, going out to work and taking their responsibilities seriously is the most important role model for many of our young peoplenot some remote celebrity. I am not sayingI would be the last person to saythat single mothers are the basis of this problem. I am a single parent myself, as are many of my friends, and we are rightly proud of our children. None the less, there are whole estates where hardly anyone is going out to work regularly, and that is a problem. To be fair, the Government have sought to address this issue. However, the absence of male role models is a serious problem. As well as the more general absence of male role models, it is important to get more men into primary schools. I have visited a number of primary schools in my constituency in recent months and, with some exceptions, there is an absence of men in the classroom. All the evidence suggests that young black men, particularlyand, I suspect, working class young men more generallyneed to see men in the classroom; men taking education seriously. Even if teachers cannot be recruited, men could come and read to them, making a marked difference to their aspirations and their notions of masculinity. I remember working with some American academics in the 1990s who said that to make a difference in respect of black men underachieving one had to get them when they were under 11, get men in the classroom and tie that in with activities in the wider community. Lord Adonis was interested in that when he was Schools Minister. I attended meetings with him to discuss what we could do about getting more black male classroom teachers. Whoever wins the forthcoming election needs to address that issue, because it is a key component in giving our young menboth black young men and white working class young menthe role models that they can aspire to. Simon Hughes: I agree. There are some encouraging signs. I chair the governing body of a primary school in Bermondsey and the head told me that more men are willing to apply to be primary school teachers and to do other jobs, partly because lots of people who had high-flying jobs in the City are not able to do them any more and partly because people are discovering that a career chasing money is not fulfilling. Lots of people are looking for a career change. There is the beginning of a realisation that one of the most valuable jobs that can be done as a man in London is to teach or to work
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[Simon Hughes] in schools. We should build on this new sense of responsibility. The hon. Lady is right. The next Government need to prioritise that. The local councils, all of which will be re-elected in May, need to make that a priority, too. Ms Abbott: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me of this. Just recently there has been an uptick in the numbers of men going into schools. That is important. One underlying issue in relation to gang crime, which is obvious but not often stated, is the high levels of unemployment in the inner city. Unemployment rates in my constituency are higher than the average: there is 8.8 per cent. unemployment there, which is the equivalent of more than 5,000 people. I remind hon. and right hon. Members that the figures are almost certainly an underestimate: many people are not counted at all because they do not even bother to sign on. The unemployment rates in Hackney, and in London as a whole, are higher than in the rest of the country. It needs to be stressed that it is not just about overall levels of unemployment. When I was a child growing up in Paddington, before the days of Hugh Grant and the Notting Hill film, all the men in my life worked, often in light engineering and factories. In the 1960s and 70s, there was still a considerable amount of light engineering and factory workmy father was a welder, for example and blue collar employment. In other words employment suitable for males without formal qualifications was available. In the past 20 years manufacturing and blue collar employment for males in London has collapsed. Whereas my father became a welder and had apprentices, even though he left school at 14, and was proud of being able to support his family, increasingly young men, both black and white, look around and do not see employment opportunities for them unless they get formal qualifications. It is much easier now for women than for men in the workplace, which is why I focus on education. But let us not forget that the collapse of male employment in London has helped create the problem that we see. That is not to say that because people are unemployed they are a criminal or should be a gang member, but it is part of the context. Another issue behind the rising gang crime is the rise in materialism in the past 20 years. People want the bling, the clothes, the jewellery and the designer labels, and they want it now. There is no notion of deferred gratification among many of our young people. They watch MTV and music videos. They want glamour, glitz and materialism now and society appears to teach them that they can have it. Things can be done about employment, but I would not want to leave the issue of employment without making a point about the Olympics, which were sold to those of us in inner London and east Londonthe Olympic boroughs in particularas a way of providing employment and economic regeneration for people in the east end of London. I was shocked to find out a few weeks ago that of all the hundreds of apprentices on the Olympic park only onejust oneis from Hackney. I would not like to think how few of the apprentices are from ethnic minorities. If the Government are serious about these issues they must take steps, even at this stage, to ensure that proportionate numbers of the
apprentices on the Olympic park, not even the skilled men, come from deprived boroughs like my own and that appropriate numbers come from the ethnic minority communities. Before drawing my remarks to a close, I want to touch on the changing face of gangs in London. I am an east end MP, so I cannot talk about gangs without mentioning the Krays or the Richardsons. Historically, criminal gangs in London were white criminal gangsthat is why we remember the Krays, the Richardsons and so on. In more recent times, particularly if one reads the papers, many gangs have been African and Afro-Caribbean, although there is also a strong multicultural element. Sadly, in Hackney we have had an issue with TurkishKurdish gangs. Overall, the Turkish-Kurdish community plays an important role in London. It is a huge contributor, and has helped to rebuild and regenerate the community with its business and retail activities. Since last August, however, there have been 11 shootings in north London. That has exposed the entire community to bad publicity, and I am concerned about what appears to be a fresh turf war between Turkish-Kurdish gangs based on drugs. Such gangs represent only a tiny minority of the community, but they have been responsible for 11 shootings since August last year. Recently, Hackney police announced an appeal to encourage witnesses to the murder of a Turkish man in Upper Clapton road, Hackney to come forward. A gunman is believed to have entered a venue and fired indiscriminately, suggesting that it was not a targeted hit but a way of sending out a message to a rival gang. The Turkish-Kurdish community is keen to work with the police on this issue. I recently convened a meeting between the head of the Turkish-Kurdish community, my borough commander and representatives from the local authority. We want to move against this type of criminality, and against some of the retail premises and social clubs that might be implicated in it. I believe that a high-profile, systematic programme of joint action between the police, the council and local stakeholders to close down those few cafes that have been infiltrated by criminals will reassure the wider Turkish-Kurdish community and the community as a whole. I want to touch briefly on the new issue of young women in gangs. Increasing numbers of young women are joining gangs, not only as the girlfriends of gang members but as gang members at some level. I had a long meeting with a girl who had left the gang culture, and she suggested that there were three types of girls in gangs. First, there were the girlfriends of gang leaders, who had some sort of status; secondly there were girls who were attached to gangs and handed round from gang member to gang member, and thirdly there were what could be called equal opportunity girl gangsters, who had their own girl gangs and were out on the street. Young women are still more likely to be the victims of gang violence than the perpetrators of it, but just as it is wrong to stereotype all gang members as coming from a particular demographic, it is also wrong to stereotype gang problems as being only about boys. We are increasingly seeing girls involved as well. Not enough support is targeted at women and girls who are involved in gangs, and there is a shocking incidence of rape, sexual violence and exploitation against women and girls who are associated with gangs. Sadly,
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for too many gangs, rape has become the weapon of choice against girl gang members and relatives of rival gangs. The crime of gang rape is on the rise in London. That is tragic, and a particular issue in Hackney, Southwark and other inner-London boroughs. It is increasingly carried out by criminal gangs and is linked to various other forms of crime. In his 2008 manifesto, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, promised to build more rape crisis centres. I want to use this speech to urge him to consider building one in Hackney, because of its high incidence of rape and gang rape. There is an issue about the use of dogs as weapons. Another matter that does not get enough attention is the failure of the Crown Prosecution Service. A recent set of reports by the Crown Prosecution Inspectorate looked into the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service in boroughs across London. It showed that in too many boroughs, the CPS was deemed to be poor at securing conviction rates, especially in cases where witnesses were likely to be intimidated, such as in gang-related crimes. The reports ruthlessly exposed the failure to deal with gang crime and gang violence in boroughs such as Hackney. I met with the head of the CPS in London and the legal director for the north region, Alison Saunders and Grace Ononiwu, to discuss why that was the case. They told me that there was a lack of staff, but they assured me that they were acting to improve their performance. I will be watching that closely. The police and the community can do their best, but if the Crown Prosecution Service is failingas recent inspectorate reports seem to suggestit is letting down the community as a whole. In closing, I acknowledge what the Government have done, particularly through legislation and by pouring money into initiatives. I acknowledge what has been done by the ex-Mayor of London, Ken Livingston, the present Mayor, Boris Johnson, and the Metropolitan Police Authority in focusing on those issues through initiatives such as Operation Blunt. I acknowledge that figures for crime in London are going down overall. However, the fear not only of being a victim of a gang, but that ones childmale or femalewill get caught up in gang-related activity, is a real issue for many of my constituents, whatever their colour, race, class or nationality. It would be remiss of me as a Member of Parliament if I did not bring that matter before the House. Tackling gang crime in London is complicated and requires a long-term strategy as well as a short-term strategy. There needs to be more focus on young women, both as members of gangs and as victims of gang crime. We need better provision for victims of rape to secure convictions, and the CPS needs to raise its game. Local authorities and the police must work closely together to target venues that are believed to be fronts for illegal operations, and there needs to be a continuing emphasis on closing the achievement gaps between some minorities and the school population as a whole. Systems should be put in place and funded for young people who wish to leave gangs. Even in the current economic crisis, we must focus on getting young people into work and encouraging them to take up apprenticeships. Something must be done about the Olympic site because its record in providing apprenticeships for the Olympic boroughs is poor. We need stricter rules for those found to be using dogs as a weapon of intimidation. We need a
mix of targeting educational issues and strict enforcement. I speak not only as the Member of Parliament for Hackney, but as a mother and a resident in Hackney, and I want strict enforcement of the law on gangs, and I know that other people do too. Above all, we need a broad strategy that engages with the community as a whole. Only then will we deal with the gang crisis and with the fear of gangs in our midst. London is a great city; I have lived in it all my life. I was born in London, and it never fails to be a source of pride to me that I lived to become a Member of Parliament in London. It is a great city with many amazing things to its credit, not least the extent to which communities in London manage to live so happily side by side, and the culture and variety that the city offers. It should not be disfigured by the scar of gang crime. Ministers have done much, but there is still much to do. 10.9 am Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) (LD): It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Lady, and I repeat my compliments to her about todays debate, the wisdom that she brings to the subject, her personal commitment and the work that she has done in all sorts of ways. At the end of this Parliament, perhaps I can mention specifically the work that she has done with young black men on educational aspiration, and note the annual conference in the Queen Elizabeth conference centre that she organised, as well as other events, some of which I have been privileged to attend. Such things are important in ensuring that every single Londoner everybody who was born in London or who has come to Londonfeels that they have an opportunity to succeed, to do well and to be respected by their peers. If youngsters know that they can achieve that outcome, they are likely to target that and not other things. The normal numbers of people are not here today because people are slightly distracted at the moment. The news tells us that the Prime Minister is probably going to Buckingham palace at this very minute to ask the Queen for a Dissolution, after which we will have a general election. If that is the case, as we expect, crime and the fear of crime will, not surprisingly, be an election issue again in London and elsewhere. That is why, as I said in my first intervention on the hon. Lady, I hope that, whatever differences there are in the next Parliament, and whatever the outcome of the election, we can at least agree on some things and share the facts accurately and well. The Minister knows the importance of such issues, having been involved in them in different capacities over many years. In the past decade or so, we have had real difficulties with different sets of statistics. The British crime survey statistics and the Home Office statistics do not always say the same thing, with one lot collecting figures on the over-16s, but not the under-16s. It is easy to misrepresent the position and sometimes to exaggerate the problem and increase the fear. I make a pledge that I will work to ensure that those of my colleagues who are elected in London to sit in this place, as well as those who are elected to sit on local councils in London or on the Greater London assembly, work together to try to ensure that we have a common basis of information so that local papers and political parties do not misrepresent things. We should not play on peoples fears to win votes or sell newspapers.
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[Simon Hughes] I pay tribute to the police in London, who have learned a lot and come a long way in recent years. We had a real struggle in the 80s to get the police to associate with, and relate to, the whole community. The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, whom I met again the other day, is very focused on these issues, as well as being very practical and very realistic, and that can be seen in his senior management team and the operation of the Trident people and others. The hon. Lady paid tribute to her borough commander, and I pay tribute to my new borough commander, Wayne Chance, who seems very level-headed and sensible. Commanders understand the importance in all our boroughs of the issues that we are discussing. Although such issues are more important in inner-city boroughs than in outer-London boroughs, they are not just inner-city issues. Boroughs such as Croydon and Enfield have been plagued just as much by gang violence as inner-city boroughs such as Hackney and Southwark. I also pay tribute to those who have done good work in the Crown Prosecution Service, but I flag up at the beginning my concern that the CPS has not always got its act together and done its job as well as it should have done. I do not want to elaborate, but I simply endorse the hon. Ladys comment that we need a CPS that gets right the difficult balance between the benefit of sometimes prosecuting in the public interest and the benefit of sometimes not prosecuting. We must ensure that people can have confidence in the criminal justice system. The police are often on the front line of the system, but the system actually includes the police, the CPS and the courts. I have always said that when police commanders are hauled in front of the public to provide answers in London boroughs, the leader of the council, the head of the local CPS and the senior district judge or magistrate should also be in the front line so that the public can see all those who are responsible for criminal justice in our communities. Ms Abbott: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it is important to put on record the progress that the Metropolitan police have made? I picketed my fair share of police stations in the 80s, and I was never an unthinking admirer of the police, but there is no question but that they have embraced some of these issues, and the quality of the people at the very top of the Metropolitan police has increased exponentially. Simon Hughes: That is certainly true. However, if they read the record of this debate, as I expect they will, I do not want them to go away thinking that there is not more to do. Until the police service is representative of London and looks like London in terms of ethnicity and so on, we will not have the confidence of all Londoners. I still go to too many events where there are very few non-white faces doing the policing. I know that it is not the fault of the police for not trying, but they need to keep pushing. One of the lessons of the Stephen Lawrence murder and inquiry is that we need a different sort of police service. We have moved a long way, but we have a long way yet to go. The debate is about gang violence, and we have to pause for a minute to reflect on how frightening gang violence is. It is bad enough to be attacked by another
person or by two people, which quite often happens in street robberies, but when a group of people sets on one personthat appeared to be the case at Victoria station last week, where we saw the most dreadful sort of crimeor on each other, that creates fear, pandemonium and bedlam. A few years ago, gangs from the surrounding area used to go to the Surrey Quays shopping centre in my constituency. When they got on the bus together, they frightened the people on the bus, and when they got off the bus, they frightened the people at the bus station. They then went to the shopping centre, and anyone they met was in terror of what they would do as they rampaged around. Gang crime is a really serious problem, over and above the issues of gun and knife crime. Although it is connected with them, it is a bigger issue. Gang crime requires specific analysis and specific responses, although that does not mean that we should not look at gun crime and knife crime. When I saw the commissioner the other day, it was reassuring to hear that the number of deaths as a result of such crimes had gone down in London. Less reassuringly, however, he told me that the statistics for knife and gun crime in the current year appear to have gone up again, which is troublingit troubles him and it should trouble us. One troubling trend in recent years has been that the age of the young people involved in such crimes has gone down. I was privileged to take part in the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into knife crime; the hon. Lady will certainly be aware of it and may well have participated. The Committee had its first seminar in London on 17 November 2008 at the YMCA in Stockwell, and I and others gave evidence at the Chairmans invitation. I commend to those who read the record of this debate the Committees seventh report, which came out on 2 June last year and includes a report of that seminar. I want to put on record a couple of the Committees conclusions and recommendations, many of which deserve attention and a response. The first point obviously relates to knife possession, but is part of the wider picture. The report states:
The 2008 MORI Youth Survey indicated that 31 per cent.
nearly a third
of 11-16 year olds in mainstream education and 61 per cent. of excluded young people had carried a knife at some point over the course of the previous year.
A third of young people in mainstream education and two thirds of those who were excludedin special schools or other placeshad carried a knife. The Home Office survey two years before said that only 3 per cent. of 10 to 25-year-olds carried a knife. The truth may lie somewhere between the two, but the legitimate and illegitimate carrying of weapons, particularly knives, which are much easier to find than guns, is significant. The second thing that the report made clear is that the
vast majority of young people who carry knives say that they or their peers carry knives to protect themselves.
That did not used to be the case; people used to carry knives because it was cool and then because they thought that they needed them to keep up with their mates, but now it is for protection. The cause of that is the same as the cause of gang issues: young people need to feel secure. The one thing that would change a youngsters decision to go with a gang would be feeling secure in the
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knowledge that they could say, No thank you, I dont want to and that other things in life were more valuable, whether their education, their family life or the respect that they enjoyed in the eyes of their family. We have to get to the root cause of the issue: youngsters security. We must also be careful that we do not confuse and conflate all these issues. When 10-year-old Damilola Taylor was killed in Southwark more than 10 years ago, he was attacked by a group of boys. Some of the attacks, deaths and terrible tragedies that we have seen, are caused by gangs or large groups of people, but some are caused by an individual and some are accidental deaths caused by a fight or act of violence that just got out of hand. Again, we must ensure that we do not misrepresent things. There have been some very honourable events at the two recent games between Charlton and Millwall, two football teams in south-east London. By the way, I am happy to say that the first game was a draw and the second one was won by Millwall. At those games, parents of youngsters who are supporters of the two clubs came together, with the support of the two clubs, to win the argument among the fans and to ensure that people understood that the sort of violence that we are discussing today is unacceptable and is, in fact, no good. The methods that those parents used were really effective, but they did not all relate to gang crime. They related to the violence that is sometimes reflected in gang crime, and sometimes reflected in other activities. I pay tribute to those who do that type of campaigning, because the families and peer groups of gang members and former gang members are the most effective people in winning the argument against gangs on the streets. Ms Abbott: The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point about the role of parents. I was very shocked by one parent whom I saw at an advice surgery. A young boy came in and said to me that he was in trouble for carrying a knife at school. He told me that he had carried it to defend himself and his mother said, Yes, he did carry it to defend himself and I allowed him to carry it to school to defend himself. The hon. Gentleman has raised a very important point about the role of parents and emphasised the importance of educating parents and working with them. Parents should know that there can be no circumstances in which they should collude with their childs taking a knife to school and I said that to that mother. Simon Hughes: The hon. Lady is right. Let me just select five more sentences from different parts of the conclusions to the Home Affairs Committees report on knife crime and then I will go on to say some more about gang crime. The Home Affairs Committee is obviously a cross-party Committee and its report found:
Sensationalist media coverage of stabbings has contributed to this arms race.
The report goes on:

Individuals born into social deprivation are more likely to commit violence.
However, it also says that they are not the only individuals who commit violence and that others from the most respectable and crime-free backgrounds can get dragged into violence. The report then makes a controversial point, but I believe that it is true:
Evidencesupported our view that violent DVDs and video games exert a negative influence on those who watch and play them.
The report also says that when individuals are sent away to serve youth custody sentences, they sometimes still have access to that sort of violent entertainment. That cannot help. The report reaches two other conclusions to which I would like to refer. First, it says:
The prospect of a custodial sentence may not deter young people from carrying knives.
Instead, it is the prospect of getting caught that deters them. Young people are not normally thinking about a custodial sentence when they carry knives. Therefore, heavy, knee-jerk political responses such as, Increase the sentence, are not normally the answer. A much more complicated response is required. Secondly, the report did not recommend
compulsory introduction of knife detectors
in all schools. Instead, it argued that such detectors should be introduced selectively and where it is appropriate to do so. Similarly, the report said that stop and search is vital but that it needs to be carried out appropriately. There are good signs. I have mentioned Millwall and Charlton who, like other football clubs, have sought to work from their local communities outwards. There are also lots of community campaigns that try to tackle gang violence. In my borough, there is a campaign called Enough. In Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, there are other locally-led campaigns. Sports action zones seek to engage young people in street and community sport, and they are really positive in providing diversionary activity. There is also good parental involvement in youth clubs and after-school activities, and more schools are providing pre-school, after-school and weekend activities. In addition, there are really good youth clubs. The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families came with his whole ministerial team the other day to the opening of the Salmon youth centre in Bermondsey. That is a fantastic new facility, which has climbing frames, training, apprenticeships and all sorts of other things. There are excellent initiatives. Mediation is also important. The Southwark mediation service has young mediators who seek to teach youngsters how to mediate at school and also how to back off without losing dignity. Gang crime is often about respect. How does a youngster deal with someone causing offence to themselves or their girlfriend, sister or whoever it might be, without thinking that they have to pile in and steam in to the other lot who caused offence? It is often about learning that there are ways of dealing with such a problem that mean taking a step back rather than going forward.
That effectively repeats what I said at the outset about the importance of providing full and accurate crime data. The report also found:
A smaller number of knife-carriers say they carry knives to gain respect or street credibility, or because of peer pressure.
So there is a group in that category, but they are not the largest group of young people who carry knives.
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[Simon Hughes] Mediation is also about helping young people to vocalise what they think, rather than physicalising it. There is an organisation called Speak Out, which teaches young people to speak about these issues as a way of communicating verbally. We have touched on the causes of gang crime. Families and role models are really important, particularly the father, the older brother or the boyfriend. Violence at home is a factor. Families should not think that if they are violent at home, that does not make it more likely that their children will be violent out on the street. I have already mentioned DVDs, videos and films. The hon. Lady rightly talked about the materialistic or blingage we live in and the culture of instant gratification. However, modern communication methods are also important. Flash mobbing happens. Someone can text and they can get loads of people together really quickly. They never used to be able to do that. Ease of travel is also important. It is a good thing, but it also means that a gang can all pile on a bus and be somewhere together, at no cost, in no time. The answers to those problems are to provide the types of things that we have talked about: training, apprenticeships, and the incentives to believe that there is a valuable alternative to gang crime. That is why I have a problem with just thinking about what young people should do from the age of 14 onwards. I have always argued that we should introduce youngsters to work at the top end of primary school. There are some children in Southwark, as in Hackney and other places, who have nobody at home who goes to work. Those children need to see the benefit of work and the best schemes in that respect start with year 6 pupils in primary schools. The pupils go to do a weeks work experience and they put on the kit or uniform to act as porters in the Marriott hotel, to count the money in Lloyds bank and so on. What ought to happen about gang crime? I have made the pledge about crime statistics. I believe that there should be better data-sharing between hospitals and the police authorities, so that we identify where the problems of gang crime are worst. I also believe that we need stop and search, but it must be carried out sensitively. We need visible policing, but good neighbourhood policing is about good intelligence. Good intelligence is often the way to get into the gangs or groups before they really get going. We also need larger numbers of detached youth workers in London. Like the hon. Lady, I was a youth worker for a long time before I was elected to Parliament. However, we do not need youth workers who sit in clubs waiting for kids to come to them; we need youth workers on the streets and street corners, who really know what is going on, who can act as role models and do other things. We also definitely need diversionary activities for young people. The Government have worked hard on witness protection, but we still need better witness protection. I was involved in helping with the case of Jamie Robe, a young lad who was kicked to death, and I saw that people were terrified. Another youngster in my constituency, Daniel Herbert, was killed recently, apparently by a gang or a small group of people. Nobody has come
forward to help. Everybody sort of knows who did it, but nobody has come forward to help. We need to ensure that we help witnesses to be protected. The Minister knows about this issue well. We should think about whether we need to go further than we have done already. Ms Abbott: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. On witnesses, does he agree that, although there is, of course, adequate witness protection at the very highest level of gang crime, at the intermediate and lower levels there is not adequate witness protection? At those levels, people still do not feel confident about witness protection. In particular, they do not feel confident that they can be moved swiftly and effectively out of the area where they live, so that they are not subject to harassment. Simon Hughes: I am working on a case where we have still not got somebody settled after moving her from her safe house to another area; I think that she has been in the new area for four years already, but she has still not been able to settle with her children. That was not a case involving gangs; it was a domestic violence issue. Nevertheless, we do not have a system that works, particularly between the police and local authorities, and we need to make it work much better. I want to make a final point. The hon. Lady was right to say that what happens with gangs in London is that they decide that an individual will be part of a territorial group or some other group. It is often based on postcode. It can be based on a place, such as Walworth or Peckham. It can also be based on an ethnic group: Afro-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Turkish, Kurdish or whatever. The feeling of being one of us is a bit like being a football supporter, but it occurs at a much younger age and in a much more violent way. All young people want to belong. People do not want to be isolated; we want to be part of a group. It is a natural human instinct. My view, having thought about and worked on the issue, is that it is best not to try to prevent people from supporting a particular team or being loyal to their school but to ensure that from the earliest age, they spend time with pupils from other primary schools or do things in teams with other secondary schools. As well as competition between placesthat is natural; it is what the Olympic games are all aboutwe need collaboration between young people. The Globe and Walworth academies, on opposite sides of the Old Kent and New Kent roads, include children from both sides of the road. If they spent time together from a young age doing sport, science, art, theatre and drama, it would start to break down the barriers between them. Faith groups have a large role to play, as they do not have nearly the same territorial catchment. I end with a plea for work to be done to ensure that we in London all understand that although we may be from Hackney or Southwark, we are also part of a wider community and ought to have links from an early age. If all families, schools, youth clubs and faith groups sought to instil that idea, people might think less about being in gangs. If, at the same time, we made youngsters feel safer from an early age, they would feel less driven to join dangerous gangs in which they, rather than the people whom they set out to attack, are likely to be the victims.
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James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) (Con): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Weir, for perhaps the last time during this Parliament; we understand that the Prime Minister has now left Buckingham palace after having sought a dissolution of Parliament. Many events are taking place outside this Chamber, but that should not detract from the importance of the matters that we are debating here. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) on securing this debate and highlighting many significant points that must be considered carefully in the context of the issue of serious gang violence. The hon. Lady painted a picture of postcode gangs. It is absurd that where investment has been provided in community facilities for the benefit of young people, those facilities may essentially be off limits to particular young people simply because of their location. Young people, even if they are not part of a gang, may feel too frightened to use them, simply because they live in a different area. The development of postcode gangs also involves the absurd perversion of colours and other symbols to indicate gang membership, including safe colours for transit through certain areas. Buses and public transport can be places of significant fear for young people who are innocently trying to enjoy their own lives and are not at all involved in gangs or gang violence. The indiscriminate way in which some postcode gangs operate can draw young people into violence. Gangs are also linked with sexual violence, as the hon. Lady mentioned, including rape and sexual exploitation. I am sure that the Mayor of London will hear her clear call for the establishment of a rape crisis centre in her area to deal with some facets of gang culture and the perversion and exploitation that sit alongside it. The hon. Lady mentioned gang injunctions and new powers. The Conservatives supported the introduction of gang injunctions, but I hope that the Minister will be able to update us on whether any have yet been used. It is all very well to introduce new powers and legislation, but enforcement is crucial. That has been one of this Governments shortcomingslegislating in haste without necessarily setting out clear pathways for using the powers created. The hon. Lady rightly highlighted the issue of risk, particularly during the transfer from primary to secondary education. Many young people are at risk when they go from being big kids in a small school to small kids in a large school and a different environment. It can be difficult for them, and may cause them to gravitate towards gangs. Recruitment may occur at that stage. Children with behavioural issues or special educational needs such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may become more and more isolated and thus more vulnerable to recruitment into gangs or similar exploitation. That is why we must consider carefully the link between primary and secondary education. However, we must also celebrate success. We should in no way suggest that all young people are involved in gangs. Only a small minority of young people engage in serious criminal activity. Fantastic community projects are taking place across our city. Recently, I attended the launch of the Ten Ten theatre company, which goes into schools and uses drama to challenge thinking about
knife possession and gang membership. Such concepts can be effective in engaging young people, challenging their perceptions of fitting in and addressing pressure to carry a weapon. We know that carrying a knife on the street makes a young person much more vulnerable to being the victim of a violent crime and having that weapon used against them, even though they may think that it protects them. The London fire brigade is also doing good things with its LIFE project to engage young people and challenge them in a different way. It is a particularly good project. Another project by Metrac, the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, uses sport to harness young peoples energy positively and show them that they do not need to feel that they must fit in by joining a gang. The shocking events of the past few weeks, involving the tragic cutting short of young lives, underline the continuing problems of gang crime, knife crime and youth violence. The fatal stabbings of 15-year-old Sofyen Belamouadden from Acton and 17-year-old Godwin Nii Lawson from north London remind us all of the effect of such appalling crimes on families, friends and whole communities. The increasingly brazen nature of some of the crimes that have taken place in our capital in the past few months is also shocking and disturbing. Although the number of teenage murders in London fell from 29 in 2008 to 14 last year, recent cases underline the continuing challenge and the need for vigilance. Last week, I spoke at a conference in the docklands organised by Through Unity, a charity that brings together and gives a voice to families touched by appalling crimes of violence. Its members are ordinary people pushed to the forefront by unimaginable circumstances who, despite personal loss, demonstrate a driving sense of purpose, a desire for good to emerge from tragedy and evil and a commitment to bringing about change and improvement in our communities and our country. Through humility and grace, they turn adversity into hope. The event was as inspiring as it was humbling. It was a reminder why we all need to focus on preventing more such crimes from occurring. I agree that families have an important role to play in advocating and driving through change. I have met families over the past few years who have, sadly, been touched in that way. Their passion for seeing good come from the loss that they have suffered is powerful and impressive. We need to work with such families as much as we can. Simon Hughes: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington, the Minister and me in appealing for those who know something about the unsolved London deaths of recent years to come forward, as this debate might be our last opportunity to do so. I have four names: Adam Regis, whose mum has tried to get to the truth, the rapper Isschan Nicholls, the teenager Billy Cox and the student Nicholas Clarke. There are others. As a city, we owe it to the families of those people to bring those who are responsible forward. Those who know something must speak out. James Brokenshire: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The sense that justice has been denied or has not been followed through is a recurring theme among many
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[James Brokenshire] families I have spoken to. There is a need for justice to be seen to be done. The perpetrators of crimes that have not been solved must be brought to justice. We need to consider carefully the protection and support that are offered to communities to ensure that people feel able to come forward, as he said in his speech. That is a significant factor that we must retain our focus on to ensure that these appalling crimes are solved and that those who commit them are brought to justice. Part of the solution lies in more effective community policing. It is not good enough that less than 15 per cent. of a beat officers time is spent on patrol. We need officers to be on the streets, not behind their desks. That is why we believe there should be a cut in the form-filling and bureaucracy that prevent police officers from doing their job and from providing the reassurance that so many communities desperately need. One practical example is that we would give the police greater discretion to make charging decisions on a number of offences to speed up the processing of arrests and get officers back on the beat. We would also give police officers the discretion to deal quickly and effectively with young trouble makers who are committing antisocial behaviour before they go on to commit more serious offences. We need to improve the intelligence on the prevalence of violent crimes because many incidents go unreported. I endorse the Mayor of Londons support for greater use of depersonalised A and E data across London alongside police data to provide a more comprehensive crime picture on prevalence, geography and trends. I welcome the fact that the Government are now acting on that and hope that the Minister will provide an update when he winds up the debate on the number of hospitals that are providing such data. The risk of getting caught with a knife must be a real factor in the mind of someone getting ready to go out. That means that the police must make proper use of the power to stop and search. The Operation Blunt 2 task force has provided a focused response in hot spots across London and more people are being charged for possession of knives and sharp instruments. I pay tribute to the work of the Metropolitan police in carrying out such operations. When offenders are caught, they should usually be prosecuted and given the most severe sentences appropriate. Fines are an inadequate deterrent. There should be a presumption that offenders will receive a custodial sentence or a tough, enforced community penalty, not a so-called unpaid work requirement. The offender should wear a high-visibility uniform. I pay tribute to the Mayor of Londons work on the Heron wing of Feltham young offenders institution, which focuses on rehabilitating new young offenders and showing them that there is a different path. The fear is that once somebody is in the criminal justice system, it can be difficult to break them out and to provide an exit route from gang membership. I am following closely the Mayors work on challenging such behaviour and preventing reoffending and further crime. We would legislate to give police sergeants at the heart of community police teams a new authorisation to conduct searches for knives and other weapons. That limited power would enable them to act more quickly when they pick up intelligence suggesting that weapons are being carried in their community or that an act of serious violence is about to occur.
A recent Home Affairs Committee report noted that knife carrying is

at a level to be of significant concern.
The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) referred to some of the points made. I have touched on the issue of the perversion of protection. There is an issue with the insidious links to gang membership. Gangs use recruitment techniques that focus on people from less able backgrounds and that seek to exploit factors such as mental illness and unemployment. The Centre for Social Justice has highlighted clearly and commendably the fractures and fault lines that run through our society. We need to focus on the intergenerational dysfunction that lies behind youth victimisation, gang membership and youth crime. If a young persons experience of life is of violence and aggression, should we be surprised if violence and aggression are the methods by which that child seeks to resolve disputes? There is a need for a change of approach. To make a sustained change that enables our communities to break out of gang violence and the scourge of crime, we must look to the long term as well as the short term. It is not simply about enforcement, but about the many other factors that have been highlighted this morning. We need a change that recognises the need for clear and robust sanctions for those who break the law, that devolves greater powers and responsibilities to those who respond to the problems on our streets and that recognises that strong families and communities are more effective at instilling a culture of respect and responsibility than any rule, law or regulation. Ultimately, societal change is required to promote safer and more cohesive communities not just in our capital city, but across our country. 10.46 am The Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism (Mr. David Hanson): I am pleased to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Weir, for what will undoubtedly be my last Adjournment debate of this Parliament, although hopefully not the last of my time in Parliament. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) for securing this useful debate. She has a sound record of tackling this issue not just through policy, but by providing support on the ground for young people in her constituency and across London. The points she has raised have been supported by the hon. Members for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) and for Hornchurch (James Brokenshire). My hon. Friend has raised important policy issues with which the Government are wrestling. She mentioned education, which is crucial in raising the abilities and achievements of young people across London. She mentioned positive role models, underachievement and the importance of positive employment. I am sure that we all remember the importance of peer group support and of being part of a group when we were young. Sometimes that can be a positive experience, but it can turn into negativity, as she described. She mentioned the increasing role of women in gangs, which is an important issue. Last week, the Minister for Schools and Learners and I met with Carlene Firmin and Theo Gavrielides from Race on the Agenda to consider what
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we could do following an important conference we attended recently in London that focused on how women are drawn into gangs, often unwittingly, to support their male colleagues, friends or partners, and on how they become victims of gang violence. I hope that we can discuss those key issues that she has raised. The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey made a plea for integrity in statistics. I, too, want to see that because we need to be able to trust the statistics that we work with and to know that they are independent. He praised the work of the police in London and elsewhere. He helpfully drew attention to the Home Affairs Committee report that raised a number of important issues. He raised the way in which we develop interpersonal skills, how violence at home can impact on peoples attitudes to violence in the community and the importance of witnesses and witness protection. I draw his attention to the fact that investigation anonymity orders, which provide for the anonymity of witnesses during an investigation to encourage them to come forward, are available from today for witnesses involved in trials for murders committed using a knife or gun. That is important legislation. Ms Abbott: On the question of witness protection, is my right hon. Friend aware that a key issue for some of my constituents is that they need to be moved away from people who might take revenge on them? What are the Government doing to ensure that all London boroughs contribute to the pool of accommodation available in such cases? The problem is that some boroughs are not contributing to that, which makes it hard to move people. Mr. Hanson: I will certainly consider that issue in detail. The purpose of the anonymity orders that I mentioned is to give witnesses anonymous protection in relation to giving evidence, which is important, rather than moving people around because they happen to be witnesses and are willing to come forward. That is an important part of the prevention mechanism for individuals. However, ultimately, we need to give people anonymity, so that they do not have to fear being moved. Even if individuals who give evidence are moved, they will ultimately face potential intimidation downstream. The latest recorded crime statistics show that knife crime is falling. There has been a 7 per cent. fall in recorded knife crime and a 34 per cent. fall in homicide with a knife or sharp instrument. The risk of being a victim of gun crime remains low and recorded crime involving a firearm has fallen for the fifth year in successionthe number of recorded offences involving firearms has fallen by 18 per cent. between 2007-08 and 2008-09. Firearm homicides are at their lowest point for 20 years, violence incidence has fallen by 49 per cent. since 1999, and there are 2 million fewer victims. In London, which is of particular importance to the debate today, the number of homicides has decreased. As the hon. Member for Hornchurch mentioned, there were 15 such incidents last year and 30 the year before. Homicide overall is down 24.2 per cent. in the year to February 2010. Gang-related offences in the Metropolitan police area account for very low levels of crimeless than 0.3 per cent. of all recorded crime. However, as my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington
mentioned, although much work has been going on to help to drive down those figures, that does not mean that we are complacent or that we are satisfied with the situation to date. As hon. Members have mentioned, the murder of Sofyen Belamouadden at Victoria station on 26 March and that of Godwin Lawson on 27 March are stark reminders that such incidents occur. In many ways, those incidents were more visible and horrific than some of the other major incidents that we know about. Twelve young people aged between 16 and 17 have been charged with the murder of Sofyen Belamouadden, but unfortunately no charges have been brought in relation to the murder of Godwin Lawson. I send my sympathies to both families. Whatever the overall decrease in statistics relating to such crimes and the level of work that has been done, those incidents, which have occurred in the past month in London, show that issues still need to be addressed. We have tried to tackle the problem through engaging in four main areas of activity: first, prevention; secondly, strong enforcement; thirdly, information and intelligence sharing; fourthly, rehabilitation. Our ultimate aim must be to prevent young people from being involved in a toxic and negative gang lifestyle in the first place. We and other Departments have tried to take prevention extremely seriously. In the youth crime action plan, which has been put in place across England and Wales in a large number of areas, we have considered a number of activitiesfor example, activities on Friday and Saturday nights, focusing on vulnerable individuals, after-school clubs, policing in our communities as a whole and other positive activities. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has provided 2 million additional funding to the 81 local authorities that have been particularly blighted by youth crime and knife crime, so that provision relating to Friday and Saturday night activities can be boosted. We have put more than 270 million into the myplace programme to ensure that young people have high-quality, safe places to go where they can access activities to help them towards positive activity as a whole. That, coupled with the 4.5 million community fund and more than 600,000 of support given to community projects in London, is witness to the Governments work, to which my hon. Friend has paid tribute. In light of that, on prevention activity, my hon. Friend will knowthe hon. Member for Hornchurch mentioned thisthat in September 2010, over-18 gang injunctions will be put in place. Legislation for that has been passed, but it will not be implemented until September 2010 for over-18s. If the Crime and Security Bill finishes its passage through both Houses in the week before Parliament is dissolved, I hope that we will be able to consider gang injunctions for under-18s. We are strongly considering the question of enforcement. I accept what the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey said: sentencing is not necessarily an immediate deterrent. However, it is important that we consider sentencing as part of our work to help to reduce knife crime. The principle is that we need to catch people, and the threat of being caught is extremely important. The role we have given to neighbourhood policing and police community support officers, and the fact that we have the largest number of police officers ever in the capital city of London, shows that that is important. However, we also need to increase the
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strong stance on enforcement, which we have done. The starting tariff for the sentence given to adults who commit murder has been increased to 25 years. Those carrying a knife are more likely to go to prison than they were 10 years ago. Dealing with enforcement also involves addressing important issues, such as knife arches, and a range of factors to do with test purchases in shops and other matters. It is important to ensure that we take the problem extremely seriously. In London, through Operation Trident, the Metropolitan police have disrupted 75 criminal networks. That has involved arrests and the confiscation of a range of live firing weapons, assets, drugs and other things that drive crimes related to young people generally. Action plans have been developed to address gun crime in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwarkthe borough of the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey. Plans have been drawn up with the help of community leaders and independent members to ensure that we take the issue seriously. Hon. Members will know that Operation Protect and Operation Blunt 2 have also dealt with these matters in an effective and important way. We have undertaken intelligence and information sharing, particularly in relation to hospitals, which the hon. Member for Hornchurch mentioned. We have worked closely with hospitals and I am happy to tell the House that 31 hospitals in London are sharing data. They are part of 110 hospitals across England that are currently sharing data. Some 84 of those areas are within the knife crime action plan areas, where we have recently announced additional resources of around 5 million to help to tackle knife crime in the longer term. Intelligence sharing is important, so that we can tie up neighbourhood policing with prevention and with an assessment of the threat in particular areas. It might be of interest to my hon.
Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington to note that intelligence sharing has also involved information being given to Hackney community safety partnerships, so that they can target their activities in Hackney. Through the National Ballistics Intelligence Service, or NABIS, we are looking at the use of guns and the tracking of the use of firearms across the country as a whole. That has shown a very interesting picture of illegal firearms and their use. We are also considering the issue of rehabilitation. Some people are being caught and some people are being sent to prison, but we need to change their mindsets and take them out of prison and youth offending in a positive way. Since last October, all youth offending teams in England and Wales97 in totaland the teams across the 15 knife crime areas have been involved in working with offenders to change their attitudes on knife crime and to bring home to them the consequences of carrying a knife. That includes meeting victims and other agencies and working through how we deal with the matter. In January 2010, there will be a knife crime prevention programme pilot in Feltham young offenders institute to ensure that intervention is delivered to people, particularly in custody. From my perspective, knife crime, gun crime and gangs are serious issues. My hon. Friend has raised some key points. We want to ensure that we work on prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation, tackling the longterm issues and working with the community to ensure that we reduce knife crime, gun crime and gang activity. We have a positive record, but there is more we can do. In the next Parliament, I look forward to working with colleagues across the House to make that difference, to reduce deaths and injuries and to break up the gangs that are having a negative influence across London. Many young people have a very positive influence on society and we should never forget that. The consideration we give to the positive work of young people is as important as that we give to gang-related violence.
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11 am Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise this important issue because it is very dear to my heart. I am sure that this will be my last speech as a Member of this House, so I am fortunate in having secured the debate. This subject is so complex that I could speak for a very long time. During my speech, I shall draw on a number of important publications that I have recently read. The first is An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK by the National Equality PanelI congratulate the Government on setting up that panel because it demonstrates their determination to take inequality seriously. I shall also draw on The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Professors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. Finally, let me draw Members attention to an excellent publication by my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) and the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) entitled Early intervention: good parents, great kids, better citizens, which is an excellent example of cross-party working. Before this debate, I also read the transcript of the February 1995 debate, Poverty and Unemployment, which was initiated by the late Donald Dewar, who was then Labours shadow spokesman for social security. The debate was interesting because it showed the attitudes that prevailed at the time. The then Conservative Government denied that poverty was a problem and derided the whole idea of having a minimum wage, because, as they said, it would mean going from low pay to no pay. Wages at that time were extremely low. Members in the debate cited examples of people being offered 1.50 and 1.90 an hour. I should like to provide a brief history of inequality. On Good Friday, I was hoping to watch my son racing his bike at Herne Hill cycle stadium, which was built for the 1948 Olympics. The stadium is somewhat run-down and will no doubt not be used for the 2012 Olympics. None the less, it served its purpose at the time. In those days we were probably more equal as a society than we had ever been. The belief was that we should have maximum working together and joint effort. It was felt that we were all in it together and that having a more equal society was very important. Unfortunately, I did not see my son racing on Good Friday because the heavens opened and it poured with rain. As cycle tracks are dangerous in the rain, the whole meeting had to be abandoned, and I had paid 12 to no avail. As I was coming home somewhat bedraggled from the rain, I thought about the money; 12 meant nothing to me and its loss had no impact on me. Then I thought, What would it mean for somebody who was on the minimum wage, unemployed or in a low income family? They might have saved up 12 to see their son racing, and for them it would be an awful lot of money to lose. However, for someone such as myself, who is highly but by no means outrageously paidI am on an income in the 10th decile of the upper incomesit was not much at all. That got me thinking about when I was younger. Our household was quite poor because
my father suffered from schizophrenia and was unable to work most of the time. Although my father had a high level of education, we were probably among the poorest people on our council estate because in those daysin the 50s and 60sthere was full employment. My mother worked hard for low pay. She scrimped and saved to give my sister and I a good start in life. When I started secondary school, my mother had to pay out quite a lot of money for my school uniform. The one item that I remember in particular was a pair of hockey boots that cost 17s 11d. I had been at school for only a week when some smart Alec decided to pull out one of my hockey boots from my locker, leaving me with just one boot. I was mortified because I knew that my mother had had to work hard to buy me those hockey boots. I did not tell her about losing one of them; I just made do with my pumps when playing games. I lost sleep at night over the waste, especially as I thought about the effort that my mother had spent on getting me those boots. Today, there are many families who would feel the same way if they had spent money on their children to no avail. Although it was a more equal society in those days, I clearly remember the stigma that we suffered because my father did not work. He was ill, but he had no obvious disability because he suffered from a mental illness. We were ashamed that our father did not work and, unfortunately, those attitudes live on today. I was fortunate because I received a good education and I prospered. Looking back, I can see how I prospered and how other people did not do so well. Inequality fluctuated slightly in the 60s, and even improved a little in the mid-1970s before slightly increasing after the financial crisis. During the 1980s, it soared as unemployment reached 3 million in 1983. At the end of that period, inequality had gone up several fold, which is well documented in the report of the National Equality Panel, the figures from which were used by my colleagues in the 1995 debate. None the less, our concerns were ridiculed by the then Government. Thank goodness we then had a Labour Government, who took poverty seriously. However, I am not so sure that I can say the same about inequality. For those groups of people who were seen as the more deserving poor, the Government have introduced changes that have benefited them greatly. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): I congratulate the hon. Lady on bringing the subject before the House. Her story is compelling and I am listening carefully. I entered Parliament in 1992 and, to be honest, in my time here I have probably moved, on the issues of equality and the distribution of wealth in this nation, more towards the hon. Lady than she has towards me. I thank her for that. Poverty is most felt by elderly people on small fixed incomes. While the hon. Lady is talking about special groups, will she urge the Government to bring forward for that special group the re-indexation of basic state pension to earnings? Will she also take the opportunity to urge the Tories not to break the link again, should they form a Government at any time in the future? That was a major cause of poverty for that elderly group. Lynne Jones: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that, but I think I got there long before him, when I was writing pensions articles calling for the restoration of
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the earnings link and expressing great concern about the means-testing of people who did a little bit better for themselves than they would have by relying completely on the state. I urge whoever is in government not only to restore the link but to do so as quickly as possible. To go back to 1997, the poorest pensioners were expected to live on 69 a week. Thanks to the current Government, no single pensioner in this country need live on less than 132 a week. In 1997 we were very much aware of growing inequality. It will be recalled that there was consternation about the executives of newly privatised industries paying themselves huge amounts of money in salaries and share options. The name of Mr. Cedric Brown comes to mind. At about that time chief executive officers were paid about 40 times average pay, but today they are paid about 81 times average pay. There have been huge changes: the poorest pensioners and people on disability benefits have been guaranteed a minimum income; and there are now working tax credits and the child care strategy for families with children, with large numbers of extra child care places available, and help in paying for them, as well as Sure Start and improved maternity pay; and there is now a carers strategy and rights for carers, who are some of the most neglected people. However, sadly, inequality has continued to widen because of the large increases at the very top of the scale, such as those I have mentioned. It is not just a question of the highest-paid executives or a small number of people: the highest-earning 1 per cent. of the population has a huge impact overall on the median incomethe income level at which half the population has more and half has less. We have a divided society. Disraeli wrote in Sybil of
Two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are ignorant of each others habits, thoughts and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones or inhabitants of different planets.
smaller gap between the rich and poor means a happier, healthier and more successful population in terms of life expectancy, achievement in maths and literacy, infant mortality, homicide, imprisonment, teenage births, trusting one another, obesity, mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction and social mobility. They say convincingly, based on their evidence, that if we halved inequality in the UK murder rates would halve, mental illness would reduce by two thirds, obesity would halve, imprisonment rates would reduce by 80 per cent., and trust would increase by 85 per cent. More equal societies benefit everyonethose at the top as well as those at the bottom. Inequality is pervasive in society. It wrecks lives. Wilkinson and Pickett cite a very interesting study from 2000. World Bank economists Karla Hoff and Priyanka Pandey reported the results of a remarkable experiment. They took 321 high-caste and 321 low-caste 11 and 12-year-old boys from scattered rural villages in India and set them the task of solving mazes. First the boys did the puzzles without being aware of each others castes. In those conditions the low-caste boys did as well asin fact, slightly better thanthe high-caste boys. Then the experiment was repeated, but this time each boy was asked to confirm an announcement of his name, village, fathers and grandfathers names, and caste. The boys did the mazes and this time there was a large caste difference. The performance of the low-caste boys dropped significantly. The same phenomenon has also been demonstrated in experiments with white and black high school students in America. Black students performed as well as white when they were told that the tests were not a test of their ability, but when they were told that the tests were about their ability they performed much worse than white students, who performed equally in both tests. There is a stereotype, and people react to it. There is plenty of evidence of biological impacts on people who are of low status and feel threatened. When they are happy and well adjusted they release high levels of the hormone dopaminethe feel-good hormone. When they are threatened and under stress, they are ready to strike out and they have high levels of stress hormones, including cortisol. That has an impact on their behaviour, as is well documented in the Early Intervention booklet. The authorsour colleaguesargue strongly for early intervention, between the ages of nought and three, when young children are extremely damaged if they are not given the nurturing and love that they need. I commend the booklet for the action that it proposes for future Governments, but we must see that in the context of the need for a more equal society. The current Government have already been trying to intervene. There have been area programmes such as the new deal for communities. However, we still find that those societies are disadvantaged. It is interesting that the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green cites statistics about council estates. I think that in 1980 more than 70 per cent. of people living on council estates were on above average incomes and those areas were mixed areas, where people worked. Now, they are wholly deprived areas, and that concentration of deprivation has been the result of Government policies over the past 30 years that have not recognised that good-quality rented housing is important and should not be regarded as only for the very poorest. We have
Only last week, echoing those sentiments, Richard Lambert, the director general of the CBI, pointed out that chief executive officers are so differently remunerated that they are in a different galaxy from the rest of us. The recent Evening Standard pull-out special edition on Londons forgotten poor, said:
London is a shameful tale of two cities. In the richest capital in Europe almost half our children live below the poverty line.
Despite the best efforts of the Labour Government in lifting half a million children out of poverty we still face a huge, uphill task. I congratulate the Government on their commitment, in the Child Poverty Bill, to bring down those horrendous figures. As to solutions, we must first recognise that inequality is not just about the difference between the average and the poorest. It is about the total inequality in society. We are now a much more unequal society than many other countries in the OECD, apart from the United States and Portugal. The huge salary increases at the top end, which put people out of touch with the reality of life for those at the poorest end of society, have not been replicated in other countries with more equal societies, where economic development is just as good as ours, if not better. Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett have set up an organisation called the Equality Trust. In their book they comprehensively argue that in rich countries a
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seen the sale of the best council houses, which are lost to the stock altogether once the people who bought them move away. I am talking about the more affluent people moving out of council houses or people moving out of the area and out of council and social housing altogether. We have seen the ever greater concentration of deprivation in those areas. We must break that cycle and we must do that on the basis of tackling inequality. There is a lot of stereotyping of lone parents, and many people in the areas that we are discussing are lone parents. However, the Wilkinson and Pickett evidence shows that more unequal societies have more lone parents and that in more equal societies, even families headed by a lone parent are not disadvantaged, because they are less unequal than they are in this country. That brings me on to the point about the deserving and the undeserving poor. Rightly, hon. Members on both sides of the House have wanted to do their best for pensioners, for people who are obviously disabled, shall I say, rather than those who are less obviously disabled, and for childrenso long as they conform to our stereotypes. Let us consider the case of children such as baby P and Khyra Ishaq. Societyboth the authorities and the communities in which they livedfailed them. They are rightly seen as victims of our unequal society, but let us imagine what would have happened if they had not been killed and had been taken to a place of safetytaken into local authority care. What would their prospects have been? Although children in local authority care represent only 0.6 per cent. of children, 25 per cent. of the prison population is made up of people who have at some time in their lives been in care. That is a disgrace. It does not happen in other societies. In this country, people in deprived areas who go into care do very poorly educationally, despite the best efforts of the Government and the fact that there have been improvements in educational attainment. Very few of those children go into higher education, whereas in Denmark, for example, 60 per cent. of youngsters who were brought up in care go into higher education. So it does not have to be like this. We do not have to have such a low regard for children. Our society does not have a high regard for children. Yes, when they are victims, it does, but when they are not well brought up and when they are damaged, they are seen as evil. They are described as yobboes and hoodies and in other pejorative ways. When the Leader of the Opposition expressed sentiments about how we regarded young people in this country, which I agreed with, I was dismayed that he was condemned as wanting people to hug a hoodie. I would have liked the Government to say that at last the Conservative party was coming round to our way of thinking with regard to not labelling young people when they perhaps go off the straight and narrow. We must look to ourselves as a society and what we are doing to those children, and recognise that in other, more equal societies, children who face disadvantage do not suffer in the long run, and then society does not suffer from the activities in which young people from disadvantaged backgrounds all too often engage. There was a TV sitcom called Keeping Up Appearances, and there is too much of that behaviour in this country. Why do people feel the need for such huge incomes? It is all about competition. If one executive is paid millions of pounds, another must be paid a bit
more. In fact, there is a race not to millions, but to billions of pounds. When we were having the Cedric Brown arguments, that was all about millions; now it is about tens of millions in remuneration. We heard at the weekend about the president of Barclays. Let us just think of someone on the national minimum wage of 5.80 an hour240 a week for a normal week. It would take them hundreds of years to earnor to receive in incomewhat some executives receive in a year. That cannot be tolerated. The Labour Government set up the Low Pay Commission to introduce the minimum wage in a way that did not damage employment. There is still scope for improvements in the minimum wage, and I invite the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) to confirm the Conservative partys commitment to the minimum wage and to increasing it in line with recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. The Low Pay Commission has been enormously successful, although I regret the fact that young people under 21 are paid less for doing the same job. Is it not time that we had a high pay commission to consider disparities in earnings in society and in companies? I say that because such huge disparities are not conducive to a good economic outcome. As Richard Lambert explained in the speech that I mentioned, no one denies the importance of companies making adequate profit for reinvestment and reasonable remuneration; indeed, some of the most successful companiesRichard Lambert cited Dave Packard, one of the founders of Hewlett-Packardrealise the importance of rewards, but rewards should be proportional and profits need to deliver wider goals than shareholder value. As the Member for Selly Oak, which includes Bourneville, I echo that entirely. Shareholder value was the only issue that was considered in Krafts takeover of Cadbury. Hewlett Packard is not the only enormously successful company whose founders recognised that they must engage with their work force and that employees must feel part of the company. Other industrialists who have been extremely successful and recognised that excessive pay divides rather than unites companies include Ove Arup, founder of the Ove Arup Partnership. John Spedan Lewis founded the John Lewis Partnership, one of our most successful retail companies, and acted on the philosophy that differences in reward must be large enough to induce people to do their best, but in 1957 he declared that the differences were too great. It is time for greater company publicity about peoples earnings. A pay audit is an excellent idea. A high pay commission might not be able to impose on companies remuneration, but could suggest reasonable benchmarks. Some years ago, Channel 4 produced a series of programmes about high pay, and a high pay commission was set up. I do not remember its membership, but it included someone who was a cook, although I cannot remember her name. It concluded that there should be maximums and minimums in company employment for fairness and good performance. We need fairer organisation in companies. We have seen the demutualisation of the banking and financial services sector, and the squeezing out of trade unions. Countries such as Japan do not have a large welfare state and transfers, but they have much more equal societies in terms of remuneration. It is common in Japanese industry for people to come up through the
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trade union movement and to become company executives as a result of partnership working. We must encourage more worker participation, and it is appropriate to flag up the 1977 Bullock report on workers rights and representation on company boards. We should reconsider some of those philosophies, which were not welcomed by many people in industry. Many trade unionists did not welcome involvement in decision making at the highest level, although I am pleased that one of my predecessors, Tom Litterick, who was the MP for Selly Oak in the 1974-79 Parliament, was the chief sponsor of an early-day motion welcoming the Bullock proposals, so it is appropriate for me to flag him up in my valedictory speech today. He was not my predecessor, but my predecessor but one. The Government have proposed that football club members should have a share in their clubs, and perhaps we could extend that to other companies to provide more worker participation, more worker shareholders, more worker involvement and more co-operation in companies, as in the John Lewis Partnership, where performance is much better than in companies where workers are badly treated and their efforts are not sufficiently rewarded. I turn to other things that Governments can do, including small measures. Post-Thatcherism, the present Government adopted too many of the stereotypes and attitudes to people, particularly unemployed people. Although the Government have done a lot for pensioners and families with children, unemployed peoples incomes have not increased, but have merely been pegged to the retail prices index. At present, an unemployed person on jobseekers allowance receives 65.45 a week1.6 million people receive that allowanceand couples receive 102.75 a week. They receive help with housing costs, but those are the sums that they must manage on to meet all their needsfood, gas, electricity, clothes, social life and so on. I defy anyone in this Chamber to live on that level of income. The figure for young people under 25 is even more obscene at 51.85 a week. A small numberaround 37 per cent.have children and have benefited from the Governments measures to deal with child poverty, but the situation is a sad reflection on a Government led by a Prime Minister who in his maiden speech in 1987 castigated the then Government for their philosophy that unemployment benefits should be so low that people would be forced into even low-paid work. I do not expect that sort of attitude from the Government. At a time when unemployment is highit has not risen to levels seen in previous recessions thanks to the Governments measures, which were opposed by the Conservative partywe must remember those who have been affected. We are still dealing with the fallout from the 1980s. Although unemployment fell after the peak of 3 million before rising again in the early 1990s, at the end of that period we saw a doubling of the number of workless households in which no one was in work. That has further exacerbated division and deprivation in our society. I urge future Governments not only to consider measures to deliver public services and early intervention but to consider equality of incomes and the damaging effect that very unequal incomes have on our society. There are measures that the Government could take, but the issue is not just redistribution of tax and benefits.
I would like a much more progressive tax system. I am pleased that we now have a 50p income tax rate, but I am not pleased about the complexity resulting from withdrawal of the tax-free allowance. It is about time we started to talk about a truly fair and progressive tax system, so that people on low incomes of around 10,000 did not pay any tax. I realise that if that were to be introduced without making changes higher up the income scale, it would benefit higher earners as much as the low paid. We need a properly progressive income tax. We also need to consider other ways of making taxation fair. The Conservative party is castigating the Government for the increase in national insurance. I am unhappy about that change because it will affect everyone, but I am not at all happy about the alternative of meeting the 6 million gap that will result from the Tory promise on national insurance. Meeting it by increasing VAT would be even more regressive. Why do we have an upper threshold as well as a lower threshold for national insurance? Rather than having an across-the-board increase of 1 per cent., why should we not extend the upper limit? The 1 per cent. rate goes higher up the threshold; perhaps we could recoup some of the money lost through not levying the national insurance increases by raising the threshold. We should also consider property taxes. They are easy to collect and difficult to evade, but the only property tax that we have is the council tax. That is unfair because people with lower-value properties pay proportionately more than those with mansions. There should be a small taxation on increases in the value of land resulting from public investment, as it would be difficult for rich people to evade. Bob Spink: Before the hon. Lady moves too far from VAT and the Tories, does she share my concern about the refusal of the Tory shadow Chancellor to rule out future tax rises if the Tories get into Government? Whatever other Tory Front-Bench spokesmen say about VAT, the shadow Chancellor flatly refuses to rule it out. Lynne Jones: I am sorry, but I did not hear what the hon. Gentleman said. Did he mention class sizes? Bob Spink: No; I said that the shadow Chancellor refuses to rule out future tax rises. Lynne Jones: I am sorry, but I am a little deaf. I do not see how the shadow Chancellor can rule out future tax rises. In some ways, I would prefer progressive tax rises to cuts in services that would affect the vulnerable. It is time that I began to wind up. I wish to mention a couple of other areas where Government intervention has been extremely successful. It may seem rather bizarre, but I start with the national forest. I am a member of the Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which recently reported on the national forest. The project has been tremendously successful in improving areas of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. A range of indicators have demonstrated the improved economic health of the national forest, including a significant decline in the proportion of the forest population who live in the 25 per cent. most deprived areas in England. The area outperformed the regional average for economic growth between 1998 and 2006, with high levels of new business development. The areas tourism
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industry is now worth more than 270 million a year, with more than 4,000 people engaged in it. Since 1995, more than 250 jobs have been created or safeguarded through forestry, and through farm diversification to forest uses and woodland business. What has been achieved over those 15 years was done for the princely sum of 44.3 million in Government grant in aid. I commend such projects to future Governments. Another organisation based in my constituency is the national industrial symbiosis programme. It has been extremely successful in bringing businesses together to treat waste as a resource. As a result, a small amount of Government money has yielded a return to the Treasury of 30 times or more in net receipts. Those are examples of Government spending that has helped business and society to reduce inequality. It is not about the private sector versus the public sector. Public spending is crucial to a thriving private sector. Surely, after the recent crash, we should have learned that the public and private sectors need each other. We are about to embark on a general election. Candidates are being asked to make the equality pledge drawn up by the equality organisation set up by Professors Wilkinson and Pickett to promulgate the arguments that they put forward in their excellent book. Having seen the website, I know that a number of hon. Members from all parties have signed up. I hope that they will not sign up blithely to a commitment to work to reduce inequality, but that they will take it seriously and that those who are successful in the election will consider how to implement measures to reduce inequality in our society. Four wards in my constituency will be going their separate ways in the election. The Kings Norton ward, which is probably the most deprived part of my constituency, will become part of the new Northfield constituency. I shall certainly support the Labour candidate, who will be my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden). It will generally be a straight fight between Labour and Conservative, as it will be in the new Selly Oak constituency. Bournville and Selly Oak will be joining two wards from the Hall Green constituency. I hope that Labour candidates will be elected, because I do not trust the Tories to take up the equality agenda. Although I am disappointed in some of the outcomes achieved under the present Government, things have become better for many people. Public services have improved, and that would not have happened if we had continued with a Conservative Government in 1997. We have a more interesting situation in the Moseley and Kings Heath ward of the Hall Green constituency. The Conservatives are nowhere in the election, and it will be interesting to see what happens because it is a three-horse race. I was not happy with the endorsement of the Labour candidate in that constituency. Because there is no risk of the Tories winning that seat, I may allow myself a little tactical voting by supporting the candidate who most shares my values. Mr. Mike Weir (in the Chair): Order. The hon. Lady is straying a little. I ask her to return the subject. Lynne Jones: Thank you, Mr. Weir. The candidate who most shares my values and whom I respect the most will be the one who I think will put up the greatest fight for a more equal society. That candidate will make a much better job of it than I have managed.
During my time here I have fought hard for disadvantaged groups, starting in the 1992 to 1997 Parliament when I fought the dreadful discrimination against transgendered people. When I wrote to the Employment Minister at the time, the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), she seemed to think that it was perfectly acceptable for a transgendered person who was outed in the workplace to be sacked simply because her work colleagues did not like working with her. Thank goodness that attitudes to transgendered people have changed over time, but they still suffer a great deal of discrimination, which is highlighted in the National Equality Panels report. I have fought for gay rights. I worked for a gay couple in my constituency, one of whom was an American who was going to be deported, as the then Tory Government were unwilling to recognise that couples commitment to each other. That has changed, and generally there is now a much more progressive attitude across the House on both areas, although the recent comments of the shadow Home Secretary, the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), were very unfortunate. I have even fought with my Government for single parents and disabled people to try to reduce proposed cuts in benefits that had actually been put forward by the previous Conservative Government. I was most disheartened when the incoming Labour Government decided to carry through some of those changes, such as changes to housing benefits for young people. Some of those bad decisions have been reversed by changes to tax credits, help for children and, to some extent, help for disabled people, but the fight must go on for disadvantaged groups, including people from ethnic minorities, women who still face disadvantages and people from different classes who face disadvantages. That work will have to be carried on largely by my successors, although I hope to play an active role in that, particularly in the field of mental health, which is perhaps the last great stigma we have to tackle. Things are now much better for those with mental illness than they were when my father was alive, but we still have a long way to go. I will conclude with a quote from Robert Kennedy:
The gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.
I leave the future Parliament to ponder those thoughts. Mr. Mike Weir (in the Chair): Before I call the next speaker, I remind Members that the debate must finish at 12.30 pm and ask them to tailor their remarks accordingly. 11.54 pm Mr. Paul Keetch (Hereford) (LD): I will tailor my remarks appropriately as I am anxious to hear the Ministers response. It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones). I agreed with much of what she said, including the quote from Bobby Kennedy and her remarks on Hall Green. I have found myself with her in the Division Lobby many
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[Mr. Paul Keetch] times during the past three Parliaments. It seems that she has often followed the Liberal Democrat view of things, perhaps more astutely on occasion than her Labour Government would have liked. Lynne Jones: The hon. Gentleman should not take great comfort from my remarks on Hall Green. Mr. Keetch: I have no doubt that the electorate will hear that point. The hon. Lady has certainly been a great parliamentarian, and the House of Commons will be the worse for her not being in it after the election. She said that the debate would be topical literally as the Prime Minister returned from the palace and the general election was called. The debate is important because there is a feeling, certainly among the charities with which I have spoken, that if we are not careful the election might see a new Government come in who will not give the same priority to poverty and inequality that Labour has done in the past 13 years. I congratulate the Labour party on what it has done in many areas in those years. It has poured billions into tackling child poverty, but there is a real fear that the recession will undo some of that work or at least set it back. Although child poverty has decreased under the Government, pensioner poverty has not fallen to the same extent. Poverty among working, childless adults has increased to its highest level for 40 years. In addition, the Governments third term has seen a rise in income inequality, with the poorest fifth of the population experiencing a fall in income. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has stated, for example, that the gap between the income of the rich and the poor is now the highest it has been since its comparable time series began in 1961, the year I was born, and inequalities in wealth are even greater than those in income. The hon. Lady mentioned the Child Poverty Act 2010, which we of course supported. However, we are concerned that the Government have watered down the goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020. Instead, the Act now states that no more than 10 per cent. of children should be in poverty. By our maths, that means that the Government are resigned to accepting that around 1 million children will still live in some form of poverty in future. The recession has seen inequality and poverty continue to rise in certain groups, as they did in the past few years when the UK was booming, so what will be the effects when we tackle the problems ahead? The targets of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020 were set out by Tony Blair in 1999, but the interim target was missed in 2005-06 and, unsurprisingly, it looks as though the 2010 target will be missed as well. When times were good it was easy to pick off the low-hanging fruit, meaning those who were only a few percentage points below the poverty line or who were perhaps on a low income temporarily and would quickly find another job, or who were poor simply for one reason, rather than for complex, multiple reasons. However, now that times are harder, we are concerned that the good work that has been done so far will stall and perhaps start to go backwards, particularly if there is a new Administration after 6 May who will place less emphasis on tackling child poverty than the current Government have done.
We have seen some recent changes on pensioner poverty, one of which has been to the state earnings-related pension scheme. The second state pension scheme has effectively been frozen for 2009-10, meaning that around 9 million pensioners will have a real-terms cut in their pension payments this year, amounting to around 515 million. Dr. William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): With the breaking of the earnings link, the gap whereby our pensioners have fallen behind basic pay is certainly significant. Therefore, surely we need a substantial rise in the basic state pension, and then the link with earnings. Mr. Keetch: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right and makes a good point, and I will mention in a few moments some specific things my party would like to see done. We certainly oppose the recent freeze, as we do not believe that pensioners should be the first to feel the pain of the recession. Freezing parts of the state pension would be a blow to those pensioners who already live on or near the poverty line. The woeful inadequacy of the basic state pension is a legacy of successive Governments. Since the link to which he referred was broken 30 years ago, the pension has simply withered away, and the Government have done nothing to reverse that trend. The whole pensions edifice is built on a totally inadequate foundation, and until that problem is addressed all other pension reform will be merely tinkering at the edges. Four million pensioners are poor enough to be entitled to means-tested pension credit, and that number will rise to encompass half of all pensioners by 2050. Is that something we ought to be proud of ? About one third of those who are entitled to claim pension credit do not do so, partly because of the complexity of the system and partly because they do not want to spend their lives asking for handouts. The Liberal Democrat party is the only party that has pledged to restore the earnings link immediately rather than by the end of the next Parliament or beyond, and we would like a target to be enshrined in legislation to eradicate pensioner poverty in the same way that this Government set a target on child poverty in the 2010 Act. We believe that a decent state pension is the key to a solid foundation for retirement, and our goal is to introduce a citizens pension that would give people a full pension regardless of their contributions. It would gradually be raised high enough to lift people out of means-testing. Several other policies would be particularly beneficial to pensioners. For example, we propose that the personal tax allowance be raised to 10,000 for everyonethe hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak referred to thisso that no pensioner with total income below that amount would pay any income tax. That would benefit most tax-paying pensioners to the tune of some 100. We also propose to abolish council tax and replace it with a local income tax that is based on the ability to pay, which would be of huge benefit to most pensioners. They would pay less under a local income tax than they do under council tax. My party welcomes the Governments plan to auto-enrol workers in personal accounts under the new National Employment Savings Trust scheme, as only one half of todays work force is currently paying into a private
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pension. However, that will work only if the Government are prepared to ensure that employer contributions are at a much higher level. The proposed contribution levels for personal accounts do not go far enough to ensure decent provision. Poverty among working-age adults without dependent children is now at its highest since data were first collected in 1961. That is because the Government have focused their policies overwhelmingly on families with children. We understand that, but we should not disadvantage families who do not have children. Of course, some of the biggest casualties of the recession have been young people. More than 700,000 18 to 24-year-olds are out of work, and that can be a real disadvantage for them as they start their working lives. We need to intervene and offer help far earlier than we do. My party has pledged to offer young people access to further education, internships and train-to-work programmes after 90 days out of work. We do not think it is right to abandon young people, often in the midst of their first attempts to find work and start a career, for up to six months without a chance to do something to improve their employability. We would offer all those young people the 55 a week jobseekers allowance rate as a training allowance while they complete a three-month internship with an employer. We believe that the next Government must continue to invest to stimulate the economy and create jobs. We want to rebalance the British economy and build it again on solid, sustainable and green foundations. We have identified 3.5 billion of current Government expenditure that could fund an economic stimulus and job creation plan. Together with our banking reforms, which will end the dependence of the British economy on the City of London, that plan will kick-start economic growth on stronger foundations than before, and ensure that growth and jobs last as they should. As we face the election, which is being called today, there are several steps that can be taken in an attempt to stop a further rise in poverty and inequality. The question at this election is whether the next Government will aspire to such aims. A Liberal Democrat Administration certainly would. 12.3 pm Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) for her speech. This is an important subject, and I am glad that she secured this debate. It is a pity that there are not more Members here to participate in it, but we understand why, in the circumstances of the general election being called today. I welcome the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch), who I believe is also standing down at this election. He does not usually speak for his party on these matters, but he is welcome here today. I am not sure where the members of his shadow Work and Pensions team are, but we wish them well in their absence. I was particularly struck by the quote from Robert Kennedy that the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak ended with. I have not heard it before, but I shall acquaint myself better with it when Hansard comes out tomorrow. It struck me that there was a certain similarity in what he said and some of the issues around gross
well-being, to which my party leader, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), has drawn attention. We need to look at the facts in this important area of poverty and inequality and try to understand why things have become worse under this Government since 2004. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and, indeed, the Governments own figures on child poverty and other statistics, it was at that point that poverty, unemployment and repossessions started rising in the UK. That was well before the recession began. Poverty is now back at the same level it was in 2000, having risen every year since 2004-05, and an additional 400,000 children now live in poverty. There has been an increase, not a decrease, during that time. We are indebted to the work of Save the Children and others who pointed out a particularly worrying trend as far as severe poverty among children is concerned. They said that it, too, has risen since 2004-05. This debate has rightly dealt with the position of pensioners living in poverty. There are 2.5 million pensioners living in poverty in the UK, which is some 100,000 more than in 1996-97. My party is also committed to restoring the earnings link. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Helen Goodman): Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Andrew Selous: No, I will not. I want to make some progress. We welcome the auto-enrolment proposals embodied in the National Employment Savings Trust initiative, which my party supported. It is important to get more people on low incomes saving in pensions. Helen Goodman: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Andrew Selous: Yes, I will give way to the Minister. Helen Goodman: The hon. Gentleman just made the incredible claim that child poverty had increased since 2000. Andrew Selous: No, I did not. Helen Goodman: I would like to give him the actual figures. In 2000, there were 3.1 million before housing costs; now there are 2.9 million. After housing costs, the measure was 4.1 million, and it is now 4 million. The hon. Gentleman simply must be accurate in what he is saying. Andrew Selous: When the Minister reads the record tomorrow, she will see that I said that poverty, not child poverty, is back at the same level as in 2000. Those are the Joseph Rowntree figures. If she wants to dispute them, she is welcome to. She knows very well that my figures on child poverty referred to the increase since 2004-05, which is extremely well documented, and on which, sadly, we have not had much fresh thinking from this Government. Another group that I am glad was mentioned today is the disabled. Several Members mentioned them in their speech, which was right and proper, because we know that there is a much higher rate of poverty among disabled people. Some 16 per cent. of non-disabled
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[Andrew Selous] people live in poverty, but the figure is around 30 per cent. for disabled people. I shall shortly discuss what my party would like to do about that. We must never lose sight of that group when we discuss these important issues. We now have the highest levels of inequality since the comparable time series was started in 1961. That should concern us all, as it has a number of serious negative effects. The Gini coefficient, which is a commonly used measure of inequality, is now above the level that this Government inherited and, as I said, at the highest level since the start of a consistent time series in 1961. The National Equality Panel, which the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak rightly quoted, said that we have the highest level of inequality since world war two, and the UK is placed seventh worst for income inequality in the list of OECD nationsso considerably worse than many of our European neighbours. My party is committed to building a society that is not only richer but also fairer and safer, where opportunity is more equal and poverty is abolished. We will focus our efforts on looking at strengthening families and communities and at incentives into work, which, although it has not been raised so far in this debate, is important. With our major focus on welfare to work, we will replace this Governments complicated, bureaucratic employment programmes with our work programme, which will be a single programme of back-to-work support for everyone on out-of-work benefits, including the 2.6 million on incapacity benefits who have not had the attention that they should have had under this Government to try to help them back into work. We will also create 400,000 new apprenticeships and training opportunities over two years to tackle youth unemployment and prevent a generation from being written off by the recession. We are passionate about education. Lynne Jones: The hon. Gentleman mentioned the slight increase in inequality, but that is largely due to the huge increases in the highest rates of pay. What would the next Conservative Government do, were they to be elected? Hopefully, they will not be elected. Would they support a high pay commission, for example? Andrew Selous: I will mention specifics in a moment, if the hon. Lady will allow me to develop my remarks a little bit further. I assure her that I will touch on that area. Schools are the motor of social mobility. They provide children from low-income backgrounds the chance not to replicate low income among their own children and to increase their life chances. We will weight school funding towards children from the poorest backgrounds through a pupil premium, ensuring that extra funds follow those pupils into the schools that educate them. The hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak was right to draw attention to that. She mentioned the woeful underperformance of children on free school meals compared with other school children. That is a passion of the shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, who has raised this matter on a number of occasions.
We want to see a universal health-visiting service for all parents and we want Sure Start to go back to its original purpose. We share the Governments aspiration to halve child poverty by 2010although sadly, from what we have seen in the documents in the Budget, that seems not to have been achievedand eliminate it by 2020. We supported the Child Poverty Bill during its progress through the House. We want to make greater efforts to try to break the link between disability and poverty. We will focus on trying to find jobs for people who are disabled and trying to enable them to progress in their careers. One area that will be particularly important in that regard is flexible work. Again, there has not been leadership from the Government on promoting and creating flexible work. Five Departments have numbers of part-time employees only in single figures. The Government could and should lead by example. The hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak is right to say that levels of inequality matter in society. They matter for a number of reasons that are important to Conservatives. We know, from Professor Richard Wilkinsons book, which the hon. Lady mentionedI have a copy in my office, which I have been readingthat in more unequal societies there is less volunteering and more crime. I was looking at some evidence over the weekend showing that the level of crime in Londons most unequal boroughs, compared with five more equal boroughs, is significantly higher. We also know that levels of mental illness are higher in areas where there is greatest inequality. We can say that more unequal societies lead to additional costs to the public purse and prevent us from being a more cohesive society. I am pleased that the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak has the book on early intervention by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith). That is a good example of important cross-party collaboration on early intervention. She mentioned the importance of brain development. If I remember rightly, she said that if time in the 0 to 3s, particularly, is lost it is much more difficult to make progress with a child. Politicians need to take notice of this important epidemiological insight. I believe that this cross-party work has been significant in doing that. Early intervention is important, but I agree with Professor John Hills that children need a series of what he describes as in-flight boosts to correct inequality later on. I say to the Minister and to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak that it took a Conservative Mayor of London to bring in a living wage for local authority staff. The cleaners who cleaned the Ministers office early this morning are not paid the London living wage by her Department: I found that out from answers to parliamentary questions. I wonder whether that is as it should be. The Government seem to have turned their back on inequality in the public sector. That is surprising. The Government can do something about that. The hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak rightly spoke about the private sector, but should not the Government take a lead in respect of the area about which they can do something? For example, the maximum sum payable for the chief executive of a strategic health authority is 204,048 a year, whereas the pay for an NHS employee
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at pay band 1 is 13,233 per yearby the way, that is 600 below the minimum living standardwhich is a ratio of 15.1:1. The hon. Lady spoke about chief executives, but only in the private sector, not the public sector. Let us look at local authorities. In the local authority in Slough, which is the example that I have to hand, the lowest salary of a full-time employee is 12,994, whereas the chief executive is on a salary of 157,479, which is a ratio of 11:1. Interestingly, in the Armythe hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch), who knows about these things will agreethe ratio between a brigadier and a private soldier is only 6:1. I think that most hon. Members in this Chamber would agree that the Army is an effective, cohesive public sector organisation. If there can be an effective organisation Helen Goodman rose Andrew Selous: No, I will not give way to the Minister. She will have her turn to speak in a moment, when she will perhaps respond to my point about the cleaners in her own office and say whether she is happy for them to be paid below the London living wageperhaps she is. It is interesting that there is a much lower difference in the ratio between the lowest and the highest paid in an effective organisation. The shadow Chancellor has said that any public sector wage higher than the Prime Ministers will have to be put to the Chancellor for agreement. Some 323 public sector employees are paid more than the Prime Minister. Over the weekend I learned that the Scottish First Minister is paid more than the Prime Minister, which is somewhat strange. The director-general of the BBC is on around 850,000 per year. I believe in Government leading by example. If these things matter and we are going to say to private industry, Get your house in order, private industry can rightly say to Members of Parliament, Whats going on in those institutions over which you have some say? We have not seen much action from this Government in that area. In answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, I say that we Conservatives are committed to the minimum wage. Helen Goodman: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Andrew Selous: No. The Minister will have a chance to speak in a second. The Minister is responsible for the Child Support Agency. As shadow Minister, I find it unacceptable that, according to table 15.1 of the 2007 families and children study produced by the Department, 61 per cent. of all parents with care were not receiving child maintenance. Those are not figures for which the CSA is responsiblewhere there is a valid maintenance contractbut it is shocking and unacceptable that 61 per cent. of fathers, largely, have got off without taking care of their responsibilities. How are we really going to do something about inequality and poverty among the lone parents whom the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak spoke about when 61 per cent. of lone parents are not in receipt of child support?
12.19 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Helen Goodman): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Mr. Weir. I begin by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones). I am not sure what the opposite of a maiden speech isperhaps we had better not go there, as they say. However, I wish to pay tribute to her for her speech this morning, and for the huge commitment that she has shown on these issues, both during her parliamentary career and before that in her work on housing in Birmingham. She raised several important points to which I hope to respond. First, she talked about the importance of early intervention. Last week, I was in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen), to see the work supported by the Labour Government on early intervention. I saw three particularly good examples of that. One was work with teenagers who were pregnant or new mothers, and excellent work was being done to increase the life chances and opportunities of their babies. Another example was a family intervention project that dealt with families that suffered from a huge, complex interaction of problems. The third initiative was Sure Start and I feel proudas does my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, I am surethat there are now 3,500 Sure Start centres. I am deeply alarmed by the proposal repeated by the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) to reduce the number of Sure Start centres in this country. My hon. Friend talked about the level of equality and how it has varied over the past 60 years. That was interesting and, like her, I assumed that equality in the country was highest immediately after the second world war. In fact, that is not borne out by the data because high levels of inequality were a spillover from the problems of the interwar years. It was not until between 1975 and 1979after four Labour Governmentsthat the lowest inequality ever to have existed in this country was achieved. I know that we are not allowed to use visual aids, but I must refer to a document on the distributional impact of the Labour Government from 1997 to 2010, produced by the independent and highly-respected Institute for Fiscal Studies. It shows that over that period, the effect of changes in tax and benefits led to an increase in wealth of about 12 per cent. for the poorest 10 per cent. of people. The effect on the richest 10 per cent. has been a reduction in wealth of about 8 per cent. Looking beyond the richest 10 per cent. of people to those earning more than 100,000, the impact of the tax and benefit changes has been minus 15 per cent. In part, that is the result of measures taken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who this month introduced a 50p rate of income tax for those earning above 150,000, a withdrawal of personal allowances for those earning over 100,000, and a restriction on tax relief for pension contributions. In two years time, there will be a freeze on the higher-rate tax threshold. Meanwhile, at the other end of the income scale, there have been one-off real increases in benefits and increases in child tax credits. From 2012, a new child tax credit for one and two-year-olds is designed to benefit all parents of small children whether they are married, unmarried, separated or widowed. It will not stereotype
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[Helen Goodman] or ghettoise anyone, or try to make choices between the deserving and the undeserving poor. The hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire made several remarks and I do not have time to make a thorough critique of them all. At the end of his speech he claimed to be concerned about people on low wages that from the party which steadfastly opposed the introduction of the minimum wage. He now says that his party is committed to the minimum wage, but he has not said whether it is committed to maintaining it in real terms. The minimum wage benefits one million people, two-thirds of whom are women. Since its introduction in 1999, it has increased in real terms by 23 per cent. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to intervene to say that his party is committed to maintaining the minimum wage in real terms, I would be happy to give way. Andrew Selous: My understanding is that the minimum wage is set by the Low Pay Commission. I think that the trick is to set it as high as possible so as not to harm the prospects of people going into low-paid work. There is a conversation to be had about the level of tax credits and the minimum wage. Helen Goodman: That was as clear a commitment as one could expect under the circumstances. My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak also reasonably enoughmentioned the problems at the high end of the spectrum. It will not have escaped her notice that the Chancellor has imposed a special tax on the pools that banks have set aside for bank bonuses. As she will know, that was expected to raise 500 million, but in the event it raised 2 billiona significant sum of money by any standards. The Governments commitment to tackling poverty cannot be gainsaid; we have achieved some significant improvements. The hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink), who is no longer in his seat, was the first to
mention pensioners, and 900,000 pensioners have been lifted out of poverty. The poorest third of pensioners are now 2,100 a year better off, and we have made moves to re-establish the link between pensions and earnings, which was so needlessly destroyed by the previous Administration. The Governments policies on families mean that the poorest fifth of families are, on average, 3,000 a year better off. Half a million children had been lifted out of poverty by 2007, and measures taken since then will lift a further 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of the year. We have halved absolute poverty. The hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) asked whether we have a continuing commitment to that policy. We took the Child Poverty Bill through Parliamentand we are grateful for cross-party supportbecause we are absolutely committed to making continued progress on that matter over the next 10 years. Mr. Keetch: Will the Minister give a commitment that a future Labour Government would introduce a pensioner poverty Bill along the lines of the Child Poverty Bill, and legislate to ensure that pensioners do not fall into poverty? Helen Goodman: Much as I would like to, I cannot anticipate the manifesto or the next Queens Speech. My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak asked about the significance of property taxes. She was right to mention that, and it is another reason why the Conservative partys proposal to cut inheritance tax for the wealthiest 3,000 millionaires is so bizarre when coming from a party that claims to be concerned about inequality. Any party interested in inequality must address poverty, and look across society at the whole complex of policies and how they impact on people. At this time while we struggle to emerge from a recession, I cannot see that the British people 12.30 pm Mr. Mike Weir (in the Chair): Order. Unfortunately, we have run out of time in this fascinating debate.
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Swindon to Kemble Rail Line
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12.30 pm Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): I am grateful to you, Mr. Weir, and to Mr. Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to hold this Adjournment debate. I am even more grateful to the Minister for being here on a day when I am sure that he would prefer to be doing other things elsewhere. [DR. WILLIAM MCCREA in the Chair] I welcome you to the Chair, Dr. McCrea. This is the second Adjournment debate that I have had on this subject; the first was on 30 June 2008. Given the work that has been involved in campaigning in support of the redoubling, it is perhaps fitting that it is one of the last subjects on which I will speak before the election. If the Minister will forgive the metaphor, I hope that my campaign for redoubling is arriving at the station and that he will have some good news today for my constituents. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole) rose Mr. Clifton-Brown: Perhaps this is the good news that I am waiting for. Chris Mole: In my experience as a rail Minister since last July, it is impossible to make a speech about rail without using a rail metaphor, so I forgive the hon. Gentleman. Mr. Clifton-Brown: The Minister is obviously reserving the good news for when he speaks. Let me begin by detailing the reasons for the campaign, how it has progressed and the incredible amount of cross-party and cross-national support that it has received. We are talking about a single-track line that stretches a mere 12.5 miles between the Swindon locomotive yard and the western portal of the Kemble tunnel. The line was singled in early 1970s. The necessity for redoubling stems from the self-evident limitations that are imposed on trains travelling in opposite directions on a single-track line. Doubling the track would provide a significant extra benefit. As passengers who use the line know only too well, delays and cancellations are frequent, the infrastructure cannot support an hourly timetable and delays are regularly exported from the line. Network Rail believes that significant demand from passengers and freight is being suppressed because of these limitations. The second factor is the nature of the Swindon-Kemble line as a diversionary route. As the Minister will know, because I have spoken to him privately about this, the Welsh Affairs Committees 10th report of the 2009-10 Session, which is entitled Cross-border provision of public service for Wales: follow-up, noted:
The main diversionary route for South-Wales London services when the Severn Tunnel is closed for maintenance runs from Swindon via Kemble and Gloucester.
The relevant section of the report finishes by noting:

The importance of this line as a diversionary route when the Severn Tunnel is closed will be heightened during electrification of the Great Western Main Line. We urge the Government to ensure that final costs are agreed as soon as possible so that work can begin.
The Minister will also know, as I mentioned in my previous Adjournment debate, that the redoubling would
provide a diversionary route for freight traffic travelling from Southampton to the west midlands and for trains from the south-west to the north of England, which is the preferred diversionary route.[Official Report, 30 June 2008; Vol. 478, c. 705.]
There are also additional benefits, such as building in rail capacity to support growth and regeneration in the south-west in the coming years, supporting freight movement and the cost saving to be achieved by closing the signal box at Minety. I will not elaborate on the schemes further benefits, because the case has been well and truly made, but it is worth mentioning that supporting rail travel ties in with the Governments and, indeed, the Oppositions policy on a modal shift to supporting green travel and the green economy, which would lead to CO2 reductions. If the Minister will indulge me further, I would like to take him on a quick diversionary routehe will be glad to know that that is my second and last rail metaphorto clarify exactly where we are now on the redoubling and how we have got to this point. I have campaigned for the redoubling of the line for many years. Unfortunately, as he knows, the Office of Rail Regulation announced its funding plans for 2009-14 on 5 June 2008. Although we had the good news that the Cotswold line would be redoubled, it was announced that the Swindon-Kemble line would not receive funding. In my view, and probably in the view of the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), the Swindon-Kemble line was perhaps more deserving than the North Cotswolds line. Following that news, I called an Adjournment debate on 30 June, in which the then Transport Minister, the hon. Member for Glasgow, South (Mr. Harris), stated:
I wish the scheme a fair wind.[Official Report, 30 June 2008; Vol. 478, c. 712.]
Subsequently, I was able to keep up pressure for reconsideration of the scheme. I did that through meetings, first, with the hon. Member for Glasgow, South and, subsequently, with the Secretary of State for Transport. On both occasions, I was accompanied by colleagues from Gloucestershire, including my neighbour the hon. Member for Stroud, who has been a long-time supporter of work on the line. Representatives of Network Rail and First Great Western were also present. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): My neighbour and I make common cause on this issue, which is very pleasing. I declare an interest, in that I was on the line this morning. The key point, beside the fact that there is to be a general election, is that we need to know now that the team will come over from the Cotswold line. That has to be the absolute priority. If it does not happen now, it will not happen this side of a decade. Does the hon. Gentleman agree? Mr. Clifton-Brown: My neighbour is clairvoyant. I will make exactly that case a little later.
It adds that the Severn Tunnel

would remain operationalinto the medium term, but that regular closures for maintenance would nevertheless be necessaryalthough the Tunnel would be suitable for electrification, this will require a longer closure for the work to be completed.
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[Mr. Clifton-Brown] The lobbying work proved effective. It was clear that despite the ORRs decision, support for the scheme was forthcoming from the hon. Member for Glasgow, South, the Secretary of State for Transport, Gloucestershire county council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, the regional assembly, the district and urban councils and most, if not all, Gloucestershire MPs. The only thing missing was the funding. The first steps to overcome that problem took shape when the Department for Transport committed 900,000, and the Welsh Assembly offered 100,000 towards a feasibility study. Some 20 million was put aside from the regional funding allowance for the project itself, but that still left a gapthe scheme had been estimated as costing 37 million before the new feasibility study was conducted. On 3 September 2009, I attended the South West Regional Grand Committee, where I found that the Minister for the South West was another supporter of the redoubling scheme. At the meeting, he clearly stated:
It would provide diversionary seven-day railway capacity and route capacity that First Great Western has indicated it could take up on a commercial basis. It would also facilitate housing growth if the Government were to bring that forward. Good arguments can be made in favour of the redoubling of this line and I am happy to play my part in that process.[Official Report, South West Regional Grand Committee, 9 September 2009; c. 12.]
As the Committee progressed, I challenged the Minister to produce one positive outcome from its proceedings. I must give him credit for taking up that challenge and writing to the RDA on 6 October 2009, suggesting that if it could produce
an agreed, realistic and deliverable five year programme,
he hoped that that programme would be able to go ahead. By 16 November 2009, the Minister for the South West had persuaded the RDA to agree to provide a further 25 million in funding. The money had previously been allocated to the Westbury bypass, which had been refused permission, so the money could be reallocated to fund fully the Swindon-Kemble line. With the feasibility study not expected to be completed until the end of the year, it was clear that that deadline could not be achieved, but we now had an absolute commitment for 45 million towards the project. Subsequent to that news, the hon. Member for Stroud called an Adjournment debate on 27 October 2009, when he made a further eloquent case for the work. The debate further highlighted the cross-party support for the scheme. Unfortunately, when the results of the feasibility study were announced, the final figureas the Minister knows only too wellwas 52.4 million and it was clear that further work was needed to progress the scheme. I then contacted 18 right hon. and hon. Members in the Welsh parliamentary area, for whom the redoubling work would have particular significance. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies), the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies), and the right hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells) for their support in contacting the relevant Ministers.
That brings us up to date, in terms of detailing why the scheme is so vital, the steps that have been taken by myself and others to raise its profile, and the success that we have achieved. Before the Minister responds, I want to raise with him the ultimate purpose of todays debate. We are now looking at either cutting 7.4 million from the estimated cost of the scheme according to the feasibility study, or finding 7.4 million of funding from non-governmental sources or from departmental end-of-year savings, or a combination of the two. Many of my constituents fail to understand how a scheme that appeared to have ministerial support as long ago as 2008 has still not been able to progress. Although they and I understand that there are financial pressures, there are also time concerns. In that regard, I entirely agree with what the hon. Member for Stroud said. As he pointed out, there is a clear window of opportunity if the go-ahead for the redoubling work is given soon. Skills and equipment that are currently being used for the redoubling of the North Cotswolds line could easily be transferred to the Swindon-Kemble line. If they are not transferred, the larger national schemes such as Crossrail and the refurbishment of Reading station will come into play and the SwindonKemble line might lose its place in the queue, perhaps for many years. So can the Minister say exactly what discussions he has had with Network Rail since the figure of 52.4 million was announced in the feasibility study? Most importantly, can he tell us if he believes that 7.4 million in savings can be made? If so, why has it taken since January for that announcement to be made? If he cannot tell us that those savings can be made, or if he has doubts that they can be made, does he believe that any end-of-year departmental savings could be redirected towards this scheme? Furthermore, Network Rail has a huge maintenance budget and it will save on maintenance if this scheme goes ahead. So, could Network Rail be persuaded to find some money for the scheme? In addition, has the Minister had any discussions with the train operator on the line, First Great Western? Any passenger travelling at peak times between Kemble and London, as the hon. Member for Stroud did this morning, would pay 58.50 for a single standard ticket or 91 for a first-class seat. This is a very lucrative line for First Great Western. With a growth in rail users and a growth in population in the south-west, does First Great Western not have a vested interest in seeing the redoubling scheme progress? If it does, could it possibly provide some money towards it? I also want to ask the Minister if there are any other funding avenues that he, I or anybody else should be investigating. Ultimately, however, I hope that the Minister will use this 11th-hour opportunity, before Parliament is dissolved, to give all the users of this rail line some wonderful news, by announcing that he has found a solution and that the redoubling of the single track between Swindon and Kemble will now go ahead. 12.43 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): Dr. McCrea, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship in this debate about the redoubling of the Swindon to Kemble railway.
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I congratulate the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on securing the debate. Along with a number of other Members of Parliament, he has been diligent and very determined in promoting the case for the redoubling of the route. At the same time, of course, I also welcome the presence of my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) for the debate. I am pleased to have another Westminster Hall debate on this issue, as it gives me the opportunity to give the latest position on the work of achieving an acceptable and affordable price for this redoubling scheme, so that it can be delivered with financial support from the south-west region. I want to reassure the House that much effort is being devoted to the issue. In particular, I want to thank Network Rail, the nations rail infrastructure owner and operator, for the hard work that it is doing in this regard. The Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister for the South West have both expressed support for the scheme, as the hon. Member for Cotswold outlined. We all recognise the value of extra capacity and improved train performance that this particular redoubling scheme would create. Before I turn to the specific subject of the debate in more detail, let me remind the House about how the region and the wider area served by the Great Western main line, in particular the lines passengers and freight customers, will benefit from our ambitious rail plans. The performance of First Great Western continues to be of high quality, with Network Rail reporting in its latest figures that 93.4 per cent. of First Great Westerns trains arrived on time. On 23 July 2009, we announced the 1.1 billion electrification programme of the Great Western main line between London, Bristol, Oxford, Newbury and Swansea, along with the electrification of the line between Liverpool and Manchester. That was great news for those specific areas and for the public transport industry in general. The electrification programme will boost jobs, reduce journey times, make trains more reliable, increase capacity, contribute to sustainable or greener transport and build on improvements in train performance. From 2016, passengers travelling between London, Slough, Reading, Newbury, Didcot, Oxford and Swindon, as well as to intermediate stations, will benefit from the reliability and comfort of electric trains. The aim is that, by 2017, electrification will be extended to inter-city services to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea. Electrification will mean that minimum journey times between London and Swansea can be reduced by almost 20 minutes. It will also enable capacity on inter-city services during the morning peak hour to be increased by about 15 per cent. Electrification of the Great Western main line is being integrated with the significant upgrade of Reading station, which the hon. Gentleman referred to, and the 16 billion Crossrail project, which will reach out to Heathrow airport and Maidenhead. Electrification of the Great Western routes between London and Bristol and between London and Swansea will potentially enable more trains to operate. It will also reduce the cost of the track and the damage to it. The environment will be improved as fewer diesel trains will run. Journeys for passengers will be improved, as electric trains will be able to accelerate faster and consequently journey times between London and the
other major city centres will be reduced. Operators will also be able to run more frequent services as their business continues to grow. I will now address the Swindon to Kemble line specifically. Network Rail initially identified the redoubling of the line as one of several options to improve the performance of the Great Western main line and the wider network. The line was originally singled in 1968, which is slightly earlier than the hon. Gentleman suggested, as an economy measure by the operator at the time, British Railways Western Region. Network Rail believes that redoubling of the line would improve performance, especially when the line acts as a diversionary route for trains between London and south Wales or when there is engineering work on the line or in the Severn tunnel. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that that use of the line will be especially important when electrification takes place. The south-west region and the local authorities believe that redoubling is essential if an upgraded Cheltenham and Gloucester to London service is to be provided. The railway industry agrees with that view. I fully accept that we also need to provide for the improvement to such rail links. However, a little while back the Office of Rail Regulation concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to justify the inclusion of the Swindon-Kemble enhancement as a funded scheme to deliver the overall high level outputs specified by the Government. That decision by ORR has been debated frequently in the House and we have responded positively to Members representations. More recently, the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to regional partners to outline his strong support for the redoubling scheme. In our response to the south-west region on its regional funding advice, we asked that consideration be given to taking forward a fully funded Swindon-Kemble major scheme. The south-west region has risen to the occasion and I must congratulate it on the action that it has taken, which I will return to in a moment. In addition to that dialogue with the south-west region, the Secretary of State and I have committed Department officials to work with the railway industry to make the case for redoubling. As the hon. Member for Cotswold well knows, the south-west region, the Department for Transport and the Welsh Assembly Government have jointly funded a rail investment study by Network Rail. Their total contributions amounted to some 2.6 million. That is a good example of working in partnership and I commend the parties involved for their respective contributions. It is also now well known that the south-west region has offered to contribute 45 million from its funding allocation budget towards the capital cost of redoubling. That is very welcome indeed and I commend the role of the Minister for the South West in making that happen. That 45 million is made up of an initial 20 million contribution, followed by a further 25 million allocation from funds that were originally earmarked for the Westbury bypass. Network Rail has already provided an interim report on its investigations. That has been examined by the Department, which has asked Network Rail to continue to explore a wide range of issues. Network Rail is undertaking an evaluation of the earthworks and associated structures on the Swindon to Kemble line, in particular the disused sections where
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[Chris Mole] only minimal maintenance has been carried out since the line was singled. There is also a need to determine the most efficient means of bringing a number of level crossings up to modern standards. Much of the present single line is laid along the centre line of the old double track formation. That makes for a slightly more formidable challenge in redoubling compared to a situation where the single track takes up just one of the paths of the old lines. In December 2009, Network Rail concluded that, on the evidence available, redoubling the 13-mile section of route would cost 52.4 million, reduced from a previous and less sophisticated calculation of 62 million. I recognise that redoubling the Swindon to Kemble line is a regional priority that could facilitate growth and support resilience and performance. As I said, it acts as a diversionary route to and from south Wales when work is taking place on that route, particularly in the Severn tunnel. The importance of the diversionary route will increase while the task of electrification is taking place. However, the national rail budget remains fully committed until 2014, and we cannot bridge the funding gap. In the circumstances, the 45 million allocated in the regional funding allocation is, for all practical planning purposes, the maximum presently available. The current price of 52.4 million therefore represents, as the hon. Gentleman identified, a difference of 7.4 million with the budget. Deducting the 2.6 million spent on the study reduces the difference to 4.8 million. Network Rail is exploring a number of opportunities to see whether the gap can be bridged, including the deployment of different and possibly innovative contracting methods to get the most competitive price. The study also considered the extent to which reconditioned materials could be used and how best to undertake the work. For example, should all the work be done over a limited time scale while the line is shut, or on weekends and at night? The emerging conclusion appears to involve a mixture of both, but I am equally conscious to ensure that passengers using the lineno doubt they include many constituents of the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friendare not overly inconvenienced. It might also be possible, as the hon. Gentleman said, to offset some of the work against the cost of maintaining the route in future years if it remained a single line. The Office of Rail Regulation is considering the matter. I am personally confident that the hard work being done by Network Rails engineers will reduce costs to an amount near, if not within, the funds available. They are a focused group and have risen to the challenge of doing the job within the 45 million limit. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): That is relatively good news. I do not want to speak out of turn, but my only worry was that the people assigned the problem were not the first rank of engineers within Network Rail. It is important to know that the brightest and best are seeing it as an opportunity. I hope that my hon. Friend will ensure that they can hold forth and that the scheme goes forward. Chris Mole: The officials within the Department to whom I speak advise me that the people working on the situation are absolutely committed to making it happen.
I know that my hon. Friend is concerned about when the team will finish work on the Cotswolds line. As the issues are considered more closely, one factor to take into account is that carrying the team across might be a way to reduce costs from the estimate, which might have been based on assumptions that a team would be set up from scratch. Mr. Clifton-Brown: I agree with my neighbour the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew); it is relatively good news. If we are not to have an announcement today that the scheme will go ahead, we are at least moving towards the station. However, does the Minister not agree that the longer we take to find the funding, the more it will cost and the more funding we will have to find? It seems as though we will never catch up with ourselves enough for the scheme to be given the go-ahead. What timetabling assurances can he give us about when the funding might be found? Has he really re-examined all alternative funding sources, such as First Great Western? Chris Mole: The hon. Gentleman has asked me two specific questions about Network Rail, one of which I just answered; it concerned potential savings from future renewals and maintenance costs that could be offset by undertaking the work earlier. The other involves the franchise operator, First Great Western. He made the case that it might be interested in an investment that could enable it to grow its passenger numbers. I suspect that First Great Westerns assessment would prioritise investment in the front-loading of a new train service that would not run at sufficient capacity in the first instance to return a profit. Its priority would probably be to subsidise the first few years of the new services, which would take advantage of the capacity, rather than investing in infrastructure, which I think most train operators are fairly reluctant to do. The hon. Gentleman also asked about the Welsh Assembly Government, and I know that he is interested in other potential funding sources such as the European Union. The line is not a trans-European network, so it would not necessarily qualify for European funds from that source. Nor does the nature of the area suggest that funds for addressing regeneration and disadvantage would be forthcoming. I am not aware whether the Welsh Assembly Government could access European Union funding, but the Welsh Assembly Government might be able to make the case that it is a strategic diversionary route for south Wales. However, I understand that they have already been making best use of European funds for investment in railways. Given what I have heard about their investment in railways in Wales, I suspect that they are unlikely to want to invest in railways outside Wales. They seem to be fully committed to the railways in their own territories at this time. To address the hon. Gentlemans question about timing, I understand why he is anxious. Network Rail is due to report to the Departments officials early this summer, by which I mean no later than June. If a positive result is forthcoming, I hope that a deal can be struck. Although we are driving hard to get the job complete within what is on the table, I am nevertheless anxious to know whether the amount can be supplemented should a genuine need arise. I have discussed European and
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Welsh Assembly funding. In these challenging economic times, we must be realistic about how limited such opportunities are. Network Rails 5,000 engineers have experience from earlier redoubling and are seeking to improve how it is done. Perhaps that will help the hon. Gentleman. He asked me for my assessment of the prospects of reducing the cost further. At one point, the outline figure was 62 million; it is now down to 52 million. There are challenges as redoubling work takes place and problems with embankments and cuttings are identified. The ground on which a one-track railway sits is not always robust enough to build a two-track railway. As such problems are identified, costs rise, but as I said, using our experience from earlier efforts can reduce them again. In conclusion, the spotlight is on Network Rail to achieve an efficient price for the scheme. It is working hard to do so, but until it provides something affordable, further developments cannot go forward. I am keen to ensure that this unique opportunity to implement the scheme is not lost. If Network Rails price is affordable and the regions endorsement is maintained, spending could be allocated over the fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13. Our aspiration would then be to commission the doubled track by December 2012.
Tackling Crime (Plymouth)

12.59 pm Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton) (Lab/Co-op): As I pointed out in 2001 in one of a number of debates on crime, Plymouth was one of the earliest places to adopt a partnership approach to tackling crime, as recommended by the Morgan report. Many years on, that partnership work is now wider and deeper. It is embedded in the work of our local strategic partnership, Plymouth 2020, which has the vision that by 2020, our city will be recognised as
one of Europes finest, most vibrant waterfront cities, where an outstanding quality of life is enjoyed by everyone.
Community safety and bearing down on crime are important parts of that. Since 1997, crime has fallen by 36 per cent. and violent crime is down by 40 per cent. nationally, although one would never know that from some of the stories in the national press. I do not usually read the Daily Mail, but I noticed yesterday that it focused only on the negative aspects and quoted figures as if there were no context of significant drops in crime. In Plymouth, the police authority, the basic command unit and their partners have used the Governments investment and policies to make us the fourth safest police authority area and one of the safest cities in the country. As well as celebrating that, I will focus on how the next Parliament can help us to continue down the strong direction of travel that we have established locally and nationally. Things have moved on since the 2001 debate. With neighbourhood renewal funding came the need to set up the local strategic partnership. For over seven years, it has worked on stretch targets set under the safer and stronger communities theme group that reports to the main board. Recently, the Audit Commission awarded Plymouth with a coveted green flag in the first comprehensive area assessment, which indicates
exceptional performance and innovation that other public services could learn from.
It was awarded for

the way partners in Plymouth plan ahead to protect people in the city during large scale emergencies.
The new Oneplace area assessment of local public services says that Plymouth is a safe place for most people and concludes:
The Council, Police, Primary Care Trust, Fire and Rescue Service, other public services, voluntary groups and businesses work extremely well together to plan ahead and respond to emergencies to keep the city safe.
That is reflected in the day-to-day work that has resulted in a drop in our crime figures. In the year to September 2009, crime was down by 9.6 per cent. compared with the previous year and in the first quarter of 2010, it was down by 11.7 per cent. compared with the same period in 2009. There are still challenges aplenty. Although there is a well established downward trajectory in crime over a number of years according to police recorded crime and the British crime survey, it does not always feel that way and certainly not to the victims of the crime that remains. The fear of crime remains stubbornly high, although people rate their local situation better than their perception of the country as a whole. Such fear is partly rooted in a belief that the steps to tackle crime are not travelling in
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[Linda Gilroy] the right direction, even though they clearly are. The police and the criminal justice system are not the only public services that face such perceptions. There is a wide disparity in the answers people give about the health service. When asked about their last experience of using the health service, most people say it was good, but when asked how the health service is doing generally, people usually think that it is travelling in the wrong direction, which it clearly is not. Lagging perceptions are not new. When I worked at the Gas Consumers Council in the 1990s, people commonly referred to the gas boards even though they had been done away with 25 years previously. That is perhaps not good news for the police, who have a target of enabling the public to feel confident and safe in their communities. Against the background of negative reporting, that is difficult to achieve. However, those involved are determined to do it in a realistic way by engaging people with what the police are doing to bring safety to local communities. Important in achieving that are the new tools being developed by neighbourhood police teams, which Plymouth has had for some time. Police and communities together, or PACT meetings are one good way of ensuring that the things that people in the community rate as important are tackled. Some neighbourhood police teams have gone further. The team that covers Stonehouse has gone from house to house in the last year to find out proactively what matters to people in the neighbourhood. That was part of and complemented by Operation Glendale, which was designed to roll back an upsurge in drug-related crime in the waterfront area of my constituency. It was a great success and all the more so for engaging with other partners in the strategic partnership. It helped to meet one of the key stretch targets in the work plan. It also led to a fall in acquisitive crimes because bearing down on drug-related crime has an impact on theft to fund drug use. Compared with the previous year, domestic burglaries were down 32.6 per cent., theft from motor vehicles 37.7 per cent. and the theft of vehicles 28.1 per cent. Although there has been an increase in serious violent crime, violent crime is down. Homicides have gone down from four in the previous year to one. Chief Inspector Andy Bickley stated that a change in the recording practice accounted for most of the increase in serious violent crime and offered the reassurance that it was not an indication that Plymouth was becoming a more violent place. At the last strategic partnership meeting I attended, the stretch target for the number of domestic violence incidents recorded by police was being discussed because it was not high enough. More active engagement was planned to ensure that more domestic incidents were reached. That is sensible because detection, along with seeing cases through to conviction, is a key factor in preventing crime. Of course, such work may have an adverse impact on the police recorded crime figures in the interim. The point of this debate is to acknowledge the success of what has been done and to look forward and consider what further tools could maintain the downward trend in crime. That becomes more difficult the more successful we are. I want to raise three points. First, there is a need to maintain front-line staff, including police community
support officers. Secondly, there needs to be a whole community answer to alcohol abuse and related crime. Thirdly, I want to mention the Talents programme, which was developed in Plymouth and is a cost-effective way of producing results. On front-line staff and PCSOs, there used to be a big argument about getting officers out of cars and having bobbies back on the beat. We still discuss how to ensure that police officers and PCSOs are out and about for a high percentage of their time, but I have not heard the either/or argument about panda cars versus the beat for some time. That is thanks largely to the advent of PCSOs, who have become the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood team and trusted allies to people in communities who want to see change for the better. With the advent of neighbourhood policing, of which PCSOs are an important part, we have both/and, not either/or. My constituents and I worry that the pressures facing police authorities, including the added pressures arising from the pension obligation, will weaken what has been so recently established to such good effect. What measures does the Minister think are needed to ensure that police authorities are required to make administrative efficiency savings, while protecting front-line services? Police forces such as Devon and Cornwall have done some of that work effectively to ensure that front-line services can be developed. I hope that that will be recognised. A blend of carrots and sticks will be required to focus minds on the difficult times that lie ahead. I hope that he will give some pointers on how he thinks that will happen. I was pleased to hear that partners in our local strategic partnership are planning to share back-office and procurement costs on a scale that would not have been possible before we had the strategic partnerships that are now well embedded. That can and must be scaled up through multi-area agreements across local authorities, PCTs and police authority areas if our precious front-line services are to be protected. Having an alcohol policy is simply a no-brainer. I do not mean that in the sense that some people consider it a good thing to get drunk out of their skull at a weekend; I mean it in the sense of having effective policies to reduce demands on the health service, the police authority and much other public service spending. There is also, of course, a quality of life issue. A great deal of work has been undertaken by organisations and individuals in Plymouth to prevent and alleviate harm resulting from the use and abuse of alcohol. The challenge set out in the Governments Safe. Sensible. Social. The Next Steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, which was published in 2007, is to minimise health harms, violence and the antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, while ensuring that people are still able to enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly, as many people, of course, do. I have a sense that, despite the strategy, there is a need to give greater impetus to what is being done locally and nationally. If we are to bear down further on crime, it is important to deal with the matter correctly and, from what I know, it should not be rocket science to do so. We need to create cities and communities in which people who want to enjoy themselves can do so without damaging their own health or damaging the communities that suffer from antisocial behaviour. We also need to ensure that the health of individuals whom such people
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come across is not damaged. That includes far too many shop workers and public sector workers in the health and police services. I am a great admirer of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers Freedom from Fear campaign. However, we still need to get to grips with alcohol, because it is at the root of so much antisocial behaviour against public sector workers. Dealing with crime has to be as much about changing the culture of things as it is about conventional policing. As I said, doing so is not rocket science, but it requires the sort of joined-up national, regional and local approach that is essential if we are to preserve front-line services and meet the challenges that lie ahead. I would like to offer a solution to some of the taxing problems that we will face in the coming years, which will perhaps be part of the answer to the things that I have mentioned above and to many other things as well. Mr. James Webster, who until recently was Plymouths police commander, looked to the Gospel according to St. Matthew to find inspiration from the parable of the talentsyou will be familiar with that parable, Dr. McCrea. The landowner gave money to each of his servants, and urged them to make good use of it. Those who invested it made bigger returns and in turn earned more. Chief Superintendent Webster gave 500 to each of Plymouths 11 neighbourhood sergeants to develop initiatives that would help to address crime and disorder priorities identified by local residents at PACT meetings. As with the landowners servants, each sergeant had to account for what they had done with the money. The range of ideas was extraordinaryfrom a simple TV and video set-up showing policing information at two of the citys biggest supermarkets, to a fireworks scheme in an area of Devonport with an arson problem. There was also a street dance initiative, a boxing club, a football coaching scheme and a project that funded students themselves to develop community ideas. In a follow-on from the first Talents programme, neighbourhood teams linked with some of the Co-operative Society stores in the city to tackle the youth crime and disorder often associated with hanging around the communities eight-til-late-type stores. That programme is in its 13th round. It has brought a whole new approach to policing and has released the full potential of some very talented people. When Mr. Webster was interviewed about the programme by Carl Eve, a reporter for The Herald in Plymouth, he said:
When I came to Plymouth, I quickly realised the very high calibre of staff we were now recruiting - much more than when I joined - but our rank structure hadnt changedWe were getting top-quality people but werent making it easy for them to use the full range of their abilities. They have massive powers on the street - they can arrest people or break down doors - but they dont have the power to authorise expenditure of a 10 note.
to develop the idea across the entire partnership. In the difficult times that lie ahead, we should perhaps take heed of what the programmes author says about it:
If I had 20,000, I could buy a new police car, but its impact would be very little. Put 20,000 into the community, from the grass roots up, and I can do a lot more with itOnce you allow officers the power and responsibility they can do far more than you ever would if you just directed them. Its inspiring and humbling to see people fired up. People join the police to do great things.
The Talents model gives a structure to seek funding, and to create leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fight against crime in Plymouth. Indeed, it is a practical working model for partnerships for and with other public services that deliver at a community level. Our further education providerthe City collegeis now delivering a course designed to empower front-line staff in public services to use the model. Public services, including the fire service, are indeed using the model. I am pleased to have had the chance to talk about some positive things in relation to tackling crime in Plymouth. I hope that the Minister, as well as joining me in acknowledging some of the good work being done and thanking those who work so hard to deliver good public services, will point the way to how we can go even further in bearing down on crime in Plymouth and elsewhere. 1.16 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Alan Campbell): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr. McCrea, and to listen to the wise words of my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy). I congratulate her on securing this important debate and on her long-standing commitment to the issue, which has been shown outside our short debate today. She has been a strong local champion for the people whom she represents. We share her concern and commitment to ensuring that we maintain reductions in crime and antisocial behaviour. We take the issue very seriously. I am pleased to note from my hon. Friends comments that Plymouth reflects the continued national downward trend in crime and disorder. As she said, overall crime is down nationally by 36 per cent. and there have been bigger reductions in burglary and vehicle crime and violent crime. The south-west is a relatively low-crime area and overall crime is lower in Plymouth than in many similar areas nationally. However, given that Plymouth is an urban centre, the figures are, of course, slightly higher than those for the surrounding areas. Many types of crime are declining, such as theft of vehicles, burglary, criminal damage and violence, and they are continuing to fall even during a recession. The accepted wisdom was that there would be a big increase in crime during a recession, but that has not happened. Part of the reason for that is the proactive response from not just the Government, but all agencies on the ground, including those in Plymouth. We have put measures in place for the longer termfor example, more effective action is being taken to tackle domestic abuse and families are safer as a result. I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Plymouth on being awarded a green flag in 2009 through the comprehensive area assessment for protecting the public during large-scale emergencies. I agree with the central theme of her
He said that policing procedures strangled innovation at street level and that officers complained that, if they could only get funding for an idea, they could achieve better results. Just like in the parable, Mr. Webster gave them that opportunity. He allowed them to be creative, but insisted that there should be a return. Officers have in fact turned 500 into 20,000 or 30,000 projects. They have created long-term community assets and generated good will from members of the community involved. The Home Office has supported the initiative, and 55,000 of the national partnership improvement fund money has been awarded to the citys strategic partnership,
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[Mr. Alan Campbell] speech, which is the importance of good local working. In order to tackle crime and disorder successfully, it is vital that key local stakeholders work in partnership together. Crime is being tackled locally by Plymouths community safety partnership, which combines the previous crime and reduction disorder partnership with the stronger communities group of the local strategic partnership. A range of public, third sector and business agencies are working well together to keep the city safe, and that provides an inclusive, integrated approach to tackling the citys safety issues. That is important because tackling crime and disorder is not just a matter for the police, the local authority or, indeed, the Government; it is a matter for the whole community. The key to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour is for good local partnerships to work together. My hon. Friend drew attention to Operation Talents, which is a highly innovative and successful way in which local groups can work together to consider how things can be done more effectively. The key is to trust local people and local partnerships. It is about not only sharing responsibilities but focusing on problem solving. We need to understand what is happening in an area and who is causing the problems so that we can target resources on those who blight our local communities, because that will reassure the majority of residents. I am sure that other areas will want to look at Operation Talents and its underlying principles, because it is very much the direction in which we want local partnerships to go. Opting for such a scheme is a matter for local areas, but we, at the Home Office, are very pleased to do everything that we can to support them. When we talk about crime and disorder, people want to know about the local police. Plymouth follows a well recognised neighbourhood policing model. Teams are present in all 43 neighbourhoods in the citys three policing areas. All neighbourhoods have three top priorities agreed through a community engagement and they benefit from a person first, problem solving approach. Nationally, police numbers are at an historic level, and they are supported by 16,000 police and community support officers. I want to reassure my hon. Friend that the Government have guaranteed the funding for warranted officers and PCSOs who do such an important job in her community, and in all our communities. It is about not just numbers but how the police work in an area. Neighbourhood police teams are transforming policing in our local communities, with 80 per cent. of their time being spent on front-line policing. Moreover, they are governed locally by the terms of the policing pledge, which is partly designed locally. They are measured by the confidence that local people have in the police and in their partners. Let me say something about police funding. Given that we live in a changed set of financial circumstances, my hon. Friend has raised some understandable concerns. We have guaranteed that the money will be there for warranted officers and PCSOs into the future. We have already announced a 259 million increase in overall police funding for 2011. None the less, in the longer term, it will be necessary for the police to continue to look for more savings.
As my hon. Friend acknowledged, the police in her area are already embarked on such a process. The police service delivered value-for-money improvements of 500 million in 2008-09, and is on track to deliver 1.3 billion per annum by March 2011. Linda Gilroy: Does the Minister understand the concern that a successful authority has when it has already achieved its target? In being expected to go further, it will be benchmarked against authorities that have not gone quite so far. Will the Minister consider how the formula could be worked to take account of that? Mr. Campbell: I will certainly bear that point in mind and also talk to my colleague, the Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism. Changing the police formula is very difficult. If we change it in one area, it has a knock-on effect in others. Generally, we expect police forces to make savings in, for example, ICT and the procurement of goods and services. Moreover, we expect them to work together better to procure not just vehicles and equipment but the services that they need. Whatever concerns individual police forces have, it is incumbent on all police authorities and forces to do everything that they can to save money in such difficult times. My hon. Friend raised the idea of the whole community coming together to tackle the problem of alcohol, and I agree with her. Many areas have problems with alcohol and crime and disorder, but, again, it is a matter of public perception. The reality is that alcohol-related crime has fallen in many areas in recent years, but it is still too high, and it can have a huge and damaging effect on local communities. Our aim is to minimise the violent antisocial behaviour and the health harms associated with alcohol, but we also want to ensure that people can enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly. There is an array of powers that partnerships can use, and I urge them to do so. When such powers are used, peoples behaviour changes. The Government understand the need to tackle the irresponsible premises that contribute to alcohol-related crime and disorder, which is why we introduced the new mandatory code that comes into force today. The code bans irresponsible promotions such as, All you can drink for 10, Women drink free deals and speeddrinking competitions. Moreover, we are committed to improving the management of the night-time economy, and we have invested in a major programme of training for front-line practitioners to ensure that existing powers are being used effectively. We have also invested in regular enforcement campaignssuch as the 1.5 million partnership support programme from the Home Officein the top 50 alcohol priority areas specifically to target public perceptions of drunk and rowdy behaviour. Plymouth has been identified as a priority area for 2010-11, and, as such, will receive additional support to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. We are currently in the process of planning the next phase of support for our priority areas. On 13 and 14 October, police and licensing colleagues from Plymouth attended the Home Offices alcohol skills seminars in Torbay at which training and guidance was given on enforcement skills. We are also committed to encouraging individual responsibility. We have launched the 4 million national Know your limitssocial marketing
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campaign to challenge the tolerance of drunkenness as well as establishing nine new adult alcohol arrest referral pilot schemes, and a further six pilot schemes for young people to ensure that those who have been arrested for an alcohol-related offence can benefit from a brief intervention by a trained worker, which should help significantly to reduce reoffending. Furthermore, we have introduced drink-banning orders, which prohibit known troublemakers from entering pubs and clubs and consuming alcohol in public. We are committed to continued reductions in alcohol-related crime and disorder, and we believe that the measures that I have outlined and those that we will consider in future will bring further benefits to our communities. We know that antisocial behaviour is sometimes fuelled by alcohol. Perceptions of antisocial behaviour in Devon and Cornwall are in line with the average for England and Wales, and we have taken a front-footed approach to reducing such behaviour. The new deal for communities has developed local programmes to tackle perceptions of antisocial behaviour over the 10 years it has been operating. My hon. Friend asked with great frustration why the public does not recognise what is going on in their area. Changing attitudes and perceptions is very difficult. Linda Gilroy: Does the Minister think that if the public understood the cost in each locality, it might focus their minds rather sharply? Mr. Campbell: There is a considerable cost to antisocial behaviour. However, there is an understanding among the public, particularly where alcohol is concerned, that they should acknowledge that the investmentand it can be considerable investmentin alcohol referral pilots, drug intervention projects, family intervention programmes and other such interventions pays, because, in the long term, the pay back is considerably more than the cost of investment. However, at this time, and in the future, there will always be different priorities in the public mind. I am clear, as I am sure that my hon. Friend is, that antisocial behaviour continues to be of major concern to communities in Plymouth and elsewhere. Dr. William McCrea (in the Chair): The next debate is about the development of Kidderminster railway station; I see the Minister is very popular today and is back in his post again.
Kidderminster Railway Station

1.30 pm Dr. Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest) (Ind): It is a delight to have secured this debate under your chairmanship, Dr. McCrea, right at the end of this Parliament. You will have noticed that this mornings subjects have been crime, poverty and inequality, and public transportthree of the crucial issues that we shall, I think, be returning to repeatedly in the next few weeks. I must declare an interest. First, I am a very small shareholder in the Severn Valley railway. I would not call myself a train buff, but I certainly remember going to school for many years on trains pulled by gorgeous steam locomotives in the 40s and early 50s, so I am nostalgic for steam railways. That is why I want to talk about Kidderminster station. At the moment we have a very uninteresting square brick box: that is Kidderminster station. It is just next door to the gorgeous Severn Valley railway station. I think, Dr. McCrea, that you are probably old enough to remember Hornby trains and I wonder whether you ever had one of those tin-plate stations that they made, just after the war. The Severn Valley railway station is reminiscent of just that type of station. This is not the first time that Kidderminster station has come up in Parliament. In 1852 Acts of Parliament were needed to extend the railways, and it was then that they were extended to Kidderminster, on the Worcester to Wolverhampton line. I am told that the first station, from 1852 to 1859, was just a wooden structure, and that there was another wooden structure from 1859 to 1863. Then, in 1863 the Great Western Railway took over. Anyone who knows about it will know that GWR really stands for Gods wonderful railway. It certainly had the most interesting and the best selection of steam engines. Even though I was brought up as a London, Midland and Scottish lad I must admit that GWR had the edge. When GWR took over the station it was discovered that sitting in Swindon was a sort of kit for a station that had been designed for Stratford-upon-Avon. The kit was the most amazing wooden-covered structure and it produced for Kidderminster the most unlikely, impossible station building ever. It was a half-timbered extravaganzamy idea of a haunted country cottage; the sort of place where the witch in Hansel and Gretel would have lived. It was described by the historian H.C. Casserly as the
ultimate in half timbering.
At its peak it had a station masterone of the pre-eminent citizens of the townand 25 to 30 staff. There were 11 porters. Can you imagine that, Dr. McCrea? One never sees a porter in a station these days. It had refreshment rooms and catering staff. That amazing building lasted until 1968, when it was riddled with dry rot and it was uneconomic to repair it; so we lost that cottage in the country in the heart of Kidderminster. It was replaced in 1974 by the small, square brick box that I have mentioned. At the same time, the Severn Valley railway, which is the preserved steam railway from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, was developing, and shortly afterwards it achieved its own station. The convention in the Great Western Railway was that if there were two stations in a town, the one
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[Dr. Richard Taylor] nearest to the town centre was called the town station. The Severn Valley railway station has the distinction of being Kidderminster Town station, because it is about 75 yards nearer to the town centre than the main station. For years, we have needed something more in keeping with the Severn Valley railway station. Now, thank goodness, we have the chance of that, and it is terribly important, with the growth in passenger traffic. In 2004-05 about 750,000 passengers used Kidderminster station and in 2008-09 there were more than 1.25 million; so it is going up. The station is situated on one of the main entrances to Kidderminster from the south-east and we want a prestigious entry to the town. Since I have been the MP I have been promoting it, strange to say, as a tourist attraction, because we have an almost unique collection of industrial heritage buildings and structures. To our great delight we are just about to achieve a carpet museumbecause Kidderminster is known as the pre-eminent carpet town. We have the building and much of the money, and expect it to happen. That is at the bottom of Comberton hill, which is the road on which the station is situated. In addition there is of course the Severn Valley railway; the railway museum in Kidderminster, which has the largest archive of photographs apart from that of the National Railway museum; the Bewdley museum; and the refurbished Stourport docks, as well as one of the very few waterpowered forges. Those present a splendid tourist attraction and it is marvellous that the county and district councils, Network Rail, London Midland and the Severn Valley railway are all coming together to produce what we hope will be a dream stationnot quite the chocolate box thing we had before, but something very suitable and attractive. I understand that 3.5 million has been put aside: 2.5 from the county councilpresumably from the Government and 1 million from Network Rail. In an idle moment I browsed as we all do on Google and Wikipedia, which I was delighted to find says:
Plans are in hand to replace the small brick station building with something echoing that of the adjacent SVR building. As well as this, the plans envisage a large bus exchange, improved car parking and drop off areas.
brick, with a weird plasticky-metal sort of structure, providing the bridge and a staircase. The worst thing about it was that from building to opening took about six months, because the people who designed and built it did not realise that the lights on it would dazzle the engine drivers coming from Worcester so that they could not see the signals. Therefore it could not be opened. It took about six months to put the right sort of glass in the bridge so that train drivers were not dazzled. We want the right architectsomeone who understands railwayswho will ensure that that type of problem does not arise. My next concern is the timing. My understanding is that the money has to be spent by 31 March 2011. With the consultation finishing only on 18 June and the tendering process still to be gone through, time is getting very short, so I again appeal to the Minister to impress on everyone how fast they have to move. With regard to the consultation, there is no mention of or question about the invaluable newspaper shop that is there at the moment; it provides biscuits and coffees as well. There is only one question about the structure, and it is a very odd question. It is in the improvements questionnaire. The question is:
How important to you is it that the new building minimises its environmental impact?
Does that refer to the building having to be very green or to the visual impact? If it is a brick box, we do not want any visual impact at all, but if it is a delightful semi-classical building that fits with the other one, much as, amazingly, Portcullis House fits with the rest of the parliamentary buildings, we would like a great impact. We welcome the plans. People are very excited, but there are some major local concerns about traffic issues. The third key part of the project is
The installation of traffic signals at the entrance junction to the station.
That is all very exciting. I am grateful to Louise Butcher of the business and transport research section of the Library for giving me some details about the station code, which was updated in 2006 and which emphasises safety and accessibility and the aim of integrating other forms of public transport. To make an exciting, impressive and compatible entrance to the town and to Wyre Forest, design is crucial and the choice of architect is vital. I was delighted to learn that the tender list includes an architect who is not usually on Network Rails listsa heritage architect who happens to be a railway enthusiast and who is the architect for the railway museum. I hope that he will put in a pretty competitive tender. There are one or two concerns, first about the building. Not that long ago, a footbridge was built at Kidderminster, because until then it had been necessary to walk off one platform, cross by a road bridge, and descend to the station again. We now have a footbridge, which is a particularly hideous building of a sort of sickly yellow
As I said, that is off Comberton hill from the southeastthe main route into Kidderminster from the southeast. Concerns about the traffic lights, which I think are absolutely genuine, come from local shopkeepers and traders, from representatives of the Severn Valley railway and, most important, from the traffic management police officer. They all object to the fact that the traffic lights will cost 700,000, which is about one fifth of the total money available. The traffic management officer makes six points. First, there are no particular traffic problems now. Secondly, lights will cause delays on what is already a congested road, with traffic lights at the top, a big roundabout at the bottom and a pedestrian crossing in the middle. Thirdly, that roadComberton hillis already ranked at or near the top in Worcestershire for pedestrian collisions. Delays and congestion could make such collisions even more likely. Fourthly, there is no rear access to businesses, so lorries that are making deliveries often have to be double-parked. If there are traffic lights and streaming of the traffic, that will cause chaos. The fifth point relates to parking. The traffic lights themselves will mean the loss of only two parking spaces, but between the two sets of traffic lights that will be necessary, there is a single yellow line. I had to check The Highway Code, but people are allowed to park on the single yellow line out of hoursafter hours. It will
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be a tremendous blow to lose the six or seven extra spaces. People could manage losing the two for the lights themselves, but not the six or seven that will be covered with a double yellow line, because in the road are a large number of fast-food outlets. Captain Cod, the fish and chip shop, which is very well used, is just by the single yellow line. The Railway Bell is also there. The road was badly harmed by the loss of the post office some time ago, so I do not want to see any more difficulties for the traders. The last comment from the traffic management officer is that there will be only about 10 buses an hour, and those that go through to Bromsgrove, continuing towards the south-east, will go straight up the hill without turning in to the station in any case. I come now to suggestions. First, we need urgently a full road safety audit and traffic flow studies. If they show that traffic lights are not absolutely necessary, I have two alternative suggestions. The first, which is very realistic and comes from the traffic management officer, is a cobbled junction platform, which will slow down the traffic and will be in keeping with the cobbles that will remain on the station forecourt. The second suggestion, which is really my dream and goes well with the heritage of the Severn Valley railway station, is to reinvent a policeman in a pulpit just for the hours of 5 to 7 pmthe peak hours. Until relatively recently in Kidderminster, we had a policeman in the pulpit, and the traffic management officer remembers that and remembers how hard it was for policemen to keep their arms in the right positions for all the time that they were on duty. A policeman for just two hours, five days a week, would not cost 700,000 a year and I would love to see that come back, but that is only a thought. I hope that the Minister can reassure us that we are looking forward to an appropriate building to enhance this crucial entrance to Kidderminster and the Wyre forest. It could restore some of the romance and excitement of rail travel, because people are returning to the railways for environmental reasons and because of the cost of petrol. I look back to the day of E. M. Forster writing in Howards End about railway termini:
They are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return.
and Wolverhampton railway from Worcester to Stourbridge by the Great Western Railway. I listened to the hon. Gentlemans description of the former building. I am told that a station building of mock-Tudor design survived until 1968, when it was demolished and replaced by the small brick building that stands today. The Severn Valley railways southern terminus shares the same station approach road and is known as Kidderminster Town to distinguish it from Kidderminster station, for the reasons that the hon. Gentleman outlined. Kidderminster was one of the original stations chosen in 2006 for the Access for All programme. Work commenced on a 2.5 million project in November 2007 and encompassed an entirely new footbridge and two lifts, which provide a fully accessible route to and between both platforms. The project was completed last July. I was sorry to hear the hon. Gentlemans comments about the colour of the brickwork, but I understand that the project has generally been well received locally. Accessible stations make a huge difference to peoples journey experience. I am referring not only to those with reduced mobility but to those carrying heavy luggage or pushing unwieldy pushchairs. I understand that there was some delay to completion of the works due to delays in obtaining listed building consentI can understand that in the context of the areabut that those were resolved by cladding the new works with brick better to match the Victorian design of the station. A bid for funding from the Access for All small schemes fund in 2010-11 is under consideration. More recently, as part of its franchise obligation, London Midland has secured 100 extra car parking spaces for passengers from the Severn Valley railway in return for enhancements to the car parking facilities. As part of a passenger benefits package, London Midland is investing an additional 4.4 million in new high-quality information equipment, which could include improvements at Kidderminster. In an attempt to persuade more people to use the railway, 50,000 day rover tickets were made available for travel over the Christmas period, and an additional 400,000 advance purchase tickets will be made available over the next two years on some of London Midlands most popular routes. Again, passengers who use Kidderminster station may benefit from that initiative. There are plans to rejuvenate Kidderminster station through a 3.5 million project that would provide a new layout of the station forecourt with improved facilities for bus services, and a new station building with improved passenger facilities. An improved walking connection from the new station building to the Severn Valley railway station building is also being proposed. I heard the hon. Gentlemans comments about the traffic signals, but I can say little about that level of detail today, other than to encourage him to engage with the local authority and those with responsibilities for highways in Kidderminster to ensure that they are aware of his concerns and address them fully as the scheme develops. There is also a proposal for 2.5 million from the west midlands regional funding allocation to be used to fund improvements outside the station, and for a 1 million contribution from the national stations improvement programme to be used to fund the new station building. Smaller contributions from partner local authorities are also anticipated.
We are looking for such a gate to the glories and the unknown features of Wyre Forest in the new station at Kidderminster. 1.46 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): It is good to be back again, Dr. McCrea. I congratulate the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) on securing this debate on what is clearly an important issue for him and his constituents, as well as for others travelling to and from Kidderminster station. I listened carefully to his points, and the Government share his vision for stations to have that gateway role both to the railway and to the community that they serve. Kidderminster is one of London Midlands busiest stations, with 1.2 million passenger journeys recorded in 2008-09. London Midland operates most of the services to and from the station. Kidderminster station has quite a history, as the hon. Gentleman outlined. It opened in 1852 with the extension of the Oxford, Worcester
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[Chris Mole] I understand that a project board of key stakeholders has been formed to consider the best option for rejuvenating Kidderminster station. The board includes representatives from Worcestershire county council, Wyre Forest district council, Network Rail, London Midland, the Severn Valley railway and the Kidderminster railway museum. Public consultation on the detailed design of the station forecourt, including road and public transport access, was launched on 29 March, and the hon. Gentleman has put his comments on road access on the record. The plans envisage a large bus exchange, and improved car parking and drop-off areas. Worcestershire county council is writing to stakeholders, and I understand that it is happy to arrange a meeting to brief the hon. Gentleman on the projects details. We were happy to receive bids for small-scale rail schemes such as that at Kidderminster station in the refresh of the regional funding allocation advice that we requested from the regions last year. The west midlands region advised that the Kidderminster scheme was a priority for funding, and we responded positively to that advice in July last year. The regional funding allocation programme, particularly local authority schemes, are benefiting from record levels of spend at present, but clearly we need to exercise due caution, as any responsible Government would do, when considering requests that would add to the current commitment. Although I appreciate the urgency of the project, I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a guarantee that funding will be available for the scheme, but I can promise that the proposal is being carefully considered. Similarly, although the local delivery group responsible for the London Midland portfolio of stations has identified Kidderminster station as a candidate for the second tranche of funding from the national stations improvement programme, decisions on the second tranche schemes are not expected to be made until later in the year. I understand that there has been quite a bit of debate about the design of the new station building, with a number of stakeholders keen to ensure that the design meets heritage objectives and provides a suitable gateway to Kidderminster. In particular, people have arguedthe hon. Gentleman has done so eloquently todaythat it should be more in keeping with the character and feel of the Severn Valley railways Kidderminster Town station. I understand that Network Rail has been considering using its modular station design at Kidderminster. Although the system is still in its infancy, there are already a number of examples of modular stations on the network at Greenhithe, Mitcham Eastfields, Corby and, most recently, Uckfield. Modular stations may provide an economical way to build new stations or rebuild existing facilities, and by minimising energy use they offer an excellent example of sustainable design. That addresses one angleenvironmental impactthat the hon. Gentleman asked about. Dr. Taylor: I hope that I am mistaken, but the only module that I have seen is a hideous, glass, square box. Chris Mole: I was worried that the hon. Gentleman might draw that conclusion, although I assure him that designs that I recently saw for a sustainable station at Accrington were a little less angular and, although
modern, it would fit into its setting. We realise that modular designs do not provide the appropriate solution for all stationsfor example, where there are buildings of historic or architectural interest. I understand that a possible compromise at Kidderminster might be to provide a modular building in terms of functionality with a modular interior single-storey station building, with external aspects to complement the heritage themes associated with the Severn Valley railway and the local area. I hope that such a modular design would allow the newspaper shop about which the hon. Gentleman is concerned to be retained. I am sure that whenever possible Network Rail wants to retain a tenant that provides it with an income. The year 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the operation of the Severn Valley railway, which is one of the most popular heritage railways in the UK. The original Severn Valley railway linked Hartlebury near Droitwich with Shrewsbury, and was constructed around 1860. Ten years later, the line was absorbed into the Great Western Railway, and eight years after that a new spur was opened to Kidderminster. Trains to and from Kidderminster used the existing mock-Tudor station building on the existing line linking Birmingham, Stourbridge and Worcester. The Severn Valley railway carried both freight and passengers but, despite being popular with tourists from the west midlands, its fortunes declined after the second world war. Passenger services were withdrawn from most of the route in 1963, and freight was withdrawn in stages from the same year. Thanks to the efforts of rail enthusiasts, much of the line has been reopened in stages and currently operates between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster. The Severn Valley Railway Preservation Society started in 1965, and operated its first trains five years later. The line was then extended towards Kidderminster, with the final stage opening in July 1984. Kidderminster Town station is a modern constructionthere is a mock-Tudor theme herein a traditional Great Western style and contains facilities suitable for a heritage railway, including catering and retail. The Severn Valley railway suffered a major setback in 2007 with severe flood damage leading to the closure of much of the preserved railway. Sterling efforts by many people and organisations have enabled reconstruction of the route, and last year those efforts paid off with almost 250,000 passengers, only marginally below the record level of patronage in 2005. The line now employs around 70 people, but much of the work that provides visitors with an excellent experience is done by the numerous volunteers who enable the railway to operate. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone involved with the Severn Valley railway, including the hon. Gentleman, which is a wonderful example of successful local enterprise. I hope that the hon. Gentleman has been reassured that, although it is not possible at this stage to give any guarantees on funding, work is progressing on plans to rejuvenate Kidderminster station so that passengers will be able to look forward to an improved end-to-end journey experience in future. We share that vision of the railway station as a gateway to both the community and the network. Question put and agreed to. 1.58 pm Sitting adjourned.
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Written Ministerial Statements Valuation Office Agency (KPI)
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Tuesday 6 April 2010 TREASURY Asset Protection Agency The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): On 7 December 2009 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the launch of the Asset Protection Agency (APA), an Executive Agency of HM Treasury. The role of the APA and relationship with HM Treasury has been set out in the APA framework document, copies of which were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses at the time of the announcement. After careful consideration of the APAs activities in managing the Asset Protection Scheme (the Scheme) since its launch, the Chancellor has decided on a further delegation of decision making to them from HM Treasury. Previously the APA were authorised to make decisions or exercise rights delegated to them in furtherance of the asset management objective. Under the new delegation they will also be able to consider the reduction of risk to the taxpayer when making decisions or exercising any of the rights that have been delegated to them. This change reflects our continued commitment to run the scheme efficiently and ensure tight management of the taxpayers risk. An amended framework document that reflects this change has been published today and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The document is also accessible via the HM Treasury website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. Building Society Capital The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): The Government have published a discussion paper on building society capital and related issues, as announced in the Budget 2010. It will be available from the House Libraries from today and is on the Treasury website. The discussion paper seeks views on the issues raised by the building societies experts group convened by the Government in 2009, including future options for capital raising by building societies in the light of ongoing regulatory reform. Double Taxation Agreement (United Kingdom and Germany) The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): A Double Taxation Agreement with Germany was signed on 30 March 2010. The text of the agreement has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and made available on HM Revenue and Customs website. The text will be scheduled to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House of Commons in due course.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ian Pearson): I have today set the following key performance indicators for the Valuation Office Agency for 2010-11: Customer Satisfaction
To achieve overall customer satisfaction of 90 per cent.
Operations
To determine 95 per cent. of housing benefit claims where no inspection is required in three working days. To enable prompt issue of tax assessments, for inheritance tax and capital gains tax, by clearing all HMRC initial appraisal cases within an average of five days. To contain reductions in the 2005 rating lists to a maximum of 4.2 per cent. of the total compiled list rateable value, over the entire life of the lists. To contain reductions in the 2010 rating lists to a maximum of 3.6 per cent. of the total compiled list rateable value, over the entire life of the lists. To ensure that 96 per cent. of new council tax bandings are right first time. To complete the compliance reviews of broad rental market areas in England for local housing allowance purposes. To achieve income from non-statutory services of at least 19 million.
Value for Money

To improve overall value for money on local taxation work by 3 per cent. a year. To achieve full cost recovery reflecting a 5 per cent. reduction in budget for the year on all work for HMRC.
Security
To have zero data incidents reportable to the Information Commissioner.
Counter-Terrorist Asset-Freezing Regime (January to March 2010) The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): In a written ministerial statement on 10 October 2006, Official Report, column 11WS, the then Economic Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Ed Balls), undertook to report to Parliament on a quarterly basis on the operation of the UKs counter-terrorism asset-freezing regime. This is the 14th of these reports and covers the period January to March 20101. Asset-freezing designations In the quarter January to March 2010, the Treasury issued no directions designating persons under the Al-Qaeda and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2006. As a result of the quashing of this order, the one extant direction under the order has no effect. During this quarter, the Treasury gave no new directions under the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2009. There were no financial sanctions designations of persons with links to the UK made at the UN or at the EU, in relation to the Terrorism or Al-Qaeda and the Taliban asset-freezing regimes. As of 31 March 2010, a total of 226 accounts containing just over 370,0002 of suspected terrorist funds were frozen in the UK. Reviews under the Terrorism Order 2006 The Treasury keeps domestic asset-freezing cases under review and completed three reviews in this quarter. All three persons had their designation revoked.
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Licensing Maintaining an effective licensing system is important to ensure the overall proportionality and fairness of the asset-freezing regime, whether the individuals concerned are subject to an asset freeze in accordance with a UN or EC listing, or domestic terrorism legislation. A licensing framework is put in place for each individual on a case-by-case basis. The key objective of the licensing system is to strike an appropriate balance between minimising the risk of diversion of funds to terrorism and meeting the human rights and humanitarian needs of affected individuals and their families. Twenty-four licences were issued this quarter in relation to 15 individuals and/or entities subject to an asset freeze under the al-Qaeda and Taliban and Terrorism regimes. Proceedings On 9 February 2010, during the debate on the Terrorist Asset-Freezing (Temporary Provisions) Bill, the Treasury committed to reporting on proceedings taken for any offences under the asset-freezing regime. In the quarter January to March 2010, there have been no proceedings taken for breaches of the prohibitions of the Terrorism orders or the Al-Qaeda and Taliban Order. Developments The Supreme Court Judgment and the Terrorist AssetFreezing (Temporary Provisions) Act 2010: As referred to in the 13th quarterly report to Parliament for the period October to December 2009, on 4 February 2010 the Supreme Court quashed the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2006. The Government fasttracked temporary legislation to prevent suspected terrorists assets from being unfrozen. The Terrorist Asset-Freezing (Temporary Provisions) Act 2010 came into force on 10 February 2010 and temporarily validates the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Orders 2009, 2006 and 2001, ensuring that asset freezes under those orders remain in place. The Act expires on 31 December 2010. Before then, the Government intend to introduce more permanent legislation that will establish the terrorist asset-freezing regime in primary legislation. A draft of the legislation, the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill, was published on 5 February 2010. The Bill can be found at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ fin_sanctions_terrorist_assetfreezingbill.htm On 11 March 2010, the Government published a public consultation document which sets out the Governments approach to terrorist asset freezing and their proposals for more permanent terrorist asset-freezing legislation and seeks the views of the public and other interested parties on the proposals. The consultation document can be found at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_liveindex.htm Al-Qaeda and Taliban (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2010: On 4 February 2010, the Supreme Court also quashed the Al-Qaeda and Taliban Order. Assets previously frozen under that order remain frozen under EC Regulation 881/2002. The EC regulation is directly applicable in UK law, but secondary legislation is required to provide for penalties for failing to comply with the prohibitions in the EC regulation and to establish a UK framework for the effective administration of asset freezes against persons listed by the EU as being associated with al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
In order to put in place penalties and establish such a framework, the Government laid new regulations before Parliament, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2010. The regulations were laid on 25 February 2010 and debated in the House of Lords on 25 March and in the House of Commons on 30 March. They came into effect at midnight on 31 March.
1 The detail that can be provided to the House on a quarterly basis is subject to the need to avoid the identification, directly or indirectly, of personal or operationally sensitive information. 2 This figure reflects account balances at time of freezing and includes approximately $58,000 of suspected terrorist funds frozen in the UK. This has been converted using exchange rates as of 30/03/10. Future fluctuations in the exchange rate may impact on the contribution this sum makes to future totals of suspected terrorist funds frozen.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Local Government Investments (Revised Guidance) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Barbara Follett): The Government are grateful for the Communities and Local Government Committees second report of session 2009-10, Local authority investments: the role of the Financial Services Authority. The Committees primary recommendation is that
the Government bring forward the necessary legislative changes to place within the remit of the Financial Services Authority the provision of advice or information relating to deposit taking... (paragraph 16).
Having carefully considered the recommendation, the Government are not persuaded that such a course would be appropriate. The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued revised statutory guidance on investments that came into force on 1 April 2010. This includes a new recommendation that authorities investment strategies should comment on their use of Treasury management advisers. This will encourage officers to make explicit their procedures for using advisers and will give elected Members the opportunity to scrutinise those arrangements. The revised Guidance on Local Government Investments is available at: http://www.communities. gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1501971.pdf Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House. Sustainable Communities Act The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. John Denham): I am today updating the House on progress the Government have made in implementing the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. The Government remain committed to the Sustainable Communities Act. Local authorities put forward proposals to improve their local area to the Local Government Association (LGA), in its capacity as the selector, last summer. In December the LGA produced a shortlist of 199 proposals which Government are required to consider and respond to under the Act. The Government are working to try to reach agreement with the LGA on which proposals should be implemented. My officials
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worked very closely with their counterparts from the LGA to set up three discussion panels which provided an opportunity for the proposals to be discussed in further detail between LGA and Government officials. These panel meetings proved to be very helpful in clarifying issues behind proposals from both a Government and LGA perspective and gathering further useful evidence. Consideration of the proposals is ongoing with other Whitehall Departments. Many of the proposals are complex and the Government are investigating further issues raised by the LGA as part of the process. Once again I would like to thank the LGA for their continuing efforts in assisting the Government in this significant task. In the meantime, I am pleased to inform the House that the Government will be taking action to make progress with the following proposals:
The London borough of Islington asked the Government to make it compulsory for owners of empty business premises (mainly shops) to talk to councils about the possibility of premises being used by the community, if they have been empty for six months. In response we will carry out a consultation, involving Islington and other relevant stakeholders, looking at the challenges behind engaging with landlords and owners. Wirral metropolitan borough council and South Hams district council asked for communities to have the right to buy privately or publicly owned assets put up for sale in order to develop opportunities for communities to buy redundant buildings and land for community benefit. The Government will undertake an investigation into the challenges and barriers that a community right to buy approach would solve and what other solutions would help. The London borough of Redbridge, who suggested relaxing the rules on the illumination of some road signs to reduce costs of installation, maintenance, energy consumption and light pollution. The Government are now considering further relaxations to lighting requirements beyond those they made in their 2002 review on this matter and will be undertaking further research into lighting through the national traffic signs policy review to assess the relative performances of lit and unlit signs in a number of environments. Brighton and Hove city council put forward a proposal requesting a freedom that would allow surplus produce from allotments to be sold to local markets and shops. In response the Government have been able to clarify that there are no legal restrictions on allotment holders selling genuinely surplus produce. This clarification was made on 3 March within a package of measures that set out the Governments support for gardeners and growing food in the community. This package also provided clarification to the London borough of Waltham Forest, Birmingham and Sheffield city councils, who have also put forward proposals about allotments under the Act, highlighting existing powers around allotments and the opportunity offered by new meanwhile lease arrangements that will make it easier for people to take control of abandoned land while it is waiting to be used. Newcastle city council, Ryedale district council, and Darlington borough council wanted action to address the problem of large pub and retail companies imposing restrictive covenants on pubs preventing them from operating as pubs when sold. The Ministry of Justice will consult on removing the right of pub owners to impose such restrictions that are leading to pub closure. Kettering borough council and Redcar and Cleveland borough council asked for changes to rules that would allow the councils community protection officer service to carry out civil and crime related duties in a combined manner without fear of legal challenge and to improve the efficiency and quality of services provided. They want to change the statutory guidance to allow local authorities to employ single teams of wardens capable of dealing with all civil enforcement issues. The Government recognise this issue and the potential benefits of this request
and have committed to undertaking a review of the current rules and any changes that may be needed to allow this idea to move forward. Kent county council asked for recourse to Government funding to build a lorry park with 3,000 parking places to address lorry traffic problems locally which arise when the Kent police implement Operation Stack which enables them to close the M20 in order to hold large volumes of freight traffic. The Department for Transport and Highways Agency are currently reviewing the existing policy (circular 01/2008) on motorway service areas and other roadside facilities on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads and trying to find ways to remove barriers to the development and use of lorry park facilities, rest facilities and improved signing to existing lorry parks. A public consultation on the revised policy is expected to be published within the next few months. The Government are also looking to review their approach to the use of powers under section 238 of the Highways Act 1980 to promote new roadside facilities for motorists and, in particular, provision for lorry drivers where appropriate to do so. While this will not directly fund developments such as the one proposed by Kent, the approach would help to overcome the hurdle of securing planning approval. Use of these powers would provide an alternative means of securing site approvals. The delivery of the facilities could then be franchised to private operators on a competitive basis which will represent the best outcome for the tax payer in terms of value for money. There were a number of councils who put forward proposals pressing the Government to focus on improving energy efficiency and incentivising the development of renewable energy within communities. On 2 March we published the Warm Homes, Greener Homes: A Strategy for Household Energy, which addresses many of the issues raised by the proposals under the SCA. The introduction by the Government of feed-in tariffs in April this year and the launch next April of the renewable heat incentive will also help to address these critical issues. West Devon borough council, Herefordshire county council and a number of other councils asked for a much wider role for Post Offices in communities including banking and financial services. In response the Prime Minister has already committed to do just that, and as a result we carried out a consultation to find out what people think about existing products and services offered through the Post Office, and our proposals for the future of the Post Office banking. In response to the consultation the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills made an announcement on the 29 March about the sort of services that Post Offices will be offering in the future. Wiltshire county council asked for the Sustainable Communities Act process to be ongoing or annual. The existing Sustainable Communities Act requires that the process should not be a one-off. CLG officials have, however, been working closely with Local Works on the development of the Sustainable Communities (Amendment) Bill. The Government wholeheartedly support the current draft of the Bill which, if passed by Parliament, will provide a date for the next invitation for proposals to be issued, and will enable the process of submitting and considering proposals to be improved.
The Government continue to assess the 199 proposals on the shortlist submitted by the Local Government Association. I intend to make a formal decision on which proposals the Government believe should be implemented alongside the associated actions the Government will take, later this year. Planning The Minister for Housing (John Healey): I am today publishing the Governments response to the consultation conducted last year on Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) which closed on 23 June 2009. The document sets out a summary of the responses received and also confirms both the amount available for HPDG
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in 2010-11 and the allocation mechanism for 2010-11 which has been considered in the light of the comments received. The amount available for local authorities through HPDG will be 146 million, an increase from 135 million paid out in 2009-10. This reflects the importance the Government place on increasing housing supply and increasing the capacity of local authorities to support this by delivering viable land and an efficient planning service. The grant provides a direct incentive for councils to work with partners in the public and private sector to ensure that new homes are built where they are needed. It is additional to mainstream funding and councils have the freedom to decide how best to spend it locally. In changes to the distribution mechanism we are reducing the threshold of net additional homes needed to qualify for the housing element in recognition of the more challenging conditions in the housing market. We are also introducing additional eligibility requirements for demonstrating land for housing in order to reinforce existing requirements in planning policy statement 3 and increase confidence in the land supply position across the county. This builds on the confirmation set out in the budget that the planning inspectorate will undertake comprehensive checks on land supply and publish the results. I have placed a copy of the Governments response to the consultation document in the Library of the House. This will also be available on the Communities and Local Government website. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Legal Deposit Libraries (Consultation) The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Margaret Hodge): I would like to thank the Legal Deposit Advisory Panel (LDAP) for their recommendations on digital legal deposit and thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation. My Department has received 57 responses to the consultation from a broad range of stakeholders. This shows how important digital legal deposit is. The consultation, as Members may have expected, has brought up many interesting and varying views and ideas on what the regulations should cover. Since the close of the consultation, LDAP have provided me with their next set of recommendations on UK Commercial and Protected Online Publications. I will now be considering all the responses we have received and LDAPs latest recommendations with a view to going out to consultation in September on draft regulations and on UK Commercial and Protected Online Publications content. DEFENCE Service Medical and Dental Officers (Pay) The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): The supplement to the 2010 report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) making recommendations on the pay of service medical and dental officers has been published today. I wish to express my thanks to the chairman and members of the review body for their report.
The AFPRB has recommended no increase in basic military salary for all defence medical services (DMS) accredited consultants and accredited general medical and dental practitioners. The AFPRB has also recommended a 1 per cent. increase for certain nonaccredited officers and a 1.5 per cent. increase for junior non-accredited officers and cadets. In addition, the AFPRB recommended no increase in the values of national clinical excellence awards and distinction awards and a 1 per cent. increase for DMS trainer pay and general medical practitioner associate trainer pay. The AFPRB recommendations are to be accepted in full, except for the 1.5 per cent. recommendation for junior non-accredited officers and cadets, which will be abated to 1 per cent. mirroring the decision on the Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommendation, with implementation effective from 1 April 2010. Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. Gulf Veterans (Mortality Data) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): As part of the Governments continuing commitment to investigate Gulf veterans illnesses openly and honestly, data on the mortality of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict are published regularly. The most recent figures for the period 1 April 1991 to 31 December 2009 are published today as a National Statistic Notice on the Defence Analytical Services and Advice website. The data for Gulf veterans are compared to those of a control group known as the Era cohort consisting of armed forces personnel of a similar profile in terms of age, gender, service, regular/reservists status and rank, who were in service on 1 January 1991 but were not deployed to the Gulf. As in the previous release, the Era group has been adjusted for a small difference in the age-profile of those aged 40 years and over, to ensure appropriate comparisons. Key points to note in the data are:
There have been 1,095 deaths among the Gulf veterans and 1,111 in the age-adjusted Era comparison group. The 1,095 deaths among Gulf veterans compare with approximately 1,828 deaths which would have been expected in a similar sized cohort taken from the general population of the UK with the same age and gender profile. This reflects the strong emphasis on fitness when recruiting and retaining service personnel.
These statistics continue to confirm that UK veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict do not suffer an excess of overall mortality compared with service personnel that did not deploy. The full notice can be viewed at http://www.dasa.mod.uk ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Beyond Copenhagen (International Climate Change Plan) The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Edward Miliband): On 31 March I published Beyond Copenhagen: The UK Governments International Climate Change Plan (Cm 7850), setting out the key elements of UK strategy leading up to COP16 in Mexico and beyond.
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The strategy reflects the fact there is much unfinished business following the outcome of the Copenhagen climate talks in December 2009. The conference made significant progress in some areas, but did not live up to our expectations, or those of many countries round the world. Beyond Copenhagen argues that we should build on what was achieved at Copenhagen but also go further. The main achievement at Copenhagen was agreement of the accord. The accord includes commitments to limit global temperature increases to no more than 2 Celsius, to climate finance approaching $30 billion fast-start finance to 2012 with a long-term goal of $100 billion a year by 2020 and for the first time provides a common international framework that includes all the worlds major economies. Since the summit more than 70 countries (accounting for around 80 per cent. of global emissions) have put forward mitigation targets and actions which, if they deliver at the high end of their ambitions, would be consistent with global emissions peaking before 2020, an important step towards achieving an emissions trajectory consistent with 2. The document affirms the importance of delivering against the commitments made in the accord. This includes commitments on emissions reductions, forestry, measurement, reporting and verification and on finance. It highlights the importance both of getting fast-start finance flowing and also of the work of the UN SecretaryGenerals high-level advisory group on climate finance, co-chaired by the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia. The Government continue to believe that this action has to be backed by a comprehensive legally binding agreement. The UK wants to see progress in the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) negotiations towards a legally binding agreement, with progress under the Copenhagen accord built on in the formal negotiations. To ease that process we signal that we would agree to an appropriately designed second Kyoto commitment period provided others enter into a comparable legally binding arrangements. We also believe we need to strengthen the UNFCCC process and will be working with the Government of Mexico among others to do so. Copies of Beyond Copenhagen have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. HEALTH Skipton Fund (Review) The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): Further to the Governments response to Lord Archer of Sandwells report on NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products, which we published on 20 May 2009, I wish to inform the House that we have decided to bring forward a review of the Skipton fund, which makes ex-gratia payments to those infected with hepatitis C as a result of their treatment. The unintended and tragic consequences of these treatments have seriously impaired the lives of many people, together with those of their families. We have listened carefully to the views of those infected, their families, carers and many in this House, who have told us that our intended review date of 2014 will be too late
for many of those affected. Consequently, we have decided that the review will begin as soon as possible this year. It will be an independently chaired review. The terms of reference, membership and conduct of the review will be agreed in conjunction with the devolved Administrations. I would also like to take this opportunity to confirm payment of 100,000 to the Haemophilia Society, as promised in our response of 20 May 2009. I would like to reiterate this Governments sympathy for those affected by these treatments many years ago, before screening tests and methods of viral inactivation became available. We remain fully committed to supporting them in the best way we can.
Correction to Government Strategy Document
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): Maternity and Early YearsMaking a Good Start to Family Life published on 16 March 2010 contained an error on page 9 regarding the times when babies are offered immunisations. The correct sentence is:
you will be offered immunisations for your baby when he or she is eight weeks, three months, four months, 12 months and 13 months old.
An erratum note has been placed in the Library and in the copies that are available for hon. Members from the Vote Office. A corrected version of the document is also available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/ Publications/PublicationsPolicyandGuidance/ DH_114023.
Valuing People Now (Delivery Plan 2010-11)
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): I am placing in the Library today Valuing People Now: The Delivery plan 2010-11 which was published on 31 March 2010, to support the implementation of Valuing People Now, a new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities published in January 2009. The delivery plan sets out the progress made in the first year. It also recognises that there is still more to do to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities and their family carers. The delivery plan sets out the key priorities for 2010-11, in particular, to improve employment and housing opportunities and better health outcomes for people with learning disabilities and their family carers. Other materials, including person-centred planning guidance, Valuing Older Family Carers Now, the Valuing People Now Housing Delivery Plan and a range of housing resources are available at www.valuingpeople .gov.uk/dynamic/valuingpeople6.jsp Copies of Valuing People Now: The Delivery plan 2010-11 are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office.
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Written Ministerial Statements Swine Flu Pandemic Response
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The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): I have previously undertaken to update the House on the negotiations concerning the orders placed by the Government for H1Nl vaccine, at their conclusion. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that we have now reached a mutually satisfactory agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to limit the Departments orders of swine flu vaccine, and that this settlement will result in savings of around a third of the original value of the total orders with GSK. I am confident that the negotiated settlement both protects the public purse by obtaining full value for payments made without incurring a cancellation fee and ensures that the United Kingdom remains at the forefront of pandemic preparedness worldwide. The agreement involves the Department taking total deliveries of 34,838,500 doses of Pandemrix, including vaccine received so far. This will allow us to continue with ongoing vaccination programmes and keep a sizeable strategic reserve of vaccine in case the virus mutates. We are also planning to donate 3.8 million doses to the World Health Organisation to boost immunity in Africa before the rainy season. In addition, the Department will purchase H5N1 bird flu vaccine and courses of the antiviral Relenza (to replace the amount of Relenza made available during the response to the swine flu pandemic) as part of the agreement. The probability of a more severe influenza pandemic has not diminished following the swine flu pandemic, and taking measures such as these now will help protect the population in the event of a future pandemic. However, as with other contracts, further details of the agreement are commercially confidential. This negotiated settlement with GSK follows the decision to cancel the remaining orders with Baxter on 28 February 2010, utilising our break clause in the contract. We entered into more detailed negotiations with GSK because our contract with them did not contain a break clause, in line with their agreements with other countries. These discussions regarding limiting vaccine orders were necessary as our increased understanding of the virus demonstrated that less swine flu vaccines were required. This was partly because the virus has proved mild in most people (although more severe and, tragically, fatal in some instances), but also as scientists established that one dose of the vaccine was sufficient to confer immunity. NORTHERN IRELAND Independent Monitoring Commission The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Shaun Woodward): I have today published and laid before Parliament my fifth annual report on the operation of the Agreement between the British and Irish Governments which established the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC). This report covers the period 18 September 2007 to 17 September 2008. In line with a commitment made by my predecessor, this report also contains the audited accounts of the IMC for the 12-month period ending 31 March 2008.
The report covers the 17th and 18th report on paramilitary activity and the 19th report on the leadership of PIRA and assessment of the completion of the transformation of PIRA. It does not refer to the 20th report on paramilitary activity as this fell outside the 12-month period under review. I am very grateful to the Commissioners of the IMC for the continued commitment, focus and dedication they have shown during this reporting period, and for their continued efforts in promoting and maintaining a peaceful society and a stable and inclusive devolved Government in Northern Ireland. SCOTLAND Commission on Scottish Devolution The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): The Government welcome the Scottish Affairs Committees report on the inter-parliamentary recommendations made by the Commission on Scottish Devolution. The commission, established by the Scottish Parliament in December 2007 and supported by the UK Government, produced its final report in June 2009. The report set out a package of measures designed to review 10 years of experience of devolution and to recommend changes to enable the Scottish Parliament to serve the people of Scotland better, to improve the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament and continue to secure the position of Scotland within the United Kingdom. The Government welcomed the final report from the Commission on Scottish Devolution on its publication and responded formally with a White Paper Scotlands Future in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2009. Of the 63 recommendations, 42 were for Government to consider and 39 were accepted in the White Paper, including a radical package of reform to the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament. The Government signalled their commitment to bring forward legislation as soon as possible in the next Parliament for those matters outlined in the White Paper that require it. The Scottish Affairs Committees consideration followed a letter from the Speaker of the House of Commons to both the Scottish Affairs Committee and the Procedure Committee to ask for their views on how the recommendations in part 4 of the Calman commissions final report might be taken forward. Part 4 of the commissions final report related to relations between Parliaments and Governments. Response to the Committees Recommendations and Findings The Scottish Affairs Committees report provides consideration of the recommendations made by the Commission on Scottish Devolution in relation to strengthening co-operation and communication between the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament. These recommendations cover the following areas of co-operation and communication:
Operation of the Sewel Convention between Parliaments; Increased involvement of Scottish MPs on Public Bill Committees where the Sewel Convention is engaged; Introduction of a regular State of Scotland debate and reconsideration of the self-denying ordinance; Ensuring that Standing Orders allow greater co-operation between committees in the House of Commons and Scottish Parliament;
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Consideration of a Scottish Super Grand Committee; Examination of the access arrangements for MSPs and removal of the equivalent barriers in the Scottish Parliament; Discretion for committees and Parliaments to invite Ministers to appear before committees of either Parliament; Continued role for MPs and Scottish Affairs Committee in scrutinising the shape and operation of the devolution settlement; Enhanced communication and co-operation between the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament, including appropriate resourcing to enable this to happen and a recommendation for secondment and exchanges of staff.
All of these recommendations relate to the operation of effective inter-parliamentary relations. These are matters for the House, as acknowledged by the Government in the White Paper. Where the committee recommends changes to Standing Orders the Government will give consideration to bringing forward the necessary motions early in the next Parliament. In the White Paper the Government agreed that a strong relationship between the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament was an essential part of a framework for co-operation within the UK. We also welcomed the support shown by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament to consideration of how to strengthen their relationships in its White Paper. The Government believe that the third report from the Scottish Affairs Committee provides a very positive response and a strong framework for improving co-operation in line with the recommendations from the Commission on Scottish Devolution.
The criminal investigations proceeded until their eventual conclusion in 2009 when, in respect of each strand of the investigations, the Crown Prosecution Service concluded that criminal proceedings were not justified. The Attorney-General, with the agreement of the present Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), has concluded that it is not necessary or desirable to invite Lord Justice Butterfield (as he now is) to complete the second part of his inquiry. Among other reasons, the passage of time means that any review would be focusing on practices which existed some years ago that have long since changed, and which were essentially of a similar kind to those examined in the report published in 2003. Moreover, the functions of HM Customs and Excise have since passed to Her Majestys Revenue and Customswhich is subject to the same inspection and complaints regimes as other law enforcement bodies such as the policeto the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UKBA. Finally, a key recommendation of the Butterfield Report, that the prosecution function of HM Customs and Excise should be carried out by a wholly independent prosecuting authority to restore confidence in fair and effective prosecutions, has been implemented successfully under the leadership of David Green QC. The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, established in 2005, now forms an important part of the Crown Prosecution Service under the Director of Public Prosecutions.
TRANSPORT Service Stations (Consultation) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole): I am publishing today a consultation document seeking views on revisions to Department for Transport (DFT) circular 01/2008 on Service Areas and Other Roadside Facilities on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads in England. This circular sets out the Departments policy on the provision, standards and signing of roadside facilities on the strategic road network (SRN), including motorway service areas (MSAs), motorway rest areas (MRAs), truckstops, and services and lay-bys on all-purpose trunk roads (APTRs). The Department is now reviewing these policies and as part of this process needs to understand better the views and experiences of those that are affected by them. The consultation document proposes making a number of changes to existing policy, such as allowing new dedicated lorry parking facilities to be located directly off motorways and requiring roadside facilities to provide recharging facilities for electric vehicles. The responses received during the consultation will inform the consideration of the policy options. Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark): I am pleased to announce the targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for 2010-11. These are;
1. Maintain the quality of maritime emergency co-ordination and response by the Coastguard. 2a. Helicopters tasked to respond to incidents will be airborne within 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 minutes at night in at least 98 per cent. of cases.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL HM Customs and Excise Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions The Solicitor-General (Vera Baird): My right hon. Friend the Attorney-General has made the following written ministerial statement:
On 15 July 2003 Lord Goldsmith, then Attorney-General, announced to the House the publication of the report and recommendations of the Hon. Mr. Justice Butterfield following his review of the then practices and procedures relating to disclosure, associated investigation techniques and case management in Her Majestys Customs and Excises criminal cases. Lord Goldsmith and the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), had invited him to examine the circumstances that led to the termination of a number of prosecutions relating to London City Bond (LCB) in respect of alleged alcohol diversion fraud, in Liverpool Crown court on 25 November 2002. During the course of the Butterfield inquiry, a number of unrelated prosecutions in respect of alleged money laundering collapsed in circumstances which gave rise to the same issues, and Mr. Justice Butterfield was invited to examine the additional cases as part of his inquiry. At the same time, the Metropolitan police were conducting a criminal investigation (Operation Gestalt), which initially commenced in relation to the (LCB) prosecutions but which developed additional strands (Operation Tappert) as their inquiries progressed. As a result, Mr. Justice Butterfield suspended the second part of his inquiry into the money laundering prosecutions (to avoid prejudicing the police inquiry) but completed and published his report of the main part of his inquiry in 2003.
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2b. At each MCA search and rescue helicopter base, a helicopter will be available at least 98 per cent. of the contracted time to respond to incidents. 3. Meet the internationally required targets to inspect foreign vessels in UK ports under port state control arrangements, with an increasing emphasis on inspecting available ships judged to be high risk. 4. Maintain the quality of the UK Ship Register by reducing the level of deficiencies recorded on UK ships inspected abroad, and maintain a position on the Paris MOU white list which is comparable to registers of a similar size and reputation. 5. As a category 1 responder, continue to meet the provisions of the Civil Contingencies Act including engagement with local resilience forums (LRF). 6. Respond promptly to potential and actual pollution from ships around the UK coast, drawing effectively on resources including our emergency tugs, and following the procedures set out in the national contingency plan.
Customer Service Speed

Percentage of all registrations processed within 15 working days: 80 per cent.
Accuracy
Percentage of registrations processed free of any error: 98.5 per cent.
Quality
Percentage of manually processed registrations on which key aspects1 of internal quality measures were achieved: 97 per cent.
Overall Satisfaction
Percentage of customers who rate the overall service provided by Land Registry as excellent, very good or good: better than 95 per cent.
Financial
Percentage return on average capital employed: 3.5 per cent.
The MCA will also continue with their programme of work covering the following safety themes:
Seafarer Fatigueworking with the shipping industry and seafarer unions on a coherent strategy to reduce seafarer fatigue. Fishing Vessel Safetyworking with the fishing industry to improve the safety of small fishing vessels (under 15 metres). Recreational Safetyworking with the agencys partner organisations (including the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the Royal Yachting Association), to promote the wearing of lifejackets within the leisure sector and recreational safety more generally. Vessel Traffic Managementidentifying the future requirements of sea space management and the role the agency may perform.
Efficiency
Cost per unit in cash terms2 (real terms3): 33.65 (21.70).
Other strategic targets

Percentage of transactions4 delivered through e-channels: 65 per cent. Through voluntary registration, add a further 250,000 hectares of land to the total areas of registered freehold land in England and Wales. Earn a contribution from add value products and services of 8 per cent. of its income net of direct costs and apportioned product development costs. Increase gross incremental revenue from all add value products and services by a further 2.6 million above 2009-10 actual. Deliver the key Accelerated Transformation Programme milestones as detailed in the Accelerated Transformation Programme Plan. To increase the percentage of staff positively engaged with Land Registry to 50 per cent. To increase the percentage of staff satisfied with Land Registrys leadership and change management to 45 per cent.
1 The specified key areas are (a) the index map (b) the proprietorship entry and (c) easements. 2 Based on the GDP deflator issued by HM Treasury on 24 March 2010 (base year 1992/3).
The agency will also monitor its performance through a range of service standards and measured outcomes which will be reported in its published annual report and accounts.
JUSTICE Her Majestys Land Registry (Key Performance Indicators and Targets) The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Michael Wills): The following list sets out the key performance indicators and targets that have been set for Her Majestys Land Registry for 2010-11.
The real term unit cost in the base year of 1992/3 was 30.65. Transactions are defined as any request for a statutory service provided by Land Registry. Although a transaction has a unit value, this measure reflects the actual number of transactions and not their unit value.
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Tuesday 6 April 2010 PRESENTED PETITIONS Petitions presented to the House but not read on the Floor Badman Report (Teignbridge) The Petition of persons resident in the Teignbridge parliamentary constituency, Declares that they are concerned about the recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests closer monitoring of home educators, including a compulsory annual registration scheme and right of access to peoples homes for local authority officials; further declares that the Petitioners believe the recommendations are based on a review that was extremely rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing legislative framework. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for tighter registration and monitoring of children educated at home in the absence of a thorough independent inquiry into the condition and future of elective home education in England; but instead to take the steps necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly implemented, learning from current best practice, in all local authorities in England. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Richard Younger-Ross.]
[P000819]
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Decent Homes Programme (Funding) The Petition of the tenants of Sutton Housing Partnership and others, Declares that the decision to postpone and cut back funding to support home improvement works to meet the Governments decent homes standard will condemn thousands of tenants to a future in poor and inadequate housing while continuing to pay millions of pounds in rent as a negative subsidy to the Treasury. Further declares that the decision to switch funds from improvement to new build is misjudged and was made without consultation with local authorities, Arms Length Management Organisations or tenants. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majestys Government not to renege on its promises and stand by their pledge to tenants by fully funding the decent home programme And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Paul Burstow, Official Report, 21 July 2009; Vol. 496, c. 855.]
[P000401]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is aware that a petition was received relating to the decision likely to defer Decent Homes funding in the London Borough (LB) of Sutton as a contribution to fund the Housing Pledge initiative. London Borough of Sutton has now formally withdrawn from the Judicial Review proceedings issued against the Department. The Judicial Review challenged the likely deferral of Decent Homes ALMO funding in Sutton. The Home and Communities Agency which manages the ALMO Decent Homes programme has concluded negotiations with Sutton. Decent Homes funding has now been made available to Sutton in 2010-11.
Equitable Life (Teignbridge) Declares that the Petitioners either are or they represent or support members, former members or personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society who have suffered maladministration leading to injustice, as found by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in her report upon Equitable Life, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2008 and bearing reference number HC 815; and further declares that the Petitioners or those whom they represent or support have suffered regulatory failure on the part of the public bodies responsible from the year 1992 onwards, but have not received compensation for the resulting losses and outrage. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Richard Younger-Ross.]
[P000820]
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Footpath Closure (Hadleigh, Castle Point) The Petition of Doug Beard, residents of Shipwrights Drive, Highfield Avenue, Castle Point and others, Declares that they object to the link footpath between Shipwrights Drive and Highfield Avenue, Hadleigh; that this footpath is a focus for vandalism to adjacent residents properties and close residents, resulting in hundreds of pounds of damage to roof tiles, walls, security lights, and regular attendance of police officers; further, that this footpath does not provide sufficiently significant convenient access for local residents to outweigh the considerable loss of quality of life caused 24/7 to residents; that for these and many other valid reasons residents of Shipwrights Drive and Highfield Avenue, Hadleigh call for the complete closure of the link footpath since this is, on balance, in the public interest. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to press Castle Point Borough Council, the Highways Authority and all
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Councillors, to ensure the immediate closure of the link footpath between Shipwrights Drive and Highfield Avenue, Hadleigh. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Bob Spink, Official Report, 16 March 2010; Vol. 507, c. 847.]
[P000767]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: There are two ways in which local residents may seek the closure of a public footpath for reasons of crime prevention. One is to ask the local authority to make an order under section 118B of the Highways Act 1980. Such an order, if confirmed, would permanently extinguish the public right of way. However, the local authority would first have to apply to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to have the area designated for the purposes of crime prevention. A section 118B order would have to be advertised by the local authority and if there were any objections, the order would have to be submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation. Further information is available through the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/countryside/prow/ extinguish.htm The other way is to ask the local authority to make a gating order under sections 129A to 129G of the Highways Act 1980. A gating order enables a local authority to restrict public access to a footpath and gate it (at certain times of the day if applicable), without removing the underlying highway status. Local authorities are able to make gating orders on grounds of antisocial behaviour as well as crime. There is no legal obligation to submit a gating order to the Secretary of State where there are objections. Further information is available through the following link: http://www.asb.homeoffice.gov.uk/members/ article.aspx?id=7924&terms=gating+orders&searchtype= 2&fragment=False
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health: The Government are committed to ensuring that people have access to NHS pharmaceutical services. For Newborough village, NHS Peterborough is responsible for the provision of such services in accordance with the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005. The Government understand that this specific case is currently the subject of an appeal. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment while this process is under way.
LEADER OF THE HOUSE Parliamentary Reform The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that Andrew Pelling has served as an effective Member of Parliament for Croydon Central putting Croydon first and would serve Croydon well again if he were to be persuaded to stand for re-election in the upcoming General Election. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons uses the powers of the new Business Committee to table further debates on Parliamentary reform to allow discussion on the advantages of independence in the House. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 30 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 790.]
[P000815]
Observations from the Leader of the House of Commons: On 22 February and 4 March, the House of Commons agreed to a series of reforms to enhance how the House of Commons operates. These reforms included the establishment of a Back Bench Business Committee, the election of chairs and members of Select Committees, and engaging the public with Parliament.
HEALTH Newborough Pharmacy (Peterborough) The Humble Petition of Sharmeen Datoo of 1317 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE4 6LW, Sheweth, that Newborough Pharmacy in Newborough, Peterborough be supported and kept open. This pharmacy provides a valuable and much needed service. It will be a great loss to the community if the pharmacy is to close on account of lack of your support. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House asks the Secretary of State for Health that he does all in his power to ensure that the Pharmacy in Newborough, Peterborough remains open. Furthermore that he asks the Peterborough Primary Care Trust to review its decision to grant dispensing permissions to another Practice in the City to dispense in Newborough. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.[Presented by Mr. Stewart Jackson, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 346.]
[P000776]
TRANSPORT Bus Routes (Croydon) The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that they would support the introduction of a 24 hours a day service on the 64 bus route. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Transport for London in this proposal of a 24 hours a day 64 bus route. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 30 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 789.]
[P000809]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received Thursday 1 April 2010: The Mayor of London has overall responsibility for transport in the capital, including all London bus services. The Department already provides substantial funding to TfL, which has risen dramatically since 2000, more than doubling to 3.3 billion in 2010-11. This funding is not ring-fenced to specific projects. It is for the Mayor
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to make best use of the funding available to him to deliver transport services (existing or new) where this offers value for money or addresses an identifiable transport demand. Bus Service (Essex) The Petition of Carol Tebbutt, members of Age Concern Canvey Island, the residents of Castle Point and others, Declares that they object to the reduction in frequency of low-floor buses operating on the number 21 bus route between Southend and Canvey Island, operated by FirstGroup; that this reduction in the number of low-floor buses discriminates against passengers with greater accessibility needs, including the elderly, infirm, adults accompanying small children and those with limited mobility; further, that this route is used by residents travelling to and from Southend Hospital and requiring frequent, accessible, reliable and comfortable bus services; that for these and many other valid reasons only low-floor buses be operated by FirstGroup on this route and at greater frequency. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to press FirstGroup to operate only low-floor buses and at shorter intervals on the number 21 bus route between Southend and Canvey Island. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Bob Spink, Official Report, 30 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 783.]
[P000800]
reasonable compromise between the needs of disabled and other passengers, and the vehicle manufacturers and operators. [I will ensure the concerns raised about the use of low floor buses on this route are brought to the attention of the operator of this service.] Central Parade (New Addington, Croydon) The Petition of the people of New Addington, Declares that that they seek a speedy improvement in the street environment so as to rid Central Parade, New Addington, of muddy paths from the bus stop to the shops, rotted posts, broken paving, collapsed kerbs and run down street furniture. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure a response from Croydon Council undertaking to invest in the improvement of the street environment at Central Parade, New Addington. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 605.]
[P000794]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: The Government recognise that buses are, and will remain, the most important public transport option for most local journeys. Our overall aim is to drive up standards to provide a better quality service for those who already use buses and to make buses an attractive alternative for those who currently drive for short journeys. Since deregulation of the bus industry in 1985, the majority of bus services outside London are provided on a commercial basis by private operators. Decisions such as where to run services, the frequency of those services, the type of vehicle used, and the level of fares charged are mainly a matter for the commercial judgment of the operator concerned. But it is of course in the commercial interest of bus operators to ensure that they provide a service that meets demand, and to ensure that the quality of their service is good. The Government recently introduced the Local Transport Act, which strengthens the powers to local authorities to work in partnership with bus operators and specify improvements to services on particular routes. The Government want to make sure that everyone, especially those from disadvantaged groups and areas, can gain access to jobs, services and social networks. As part of this commitment all buses used on scheduled services with more than 22 seats will be required to be fully compliant with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 by 2016. The transition will take place over time and transport operators will inevitably use a mixed fleet of accessible and non-accessible vehicles. It is important that the regulations are affordable and sustainable. Following both informal and statutory consultation, which included a full Regulatory Impact Assessment, this date was considered to represent a
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: We would always encourage good practice in street design and this is reflected in the guidance we produce. We recognise the importance of well designed high quality public places and their ability to improve quality of life. However, Central Parade in New Addington is a local road for which the London Borough of Croydon has responsibility. It is for the Borough to decide on policies and priorities for improving local roads, and the Government have no power to intervene in its decisions. East Croydon Station The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the slopes at East Croydon station can be an especial challenge for the frail and unwell. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Network Rail to work to improve accessibility at East Croydon station. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 348.]
[P000780]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received on Wednesday 31 March 2010: The six existing ramps at East Croydon station have lengths between 38 metres and 75 metres and gradients of between 1:11 and 1:12. This falls outside the standards set out in the Departments Code of Practice for accessible station design. Any major work being carried out to the ramps at East Croydon station would have to redress this, or apply to DfT for a dispensation from the Code of Practice. However, I am advised by Network Rail that there are proposals to provide a new bridge and lifts at East Croydon station using third party land. This would create level stepfree access to and between platforms. Network Rail is working with Croydon Council on this
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and has secured funding from the HLOS (High Level Output Specification), with works scheduled to take place by 2014. The plan is currently at outline design stage. I also understand that, for people who have difficulty using the ramps, there is an electric wheelchair available at the station, as well as manual wheelchairs. If passenger assistance is needed, it is recommended to book it in advance using the train operators customer services. Even if assistance has not been booked, East Croydon station always has staff available on platforms and at the ticket hall, who will be able to provide assistance where practicable. Featherbed Lane Pinch Point (Croydon) The Petition of the people of Addington and Forestdale, Declares that the current highways arrangements at the pinch point at Featherbed Lane pose a danger to pedestrians and other road users and notes that narrow pavements put pedestrians at risk of collision with wider commercial vehicle.s and is concerned that current practice in Croydon on providing road safety measures requires fatalities and injuries before action is taken. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure an investment by Croydon Council in improving safety at the Featherbed Lane pinch point that slows traffic for the safety of all road users. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 606.]
[P000796]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received Thursday 1 April 2010: I would like to clarify the situation regarding the future of the Freedom Pass as there have been a lot of misleading reports on this subject. There are currently no plans either to withdraw or amend the mandatory England-wide concessionary travel scheme or the mandatory elements of the Freedom Pass scheme. Since April 2008, the statutory minimum bus concession has provided free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England to eligible older and disabled people resident in England. The purpose of the concession is to ensure that no older or disabled person resident in England need be prevented from bus travel by cost alone. Local buses are the most commonly used mode of public transport, particularly for older people. Indeed, for many older and disabled people a free local bus service can be a lifeline, providing access to employment, healthcare and other essential services, as well as allowing people to visit family and friends. The right to free bus travel for older and disabled people is enshrined in Primary Legislation. This includes the Freedom Pass scheme in London, which is operated by London Councils on behalf of the London Boroughs and is the largest and most generous concessionary travel scheme in the country. Some of the schemes characteristics are at the discretion of the London Boroughs, and London Councils is able to change these providing there is unanimous agreement amongst the Boroughs and the changes do not contravene the statutory minimum required by legislation. However, as a minimum, the scheme in London must provide free travel on the London Local Transport Network between 9.30am and midnight and the period from midnight to 4.30am on weekdays, and at any time at weekends and on Bank Holidays. I can assure the hon. Member that the recent redistribution of special grant funding for the additional costs of the England-wide concession does not affect the ability of London Boroughs to fund their obligations for concessionary travel. They will still be left with significantly more funding than the actual burden imposed following the introduction of the extended concession in April 2008. Potholes (New Addington, Croydon) The Petition of people of New Addington and Croydon,
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received on Wednesday 31 March 2010: The Road Traffic Act 1988 placed a duty on local highway authorities to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. All roads in London, except the motorways, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) or the London Boroughs. The relevant highway authority is responsible for studying the occurrence of casualties and taking preventative measures in accordance with their local objectives and the Mayor of Londons Transport Strategy. The Department is keen to see local authorities taking positive action to improve road safety, in the light of local casualty data, conditions and priorities. Freedom Pass (Croydon) The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the Freedom Pass is essential to the quality of life of many Croydon residents, and that the change in funding of the Freedom Pass may compromise the scheme. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take such steps as are necessary to ensure the scheme continues. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 347.]
[P000778]
Declares that the road conditions of Parkway, New Addington has been left in such a poor state of repair that a proper repair needs to take place to the foundations of the road instead of patching repairs The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to secure Croydon Councils commitment to providing a thorough going long lasting repair of the major potholes in Parkway, New Addington And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 604.]
[P000792]
37P
Petitions
6 APRIL 2010
Petitions
38P
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received Thursday 1 April 2010: Maintenance of the highways in New Addington is a matter for Croydon Council, within the direction set by the Mayors transport strategy. It has a duty, under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, to maintain the highways in its charge. The Act does not specify standards to which highways should be maintained; this is a matter for each local highway authority, taking into account local priorities and resources. Local government democratic processes provide opportunities for the public to make their views known to the council. The Department for Transport encourages local highways authorities to develop Transport Asset Management Plans. These set out an inventory of the assets under the councils control, the condition they are in, the service levels the council intends the assets to deliver, and their plans to maintain the assets so as to deliver that service. The Department also encourages authorities to adopt the good practice set out in the UK Roads Liaison Groups code of practice for highways maintenance management, Well-maintained Highways (available from www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org). The code is not mandatory, but together with complementary codes on highways structures and street lighting, provides good practice advice across the whole range of maintenance activities. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the 2010 Budget that local authorities in Great Britain would receive 100 million to assist with repairs to their highway network necessitated by this years severe winter weather. The London Borough of Croydon will receive 164,000 as part of this. In addition, the council can also apply funding from Transport for London, Revenue Support Grant provision from the Department for Communities and Local Government, and their own resources such as Council Tax or Supported Borrowing, to the maintenance of their highways assets. Rail Capacity (Croydon) The Petition of the people of Croydon, Declares that the service provided between Croydon and London stations is insufficient to meet demand, with unacceptable levels of overcrowding for hard working commuters and late night travellers. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to increase rail capacity to Croydon. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 348.]
[P000781]
2. The Southern Train Operating Company is committed in its Franchise Agreement to increase the lengths of peak trains, in a number of stages, during the course of its franchise. These include, for example, the lengthening of peak East Grinstead trains from 8 to 12 cars by December 2011. This will provide considerable additional capacity for commuters travelling between East Croydon and both London Victoria and London Bridge in peak hours. 3. New rolling stock for the Thameslink route is being procured by Government. Many of these trains, when they are delivered in 2014 and 2015, will be of 12-car formation, replacing the 4 and 8-car trains at present in use on the Thameslink route between East Croydon and St. Pancras International and beyond.
Soundproof Fencing (A50 Staffordshire) The Petition of residents in Staffordshire regarding the failure of the Highways Agency to have provided the promised and effective soundproof fencing along the A50 running next to their properties, Declares that the petitioners recognise the Highways Agency promised effective soundproof fencing along the A50, that the Agencys plans for fencing was either not erected or where it was erected made little or no difference, that this has left a constant noise so that it is no longer possible to sit out in their gardens, or sleep in bedrooms closest to the A50, and which has left many with a poor quality of life. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Transport to do all in his power to ensure that the Highways Agency deliver the promised soundproof fencing which runs along the Blythe Bridge area of the A50. And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. William Cash, Official Report, 24 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 346.]
[P000775]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received Thursday 1 April 2010: The Secretary of State acknowledges the concerns of the petitioners. A meeting was held on 14 December 2009 with local residents, representatives from the Highways Agency and the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) to discuss the recently replaced noise fence on the A50 at Blythe Bridge and the overall concerns by residents about noise. At the meeting it was agreed that the Highways Agency would review the effectiveness of the fence and other noise-related matters and report back their findings. The Highways Agency is now in the process of finalising this report. Traffic (Orchard Avenue, Croydon) The Petition of people of Shirley, Croydon, Declares that traffic on Orchard Avenue speeds and is dangerous to all road users The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure support from the relevant authorities for the introduction of road safety and road calming measures And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 604.]
[P000791]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received on Wednesday 31 March 2010: It is certainly true that the rail routes between Croydon and London are busy and popular. A number of initiatives are in hand to provide additional capacity on these routes:
1. On 23 May 2010, Transport for Londons East London Line extension will open, which will provide four trains per hour all day every day (except Sunday mornings) between West Croydon and Dalston Junction with interchanges with Underground lines at Whitechapel and Canada Water.
39P
Petitions
6 APRIL 2010
Petitions
40P
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received on Wednesday 31 March 2010: The Road Traffic Act 1988 placed a duty on local highway authorities to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. All roads in London, except the motorways, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) or the London Boroughs. The relevant highway authority is responsible for studying the occurrence of casualties and taking preventative measures in accordance with their local objectives and the Mayor of Londons Transport Strategy. The Department is keen to see local authorities taking positive action to improve road safety, in the light of local casualty data, conditions and priorities. Traffic (The Glade, Croydon) The Petition of People of Shirley, Croydon, Declares that traffic on The Glade speeds and is dangerous to all road users The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take steps to secure
support from the relevant authorities for the introduction of road safety and road calming measures And the Petitioners remain, etc.[Presented by Mr. Andrew Pelling, Official Report, 29 March 2010; Vol. 508, c. 604.]
[P000790]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received on Wednesday 31 March 2010: The Road Traffic Act 1988 placed a duty on local highway authorities to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. All roads in London, except the motorways, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) or the London Boroughs. The relevant highway authority is responsible for studying the occurrence of casualties and taking preventative measures in accordance with their local objectives and the Mayor of Londons Transport Strategy. The Department is keen to see local authorities taking positive action to improve road safety, in the light of local casualty data, conditions and priorities.
1145W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1146W
Mr. Hain: The five most expensive receptions hosted by the Wales Office were as follows:
Receptions July 2008 Summer reception in London St. Davids Day reception in London Summer reception in Cardiff Christmas reception in London Christmas reception in Cardiff Cost () 3,284 2,797 2,609 2,594 2,464
February 2008 July 2008 December 2007
SOLICITOR-GENERAL BAE Systems: Fraud David Howarth: To ask the Solicitor-General whether information obtained by the Serious Fraud Office during its investigations into BAE Systems about possible false declarations relating to (a) Romania and (b) South Africa have been passed to the Export [321330] Credits Guarantee Department. The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office has no record of passing information during its investigations into BAE Systems about possible false declarations relating to (a) Romania and (b) South Africa to the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
December 2007
SCOTLAND Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account his Departments food procurement [325527] policy takes of animal welfare. Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not procure any meat or dairy products, with the exception of a very small quantity of milk. Departmental Internet
WALES Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account his Departments food procurement [325524] policy takes of animal welfare. Mr. Hain: My Department does not have any catering facilities, and therefore does not routinely procure food. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.
[324803]
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325191]
Ann McKechin: We do not hold the information in the format requested. However, there were a small number of complaints regarding teething difficulties experienced when the Scotland Office website was re-designed in 2008-09. These arose as a result of broken links to Scotland Office web pages and the problems were subsequently addressed. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three [325209] years; and if he will make a statement. Ann McKechin: Figures are only available for each year as a total amount spent on web maintenance and include annual hosting fees. These costs represent the hosting, updating and development of the site.
Financial year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
1 1
Mr. Hain: It would not be possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate cost. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were. [324711] Mr. Hain: The cost of any items bought in the last five years, carrying the Wales Office logo could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department was in the last three years; and what (a) the cost and (b) purpose was of each. [324663]
Cost () 2,990 19,292 3,500
The increase in 2008-09 includes a complete redesign and redevelopment of the website, hosting package for the site and full content management system for in-house staff to manage content.
Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) receptions and (b) other functions have been held at (i) Melville Crescent and (ii) Dover House since 1 October 2008; what the date was of each; who attended each; and what the cost of the catering [325394] was for each.
1147W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
Dover House
1148W
Ann McKechin: The receptions and functions held in Dover House and Melville Crescent since October 2008 are listed in the following table. Where a reception was hosted by Scotland Office Ministers the cost to the Scotland Office of so doing is detailed in this table. Records are not routinely kept of those guests who attend a reception although such receptions usually attract a cross party representation of Scottish MPs, Peers, lobby correspondents and other stakeholders. Where a reception has been arranged by a third party attendees and the cost of catering are matters for the third party.
Dover House 1 October 2008 8 October 2008 15 October 2008 21 October 2008 23 October 2008 12 November 2008 18 November 2008 26 November 2008 27 November 2008 15 December 2008 16 December 2008 20 January 2009 26 January 2009 24 February 2009 17 March 2009 23 March 2009 1 April 2009 6 May 2009 13 May 2009 14 May 2009 19 May 2009 6 June 2009 9 June 2009 10 June 2009 11 June 2009 13 June 2009 National Fraud Strategic Authority CBI Scotland Poppyscotland David Torrance book launch Royal Caledonian Schools Trust UKBA
17 June 2009 6 July 2009 15 September 2009 14 October 2009 21 October 2009 27 October 2009 3 November 2009 25 November 2009 8 December 2009 9 December 2009 16 March 2010 Scottish Council for Development and Industry John Smith Memorial Trust International Capital Conference China 2,030
Poppyscotland Federation of Small Businesses Scotland CBI Scotland Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland
Secretary of States lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Scotch Whisky Association
4,123
Crown Estate
CBI Scotland
Melville Crescent Commission on Scottish Devolution 18 December 2008 26 June 2009 23 June 2009 18 August 2009 Community Service Volunteers 8 October 2009 27 November 2009 3 December 2009 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns: launch of Royal Mail commemorative stamps and Royal Mint commemorative coins Association of Scottish Colleges Scottish North American Business Council 152 10 December 2009 28 January 2010 Annual reception for the Scottish media Armed Forces Day and Veterans Scotland Ministerial dinner Secretary of States reception for Edinburgh Festivals Ministerial dinner Womens National Commission Annual reception for the Scottish media Ministerial dinner Ministerial dinner 207 2,312 751 2,426 754 68 858 799 754
Secretary of States lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Scottish Development International
3,718
Scotch Whisky Association
1,938
CBI Scotland Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland Reception for media attending the G20 summit MG ALBA Hamish McDonnell book launch University of Stirling Alumni Scottish Financial Enterprise Kings Own Scottish Borderers Association Spouses in the Houses National Trust for Scotland Poppyscotland Secretary of States reception for Trooping the Colour
5,065
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many receptions and functions he has hosted at locations other than Melville Crescent and Dover House since 1 October 2008; on what date each was held; what the location was of each function; who attended each; and what the cost of hire was of the [325395] facilities and the catering for each. Ann McKechin: None.
Departmental Pay
6,311 2008-09 2009-10 (April 2009 to February 2010)
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 to date. [325105] Ann McKechin: The total reimbursable expenses paid to special advisers are as follows:
Amount reimbursed () 10,751 7,564
1149W
Written Answers CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Conservation Areas: Waste Disposal
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1150W
on external website design consultants to update and enhance the homepage and improve user journey and digital functionality. Museums and Galleries: Newcastle upon Tyne Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) capital and (b) revenue assistance was provided by the Arts Council to Newcastle city council for the (i) purchase and (ii) redevelopment of derelict buildings in High Bridge, Newcastle for the Waygood Art Gallery in the last five years; and how much has been spent to date. [325180] Margaret Hodge [holding answer 30 March 2010]: Arts Council England has paid Newcastle city council 871,281 in capital funds to support the redevelopment of the Waygood Gallery. Revenue funding has gone directly to the gallery. Sports: Training Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what means the national sporting governing bodies plan to undertake their consultation on the review of the UK Coaching Certificate; and what partner organisations in each sport each [324943] governing body plans to support. Mr. Sutcliffe: The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Review is being led by Sportscoach UK, Sport England and SkillsActive. The review will be conducted in partnership with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport, the Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport. The NGBs will be consulted throughout this process and, following the completion of the review, the NGBs may choose to reassess the construction of their coaching awards should they feel it is necessary. This review incorporates the following elements:
National Occupational Standards and Common Units UKCC endorsement criteria UKCC endorsement process UKCC support to sports UKCC Communication and Marketing UKCC Costings.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 270W, on conservation areas: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written advice provided by English Heritage to local authorities on household wheeled refused containers in conservation areas.
[324528]
Margaret Hodge: English Heritage has not provided standard advice to local authorities on household wheeled refuse containers in conservation areas. English Heritages Streets for All manuals offer guidance on accommodating modern needs to reduce the impact of street clutter on conservation areas. The manuals are available to download from the English Heritage website at:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8682
Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account his Departments food [325532] procurement policy takes of animal welfare. Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no canteen facilities which use meat or fresh dairy products. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325201] make a statement. Mr. Sutcliffe: The information is as follows: 2007 (0) 2008 (3)
1. No print format on press releases 2. Use of lower case initial letters on DCMS website 3. Usability of contact us form 4. Request to remove consultation response 5. Broken RSS feed.
2009 (6)
1. Broken RSS feed 2. Inaccessibility and usability of contact us form 3. Broken link to DCMS document 4. Request to remove consultation response 5. Usability of contact us form 6. Missing DCMS document 7. Request to remove consultation response 8. Badly redacted document. 9. Inaccessible document format. No facility to auto forward information by e-mail.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects Sportscoach UK to issue guidance on the preferred structure for sports [324965] awarding bodies. Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Review is being led by Sportscoach UK, Sport England and SkillsActive. The national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport will be consulted throughout this process and following the completion of the review the NGBs may choose to reassess the construction of their coaching awards should they feel it is necessary. The findings from the UK Coaching Certificate Review are due to be announced during the UK Coaching Summit at the end of June this year.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325219]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Over the last three years, the only spend on external website design consultants has been in the current financial year. The Department spent 13,000
1151W
Written Answers Tourism: Finance
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Dairy Farming
1152W
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the [322496] future level of funding for tourism. Margaret Hodge [holding answer 16 March 2010]: Beyond the current spending round, no decisions have been taken on the future funding levels for tourism.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on proposals for large-scale dairy units. [324742] Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has recently received correspondence on one particular proposal for a large-scale dairy unit. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in the last five years; and at what cost. [324355] Dan Norris: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not built nor incurred any expenditure on smoking shelters for staff in the last five years. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years. [324438] Dan Norris: The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies have spent the amounts shown as follows on rooms for staff leisure:
Foss House: Kings Pool, York171,800 (gym and pool room): 2008-09 Nobel House: London65,000 (gym): 2008-09.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Agriculture: Research Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated by his Department for agricultural research and development in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[324236]
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA funding of research on agriculture and food (including animal health and welfare) over the last three financial years is shown in the following table:
million 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Source: DEFRA Science Information System. 63 68 75
Figures for 2009-10 will not be available till after the end of the financial year but the expenditure is expected to be in the region of 64 million. This includes DEFRAs contribution to the new Technology Strategy Board (TSB), DEFRA and BBSRC innovation platform for sustainable agriculture and food (SAF), which will invest up to 90 million over five years in match-funding for industry for agricultural research. The TSB contribution represents 50 million of additional sponsorship for the agricultural sector. Coastal Erosion Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation is payable to owners of land lost as a result of the Environment Agencys Managed [325455] Realignment programme. Huw Irranca-Davies: Where the Environment Agency has carried out the managed realignment of existing raised defences any land owner who considers that they have been adversely affected can make a claim for compensation. The legal provisions for this are set out in section 177 and Schedule 21 of the Water Resources Act 1991. The value of damages and losses is assessed by professional valuers acting for the Environment Agency and it pays for the costs of a professional valuer to act on behalf of the landowner. All claims are assessed on their own merits and if agreement cannot be reached the matter can be referred to the Lands Tribunal. The level of compensation paid will vary depending upon the local circumstances and the damage suffered. If the Environment Agency secures agreement to buy the land then it is purchased at the market value.
These are the only amounts spent in the last five years. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324562] staff. Dan Norris: DEFRA does not provide directly subsidised gym facilities for its staff. There are several such facilities on the core-DEFRA estate, but all these are managed by volunteer staff committees and paid for through membership subscriptions. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last [324676] five years. Dan Norris: Identifying expenditure on interior design in relation to office refurbishment in each of the last five years incurred by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when undertaking office refurbishment could be done only at disproportionate cost. Departmental ICT Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information technology projects initiated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were cancelled prior to completion in the last 12 months; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse. [320427] Dan Norris: The Department has not cancelled any IT projects since April 2009.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1154W
Cost ()
The Rural Payments Agency cancelled the Microsoft Project Server project at a cost to the public purse of 183,140.76, and postponed the Customer Communications Improvement programme at a cost of 60,843.48. The Food and Environment Research Agency cancelled an IT project to extend the Laboratory Information Management System for use in a Forensic DNA profile facility. FERA spent a total 70,000 of staff time configuring existing IT systems. No other departmental agency has cancelled any IT projects since April 2009. Departmental Legislation Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations have been (a) introduced and (b) revoked by his Department in each year since its establishment.
[323111]
Item description 2008 T-Shirts Pens Mugs Travel wallets 2009 T-Shirts Pens Mugs Travel wallets
500 1,600 2,700 7,500
497.50 2,980 2,670 6,375
Departmental Pay Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department maintains of the reimbursable [325116] expenses paid to its special advisers. Dan Norris: DEFRA records payment of reimbursable expenses made to special advisers in its financial system. Departmental Theft Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the [322647] Department. Dan Norris: Measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an essential feature of the Departments protective security controls. These controls reflect the standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF) issued by the Cabinet Office and available at:
www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/spf.aspx
Dan Norris: The information requested is tabled as follows:

Number SIs introduced 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 1
SIs revoked 39 82 60 45 45 32 18 21 110 57

1
92 143 115 105 133 139 144 165 87 96 36
22
As at March 2010.
Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were. [324712] Dan Norris: The Departmental Communications Directorates spend on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo is detailed in the table. Detailed spend by DEFRA agencies is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Item description 2005 T-Shirts 2006 T-Shirts Toothbrush travel set Pens Travel wallets 2007 Pens Travel wallets 1,600 6,650 475 435 3,550 13,025 475 Cost ()
It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific controls as this could undermine their effectiveness. Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will [323863] make a statement. Dan Norris: Where the total cost to the Department of obtaining an answer to a parliamentary question is over 800, this is considered to be a disproportionate cost. Environment Protection: Coastal Areas Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department allocates funding to coastal local authorities for tackling the effects of coastal erosion;
[323695]
(2) how much his Department spent on tackling [323700] coastal erosion in each of the last five years.
1155W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1156W
Huw Irranca-Davies: The majority of the investment for all flood and coastal erosion risk management activity is now delivered through grants from DEFRA to the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency invests directly in coastal flood risk management and also gives grants to local authorities and internal drainage boards. The following table shows the grants that were allocated to coastal local authorities for coastal erosion risk management in the last five financial years. Levels of grant allocation for coastal erosion in part reflect the number and nature of schemes coming forward in any one year. For example, 2006-07 and 2007-08 were characterised by a number of large schemes such as that in Blackpool which was allocated 12 million and 17 million in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.
million 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Source: DEFRA website and Environment Agency financial records. 52 65.7 49 32 30
This survey estimates the horse population of Great Britain to be 1.3 million. There are no estimates available for England only. Horses: Travel Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses entered the UK with no requirement for a UK passport in the latest year for which figures are available; what his latest assessment is of the effectiveness of horse passports and the National Equine Database; and if he will make a statement.
[324880]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Information is not collected on the number of horses entering the UK without a valid passport. Horse passports legislation requires any horse without a valid passport to have an application submitted to an EU-approved issuing body within 30 days of arrival in the UK. The National Equine Database contains details of all horse passports issued and amended in the UK. Information is uploaded on a monthly basis. Incinerators Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on safety concerns regarding the inclusion of incinerator bottom ash in road building and other construction materials; and if [324235] he will make a statement. Dan Norris: DEFRA has not received any direct representations on the use of incinerator bottom ash in road building and construction materials. However, a technical advisory group has been established, which is currently pooling evidence to demonstrate whether endof-waste criteria can be met. The Environment Agency is working closely with industry to obtain additional data to help this process. More information is available on the Environment Agencys website at:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/ 114416.aspx
Local authorities can also fund coastal erosion risk management using a number of sources, including central Government specific grants, council tax and formula grant from central Government. The following table gives final outturn estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing (i.e. formula grant) for coast protection for the last five financial years. Further details on this expenditure are not held centrally.
Local authority revenue outturn for coast protection, net current expenditure million 2005-06 13.8 2006-07 13.6 2007-08 14.5 2008-09 14.8 1 14.3 2009-10 1 Budget not outturn. Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, revenue expenditure and financing Statistics.
The Government have also directly allocated 11 million funding to 15 coastal local authorities through the coastal change pathfinder programme that was announced in December 2009. The pathfinders, working in partnership with their local communities, are exploring a range of new and innovative approaches to help communities adapt to the effects of coastal change (including coastal erosion). Horses Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his latest estimate is of the number of horses in England; and [324876] how that estimate was calculated. Jim Fitzpatrick: The latest estimate of the horse population is taken from the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) National Equestrian Survey 2005-06.
Inland Waterways Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the assessment made by British Waterways of (a) its waterways network infrastructure and (b) the elements of its waterways network infrastructure not categorised as principal assets; and if he will make a statement.
[325335]
Huw Irranca-Davies: British Waterways categorises the condition of its principal and most significant nonprincipal assets using a five-point condition grading system of A (very good) through to E (bad) in order to establish priorities for maintenance work. The latest information available as at 31 March 20091 is as follows:
1
Information provided by British Waterways.
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Grade description (Percentage) A: Very good Principal assets Significant non-principal assets Towpath Bank protection Lock gates 19.1 10.8 13.8 26.7 33.2 21.9 35.2 38.4 40.9 15.3 12.7 15.8 3.7 4.9 7.6 2,718 km 5,220 km (both sides of canal) 3,362 3.6 B: Good 22.3 C: Fair 54.1 D: Poor 17.6 E: Bad 2.4 Assets assessed 10,516
British Waterways take a risk-based approach in using the funding available to maintain the network. They concentrate on those assets in the poorest condition and that have the highest consequence of failure e.g. in terms of safety or the impact on the wider network. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department will provide funds to British Waterways to restore to good condition its assets assessed as (a) already defective and (b) at risk of becoming defective; [325336] and if he will make a statement. Huw Irranca-Davies: The level of grant funding for the waterways will be a decision for the next Spending Review and will need to balance long-term sustainability of the waterways with the overall fiscal position at the time. Government grant are, however, not the sole factor in determining what is spent on the waterwaysefficiency savings, third party funding and commercial income are also very important. Spend on maintenance of the network is a priority for British Waterways who take a risk-based approach in using the funding available to maintain the network. They concentrate on those assets in the poorest condition and that have the highest consequence of failure e.g. in terms of safety or the impact on the wider network. Marine Conservation Zones Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what use will be made of scientific evidence in identifying marine conservation zones under the Marine and Coastal [325467] Access Act 2009; (2) whether the seven principles of ecological coherence will be adhered to in the designation of [325468] marine conservation zones; (3) whether the minimum conservation objective for marine conservation zones will be that of favourable [325469] condition. Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping) on 29 March 2010, Official Report, columns 609-10W. Marine Management Organisation Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff there will be in each coastal office of the Marine Management Organisation from 1 April 2010. [325067]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Marine Management Organisation is due to vest on 1 April 2010 and will manage coastal offices currently under the control of the Marine and Fisheries Agency. On 1 April 2010 there will be 102 staff employed in coastal offices. The following table details the number of staff in each of these coastal offices:
Staff in post at location Location Amble Blackpool (coastal office, training centre) Brixham Grimsby Hartlepool Harwich Hastings Kings Lynn Lowestoft Newlyn North Shields Penryn Plymouth Poole Portsmouth Scarborough Shoreham Whitehaven Number 1 12 10 8 2 2 5 2 7 10 8 4 9 6 2 7 5 2
Nature Conservation: Crime Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been charged with offences related to [325343] wildlife crime since July 2009. Huw Irranca-Davies: Information on how many people were charged with offences related to wildlife crime since July 2009 is not held centrally. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes he plans to make to his Departments policy on nitrate vulnerable zones; and if he will make a [325278] statement. Huw Irranca-Davies: The Nitrates Directive requires each member state to review its nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) designation and Nitrates Action programme every four years. Any changes as a result of the next review in England will be implemented from January 2013.
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Written Answers Waste Disposal: EU Action
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DEFRA will be working closely with the farming industry, other interested parties and the European Commission over the next two years to consider what changes might be necessary. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in [324249] the last 36 months. Dan Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Pets: Vaccination Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations the Veterinary Medicines Directorate [324873] has received on pet vaccination intervals. Jim Fitzpatrick: Canine Health Concern (CHC) sent an open letter on pet vaccination intervals dated 10 February 2010 to the Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Following the open letter from CHC the VMD has received 39 additional letters from concerned members of the public either directly or via their MPs referring to it. The VMD has placed the CHCs open letter and its response on the VMD website
www.vmd.gov.uk
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1003W, on waste disposal: EU action, if he will place in the Library a copy of each document for the two workshops held on 2 April and 14 September 2009 on the establishment of a Waste Implementation Agency that are held by his Department. [324837] Dan Norris: I have placed the following documents produced by the European Commission in the Library:
(a) The Study on the feasibility of the establishment of a Waste Implementation AgencyOverview; (b) The Waste Agency studyApril workshopsummary; (c) The Summary of the studys interim report; and (d) The Waste Agency studySeptember workshopsummary.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1003W, on waste disposal: EU action, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Governments response to the questionnaire on the feasibility of establishing a Waste [324838] Implementation Agency. Dan Norris: I have placed the UKs response of 8 April 2009 to the European Commissions informal Questionnaire for Member State Officialson the feasibility of establishing a Waste Implementation Agency in the Library. TRANSPORT A5: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what plans he has to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queens Head; [325443] and if he will make a statement; (2) what recent assessment he has made of the condition of the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border; and if he will make a [325541] statement. Chris Mole: There are currently no plans to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queens Head. The A5 Queens Head to Wolfshead Widening scheme was submitted in the Regional Funding Advice submission to the Government at the end of February 2009. The West Midlands Regional Assemblys decision was not to prioritise the scheme for funding in the period 2009-19. The A5 between Wolfshead Roundabout and Shotatton is currently in good condition. The section of carriageway from Shotatton to Queens Head is due to be surface dressed between June and July 2010 to improve the condition of the surface. A survey is currently programmed to identify the causes of a surface water drainage issue approximately 400 metres south of the Queenshead Junction. Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how many people have been injured on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border in each of the last 12 years;
[325542]
Recycling: Greater London Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to page 47 of the Office for Government Commerce publication, The State of the Estate in 2009, if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation produced for staff on his Departments bin the bin [324816] initiative. Dan Norris: A copy of the Bin the Bin Business Case will be placed in the Library. Rights of Way: Cycling Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the provisions of section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 on access to open countryside for equestrians and [325130] cyclists. Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been no instances where dedication of land under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has had an effect on access to open countryside for equestrians and cyclists.
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(2) how many people have been killed on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border [325543] in each of the last 12 years. Chris Mole: The following table shows the number of people killed or injured on the A5 between Telford and Shropshire/Wales border, in each of the last 12 years. These figures have been provided by the police and validated by the Department. It has not been possible to disaggregate the data to only report on Shrewsbury to Shropshire/Wales border casualties.
Number Fatal 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 1 6 2 2 6 2 2 1 3 0 1 Serious 28 22 23 23 18 14 14 13 11 10 3 6 Slight 108 94 82 102 104 86 74 107 73 84 107 85
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of people using bicycles in Shropshire. [325439] Mr. Khan: Shropshire benefits from four main streams of departmental funding to encourage cycling in England. Local Transport Plan funding Shropshire received 4,011,000 integrated transport funding for 2009-10. Funding for other years is available on the Department for Transport website under Funding for local transport. Local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. The Department does not keep records of local funding decisions. Cycle City and Town funding Shrewsbury was chosen as a cycle town in June 2008 and is funded until 2010-11. Departmental funding is used to encourage cycling in the town. The funding is match funded by Shropshire council.
Shrewsbury () 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 600,000 800,000 665,000 2,065,000
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how many times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed for road works in each of the last five [325544] years; (2) how many times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed following a road traffic accident in each of the last five years.
[325545]
Total
Links to schools The Department funds links to schools to encourage cycling and walking to schools, as a contribution to the total cost, with the rest of the funding coming from the local authority.
Location 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2009-10 2009-10 Shrewsbury Whitchurch Albrighton Market Drayton Oswestry Shrewsbury Shifnal Shawbury Oswestry Wem DfT fund () 28,000.00 1,589.00 27,000.00 1,756.00 35,000.00 38,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 46,531.56 10,000.00 Total cost () 201,571.00 3,177.92 61,533.08 3,512.00 70,504.00 344,000.00 35,607.00 76,420.00 159,870.90 20,000.00
Chris Mole: The following table show the number of times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed for roadworks and following a road traffic accident, for each of the last five years:
Total number of closures in both directions due to roadworks 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1 4 3 1 0 Total number of closures due to road traffic accident (figures include closures in one or both carriageways) 5 6 10 6 4
Bexley Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions Ministers of his Department and its predecessors have visited the London borough of Bexley on official [325774] business since 1997. Chris Mole: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Cycle training grants Local authorities apply for grants to train school children in Bikeability level 2. Bikeability level 2 is an approved cycle training course normally undertaken by children in years five to six (ages 10-11). Shropshire received the following:
Shropshire () 2008-09 2009-10 20,000.00 31,996.00
Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what account his Departments food procurement policy takes of animal welfare. [325526]
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Chris Mole: The Department for Transport conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Governments value for money policies and principles, utilising collaborative arrangements where these are available and in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework. The Department and its agencies generally provide staff catering and vending services via estates private finance initiative or facilities management contracts. These provisions are typically provided on a commercial basis and are not directly subsidised, and they operate in a very competitive environment. For example, the Departments headquarter facilities management contract requires the contractor to comply with Government guidance on sustainable food and farming in the delivery of the contract. The contract also requires the contractor to take into account the Governments commitment to the public sector food procurement initiative, and directs them to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs websites. Thus the contractor is encouraged to consider higher level schemes for food standards and animal welfare. Another example is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agencys estates private finance initiative contract, which requires the service provider to comply with the sustainable food procurement initiative and other Government guidance on food and farming in delivery of the service. As and when each of the Departments catering contracts needs to be renewed, consideration will be given to emerging higher level welfare standards when specifying replacement contracts. Hang Gliding and Paragliding: EU Action Jacqui Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the sports of hang gliding and paragliding of proposals in the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation consultation on the draft Standardised European Rules of the Air; and if he will meet the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association to discuss the proposals.
[325387]
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects all lanes of the Humber Bridge to be open to traffic. [325708] Mr. Khan: The lane restrictions are a matter for the Humber Bridge Board. My understanding is these are currently in place at the Humber Bridge and are essential for traffic management for the dehumidification work on the bridge, and that they will need to be implemented on a regular basis over the next two years. The works have been carefully planned to avoid contraflow on the bridge other than when absolutely essential and generally only on weekends. Humber Bridge: Tolls Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will consider requiring the Humber Bridge Board to reduce the level of toll on the Humber Bridge during periods when lane closure is [325705] in force. Mr. Khan: There are currently lane restrictions in place at the Humber Bridge to allow dehumidification work to take place. The Board is monitoring closely the impact of the lane closures on congestion on the bridge. Toll levels are a matter for the Bridge Board. The tolls are levied for the crossing of the estuary and that service is being maintained. Lorries: Testing Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many tests of heavy goods vehicles the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency conducted outside core business hours between [325709] April 2009 and February 2010. Paul Clark: The total number of heavy goods vehicles tested (both motor vehicles and trailers) outside normal working hours between April 2009 and February 2010 is 9,963. This consists of first and annual tests and retests. Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on levels of demand for conducting annual tests of heavy goods vehicles outside standard working hours.
[325710]
Paul Clark: Eurocontrol is preparing the draft implementing rule on Standardised European Rules of the Air on behalf of the European Commission under the umbrella of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. The preliminary view of the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is that the proposals will not impact adversely on hang gliding and paragliding activities as the CAA, as the Competent Authority for the purposes of the legislation, will retain the discretion to permit visual flight rule flights. However, the UK will continue to seek clarity from Eurocontrol on the intent of the element of the regulation which concerns the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). The Department has set up a UK European Air Traffic Management Stakeholders Forum, as a requirement of the SES legislation, at which policy officials directly concerned in this work update aviation stakeholders across the board on SES proposals and elicit views. The BHPA are on the invitee list for the Forum which will next be convened in late spring. In the meantime, Eurocontrols consultation is still open till 12 April for the BHPA to express its concerns directly to the Agency.
Paul Clark: Customer input into the requirements for, and likely uptake of, extended opening hours for annual tests of heavy goods vehicles has been provided from direct customer feedback and through quantitative customer research with 500 service agents in 2009-10 and a similar survey in 2008. Public Transport: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the average daily number of people using (a) buses and (b) trains in Shropshire in each of the last five [325442] years.
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Mr. Khan: For bus usage, data for Shropshire are available from the local government National Indicator Set. The following table shows the figures for Shropshire for the relevant National Indicator (number 177local bus and light rail passenger journeys originating in the authority area).
Local bus journeys originating in Shropshire, 2004-05 to 2008-09 Thousand Total journeys1 during year 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1
Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will send a copy of the consultation document on the Exceptions Hardship Scheme for the London-Birmingham high speed rail link to (a) each franchise that his Department considers may qualify for the scheme and (b) each parish council in which one or more such household is located. [325177] Chris Mole [holding answer 30 March 2010]: Copies of the consultation document on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme have been sent to the parties listed at Annex B in the consultation document. The National Association of Local Councils, which represents the 8,500 town and parish councils in England, was sent copies of the consultation materials. Any interested party can respond to the consultation. Copies of the consultation document are available on the Department for Transports website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-18/
Average journeys1 per day2 17.7 17.4 18.3 18.4 18.6
6,458 6,359 6,678 6,723 6,793
The national indicator definition includes bus and light rail journeys in these totals, although there are presently no light rail systems in Shropshire. 2 Average journeys per day for all days in the year, including weekends, school holidays and public holidays. The working day average is likely to be higher than shown here. Source: National Indicator Set
These data are not necessarily consistent with the Department for Transports published official statistics on bus patronage, and they have not gone through the same reconciliation and consistency checks. Department for Transport bus patronage statistics cannot be released at local authority level, owing to the assurances of commercial confidentiality given to local bus operators. The Department for Transport does not hold any corresponding data on passenger rail journeys. Railways: Construction Mr. Lidington: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) whether he has made an estimate of the number of business premises in (a) the parish of Coldharbour, (b) the parish of Aylesbury, (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville, (d) the parish of Ellesborough, (e) the parish of Wendover, (f) the parish of Great Missenden and (g) the County of Buckinghamshire which lie within (i) 100, (ii) 200, (iii) 300, (iv) 400 and (v) 500 metres of his Departments preferred route for High Speed Two; and if he will [322932] make a statement; (2) whether he has made an estimate of the number of dwellings in (a) the parish of Coldharbour, (b) the parish of Aylesbury, (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville, (d) the parish of Ellesborough, (e) the parish of Wendover, (f) the parish of Great Missenden and (g) the County of Buckinghamshire which lie within (i) 100, (ii) 200, (iii) 300, (iv) 400 and (v) 500 metres of his Departments preferred route for High Speed Two; and if he will make a statement. [322934] Chris Mole [holding answer 18 March 2010]: The effects of the recommended route on properties will be made available as part of the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS), on which work is continuing. The AoS will be published later in the year in order to inform the formal public consultation which we expect to launch in the autumn. The Government will write to the owners of relevant properties at this time. Additional design work will be required to refine HS2 Ltds proposals, and this would be likely to reduce the number of properties affected.
and can be ordered free of charge from DfT Publications (0300 123 1102) or
www.dft.gov.uk/foi/dftps/howtoobtaindftpublications/form
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) if he will publish the reports of all passenger demand modelling (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department [325389] on the proposed HS2 routes; (2) if he will publish the results of the investigations which have been made into the effect of modal switch in the context of passenger demand modelling for HS2; what methodology was used in the investigation; and if [325390] he will make a statement. Chris Mole: All work commissioned and undertaken on demand modelling and on modal switch for HS2 Ltd.s report was published alongside the Governments Command Paper on 11 March. In particular, I refer the hon. Member to HS2 Ltd.s Demand and Appraisal Report, published on the Department for Transport website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/ demandandappraisal/
Railways: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with rail operators on rail services between [325441] London and stations in Shropshire. Chris Mole: There have been recent discussions at official level with Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway and Chiltern Railways regarding services between London and stations in Shropshire. These discussions are ongoing. Roads: Accidents Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many fatal road accidents there have been in North Shropshire constituency in each month of each year since 1997.
[325440]
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Paul Clark: The information requested in shown in the following table:

Reported fatal personal injury road accidents in North Shropshire constituency1, by month: 1997 to 2008 Fatal accidents Year/month 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1
Jan 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0
Feb 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
March 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
April 2 0 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
May 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
June 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1
July 0 2 0 0 2 2 3 1 0 0 1 1
Aug 1 1 0 3 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 2
Sept 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0
Oct 1 1 0 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Nov 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Dec 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 0
Total 5 9 10 15 12 10 7 5 12 3 7 6
Based on 2004 parliamentary constituency boundaries.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on (a) road building and (b) road maintenance in the latest year for which figures are available.
[325396]
Chris Mole: The Thameslink Programme will enable the operation of a high frequency service through central London to destinations both North and South of London. In recognition of this, the train maintenance strategy is based on there being two new depots, one North of London and the other South of London. A two depot strategy will provide the most efficient means of servicing the new Thameslink fleet. Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the introduction of the new Thameslink trains of the time taken to construct the [325779] additional train maintenance depots. [R] Chris Mole: The current programme for the introduction of the new fleet of trains shows the first trains entering passenger service in early 2014. Our plans assume that at least one of the two new depots proposed for this new fleet of trains will be operational before this date. There will therefore be sufficient depot servicing facilities in time for the introduction of these first trains by this date. There will be a point in the production cycle for the new fleet of trains when the second new depot will be required. Our plans assume that the second depot will be operational before this production cycle milestone is realised. Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether (a) a local authority and (b) other organisations have powers to block the development of additional train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. [R]
[325781]
Mr. Khan: In 2008-09 the Department for Transport allocated 246 million to local authorities for local major road schemes. The Highways Agency (an agency of this Department) spent 725 million on road building. In 2008-09 the Highways Agency spent 914 million on maintenance of the strategic road network. The Department does not directly maintain local authority roads. However, it provides capital maintenance funding to local authorities (outside London) as part of the Local Transport Plan settlement; and funding as part of the private finance initiative. Information about the amounts allocated can be found at:
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/ fundingstreams/capital/
Sea Rescue: Flamborough Head Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the works required to make Flamborough Head coastguard station [325706] compliant with safety regulations. Paul Clark: Following a recent inspection by the local fire and rescue service, the estimated cost to improve safety in the Flamborough Head property is 4,200. The cost to install an external fire escape to the three storey property is in the region of 20,000. Thameslink Railway Line Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of the provision of more than one additional train maintenance depot for Thameslink [325778] stations. [R]
Chris Mole: Network Rail has commenced the process for progressing planning consents for the two new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock with the relevant local authorities. It would be inappropriate to comment on the outcome of these discussions at this stage.
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Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many representations he has received in response to the draft guidance to regions on his Departments Delivering a Sustainable [325444] Transport System programme. Mr. Khan: A number of responses to the consultation on Delivering a Sustainable Transport System in spring 2009 referred to the draft guidance to regions, including two specifically relating to the guidance. The Department for Transport published a response to the consultation on 28 April 2009 at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2009/planning/ consultresponses/
The final guidance issued to the regions last July may be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/strategy/dasts/guidance/
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of progress in his Departments Delivering a Sustainable Transport System programme; and if he [325445] will make a statement. Mr. Khan: Details of the regional study programme for Delivering a Sustainable Transport System are on the Department for Transport website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/strategy/dasts/
and to maximise the legacy for London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to maximise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 games. Some examples of how Birmingham and the West Midlands region are benefiting from the games are given as follows. Both the American and Jamaican track and field teams will be based in Birmingham in the run up to the games. West Midlands businesses are already benefiting from the games. To date, 213 businesses in the region have won contracts through CompeteFor. To date 53 businesses have won direct contracts with the Olympic Delivery Authority. This includes a contract for the construction of the Olympic Parks primary sewer and pumping station, and for the manufacture and installation the security fence and gates around the park. The region has been awarded 20 Inspire Marks, the non-commercial brand for programmes inspired by the games. So far, the West Midlands region has also had over 1,046 schools register on Get Set, LOCOGs domestic education programme for London 2012. Over 6 million worth of funding has been secured to support an extensive programme of events and cultural activity across the West Midlands region in the run up to 2012 including 2.2 million from the Legacy Trust to fund programmes to bring people together for community activities of all kinds. Olympic Games 2012: Tickets Mr. Davidson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether ballot arrangements for tickets for events in the London 2012 Olympics will prioritise allocations to (a) UK taxpayers and (b) UK residents; what obligations there are upon the organisers in respect of EU citizens and ballot arrangements; by what mechanism priority in ticket allocation will be given to those who have provided funding for the Games; and if she will make a statement. [324992] Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd. (LOCOG) is responsible for ticketing for the London 2012 games. LOCOGs ticketing plan will ensure that it raises the funds to stage the games and that it provides affordable and accessible tickets to deliver full venues. Under EU competition law, LOCOG must ensure that all EU citizens, including UK residents, are given fair and equitable opportunities to purchase London 2012 tickets. LOCOG has committed to making 75 per cent. of London 2012 tickets available via a public ballot process. The ballot will be open to all residents of the EU but LOCOGs promotional work around ticketing will be focused on the UK. LOCOG has already launched Sign-Up encouraging all UK residents to register their details to receive information on ticket opportunities in advance of tickets going on sale in 2011. I hope all Members of the House will encourage their constituents to sign-up to receive this information and to enter the ballot in 2011.
and details on the national studies are at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/ nationalnetworksstudy?view=Standard
The Department is monitoring progress closely through representation on all study steering groups. It is anticipated that a full interim assessment of the work to date will be reported to Ministers in the summer of 2010. Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) Shropshire council and (b) Advantage West Midlands on his Departments review, [325490] Delivering a sustainable transport system. Mr. Khan: I meet the chair of Advantage West Midlands (AWM) from time to time to discuss Delivering a Sustainable Transport System and other matters. Officials from my Department and from Government offices also meet regularly with representatives of both AWM and Shropshire council.
OLYMPICS Olympic Games 2012: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure that Birmingham obtains a legacy from the London 2012 [325284] Olympics. Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) have established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement
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Number of nights 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1
Date of stay 19 January 2009 16 July 2008 17 June 2008 16 February 2009 16 February 2009 16 February 2009 16 February 2009 16 February 2009
Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister which staff in Downing Street work on policy relating to trade [324542] unions. The Prime Minister: The staff in my Office work on a wide range of policies with a range of institutions. YouTube Mr. Hurd: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 1897W, on the Internet, for what reason the decision was taken to disable the function on the YouTube channel to allow comments; and if he will amend the functionality to allow the public to post [324200] comments on its YouTube channel. The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 1897W.
The names of the staff are confidential but the grades of the staff staying and number of bookings were as follows:
Number of bookings Group Director Director Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 (support worker) Investigating Commissioner 1 5 3 2 1 1 1 1
Rape: Criminal Proceedings WOMEN AND EQUALITY Equality and Human Rights Commission Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 644W, on departmental communications, if she will place in the Library a copy of each document provided by APCO Worldwide to the Equality and Human Rights Commission on its campaign programme and awareness campaign.
[324300]
Paul Holmes: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government Equalities Office plans to take in response to the recommendations made in the Stern Review of how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales.
[324089]
Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. APCO Worldwide produced a campaign book for the EHRC. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library as requested. Equality and Human Rights Commission: Hotels Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1008W, on hotels, for what dates each of the five star hotels were booked; and the name of each of the senior officials in whose name the [319746] bookings were made. Maria Eagle: The dates of stays in five star hotels are shown as follows.
Date of stay 8 July 2008 6 October 2008 6 October 2008 8 October 2008 30 April 2008 Number of nights 1 1 1 1 2
Maria Eagle: The Government welcome Baroness Sterns report and have recently published an interim response to her recommendations. Her report poses a number of challenges, as well as 23 recommendations, which need to be carefully considered before a fuller response is issued later this year.
LEADER OF THE HOUSE Members Staff: Pensions Lynne Jones: To ask the Leader of the House what the total monetary value of employer contributions towards the pensions of staff of hon. Members was in [325721] the most recent financial year. Barbara Keeley: The total pension contributions paid by the House in the 2009-10 financial year to the Portcullis Pension Plan for staff of Members was 5.49 million. In addition, pension contributions totalling 254,453 were paid by the House to individual pension arrangements for staff of Members. Public Duty Costs Allowance John Mason: To ask the Leader of the House (1) how much in public duty costs allowance has been paid to former Prime Ministers in each year since 1991; [311222]
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(2) what the limit is of the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and when that [311223] limit will next be reviewed; (3) what rules apply to claims made by former Prime Ministers from the public duty costs allowance;
[311224]
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324971] Paul Goggins: Voltage optimisers or equivalent technologies are not used within buildings occupied by the Department. Departmental Furniture Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on antique furniture in each of the last five years; [325114] and what items were purchased. Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has incurred no expenditure on antique furniture in the last five years. Departmental ICT Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which ICT projects initiated by his Department were cancelled before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred on each of those projects; who the contractors were of each of those projects; what the date of (a) commencement and (b) cancellation was of each of those projects; and [325472] if he will make a statement. Paul Goggins: There has been one ICT project cancelled by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) before completion since 1997. The Product Logging ICT Project was cancelled by the Forensic Science Agency at a cost of 8,500. The contractors were ICS Computing. The project commenced in June 2006 and was abandoned in November 2006. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.
[324799]
(4) which office administers the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and what checks are made to ensure that claims against the allowance meet the criteria for funding from the allowance;
[311225]
(5) what guidance is provided to former Prime Ministers on claiming from the public duty costs allowance; and if she will place a copy of that guidance [311226] in the Library. Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply. The public duties cost allowance which is administered by the Cabinet Office, is paid in respect of office and secretarial expenses incurred by former Prime Ministers in connection with their public duties. All claims must be supported by documentary evidence. The allowance is not payable if the former Prime Minister is occupying the position of Leader of the Opposition. The allowance is linked to the ceiling of the centralised arrangements for payment of staff and secretarial support for MPs with London constituencies. Information on payments before the 1997-98 financial year is obtainable only at disproportionate cost. The total amount reimbursed each year, on a cash basis, on the public duties costs allowance is:
Maximum allowance which can be claimed by each former Prime Minister () 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 47,568 49,232 50,264 51,572 52,760 72,310 74,985 77,534 84,081 87,276 90,505 100,205 Total claimed by former Prime Ministers () 171,827 175,402 171,984 167,955 186,922 278,615 235,809 274,794 294,546 244,638 174,551 190,888
NORTHERN IRELAND Administration of Justice Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review mechanisms have been put in place for future spending on the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland following the recent [325028] criminal justice inspection report. Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office already has processes to review expenditure on consultants across the Department and its arms length bodies. The use of external consultants and professional services is reported in the annual departmental report which is laid in Parliament.
Paul Goggins: The total cost to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) of employing press officers during 2008-09 was 579,343. No figures are available for the 1996-97 financial year. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325192] make a statement.
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Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has received no complaints regarding difficulties using the website. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325210] Paul Goggins: A review of my Departments website was conducted during the 2006-07 financial year to optimise the site and improve performance and download speeds. This review cost 15,677. Inquiries Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) which legal firms have worked (a) for and (b) with the Historical Enquiries Team; and how many hours of work each such legal firm had undertaken on the latest date for which figures are [325475] available; (2) what his most recent estimate is of the final cost to the public purse of the Historical Enquiries Team;
[325477]
Paul Goggins: The Historical Enquiries Team is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and copies of his letters will be placed in the Library of the House. Prisons: Mental Health Services Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on mental health services for prisoners in each (a) prison and (b) health authority area in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many prisoners received [325426] such treatment in each such year. Paul Goggins: Matters relating to all aspects of prisoners health care in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety which falls within the remit of the devolved Northern Ireland Administration.
JUSTICE Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new criminal offences relating to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol have [321162] been enacted in each year since 1998. Mr. Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply. The following Acts, which received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2010 and for which the Home Secretary has policy responsibility and contained references to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol are listed as follows:
Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 Policing and Crime Act 2009
(3) when he expects the Historical Enquiries Team to [325479] have completed its work; (4) how much the Historical Enquiries Team had spent on legal fees on the latest date for which figures [325480] are available; (5) how many people the Historical Enquiries Team has employed in each type of post in each month since [325481] its inception; (6) how many cases the Historical Enquiries Team [325483] has closed; (7) what mechanisms the Historical Enquiries Team [325484] uses to measure its effectiveness; (8) in respect of how many cases which the Historical Enquiries Team has declared closed, families of those whose deaths were under investigation have [325485] subsequently requested more information; (9) how many and what proportion of cases within its remit the Historical Enquiries Team has examined [325486] since its inception; (10) how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on security (a) for legal companies, (b) for witnesses and (c) in total since its inception; [325487] (11) how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on (a) accommodation and (b) advertising since [325488] its inception; (12) how many cases the Historical Enquiries Team has completed to the satisfaction of the families of those whose deaths were under investigation; [325489] (13) how much the Historical Enquiries Team has [325520] spent on IT since its inception; (14) how much the Historical Enquiries Team has [325521] spent on IT consultants since its inception; (15) what the budget is of the press office for the Historical Enquiries Team in (a) 2009-10 and (b) [325522] 2010-11; (16) what the cost to the public purse had been of the Historical Enquiries Team on the latest date for which [325478] figures are available.
A total of nine new offences relating to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol are included within the Acts above. The new offences are listed as follows:
Persistent possession of alcohol in a public place (s30 of Policing and Crime Act 2009) DPPOrefusal to comply with request (s12(4) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) Closure Orders (s25(3) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) Closure Orders (s25(4) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) Closure Orders (s25(5) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) Closure Orders (s26(1) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) Confiscation Act (s1(3) of Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997) Breach of a Drinking Banning Order (s11(1) of Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) Directions to leavefailure to comply with direction (s27(6) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006)
Cemeteries Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on (a) communal graves and (b) burial arrangements for paupers. [325321]
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Bridget Prentice: Our current guidance reminds burial ground managers not to discriminate in the way common graves are provided in cemeteries and encourages them to be treated with as much sensitivity and respect as any other graves. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what (a) the cost and (b) [324659] purpose was of each. Mr. Straw: The provision and offering of hospitality is governed by the Departments internal hospitality policy, which is consistent with the principles of Managing Public Money and the HM Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ psr_governance_valueformoney.htm
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 833W, on legal costs, how many employees have instigated legal proceedings against his Department in cases concerning remuneration in each month of the last three years. [325258] Mr. Wills: Details of the number of employees instigating legal proceedings against the Ministry of Justice (excluding NOMS) are contained in the following table.
Number 2007-08 May June July August September October November December January February March 2008-09 April May June July August September October November December January February March 2009-10 April May June July August September October November December January
1 2 1
0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 1 57 1
The guiding principle of the Departments internal policy is that gifts and hospitality must only be provided or accepted in exceptional circumstances where they:
are appropriate to the circumstances; and are modest and appropriate
For example:
token items such as promotional pens; or routine hospitality such as coffee and biscuits; or a light working lunch where there are external attendees, meetings are lengthy or internal attendees have travelled long distances.
2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0
Attendance at, and hosting of, hospitality events by Department and agency staff is recorded in local hospitality registers, in accordance with Ministry of Justice policy. These data are not collated centrally, and gathering information from local registers (including operational establishments) would be possible only at disproportionate cost. Therefore, a list of the five most expensive events during the last three years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, at the start of the legal year the Lord Chancellor hosts a breakfast after a service at Westminster Abbey. This event is attended by senior judiciary from the UK and overseas and this event is likely to be one of the higher value events hosted by the Ministry of Justice. The expenditure for the past three years is as follows:
Accounting year 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 29,953 50,391 29,952
1 0 0 1 1 2 1 34 0 1
Including one Employment Tribunal claim with 54 claimants. 2 Including one Employment Tribunal claim with 34 claimants.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. It has not been possible to obtain information covering NOMS in answer to this question without incurring disproportionate cost. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 833W, on legal costs, in how many cases concerning remuneration of employees the final ruling was (a) in favour of and (b) against his Department in each month of the last three years.
[325259]
In 2008-09 there was a switch from the House of Lords Refreshments Department to the House of Commons Catering and Retail Services. The usual function rooms and catering services were not available and consequently the costs of staging the event were higher. The choice of menu/catering has since been reviewed and economies made, enabling a reduction in costs for 2009-10.
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Mr. Wills: In the core Ministry of Justice (excluding NOMS) none of the cases whose legal costs or compensation values reported in my answer of 16 March were subject to a final ruling. All cases were either withdrawn by the claimants or where applicable, settlement was agreed by the Ministry in advance of a ruling. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is an Agency of the Ministry of Justice. It has not been possible to obtain information covering NOMS in answer to this question without incurring disproportionate cost. Magistrates: Age Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are taken to ensure that appointments of magistrates avoid discrimination on [325386] grounds of age. Mr. Straw: The Lord Chancellor appoints magistrates with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice. They are recruited and selected by 101 local advisory committees. The following steps are designed to avoid all forms of discrimination in that process:
appointment is strictly on merit; eligible candidates are assessed solely against the key qualities required of all magistrates, irrespective of factors such as age all advisory committee members undertake mandatory training on how to avoid bias or discrimination during the selection process the selection process has been reviewed by my Departments legal advisers to ensure compliance with applicable antidiscrimination legislation.
(2) whether his Department has evidence of the transfer of violent or pornographic images from telephone to telephone by inmates in prisons in [324864] England and Wales. Maria Eagle: The court proceedings database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. The court proceedings database does not hold specific information on offences beyond descriptions provided by the statutes under which prosecutions are brought. Information available centrally on defendants proceeded against does not identify if the defendant is a prisoner. While data are extracted from mobile phones by a central unit, action taken as a result of that data is a matter for individual establishments and their partners. This is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. David Blakeys report and the Government response were published on 7 July 2008. The report emphasised the difficulties inherent in reducing contraband supply in prisons, and highlighted the link between drug supply and mobile phone availability in prisons. Good progress has been made in implementing Blakeys recommendations and the Government are committed to reducing the number of mobile phones in prisons and addressing the risks that mobile phones present both to prison security and to the safety of the public. We have implemented a strategy to minimise the number of mobile phones entering prisons, to find phones that do get in and to disrupt mobile phones that cannot be found. As part of this we have already strengthened the law through the Offender Management Act 2007, which made it an offence with a penalty of up to two years imprisonment to bring a mobile phone or component into a prison. We are also taking forward legislation to criminalise the possession of devices including mobile telephones within a prison without authorisation. Due to the covert nature of mobile phone use in prisons, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is not able to estimate the number of mobile phones or component parts in circulation. NOMS is also unable to assess their usage. Prisons in England and Wales are instructed to send mobile phones and SIM cards found to a central unit and the data extracted from these mobile phones are then shared with establishments so that appropriate action can be taken locally. A record of these local actions is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Prisons: Organised Crime John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of offences relating to involvement in organised crime were in prison when charged with those offences in each of the last three [325661] years. Maria Eagle: The data requested are not held. There is no list of offences that relate to involvement in organised crime. Therefore, to provide these data would require an investigation into each individual conviction where the offender was in prison custody
Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months. [324251] Mr. Wills: I refer the hon. Member to answer given by my hon. Friend, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Political Parties: Finance Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 795W, on political parties: finance, what response he made to Sir Hayden Phillips request on release of the [324408] minutes and background papers. Mr. Straw: My response to Sir Hayden Phillips consented to the release of the minutes and background papers from the inter-party talks on party funding. Prisoners: Mobile Phones David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prosecutions there have been for offences relating to pornographic or violent images discovered on telephones seized from inmates in prisons in England and Wales in the last 12 months;
[324863]
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when charged, and in many cases a subjective assessment as to whether the offence related to serious organised crime. This would be at disproportionate cost. The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals while in prison. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate the Prison Service has made of the incidence of organised crime carried out by serving [325663] prisoners over the last three years. Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1086W. Covert criminal activity is, of its nature, very difficult to quantify. Prisons have a well established security information reporting framework. Where concerns are identified about a prisoners potential criminal activity, prisons can draw on a range of measures to identify and disrupt that activity. The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report Extending Our Reach: A
Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals while in prison. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were charged with a serious crime carried out while they were in prison in 2008-09.
[325664]
Maria Eagle: While the number of serious offences, as defined by Schedule 1 to the Serious Crime Act 2007, are recorded, data as to whether the offender was imprisoned at the time of charge are not held. To provide the data would require an investigation into each such offence, which would be at disproportionate cost. The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals whilst in prison. Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for offences under the Protection of [325344] Badgers Act 1992 in each year since 2006. Claire Ward: The requested information is shown in the following tables:
The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2006 to 20081, 2, 3 2006 Statute 10822 Badgers Act 1973 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, s.26 and Badgers Act 1991, s.1 Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Offence description Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts. Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified. Proceeded against 10 Found guilty 3 Sentenced 3 Proceeded against 20 2007 Found guilty 6 Sentenced 6
11120
12
10
20083 Statute 10822 Badgers Act 1973 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, s.26 and Badgers Act 1991, s.1 Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Offence description Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts. Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified. Proceeded against 22 Found guilty 11 Sentenced 11
11120
14
11
11
1 The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.
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Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2010, Official Report, columns 383-84W, on trade unions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the secondment agreement between his Department and the PCS trade [322745] union. Mr. Straw: Agreements are not generic documents, but are specific to the individual on secondment. We currently have two employees on secondment to PCS, and copies of their agreements will be placed in the Library. Tribunals: Disability Living Allowance Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeal tribunals relating to disability living
allowance took place in each of the smallest administrative areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years. [324599] Bridget Prentice: The Tribunals Service is only able to provide figures for each administrative area from 2007-08. Prior to this, disability living allowance appeals were administered by the Appeals Service, an agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP is unable to break down its figures in the way the hon. Member has requested. The First-tier TribunalSocial Security and Child Support has seven administrative centres across the country. The following information is the most comprehensive that the Tribunals Service Management Information system can provide.
Disability living allowance: clearances at hearing by centre 2005-06 Birmingham (East and West Midlands and East of England Government Office Regions) and (London Government2 Office Region) Cardiff (Wales) and South West Government Office Region Glasgow (Scotland) Leeds (Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office Region) North West (North West Government Office Region) Newcastle (North East Government Office Region) Nottingham3 Sutton4 (South East and London2 Government Office Regions) Total * 2006-07 * 2007-08 6,445 2008-09 8,846 2009-10 (up to 28 February 2010)1 9,054
* * * * * * * 71,125
* * * * * * * 65,088
7,931 9,601 5,095 8,034 3,535 12,847 4,342 57,830
7,285 8,220 5,382 8,563 3,452 8,824 3,308 53,880
7,269 6,803 4,330 8,090 3,228 5,021 4,282 48,077
* = Figures for April 2006 to March 2007 are unavailable. 1 Figures provided for April 2009 to February 2010 are provisional and subject to further change. 2 Covers whole of Government Office Region London except Hillingdon, Harrow, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Hackney which are covered by Birmingham. 3 The Nottingham office transferred its caseload which covered the East Midlands, East of England and part of the London region (see 2 above) to the Birmingham office on 18 December 2009. 4 Prior to 29 June 2009, part of Suttons caseload was administered by the Nottingham office and is included in the Nottingham figures up until that date. Notes: 1. Figures provided for financial years April 2007 to February 2010 were extracted from GAPS 2 (Generic Appeals Processing System) Statistical Summary Reports dated 25 March 2010. 2. Figures prior to April 2007 supplied by DWP. From April 2006 there was a transitional period when DWP recorded data on more than one computer system (GAPS 1 and GAPS 2). Some information was not updated on the system and as a result a breakdown by area is not available.
WORK AND PENSIONS Children: Maintenance Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were processed by the Child Support Agency in each of the last 10 years. [324690] Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases were dealt with by the Child Support Agency in each of the last 10 years. [324690] The number of live and assessed cases being handled in each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. This includes old scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. Figures include cases processed off the system from 2008. Information on these cases prior to this date is not included as this information can not be broken down into those live or assessed.
Table 1: Caseload by scheme: live and assessed cases Period as at: November 2000 November 2001 November 2002 December 2003 December 2004 December 2005 Old scheme 1,044,500 1,054,800 1,079,500 935,400 868,300 816,400 Current scheme 65,200 169,600 293,700 Overall agency 1,044,500 1,054,800 1,079,500 1,000,700 1,037,900 1,110,100
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Table 1: Caseload by scheme: live and assessed cases
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Period as at: December 2006 December 2007 December 2008 December 2009
Old scheme 747,600 669,700 607,300 521,900
Current scheme 418,700 556,700 656,200 691,200
Overall agency 1,166,300 1,226,400 1,263,500 1,213,100
Notes: 1. Figures from December 2008 accurately reflect the performance of cases processed off the system. Prior to 2008, the clerical caseload cannot be broken down to show the number of live and assessed cases. 2. Figures include old Scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current Scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. 3. From 2003, changes were made to the quarterly periods in which figures were recorded. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account her Departments food procurement policy takes of animal welfare. [325523] Jonathan Shaw: The Department does not procure food directly, but has a contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation which includes catering. The contract is with Telereal Trillium and their catering services supplier is Eurest (part of the Compass Group UK and Ireland). Since 2003, the Department has been working with these suppliers, actively pursuing a Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative action plan and one of the key objectives of this initiative is to raise farming standards. Compass Group has confirmed that they endorse the Farm Animal Welfare Councils Five Freedoms concept and provide full traceability of products and suppliers within their approved supply chain to ensure animals reared for meat, fish, milk and eggs are raised to high standards of animal welfare. Compass Group has also confirmed a long-standing commitment to source its seafood as sustainably as possible. They were the first foodservice company to achieve the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification enabling them to serve certified sustainable, MSC labelled seafood choices. Within the DWP contract many of their sites are buying products to these standards and promotional activities are run to encourage DWP staff to purchase the more ethically sourced products. Departmental Internet Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1023W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign.
[321921]
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many enquiries made to the Child Support Agency (CSA) were responded to (a) over the telephone and (b) in writing in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the policy is of the CSA on responding to requests that details of a telephone conversation be confirmed in [325397] writing. Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the right hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many enquiries made to the Child Support Agency (CSA) were responded to (a) over the telephone and (b) in writing in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the policy is of the CSA on responding to requests that details of a telephone conversation be confirmed in writing. [325397] Information on how the Child Support Agency (CSA) responded to enquires made by (a) over the telephone and, (b) in writing is not available as the purpose of calls and correspondence is not recorded for management information purposes. There is no specific policy on how the CSA handle requests for written confirmation of a conversation. Management encourage employees to use the telephone when contacting clients as this is the fastest and most effective means of communication, however we will provide written confirmation to clients where there is a valid need. I hope you find this answer helpful.
Council Tax Benefits Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) representations she has received from and (b) discussions she has had with (i) the Royal British Legion, (ii) other third sector organisations and (iii) other interested parties on the renaming of council [325458] tax benefit as council tax rebate. Helen Goodman: During the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill the Royal British Legion met with Ministers and officials a number of times to discuss the merits of the case for changing the name of council tax benefit and, subsequently, on how to take forward the change of name to council tax rebate. The Department has continued to receive some correspondence from interested parties concerning the name change.
Jim Knight: The cost of the DWP Corporate website redesign was 216,000. The website was redesigned as part of our response to the Sir David Varney transformational government recommendations that customer facing content should move to Directgov and employer facing content to Business Link. We therefore redesigned the corporate site for its refined corporate audience and removed all customer facing content, while at the same time implementing new Cabinet Office guidelines for Government websites.
1187W
Written Answers Employment Schemes: Birmingham
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Future Jobs Fund
1188W
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham have received (a) the in-work credit, (b) the return to work credit and (c) pathways to work since that [325241] scheme was introduced. Helen Goodman: 1,480 lone parents in the Birmingham local authority area have received in-work credit since it became available there in April 2008. 15,190 individuals received provider led Pathways to Work support in the Birmingham local authority area up to the end of July 2009. 1,120 individuals received the return to work credit in the Birmingham local authority area up to the end of October 2009. Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the likely effects on the voluntary sector of the decision to reduce the number of prime contractors under the [325464] Work Choice Programme. Jonathan Shaw: Smaller, specialist organisations including those from the faith based, voluntary and third sector already play an important role in delivering support to our customers. For example, as of 1 March 2010, 29 per cent. of the Departments Welfare to Work contracts were with providers from the third sector, compared to 38 per cent. from the private sector and 33 per cent. from the public sector. As we move to longer, larger contracts with prime contractors, it is important that we do all we can to ensure that organisations from the voluntary and third sector are engaged and made aware of the opportunities to work as sub-contractors/partners with the prime contractors. Prime contractors will be expected to ensure that DWP provision is joined up with local partnership arrangements, working with smaller, specialist providers many of whom will be third sector or voluntary organisations dealing with disadvantaged groups in the local area. Specifically, as part of the procurement of the Work Choice programme, DWP established a database to facilitate the networking between prospective prime contractors and delivery partners. This was published on the DWP website; updated on an ongoing basis and included the contact details of all organisations who agreed to have these details published. Additionally, two events took place in September 2009, to further facilitate networking between potential prime providers and those organisations seeking to deliver at sub-contractor level. Nearly 600 people attended these events. DWP are taking every public and private opportunity to stress to potential Prime providers that they are taking a keen interest in observing how organisations are taking forward their partnering strategies and the care with which they are engaging with third sector organisations.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in each employment sector (a) were originally expected to be created by Future Job Fund funding and (b) are expected to be created as a result of successful bids for such funding.
[324516]
Jim Knight: The Future Jobs Fund does not include targets for the creation of jobs in specific sectors. The Future Jobs Fund is a challenge fund and we are therefore unable to provide any detail about the volumes of jobs that might be created in each sector. The Department and HMT agreed an aspiration of creating 10,000 green jobs through the Future Jobs Fund. This includes jobs in environmental sectors, renewable energy technologies, and emerging low-carbon sectors. Of the 117,000 Future Jobs Fund jobs weve agreed to fund to date, around 17,000 have been green jobs. Incapacity Benefit Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time of incapacity benefit applications was in (a) the UK and (b) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each quarter of the last five [321456] years; and if she will make a statement. Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested. Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the average processing time of incapacity benefit applications was in (a) the UK and (b) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each quarter of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. The average actual clearance time (AACT) is calculated from our benefit processing system and is a result of taking all the claim volumes processed within any given month against the total number of days each claim has taken to process. The system conducts a simple division calculation using these data sets to provide us with the AACT. The two dates used to calculate the AACT for incapacity benefit were from the date a properly complete claim form is received by Jobcentre Plus to the date a decision is made. I have provided the AACT data for the last five years and current performance to January 2010. For 2005/06 the data is displayed by district level and from 2006/07 onwards the data has been gathered by Benefit Delivery Centre. This is the lowest geographical area we can provide. For national level performance we have provided in month performance from April 2005 to January 2010. I have arranged to have this information placed in the House of Commons Library. We do not record the requested data quarterly as the data is not collated in this way. However, we have provided information in monthly and yearly tables. I hope this information is helpful.
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Written Answers National Insurance: Gurkhas
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1190W
Leavers from the new deal for young people (other than early entrants) Destinations from 2004 up to August 2009 (latest data available)number Calendar year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20091
1
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many National Insurance numbers her Department has issued to Gurkha veterans settling in the United Kingdom since August [325688] 2009; (2) how long on average it has taken to issue a National Insurance number to a Gurkha veteran settling in the United Kingdom since August 2009.
[325689]
Number to employment 53,730 43,830 51,560 57,490 41,920 33,360
Proportion of entrants (percentage) 40.8 36.7 35.4 35.8 33.1 24.8
Helen Goodman: The information is not available. New Deal for Young People Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) early and (b) normal entrants to the New Deal for Young People left in order to take up employment in each of the last five years; and if she will make a [318469] statement. Jim Knight: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the new deal programmes have helped some 2.25 million people into work since they were introduced in 1998. This includes 915,650 jobseekers who have been helped into work by the new deal for young people. None the less, the labour market has changed significantly over the last decade and the programme needs to evolve to ensure it is ready for the challenges of the next 10 years. This is why we are introducing the refreshed jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal which will offer a four-stage programme of support, with increasing levels of customer responsibility at each stage. The introduction of the flexible new deal will support the Governments aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment. Implementation of the new jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal began in April 2009 as part of a phased approach across the country. This programme will be available to jobseekers in most areas of the country by October 2010. The recording of destinations of new deal participants in 2009 has been affected by the transition to the refreshed jobseekers allowance and flexible new deal. The information requested is shown in the following tables:
Leavers from the new deal for young people (early entrants) Destinations from 2004 up to August 2009 (latest data available) Calendar year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20091 Number to employment 17,000 13,690 11,140 12,030 11,110 7,680 Proportion of entrants (percentage) 45.6 40.3 36.0 35.8 34.1 24.8
The 2009 figures are to August 2009 only, the last month for which figures are available. Notes: 1. Definitions and conventions: Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages are rounded to one decimal point. 2. Those not recorded as leaving the new deal programmes to take up employment include those leaving to benefits, people who have gone abroad, people who have taken up jobs without notifying the jobcentre, or those who have left and not notified Jobcentre Plus of their destination. 3. The employment category includes leavers for whom information indicated that they had both a job start and a new benefit claim within two weeks of leaving new deal. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate
New Deal Schemes: Birmingham Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding in total has been received under New Deal programmes for (a) young people, (b) 25+, (c) 50+, (d) lone parents, (e) partners and (f) disabled people in Birmingham; and how many people in Birmingham have received [321575] assistance from each such scheme. Jim Knight: The most recent data can be found in the following table.
Programme funding and New Deal starters in Birmingham and Solihull district Programme New Deal for Young People New Deal for 25 Plus New Deal for Lone Parents New Deal for Partners New Deal for Disabled People Total 2008-09 Outturn ( million) 5.004 1.866 1.590 8.461 2008-09 Starts 7,150 2,200 5,400 0 0 14,800
Notes 1. Figures may not sum due to rounding 2. The figures only reflect provision costs and spend on in work training grants there is no estimation of the costs of Jobcentre Plus adviser time which is substantial for some programmes. 3. New Deal for Young People and New Deal for 25 Plus figures for funding include New Deal for the Self Employed and New Deal for Musicians. 4. New Deal for 50 Plus spend and starts are incorporated in the New Deal for 25 Plus figures. 5. Funding for the New Deal for Disabled People is not available below national level. This figure is published in the Departmental Report 2009, which is available in the Library. 6. Because of the small numbers involved, we do not have reliable data for the starts and spend for the New Deal for Partners in this district. National data are published in the Departmental Report 2009, which is available in the Library. 7. Starts figures are rounded to the nearest 50. 8. Latest data on starters are from the introduction of the New Deal programmes to August 2009. 9. New Deal for Disabled People starters (individuals) data are not available; Job Broker Registrations (individuals) has been used instead. 10. Spells (period of time spent on the programme) are not available for New Deal for 50 Plus and New Deal for Partners so individual level data are used instead. Spells data is used for New Deal for Young People, New Deal for 25 Plus and New Deal for Lone Parents. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.
1191W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1192W
The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the New Deal programme has helped more than 2.25 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998. Social Security Benefits: Disabled Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people are in receipt of the (a) (i) care and (ii) mobility component of disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance in the (A) South West and (B) [325466] UK. Jonathan Shaw: The information is in the tables.
Disability living allowance: cases in paymentcare award type by south-west Government office region Higher rate GB caseloads GB proportions (percentage) South-west caseloads South-west proportions (percentage) 710,110 1.2 45,970 0.9 Middle rate 1,021,440 1.7 81,290 1.6 Lower rate 859,510 1.4 66,250 1.3 Nil rate 502,050 0.8 37,070 0.7 Total 3,093,090 5.2 230,580 4.4
Jonathan Shaw: The information is in the tables.

Disability living allowance: cases in payment by care awardAugust 2009 Care award type St. Ives caseloads St. Ives percentage of population Higher rate 1,230 1.2 Middle rate 1,910 1.9 Lower rate 1,740 1.7 Nil rate 920 0.9 Total 5,790 5.8
Disability living allowance: cases in payment by mobility awardAugust 2009 Mobility award type St. Ives caseloads St. Ives percentage of population Higher rate 3,410 3.4 Lower rate 1,570 1.6 Nil rate 810 0.8 Total 5,790 5.8
Attendance allowance: cases in payment by attendance allowance award type August 2009 Attendance allowance award type St. Ives caseloads St. Ives percentage of population
Higher Rate 1,650 1.7
Lower Rate 2,030 2.0
Total 3,690 3.7
Disability living allowance: cases in paymentmobility award type by southwest Government office region Higher rate GB caseloads GB proportions (percentage) South-west caseloads South-west proportions (percentage) 1,763,930 3.0 124,510 2.4 Lower rate 923,250 1.5 71,030 1.4 Nil rate 405,910 0.7 35,040 0.7 Total 3,093,090 5.2 230,580 4.4
Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Cases in payment show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Recipients of disability living allowance can be in receipt of both the care and mobility component. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
State Retirement Pensions Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number of recipients of the state second pension whose entitlement includes years past 2002 when they were in receipt of incapacity benefit; how much extra state second pension is paid per week per recipient in respect of such years; and what estimate she has made of the expenditure on such accrued rights in 2009-10. [324417] Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 March 2010]: State second pension expenditure in 2009-10 due to the accrual of rights via receipt of incapacity benefit is estimated at around 300 million in 2009-10 price terms. We are unable to provide information relating to the number of people to whom this expenditure relates or the average amounts in payment as modelling of state second pension expenditure is performed on an aggregate basis and does not take account of individual entitlements. In 2007-08, the latest period for which data is available, 900,000 women and 1,300,000 men of working age accrued rights to state second pension through receipt of incapacity benefit.
Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 million. 2. Forecasts of state second pension/state earnings related pension scheme are based on the Budget Report 2010 forecasts. Published expenditure tables can found at the following link: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp
Attendance allowance: cases in paymentcare award type in south-west Government office region Higher rate GB caseloads GB proportions (percentage) South West caseloads South West proportions (percentage) 896,750 1.5 72,570 1.4 Lower rate 708,380 1.2 92,600 1.8 Total 1,605,120 2.7 165,170 3.2
Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. = Nil or negligible, n/a = Not applicable. 2. Cases in payment show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Recipients of disability living allowance can be in receipt of both the care and mobility component. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the population in St. Ives constituency are in receipt of each level of (a) attendance allowance and (b) the (i) care and (ii) mobility component of disability living [325470] allowance.
1193W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers DEFENCE Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
1194W
3. Figures for 2007-08 are provisional as they will be subject to change as further information about national insurance contributions becomes available. Sources: Strategy Directorate modelling and Lifetime Labour Market Database, 2007-08.
Unemployment Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2010, Official Report, column 605, if she will estimate the savings in unemployment benefits and other benefits from unemployment being 650,000 lower in 2010 than the average predicted by independent [323436] forecasts; and if she will make a statement. Jim Knight [holding answer 22 March 2010]: Between the Budget 2009 and the Budget 2010, the expected level of UK unemployment was reduced. By the end of 2009, the actual UK unemployment claimant count was already nearly 500,000 less than expected at the Budget 2009. Unemployment is now expected to be 700,000 lower in 2010 than in the Budget 2009. The savings in benefits across 2010-11 to 2014-15 compared with what was assumed at Budget 2009 is around 14 billion. This includes spend relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit as well as jobseekers allowance. Winter Fuel Payments Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Budget 2010, HC 451, if she will estimate the saving to the Exchequer in each of the next five years of increasing the age of entitlement [325346] to winter fuel payments to 65 years. Angela Eagle: Following a European Court of Justice Judgment in December 1999, the winter fuel payment scheme was extended to all those aged 60 and over. The requested information is in the following table:
Savings (2009-10 price terms) million 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 600 420 340 270 220
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which items of equipment procured since 2001 and made available to operations in Afghanistan were procured as part of his Departments core equipment [322846] programme. Mr. Quentin Davies: The following table, which is based on centrally held records, lists the majority of equipment projects with a cost of 20 million or over that were procured from the core equipment programme since 2004 and made available to operations in Afghanistan. A number of equipment projects have not been included as their disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. Details of equipment projects procured prior to 2004, and projects costing less than 20 million for the entire period covered by the question, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Category Land Equipment Equipment Battle Group Thermal Imaging Trojan Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV)1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Future Fire Control System Wheeled Tankers Pinzgauer 4x4 Truck Utility Medium Fitted For Radio Dismounted Counter Mine CapabilityVallon handheld mine detector Support Vehicle (SV) C Vehicle PFICrane Terex 35 Tonne C Vehicle PFILight Wheel Tractor All Arms JCB 3CX C Vehicle PFILight Wheeled Tractor JCB 4CX C Vehicle PFIMedium Wheeled Tractor C Vehicle PFIBulldozer Cat D5N C Vehicle PFIHeavy Well Drills C Vehicle PFIRough Terrain Forklift 2400 kg JCB C Vehicle PFIRough terrain Forklift 4000 kg JCB Operational Field Catering System (OFCS) Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar
Weapons
Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Javelin Follow-On Buy
Notes: 1. Expenditure for GB only, rounded to the nearest 10 million. 2. The European Court of Justice ruled that, by not paying winter fuel payments to men aged 60 to 64, but paying eligible women from age 60, the scheme was discriminatory. The ruling was applied from the beginning of the scheme, the winter of 1997-98. 3. Savings are modelled using current policy of increasing age of entitlement to winter fuel payments to 65 by 2020, against a scenario if age entitlement to winter fuel payments was increased to 65 immediately in each of the next five financial years. Modelling assumes anyone 60-64 currently receiving winter fuel payment would no longer receive it. 4. A winter fuel payment of 250 per household is modelled for 2010-11. For subsequent years a winter fuel payment of 200 per household is modelled. 5. Savings are for each financial year and become smaller as the age of entitlement increases with current policy. The drop in savings from 2010-11 to 2011-12 is also due to the decrease in winter fuel payment amounts assumed.
Air Support
C-17 (5th Aircraft) C-17 (6th aircraft)
Information Systems and Services
Bowman UIC/TSC503 Transportable SATCOM Terminals
Helicopters
1
Chinook Coherence
The Panther CLV was procured through the core equipment programme but a number of the vehicles underwent a modification, funded as an urgent operational requirement, to enable them to operate in Afghanistan.
1195W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Aircraft Carriers
1196W
Other equipment projects are planned to be procured from the core equipment programme to be made available for operations in Afghanistan. These include land equipment, information systems and services and helicopter projects and the 7th C17. Many other equipment projects procured from the core equipment programme have delivered capability in support of other operations. Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Operation Eagles Summit in 2008 necessitated the redeployment of British forces from [325239] elsewhere in Helmand Province. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: While extensive support was provided by British forces to Operation Oqab Tsuka (Eagles Summit), to move a turbine from Kandahar to Kajaki, it did not require the long-term redeployment of British troops from elsewhere in Helmand Province. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Scout vehicles will carry out in Afghanistan; and what the cost of each such vehicle [325452] will be on deployment in theatre. Mr. Quentin Davies: The Scout vehicles will be the principal reconnaissance vehicles of the British Army and will replace Scimitar vehicles which are currently deployed in Afghanistan. The final numbers and costs will be determined at the manufacture investment decision point. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what main weapons systems Scout vehicles will have on deployment in Afghanistan; which companies are the (a) manufacturers and (b) suppliers of the ammunition for the vehicles main weapons systems; what the cost is per round of ammunition; and what estimate he has made of the lifespan of the barrel of the main weapon system per number of rounds [325453] fired. Mr. Quentin Davies: The intent is for the Scout vehicles main weapon system to be the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon provided by Cased Telescoped Ammunition International, a joint private venture between BAES and Nexter. On current plans, BAES will produce the ammunition for the cannon at their facilities in Glascoed, South Wales under the Departments Munitions Acquisition Supply Solution (MASS) contract. The cost of each round of ammunition will be determined during commercial negotiations before the MASS contract is amended to incorporate the 40 mm ammunition. The lifespan of the barrel will be established during the qualification programme for the cannon and ammunition. The qualification programme consists of an extensive series of tests and trials to ensure that the cannon and ammunition are safe, reliable and effective for use by the British Army. Air Force Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to retain the Royal Air Force as a separate service after the next Strategic Defence [325552] Review. Bill Rammell: Yes, it is my policy to retain the three services.
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) contracts and (b) sub-contracts related to the construction of two aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy have been let; in which constituencies he expects work arising from such contracts and sub-contracts to take place; and if he will make a statement. [324990] Mr. Quentin Davies: In July 2008, the MOD placed a contract with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) for the manufacture of two Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class aircraft carriers. Work on the QE Class Aircraft Carriers is now under way in five UK shipyardsAppledore, Rosyth, Govan, Portsmouth and Tyne, with work due to start at the sixth and final yard, Birkenhead, in the next few months. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 21 January 2010, Official Report, column 437W. An updated list of sub-contracts will be placed in the Library of the House, which includes the constituencies where work will be carried out. Armed Forces: Health Services Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department has allocated for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers returning from active duty to (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1997; and if [325311] he will make a statement. Mr. Kevan Jones: Financial information is not held in the format requested. Owing to the number of different internal budgets to which costs would be attributable, any detailed analysis of Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) finances would therefore incur disproportionate costs. The majority of mental healthcare for service personnel is provided through MODs 15 military-run DCMHs in the UK (with additional centres in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar), which have since 2004 provided out-patient mental healthcare for members of the armed forces. In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in specialised Mental Health units under contract with an external provider. Between April 2004 and March 2009, this was provided by the Priory Healthcare Group, and costs in each financial year are contained in the following table:
Contract value ( million) 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 0.4 4.2 4.5 3.4 3.9 3.3
These figures take into account the cost of assessing patients as well as any in-patient treatment programmes provided; the individual care needs of each patient will vary depending on their particular medical circumstances. They also include services provided by the Priory Group between 1 December 2003 and April 2004 prior to the formal contract start date.
1197W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
Number of properties handed back to AHL 676 307 460 260 475 Number of MOD properties disposed of 76 24 5 45 1
1198W
Number of properties demolished 0 0 0 0 1
The contract with the Priory Group has been replaced by one awarded in November 2008 to a partnership of seven NHS trusts led by South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust. They admitted their first patients under this contract in February 2009. Costs for its first year of operation will be available in summer 2010. Prior to April 2004, in-patient care was provided at MODs Duchess of Kent psychiatric hospital at Catterick; full historic costs back to 1997 are not available. The Ministry of Defence takes the mental health of its personnel very seriously. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious issue, and one we are making every effort to address, PTSD itself makes up only around 5 per cent. of the mental health burden of the armed forces. The majority of service personnel who do develop a mental health condition will suffer from less serious conditions, such as neurotic or adjustment disorders. But we offer assessment and treatment to individuals who might be concerned about any aspect of their mental health. The DCMHs are located to be convenient for major centres of military population, and support the provision of healthcare that is available through service primary care facilities. Many of the less serious mental health disorders are managed by primary care providers; sometimes cases are co-managed by DCMH staff and primary care staff. While there are no DCMHs located in Wales itself, we nevertheless have arrangements in place to ensure that mental healthcare can be provided conveniently and flexibly, while reflecting the number of service personnel in the principality and their wide dispersion. Staff from the DCMH at Donnington in Shropshire run regular clinics in locations which cover all the major concentrations of personnel in Wales, namely Valley, St. Athan, Brawdy and Brecon, as well as at locations on the Welsh border such as Chepstow and Hereford. They will additionally visit individual patients as required at their home or other location. Personnel based in Wales who do need to attend a DCMH will usually be referred to that at Donnington, although other units, such as those in Portsmouth and Plymouth, may be used if more convenient. Armed Forces: Housing Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service family accommodation properties in England and Wales were identified as awaiting disposal or demolition in each year since 2004; and how much rent was paid to Annington Homes for those properties in each of those years.
[322038]
Financial year 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
It has not been possible to determine from records held how much rent was paid to AHL for each property from the point it was identified as being surplus to the MODs requirements to when it was actually handed back to the company.
Armed Forces: Manpower Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to manning control have been downgraded to Grade P 4 since 2007.
[325136]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Decisions on the particular regiments and service roles on which soldier Manning Control Points will be focused have not yet been made by the Army. Each individual case will be considered on its merits, irrespective of gender. Armed Forces: Merseyside Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 9-10, on armed forces: Merseyside, how many young people in the UK cadet forces were recruited into the armed forces in each of [325005] the last five years. Mr. Kevan Jones: There is no requirement for recruits into the armed forces to specify whether they had previously been a member of any cadet force. The cadet forces organisations seek to raise the awareness of opportunities for personal development in young people and support their career. They are not recruiting organisations, although it is acknowledged that where the cadet experience leads to a young person joining the armed forces, this is a benefit to defence. Armed Forces: Training Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the planned closure of the research and assessment facility at the Defence Academy; and if he will make a [321500] statement. Bill Rammell: The Defence Academy Research and Assessment Branch undertook broad non-technical research in an evolving range of geo-strategic studies and crosscutting global issues which centred around Statecraft and Governance. The Academy is currently assessing how non-technical research capability can still be delivered by reviewing the arrangements that it has in place with its academic providers Cranfield University and Kings College London to optimise the Academys research in a manner which supports its primary activity (to enhance Defence capability by providing high quality, relevant, progressive training and education underpinned by research to the four services) as well as contributing to the MODs broader research effort.
Mr. Kevan Jones: It will take more time to collate and verify the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member. Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Willie Rennie:
In my answer of 12 March (Official Report, column 479W) I undertook to write to you with details of how many service family accommodation properties in England and Wales were identified for disposal or demolition in each year since 2004: and how much rent was paid to Annington Homes Ltd (Ltd) for those properties in each of those years. The following number of properties were handed back to AHL in each year financial year since 2004-05. I also provide the following number of MOD owned properties that were disposed of, normally by open market sale, or demolished:
1199W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1200W
The Academy is also looking at closer integration with activity sponsored or conducted by the Directors Defence Studies, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Defence Concept and Doctrine Centre in order to mitigate any loss of capability through the closure of the research and assessment branch. Defence Medical Services Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which private companies Defence Medical Services uses to hire civilian medical locums to work at UK medical facilities on deployed operations;
[324582]
for Scotland in the categories requested for the years where data are available are presented in the following table:
2007-08 current prices ( million) (a) Equipment expenditure 510 (b) Non Equipment expenditure 280 (c) Service personnel costs 590 (d) Civilian personnel costs 190 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million. 2. Figures relate to expenditure in the whole Scottish Government office region rather than to any individual military or civilian establishments. 3. Indirect expenditure, such as subcontracted work, is not reflected in the figures. 4. Personnel costs exclude contributions made by MOD to the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme and War Pensions Scheme.
(2) how many civilian medical locums have been employed by Defence Medical Services to provide support to Operation Herrick; and what the (a) specialism, (b) length of deployment and (c) cost was [324583] of each such locum. Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 20 March 2010]: The company with which the Defence Medical Services (DMS) holds an enabling contract for contracted medical support (nursing, medical support services and doctors) is Frontier Medical. Each deployment is ordinarily for a three month period and cover has only been required for up to eight posts at any one time. Set out in the following table are the total costs of the locums employed on Operation Herrick for each financial year since April 2007 to August 2009, together with the total numbers of individual personnel who have deployed at any time between the dates shown.
Total individuals deployed at any time in period as civilian locums 16 35 26
Since 2008 the MOD has not collected estimates of regional expenditure on equipment, non-equipment, or personnel costs as they do not directly support policy making or operations. The last estimates for 2007-08 were published in UK Defence Statistics in September 2009. As a result, the complex analysis required to produce the underlying regional expenditure data is no longer performed. Information for a comparable time series beyond 2007-08 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last [324436] five years. Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department provides [324564] subsidised gym facilities for its staff. Mr. Kevan Jones: All members of the armed forces are required to maintain a level of physical fitness that allows them to fulfil their service obligations. As a result, gymnasiums located on military establishments are free to use by service personnel and in certain circumstances, where capacity allows, by civilian staff. In those isolated locations where a service gymnasium is not available, local subsidised arrangements are put in place, if possible, solely for service personnel. While MOD also allows existing on-site accommodation in some establishments to be used for fitness purposes and in doing so meets the cost of changing facilities, lighting, heating and any other utilities, it does not use public money to subsidise the running or equipping of gymnasiums for civilian staff. These gyms are run either through the auspices of the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) and funded by member subscription, or from other subscriptions from the users of the individual gym. Grants are also available from the Defence Sports and Recreation Association, which is the MOD departmental association of the CSSC, and is funded by grant from the CSSC and a local lottery.
Financial year April 2007March 2008 April 2008March 2009 April 2009August 2009
Operation Herrick (Afghanistan) Herrick Herrick
Total cost million 0.612 2.34 0.79
The service chiefs have decided that detailed data will no longer be published where this would highlight potential pinch points within the armed forces, including the DMS. I am withholding information on pinch points as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. In order to maintain appropriate external scrutiny of such data, the Department will continue to provide comprehensive restricted manning data to the House of Commons Defence Committee. Defence: Scotland Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department incurred in (a) equipment expenditure, (b) non-equipment expenditure, (c) service personnel costs and (d) civil personnel costs in Scotland in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 [324959] and (iii) 2009-10. Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Estimated direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure
1201W
Written Answers Departmental Energy
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1202W
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings [324978] occupied by his Department. Mr. Kevan Jones: Given that the aim of voltage optimisation (VO) is to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the performance of equipment, MOD is interested in these devices. However, we are currently seeking to validate the claims of equipment providers and a trial of these relatively new technologies is in progress at Lympstone. The outcome of the trial will inform our approach to the application of the technology across the estate. While opportunities exist for the installation of VO equipment, for the reasons given these have not in the main yet been taken up. That said, to assist the installation of the technology we have recently issued internal guidance on VO. This covers the factors to be considered before installation. Departmental Internet Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for his Departments websites in each of the last three years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2009-10.
[310761]
In support of the Transformational Government agenda, we have made significant progress in rationalising other Defence websites. The closure of some 53 websites has enabled us to make savings and improve the clarity and effectiveness of the departmental web presence. A further 19 sites are committed to close by 31 March 2011. The four remaining principal Defence websites register a high volume of web traffic. Annual page views for the corporate MOD site, www.mod.uk, have increased by 65 per cent. from 2006-09, from 17.5 million to 29 million. Annual unique visitor numbers for www.mod.uk have increased by 34 per cent. over the same period, from 3.2 million to 4.3 million. Expenditure for the four remaining principle sites over the last three financial years is summarised in the following table. Expenditure on these has increased while other websites have closed. Expenditure breakdown by category is not available for these financial years as this requirement was not introduced until 1 April 2009, when the Measuring Website Costs: TG128 guidance issued by the Central Office of Information (COI) came into effect. It should be noted that the expenditure figures shown are not directly comparable year on year as costs were captured differently in each year.
Financial year Website MOD corporate website: www.mod.uk Royal Navy: www.royalnavy.mod.uk British Army: www.army.mod.uk Royal Air Force: www.raf.mod.uk 2006-07 177,875 2007-08 325,600 2008-09 464,853
270,000 235,000 173,859
283,000 426,500 155,000
283,000 501,814 425,241
Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four principal websites. These sites are key channels to enable MOD to keep the public informed of Defence activities, provide information about MOD and support recruitment.
Projected expenditure broken down by category for the 2009-10 financial year for the four principal websites is detailed in the following table. Figures are exclusive of internal staff costs.
Website Ministry of Defence: www.mod.uk Royal Navy: www.royalnavy.mod.uk British Army: www.army.mod.uk Royal Air Force: www.raf.mod.uk
1 2 3
Strategy and planning 0 100,000 15,875 22,085
Design and build

1
Hosting and infrastructure 126,000 109,000 118,651 49,675
Content provision
2
Testing and evaluation 8,070

4 1
Total 552,262 283,000 186,400 222,389
417,900
3
292 0
74,000 24,870
1,704 0
25,300 2,938
147,691
This figure also includes expenditure on MODs internal Defence intranet. Translation services. Includes testing and evaluation. 4 Included in design and build.
A number of other websites are run by different parts of the Ministry of Defence, but these are not managed centrally. Information on these sites could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its Departments website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325200] make a statement.
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites: Ministry of Defence
www.mod.uk
Royal Navy
www.royalnavy.mod.uk
British Army
www.army.mod.uk
1203W Royal Air Force

www.raf.mod.uk
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1204W
The MOD takes the provision of usable, accessible, quality websites very seriously and we continually evaluate the services provided in light of feedback received from members of the public. Each website provides feedback mechanisms such as Contact Usforms. Feedback provided via these forms covers a number of topics, and complaints are not captured separately from other feedback. Details of the number of complaints received could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three [325218] years; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites. Expenditure on design consultancy cannot be separated from website redesign and implementation costs overall. Costs for redesign and implementation in the last three years, including design consultancy and other costs, are shown in the following table.
Website and URL MOD corporate website: http://www.mod.uk Royal Navy: http:// www.royalnavy.mod.uk British Army: http:// www.army.mod.uk Royal Air Force: http:// www.raf.mod.uk
1
Cost () 2007-08 2007 20081 2006-07 150,000 110,000 266,500 119,579
The British Army website redesign launched on 30 May 2008; the redesign project launched in 2006 and preparatory design work was carried out between 2006 and 2008.
For details on the maximum and average payments for staff in the senior civil service (SCS) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Leech) on 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 796W. These are also the maximum payments made to any MOD civil servant. In 2006-07, 271 SCS staff were eligible for a non-consolidated performance payment. 181 received one. In 2007-08, 266 were eligible and 186 received an award. In 2008-09, 268 were eligible and 187 received an award. For staff below the SCS, performance awards are paid to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Higher levels of award are available for those who have contributed most to the business. These awards are distributed on the basis of relative assessment among peers and are designed to encourage continuous high attainment against stretching objectives. All MOD broader banded and Skill Zone staff below the SCS are eligible for a nonconsolidated performance payment. The majority of MOD civilian staff earn less than 20,000 per year. The MOD also operates an in year non-consolidated payment schemethe Special Bonus Schemewhich rewards eligible MOD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification the use of which benefits MOD and the individual. Additionally Ministry of Defence police officers may be awarded a payment for exceptional performance when dealing with particularly demanding, unpleasant, or important one-off tasks or situations. The following tables detail how many people received a non-consolidated performance related pay award (both in year and end of year), and the proportion of the total work force they represented, for the five most recent financial years.
Number of staff receiving a bonus payment Number Performance award 2004-05 36,195 38,962 46,592 54,881 62,261 Proportion of the work force receiving an award Percentage Performance award 2004-05 37.1 40.7 51.4 65.4 79.3 Special bonus 10.3 10.6 9.6 8.3 12.3 Special bonus 10,074 10,131 8,747 6,997 9,679
Departmental Location Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point [321432] constituency in each of the last five years. Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence offers a wide range of relocation assistance to civilians transferring at public expense but this information is not held in the format requested. Departmental Pay Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years for which information is available; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; [300284] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: An element of the Ministry of Defence overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Note: The criteria for awarding performance-related pay has changed significantly during the period 2004-05 to 2008-09. It is therefore difficult to make direct comparisons of the annual figures although the trend has been towards more civil servants receiving smaller individual performance related payments.
For the total amount of bonuses paid to all civilian staff, I refer the hon. Member to the ministerial correction dated 25 March 2010, Official Report, columns 3-4 MC. This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds, which have separate pay delegations. Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in [306431] his Department in each year since 2006.
1205W
Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1206W
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in [307096] such bonuses in each such year. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable). Departmental Security Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department ceased to maintain a database of passes issued to major defence [323686] contractors. Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has never maintained a comprehensive database of passes issued to Defence contractors for the whole of the Defence estate. The information is not held centrally and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information about passes issued to employees of private defence companies for access to London buildings, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 March 2010, Official Report, columns 641-42W. Electronic War Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has undertaken research on whether terrorist groups are seeking to obtain the capability to carry out electromagnetic pulse attacks on [325553] the UK. Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 March 2010, Official Report, column 479W. I have nothing further to add. Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack on the UK in the context [325554] of the National Security Strategy. Bill Rammell: The Governments National Security Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy of June 2009 provide a view of potential state and non-state led threats against the UK into the future including the possible use of high power radio frequency transmissions or electromagnetic pulses to damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. The Ministry of Defence was fully involved with the development of this work. Falkland Islands Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to increase the level of [324892] defence spending on the Falkland Islands. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We keep the level of defence spending on the Falkland Islands under regular review to ensure that it remains appropriate to fund the tasks required. Falkland Islands: Land Mines Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expects full mine
clearance in the Falkland Islands to be completed; and what relevant contracts to effect such clearance have been entered into. [325548] Bill Rammell: The UK was granted a 10-year extension to its obligations under the Ottawa convention in November 2008. De-mining of the Falkland Islands therefore has to be completed by March 2019. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a four-site de-mining programme in the Falkland Islands. Clearance of these sites started in December 2009 and is expected to complete by July 2010. To date over 1,100 mines have been located and destroyed. Analysis of this project will inform future clearance work. Future Rapid Effect System Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export potential was claimed by (a) BAE Systems and (b) General Dynamics as part of their proposals to upgrade the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract.
[325159]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Neither BAE Global Combat Systems or General Dynamics UK made any specific claims with regard to export potential as part of their tender for the Specialist Vehicle programme. Inquiries: Northern Ireland Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Ministry of Defence had spent under each budget heading on the (a) Rosemary Nelson, (b) Robert Hamill, (c) Billy Wright and (d) Saville Inquiry on the latest date for which figures are [325474] available. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: As at the end of February this year the Ministry of Defence had incurred a total of approximately 35.6 million in expenditure on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, of which 32.5 million represented legal costs and the remainder other costs. I gave the latest available figures on costs incurred by the Department in connection with the Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright Inquiries in a written answer on 9 November 2009, Official Report, column 40W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble). The Department has incurred no expenditure in connection with the Robert Hamill Inquiry. Low Flying Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wind farm developers have agreed with his Department that low-flying aircraft activity may take place in the area of their wind farms. [325339] Mr. Kevan Jones: Wind farm developers do not control the airspace within which their equipment is sited, and the Ministry of Defence does not have to approach them for authority to operate low-flying aircraft in the area of wind farms. However, generally, military aircraft will not operate in close proximity to wind farms, and will always maintain the appropriate minimum separation criteria.
1207W
Written Answers Military Bases
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1208W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current estimated monetary value is of the property comprising (a) Naval Base Clyde, (b) Royal Marines Condor, (c) RAF Leuchars, (d) 2nd Division HQ Craigiehall, (e) Defence Estates Hebrides and (f) Fort George; and how much his Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each of these [316518] bases. Mr. Kevan Jones: Details of all Ministry of Defence holdings over 1 million, together with their latest asset valuations can be found in Chapter Seven of the National Asset Register, on HM Treasurys website
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ psr_investment_nar_2007_index.htm
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Staffing levels were assessed as part of the proposals made in the Business Improvement Programme undertaken by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agencys Explosives Business Stream. These proposals are subject to trade unions consultation, which is due to complete in July 2010. It would be inappropriate for me to comment while the consultation is ongoing. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he took account of the recommendations of the Haddon-Cave Nimrod review in respect of the proposals for the supply of armaments to waterside depots by direct delivery contained in the Business Improvement Programme consultation.
[325583]
It will take a little more time to collect and verify information relating to how much the Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each base. I will write to the hon. Member. We are interpreting DE Hebrides as referring principally to Ministry of Defence sites at Benbecula and St. Kilda and a few other locations. Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Angus Robertson:
In my answers of 9 February (Official Report, column 814W-815W) I undertook to write to you with details of how much the Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to spend on the redevelopment of various bases in Great Britain. Work is currently underway at the MODS Hebrides Range to assess the investment required to maintain its capability. Until this work is complete, for which a deadline has not been set, any anticipated redevelopment expenditure cannot be identified. Also, no redevelopment work is planned at RAF Brampton as it is due to close in 2012. For the remaining sites, the forecasted expenditure for the next five years on work that is considered to be redevelopment is as follows:
MOD site Naval Base Clyde Royal Marines Condor HM Naval Base Devonport HM Naval Base Portsmouth Fort George 2nd Div HQ Craigiehall RAF Leuchars RAF Valley RAF Marham RAF Honington RAF Wittering RAF Wattisham RAF Northolt RAF High Wycombe RAF Brize Norton RAF Leeming Total forecasted expenditure ( million) 101.6 12.6 39.0 166.2 0.1 15 112.4 16.9 47.8 13.8 35.3 0.8 25.4 35.4 216.0 29.4
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Safety is paramount in the munitions environment. The use of direct delivery, if fully implemented, will be consistent with the Haddon-Cave recommendations. Written Questions: Government Responses Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 300284, on departmental pay, tabled on 18 November 2009.
[313133]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I replied to the hon. Member today. I apologise for the delay.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Nurseries Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 170W, on nurseries, for what reason there is no reference to the petition in the minutes of the Commissions meeting of 8 March 2010; and when the Commission plans to respond to the [324986] petitioners. Nick Harvey: The Commission made no decision on 8 March on a response to the petition. It agreed a response on 29 March. Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the fully costed options appraisal for a child care facility at 1 Parliament street as agreed by the Commission at its meeting on 23 November 2009.
[325750]
Weapons: Transport Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the staffing levels required at each waterside depot to maintain the safe supply of armaments to vessels.
[325582]
Nick Harvey: It is not the practice to publish advice given to the Commission. However, as the hon. Member knows, in response to a request from the Administration Committee, Mr. Speaker wrote to the Chairman of that Committee in January explaining how the planned site had been selected from among the sites initially considered and setting out the estimated cost of converting each of the premises covered by the fully costed options appraisal.
1209W
Written Answers Speakers Adviser
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Council Housing: Debts
1210W
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much the Speakers special adviser has claimed for travel expenses since he was appointed.
[325460]
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the amount of historic debt remaining on local authority housing. [325561] John Healey: The assumed housing debt, the subsidy capital financing requirement, for each authority is calculated annually by my Department using data supplied by the local authorities themselves on their Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Subsidy base data forms. The information is published, after consultation, in annual HRA Subsidy Determinations. The 2010-11 Determination is available on the Communities and Local Government website at this address:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/ hradetermination201011
Nick Harvey: No expenses of any kind have been claimed. Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many days the Speakers special adviser has worked since 30 November 2009. [325461] Nick Harvey: The Speakers adviser has worked for 73.5 days since 30 November 2009, up to and including 12 March 2010. Unite Mr. Dunne: To ask Devon, representing Commission whether Commission recognises the hon. Member for North the House of Commons the House of Commons the Unite trade union. [325348]
Council Tax Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average council tax bill on a Band D home (a) was in 1997-98 and (b) will be in 2010-11 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real [325329] terms in 2010 prices. Barbara Follett: The average Band D council tax in England in 1997-98 was 688 and will be 1,439 in 2010-11. The figure for 1997-98, in real terms based on April 2009 prices, is 931. It is not possible to express this figure in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average Band D fire precept on council tax bills was in (a) England and (b) each individual local authority in (i) 1998-99 and (ii) 2010-11 in (A) cash terms and (B) real [325330] terms in 2010 prices. Barbara Follett: I have today placed in the Library of the House, a table showing the average band D council tax precept collected by billing authorities on behalf of fire authorities in 1998-99 and to be collected in 2010-11. Figures for 1998-99 at April 2009 prices are also shown. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available. All the figures are shown in sterling. Data are only shown for those authorities that collected, or will collect, a precept on behalf of the fire authority responsible for their area in either 1998-99 or in 2010-11. From 1 April 2004 combined fire authorities in shire areas became major precepting authorities, having previously been financed by payments from county and unitary councils in their area. Where an authority is not listed this is because the fire service is still run directly by the county council, and so they do not levy a separate fire precept on the billing authority. In 1998-99 London authorities separately reported the band D council tax precept they collected on behalf of the London fire brigade. In 2010-11 this could not be separately identified from the general GLA precept.
Nick Harvey: The Unite union is not a recognised trade union under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 for the purpose of collective bargaining with the House Service. However, the House Administration has recently agreed a draft memorandum of understanding with Unite and the Members and Peers Staff Association, who represent staff employed by hon. Members. The memorandum covers a range of areas for dialogue, including IT, catering, training and premises-related issues.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Audit Commission Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to place a cap on the maximum salary and remuneration package for the post of chief executive of [324509] the Audit Commission. Ms Rosie Winterton: This appointment is to be made by the Audit Commission, whose Chair has assured my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that in this recruitment exercise the Commission will follow the principles for public sector pay that we are developing with the Chair of the Senior Salaries Pay Review Body. Council Housing Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were attributed to each banding allocation on the choice-based lettings scheme in (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (b) each local authority area in the East of England and (c) England (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) on the latest date for which [325334] information is available. Mr. Ian Austin: This information is not collected centrally.
1211W
Written Answers Crown Estates: Fire Services
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1212W
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons there is a separate fire safety inspection regime for Crown premises; and whether he plans to create a [325303] single unified regime. Mr. Malik: The separate fire safety inspection regime reflects the different way in which the Crown is treated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1541), and in particular the fact that the enforcement provisions of the order do not apply to the Crown. The Fire Precautions Act 1971, which preceded the 2005 order, made a similar distinction. The Government have no plans to create a single unified regime. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three [325202] years; and if he will make a statement. Barbara Follett: The Department does not keep records of complaints received regarding the operation of its website. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will [325220] make a statement. Barbara Follett: The Department redesigned its website in August 2007. For information relating to the costs of this redesign, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 20 May 2008, Official Report, column 264W.
Legislation Local Government Act 2003: Section 68
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much his Department spent on maintaining its Flickr channel in the last 12 months; [325592] (2) how much his Department spent on maintaining [325595] its YouTube channel in the last 12 months. Barbara Follett: The corporate YouTube channel is maintained as part of the routine business of the Departments web team alongside other social media channels. There is no budget assigned to this channel. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on maintaining its Twitter feed in [325594] the last 12 months. Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) on 14 October 2009, Official Report, column 966W. Departmental Legislation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 953W, on departmental legislation, for what reasons each substantive piece of uncommenced legislation has not [323989] been commenced. Barbara Follett: The information requested, where it is held centrally, is provided in the following table. Section 314 and schedule 15 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are fully in force and not partially commenced as stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 1 March 2010, Official Report, column 953W . The remaining information requested is not held by the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Explanation This amendment would remove the requirement for the place of religious worship to be registered under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855. The amendment was intended to cater for any repeal of the 1855 Act, which may have happened as part of the legislation on civil partnerships. To date, there has been no repeal of the 1855 Act, so my Department has no current plans to bring the section into force Before the power could be removed, properties with prescribed rateable values were moved to standard rating assessments. This has now been completed, and there are no properties remaining on which the Secretary of State has prescribed a rateable value. However, the final step of removing the power to prescribe has not yet been carried forward Section 80ZA of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 is fully in force. Subsection 90(4) of the Local Government Act 2003, which amends section 141(8) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, allowing amounts of housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy payable to the Secretary of State to be set off against other amounts payable by him, has not yet been commenced. We are not currently aware of any circumstances indicating that use of this power would be appropriate. There are no proposals to commence the power at present The Duty to Promote Democracy is important and we want to ensure that its introduction has a positive and proactive response from local government given the likely costs involved in implementing it effectively. We have therefore been looking at when the duty should be implemented. We have concluded that given the current economic situation implementation of the duty should be considered as part of the next Spending Review The Commencement Order (210 No. 881) relating to the petitions duty was made on 19 March 2010
Local Government Act 2003: Section 69
Local Government Act 2003: Section 90
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 1 to 9
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Explanation Ministers said in the House that we would consult on regulations imposing restrictions or conditions on the use of the mutual insurance power by best value authorities and also on guidance. Following consultation it will be necessary to commence the mutual insurance provisions in the Act (section 148(2)(b)) Ministers said in the House that we would consult on the content of proposed regulations defining qualifying entities. Following consultation it will be necessary to commence the audit provisions in the Act (section 148(2)(b)) The commencement date for Construction Contract provisions in part 8 is dependent on the revision of the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills issued a consultation document on amendments to the scheme on 25 March 2010. The draft regulations will be approved by resolution of each House of Parliament. This will give the construction industry sufficient time to prepare for the changes being made by part 8 Attempts to implement these provisions led to the identification of significant workability issues: following public consultation in 2009, a summary of responses is to be published shortly, indicating that there are no current plans to proceed with implementation of these provisions The Government remain committed to implementing these provisions. Work is in progress with stakeholders to develop the regulations to give effect to these provisions with a target date of October 2010 Section 265 and schedule 15 give the Secretary of State, or where appropriate the National Assembly for Wales, powers to make incidental and consequential provisions to the Act as he considers appropriate. Therefore, these provisions would only be commenced if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to make incidental and consequential provisions to the Act. Section 266 and schedule 16 repeal provisions in other enactments. Two repeals in schedule 16 have not been commenced. These relate to the London Building Acts amendment Act 1939, sections 35(1)(c)(i) and 36(1) (repealing the words or sleep) and the Building Act 1984 (section 72(6)(a). These changes were rendered unnecessary by other legislation. There are two other repeals in the Health Services Commissioners Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 which are the responsibility of the Welsh Ministers The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 is currently being implemented by the Government. The provisions relating to the establishment of the Homes and Communities Agency and those relating to the regulation of Social Housing take effect from 1 April 2010
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 37 to 54 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 138 to 145
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002: Sections 121, 122 (partially), 123, 124 and Schedule 8
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002: Sections 152 (partially), 154, 156 (partially), 157 (partially) and Schedule 10 (partially); and, Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Section 303 and Schedule 12 Housing Act 2004: Section 265 and Schedules 15 (partially), 16 (partially)
Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 4 (partially), 19 (partially), 31, 32 (partially), 33 (partially), 35, 56 and Schedule 8 (partially), 57 (partially), 58 (partially) covering the Homes and Communities Agency and Sections 60-63, 64 (partially), 68-71 (partially), 73-80 (partially), 94, 95 to 98 (partially), 106 to 111, 112 to 113 (partially), 115, 116 to 117 (partially), 118, 119 (partially), 120 to 126, 127 (partially), 128 to 130, 131 (partially), 132 to 143, 144 to 145 (partially), 146 to 173, 174 (partially), 175 to 191, 198 (partially), 199 to 101, 102 (partially), 203 to 211, 212 (partially), 213, 214 to 215 (partially), 217 to 227, 228 (partially), 229 to 233, 234 (partially), 235 to 239, 240 (partially), 241 to 243, 244 (partially), 245 to 274, 275 to 276 (partially), 277, 278 and Schedule 9 (partially) Covering the Regulation of Social Housing Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 279 to 293 and Schedule 10
The Government will review the effectiveness of the sustainability certificates in home information pack (mandatory requirement since May 2008) in giving buyers information on how sustainable houses are and will make decisions on commencing the H&R Act 2008 powers in due course The Government remain committed to implementing the remaining provisions of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Statutory instruments will be laid as soon as parliamentary time is available
Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 294, 299 and Schedule 11 (partially), 303 and Schedule 12 (partially), 314 and 15 (partially), 316 (partially), 318, 321 and Schedule 16 (partially)
Departmental Manpower John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff of each (i) sex, (ii) ethnic group and (ii) disability were recruited to work in his Departments headquarters in (A) each financial [323535] year since 2004-05 and (B) 2009-10. Barbara Follett: The Department publishes information on the diversity of its workforce, including recruitment data, in its annual Workforce Diversity Data Report. Copies of the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 reports have been placed in the Library of the House. The 2008-09 report has not yet been published. Departmental Public Expenditure Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Departments press release of 24 March 2010, on operational efficiency, whether the 200 million of
efficiency savings announced will be in addition to the 500 million of savings identified in the pre-Budget report. [325325] Barbara Follett: The 200 million contribution to operational efficiency and Smarter Government savings are in addition to the 500 million announced at 2009 pre-Budget report. The 200 million of savings is my Departments contribution towards 11 billion savings that are being made across Government. The 11 billion of savings will help halve the deficit over four years and protect front-line priorities. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to which programmes the 500 million of savings identified in the Pre-Budget Report will apply; and whether this sum includes savings from the (a) New Deal for Communities Fund, (b) Working Neighbourhoods Fund, (c) Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, (d) Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme and (e) Housing and Planning Delivery Grant. [325326]
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Barbara Follett: The Public Value Programme, launched at Budget 2008, has been conducting demanding value for money reviews across at least 50 per cent. of each Departments budget. On the basis of the early findings of the programme, the 2009 pre-Budget report announced 5 billion of savings by 2012-13 through cutting lower value or lower priority spend. CLGs contribution to this figure was 500 million. Budget 2010 announces further details of these savings, including:
Improved targeting of housing growth and regeneration funding, saving 340 million: including 40 million by concluding the new deal for communities, and a further 300 million from rationalising regional development agency regeneration spending, and programmes including the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant. Saving at least 35 million in housing benefit costs; ending smaller Communities and Local Government (CLG) funded time-limited communities programmes, saving 25 million; and rationalising other smaller CLG programmes, saving a total of 160 million.
John Healey: The expenditure allowances, based upon assumed stock levels, in the HRA Subsidy Determination 2010-11 are maintenance 1.22 billion; management 2.10 billion; and major repairs 1.27 billion. Housing: Conferences Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on (a) travel and (b) accommodation for (i) Ministers and (ii) officials attending the MIPIM International Property conference in (A) 2007, (B) 2008 and (C) 2009. [323251] Barbara Follett: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Infrastructure Planning Commission Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which commissioners have been appointed to the Infrastructure Planning Commission to date; and what criteria he used in deciding on each appointment.
[325401]
Fire Services: Havering Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents the London Fire Brigade have attended in the London borough of Havering in each year since 1997.
[325602]
Mr. Malik: The number of incidents attended by the London Fire Brigade by borough is readily available for periods from April 1999, thus data are shown for years since 2000.
Incidents attended in the London Borough of Havering by the London Fire Brigade, 2000-09 Number of incidents 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Source: London Fire Brigade 3,076 3,487 3,313 3,983 3,084 3,279 3,245 2,779 2,489 2,570
John Healey: 26 Commissioners, including the Chair and two Deputy Chairs have been appointed to the Infrastructure Planning Commission, the majority of whom are on call-off contracts. These appointments have been made following an open and transparent recruitment process and represent a range of expertise. A list of the appointees with attached biographies has been placed in the Library of the House, along with details of the selection criteria employed. The IPC website also contains details of all those appointed. We also anticipate announcing the appointment of a further 13 Commissioners, again on a call-off contract basis, shortly. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have to mark the International Day for [320956] the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Mr. Malik: The Government are working to build a fairer, more equal society, where a persons chances and opportunities in life are determined solely by their talent and effortnot by their class, gender, religion or race. We are tackling race inequality by enforcing the strong legal framework, promoting clear leadership in public bodies and focusing work on race across Government. To mark the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, on 22 March the British embassy in Bucharest hosted an event for NGOs, civil society and the media on anti-discrimination and tackling racism. Ambassador Robin Barnett and the Romanian Minister for Education both spoke at this event. On 19 March, ambassador Peter Gooderham, the UKs Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, attended a screening of the film Colour Blind hosted
Government Office for the North West Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Assistant Regional Minister for the North West has (a) been invited to and (b) attended meetings with the Government Office for the North West in the last [311367] 12 months. Ms Rosie Winterton: The Assistant Regional Minister for the North West is invited to attend meetings with the Government Office for the North West as appropriate. Housing Revenue Accounts Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be provided in management and maintenance grants and major repairs allowance in the Housing Revenue Account determination settlement for 2010. [325556]
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by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations in Geneva. During the subsequent panel discussion, ambassador Gooderham reaffirmed our commitment to tackle racism both in the UK and internationally. Multiple Occupation Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his plans to introduce a definition of houses in multiple occupation into the Use Classes Order, what estimate he has made of the number of additional planning [324614] applications likely to result annually. John Healey: We have estimated that there could be an average of 8,500 additional planning applications per year. Non-Domestic Rates Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in England in (a) real terms in 2010 prices and (b) cash terms in each year since [324786] 1997-98 for which figures are available. Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table. The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.
Cash () 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 6,796 7,016 6,998 8,264 8,714 9,071 9,137 9,301 9,997 10,275 10,330 11,274 12,145 Real terms () 9,196 9,126 8,959 10,275 10,647 10,919 10,665 10,593 11,035 11,059 10,637 11,142 12,145
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in each billing authority in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 in (i) real terms in 2010 prices and (ii) cash terms. [324787] Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing, for 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year. The data are taken from the national non-domestic rates (NNDR1) budget forms completed annually by all billing authorities in England. Data for 2010-11 are not yet available. Comparisons with previous years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. In addition, the number of hereditaments in an authority may change from year to year. Also comparisons between authorities may not be valid as the data for an authority may be affected by a small number of large hereditaments. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill in England (a) was in 1997-98, (b) was in 2009-10 and (c) will be in 2010-11 in (i) cash [325327] terms and (ii) real terms in 2010 prices. Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 and 2009-10, figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table. The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.
Cash () 1997-98 2009-10 6,796 12,145 Real terms () 9,196 12,145
The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available. Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties and hence the actual rates bills vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.
The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available. Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence the actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of Crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.
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Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill was in each Government Office region in each year since 1997-98; and what it is [325331] expected to be in each region in 2010-11. Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic
North East 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 5,501 5,978 6,159 6,968 7,305 7,498 7,518 7,701 8,367 8,704 8,941 9,452 10,157 North West 5,215 5,589 5,770 6,825 7,273 7,646 7,708 7,793 8,086 8,496 8,719 9,473 10,159 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,381 5,869 6,005 6,954 7,433 7,664 7,623 7,773 8,317 8,479 8,501 9,288 10,009 East Midlands 5,716 6,142 6,251 7,237 7,670 7,846 7,893 7,955 8,477 9,021 9,189 9,946 10,610
rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, regional figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.
West Midlands 5,686 6,250 6,487 7,588 7,756 8,003 8,055 8,192 8,672 8,906 9,031 9,743 10,602
East of England 7,026 7,125 7,080 8,096 8,476 8,685 8,620 8,740 9,575 10,003 9,999 10,804 11,519
London 10,057 10,433 9,792 12,033 12,842 13,753 14,124 14,484 15,705 15,886 15,733 17,482 19,120
South East 7,208 7,759 7,796 9,212 9,705 10,045 10,053 10,252 11,124 11,192 11,210 12,325 13,190
South West 7,087 5,295 5,412 6,332 6,570 6,658 6,614 6,662 7,195 7,538 7,655 8,279 8,816
England 6,796 7,016 6,998 8,264 8,714 9,071 9,137 9,301 9,997 10,275 10,330 11,274 12,145
The data are taken from NNDR returns submitted by billing authorities. Comparisons across regions and years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the figures for the years around 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local lists, transfers of crown properties to local lists and the adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation to take account of losses from appeals. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation. Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 605W, on non-domestic rates, what projection has been made of the (a) change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from rateable value appeals and (b) the amount of fees payable by those appealing against their rateable value in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [323091] Barbara Follett: No projection has been made of the change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from appeals. However, for the purpose of modelling the 2010 Transitional Relief scheme, my Department has made an assumption about the total reduction in RV as a result of appeals. The assumptions used for this modelling are detailed in the consultation document titled The transitional arrangements for the non-domestic rating revaluation 2010 in England. The methodology and assumptions can be found on page 49 of the consultation. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/ localgovernment/nndrrevaluation2010
There are no fees payable to valuation officers for making proposals challenging rateable values. Nor are there hearing fees payable should the proposal become an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England. Many ratepayers choose to employ the services of a professional representative to handle their rating liability. This is a personal matter between ratepayer and representative. Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) address, (b) 2005 rateable value and (c) 2010 rateable value is of each hereditament with a special category code of public houses/pub restaurants (national [324511] scheme). Barbara Follett: The Valuation Office Agency has published the current 2005 and draft 2010 Rating Lists on the internet at:
www.voa.gov.uk
Search facilities within the site (using the Agent access, which is open to any individual) allows the identification of properties within billing authorities by SCAT code. Public houses/pub restaurants (national scheme) are identified by SCAT 226. Piers: Repairs and Maintenance Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent restoring seafront piers in each year since [325603] 1997. Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected by this Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what recent discussions he has had with pub landlords on the [325597] effects of the recession on their businesses; (2) whether he has visited any pubs on official [325599] business in the last 12 months; (3) what assistance his Department has provided to [325600] pubs during the recession. John Healey: Since the Prime Minister asked me to lead work across Government to help and support Britains community pubs in January, I have made a number of visits to pubs and had various discussions with landlords. I have also had discussions with cross-party groups and other organisations directly concerned with the pub industry. On 19 March 2010, I published the Governments package of measures to support community pubs. Our plans fall into three main categories:
Business support Industry standards and consumer choice Community and local authority action.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have (a) applied for and (b) been accepted for unitary status in each year since 1997. [325601] Ms Rosie Winterton: Since 1997, 26 proposals for unitary structures were submitted in January 2007 following the Invitation to Councils in England issued in October 2006. A further Invitation for unitary structures in Bedfordshire was issued in November 2007 and one proposal was received in response to it. From these proposals, nine unitary councils were established on 1 April 2009, and orders creating a further two on 1 April 2011, Exeter and Ipswich, have now been made following their approval by Parliament. World Urban Forum Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who represented his Department at the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro in March 2010; and whether his Department [324605] allocated funding to that forum. Ms Rosie Winterton: No one from the Department for Communities and Local Government attended this years World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, nor was any money allocated to the event. Written Questions: Government Responses Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer questions (a) 323248, (b) 323249 and (c) 323251 on the MIPIM international property conference, tabled by the hon. Member for Welwyn [325232] Hatfield on 16 March 2010. Barbara Follett: I have now replied to the hon. Members questions.
Further details on our package of measures can be found on our website:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1511255
In addition to this package of measures described above, Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth (published in December 2009) provides policy tools for local authorities to take into account the importance of pubs to the local community when a planning application is made that would result in its loss and enables them to refuse planning permission where peoples day to day needs are not safeguarded. Public Sector Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place a copy of the final report from each Total Place pilot in [325328] the Library. Barbara Follett: The reports of the 13 pilot areas have been published online and are available through the Total Place website at:
http://www.localleadership.gov.uk/totalplace/news/pilotsfinal-reports/
CABINET OFFICE Business: Cardiff Jenny Willott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses have (a) closed and (b) opened in (i) Cardiff Central constituency and (ii) [325320] Cardiff in each of the last five years. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small businesses have (a) closed and (b) opened in (i) Cardiff Central constituency and (ii) Cardiff in each of the last five years. [325320] Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at: www.statistics.gov.uk Information on the number of enterprise deaths by parliamentary constituency is only available from 2005 onwards. The table below contains the latest statistics available on small enterprise birth and deaths in Cardiff over the past five years.
Tenant Services Authority: Pay Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff work in the Tenant Services Authority communications team; and what the cost to the public purse was of that team on the latest date for [313092] which figures are available. Mr. Ian Austin: The Tenant Services Authority employs 3.7 full-time equivalent staff in its press office and public affairs teams. The total cost to the public purse of employing these staff in the 12 months since TSA was established on 1 December 2008 was 171,300.
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Count of enterprise birth and deaths for Cardiff unitary authority and Cardiff, Central parliamentary constituency from 2004-08 with less than 50 employment (small) Births Cardiff 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 1,370 1,310 1,135 1,085 1,120 Cardiff, Central 385 390 335 300 345 Deaths Cardiff 1,155 1,040 1,020 1,055 960 Cardiff, Central n/a 325 295 295 290
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Union of Good Mr. Crabb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what investigations the Charity Commission has carried out into links between humanitarian charities based in the UK and the Union of Good in the last [325224] 12 months. Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply. Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 29 March 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission I have been asked to respond to your written question on what investigations we have carried out into links between humanitarian charities based in the UK and the Union for Good in the last twelve months. In 2009 we published a report of our statutory inquiry into the Palestinians Relief and Development Fund, registered charity number 1040094 (known as Interpal). Among other issues, the inquiry considered the relationship between this charity and the Union for Good, which we understand to be a coalition of UK and overseas organisations working with Palestinians and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The inquiry concluded that the charitys membership of the Union for Good was not appropriate, and directed the charity to take a number of actions, including to disassociate itself from membership of the Union for Good. At the time this inquiry report was published, the Charity Commission was aware of concerns that had been raised that other charities, registered in England and Wales, were said to be members of the Union for Good. We investigated these concerns and concluded that, on the evidence then before us, this was not the case. The Commission is continuing to monitor Interpals compliance with the requirements of the Commission. I will arrange for a copy of the statement of results of the inquiry on the charity Interpal to placed in the Library of the House. We would be very happy to meet you to discuss this area of our work further. I hope this is helpful.
Note: A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment
Departmental Private Detectives Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 873W, on private detectives, how much her Department spent on hiring or commissioning individuals from the panel of independent investigators in each of the last five years.
[312258]
Tessa Jowell: My Department has incurred no costs in hiring or commissioning individuals from the panel of independent investigators. Government Communications Review Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which recommendations made in the report of the Phillis Review on government communication have not been implemented to date.
[323450]
Tessa Jowell: Government communications have changed fundamentally over the past five years. Substantial progress has been made towards implementing the findings of the Phillis Review and all the key recommendations have been taken forward, except for Recommendation 10.1 calling for on camera lobby briefings, which was not implemented. Briefings are off the camera but on the record, a record of the briefings is available on the PMs website the same day. Ministerial Policy Advisers: Bullying Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many complaints against special advisers alleging bullying or harassment have been [323452] made by civil servants since 1997. Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information for the civil service. This information may be held by the individual employing Departments. The civil service has a zero tolerance policy on bullying and harassment. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether her Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or [324242] special advisers in the last 36 months.
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Emissions Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he discussed the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020 with representatives of other governments at the UN Climate Change [324704] Conference in Copenhagen. Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: My right hon. Friend did not discuss the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. with representatives of other Governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK of a reduction in the UKs carbon [324762] dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020.
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Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: In July last year we published a Low Carbon Transition Plan and an accompanying analytical annex that set out how we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet our carbon budgets and the cost to the UK of doing so, consistent with reducing emissions by 34 per cent. by 2020. Were we to move to a higher target and set new carbon budgets consistent with that, then the Climate Change Act requires that we publish our proposals and policies for delivering those emissions reductions as soon as is practicable following the setting of new budgets in legislation. Climate Change: Publicity Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on advertising aimed at raising awareness of climate change among (a) all people and (b) people under the age of 18 since its establishment.
[319424]
Joan Ruddock The Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008. In the financial year 2008-09 the Department spent 7,277,000 on external consultants and advisers. Additionally the bodies for which the Department is responsible spent a total of 14,720,000 on external consultants and advisers. Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) disciplinary and (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each year since its inception; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Departments staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the [320639] dismissal of the member of staff. Joan Ruddock: No records are collated centrally regarding how many procedures have been initiated in the Department since its creation in October 2008. We are unable to provide the number of staff dismissed (all reasons) under section 40 of the Data protection Act Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, [324813] expressed in current prices. Joan Ruddock: The cost of employing press and media officers from April 2009 to January 2010 (latest figure available) was 407,000. DECC was created in October 2008. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each year since its inception; and if he will [325199] make a statement. Joan Ruddock: None. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each year since its inception; and if he [325217] will make a statement. Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 796W.
Joan Ruddock: Act on CO2 advertising is aimed at adults. Invoiced media costs for the climate literacy advertising strand of the Act on CO2 campaign are 4.78 million, inclusive of fees and exclusive of VAT. The Department has not bought advertising for the Act on CO2 campaignor any other campaign activity specifically aimed at under-18s. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324563] staff. Joan Ruddock: The Department provides accommodation, at no cost, for gym facilities in 3 Whitehall Place. The actual gym facilities and equipment are provided and managed by the DEFRA Sports and Social Association. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken since its inception.
[324675]
Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question 320471 on the cost of refurbishment on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 101W, which included the cost of interior design. This cost cannot be separately identified. In addition, the cost of interior design in relation to internal communications work was 38,404 in 2008-09 and 54,522 in 2009-10. Departmental Consultants Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) his Department and (b) each other body for which his Department is responsible spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since 2005.
[319812]
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6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo since its [324723] inception; and what those items were. Joan Ruddock: The spend on promotional items is:
(a) 2,454, a combined order of a mug for each member of staff as part of our departmental launch and low cost branded pens for internal and external use (b) 450, a further set of mugs to promote DECCs new values.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account will be taken of the full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of each fuel type in identifying low carbon generation technologies which will be eligible for specific support under the five groups of options referred to in paragraphs 4.7 to 4.48 of his Departments report on Energy Market Assessment. [325104] Mr. Kidney: As set out in the DECC publication Valuation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for appraisal and evaluation, which can be found on the DECC website, the emissions associated with imports are not included in the UKs national inventory. Greenhouse gases emitted elsewhere in Europe which form part of full life cycle emissions for fuels used in the UK, have to meet their costs through the EU Emissions Trading System. Housing: Carbon Emissions John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has made an estimate of the effect on the level of carbon dioxide emissions that would result from the installation of room thermostats in homes where they [325465] are not presently installed. Joan Ruddock: The Department keeps abreast of published research relevant to this question as well as carrying out its own field trials of energy saving measures in homes. Heating controls in homes can save energy and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions if they allow the occupants to maintain comfort by not heating the home (or part of the home) when this is not needed. However, recent field evidence indicates that these controls make little difference and may not save energy or reduce emissions as they are not used as intended. We will be working with the industry and researchers to understand how heating controls could be better designed and deployed to deliver energy savings. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Springfields Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 March 2010, Official Report, column 42WS, on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Springfields Site), what insurance arrangements will apply under the new [325400] arrangements for management of the plant. Mr. Kidney: Under the new arrangements for the management of the site, with effect from 1 April 2010 the insurance arrangements for the Springfields site will be a matter for Springfields Fuels Ltd. and its owner. Under the agreements between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Springfields Fuels Ltd. the latter is required to have a range of insurances including Nuclear Installations Act 1965 liability insurance. No insurance arrangements will be made by either the Department for Energy and Climate Change or the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
As well as having a promotional aspect these items were produced for sustainability reasons in support of our departmental remit. The pens were produced from recycled materials and the mugs used to reduce the use of disposable cardboard cups. We have deliberately kept use of such promotional materials to a minimum. Departmental Recruitment Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through external recruitment in the last year for which figures [315505] are available. Joan Ruddock: DECC recruited 51 people through external recruitment in the last year. Energy Supply Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of changes in the carbon price set under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on private sector investment in energy supply infrastructure.
[325246]
Joan Ruddock: No assessment has been made on this particular issue. The Government have recently published the initial findings of their Energy Market Assessment, which recognises the carbon price and its long-term certainty is one of many, and not the most significant factor, that affects investment decisions in electricity generation. Gas price volatility and its relationship to electricity price is a key driver, as well as, uncertainty around future electricity demand and the impact of renewables on wholesale electricity prices. Despite these uncertainties and the current low level of demand, high levels of investment are currently taking place. National Grids data show that 20 GW are currently under construction or have been granted planning consent. The next stage of our Energy Markets Assessment work will be a detailed assessment of a range of options for reforming the electricity market to meet our objectives beyond 2020, assessing them against cost-effectiveness, affordability and investor certainty. Government will consult on proposals in autumn 2010 and publish a White Paper in 2011.
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Written Answers Nuclear Power: Public Consultation
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Warm Front Scheme: Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) the City of Manchester and (b) Manchester Central constituency have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since its inception. [324883] Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The following tables show the number of households in the City of Manchester and Constituency of Manchester Central which have received assistance from the Warm Front Scheme1 since its inception.
1
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of holding the public meeting on his Departments group on documents on nuclear justification at the Marriott Hotel, Marble Arch on 19 January 2010; whether his Department made provision for the reimbursement of participants for travel costs; what assessment his Department made of the comparative cost of holding that meeting at his Department; whether he has made an assessment of the merits of recovering the cost of the meeting from the Nuclear Industry Association; whether he has plans for any further such meeting; and what record of that meeting (a) was circulated to participants and (b) he plans to [325667] post on his Departments website. Mr. Kidney: Further to my answers of 2 February 2010, Official Report, column 187W, and 5 February 2010, Official Report, column 617W; which covered most of the points in my hon. Friends question, the final cost of the public meeting held as part of the consultation on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of States proposed Regulatory Justification decisions on new nuclear power stations was 12,951. This included the cost of travel for some delegates. A Government venue was not chosen on this occasion as a hotel offered more flexible options for staging the event. The meeting was part of the consultation and it is therefore proper that the Government meet the cost. The consultation being over, we have no current plans for any further such meeting. A transcript of the meeting was circulated to delegates and placed on the Departments website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ reg_just_cons/regjustcons.aspx
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme which begun in 1991 was rebranded to the Warm Front Scheme in 2000.
City of Manchester Households assisted
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-101
1
1,518 5,835 3,180 2,075 1,838 1,697 2,353 2,945 2,496 2,302
Up to the 28 February 2010. Constituency of Manchester Central Households assisted
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-101
1
281 1,609 750 357 329 312 414 478 412 653
Renewable Energy: Scotland Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to renewable energy projects in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what funding allocations have been made for future years.
[324522]
Up to the 28 February 2010.
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Since 2005, 10.5 million has been awarded to renewable energy projects in Scotland spread across the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11. Funding is not allocated to Scotland as the majority of renewable energy funding schemes operated by DECC are open across the UK on a competitive basis. HMG also provides funding through other delivery partners (for example, the Carbon Trust) and for research, development and demonstration projects which are not yet operational. Uranium: Imports Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much uranium has been imported from each country for civilian uses in [320983] each year since 1997. Mr. Kidney: Uranium comes in many different forms. Providing a list of all forms, from all countries, would be prohibitively expensive.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Middle East Peace Process 17. Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of prospects for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [325366] Mr. Ivan Lewis: We welcome the Quartets determination to move swiftly to proximity talks addressing issues of substance. We continue to press both sides to show the courage, commitment and compromise needed to make real progress. Overseas Operations: Financing 18. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of exchange rate movements on the work of his Department. [325367]
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6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Tibet
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David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 53WS. 21. Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of exchange rate movements on his Departments overseas activities.
[325370]
24. Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights record of the Government of China, with particular reference to Tibet. [325373] Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our annual human rights report outlines our assessment of the current situation in Tibet. We remain very concerned about human rights there. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated these concerns, and the need for meaningful autonomy for Tibetan people, during his recent visit to China. This was also a key focus of our human rights dialogue. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the High Commission in Pakistan has taken to obtain consular access to Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh; and if [325547] he will make a statement. Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our high commission in Islamabad has continued to make representations to the national and provincial authorities in Pakistan with regard to gaining consular access to Mr. Sheikh. The most recent diplomatic notes requesting access were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2009 and April 2010. High level requests for consular access to Mr. Sheikh have also been made by my hon. Friend the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister with responsibility for consular matters (Gillian Merron) during a visit to Pakistan in February 2009 and, along with other cases, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in a letter to Pakistani Foreign Minster Qureshi on 7 December 2009 which was delivered by our high commissioner. To date we have not received consular access to Mr Sheikh. British Nationals Abroad: Homicide Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training his Departments staff receive on providing support and assistance to the families of British victims of murder [325399] abroad. Chris Bryant: All front line consular staff abroad and in the UK are trained in the procedures they must follow when helping the family and friends of a British national who has died abroad. Particular attention is paid to the special circumstances affecting the family and friends of murder victims. Both their knowledge of what help we can provide and the skills they must use when dealing with individuals in difficult circumstances are tested to ensure all staff meet the required standard. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many smoking shelters his Department has built for its staff [324351] in the last five years; and at what cost.
David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 53WS. Belize: Economic Partnership Agreements 19. Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the participation of Belize in EU economic partnership agreements; and if [325368] he will make a statement. Chris Bryant: Belize is party to the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in October 2008 between the EU and 15 Caribbean states. This was the first EU regional trade agreement and is an excellent opportunity for increased competitiveness, development and economic integration in the region. We have not received representations about Belizes participation. Moldova: EU Membership 20. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an official visit to Moldova to discuss its prospects for [325369] joining the EU. Chris Bryant: I have no current plans to visit Moldova. We do actively encourage Moldovas closer integration with the EU and are providing expert assistance to Moldova as they negotiate a new Association Agreement. Gaza Blockade 22. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities and his EU counterparts on the effects on the region of the [325371] blockade on Gaza. Mr. Ivan Lewis: The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton reported to the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 March on her recent visit to Gaza. The EU has made clear its concerns regarding the humanitarian situation and called for an immediate and unconditional opening of crossings. Pakistan: Extradition 23. Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart [325372] on extradition matters. Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have had regular contact with the Government of Pakistan and discussed a range of issues important to both countries. Although I have had no recent discussions specifically on extradition matters, UK officials undertake regular meetings with their counterparts on extradition.
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6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Chris Bryant: Smoking shelters have been installed over the last five years on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK estate as follows:
Smoking shelters installed 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 None Two shelters for Hanslope Park purchased and installed at an approximate cost of 3,500 each None None purchased but one existing shelter at Hanslope Park moved to more appropriate location at a cost of approximately 1,000 Four shelters purchased and installed at Hanslope Park, two at a cost of 5,765 each, one at a cost of 4,693 and one at a cost of 4,681
2009-10
Shelters have been installed in line with the FCOs Smoking Policy which permits smoking in designated areas only, away from buildings. The provision of this information for the overseas estate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Food Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme. [323063] Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is fully committed to the Government Food Procurement Initiative. Within the UK we have engaged a catering contractor who is committed to animal welfare and is working with suppliers, clients and animal welfare organisations to promote the use of farm assurance schemes which achieve best practises in animal welfare. They fully endorse the Five Freedoms as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. They have met with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Food and Compassion In World Farming to discuss ways they can improve animal welfare. Where economically possible, our catering contractor purchases its products from approved free range suppliers. All fresh eggs supplied are free range. While free range supplies are not always economically viable, all suppliers hold Farm Assurance Accreditation. To obtain this award our approved suppliers have to meet objectives such as farm animal management, environment and hygiene management, feed composition, housing and handling facilities, medicines and veterinary treatments and transport of livestock. This information refers to the contracted catering service in the UK only. Provision of information globally could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account his Departments food procurement policy takes of animal [325530] welfare. Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is fully committed to the Government Food Procurement Initiative. Within the UK we have engaged a Catering Contractor who is committed to animal welfare and is
working with suppliers, clients and animal welfare organisations to promote the use of farm assurance schemes which achieve best practises in animal welfare. They fully endorse the Five Freedoms as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. They have met with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Food and Compassion In World Farming to discuss ways they can improve animal welfare. Where economically possible, our catering contractor purchases its products from approved free range suppliers. All suppliers hold Farm Assurance Accreditation. To obtain this award our approved suppliers have to meet objectives such as farm animal management, environment and hygiene management, feed composition, housing and handling facilities, medicines and veterinary treatments and transport of livestock. This information refers to the contracted catering service in the UK only. Provision of information globally could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Passports Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the conclusions of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of 24 March 2010, if he will review the provisions of his Departments contract with Abtran to provide a customer enquiry service in respect of passports handled on behalf of his Department; what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the report in respect of the adequacy of arrangements for handling passport applications by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [325291] Chris Bryant [holding answer 30 March 2010]: We accept the findings of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of 24 March 2010. We have re-tendered the telephone passport inquiry handling contract and a new commercial partner is now in place to handle customer inquiries; we no longer use Abtran. Customers contact the new provider who will escalate their inquiry to the passport issuing post where necessary. We agree that the service that was provided to the customer in early 2009 fell considerably short of what the customer should have expected. We had previously written to the applicant to apologise and will be writing again. We are arranging for prompt financial settlement and a further consolatory payment to be made as recommended in the ombudsmans report. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)s passport operation is going through a period of considerable change in advance of integration with the Identity and Passport Service on 1 April 2011. We are committed to doing all we can to minimise the impact on customers as we move to a more cost effective and secure passport operation. The report highlighted weaknesses in our processes in our consulates in Paris and Amsterdam, and within consular directorate in the FCO. These have been reviewed and changes to procedures have been and are being implemented. This includes improvements to our public facing communication to ensure customers are kept informed in a timely, clear and consistent manner. Customer interests remain at the forefront of our analysis and our highest priority.
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Written Answers Departmental Public Expenditure
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated for human rights [325317] programmes in financial year 2009-10. Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) integrates human rights work across its objectives. This means that funding for human rights can be given through numerous programmes. The FCO holds the Strategic Programme Fund for Human Rights and Democracy dedicated specifically to supporting human rights projects. In 2009-10, this fund allocated approximately 5.8 million to human rights and democracy projects around the world. Work was funded in support of equality, strengthening civil society, freedom of expression, abolition of torture and the death penalty, among other issues. The FCOs 2009-10 programmes that fund human rights projects where these help to realise their core objectives include:
Strategic Programme Fund for Reuniting Europe (total programme value: 5.8 million); Strategic Programme Fund for Counter-Terrorism and Radicalisation: 40 million; Bilateral Programme Budgets: 27.5 million; and the tri-departmental (FCO, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence) Conflict Pool (171 million in 2009-10) that funds conflict prevention and stabilisation work also benefited human rights projects/objectives.
Chris Bryant: Measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an essential feature of the Departments protective security controls. These controls reflect the standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF) issued by Cabinet Office and available online at:
It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific controls as this could undermine their effectiveness. India: Overseas Aid Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to allocate additional funding for work to promote access [325318] to justice in Orissa state, India. Mr. Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process. The pilot project funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to promote access to justice in Orissa ran until 31 March 2010. We will now assess its impact and consider appropriate follow-up action such as additional funding. We will also continue to monitor progress on delivery of access to justice for the victims of violence in Orissa. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the pilot project funded by his Department to promote access to justice in Orissa state, India. [325319] Mr. Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on his Departments overseas activities of recent exchange rate movements. [325362] David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 53WS. Departmental Publications David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the [323460] forthcoming general election. Chris Bryant: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website. Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced. Departmental Theft Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the [322648] Department.
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Written Answers Members: Correspondence
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 January 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton regarding [322724] Mr. H. Zadron. David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March. Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 21 January 2010 with regard to Mr H. H. Zadron, transferred from the Home Office.
[325126]
West Bank city of Jenin. The pilot project to keep the Allenby bridge crossing into Jordan open until midnight is expected to continue. Such moves have complemented the significant levels of donor support to drive growth in the West Bank economy. Despite these improvements, movement and access into and within the West Bank remains seriously restricted, and further easing is essential to help the Palestinian economy grow. St. Helena: Wrecks Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the effects on the health and safety of residents of St. Helena caused by oil leaks from RFA Darkdale after its sinking in James Bay; and if he will make a statement. [325670] Chris Bryant: Responsibility for the health and safety of residents of St. Helena rests with the Government of St. Helena who hold the requested information. Tibet: Politics and Government
David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March. Nepal: Religious Freedom Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to encourage the government of Nepal to enshrine protections for religious freedom consistent with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in that countrys new constitution.
[325341]
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a mechanism to monitor progress in the talks on Tibet between the government of China and the Dalai Lama.
[325815]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We regularly raise with the Government and political parties of Nepal the importance of ensuring that the new constitution is fully in line with Nepals commitments under international human rights treaties. The Constituent Assembly Committee for Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles has proposed that the new Nepalese constitution should provide that no person
should convert a person from one religion to another
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We, alongside our EU counterparts, will continue to monitor progress on the dialogue. We urge all sides to maintain dialogue in good faith. This is the only way to achieving lasting stability and prosperity in Tibet. Western Sahara: Human Rights Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 116W, on Western Sahara: human rights, what matters relating to human rights were included in Christopher Rosss briefing of the Security Council on 18 February [325107] 2010. Mr. Ivan Lewis: Ambassador Ross briefing to the UN Security Council of 18 February included some background on a recent exchange of allegations between the parties over human rights. The issue of whether to include human rights monitoring in the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara mandate was raised by Security Council members during the discussions that followed Ross briefing. Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request HM Ambassador in Rabat to raise with the Moroccan authorities the case of Rachid Sghir, a Saharawi [325113] human rights activist. Mr. Ivan Lewis: This is the first inquiry we have received about the case of Rachid Sghir. UK based media reporting alleges he was mistreated by the Moroccan police after speaking to the BBC. We have had no further reporting on this case.
which would be in contravention of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The constitution drafting process remains ongoing. We will continue to raise protections for religious freedom with the Government and political parties of Nepal. Palestinians: Economic Situation Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the level of support given by the government of Israel to the economy in the West Bank; [324396] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply. Although there are no specific reports on the level of support given by Israel to improve the economy in the West Bank, regular updates provided by the Office of the Quartet Representative and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs give some information. Israel has relaxed a number of restrictions on access in the last few months, including increased opening hours at certain crossing points, the removal of some earth mounds, and allowing Arab Israelis to visit the
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Developing Countries: Roads
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Officials at our embassy in Rabat will continue to monitor the human rights situation in the disputed territory of Western Sahara and raise our concerns with the Moroccan authorities through our regular dialogue and in partnership with our EU colleagues.
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on road safety projects in developing countries in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [325024] Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs. Haiti: Earthquakes Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what equipment was used by UK fire and rescue personnel deployed in Haiti after the recent earthquake; and if he will make a statement.
[325236]
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324973] Mr. Michael Foster: In the last two years the Department for International Development has installed voltage optimisers in both of our UK offices. There are two 1,250 kVa units in our London office (installed March 2008), and a 560 kVa unit in our East Kilbride office (installed March 2009). Analysis of electricity consumption in the London office indicated an annual 14.2 per cent. reduction in total electricity consumption, which was largely attributable to this equipment. Early analysis shows that there has been a reduction in electricity use in our East Kilbride office, of between 5.2 per cent. and 6.4 per cent. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in [324797] current prices. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold central records on the cost of individual press officers and this information could not be gathered for the years specified without incurring disproportionate cost. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325194] make a statement. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has received no such complaints during the last three years. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325212]
Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1415W on Haiti: Earthquakes. Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who carried out the four airlifts of relief supplies to Haiti on behalf of his Department following the earthquake in that country; [325268] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) followed an emergency tender process with two suppliers before using Air Charter Service to procure aircraft for the airlift of relief supplies to Haiti. Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to each (a) multi-national and (b) UK non-governmental organisation for the [325269] purpose of providing assistance in Haiti. Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1415W, on Haiti: Earthquakes. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many British firefighters took part in the recent relief efforts in [325598] Haiti. Mr. Michael Foster: 64 firefighters from the UK fire and rescue service deployed to Haiti to take part in search and rescue efforts, along with two search dogs. They pulled three people alive from the rubble. India: Politics and Government Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of his Departments work in Orissa state, India, on (a) inter-communal relations and (b) the socio-economic status of all religious, caste, tribal [325340] and linguistic groups in the area. Mr. Michael Foster: The purpose of DFIDs aid to Orissa is to reduce poverty in the state. We have not, therefore, carried out an assessment of the impact of
Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 806W, on departmental internet.
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our programmes on inter-communal relations. However, all our programmes have a clear focus on supporting marginalised groups to gain greater access to development and economic opportunities. DFIDs support to the Government of Orissa aims to improve health and nutritional outcomes, support improved governance and improve the incomes and livelihoods of the poor. We regularly review our programmes to track their impact on Adivasis and Dalits, compared to the general population. Evidence shows that our work is having an impact. For example, the Orissa Tribal Empowerment Programme has benefited more than 50,000 Dalit and Adivasi households: 40 per cent. of these report a 50 per cent. increase in income, and 80 per cent. show an increase in food security and livelihood assets. Kenya: Family Planning Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate reproductive health and access to reproductive rights in Kenya, with particular reference to family planning and safe abortion services; [325345] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Developments (DFID) Essential Health Services programme in Kenya is improving the quality of maternal and neonatal health services for 2.2 million poor Kenyans in rural areas. The support has increased the number of births at which a skilled birth attendant was present from 23 per cent. to 32 per cent. between 2006 and 2009. DFID is supporting advocacy for safe motherhood and safe abortion through Kenya White Ribbon Alliance. We have helped increase access to modern contraceptive methods through the social marketing of family planning commodities such as oral contraceptives. DFID distributed 195 million condoms between 2002 and 2009. DFID support from 2009 to 2015 will avert 770,800 unwanted pregnancies in Kenya. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last [324241] 36 months. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not investigated the cost of policies presented by the Conservative party, the Liberal Democrats or any other opposition party. Overseas Aid: Maternity Services Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the additional 100 million to cut maternal deaths which the Government committed to at the Women Deliver conference in October 2007 has been provided to the [325549] United Nations Population Fund. Mr. Michael Foster: All of the 100 million announced at the Women Deliver conference in 2007 was committed to the United Nations Population fund (UNFPA) Global Reproductive Health Commodity Security Programme. The programme supports governments in Africa and in
South Asia to provide more contraception services and better health care and advice for girls, women and men who really need it. To date 25 million has been transferred to UNFPA as per the agreed payment schedule. Palestinians: Overseas Aid Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on alleged restrictions imposed by Hamas on the activities of humanitarian non-governmental organisations operating in Gaza. [325659] Mr. Michael Foster: Department for International Development (DFID) officials are in regular contact with non-government organisations (NGOs), the UN and other donors about this issue. We assess that international NGOs and other humanitarian actors are generally able to carry out humanitarian activities, and that they have been able to successfully rebuff isolated attempts by elements of Hamas to interfere with aid delivery. However, we remain concerned that increasingly close scrutiny and accumulation of minor restrictions on NGO activity by Hamas will have the effect of impeding ongoing humanitarian aid. We will continue to support efforts by humanitarian agencies to protect their ability to assist Gazan civilians on the basis of need. St Helena: Wrecks Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will assist the St Helena government in removing the fuel, oil and ammunition from RFA Darkdale after its sinking in James Bay, St Helena; and if he will make a [325668] statement. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides financial and technical assistance to the St. Helena Government to allow it to manage its own affairs. We have recently agreed a budget of up to 26.15 million for St. Helena for financial year 2010-11. This did not include any additional assistance for removing the fuel, oil and ammunition from RFA Darkdale. Sudan: Politics and Government Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the humanitarian situation in Sudan; and if [325025] he will make a statement. Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) receives regular reports from the United Nations and non-government organisations (NGOs). We are particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and southern Sudan. In Darfur, despite recent progress on peace talks between the Government and rebel groups, fighting has continued between the Sudanese armed forces and a faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army rebel group in the Jebel Mara region. This will have humanitarian consequences for civilians. We continue to urge both sides to immediately cease hostilities and allow access to the area by humanitarian agencies.
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In southern Sudan inter-tribal violence which displaced 390,000 people during 2009 has continued. Poor rains and high prices are fuelling food shortages. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) report that 1.6 million people face acute food shortages in 2010, and a total of 4.3 million people will be food insecure this year. The UK is the largest European bilateral donor to Sudan, providing some 50 million in humanitarian support this year.
Mr. Woolas: The contract for despatching applications forms in response to telephone requests expires on 31 March 2010. There are no plans to renew it. Forms and guides are available from the UK Border Agency website. British Nationality: Assessments Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of each (a) age group and (b) nationality passed the British [303820] citizenship test in each month of 2009. Mr. Woolas: The Knowledge of Life (KOL) requirement was introduced in November 2005 for citizenship applications. In April 2007, the Home Office extended the KOL test to those applying for settlement in the UK. In 2009, 193,645 applications for British citizenship were made. A breakdown of this information has been placed in the House Library. Burglary: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of burglaries in Shropshire. [325416] Mr. Alan Campbell: Tackling burglary is the responsibility of local community safety partnerships. During 2009-10 the Government have supported the work of community safety partnerships by investing 15 million in the Securing Homes: Action Against Burglary programme to prevent and tackle burglary across England and Wales. The elements of the programme which included Shropshire included:
free burglary information and advice packs for victims of burglary and their immediate neighbours; a campaign to raise awareness of how to avoid becoming a victim of distraction burglary; new partnerships with the National Union of Students and Age UK to target advice appropriately at those most at risk of or concerned about burglary.
HOME DEPARTMENT Animal Welfare: Arrests Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests there have been for offences in connection with animal welfare in North [325422] Shropshire since 1997. Mr. Alan Campbell: The information on arrests is not collected centrally. The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. The offence in connection with animal welfare is not a notifiable offence and does not form part of this collection. Asylum: Standards Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was between a person claiming asylum on arrival in the UK and a final decision being made on their application in the [323021] latest period for which figures are available. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 22 March 2010]: The public service agreement (PSA) Delivery Agreement 3, Indicator 2 refers to the reduction in the time to conclusion of asylum application. The measure is to ensure a target percentage of cases should be resolved within six months. The method of reporting against the target is based on the performance of the specific monthly cohort of cases reaching six months. Hence all reporting is done against a six-month timeframe. A cohort is specified as those new applications received between 1 and 31 of each month. The conclusion measurement requires applications to be granted asylum or some form of leave to remain in the UK, allowed at appeal or removed within 182 days (six months) to be counted as concluded. Performance against the targets has been published in National Statistics as follows:
61 per cent. of new applications received in June 2009 were concluded in six months by the end of December 2009.
Published information is not available in relation to conclusion of applications in timescales other than six months. British Nationality Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reinstate the telephone line for people to request British nationality [322992] application forms.
The Home Office also ran a national publicity campaign Dont Advertise Your Stuff to Thieves earlier this year drawing the publics attention to the simple steps they could take to avoid becoming victims of burglary. We are also keeping pressure on prolific and persistent burglars through offender-based interventions such as the Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) and the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) programme and Integrated Offender Management (IOM). PPO and DIP are in place in every local authority area in England and Wales and IOM approaches are being adopted across the country. Shropshire are currently in the process of setting up a local IOM pilot. Community Safety Accreditation Schemes Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which local authority and police force areas (a) local authority employees and (b) private companies have been authorised to issue fixed penalty notices under the Community Safety Accreditation scheme. [324777]
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Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Suffolk Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands
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Mr. Alan Campbell: The Home Office only holds information on police forces that operate the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS). The Home Office does not collect information on the local authority areas in which CSAS operates. Nor does it collect information on the local authorities and private companies in which police forces have granted employees the power to issue fixed penalty notices under CSAS. The decision as to which employees are granted powers is for individual police forces that operate CSAS. However, the Home Office conducted a national audit of CSAS in 2009 which found that the following police forces had designated accredited persons with the power to issue fixed penalty notices. Avon and Somerset constabulary and British Transport police have designated the power to issue penalty notices for disorder, but not fixed penalty notices.
Cheshire Cleveland Devon and Cornwall Durham Gwent Hampshire Hertfordshire Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Norfolk
Convictions Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 19, (iii) between 20 and 25, (iv) between 26 and 30, (v) between 31 and 40, (vi) between 41 and 50, (vii) between 51 and 60 and (viii) over 60 years have been (A) cautioned, (B) proceeded against and (C) issued with a penalty notice for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in each [325281] police force area in the last 12 months. Mr. Alan Campbell: Information showing the number of offenders cautioned for offences of being drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008 (latest available) can be found in Tables one and two. The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for these offences are given in Tables three and four. The number of offenders issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) can be viewed in Tables 5 and 6. Cautions, court proceedings, and PND data for 2009 are planned for publication in the autumn 2010.
Table 1: Number of males cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cheshire City of London Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley 10-15 3 10 5 4 2 16 4 4 3 5 5 2 1 6 15 9 2 4 58 15 2 1 12 2 16-19 25 23 1 13 45 8 76 10 27 18 12 9 33 5 5 21 87 1 52 116 2 23 5 174 10 3 3 2 32 12 20-25 19 3 8 5 3 19 5 62 11 14 13 8 12 19 6 4 6 54 103 470 11 13 131 7 2 2 5 35 13 26-30 16 3 5 5 6 10 3 23 3 4 9 3 7 6 2 1 12 33 45 263 4 3 73 4 2 1 3 23 7 31-40 18 4 9 5 1 5 3 56 8 13 1 9 11 4 1 12 42 51 374 8 9 74 5 1 3 9 40 11 41-50 7 4 4 1 1 4 1 44 2 4 7 1 10 5 4 1 7 19 1 32 220 6 5 53 2 2 2 3 32 8 51-60 4 2 1 2 1 1 17 1 2 5 3 3 3 9 6 87 3 18 1 1 4 24 4 61 and over 1 1 2 2 2 8 3 4 1 9 6 36 4 2 17 1 1 1 5 2 All ages 93 17 62 17 33 90 23 302 30 61 67 27 61 82 26 13 68 268 2 304 1,568 2 63 37 598 44 13 13 28 203 59
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Table 1: Number of males cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age Police force area Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales Total
1
10-15 4 7 27 4 10 8 6 256
16-19 48 62 117 2 17 71 18 14 1,202
20-25 2 63 84 118 1 11 63 14 11 1,430
26-30 30 29 48 5 23 8 7 729
31-40 29 34 81 10 30 8 3 982
41-50 13 14 50 8 19 5 4 605
51-60 8 8 22 3 3 8 1 255
61 and over 1 4 5 2 3 2 125
All ages 2 196 242 468 3 60 222 71 46 5,584
Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises. Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12; Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour. Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. 3 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These are included in the totals. 4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical ServicesMinistry of Justice. Table 2: Number of females cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales 10-15 5 2 4 9 8 17 3 11 1 10 7 1 1 9 23 2 8 3 6 68 9 1 1 16 5 6 12 38 1 3 7 6 16-19 11 1 13 7 27 7 39 3 14 11 3 10 13 1 6 34 10 26 1 7 3 80 3 2 1 4 15 4 16 18 62 1 5 16 11 20-25 3 2 1 8 1 25 2 5 4 3 2 7 3 27 9 76 8 1 28 1 4 5 5 16 15 37 4 19 5 26-30 2 1 2 1 16 4 4 3 1 3 2 9 6 38 4 10 1 1 1 3 9 21 2 9 1 31-40 2 4 4 2 5 21 6 3 4 3 10 2 1 1 14 1 9 61 4 2 28 2 10 3 8 11 35 1 8 3 41-50 3 3 1 2 1 17 2 1 7 3 5 1 3 15 4 44 4 13 1 2 3 2 10 2 11 10 21 1 10 2 51-60 2 2 1 11 1 1 3 1 1 4 1 11 1 5 1 1 1 2 3 1 61 and over 1 1 1 3 2 3 2 1 All ages 28 2 28 18 49 22 146 14 42 29 10 30 48 5 3 26 127 3 48 262 1 33 6 230 14 5 8 10 65 21 61 76 218 2 16 73 29
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Table 2: Number of females cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age Police force area South Wales Total
1
10-15 5 308
16-19 6 491
20-25 5 331
26-30 2 156
31-40 268
41-50 5 209
51-60 2 56
61 and over 2 16
All ages 27 1,835
Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises. Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12; Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour. Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. 3 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These are included in the totals. 4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical ServicesMinistry of Justice. Table 3: Number of males proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082,
3, 4
Age Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire City of London Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales 10-15 3 11 9 10 10 11 4 14 3 2 18 3 2 15 30 14 5 5 7 1 70 5 16 1 1 10 3 4 8 27 2 1 4 7 16-19 27 5 5 55 1 49 84 42 104 19 64 27 10 105 67 7 10 52 189 10 14 164 48 31 42 9 675 25 91 49 3 13 70 25 17 89 129 196 6 21 49 41 27 20-25 44 9 12 59 7 75 92 60 140 32 39 19 18 153 139 15 15 69 226 7 23 324 138 53 83 17 916 43 196 48 4 33 74 50 22 90 267 318 8 25 70 51 37 26-30 19 9 12 39 5 30 34 28 112 19 18 19 10 79 40 4 10 30 106 2 6 136 111 16 46 5 382 37 108 31 4 31 54 10 6 50 162 177 7 21 37 19 25 31-40 48 20 44 54 8 51 60 54 204 39 28 40 19 123 77 21 17 86 180 11 31 387 308 60 60 14 470 69 150 39 8 47 108 29 18 49 303 278 16 33 56 42 24 41-50 33 5 49 60 10 33 45 36 165 22 22 37 7 89 71 16 8 89 136 12 20 290 252 35 54 9 314 35 103 55 3 43 89 54 8 40 206 219 35 24 43 25 24 51-60 33 9 16 15 3 11 11 14 66 10 13 11 3 20 17 13 1 27 37 1 3 70 89 13 27 3 126 7 28 12 6 13 33 21 3 14 80 88 6 11 12 14 22 61 and over 23 1 12 4 1 10 11 14 5 2 6 12 3 3 9 1 25 24 1 4 1 20 2 15 5 1 4 15 4 1 5 15 21 10 9 6 5 all ages 230 58 150 297 35 258 346 255 816 150 198 158 69 593 426 79 63 371 913 43 98 1,410 975 214 323 59 2,973 223 707 240 29 185 453 196 75 341 1,170 1,324 90 145 277 199 164
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Table 3: Number of males proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082,
3, 4
Age 61 and over 310
Police force area Total

1
10-15 336
16-19 2,766
20-25 4,120
26-30 2,106
31-40 3,783
41-50 2,925
51-60 1,032
all ages 17,378
Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises. Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12; Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour. Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are use. 4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical ServicesMinistry of Justice. Table 4: Number of females proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age Police force area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire City of London Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Merseyside Metropolitan Police Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed-Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales 10-15 3 1 3 2 6 3 8 5 2 3 8 1 7 15 4 2 3 65 14 2 3 1 2 5 19 3 1 2 16-19 8 2 1 9 18 30 9 30 3 18 3 1 9 15 2 4 15 69 1 41 6 2 17 3 145 7 21 6 1 5 16 6 2 11 30 42 2 3 8 11 9 20-25 2 1 7 1 11 14 9 22 6 12 8 2 16 9 3 6 20 3 36 8 10 12 1 106 6 25 9 1 3 7 11 2 8 36 45 6 7 9 5 26-30 3 1 8 2 9 6 3 22 3 4 1 9 6 1 1 6 21 1 30 9 2 4 65 5 23 3 2 1 9 2 1 3 21 29 2 2 3 3 31-40 7 1 6 25 2 23 25 3 24 5 8 8 1 14 18 1 2 17 43 2 3 82 16 7 23 2 98 5 22 2 3 20 6 2 8 27 60 2 5 8 10 3 41-50 2 2 8 15 1 4 13 5 32 6 5 10 2 13 8 1 3 22 31 2 3 62 14 7 13 2 43 9 33 26 1 15 23 5 1 17 28 39 4 14 12 10 4 51-60 1 1 3 1 5 1 4 1 1 1 7 6 5 7 14 7 4 28 4 3 1 3 2 1 5 9 3 1 11 2 1 61 and over 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 3 2 1 all ages 27 7 20 69 6 69 99 33 142 20 52 36 7 66 71 11 15 78 206 6 9 269 62 28 76 8 554 32 142 52 5 31 83 32 9 50 152 244 11 31 51 46 27
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Table 4: Number of females proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly1, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20082, 3, 4 Age 61 and over
Police force area
10-15
16-19
20-25
26-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
all ages
Total
1
193
641
505
326
649
570
143
17
3,044
Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises. Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12; Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour. Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are use. 4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical ServicesMinistry of Justice. Table 5: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to males for offences of drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3 Age Police Force Area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire British Transport police Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Dyfed Powys Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Gwent Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Norfolk North Wales North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Wales South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire 16-19 52 21 59 62 100 257 69 157 207 53 192 41 50 26 130 62 119 61 112 393 1,116 49 11 5 843 321 71 128 179 56 887 120 37 559 102 12 45 211 66 24 125 646 309 68 20-25 82 49 147 95 211 463 139 191 317 74 295 56 119 42 223 80 168 71 181 642 1,458 120 34 51 1,325 823 153 182 247 74 1,493 183 36 805 144 10 66 367 123 21 173 991 476 85 26-30 25 20 123 67 87 163 55 77 135 28 103 34 56 20 106 28 52 27 74 264 574 63 12 34 522 525 59 74 95 40 619 72 21 306 67 5 39 145 38 16 54 431 212 40 31-40 32 29 195 77 87 174 70 85 100 24 99 34 56 21 108 23 58 25 75 320 666 61 18 29 618 700 80 70 96 40 587 74 31 322 73 1 39 147 50 12 49 394 191 45 41-50 20 19 127 44 42 99 36 35 61 12 57 22 33 6 73 8 51 21 47 167 390 30 10 22 439 400 30 51 58 20 349 32 18 174 44 4 43 85 25 8 25 259 107 29 51-60 6 4 53 14 20 33 13 17 23 6 12 13 14 7 23 2 7 9 5 50 100 10 2 1 120 138 7 13 14 3 98 8 5 39 14 1 20 32 15 4 2 73 37 8 61 & over 2 2 14 6 3 9 7 5 10 5 4 4 2 7 4 4 3 24 27 1 1 47 54 3 6 5 1 23 2 14 4 2 2 9 5 1 4 17 6 4 All ages 219 144 718 365 550 1,198 389 567 853 197 763 204 332 124 670 203 459 218 497 1,860 4,331 334 87 143 3,914 2,961 403 524 694 234 4,056 489 150 2,219 448 35 254 996 322 86 432 2,811 1,338 279
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Table 5: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to males for offences of drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3 Age Police Force Area Total
1
16-19 8,213
20-25 13,085
26-30 5,607
31-40 6,085
41-50 3,632
51-60 1,095
61 & over 353
All ages 38,070
The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 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 police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Centrally available PND data are published at age 16 and over. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice. Table 6: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued to females for offences of drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 20081, 2, 3 Age Police Force Area Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire British Transport police Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Dyfed Powys Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Gwent Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London, City of Merseyside Metropolitan Norfolk North Wales North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Wales South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Total 16-19 12 3 18 4 14 78 20 36 39 10 38 6 9 4 45 7 27 8 20 89 257 8 5 0 212 64 13 28 32 12 238 19 5 112 19 1 15 47 7 3 17 123 80 18 1,822 20-25 7 3 15 12 37 90 27 28 50 8 54 11 19 6 44 7 14 17 29 86 261 18 4 4 230 121 16 27 46 7 339 25 8 132 25 1 12 53 8 5 17 132 97 8 2,160 26-30 4 2 20 7 32 40 7 18 15 6 28 7 4 4 21 0 4 6 7 38 97 9 3 7 116 75 9 14 22 3 133 5 4 70 15 0 5 20 4 2 7 59 33 8 990 31-40 4 5 23 11 21 59 22 22 43 3 31 7 15 3 22 6 20 7 19 60 207 9 5 3 192 126 9 15 23 7 177 17 8 77 15 1 11 41 12 2 11 78 52 8 1,509 41-50 3 2 16 14 15 32 14 14 25 5 18 6 13 6 24 5 5 5 7 68 110 7 1 1 119 92 9 15 15 6 104 16 1 53 15 2 12 21 9 2 6 50 46 7 1,016 51-60 2 2 2 2 4 10 4 7 4 1 4 5 6 1 4 3 2 5 16 22 1 23 17 2 6 2 32 3 1 11 5 2 1 12 3 12 12 1 252 61 & over 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 4 3 5 1 3 1 1 1 3 30 All ages 33 18 94 50 124 309 94 125 177 33 173 42 66 24 160 25 75 45 88 358 958 52 18 15 895 500 58 106 140 35 1,026 86 27 455 94 7 57 195 40 14 61 457 320 50 7,779
1 The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. 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 police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Centrally available PND data are published at age 16 and over. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.
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Written Answers Crime
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Departmental Contracts
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Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) drug dealers, (b) people dealing in counterfeit currency and (c) people dealing in counterfeit goods in England and Wales in each of [317772] the last five years. Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in respect of a previous question on 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 997W. Crime Prevention Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into the relationship between levels of spending on police and crime rates; and if he will make [324137] a statement. Mr. Hanson: The Home Office has supported a number of research projects concerning the impact of police resourcing and deployment on crime rates. These have included the impact of police force funding, undertaken in collaboration with Professor Ben Vollaard of the university of Tilburg (Tilburg Law and Economics Centre Discussion Paper DP 2009-012), the impact of the Street Crime Initiative, undertaken by Professor Steve Machin (and Olivier Marie) of the London School of Economics (LSE Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 680), and the effect of police redeployment following the 7/7 terror attacks, also by Professor Machin (and colleagues) (LSE Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 852). These research projects have found that increases in police resources, both generally and targeted, have been associated with reductions in crime rates, in line with the recent international academic literature on the topic. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in [324441] each of the last five years. Mr. Woolas: In common with many organisations my Department provides various facilities to support staff fitness. Information on the cost of these facilities is not held separately. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff. [324559] Mr. Woolas: The Home Department provides accommodation for gym facilities at 2 Marsham street, but does not provide a cash subsidy for staff. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five [324679] years. Mr. Woolas: My Departments accounts do not itemise this level of information.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department. [324791] Mr. Woolas: The Home Department has no policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs and has no plans to issue any guidance to companies bidding for contracts let by the Department. Departmental Data Protection Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to each (a) database and (b) ICT system run by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [317830] Alan Johnson: The Department does not comment on issues relating to possible breaches of the UKs national security. Departmental Information Officers Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, [324805] expressed in real terms. Mr. Woolas: The cost of press officers employed between March 2009 and February 2010 was 1,795,888.92. The Home Office do not employ media officers and do not hold records of press or media officers employed in the financial year 1996-97; our records do not go back that far. Departmental Internet Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department and its agencies incurred expenditure on advertising via Google Adwords in the latest year for which figures are [324624] available. Mr. Woolas: The Home Office and its agencies have spent a total of 401,724 on advertising via Google Adwords in 2009-10. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will [325195] make a statement. Mr. Woolas: The Home Office has received 1,053 pieces of feedback from site users since 2008. This comprises a range of comment such as requests for further information, queries about content, reports of broken links and suggestions for new content. We do not have the information to be able to breakdown this feedback to identify specific complaints regarding difficulties in using the website.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
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Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325213] Mr. Woolas: The Home Office website,
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five [324715] years; and what those items were. Mr. Woolas: The amount spent on promotional items carrying the Departments and its agencies branding and logo in the last five years is as follows: Home Office and UK Border Agency The requested information is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Figures for the Identity and Passport Agency and Criminal Records Bureau are shown in the following tables.
Identity and Passport Agency Amount () 2008 2009 2010 Promotional stationary for the UK Passport Service for Five Nations Passport Issuers Conference Idsmart pens and plastic oyster card wallets General Register Office mousemats Criminal Records Bureau Amount () 28 March 2006 10 May 2006 4 September 2008 10 November 2008 19 March 2009 27 January 2010 27 January 2010 1,200 black pens with CRB contact information 1,200 black pens with CRB contact information 30 crystal pyramids and 1,000 black pens with CRB logo 30 crystal pyramids and 1,000 black pens with CRB logo 4,000 black pens and 4,000 a4 card folders with CRB logo 1,200 desk calendars with CRB logo CRB image bank costs 445.00 445.00 839.00 865.60 2,437 3,927 1,779.62
last underwent a major redesign in 2005. It subsequently underwent a minor redesign in 2008 to incorporate new corporate branding following the machinery of government change to create Ministry of Justice. Costs spent on design consultants for the external website in the last three years were:
Spent () 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 50,000 0 0
Departmental Legal Costs Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent in (a) legal fees and (b) compensation on legal cases concerning remuneration of its employees in each [322062] of the last 10 years. Mr. Woolas: The Home Office (excluding its agencies) does not maintain a central record of how much has been spent on legal fees or compensation specifically relating to legal cases concerning remuneration of its employees. Therefore the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Departmental Manpower Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of [313829] full-time equivalent staff this represented. Mr. Woolas: All permanent staff of the Home Office should receive a performance review each year. In 2008-09 just over 24,000 staff received a review. Staff are assessed against their objectives and, where improvement in performance is needed, that will be reflected in their development plan. In 2008-09 and 2007-08 just over 150 staff were marked as unsatisfactory overall. But in addition many staff receiving satisfactory markings would also have specific areas for improvement. No accurate figures are available for earlier years. And it is not possible to relate the numbers leaving in any year directly to the numbers marked as unsatisfactory.
Total number of unsatisfactory performance assessment markings HO HQ and UKBA 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1 1 1 1
4,883.00 997.50 475.00
Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what (a) the cost and (b) purpose of each such event was. [324658] Mr. Woolas: The Home Office systems (and those of its agencies) do not separately identify the cost of individual hospitality events from overall hospitality costs. This information could be provided at only disproportionate cost. Departmental Public Expenditure Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 521W, what the name is of each underspent project; and what the monetary value was of the underspend in each subsequently transferred to support the Draft [324529] Legislative Programme for 2009-10.
IPS
1 1
CRB
1 1 1 1 1
20 15 19
139 132
No information available.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Drugs: Misuse
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Mr. Woolas: The Home Office transferred 40 million resource and 5 million capital in the winter supplementary estimate 2009-10 for Building Britains Future. The transfer was made from emerging underspends in the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism. Departmental Theft Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department.
[322650]
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 1 June 2009, Official Report, column 159W, on drugs: misuse, when the result of the commissioned research on the impact of khat will be available; and (a) how and (b) when the focus groups will be set up. [320110] Mr. Alan Campbell: The Department commissioned two studies in 2009 to explore the social harms associated with khat use. The first of these is a qualitative study exploring perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use; the availability of treatment services provided for khat users; and perceptions of the appropriate role of Government intervention. The second is a review of the national and international literature examining the evidence on the social harms associated with khat and the impact of legislation in countries which have legislated against khat use and supply. The work is now approaching completion and the Department aims to publish the findings of these studies later in 2010. For the qualitative study, a total of 10 focus groups were conducted with members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities in Sheffield, London and Cardiff. An additional focus with members of the general public was held in each of the focus group site areas. The composition of focus groups was men-only, womenonly or young people-only. The focus groups were conducted in a mix of mother-tongue and English depending on the needs of the group. Entry Clearances Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the operation of the hub and spoke model for [325080] the issue of visas to enter the UK. Mr. Woolas: The Hub and Spoke system has been rolled out gradually since June 2007. This model, which separates the collection of applications from the place where the decision is made, has enabled the UK Border Agency to improve the efficiency and consistency of its visa operation, building on its network of visa application centres as well as increasing the security and integrity of our staff and delivering customer service benefits. Management reviews of the impact of Hub and Spoke are undertaken at regular intervals, and assessments of Hub and Spoke arrangements have also been made by the independent chief inspector of UKBA. A recent internal evaluation has confirmed that hub and spoke has delivered a number of key benefits, including improvements in quality and consistence of decision making, efficiency and productivity, resilience and flexibility, and customer service. Entry Clearances: Iraq Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many business visitor visas to the UK were issued in (a) Iraq and (b) Jordan to (i) Iraqi citizens and (ii) other nationals in each of the last [325078] 12 months.
Mr. Woolas: The Home Office has effective security arrangements in place to guard against theft. A range of measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an integral feature of the Departments broader security risk mitigation measures. These controls reflect the minimum standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF), issued by the Cabinet Office and available online at:
It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific measures as to do so would undermine their effectiveness. Departmental Written Questions Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Members constituency the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.
[323867]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Home Department seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. Disproportionate cost is determined via a disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The current DCT is 800, announced in Parliament by the Treasury on 20 January 2010. DNA: Databases Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the familial searches of the national DNA database have resulted in a prosecution since the creation of that database.
[325267]
Alan Johnson: Familial searches of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) are only carried out in cases of serious violent crime. They are undertaken on a case by case basis and only after authorisation from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) officer for the police force requesting the service. They are used to identify a suspect who does not have a DNA profile on the NDNAD but who may have a close relative who does have a profile on the NDNAD. Data provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) indicates that, since 2003, 33 individual suspects have been identified subsequent to a familial search of the NDNAD which suggested a possible relative with a subject profile on the NDNAD. Of these 33 suspects, five were deceased. The remaining 28 suspects were prosecuted, of whom 27 were convicted.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1264W
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The information is as follows: For 2009:
(a) 10 (b) (i) 1,220 and (ii) 3,049.
Detailed statistics by month are tabled as follows:

Statistics, Visit-Business visas issued Applications processed in Jordan 2009 January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Iraqi nationals 90 60 120 127 114 106 150 76 86 137 108 46 1,220 Applications processed in Iraq 2009 March June December Total Total 8 2 0 10 Other nationalities 188 212 254 256 330 284 234 188 230 421 269 183 3,049
visa application service in Baghdad and Erbil for certain designated categories of applicant (such as senior officials and diplomats), for those going to the UK under Prime Ministerial/Government sponsored initiatives and for urgent compassionate cases. All other Iraqi nationalsincluding business people can apply for their visas outside Iraq, in Damascus, Amman, and Beirut. The current processing time for straightforward applications made at one of these posts is usually within five working days. UKBA International Group has recorded two recent cases of representations, from UK sponsors, regarding Iraqi citizens who would have preferred to submit their business visitor visa applications in Iraq. Entry Clearances: Overseas Students Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were (a) applied for by and (b) granted to applicants from (i) India, (ii) Pakistan, (iii) Bangladesh, (iv) Sri Lanka, (v) Nepal, (vi) Malaysia and (vii) Nigeria in each of the last eight quarters. [301812] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 26 November 2010]: The information requested is given in the following table and relates to the financial year. Tier 4 (students) of the points based system was introduced on 31 March 2009 providing a robust system aimed at ensuring legitimate students are able to come here to access our world renowned educational facilities while protecting the route from abuse. As a result of the review of Tier 4 commissioned by the Prime Minister in November, we announced in February a balanced and targeted package of measures to further tighten the robustness of the system. Measures include, among others, raising the standard of English required to study in the UK and introducing a highly trusted sponsor scheme. In February we also implemented suspensions of Tier 4 applications in north India, Bangladesh and Nepal to ensure proper scrutiny of applications. We lifted the suspension for applications at degree level (and for foundation degrees) in north India at the beginning of March. The other suspensions remain in place and are being kept under review.
2009 July to September October to December January to March April to June July to September
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on Iraqi citizens travelling to Jordan in order to submit an application for a business visitor visa to enter the UK; and if he will make a statement. [325079] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 March 2010]: United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) International Group receives very few direct representations in respect of Iraqi citizens who have travelled to Jordan in order to submit an application for a business visitor visa. Properly documented applications are normally resolved and a decision made, within five working days. Due to cost and security considerations, Ministers have agreed that UKBA will currently offer a limited
2007 October to December Applications India Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal Malaysia Nigeria 5,523 6,387 2,163 995 847 1,163 4,632 8,597 7,581 3,277 1,284 942 747 4,571 4,714 5,647 2,399 977 573 894 3,523 January to March 2008 April to June
22,944 11,447 3,548 2,724 757 5,364 15,046
8,109 5,613 1,456 1,647 400 1,027 5,976
12,017 8,094 2,563 2,157 329 501 5,406
8,123 2,515 1,161 1,172 2,154 658 1,413
54,749 8,532 11,567 4,178 9,964 5,957 10,395
Issued India Pakistan 3,127 1,777 5,068 2,185 2,633 1,510 17,661 4,705 4,905 1,260 7,807 1,499 3,884 1,553 31,416 4,961
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Written Answers
2007 October to December January to March 1,147 546 229 691 1,769
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Written Answers
2009
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2008 April to June 758 350 88 699 768 July to September 1,492 1,901 281 4,749 5,999 October to December 762 885 145 1,003 1,826 January to March 1,200 886 210 462 1,683
April to June 979 648 288 477 668
July to September 8,249 2,813 6,370 5,447 7,646
Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal Malaysia Nigeria
896 381 300 1,011 1,673
Note: These data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.
Entry Clearances: Pakistan Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to determine the appeal of Shaheen Kausar lodged on 19 May 2009 in Islamabad against refusal of entry clearance. [325050] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 March 2010]: Shaheen Kausars appeal against the refusal of her application for entry clearance was dismissed by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on 21 October 2009 (AIT reference: VA/45370/2009). Greater Manchester Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Manchester, Gorton constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Departments policies since 1997.
[322139]
officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 74 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 at BCU level are not available. There were 218 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP). These are now referred to as community safety partnerships (CSPs). The Manchester CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues. Neighbourhood police teams are in place and the Manchester, Gorton constituency is served by a number of such teams from the Greater Manchester polices metropolitan division. Neighbourhood policing is a crucial partnership with the public and is helping to reduce crime and enhance community confidence in the police. The visible policing presence is augmented by information on neighbourhood policing in each area which is available on the internet. None of this was in place in 1997. All CSPs, including Manchester, are putting in place minimum standards to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB). By tackling ASB and providing support for victims, these will help to reduce local perceptions of ASB and improve public confidence. This was not in place in 1997. In addition, before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour whereas there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Manchester is in the top 50 national priority areas for alcohol-related harm. The effects of the Departments policies on crime, antisocial behaviour, policing, and night time economy management have been consistently positive and instrumental in supporting the city centres development as a safer, more popular and vibrant place to visit. Detailed and comprehensive analysis is being used by Manchester, along with specific action plans to ensure reductions in serious violent crime. The Manchester Violent Gang Board has recently been commended for their approach to the issues within Manchester and have been given a Green Flag by the Audit Commission for their work in relation to guns and gangs. Gun crime is down significantlyGreater Manchester polices Xcalibre operations have had notable success in targeting the gang culture and securing convictions against gang leaders and members. Firearms discharges have reduced in Manchester over the last three years. This is helping to improve safety in Manchester, Gorton.
Alan Johnson: Manchester, Gorton comes within the Manchester Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to one March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Manchester CSP. In terms of police recorded crime in the Manchester CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 18 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the persondown 2 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year) Sexual offencesdown 10 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year) Robberydown 43 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year) Burglarydown 29 per cent. (up 5 per cent. in last year) Offences against vehiclesdown 35 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year) Other theft offencesdown 12 per cent. (up 2 per cent. in last year) Criminal damagedown 20 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year) Drug offencesup 151 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99. Manchester CSP is covered by Metropolitan, North Manchester, South Manchester and Trafford basic command units, which had a total of 2,167 police
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Written Answers
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Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing domestic violence has been driven through the Home Office-led cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan. This includes the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme (Manchester gained accreditation in 2008). It also includes Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the Governments approach to identified high risk victims of domestic violence. Manchester is developing three MARACs covering all three police divisions. Victims of domestic violence are supported by independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs)trained specialists who provide a service to victims who are at high risk of harm which have been shown to decrease victimisation. Manchester now has 10 IDVAs. Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing sexual violence has been driven through the delivery of the Home Office-led cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse which aims to increase access to health and support services for victims; improve the response of the criminal justice system for victims, and to prevent sexual violence in the first place. This has led to expanded services such as sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) and independent sexual violence advisers (ISVAs) to improve victim care. Home Office has supported the continued development of St Marys SARC in Manchester and the development of an ISVA service at the centre. Manchester is a recipient of Youth Crime Action Plan funding and has rolled out a programme of initiatives designed to tackle youth crime. Manchester also receives funding from the Tackling Knives Action Programme and has engaged in a number of enforcement and educational activities to tackle and deter young people from involvement in all forms of serious youth violence. These include Safer Schools Partnerships. The drug treatment system in Manchester has developed by means of joint planning and commissioning of services over many years. The introduction of national drug strategy and the establishment of pooled treatment budget arrangements in 2001-02 have done much to formalise and enhance partnership working. This has resulted in the development of an integrated treatment system. Manchester has an effective drugs intervention programme (DIP). Manchester is achieving significant reductions in acquisitive crime, but recognises that there are still challenges, particularly in tackling issues such as domestic burglary and robbery. Robust plans are in place to tackle these. There is a real focus on student safety and Manchester has developed a Student Safety Business Model. Manchester is a Vigilance area and Safer Homes Fund area which are Home Office programmes aimed at tackling acquisitive crime, particularly burglary and robbery. Greater Manchester polices Operation Storm has had real success in recent reductions in domestic burglary in particular. From 1 April 2010, CSPs are required formulate and implement a strategy to reduce reoffending. One of Manchesters priorities includes reducing the offending of prolific and priority offenders and the partnership is currently exceeding the targets set in the Local Area Agreement. Manchester will shortly introduce Integrated Offender Management (IOM) based on the Greater Manchester Spotlight model and will have three co-located IOM teams covering the city. This will manage the most
serious offenders including those responsible for acquisitive crime, and violent and domestic violence offences. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
Group 4 Securicor Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions there have been with Group 4 Securicor (G4S) on the service offered by G4S Policing Solutions; and if he will make [324858] a statement. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The UK Border Agency has engaged in discussions with G4S about G4S Policing Solutions. Joint Immigration Crime Teams operating across the United Kingdom include a number of seconded police posts, five posts are at present being filled temporarily by non-warranted civilian investigators supplied by G4S Policing Solutions, for up to two months. Planning is being finalised for resourcing this function into 2010-11. Idcardsyoudecide Website Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hits the idcardsyoudecide website has received since its launch.
[325243]
Meg Hillier: There have been 5,301 page views on the website since its launch to present (28 March 2010):
http://www.idcardsyoudecide.wordpress.com
Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much had been spent on the idcardsyoudecide (a) website and (b) short films on the latest date for which figures are available. [325242] Meg Hillier: The information is as follows:
(a) The cost of the website development is 8,348.50 http://www.idcardsyoudecide.wordpress.com (b) The cost of the five animations that appear on the site is 15,219
Identity Cards Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers in his Department have (a) been issued with (i) an identity card and (ii) a biometric passport and (b) their details on the [320674] National Identity Register. Alan Johnson: The Identity and Passport Service holds in confidence personal information about those people who have been issued with a passport or an identity card and it would not be proper to publish whether any particular individuals have been issued with a passport or identity card with their identity details recorded on passport records or on the National Identity Register.
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Written Answers Identity Cards: Bus Services
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1270W
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration (a) his Department and (b) the Identity and Passport Service has given to the use of identity cards to indicate entitlement for free local bus travel for the over-60s.
[325324]
Mr. Woolas: The individual referred to in the answer to Baroness Warsi of 17 March 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 190WA, was engaged directly by a contracted cleaning company. Immigration: Gurkhas Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Gurkha veterans have claimed resettlement rights since August 2009; and how many of them are receiving (a) pension credit, (b) [325777] housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit. Mr. Woolas: Any former member of the Brigade of Gurkhas who served for four years or more is eligible to apply for settlement in the UK. Since we published our revised guidance in 2009 we have granted settlement to 2,179 individuals. The UKs benefit systems do not record the nationality of people receiving benefits because nationality is not a condition of entitlement. Islamist Militants Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the funds raised in the UK for overseas Islamist [325029] militants. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 22 March this year the first annual report on progress against the objectives set out in the Governments overall strategy for countering international terrorism (known as CONTEST), which includes information on work to tackle terrorist finance. For reasons of national security it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the Governments assessments of the levels of funds raised in the UK for terrorism overseas. Khat Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated [320108] on the health effects of khat. Mr. Alan Campbell: The HO commissioned two studies in 2009 to explore the social harms associated with khat use. The first of these is a qualitative study exploring perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use; the availability of treatment services provided for khat users; and perceptions of the appropriate role of Government intervention. The second is a review of the national and international literature examining the evidence on the social harms associated with khat and the impact of legislation in countries which have legislated against khat use and supply. The perceived health effects of khat are briefly reported on in each of the studies. The Home Office has not commissioned any overall evaluations of the health effects associated with khat use.
Meg Hillier: There are no current plans to use identity cards to indicate entitlement for free bus travel for the over 60s. However, an identity card is a convenient proof of age and could be used for the holder to prove that they qualify for age related services such as applying for a bus pass. Identity Cards: Greater Manchester Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means police in Greater Manchester are able to verify that an identity card is [314774] valid. Alan Johnson: We expect a number of checks will be based on visual verification of the card. We have provided detailed guidance on the security features that can be checked to ensure an identity card is genuine. Also, the police can request that the Identity and Passport Service check the validity of an identity card against the National Identity Register for prescribed purposes set out in legislation. These are for the prevention and detection of crime, national security, or to help identify a victim of an event which has caused loss of life or injury. Identity Cards: Passports Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to combine the identity card and biometric passport [318773] schemes. Alan Johnson: The Governments intention is to offer British citizens aged 16 and over the choice of being issued with a passport or an identity card or both documents and for applicants identity details, including facial image and fingerprint biometrics, to be held on the same National Identity Register. As the Government are to introduce fingerprint biometric passports and essentially the same information will be recorded for the issue of a passport or identity card, it will be far more cost effective and secure to introduce a single application process and to hold the identity information of people issued with passports and identity cards on a single register rather than duplicating that information on separate but almost identical databases. Illegal Immigrants Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to Baroness Warsi of 17 March 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 190WA, on Houses of Parliament: illegal staff, whether the individual who was the subject of the report to the UK Border Agency worked for the [324623] House of Commons Service.
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Written Answers Mobile Phones: Surveillance
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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The data for knife/sharp instrument offences are shown in Tables D and E.
Table A: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 1997-98 Total number of offences 1997-98 30
Mr. David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on (a) contracts with Roke Manor and (b) other projects relating to the Celldar mobile telephone [325266] monitoring system. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The Home Department has not spent any money on (a) contracts with Roke Manor or (b) other projects relating to the Celldar mobile telephone monitoring system. Offences Against Children Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will take steps to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. [325031] Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 29 March 2010]: We are currently taking steps to assess the UKs compliance with its obligations under the convention. Offensive Weapons: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving a weapon there have been in North Shropshire in each year since 1997; and what type of weapon was involved in each case. [325417] Mr. Alan Campbell: The main police recorded crime return does not identify the use of a weapon in a given offence. Figures are collected for possession of weapon offences, but these do not include the more serious offences with which weapons are often associated, such as grievous bodily harm with intent. Data relating to firearms offences and knife and sharp instrument offences are available, through additional special collections separate to the main recorded crime return. Figures are collected at police force level only, so data are provided for West Mercia police force area. Data for firearms offences (excluding air weapons) are available since 1997-98 and are shown in Tables A, B and C. There were two major changes in the way that police record crime in 1998 and 2002. In April 1998, the way in which crime was counted changed and the coverage of offences increased. In April 2002 the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced, which brought in a more victim-focused reporting system. This means that it is not possible to compare figures across these recording changes and this is reflected in the tables. Data for knife/sharp instrument offences have been collected since April 2007 via a special additional data collection. Data are therefore only available for two years. In 2007-08, the data collection covered the following offences: attempted murder, GBH and robbery. In 2008-09, the collection was expanded to include threats to kill, ABH, rape and sexual assaults. There were also changes in how both GBH with and without intent was recorded by forces following clarification of counting rules. Therefore, the figures between the two years are not comparable.
Table B: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 1998-99 to 2001-021,2 Total number of offences 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02
1
38 36 41 54
The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998/99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997-98. 2 The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. Table C: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 2002-03 to 2008-091 Total number of offences 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
1
48 62 151 115 58 124 79
The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. Table D: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by West Mercia police for selected offences, 2007-081 Offence category Attempted murder Wounding with intent to do GBH Wounding or inflicting GBH without intent2 Robbery Total of selected serious offences
1
Number of offences 1 43 20 80 144
Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instalment. In this table offences involving a knife refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown in this table. 2 Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH. Table E: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by West Mercia police for selected offences, 2008-091 Offence category Attempted murder Threats to kill ABH and GBH2 Robbery Rape and sexual assaults Total of selected serious offences
1
Number of offences 5 16 137 81 1 242
Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument In this table offences involving a knife refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown in this table. Collection expanded in 2008-09. 2 Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) knives and (b) firearms have been recovered by police in North [325418] Shropshire in each year since 1997. Mr. Alan Campbell: The requested data are not held centrally.
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Written Answers Opposition
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last [324246] 36 months. Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Police Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of police (a) time and (b) budget spent on tackling (i) gang related crimes, (ii) robbery, (iii) [317836] criminal damage and (iv) sexual offences. Alan Johnson: Table A contains the percentages of police officer time spent on different activities for the financial year 2007-08 for England and Wales. To reduce paperwork burdens on police officers the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08 in response to the recommendations by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service published in February 2009. Activities are grouped according to whether they are related to crime incidents, related to non-crime incidents (e.g. road traffic accidents), or not related to specific incidents. In this last case, these activities could be related to crime (e.g. prison interviews), or to general police duties and activities (e.g. training). The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling frontline staff to focus on dealing with the publics priorities, as measured against the confidence targetnow the only top-down target on forces. Table A indicates that, in 2007-08, the police in England spent 32.7 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.6 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents (although some of this will be crime-related). The comparative figures for Wales are 27.9 per cent., 20.7 per cent. and 51.5 per cent. respectively. Overall, in 2007-08, police in England and Wales spent 32.5 per cent. of their time on all crime incidentspecific activities, 14.9 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents. For the specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of time spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police time, was 2.2 per cent., 2.1 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific time, the figures were 6.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.2 per cent. respectively. There is no category of gangrelated crimes.
Table B contains police spend on different activities for the financial year 2007-08. As before, crime and non-crime incident-specific activities are differentiated. The categorisation of non-incident specific activities is different in Table B from Table A, however. Table B does not include costs of activities such as training, which are instead treated as overheads and included in the costs of all other activities. Further, Table B separates out some activities which are undertaken by particular staff or roles (e.g. intelligence analysis and research)these are not included in Table A, as activity analysis covered only police officers working on foot, car or beat patrol, CID and traffic duties. Note that costs in Table B do not include sustaining overheads such as running costs for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Table B indicates that for the financial year 2007-08 the police in England and Wales spent 34.9 per cent. of its total budget (excluding sustaining overheads) on crime incident-specific activities. For the same specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of budget spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police budget (excluding sustaining overheads), was 2.0 per cent., 2.2 per cent. and 2.6 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific budget spending, the figures were 5.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. respectively. As before, there is no category of gang-related crimes. By way of context, Table C provides proportions of crime incidents of different types alongside the proportion of time and budgetary spend on crime devoted to these incident types. Thus it can be seen that, in 2007-08, robbery accounted for 1.7 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.7 per cent. and 5.7 per cent. of police time and budgetary spend respectively. Criminal damage accounted for 21 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.3 per cent. of both police time and budget. Sexual offences accounted for 1.1 per cent. of crime incidents, and 7.2 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. of police time and budget respectively.
Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Percentage of time Activity Dealing with crime incidents Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime Total Dealing with non-crime incidents RTA fatal/serious RTA minor injury/damage Traffic Other Public disorder Domestic dispute Complaint/nuisance 1.0 1.2 2.4 1.9 2.1 0.9 0.9 1.7 3.8 2.8 2.4 2.5 1.0 1.2 2.5 2.0 2.2 1.0 3.4 4.0 2.3 2.8 1.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 3.3 2.8 2.0 5.6 32.7 2.3 4.2 2.1 2.8 1.5 0.9 1.7 0.9 3.0 2.7 3.2 2.6 27.9 3.3 4.0 2.3 2.8 1.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 3.3 2.8 2.1 5.5 32.5 England Wales Total
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Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Percentage of time Activity Prostitution False alarms Missing person Sudden/suspicious death Other non crime Total Non-incident related Visible Patrol Court duties/escort Special operations/events Investigate complaints Deal with informants Community Involvement Property inquiries Non incident inquiries Crime prevention activity Prison interviews Training Briefings/meetings Non incident linked paperwork Other non incident related work Staff development, personnel-related Relief custody duties Call handling/relief control room duties/enquiry desk Checking paperwork (supervisory) Budgetary/financial ID parades Other managerial/supervision Refreshments Waiting time Total appraisal, 13.7 0.4 1.9 0.2 0.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.9 6.6 7.4 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.8 0.1 0.1 3.6 4.2 0.3 52.7 15.2 0.3 1.6 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.4 1.6 0.2 0.0 1.1 7.2 7.0 3.6 0.7 0.2 0.8 0.2 2.3 0.1 0.1 2.7 4.6 0.1 51.5 13.8 0.4 1.8 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.8 6.6 7.4 4.9 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.8 0.1 0.1 3.5 4.2 0.3 52.7 England 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.6 3.0 14.6 Wales 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.2 3.3 20.7 Total 0.1 0.2 1.2 0.6 3.1 14.9 Activity
Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Spend (000) 175,446 99,671 7,876 13,058 112,040 81,260 276,938 1,427,097 Spend (percentage) 2.00 1.10 0.10 0.10 1.30 0.90 3.20 16
Domestic dispute Complaint/nuisance Prostitution False alarms Missing person Sudden/suspicious death Other non crime Total Non-incident related Visible Patrol Court duties/escort Special operations/events Deal with informants Community Involvement Property inquiries Non incident inquiries Crime prevention activity Prison interviews Role CodeNational, international policing, CT and Special Branch Role CodeCrime partnerships Role CodeMaintaining and developing partnerships Role CodeIntelligence Research and Analysis Role CodePrisoner handling/ custody Role CodeCall handling/inquiry office Role CodeLicensing Role CodeCriminal Justice Role CodePolice protection Role CodeFamily liaison Role CodeWarrants ID parades Total
1,207,838 35,643 225,440 39,985 169,188 32,032 135,039 64,865 7,332 474,839
13.80 0.40 2.60 0.50 1.90 0.40 1.50 0.70 0.10 5.40
90,021 35,687 368,101 399,657 603,164 23,475 273,753 21,014 19,830 16,581 9,698 8,721,439
1.00 0.40 4.20 4.60 6.90 0.30 3.10 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.10 49
Monitoring cellblock PACE
Grand total
1
100.0
100.0
100.0
Grand total
1
4,253,184
100.00
Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08
Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. Table C: Proportions of crime incidents, crime incident-related activity and crime incident-related spend by crime type, England and Wales1 2007-08 Percentage Time on crime incidents 10.3 Budget on crime incidents 12.9
Activity Dealing with crime incidents Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime Total Dealing with non-crime incidents RTA fatal/serious RTA minor injury/damage Traffic Other Public disorder
Spend (000)
Spend (percentage)
395,906 346,819 226,678 259,262 130,232 170,458 195,493 130,792 273,557 271,550 187,576 452,835 3,041,159
4.50 Crime incident type 4.00 2.60 3.00 1.50 2.00 2.20 1.50 3.10 3.10 2.20 5.20 35 Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences
Crime incidents 0.5
18.8
12.4
11.5
1.1 5.7 6.2 1.7 13.3 3.2 22.3 4.6 21.0 1.4 100.0
7.2 8.6 3.7 6.7 5.4 3.7 10.1 8.6 6.3 17.0 100.0
7.4 8.6 4.3 5.7 6.3 4.3 8.9 8.9 6.3 14.9 100.0
76,905 105,163 243,729 235,011
0.90 1.20 2.80 2.70
Criminal damage Other crime Total

1
Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08.
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Written Answers Police: Bureaucracy
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officer time was spent on each type of activity in (a) England and (b) Wales in the latest period for which figures are [319518] available. Alan Johnson: Table A contains the percentages of police officer time spent on different activities for the financial year 2007-08 for England and Wales. To reduce paperwork burdens on police officers the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08 in response to the recommendations by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service published in February 2009. Activities are grouped according to whether they are related to crime incidents, related to non-crime incidents (e.g. road traffic accidents), or not related to specific incidents. In this last case, these activities could be related to crime (e.g. prison interviews), or to general police duties and activities (e.g. training). The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling front line staff to focus on dealing with the publics priorities, as measured against the confidence targetnow the only top-down target on forces. Table A indicates that, in 2007-08, the police in England spent 32.7 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.6 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents (although some of this will be crime-related). The comparative figures for Wales are 27.9 per cent., 20.7 per cent. and 51.5 per cent. respectively. Overall, in 2007-08, police in England and Wales spent 32.5 per cent. of their time on all crime incidentspecific activities, 14.9 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents. For the specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of time spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police time, was 2.2 per cent., 2.1 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific time, the figures were 6.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.2 per cent. respectively. There is no category of gangrelated crimes. Table B contains police spend on different activities for the financial year 2007-08. As before, crime and non-crime incident-specific activities are differentiated. The categorisation of non-incident specific activities is different in Table B from Table A, however. Table B does not include costs of activities such as training, which are instead treated as overheads and included in the costs of all other activities. Further, Table B separates out some activities which are undertaken by particular staff or roles (e.g. intelligence analysis and research)these are not included in Table A, as activity analysis covered only police officers working on foot, car or beat patrol, CID and traffic duties. Note that costs in Table B do not include sustaining overheads such as running costs for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
Table B indicates that for the financial year 2007-08 the police in England and Wales spent 34.9 per cent. of its total budget (excluding sustaining overheads) on crime incident-specific activities. For the same specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of budget spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police budget (excluding sustaining overheads), was 2.0 per cent., 2.2 per cent. and 2.6 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific budget spending, the figures were 5.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. respectively. As before, there is no category of gang-related crimes. By way of context, Table C provides proportions of crime incidents of different types alongside the proportion of time and budgetary spend on crime devoted to these incident types. Thus it can be seen that, in 2007-08, robbery accounted for 1.7 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.7 per cent. and 5.7 per cent. of police time and budgetary spend respectively. Criminal damage accounted for 21 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.3 per cent. of both police time and budget. Sexual offences accounted for 1.1 per cent. of crime incidents, and 7.2 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. of police time and budget respectively.
Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Percentage of time Activity Dealing with crime incidents Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime 3.4 2.3 3.3 England Wales Total
4.0
4.2
4.0
2.3 2.8 1.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 3.3 2.8 2.0 5.6 32.7
2.1 2.8 1.5 0.9 1.7 0.9 3.0 2.7 3.2 2.6 27.9
2.3 2.8 1.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 3.3 2.8 2.1 5.5 32.5
Dealing with non-crime incidents RTA fatal/serious RTA minor injury/damage Traffic Other Public disorder Domestic dispute Complaint/nuisance Prostitution False alarms Missing person Sudden/suspicious death Other non crime 1.0 1.2 2.4 1.9 2.1 0.9 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.6 3.0 14.6 0.9 1.7 3.8 2.8 2.4 2.5 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.2 3.3 20.7 1.0 1.2 2.5 2.0 2.2 1.0 0.1 0.2 1.2 0.6 3.1 14.9
Non-incident related Visible patrol Court duties/escort 13.7 0.4 15.2 0.3 13.8 0.4
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Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Percentage of time Activity Special operations/events Investigate complaints Deal with informants Community involvement Property inquiries Non incident inquiries Crime prevention activity Prison interviews Training Briefings/meetings Non-incident linked paperwork Other non-incident related work Staff development, appraisal, personnel-related Monitoring cellblock PACE Relief custody duties Call handling/relief control room duties/inquiry desk Checking paperwork (supervisory) Budgetary/financial ID parades Other managerial/ supervision Refreshments Waiting time England 1.9 0.2 0.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.9 6.6 7.4 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.8 0.1 0.1 3.6 4.2 0.3 52.7 Total
1
Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Total 1.8 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.8 6.6 7.4 4.9 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.8 0.1 0.1 3.5 4.2 0.3 52.7 100.0 Total
1
Wales 1.6 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.4 1.6 0.2 0.0 1.1 7.2 7.0 3.6 0.7 0.2 0.8 0.2 2.3 0.1 0.1 2.7 4.6 0.1 51.5 100.0
Activity
Spend (000) 1,427,097
Spend (percentage) 16
Non-incident related Visible patrol Court duties/escort Special operations/events Deal with informants Community involvement Property inquiries Non incident inquiries Crime prevention activity Prison interviews Role CodeNational, international policing, CT and Special Branch Role CodeCrime partnerships Role CodeMaintaining and developing partnerships Role CodeIntelligence Research and Analysis Role CodePrisoner handling/ custody Role CodeCall handling/inquiry office Role CodeLicensing Role CodeCriminal justice Role CodePolice protection Role CodeFamily liaison Role CodeWarrants ID parades 1,207,838 35,643 225,440 39,985 169,188 32,032 135,039 64,865 7,332 474,839 90,021 35,687 368,101 399,657 603,164 23,475 273,753 21,014 19,830 16,581 9,698 4,253,184 8,721,439 Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. Table C: Proportions of crime incidents, crime incident-related activity and crime incident-related spend by crime type, England and Wales1, 2007-08 Percentage Crime incidents 0.5 Time on crime incidents 10.3 Budget on crime incidents 12.9 13.80 0.40 2.60 0.50 1.90 0.40 1.50 0.70 0.10 5.40 1.00 0.40 4.20 4.60 6.90 0.30 3.10 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.10 49 100.00
100.0
Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales1, 2007-08
Activity Dealing with crime incidents Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime Dealing with non-crime incidents RTA fatal/serious RTA minor injury/damage Traffic Other Public disorder Domestic dispute Complaint/nuisance Prostitution False alarms Missing person Sudden/suspicious death Other non-crime
Spend (000)
Spend (percentage)
Crime incident type Violence against the personS20 and more serious Violence against the personS47 and less serious Sexual offences Burglary dwelling Burglarycommercial and other Robbery Theft of or from motor vehicle Deception/fraud Theft other Drugs offences Criminal damage Other crime Total
1
395,906 346,819 226,678 259,262 130,232 170,458 195,493 130,792 273,557 271,550 187,576 452,835 3,041,159
4.50 4.00 2.60 3.00 1.50 2.00 2.20 1.50 3.10 3.10 2.20 5.20 35
18.8
12.4
11.5
1.1 5.7 6.2 1.7 13.3 3.2 22.3 4.6 21.0 1.4 100.0
7.2 8.6 3.7 6.7 5.4 3.7 10.1 8.6 6.3 17.0 100.0
7.4 8.6 4.3 5.7 6.3 4.3 8.9 8.9 6.3 14.9 100.0
76,905 105,163 243,729 235,011 175,446 99,671 7,876 13,058 112,040 81,260 276,938
0.90 1.20 2.80 2.70 2.00 1.10 0.10 0.10 1.30 0.90 3.20
Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officer time was spent on front-line policing in each year since [319521] 1997. Alan Johnson: For the period 2003-04 to 2007-08, the front-line policing measure assesses time spent by police officers on core policing duties such as patrol and
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responding to 999 calls. They also include activities of CID and specialist officers, who, while not always visible to the public, are nonetheless carrying out core policing duties. The estimates by year are as follows: 2003-04, 63.6 per cent.; 2004-05, 62.3 per cent.; 2005-06, 63.6 per cent.; 2006-07, 64.2 per cent.; 2007-08, 64.9 per cent. Data for Staffordshire are not available for 2007-08 and these figures therefore exclude Staffordshire. The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling frontline staff to focus on dealing with the publics priorities, as measured against the confidence targetnow the only top-down target on forces. As recommended by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service, the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08. On 18 March 2010 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published Value for Money Profiles for the 43 forces in England and Wales. Explanatory material accompanying the profiles contains an overall analysis of the police workforce as at 31 March 2009 which shows the proportion by function as: Aiding the public 47 per cent.
Working in the community 36 per cent. Policing roads 4 per cent. Taking 999 calls and tasking (control room) 7 per cent.
Precept (Band D) 1997-98 Police Authority Avon and Somerset Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon and Cornwall Dorset Durham Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Hertfordshire Humberside Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Metropolitan Merseyside Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumbria Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Sussex Thames Valley Warwickshire West Mercia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Dyfed Powys Gwent North Wales South Wales England Average England and Wales Average Cash 52.04 52.51 51.03 51.16 54.87 58.20 51.31 49.79 63.59 52.20 54.09 51.17 54.10 51.75 51.51 52.47 51.59 53.25 52.26 69.03 63.27 66.87 50.58 49.72 70.56 52.73 49.78 53.29 54.74 51.39 44.64 51.66 52.79 52.24 50.87 53.20 53.17 55.22 48.42 49.10 48.52 49.22 54.07 53.57 Real 70.46 71.10 69.10 69.27 74.29 78.80 69.47 67.42 86.10 70.68 73.24 69.28 73.25 70.07 69.75 71.04 69.85 72.10 70.76 93.47 85.67 90.54 68.49 67.32 95.54 71.40 67.40 72.16 74.12 69.58 60.44 69.95 71.48 70.73 68.88 72.03 71.99 74.77 65.56 66.48 65.70 66.64 73.21 72.53
Precept (Band D) 2010-11 Cash=real terms 168.03 144.77 169.56 144.53 187.84 193.89 163.74 156.60 180.00 153.41 132.12 199.69 144.33 146.25 147.82 166.47 138.68 146.27 169.63 179.28 216.83 146.23 191.16 204.55 193.20 83.68 160.11 132.33 177.61 160.74 198.54 138.42 154.30 174.10 178.72 99.45 130.50 157.77 181.44 181.38 201.33 153.67 161.35 163.07
Dealing with criminals 31 per cent.

Investigating crime (for example CID) 13 per cent. Specialist functions (such as air support, firearms, dogs) 4 per cent. Gathering intelligence 4 per cent. Processing forensic evidence 2 per cent. Preparing cases for court (criminal justice) 5 per cent. Holding people in custody 3 per cent.
Helping to support 22 per cent.

Operational Support (including planning, estates, vehicles) 8 per cent. Business Support (including HR, finance, IT) 11 per cent. Training 2 per cent. Other (such as catering and stores/supplies) 1 per cent. Note: These figures relate to the breakdown of all police personnel by function. They therefore include police staff as well as officers.
Police: Council Tax Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average Band D police precept on council tax bills in (a) England, (b) England and Wales and (c) each individual police authority (i) was in 1997-98 and (ii) will be in 2010-11 in (A) cash terms and (B) real terms in 2010 prices.
[325322]
Sources: 1. English Police AuthoritiesDCLG 2. Welsh Police AuthoritiesWAG The averages calculated here are the averages of the precepts displayed above.
Rape Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to counter inaccurate perceptions of (a) the number of falsely-reported rapes and (b) individual [321382] responsibility for the crime of rape. Mr. Alan Campbell: The information is as follows:
Mr. Hanson: The information available is in the following table.
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(a) MOJ and HO are considering the recommendation set out in Baroness Sterns independent review on this issue and will publish a full response to the review later this year. The Government are working with police and CPS to ensure that every victim has the confidence to report. Guidance on Investigating and Prosecuting Rape published in June 2009 by NPIA states that officers should assume victim reports are accurate unless evidence proves otherwise. Joint ACPO/CPS support team visits will have been made to every force to support the implementation of this guidance by March 2010. (b) The Government recently launched a new advertising campaign to challenge teenagers attitudes to violence and abuse in relationships. The campaign is the first part of a communications strategy announced in the Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. This can be viewed at the campaign website:
http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk/
Shropshire in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

[325415]
Alan Johnson: In the last 12 months I have not visited Shropshire in an official capacity. Stop and Search Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many stop and search procedures were performed on members of each ethnic [323485] minority in each of the last five years; (2) how many stop and search procedures were performed (a) by Leicestershire Police, (b) by officers of police authorities in the East Midlands and (c) in [323486] England in each of the last five years; (3) how many stop and search procedures were performed on people in each age group in each of the [323487] last five years. Mr. Hanson: Data on stop and search procedures performed by ethnic appearance in each of the last five years can be found in table 1. Data on stop and search procedures performed (a) by Leicestershire police, (b) by officers of police authorities in the East Midlands and (c) in England in each of the last five years can be found in table 2. The stop and searches collection held by the Home Office does not breakdown stop and search procedures by age group.
A number of local areas run local campaigns to challenge attitudes on rape and in particular, those around consent. The Home Office has contributed to the cost of these campaigns, most recently, the Greater Manchester police awareness campaign No Consent, No Sex TV campaign in December 2009. Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has visited
Table 1: Stop and search procedures performed, under sections 1, 60, 44(1) and 44(2), by ethnic appearance 2007-08 Searches of persons under section 1general 738,505 172,393 89,781 17,755 17,004 10,485 1,045,923 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 35,973 11,837 4,125 433 757 125 53,250 2006-07 Searches of persons under section 1general 690,643 152,120 77,421 14,755 20,174 7,784 962,897 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 25,520 13,219 4,522 618 780 48 44,707 2005-06 Searches of persons under section 1general 629,624 133,769 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 22,702 7,199 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 19,187 2,046 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 11,650 2,110 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 16,878 2,412 3,127 756 312 4,871 28,356 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 9,695 1,230 2,438 909 206 14,478 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 42,006 8,753 10,878 2,773 807 7,409 72,626 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 31,961 6,465 9,890 3,154 591 52,061
Main White Black Asian Other Not Recorded Vehicle Only Searched Total
Total 848,445 199,448 114,674 24,115 19,159 18,019 1,223,860
Total 742,736 168,981 87,508 17,038 21,472 12,703 1,050,438
Main White Black
Total 683,163 145,124
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2005-06 Searches of persons under section 1general 68,173 13,967 32,620 10,522 888,675 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 4,856 594 897 28 36,276 2004-05 Searches of persons under section 1general1 16,383 180 96 295 4,047 95 861,494 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 23,405 9,926 6,858 810 576 36 41,611 2003-04 Searches of persons under section 1general 547,369 108,208 53.794 10,796 16,552 12,725 749,444 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 23,868 9,385 5,627 688 625 243 40,436 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 14,806 2,146 2,571 904 867 4,396 25,690 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 5,840 558 1,097 418 209 10 8,132 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 17,337 2,113 2,659 842 402 3,793 27,146 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 7,456 631 1,047 587 146 9,867 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 2,809 944 493 5,504 30,983 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 3,994 994 316 19,064
Main Asian Other Not Recorded Vehicle Only Searched Total
Total 79,832 16,499 34,326 16,054 974,998
Total 64,581 12,850 10,660 2,534 5,171 3,924 940,118
Total 591,883 120,297 63,089 12,806 18,253 17,374 74,258
Data not broken down by vehicle only search 1 Data for searches of person under section 1general has been estimated Table 2: Stop and search procedures performed in Leicestershire, East Midlands and England, under sections 1, 60, 44(1) and 44(2) 2007-08 Searches of persons under section 1general 24,181 64,905 1,004,004 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 837 1,522 52,592 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 4 8 59,697 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 5 5 51,630
Police force area Leicestershire East Midlands Region England
Total 25,027 66,440 1,177,923
2006-07 Searches of persons under section 1general 21,849 61,508 919,816 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 744 2,339 44,458 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 5 24,878 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 2 4 12,701
Total 22,595 63,856 1,001,853
2005-06 Searches of persons under section 1general 17,923 52,904 848,400 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 1,039 2,317 35,596 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 1 11 28,861 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 27 223 18,781
Total 18,990 55,455 931,638
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2004-05 Searches of persons under section 1general 15,350 44,958 811,300 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 583 1,266 40,783 2003-04 Searches of persons under section 1general 12,523 38,585 710,826 Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60 1,005 1,384 40,409 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 7 7 25,118 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 2 2 7,501 Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1) 0 0 23,731 Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2) 0 0 10,209
Total 15,933 46,224 886,023
Total 13,537 39,978 783,854
Stop and Search: Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) stopped and (b) searched under the provisions of section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in North Shropshire in each month of the last five years.
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Mr. Hanson: Arrangements already exist within the Metropolitan police service for dealing with allegations of war crimes in liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, UKBA and other agencies as appropriate. These arrangements remain under review to ensure that they continue to be effective.
Mr. Hanson: The Home Office does not hold statistics which are recorded in this way. The Home Office does collate statistics on the number of terrorism arrests and convictions and these are included in a Bulletin published for the first time on 13 May 2009 (Statistics on Terrorism Arrests and Outcomes Great Britain 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2008). The second issue of the Bulletin was published on 26 November 2009 and, unlike the first edition, includes data on stop/searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The bulletin is available via the following link:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1809.pdf
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Aviation: Treaties Mr. Brazier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to ratify the air protocol to the 2001 Cape [325045] Town Convention. Ian Lucas: The UK played an active role in negotiations regarding the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment at the 2001 Diplomatic Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa. The UK is committed to its ratification, and will be issuing a Call for Evidence seeking stakeholder views on this matter in the near future. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of [324412] each. Mr. McFadden [holding answer 25 March 2010]: Events organised by the Department cover such matters as business summits, trade missions, conferences concerning EU issues and so on, where hospitality is not the only, or even the main cost. Often, the costs of such events are shared with other organisations. It is not possible to disaggregate the BIS hospitality costs of these events except at disproportionate cost. I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
The third issue of this bulletin was published on 25 February 2010 and is available via the following link:
In addition to the above bulletins, the Home Office publishes Statistics on Police Powers and Procedures, which includes a force by force breakdown of stop/searches under Section 44. The last edition of that bulletin (covering 2007-08) is available via the following link:
The next edition of this bulletin (covering 2008-09) is scheduled to be published before the end of April 2010. Links to the bulletins covering the four years up to 2007-08 are included in the following:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/arrests-recordedcrime-engl-wales-2006-07-b.pdf http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/arrests-forrecorded-crime-england-and-wales.pdf http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2105.pdf http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb1804.pdf
War Crimes Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are plans to establish a specialist war crimes unit in the Metropolitan police.
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I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22nd March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Intellectual Property Office does not generally host hospitality events, although it runs a number of outreach events and seminars on Intellectual Property issues. The Office has on occasion hosted launch events on specific issues. These include: Artist Resale Rights: 625 Lambert Tool Kit: 2,495 IP Crime Report: 5,072 World IP day 09: 3,210 World IP day 08: 9.375
Mr. McFadden: The Easter Act 1928 remains on the statute book but the Act requires that before a draft order is laid before Parliament:
regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body.
There are no plans to implement the provisions of the Act. Employment Agencies: EU Law Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department plans to provide on (a) the steps an agency must undertake to establish the parameters for equal treatment from an end-user of agency workers under the Agency Worker Regulations 2010, (b) the extent to which measures undertaken by an agency to ascertain the information needed to provide equal treatment will be considered reasonable steps under section 14(3)(a) of the Regulations and (c) safeguards for agencies from unreasonable liability where an end-user of agency workers does not accurately provide the information required to determine equal treatment under the Regulations or [325384] attempts to indemnify against such liability. Mr. McFadden: The Government fully understand the importance of providing clear, comprehensive guidance on the agency workers regulations prior to their entry into force. This will be drawn up in consultation with stakeholders and will address these and other issues. Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to monitor the effects of the Agency Worker Regulations 2010 on the agency worker [325385] industry once they have entered into force. Mr. McFadden: The Government are committed to post-implementation review (PIR) of new legislation in line with better regulation principles. The PIR would be used to identify whether the policy change is achieving the desired results. In the case of the agency workers regulations, a post implementation review is planned for 2013. It is expected that this will feed into the overall review of the Agency Workers Directive that the European Commission is required to carry out by December of that year by virtue of article 12. Further Education: Finance Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Learning and Skills Council news release of 9 February 2010, entitled Learning and Skills Council Honours Commitment to Help Colleges with Financial Problems, which of the 41 colleges to receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are in London; which colleges in (a) England and (b) London were identified by the LSC as facing financial difficulty as a direct result of aborted capital spending; what assessment has been made of the extent of the financial difficulty faced by such colleges in (i) England and (ii) London; and how much funding will be [325568] provided to each college.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 March 2010:

I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the cost and purpose of the five most expensive hospitality events in the last three years. The five most expensive hospitality events hosted by the National Measurement Office in the last three years were: 1) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost 6,024.30 in March 2008. 2) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost 5,824.99 in January 2008. This was in addition to the above as it involved a different sector of stakeholders. 3) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of 5,820.45. This took place in November 2009. 4) A chemical and biological metrology seminar held in London at a cost of 5,328.67. This took place in November 2009. 5) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of 4,941.82. This took place in November 2008
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 25 March 2010:

I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 March 2010, UIN 324412, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Companies House does not host hospitality events.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 26 March 2010:

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, to list the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of each. The Insolvency Service hosted a reception for its stakeholders in December 2007 at a cost of 4,177. This was attended principally by insolvency practitioners, members of the judiciary and people working in the debt advice sector (both commercial and charitable). In April 2009, The Service held an internal ceremony to present awards to members of its staff who had obtained an award under one of The Services bespoke qualification programmes. This work-related event was also attended by members of the awarding body, Nottingham Trent University, and some external training partners, 12 individuals in total. The cost of the refreshments provided to those attending from outside The Service was 640. In October 2009, The Service held a half-day conference for stakeholders concerning its project to modernise the Insolvency Rules 1986. Refreshments were provided for the delegates at the end of the conference at a cost of 962.
Easter Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent consideration the Secretary of State has given to bringing into force the provisions of the Easter Act 1928 which fix the date of Easter; and if he will make a statement. [325707]
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Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is committed to ensuring that no college experiences financial difficulty as a result of decisions taken on capital. As a result the LSC has now paid all contractual obligations and has granted 43 million in additional support to 42 colleges identified as experiencing or anticipating serious financial problems as a result of the programme. The LSC will continue to work with the sector to ensure that no further colleges get into financial difficulty as a result of developing a capital proposal. I am unable to provide financial details relating to individual colleges as they are commercially sensitive to the colleges involved. Licensing Laws: Music Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many licensees of (a) pubs, (b) restaurants and (c) bars (i) applied for and (ii) were (A) granted and (B) refused licences to perform live music in (1) Montgomeryshire and (2) England in each year since [325153] 2007; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate data specifically on premises licence applications for the provision of live music, and does not collate data by premises type. This is because the Licensing Act 2003 defines activities not premises type. The number of premises licences with live music provisions in the Licensing Authority of Powys was 505 on 31 March 2007, 528 on 31 March 2008 and 559 on 31 March 2009. The estimated total premises licences with live music provisions in England and Wales was 75,200 on 31 March 2007, 79,800 on 31 March 2008 and 83,600 on 31 March 2009. Lembit pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications to vary licences for the provision of regulated entertainment in (a) pubs, (b) restaurants and (c) bars have been made in each year since 2007; [325155] and if he will make a statement. Mr. Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate data specifically on applications to vary licences for the provision of regulated entertainment and does not collate data by premises type. This is because the Licensing Act defines activities not premises type. The total number of applications to vary a premises licence in England and Wales is shown in the table.
Number of applications to vary premises licences 9,534 11,114 7,473 Licensing authorities responding to the question (percentage) 80 95 97
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of (a) the Conservative Party and (b) the Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special [324400] advisers in the last 36 months. Mr. McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Optics: Technology Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Hauser review of the current and future role of technology and innovation centres in the UK considered the establishment and development of the [325393] Optic centre at St. Asaph Business Park. Mr. Lammy: The Hauser review was not established with a view to identifying and prioritising centres that should receive support in the future and as such no assessment has been made of the Optic centre at St. Asaph Business Park. However, the report and recommendations provide a broad framework for future investment in technology and innovation centres. My noble Friend the Secretary of State has accepted these recommendations and has commissioned the Technology Strategy Board to work with industry, stakeholders, and wider government on how to implement the recommendations in the Hauser review and to report back by the pre-Budget report on the process, priority areas, scale of investment required and governance structure. Student Loans Company: Redundancy Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with officials from the Student Loans Company regarding the redundancies at the companys Glasgow offices announced in January [324237] 2010. Mr. Lammy: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is a non-departmental public body and decisions about staffing matters are for the company and its board. The chairman and senior executives of the company have discussions regularly with Ministers about the service the company provides for its customers. I was told by the chair of the SLC on 26 January 2010 that the company intended to announce its restructuring on the following day; and attended a meeting requested by the SLC branch of the Public and Commercial Services trade union on January 26. UK Space Agency Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of (a) the number of officials at each pay band and (b) the administration costs of the [324901] UK Space Agency in 2010-11.
Financial year 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Number granted 9,050 10,642 7,004
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Mr. Lammy: The final staffing structure will be completed only when all discussions on post transfers are finalised. The current estimate of full-time equivalents translated to BIS grades is:
Number SCS Grade 6/7 SEO/HEO/EO/AO 4 18.5 18.25
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department commissioned external organisations to assist with the launch of the UK Space Agency. [325459] Mr. Lammy: Yes, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills commissioned external organisations to assist with the launch of the UK Space Agency. These organisations helped handle interview requests from national, regional and trade media; and also captured video and photos of the event which will be used in future publications and online.
The above remains an estimate pending final agreement. Back office support for HR, finance and grants will be contracted from one or more of the existing partners. The estimated administration costs, including staff costs for 2010/11 will be 3.2 million plus the back office function costs, which are funded by existing partners and the necessary transfers are still in negotiation. There will be no increase in BNSC costs. Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the remit of the UK Space Agency is; when he plans to appoint a Space Agency director; what resources he has allocated to the Space Agency in (a) 2009-10 and (b) each of the next three financial years; and from which existing budgets such resources will be drawn. [324902] Mr. Lammy: The remit of the United Kingdom Space Agency is to manage UK Government civil space programmes as an executive agency. The agency will also represent the UK in European and international forums. Dr David Williams, the Director General of the British National Space Centre (BNSC), will be the acting CEO from 1 April 2010. A competition will be held to fill the new post of CEO for the UK Space Agency later this year. The agency will begin its role from 1 April 2010, so all 2009/10 budgets resided with existing BNSC partners and not the agency. In 2010/11 the estimated budget is 230 million, but this is subject to final negotiations with existing BNSC partners. The resources for 2010/11 will be drawn from programmes in BIS, the Technology Strategy Board, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, DEFRA, DfT and MOD. Budgets beyond 2010/11 have not yet been set. Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost of launching the UK Space Agency was; and what the cost of developing the Agencys (a) website [324903] and (b) logo was. Mr. Lammy: The direct cost of creating the new UK Space Agency and re-branding the British National Space Centre is 46,500, relating to the launch event itselfnote that this event also included the launch of the Government response to the Space IGTthe development of the logo, the protection of trademarks on the name and logo within the UK, and the website revamp. Of this 46,500, 1,000 was to revamp the website for its launch by 1 April, and 18,000 was for the logo design and its protection.
TREASURY Council Tax Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Glenrothes of 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 391W, on council tax, whether his Department has estimated the cost of a council tax freeze in (a) year one and (b) year two taking into [324496] account council tax benefit savings; (2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chorley of 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 673, on council tax, what estimate he has made of the cost of a council tax freeze in England net of savings [324817] from council tax benefit payments. Mr. Byrne: The estimates referred to on 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 391W, and 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 673, are the cost to central Government of providing every council in England with top-up funding to compensate for freezing council tax for two years. This costing considered only the direct costs of providing a top-up, assumed to be equivalent to a 2.5 per cent. increase in band D bills in England. The impact on council tax benefit of a two-year freeze on council tax has not been estimated. Council Tax: Valuation Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 22 November 2005, what the purpose and function is of Project 1.5; and what enhancements [324119] it has made to Project 1. Ian Pearson: The purpose and function of Project 1.5 was to deliver a series of enhancements to Project 1. These enhancements did not alter the fundamental operation of the Automated Valuation Model (AVM) system but were a refinement of processes within, and outputs from, the system, together with the generation of additional management reports. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 31 March 2003, paragraph 1.05, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Council Tax [324122] Revaluation 2007 Project Timetable. Ian Pearson: The minutes refer to the Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Project Timetable (V01 14/03/2003).
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This timetable was for initial scoping activity and is headed Proof of Concept. A copy of the document is being placed in the Library. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 22 November 2005, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Programme Closure documents PRMP-12, PRMP-37 and PRMP-38, [324162] redacting the names of junior civil servants. Ian Pearson: Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which opinion research company conducted the Peoples Panel research for the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme; what reports they produced; and what the cost was of [324163] that research. Ian Pearson: ORC International conducted the Peoples Panel research work at a cost of 75,968. Two reports were produced, one presenting the output of focus groups and the other presenting that of in-depth interviews conducted with a sample of council taxpayers. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 20 January 2004, paragraph 3, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the [324164] Omnibus survey. Ian Pearson: A copy of the results of the Valuation Office Agencys (VOA) Council Tax Omnibus Survey 2004 has been placed in the Library. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 17 February 2004, paragraph 5, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) presentation from the Welsh office of the Valuation Office Agency [324166] and (b) paper from statisticians. Ian Pearson: The papers requested are not held by the Valuation Office Agency. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 24 May 2004, paragraph 3, if he will place in the Library a copy of Handout 1 and [324167] Handout 2. Ian Pearson: Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 23 November 2004, paragraph 7, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised [324171] version of the Benefits Analysis document.
Ian Pearson: A copy of this document will be placed in the Library. Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 19 October 2004, paragraph 3.10, if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation on the insight to automated valuation model estimates; and in which areas the mini-revaluations took place.
[324319]
Ian Pearson: This presentation was a live demonstration of emerging test modelling outputs and outcomes. As such there is no presentation that can be placed in the Library. Prior to the postponement of the 2007 Council Tax Revaluation in England, Mini Revaluation (later known as Test Modelling) exercises were carried out, in order to test and refine the automated valuation model, in the following billing authority areas:
Barrow-in-Furness Birmingham Blackpool Bradford Brighton and Hove Bristol Camden Canterbury Colchester Derby Ellesmere Port and Neston Enfield Gosport Greenwich Hillingdon Ipswich Kettering Liverpool Milton Keynes Newham North Tyneside Oldham Restormel Rotherham Sefton South Ribble Stockport Stroud Sutton Tamworth Tonbridge and Malling Tower Hamlets Wandsworth Watford West Berkshire West Lindsey
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agencys Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 25 May 2005, if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper presenting the case for the [324365] acquisition of Rightmove data.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1298W
Ian Pearson: A copy of this document, with commercially sensitive information redacted, will be placed in the Library. Departmental Contracts Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue guidance on his Departments policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.
[324792]
Mr. Byrne: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Governments written evidence to the Treasury SubCommittees inquiry into Estate Management in the Chancellors Departments, HC 852-i 2007-08, Ev 37. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Office of Government Commerce has made of the extent of the use of (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies within buildings occupied by (i) central Government Departments and (ii) the Government estate since the publication of the Delivery Plan for Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government [324953] Estate. Ian Pearson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Office of Government Commerce recommends reducing the voltage of supplied electricity, including voltage optimisation to central Government Departments as one means to achieving the target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11. Government hold data on voltage reduction, however, the element of voltage optimisation is not disaggregated within this. Two Departments are already making use of a framework agreement for voltage reduction and/or optimisation technology and we estimate that a further seven Departments and wider Members of the Government estate are planning usage of improving voltage supply technologies in their buildings across the Government estate. Departmental Marketing Mr. Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) HM Revenue and Customs and (d) the Valuation Office Agency have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the (i) Real Help Now and (ii) Building Britains Future themed campaign to date.
[320496]
targeted at those most vulnerable to poor financial decision making. Some of the marketing material on TV, local radio and local press advertising carried the Real Help Now logo. There were no additional costs to the campaign as a result of including Real Help Now. In total just under 3 million has been spent marketing the Money Guidance pathfinder service since April 2009. For HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), 1.4 million has been spent on the Real Help Now cross government campaign; 230,000 of the total was funded by HMRC with the balance coming from other Government Departments. Two further campaigns included Real Help Now identifiers. 388,000 was spent on the Business Payments Support Service advertising campaign which carried the Real Help for Business Now logo and 165,000 was spent on those elements of the Payments for Parents campaign which carried the Real Help for Families Now logo. All of the spending was funded from within existing departmental budgets. No spending on Building Britains Future themed campaigns was reported by any of the Departments, and no spending on Real Help Now was reported by the Valuation Office Agency, Debt Management Office or the Office of Government Commerce. Economic Situation: Multiple Births Mr. Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the financial situation of multiple birth families; and if he will make a statement. [325185] Mr. Timms: The Governments system of financial support for families recognises the additional costs involved in multiple births as child benefit and child tax credits are paid per child to eligible families. The Sure Start maternity grant, which is specifically intended to help people on certain benefits and tax credits to meet the immediate needs of a new baby, is also paid per child. The Health in Pregnancy grant is intended to provide financial support for women during pregnancy, not to their children after birth and the grant is therefore paid per pregnancy. Employment Mr. Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of (a) public and (b) private sector jobs contracted to deliver public services which were relocated offshore in each of the [323941] last 10 years. Mr. Byrne: No specific estimate has been made of the number of public and private sector jobs contracted to deliver public services relocated off-shore. Equitable Life Assurance Society: York Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of Equitable Life pension fund members [324225] resident in City of York constituency. Mr. Byrne: The Treasury does not hold the details of Equitable Life pension fund members resident in City of York constituency.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: For HM Treasury, the Real Help Now endorsement phrase has been included in some marketing material to promote the Money Guidance pilot service in the north west and north east of England between April 2009 and March 2010. The marketing campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the service as a free source of impartial help for families on personal finance matters. The service is available to all but is
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Written Answers EU Grants and Loans: Wales
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much funding from the (a) European Social Fund and (b) European Regional Development Fund was available to Wales in (a) 2009-10 and (b) each of the last 10 financial years; how much such funding from each fund was drawn down in respect of Wales in each of those years; and how much such funding from each fund he expects to be available to Wales in each of the [325146] next two financial years. Mr. Byrne [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The UK Government are responsible for managing the UKs overall contribution to the EU budget. However, the management of the EU social fund and regional development fund in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Commission. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of EU funding for Wales of the new cohesion policy [325148] provided for by the Lisbon Treaty. Mr. Byrne [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The management of EU structural fund programmes in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Commission. Government Departments: Bank Cards Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government procurement cards were reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in the last year [323522] for which figures are available. Ian Pearson: 3,316 Government Procurement Cards were officially reported lost or stolen during the period January to December 2009. Buying Solutions, an Executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce, and the banks that issue the Government Procurement cards take lost and stolen cards very seriously. Buying Solutions provides advice to departments on how to reduce the risk of card fraud and each of the card issuers provides guidance to cardholders and programme administrators on the importance of keeping cards safe. Card issuers also use statement messaging to advise customers on security. Government Departments: Buildings Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets have been set for Government departments to reduce the cost of their estates; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of savings in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [323207] Mr. Byrne: Through the High Performing Property (HPP) programme Government has targeted annual real running cost savings of between 1 billion and 1.5 billion per annum by 2013 from the central civil Government estate, not broken down by individual Departments. This target saving contributes to the target announced in Budget 2010 to save 5 billion per annum in property running costs through more effective management of assets and property across the whole public sector.
The State of the Estate for 2009 reports that the Government estate is performing better than the private sector in a number of key areas. The annual real cost of running the estate, adjusted for inflation, has fallen by 17 per cent., equivalent to a reduction of approximately 740 million since 2003-04. This achieves the interim targeted annual savings of between 600 million and 800 million by March 2011. No target was set for 2009-10 or 2011-12. Government Departments are therefore on track to meet the HPP target savings. Government Departments: Consultants Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to the public purse was of expenditure by Government departments on consultancies in the last year for which figures are available; and what the estimated level of such expenditure is in each of the next three years. [324211] Mr. Byrne: The most recent year for which public expenditure on consultancy is available 2008-09. This data was published by the Office of Government Commerce alongside Budget 2010 in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/publicspending
The expenditure set out here will be reduced by 50 per cent. a year by 2012-13, as set in the pre-Budget report 2009. Government Departments: Marketing Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 604W, on Government departments: marketing, (1) what the estimated cash value is of the level of marketing and communications spend in 2009-10 on which the 25 per cent. cut will be based;
[324207]
(2) what the base (a) year and (b) cash value is of the level of consultancy spend on which the cut of [324208] 50 per cent. will be based. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over 11 billion of savings have now been identified by Department for the years from 2012-13. This includes the consultancy, marketing and communications cuts which were identified based on 2008-09 spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside Budget. Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010, Official Report, column 604W, on Government departments: marketing, what the estimated level of savings is from reducing consultancy and marketing/advertising spend [324209] in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over 11 billion of savings have now been identified by Departments for the years from 2012-13. This includes over 650 million by 2012-13 from reducing departmental consultancy spend by 50 per cent. and departmental marketing and communications spend by 25 per cent. from 2008-09
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Infrastructure: Expenditure
1302W
spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside Budget, it will be up to Departments to decide how they implement these cuts to ensure they meet the targets by 2012-13. Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the total cash spend on marketing, advertising and public relations by central Government in the last 12 months; and what proportion of such expenditure was made [324213] through the Central Office of Information. Mr. Byrne: Central Government departmental total cash spend on marketing, advertising and public relations is collected by financial year. Therefore the most recent data collected covers financial year 2008-09. This information was published by department and nondepartmental public body alongside Budget 2010 by the Office of Government Commerce in Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009.
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/publicspending
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget has been allocated for the work to be undertaken by Infrastructure UK in its investigation into the cost of delivering major infrastructure projects in the UK referred to in paragraph 4.4 of the report on Strategy for National Infrastructure. [325102] Mr. Byrne: Infrastructure UK is setting up a steering group for the investigation into the cost of delivery, initially with the Governments chief construction adviser and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Office of Government Commerce and the Department for Transport. A budget for the investigation has not yet been agreed between Infrastructure UK and these organisations. Local Government: Cost Effectiveness Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 25 January 2010, Official Report, column 598W, on local government: cost effectiveness, what methodology was used to identify 550 million as the expected figure for savings from local government; and what arrangements will be made for local authorities unable to reach their targets for efficiency savings.
[323201]
Government Departments: Pay Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the policy of approving bonus payments of over 50,000 will apply to all staff.
[323580]
Mr. Byrne: The 2009 pre-Budget report announced a set of fundamental reforms to pay-setting for senior staff, as part of this, I will approve all bonus payments of over 50,000 where ministerial sign-off is needed. For public sector bodies where ministerial approval is not required, the Government expect all organisations making any bonus payments in excess of 50,000, to publicly justify this level to the relevant Secretary of State. Government: Cost Effectiveness Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, whether the 500 million of savings by reducing duplication between organisations will include savings delivered by the Total Place initiative; and whether Total Place savings will be allocated to (a) central and (b) local [324121] government. Mr. Byrne: The Government announced in pre-Budget report 2009 that at least 500 million would be saved by 2012-13 by reducing duplication between organisations and streamlining arms length bodies. Budget 2010 gives further detail on how these savings will be achieved. These savings are being delivered as part of the Governments commitment to deliver 11 billion of savings by 2012-13, set out in Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government and are separate from any savings identified through Total Place. The Total Place report, published on 25 March 2010, set out further details of how savings will be achieved.
Mr. Byrne: The 2009 pre-Budget report sets out a number of areas where local government will be able to find efficiency savings over the next spending period, of 550 million per year by 2012-13. Departments have worked closely to explore potential savings across the different functions and service areas of local authorities, and the scope for local initiatives that have delivered savings to be taken up more widely. It is for individual local authorities to make efficiencies based on local priorities and use of resources. During the CSR 2007 period, local authorities have been free to use savings to hold down council tax or reinvest in other services. Councils do not have individual targets, but where a council is failing to deliver the level of efficiencies expected of the sector as a whole, we would expect the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and local government office to play an active role in supporting the council. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the working estimate is of the cash value of local governments contribution to the Operational Efficiency Programmes target of 8 billion of efficiency savings by 2012-13; and whether the 8 billion of annual savings are cumulative by [323578] 2012-13. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 provided an update on the 8 billion of Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) savings and the 3 billion cross-cutting savings by 2012-13. Details of the proportion of these savings contributed by local government are available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1516900
The 8 billion annual OEP savings are savings to be delivered by 2012-13, against a baseline year of 2010-11.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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These are not cumulative savings. More detail on OEP savings numbers is available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/ oep_final_report_210409_pu728.pdf
Non-domestic Rates Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what notification to the Valuation Office Agency is required of business rate payers when a hereditament is split; and how many such notifications [320065] were made in each year since 2000. Ian Pearson: Ratepayers may make a formal proposal to the local Valuation Officer asking that a hereditament be treated as more than one hereditament (split) but there is no legal requirement to advise the Valuation Officer of this. The number of rating proposals made from 2000 in England and Wales to split is shown in the following table:
Number of rating proposals April 2000 to March 2001 April 2001 to March 2002 April 2002 to March 2003 April 2003 to March 2004 April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 April 2006 to March 2007 April 2007 to March 2008 Apr 2008 to March 2009 April 2009 to February 2010 Total Note: Figures rounded to nearest ten. 8,250 6,830 6,310 6,260 8,550 3,960 3,600 3,330 5,040 4,080 56,210
Ian Pearson: The VOA does not keep records of expenditure on or the number of staff involved in the assessment of separate hereditaments within statutory ports going back to 1999. Staff involved in work on the ports undertake general rating work in other locations and work in other business streams. Non-domestic Rates: Valuation Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 605W, on non-domestic rates, what the change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from rateable value appeals was in each year [321344] from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Ian Pearson: To correspond with the answer of 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 605W, the information provided is in respect of valid rating appeals received 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2009 and settled as at 30 June 2009. The period covers the:
2000 Rating Listseffective 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2005 2005 Rating Listseffective 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2010
The compiled list statistics shows overall reduction in rateable value resulting from appeals against the compiled rating list entries, i.e. appeals challenging the original entries in the rating lists, effective from either 1 April 2000 or 1 April 2005. The column labelled others shows the reduction in rateable value resulting from all other appeals. These are appeals where circumstances have changed since the lists were compiled and the rating assessment requires amendment.
Compiled List Appeals received in: 1 England England England England England Wales Wales Wales Wales Wales England and Wales England and Wales England and Wales England and Wales England and Wales 2 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 RV change (000) 4 -29,785 -817,768 -388,963 -164,470 -55,897 -954 -33,391 -8,805 -4,357 -1,032 -30,740 -851,159 -397,768 -168,827 -56,929 Others RV change (000) 6 -538,362 -390,510 -549,049 -522,566 -348,893 -17,163 -8,198 -16,679 -10,648 -11,642 -555,525 -398,708 -565,728 -533,214 -360,535
Rating list entries are also split as a direct result of information being supplied to the valuation officer by either the respective billing authority or by the valuation officer becoming aware of the need to alter an entry in the rating list. The number of reports made since 2000 in England and Wales by billing authorities is shown in the following table:
Number of billing authority and VO reports to split April 2000 to March 2001 April 2001 to March 2002 April 2002 to March 2003 April 2003 to March 2004 April 2004 to March 2005 April 2005 to March 2006 April 2006 to March 2007 April 2007 to March 2008 April 2008 to March 2009 April 2009 to February 2010 Total Note: Figures rounded to the nearest ten. 40,570 9,910 29,670 30,680 28,540 47,130 30,520 32,610 34,900 31,050 335,570
Non-domestic Rates: Ports Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency spent on administering the separate rating of port companies in each year since 1999; and how many of the agencys staff worked on such rating in each of [325560] those years.
The above figures were extracted from the Valuation Office Agency operational database.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
1306W
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hereditaments with rateable values over 50,000 in each local authority area are on [323440] the 2010 Rating List. Ian Pearson: I have placed a table in the Library which sets out how many hereditaments in each local authority have a rateable value over 50,000. These data are consistent with the statistical release titled Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings ListsEngland and Wales published on 18 December 2009. A copy of this statistical release is available at the following link:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ VOA_Statistics_Release_Final.pdf
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, for what reason the marketing and communications spend is to be reduced against a 2009-10 baseline and the consultancy spend is to be reduced according to a [323531] 2008-09 baseline. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over 11 billion of savings have now been identified by Department for the years from 2012-13. This includes the consultancy, marketing and communications cuts which were identified based on 2008-09 spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside Budget. Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, what the reason is for the base year chosen to calculate savings on expenditure on (a) consultancy and (b) marketing [324478] and communications. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over 11 billion of savings have now been identified by Departments for the years from 2012-13. This includes over 650 million by 2012-13 from reducing departmental consultancy spend by 50 per cent. and departmental marketing and communications spend by 25 per cent. from 2008-09 spending levels. These spending levels were chosen because they are the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside Budget. Public Expenditure: Wales Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequentials are for Wales of the savings to be made by each Department following [325145] Budget 2010. Mr. Byrne [holding answer 30 March 2010]: In Budget 2010 the Welsh Assembly Government received an additional 48 million in 2010-11 as Barnett consequentials of increases in spending of UK Departments. Budgets for 2011-12 onwards will be set in the next spending review in the usual way. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is available to the Welsh Assembly Government under the Barnett formula for financial [325312] year 2010-11. Mr. Byrne: Budget 2010 announced an increase of 48 million for the Welsh Assembly Government in 2010-11. The Welsh Assembly Governments budget plans for 2010-11 are set out in Table C11 of the Budget 2010 Report (HC 451). The final outturn for 2010-11 will not be known until spring 2011.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average rateable value of hereditaments is in each local authority area. [323526] Ian Pearson: I have placed a table in the Library which sets out the average rateable value in each local authority. These data are consistent with the statistical release titled Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings ListsEngland and Wales published on 18 December 2009. A copy of this statistical release is available at the following link:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/ VOA_Statistics_Release_Final.pdf
Pakistan Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chief Secretary to the Treasurys itinerary for his [324694] recent official visit to Pakistan; (2) whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasurys recent visit to Pakistan was wholly, exclusively and [325111] necessarily on Government business. Mr. Byrne: Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500 as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007-08 the list was expanded to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the purpose of the visit and the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as it is available. All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code respectively. Public Expenditure Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010, Official Report, column 803W, on Pre-Budget Report 2009, what estimate he has made of the value in cash terms of expenditure on (a) consultancies and (b) marketing [322877] and communications in 2009-10.
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Written Answers
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers Taxation: Domicile
1308W
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the consequential changes are to Government expenditure in Wales arising from the 11 billion savings announced by Government departments consequent on the Financial Statement and Budget [325347] Report. Mr. Byrne: The departmental expenditure limits for the Welsh Assembly Government will be determined in the next spending review in the usual way. Public Sector: Databases John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Operational Efficiency Programme, what discussions his Department has had with private sector organisations on the role of common electronic standards for data analysis and exchange of information in the management of the [325169] public sector estate. Mr. Byrne: Discussions have taken place last autumn between officials from the Office of Government Commerce and OSCRE (Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate, formerly known as PISCES). An electronic standard (Civil Estate Co-ordination Protocol) for the exchange of data within central Government is currently in place. Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services Lembit pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) average time taken for a call to be answered, (b) average time spent waiting in a call queue, (c) average call duration, (d) number of unanswered calls, (e) average response time for a return call and (f) percentage of calls returned was in call centres operated by HM Revenue and Customs in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010 to date; and if he will [325152] make a statement. Mr. Timms: The information requested, where available, is provided in the following table.
2007-08 Average time for a call to be answered (mm:ss)1 Average time spent waiting in a call queue1 Average call duration (mm:ss)2 Number of unanswered calls (Million)3
1
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to ensure that UK nationals may not be non-domiciled for income tax purposes if evidence shows that to all intents and purposes the UK is their main residence; [324333] (2) if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the number of days spent in the UK for nationals who [324334] were non-domiciled for tax purposes. Mr. Timms: The Government reformed the rules on the taxation of non-domiciled individuals in 2008 to make them fairer. An individuals liability to UK tax on their worldwide income and gains is linked to their residence and domicile status. Tax residence in part depends on the amount of time spent in the UK but the other connections an individual builds or maintains in the UK may also be significant. Domicile is a general law concept that is used for some tax purposes. It is separate to residence and does not depend on the number of days spent in the UK. Someone who is UK resident has significant connections to the UK, the current rules act to ensure that they make an appropriate contribution to the UK tax system. Further guidance is available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/hmrc6.pdf
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of UK nationals who are non-domiciled for income tax [324335] purposes. Mr. Timms [holding answer 25 March 2010]: No such estimate has been made. Individuals are not required to indicate whether they are UK nationals on their self-assessment tax return. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss to the Exchequer arising from UK nationals who are non-domiciled for tax purposes in the latest period for which figures are [324336] available. Mr. Timms [holding answer 25 March 2010]: No such estimate has been made. Individuals, including those who are non-domiciled, are not required to declare any income and gains that are not taxable in the UK when completing their self-assessment tax return. UK Membership of EC: West Midlands Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the economy of (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands of the inclusion of the UK in the EU single [325247] market. Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply. No estimate has been made in relation specifically to Birmingham or the West Midlands. The benefit of free trade across the EU is estimated to boost GDP by over 2 per cent. For the UK that equates to benefits of around 25-30 billion a year.
2008-09 01:57 As above 05:59 43.7
April 2009 to February 2010 01:29 As above 06:31 16.4
01:26 As above 05:27 24.5
Defined as the time taken for a call to be answered by an adviser once a customer has selected an option from the call steering menu. 2 This includes the time the customer speaks to an adviser and any follow-up actions the adviser may need to take (e.g. updating customers records). 3 Defined as the difference between the call attempts made to HMRCs telephone helplines and the call attempts answered by advisers, less calls answered with an automated message.
In July 2009 HM Revenue and Customs introduced a range of automated information messages on its helplines whose purpose includes enabling customers to gain the information they need without speaking to an adviser. From April 2009 to February 2010, five million calls had been handled in this way, helping to reduce the unanswered calls to 16.4 million. HMRCs systems do not capture information on return calls.
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Written Answers Valuation Office Agency
6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 2 February 2009, Official Report, column 902W, on the Valuation Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the user guidance and manuals for the Valuation Office Agencys (a) Digital Mapping User Guide, (b) RSA Induction Workbook and (c) Digital Photography User Guide, with information that could assist with [324323] unauthorised access redacted. Ian Pearson: The Digital Mapping User Guide, RSA Induction Workbook and Digital Photography User Guide are technical instructions on the operation of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) internal IT applications. It is not appropriate to publish information which might assist unauthorised access to VOA systems or databases. The manuals have been written specifically to provide detail of accessing and operating these applications. Accordingly, it is not possible to redact only specific parts that could assist with unauthorised access. Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff (a) there were and (b) were made redundant from the Valuation Office Agency in each year since 1999; what efficiency savings the agency made in each of those years; and how much the agency [325557] spent on legal advice in each of those years. Ian Pearson: For the number of staff in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) (a) I refer the hon. member to the answer given to him on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 75W and (b) no staff have been made redundant since 1999. Under the current spending review period the income the VOA receives from its statutory clients has been reducing year on year by at least 5 per cent. per annum, in 2010-11 the current assumptions are that the VOA income will reduce from clients by a range of 5 per cent. to 13 per cent. These savings are counted as efficiency savings for the departments providing funding to the VOA to avoid double counting. Nevertheless the VOA tracks its efficiency record and using the HM Treasury basis for calculating these the efficiencies delivered in the current spending round are 13.3 million in 2008-09 increasing to a planned 24.0 million in 2009-10 (these figures are cumulative). In addition the VOA has completed the Revaluation 2010 project across England and Wales at no additional costs to the taxpayer whilst maintaining its performance targets creating a further efficiency of 52 million. A total of approximately 76 million. In addition as part of its commitment to value for money the VOA has also committed to 15 million savings in the Operational Efficiency programme over the next three years. The VOA publishes its legal services costs in its annual report and accounts to Parliament and a copy for each financial year is available in the Library. From 2000 an electronic copy is available on the VOAs website at:
www.voa.gov.uk
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Solicitors advice is provided under a service level agreement, the fee for which is included within the service charge payment to HMRC. Counsels opinion is obtained for the VOA via HMRC Solicitors and charged back to the agency together with other disbursements such as lodging and hearing fees, and any costs awarded against the VOA. It is not possible to identify the element purely attributed to legal advice without incurring disproportionate costs. Valuation Office Agency: Contracts Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010, Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, what expenditure his Department incurred with (a) the Whitehall and Industry Group, (b) the Public and Commercial Services Union, (c) Prospect (ex IPMS), (d) Propaganda and (e) Making Change Happen in 2008-09; what goods and services were procured in each case; and what the purpose was of each such [323191] procurement. Ian Pearson: Expenditure incurred by the Valuation Office Agency was as follows: (a) Attendance for delegates at the Whitehall and Industry conferences in June and December 2008 and fees in recruiting non executive directors for the agency were 10,089. (b) and (c) None. Payments to trade unions such as the Public and Commercial Services Union and Prospect represent subscriptions from staff who are members of those unions. The agency deducts these fees as part of its payroll processes and pays them to the unions on behalf of those staff who are members. As such this is not agency expenditure. (d) Marketing material at the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation conference, cost 475. (e) Training material for performance and coaching, in relation to Making Change Happen in 2008-09, cost 352. Valuation Office Agency: Pay Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bonuses have been awarded to each board member and director of the Valuation Office [324320] Agency in each of the last three years. Ian Pearson: To provide this information would require the personal consent of all individual board members. Some of these individuals are no longer with the agency. To obtain all the necessary consents would incur disproportionate cost. Remuneration information for board members is detailed in the VOA annual report and accounts. Valuation Office Agency: Visits Abroad Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 9 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1629-30W, on the Valuation Office: overseas visits, what overseas visits representatives of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have undertaken in the last 12 months; what the (a) purpose, (b) destination and (c) cost was of each such
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visit; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each (i) presentation made and (ii) handout distributed by VOA staff at each overseas conference attended in the [323090] last 12 months.
(a) Purpose Speaker at International Property Tax Institute (b) Destination South Africa
Ian Pearson: During the last 12 months staff from the Valuation Office Agency have visited the following locations:
(c) Cost () 2,875
(d) Handout/Presentations I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 178W A copy of the presentation will be placed in the Library
Speaker at Joint IRRV/IPTI International Conference Expert Witness at Lands Tribunal Participant at NSG Top Management Programme Speaker at European Valuation Standards Conference
Poland
561
Hong Kong India
168 519
None None
Poland
73
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 179W None
Attendee at Joint workshop on Cadastral Systems, Inspire Implementation and E-signature and Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Committee on Cadastre in the European Union
Prague
474
Written Questions: Government Responses Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 305530, tabled by the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge on 4 December 2009, on alcohol and [321186] entertainment. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have now replied to the hon. Member and apologise for the delay in doing so.
Organisation (UKHCDO). UKHCDO have advised that all of the available brands of recombinant products are equally safe and effective. Breast Cancer: Ethnic Groups Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what models his Department uses to assess prevalence of breast cancer by ethnic minority grouping. [325546] Ann Keen: We do not hold information on the prevalence of breast cancer by ethnic minority grouping. However, we are working on models to allow us to assess prevalence by ethnic minority grouping. Cancer: Health Services Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which cancer centres are located in a hospital building without the ancillary services of an acute [325010] hospital; (2) which gynaecological cancer centres are located within (a) a maternity hospital and (b) an acute [325011] hospital; (3) which gynaecological cancer centres lack an on-site intensive therapy unit (ITU); and whether he plans to relocate any such centres to hospitals which do [325012] have an on-site ITU. Ann Keen: Information concerning the location of cancer centres within hospital buildings is not collected centrally. Decisions regarding the placement of cancer centres are the responsibility of local national health service hospital trusts and primary care trusts and are made in conjunction with cancer networks and other stakeholders.
HEALTH Blood Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that haemophilia patients will not be required to switch blood products as a consequence of the outcome of his Departments recent tendering [325451] exercise in respect of blood products. Gillian Merron: Patients with haemophilia are no longer generally treated with products manufactured from human plasma (blood products). Almost all are now treated with recombinant (biosynthetic) factor VIII. It is expected that about 50 per cent. of patients will change from one brand of recombinant product to another, following the tendering exercise. Some small children with haemophilia will not change products either because they have always been treated with the same brand or because they are having treatment for a factor VIII inhibitor. Patients have now been notified by their haemophilia centres of the proposal to either change their brand or to continue to prescribe the brand that they are already receiving and to invite them to consult the centre if they have any concerns. The tender has taken place with the full support and active involvement of the Haemophilia Society representing patients and the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors
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6 APRIL 2010
Written Answers
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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time was that patients in Merseyside waited for the start of treatment for ovarian cancer in the most recent year for which figures [325003] are available. Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Civil Servants Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which senior civil servants in his Department left to take up jobs in the for-profit or not-for-profit healthcare sector in the last two years.
[324999]
Phil Hope: The Department and its agencies spent the following on rooms provided for staff leisure in the last five years:
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 253,550 266,000 285,590 230,590 267,070
Phil Hope: The Department does not hold records on the employment of former staff after they leave the Department. Rules on civil servants taking up outside business appointments are published in the Civil Service Management Code (section 4.3) which can be found at:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx
These are the full costs of providing these rooms and have been calculated and based on a square metre percentage of the overall costs for the buildings where leisure facilities are available. The response covers the Departments central administrative London estate of Richmond house, Wellington house and Skipton house, the properties of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, and the Medicines and products Healthcare Regulatory Authority. The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam house (HM Revenue and Customs) and Quarry house in Leeds (Department for Work and Pensions) and the data for these sites are not available to us. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department provides subsidised [324560] gym facilities for its staff. Phil Hope: There are gym facilities in two of the Departments buildingsSkipton house in London and Quarry house in Leeds. Staff who are members of HASSRA, the sports and social association for staff working in the Department and its Executive agencies can access these facilities. HASSRA owns the gym equipment in Skipton house and the gym is run by club members. HASSRA does not own the gym at Quarry house, which is run by a private company. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken [324678] in each of the last five years. Phil Hope: Like most organisations, the Department has a rolling refurbishment programme. It is not possible to identify separately, in all cases, the elements within this programme that relate to interior design, because it is often commissioned by the main contractor responsible for carrying out the refurbishment. In the last five years, the Department employed interior designers directly on two occasions. This was in financial year 2005-06, at a total cost of 94,251. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his [324975] Department. Phil Hope: The Department is currently looking at the feasibility of installing voltage optimisers across the Departments London estate as part of our Carbon Management Programme to reduce energy consumption.
Section 4.3 annex A contains the full guidance on accepting outside business appointments. The Department complies fully with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code in ensuring adherence to the business appointments procedure. These rules are also referred to in the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, available at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/ civil_service_guidance.aspx
Standard employment contracts for all senior civil servants refer to the rules on outside business appointments. Dementia Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he has received on his Departments most recent dementia awareness [324894] campaign in the last six months. Phil Hope: Information about the number of letters of correspondence on the information campaign is not collected centrally. Dental Services: Bognor Regis Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons dentists at the Maywood Surgery and Flansham Park Surgery in Bognor Regis were not invited to bid for the contract to provide dental services [325655] in the Bognor Regis area. Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning dental services to meet the needs of their population. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last [324440] five years.
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There are no equivalent technologies used within buildings occupied by the Department in its central administrative estate which consists of Richmond house, London SW1A, Wellington house, London SE1, and Skipton house, London SE1. The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam house, London SE1 (a HM Revenue and Customs building) and Quarry house in Leeds LS2 (a Department for Work and Pensions building). Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account his Departments food procurement [325528] policy takes of animal welfare. Phil Hope: In line with DEFRA guidance regarding sustainable development and animal welfare issues, the Department of Health works with its catering and hospitality suppliers to ensure that they abide by the highest standards of animal welfare in their food procurement policy. Quadrant Catering and Eurest Services provide staff restaurant and hospitality catering for Department of Health staff and are both part of Compass Group United Kingdom and Ireland, one of the United Kingdoms largest contract caterers, who have an excellent record in ethical food procurement. Departmental Furniture Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has incurred expenditure on antique furniture in the last five years.
[325108]
For the Departments corporate website, the following amounts have been spent on external website design consultancy:
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 34,250.00 6,748.19 9,949.00
NHS Choices development and delivery is provided through an outsourced contract. From June 2007 to November 2008 this was provided through Doctor Foster Intelligence. Since November 2008, this has been provided by Capita. The overall contract value for Capita for the design, development and delivery of the NHS Choices digital service is 60 million over three years. It is not possible to disaggregate specific website design elements from this contract as they are inherent in the improvement and delivery of the overall service. Since 27 June 2007 the Department has reduced the total number of websites that it operates from 196 to 71, to meet its obligations under Transformational Government. The Department will continue to reduce this number to just two websites by the Cabinet Office deadline of July 2011. Given the high number of websites that were in existence between March 2007 and January 2010, it is not possible to provide information on costs for all of these, as this would incur disproportionate costs. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what (a) the cost and (b) [324657] purpose of each such event was. Phil Hope: The Department is unable to provide information on the five most expensive events hosted by the Department and its agencies, where hospitality has been offered, as this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Departments Code of Business Conduct states that a blanket ban on accepting or providing hospitality is neither practical nor desirable from a business point of view. However, there must be a real business benefit to providing or accepting hospitality, as public money must not be used to fund occasions such as social gatherings, retirement or office parties. This is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Departmental Public Expenditure Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, column 1399W, on home care services: finance, what estimate he has made of his Departments expenditure on (a) administration and [321610] (b) management consultants in 2009-10.
Phil Hope: No expenditure has been incurred by the Department on antique furniture in the last five years. Departmental Internet Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
[325196]
Phil Hope: The Department received the following number of complaints regarding difficulties operating the Departments website in each of the last three years.
Number 2009-101 2008-09 2007-08 1 Figures for March 2010 are not yet available. 262 255 349
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three [325214] years; and if he will make a statement. Phil Hope: The Department operates two main websites: 1. The Departments corporate website
www.dh.gov.uk
2. NHS Choices
www.nhs.uk
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Phil Hope: The Departments administration budget does not meet all the costs of administering major programmes funded from the Departments central budgets. The Departments administration budget for 2009-10 was set out in the spring supplementary estimates at 218 million. The spring supplementary estimates are available on the HM Treasury website at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/springsupps0910_doh.pdf
Data on the estimated spend by the Department on management consultants for 2009-10 are not available in the format requested. Information for the full year 2009-2010 will be published in due course, after it has been validated. Departmental Sick Leave Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sick days were taken by staff of his Department in each month of each year since 1997.
[324940]
to early signs that clients cope better with pregnancy, labour and parenthood, have aspirations for the future and that FNP is having a positive effect on reducing smoking during pregnancy and increasing rates of breastfeeding. The learning from the evaluation and from other learning and development projects in these 10 sites has been invaluable and is being used more widely as we expand and develop FNP in this country. Approximately 4,000 families have benefited from FNP to date, and we are currently working with over 50 sites. Clients in the original 10 sites are reaching the end of the FNP programme. Expansion in these sites is a decision for local commissioners, but nine sites have started to recruit a new cohort of clients and have expanded their teams. Eight of these sites are also now participating in a randomised controlled trial of FNP, along with 10 newer test sites, which will report in 2013. General Practitioners: Primary Care Trusts
Phil Hope: Providing an analysis of sickness absence by individual months for the last 13 years would incur disproportionate cost. For the 12 months ending 30 June 2009, the core Departments average reported working days lost per person was 4.8 days. This is one of the lowest rates in Government. The civil service average for the same period was 8.7 days. However, the Department continues to give this issue the importance it deserves and the Departments human resources division has policies and procedures in place to help manage and support the response to sickness absence. Drugs: Rehabilitation Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential places were available for drug rehabilitation of under 18-year-olds in England in each [306051] year since 2000. Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply. Information is not held centrally about the number of residential places available across the country that are able to support young people with substance misuse and other complex needs. For the vast majority of young people under 18 community-based services are the most appropriate option. In addition, local authorities can arrange a package of support that combines specialist drug treatment with specialist childrens home, fostering places or other supported accommodation. Family Nurse Partnership Programme Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the original 2007 pilots of the family nurse partnerships; and which of those pilots is planned to be developed for wider [325674] implementation. Ann Keen: The original 10 Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) test sites are currently being evaluated by Birkbeck college, university of London. The second year report of the evaluation suggests that the programme is being delivered well; that it is successful in engaging the most vulnerable clients, who value it highly; and that it is also successful in engaging fathers. The evaluation also points
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from general practitioners on their funding from primary care trusts. [325135] Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department and NHS Employers (responsible for negotiating the general practitioner (GP) contract on the Departments behalf) are in regular dialogue with the General Practitioner Committee (GPC) negotiating arm of the British Medical Association (BMA) regarding funding issues to the GP contract. Most recent representations involved my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State contacting the chairs of both the BMA and GPC personally regarding his ministerial statement of 10 February 2010 on his recommendations to the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists remuneration award review for 2010. Health Services: Armed Forces Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 January 2010, Official Report, columns 15-16WS, on medical care (veterans), what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of extending to all veterans the undertaking of an entitlement to receive from the NHS an equivalent standard of prosthetic limb to those provided by Defence Medical Services; and what standards apply to prosthetic limbs provided by (a) the NHS to members of the public and (b) Defence Medical Services to military personnel.
[325065]
Mr. Mike OBrien: The current operating framework for the NHS requires commissioners to take account of military personnel, their families and veterans when commissioning services in their area. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice based commissioners, local government and the public to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic services for former service personnel.
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Total admission episodes
The provision of a prosthetic limb is not the only factor that influences an amputees quality of life and acceptance of ability. Psychological, social, co-morbidity, age, and clinical service all contribute to an individuals quality of life and use of the prostheses. The provision of prosthetic care and services is undertaken by a multidisciplinary clinical and assessment team to ensure that the type and standard of a particular prostheses is clinically appropriate for an individual. Health Services: Overseas Visitors Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-British residents received NHS treatment in North West Cambridgeshire constituency [324688] in each of the last 10 years. Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes where the strategic health authority (SHA) of residence was recorded as Foreign (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) or Northern Ireland and the primary care trust (PCT) of main provider was Cambridgeshire PCT in years 1999-2000 to 2005-06 and 2007-08 to 2008-09. Years 2006-07 and 1998-99 are unfortunately unavailable as the PCT of main provider field in HES has poor data quality in these years.
Total admission episodes 2008-09 2007-08 282 349
2006-07 n/a 2005-06 330 2004-05 248 2003-04 214 2002-03 184 2001-02 208 2000-01 277 1999-2000 255 1998-99 n/a Notes: 1. This is not a count of patients as some patients may have been admitted more than once within the year. 2. In 2006-07 there was a merger of East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT, Huntingdonshire PCT, Cambridge City PCT, South Cambridgeshire PCT and 36 per cent. of South Peterborough PCT to form Cambridgeshire PCT. Therefore years 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not directly comparable to previous years. Where there were no records of admissions where the SHA of residence was foreign or Northern Ireland at one of the PCTs of main provider, the PCT has not been included in the breakdown.
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the cost of treating non-British residents on the NHS in North West Cambridgeshire constituency was recovered by charging the patient or [324757] the insurer in each of the last 10 years. Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows income recovered from overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements, 2003-04 to 2008-09.
000
Organisation Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) Cambridge City PCT East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT South Cambridgeshire PCT South Peterborough PCT Total
2003-04 29 217 74 0 0 0 0 0 0 320
2004-05 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005-06 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006-07 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007-08 108 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 108
2008-09 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51
Notes: 1. For Cambridgeshire PCT and Peterborough PCT, the data prior to 2006-07 are the sum of the predecessor PCTs that were merged to form the new PCTs in October 2006. 2. The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided is only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust. 3.North West Cambridgeshire constituency is also served by the following NHS foundation trustsin these cases we have provided data up to the point that they achieved FT status: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in July 2004, therefore no data exists after the 2004-05 financial year. The 2004-05 figure represents only the part of the year the organisation operated as a NHS trust. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in June 2008, therefore the 2008-09 figure represents only the part of the year the organisation operated as a NHS trust. Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in April 2004, therefore no data exist after the 2003-04 financial year. 4. In common with many other public and private sector organisations the Department only holds accounting data at organisation level for seven years, and therefore data are available only for the financial years 2002-03 to 2008-09. 5. Income from overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements was not separately identified in the 2002-03 summarisation schedules and cannot be disaggregated from other income figures. Source: Audited summarisation schedules 2003-04 to 2008-09.
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating non-British residents in North West Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last 10 [324758] years.
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. Data would be held by local national health service organisations if collected.
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6 APRIL 2010
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NHS hospital and community health services: Health Visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust as at 30 September each year Headcount 2008 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT Hull Teaching PCT Kirklees PCT Leeds PCT North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus North Lincolnshire PCT North Yorkshire and York PCT Rotherham PCT Sheffield PCT Wakefield District PCT East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area Bassetlaw PCT Derby City PCT Derbyshire County PCT Leicester City PCT Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT Lincolnshire Teaching PCT Northamptonshire Teaching PCT Nottingham City PCT Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area Birmingham East and North PCT Coventry Teaching PCT Dudley PCT Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT Herefordshire PCT North Staffordshire PCT Sandwell PCT Shropshire County PCT Solihull Care Trust South Birmingham PCT South Staffordshire PCT Stoke on Trent PCT Telford and Wrekin PCT Walsall Teaching PCT Warwickshire PCT Wolverhampton City PCT Worcestershire PCT 5NW 5NX 5N2 5N1 TAN 5EF 5NV 5H8 5N4 5N3 5ET 5N7 5N6 5PC 5PA 5N9 5PD 5EM 5N8 68 77 80 158 44 37 147 61 125 88 899 20 63 172 75 103 140 122 91 110 2009 66 71 98 155 39 38 127 50 125 96 957 17 48 161 71 93 138 248 85 93
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors there were in each primary [325063] care trust area in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. Ann Keen: The following table shows the numbers requested.
NHS hospital and community health services: Health Visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust as at 30 September each year Headcount 2008 England 11,190 2009 10,859
North East Coast Strategic Health Authority area County Durham PCT Darlington PCT Gateshead PCT Hartlepool PCT Middlesbrough PCT Newcastle PCT North Tyneside PCT Northumberland Care Trust Redcar and Cleveland PCT South Tyneside PCT Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT Sunderland Teaching PCT North West Strategic Health Authority area Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT Blackburn with Darwen PCT Blackpool PCT Bolton PCT Bury PCT Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT Central Lancashire PCT Cumbria Teaching PCT East Lancashire Teaching PCT Halton and St Helens PCT Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT Knowsley PCT Liverpool PCT Manchester PCT North Lancashire Teaching PCT Oldham PCT Salford PCT Sefton PCT Stockport PCT Tameside and Glossop PCT Trafford PCT Warrington PCT Western Cheshire PCT Wirral PCT Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority Barnsley PCT Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT Bradford District Care Trust Calderdale PCT Doncaster PCT
5ND 5J9 5KF 5D9 5KM 5D7 5D8 TAC 5QR 5KG 5E1 5KL 5HG 5CC 5HP 5HQ 5JX 5NP 5NG 5NE 5NH 5NM 5NQ 5J4 5NL 5NT 5NF 5J5 5F5 5NJ 5F7 5LH 5NR 5J2 5NN 5NK 5JE 5NY TAD 5J6 5N5
646 9 170 44 14 0 85 57 59 55 47 37 66 1,838 103 57 61 76 52 96 101 110 99 71 78 54 103 125 89 51 40 56 81 68 52 50 64 83 1,256 60 152 0 61 92
609 4 176 42 0 0 76 51 46 48 47 0 69 1,794 110 48 60 71 52 100 96 109 93 59 67 36 132 124 86 54 37 61 70 60 54 55 58 86 1,214 53 147 0 63 78
5PG 5MD 5PE 5MX 5CN 5PH 5PF 5M2 TAM 5M1 5PK 5PJ 5MK 5M3 5PM 5MV 5PL
1,235 93 48 75 75 30 46 72 53 59 70 132 87 41 52 107 59 132
1,186 97 47 73 71 24 55 56 45 56 72 134 80 43 40 101 62 128
East of England Strategic Health Authority area Bedfordshire PCT Cambridgeshire PCT East and North Hertfordshire PCT Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT Luton PCT Mid Essex PCT Norfolk PCT North East Essex PCT Peterborough PCT South East Essex PCT South West Essex PCT
5P2 5PP 5P3 5PR 5GC 5PX 5PQ 5PW 5PN 5P1 5PY
1,069 83 59 107 42 43 56 132 46 50 62 94
991 80 78 105 28 41 51 128 45 43 55 68
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NHS hospital and community health services: Health Visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust as at 30 September each year Headcount 2008 Suffolk PCT West Essex PCT West Hertfordshire PCT London Strategic Health Authority area Barking and Dagenham PCT Barnet PCT Bexley Care Trust Brent Teaching PCT Bromley PCT Camden PCT City and Hackney Teaching PCT Croydon PCT Ealing PCT Enfield PCT Greenwich Teaching PCT Hammersmith and Fulham PCT Haringey Teaching PCT Harrow PCT Havering PCT Hillingdon PCT Hounslow PCT Islington PCT Kensington and Chelsea PCT Kingston PCT Lambeth PCT Lewisham PCT Newham PCT Redbridge PCT Richmond and Twickenham PCT Southwark PCT Sutton and Merton PCT Tower Hamlets PCT Waltham Forest PCT Wandsworth PCT Westminster PCT South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT Hastings and Rother PCT Medway PCT Surrey PCT West Kent PCT West Sussex PCT South Central Strategic Health Authority area Berkshire East PCT Berkshire West PCT Buckinghamshire PCT Hampshire PCT Isle of Wight NHS PCT Milton Keynes PCT Oxfordshire PCT Portsmouth City Teaching PCT Southampton City PCT 5PT 5PV 5P4 5C2 5A9 TAK 5K5 5A7 5K7 5C3 5K9 5HX 5C1 5A8 5H1 5C9 5K6 5A4 5AT 5HY 5K8 5LA 5A5 5LD 5LF 5C5 5C8 5M6 5LE 5M7 5C4 5NC 5LG 5LC 5P7 5QA 5P8 5L3 5P5 5P9 5P6 5QG 5QF 5QD 5QC 5QT 5CQ 5QE 5FE 5L1 117 53 112 1,577 24 31 59 41 80 32 50 70 64 46 52 69 7 45 36 56 37 31 30 26 45 82 36 42 40 100 95 52 50 57 56 769 70 148 40 58 163 91 119 784 78 87 103 192 19 58 157 48 42 2009 106 47 105 1,513 14 39 50 41 82 27 47 63 57 44 42 65 2 36 81 55 36 33 38 32 34 93 44 40 32 74 97 62 0 55 55 764 58 160 35 49 159 89 133 758 71 81 107 168 18 60 134 47 72
NHS hospital and community health services: Health Visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust as at 30 September each year Headcount 2008 South West Strategic Health Authority area Bath and North East Somerset PCT Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT Bristol PCT Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT Devon PCT Dorset PCT Gloucestershire PCT North Somerset PCT Plymouth Teaching PCT Somerset PCT South Gloucestershire PCT Swindon PCT Torbay Care Trust Wiltshire PCT 5FL 5QN 5QJ 5QP 5QQ 5QM 5QH 5M8 5F1 5QL 5A3 5K3 TAL 5QK 1,117 43 78 123 109 116 89 134 39 70 101 52 35 26 96 2009 1,073 41 74 10 101 89 84 131 41 67 122 51 31 31 93
Notes: 1. England and Strategic Health Authority area totals include a small number of staff employed by NHS trusts. Year on year organisation level health visitor figures may fluctuate due to the migration of staff and services between organisations. 2. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census
Home Care Services Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Personal Care at Home Bills compliance with the new [325756] burdens doctrine for local authorities. Phil Hope: As with all policies and programmes, the Government are committed to assessing the costs to local authorities of the Personal Care at Home Bill. The Bill will be funded through a combination of additional grant and from local authority efficiency savings. It will not now be introduced until April 2011. It is right to expect councils to play their part alongside central Government to help deliver this new commitment. We believe that councils have room to use efficiency savings because:
The costs of delivering local services are now much lower, with recent low levels of inflation and affordable pay settlements; The Budget 2010 announced new measures to free-up local resources through reducing burdens and targets and reductions in ring-fencing; and We have provided record investment in local government, with local authorities receiving 8.6 billion more over the current Spending Review period.
Hospitals: Manpower Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed in the NHS in each hospital in North West Cambridgeshire constituency (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the [324595] latest date for which figures are available.
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Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The number of doctors and nurses employed in NHS hospitals in Cambridgeshire in 1997 and 2009 are shown in the following table.
Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): doctors and nurses within specified organisations Number (Headcount) As at 30 September each year 1997 Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust HCHS Doctors Nurses Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust HCHS Doctors Nurses Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust HCHS Doctors Nurses 285 1,026 416 1,189 152 673 169 601 614 1,814 1,263 3,028 2009
In December 2009 CQC conducted a regional review of all trusts identified as having high hospital standardised mortality ratios and considered this information as part of the registration process for every trust, alongside other data. Where CQC does not have sufficient evidence of compliance with the requirements, it can impose conditions on the trusts registration, to force it to improve essential levels of quality and safety within timescales specified by CQC. Once trusts are registered, CQC continues to look at their mortality rates and will continuously monitor compliance with the essential safety and quality requirements, as part of the new system of regulation. Hospitals: Parking Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to NHS hospital trusts on charging their staff to park in trust car parks; and if he will make a statement. [325235] Mr. Mike OBrien: The Department has issued guidance to the national health service on the operation of controlled car parking schemes Income Generation: Car Parking ChargesBest Practice for Implementation, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This guidance provides general advice on factors that should be considered when establishing a policy for staff car parking, but recognises that specific decisions need to be taken at a local level. Hospitals: Security Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the annual cost of security staff in NHS hospitals in Shropshire has been in each year [325408] since 1997; (2) what percentage of security cameras at Shropshire NHS hospitals were found to be faulty in [325409] each year since 1997. Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. However, it should be available direct from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, and South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Influenza Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statements of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 40WS, on pandemic flu and 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 11-12WS, on departmental expenditure limits and administration cost limits (2009-10), for what reasons there was a transfer (a) of 200 million from his Departments capital budget to its revenue budget to meet existing commitments on pandemic flu and (b) of 100 million from his Departments revenue budget to its capital budget to meet existing commitments on [325398] pandemic flu.
Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental workforce census and the NHS Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census y challenge.
Hospitals: Mortality Rates Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will request the Care Quality Commission to investigate the reasons for the hospital standardised mortality ratio in 2007-08 at hospitals in (a) Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (c) Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (d) Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (e) Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, (f) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (g) Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, (i) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (k) Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, (l) Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (m) Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, (n) Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (o) North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, (p) Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (r) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (s) Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, (t) Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, (u) Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (v) United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (w) University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, (x) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and (y) Wrightington, [325066] Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. Mr. Mike OBrien: From 1 April, national health service providers of regulated activities are required by law to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and assessed against a set of 16 safety and quality requirements. CQC has, therefore, recently scrutinised the registration applications of all NHS trusts in the country.
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Mr. Mike OBrien: The 200 million transfer from the Departments capital budget to its revenue budget was based on the information available on pandemic flu commitments at the time of the Spring Parliamentary Estimate exercise. Since the Spring Parliamentary exercise, the Department has finalised the budgeting and accounting treatment of pandemic flu commitments and consequently undertook the transfer of 100 million from the revenue budget to the capital budget. These transfers do not change the overall funding is available to the Department. Injuries: North Yorkshire Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of (a) broken bones, (b) lacerations, (c) fractures and (d) sprains that were diagnosed in respect of patients in each age group in hospitals in (i) Easingwold and (ii) North Yorkshire during the Christmas and new year [325282] period of 2009-10. Mr. Mike OBrien: The information is not available in the format requested. Hospital episode statistics for accident and emergency attendances, during the month of December 2009, for dislocation, fracture, joint injury, amputation, laceration and sprain as well as ligament injury are due to be published on 9 April 2010. Statistics for January 2010 are due to be published on 11 May 2010. Mental Health Services: Advocacy Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 125-6W, on mental health services: advocacy, how frequently information on the availability and accessibility of independent mental health advocates in hospitals which detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 will be collected and published; and in which quarter he expects the annual report of the Care Quality Commission to be laid [325172] before Parliament. Phil Hope: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the new integrated regulator for health and adult social care from 1 April 2009. They have told us that:
the implementation of independent mental health advocacy is of particular interest to them; the availability and accessibility of advocacy will be a standard question asked on all of their regular visits to hospitals from 1 April 2010; the results will be reflected in annual statements on every hospital (in the independent sector) or trust (in the national health service) that they visit and that these statements will be published on the CQC website towards the end of each calendar year; and a CQC report containing initial findings on the implementation of independent mental health advocacy in 2009-10 is planned for publication in October 2010.
Mr. Mike OBrien: This information is not held centrally. NHS trusts provide a range of services from a number of locations. Information on constituencies served by primary care trusts is available on the Departments website at:
www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf
NHS: Finance Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on each programme funded from its centrally-managed budget in each year since 1997-98; and how much his Department plans to spend on each programme it plans to fund from its centrally-managed budget in 2010-11; and how much such planned expenditure on each planned programme [324515] is (a) committed and (b) uncommitted. Phil Hope: It would be at disproportionate cost for the Department to list expenditure from each individual central budget programme for the years in question due to the very large number of budgets and several departmental reorganisations. 2010-11 central budget programme plans have not yet been finalised. The Department does not report their central budgets on a committed/not-committed basis. While the detailed (by programme) expenditure is not readily available, we do routinely publish planned expenditure for centrally managed budgets in the annual departmental report publication. The following table provides departmental report references for this expenditure.
Table 1: Departmental report table references (figure numbers) for published figures on three areas of centrally managed budgets1 Centrally funded initiatives and services and special allocation (CFISSA) 1996 (1997-99) 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1
Central health and miscellaneous services (CHMS) Annex A Annex BFig B1 11.14 6.13 6.12 6.12 6.13 6.16 9.22 9.19 5.1
Personal social services (PSS) provision for adults Annex A 5.1 11.15 6.14 6.13 6.13 6.14 6.17 9.28 9.28 5.1
Annex A 4.8 11.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.9 6.9 9.21 9.18 5.1
Three areas include: Centrally Funded Initiatives and Services and Special Allocation(CFISSA); Central Health and Miscellaneous Services (CHMS); and Personal Social Services (PSS) provision for adults (PSS)
NHS Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which (a) primary care trust area and (b) parliamentary constituency each NHS acute trust is [325757] located.
Aggregated expenditure for the centrally managed budgets from 1997-98 to 2008-09 is contained in the operating cost statement in each year of the Departments Resource Accounts publication. However, these data do not show the expenditure by detailed programme. We are planning on making the equivalent 2009-10 expenditure data available in July 2010. NHS: Standards Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for the use of models of risk [324874] prediction for the NHS Health Check.
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Ann Keen: The NHS Health Check programme is a universal and systematic programme for everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 that will assess individuals risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes and will support people to reduce or manage that risk through individually tailored advice. The programme was developed on the basis of advice from the National Screening Committee, is based on guidance produced by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and is both cost effective and clinically effective. The risk assessment stage of the NHS Health Check uses a risk engine to calculate a persons 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. Evidence on cardiovascular risk estimation has developed considerably, with a number of risk engines available, including Framingham and QRISK. These have been calibrated to reflect risk factors within specific populations, such as ethnicity, and a number of scientific reviews have been published on their validity. The Department takes its advice from NICE on matters such as which risk engines are most appropriate for the national health service to use. NICE has recently revised its guidance to allow the NHS to decide locally which risk engine best predicts risk for their population mix. Of equal importance however is that people are given individually tailored advice and the necessary follow up which is suitable for their particular circumstances to help them manage or reduce their risk. The advice, interventions and follow up that are offered will involve professional judgment and will help ensure that everyones individual needs are met. Nurses: Schools Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2010, Official Report, column 806W, on nurses: schools, to how many school clusters in England a school nurse is [325733] allocated. Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local authorities, strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and to commission services accordingly. Opposition Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative party and (b) Liberal Democrat party at the request of Ministers or [324245] special advisers in the last 36 months. Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1044W. Prosthetics: Health Services Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department collects on (a) demographic, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment information held at prosthetics service centres in England; and whether there are plans to replace the [325064] National Amputee Statistical Database.
Phil Hope: Between 1997 and 2007 the National Amputee Statistical Database collected data from a number of providers using its minimum dataset which contained fields such as:
Patient Number; Date of Birth; Commissioning Code; Centre Code; Gender; Category of patient; Ethnic Origin; Date of Referral following Amputation; Date of Amputation; Level of Amputation; and Cause of Amputation (Aetiology).
There are no plans at present to replace the database. Health Episodes Statistics which collates data on the care provided by national health service hospitals and for NHS hospital patients treated elsewhere does not include any data on application of prosthesis as this rarely occurs in a hospital setting. Health Episodes Statistics does measure in-patient amputations using the OPCS classification of Interventions and Procedures. When combined with other data from the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set (age, sex, postcode, ethnicity, diagnosis), Health Episodes Statistics can be used to retrieve a great deal of the amputation data previously provided by National Amputee Statistical Database. Comprehensive central data is not collected about the numbers of people with prostheses or the number of prostheses that are supplied. Radiotherapy Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Departments press release of 18 August 2009 on proton therapy services, what progress his Department is making in identifying possible providers of proton therapy treatment for NHS patients in England; what estimate he has made of the maximum annual number of patients who could be treated at a proton therapy treatment centre; and if [325722] he will make a statement. Ann Keen: We are currently evaluating bids to identify a shortlist of potential providers of proton beam therapy (PBT) services in England. The project team will then work with those trusts to develop a full business case by the end of 2010. We estimate that 1,500 patients could benefit from PBT per annum. Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, in which countries the patients for whom proton therapy treatment was commissioned in [325723] (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 were treated. Ann Keen: In 2008-09 patients were treated in France and Switzerland. In 2009-10 patients were treated in France, Switzerland and the United States of America.
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Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, which individuals sit on the proton [325724] reference panel. Ann Keen: The following sit on the panel. Not all members are involved in clinical decisions on the referral of patients abroad for treatment.
Dr. Adrian Crellin, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. Jamess Institute of Oncology. Chairman-NCG National Reference Panel. Professor Roger Taylor, Clinical Director Cancer Services, ABM University Health Board, Professor of Clinical Oncology, Swansea Clinical School. Donna Routsis, Lead Research Radiographer, Addenbrookes NHS Trust. Dr. Neil Burnet, Consultant Oncologist, Addenbrookes NHS Trust. Dr. Nicola Thorp, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Professor Bleddyn Jones, Director, Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology University of Oxford. Dr. Susan Short, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Oncology, University College Hospital London. Dr. Daniel Ford, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Dr. Michelle Kwok-Williams, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. Jamess Institute of Oncology. Dr. Edmund Jessop, Medical Advisor, National Commissioning Group. Sarah Watson, Senior Commissioning Manager National Commissioning Group.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for adult social care in Cambridgeshire; and what methodology was used to calculate the estimate of the cost of providing such care for a person in Cambridgeshire of 103 a week. [323666] Phil Hope: Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) assess peoples eligibility for social care services according to statutory guidance, issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, entitled Fair Access to Care Services guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, which was issued in 2003. A copy has already been placed in the Library. Fair Access to Care Services is shortly to be replaced by new statutory guidance, Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care, which was published on 25 February 2010 and will take effect from 1 April 2010. A copy has been placed in the Library. Data on the number of adults aged 18 and over receiving social care services funded by CASSRs are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care as part of the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return. The table shows the number of service users aged 18 and over receiving social care services in Cambridgeshire in 2008-09 by service category.
Number of service users receiving social care services in Cambridgeshire, 2008091 Cambridgeshire Type of service Residential care Nursing care Community based Services3, 4 Of which: Day Care 2,465 645 4,915 6,165 260 555 2,020 30 15,130 Direct Payments Equipment and adaptations Home Care Meals Other Professional support Short term residential, not respite Total number of clients receiving services2
1
Mr. Stephen OBrien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, what the average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the total cost of such treatment was [325725] in each such year. Ann Keen: The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2008-09 was 28,000. This figure relates to the treatment of six patients at a total cost of 168,000. The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2009-10 was 62,000. This figure relates to the treatment of 26 patients at a total cost of 1,600,000. These figures are taken from draft accounts which have yet to be finalised. The increase in average cost in 2009-10 over 2008-09 relates to patients being treated in the United States of America for the first time in 2009-10. Shropshire Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what official visits (a) he and (b) his predecessors have made to Shropshire in the last five [325412] years. Phil Hope: The Department holds records of visits dating back three years. Since 2007, the Secretary of State for Health has not visited Shropshire.
Number of clients (rounded numbers) 2,075 930 12,775
Data for 2008-09 are provisional, final data are expected to be published on 28 April 2010. The Total number of clients receiving services is the number of clients receiving one or more services at some point during the year, excluding double counting. 3 This is the total number of clients receiving community based services during the year, excluding double counting. 4 A client may have received more than one type of community based service during the year and thus there may be some double counting across service categories. Source: RAP form P1 and P2f
2
There has been no estimate made that providing adult social care in Cambridgeshire would cost 103 a week. The impact assessment which accompanies the Personal Care at Home Bill sets out the methodology used to estimate the additional costs of providing free personal care at home nationally to those in the highest
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need. The figure was arrived at using information contained in annex B of the impact assessmentwhich has already been placed in the Libraryas follows:
1. Average number of hours of personal care per week provided for those in highest need = 6.54. 2. Estimated cost of that care per hour, based on 2011-12 prices = 15.75 3. 6.54 x 15.75 = 103 per week.
The number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services via a personal budget as at 31 March 20091 by CASSRAs at 31 March 2009 Rounded Clients (aged 18 and over) receiving personal budgets2 Cumbria Darlington UA Derby UA Derbyshire Devon Doncaster Dorset Dudley Durham Ealing East Riding of Yorkshire UA East Sussex Enfield Essex Gateshead Gloucestershire Greenwich Hackney Halton UA Hammersmith and Fulham Hampshire Haringey Harrow Hartlepool UA Havering Herefordshire UA Hertfordshire Hillingdon Hounslow Isle of Wight UA Isles of Scilly Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kent Kingston Upon Hull UA Kingston Upon Thames Kirklees Knowsley Lambeth Lancashire Leeds Leicester UA Leicestershire Lewisham Lincolnshire Liverpool Luton UA Manchester Medway Towns UA Merton Middlesbrough UA Milton Keynes UA Newcastle Upon Tyne Newham Norfolk North East Lincolnshire UA North Lincolnshire UA North Somerset UA North Tyneside North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland
4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
0 0
Social Services: Finance Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in each local authority area (a) have been assessed for a personal social care budget, (b) are in receipt of payment from a personal social care budget, (c) have declined to use a personal social care budget and (d) are awaiting assessment for a personal social care budget. [325052] Phil Hope [holding answer 30 March 2010]: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects data on the number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services commissioned or provided by councils with adult social service responsibilities (CASSRs) via a personal budget as at 31 March 2009. Information on the numbers of people assessed for, awaiting assessment for, or declining a personal (social care) budget is not collected centrally. The table provides provisional information on the number of clients planned to receive services provided or commissioned by CASSRs via a personal budget as at 31 March 2009. Final data for 2008-09 are expected to be published on 28 April 2010.
The number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services via a personal budget as at 31 March 20091 by CASSRAs at 31 March 2009 Rounded Clients (aged 18 and over) receiving personal budgets2 Barking and Dagenham Barnet Barnsley Bath And Somerset Unitary Authority (UA) Bedfordshire Bexley Birmingham Blackburn with Darwen UA Blackpool UA Bolton Bournemouth UA Bracknell Forest UA Bradford Brent Brighton and Hove UA Bristol UA Bromley Buckinghamshire Bury Calderdale Cambridgeshire Camden Cheshire City of London Cornwall Coventry Croydon
4 3 3 3 3 4 3
935 140 105 0 20 0 0 0 485 0 0 5 0 0 1,290 0 135 0 0 65 2,150 0 0 15 0 0 55 0 0 25 370 5 0 90 0 0 205 0 0 20 0 150 265 0 0 5 0 75 120
35 25 475 145 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 55 0 20 0 0 300 165
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The number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services via a personal budget as at 31 March 20091 by CASSRAs at 31 March 2009 Rounded Clients (aged 18 and over) receiving personal budgets2 Nottingham UA Nottinghamshire Oldham Oxfordshire Peterborough UA Plymouth UA Poole UA Portsmouth UA Reading UA Redbridge Redcar and Cleveland UA Richmond Upon Thames Rochdale Rotherham Rutland UA Salford Sandwell Sefton Sheffield Shropshire Slough UA Solihull Somerset South Gloucestershire UA South Tyneside Southampton UA Southend-on-Sea UA Southwark St. Helens Staffordshire Stockport Stockton-On-Tees UA Stoke-On-Trent UA Suffolk Sunderland Surrey Sutton Swindon UA Tameside Telford and The Wrekin UA Thurrock UA Torbay UA Tower Hamlets Trafford Wakefield Walsall Waltham Forest Wandsworth Warrington UA Warwickshire West Berkshire UA West Sussex Westminster Wigan Wiltshire Windsor and Maidenhead UA Wirral Wokingham UA Wolverhampton Worcestershire
3 4 3 4 4 3 3
The number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services via a personal budget as at 31 March 20091 by CASSRAs at 31 March 2009 Rounded Clients (aged 18 and over) receiving personal budgets2 York UA
1
0 265 2,080 10 10 0 0 10 0 580 0 10 0 25 0 0 0 20 0 5 0 420 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 30 910 40 35 0 0 30 0 10 310

3
75
Data for 2008-09 is provisional, final data is expected to be published on 28 April 2010. 2 Two personal budgets are currently being rolled out and councils are at varying stages of roll out, therefore there is a large variation in figures at CASSR level. 3 Missing data items. 4 Data less than six has been suppressed.
550
3
Figures within the table include clients in receipt of direct payments as part of a personal budget, but do not include carers in receipt of direct payments or with a personal budget. An England total for the figures is not provided as data was not provided by all CASSRs. This data is provisional, and final data, including an England total with calculated estimations for those councils that have not provided data will be published on 28 April 2010. Vaccination Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish guidance on the vaccination of women and girls who do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the national programme; and what estimate he has made of the number of women [325388] and girls to whom that guidance will apply. Gillian Merron: The aim of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme is the prevention of cervical cancer. HPV is passed through sexual contact which means that the vaccine is most effective if given before the start of sexual activity. The HPV vaccination programme is based on advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation which considered a number of factors, including cost-effectiveness. Girls aged 12 to 13 years in school year 8 are routinely offered the vaccine and girls up to the age of 18 are being offered the vaccine in a time-limited catch up programme. General practitioners can only prescribe the HPV vaccine outside the specified cohorts in exceptional clinical circumstances. The Immunisation website provides information about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine to girls that are 18 or over and therefore too old to be part of the national vaccination programme. The website also urges them to attend cervical screening when they are invited from the age of 25. The website address is:
www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV/Having_the_ vaccination/Im_over_18_and_would_like_to_have_the_ HPV_vaccination._Can_I_get_it_done_by_my_GP
235
3 3
Viral Diseases Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who are infected with the xenotropic murine leukaemia [325313] virus-related virus. Ann Keen: We have made no estimate of the number of people infected with xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus.
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CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES CAFCASS Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the time taken by staff of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to prepare for an Ofsted inspection. [307487] Dawn Primarolo: The resources used in preparation for, and facilitation of, an Ofsted inspection were estimated as being equivalent to some 4,000 hours of staff time, comprising a combination of front-line, managerial and support staff. This estimate was made during 2009 as part of the work on an issues analysis carried out by PA Consulting for DCSF and relates to a single Cafcass service area. Children In Care: Missing Persons Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children went missing from care in each local authority area in [320236] each of the last five years. Dawn Primarolo: The information has been placed in the Libraries. Children: Abuse John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure that recent reforms to child protection systems are (a) implemented and (b) resourced in full in Nottinghamshire. [322871] Dawn Primarolo: The Departments children and learners teams in regional Government offices support and challenge local areas to improve all outcomes for children including child protection and wider safeguarding performance. Since the publication in 2009 of Lord Lamings report The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report we have reviewed the role of those teams in relation to safeguarding and have also recruited a new cadre of specialist safeguarding advisers. These will be in place from April 2010. Expenditure on childrens social care, which includes child protection, has increased nationwide from 2.22 billion in 1997-98 to 5.73 billion in 2008-09 in cash. This is a real terms increase of over 90 per cent., equating to an average real terms increase of 6.1 per cent. per annum. Nottinghamshire has benefited from this extra investment. The Secretary of State announced on 17 March the publication of The Governments Response to Lord Laming: One Year On an update on progress made thus far on implementing the Governments Action Plan in response to Lord Lamings report. It includes a commitment of an investment of more than 200 million in 2010-11 to support the social work reform programme as well as a new Local Social Work Improvement Fund of 23 million in 2010-11. Children: Human Trafficking Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken to increase provision of accommodation for child victims of trafficking. [320235]
Dawn Primarolo: Effective matching of a child to the right carer to meet their needs is a key factor in achieving stable and secure placements for all looked after children, including unaccompanied children from abroad who may have been trafficked. Local authorities will be responsible for identifying the most suitable placement for the children they look after and each authority will have arrangements in place to secure a sufficient number of good quality placements. The Department supports a number of initiatives designed to increase the supply of good quality placements for children in care, including children who may be victims of trafficking. For example, we are currently revising the National Minimum Standards for childrens homes and fostering services to improve the focus on outcomes for children, so that all are given personalised support in line with their needs and wishes. We are also working with the Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to develop and implement foster care training, support and development standards and improve professional devolvement for childrens homes staff. These initiatives are designed to increase the number of suitably skilled foster carers and residential care staff at local level with the right skills to support all looked after children, including any child who may be a victim of trafficking. Children: Internet Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding from the Home Access Programme has been allocated; how many families have received assistance from the scheme; and what the maximum limit is on expenditure by each family on (a) a laptop and (b) connectivity.
[313473]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 26 January 2010]: We expect the total expenditure on the Home Access programme to be in the region of 300 million, with around 240 million of this released in the current spending period (to March 2011) for the pilot and specialist activities and the initial stage (key stages 2 and 3) of the national programme. 270,000 households are due to benefit from the current phase of funding, with over 30,000 already benefitting to date. Customers will be able to get a full package grant worth up to 528, or up to 400 for a device and support only or up to 180 for connectivity only. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to minimise the risks to children arising from their use [322814] of the internet. Dawn Primarolo: Prof. Tanya Byrons report, Safer Children in a Digital World was published in March 2008 and its recommendations on child internet safety were accepted in full by the Government. Subsequently, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) was launched in September 2008. Chaired by DCSF and Home Office ministers, the council unites over 160 organisations from across industry, the third sector, law enforcement and the devolved administrations to deliver the recommendations of the report.
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UKCCIS published its first strategy on 9 December 2009, the first of its kind in the world, which laid out the steps that will be taken to help keep children safe online. These include: a 2 million public awareness campaign, launched in February this year, to help parents keep their children safe online; a range of guidance for internet companies, as a further step towards effective self regulation for the industry; and the planned introduction of e-safety to the National Curriculum for Primary Schools in England from September 2010. The UKCCIS strategy can be found at:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/UKCCIS/
The following table gives details of SCRs that were in progress at the time where one or more extensions were granted between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009. The SCRs in the table were not necessarily commissioned within the same period.
Number of serious case reviews (SCRs) for which one or more deadline extensions were granted between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 Region East East Midlands London North East North West South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Number 19 6 14 9 36 23 12 14 35
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families asked Prof. Tanya Byron to report on the progress made on improving childrens digital safety following her original review in 2008. Prof. Byrons findings are due to reported shortly. Children: Social Services Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the standard of services for vulnerable children in Calderdale; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure the protection of children.
[320121]
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average number of pages was in a (a) report on and (b) summary of a serious case review in the most recent [323490] period for which figures are available. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 22 March 2010]: The figures requested are not recorded centrally. The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) sets out the requirements for SCR overview reports and executive summaries. Their length will vary according to the different features and levels of complexity of individual cases. Working Together does, however, include a template for overview reports and for executive summaries. The latter was added to the guidance in March 2010 to help ensure that each executive summary provides a full, thorough account of the SCR and includes the actions to be taken. Departmental Buildings Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many smoking shelters have been built for his Departments staff in [324363] the last five years; and at what cost. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children Schools and Families have erected two smoking shelters in the last five years at a cost of 7,146. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its [324567] staff. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does operate a subsidised gym facility at its Sanctuary Buildings headquarters. The subsidy to the managing contractor amounts to 62,500 per annum which is offset by the annual aggregate of membership charges which is 57,516. So far the total cost to the Department from the opening of the gym to the present time is 20,609. Departmental Energy Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324982]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 3 March 2010]: Ofsted published a report of an inspection of safeguarding and looked after childrens services on 26 February which judged Calderdale metropolitan borough councils safeguarding services to be inadequate. After meeting with representatives of the council I have decided that the council should be issued with an improvement notice; that an external chair should be appointed to the Improvement Board established by the council; and, to offer some additional support to ensure that these services improve quickly and sustainably. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions each Government Office of the Regions agreed to extend a deadline for the publication of a serious case review in the most recent year for which [323263] figures are available. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 22 March 2010]: Government offices do not have a role in granting extensions for the publication of SCRs. However, paragraph 8.15 of the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) (as amended), which has now been superseded, said that
there should be a discussion with the Government Office for the region to agree a timescale for completion of SCRs
The revised Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) is clear that, where it emerges that a SCR cannot be completed within the six-month time scale, the LSCB is responsible for revising its timetable and immediately consulting with the relevant Government office. Where a LSCB decides an extension is necessary, it should provide the Government office with a revised project plan and an update on progress, which includes action already taken and an explanation for the extension. The role of the Government office includes providing advice, support and challenge to LSCBs.
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Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has three voltage optimisers in its London HQ building which cover all incoming supplies. Departmental Food Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what account his Departments food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.
[325534]
and standard web page template have undergone four redesigns since 2005, as a result of changes to the Departments name and brand. The dates and costs of the redesigns, excluding VAT, are outlined in the following table.
Cost () April 2007 July 2007 September 2008 June 2009 6,300 2,370 0 7,390
Ms Diana R. Johnson: The internal food catering contract is predicated on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PFSPI) that supports the Governments Strategy for Sustainable Farming in FoodFacing the Future. In addition, the supplier is encouraged to meet Food Assurance Standards through accredited bodies such as Red Tractor, Marine Stewardship Council and the RSPCA Freedom Food Schemes. Departmental Higher Civil Servants Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many grade 2 civil [324955] servants are employed in his Department. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Grade 2 as a description of staff level is no longer in general use. Senior civil servants in similar sized roles are now referred to as being in Pay Band 3 and usually have the job title of Director General. The Department has four full time equivalents at this level. Departmental Information Officers Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) communications and (b) press officers were in post in his Department on the latest date for which [320793] information is available. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department employs 26 press officers. The Departments human resources systems holds information on individuals by their generalist civil service grade and therefore it is not possible to identify everybody engaged in communications work in the department, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departmental Internet Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many designs for its (a) internal website and (b) intranet his Department and its predecessor have commissioned since 2005; and what the cost was of each such design;
[321997]
The cost of the September 2008 redesign was met from internal resource. The Departments intranet has had one redesign since 2005, and the total cost was 116,525. Departmental Marketing Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Departments branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items [324719] were. Ms Diana R. Johnson: It is not possible to provide a comprehensive answer without incurring disproportionate cost. Departmental Official Hospitality Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose of each such event was.
[324665]
Ms Diana R. Johnson: The requested information cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate cost. Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what public information helplines his Department runs; and what contracts have been awarded by his Department for the [323510] running of them. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department holds records centrally of six policy-specific helplines which it sponsors. These and the associated costs are outlined in the following table. The Department also jointly runs the Frank helpline but does not fund it. A full survey of helplines and contracts would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
Helpline School Performance Tables contact centre Sexwise Childcare pilot services helpline Childcare Helpline Sure Start helpline Extended Services helpline Cost () 17,124.00 800,414.00 550,575.00 129,224.00 65,000.00 9,000.00
(2) pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1293W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign. [321936] Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Departments main website homepage
www.dcsf.gov.uk
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Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the (a) average time taken to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by the Child Support Agency and its successor body in the [323963] latest period for which figures are available. Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response. Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 6 April 2010:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the (a) average time to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by the Child Support Agency and its successor body in the latest period for which figures are available. [323963] The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (the Commission) took over responsibility for the Child Support Agency (CSA) on 1 November 2008. In the period April 2009 to December 2009, (a) the average time to answer telephone calls was 7 seconds, (b) The average waiting time a client is kept on hold during a call was 9 seconds, (c) 0.25 per cent of calls were not answered from the queue of waiting callers. In addition, 6 per cent did not reach the queue as they were terminated by the client during the automated touchtone routing to the most appropriate queue, (d) The average handling time (from the moment a telephone calf is answered to the end of the call) was 5 minutes and 2 seconds. As well as the CSA the Commission provides an information and support service to separated families known as Child Maintenance Options. If you would like details of call handling by this service please let me know. I hope you find this answer helpful.
Support. The contract with Adecco expired on 31 August 2007, when new contracts were established with Reed and Hays. Total spend with the agencies:
2007/081.7 million 2008/093.3 million April 2009 to December 20102.0 million
For a small number of specialist temporary staff and interim managers the Department has used other agencies but information on this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Electronic Warfare Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects on the critical infrastructure of his Department of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused (a) deliberately and (b) through solar activity. [321756] Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families is able to draw on the Governments Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, and on the advice of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and CESG as part of its Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity planning. It would not be in the interests of national security to provide information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse attack. Families: Government Assistance Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many recipients of Family Unit Current Grants there are expected to be in [315726] each category in 2010-11. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 February 2010]: We do not recognise the grant as described. Free School Meals Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white boys eligible for free school meals finished compulsory [321259] schooling in (a) 2003 and (b) 2008. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 9 March 2010]: The available information is shown in the table. This is based on pupils who were aged 15 as at 31 August prior to the academic year reported and who turned 16 in the academic year reported i.e. those in the final year of compulsory schooling.
Departmental Temporary Employment Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 734W, on departmental temporary employment, what the total amount spent on employing temporary staff was in [324330] each of the last three years. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. The Department has used three agencies for the provision of its temporary staff (admin and clerical)Adecco, Reed Employment and Hays Office
State funded secondary1, 2 and special schools3: Number and proportion of white British boys aged 15 known to be eligible for free school meals4, 5, 6. As at January 2003 and 2008England White British boys aged 15 Number known to be eligible for free school meals4, 5, 6 Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals7
All pupils4, 5
2003
232,540
26,680
11.5
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State funded secondary1, 2 and special schools3: Number and proportion of white British boys aged 15 known to be eligible for free school meals4, 5, 6. As at January 2003 and 2008England White British boys aged 15 Number known to be eligible for Percentage known to be eligible free school meals4, 5, 6 for free school meals7 All pupils4, 5 2008 247,720 25,100 10.1 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies. 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. 4 Includes pupils who are sole and dual main registrations. 5 Boys aged 15 as at 31 August the previous year. 6 Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons eg through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. 7 The number of white British boys aged 15 known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a percentage of the total number of white British boys aged 15. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Freud Communications Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 1068W, on Freud Communications: public relations, for what reasons the Year of Music was not undertaken in-house by departmental staff; and on what dates Ministers in his Department have met Matthew Freud [324404] in the last 12 months. Ms Diana R. Johnson: Tune InYear of Music was conceived as a branded campaign aimed at making a significant and high-profile communications impact and intended to involve well-known music professionals, to interest and engage young people in music. The challenge to unite the music sector under a common brand, with the aim of maximising the reach and impact of existing and future music opportunities for young people, as well as developing and implementing the Tune In programme of activity, and securing effective media coverage at national and local level, required a specialist integrated communications agency, as outlined in the campaign brief. Freud Communications were successful in a competitive pitch process run by the Department. Neither Ministers nor officials in the Department have met with Matthew Freud in the last 12 months. GCE A-level Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved three A grades at A-level in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which [312063] figures are available. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 19 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility was not collected in 1997. In 2008, 160 (3.5 per cent.) pupils eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. The percentage is of all pupils eligible for free schools meals entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008. This compares with 14,431 (10.5 per cent.) pupils not eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. The percentage is of all pupils not
eligible for free schools meals entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008. The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals. GCE A-Level: Disadvantaged Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals achieved (a) one or more A to G grades, (b) three or more A to C grades and (c) three or more A grades at A-level in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which records are available.
[310370]
Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 12 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility was not collected as far back as 1980, therefore we have provided 2003. Figures for 2003 are shown in the following table.
Pupils eligible for FSM achieving Number (a) One or more A to E grades (b) Three or more A to C grades (c) Three or more A grades 4,610 845 94 Percentage 93.4 17.1 1.9
Figures for 2008 are shown in the following table.

Pupils eligible for FSM achieving Number (a) One or more A to E grades (b) Three or more A to C grades (c) Three or more A grades 4,516 1,370 160 Percentage 97.5 29.6 3.5
Percentages indicated are of all students eligible for free school meals who were entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008. The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.
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Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved three A grades at A-level in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.
[310103]
The figures relate to 16-18 year olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals. GCSE Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools there were at which over (a) 30, (b) 50 and (c) 70 per cent. of pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and [304750] mathematics, in each of the last five years. Mr. Coaker: The following table gives the requested time series.
Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 11 January 2010]: Pupil level data on ethnicity and eligibility for free school meals was not collected as far back as 1980. In 2008, 38 (4.2 per cent.) white British boys and 29 (2.6 per cent.) white British girls eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. Percentages indicated are of white British students eligible for free school meals of the appropriate gender who were entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008.
Number of schools at which the indicated percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieve five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths GCSEs 2005 30 per cent. or more 50 per cent. or more 70 per cent. or more 2,843 1,637 805 2006 2,979 1,756 842 2007 2,991 1,760 776 2008 3,130 1,846 780 2009 3,242 1,912 795
Only schools with greater than 10 pupils at the end of key stage 4 have been counted. Academies and city technology colleges have been included. Figures are cumulative in nature. If a school is featured in the 70 per cent. or more row then it will also be in the 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. rows. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in
2003 Number and percentage of pupils1 in maintained schools eligible for free school meals achieving seven or more GCSEs2 at grade A*-G or the equivalent, including a GCSE in: Physics Biology Chemistry Mathematics English English Literature History
1 2
receipt of free school meals achieved seven GCSEs, including (a) physics, (b) biology, (c) chemistry, (d) mathematics, (e) English, (f) English literature and (g) history in (i) 1997, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009.
[304902]
Ms Diana R. Johnson: The requested figures have been presented in the following table. However, achievement data matched to pupil characteristics (including free school meals) are not available for 1997.
2008 2009
Number 1,012 1,207 1,112 51,155 52,077 47,129 13,565
Percentage 1.2 1.5 1.4 63.0 64.2 58.1 16.7
Number 2,053 2,558 2,104 54,154 54,282 42,321 12,143
Percentage 2.7 3.4 2.8 72.4 72.6 56.6 16.2
Number 2,932 3,376 2,963 56,584 56,818 41,263 12,459
Percentage 3.9 4.5 4.0 76.1 76.4 55.5 16.8
In 2003 figures are based on pupils aged 15-years-old whereas in 2008 and 2009 they are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. In 2003 figures include GNVQs as GCSE equivalents. In 2008 and 2009, figures include additional equivalent qualifications approved for pre-16 use.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals did not achieve A* to C at GCSE in both English and mathematics in (i) 1997 and (ii) [312245] 2009.
information requested is presented for 2003 (the earliest available year) and 2009 in the following table and is for maintained schools only.
Number of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics 2003 Eligible for FSM Not eligible for FSM 67,195 266,217 82.8 53.9 Proportion of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage)
Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 21 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility was not collected as far back as 1997. The
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Number of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics 2009 Eligible for FSM Not eligible for FSM 54,190 227,963
Proportion of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage)
72.9 45.2
Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children obtained five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics in schools where (a) fewer than 10, (b) more than 20 and (c) more than 50 per cent. of pupils were eligible for free school meals [314581] in each year since 2005. Mr. Coaker: The information requested in presented in the following table and covers maintained mainstream schools:
Note: Figures for 2003 are based on pupils aged 15 and for 2009 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. Source: National Pupil Database
Proportion of pupils at end of key stage 4 achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics Percentage FSM group (based on pupils of all ages in school) Schools with fewer than 10 FSM pupils Schools with 20 or more FSM pupils Schools with 50 or more FSM pupils 2005 55 26 24 2006 57 29 27 2007 58 32 31 2008 60 34 34 2009 62 38 37
Notes: 1. Figures for 2009 are revised. All other years are final. 2. Pupils present in the >50 per cent. FSM data will also be present in the >20 per cent. FSM data.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who gained five GCSEs at grades A* to C did so by passing a qualification equivalent to (a) one, (b) two and (c) [315529] more than two GCSEs in 2009. Mr. Coaker: There were 444,302 pupils at the end of key stage 4 who achieved five or more GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*-C in 2009. A number of these pupils achieved less than 5 GCSE passes (full, double awards and short courses) and reached the threshold by including non-GCSE qualifications (referred to as equivalents) in their attainment. Of the pupils including non-GCSE qualifications to reach the threshold:
22,605 achieved four or 4.5 GCSE qualifications and therefore at least include non-GCSE qualifications up to the size of one full GCSE. 17,791 achieved between three and four GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications at least equivalent to between one and two full GCSEs. 39,367 achieved less than three GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications equivalent to more than two GCSEs.
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 21 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to ethnicity and Free School Meal eligibility was not collected as far back as 1997. The information requested for 2003 (the earliest year available) and 2009 is presented in the following table and is for maintained schools only.
Number of white pupils eligible for free school meals not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics 2003 Boys Girls 2009 Boys Girls 20,684 18,723 80.0 75.0 24,404 23,022 86.9 83.8 Proportion of white pupils eligible for free school meals not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage)
Note: Figures for 2003 are based on pupils age 15 and for 2009 are based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Source: National Pupil Database
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students in each London borough achieved five or more grades at A* to C at GCSE or equivalent in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
[319062]
Gifted Children: Sussex Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in (a) Lewes constituency and (b) East Sussex have participated in gifted and talented programmes in [308532] each year since 2000. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department does not collect data about participation in gifted and talented programmes. Through the School Census schools are asked to confirm the number of gifted and talented pupils they have identified. The following tables show the number and percentage of children identified as gifted and talented in the local authority of East Sussex and in the constituency of Lewes in the January census between 2006, when the question was first asked, and 2009.
Mr. Coaker: The information requested can be found in the following Statistical First Release (SFR) (table 17):
GCSE: Disadvantaged Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals did not achieve A* to C at GCSE in both English and mathematics in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009.
[312243]
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2006 records include secondary G&T pupil data only. Otherwise, figures include primary1 and secondary1, 2 school data broken down by the number3 and percentage of gifted and talented pupils.
All data include middle schools as deemed. All data include city technology colleges and academies. All data show solely registered pupils only.
Maintained primary and state-funded secondary1, 2 schools: Number3 and percentage of gifted and talented pupils, as at January each year, in East Sussex local authority Maintained primary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 2009 2008 2007 2006 3,770 4,020 4,570 Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 10.7 11.3 12.8 State-funded secondary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 4,154 4,190 3,750 2,990 Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 15.0 14.9 13.1 10.4 Primary and secondary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 7,920 8,210 8,320 Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 12.6 12.9 12.9
Maintained primary1 and state-funded secondary1, 2 schools: Number3 and percentage of gifted and talented pupils, as at January each year, in the Lewes constituency Maintained primary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 2009 2008 2007 2006
1
State-funded secondary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 840 930 540 630 Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 18.7 20.7 11.7 13.4
Primary and secondary schools Number of gifted and talented pupils 1,410 1,550 1,280 Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 13.8 15.0 12.3
Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 10.0 10.6 12.7
580 620 740
All data include middle schools as deemed. 2 All data include city technology colleges and academies. 3 All data show solely registered pupils only. Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census.
A data table showing information for all constituencies in England has been placed in the Libraries.
Local authority
Designated childrens centres at end of February 2010 15 17 13 13 12 14 16 8 11 29 17 1 11 20 14 9 21 14 23 17 23 15
Net expected increase due to planned designations and mergers for rest of 2010 0 2 3 1 6 4 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 8 3 0 0 0 0 1 0
Health Visitors: Childrens Centres Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start (a) centres and (b) health visitors there are in each London borough; and how many such (i) centres and (ii) health visitors he expects there to be in each London borough in each of the next five years.
[323776]
Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham London, City of Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster, City of
Dawn Primarolo: The following table details how many designated Sure Start childrens centres there were in each London borough at the end of February 2010, and how many are planned to open or merge for the rest of 2010.
Designated childrens centres at end of February 2010 16 18 13 15 19 17 26 22 24 24 19 Net expected increase due to planned designations and mergers for rest of 2010 2 4 3 5 3 0 0 6 0 1 1
Local authority Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney
There are currently no further childrens centres planned beyond 2010. Figures for the number of current health visitors working in childrens centres in each London borough, and the numbers expected in the next five years, are not collected centrally.
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achieved a grade A* to C at GCSE in a modern foreign [314465] language in each of the last five years. Mr. Coaker: The number and percentage of pupils in the 2009 national challenge schools, who entered and achieved a GCSE in modern foreign language is as follows:
Number of pupils who achieved GCSE A*-C MFL in national challenge schools 4,278 3,526 3,277 3,636 3,227 Percentage of pupils who achieved A*-C MFL in national challenge schools 13.4 10.7 9.3 10.0 8.5
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage Four in current National Challenge schools (a) took and (b)
Number of pupils who entered MFL in national challenge schools 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 10,818 7,805 6,679 7,280 6,447
Percentage of pupils who entered MFL in national challenge schools 33.9 23.7 19.0 19.9 17.0
Notes: 1. Qualifications included are full GCSEs, GCSE double awards and GCSEs in Applied subjects only. 2. The percentage of pupils achieving is based on all pupils in national challenge schools, not just those entered. 3. A pass rate based on those entered can be calculated by dividing the number of pupils who achieve a grade A* -C by the number of pupils entered for MFL.
Mathematics: GCE A-Level Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures [310104] are available. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 11 January 2010]: Pupil level data relating to ethnicity and free school meal eligibility was not collected as far back as 1980. In 2008, nine (42.9 per cent.) white British boys and three (50.0 per cent.) white British girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics. The percentages indicated are of white British students eligible for free school meals of the appropriate gender who were entered for a GCE A level in further maths. The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals. Multiple Births Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to assist multiple birth families; and if he will [325184] make a statement. Ms Diana R. Johnson: High quality parenting and family support services in childrens centres with appropriate outreach can help ensure that all parentsincluding families with twins and other multiple birthshave access to the support they need to give them the best possible start in life. There are now over 3,000 designated childrens centres many of which run Twins Groups providing support and activities for parents with twins enabling them to meet and share their experiences. The Schools Admissions Code includes guidance at paragraph 2.25 on siblings and twins, stating:
the admissions authorities for primary schools should ensure in their oversubscription criteria that siblings (including twins, triplets or children from other multiple births) can attend the same primary school, as long as they comply with the Education (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 1998.
Music: Primary Education Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage the teaching of music in primary schools; and if he will make a [320841] statement. Ms Diana R. Johnson: Music is a legal entitlement for all young people aged five-14 in England as it is a statutory subject within the national curriculum. In addition the Government have, since 1999, provided funding to local authorities through the Standards Fund Music Grant to support local music provision. Since the Governments pledge in 2001, that over time all primary pupils who wanted to should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, the widening of access to instrumental provision at Key Stage 2 has been a priority call on the Music Grant. Also, since 2006, there has also been an additional element to the grant solely for delivering local instrumental and vocal tuition to children at Key Stage 2. Some local authorities also make their own contribution to local music making. Another important element of the Governments 332 million commitment to music education 2008-11 is their support for the national singing programme, Sing Up. The programme, which receives 10 million a year, aims, by March 2011, to enable every primary school-aged child to take part in daily high-quality singing activity, and for all primary schools in England to become Singing Schools. Over the current academic year, music is being celebrated through Tune InYear of Music. The wide range of music related experiences available to children and young people across England will be showcased over the year, and all childrenwhatever their talentare being encouraged to get involved in music.
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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of [310854] the cost of such attendance. Ms Diana R. Johnson: Since 1999, the Government have published, on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007/08, the list was extended to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries. Information for 2009/10 will be published as soon as the information is available. All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code, respectively. Primary Education: Curriculum Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department had spent on preparations for implementation of the recommendations of the Rose Review of the Primary Curriculum on the latest date for which figures are [324173] available. Ms Diana R. Johnson: From the beginning of the current financial year until the end of February 2010, the Department had spent 158,000 on preparations for implementation of the recommendations of the Rose Review of the primary curriculum. In addition to this figure, the Department has allocated 2,014,000 this financial year to the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency for this purpose and a further 250,000 to the National College for Leadership of Schools and Childrens Services. Public Sector Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to share services, functions and back offices with local authorities as part of the Total [323958] Place initiative. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Governments report on Total Place will be published alongside Budget 2010. School Meals Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance schools have been given on the implementation of the Healthy Eating in Schools paper; and how much has been spent [316092] on that implementation. Ms Diana R. Johnson: In March 2006, Ofsted published its report Healthy Eating in Schools, which assessed how schools had responded to guidance on school meals and healthier eating.
The report made a small number of recommendations relating to: the training of catering staff; lunch time management and the dining environment; school food policies; involvement of pupils and parents and quality monitoring by schools. Those recommendations have all been addressed over the course of the last four years, during which time mandatory standards have been introduced for all maintained primary, secondary and special schools, covering all food served by schools during a school day. A number of pieces of guidance have been produced by the School Food Trust, as the Departments key delivery partner, including: A Fresh Look at the School Meal Experience; Guide to the Nutrient-based Standards for School Lunches; Nutritional Analysis Support Package (NASP); Calculating the Nutrient Content of School Lunch Recipes: A Caterers Guide; and Special Educational Needs Schools guidance. There has been significant government investment of over 676 million between 2005 and 2011. This includes funding to help support the cost of a school lunch, to help build or refurbish kitchen and dining facilities, to better support the development of training centres for the school food work force and for improved marketing and communications to increase take up. Schools: Cadets Lembit pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much Government funding school combined cadet forces have received in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [323634] Mr. Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply. The information is not held centrally. Funding for any particular MOD Sponsored Cadet Force, such as the Combined Cadet Forces, comes from a wide variety of sources including the single services, the use of subsidised facilities, and non-Government sources such as local donations and fundraising efforts. To determine how much funding has been allocated to specific Cadet Forces would require a manual search of records and incur a disproportionate cost. The Government remain committed to the Cadet Organisation whose origins date back 150 years. It is one of the oldest and most successful voluntary youth organisations in the world. Today it numbers 131,000 young people, led by 25,000 adult volunteers, in well over 3,000 sites across the country. Schools: Email Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special and (d) all schools spent on maintaining email addresses for school staff and pupils in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
[311879]
Mr. Coaker: Schools are funded for technology purposes by the Harnessing Technology Grant. Schools are also free to use money from other sources on technological services and infrastructure. However, data on funding of email addresses specifically is not collected, and
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schools and local authorities are free to decide locally how to apportion the funding across the various types of technology. Schools: Racial Discrimination Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will extend the terms of reference of his Departments review of the provisions which prevent the promotion of racism in schools to [311557] include the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Secretary of State announced on 30 September 2009 that he had asked Maurice Smith, the former chief inspector of schools, to look into the issue of racism in maintained schools and report his findings by the end of January 2010. Maurice Smiths report was published on 12 March and a copy placed in the Libraries. The Secretary of State has accepted the recommendations in full and has asked Maurice Smith to conduct an additional review looking at the safeguards in place in independent schools. The handling of the review will be a matter for Maurice Smith to determine, although he will be free to gather evidence about the activities of any group or organisation. He has been asked to submit his report to the Secretary of State in September 2010. Schools: Racism Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of all organisations consulted by (a) Mr Maurice Smith and (b) officials of his Department assisting Mr Maurice Smith as part of Mr Smiths review of provisions against the promotion [314908] of racism in schools. Mr. Coaker [holding answer 2 February 2010]: The Secretary of State announced on 30 September 2009 that he had asked Maurice Smith, the former chief inspector of schools, to look into the issue of racism in maintained schools and report his findings by the end of January 2010. Maurice Smiths report was published on 12 March. The report includes details of all the organisations that contributed to the review and a copy has been placed in the Libraries. A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries when it was published, and it included details of all the organisations that contributed to the review. Schools: St. Georges Day Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department plans to promote St. Georges Day in [322600] schools in 2010. Ms Diana R. Johnson: There are no plans for the Department to promote St. Georges day in schools. The citizenship curriculum already contributes towards
building and promoting a British identity and shared British values, and it offers opportunities to explore what it is to be British. However, it is a local decision for schools to choose if they wish to celebrate St. Georges day or not. Schools: Vetting Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 695W, on vetting: local education authorities, what the timetable is for the review of requirements for Criminal Records Bureau disclosures. [323035] Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 29WS. Social Services: Children Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in custody have previously been in care.
[323434]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally. However, Her Majestys inspectorate of prisons (HMIP) and the Youth Justice Board publish an annual survey of children and young people in custody. The survey for 2008-09 involved 1,100 young people detained in 18 establishments across the secure estate. This reported that 24 per cent. of young men and 49 per cent. of the 54 young women in the survey had been looked after at some point in their lives. It is important to understand that that the overall number of children with a care background in custody is small relative to the total number of looked-after children above the age of criminal responsibility. This report is available from the HMIP website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/ index.htm
Sure Start Programme: Greater London Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start (a) centres and (b) health visitors there were in each [325563] London borough in each year since 2003. Dawn Primarolo: The following table details how many designated Sure Start childrens centres there were in each London borough in each year since 2003. Figures for the number of health visitors working in childrens centres in each London borough since 2003 were not collected centrally.
Year of designation
Local authority Barking and Dagenham Barnet
2003 0 0
2004 0 0
2005 3 0
2006 6 2
2007 11 3
2008 14 13
2009 16 14
2010 16 18
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Year of designation Local authority Bexley Brent Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham London, City of Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster, City of Total
1
2003 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 12
2004 0 0 0 7 1 2 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 4 36
2005 1 1 0 7 1 5 0 1 1 4 7 0 0 1 2 8 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 3 1 1 3 2 4 61
2006 4 4 1 10 3 10 7 9 8 5 10 3 0 1 3 9 4 0 12 3 1 1 5 4 0 9 1 10 6 3 5 159
2007 12 5 10 15 12 18 11 16 13 6 15 7 3 5 13 11 7 4 14 8 1 7 13 6 6 14 4 14 12 12 7 315
2008 12 11 15 16 20 22 17 23 19 12 17 9 10 12 14 16 8 7 24 15 1 9 20 14 9 21 10 21 14 16 12 473
2009 13 14 18 17 20 22 24 24 19 14 17 13 11 12 14 16 8 11 28 17 1 11 20 14 9 21 14 21 17 23 12 525
2010 13 14 18 17 26 22 24 24 19 15 17 13 13 12 14 16 8 11 28 17 1 11 20 14 9 21 14 23 17 23 15 543
Figures valid up until end of February
Teachers: Males Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency did not have a male teacher at the latest [324535] date for which information is available. Mr. Coaker: Information on the number of local authority maintained nursery and primary schools in each local authority and parliamentary constituency that do not have a male teacher in service, in England, January 2009, the latest information available, have been placed in the House Libraries. Teenage Pregnancy Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for a successor strategy to the teenage pregnancy [324023] strategy. Dawn Primarolo: On 24 February 2010to coincide with the publication of the latest (2008) under-18 conception
data by the Office for National StatisticsThe Department and the Department of Health jointly published Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010, which sets out the Governments on-going commitment to reducing Englands teenage pregnancy rate. A copy can be found at the following link:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/healthandwellbeing/ teenagepregnancy
Truancy Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of primary school pupils were persistent absentees in each (a) local authority area and (b) [324537] constituency in each of the last 10 years. Mr. Coaker: Information on persistent absentees in primary schools is only available from 2006/07 onwards. Information at local authority level for 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09, and parliamentary constituency level for 2007/08 and 2008/09 has been placed in the Libraries. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.
ORAL ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .... Afghanistan ........................................................... Afghanistan ........................................................... Afghanistan ........................................................... Argentina ............................................................... Burma.................................................................... EU Budget (Reform).............................................. European Security and Defence Assembly .............
797 797 803 811 807 808 809 800
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE continued Iraq ........................................................................ Middle East Peace Process ..................................... Overseas Operations (Financing) ........................... Topical Questions .................................................. Turks and Caicos Islands ....................................... Zimbabwe ..............................................................
806 801 810 811 803 804

Col. No. Col. No.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .. 128WS Local Government Investments (Revised Guidance) .......................................................... 128WS Planning................................................................. 130WS Sustainable Communities Act ................................ 128WS CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT .......................... 131WS Legal Deposit Libraries (Consultation).................. 131WS DEFENCE ................................................................. 131WS Gulf Veterans (Mortality Data) ............................. 132WS Service Medical and Dental Officers (Pay) ............. 131WS ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ..................... 132WS Beyond Copenhagen (International Climate Change Plan) ................. 132WS HEALTH ................................................................... 133WS Correction to Government Strategy Document ..... 134WS Skipton Fund (Review) .......................................... 133WS Swine Flu Pandemic Response............................... 135WS Valuing People Now (Delivery Plan 2010-11)......... 134WS
JUSTICE ................................................................... 139WS Her Majestys Land Registry (Key Performance Indicators and Targets)......... 139WS NORTHERN IRELAND .......................................... 135WS Independent Monitoring Commission ................... 135WS SCOTLAND.............................................................. 136WS Commission on Scottish Devolution...................... 136WS SOLICITOR-GENERAL .......................................... 137WS HM Customs and Excise Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions................................................ 137WS TRANSPORT ........................................................... 138WS Maritime and Coastguard Agency ......................... 138WS Service Stations (Consultation) .............................. 138WS TREASURY .............................................................. 125WS Asset Protection Agency........................................ 125WS Building Society Capital ........................................ 125WS Counter-Terrorist Asset-Freezing Regime (January to March 2010).................................... 126WS Double Taxation Agreement (United Kingdom and Germany)....................... 125WS Valuation Office Agency (KPI) .............................. 126WS
PETITIONS
Col. No. Col. No.
PRESENTED PETITIONS ...................................... Badman Report (Teignbridge) ............................... Equitable Life (Teignbridge) .................................. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .. Decent Homes Programme (Funding) ................... ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS............................................................... Footpath Closure (Hadleigh, Castle Point) ............ HEALTH ................................................................... Newborough Pharmacy (Peterborough) ................
29P 29P 29P 30P 30P
LEADER OF THE HOUSE ..................................... Parliamentary Reform............................................ TRANSPORT ........................................................... Bus Routes (Croydon)............................................ Bus Service (Essex)................................................. Central Parade (New Addington, Croydon)........... East Croydon Station............................................. Featherbed Lane Pinch Point (Croydon)................ Freedom Pass (Croydon)........................................ Potholes (New Addington, Croydon) ..................... Rail Capacity (Croydon) ........................................ Soundproof Fencing (A50 Staffordshire) ............... Traffic (Orchard Avenue, Croydon) ........................ Traffic (The Glade, Croydon) .................................
32P 32P 32P 32P 33P 34P 34P 35P 35P 36P 37P 38P 38P 39P
30P 30P 31P 31P
WRITTEN ANSWERS
Col. No. Col. No.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ............. Aviation: Treaties ................................................... Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Easter..................................................................... Employment Agencies: EU Law ............................ Further Education: Finance................................... Licensing Laws: Music ........................................... Opposition ............................................................. Optics: Technology ................................................ Student Loans Company: Redundancy.................. UK Space Agency.................................................. CABINET OFFICE ................................................... Business: Cardiff .................................................... Departmental Private Detectives............................ Government Communications Review ................... Ministerial Policy Advisers: Bullying ..................... Opposition ............................................................. Union of Good ...................................................... CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ............. CAFCASS ............................................................. Children: Abuse ..................................................... Children: Human Trafficking................................. Children In Care: Missing Persons......................... Children: Internet .................................................. Children: Social Services ........................................ Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Food................................................ Departmental Higher Civil Servants ...................... Departmental Information Officers ....................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Marketing ....................................... Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Departmental Telephone Services .......................... Departmental Temporary Employment ................. Electronic Warfare ................................................. Families: Government Assistance .......................... Free School Meals.................................................. Freud Communications ......................................... GCE A-level........................................................... GCE A-Level: Disadvantaged................................ GCE A-Levels: Disadvantaged .............................. GCSE .................................................................... GCSE: Disadvantaged ........................................... Gifted Children: Sussex.......................................... Health Visitors: Childrens Centres ........................ Languages: GCSE.................................................. Mathematics: GCE A-Level................................... Multiple Births....................................................... Music: Primary Education ..................................... Olympic Games: Canada ....................................... Primary Education: Curriculum............................. Public Sector .......................................................... School Meals ......................................................... Schools: Cadets...................................................... Schools: Email ....................................................... Schools: Racial Discrimination .............................. Schools: Racism ..................................................... Schools: St. Georges Day ...................................... Schools: Vetting ..................................................... Social Services: Children ........................................ Sure Start Programme: Greater London ................ Teachers: Males ..................................................... Teenage Pregnancy.................................................
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CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIEScontinued Truancy.................................................................. 1360W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .. Audit Commission ................................................. Council Housing .................................................... Council Housing: Debts......................................... Council Tax ........................................................... Crown Estates: Fire Services .................................. Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Legislation ...................................... Departmental Manpower....................................... Departmental Public Expenditure.......................... Fire Services: Havering .......................................... Government Office for the North West .................. Housing: Conferences ............................................ Housing Revenue Accounts ................................... Infrastructure Planning Commission ..................... International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ................................................... Multiple Occupation .............................................. Non-Domestic Rates.............................................. Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation ............................ Piers: Repairs and Maintenance............................. Public Houses ........................................................ Public Sector .......................................................... Tenant Services Authority: Pay .............................. Unitary Councils.................................................... World Urban Forum .............................................. Written Questions: Government Responses ........... CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT .......................... Conservation Areas: Waste Disposal...................... Departmental Food................................................ Departmental Internet ........................................... Museums and Galleries: Newcastle upon Tyne ...... Sports: Training ..................................................... Tourism: Finance ................................................... DEFENCE ................................................................. Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations.................. Air Force................................................................ Aircraft Carriers .................................................... Armed Forces: Health Services .............................. Armed Forces: Housing ......................................... Armed Forces: Manpower ..................................... Armed Forces: Merseyside ..................................... Armed Forces: Training ......................................... Defence Medical Services....................................... Defence: Scotland .................................................. Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Location.......................................... Departmental Pay .................................................. Departmental Security ........................................... Electronic War ....................................................... Falkland Islands..................................................... Falkland Islands: Land Mines................................ Future Rapid Effect System ................................... Inquiries: Northern Ireland.................................... Low Flying............................................................. Military Bases ........................................................ Weapons: Transport ............................................... Written Questions: Government Responses ........... 1209W 1209W 1209W 1210W 1210W 1211W 1211W 1212W 1213W 1213W 1215W 1215W 1216W 1215W 1216W 1216W 1217W 1217W 1220W 1220W 1221W 1221W 1221W 1222W 1222W 1222W 1149W 1149W 1149W 1149W 1150W 1150W 1151W 1194W 1194W 1195W 1196W 1196W 1197W 1198W 1198W 1198W 1199W 1199W 1200W 1201W 1201W 1203W 1203W 1205W 1205W 1205W 1205W 1206W 1206W 1206W 1207W 1207W 1208W
Col. No.
Col. No.
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ..................... Carbon Emissions.................................................. Climate Change: Publicity...................................... Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Consultants..................................... Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings................. Departmental Information Officers ....................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Marketing ....................................... Departmental Recruitment .................................... Energy Supply........................................................ Greenhouse Gas Emissions.................................... Housing: Carbon Emissions................................... Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Springfields ........................................................ Nuclear Power: Public Consultation ...................... Renewable Energy: Scotland .................................. Uranium: Imports.................................................. Warm Front Scheme: Greater Manchester............. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS............................................................... Agriculture: Research............................................. Coastal Erosion ..................................................... Dairy Farming ....................................................... Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental ICT ................................................. Departmental Legislation ...................................... Departmental Marketing ....................................... Departmental Pay .................................................. Departmental Theft ............................................... Departmental Written Questions ........................... Environment Protection: Coastal Areas ................. Horses.................................................................... Horses: Travel ........................................................ Incinerators............................................................ Inland Waterways .................................................. Marine Conservation Zones................................... Marine Management Organisation ........................ Nature Conservation: Crime .................................. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones ....................................... Opposition ............................................................. Pets: Vaccination.................................................... Recycling: Greater London .................................... Rights of Way: Cycling .......................................... Waste Disposal: EU Action ................................... FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .... Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh ................................... Belize: Economic Partnership Agreements............. British Nationals Abroad: Homicide ..................... Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Food................................................ Departmental Passports......................................... Departmental Public Expenditure.......................... Departmental Publications .................................... Departmental Theft ............................................... Gaza Blockade....................................................... India: Overseas Aid................................................ Members: Correspondence .................................... Middle East Peace Process..................................... Moldova: EU Membership .................................... Nepal: Religious Freedom...................................... Overseas Operations: Financing............................. Pakistan: Extradition ............................................. Palestinians: Economic Situation ........................... St. Helena: Wrecks ................................................. Tibet ...................................................................... Tibet: Politics and Government.............................. Western Sahara: Human Rights.............................
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HEALTH ................................................................... Blood ..................................................................... Breast Cancer: Ethnic Groups................................ Cancer: Health Services ......................................... Cancer: Waiting Lists............................................. Civil Servants ......................................................... Dementia ............................................................... Dental Services: Bognor Regis ............................... Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Food................................................ Departmental Furniture......................................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Departmental Public Expenditure.......................... Departmental Sick Leave ....................................... Drugs: Rehabilitation............................................. Family Nurse Partnership Programme ................... General Practitioners: Primary Care Trusts ........... Health Services: Armed Forces .............................. Health Services: Overseas Visitors ......................... Health Visitors ....................................................... Home Care Services ............................................... Hospitals: Manpower............................................. Hospitals: Mortality Rates..................................... Hospitals: Parking ................................................. Hospitals: Security ................................................. Influenza................................................................ Injuries: North Yorkshire ....................................... Mental Health Services: Advocacy......................... NHS....................................................................... NHS: Finance ........................................................ NHS: Standards..................................................... Nurses: Schools...................................................... Opposition ............................................................. Prosthetics: Health Services ................................... Radiotherapy ......................................................... Shropshire.............................................................. Social Services: Cambridgeshire............................. Social Services: Finance ......................................... Vaccination ............................................................ Viral Diseases......................................................... HOME DEPARTMENT ........................................... Animal Welfare: Arrests......................................... Asylum: Standards................................................. British Nationality ................................................. British Nationality: Assessments............................ Burglary: Shropshire .............................................. Community Safety Accreditation Schemes ............ Convictions ............................................................ Crime ..................................................................... Crime Prevention ................................................... Departmental Buildings ......................................... Departmental Contracts ........................................ Departmental Data Protection............................... Departmental Information Officers ....................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Legal Costs ..................................... Departmental Manpower....................................... Departmental Marketing ....................................... Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Departmental Public Expenditure.......................... Departmental Theft ............................................... Departmental Written Questions ........................... DNA: Databases.................................................... Drugs: Misuse........................................................ Entry Clearances.................................................... Entry Clearances: Iraq ........................................... Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ..................... Entry Clearances: Pakistan ....................................
1311W 1311W 1312W 1312W 1313W 1313W 1313W 1313W 1313W 1314W 1315W 1315W 1315W 1316W 1316W 1317W 1317W 1317W 1318W 1318W 1319W 1321W 1324W 1324W 1325W 1326W 1326W 1326W 1327W 1327W 1327W 1328W 1328W 1329W 1329W 1329W 1330W 1331W 1332W 1333W 1336W 1336W 1243W 1243W 1243W 1243W 1244W 1244W 1244W 1246W 1257W 1257W 1257W 1258W 1258W 1258W 1258W 1259W 1259W 1260W 1260W 1260W 1261W 1261W 1261W 1262W 1262W 1262W 1264W 1265W
Col. No.
Col. No.
HOME DEPARTMENTcontinued Greater Manchester ............................................... Group 4 Securicor.................................................. Idcardsyoudecide Website ...................................... Identity Cards ........................................................ Identity Cards: Bus Services................................... Identity Cards: Greater Manchester....................... Identity Cards: Passports ....................................... Illegal Immigrants.................................................. Immigration: Gurkhas ........................................... Islamist Militants ................................................... Khat....................................................................... Mobile Phones: Surveillance .................................. Offences Against Children ..................................... Offensive Weapons: Shropshire .............................. Opposition ............................................................. Police ..................................................................... Police: Bureaucracy................................................ Police: Council Tax ................................................ Rape....................................................................... Shropshire.............................................................. Stop and Search ..................................................... Stop and Search: Shropshire .................................. War Crimes ............................................................ HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION.............. Nurseries................................................................ Speakers Adviser ................................................... Unite...................................................................... INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT .................... Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Information Officers ....................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Developing Countries: Roads................................. Haiti: Earthquakes................................................. India: Politics and Government.............................. Kenya: Family Planning......................................... Opposition ............................................................. Overseas Aid: Maternity Services........................... Palestinians: Overseas Aid ..................................... St Helena: Wrecks .................................................. Sudan: Politics and Government ............................ JUSTICE ................................................................... Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse....................................... Cemeteries ............................................................. Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Departmental Pay .................................................. Magistrates: Age .................................................... Opposition ............................................................. Political Parties: Finance........................................ Prisoners: Mobile Phones ...................................... Prisons: Organised Crime....................................... Protection of Badgers Act 1992 ............................. Trade Unions ......................................................... Tribunals: Disability Living Allowance ..................
1265W 1268W 1268W 1268W 1269W 1269W 1269W 1269W 1270W 1270W 1270W 1271W 1271W 1271W 1273W 1273W 1277W 1281W 1282W 1283W 1284W 1287W 1287W 1208W 1208W 1209W 1209W 1239W 1239W 1239W 1239W 1240W 1240W 1240W 1241W 1241W 1241W 1242W 1242W 1242W 1176W 1176W 1176W 1177W 1178W 1179W 1179W 1179W 1179W 1180W 1182W 1183W 1183W
OLYMPICS .............................................................. 1169W Olympic Games 2012: Birmingham ....................... 1169W Olympic Games 2012: Tickets ................................ 1170W PRIME MINISTER .................................................. 1171W Trade Unions ......................................................... 1171W YouTube ................................................................ 1171W SCOTLAND.............................................................. Departmental Food................................................ Departmental Internet ........................................... Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... Departmental Pay .................................................. 1146W 1146W 1146W 1146W 1148W
SOLICITOR-GENERAL .......................................... 1145W BAE Systems: Fraud ............................................. 1145W TRANSPORT ........................................................... A5: Shropshire ....................................................... Bexley .................................................................... Cycling: Shropshire ................................................ Departmental Food................................................ Hang Gliding and Paragliding: EU Action ............ Humber Bridge ...................................................... Humber Bridge: Tolls............................................. Lorries: Testing ...................................................... Public Transport: Shropshire ................................. Railways: Construction .......................................... Railways: Shropshire.............................................. Roads: Accidents ................................................... Roads: Repairs and Maintenance........................... Sea Rescue: Flamborough Head ............................ Thameslink Railway Line....................................... Transport: Sustainable Development ..................... TREASURY .............................................................. Council Tax ........................................................... Council Tax: Valuation .......................................... Departmental Contracts ........................................ Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Marketing ....................................... Economic Situation: Multiple Births...................... Employment .......................................................... Equitable Life Assurance Society: York ................. EU Grants and Loans: Wales................................. Government: Cost Effectiveness............................. Government Departments: Bank Cards ................. Government Departments: Buildings..................... Government Departments: Consultants................. Government Departments: Marketing ................... Government Departments: Pay.............................. Infrastructure: Expenditure.................................... Local Government: Cost Effectiveness................... Non-domestic Rates............................................... Non-domestic Rates: Ports..................................... Non-domestic Rates: Valuation ............................. Pakistan ................................................................. Public Expenditure................................................. Public Expenditure: Wales ..................................... Public Sector: Databases ........................................ Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services ............ Taxation: Domicile ................................................ UK Membership of EC: West Midlands................ Valuation Office Agency ........................................ Valuation Office Agency: Contracts ....................... Valuation Office Agency: Pay................................. Valuation Office Agency: Visits Abroad................. Written Questions: Government Responses ........... 1160W 1160W 1161W 1162W 1162W 1163W 1164W 1164W 1164W 1164W 1165W 1166W 1166W 1167W 1167W 1167W 1169W 1294W 1294W 1294W 1297W 1297W 1297W 1298W 1298W 1298W 1299W 1301W 1299W 1299W 1300W 1300W 1301W 1302W 1302W 1303W 1303W 1304W 1305W 1305W 1306W 1307W 1307W 1308W 1308W 1309W 1310W 1310W 1310W 1311W
LEADER OF THE HOUSE ..................................... 1172W Members Staff: Pensions ....................................... 1172W Public Duty Costs Allowance................................. 1172W NORTHERN IRELAND .......................................... Administration of Justice ...................................... Departmental Energy............................................. Departmental Furniture......................................... Departmental ICT ................................................. Departmental Information Officers ....................... Departmental Internet ........................................... Inquiries................................................................. Prisons: Mental Health Services............................. 1173W 1173W 1174W 1174W 1174W 1174W 1174W 1175W 1176W
WALES...................................................................... 1145W Departmental Food................................................ 1145W
Col. No.
Col. No.
WALEScontinued Departmental Information Officers ....................... 1145W Departmental Marketing ....................................... 1145W Departmental Official Hospitality.......................... 1145W WOMEN AND EQUALITY ..................................... Equality and Human Rights Commission.............. Equality and Human Rights Commission: Hotels . Rape: Criminal Proceedings ................................... WORK AND PENSIONS ......................................... Children: Maintenance .......................................... Council Tax Benefits .............................................. Departmental Food................................................ 1171W 1171W 1171W 1172W 1183W 1183W 1185W 1186W
WORK AND PENSIONScontinued Departmental Internet ........................................... Employment Schemes: Birmingham ...................... Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations.... Future Jobs Fund................................................... Incapacity Benefit .................................................. National Insurance: Gurkhas................................. New Deal for Young People ................................... New Deal Schemes: Birmingham ........................... Social Security Benefits: Disabled .......................... State Retirement Pensions...................................... Unemployment ...................................................... Winter Fuel Payments............................................
1186W 1187W 1187W 1188W 1188W 1189W 1189W 1190W 1191W 1192W 1193W 1193W
Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editors Room, House of Commons, not later than Tuesday 13 April 2010
Volume 508 No. 67
CONTENTS
Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 797] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chagos Islands [Col. 819] Answer to urgent question(Chris Bryant) Business of the House [Col. 826] Statement(Ms Harman) Waste Recovery and Disposal Facilities (Public Consultation) [Col. 833] Motion for leave to introduce Bill(Nadine Dorries)agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time Digital Economy Bill [Lords] [Col. 836] Motion for Second Reading(Mr. Bradshaw)agreed to Equality Bill [Col. 927] Programme motion (No. 2) agreed to Lords amendments considered Petitions [Col. 943] Gladys Taulo [Col. 945] Debate on motion for Adjournment Westminster Hall Gang Crime (London) [Col. 227WH] Poverty and Inequality [Col. 251WH] Swindon to Kemble Rail Line [Col. 271WH] Tackling Crime (Plymouth) [Col. 280WH] Kidderminster Railway Station [Col. 288WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 125WS] Petitions [Col. 29P] Observations Written Answers to Questions [Col. 1145W] [see index inside back page]
Summary Report
Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Advancing Excellence in Health Care www.ahrq.gov
Evidence-Based Practice
For more copies: Printed copies of Executive Summaries in the Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science series can be ordered separately or as a kit that contains a complete set of all eight summaries and this Summary Report. To order copies, please call the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 8003589295 or email ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov. Publication numbers for the Executive Summaries are as follows:
Bundled Payment: Effects on Health Care Spending and Quality (Publication No. 12-E007-1) The Patient-Centered Medical Home (Publication No. 12-E008-1) Quality Improvement Interventions To Address Health Disparities (Publication No. 12E009-1) Medication Adherence Interventions: Comparative Effectiveness (Publication No. 12-E010-1) Public Reporting as a Quality Improvement Strategy (Publication No. 12-E011-1) Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections (Publication No. 12(13)-E012-1) Quality Improvement Measurement of Outcomes for People With Disabilities (Publication No. 12(13)-E013-1) Improving Health Care and Palliative Care for Advanced and Serious Illness (Publication No. 12(13)-E014-1)
To order the kit that contains the eight executive summaries and this Summary Report, use Publication No. OM 13-0014.
Summary Report

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 www.ahrq.gov Contract No. 290-2007-10062-I Prepared by: Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center (Operating under RAND Evidence-based Practice Center) Stanford, CA
Authors: Kathryn M. McDonald, M.M. Christine Chang, M.D., M.P.H. Ellen Schultz, M.S.
AHRQ Publication No. 12(13)-E017 January 2013
This report is based on research conducted by the RAND Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2007-10062-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The information in this report is intended to help health care decisionmakerspatients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among othersmake well-informed decisions and thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances presented by individual patients. This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied. This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special permission. Citation of the source is appreciated. Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this report. For assistance contact info@ahrq.gov. None of the authors have any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report. Suggested citation: McDonald KM, Chang C, Schultz E. Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science. Summary Report. (Prepared by Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-10062-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 12(13)-E017. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. January 2013. www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm.
ii
Preface
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs), sponsors the development of evidence reports and technology assessments to assist public- and private-sector organizations in their efforts to improve the quality of health care in the United States. The reports and assessments provide organizations with comprehensive, science-based information on common, costly medical conditions, and new health care technologies and strategies. The EPCs systematically review the relevant scientific literature on topics assigned to them by AHRQ and conduct additional analyses when appropriate prior to developing their reports and assessments. In 2004, AHRQ launched a collection of evidence reports, Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies, to bring data to bear on quality improvement opportunities. These reports summarized the evidence on quality improvement strategies related to chronic conditions, practice areas, and cross-cutting priorities. This Summary Report is part of a new series, Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science. This series broadens the scope of settings, interventions, and clinical conditions, while continuing the focus on improving the quality of health care through critical assessment of relevant evidence. Targeting multiple audiences and uses, this series assembles evidence about strategies aimed at closing the quality gap, the difference between what is expected to work well for patients based on known evidence and what actually happens in day-to-day clinical practice across populations of patients. All readers of these reports may expect a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of selected high-priority quality gaps, as well as the systemic changes and scientific advances necessary to close them. This Summary Report is an introduction to the Executive Summaries of the eight reports in the series and summarizes elements across the series for readers. AHRQ expects that the EPC evidence reports will inform consumers, health plans, other purchasers, providers, and policymakers, as well as the health care system as a whole, by providing important information to help improve health care quality. We welcome comments on this report or the series as a whole. Comments may be sent by mail to the Task Order Officer named in this report at: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, or by email to epc@ahrq.hhs.gov. Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. Director Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Stephanie Chang, M.D., M.P.H. Director Evidence-based Practice Program Center for Outcomes and Evidence Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Kathryn M. McDonald, M.M. Lead EPC Investigator and Associate Editor, Closing the Quality Gap Series Stanford University Jean Slutsky, P.A., M.S.P.H. Director, Center for Outcomes and Evidence Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Christine Chang, M.D., M.P.H. Task Order Officer Closing the Quality Gap Series Center for Outcomes and Evidence Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
iii
Author Affiliations
Kathryn M. McDonald, M.M. Center for Health Policy/Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Stanford University Stanford, CA Christine Chang, M.D., M.P.H. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Rockville, MD Ellen Schultz, M.S. Center for Health Policy/Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Stanford University Stanford, CA
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions to this project. We thank John Ovretveit for motivational discussions about improving evidence synthesis of complex interventions in ways that support managerial decisionmaking. We also thank Beth Collins-Sharp and Margaret Coopey for their assistance in launching this series. We are grateful to Victor Fuchs for candid critiques of quality improvement research, Julia Lonhart for coordination with the eight contributing topic teams, and Holly McDonald for helping review and summarize reports. We also thank the author teams and Task Order Officers from each of the Closing Quality Gap reports in the series for undertaking these challenging topics, while maintaining willingness to support the lead EPC effort by the series overview investigators to identify crosscutting lessons.
iv
Summary Report
Structured Abstract
Background. The United States devotes significant resources for the provision of health care, yet quality is often elusive or lacking. In 2004, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality launched a collection of evidence reports to bring data to bear on quality improvement (QI) opportunities. This new series, Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science, consists of eight reports that continue the focus on improving the quality of health care through critical assessment of relevant evidence for selected settings, interventions, and clinical conditions. This report is an introduction to the Executive Summaries of the eight reports in the series and summarizes elements across the series for readers. Overview. The topics are effectiveness of bundled payment programs, effectiveness of the patient-centered medical home, QI strategies to address health disparities, effectiveness of medication adherence interventions, effectiveness of public reporting, prevention of healthcareassociated infections, QI measurement of outcomes for people with disabilities, and health care and palliative care for patients with advanced and serious illness. The overview describes the scope of the eight reports; describes the scope of the series by summarizing the quality levers, populations, interventions, outcomes, and other features across the reports; and discusses key messages by audience (patient/consumer/caregiver, health care professional, health care delivery organization, policymaker, and research community). Conclusions. The series covers many important aspects of quality improvement in health care. This Summary is intended to show how topics relate and complement each other, and how together they provide a picture of the state of the science. It will help readers, as they read the Executive Summaries for the individual topics, to gain a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of quality gaps across health care, as well as the systemic changes necessary to close them.
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 Series Overview ............................................................................................................................. 3 Topics ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Findings..................................................................................................................................... 8 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 13 References .................................................................................................................................... 15 Tables Table 1. Summary of selected elements across the series .............................................................. 5 Table 2. Messages for improving quality for the patient/consumer/caregiver perspective ............ 9 Table 3. Messages for improving quality for the clinician/health professional perspective .......... 9 Table 4. Messages for improving quality for the health delivery organization perspective ......... 10 Table 5. Messages for improving quality for the policymaker perspective .................................. 10 Table 6. Messages for the research community ............................................................................ 11
vii
Background
The United States devotes significant resources for the provision of health care, yet quality is often elusive or lacking.1 No matter the aspects of the health care system or population studied, research consistently demonstrates shortfalls in health care quality and patient outcomes in the United States.2-6 For every patient who receives optimal care, the evidence suggests that, on average, another patient does not.2,3 In its seminal report on quality gaps and strategies for improving quality, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) defined six key dimensions of high-quality care: that it be safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable.7 Although most patients have an intuitive sense of what constitutes high-quality care, quality is conceptually complex because it must encompass many different features of context and perspectives (e.g., patient, family, provider, health system, society). In addition, the health care system is a complex web of people, organizations, technologies, and processes. Complex systems entice and vex researchers, but ultimately they need to be understood to facilitate effective interventions and improvement. There are three core approaches (3 Is) to achieving improvements. These come from a quotation from Victor Fuchs, who said that real reform requires changes in the organization and delivery of care that provide physicians with the information, infrastructure, and incentives they need to improve quality and control costs (italics provided by Summary authors).8 In todays complex health system, these leverage points for improvement apply beyond the physician to include other clinicians, systems managers, and patients themselves. In 2004, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) launched a collection of evidence reports to bring data to bear on quality improvement (QI) opportunities identified by an IOM study, Priority Areas for National Action: Transforming Health Care Quality.9 AHRQs 200407 collection of reportsClosing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategiessummarized the evidence on QI strategies related to chronic conditions, practice areas, and cross-cutting priorities.10-16 This new Closing the Quality Gap (CQG) series of eight reports continues the focus on improving the quality of health care through critical assessment of relevant evidence for selected settings, interventions, and clinical conditions. As before, this CQG series aims to assemble the evidence about effective strategies to close the quality gap, which in simple terms refers to the difference between what is expected to work well for patients based on known evidence and what actually happens in day-to-day clinical practice across populations of patients. This Summary is intended to show how topics relate to and complement each other, and how together they provide a picture of the state of the science. This information will help readers, as they proceed to the Executive Summaries of the individual topic reports accompanying the Summary, to gain a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of quality gaps across health care, as well as the systemic changes necessary to close them. The Summary is a companion to a Methods Research Report17 that describes the methodology for the CQG series, synthesizes lessons across topics, and presents implications for future systematic reviewers and the state of the science of QI. Together, these summative documents provide readers high-level views of the series.
Series Overview
In this section, we introduce each topic and present the scope across the Closing the Quality Gap series. We conclude this section with messages for key audiences across the eight topics.
Topics
The eight topics selected for this series are relevant to ongoing initiatives in health care reflected in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act18 and are consistent with previously identified national priority areas on health care quality.9 The methodology for delineating the scope and organizing topics, as well as details of the scope of each report, are described in the methods report.17 1. Effects of bundled payment systems on health care spending and quality of care (Bundled Payment).19 Bundled payments refer to paying for a defined episode of care, as opposed to a single medical encounter. The report on bundled payment examines the influence on organizations of changing the approach to paying for care and how organizational response to such new incentives either enhances or deters health care quality, including efficiency. Although alternatives have been proposed and piloted, feefor-service remains the predominant method of paying for health care in the United States. As health care costs have continued to rise dramatically, even while major quality gaps remain, interest has grown in alternative payment methods, including bundled payment programs, which aim to reduce health care spending while maintaining or improving quality of care. 2. Patient-centered medical home (PCMH).20 The PCMH model aims to improve both care and patient experience across the full care continuum, from prevention through treatment of chronic and acute illness. It also holds promise for improving providers experience and potentially reducing costs through greater efficiency. Widely endorsed by professional societies, payers (e.g., Medicare), and large health systems, PCMH-based interventions have been implemented in many different health care organizations. Studies of these interventions have shown that individual elements of the PCMH model are associated with improvements for some specific conditions and outcomes, but much remains unknown about whether implementation of comprehensive PCMH improves care overall for the full population of patients served by a health care organization. 3. Quality improvement interventions to address health disparities (Disparities).21 There is abundant evidence of health care disparities in the United States. The 2011 National Healthcare Disparities Report found that disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are widespread throughout the U.S. health care system, that disparities are not decreasing over time, and that lack of health care insurance is an important contributor to these disparities.5 However, despite these well-known health disparities, evidence is lacking about how they might be reduced through QI interventions.5 This report focuses on the benefits and harms of QI interventions to specifically close the gap in health outcomes for those who suffer disparities in care. 4. Comparative effectiveness of medication adherence interventions (Medication Adherence).22 Although pharmacotherapy is available to treat an astounding array of health conditions, even efficacious medications cannot be effective if not taken according to the timing, dosage, frequency, and duration prescribed by health care providers. Yet research suggests that between 20 and 30 percent of prescriptions are never filled and that
5.
6.
7.
8.
half of medications prescribed to treat chronic disease are not taken appropriately.23-26 This review addresses both the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions designed to improve medication adherence for adults with chronic conditions. It updates a previous systematic review completed in 2008,23 further expanding the scope of that review to include interventions at the health system and policy levels. Public reporting as a quality improvement strategy (Public Reporting).27 Public reporting is an important way to motivate delivery of high-quality care. In particular, it provides incentives for engaging in QI activities.7,14 Public reporting initiatives have expanded greatly in recent years, as have the availability of health data and the ability to aggregate these data in meaningful ways.28 The amount of publicly reported health care quality data is likely to continue to increase substantially in tandem with a growing focus within the U.S. health care system on transparency and patient-centered care. This report focuses on how public reporting of such information affects behaviors of people and organizations in ways that potentially improve the quality of care received by patients. Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI).29 Healthcare-associated infections are widespread and costly in the U.S. health care system. According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2002 there were 1.7 million HAIs and 99,000 HAI-associated deaths in hospitals. More than 80 percent of these HAIs were caused by the four most common categories: central line-associated bloodstream infections (14 percent), ventilator-associated pneumonia (15 percent), surgical site infections (22 percent), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (32 percent).30 Evidence-based strategies to eliminate HAIs are known and endorsed by many professional societies,31 but these preventive interventions have not been fully implemented into clinical practice throughout the United States. Information is needed about QI strategies that lead to effective adoption of these preventive interventions. In light of much recent research on the topic, this review updates a previous review published in 200712 and expands that review to include additional settings (e.g., ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis centers, and long-term care facilities) in addition to hospitals. Quality improvement measurement of outcomes for people with disabilities (Disability Outcomes).32 This report identifies available measures pertinent to people with disabilities for the purpose of improving the quality of their health care and their experiences with the health care system. Measures shed light on areas in which more work is needed. Evaluating care through outcomes well matched to the population of interest is critical to QI efforts, as ultimately those efforts are aimed toward improvements that directly and meaningfully benefit patients. Interventions to improve health care and palliative care for advanced and serious illness (Palliative Care).33 Evidence abounds that there is room for much improvement in the quality of palliative care for patients with advanced and serious illness. Pain remains undertreated for many patients despite effective therapies and clinical practice guidelines to facilitate pain management;34,35 patients with terminal cancer frequently are not offered alternatives to chemotherapy, are not educated about the uncertain benefits of such treatment, or are unaware of their prognosis;36 and in 2009, fewer than half of patients who died in the United States received any hospice care.37 Furthermore, a previous systematic review of hospice care reported that family members experienced unmet needs for family support (18.2 percent) and emotional support (9.8 percent).38
These gaps highlight the need for QI interventions that improve outcomes for patients with advanced and serious illness and their caregivers. The review authors specifically target evidence regarding palliative care in hospice, an area for which a previous systematic review had identified quality gaps,38 and in nursing homes, an area for which prior systematic reviews related to end-of-life care are lacking.
Scope
In addition to the relevance of individual reports to audiences interested in individual topics, the reports also have relevance as complementary components of this series to give a fuller picture of QI. In this section, we summarize the scope of the CQG series in terms of the quality levers; selected scoping elements (termed PICOTS for population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, timeframe, setting); diversity of focus; and level of analysis. Three levers can impact the quality of health care: information, incentives, and infrastructure.8 The topics in the series each relate to a primary lever (Table 1), with the other two levers often playing a supporting role. For example, Bundled Payment is an incentive lever; by grouping payments to health care providers into a single prospective payment for services over a period of time, it can influence spending. By virtue of bundling these payments, it can also encourage coordination among providers and establish changes in care organization (infrastructure), and encourage the use and uptake of harmonized measures (information).
Table 1. Summary of selected elements across the Closing the Quality Gap series
Topic Bundled Payment Quality Lever (Information, Incentives, or Infrastructure) Population Intervention Topic = Intervention Outcomes Patient-centered outcomes: quality of care Harms: average risk/disease severity of patients treated Economic outcomes: health care spending per episode, utilization rates for specific services, provider cost/resource use to deliver episodes of care Patient-centered outcomes: patient experience, staff experience, clinical outcomes Intermediate outcomes: processes of care Economic outcomes Unintended consequences/harms Topic = Outcome Patient-centered outcomes Unintended consequences and harms
Incentives Delivery (influencing quality) organizations
PatientCentered Medical Home
Infrastructure (improving quality)
Topic = Adult primary care Intervention patients Children with special health care needs
Disparities
Patient population with established disparity in health care quality
Quality improvement strategies
Table 1. Summary of selected elements across the Closing the Quality Gap series (continued)
Topic Medication Adherence Quality Lever (Information, Incentives, or Infrastructure) Infrastructure (improving quality) Population Patients with selfadministered medication for chronic diseases Intervention Includes original CQG quality improvement a strategies (provider reminders, patient education, organizational changes, etc.) Directed at patients, providers, systems, and policy Topic = Intervention Outcomes Topic = Outcome Patient-centered outcomes: biomarkers, clinical outcomes, quality of life, patient satisfaction, quality of care Economic outcomes: health care utilization Harms
Public Reporting
Incentives (influencing quality)
Individuals and organizations that deliver care Patients and their representatives, and organizations that purchase care Patients in diverse settings Clinicians Health care leaders
Patient-centered outcomes Intermediate outcomes: processes, delivery structures, changes in patient or purchaser behavior Economic outcomes Unintended consequences/harms Topic = Outcome Process outcomes Clinical outcomes Economic outcomes Harms
HealthcareAssociated Infections
Disability Outcomes
Information (measuring quality)
People with disabilities (except those with severe and persistent mental illness) Topic = Target Population and Service
Includes original CQG quality improvement a strategies Directed at providers and systems Context: medical (cure), rehabilitative (restore), and adaptive (support)
Topic = Outcome Person-centered outcomes
Palliative Care
Includes original Patient- and family-centered outcomes CQG quality related to targets such as pain, improvement distress, coordination a strategies Health care utilization (provider reminders, patient education, organizational changes, etc.) related to domains, targets, and settings a The Closing the Quality Gap taxonomy from Shojania et al. Series Overview and Methodology. Vol. 1 of: Shojania KG, McDonald KM, Wachter RM, Owens DK, editors. Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies. Technical Review 9 (Prepared by the Stanford University-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0017). AHRQ Publication No. 04-0051-1. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2004. Note: CQG = Closing the Quality Gap.
While all of the reports in the series supply information that is potentially actionable for improving quality, only the report on Disability Outcomes focuses exclusively on information development. Two of the reports in the series target incentives to foster high-quality care (care that is safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable)7 and improvements that lead to better care, healthy people and communities, and affordable care.39 These are the Bundled Payment and Public Reporting topics. The remaining five reports in the series examine interventions that directly alter parts of the delivery system: the infrastructures undergirding health care provision. Disparities, HAI, and Medication Adherence each address ways in which organizations can implement changes to improve these issues, and the types and characteristics of interventions that are successful in making improvements. The Palliative Care report focuses on ways to intervene in the delivery system to improve the care of a specific population, those who face serious or advanced illness with few to no prospects for cure. Finally, the PCMH is itself an intervention focused on changes in infrastructure. Topics generally are approached broadly and include a wide range of populations, organizations, clinical conditions, and settings (with the exception of Palliative Care, which focuses on a particular population). For example, the Medication Adherence topic includes patients with a variety of common clinical conditions in an effort to synthesize evidence across conditions whenever possible. Similarly, the HAI topic includes hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, dialysis centers, and long-term care facilities. This affords the opportunity to look across settings and to improve relevance to a broader arena of interested stakeholders. Three topics focus on a particular intervention for improving quality (PCMH, Bundled Payment, and Public Reporting), while four other topics (Disparities, Palliative Care, HAI, and Medication Adherence) include a broad array of QI interventions based on the original CQG taxonomy (provider reminders, patient education, organizational changes, etc.).14 These four reports take various approaches to synthesizing and presenting the evidence about singlecomponent and multifaceted interventions. The outcomes included across the series reflect elements of quality care: patient-centered outcomes, economic outcomes, harms and/or unintended consequences, and process and other intermediate outcomes (Table 1). Each topic includes an array of outcomes intended to assist stakeholders in making decisions, and all follow a patient-centered approach. All topics include patient-centered outcomes, and six (excluding Disability Outcomes and Palliative Care) present evidence about harms and unintended consequences. Five include economic outcomes (Bundled Payment, Public Reporting, PCMH, HAI, and Medication Adherence). The focus of four topics is a particular outcome (Disability Outcomes, Disparities, HAI, and Medication Adherence), but these reports also include other outcomes important to decisionmakers. The aim of this series is to provide actionable evidence for audiences and a deeper understanding of how QI interventions can improve care. Topics across the series also include questions to better understand the underlying mechanism of other impacts on outcomes. These questions relate to the impact of context (Bundled Payment, Public Reporting, HAI), implementation (PCMH, HAI), subgroups (Disability Outcomes, Disparities, Medication Adherence), and intervention characteristics (Medication Adherence, Public Reporting, PCMH, Bundled Payment). These analyses further focus the lens of inquiry to improve our understanding of how to improve quality.
The questions asked must be relevant and sufficiently focused to yield the information needed. For this reason, Key Questions address specific areas in greater detail, reflecting the scope and the state of the science for a topic. For example, in addition to assessing the evidence for patient-centered outcomes and harms, the Public Reporting topic also includes intermediate outcomes specifically related to behavior change and changes in health care delivery structures and processes for different audiences. Similarly, the PCMH topic assesses both clinical and process outcomes, and also includes questions about implementation strategies and financial models to better understand how this intervention has been supported across settings. The Palliative Care topic examines models of care to assess how the organization of care impacts outcomes. Topics also vary in the level of granularity in analysis. The Palliative Care topic focuses on interventions more broadly; it organizes and synthesizes the evidence along care-related targets, such as pain, continuity, and communication and decisionmaking. In contrast, other topics focus on intervention components in more detail (Medication Adherence, HAI, Disparities, PCMH). Some define intervention by its components and assess the impact of various bundles on outcomes (HAI, PCMH). All seek to include information of sufficient detail to be useful to audiences, although with varied approaches to organization and analysis tailored to each topic.
Findings
The Executive Summary for each of the eight topic reports, which accompany this Summary report, provides findings for Key Questions addressed in the full report. A more comprehensive summary of key findings may be found in the methods report,17 and complete details may be found in each of the topic reports.19-22,27,29,32,33 As in the previous Closing the Quality Gap series, these reports target multiple audiences and associated uses. For example, policymakers may be interested in the range of topics and convergence of the research evidence for strategies to improve quality of care. Research funders may be most interested in the gaps in the evidence base for QI. Those at the helm of health care delivery organizations may care most about what works and what does not within a particular topic area, as well as evidence on resource implications. Meanwhile, clinicians and patients (including patient advocacy organizations) may find these reports useful as an introduction to the broad spectrum of approaches to improving quality of care and may consider implementing those approaches that fall within their control. In this section, we organize the key messages across the series by perspective: patient/consumer/caregiver, health care professional, delivery organization, policymaker, and research community. Detailed crosstopic synthesis and lessons are presented in the companion methods report.17 Consistent with the Effective Health Care principles for systematic reviews,40 the reports in this series include the assessment of circumstances and outcomes of importance to patients, consumers, and caregivers (Table 2). Although not directly targeted by some interventions in this series, this audience has a role in improving health care quality by advocating for specific changes, engaging in future research, and understanding the current evidence about the impact of QI efforts on outcomes.
Table 2. Messages for improving quality for the patient/consumer/caregiver perspective

Topic Bundled Payment Patient-Centered Medical Home Disparities Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions The impact of bundled payment on quality of care is unknown. Small positive effects on patient experience were associated with patient-centered medical homes. Little research has focused on quality improvement strategies to reduce health care disparities.
Medication Adherence Reducing out-of-pocket medication costs improved adherence. Public Reporting Slight improvements in quality were associated with public reporting. It is unclear whether public reporting limits patient access. Public reporting had little impact on patient choice. Healthcare-Associated Little evidence is available about patients roles in reducing healthcare-associated Infections infections. Disability Outcomes There is a need to advocate for more inclusive research and engage in consensus efforts. Palliative Care Interventions targeting continuity, coordination, and transitions of care improved patient and caregiver satisfaction. Interventions targeting communication and decisionmaking did not improve patient satisfaction. Little is known about interventions to decrease patient distress.
QI interventions addressed in the series were often directed at health care professionals (Table 3). An understanding of the benefits and harms, as well as unintended consequences and potential contextual influences, will facilitate application of findings to professionals circumstances. With evidence, this audience can better engage in, support, and improve QI initiatives among colleagues and organizations; understand their contribution to QI; and ultimately improve the health of patients.
Table 3. Messages for improving quality for the clinician/health professional perspective
Topic Bundled Payment Patient-Centered Medical Home Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions Providers response to bundled payment programs is largely unexplored. PCMH had small positive effects on staff experience. The extent of unanticipated consequences of implementation is not known. Various organizational learning and implementation strategies were used. Various financial models have supported PCMH implementation. Evidence about effective quality improvement strategies is inconclusive. Evidence for effectiveness varied considerably by patient condition. Interventions improved medication adherence in most vulnerable populations studied. Choosing interventions for many patient populations will require extrapolation. Limited evidence suggests that individual clinicians make positive changes in response to public reporting. Potential harms of public reporting were not confirmed. Improvements were more likely among providers with lower scores in initial public reports. Methods to prevent HAIs are known, but reducing HAI rates requires that providers consistently use those methods. Some combinations of quality improvement strategies focusing on provider behavior work. When working to improve quality of care for disabled patients, professionals from different specialty contexts may have different perceptions and knowledge of potentially applicable outcomes measures.
Disparities Medication Adherence
Public Reporting
Healthcare-Associated Infections
Disability Outcomes
Palliative Care
Provider-centered interventions are not effective for continuity, coordination, and transitions. Note: HAI = healthcare-associated infections; PCMH = patient-centered medical home.
Health delivery organizations (Table 4) not only consider the impact of interventions on patients but also consider the impact across systems. Often they balance health outcomes, harms, and resource utilization with other factors of implementation and sustainability, and determine the applicability of evidence to their circumstances.
Table 4. Messages for improving quality for the health delivery organization perspective
Topic Bundled Payment Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions Bundled payment programs lower utilization slightly, with greater effects seen with forprofit providers and hospitals under greater financial pressure compared to those under less financial pressure. The jury is still out about the impact of PCMH interventions on clinical outcomes and care processes. High variability in PCMH implementation confounds research conclusions. Evidence about effective quality improvement strategies is inconclusive. There is no single silver bullet for improving medication adherence. The evidence base points to some starting places for choosing an intervention. However, little is known about which intervention characteristics are likely to lead to success. Health delivery organizations make positive changes in response to public reporting. Limited evidence exists of gaming of public reports in the long-term care setting. Few patients used public reports to select health care providers. Public reporting had greater impact in competitive markets. Moderate strength of evidence exists for audit and feedback with or without provider reminder systems as an effective quality improvement strategy. Key questions remain unanswered. Access is a key concern for patients with disabilities.
Patient-Centered Medical Home Disparities Medication Adherence
Public Reporting
Healthcare-Associated Infections Disability Outcomes Palliative Care
Patient-focused quality improvement interventions can be used to improve patientcentered outcomes. Some evidence supports both integrative and consultative palliative care models. Note: PCMH = patient-centered medical home.
Policymakers (Table 5) are also concerned with health care quality and the systems-level effects of interventions. They are able to implement widespread change. Important considerations in decisionmaking to improve health care quality include the balance of benefits and harms, impact of context, implementation strategies, and resources.
Table 5. Messages for improving quality for the policymaker perspective
Topic Bundled Payment Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions Bundled payments reduce spending and utilization slightly. The impact of bundled payment programs on quality of care is unclear. Potential unintended consequences of bundled payment programs remain unexplored. Not much is conclusive yet regarding the impact of PCMH on clinical outcomes and care processes. PCMH as a quality improvement approach is still in its infancy. From studies to date, the medical home is not a magic bullet to solve Americas high cost of providing health care. The amount of data that we have to bring to bear on this issue is expected to more than double in a few years. Additional study is warranted for collaborative care and patient education strategies. Decreasing out-of-pocket costs can improve medication adherence for patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Improved medication adherence does not necessarily mean improvement in other outcomes.
Patient-Centered Medical Home
Disparities Medication Adherence
10
Table 5. Messages for improving quality for the policymaker perspective (continued)
Topic Public Reporting Healthcare-Associated Infections Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions Current public reporting efforts are poorly matched to patient needs. Health care delivery organizations are more responsive to public reporting than patients or clinicians are. Little evidence exists that public reporting leads to harm. Meaningful reductions in HAI rates are possible through quality improvement. Consensus around a core measure set is needed. Collaboration among researchers from the medical (curative), rehabilitation (restorative), and social services (supportive) perspectives is essential for advancing the field of disability research. The choice of outcomes and populations can contribute to disparities.
Disability Outcomes
Few intervention targets decrease health care utilization. The effectiveness of policy-focused interventions is unknown. Note: HAI = healthcare-associated infections; PCMH = patient-centered medical home. Palliative Care
The systematic reviews of the series identify potential areas for action as well as evidence gaps. In addition, they provide insight into the reasons for these gaps, the gaps that are crucial to fill, and how research can move the field forward. Researchers and research funders (Table 6) can improve research design, continue the focus on outcomes of interest to patients and other decisionmakers, harmonize research, develop theory underlying logic models, and focus on critical gaps.
Table 6. Messages for the research community
Topic Bundled Payment Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions More frequent use of robust evaluation designs is needed. For synthesis of primary studies, cost and quality outcomes need to be harmonized. Measures of program design and context should be incorporated into evaluations. Unintended consequences should be assessed. There is a need to describe and support more consistent nomenclature, outcomes, and measures related to PCMH. The relative impact of PCMH components is key for applications of evidence. Impacts on mortality should continue to be investigated. More robust studies that specifically address effectiveness of quality improvement interventions in reducing disparities should be designed and supported. Additional study is warranted for collaborative care and patient education strategies. Additional disparities beyond a limited set thus far (mostly race/ethnicity) should be investigated. Potential harms resulting from efforts to reduce disparities need exploration. Medication adherence interventions are a black box. Greater consistency in outcomes would strengthen the evidence base. Mechanisms of effectiveness should be examined. Additional outcomes beyond medication adherence should be included in evaluations. The reporting format and context should be specified in research publications. The full range of public reporting programs should be investigated.
Patient-Centered Medical Home
Disparities
Medication Adherence
Public Reporting
11
Table 6. Messages for the research community (continued)

Topic Healthcare-Associated Infections Take-Home Messages Motivating Potential Actions Effective strategies outside the hospital setting are unknown. Preintervention data are critical to strengthen the evidence base. Contextual factors should be included in reports; investigations of the role of context are needed. Information on the impact of quality improvement strategies on economic outcomes is urgently needed. More focused searches are needed for comprehensive review. Measures identified in this review are a starting place for choosing research instruments. Further efforts are needed to assemble and assess measurement tools. Multidisciplinary and inclusive research should be conducted and supported
Disability Outcomes
Palliative Care
Broader populations should be included. There should be a focus on key research gaps. Quality improvement should be integrated into palliative care interventions. Note: PCMH = patient-centered medical home.
12
Conclusion
This report summarizes key features across the topics of the Closing the Quality Gap series. Each of the topics concerns a distinct set of questions that reflect the state of the science and address the priorities of key stakeholders. Collectively, these reports cover a broad range of populations, interventions, and outcomes, and additionally explore the impact of other factors on outcomes. Guided by a common methodology,17 this series provides opportunities for synergy and synthesis across topics. This Summary highlights selected elements and messages for readers as they delve into the Executive Summaries of individual topics. Each topic offers potential steps for action for various audiences. While interventions do not target all levers for potential action, each audience has an important role in improving quality. Each audience will consider the evidence in light of its values and available resources. Audiences will also have to consider how to best apply the evidence to their specific circumstances. All audiences have the same aim: to improve health by improving health care quality. These reports are intended to inform action to achieve this aim. Ultimately, the overarching hope for the series remains the same as that of the earlier collection: To become an essential source of accessible and critical analyses of the evidence supporting techniques for implementing state-ofthe-art best practices (related to each topic), while stimulating ideas for ongoing quality improvement activity nationally, in individual health systems, and among individual caregivers (p. 3).14
13
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850
AHRQ Pub. No. 12(13)-E017 January 2013
Your Everyday Guide

from the National Institute on Aging at NIH
Exercise & Physical Activity
National Institute on Aging
Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging at NIH
Exercise & Physical activity
in this book...
introduction
Why Is Physical Activity Such a Big Deal? Using This Book 6 8
get set
Identifying Your Starting Point Setting Your Goals Writing a Plan to Add Exercise and Physical Activity to Your Life Talking With Your Doctor About Exercise and Physical Activity 17 18 20 20
get ready
What Kinds of Exercises and Physical Activities Improve Health and Physical Ability? 12 Endurance Strength Balance Flexibility 13 13 13 13
Safety First: When to Check with Your Doctor 22
go!
Three Keys to Success 1. Include Physical Activity in Your Everyday Life 2. Try All Four Types of Exercise 3. Plan for Breaks in the Routine (Life Happens!) Building up the Benefits Reducing the Risks 25 25 27 28 31 32
sample exercises
How to Improve Your Endurance How Much, How Often Safety Progressing How to Improve Your Strength About Strength Exercises How Much, How Often Safety Progressing How to Improve Your Balance How Much, How Often Safety Progressing Anytime, Anywhere Balance Exercises How to Improve Your Flexibility How Much, How Often Safety Progressing 37 37 38 39 41 41 41 42 43 64 64 64 64 64 70 70 70 70
how am I doing?
Test Yourself Other Ways to Measure Progress 92 93
healthy eating
Tips for Healthy Eating Drinking Enough Fluids Eating Out 96 97 97
keep going
Activity Log Goal-Setting Worksheet Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan Endurance Daily Record Strength and Balance Daily Record Flexibility Daily Record Monthly Progress Test 20 Frequently Asked Questions Resources Acknowledgments 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 116 119
introduction
Institute on Aging! The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the goal of our research is to improve the health and well-being of older adults.
Like most people, youve probably heard that physical activity, including exercise, is good for you. If youre already active, keep it up. It may even be time to push yourself a little harder, try a new activity, or find new ways to add exercise to your daily life. Dont worry if youve never exercised, or if you stopped exercising for some reason. Let us help you get moving. By picking up this book and looking through it, youve taken an important first step toward good health. This guide is the centerpiece of Go4Life, NIAs national campaign to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life. To find out more about how Go4Life can help you be more active, visit our website at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life.
Go4Life is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Welcome to Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National
Why Is Physical Activity Such a Big Deal?

Regular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. Thats why health experts say that older adults should be active every day to maintain their health. In addition, regular exercise and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and disabilities that develop as people grow older. In some cases, exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions. For example, studies show that people with arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes benefit from regular exercise. Exercise also helps people with high blood pressure, balance problems, or difficulty walking. One of the great things about physical activity is that there are so many ways to be active. For example, you can be active in short spurts throughout the day, or you can set aside specific times of the day on specific days of the week to exercise. Many physical activities such as brisk walking, raking leaves, or taking the stairs whenever you can are free or low cost and do not require special equipment. You could also check out an exercise video from the library or use the fitness center at a local senior center. This guide shows you many types of exercise and physical activity. It also has lots of tips to help you be active in ways that suit your lifestyle, interests, health, and budget, whether youre just starting out, getting back to exercising after a break, or fit enough to run a 3-mile race. Its for everyone people who are healthy and those who live with an ongoing health problem or disability.
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For many people, real life things like illness, traveling, or an unexpected event can get in the way of being active. See page 28 for tips on how to deal with breaks in your physical activity routine.
introduction
Whats the Difference Between Physical Activity and Exercise?

Both terms refer to the voluntary movements you do that burn calories.Physical activities are activities that get your body moving such as gardening, walking the dog, raking leaves, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Exercise is a form of physical activity that is specifically planned, structured, and repetitive such as weight training, tai chi, or an aerobics class. Physical activity and exercise are both important and can help improve your ability to do the everyday activities you enjoy.(See Exercise and Everyday Activities Go Together on page 15.) The bottom line? There are many ways to be active every day. Find something you enjoy doing, include it in your regular routine, and try to increase your level of activity over time.
make it a priority
Being active and exercising regularly can change your life. See how Greta has benefited from regular exercise: At age 67, Im in the best physical condition of my life. Two years ago, I joined a low-impact aerobics class at a nearby senior center. The entire routine is done to music, planned and led by an instructor. My balance has improved greatly, and my osteoporosis has remained stable.
Using This Book

This guide can help you take charge of an important part of your health. You may want to read through the entire book first to learn about the benefits of exercise and physical activity, and to find out how to get started, reduce your risks, and reward your progress. Then, keep it handy so you can refer to the sample exercises and use some of the charts at the back of the book to record your activities. From time to time, you may need to check the tips for getting back on track if theres a break in your routine or the tips for healthy eating. Throughout the guide, youll find personal stories that we hope will inspire you to be more active every day.
Chapter 1: Get Ready talks about the

why of exercise and physical activity. It tells you the benefits of being active and describes the different types of exercise.
Chapter 2: Get Set guides you on getting

organized and reviewing your current activity levels, setting short- and long-term goals, and creating a realistic plan for becoming active over time.
Chapter 3: Go! is all about the how. The

guide offers tips to help you get started. It also has ideas to help you stick with your decision to be active every day and to get you back on track if you have to stop exercising for some reason.
introduction
Chapter 4: Sample Exercises gives you some

specific activities and exercises, including exercises to increase your strength, improve balance, become more flexible, and increase endurance. All of the exercises have easy directions to help you do them safely.
sample exercises See pages 34-89
Chapter 5: How Am I Doing? offers you some ways to test your progress and reward your success. Chapter 6: Healthy Eating briefly discusses
another key to good health nutritious eating habits.
Chapter 7: Keep Going includes worksheets to

keep track of your progress and answers to frequently asked questions about exercise and physical activity for older adults. Youll also find a list of resources for more information. Some of the resources are especially for people with specific health problems or disabilities who want to be active. In addition, theres a form you can fill out and send us after youve been active for at least a month. Well send you a certificate from the National Institute on Aging to recognize your commitment to improve your health.
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Visit Go4Life, our online exercise and physical activity campaign, for a sample workout, exercise videos, motivational e-cards, printable tip sheets, success stories, online tracking tools, and more. www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life
keep going worksheets See pages 102-108
get ready
CHAPTER 1: GET READY
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Today, we know a lot more about older adults and their need to exercise. Regardless of their health and physical abilities, older adults can gain a lot by staying physically active. Even if you have difculty standing or walking, you can still exercise and benet from it. In fact, in most cases, you have more to lose by not doing anything.
Exercise and physical activity benet every area of your life. They can:
Help maintain and improve your physical strength and tness. Help improve your ability to do the things you want to do. Help improve your balance. Help manage and prevent diseases like diabetes, heart disease, breast and colon cancer, and osteoporosis. Help reduce feelings of depression, may improve mood and overall well-being, and may improve or maintain some aspects of cognitive function, such as your ability to shift quickly between tasks, plan an activity, and ignore irrelevant information.
As youve probably noticed, the key word is you. The benets you gain from physical activity will depend on your starting point and how much effort you put into it. Youll need to match your physical activity to your own needs and abilities. For example, some people can swim a mile without thinking twice about it. For others, a slow walk to the corner and back is a big achievement. Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everybody, and there are many activities to choose from. This guide has ideas to help you be active and have fun.
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See page 20 for more on talking with your doctor about physical activity.
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EXERCISE & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
What Kinds of Exercises and Physical Activities Improve Health and Physical Ability?
Exercises generally fall into four main categories: endurance, strength, balance, and exibility. Though we describe them separately, some activities t into several categories. For example, many endurance activities also help build strength, and strength exercises can help improve balance.
make it fun
Having fun and socializing are major reasons active people give when asked why they exercise. Ramesh can show you how: I started playing tennis 38 years ago for pleasure. After moving south to get away from the cold and snow of the Midwest, I started playing year round. I play with friends every weekend, both singles and doubles. After tennis, we socialize over refreshments. Thats the best part of our get-together. At age 65, Im the oldest in the group; the youngest is 16. I love the game and hope to play forever.
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Endurance
Endurance, or aerobic, activities increase your breathing and heart rate. These activities help keep you healthy, improve your tness, and help you do the tasks you need to do every day. Endurance exercises improve the health of your heart, lungs, and circulatory system. They also delay or prevent many diseases that are common in older adults such as diabetes, colon and breast cancers, heart disease, and others. Physical activities that build endurance include:
Strength
Even small increases in muscle strength can make a big difference in your ability to stay independent and carry out everyday activities such as climbing stairs and carrying groceries. Some people call using weight to improve your muscle strength strength training or resistance training. Strength exercises include:
Lifting weights (see page 41) Using a resistance band (see page 44)
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls, a common problem in older adults. Many lower-body strength exercises also will improve your balance. Exercises to improve your balance include:
Brisk walking Yard work (mowing, raking) Dancing Jogging Swimming Biking Climbing stairs or hills Playing tennis Playing basketball
Standing on one foot (see page 65) Heel-to-toe walk (see page 66) Tai Chi
Flexibility
Stretching can help your body stay exible and limber, which gives you more freedom of movement for your regular physical activity as well as for your everyday activities. To increase your exibility, try:

Chapter 4, beginning on page 34, shows you how to do the exercises mentioned on this page and many others.
Shoulder and upper arm stretch (see page 73) Calf stretch (see page 88) Yoga
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When working outdoors, be sure to use sunscreen. Also, wear sunglasses, protective clothing, and a hat with a wide brim.
make it interesting
There are many ways to be active. For Pat, age 56, gardening keeps her moving: I know some people think gardening isnt really exercise, but Im here to say, Are they kidding? Maybe Im only exercising my imagination when I pore over plant catalogs to pick out seeds for the garden, but when spring comes, all that changes. Working in my garden means bending and lifting, moving and stretching, not to mention digging and hauling! Anyone whos ever had a garden knows that shoveling compost, lifting 40-pound bags of mulch, transplanting seedlings, dividing plants, and pulling weeds are serious physical activities. For avid gardeners, theres always something to do, from spring planting and weeding to fall raking and cleanup. It keeps a body moving!
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Exercise and Everyday Activities Go Together

Exercise and physical activity are good for your health. In addition, improving your endurance, strength, balance, and exibility can help you do many of your everyday activities. For example:
Endurance activities will make it easier for you to:
Strength training can maintain your ability to:
Push your grandchildren on the swings Vacuum Rake leaves
Carry a full laundry basket from the basement to the second oor Carry your smaller grandchildren Lift bags of mulch in the garden
Flexibility, or stretching, exercises make it possible for you to:
Balance exercises can help you:
Look over your shoulder to see whats behind you as you back the car out of the driveway Make the bed Bend over to tie your shoes
Stand on tiptoe to reach something on the top shelf Walk up and down the stairs Walk on an uneven sidewalk without falling
get set
CHAPTER 2: GET SET
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We hope you agree that regular exercise and physical activity are important and that youre ready to take action! This chapter is all about getting organized. It offers tips for setting short- and long-term goals, choosing activities and tting them into your daily life, and managing some of the practical things, such as getting the right shoes or working with a personal trainer.
This guides main goal is to help you become more active, get the most from your activities, and do them safely. The key is to know your starting point and build slowly from there. Knowing your starting point will help you pick activities that are comfortable and realistic for you. Starting out this way also will help you be successful.
To help you gure out your activity level, try lling in an activity log. For a couple of weekdays and a weekend, keep track of how much time you exercise or are physically active. Write down how much time you spend doing each activity. The Activity Log on page 102 will get you started. You can use the last column of the Activity Log to write down some ways you think you can add activities to your daily routine. If youre not active yet, aim for a modest beginning and build from there. If you are already pretty active, then you can be more ambitious about adding to your activities.
Identifying Your Starting Point

Think about a typical weekday and weekend day. How much time do you spend sitting? How much time are you active? When youre up and moving, what kinds of activities are you doing?
If you need to jog your memory, go back to Chapter 1 and look at the examples of the four types of exercise. Also, review Exercise and Everyday Activities Go Together on page 15.
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There are many ways to t exercise and physical activity into your regular routine:
Setting Your Goals

Many people nd that having a rm goal in mind motivates them to move ahead on a project. Goals are most useful when they are specic, realistic, and important to you. Consider both short- and long-term goals. Your success depends on setting goals that really matter to you. Write down your goals, put them where you can see them, and review them regularly.
In addition to seeing how physically active you are now, you can check how t your body is. Several simple tests can help you see how t you are right now (see page 92). The results can help you set realistic goals. They also will be useful later on to measure your progress. Short-term goals will help you make physical activity a regular part of your daily life. For these goals, think about the things youll need to get or do in order to be physically active. For example, you may need to buy walking shoes or ll out an Activity Log so you can gure out how to t physical activity into your busy day. Make sure your short-term goals will really help you be active. Here are a few examples of short-term goals:
Try something new: If you baby-sit for your grandchildren, how about walking to the park instead of playing video games?
Rethink your priorities: How important is an entire afternoon of TV? How about a walk after lunch instead?
Work harder at the things you already do: Rake the leaves instead of using the leaf blower.
Today, I will decide to be more active. Tomorrow, I will nd out about exercise classes in my area. By the end of this week, I will talk with my friend about exercising with me a couple of times a week. In the next 2 weeks, I will make sure I have the shoes and comfortable clothes I need to start walking.
CHAPTER 2: GET SET
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If youre already active, think of short-term goals to increase your level of physical activity. For example, over the next week or two, you may want to move gradually from walking to jogging, increase the amount of weight you lift, or try a new kind of physical activity. No matter what your starting point, reaching your short-term goals will make you feel good and give you condence to progress toward your long-term goals. Use the Goal-Setting Worksheet on page 103 to help you get started. After you write down your short-term goals, you can go on to identify your long-term goals. Focus on where you want to be in 6 months, a year, or 2 years from now. Long-term goals also should be realistic, personal, and important to you. Here are a few examples:
By this time next year, I will swim a mile three times a week. Next summer, I will be able to play ball with my grandchildren. In 6 months, I will have my blood pressure under control by increasing my physical activity and following my doctors advice.
make it routine
For Sam, being able to do the things I enjoy doing motivates him to exercise every day:
I started exercising regularly way back in 1960. A friend put me in touch with a personal trainer at a nearby gym, and he showed me how to lift weights. Today, at age 83, Im still exercising to stay t. I get up every day and exercise for 10 to 15 minutes. I lift weights followed by stretching. In the evening, I do the same routine for about 15 minutes. Im a drummer by profession, and I do about four gigs a month. Exercise keeps my muscles strong and lets me continue to do my drumming.
Add your own long-term goals to the Goal-Setting Worksheet on page 103.
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Dont forget to build rewards into your plan. For each goal you reach, treat yourself to something special a movie, a trip to a museum, a new CD, or a picnic in the park. Let us help you celebrate your progress! If you increase your physical activity for more than a month, call our Information Center at (800) 222-2225 and well send you a certicate from the National Institute on Aging to recognize your commitment.
Writing a Plan to Add Exercise and Physical Activity to Your Life

Some people nd that writing an exercise and physical activity plan helps them keep their promise to be active. See if this works for you. Be sure the plan is realistic for you to do, especially as you gain experience in how to be active. You might even make a contract with a friend or family member to carry out your plan. Involving another person can help you keep your commitment. Make your plan specic and grounded in your goals. For each exercise or activity you choose, include:
When it comes to motivation, the rst few months are crucial. If you can stick with physical activities you enjoy, its a good sign that you will be able to make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your everyday life.
Talking With Your Doctor About Exercise and Physical Activity

Most older people dont have health problems that would prevent them from doing moderate activity or the types of exercises described in this guide. In fact, theres a way for almost every older adult to exercise safely and get meaningful health benets. You may want to talk with your doctor, however, if you arent used to energetic activity and you want to start a vigorous exercise program or signicantly increase your physical activity. You also should talk with your doctor if you have any of the health problems mentioned on page 22. This does not mean that exercise is dangerous. Doctors rarely tell people not to exercise, but they may have certain safety tips for those who have recently had hip or back surgery, those with uncontrolled health problems, or those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis.
What kind of activity you plan to do Why you want to do it When you will do it Where you will do it
Start out with realistic activities based on how physically active you are now. Dont expect to go from couch potato to super athlete right away. Regularly review and update your plan and long-term goals so that you can build on your success. You can use the Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan on page 104 to write down your activities.
CHAPTER 2: GET SET
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Your activity level is an important topic to discuss with your doctor as part of your ongoing preventive health care. Talk about exercise at least once a year if your health is stable, and more often if your health is getting better or worse over time so that you can adjust your exercise program. Your doctor can help you choose activities that are best for you and reduce any risks. Here are a few things you may want to discuss:
Make sure your preventive care is up to date. For example, women age 65 and older should have regular tests for osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking and lifting weights are especially helpful for those with osteoporosis. Understand how any ongoing health conditions affect exercise and physical activity. For example, people with arthritis may need to avoid some types of activity, especially when joints are swollen or inamed. Those with diabetes may need to adjust their daily schedule, meal plan, or medications when planning their activities. Talk to your doctor if you think you might have an uncontrolled medical condition that might affect the type of exercise you should be doing. For example, it is important to know how to exercise safely if your blood pressure or diabetes is not under control.
Ask whether there are exercises or activities you should avoid. An illness or surgery may affect how you exercise. For example, if youve had hip or back surgery, you may need to modify or avoid some exercises, or if you develop blood clots in your legs, you will have to restrict your activity for a time. Your doctor can tell you how to increase your physical activity gradually as you recover. Talk about any unexplained symptoms, such as chest pain or pressure, pain in your joints, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Postpone exercise until the problem is diagnosed and treated. (See page 28 about getting back to regular exercise after a break.)

Use the My Go4Life online tools at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life to set your exercise and physical goals and keep track of your progress.
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Some people with diabetes may need special shoes or shoe inserts to prevent serious foot problems. Medicare may pay some of the costs. Your doctor or podiatrist can tell you how to get these special shoes.
Safety First: When to Check with Your Doctor

Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of exercise and physical activity. You can still be active even if you have a long-term condition like heart disease or diabetes. In fact, exercise and physical activity may help. But, talk with your doctor if you arent used to energetic activity. Other reasons to check with your doctor before you exercise include:
Getting the Right Shoes

Your shoes are an important part of your physical activity routine. Remember, youre going to be wearing them a lot. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:
Choose shoes that are made for the type of physical activity you want to do (walking, running, dancing, bowling, tennis). Look for shoes with at, non-skid soles; good heel support; enough room for your toes; and a cushioned arch thats not too high or too thick. Make sure your shoes t well and provide proper support for your feet. This is especially important if you have diabetes or arthritis. Shoes should feel comfortable right from the start. Think of your shoes as safety equipment for your feet. Check them regularly, and replace them when theyre worn out. You can tell you need new shoes when:
Any new symptom you havent yet discussed Dizziness or shortness of breath Chest pain or pressure The feeling that your heart is skipping, racing, or uttering Blood clots An infection or fever with muscle aches Unplanned weight loss Foot or ankle sores that wont heal Joint swelling A bleeding or detached retina, eye surgery, or laser treatment A hernia Recent hip or back surgery
The tread on the bottom is worn down Your feet (especially your arches)
feel tired after activity
Your shins, knees, or hips hurt after

activity
CHAPTER 2: GET SET
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AINER TR
Finding a Personal Trainer Whos Right For You

If youre not used to exercising, you may want to work with a personal tness trainer. One of the best ways to nd a personal trainer is to get a referral from someone you know who has a great trainer. Ask your friends and family or your health care provider. You also can check with a local health club or senior center. Once you have a couple of names, here are a few questions to help you pick the right person. If you can answer YES to most of these questions, youre probably on the right track.
Yes
No
Education and Experience

Does the trainer have a certication from an accredited organization? For groups that certify personal trainers, exercise specialists, and tness instructors, see National Commission for Certifying Agencies on page 118. Does the trainer have education or experience in exercise science, aging, and program design? Does the trainer have at least 2 years of experience, including experience training people your age? Will the trainer be able to develop an exercise program based on your goals, abilities, and health? Has the trainer worked with people with your medical conditions? Does the trainer know how to personalize your exercises based on medications you take?
Personality
Did the trainer listen carefully to you and answer your questions? Does the trainer have a sense of humor and a personality that you like?
Business Practices
Has the trainer told you what to expect from the sessions? Are the costs of the sessions and the cancellation policy clearly stated? Is the trainer insured or bonded? Will the trainer give you a list of clients so you can check references?
go!
CHAPTER 3: GO!
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Now that you know about the many types of physical activity and youve set your goals, youre ready to go! This chapter has tips to help you get started, resume your activity if youve stopped, stay active, and even increase your activity level over time.
Three Keys to Success

To help you get started and keep going, here are three ways to approach exercise and physical activity. 1. Include Physical Activity in Your Everyday Life Physical activity needs to be a regular, permanent habit to produce benets. Again, the key word is you. Set yourself up to succeed right from the start by choosing activities that appeal to you, exercising safely, charting your progress to see your success, and making your activity routine t your personal lifestyle. Here are a few ways to make physical activity a regular part of your daily life.
Make it a priority. Many of us lead busy lives, and its easy to put physical activity at the bottom of the to do list. Remember, though, being active is one of the most important things you can do each day to maintain and improve your health. Make a point to include physical activities throughout your day. Try being active rst thing in the morning before you get busy. Think of your time to exercise as a special appointment, and mark it on your calendar. Make it easy. If its difcult or costs too much, you probably wont be active. You are more likely to exercise if its easy to do. Put your 2-pound weights next to your easy chair so you can do some lifting while you watch TV. Walk up and down the soccer eld during your grandchilds game.
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GOAL
STICKING WITH IT:
What Works
Youre more likely to stay active if you: Think you will benet from your activities Include activities you enjoy Feel you can do the activities correctly Believe the activities are safe Have regular access to the activities Can t the activities into your daily schedule Find that the activities are affordable Can see the benets of regular exercise and physical activity
Walk the entire mall or every aisle of the grocery store when you go shopping. When you go out to get the mail, walk around the block. Join a gym or tness center thats close to home. You can be active all at once, or break it up into smaller amounts throughout the day. Do more of the activities you already like and know how to do. Make it social. Enlist a friend or family member. Many people agree that having an exercise buddy keeps them going. Take a yoga class with a neighbor. If you dont already have an exercise partner, nd one by joining a walking club at your local mall or an exercise class at a nearby senior center. Take a walk during lunch with a co-worker. Make it interesting and make it fun. Do things you enjoy and pick up the pace a bit. If you love the outdoors, try biking, shing, jogging, or hiking. Listen to music or a book on CD while walking, gardening, or raking. Plan a hiking trip at a nearby park.
Above all, make it an active decision. Seize opportunities. Choose to be active in many places and many ways:
When you unload the groceries, strengthen your arms by lifting the milk carton or a 1-pound can a few times before you put it away. When you go shopping, build your endurance by parking the car at the far end of the parking lot and walking briskly to the store. Or, get off the bus one or two stops earlier than usual. Instead of calling or e-mailing a colleague at work, go in person and take the stairs! Take a few extra trips up and down the steps at home to strengthen your legs and build endurance. Try to do some of your errands on foot rather than in the car.

To learn how to do the exercises mentioned on this page, see Chapter 4 beginning on page 34.
CHAPTER 3: GO!
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Multi-task the active way:
While youre waiting in line, practice your

balancing skills by standing on one foot for a few seconds, then the other. Gradually build up your time.
While youre talking on the phone, stand

up and do a few leg raises or toe stands to strengthen your legs.
Take advantage of small bits of down

time to do an exercise or two. For example, while youre waiting for the coffee to brew or for your spouse to get ready to go out, do a few wall push-ups or calf stretches. 2. Try All Four Types of Exercise Most people tend to focus on one activity or type of exercise and think theyre doing enough. The goal is to be creative and choose exercises from each of the four types weve talked about endurance, strength, balance, and exibility. Mixing it up will help you reap the benets of each type of exercise, as well as reduce boredom and risk of injury. You can use the Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan on page 104 to write down your activities.
make it easy
Finding enjoyable ways to add exercise to your life can be the ticket to success. See how Marian made it work for her: Im an active 62-year-old, but a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol convinced me that I needed more exercise. After I tried walking on a treadmill at a nearby community center, I knew Id be happier outside. So, I got a step counter and started walking in my neighborhood. Ive seen purple tulips bloom in spring and red dogwood leaves drop in the fall. I always come home with more energy for the rest of my day. (For more on step counters, see page 37.)
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If youre thinking of moving to a retirement or assisted-living community, ask whether the community has a pool, exercise classes, walking trails, a golf course, or personal trainer. Does it have well-lit sidewalks so you can walk safely in the evening as well as during the day? Are there parks nearby?
If you lift weights, alternate these exercises with time on the treadmill or stationary bike. End your routine with stretching exercises. If you focus mainly on endurance activities, be sure to add stretching, balance, or strength exercises to your routine. If you want to do strength exercises every day, alternate muscle groups, or exercise all of your muscle groups every other day. (See Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan on page 104.) 3. Plan for Breaks in the Routine (Life Happens!) Getting older can mean more time for trips to see children and grandchildren or vacations away from home. People retire and move to new houses or even new parts of the country. Sometimes the unexpected happens family illness, caregiving responsibilities, or the death of a loved one. All of these events can interrupt your physical activity routines. These breaks can make it hard or even impossible at times to stick with your regular activities. But you can start again. Here are a few ideas to help you stay active or start again if youve had to stop:
Dont be too hard on yourself. Recognize that there will be times when you wont want to exercise, or it feels too hard. You are not alone; everyone has those feelings. Just try to get back to your activities as soon as possible. The sooner you resume some sort of activity, the better youll feel, and the easier it will be to get back into your routine. Talk with your doctor about when you can resume your regular routine if you stopped exercising because of an illness or new symptoms. Think about the reasons you started exercising and the goals you set for yourself. Remembering your motivations and how much youve already accomplished may help recharge your batteries and get you started again. Ask family and friends to help you get back on track. Sometimes, you may want an exercise buddy. At other times, all you may need is a word of support. Try something easier or an activity you havent done recently if you dont like the activity you started. You might even want to try something youve never done before. Mastering something simple or new may give you the condence you need to resume a regular exercise program.
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Talk with your doctor or trainer. You may get the boost you need to move past the hurdle. Start again at a comfortable level if you havent exercised for several weeks. Then gradually build back up. With a little time, youll be back on track. Think creatively about other ways to exercise if you cant do your regular physical activities because of bad weather or a change in your routine. For example, if caring for a loved one is keeping you indoors, try an exercise video, jog in place, dance around your living room, or walk up and down the stairs a few extra times. Just keep moving! Be exible. When your grandchildren come for a visit, reschedule your exercise during their nap time, or take them with you for a walk. Believe in yourself! Feel condent that even if your activity is interrupted, you can start again and be successful. Dont worry about the time you missed. Whats important is to focus on your tness goals and start again at whatever level is possible for you.
Walking Safely in Rural Areas

Rural areas may have less trafc than big cities, but a walk in the country does require special care. Often the vehicles on rural roads travel at much higher speeds than pedestrians are used to, and drivers wont expect to see someone walking on or near the side of the road. So, remember the following safety rules, and enjoy your walk!
Always walk facing oncoming trafc. Look for a smooth, stable surface alongside the road. If there are guardrails, see if theres a smooth, at surface behind the barrier where you can walk. If you need to walk on a paved shoulder, stay as far away from trafc as possible. Watch for bridges and narrow shoulders. Be sure drivers can see you. Wear brightly colored clothing, and if you walk during low-light hours dusk or dawn be sure you have reective material on your jacket or walking shoes and carry a ashlight. Take along a cell phone and an ID, especially if walking alone.
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A few more tips on coping with breaks in your exercise routine

Sometimes the reason you have to stop exercising is temporary; sometimes its permanent. There may be a change in your living arrangements or in your health, for example. Some are happy occasions; some are sad. Here are some ways to manage these breaks.
Temporary
Youre on vacation:
Permanent
Your usual exercise buddy moves away:
A Change in Your Situation
Many hotels now have tness centers. Check out the facilities where youll be staying, and bring along your exercise clothing or equipment (resistance band, bathing suit, or walking shoes). Get out and see the sights on foot rather than just by tour bus.
Ask another friend to go with you on your daily walk. Ask other older adults in your area where they go for walks or what physical activity resources are available nearby. Join an exercise class at your local community center or senior center. This is a great way to meet other active people.
Caring for an ill spouse is taking up much of your time:
You move to a new community:
Work out to an exercise video when your spouse is napping. Ask a family member or friend to come over so you can go for a walk.
Check out the tness centers, parks, and recreation associations in your new neighborhood. Look for activities that match your interests and abilities. Get involved!
The u keeps you out of action for a few weeks: A Change in Your Health
You are recovering from hip or back surgery:
Wait until you feel better and then start your activity again. Gradually build back up to your previous level of activity.
Talk with your doctor about specic exercises and activities you can do safely when youre feeling better. Start slowly and gradually build up your activities as you become stronger.
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31
Building Up the Benets

Once you start exercising and becoming more physically active, youll begin to see results in just a few weeks youll feel stronger and more energetic. Youll notice that you can do things easier, faster, or for longer than before. This tells you that your body is getting used to a higher level of activity. Now is the time to build on those benets by doing more. Keep your starting point in mind, though. For some people, switching from 1- to 2-pound weights is a big step forward. For others, building up to walking briskly or even running is a reasonable goal. No matter what your starting point:
Review your goals. If you are able, do your activities longer, farther, or harder. If you walk 30 minutes at lunch time every day, make it 40 minutes. If you only have 30 minutes for lunch, pick up the pace so youre walking faster and farther in the same amount of time. Try using a pedometer, or step counter, to track your progress. Seeing the number of steps add up can be great motivation. If you usually swim half a mile, build up to three-quarters of a mile. Use a harder resistance band when you do strength exercises. Do the activities more often. Spend time in your garden more often. Head over to the gym three times a week instead of two. Walk every day.
Healthy eating and physical activity go hand in hand. See Chapter 6, starting on page 94, for more on this topic.
Add new physical activities. Be creative! Try some new activities to keep your interest alive. Sign up for dance lessons. Talk to your friends about bowling together once a week. Join a water aerobics class. Save gas by walking to your nearby grocery store. Can you trade in any of your electric appliances for muscle-powered versions: How about your electric can opener? Your electric lawn mower? Your electric leaf blower?
32
Reducing the Risks

Many people hesitate to exercise for one reason or another. In fact, exercise and moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, are safe for almost all older adults. Even so, avoiding injury is an important thing to keep in mind, especially if youre just starting a new activity or you havent been active for a long time. Talk to your doctor if you have an ongoing health condition or certain other health problems (see page 33) or if you havent seen your doctor for a while. Ask how physical activity can help you, whether you should avoid certain activities, and how to modify exercises to t your situation. You may feel some minor discomfort or muscle soreness when you start to exercise. This should go away as you get used to the activities. However, if you feel sick to your stomach or have strong pain, youve done too much. Go easier and then gradually build up.
make it safe
For many people, even those who exercise regularly, breaks in the routine mean the end of daily exercise and its benets. Freddi tells how she carefully got started again: For more than 10 years, I jogged every day to clear the cobwebs and get my blood owing. Imagine how awful I felt when I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle. At 54, I wasnt ready to be a couch potato. After the cast came off, I had physical therapy. I worried about hurting my ankle again, but I wasnt going to let the injury keep me down. At rst, I walked slowly in my neighborhood, but I didnt want to trip on uneven pavement. My physical therapist suggested I try a treadmill instead. Now, I go to the gym after work. I set the treadmill incline high, turn on my headphones, and walk. Sometimes, I listen to music or a book on CD. I miss the fresh air, but I dont think about falling, and my stamina is back. Plus, Ive added strength and balance exercises to my routine. In many ways, Im in better shape now than before the fall and that feels great!

See Chapter 4 for more safety tips.
CHAPTER 3: GO!
33
Preventing Injury
The health benets of exercise far outweigh any risks of injury. However, you can take some precautions to exercise safely. Follow these tips to avoid injury:
Stop exercising if you:
Have pain or pressure in your chest, neck, shoulder, or arm Feel dizzy or sick to your stomach Break out in a cold sweat Have muscle cramps Feel severe pain in joints, feet, ankles, or legs
When starting an exercise program, begin slowly with low-intensity exercises. Wait at least 2 hours after eating a large meal before doing strenuous exercise. Wear appropriate shoes for your activity and comfortable, loose-tting clothing that allows you to move freely but wont catch on other objects. Warm up with low-intensity exercises at the beginning of each exercise session. Drink water before, during, and after your exercise session. When exercising outdoors, pay attention to your surroundings consider possible trafc hazards, the weather, uneven walking surfaces, and strangers.
sample exercises
chapter 4: sample exercises
35
Many different exercises can improve your health and independence. Whether you do the exercises shown in this chapter or other physical activities that accomplish the same goals, gradually work your way up to include endurance, strength, balance, and stretching exercises.
Its important to spend about 5 minutes at the beginning and end of your routine to warm up and cool down. Warming up and cooling down give your muscles a chance to get ready to work and gradually return to rest at the end. These before-and-after activities help prevent injury and reduce muscle soreness later. Here are a few suggestions:
Do a few exercises to work the muscles and joints youll be using in your activity. For example, if youre going to be swimming, do a few arm exercises first to warm up your arms and shoulders. If youre going to include stretching exercises as part of your routine, do them afterwards.
Do some light endurance activity first, such as walking for 5 minutes. If youre going to be walking briskly or running, gradually build up to that pace. At the end of your activity, gradually slow down and let your body cool down.
36
exercise & phYsical actiVitY
endurance
make it rewarding
Regular endurance exercise has helped Tom stay healthy after major heart surgery: At age 45 I had quadruple bypass surgery. I was shocked because I was so young. Those months after my surgery are a blur to me now. After several months of cardiac rehab, I knew my heart health was in my hands. So, now I run regularly at my neighborhood YMCA around the track in nice weather and on the treadmill during the winter. I admit I was nervous at rst to push myself. I worried I might do more harm than good. But, its been 12 years and I feel great! This year, I will celebrate my daughters graduation from college, continue to root for the Aggies, and maybe even teach my wife to play golf. I believe exercise has made all of that possible for me.
37
How to Improve Your Endurance

Endurance exercises are activities walking, jogging, swimming, raking, sweeping, dancing, playing tennis that increase your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. They will make it easier for you to walk farther, faster, or uphill. They also should make everyday activities such as gardening, shopping, or playing a sport easier.
Counting Your Steps

Step counters can help you keep track of your endurance activity, set goals, and measure progress. Most inactive people get fewer than 5,000 steps a day, and some very inactive people get only 2,000 steps a day. Wear the step counter for a few days to see how youre doing. You can use the Endurance Daily Record on page 105 to record your steps. If you get:
How Much, How Often

Refer to your starting goals, and build up your endurance gradually. If you havent been active for a long time, its especially important to work your way up over time. It may take a while to go from a longstanding inactive lifestyle to doing some of the activities in this section. For example, start out with 5 or 10 minutes at a time, and then build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance activity. Doing less than 10 minutes at a time wont give you the desired heart and lung benefits. Try to build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance activity on most or all days of the week. Every day is best. Remember, though, that these are goals, not rules. Some people will be able to do more.
Fewer than 5,000 steps a day, gradually try to add 3,000 to 4,000 more steps a day. About 8,000 steps a day, youre probably meeting the recommended activity target. 10,000 or more steps a day, you can be confident that youre getting an adequate amount of endurance activity. 10,000 steps a day comfortably, try for 15,000 steps a day, which would put you in the high-activity group.
38
QUICK TIP
Some people are afraid to exercise after a heart attack. But regular physical activity can help reduce your chances of having another heart attack. If youve had a heart attack, talk with your doctor to be sure youre following a safe, effective physical activity program. Ask about cardiac rehab programs, which include exercise, education, and counseling to help you return to an active life.
Others, however, may not be able to exercise for 30 minutes at a time. Its important to set realistic goals based on your own health and abilities.
Safety
Listen to your body. Is the activity making you feel unwell or too tired? Endurance activities should not make you breathe so hard that you cant talk. They should not cause dizziness, chest pain or pressure, or a feeling like heartburn. Do a little light activity, such as easy walking, before and after your endurance activities to warm up and cool down. As you get older, you may not feel thirsty even though your body needs uids. Be sure to drink liquids when doing any activity that makes you sweat. By the time you notice you are thirsty, you probably are already low on uid. This guideline is important year round, but its especially important in hot weather. If your doctor has told you to limit your uids, be sure to check before increasing the amount of uid you drink while exercising. For example, people with congestive heart failure or kidney disease may need to limit uids.
Older adults can be affected by heat and cold more than others. In extreme cases, too much heat can cause heat stroke, and very cold temperatures can lead to a dangerous drop in body temperature. If you are going to be outdoors, dress in layers so you can add or remove clothes as needed. When its not possible to be outdoors, you may want to try indoor activities:
If you have stairs at home, go up and down the steps a few times in a row. Walk at the mall or grocery store. Go for a swim at your local fitness or recreation center.
Making It REAL
Walking 2 miles a day at the mall will help you keep up with your grandchildren during a trip to the park.
Whatever activity you choose, stay safe. To prevent injuries, be sure to use safety equipment. For example, wear a helmet when bicycling. When youre walking, watch out for low-hanging branches and uneven sidewalks. Walk during the day or in well-lit areas at night, and be aware of your surroundings. Ask someone to go with you. Wear the proper shoes (see page 22).
For more about drinking enough uids, see page 97.
39
Progressing
When youre ready to do more, build up the amount of time you spend doing endurance activities first, then build up the difficulty of your activities. For example, gradually increase your time to 30 minutes over several days to weeks (or even months, depending on your condition) by walking longer distances. Then walk more briskly or up steeper hills. See page 13 for more examples of physical activities that build endurance. To record your activities, use the Endurance Daily Record on page 105.
Ways to Gauge Your Effort

The amount of effort you need to do an activity will depend on your starting point, including your fitness level, how strong you are, and how active youve been. For example, walking a mile in 15 minutes will be a lot easier for someone who does it every day compared with someone who has never done it. You can use these informal guidelines to estimate how much effort you are putting into your endurance activities:
Brisk walking is an example of moderate activity, while jogging is a vigorous activity. Talking is easy during moderate activity. During vigorous activity, talking is difficult. If you tend to sweat, you probably wont sweat during light activity (except on hot days). You will sweat during vigorous or sustained moderate activity. Remember to drink uids even if you dont sweat.
One doctor who specializes in exercise for older adults tells her patients the following about how hard they should work during endurance activities: If you cant talk while youre exercising, its too difficult. If you can sing a song, its too easy!
40
strength
make it affordable
Exercising at home is just one way to be active. We feature it because most older people can do it, but you also might try Bonitas example: Im 69 and live on my Social Security income. My kids try to spoil me, but Id rather do things on my own as much as possible. When looking for a tness center where I could use strength-building equipment, I bargained the owner down to a monthly fee that I could afford. I started with 1-pound weights and gradually moved on to heavier weights. I also added stretching to my routine. Ive always been active, but never as much as I am now. Joining the tness center has done me a world of good. The owner of my club holds me up as an example, and my family is so proud of me.
41
How to Improve Your Strength

Even very small changes in muscle strength can make a real difference in function, especially in people who have already lost a lot of muscle. An increase in muscle that you cant even see can make it easier to do everyday things like get up from a chair, climb stairs, carry groceries, open jars, and even play with your grandchildren. Lower-body strength exercises also will improve your balance.
About Strength Exercises

To do most of the strength exercises in this book, you need to lift or push weights. You can use weights, resistance bands, or common objects from your home. Or, you can use the strength-training equipment at a fitness center or gym. Start with light weights and gradually increase the amount of weight you use.
How Much, How Often

Try to do strength exercises for all of your major muscle groups on 2 or more days per week for 30-minute sessions each, but dont exercise the same muscle group on any 2 days in a row. (Use the Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan on page 104.)
Depending on your condition, you might need to start out using 1- or 2-pound weights, or no weight at all. Your body needs to get used to strength exercises. Use a light weight the first week, then gradually add more weight. Starting out with weights that are too heavy can cause injuries.
42
QUICK TIP
A repetition, or rep, is one complete movement of an exercise, and a set is one group of reps. In this guide, a set of strength exercises is 10 to 15 repetitions. You can use the Strength and Balance Daily Record on page 106 to keep track of the number of strength exercises you do.
Gradually add more weight in order to benefit from strength exercises. You need to challenge your muscles to get the most benefit from strength exercises. (The Progressing section on page 43 will tell you how.) It should feel somewhere between hard and very hard for you to lift or push the weight. It shouldnt feel very, very hard. If you cant lift or push a weight 8 times in a row, its too heavy for you. Reduce the amount of weight. Take 3 seconds to lift or push a weight into place, hold the position for 1 second, and take another 3 seconds to return to your starting position. Dont let the weight drop; returning it slowly is very important. Try to do 10 to 15 repetitions for each exercise. Think of this as a goal. If you cant do that many at first, do as many as you can. You may be able to build up to this goal over time.
Dont hold your breath during strength exercises. Holding your breath while straining can cause changes in blood pressure. This is especially true for people with heart disease. Breathe regularly. Breathe in slowly through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth. If this is not comfortable or possible, breathe in and out through either your nose or mouth. Breathe out as you lift or push, and breathe in as you relax. For example, if youre doing leg lifts, breathe out as you lift your leg, and breathe in as you lower it. This may not feel natural at first, and you probably will have to think about it for a while as you do it. Proper form and safety go hand-in-hand. For some exercises, you may want to start alternating arms and work your way up to using both arms at the same time. If it is difficult for you to hold hand weights, try using wrist weights. To prevent injury, dont jerk or thrust weights into position. Use smooth, steady movements. Avoid locking your arm and leg joints in a tightly straightened position. To straighten your knees, tighten your thigh muscles. This will lift your kneecaps and protect them.
Making It REAL
Want to be able to lift your carry-on bag into the overhead bin of the airplane or get in and out of the car more easily? Keep doing those strength exercises, and youll get there.
Safety
Talk with your doctor if you are unsure about doing a particular exercise. For example, if youve had hip or back surgery, talk about which exercises might be best for you.
43
For many of the sample exercises in this guide, you will need to use a chair. Choose a sturdy chair that is stable enough to support your weight when seated or when holding on during the exercise. Muscle soreness lasting a few days and slight fatigue are normal after muscle-building exercises, at least at first. After doing these exercises for a few weeks, you will probably not be sore after your workout.
Progressing
Muscle strength is progressive over time. Gradually increase the amount of weight you use to build strength. When you can do 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions easily, increase the amount of weight at your next session. Heres an example of how to progress gradually: Start out with a weight that you can lift only 8 times. Keep using that weight until you become strong enough to lift it easily 10 to 15 times. When you can do 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions easily, add more weight so that, again, you can lift it only 8 times. Keep repeating until you reach your goal, and then maintain that level as long as you can.
QUICK TIP
Challenge yourself, but listen to your body, and use common sense when you exercise. If you feel sick or have pain during or after exercise, youre doing too much.
Exhaustion, sore joints, and painful muscle pulling mean youre overdoing it. None of the exercises should cause severe pain.
FOR HOUSEHOLD HANDWEIGHTS see page 45
Over-exercising can cause injury, which may lead to quitting altogether. A steady rate of progress is the best approach.
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Working with a Resistance Band
Resistance bands are stretchy elastic bands that come in several strengths, from light to heavy. You can use them in some strength exercises instead of weights.
Wrapping a resistance band
1. Lay the band at in your hand with
2. Wrap the long end of the
3. Grasp firmly.
the end toward your pinky finger.
band around the back of your hand.
TIP
If you are a beginner, try exercising without the band until you are comfortable, then add the band. Choose a light band if you are just starting to exercise, and move on to a stronger band when you can do 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions easily. Hold on to the band tightly (some bands have handles), or wrap it around your hand or foot to keep it from slipping and causing possible injury. Do the exercises in a slow, controlled manner, and dont let the band snap back.
45
Working with Weights

You dont have to go out and buy weights for strength exercises. Find something you can hold on to easily. For example, you can make your own weights from unbreakable household items:
Hand Grip
This simple exercise should help if you have trouble picking things up or holding on to them. It also will help you open things like that pickle jar more easily. You can even do this exercise while reading or watching TV.
1. Hold a tennis ball or other small rubber
Fill a plastic milk jug with sand or water and tape the opening securely closed. Fill a sock with dried beans, and tie up the open end. Use common grocery items, such as bags of rice, vegetable or soup cans, or bottled water.
or foam ball in one hand.

2. Slowly squeeze the ball as hard as you
can and hold it for 3-5 seconds.

3. Relax the squeeze slowly. 4. Repeat 10-15 times. 5. Repeat 10-15 times with other hand. 6. Repeat 10-15 times more with each hand.
46
Wrist Curl
1. Rest your forearm on the arm of a
This exercise will strengthen your wrists. It also will help ensure good form and prevent injury when you do upper body strength exercises.
sturdy chair with your hand over the edge.

2. Hold weight with palm facing upward. 3. Slowly bend your wrist up and down. 4. Repeat 10-15 times. 5. Repeat with other hand 10-15 times. 6. Repeat 10-15 more times with
each hand.
47
This exercise will strengthen your shoulders and arms. It should make swimming and other activities such as lifting and carrying grandchildren easier.
Overhead Arm Raise

1. You can do this exercise while standing
or sitting in a sturdy, armless chair.

2. Keep your feet at on the oor,
shoulder-width apart.
3. Hold weights at your sides at shoulder
height with palms facing forward. Breathe in slowly.

4. Slowly breathe out as you raise both
arms up over your head keeping your elbows slightly bent.

5. Hold the position for 1 second. 6. Breathe in as you slowly lower
your arms.
7. Repeat 10-15 times. 8. Rest; then repeat 10-15 more times. TIP
As you progress, use a heavier weight and alternate arms until you can lift the weight comfortably with both arms.
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Front Arm Raise

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width
This exercise for your shoulders can help you put things up on a shelf or take them down more easily.
apart.
2. Hold weights straight down at your
sides, with palms facing backward.

3. Keeping them straight, breathe out
as you raise both arms in front of you to shoulder height.

4. Hold the position for 1 second. 5. Breathe in as you slowly lower arms. 6. Repeat 10-15 times. 7. Rest; then repeat 10-15 more times. TIP
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This exercise will strengthen your shoulders and make lifting groceries easier.
Side Arm Raise


3. Hold hand weights straight down at
your sides with palms facing inward. Breathe in slowly.

4. Slowly breathe out as you raise both
arms to the side, shoulder height.

5. Hold the position for 1 second. 6. Breathe in as you slowly lower your
arms.
50
Arm Curl
1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width
After a few weeks of doing this exercise for your upper arm muscles, lifting that gallon of milk will be much easier.
apart.
2. Hold weights straight down at your
sides, palms facing forward. Breathe in slowly.

3. Breathe out as you slowly bend your
elbows and lift weights toward chest. Keep elbows at your sides.
your arms.
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This variation of the Arm Curl uses a resistance band instead of weights. (See Working with a Resistance Band on page 44.)
Arm Curl
with Resistance Band
1. Sit in a sturdy, armless chair with
your feet at on the oor, shoulderwidth apart.

2. Place the center of the resistance band
under both feet. Hold each end of the band with palms facing inward. Keep elbows at your sides. Breathe in slowly.
3. Keep wrists straight and slowly breathe
out as you bend your elbows and bring your hands toward your shoulders.
your arms.
As you progress, use a heavier strength band.
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Seated Row
with Resistance Band
This exercise to strengthen upper back, shoulder, and neck muscles should make everyday activities such as raking and vacuuming easier. (See Working with a Resistance Band on page 44.)
1. Sit in a sturdy, armless chair with
your feet at on the oor, shoulderwidth apart.

2. Place the center of the resistance band
under both feet. Hold each end of the band with palms facing inward.
3. Relax your shoulders and extend
your arms beside your legs. Breathe in slowly.

4. Breathe out slowly and pull both
elbows back until your hands are at your hips.

5. Hold position for 1 second. 6. Breathe in as you slowly return your
hands to the starting position.

As you progress, use a heavier strength band.
53
These push-ups will strengthen your arms, shoulders, and chest. Try this exercise during a TV commercial break.
Wall Push-Up
1. Face a wall, standing a little farther
than arms length away, feet shoulderwidth apart.

2. Lean your body forward and put your
palms at against the wall at shoulder height and shoulder-width apart.

3. Slowly breathe in as you bend your
elbows and lower your upper body toward the wall in a slow, controlled motion. Keep your feet at on the oor.
4. Hold the position for 1 second. 5. Breathe out and slowly push yourself
back until your arms are straight.

6. Repeat 10-15 times. 7. Rest; then repeat 10-15 more times.
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Elbow Extension
This exercise will strengthen your upper arms. If your shoulders arent exible enough to do this exercise, try the Chair Dip on page 55.

3. Hold weight in one hand with palm
facing inward. Raise that arm toward ceiling.

4. Support this arm below elbow with
other hand. Breathe in slowly.

5. Slowly bend raised arm at elbow and
bring weight toward shoulder.

6. Hold position for 1 second. 7. Breathe out and slowly straighten your
arm over your head. Be careful not to lock your elbow.

8. Repeat 10-15 times. 9. Repeat 10-15 times with other arm. 10. Repeat 10-15 more times with each arm. TIP
If its difcult for you to hold hand weights, try using wrist weights.
55
This pushing motion will strengthen your arm muscles even if you are not able to lift yourself up off the chair.
Chair Dip
1. Sit in a sturdy chair with armrests
with your feet at on the oor, shoulder-width apart.

2. Lean slightly forward; keep your
back and shoulders straight.

3. Grasp arms of chair with your hands
next to you. Breathe in slowly.

4. Breathe out and use your arms to
push your body slowly off the chair.

5. Hold position for 1 second. 6. Breathe in as you slowly lower
yourself back down.

7. Repeat 10-15 times. 8. Rest; then repeat 10-15 more times.
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Back Leg Raise

1. Stand behind a sturdy chair, holding
This exercise strengthens your buttocks and lower back. For an added challenge, you can modify the exercise to improve your balance. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.)
on for balance. Breathe in slowly.

2. Breathe out and slowly lift one leg
straight back without bending your knee or pointing your toes. Try not to lean forward. The leg you are standing on should be slightly bent.
your leg.
5. Repeat 10-15 times. 6. Repeat 10-15 times with other leg. 7. Repeat 10-15 more times with each leg. TIP
As you progress, you may want to add ankle weights.
57
This exercise strengthens hips, thighs, and buttocks. For an added challenge, you can modify the exercise to improve your balance. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.)
Side Leg Raise

1. Stand behind a sturdy chair with
feet slightly apart, holding on for balance. Breathe in slowly.

2. Breathe out and slowly lift one
leg out to the side. Keep your back straight and your toes facing forward. The leg you are standing on should be slightly bent.
your leg.
5. Repeat 10-15 times. 6. Repeat 10-15 times with other leg. 7. Repeat 10-15 more times with
each leg.
TIP
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Knee Curl
1. Stand behind a sturdy chair, holding
Walking and climbing stairs are easier when you do both the Knee Curl and Leg Straightening exercises. For an added challenge, you can modify the exercise to improve your balance. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.)
on for balance. Lift one leg straight back without bending your knee or pointing your toes. Breathe in slowly.
2. Breathe out as you slowly bring
your heel up toward your buttocks as far as possible. Bend only from your knee, and keep your hips still. The leg you are standing on should be slightly bent.
your foot to the oor.

5. Repeat 10-15 times. 6. Repeat 10-15 times with other leg. 7. Repeat 10-15 more times with
each leg.
TIP
59
This exercise strengthens your thighs and may reduce symptoms of arthritis of the knee.
Leg Straightening
1. Sit in a sturdy chair with your back
supported by the chair. Only the balls of your feet and your toes should rest on the oor. Put a rolled bath towel at the edge of the chair under thighs for support. Breathe in slowly.
2. Breathe out and slowly extend one leg
in front of you as straight as possible, but dont lock your knee.

3. Flex foot to point toes toward the
ceiling. Hold position for 1 second.

4. Breathe in as you slowly lower leg back
down.
5. Repeat 10-15 times. 6. Repeat 10-15 times with other leg. 7. Repeat 10-15 more times with each leg. TIP
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Chair Stand
1. Sit toward the front of a sturdy,
This exercise, which strengthens your abdomen and thighs, will make it easier to get in and out of the car. If you have knee or back problems, talk with your doctor before trying this exercise.
armless chair with knees bent and feet at on oor, shoulder-width apart.
2. Lean back with your hands crossed
over your chest. Keep your back and shoulders straight throughout exercise. Breathe in slowly.
3. Breathe out and bring your upper body
forward until sitting upright.

4. Extend your arms so they are parallel
to the oor and slowly stand up.

5. Breathe in as you slowly sit down. 6. Repeat 10-15 times. 7. Rest; then repeat 10-15 more times.
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TIP
People with back problems should start the exercise from the sitting upright position.
62
Toe Stand
1. Stand behind a sturdy chair, feet
This exercise will help make walking easier by strengthening your calves and ankles. For an added challenge, you can modify the exercise to improve your balance. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.)
shoulder-width apart, holding on for balance. Breathe in slowly.

2. Breathe out and slowly stand on
tiptoes, as high as possible.

3. Hold position for 1 second. 4. Breathe in as you slowly lower heels
to the oor.
As you progress, try doing the exercise standing on one leg at a time for a total of 10-15 times on each leg.
63
balance
make it a habit
Lian, age 68, has found that regular tai chi classes have improved her balance and exibility: Early every morning, I join a group of my neighbors, and we practice tai chi for about an hour. We start out with a gentle warm-up and breathing exercises. Then our teacher shows us how to do certain poses and leads us step by step through the slow, owing movements. We end with cooling down exercises. This exercise routine has boosted my condence and reduced my fear of falling. It also keeps my arthritis under control.
64
How to Improve Your Balance

Each year, more than 2 million older Americans go to the emergency room because of fall-related injuries. A simple fall can cause a serious fracture of the arm, hand, ankle, or hip. Balance exercises can help you prevent falls and avoid the disability that may result from falling.
Progressing
These exercises can improve your balance even more if you modify them as you progress. Start by holding on to a sturdy chair for support. To challenge yourself, try holding on to the chair with only one hand; then with time, you can try holding on with only one finger, then no hands. If you are steady on your feet, try doing the exercise with your eyes closed. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.) You can use the Strength and Balance Daily Record on page 106 to keep track of your balance exercises.
How Much, How Often

You can do the balance exercises in this section as often as you like. They overlap with the lower-body strength exercises, which also can improve your balance. Do the strength exercises 2 or more days per week, but not on any 2 days in a row.
Anytime, Anywhere Balance Exercises

You can do exercises to improve your balance almost anytime, anywhere, and as often as you like, as long as you have something sturdy nearby to hold on to if you become unsteady. In the beginning, using a chair or the wall for support will help you work on your balance safely.
Safety
Making It REAL
Youre walking in the neighborhood and you hear a bicycle bell behind you. Knowing you can turn around quickly and move out of the way without losing your balance is a great feeling!
Have a sturdy chair or a person nearby to hold on to if you feel unsteady. Talk with your doctor if you are unsure about doing a particular exercise.
65
You can do this exercise while waiting for the bus or standing in line at the grocery. For an added challenge, you can modify the exercise to improve your balance. (See Progressing to Improve Balance on page 68.)
Stand on One Foot

1. Stand on one foot behind a sturdy
chair, holding on for balance.

2. Hold position for up to 10 seconds. 3. Repeat 10-15 times. 4. Repeat 10-15 times with other leg. 5. Repeat 10-15 more times with each leg.
66
Heel-to-Toe Walk
1. Position the heel of one foot just in
Having good balance is important for many everyday activities, such as going up and down stairs.
front of the toes of the other foot. Your heel and toes should touch or almost touch.
2. Choose a spot ahead of you and focus
on it to keep you steady as you walk.

3. Take a step. Put your heel just in front
of the toes of your other foot.

4. Repeat for 20 steps. TIP
If you are unsteady on your feet, try doing this exercise near a wall so you can steady yourself if you need to.
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Good balance helps you walk safely and avoid tripping and falling over objects in your way.
Balance Walk
1. Raise arms to sides, shoulder height. 2. Choose a spot ahead of you and focus
on it to keep you steady as you walk.

3. Walk in a straight line with one foot in
front of the other.

4. As you walk, lift your back leg. Pause
for 1 second before stepping forward.

5. Repeat for 20 steps, alternating legs. TIP
As you progress, try looking from side to side as you walk, but skip this step if you have inner ear problems.
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Progressing to Improve Balance

The exercises in this guide especially those to strengthen your legs and ankles can help improve your balance. As you progress, try adding the challenges shown below to help even more. For example, start by holding on to a sturdy chair with both hands for support. To challenge yourself further, try holding on to the chair with only one hand. As you feel steady, try using just one finger to balance you. Then, try balancing without holding on. When you are steady on your feet, try doing the exercises with your eyes closed. You can use these modifications with the following exercises:
Back Leg Raise Side Leg Raise Knee Curl Toe Stand (page 56) (page 57) (page 58) (page 62)
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exibility
make it happen
Grace, age 66, has found that stretching exercises have become an important addition to her new exercise routine: I grew up on a farm and continued farming after I married. So, I was used to hard work and plenty of physical activity. When my son and his family took over running the farm, I needed to start a new exercise routine. Now, I begin most mornings with a walk and stretches. Good thing, too! The stretching keeps me limber, and the walking gives me plenty of stamina to keep up with my seven grandchildren. Exercise helps me stay active in their lives, and that makes it all worthwhile.
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Making It REAL
How easy is it for you to turn around and look behind you before backing out of a parking space? What about bending down to tie your shoes? Flexibility exercises will help you do both more easily!
How to Improve Your Flexibility

Stretching, or exibility, exercises are an important part of your physical activity program. They give you more freedom of movement for your physical activities and for everyday activities such as getting dressed and reaching objects on a shelf. Stretching exercises can improve your exibility but will not improve your endurance or strength.
minutes of easy walking first. Stretching your muscles before they are warmed up may result in injury.
Always remember to breathe normally while holding a stretch. Stretching may feel slightly uncomfortable; for example, a mild pulling feeling is normal. You are stretching too far if you feel sharp or stabbing pain, or joint pain while doing the stretch or even the next day. Reduce the stretch so that it doesnt hurt. Never bounce into a stretch. Make slow, steady movements instead. Jerking into position can cause muscles to tighten, possibly causing injury. Avoid locking your joints. Straighten your arms and legs when you stretch them, but dont hold them tightly in a straight position. Your joints should always be slightly bent while stretching.
How Much, How Often
Do each stretching exercise 3 to 5 times at each session. Slowly stretch into the desired position, as far as possible without pain, and hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds. Relax, breathe, then repeat, trying to stretch farther.
Safety
Talk with your doctor if you are unsure about a particular exercise. For example, if youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before doing lower-body exercises. Always warm up before stretching exercises. Stretch after endurance or strength exercises. If you are doing only stretching exercises, warm up with a few
Progressing
You can progress in your stretching exercises. For example, as you become more exible, try reaching farther, but not so far that it hurts. You can use the Flexibility Daily Record on page 107 to keep track of your exibility exercises.
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This easy stretch can help relieve tension in your neck. Try to stretch after strength training and during any activity that makes you feel stiff, such as sitting at a desk.
Neck
1. You can do this stretch while standing
or sitting in a sturdy chair.

3. Slowly turn your head to the right until
you feel a slight stretch. Be careful not to tip or tilt your head forward or backward, but hold it in a comfortable position.
4. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. 5. Turn your head to the left and hold the
position for 10-30 seconds.

6. Repeat at least 3-5 times.
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Shoulder
1. Stand back against a wall, feet
This exercise to stretch your shoulder muscles will help improve your posture.
shoulder-width apart and arms at shoulder height.

2. Bend your elbows so your fingertips
point toward the ceiling and touch the wall behind you. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort, and stop immediately if you feel sharp pain.
3. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 4. Let your arms slowly roll forward,
remaining bent at the elbows, to point toward the oor and touch the wall again, if possible. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort.
5. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 6. Alternate pointing above head,
then toward hips.

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This exercise to increase exibility in your shoulders and upper arms will help make it easier to reach for your seatbelt. If you have shoulder problems, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.
Shoulder and Upper Arm

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. 2. Hold one end of a towel in your right
hand.
3. Raise and bend your right arm to drape
the towel down your back. Keep your right arm in this position and continue holding on to the towel.
4. Reach behind your lower back and
grasp the towel with your left hand.

5. To stretch your right shoulder, pull
the towel down with your left hand. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort in your right shoulder.
6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 7. Reverse positions, and repeat at least
3-5 times.
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Upper Body
1. Stand facing a wall slightly farther
This exercise increases the exibility of your arms, chest, and shoulders, and will help you reach items on the upper shelves of your closet or kitchen cabinet.
than arms length from the wall, feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Lean your body forward and put your
palms at against the wall at shoulder height and shoulder-width apart.

3. Keeping your back straight, slowly walk
your hands up the wall until your arms are above your head.
4. Hold your arms overhead for about
10-30 seconds.
5. Slowly walk your hands back down. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. TIP
As you progress, the goal is to reach higher.
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This exercise, which stretches the chest muscles, is also is good for your posture.
Chest
1. You can do this stretch while standing

3. Hold arms to your sides at shoulder
height, with palms facing forward.

4. Slowly move your arms back, while
squeezing your shoulder blades together. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort.
5. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times.
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Back 1
1. Sit securely toward the front of a
This exercise is for your back muscles. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.
sturdy, armless chair with your feet at on the oor, shoulder-width apart.
2. Slowly bend forward from your hips.
Keep your back and neck straight.

3. Slightly relax your neck and lower your
chin. Slowly bend farther forward and slide your hands down your legs toward your shins. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort.
4. Hold for 10-30 seconds. 5. Straighten up slowly all the way to the
starting position.
6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. TIP
As you progress, bend as far forward as you can and eventually touch your heels.
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This exercise will help you do activities that require you to twist or turn to look behind you, such as backing out of a parking space or swinging a golf club. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.
Back 2
1. Sit up toward the front of a sturdy
chair with armrests. Stay as straight as possible. Keep your feet at on the oor, shoulder-width apart.
2. Slowly twist to the left from your waist
without moving your hips. Turn your head to the left. Lift your left hand and hold on to the left arm of the chair. Place your right hand on the outside of your left thigh. Twist farther, if possible.
3. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. 4. Slowly return to face forward. 5. Repeat on the right side. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 more times. TIP
As you progress, try lifting your left arm and resting it comfortably on the back of the chair. Hold on to the left armrest with your right arm. Repeat on right side.
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Upper Back
1. Sit in a sturdy, armless chair with your
This exercise is good for your shoulders and upper-back muscles.
feet at on the oor, shoulder-width apart.

2. Hold arms in front of you at shoulder
height with palms facing outward.

3. Relax your shoulders, keep your upper
body still, and reach forward with your hands. Stop when you feel a stretch or slight discomfort.
4. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 5. Sit back up. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. TIP
As you progress, cross your arms and interlace ngers.
progression
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This exercise stretches your ankle muscles. You can stretch both ankles at once or one at a time.
Ankle
1. Sit securely toward the edge of a
sturdy, armless chair.

2. Stretch your legs out in front of you. 3. With your heels on the oor, bend your
ankles to point toes toward you.

4. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. 5. Bend ankles to point toes away from
you and hold for 10-30 seconds.

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About Floor Exercises

To Get Down on the Floor:
1. Stand facing the seat of a sturdy chair. 2. Put your hands on the seat, and lower
yourself down on one knee.

3. Bring the other knee down. 4. Put your left hand on the oor. Leaning
on your hand, slowly bring your left hip to the oor. Put your right hand on the oor next to your left hand to steady yourself, if needed.
5. You should now be sitting with your
weight on your left hip.

6. Straighten your legs. 7. Bend your left elbow until your weight
is resting on it. Using your right hand as needed for support, straighten your left arm. You should now be lying on your left side.
8. Roll onto your back. TIP
You dont have to use your left side. You can use your right side, if you prefer.
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TIP
If you have trouble getting down on or up from the oor by yourself, try using the buddy system. Find someone who will be able to help you. Knowing how to use a chair to get down on the oor and get back up again also may be helpful. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before using the following method.
To Get Up from the Floor:

1. Roll onto your left side. 2. Place your right hand on the oor at
about the level of your ribs and use it to push your shoulders off the oor. Use your left hand to help lift you up, as needed.
3. You should now be sitting with your
weight on your left hip.

4. Roll forward, onto your knees, leaning
on your hands for support.

5. Reach up and lean your hands on the
seat of a sturdy chair.

6. Lift one of your knees so that one leg
is bent, foot at on the oor.

7. Leaning your hands on the seat of
the chair for support, rise from this position.

TIP
You dont have to use your left side. You can use your right side, if you prefer.
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Back of Leg
Floor
This exercise stretches the muscles in the back of your legs. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch. (See About Floor Exercises on page 80.)
1. Lie on your back with left knee bent
and left foot at on the oor.

2. Raise right leg, keeping knee slightly
bent.
3. Reach up and grasp right leg with
both hands. Keep head and shoulders at on the oor.

4. Gently pull right leg toward your
body until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg.

5. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 7. Repeat at least 3-5 times with left leg.
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Heres another exercise that stretches the muscles in the back of your legs. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.
Back of Leg
1. Sit sideways on a bench or other
hard surface, such as two chairs placed together.

2. Keeping back straight, stretch one leg
out on the bench, toes pointing up.

3. Keep other foot at on the oor. 4. If you feel a stretch at this point,
hold position for 10-30 seconds.

5. If you dont feel a stretch, lean forward
from hips (not waist) until you feel stretching in the leg on the bench.
6. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 7. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 8. Repeat at least 3-5 times with your
other leg.
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Strength Thigh
Elbow Extension Floor
1. Lie on your side with legs straight
This exercise stretches your thigh muscles. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch. If you have trouble getting down on the oor or back up again, try the Thigh Standing stretch. (See About Floor Exercises on page 80.)
and knees together.

2. Rest your head on your arm. 3. Bend top knee and reach back and
grab the top of your foot. If you cant reach your foot, loop a resistance band, belt, or towel over your foot and hold both ends.
4. Gently pull your leg until you feel
a stretch in your thigh.

5. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 7. Repeat at least 3-5 times with your
other leg.
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Heres another exercise that stretches your thigh muscles. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.
Thigh
Standing
1. Stand behind a sturdy chair with
your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees straight, but not locked.
2. Hold on to the chair for balance
with your right hand.

3. Bend your left leg back and grab your
foot in your left hand. Keep your knee pointed to the oor. If you cant grab your ankle, loop a resistance band, belt, or towel around your foot and hold both ends.
4. Gently pull your leg until you feel
a stretch in your thigh.

5. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 7. Repeat at least 3-5 times with
your right leg.
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Hip
1. Lie on your back with your legs
This exercise will stretch your hip and inner thigh muscles. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch. (See About Floor Exercises on page 80.)
together, knees bent, and feet at on the oor. Try to keep both shoulders on the oor throughout the stretch.
2. Slowly lower one knee as far as you
comfortably can. Keep your feet close together and try not to move the other leg.
3. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 4. Bring knee back up slowly. 5. Repeat at least 3-5 times. 6. Repeat at least 3-5 times with your
other leg.
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This exercise stretches the muscles of your lower back. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch. (See About Floor Exercises on page 80.)
Lower Back
1. Lie on your back with your legs
together, knees bent, and feet at on the oor. Try to keep both arms and shoulders at on the oor throughout the stretch.
2. Keeping knees bent and together,
slowly lower both legs to one side as far as you comfortably can.
3. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 4. Bring legs back up slowly and repeat
toward other side.

5. Continue alternating sides for at
least 3-5 times on each side.
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Calf
1. Stand facing a wall slightly farther
Because many people have tight calf muscles, its important to stretch them.
than arms length from the wall, feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Put your palms at against the wall
at shoulder height and shoulder-width apart.

3. Step forward with right leg and bend
right knee. Keeping both feet at on the oor, bend left knee slightly until you feel a stretch in your left calf muscle. It shouldnt feel uncomfortable. If you dont feel a stretch, bend your right knee until you do.
4. Hold position for 10-30 seconds, and
then return to starting position.

5. Repeat with left leg. 6. Continue alternating legs for at least
3-5 times on each leg.
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This is a good over-all stretch thats fun to do with a partner. It stretches your shoulders, arms, back, and legs. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch. (See Working with a Resistance Band on page 44 and About Floor Exercises on page 80.)
Buddy Stretch
1. Sit on the oor facing your buddy
and place your feet against your partners feet.

2. Both of you should grab one end of a
resistance band or towel. Depending on each persons exibility, you may need to loop two bands or towels together.
3. Slowly pull the band or towel so that
your buddy bends forward and you lean backward.

4. Hold position for 10-30 seconds. 5. Slowly return to starting position. 6. Now its your buddys turn to pull the
band or towel so that you bend forward and your buddy leans backward. Hold for 10-30 seconds, and then return to starting position.
7. Repeat at least 3-5 times. TIP
As you progress, try holding the band so that your hands are closer to your buddys, or try using a heavier strength band. Some people may be able to do the stretch by reaching out and holding hands during the stretch.
how am i doing?
chapter 5: how am i doing?
91
If youve been exercising regularly, youll soon be able to tell when its time to move ahead in your activities. For example, when you can lift a weight easily more than 10 times, its time to add more weight in your strength exercises. And when your endurance activity no longer feels challenging, its time to exercise a little longer, or make it a little more difficult, such as by walking up steeper hills.
The simple tests shown in this chapter will show you just how far youve come. You might want to test yourself every month or so. Write down your scores each time so you can see your improvement the next time you test yourself. You can record your scores on the Monthly Progress Test on page 108. You might want to do these tests for a couple of reasons. For one, most people make rapid progress soon after they start to exercise, and its encouraging to see your scores improve after just a month. For another, these tests are a good way to let you know if you are continuing to progress and you need to update your goals. For example, you may want to walk farther or lift heavier weights. But remember, it is normal for your improvement to slow down at times.
Also remember that each person is different. Some will be able to progress with time; for others, reaching a certain level of activity and staying there is right for their age and ability level. If youre not ready to do these tests, dont worry, just keep working on your current exercises and activities until you are. Whether you are testing yourself or actually exercising, your pace should never make you feel dizzy, light-headed, or sick to your stomach, and you shouldnt feel pain. And one last tip: Whether or not you do these tests, dont forget to congratulate yourself for your efforts. Tell your family and friends about your achievements. Youve made a lot of progress, and youre ready for more!
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eXerciSe & phYSicaL actiVitY
Test Yourself
Endurance. Pick a fixed course the distance from your house to the corner, once around the track at your local high school, or from one end of the mall to the other whatever is convenient. See how long it takes to walk that distance. Do this test every month or so. As your endurance improves, it should take less time. Upper-body Strength. Count the number of arm curls (see page 50) you can safely do in 2 minutes. If you are just starting to exercise, you may have to stop and rest before the 2 minutes are up. Thats okay; it still gives you a great starting point to measure your progress. Repeat the test 1 month later. The number of arm curls you can do should increase. Lower-body Strength. Count the number of chair stands (see page 60) you can safely do in 2 minutes. You may have to stop and rest before the 2 minutes are up if you are just starting to exercise. Thats okay; you will be able to measure your progress from this starting point. Repeat the test 1 month later. The number of chair stands you can do should increase.
Balance. Time yourself as you stand on one foot, without support, for as long as possible. Stand near something sturdy to hold on to, in case you lose your balance. Record your score. Repeat the test while standing on the other foot. Test yourself again in 1 month. The amount of time you can stand on one foot should increase. Flexibility. If youve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before you do this test. Sit securely toward the front of a sturdy chair, and stretch one leg straight out in front of you with your heel on the floor, toes pointing upward. Bend the other leg so that your foot is flat on the floor. With your elbows slightly bent and your hands palms down, slowly bend forward from your hips (not your waist) and reach as far as you can toward your toes. How far down can you reach until you feel a stretch? Test yourself again in 1 month. Eventually, you should be able to reach closer to your toes.

Review the safety guidelines on page 22 before testing yourself. Use the My Go4Life tools to test yourself and track your progress online at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life.
chapter 5: how am i doing?
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Other Ways to Measure Progress

As you become more active, youll probably notice other signs that youre getting more fit:
You have more energy. Your overall mood and outlook on life have improved. Its easier to do your usual daily activities. Climbing a couple of flights of stairs is easier. Its easier to get in and out of the car. You can get down on the floor and play a game with your grandchildren, and get back up again more easily when the game is over. Youre sleeping better at night. You have less pain when you move around. Symptoms of an ongoing health condition may improve.
make it social
Martys exercise buddies keep him going: Every morning I head out to the mall not to shop, but to join my mall-walkers group. At 75, Im one of the youngest members. When I retired, my wife Harriet insisted that we walk every morning. Some of us move at a steady clip through the mall, while others take a slower pace. We count our laps and keep a daily record of our progress pushing ourselves to go a little faster, a little farther. When Harriet died unexpectedly, it was quite a blow, but the walkers were my lifeline. They kept me moving when all I wanted to do was sit. At first, I walked because it was something to do each morning. But now, I realize that I like how it feels to be moving. Measuring how fast I can walk gives me goals, something to work toward. I walk and feel stronger every day. I often think of Harriet and silently thank her for insisting that we walk together.
healthy eating
CHAPTER 6: HEALTHY EATING
95
Following a healthy eating plan and being physically active are keys to a healthy lifestyle. But just what does healthy eating mean?
The answer is found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the National Institute on Aging is part of this Department). According to the Guidelines, a healthy diet:
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars Balances the calories from foods and beverages with calories burned through physical activities to maintain a healthy weight
Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products Includes lean meats, poultry, sh, beans, eggs, and nuts
ChooseMyPlate.gov, a website developed by the USDA, offers personalized eating plans, tools to help you plan and assess your food choices, and advice to help you make smart choices from every food group and get the most nutrition out of your calories.
Whats On Your Plate? Smart Food Choices for Healthy Aging, the National Institute on Agings guide to healthy eating for older adults, describes what you need to know about food groups, serving sizes, food labels, and more. Find it at www.nia.nih.gov/health.
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Tips for Healthy Eating

Here are some recommendations for healthy eating:
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, including ber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples are green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, blueberries, red watermelon, and white onions. Have them with meals or for a snack. Leave skins on your fruits and vegetables, if possible. For example, eat the skin when you have a baked potato, and snack on unpeeled apples, pears, and peaches. Dont forget to rinse fruits and vegetables before eating. Eat a diet rich in foods that contain ber such as dry beans, fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods. Breakfast is a good time to enjoy foods with ber. For example, try unsweetened, whole wheat or bran cereals, and add fruit such as berries and bananas. Season your foods with lemon juice, herbs, or spices, instead of butter and salt.
Look for foods that are low in cholesterol and fat, especially saturated fat (mostly in foods that come from animals) and trans fats (found in many cakes, cookies, crackers, icings, margarines, and microwave popcorn). Saturated fats and trans fats can increase blood cholesterol levels. Choose and prepare foods with little salt. Choose lean cuts of meat and poultry. Trim away extra fat and remove the skin from chicken and turkey before cooking. Broil, roast, bake, steam, microwave, or boil foods instead of frying. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight are important for your overall health and well-being. The secret is to balance your energy in and energy out over the long run. Energy in is the calories from foods and beverages you have each day, and energy out is the calories you burn for basic body functions and during physical activity. Your weight will stay the same when the calories you eat and drink equal the calories you burn. On the other hand, you will gain weight when the calories you eat and drink are greater than those you burn. Physical activity can help you reach and keep a healthier weight.
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Watch your portion size. Controlling portion size helps limit calorie intake, especially when eating foods that are high in calories.
Eating Out
Eating out is enjoyable, but restaurants often serve large meals, which can be high in calories, fat, and salt. Here are a few tips to help make your meal both delicious and nutritious:
Drinking Enough Fluids

Its important to drink enough liquids to keep your body working properly. This is particularly true for older adults because they often dont feel thirsty even if their bodies need uids. Drinking enough uids every day is essential for those who exercise regularly, eat large amounts of protein, use laxatives, or live in areas with high temperatures. Check with your doctor, however, if youve been told to limit how much you drink. Drink plenty of liquids such as water and other drinks without added sugar. Fat-free or low-fat milk, 100% juice, coffee, and tea also are good sources of uids, as are foods with high moisture content such as fruits, vegetables, and low-sodium broth-based soups. Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages should do so sensibly and in moderation, which means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
Order foods such as salads with lean meats, low-fat or fat-free cheeses, and other toppings. Choose low-fat or fat-free salad dressing, and ask for the dressing on the side to control how much you use. Choose foods that are baked, broiled, braised, grilled, steamed, sauted, or boiled instead of fried. With these cooking methods, little or no fat is added to the food.
QUICK TIP
Do you have a urinary control problem? If the answer is yes, dont stop drinking liquids. Talk with your doctor about treatment.

To learn more about portion sizes and have some fun at the same time, take the Portion Distortion Quiz from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. For details, see the listing on page 118 of the Resources section.
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QUICK TIP
Beware of diets that make big promises about losing weight, regaining youth, or achieving high energy. If it sounds too quick, too easy, or too good to be true, it probably is.
Hold the special sauces. Ask the kitchen not to top your dish with butter or whipped cream. Choose foods with a tomato-based or red sauce instead of a cream-based or white sauce. Cream-based and white sauces usually are made with butter, milk, and cream, and are high in calories and saturated fat. Tomato-based sauces usually contain more vitamins, less fat, and fewer calories. Use portion control: Skip the super sizes, ask for small, or share a portion. Ask for food to be prepared without added salt, and dont add salt at the table. Drink water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or other drinks without added sugars. Instead of french fries, try a small baked potato, side salad with low-fat or fat-free dressing, or fruit. Order an item from the menu instead of heading for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
What Are Dietary Supplements?

Dietary supplements are substances you might use to add nutrients to your diet or to lower your risk of health problems such as osteoporosis or arthritis. Dietary supplements come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, gel tabs, extracts, or liquids. They might contain ber, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs or other plants, or enzymes. Sometimes, the ingredients in dietary supplements are added to foods, including drinks. You do not need a prescription to buy most dietary supplements. Some ads for dietary supplements seem to promise that they will make you feel better, keep you from getting sick, or even help you live longer. Sometimes, there is little, if any, good scientic research to support these claims.
To maintain and improve your health, follow the Dietary Guidelines and be physically active every day.
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Are Dietary Supplements Safe?

Although certain dietary supplements may help some people, sometimes supplements can be harmful. For example:
Do I Need a Supplement?
Eating healthy foods is the best way to get the nutrients you need. For example, fruits and vegetables provide a variety of important nutrients, including ber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. People who eat the recommended amount of a nutrient in food and who do not have problems absorbing that nutrient will not gain any additional health benet by taking the nutrient as a supplement. For example, people who eat enough fruits and vegetables dont need extra vitamin C. Certain dietary supplements, however, can help some older adults with specic nutrient needs that cannot be met by their daily diet. For example, some older adults may not get enough calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin B12. Supplements containing these nutrients help them stay healthy. The best way to nd out if you need to take a supplement is to talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian. Together, you can review your diet, prescription medicines, and health needs, and decide whether a supplement is right for you.
Taking a combination of supplements, using supplements together with prescription or over-the-counter medications, or using them in place of medicines prescribed by your doctor could lead to harmful, even life-threatening side effects. Be alert to any warnings about these products. Some supplements can have unwanted or harmful effects before, during, or after surgery. For example, vitamin E and the herbal supplement ginkgo biloba can each thin the blood and increase the potential for bleeding. Its important to let your doctor know about the vitamins, minerals, herbals, and any other supplements you are taking, especially before surgery.
keep going
CHaPtER 7: kEEP gOIng
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Physical activity is a great way to have fun, be with friends and family, enjoy the outdoors, improve your fitness for your favorite sport, and maintain your independence. Older adults also gain substantial health benefits from regular physical activity, and these benefits last even into old age. The best way to be physically active is to make it a lifelong habit. Once you get started, keep going.
Often, people decide to become more active and follow a healthy eating plan because they want to control their weight. For many people, these healthy habits do result in weight loss, but thats only part of the big picture. Healthy eating and physical activity help you become physically fit and stay healthy. Think about other lifestyle changes you can make, too. For example, smoking leads to a variety of serious diseases and can keep you from being active. So does drinking too much alcohol. Together, habits like physical activity, a healthful diet, drinking in moderation, and not smoking will help you achieve the main goal: the best of health.
TIP
On the following pages, you will find a number of worksheets you can use to help you meet your exercise and physical activity goals. Choose and use the ones that work for you.
Make copies of the blank worksheets so you can update them as you progress. Use the My Go4Life online tools at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life to set your exercise and physical activity goals and keep track of your progress.
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EXERCISE & PHYSICal aCtIVItY
Activity Log
For a couple of weekdays and a weekend, write down how much time you are physically active (for example, walking, gardening, playing a sport, dancing, lifting weights). The goal is to find ways to increase your activity.
Activity Weekday 1
Number of Minutes
Ways to Increase Activity
Total Minutes
Weekday 2
Total Minutes
Weekend
Total Minutes
103
Goal-Setting Worksheet
Your success depends on setting goals that really matter to you. Write down your goals, put them where you can see them, and renew them regularly.
Short-term Goals
Write down at least two of your own personal short-term goals. What will you do over the next week or two that will help you make physical activity a regular part of your life?
1. 2. 3.
Long-term Goals
Write down at least two long-term goals. Focus on where you want to be in 6 months, a year, or 2 years from now. Remember, setting goals will help you make physical activity part of your everyday life, monitor your progress, and celebrate your success.
1. 2. 3.
104
Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Plan

Use this form to make your own exercise and physical activity plan one you think you really can manage. Update your plan as you progress. Aim for moderate-intensity endurance activities on most or all days of the week. Try to do strength exercises for all of your major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, but dont exercise the same muscle group 2 days in a row. For example, do upper-body strength exercises on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and lower-body strength exercises on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Or, you can do strength exercises of all of your muscle groups every other day. Dont forget to include balance and flexibility exercises.
Week of
Endurance Upper-Body Strength Lower-Body Strength Balance
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Flexibility
105
Endurance Daily Record

You can use these forms to record your endurance activities. Try to build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance activity on most or all days of the week. Every day is best.
Week of
Endurance Activity
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
How Long Did You Do It?
Week of
Number of Steps
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
106
Strength Daily Record

You can use this form to keep track of the strength exercises you do each day. Try to do strength exercises for all of your major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week for 30-minute sessions each, but dont exercise the same muscle group on any 2 days in a row. Record the number of repetitions and the amount of weight you use.
Sunday
Monday Lbs. Reps
Tuesday Lbs. Reps
Wednesday Lbs. Reps
Thursday Lbs. Reps
Friday Lbs. Reps
Saturday Lbs. Reps
Week of
Hand Grip Wrist Curl Overhead Arm Raise Front Arm Raise Side Arm Raise Arm Curl Seated Row Wall Push-Up Elbow Extension Chair Dip
Lbs.
Reps
Upper-Body Lower-Body
Back Leg Raise Side Leg Raise Knee Curl Leg Straightening Chair Stand Toe Stand
107
Flexibility Daily Record

You can use this form to keep track of your flexibility exercises. Record the number of repetitions you do.
Week of
Neck Shoulder Shoulder/Upper Arm Upper Body Chest Back 1 Back 2 Upper Back Ankle
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Upper-Body
Lower-Body
Back of Leg Thigh Hip Lower Back Calf Buddy Stretch
108
Monthly Progress Test

Take the tests on page 92 monthly, record your scores, and watch your progress.
Jan
Endurance Pick a fixed course, such as the distance from your house to the corner, and see how long it takes you to walk that far. Upper-Body Strength Count the number of arm curls you can safely do in 2 minutes. Lower-Body Strength Count the number of chair stands you can safely do in 2 minutes. Balance Time yourself as you stand on one foot, without support, for as long as possible. Repeat with the other foot. Flexibility Note how far you can reach until you feel a stretch.
Feb
Mar
Apr
May June July Aug Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
109
20
Frequently Asked Questions
1
Question:
Im not particularly active, and I havent exercised in years. Is it safe for me to start now?
2
Question:
I have a medical condition (such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease). Is it safe for me to exercise?
Answer:
If you havent been active for a long time, its important to start out at a low level of effort and work your way up slowly. Beginning slowly will help you become more fit without straining your body. For example, you may want to start with walking, biking, or swimming at a comfortable pace and then gradually do more, or start strengthening exercises with 1- or 2-pound weights and gradually add heavier weights. You may want to talk with your doctor if you decide to start a vigorous exercise program or significantly increase your physical activity.
Answer:
Exercise is safe for almost everyone. In fact, studies show that people with arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease benefit from regular exercise and physical activity. In some cases, exercise actually can improve some of these conditions. You may want to talk with your doctor about how your health condition might affect your ability to be active. (See page 20 for more information.)
110
3
Question:
Isnt it better for older adults to take it easy and save their strength?
4
Question:
How much physical activity do I need?
5
Question:
How hard should I exercise?
Answer: Answer:
The goal is to achieve at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance activity on most or all days of the week. Every day is best, but doing anything is better than doing nothing at all. Try to do all four types of exercises endurance, balance, flexibility, and strength. Try to do strength exercises for all of your major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week for 30-minute sessions each, but dont do strength exercises of the same muscle group 2 days in a row. We cant tell you exactly how many pounds to lift or how steep a hill you should climb to reach a moderate or vigorous level of exercise because whats easy for one person might be difficult for another. You should match your activity to your own needs and abilities. Start from where you are and build up from there. Listen to your body. During moderate activity, for instance, you can sense that you are pushing yourself but that you arent near your limit. As you become more fit, gradually make your activities more difficult. Generally, the more vigorous the activity and the more time you spend doing it, the more health benefits you will receive.
Answer:
Regular physical activity is very important to the health and abilities of older people. In fact, studies show that taking it easy is risky. For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesnt happen just because theyve aged. Its usually because theyre not active. According to the U.S. Surgeon Generals Report on Physical Activity and Health, inactive people are nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who are more active. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.
111
6
Question:
How long do I need to be active before I see results?
7
Question:
Do I get enough physical activity in my regular day-to-day activities?
8
Question:
Im healthy now. Why do I need to be active?
Answer:
Once you start being physically active, youll begin to see results in just a few weeks. You may feel stronger and more energetic than before. You may notice that you can do things more easily, faster, or for longer than before. As you become more fit, you may need to make your activities more challenging to see additional results.
Answer: Answer:
One way to find out is to check your Activity Log (see page 102). Did you list physical activities that get your body moving, such as yard work, walking the dog, raking leaves, or climbing stairs? How about weight training or an aerobics class? There are many ways to be active every day. The key is to do all four of the major types of exercises regularly and increase your level of effort over time. Research shows that exercise and physical activity can maintain and even improve your health. For example, exercise and physical activity can help you manage and even prevent diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
112
9
Question:
I find it hard to make myself be active. What can I do?
10
Question:
How do I find time to be active?
11
Question:
What kind of equipment do I need? I cant afford exercise equipment.
Answer: Answer:
Youre more likely to keep going if you choose activities you enjoy, if you can fit them into your schedule, if you believe youll benefit from them, and if you feel you can do them safely and correctly. Making a contract with a friend or family member also may help you keep your commitment. Setting small, realistic goals, checking your progress, and rewarding yourself when you reach your goal also can help. If you can stick with an exercise routine or physical activity for at least 6 months, its a good sign that youre on your way to making physical activity a regular habit. There are a number of ways to fit exercise and physical activity into your schedule. For example, exercise first thing in the morning before your day gets too busy, or combine physical activity with a task thats already part of your day, such as walking the dog or doing household chores. If you dont have 30 minutes in your daily routine to be active, look for three 10-minute periods.
Answer:
For many activities, you dont need any equipment or special clothing. All you need for brisk walking, for example, is a pair of comfortable, non-skid shoes. For strength training, you can make your own weights from unbreakable household items (see page 45). Many communities offer free or low-cost programs for seniors. Check with your local parks and recreation department or senior center about the facilities and programs in your area. In addition, some local fitness centers may offer senior discounts.
113
12
Question:
What if I have an injury or health problem that keeps me from exercising for a while? How do I know if its safe for me to start again?
13
Question:
I get tired easily. What is the best physical activity for me?
14
Question:
Ive been exercising for some time now. Why am I not seeing any more real improvements?
Answer:
Once you become active, youre likely to have more energy than before. As you do more, you also may notice that you can do things more easily, faster, and for longer than before. Regular, moderate physical activity can help reduce fatigue and even help you manage stress.
Answer:
As your body gets used to a level of exercise, youll need to vary your exercise or do more in order to see additional progress. If you are able, do your activities longer, farther, or harder. Do the activities more often, or add new physical activities to your routine.
Answer:
If you miss a few days or weeks of exercise because of an injury or illness, dont be discouraged. Once you recover, you can start again and be successful. Talk with your doctor about when you can resume your regular routine. When you start again, begin at about half the effort you were putting in when you stopped, then gradually build back up. With a little time, youll be back at the same, or a better, fitness level.
114
15
Question:
Im 81 years old. Should I be exercising, and will it make a difference at my age?
16
Question:
What kinds of shoes are best for walking or other types of physical activity?
17
Question:
Do I need to do other exercises in addition to my usual walking routine?
Answer:
Yes, staying active is important throughout life. Regular exercise and physical activity help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you enjoy. No matter what your age, you can find activities that meet your fitness level and needs.
Answer:
Look for sensible shoes that support your feet. Make sure they have flat, non-skid soles and are comfortable. Avoid shoes with thick, heavy soles. If tying laces is difficult, look for shoes with Velcro fasteners. When you buy shoes, try on several pairs so that youre sure to get a pair that fits well. (See page 22 for more on getting the right shoes.)
Answer:
Most people tend to focus on one type of exercise or activity and think theyre doing enough. Try to do all four types endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance because each one has different benefits. Doing one kind also can improve your ability to do the others. In addition, variety helps reduce boredom and risk of injury.
115
18
Question:
Is it better to join an exercise class or group, or exercise on my own?
19
Question:
If Im overweight or obese, what kinds of physical activity can I do?
20
Question:
I dont do any kind of physical activity, but I watch my diet and Im not overweight. Isnt that enough?
Answer:
There are many ways to be active. The key is to find activities you truly enjoy. If you prefer individual activities, try swimming, gardening, or walking. Dancing or playing tennis may be for you if you enjoy two-person activities. If group activities appeal to you, try a sport such as basketball or join an exercise class. Some people find that going to a gym regularly or working with a fitness trainer helps them stay motivated.
Answer:
You can do all kinds of physical activities, including the four types of exercise shown in this guide. Try walking, water exercises, dancing, or weight lifting. Anything that gets you moving even for only a few minutes a day in the beginning is a healthy start. Very large people may face special challenges. For example, you may not be able to bend or move easily, or you may feel self-conscious. Facing these challenges is hard but it can be done. Feel good about what you can do, and pat yourself on the back for trying. It should get easier.
Answer:
Eating a nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy weight are only part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity is important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you enjoy and to stay independent as you get older. Together, healthy habits such as physical activity, a balanced diet, and not smoking will help you achieve the best of health.
116
Resources
For more information about exercise and physical activity, visit NIHSeniorHealth, the senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. You can read exercise stories featuring older adults and the diverse activities they enjoy. The website is easy to use. You can make the text bigger and the contrast better. Visit www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov.
For more information on health and aging, contact: National Institute on Aging Information Center P.O. Box 8057 Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057 800-222-2225 (toll free) 800-222-4225 (TTY/toll free) www.nia.nih.gov www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life Many groups have information about physical activity and exercise for older adults. The following list of resources will help you get started.
Administration on Aging Washington, DC 20201 202-619-0724 www.aoa.gov American Academy of Family Physicians P.O. Box 11210 Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210 800-274-2237 (toll free) www.familydoctor.org Exercise & Seniors
RESOURCES
117
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 6300 North River Road Rosemont, IL 60018-4262 847-823-7186 www.aaos.org Seniors and Exercise Exercise for Persons 60 Years and Older American College of Sports Medicine P.O. Box 1440 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440 317-637-9200 www.acsm.org American Council on Exercise 4851 Paramount Drive San Diego, CA 92123 888-825-3636 (toll free) www.acefitness.org American Physical Therapy Association 1111 North Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 800-999-2782 (toll free) www.apta.org For the Young at Heart: Exercise Tips for Seniors
American Podiatric Medical Association 9312 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814-1621 301-581-9200 www.apma.org 2009 Walking Guide Walking Tips for Seniors Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30333 800-232-4636 (toll free) www.cdc.gov Growing Stronger: Strength Training for Older Adults! How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 800-MEDICARE (toll free) www.medicare.gov
Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Information Center National Agricultural Library 10301 Baltimore Avenue Room 105 Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 301-504-5414 www.nal.usda.gov/fnic www.ChooseMyPlate.gov Dietary Guidelines for Americans Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 202-366-8029 http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ ped_bike Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Mail Code 1107A Room 2512 Ariel Rios North Washington, DC 20460 202-564-2188 www.epa.gov/aging/index.htm Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging
Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20580 877-382-4357 (toll free) www.ftc.gov Avoiding the Muscle Hustle: Tips for Buying Exercise Equipment Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 5100 Paint Branch Parkway HFS-009 College Park, MD 20740-3835 888-723-3366 (toll free) www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ CentersOffices/OfficeofFoods/ CFSAN/ International Council on Active Aging 3307 Trutch Street Vancouver, BC V6L-2T3 Canada 866-335-9777 (toll free) www.icaa.cc National Cancer Institute 6116 Executive Boulevard Room 300 Bethesda, MD 20892-8322 1-800-4-CANCER (toll free) www.cancer.gov Physical Activity and Cancer Fact Sheet
118
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine P.O. Box 7923 Gaithersburg, MD 20898 888-644-6226 (toll free) www.nccam.nih.gov Tai Chi for Health Purposes National Commission for Certifying Agencies 2025 M Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 202-367-1165 www.credentialingexcellence. org/p/cm/ld/fid=86 National Council on Aging 1901 L Street NW, 4th Floor Washington, DC 20036 202-479-1200 www.ncoa.org National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 301-592-8573 www.nhlbi.nih.gov Portion Distortion Quiz Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 1 AMS Circle Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 877-226-4267 (toll free) www.niams.nih.gov Exercise for Your Bone Health Living with Arthritis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3560 800-860-8747 (toll free) www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov What I Need to Know About Physical Activity and Diabetes Diabetes HealthSense: Resources for Living Well National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894 www.medlineplus.gov Search Health Topics for exercise and tness information.
Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health 6100 Executive Boulevard Room 3B01, MSC 7517 Bethesda, MD 20892-7517 301-435-2920 www.ods.od.nih.gov Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 1101 Wootton Parkway Suite LL100 Rockville, MD 20852 240-453-8280 www.odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Be Active Your Way: A Guide for Adults Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Department W Tower Building, Suite 560 1101 Wootton Parkway Rockville, MD 20852 240-276-9567 www.fitness.gov
Weight-Control Information Network 1 WIN Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3665 877-946-4627 (toll free) www.win.niddk.nih.gov Active At Any Size Young at Heart: Tips for Older Adults Fit and Fabulous as You Mature WalkingA Step in the Right Direction YMCA 101 North Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 800-872-9622 (toll free) www.ymca.net YWCA USA 2025 M Street NW, Suite 550 Washington, DC 20036 202-467-0801 www.ywca.org
acknowledgmentS
119
Acknowledgments
The National Institute on Aging brought together some of the Nations best-informed experts on the topic of exercise for older adults to discuss the writing of this book. Each of these experts is a major force in research devoted to improving the health and independence of older adults, and their work is reflected throughout this guide. We are grateful to them and to other leaders in the field for sharing their expertise.
Panel Members
Steven N. Blair, PED, Professor Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina David Buchner, MD, MPH, Chief Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, PhD, Head Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Abby C. King, PhD, Professor Health Research & Policy and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
Colin Milner, Chief Executive Officer International Council on Active Aging Marcia Ory, PhD, MPH, Professor Social and Behavioral Health and Director, Active for Life National Program Office, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A & M University Marco Pahor, MD, Director Institute on Aging, University of Florida Health Science Center Thomas Prohaska, PhD, Co-director for Research on Health and Aging Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago James Whitehead, Executive Vice President, American College of Sports Medicine Donald A. Williamson, PhD, John S. McIlhenny Endowed Professor Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Panel Co-chairpersons
Chhanda Dutta, PhD, Chief Clinical Gerontology Branch, Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, National Institute on Aging Jack Guralnik, MD, PhD, Chief Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging
120
Special thanks
The following members of the American College of Sports Medicine reviewed the sample exercises in the guide: Grace DeSimone, Director, Fitness Programming, Plus One Health Management Michael E. Rogers, PhD, CSCS, FACSM Research Director, Center for Physical Activity and Aging, Wichita State University Walter R. Thompson, PhD, FACSM Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University Thanks also go to Jane Hirshberg and Susanne C. Larsen from the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange for their help recruiting the participants for the photoshoot for the sample exercises.
Participants
Kelly-Marie Berry Ruth Cohen Joaquin Corrillo Ralph Glenmore Doris Kennedy Nora Lopez Bodil Meleney Quincy Northrup Paul Ramos Peg Schaefer Andy Torres Bea Wattenberg
The National Institute on Agings online exercise and physical activity campaign, Go4Life, was designed to help adults 50 and older incorporate more exercise and physical activity into their daily lives. On the Go4Life website you can: yy Find a sample exercise routine called Workout to Go yy Watch exercise videos yy Submit your own exercise success stories yy Print educational tip sheets yy Send motivational e-cards yy Listen to or download an audiobook version of this Guide yy Use interactive tools in the My Go4Life section to make an exercise plan and track your progress over time For more information visit www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life.
Personal Trainer
Michele Ryon
Writer
Anne Brown Rodgers
Editor
Karen M. Pocinki, MA NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Health Communications Consultant

Marcia Pruzan Academy for Educational Development
Design
Levine & Associates
Photography
Doug Sanford, Photogroup
Publication No. 09-4258 January 2009 Reprinted January 2013

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