Tuesday Volume 548 17 July 2012 No. 34

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tuesday 17 July 2012

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Mr Lansley: As the hon. Gentleman will—I hope— House of Commons be fully aware, the view of Ministers is clear: any reconfiguration of services must be driven not by cost but by a need to improve clinical outcomes for patients; Tuesday 17 July 2012 must be in line with the commissioning intentions of the local commissioning group; must be on the basis of The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock strong patient and public engagement; and must protect the choice available to current and prospective patients. To that extent, I hope that all the necessary information PRAYERS to support those four tests is in the public domain.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Joseph Johnson (Orpington) (Con): GP commissioners in Bromley have opened a consultation on the future of services currently provided at the Orpington hospital Oral Answers to Questions site. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the administrator recently appointed to South Healthcare trust takes account of the consultation’s findings when drawing up his proposals for how best to put SLHT on a HEALTH sustainable clinical and financial footing?

The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Lansley: I hope that my hon. Friend is aware that when I appointed the trust special administrator and set Clinically Led Commissioning a timetable for his work, I specifically added 30 days on an exceptional basis to the timetable for the production 1. Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): What of his first report, one of the exceptional reasons being assessment he has made of the effect on patients of that an accelerated consultation should take place locally clinically led commissioning. [117277] on the future of Orpington hospital. The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): (Leigh) (Lab): I shall give the Secretary Clinical leadership in the design of services for patients of State one last chance on rationing. will deliver better outcomes and improve patient experience of care. In the last year, for example, NHS Dorset The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon clinical commissioning group has worked to improve Burns): Ooh! outcomes in cardiology, dermatology and muscular-skeletal services, and NHS Nene CCG has admitted more than Andy Burnham: The right hon. Gentleman needs to 3,000 patients on to a proactive care scheme, which I listen carefully to what I am about to say. Yesterday, he have had the privilege of seeing for myself, to identify promised action to stop the restricting of cataract operations and reduce the risks of people needing an emergency for financial reasons, if given evidence. How about this admission. That is one reason why the number of emergency example? NHS Sussex has imposed severe restrictions admissions to hospital in the NHS fell by 1%. that contradict the Department’s own guidance, “Action on Cataracts”, and this has seen the number of operations Stephen Mosley: The Secretary of State will be aware in Sussex fall from 5,646 in 2010 to 4,215 in 2011. Does of Chester’s location on the border with and of the Secretary of State consider that fair to older people, and the issues with cross-border health care commissioning. will he now take the action his Department has promised? In order to ensure that there will be no financial shortfall for the West Cheshire CCG in relation to the treatment Mr Lansley: I have made it clear to the right hon. of patients who are registered with general practitioners Gentleman many times, as has the Minister of State, my in Wales but who receive treatment in , will he right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns), confirm that the cross-border commissioning funding that it is not acceptable and we will not allow NHS protocol between England and Wales will be fully commissioners to impose blanket bans. I will gladly implemented? take note of and investigate that example, but I have to Mr Lansley: I would be grateful if my hon. Friend could say that the right hon. Gentleman wrote to me with a convey my best wishes to the Countess of Chester hospital, document that purported to contain a series of examples which I visited just before Christmas, and my appreciation from across the country, most of which turned out to be of the work of the West Cheshire CCG. I can confirm fictional. I shall respond in writing about NHS Sussex that discussions between officials in the Welsh Government, and put a copy in the Library of the House, but, as I my Department and the NHS Commissioning Board have made clear, we, unlike our predecessors, will not are under way to extend and renew the protocol for accept any blanket ban on treatment. Any treatment cross-border commissioning for 2013-14 and beyond. must be clinically determined in the interests of patients. Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): If the Andy Burnham: Well, the right hon. Gentleman is Secretary of State believes that the reconfiguration of accepting it, and he continues to dispute my evidence, hospitals is clinically rather than finance led, will he but what does he say to the president of the Royal ensure that NHS North West London publishes full College of Ophthalmologists, who said yesterday of risk assessments of its decision to close four accident cataract restrictions: and emergency departments and replace them with “They are arbitrary and are a response to financial pressures, urgent care centres? not clinical needs”? 825 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 826

The reason for the Government’s denial is that the Paul Burstow: In fact, in October 2010 this Government financial pressures are greater than they care to admit. took an important decision about the funding of social The figures released by the Treasury yesterday confirmed care: to invest an extra £7.2 billion. I wish Opposition that he and the Government have now cut the NHS Members would stop running local authorities down budget for two years running, but they also reveal and support the ones that are doing the right thing and something else: another real-terms cut planned for 2013-14. ensuring that they spend the money the Government Do not their flagship promises on NHS spending now have provided to them on social care, rather than cutting lie in shreds, and will this Prime Minister not be for ever those services. That is what I am doing; I hope that the remembered as the man who cut the NHS, not the deficit? hon. Lady will as well. I just wish that she had prefaced her comments by apologising for 13 years of Labour Mr Lansley: It is staggering, isn’t it? In 2010-11, the failure on social care. NHS budget was set by the right hon. Gentleman, not by us. The final accounts for 2011-12 will not be published Mr Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood) (Con): I welcome until the autumn. I wish he would just get up at the my hon. Friend’s statement today and the announcements Dispatch Box and admit that over the course of this last week about the future structure and the commitment Parliament the coalition Government will increase the to introduce legislation later in this Parliament in line NHS budget in England by 1.8% in real terms, which is with the draft Bill. Will he confirm that it is the £12.5 billion in cash, whereas the Wales Audit Office Government’s intention to pursue the cross-party talks has said that a Labour Government in Wales will cut on funding options for the Dilnot package, and that if the NHS budget over the same period by 10% in real solutions can be found, they can be included in the terms. legislation that is introduced? Social Care Paul Burstow: Notwithstanding some of the perhaps intemperate exchanges we have in this place, my colleagues 2. Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab): What and I are still determined, if those on the Opposition steps he is taking to bring forward legislative proposals Front Bench are, to engage in talks on how we reform on the funding of social care. [117278] the funding system. Indeed, the debate we had in the Chamber last night confirmed that both sides of the 15. Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): House wish to support the principles of the Dilnot What steps he is taking to bring forward legislative reforms, so I hope that we can have such talks and that proposals on the funding of social care. [117294] they can be reflected in the Bill.

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): I Burstow): The draft Care and Support Bill contains welcome the Government’s commitment to support the clauses that support our commitment to introduce a provision of free and fully integrated end-of-life care. universal deferred payments scheme and a national eligibility While the palliative care funding pilots are progressing, threshold. We have set out our intention to base a new can lessons be learnt quickly in my borough of Enfield funding model on the principles of the Dilnot commission where, sadly, most people are dying in hospital rather model and we will take a decision in the next spending than, as is their choice, at home or with the support of review. local hospices? Paul Burstow: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Mrs Glindon: Last week the Secretary of State dismissed Just last week we published the world’s first ever survey the concerns of Labour MPs about councils being hard of bereaved people’s experiences of the end-of-life care pressed to find funds to implement any of the proposals. received by loved ones. It revealed quite stark variations The Local Government Association stated that there from one part of the country to another, and will prove was no money.Will the Minister now commit to legislation a valuable tool in driving up performance of areas that in this Parliament to sort out the funding of social care are not doing well by families in end-of-life care. As for at local level? the White Paper, we have said clearly that we are committed to doubling funding for the pilots to ensure that we have Paul Burstow: It does not need legislation to sort out the data to take decisions about the introduction of free the amount of money that goes into social services; it personal care when it comes to end of life. does need legislation, however, to put in place a universal deferred payments scheme. We have made it clear that (Leicester West) (Lab): Opposition Members we will fully fund the commitment that we have already are genuine in our desire to reach cross-party consensus announced and we will work with the Local Government on the funding of social care. Will the Minister demonstrate Association and others on its detailed design and his Government’s seriousness by agreeing to include implementation. Treasury Ministers directly in the cross-party talks, as Labour has offered to do from the start? Barbara Keeley: The verdict of the Care and Support Alliance on the delay in introducing legislation to reform Paul Burstow: Talks that start with lots of preconditions social care funding is this: are not going to be very good talks to start with. The “Each day of delay condemns greater numbers of older and Government always retain the responsibility for making disabled people to the risk of isolation and neglect,” decisions about taxation and spending priorities. We set trapping people in hospital and pushing many more out our position last week on the Dilnot Commission, carers to “breaking point”. Just when will the Government and we now have a clear basis for talks, as those on both realise the damage done by delaying the decision to do sides of the House seem to agree on the principles of anything about funding social care? Dilnot as the basis for reform. 827 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 828

NHS Performance to improve their efficiency have backfired, with jobs being cut and agency staff being hired at rates as high as £1,600 a day? 3. Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con): What assessment he has made of the performance of the NHS in 2011-12; Mr Lansley: No, I will not accept any such thing. We and if he will make a statement. [117279] are aiming to reduce agency staffing costs in the NHS under QIPP—the quality, innovation, productivity and The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): prevention programme—by £300 million, and we have At the beginning of this month, I laid my first annual already made a reduction of more than £120 million. report before the House setting out the achievements of Since the election, in complete contrast to the situation the health service in 2011-12. The report showed that beforehand, we have reduced the number of administrative the NHS had continued to maintain or improve all the staff in the NHS by 15,000, including a reduction of key performance standards while delivering unprecedented more than 6,000 managers. We have also increased the efficiency savings and a strong financial out-turn. That number of clinical staff by 4,000 since the election. is a testament to the achievements of all NHS staff. Social Care Chris Kelly: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Will he confirm that the numbers of people 4. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): waiting over 18 weeks, over 26 weeks and over 52 weeks What steps he is taking to improve the quality of care for treatment are now at their lowest-ever levels—lower provided in residential and nursing homes. [117280] than when Labour was in office? Will he also confirm that that gives the lie to Labour’s claims that waiting 9. Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): What steps he lists are increasing? is taking to improve social care services. [117286]

Mr Lansley: Yes; I am grateful to my hon. Friend. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul When we came into office, something like 209,000 people Burstow): The White Paper introduces new measures to had waited over 18 weeks. We have reduced that figure help us to deliver better quality services and to improve to 160,000. The number waiting over a year was nearly the care that people experience, including through greater 19,000, and we have brought that down to below 5,000. transparency, with new provider quality profiles and I remind Opposition Members that in Wales the target new care audits. It also clarifies what quality in care and for the number waiting more than 26 weeks has not support means, by setting out principles, standards, been met—the figure stands at 6%, whereas in England roles and responsibilities for driving up the quality of it is 2.2%. care. The White Paper makes it clear that we will rule out crude commissioning by the minute, which turns Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): In regard to care workers into clock-watchers, and that we will work improving cancer outcomes, will the Secretary of State with commissioners, care providers and people who use consider using some of the underspend in the cancer services and carers in order to bring to an end drugs fund to allow improved access to advanced commissioning practices that undermine people’s dignity radiotherapy? and choice.

Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for Andrew Selous: I recently visited Ashton Lodge residential that question, because it allows me to confirm that the home in Dunstable, and I was delighted to hear from annual report states that the NHS has met all the cancer the residents how kind the staff were. Occasionally, waiting time standards, and that we in England have however, I get letters from constituents detailing simply provided for 12,500 patients to have access, through the unacceptable levels of care for their family in residential cancer drugs fund, to cancer drugs that they would not homes. How can we involve local communities more so otherwise have been able to have. It is a matter of regret they take a role in ensuring that all residential homes that a similar cancer drugs fund is not available for have consistently high standards of care? exceptional treatments in Wales. Paul Burstow: I am grateful for that question. Indeed, one of the issues set out in the White Paper is the John Pugh (Southport) (LD): What part or percentage collaboration by the Department of Health and others of the £5.8 billion efficiency savings can be attributed to with leaders in the care sector to make sure that care the salary freeze alone? homes become much more embedded as part of their local communities and much more genuinely open to Mr Lansley: If I may, I will write to my hon. Friend in their local communities—working with local schools order to convey the precise figure. From my recollection, and working with HealthWatch, which will have powers I believe that the bulk of the £5.8 billion efficiency of entry to work with those care homes as well. By savings—£2.8 billion—was in the acute sector. As most turning the spotlight on in a benign way, making sure of the acute sector’s costs are pay costs, the pay freeze that all care homes are more open to their public, will have contributed a significant part of that. I think we can significantly improve quality.

Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and ) Laura Sandys: In parallel with the social care budget, (Lab): Will the Secretary of State accept that some of do the Government see a strong role for GPs to look at those so-called efficiency savings are totally counter- prevention—putting in special monitoring as people get productive? Despite Ministers’ claims to be saving money older to ensure that we stay younger and fitter for on agency staff, is not the truth that hospitals’ attempts longer? 829 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 830

Paul Burstow: Indeed we do. We identify in the White Tom Greatrex: I thank the Minister for that reply. I Paper the fact that there has been a postcode lottery for am sure he will be aware that Nicola Sturgeon, the many years when it comes to access to primary care in Health Minister in the devolved Administration at our care home sector. The White Paper sets out how to Edinburgh, announced earlier this year that all the ensure that we begin to eradicate that postcode lottery. under-18s requiring an insulin pump would get one. My By establishing a national commissioning board to constituent 13-year-old Fiona Clark has been told by commission primary care, we can ensure greater consistency Yorkhill hospital in that she will have to wait in the future. an unspecified time to receive the pump her doctors say she needs. Given that the National Institute for Health Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): What and Clinical Excellence estimates the standard benchmark conversations has the Minister had with his counterpart rate for the uptake of insulin pump therapy for type 1 in in respect of protecting the high diabetes in England is 12.4%, will the Minister offer his standards of residential and nursing care that already Department’s assistance to help those in to get exist for the people in Northern Ireland? above the current paltry 3.1% uptake?

Paul Burstow: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her Mr Burns: I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman, question. Indeed, officials in my Department are in close but as he will appreciate as a Scottish Member of contact with officials in all the devolved Administrations Parliament, this is a devolved responsibility for the to make sure that we share best practice across the Scottish Government. On the specific issue—[Interruption.] nations so that we drive up the quality of care for all. If the right hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) would shut up, it would be helpful. It would probably be Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Only useful if the hon. Gentleman raised the specific issue last week, the Secretary of State said about care: with the Scottish Government, but on the general principle “The…number of delayed discharges is broadly the same as it let me say that we are determined, certainly in England, was last year and, I believe, from memory, the year before—I will to do all we can through education, the workings of the correct the record if not.”—[Official Report, 11 July 2012; Vol. 548, NHS and the operating framework to ensure that the c. 322.] number of people receiving pumps increases, as it already Figures published by his own Department show the has in the last two years. number of delayed days is up by 18% in the last year and 29% since August 2010. Are Ministers completely Nursery Milk Scheme out of touch with reality, or would the Minister now like to correct the record? 6. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Paul Burstow: Of course what the hon. Gentleman How many children received milk through the nursery omits to mention in seeking to give an impression is milk scheme in each of the last three years. [117282] this: the implication is that social services are not coping with delayed discharges and are the principal cause of The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health them, but the figures do not bear that proposition out. (Anne Milton): In 2009-10, the number of portions [Interruption.] Indeed, the extra investment the Government funded was 218 million. In 2010-11 it was 262 million, are making in reablement services means that discharges and in 2011-12 it was 271 million. Of course, children in this area are being assisted and improving— do not necessarily attend nursery five days a week, so [Interruption.] the number of portions does not equate to the number of children, so, say, 1 million children attending full- Mr Speaker: Order. The question has been asked, time or 2 million attending 2.5 days a week. and the Minister is giving his answer. Members may like it or dislike it, but they have a duty to listen to it with Diana Johnson: In Hull the nursery milk scheme has courtesy. While I am about it, let me emphasise that never been more needed, at a time when poverty is there is far too much sedentary noise coming from both increasing and food banks are expanding. Will the Front-Bench teams. I think that the Minister has finished Minister guarantee that no child who currently receives his answer; we are grateful to him. nursery school milk will lose out after the results of the consultation have been published? Insulin Pumps Anne Milton: As the hon. Lady will know, we are 5. Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) consulting on a range of options to modernise the operation (Lab/Co-op): What assessment he has made of the of the scheme. The cost rose to £53 million in 2010-11, availability of insulin pumps for young diabetics. and is due to rise to about £67 million in 2012-13. Given [117281] those massive increases, we need to look at the scheme’s operation to ensure that we are getting good value for The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon money. Burns): We are currently undertaking a national audit to give us a clear picture of provision of pump services 10. [117287] Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab): Does the Minister in England. This will be published shortly. The rapid accept that the cost may well have risen because more response survey for 2010-11 suggests that half of all children are receiving free milk? Because the consultation those eligible for a pump in England already have one, is being launched during the school holidays, it will be or have funding agreed—a significant improvement on extremely difficult for schools to respond. If this is a the initial survey in 2010. genuine consultation which aims to ensure that milk 831 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 832 reaches the children who need it, will the Minister the country, particularly London, have substantial consider extending the deadline into September and unregistered populations, which often include the groups October? who are most at risk.

Anne Milton: The consultation has been running for David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): Does my right some time now, and I should have thought that local hon. Friend agree that one of his important initiatives authorities in particular would have had plenty of time that could reduce health inequalities is the development in which to respond. Given that 8,962 settings are of personal care budgets, which give real power and paying more than 90p for a pint, which is an outrageous choices to patients, and also have the potential to reduce amount, it is extremely important for us to hear from hospital admissions and costs? everyone. If the hon. Lady feels that there has been any problem with responses to the consultation and would Mr Lansley: Yes, since the election we have pushed like to drop me a line, I shall be happy to respond. forward with offering access to a personal care budget to those who are in receipt of care and support. At the time of the last election, about 168,000 people were Health Inequalities exercising that right. The figure now is over 432,000, and we are extending the scheme so that, for example, 7. Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con): What steps he is people in receipt of continuing health care through the taking to reduce health inequalities. [117283] NHS will not lose the opportunity for personal care when the NHS takes over that responsibility; instead, The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): that will continue as a personal budget under the NHS. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 established the first legal duties to reduce health inequalities for national Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): Does health service commissioners and for the Secretary of the Secretary of State think any of the steps he set out State. Both the NHS and public health outcomes in his original answer will lead to a repeat of the shock frameworks will have a strong focus on reducing inequalities rise in the number of cancelled operations in the local in access to health services, and on inequalities in the hospitals serving my constituents, the figures for which health outcomes of the population as a whole. were recently set out in a written answer to me by his Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns)? Mark Menzies: My right hon. Friend will be aware of the inequalities in diagnoses of dementia around the country. What steps has he taken to reduce that variation Mr Lansley: The number of cancelled operations in diagnosis rates? rises at certain times during the winter, and it did so during last winter. We are clear about the necessity of ensuring that patients do not have cancelled operations Mr Lansley: As I think my hon. Friend will know if we can avoid that, and, in particular, that those whose from recently published data, some of the pilot work operations are cancelled have access to treatment rapidly involving general practices demonstrated that it was thereafter. The key is to make sure, as we have done, possible to increase substantially the number of patients that patients have timely access to treatment under the diagnosed with dementia. I believe that during the pilot referral to treatment times guidelines, and as the hon. period there was an increase of two thirds, more than Gentleman will be aware, the average waiting time for 60%, in the number diagnosed. As part of the Prime treatment in the NHS has fallen since the election, as Minister’s dementia challenge, we are using quality has the number of people waiting a long time for incentives in the NHS to identify and refer patients who treatment. That is the strongest measure for ensuring all are admitted to hospital with potential dementia in patients get timely to access to care. order to improve their diagnosis and treatment. We hope that that and other measures will identify more of Wythenshawe Hospital A and E those whose dementia is at an early stage, and will also assist their treatment. 8. Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): How many patients attended the accident and Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): One of the key elements emergency department at Wythenshawe hospital in the in the tackling of inequality is funding. The funds last 12 months for which figures are available. [117285] allocated to the clinical commissioning groups was set out in the operating framework, which related to GPs’ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon patient lists. It has now been changed to take account of Burns): The Department does not collect data on accident data from the Office for National Statistics. Will the and emergency attendances at hospital level. These data Secretary of State assure me that deprived areas will not are only available at trust level. In the 12 months up to lose out on the funds allocated to CCGs—not the 8 July 2012, there were 108,393 accident and emergency per-head funds, but the funds allocated to CCGs as a attendances at University Hospital of South result of the change? NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Lansley: As I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, Paul Goggins: I am grateful to the Minister for that we will publish the allocations for 2013-14 later this year. reply, and I am sure he will want to join me in thanking However, we are ensuring, I think rightly, that the the staff at Wythenshawe A and E department, particularly allocations to clinical commissioning groups for NHS given that that colossal number of 108,000 attendances services reflect the population, because they have a has taken place in a unit originally designed for 70,000 responsibility for the whole population. Some parts of patients. However, if the A and E department at Trafford 833 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 834 general hospital is closed, as is currently proposed, that Mr Burns: I am most grateful for your protection, would lead to a still greater increase in the number of Mr Speaker. patients at Wythenshawe A and E. Given that, is it not essential that the £11.5 million that will be required for Mr Speaker: I thought it might be helpful! extra facilities at Wythenshawe should be made available? Mr Burns: I am most grateful. Mr Burns: I hope the right hon. Gentleman is not Of course, the hon. Gentleman is playing with the disappointed, but I cannot add anything to the answer I figures. As he knows from previous discussions, he is gave in the debate we had last week when he asked that talking about the SITREP—situation report—figures, specific question. I can assure him, however, that local which do not form the basis of the figures the Government commissioners have assessed the impact of the proposed use. [Interruption.] If he will keep quiet for a minute changes at the Trafford and other hospitals, including and listen, I will reiterate the point I made last night. Wythenshawe. The plans are still at an early stage and Regarding A and E waits of under four hours and the are yet to go to public consultation, and I have been percentile of 95, we are at 96%, which means we are informed that local commissioners will continue to within and above the level set down by the Government’s review the impact of these changes on the other hospitals, figures. including Wythenshawe. I urge the right hon. Gentleman, other Members whose constituencies are in the area Health Allocation Formula and their constituents to contribute fully to the consultation process. 11. David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con): What Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): The Minister plans he has to review the health allocation formula. knows that the proposal is, first, to reduce services at [117288] the Trafford to urgent care provision and then, within not less than two to three years, to a minor injuries unit. The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): What processes will be put in place to ensure that the Advisory Committee on Resource most stringent criteria are applied in respect of investment Allocation is reviewing the allocation of resources for in Wythenshawe and the other hospitals, as well as in the NHS through clinical commissioning groups, and Trafford community services and improved services to for local authorities in relation to their future public patients, before any such further move is contemplated,? health responsibilities. ACRA’s interim recommendations on the preferred distribution of public health resources Mr Burns: As the hon. Lady will be aware from the were published on 14 June. The NHS formula will be debate we had last week, these proposals are subject to published in due course. The draft mandate for the the consultation process and to consideration of the NHS Commissioning Board makes it clear that it should results. Commissioners fully recognise the need to minimise provide resources to secure equal access for equal need. the impact the changes will have on neighbouring A and E departments and other services. The Trafford and David Mowat: I thank the Secretary of State for that South Manchester clinical commissioning groups are answer. It is becoming increasingly clear that ageing is a working on developing further integrated care services, key driver of health care costs, yet the ACRA formula and on developing community care services as an alternative currently does not properly take that into account, to to hospital care, as well as on ensuring that the final the detriment of towns such as Warrington. Can he decisions meet the needs of the local health economy by confirm that under the new formula, ageing will be providing first-class quality care for the people of that more prominent? area. Mr Lansley: Yes. As my hon. Friend will know, under Mr Jamie Reed (Copeland) (Lab): Of course, it is not the existing formula, age was the single biggest factor, just Wythenshawe A and E that is facing difficulties. All but what is important is that the formula accurately Members throughout the House are grateful for the reflects the factors that will give rise to need for health work our medical professionals do in extremely trying care, so that the allocation of resources can respond circumstances, but the truth is that the Government’s directly to that need. Ensuring separately that there is chaotic reorganisation has resulted in longer waits in an allocation to local authorities for public health, accident and emergency. The Minister of State said that which will be measured in relation to mortality below last night that A and E departments were meeting the the age of 75 in particular, will enable those resources target, but figures published by his Department last separately to be focused on, for example, areas of greatest week show that the Government have failed to meet the deprivation which give rise to the poorest health outcomes. 95% target across major type 1 A and E units. If he cannot get his own figures right, he cannot expect to Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab): I am interested command the trust of patients or medical professionals. to hear the Secretary of State say that he understands Will he now take this opportunity to show some respect there is a link between deprivation and health inequality, for this House, for the public and for patients in general, in light of the new funding arrangements that seem to and correct the record? indicate that councils in the north-east will receive £17 per head less for public health, whereas councils in Mr Speaker: Order. May I just explain that the Minister wealthier parts of the country will receive £8 per head did not widen the parameters of the exchange and more. therefore they should not be widened, so he is perfectly within his rights, if he wishes, to focus his reply on Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady knows perfectly well that Wythenshawe. I hope he is not going to be too disappointed. I have said many times that deprivation can give rise to We’ll give it a go. inequalities in health outcomes. In particular, we are 835 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 836 improving substantially the framework for reducing questions and e-mails from hon. Members, via letters those health inequalities, because we are giving local and e-mails from organisations and the public, and via authorities specific, dedicated resources. Let me make it meetings. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State clear to her that under the public health allocation has received two overview scrutiny committee referrals, formula that I outlined just a few weeks ago, no part of one from the Yorkshire and Humber joint health and the country will see any reduction in its public health overview scrutiny committee and one from the royal resources from the baseline established. borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Residential Care (Funding) Mr Sharma: Is the Secretary of State confident that the committee has properly balanced the clinical decisions 12. Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): What assessment with the practical transport issues faced by families of he has made of the effect on residential care providers children with heart problems? of reductions in local authorities’ budgets. [117290] Mr Burns: The assurance I can give the hon. Gentleman The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul is that we certainly believe so, but these are matters for Burstow): Local authorities choose how best to use their the joint committee of primary care trusts, which carried funding; however, the levels of residential care provision out this review. As he will appreciate, it is totally independent are not determined solely by local council social care from the Department of Health, and rightly so. budgets. The supply of care home places is governed principally by demand from both public commissioners, Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): My right hon. Friend such as local councils and the NHS, and private purchasers will be aware of the concerns in Yorkshire about the of services. review. Can he confirm to us, for the sake of absolute clarity, with whom this decision will lie finally? Julie Hilling: Nine out of 10 residential home providers say that low council fees are creating a two-tier system, Mr Burns: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend; this as new investment is directed at wealthier areas where is the hors d’oeuvre before the main meal later today. there are more people who can self-fund, and 82% of Ultimately, if any overview and scrutiny committees of those providers say that self-funders are being charged relevant local authorities do not agree with the final more to cross-subsidise local authority-funded residents. decisions, they have a right to write to my right hon. This clearly is not fair, so what is the Minister going to Friend the Secretary of State asking him to refer the do to rectify the situation? matter,withtheirconcerns,totheIndependentReconfiguration Panel. If it is asked to look into the matter, it will then Paul Burstow: We know from the most recent survey come to a conclusion, of which it will inform my right published by Laing and Buisson that there has been a hon. Friend and he will then take a decision. 1.4% increase in the fees paid this year, compared with no increase last year. We also know that there is a Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): The Scottish surplus of places, which accounts for about 10% of the Government have decided that although the Yorkhill total number of bed places available in care homes up unit is currently unsafe, it can be made safe in the and down the country. So there is actually space, and it context of three surgeons doing 300 operations, whereas is entirely appropriate for local authorities to negotiate the “Safe and Sustainable” review, which is increasingly appropriate prices to provide good-quality care from discredited, is demanding 400 to 500 operations. Why is one locality to another. it one rule for children in Scotland and another for children in Yorkshire? Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): Following the census announcement yesterday that there Mr Burns: I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that the are elderly hot spots, including North Yorkshire, will decisions that the Scottish Government and the Scottish this is be a good opportunity for the Minister and the Health Department might take with regard to Glasgow Government to review health and social care funding to is a matter for them. The fact is that we recognise what reflect a growing elderly population in sparsely populated, is commonly accepted among the international community: isolated rural areas such as North Yorkshire? that the safest way of providing that surgery is by carrying out about 400 operations a year. Paul Burstow: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight those issues and the emerging findings from the survey. It is important to say that data will be a key NHS (Whistleblowers) consideration in how the next spending review is shaped, along with the priorities that the Government will give 14. Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) to different demographic pressures as a result. (Con): What steps his Department is taking to ensure that confidentiality agreements do not discourage NHS Children’s Heart Services whistleblowers from coming forward. [117293]

13. Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health What recent representations he has received on the (Anne Milton): The Department wrote to the NHS trusts reconfiguration of children’s heart services. [117292] most recently in January 2012 reminding them that compromise agreements should not prevent information The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon from being disclosed in the public interest. It also said Burns): I have received representations about the review that they should satisfy themselves that their organisational of children’s heart services via letters, parliamentary policies are in line with previously issued guidance. 837 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 838

Stephen Phillips: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for dentists? There happen to be more NHS-funded dentists that answer. She will be aware of the case of my in this country now than there were under the previous constituent Mr Gary Walker, the former chief executive Government. of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, who has been prevented by a confidentiality agreement from Mr Lansley: I think I can give my hon. Friend that raising his concerns about the effect on patient safety of reassurance. We are committed to increasing access to the previous Government’s targets. I want to hear NHS dentistry, and over 1.1 million more patients have Mr Walker’s concerns and my constituents are entitled been seen by an NHS dentist since May 2010 than to hear them. I hope that my right hon. Friend the before the election. Nationally, there are more dentists. Secretary of State will look into this matter and give a In 2010-11, there were 22,799 compared with 22,003 in categorical assurance that the concerns that Mr Walker the preceding year, before the election. NHS Kent and has told us about will come into the public domain. Medway has confirmed that it will have six dentists in place from 1 September 2012 who will temporarily Anne Milton: I thank my hon. and learned Friend for provide the treatment that she is looking for, and it has his supplementary question. I cannot comment on the started tendering processes to commission permanent individual details of the case, but I appreciate my hon. NHS dental services in her area. Friend’s concern that NHS staff could be prevented from speaking out by confidentiality agreements. T2. [117303] Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab): The Confidentiality and compromise agreements are allowed Minister will be aware of the 500% increase in the use in contracts, but the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 of antidepressants over the past 20 years. I welcome the provides that any clause in that contract or compromise announcement of the hundreds of millions that will be agreement between employer and employee is void in so spent on talking therapies over the next few years, but far as it acts to stop the employee making a protected will the Minister tell us specifically what funding has disclosure. been allocated for mindfulness, which is the best known treatment for repeat episode depression?

Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Co-op): Given the proliferation of new bodies being Burstow): I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that created to deliver NHS services, including a number of question. He has been a doughty campaigner and pursuer private sector organisations, can the Minister be confident of this issue and I can tell him that a number of that the NHS constitution protects whistleblowers working improving access to psychological therapies—IAPT— for private companies but delivering NHS public services? services are developing and using mindfulness-based approaches. Indeed, as the hon. Gentleman said, NICE Anne Milton: I assure the hon. Lady that all must have recommends them for the treatment of recurrent depression. regard to the NHS constitution. In fact, we issued A number of randomised controlled trials are going on guidance to NHS organisations that all contracts of to see how it might be applied to other long-term health employment should cover whistleblowing rights. In conditions. There is baseline allocated funding but there September 2010, we amended terms and conditions of is no specific earmarked funding for this particular service and guidance to the NHS on supporting and project other than in the context of the IAPT programme, taking action on concerns raised by staff. The changes in which we have invested £400 million. made to the NHS constitution make very clear the rights and responsibilities of NHS staff and their employers T6. [117307] Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North) in respect of whistleblowing. As I have pointed out, all (Con): Yesterday’s figures showed a 17% increase in the those providing services on behalf of the NHS must population of Milton Keynes over the past 10 years, have due regard to the NHS constitution. the highest outside London or Manchester, and an unexpected increase of some 4,000 over the estimate in Topical Questions the past 12 months. May I seek the Secretary of State’s reassurance that that will be reflected in future health care budgets for the city? T1. [117302] Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental Mr Lansley: As my hon. Friend will, I hope, have responsibilities. understood from previous exchanges, the focus on the delivery of care to the resident population in an area The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): covered by a clinical commissioning group will mean My responsibility is to lead the NHS in delivering that we try, as far as possible, to align resources with the improved health outcomes in England, to lead a public needs of a whole population rather than with just the health service that improves the health of the nation practice-registered population. and reduces health inequalities, and to lead the reform of adult social care, which supports and protects vulnerable T3. [117304] Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) people. (Lab/Co-op): The Government often talk about reducing the number of managers in the health service Laura Sandys: I thank the Secretary of State for that to defend the front line, but following my recent answer. Two of my local dentists have been closed as a meeting with my local representative from the Royal result of an Office of Fair Trading investigation. Although College of Nursing, can the Secretary of State confirm that is totally understandable and nothing to do with that under the Government’s definition a ward sister at the NHS, will the Secretary of State confirm to my band 7, who has a hugely important front-line role, is constituents that they will have access to NHS-funded actually considered a manager? 839 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 840

Mr Lansley: If a member of staff is professionally tests and a full three-month public consultation across qualified, they will be counted against the number of south-west London, which I am sure the right hon. managers part of the overall work force census. It Gentleman and his constituents will take part in. My remains true, as we have said, that since the election we right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be more have reduced the number of managers in the NHS by than happy to meet him to discuss the matter further. more than 6,000 and increased the number of clinical staff by more than 4,000. T8. [117309] Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab): In the north-east region, there is one neuromuscular T7. [117308] Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): Last care adviser providing dedicated specialist care and support year’s National Audit Office report highlighted for more than 3,000 people with muscular dystrophy inconsistencies in the care of patients with neurological and associated conditions. Will the Minister give assurances conditions such as Parkinson’s, which neurology networks that care advisers will continue to be funded and could address. When will the Government publish their commissioned at specialist NHS Commissioning Board review, announced last September, of clinical networks level so that they can carry on supporting community in the national health service, and will it offer any hope teams across the country? for Parkinson’s patients? Mr Burns: I give the hon. Lady that assurance. Specialised Paul Burstow: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for commissioning will be carried out through the NHS asking that question. The NHS Commissioning Board Commissioning Board. is currently conducting a review of the effectiveness of clinical networks, and the scope for expanding them. It T10. [117311] Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) includes examining the case for neurological clinical (Con): I commend the Government for their plans to networks, and a report should be published very soon. improve the care and support system, especially for an ageing population. How will the changes make a real T4. [117305] Kerry McCarthy ( East) (Lab): In difference to carers, particularly those supporting yesterday’s debate, when talking about the south-west people with Alzheimer’s and dementia? Is there more consortium, the Minister of State, the right hon. we can do to support them? Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) emphasised the need for negotiations and agreement with staff. Does Paul Burstow: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her the Secretary of State not think it was shocking that question. She is right: we have to do as much as we staff found out only through a series of freedom of possibly can to recognise and support family carers. In information requests that the consortium existed, and the White Paper, we have set out a number of steps, not can he tell me when the Department of Health first least investment of £400 million to fund more breaks found out about the consortium? for carers. We are working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to make sure that they are more Mr Lansley: I will gladly write to the hon. Lady about aware of carers and can identify more carers. We are when we were first aware of the consortium. I think it doing work to make sure we have earlier, quicker diagnosis was several weeks ago; indeed, the document referred to in more areas of dementia so that people get the support prominently in the press on Sunday had been on websites they need. Most important of all, we are making sure for some weeks, so there is nothing new about that. We that hospitals, as part of the services they provide for knew about it. I reiterate the point that I and my right people with dementia, actually deliver on NICE guidance hon. Friend made yesterday: even though under a Labour on supporting family members. Finally, the Government Government, in the 2006 legislation, powers were given are legislating, for the first time ever, on support for the to trusts to take their own decisions on the employment needs of carers. of staff, they must do so in negotiation with the staff side. We would expect that. From my point of view, the Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): South West Pay Consortium is rightly looking to maximise What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the flexibility, but I have made it clear to the pay review views of clinicians, and scientists from academia, industry body that we believe that the flexibility it needs can be and the third sector, on the impact of change on the delivered through negotiations and “Agenda for Change”. development of stratified medicines? It will not and should not require the reduction of pay for staff. Mr Lansley: I have the benefit of a review undertaken by Sir John Bell and his colleagues, which I accepted T9. [117310] Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) wholeheartedly. In particular, I immediately agreed with (LD): The clinician-led “Better Services Better Value” the recommendations, and we are implementing and review has condemned the accident and emergency funding recommendations for the establishment of centres unit, and the maternity and children’s wards at St Helier across the NHS for genetic testing to support stratified hospital, because it expects out-of-hospital services to medicine for cancer patients. be expanded instead. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss local concerns that the £5 million allocated Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): Further to the Secretary to provide the out-of-hospital services will be totally of State’s welcome response to the hon. Member for inadequate to the task? Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy), and his comments yesterday on the issue of the south-west consortium in relation to The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon pay reductions, will he apply the same attitude to pay Burns): I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for and conditions, particularly backward or downward that question. As he knows, any proposals for service regradings and other detrimental changes to terms and changes will be subject to the Secretary of State’s four conditions? 841 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 842

Mr Lansley: As my hon. Friend knows, trusts and Will he distance himself from the false information put NHS employers are responsible for the terms and conditions out by unattributable sources in his Department, which of their staff, and for ensuring, as “Agenda for Change” will undermine the performance of the hospital and intends to, that staff who effectively have the same shows little respect for the health service workers who knowledge and competences have the same pay banding, are working to improve services? wherever they happen to be across the country. That is the objective of “Agenda for Change”. As I said yesterday, Mr Burns: If I can calm the situation down. and will continue to say, “Agenda for Change” can be [Interruption.] If the hon. Gentleman will just hush I improved—we made that clear to the pay review body—but will give him the answer. we think it is possible, if the staff side works with us, to enhance “Agenda for Change”and increase its flexibilities, Mr Speaker: Order. There is, frankly, too much noise so that NHS employers can recruit, retain and motivate on both sides of the House. It does not suit the Minister their staff, with local flexibility, in a national pay framework. now for the hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) to shout from a sedentary position, and I absolutely Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Given that every understand, similarly, that it does not suit Opposition year, 1.2 million admissions to accident and emergency Members when the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues units are alcohol-fuelled, when will the Government chunter from a sedentary position. Let us have a truce, help the NHS and legislate for a minimum alcohol unit and the right hon. Gentleman can be a statesman—we price? look forward to it.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Mr Burns: As ever. I do not share the hon. Gentleman’s (Anne Milton): I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is analysis of the interpretation of what has happened very familiar with the alcohol strategy and has read it in with regard to the trust’s performance. There has been detail. It is one of the things that we need to do. Brief an historic problem with its performance, but I pay interventions, specialised treatment, the NHS alcohol tribute to the staff, who have made tremendous efforts check and, of course, changes to licensing will all make to improve performance, and have achieved some a difference. As I say, the alcohol strategy, a cross- improvement. The trouble is that it is not sustainable Government document, is out. We will respond further not to put the trust on a sustainable financial footing. in due course. The hon. Gentleman said that he would like a meeting with me or my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): Last [Interruption.] As he will know, if he keeps quiet for a week, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust cleared minute, I have written to him offering a meeting with an important milestone towards becoming a foundation my right hon. Friend, on 24 July; I hope that the hon. trust. An historical debt remains, largely as a result of Gentleman can attend. punitive accounting measures under . Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State do Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park) (Con): Cases of everything that he can to ensure that when the Royal blood poisoning from E. coli have increased by nearly Cornwall becomes a foundation trust, it is debt-free? 400% in the past 20 years, and E. coli resistance to antibiotics is almost certainly linked to record levels of Mr Speaker: I think the hon. Lady was referring to antibiotic usage on factory farms. By over-using antibiotics the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath we risk ruining for future generations one of the great (Mr Brown). For future reference, we do not refer to discoveries of our species. Will the Department put Members of the House by name. pressure on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs finally to take that issue seriously? Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend will, I am sure, know that an application for foundation trust status from the Mr Lansley: I understand the issues. Indeed, I was Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is currently being interested to see analysis some years ago of the extent of considered by my Department. The trust is being assessed antibiotic resistance in hospitals in the Netherlands. on whether it meets the quality, service, performance, Resistance was clearly much more prevalent in parts of business strategy, finance and governance standards Friesland where there was much greater antibiotic usage required if a trust is to be an FT. Once the trust has in farming. I therefore completely understand, and my demonstrated that it has met those standards in all colleagues in DEFRA understand this too. Just as we other regards, the Department will ensure that any are looking for the responsible and appropriate prescribing outstanding liquidity issues are resolved in time for the of antibiotics in the health service, my colleagues feel trust to be authorised as an FT. The process of assessing strongly about the proper use of antibiotics in farming. FT applications will ensure that any remaining debt carried by the trust when it becomes a foundation trust Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP): When the national is affordable within the trust’s forward plans. advisory council of the Thalidomide Trust recently met Government representatives, no funding undertakings Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): The chair of the South were available on the replacement of the health support London Healthcare NHS Trust has written to the Secretary grant for sufferers. When can we expect a meaningful of State to correct inaccurate information given out by commitment in that regard, and is the Department the Department of Health regarding the trust’s performance. liaising with its devolved counterparts? [Interruption.] Instead of barracking me, would the Secretary of State—[Interruption.] Instead of shouting Paul Burstow: Yes, we are liaising with the devolved at me now, it is a shame that the Secretary of State did Administrations. Yes, we had a productive meeting with not meet the local MPs when he had the opportunity. the trust and the council, which confirmed that they will 843 Oral Answers17 JULY 2012 Oral Answers 844 shortly submit to us the second-year evaluation of the pilot deep-seated problems in the Morecambe Bay health programme. I undertook to look at that carefully and enter trust, which have taken far too long to address. Will he into further discussions with a view to reaching a conclusion join me in urging those commissioners to protect services and making further announcements this autumn. such as Barrow’s maternity unit in their forthcoming review? Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Ministers may recall the concern of patients and carers in the New Mr Lansley: As we have seen in a number of instances Forest area about the decision to close a third of acute over the years in the NHS, all those responsible should adult mental health beds in Hampshire. Are Ministers always be aware that, although the responsibility for aware of a similar trend in other parts of the country, quality may be, in the first instance, for the board of a and if they are, as they should be, what do they think trust, it is also the responsibility of those who commission about it? the services. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, one of the key considerations for the future in the development Mr Burns: My hon. Friend has raised that issue in of services is for the NHS to respond to the commissioning different forms on many occasions, and feels strongly intentions of local commissioners. Clearly, the matter about it. The decision to reconfigure services in his that he raised will be determined locally as regards what constituency was made locally, and the Hampshire overview commissioners require in terms of services from Morecambe and scrutiny committee decided not to write to my right Bay trust. hon. Friend the Secretary of State asking him to refer it to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, because it presumably believes that it is the right way forward to Several hon. Members rose— continue to provide first-class quality care for patients. Mr Speaker: Order. I am grateful to Ministers and all John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op): colleagues, but as usual, demand has exceeded supply. I Does the Secretary of State agree that commissioners in am sorry to disappoint some colleagues but we must Cumbria must bear their share of responsibility for the now move on. 845 17 JULY 2012 Defence Equipment and Support 846

Defence Equipment and Support to run the organisation. Provided that the further work demonstrates that the value-for-money case for GOCO Mr Speaker: Before I call Alison Seabeck to ask the over ENDPB is conclusive, this will be followed by an urgent question, it may be for the convenience of the investment appraisal that will test the GOCO against a House if I make it clear from the outset that I intend to public sector comparator. Ultimately, this would be conclude supplementary questioning no later than half followed by a decision on whether to proceed. an hour after the start of the UQ. Brevity by all concerned should enable all those who wish to contribute to do so. Alison Seabeck: Let me be clear that there is massive consensus across this House that defence procurement must be tackled to ensure that some of the issues that 12.35 pm plagued successive Governments are not repeated. We Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): (Urgent understand the budgetary challenges faced by the MOD Question): To ask the Secretary of State to make a and agree that procurement reform is essential to ensure statement on the future of Defence Equipment and financial sustainability. Support. It was therefore a huge surprise when yesterday the Secretary of State revealed in Defence questions that a The Minister for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey): A decision had been made on the future of DE&S, but key element in the transformation process under way in that no oral statement was planned and, indeed, that it the Ministry of Defence is that of its equipment and was to be slipped out on the last day of Parliament. It support activities through the matériel strategy. Reforming was a bigger surprise, therefore, to read in the written the acquisition system to drive better value from the statement that in their third year of government, no defence budget is a core element of the process. This decision has yet been made by Ministers. The delay is as will require changes to Defence Equipment and Support worrying as it is inexplicable. With the Gray review, the to ensure that the organisation has the structures, previous Government began the process of reform. It is management and skills it needs to provide the right now unclear when it will be completed. Will the Minister equipment to our armed forces at the right time and at comment on the timing and confirm that primary legislation the right cost. Change is essential to tackle the legacy will be required for a GOCO? problems in defence acquisition that have historically The Government prefer the Government-owned, led to cost and schedule overruns and have resisted contractor-operated model, but it is unclear why. Will previous attempts at reform. the Minister explain precisely why a GOCO is preferable The current system does not help or support DE&S to an NDPB? Are his Treasury colleagues content that properly, and it is not delivering value for money for the the GOCO model offers value for money? Will he make taxpayer. Bernard Gray’s analysis reveals the following a commitment to publish the full reasoning for the root causes: first, an historically overheated equipment rejection of other models? programme in which far more projects were planned We fear that privatisation could weaken the public than could be paid for; secondly, a weak interface accountability and transparency of multi-billion-pound between DE&S and the wider Ministry of Defence, defence decision making. How would a GOCO be held with poor discipline and change control between those publicly accountable? Who would be responsible for setting requirements for equipment and those delivering ensuring that contracts were delivered to time and to the programmes; and, thirdly, insufficient levels of business cost? We have seen recently with G4S that outsourcing capability at DE&S for the scale and complexity of the does not guarantee efficiency or effectiveness, and can portfolio it is asked to deliver. The result of these increase risk. Indeed, even with the London Organising combined issues has been significant additional costs in Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic the defence budget in the order of hundreds of millions Games model, problems have arisen because Ministers of pounds each year. have been distanced from the decision-making process Earlier this year, MOD officials were asked to focus and the lines of responsibility have been blurred. Such their efforts on considering the comparative benefits issues would be unacceptable when dealing with our that could be derived from changing DE&S into an armed forces. Executive non-departmental public body with a strategic partner from the private sector or a Government-owned, Will the Minister say what will happen to existing contracts contractor-operated entity.The work done to date suggests under the GOCO model? Crucially, those include the that the strategic case for the GOCO option is stronger nuclear deterrent. Finally, what will the military’s role be than that for the ENDPB option. Further value-for-money in procurement under these plans? What guarantee can work is under way to confirm this assessment. In the he give to the 20,000 people who are employed by DE&S meantime, as resources and commercial appetite constrain that their jobs are not under threat? our ability to pursue these two options simultaneously The future of DE&S is not only about tens of thousands to the next stage, we have decided that the Department of highly skilled jobs in our defence industry, but, should focus its effort on further developing and testing crucially, about the security of our nation. Getting it the GOCO option. wrong would put lives at risk. It is vital that Parliament The work to determine value for money between the has a full opportunity to scrutinise these decisions. options will take place over the next few months. In parallel, we will begin to develop a commercial strategy, Nick Harvey: May I correct the hon. Lady’s first engaging with industry to hone our requirement. This proposition? It is clear that no decision has been made. work will support decisions later this year on whether to A study is being carried out, which involves value-for-money proceed with the GOCO option and whether to launch work. If, when that appraisal is completed, we take this a competition for a private sector management company option forward, that is the point at which the decision 847 Defence Equipment and Support17 JULY 2012 Defence Equipment and Support 848 will be made. Only when the model had been worked up Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East) (Lab): Where and thoroughly tested would we finally take the decision will these proposals leave the complex weapons contract, to go ahead. Of course, we would come back to the which has delivered such effective outcomes in Libya House at that point. and provided top-class jobs and technology throughout The hon. Lady suggested that we had slipped this the country, particularly in north-west England? announcement out. I would say that the contrary is true. If the House had not been about to go into several Nick Harvey: As far as I am concerned, the proposals weeks of recess, we would not necessarily have made a will have no impact on that. The specific contracts to statement yet. We have done so to give the House the provide particular services and products will be unaffected greatest possible transparency about what is going on by the changes. They will enable us to secure better and to send the clearest possible signal to the potential value for money in future when we make further contracts commercial partners that we are serious about this on a variety of defence procurement issues. matter and are taking it forward. I stress that the Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North) (Con): Urgent decision about timings will be taken towards the end of operational requirement contracts have played an important this year. The commercial partner would be sought in a part in recent years, but unlike with planned procurement competition during the course of next year and a decision the through-life costs are often not included in the on whether to go ahead would be taken early in 2014. initial costs. How will the through-life costs be The hon. Lady asked whether this model would accommodated in an overheated defence budget? include the nuclear component of defence. I remind her that the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston Nick Harvey: Decisions on whether any of the is a Government-owned, contractor-operated organisation, procurements that we made under the UOR process and that it works extremely well. The last Labour should be brought into the core defence programme will Government and previous Governments have made have to be taken individually in respect of each procurement. extensive use of the private sector in providing critical Some will be brought into the core programme, and at elements of our defence and other public services. I see that point a full analysis of through-life costs will have no reason to believe that it would be any less capable of to be made. Others, despite having performed well in doing so in this area. theatre, will not be brought into the long-term defence The GOCO option has looked better in the early programme. The type of scrutiny that my hon. Friend explorations because if we stuck with an ENDPB, the seeks will take place at that point. work force and the management would remain in the public sector, and the greatest possible private sector involvement Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab): How will this would be the use of a consultant. If we go for the GOCO decision, or lack of decision, affect existing contracts option, the entity will have all the freedoms of a private such as that for the A400M, on which many UK aerospace sector operator: it will recruit people on private sector terms jobs rely? and conditions, and will have an incentive to make the Nick Harvey: It will have no impact on existing thing work in a way that an ENDPB would not. contracts. It is the means by which we will secure better Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire) (Con): value for money in forming future contracts. Does my hon. Friend agree that this is a matter of such Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Can the crucial importance that it is important that it should Minister explain in a practical way how a complex and not become a party political plaything, and if it can be expensive equipment programme such as the future done in such a way as to attract the support of all sides carriers would have been better carried out under the of the House, the benefits that will flow from these new arrangements? For example, somewhere along the changes will come sooner and they will flow much more line the idea that the carriers should be easily convertible copiously, and we will reach the sunlit uplands of wonderful to take catapults was left out of the design. Would that defence procurement? situation be improved by the new arrangements? Nick Harvey: I strongly agree with my right hon. Friend. It is worth recalling that the previous Government Nick Harvey: It is probably common ground throughout asked Bernard Gray, a former Labour at the House that defence procurement has not been an the Ministry of Defence, to conduct his study of defence exemplar of success for a good many years. One reason procurement. He came forward with a compelling and, for that is that despite the good work of good people to some extent, damning report. Central among his working for DE&S, they do not have available to them recommendations was the proposition that there should the full range of skill sets that they need to negotiate on be a GOCO to run DE&S in the future. equal terms with some of the more complex providers. Granting DE&S the private sector freedoms I have We have now recruited Bernard Gray to be the Chief described will enable it to take on board the necessary of Defence Matériel and given him the opportunity go skill sets to ensure that in future negotiations and future into further depth, and it has become increasingly clear project management there is a better match between that he was absolutely right. Of course these issues will those securing value for the taxpayer and good products have to be debated, and I have explained that the for the armed forces and the private sector providers of timelines are still quite long. No decisions have yet been complex programmes. That will be a marked improvement taken, and proper value-for-money studies will continue. on how things have been in the past. To answer a question that the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck) asked, those Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Will the study that studies will be made available for everybody to have a the Minister mentioned consider the procurement and look at. This does not need to be a political football, purchasing of equipment alongside our allies and other and I hope it does not become one. countries, which could reduce costs? 849 Defence Equipment and Support17 JULY 2012 Defence Equipment and Support 850

Nick Harvey: It is certainly true that a lot of our Nick Harvey: The new body will have the same procurement is done in a cohort with our allies, and as relationship as the existing one with suppliers of such time goes forward I expect that to be increasingly the products. The new body will contain a greater degree of case. Having a Government defence equipment and private sector expertise, so it might be able to drive a support body with the freedom to operate in a quasi-private harder bargain. sector model will give us the best possible latitude to deal with a variety of allies that have differing models of Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con): We need defence arrangements. to make the best use of the defence budget and give our armed forces the tools they need to do the job, but we must also protect sovereign capability and have a strategy Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): One of our allies on where we invest our research and development budgets. is Australia. I urge the Minister to look to that country, Does the Minister agree that deciding how we organise where a Government-owned contractor-operated those two things is too important to be left to dogma? organisation seems to work successfully. Will he give me a guarantee that this Government, unlike the previous Nick Harvey: I agree with my hon. Friend that we need one, who gave away submarine engine orders to Germany, to maintain sovereign capabilities. I referred a moment will ensure that contracts are let to British industry? ago to competition law, but when there are specific exemptions that enable us to protect national sovereignty Nick Harvey: Of course, competition laws dictate the for reasons of national security, we will take them. She ability of any Government to grant contracts to onshore is right on the research and technology budgets. They suppliers. Our first and foremost consideration is to will remain an important part of our work. We cannot equip the armed forces with what they need. Our second leave it entirely to the private sector to undertake primary consideration is to ensure value for the taxpayer. If, research. It is necessary for the state to stimulate it. having ticked both those boxes, it is possible to ensure a healthy and thriving defence industry in the UK, so Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland much the better. We like to give contracts to British West) (Lab): The Minister may know that I was present suppliers when possible, but there are competition laws on 2 July at the royal opening of the new £75 million and our hands are tied. BAE System munitions factory in my constituency. It was built thanks to the innovative, 15-year munitions acquisition supply solution contract signed by the MOD Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): The Minister back in 2008, and sustains more than 200 jobs. What proposes a procurement model that allows the Government will happen with such long-term contracts, which are so to buy off the shelf from any company, whether or not important to my constituency? it is British. He will be aware that BAE lost the Typhoon contract and that a French company has preferred-bidder Nick Harvey: Nobody would suggest that everything status. If we are not prepared to give preferred-bidder that occurred under previous systems was not good. status to British companies, why should other countries Clearly, there are exemplars—some contracts worked do so? well. I am sure the facility in the hon. Lady’s constituency will be a great success and that it will support employment Nick Harvey: Clearly, it would be foolish not to consider for many years to come, but the fact that we will have a buying things off the shelf that meet the requirements more private sector-rooted procurement body will not of the British armed forces. However, I repeat that clear have any negative impact on such contracts. competition laws determine the circumstances in which we can award preferred-bidder status. In many cases, we Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): The areunabletodoso. shadow Minister spoke of the budgetary challenges facing all Governments, but was quick to gloss over her legacy—the budget was taken away from the MOD by Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): Can the Minister Labour and given to the Treasury. Does the Minister career-plan specialist officers who go into defence share my surprise at Labour Members questioning the procurement, so that they can spend longer than two new avenues of efficiency when, if they looked at the years—three or four years, perhaps—doing the job to National Audit Office major projects report 2010, they improve the efficiency of the product? would see that the majority of major projects overran, including the A400M, the Astute and the Typhoon?

Nick Harvey: My hon. Friend makes a good point. Mr Speaker: Order. The question was simply far too Even under the proposed model, we will continue to long. I do not know why the hon. Gentleman is smirking have quite a lot of military personnel inside DE&S, about it— which it needs to give it insight into the user requirement. I agree with my hon. Friend that short rotations have Mr Ellwood indicated dissent. not served DE&S well. It would be to the benefit of both the individuals and the organisation if postings were for longer periods. Mr Speaker: Order. He has abused his privilege and ought to learn from it.

Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): Thousands of Nick Harvey: There have undoubtedly been serious jobs in Edinburgh rely on companies such as SELEX problems with the procurement side of the defence business Galileo. What relationship will the new body have with for a very long time. The deficit in defence from two such private sector companies? years ago was in very substantial part caused by the 851 Defence Equipment and Support17 JULY 2012 Defence Equipment and Support 852 overheating of the procurement budget, but we have GOCO, how will the successor deterrent programme be taken dramatic steps in the past couple of years to get different if it is transferred into a GOCO? the defence budget back into balance. The Treasury can see the progress we have made, but the steps we are Nick Harvey: There will be very little difference. The proposing today will not be taken unless it is satisfied by fact of the matter, however, is that the project management the work on value for money that is currently taking place. undertaken on behalf of the MOD by DE&S will—I say this with considerable confidence—be better, because Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ there will be a higher level of skills in DE&S. It will Co-op): As the Minister has acknowledged, there have bring in a variety of new commercial skill sets of which been long-standing problems in defence procurement. it is currently short. That will secure better value for The Public Accounts Committee has taken a keen interest money and more efficient delivery of the contract. in the matter. Will he outline exactly what steps he is taking to ensure that the establishment of the GOCO Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): I thank the model is well worked up, so that we do not have some of Minister for his openness with the House at this early the problems that we have had with other procurement stage in his considerations. Will he commit to write to bodies in the past? Members of the House who represent the DE&S work force as the project progresses, particularly in relation to Nick Harvey: The hon. Lady makes a good point—that the protections available to them under TUPE regulations? is why I was at pains to spell out at the outset that the process has some considerable way to go. Only when the Nick Harvey: My hon. Friend makes a good point, work on value for money is completed will a decision be and I have been at pains to stress that despite DE&S taken on whether we are going ahead in principle. At lacking some of the skills it needs going forward the that stage, we will work the model up in detail and look work done by those who work for it is of a high quality for a competition with private sector partners. At the and is much appreciated by the MOD. We are consulting end of all of that, there will be a final testing, which the work force and the trade unions as we take these must satisfy the Treasury, among others. That will be steps forward, and as part of the ongoing consultation the point at which a decision to go forward will be we will be happy to talk to Members representing taken. There is a long route to go. constituencies where the majority of DE&S staff are based.

Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con): Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab): For clarity, who Does the Minister agree that a key indicator of the in the future do the Government intend to be accountable success of either of the two models that he has described for failures to deliver contracts on time and on budget? will be the attitude towards small and medium-sized enterprises in defence tendering in instruments such as Nick Harvey: The MOD will be the customer of the pre-qualification questionnaires, which are generally organisation and is responsible to Parliament for everything unhelpful to SMEs? it does. If there is a failure, the buck will stop with the MOD. Nick Harvey: My hon. Friend makes good points on the difficulties that SMEs believe they currently have in Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Is some of our big procurement projects. Since the move the Minister saying that under this proposal British to the MOD contracting directly with prime contractors, small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence industry which then handle subsidiary contracting, it would be will benefit? true to say that the MOD has rather lost the skill set of managing SMEs. By the time the reforms are complete, Nick Harvey: I sincerely believe that SMEs in Britain I hope that a GOCO of the sort I have described will will benefit because, at the moment, they get all their reinvest in those skill sets and that we will be better able work through prime contractors, and it is a common to manage SMEs directly. complaint of SMEs that they do badly out of prime contractors. If we rebuild the skills inside DE&S so that John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op): it can manage the supply contracts from SMEs directly—in In the light of what the Minister has said on sovereign some instances—they will benefit. That is certainly capabilities, and the fact that Aldermaston is already a what SMEs are telling us. 853 17 JULY 2012 854

Points of Order Wellingborough Prison Application for emergency debate (Standing Order 1.1 pm No.24) Mr Jamie Reed (Copeland) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday, and again this morning, 1.3 pm Health Ministers made a series of inaccurate statements. Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I seek leave What powers exist under Standing Orders for you to to move the Adjournment of the House to discuss a ask them to return to the House and correct inaccurate specific and important matter that I believe should have figures on NHS budgets, delayed discharges and accident urgent consideration—the loss of up to 600 jobs in my and emergency waiting times? constituency owing to the announcement today of the Mr Speaker: The short answer to the hon. Gentleman’s closure of Her Majesty’s Prison Wellingborough. attempted point of order is that answers to questions It is with great regret that I move this motion at all. are the responsibility of Ministers. Similarly, in the At 9.30 today, I was doing a live broadcast on BBC event of an inaccuracy known to the Minister, it is the Radio 5 Live when it was announced as breaking news Minister’s responsibility to correct the record. The hon. that Wellingborough prison was to be closed. I was not Gentleman is a determined and persistent chap, and I told in advance and have only just received an e-mail feel sure that he will pursue the path of righteousness to from the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. his satisfaction. If he remains dissatisfied, no doubt we Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), who has shall hear from him again. responsibility for prisons, outlining the plans to shut the prison. I hasten to add that this came after I learned Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): about it through the media first. On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In response to a That is in total contrast to how the right hon. Member question on 11 July, the Health Secretary told me that for Blackburn (Mr Straw)handled the situation when local government was being given sufficient funding to Wellingborough prison was put into the market testing cope with provisions in the new social care White Paper, programme. On that occasion, the then Justice Secretary but on the same day the Local Government Association rang me at 6 am on the day of the announcement to released a statement saying: ensure that I was fully briefed before the public statement. “there won’t be enough money to provide these services to anyone Clearly, the coalition Government believe in making other than the most needy, or those who can afford to pay for all of their own care.” announcements to the media before telling the local constituency MP. In the interests of accuracy, will the Secretary of State correct the record? What is most disturbing about the matter is the number of jobs that will be lost in my constituency. Up Mr Speaker: I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Lady, to 600 people might lose their employment, whether but in material terms my reply does not differ in content they are employed directly through the prison or indirectly from that which I just offered the hon. Member for through local businesses. The independent monitoring Copeland (Mr Reed). It is, at least in part, a matter of board annual report states that the prison improved interpretation. I said that the hon. Gentleman was a from a level 2 to a level 3 prison. Wellingborough prison persistent chap, but she is a persistent woman, and I feel has moved from 123rd out of 130 in the prison rankings sure that she will pursue this matter in a way she judges to 93 owing to the hard work and commitment of its fit. governor and staff. It has also become far more cost I shall now call the hon. Member for Wellingborough effective, with 5% efficiency savings in 2011-12 and (Mr Bone) to make an application for leave to propose a further planned efficiency savings of 3% projected for debate on a specific and important matter that should 2012-13. have urgent consideration under the terms of Standing This is a good, improving prison that is now being Order No. 24. The hon. Gentleman has three minutes in closed without any consultation or appeal process. Closure which to make such an application. would have significant ramifications for my constituents. The prison management and officers have done everything they were asked to do and more. The reason given for its closure is that we have too much space in our prisons. This comes after years and years of being told that they are overcrowded and that we need more spaces—the previous Government allowed prisoners out early because there were not enough spaces. There seems to be no consistency within the Ministry of Justice. With Britain’s increasing population, surely to have spaces left in prisons would be a sensible precaution, not least in case we have a repeat of last year’s riots. Hundreds of people losing their jobs in my constituency for a short-term, dubious economic saving is plain wrong. This is the wrong prison being closed for the wrong reasons at the wrong time.

Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his application under Standing Order No. 24. I understand his extreme disappointment at the decision and the 855 Wellingborough Prison 17 JULY 2012 856 alleged handling of the matter and of him. That said, Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum Standards) having listened carefully to his application, I must Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order nevertheless conclude that the matter does not, on this No. 23) occasion, meet the criteria under Standing Order No. 24. Agreeing to the application would, of course, cause the subsequent debates to be significantly delayed. I recognise 1.8 pm that my decision will disappoint him, but knowing him, Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): I beg to move, as I do, to be an extraordinarily assiduous parliamentarian, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish minimum I feel sure that it will not be long before he returns to the standards for the practice of cosmetic surgery, including non-surgical matter. I suspect that Justice Ministers are also keenly procedures; and for connected purposes. aware of that fact. The Bill would establish the regulation of cosmetic surgery.I, too, am persistent, Mr Speaker. I first introduced ROYAL ASSENT a ten-minute rule Bill on the regulation of cosmetic surgery in 1994. Unfortunately, despite calls from a Mr Speaker: I have to notify the House, in accordance wide range of organisations, not much has changed with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that Her Majesty has since. As a result, thousands of women have continued signified her Royal Assent to the following Acts: to face the horrific consequences of unregulated cosmetic Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2012 surgery. That ten-minute rule Bill generated huge publicity and hundreds of letters, and the issue of breast implants Finance Act 2012 has received even more attention of late following the PIP implant scandal in 2010. At some time in our lives, most of us have wanted to change something about ourselves. Huge pressure is put on women in particular, but increasingly on men too, to change their looks. Private sector clinics offer a multitude of cosmetic procedures to achieve the perfect shape or a wrinkle-free face. Too thin, too fat, never just right—that is the message. Cosmetic surgery, including breast implants, continues to be a growing industry. In 2011, members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons conducted almost 45,000 surgical procedures, more than 10,000 of which were breast enlargements for women. Between 2002 and 2011, the number of boob jobs rose by 324%, and it continues to rise, as do the numbers of facelifts, tummy tucks and nose jobs. Members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons also operated on more than 4,000 men, with nose jobs and man-boob jobs the two most popular procedures. That represents a 219% increase in cosmetic surgery for men since 2002, and does not include procedures carried out by people who are not members of the association, those undertaken abroad or those not yet classified as cosmetic procedures. Many people face exploitation by private sector clinics and even cowboy surgeons if they are unable to receive treatment through the NHS. Most cases of botched surgery or mistakes are then rectified by the NHS, as we have seen with the removal of PIP implants. Regulation is needed in a number of areas to reduce the risks to patients. In 1998, the then Government accepted the recommendation of an independent review body on silicone breast implants to establish a national breast implant registry. I was part of that process and took part in several meetings at the Department of Health, but the register was abandoned in 2006. I propose that we now need a register for all types of implants used in all areas of the body, including breasts, cheeks, pecs and buttocks. That would allow better monitoring of outcomes and problems as they occur, which would have been useful in the recent PIP cases. Many clinics gain much of their business from advertising in national newspapers and women’s magazines. They ask, “Is cosmetic surgery only for the rich and famous?” The answer they give is: “Not any more—it’s a lifestyle choice!” Some offer significant discounts, and there are even special deals on websites. Private clinics are now 857 Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum 17 JULY 2012 Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum 858 Standards) Standards) [Ann Clwyd] administered a general anaesthetic without an anaesthetist. Such incidents are far too common. I read last week advertising on Twitter. One even suggested that women about a children’s writer. She has been left with blurred add a boob job to their Christmas present list. Misleading vision from botched laser eye surgery at a private clinic. images and claims are used, despite tighter guidelines After a five-year battle, she has finally received £250,000 from the Advertising Standards Authority. Therefore, a in compensation, but has permanent scarring. In the ban on cosmetic surgery advertising should be introduced, Daily Mail only last week there was a piece headed, as happened in France in 2005 and as the British “Plastic surgeons offer buy one get one free on breast Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has called enlargements and nose jobs”. for. If cosmetic surgery is considered a form of medical Given all the issues and the lack of regulation in procedure—which it undoubtedly is—it should not be cosmetic surgery, it seems imperative to establish an advertised, as is the case with prescription medicines. official regulator of cosmetic surgery—OfCos, as proposed A further concern is non-surgical cosmetic procedures. by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons—to Injected fillers such as Botox currently need only a CE ensure registration and regulation of all cosmetic surgeons mark—as do fridges—and are therefore heavily marketed and practitioners in the UK. Or perhaps we should in the UK, while the Food and Drug Administration in consider a cosmetic surgery licensing body that has a the USA categorises them as medical device implants different type of structure and operates as a financial requiring approval. [Interruption.] I would be grateful guarantee system, like ATOL—air travel organisers if those on the Government Front Bench listened to the licensing—which provides financial protection for flights point I am making, because it is a scandal that Ministers and air holiday packages. have done nothing about the situation. The problem has been swept under the carpet for far The medical profession has always been controlled too long. It is now almost 20 years since I first stood and regulated by strict ethics, but the voluntary codes of here and called for greater regulation of private cosmetic practice have been breached by some operators to make surgery. The current system of self-regulation by the quick, easy money. An independent review found that private surgeons and clinics is clearly not working. As 70% of clinics in the private cosmetic sector are effectively the previous president of the British Association of unregulated and that fewer than half of all operating Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said in 2009: theatres were properly equipped in 2010. We also need “In no other area of medicine is there such an unregulated compulsory registration of all those who practise aesthetic mess…Imagine a ‘2-for-1’ advert for general surgery? That way medicine and use lasers. Facilities should be licensed lies madness!” and regulated by an independent body, such as the Care This is a complex subject, but too many people are Quality Commission. Similarly, only doctors or nurses suffering and being disfigured at the hands of cowboys qualified to do so should be able to advise patients who have been given free rein to abuse the British about cosmetic surgery.At the moment, initial consultations public’s trust in the voluntary system of medical ethics. can be undertaken by a hard-sell receptionist, and doctors The responsibility clearly lies with the Government to in private practice who lack specific experience can offer take action as soon as possible to stop any more innocent treatment which they are simply not qualified to give. people being subjected to butchery at the hands of Somebody wrote to me about her experience of some greedy, unscrupulous, and incompetent people, liposculpture in a ground-floor office in Harley street. and to introduce the kind of regulation for cosmetic She said: surgery that is long overdue. “I think the operating table was a dental chair. They asked me Question put and agreed to. to turn over on to my stomach, but the chair was the wrong shape and it was very difficult. At some stage during the operation I Ordered, woke up. I was in tremendous pain and began screaming. They That Ann Clwyd, Dr Sarah Wollaston, Fiona were still taking fat from my legs. The doctor told me afterwards that he had to continue with me awake or my legs would have Mactaggart, Valerie Vaz, Dr Daniel Poulter, Barbara been uneven.” Keeley and Sheila Gilmore present the Bill. It turned out subsequently that the “cosmetic surgeon” Ann Clwyd accordingly presented the Bill. was a general practitioner. He had performed a surgical Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on operation without any surgical training and had Friday 2 November 2012, and to be printed (Bill 60). 859 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 860 Ministers’ Interests In paragraph 34 of the report, the Committee therefore Backbench Business concluded: “Until the changes we outline have taken place, it is inappropriate to refer to the new investigator as an Independent Adviser.” Prime Minister’s Adviser on The previous Government refused to accept PASC’s Ministers’ Interests recommendation because they believed that “it must ultimately be for the Prime Minister to account to Mr Speaker: Before I call the hon. Member for Harwich Parliament for his decisions and actions in relation to the appointment and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) to move the motion, I of his Ministers”. should explain to the House that this is not a vehicle for I have to say that that rather missed the point. The the utterance of ad hominem attacks on individual Committee was not suggesting that the Prime Minister right hon. or hon. Members. For the purpose of such should cease to make decisions about who to appoint or attacks or criticism, a substantive motion relating to an to dismiss as Ministers, or that he should cease to individual right hon. or hon. Member would be necessary. account to Parliament for those decisions. It merely The issue here is the principle and the proposal that the suggested that he should be supported by truly independent hon. Gentleman wishes to put before the House. advice. PASC’s most recent report on the subject, entitled “The Prime Minister’s adviser on Ministers’ interests: 1.20 pm independent or not?” was published this year. In it, we Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con): concluded that, because our previous recommendations I beg to move, had not been implemented, That this House calls on the Government to implement the “the title of ‘independent adviser’ is a misnomer.” recommendation made by the Public Administration Select Committee Paragraph 44 of that report also reiterated PASC’s in paragraph 44 of its Twenty-second Report of Session 2010-12, central recommendation The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Ministers’ Interests: independent or not?, that the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests “that the independent adviser should be empowered to instigate ‘should be empowered to instigate his own investigations’; and his own investigations. The Prime Minister could do this on his notes that this motion has been agreed by the Public Administration own initiative, without any need for legislation, but placing the Select Committee. post on a statutory footing would be preferable.” I am extremely grateful to the Backbench Business The disadvantages of the present arrangements have Committee for giving the House this brief opportunity been manifest in recent months. Sir Philip Mawer, the to express an opinion on this question today. The Public previous incumbent, expressed his frustration to the Administration Select Committee motion is supported Committee that he was given no role in the investigation by no less than 18 Select Committee Chairmen. The of the conduct of my right hon. Friend the Member for issue turns on a simple question of principle, which is North Somerset (Dr Fox) in respect of Adam Werritty, whether or not the Prime Minister’s adviser on Ministers’ and suggested that there needed to be a willingness to interests should be able to decide for him or herself to engage the adviser earlier in the process of investigating investigate a potential breach of the ministerial code. potential breaches of the ministerial code. In that case, All the credible advice that we have received suggests the Cabinet Secretary conducted the investigation instead that such a decision should be a matter for the adviser of the adviser. Why? We were told that the adviser and not for the Prime Minister. would have taken too long. However, PASC has established that Sir Philip’s successor, Sir Alex Allan, will conduct The Public Administration Select Committee—PASC— swift preliminary inquiries if asked to do so, so that he has advocated that course of action since the first can play his proper role. The problem of public perception adviser, Sir John Bourn, was appointed by Tony Blair in was all the more acute in the case of the Secretary of March 2006. The ministerial code sets out the circumstances State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and the in which the adviser—always referred to as the “independent conduct of his special adviser, Adam Smith. adviser”—is requested to investigate alleged breaches of the code. Under the present arrangements, the question The problem with the present system is that as soon of whether or not to investigate is therefore in the hands as the question of a serious potential breach of the code of the Prime Minister of the day, on the advice of the and a possible referral to the Prime Minister’s adviser Cabinet Secretary. arises, the Prime Minister is damned if he does, and damned if he does not. Referral is seen either as In 2006, in paragraph 17 of PASC’s report entitled condemnation of the Minister’s conduct or as an attempt “The Ministerial Code: the case for independent to protect the Minister from a full investigation. The investigation”, the Committee warned: same damage is done to the reputation of the Minister “It is hard to see how the Independent Adviser can command in question who, if innocent, would doubtless prefer the public confidence if the Prime Minister can decide that prima clean bill of health given by an independent investigation. facie breaches of the Code will not be investigated. Put simply, In the more recent case, we finished up with one of the there is no point in having an investigator in post if he is not given discretion to investigate very public allegations that the Code has most unpleasant and acrimonious debates in the House been breached.” of Commons that I have ever witnessed. The office of the independent adviser was set up to improve public Paragraph 20 of the report points out: confidence in the conduct of Government, but that “The decision to instigate an investigation still lies with the episode does not vindicate it as a success. Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is clearly not an impartial figure when it comes to deciding whether or not to instigate an Changing the procedure would avoid all that. It would investigation. If the regulatory system is to have credibility, that make the adviser more genuinely independent, and it decision must be taken out of political hands.” would help to remove the public suspicion that ministerial 861 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 862 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests [Mr Bernard Jenkin] chooses to refer him or herself to the independent adviser? Would that position change if his proposals conduct can be protected from proper investigation. were adopted? Short preliminary investigations, unimpeded by political considerations, would speed up the whole process. Mr Jenkin: I imagine that any Minister who pressed the Prime Minister for referral should be granted one; Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con): I pay tribute however, it might be granted or it might not be—it is a to my hon. Friend for his chairing of the Committee matter for the Prime Minister. That is that. I do not and for the contribution that he is making today. I know what a Minister who wanted to be referred would strongly support what he is saying. Can he offer the do if the Prime Minister refused that; I think he would House any guidance on how we can best protect against just have to lump it. potential witch hunts by those in the media who simply want to make life difficult for a Minister and get an investigation under way? Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): It is a privilege to serve under my hon. Friend’s chairmanship on the Mr Jenkin: I submit that that would be a question of Public Administration Select Committee. Will he confirm the robustness of the adviser. The process would operate that, although the report recommends that the Prime in a similar way to that of the Parliamentary Commissioner Minister’s adviser should be independent in making the for Standards, in that if the adviser felt that there was a decision, he will nevertheless operate under a clear set serious case to answer, he would pursue it. If he thought of guidelines to help him make that decision? that it was based on hearsay or tittle-tattle, he would dismiss it. Obviously, the moment at which he announced an investigation would be a threshold moment, but Mr Jenkin: I think the guidelines are the ministerial we have experience of that with the Parliamentary code, and it should be for the adviser to determine his Commissioner for Standards, who operates in that manner. own process, but it is perfectly reasonable for the Government and the Prime Minister to insist that the adviser has a quick process to establish prima facie Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): I support what cases and decide whether they are worthy of further the hon. Gentleman is saying. In response to the hon. investigation rather than go into the full process straight Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns), I think away. I can understand the Prime Minister being reluctant that media witch hunts would be less likely if the new to refer cases to Sir Philip Mawer, who had established a arrangements were to be adopted, because the media very long, tortuous and indisputably fair process, but would be less suspicious that anything untoward was not one that could be quick under the pressure of happening. political events as required. Mr Jenkin: The hon. Gentleman also serves on the Committee, and I am grateful to him for his participation. Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): Has my hon. Friend He makes his point extremely well. Witch hunts start given any thought to his own Committee’s involvement when there is a suspicion that the Prime Minister is in pre-appointment scrutiny in the light of the seeking to protect a Minister from an investigation. comments and thoughts of the Liaison Committee on That is when the media—and, indeed, Her Majesty’s such questions? official Opposition—tend to jump on the bandwagon. Mr Jenkin: We held a hearing with the new adviser on Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): I Minister’s interests, but we were anxious—at least, I want to express my full support for the motion and for the was anxious—to make it clear that it was not a pre- Committee’s report. There are certain questions that appointment hearing. Personally, I have absolutely no many people will ask, and they need to be put on public doubt of Sir Alex Allan’s bona fides and integrity. record. To whom should the independent adviser be directly Unfortunately, we expressed the view that the manner accountable, and who should appoint him if we are to of his appointment undermined the idea that he is ensure the maximum degree of genuine independence? actually an independent adviser, although he is certainly an adviser. He has a day job, too, in that he advises Mr Jenkin: The hon. Gentleman raises a salient point. Ministers on their respective private interests and potential The manner of the adviser’s appointment was mentioned conflicts of interests, and ensures that there is a register in the report, although I am not going to address it of Ministers’ interests. That is his main job, and I have directly today. In 2003, before the post was established, no doubt that he does it extremely efficiently. As I say, the Committee on Standards in Public Life originally however, the manner of his appointment does not lead recommended that the appointment should be made the public to believe that he is truly independent. through the public appointments process and overseen by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. That has not happened. It did not happen with the appointment Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): Does of Sir Alex Allan, and we have been highly critical of the hon. Gentleman have any plans to persuade his that fact. We believe that there should be an open public Committee to do further work in this area, perhaps in appointments process for this role, as there is for any line with Sir Philip Mawer’s suggestions for trying to other significant public appointment. establish ground rules for assessing whether Ministers should be suspended as and when an investigation is Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): My hon. taking place—a suggestion made in answer to an earlier Friend seems to be making an unanswerable case. Will question from the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan he explain to the House the present position if a Minister (Alun Cairns)? 863 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 864 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests Mr Jenkin: We are certainly minded to conduct a and transparency. I have no doubt whatever that it was further inquiry into the ministerial code at some stage. in that spirit that the office of the independent adviser At the moment, we are waiting for the Government to on Members’ interests was established. It was, I believe, respond to our latest report on the Prime Minister’s set up in good faith, with the Prime Minister having the adviser. power of decision on whether or not to instigate To reiterate, the Parliamentary Commissioner for investigations. However, based on experience over the Standards has the power to instigate his own investigations. last four years, that notion is well past its sell-by date. Who would suggest now that he should not? His office Since that time, we have seen a dramatic turn of events, would command little public support and therefore including the expenses scandal, which has called the provide little protection for the reputation of this House integrity of Parliament into question. To put it bluntly and its Members. Other systems in countries such as and specifically in relation to the ministerial code, experience Canada allow political ethics regulators to instigate over the last few years underscores the need for outright their own inquiries into ministerial conduct. How can independence. the Prime Minister—any Prime Minister—be objective When in opposition in 2010, the Prime Minister or, perhaps more importantly, be seen to be objective promised to strengthen the ministerial code. He said: when he has to make judgments about close colleagues that could have far-reaching political consequences? I “we must remember that we are not masters but servants. Though the have been disappointed in their politicians, they appreciate that Government insiders, including my right still expect the highest standards of conduct. We must not let hon. Friend the Prime Minister, see this as a potentially them down.” huge change, but those who are outside government and are not imbued by being in government see this as a When questioned in a recent interview about six significant very obvious change to make. changes in Government policy, he said: Today, on the last day of term, not many colleagues “When you’ve got something wrong, there are two things you are here, but I nevertheless intend to press this matter to can do in government: you can plough on regardless, or you can a vote. I challenge Ministers not to resist, and I challenge say, ‘No, we’re going to listen, we’re going to change it, we’re Labour Members, too, to show how they now embrace going to get it right.’” what they resisted when they were in office. I have no My challenge to the Prime Minister is to say, “Stop doubt where public sentiment lies, so let us not delay ploughing a lone furrow, and take this opportunity to any longer to bring about what should have been ‘get it right’”. The strength of feeling in this House and implemented years ago, for this issue will return again in the wider public domain sends a clear message—that and again. PASC will return to it, too, until this the application of scrutiny of the ministerial code lies recommendation is accepted. not just with the Prime Minister, but indeed with the whole House. The overwhelming view is that the Several hon. Members rose— independent adviser must be given the power to instigate his own investigations on our behalf. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. If hon. The retirement of Sir Philip Mawer provided a timely Members will resume their seats, let me announce that opportunity for the Prime Minister to change the status this debate is time limited to 2.20 pm. I intend to call of, and relationship with, the independent adviser. However, Gareth Thomas at 1.58 pm for 10 minutes, Nick Hurd not only was that golden opportunity missed but, to at 2.08 pm for 10 minutes, and finally Mr Jenkin to sum add insult to injury, the new appointment was made up in the last two minutes. Six Members wish to contribute, through a closed recruitment process. This added fuel so I ask them to take account of the time constraints in to allegations that the independent adviser was merely a order to be fair to others. pawn of the Prime Minister. So let me make my position very clear: no longer can the Prime Minister act as team 1.35 pm captain, goalkeeper and referee at the same time; no longer can the Prime Minister alone dictate the Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes) (Lab): Before making a few interpretation of the rules that might merit invoking an substantive points, I would like to thank the Backbench independent investigation; no longer should we need to Business Committee for prioritising this debate, ensuring devote part of an Opposition day to debating robust that we have time for it on the last sitting day before the and fair application of the code, and neither should we recess. The Backbench Business Committee has earned have the highly charged and intensely heated exchanges, our respect and admiration for ensuring that such vital to which our Chairman referred earlier, within this matters are the focus of attention—and what could be Chamber that characterised the most recent debate. more important than propriety and integrity in public life? In these volatile political times, the concentration of I congratulate the hon. Member for Harwich and such power in the hands of the Prime Minister leaves North Essex (Mr Jenkin), the Chairman of the Public him open to charges of partisan treatment and bias. Administration Select Committee, on his powerful speech, Because ours is a largely unwritten constitution, we which set out a clear rationale for the independence of must be particularly careful that institutions and political the adviser on the ministerial code of conduct. I commend offices retain their integrity and credibility.An independent the hon. Gentleman’s tenacity and his determination to adviser must have the authority to speak truth unto succeed in pursuing this vital issue. It is a matter that power. In addition, there are weighty matters of state has the support of all PASC members, and indeed the that demand the Prime Minister’s full attention, both at independent Chairs of other Select Committees. home and abroad. With such a heavy and important I, too, start from a premise—one that it is absolutely political agenda, the argument that application of the fundamental to effective government that must abide by “Ministerial Code” must be vested in the adviser is all underpinning principles of integrity, fairness, openness the more cogent. 865 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 866 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests [Lindsay Roy] which puts junior Ministers under the thumb of the permanent secretary and says that they cannot tell the I entirely endorse the summary by the Public permanent secretary what to do even if the Secretary of Administration Committee, which states: State is happy for them to do so. According to Amy “The reform of ethical regulation in British public life must be Baker’s book, at the time that undertaken openly, consensually and on the basis of sound “may have seemed quite convenient” principle.” to the drafters of what was then “Questions of Procedure Whatever the reality, there is a public perception of for Ministers” , ad-hockery surrounding the appointment of the “who knew that their amendments would now be ‘automatically’ independent adviser by the Prime Minister, and the approved by the new Prime Minister”. current situation creates further attention to bring our political process into disrepute. I urge everyone to support Similar circumstances arose when Margaret Thatcher the motion so that we can ensure that there is a real became Prime Minister in 1979 and the rules governing separation of powers when we are dealing with the the roles of parliamentary private secretaries changed. propriety and integrity of Members of this august According to the book, House. “amongst those directives which senior officials selected for incorporation into QPM, were instructions prohibiting dissent in 1.41 pm the Commons from parliamentary private secretaries.” Again, we see a system whereby the House is denuded Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): of its rights and civil servants decide what happens to Paragraph 1.5 of the the “Ministerial Code”. “Ministerial Code” states: According to a former Cabinet Secretary, “Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the Code and for justifying “This process meant that on a change of government, senior their actions and conduct to Parliament and the public. However, officials in the Cabinet Office had a wider discretion to initiate Ministers only remain in office for so long as they retain the amendments, as the incoming Prime Minister would be unaware confidence of the Prime Minister. He is the ultimate judge of the of recent issues and would generally approve the draft handed to standards of behaviour expected”. them on appointment.” The passing of this motion would change that. Rather That is how we arrived at the reference to an overarching than decisions being made by Ministers and the Prime duty to obey international law. There is no basis for it in Minister, an independent adviser would, at his own this Parliament or in our courts, but if the motion is instigation, pass judgments on Ministers. The Prime passed, the position will become even worse. No only Minister is Prime Minister because he commands a will the code be a constitutional document, but a retired majority in the House, and under our constitution it is civil servant will decide how it applies to each individual the Prime Minister who appoints Ministers who are Minister, and I think that that is wrong. accountable to him and to the House, but passing the motion would change that. 1.45 pm What worries me is that a huge constitutional weight would be placed on the “Ministerial Code” for which it Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): We have seen the is entirely ill-suited. This document has not been approved degradation of a very valuable reform that was made by the House; it has not even been approved by the when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. I was a member of Cabinet. ’s Cabinet agreed to publish it, but the Public Administration Committee at the time, and there was a strong view that it should not be published we were not happy with everything that the last Government because it would lead to inappropriate weight being did. We wanted to go further: we wanted a pre-appointment placed on it. At best it is a prime ministerial document, hearing. However, if we look at the history of the code, but in reality it was only under Attlee that that was the we see that it was used once by the last Government on case. an occasion involving Shahid Malik and has not been used by the present Government in three serious cases, According to what I believe is the only history of the although it was used in a minor case. development of the “Ministerial Code”, by a lady called Amy Baker, We should heed what was said about lobbying by the “Attlee had tailored the document very much to his own style Prime Minister when he was in opposition, and in last and the needs of his own Labour administration—and succeeding week’s report from the Political and Constitutional Prime Ministers may have followed suit, had the Cabinet Office Reform Committee. When in opposition, the Prime not intervened.” Minister said, quite rightly, that lobbying was the greatest However, the original Cabinet Secretary, Hankey, scandal facing us, and that money was buying power and power was fishing for money. Sadly, that is exactly “had drafted the very first guidelines in order to establish some continuity of procedure which would enable the Cabinet Office to what has happened under this Government, and to an organise business without being disrupted too much on a change even greater extent. We must look to our reputation. We of government.” must recognise the fact that we are not winning back the We know what has happened as the code has developed. trust and the confidence of the people, which is our Winston Churchill took no interest in it and Eden prime task after the expenses scandal, but are losing refused to issue a code, but it was used by Macmillan. that trust and that confidence and providing even greater Home and then Wilson took over in 1963 and 1964, and cause for scandal. the Cabinet Secretary claimed that the document bore The first of the three cases that should have been the great imprimatur of various Prime Ministers when investigated by the independent adviser, as he says himself, that was in fact not the case. What had happened in was the case of the right hon. Member for North 1963 and 1964 was used to push through paragraph 4.7, Somerset (Dr Fox). We now have a new doctrine of 867 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 868 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests absolution by resignation: those who resign will not be 1.50 pm subject to a full investigation of their conduct by the only legal enforcer of the “Ministerial Code”. An Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): The Public investigation was carried out virtually over the weekend Administration Committee has been consistent on this for party political reasons, in order to get it over with matter, and it has been right on this matter. It is not rapidly. about the choosing of Ministers; it is not even about the dismissal of Ministers. It is about ensuring that, if there The second case involved a Minister who argued that is the possibility of impropriety in ministerial conduct, he did not have to declare a meal with which he had that can be investigated. It is too much to expect the been provided by a lobbyist because on the day in Prime Minister not to be influenced by other factors in question he was digesting with his private rather than deciding whether to refer such a matter. To lose one his ministerial stomach. That was accepted, and no Minister is bad enough; to lose several is careless. The investigation was carried out. Prime Minister will always have an anxiety that an Thirdly, there was the case of the Culture Secretary, adverse report by the investigator could lead to his on which we had a debate the other day. I believe that needing to dismiss a Minister. It is simply naive to we must look to the conduct of the adviser on that. In suppose that no Prime Minister will be affected by such extraordinary circumstances, following receipt of a letter considerations. Therefore, the adviser should be free to from the Prime Minister dated the day of the debate, an initiate investigations. Indeed, they would often do so in answer came back before 12 pm virtually absolving the circumstances where it is to the advantage of the Minister Minister involved of the charge that he and his staff concerned that there be a straightforward, clear and had been approached by a lobbyist 500 times, because it swift way of vindicating him, if he is innocent. had been deemed not to be a legitimate area for investigation. All those cases should have been investigated under the “Ministerial Code”. 1.51 pm I am grateful to the Chairman of the Public Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): I rise to speak Administration Committee, which is behaving as it briefly in support of the comments of the hon. Member should. There is unanimity on the Committee about the for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin), the Chair of reform that is necessary. When the new independent the Select Committee. He put the case very well. We do adviser appeared before the Committee, I asked him not need to use extreme language, as the proposal is what he would do if we expressed our unhappiness common sense, particularly given recent events. We about his appointment. We suggested that he had a want an investigator who has the capacity to conduct reputation for being a poodle—for having followed proper investigations and offer advice. The constitutional Ministers around for years, obeying them with “Yes sir” relationship between the Prime Minister and this House and “No sir”. That had long been his role. He was not would not be changed by that. He could accept or reject the Rottweiler that we needed. He said that if we the advice, but at least investigations could be made expressed our unhappiness he would consider relinquishing independently, without having to ask the permission of his post, and we did express our unhappiness. I believe the Prime Minister first. That would be a significant that before appointing such a person we must decide by change. means of a pre-appointment hearing whether he possesses the necessary robust independence. Mark Reckless: Regardless of the formal situation, does the hon. Gentleman accept that the political reality Robert Halfon: Does the hon. Gentleman consider will be that if this independent investigator decides to that the ratifying of the “Ministerial Code”by Parliament conduct an investigation off his own bat and then gives would deal with some of the objections raised earlier by a withering condemnation of the Minister concerned, it my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood would be very difficult for the Prime Minister to keep (Mark Reckless)? that Minister in office, and de facto control would pass to the adviser?

Paul Flynn: No, it would not, because, under this Kelvin Hopkins: I trust that the investigator would Government, in the three serious cases I have mentioned, make a withering condemnation only if that were justified. the code has not been used, when it should have been. The recent events surrounding the right hon. Member The only time it has been called upon was in a case of for North Somerset (Dr Fox) and his amanuensis, Adam some triviality, where the person involved admitted her Werritty, deserved to be thoroughly investigated, but in guilt, and that went through. These other serious potential my view they were not properly investigated. abuses have not even been investigated, and we must question the impartiality of the adviser because of his Such a situation would not arise in future. I hope the conduct on the day of the debate in question. All the Chairman of the Select Committee will not mind my misgivings we had were justified. mentioning that we will undertake a report on special advisers. I hope we will recommend putting their We, as an institution, are in grave danger of deepening relationship with Ministers on a better footing in future, public cynicism against us. We have had new cases of so that situations such as the Adam Werritty case do allegations, backed up with films showing a lobbyist not arise again. trying to get access to the Prime Minister or boasting of access— This proposal is timely. Recently, Prime Ministers have operated in an extremely powerful, individualistic way, and in a secretive way. They have often not trusted Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. Time is full Cabinets to discuss important matters. We are now up. I call Sir Alan Beith. moving towards a situation where the Prime Minister 869 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 870 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests [Kelvin Hopkins] The full title of this post is “the independent adviser on ministers’ interests” but the simple reality is that it is will be a little more open and accountable, without the Prime Minister’s adviser on ministers’ interests. The damaging our constitution in any way—in fact, this current title is fraudulent and misleading to Parliament proposal will improve it. and the public. If these reforms are not accepted and implemented, the Government should at least have the Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): It seems to me that decency to change the title to “the Prime Minister’s the Prime Minister will be assisted by this appointment adviser on ministers’ interests.” of an independent investigator, as he will not have to Sir Alex Allan was appointed to the post with no make these tricky decisions. open competition. We do not believe anyone else was even in the frame for the job, and there was no detail Kelvin Hopkins: I thank the hon. Gentleman for whatever on the process he went through. That is simply those comments. A situation might arise in which a unacceptable. Minister who has not behaved very well is a personal Our proposal is based on an extremely simple idea. friend of the Prime Minister of the day. The Prime If—free from political interference and regardless of Minister could then say to the Minister, “Well, the any media witch hunt—the independent adviser believes investigation wasn’t instigated by me. It was instigated there is sufficient genuine evidence for an investigation, independently, and I have to accept the advice of the he should intervene. That is all we are asking for. report. It is not me who is causing you difficulty; it’s the investigation by the independent adviser.” Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. Time is In every way, therefore, this proposal is a progressive up. I call Gareth Thomas. advance that is in keeping with the spirit of . I hope that in future more of the Prime Minister’s current powers will be devolved. 1.58 pm Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): This Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD) rose— has been a brief but interesting debate. I commend the work of the Public Administration Committee, chaired Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I will not put by the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex the clock on you, Mr Mulholland, but I ask you to (Mr Jenkin). He has rightly received praise for the resume your seat at 1.58 pm. tenacious way in which he and his Committee have pursued these issues. I hope he will forgive me if I praise 1.55 pm my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn), too, for he has also pursued these issues with Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): I am a considerable vigour and tenacity. member of the Public Administration Committee, and I I studied the contributions of all Select Committee am very proud that we have come up with this sensible members. I carefully read the questions they put to and important proposal. It is hugely important for Sir Philip Mawer and Sir Alex Allan, and noted in Parliament, as it addresses the holding of Ministers to particular the contributions of my hon. Friend the account, which is one of our key roles. We must remember Member for Luton North (Kelvin Hopkins), who is that it is important outside this place, too; it is important also a consistent campaigner on these issues, my hon. to ordinary people, who saw the unseemly events of the Friend the Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy), and past few months and have therefore come to regard the the hon. Member for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland). current system of accountability as wholly inadequate. They all made good contributions to this debate, too. Recent episodes have also left a nasty taste in the mouths of Members on both sides of the House, who This debate would not have the resonance it currently agree that the current situation is wholly unacceptable. has outside the House if it were not for the Prime Minister’s mishandling of key questions about possible When Sir Alex Allan appeared before our Committee, violations of the ministerial code—a point that was we had what can only be described as a wholly implicit in the speech of my hon. Friend the Member unsatisfactory discussion with him in respect of both for Glenrothes. the realities of the role and, I am afraid, our confidence in his ability to perform it as it should be performed, The Opposition remain determined to take the steps rather than as it is, sadly, currently performed. necessary to continue the process of restoring trust in the political process. When we were in government, we We must remember that this proposal was introduced took steps to reform Parliament, passing new laws to by the previous Government. In response to the predecessor protect our democracy. We acted to increase transparency Committee’s previous report on the issue, they made it and strengthen public accountability for Members of clear that the appointment would be a personal one by the House of Commons. On ministerial accountability, the Prime Minister and that he would need to have we also introduced further reforms. The then Prime confidence that the person appointed would be able to Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy provide independent and impartial advice. and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), introduced the publication We want the Minister to say that the Government will of an annual report and a list of Ministers’ interests, accept our sensible proposal, and we also want the again to increase transparency and Ministers’accountability Opposition to agree to it; they must accept the original to this House. He also appointed Sir Philip Mawer as principles of this new office as set out under the last the independent adviser on ministerial interests, calling Government. I have asked the same of the Deputy on him, as a number of Members have mentioned, to Prime Minister, and I believe that he is happy to do so investigate the then Member for Dewsbury in May 2009, on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. against whom a particular allegation—it was unfounded, 871 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 872 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests as it turned out—had been made. Sir Philip investigated There is a particular outstanding question that the and the Minister was cleared and returned to his ministerial Prime Minister still needs to answer, and perhaps the duties. Minister can give us some clarity on it. Why is it I have a number of questions for the Minister and, if appropriate for the independent adviser to be used in I may, the Chairman of the Public Administration the case of the noble Baroness Warsi and not that of the Committee, but the context of our debate is worth Culture Secretary? I also have a series of questions on touching on. It is the Prime Minister’s refusal, using the which I would welcome the views of the Chair of the Leveson inquiry as his reason, to ask Sir Philip’s successor, Public Administration Committee in his concluding Sir Alex Allan, to investigate the conduct of the Secretary remarks. As I hope I made clear, I think some further of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Prime work by his Committee in this area would be useful for Minister’s failure to call in the independent adviser in the whole House, not least in questioning the current the case of the right hon. Member for North Somerset ministerial adviser on his lack of consultation in the (Dr Fox), that form the backdrop to our debate. The case of the Culture Secretary. fact that so many Members wanted this debate is in no The new independent adviser told the Committee small part due to the Prime Minister’s refusal to use when giving evidence that he had made the point to the consistently a system which the last Prime Minister new Cabinet Secretary, Sir , that established and used, but which the current Prime Minister “there are advantages to him in bringing the Adviser in early and now appears unwilling to use—except when he is sure of whenever major issues arise.” the outcome. That appears at odds with the comment in a letter from In short, the motion before the House today is the Sir Alex that was deposited in the Library, accepting the direct result of the belief of too many Members, on Prime Minister’s decision not to refer the case and both sides of the House, that the Prime Minister has noting the work of the Leveson inquiry, and with the mishandled his responsibility for the ministerial code. clear view of Sir Brian Leveson that his inquiry was not an appropriate place for the Secretary of State’s conduct Mr Jenkin: I resent the hon. Gentleman making that to be investigated. I raise this question not in any way to implication, because I do not think that it does reflect express doubt about Sir Alex’s capacity or commitment, why all the signatures are on the motion. What it does but to inquire whether the Committee will continue to reflect, however, is the fact that the previous Labour explore the circumstances in which it would be appropriate Government did not accept this recommendation from for the ministerial adviser to be brought in, and to the predecessor Committee. It is incumbent on him to suggest—in a spirit of helpfulness, I hope—that Sir Alex’s explain whether the Labour party has now changed its evidence may well be helpful in that context. mind and will support this motion, or whether he is just going to use this opportunity to make political points in Will the Chairman of the Public Administration this debate. Committee be summoning the Cabinet Secretary to explore the extent to which there was consultation with Sir Alex over the Culture Secretary’s case? In my Mr Thomas: I will come to the position that Opposition intervention on the Chairman, I raised the possibility of Front Benchers are taking, but the Chairman of the further work by his Committee in this area, highlighting Public Administration Committee is wrong not to recognise two issues that Sir Philip Mawer raised, in part in the considerable concern on the Opposition Benches—and answer to some questions from the hon. Member for the Government Benches—at the Prime Minister’s decision Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns): whether suspension not to refer the case of the right hon. Member for of a Minister is really possible during a code investigation North Somerset to the independent adviser, which I in practical political terms; and the possibility of the understand prompted the Committee’s original inquiry Committee helping to establish a set of “ground rules”—his into this issue in this Parliament. The Prime Minister’s words—for a situation where an investigation is under more recent decision to refer the case of the noble Baroness way and the media is in full pursuit of that Minister. Warsi and not that of the Culture Secretary has galvanised interest in the Committee’s work in this area. The Opposition will listen carefully to the position The shadow Leader of the House, my hon. Friend and argument that the Minister, and indeed the Public the Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle), set out in her Administration Committee Chairman, develop. We will speech on 13 June some detailed concerns, which I do want to consider the Government’s response to the not intend to dwell on now, about the Prime Minister’s Committee’s report, which it is a pity was not available failure to uphold the code and to ensure that an appropriate for today’s debate. I have genuinely an open mind on investigation took place. this issue. The Opposition’s instinct is that further work is required. Alun Cairns: The hon. Gentleman talks about the This debate is born out of frustration with the Prime Opposition’s concern about this issue, but does he not Minister’s handling of his responsibility for the ministerial accept that their remarks would have far greater traction code. if they said that they now supported the motion and regretted not having taken action when in government? Greg Mulholland: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Mr Thomas: As I think I set out earlier, we did take action when we were in government, and the House is Mr Thomas: I am winding up. better for it. However, I want to come to some of the The failure to use the independent adviser in the case points that the hon. Gentleman made not only in this of the right hon. Member for North Somerset, compounded debate but in the Public Administration Committee’s by the failure to contemplate using him in the case of hearings. the Culture Secretary, provides the context for this 873 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 874 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests [Mr Thomas] my hon. Friend not accept that if the independent adviser had the powers we are talking about, he himself debate. Sadly, it is yet another debate called in this great would say that there is not the evidence to proceed with House because of the errors of judgment of the current an inquiry? The proposed approach would do that job Prime Minister. and give the public that there was no need for an inquiry in the first place. 2.8 pm The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Mr Hurd: I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, Hurd): I am grateful to the hon. Member for Harrow and I can see the passion with which he makes his West (Mr Thomas) for clarifying the Labour party’s argument, but the important principle is who is ultimately position on this issue—or not. I would like to begin by responsible, and that is the Prime Minister. registering my personal respect for my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) and Paul Flynn: The Chairman of the Committee on the other members of his Committee for their persistence Standards in Public Life, Sir Christopher Kelly, said in on this matter. I note carefully his comment that that evidence to the Public Administration Committee that persistence is not going away. I also note, on the in his view the Prime Minister had broken the ministerial Government’s behalf, that the motion has cross-party code in one of these instances. As the Prime Minister is support and has been signed by a number of distinguished unlikely to refer himself to the adviser, is it not crucial Chairmen of Select Committees. This short debate is that we have someone of independence who can take on therefore one the Government must listen to, and I the Prime Minister when he is suspected of breaking the believe are listening to, carefully, and we will consider ministerial code? carefully what has come out of it. I think it would be helpful if I restated an important Mr Hurd: I have not seen Sir Christopher Kelly’s principle that the Labour party also clung to in its evidence on that, but there is no shortage of opportunities 13 years in power: when it comes to the ministerial code, to hold the Prime Minister to account on anything. the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and the appropriate Providing advice to the Prime Minister on allegations consequences of a breach of those standards, as my about a breach of the ministerial code is one aspect of hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood the independent adviser’s role. I also wish to explain the (Mark Reckless) pointed out. The bottom line is that other important aspect of the role, as it has been Ministers remain in office only for as long as they retain ignored in the debate: the adviser provides an independent the confidence of the Prime Minister. He or she decides, check and source of advice to Ministers on the handling and is accountable to Parliament for those decisions. of their private interests in order to avoid any conflict The advent of an independent adviser is clearly welcome, between those interests and their ministerial responsibilities, although the Labour party seemed to fight it for many as set out in section 7 of the ministerial code. This is years, and he or she clearly has an important role. It is very much behind-the-scenes work; it is about sorting worth clarifying that there are two aspects to the role, out issues before they arise. However, it does result in both of which are important. One part of the role is, at the publication by the Cabinet Office of the list of the request of the Prime Minister, to look into allegations Ministers’ interests, which puts into the public domain of breaches of the ministerial code, if the Prime Minister a list of all the relevant interests of all Ministers and thinks that is necessary, and to advise the Prime Minister. enables external scrutiny of possible conflicts of interest. But it is for the Prime Minister to take this decision and Obviously, this is an ongoing process as issues arise, not be accountable for it. In some cases, the Prime Minister a one-off. It is important to put on record that second will have no need to ask for advice, as the issues will be dimension to the independent adviser’s work. clear. In other cases, there may be the need for further Some questions were raised about particular cases investigation before the Prime Minister can take a decision. this afternoon, although I think that the hon. Member In those instances, he will refer to the independent for Harrow West struck the wrong tone, not for the first adviser. time, by seizing the opportunity to try to make a political It is to misunderstand the intended role of the attack on the Prime Minister. Rather than rehearse independent adviser to suggest that he or she should be some arguments about why one particular case was able to instigate his or her own investigations. The adviser referred or otherwise, I simply say that in each case—those is there, personally appointed by the Prime Minister, to of the former Secretary of State for Defence, my right advise the Prime Minister on allegations of breaches of hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), the code, if the Prime Minister thinks it is necessary. I my right hon. Friend the Culture Secretary and Baroness shall now read out an important quote from the Prime Warsi—there were no shortages of opportunities for Minister’s evidence to the Liaison Committee on 3 July: the House or for the media to hold the Prime Minister to account for the decisions he took. “The ministerial adviser on interests is there to advise the Prime Minister; he gives the advice and the Prime Minister has to make the decision.” Mark Reckless: Did not the hon. Member for Newport There has been no change in approach; this is the same West (Paul Flynn) go beyond that by suggesting that the practice that existed under the previous Government. code, rather than being a prime ministerial document for Ministers, actually applies to the Prime Minister, Greg Mulholland: I am listening with interest to my too, and that the independent investigator should investigate hon. Friend, as he is actually dealing with the issue, whether the Prime Minister has breached it? If that unlike the hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas) were the case, should we not all just pack up, go home in his extraordinary and pathetic contribution. Does and let the independent advisers decide everything? 875 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 17 JULY 2012 Prime Minister’s Adviser on 876 Ministers’ Interests Ministers’ Interests Mr Hurd: I share my hon. Friend’s reservations about 2.17 pm placing too much weight and responsibility on someone Mr Jenkin: I am extremely grateful for the opportunity who is ultimately an adviser, and this will not be the first to reply to this debate, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is custom time that the hon. Member for Newport West has and practice in this place to say what an interesting overstated his case. The point that I was trying to make debate we have had, but we really have had an interesting about the political attacks on the Prime Minister by the exchange on this occasion. I am very grateful for, and hon. Member for Harrow West was that the reasons in indeed touched by, the warm remarks of members of each particular case that he cited were made public and the Public Administration Committee who have made the Prime Minister, as we are extremely well aware, was comments about how much they enjoy working on that held very accountable for all those decisions. Committee—that goes for me, too. I very much appreciate their participation and support for our activity. Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP): Does the Minister not Many of those hon. Members spoke in this debate, recognise that history shows that the ministerial code but by far the most interesting contribution was made has been invoked more as a shield against public and by my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and parliamentary accountability than as a tool for enabling Strood (Mark Reckless), who raised a number of interesting those things? For as long as the code remains the things about the ministerial code. We are not debating personal app of the Prime Minister and the independent its content; we are debating how the code should be adviser does not have independence, surely all we are enforced. He should somehow take part in our inquiry looking at is a feeble cross between a figment and a fig into the ministerial code, when we get to it, because he leaf. has a lot of important and interesting contributions to make, but I submit to him that the code should be Mr Hurd: The hon. Gentleman gives me an opportunity owned by Parliament and controlled by Parliament in to discuss the issue of whether Sir Alex is independent order that it can become a mechanism that can be used enough, which featured in the thrust of the argument by Parliament to hold Ministers to account. from many hon. Members. Let us remember that the code was secret until quite recently. It was published only recently and it was only Robert Halfon: Following on from the point made by very recently that it started being referred to in statute. the hon. Member for Foyle (Mark Durkan), does my The point has been made that a change has been hon. Friend agree that to solve this problem the ministerial smuggled in whereby Ministers have to obey international code should be ratified by Parliament? law even if there is no statute that requires them to obey that law. That is an extraordinary constitutional innovation and it is one of the things that we would want to Mr Hurd: I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention look at. and for his suit, which has enlivened proceedings today. I want to complete my remarks by referring to the In the time available to me, I wish to make a comment two Front Benchers. They are both erudite and intelligent about the issue of the independence of Sir Alex Allan, people who have done their best to avoid addressing the because it has been suggested that he is not independent crunch issue. I understand why the Government are enough or even that he is perhaps not up to the job, reluctant to make the change, but I am prepared to having only just retired from a senior role at the heart of press this to a vote because otherwise we will be back government before taking up the role. As I have said, again having exactly the same debate as we always do. I this is a personal appointment by the Prime Minister of put it to the Opposition spokesman: if we finish up with the day. A number of qualities are required for the job. another debate moved by the Opposition on why somebody In particular, the independent adviser needs to be somebody has not been referred— whose expertise and experience enable them to provide 2.20 pm confidential and trusted advice to Ministers and their permanent secretaries. It is our judgment, and the judgment One hour having elapsed since the commencement of of the Prime Minister, that Sir Alex Allan has that proceedings on the motion, the Deputy Speaker put the experience, as well as the necessary skills and judgment Question (Order, 11 July). to make him ideally suited for the role. Question agreed to. In conclusion, today’s debate has shown the range of Resolved, views on the issue. I hope that we have made it clear that That this House calls on the Government to implement the the Government treat issues of ministerial conduct with recommendation made by the Public Administration Select Committee the utmost seriousness. The Government will reflect in paragraph 44 of its Twenty-second Report of Session 2010-12, The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Ministers’ Interests: independent carefully on the points made in this debate, and will or not?, that the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests reflect on them in our response, overdue as it is, to the ‘should be empowered to instigate his own investigations’; and Public Administration Committee report. That response notes that this motion has been agreed by the Public Administration will be published shortly. Select Committee. 877 17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 878

Summer Adjournment Newcastle’s was regarded as “poor”. Why is the Yorkshire and Humber moving from a centre that delivers an Motion made, and Question proposed, excellent network to one with a record of delivering a That this House has considered matters to be raised before the poor one? forthcoming adjournment.—(Bob Blackman.) The JCPCT accepted the advice that 90% of doctors in the relevant areas of option B would be happy to HEALTH refer to Newcastle, yet the referring doctors in Yorkshire and Humber have never been asked about that. That is 2.20 pm simply outrageous. Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): I rise to I am aware that there has been a referral from the take the opportunity to discuss the Safe and Sustainable joint overview and scrutiny committee in Yorkshire, review into children’s heart surgery in England and which we fully support and insist is properly investigated. Wales and the concerns about the process that led to the We must also consider the very worrying situation in closure of the excellent Leeds unit. The decision was Glasgow. The Yorkhill unit is currently failing and a taken on 4 July. Families from up and down the country separate report by Sir Ian Kennedy stated: were asked to be present to give their views and the joint “The panel had significant concerns about important aspects committee of primary care trusts—the JCPCT—deliberated of the service in the surgical unit and in the broader congenital in public all day. The decision was due, but it was heart network. Of most concern was a lack of leadership and delayed, delayed and delayed again, until it was finally coherent team working. Also of concern was a sense that the announced that Leeds would close. What left a particularly provision of paediatric intensive care may be unsafe if critical nasty taste in the mouth was that it was abundantly staffing problems are not addressed.” clear when documentation was produced that the decision That has not been part of the review, however, and had already been taken and that that day, including extraordinarily the Scottish Government have now decided asking the families of children who had needed to use that three surgeons performing 300 operations is safe in the surgery unit, was a charade. I am afraid that that Scotland. However, that is not considered to be safe in was all too typical of the way in which this process has Yorkshire. That is simply unacceptable. Today we are been handled. saying that we have no confidence in the review and that There are serious questions about how the JCPCT we want the whole process to be reconsidered. reached that decision. It ignored clear evidence and, I am afraid to say, there has been a clear and obvious bias 2.25 pm all along towards Newcastle. Leslie Hamilton was on the committee despite being based at Newcastle, but Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): there was no one from Leeds. No one in Leeds or, I am In south-west London, the NHS has just proposed to sure, up and down the country was at all surprised at close the A and E, maternity unit and various other the decision, because we expected it. We could see that services at my local hospital, St Helier. It will take the JCPCT was simply not considering the evidence. 200,000 people longer to get to hospital in an emergency. In the brief time I have available I shall raise a few On its website, outlining why it is doing this, NHS points and I know that my hon. Friend the Member for South West London states that providers Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) will raise a few more. I am sure “will have to deliver £370 million savings each year…a reduction that other hon. Members will also seek to do so and I of around 24% in their costs.” shall look forward to having a full debate in the autumn, Yet thanks to birth rates, an ageing population and when we can place on the record the myriad serious poor health due to poverty, A and E visits will go up concerns on this point. 20% in five years and births will increase by 10%. The First, 600,000 people signed a petition in support of area’s four hospitals are overcrowded now, so try cramming the retention of the unit at Leeds, yet that was counted the same number of patients into just three. as only one response by the committee. At the same time, What is worse is that there is no extra funding for the 22,000 text messages from unknown sources supporting hospitals that remain. In no way do I support the were counted as 22,000 submissions. So, hospital closures in north London, but at least that area how can the JCPCT said that it does not “count heads” gets an extra £138 million for “out of hospital” care to when it is ignoring 600,000 people, counting them as cope with the closures. Down in south-west London, we one submission, yet counting 22,000 text messages as will get nothing. If St Helier loses its A and E, visits to 22,000 separate responses? the remaining three hospitals will rise by a third. Many Why has the JCPCT watered down expert advice on will have to be admitted, but, with no extra funding, the gold standard of collocation? It has adopted a where can they go? Will they go on to the corridors, as watered-down version on the advice of fewer than in the 1990s? 10 clinicians in the steering group and on the It is claimed that 50% of A and E patients will go to recommendation of Sir Ian Kennedy, who is not a GPs or community services instead, but even the report clinician. How can the panel justify following that advice by the watchdog, the national clinical advisory team, rather than that of the country’s most respected gatherings does not believe that they could cope. That is a key of experts in this field? How can it be right, if this paper and no cuts should take place without the public closure happens in Leeds, for the Yorkshire and Humber knowing what the watchdog thinks, so it should be region to go from enjoying the highest standards of published immediately. NCAT is right to be sceptical collocation in the country to having the lowest? about whether GPs can halve the numbers going to A The Safe and Sustainable model of children’s heart and E. Clinical commissioning obviously makes that surgery is also dependent on networks of care, but very attractive for GPs, but for most people in my whereas the Leeds network was recognised as “excellent”, constituency it is easier to go to a walk-in centre or 879 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 880

A and E than to a GP, so A and E visits have continued State, via the independent panel. I heard this morning to rise year after year. The fact that GPs, who are making that our OSC has just done so; I welcome that move. all the financial decisions, will get more funding if there Our Yorkshire body was due to meet on 24 July. Now are fewer A and E visits, does not mean that people will that the committee has referred the decision to the Health stop going. Apparently, some GPs now realise that Secretary, I hope he will revisit it based on the four tests those plans are looking very dodgy. A poll of Sutton’s GPs stipulated for the redesign of services. has shown a majority against the closure and a similar poll is taking place of Merton’s GPs that will, I am sure, The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon show the same. Burns): If my hon. Friend is correct—and I am sure he It is not just St Helier’s A and E that is under is—in saying that his local authority OSC has referred threat—so is its maternity unit. However, of the four the matter to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of hospitals, St Helier has the only maternity unit that State, the process is that the OSC explains why it does meets clinical standards. If we lose St Helier, the other not agree with the decision and asks my right hon. three hospitals will need to deliver a third more babies Friend to refer it to the independent reconfiguration than they do now. It is widely accepted that maternity panel for consideration. The panel will then respond to units delivering more than 6,000 births a year are a bad my right hon. Friend and state whether it thinks the thing. It is far better, and far safer, to have slightly decision is right or wrong. smaller units with good midwife cover, but not in south-west London, it seems. Jason McCartney: I thank the Minister. I said earlier We will lose our children’s unit and other services, that the decision would go to the Secretary of State via such as intensive care. The “Better Services Better Value” the independent panel. I look forward to its going review states that, to compensate, GPs will force patients through that process. from all around south-west London to go to St Helier for minor, planned treatments, but who would want an The first test for redesigning services is that there should operation, even a routine one, in a hospital as depleted be clear clinical benefit. The health impact assessment as St Helier? What is more, making people in St Helier was that option G—to keep Leeds open—had fewer drive across the suburbs for A and E and maternity and negative impacts than the chosen option. The second making people drive to St Helier for routine operations test is clinician support. There is no evidence that the will add literally millions of miles of journeys to our decision has the support of clinicians; in fact, most have already congested roads. No, the impact of that is not given their support to the Leeds unit. considered. The third test involves the views of the public. Surely The other obvious questions have not been asked. nothing can be clearer than the views of the 600,000 Why would a patient from Kingston want to drive the people who signed the petition to keep the Leeds unit best part of an hour to St Helier for a treatment they open, and the admirable cross-party support for the can currently get in Kingston? The other three hospitals campaign. The fourth and final test is that there should do not like the idea either, as they cannot afford to lose be support for patient choice. A survey in west and the income from those planned treatments. south Yorkshire clearly shows that patients would not travel up to Newcastle. These plans are all over the place; they are a total shambles. Next Thursday, NHS South West London Many constituents with experience of the Leeds unit was due to rubber-stamp St Helier’s closures. It booked have been in touch since the announcement on 4 July. a big theatre in Croydon in readiness, but now it has put the decision off. Good, but this is obviously not the end. Greg Mulholland: The evidence clearly shows that St Helier has been under threat before, but now it is Newcastle will not hit the magic number of 400, making under threat again from a combination of cuts and GP the point of the process farcical. As we now know that commissioning. The demands on our four hospitals are Glasgow will continue, but will perform only 300 operations growing, not shrinking. I hope the Minister will reassure a year, there will be two underperforming units, and we me, and my constituents, that that disaster will not happen will have lost Leeds, which could easily reach those on his watch. numbers. Does that not make the whole thing a farce?

2.30 pm Jason McCartney: My hon. Friend makes a good Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): I, too, rise to point. There is an assumption that all the patients who speak about the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s have been going to the Leeds unit will automatically heart surgery. The joint committee of primary care migrate to Newcastle. That is a big flaw in the assessment, trusts—the decision-making body comprising local and I look forward to further exploration of that matter. commissioners—was tasked with considering the pattern Constituents who have been in touch with me include of children’s heart surgery services. On 4 July, it announced teenager Seb, who recently did work experience with me. its decisions, which included the news that Leeds general He had three heart operations and a pacemaker fitted at infirmary will not provide children’s heart surgery in future. Leeds. He wants the Yorkshire unit to stay open; he stresses The two-hour radius around the Leeds heart surgery the fact that there are good transport links to the Leeds unit reaches 14.5 million people. Including check-up unit. appointments, the unit sees 10,000 children annually Paul told me about his 10-year-old stepson who and performs about 350 operations. suffered a cardiac arrest last August. His stepson had a I acknowledge that the decision was independent of defibrillator fitted internally, which he will have for the the Government. Local council overview and scrutiny rest of his life. Paul said the Leeds location was key for committees are free to refer decisions to the Secretary of their family. 881 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 882

[Jason McCartney] remaining two, once their facilities are improved and extended, at significant cost to the taxpayer. A proposed Ruth told me about her six-month-old daughter Eleanor solution to develop a network in London that would who was born with a heart defect caused by Down’s mean closer collaboration between the three existing syndrome. Ruth fears for the emotional and financial centres, but no closures, was ignored. stress families will be put under by the longer travelling Time prevents me from going into detail about why distances, as parents try to hold down their jobs, care Royal Brompton drew the short straw of closure; it for other children and fulfil other responsibilities. came down to a complicated scoring mechanism that I was also contacted by the grandparents and, separately, eventually ended up in the High Court. I must stress, the parents and siblings of four-year-old Lily Rose, who because it is of utmost importance, that there was never had surgery in the Yorkshire unit. They asked how a any suggestion that Royal Brompton’s clinical services four-year-old was expected to cope at such a traumatic for children are anything other than first rate. A better time without being able to see her mummy each day. insight may be provided by the comments of a civil servant The emotional impact on the rest of the family would at a meeting of the London specialised commissioning be enormous. They stressed that distance from the group on 26 April: centre is extremely important. They reiterated the population “It is likely that the rest of the country will take the view that figures: 14.5 million people are within two hours of London should take its share of the pain of closures and will seek Leeds, whereas only 3 million are within two hours of to make one closure in the capital in order to make closures Newcastle. elsewhere more palatable.” Those cases are real; the families were in touch with Removing children’s surgery and intensive care from me over the past two weeks. In the past year, I have Royal Brompton will have devastating consequences, spoken in the Chamber about George Sutcliffe, Ben and not just for the young patients who value the Pogson and Joel Bearder who, with their families, have hospital’s cardiac care so highly. Losing its children’s been campaigning locally for the Leeds unit to stay intensive care unit will destroy Royal Brompton’s world-class open. I compliment them and all the families who have paediatric respiratory service, which specialises in the worked so hard on the campaign, and will continue to treatment of children with cystic fibrosis, severe asthma do so. and a number of severe and complex respiratory conditions. It is clear that the plans do not meet the four tests, Without the back-up of intensive care and on-site which are factual; they are not about emotion. I look anaesthesia, doctors will not be able to undertake the forward to the flawed decision eventually being referred more complex specialist treatments they do now, because by the independent panel to the Secretary of State so they will consider it unsafe to do so. that the tests can be looked at again. I firmly believe the Royal Brompton’s respiratory teams also undertake JCPCT decision clearly fails all the four tests for redesigning groundbreaking research into important areas such as services, and I look forward to its being reconsidered. cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, lung disease, inflammation of the airways and neuromuscular conditions. That research can be carried out only at a specialist hospital, 2.36 pm where the combination of clinical expertise and the type Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): On 4 July, and number of patients seen provides the necessary a committee of primary care trust chief executives conditions. Without an intensive care unit and provision made the extraordinary decision to end children’s heart for anaesthesia, research will simply not be possible. surgery and intensive care at one of the best performing and largest centres in England: Royal Brompton hospital, Greg Mulholland: The hon. Gentleman makes a a specialist heart and lung hospital that treats children passionate case for the Royal Brompton unit. The chief and adults from all over the country who have some of executive of Little Hearts Matter says that, in the the most severe forms of heart and lung disease. It was Glasgow case, a unit that does 300 operations can be quite a surprise for the doctors and other staff at Royal made perfectly safe by other means, without closing Brompton to find out last year that they were earmarked units. Does the hon. Gentleman share my frustration at for closure. The national review panel that made the the fact that in the Royal Brompton, Leeds and other recommendation, in February 2011, had previously specified places, those involved are not prepared to do that? that for children’s heart surgery centres to be viable they It does not make sense. must have four surgeons each doing at least 100 operations every year, and they must offer round-the-clock care. Mr Slaughter: I am grateful for that intervention, Royal Brompton has four surgeons, each undertaking because, in case my comments are seen as special pleading more than 100 operations every year and it offers round- from the hospital, I was just coming on to mention the-clock care. It also has a safety and outcome record some independent recommendations and sources that of which any centre would be proud. Rates of patient support the argument that, if there is no opportunity satisfaction at the hospital are exceptionally high. for research, and if experts—in Leeds, as well as the The national review of paediatric heart surgery set Royal Brompton—are prevented from working to the out to reduce the number of hospitals offering children’s level of their abilities, many are likely to seek work heart surgery, because it was felt that in some areas surgeons elsewhere, possibly outside the UK. did not have enough cases to maintain their skills in the Dr Neil Gibson, a consultant in paediatric respiratory longer term. London has three centres, although two of medicine at Glasgow’s Royal hospital for sick children, them, Royal Brompton and Great Ormond street, are wrote to the chair of the review as follows: recognised national specialist centres and treat patients “The unit at the Royal Brompton Hospital from a paediatric from all over the country. The decision was made to respiratory point of view is truly one of the world’s leading close a London centre, and divert its patients to the centres with an already impressive track record…There is a 883 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 884 significant potential for irreparable damage to be made to the Alcohol consumption by women has been rising steadily only world class Paediatric Respiratory Research Unit in the since the 1960s. Since 2002 alone, the number of alcohol- .” related admissions accounted for by women has more Professor J. Stuart Elborn, president of the European than doubled, from just below 200,000 to more than Cystic Fibrosis Society, wrote that 400,000 in 2010. Although I accept that there is some “high quality research is a key determinant of the ability of a debate about those sets of figures, the trend is undeniably centre such as the Royal Brompton to retain and recruit the world upward, not downward. Alcohol consumption by women leading clinical and academic staff on whom its respiratory remains at a historic high, but it is interesting to note services depend. Adverse impact upon the ability of the clinical that it is falling at a faster rate among 16 to 24-year-olds. staff to carry out cutting-edge research will undermine the However, a significant number of middle-aged and older sustainability of the clinical services, to the detriment of its women, usually on higher incomes, prefer to drink at patients.” home to dangerous levels. It is the silent majority of Asthma UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the Muscular drinkers we should be looking to prevent from becoming Dystrophy Campaign, and the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia risky, harmed or dependent drinkers. Family Support Group wrote a joint letter to the chair of the committee, saying: Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con): This is a “We have explicitly mentioned respiratory research because it very serious issue. Does my hon. Friend agree that the is an issue of fundamental importance to each of our charities silent majority are very much the problem, because they because of the excellence of the Royal Brompton’s paediatric simply do not seek help? respiratory research and clinical trials programmes and the importance of that work for improving patient outcomes in the future.” Tracey Crouch: I agree entirely. We should remember Patients and staff at Royal Brompton are understandably that a significant number of people in this country do deeply distressed at the prospect of losing their high- not drink at all; it is those who drink to excessive levels performing children’s heart unit, soon to be followed by whom we need to be concerned about. their specialist respiratory services. They do not understand how such a decision can be made by bureaucrats who Since the 1960s, many more women have entered the have never visited the hospital and have no specialist work force. Some have put off raising families and the knowledge of the care provided there. They have written associated responsibilities in favour of pursuing their to their MPs and to the Secretary of State. Indeed, one career. As a result, they have much more money and resourceful mother brought the matter to the attention time to spend drinking. That is statistically demonstrated of the Prime Minister in Downing street last Thursday. by the fact that women in managerial or professional roles admit to drinking almost double the amount The Secretary of State for Health assures the parents drunk by women on lower incomes. of these seriously poorly children, and the dedicated teams that treat them, that this is a matter not for him, Where the drinking takes place, and not just the but for the NHS. For the sake of the thousands of quantity, is a cause for concern. While men still account children whose care will be damaged by the decision of for the majority of regular pub goers, women are more Sir Neil McKay’s committee, the sake of the research likely to drink at home, drinking cheaper supermarket programmes that will be destroyed, and the sake of wine that is aggressively marketed and probably bought common sense, I hope that the Minister of State will in bulk. realise that the time has come for him to meet clinicians from the Royal Brompton and at least hear what they Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) have to say. Perhaps he will be able to persuade them (SNP): Does the hon. Lady agree that providing calorific that destroying NHS services and research programmes information, as opposed to just the unit content of that are viewed by international peers as among the best alcohol, on a bottle might have a significant impact on a in the world is a good idea. I wish him luck in doing so. large number of women who care a lot about the calories that they consume? If that was set out on alcohol packaging, it might help to alleviate the problems that she mentions. 2.42 pm Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con): I am Tracey Crouch: The hon. Gentleman makes a good very fortunate never to have been in a situation where I point. Labelling of alcohol has improved significantly have continuously required alcohol to blot out misery over the past few years, particularly in relation to pregnant or pain. I am fortunate enough to have never been so women. drunk in a public place that my safety or personal In many ways, drinking at home poses a real issue. It dignity was compromised. In fact, I abhor drunkenness, is difficult to assess the true extent of the problem of public or otherwise. It upsets and frightens me that home drinking because the only data we have to go on some people become so inebriated that they are incapable are results from surveys, and many respondents are of standing, speaking or securing their safety. likely to under-report their consumption. However, recent Although I do go to the pub, like hundreds of thousands studies have shown a clear link between harm and home of professional women up and down the country, I do drinking. An overwhelming 93% of recent interviewees most of my drinking at home. I probably do not think I who had all suffered alcohol-related harms bought am doing anything wrong because, every day, women the majority of their alcohol from off-licences and go home after work and pour themselves a large glass of supermarkets. With alcohol now part of most people’s wine—and then another. How can it be wrong? I do not weekly shop, and women less likely to buy alcohol in get drunk, throw up in the street, or wake up with a pubs, it is no surprise that the impact of home drinking hangover. Yet could that be why alcohol consumption on a person’s health is likely to be more pronounced among women is becoming a problem, albeit one that among women. Little stigma attaches to home drinking, may not present itself for decades? and it is perhaps only later in life that women realise 885 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 886

[Tracey Crouch] everything that they said, but Stacey Whiteley from Lincoln has contacted me. People have contacted me from Corby, that there was any drawback to what they have been Coalville and Northampton to express deep concern doing. Liver damage is an obvious related condition, and opposition to the decision. Many of them said that but breast cancer and dementia are also often cited as there were a number of questions that they wanted conditions with a link to alcohol. answered and, as I think that they are legitimate concerns, Given that what somebody does in their own home is I want to put them on the record. a matter for them, what role is there for the Government My constituents have asked me, for example, why the in tackling the issue? The introduction of a minimum extra options I to L were not presented for public unit price for alcohol is a welcome development and consultation. Other constituents have pointed out that will tackle many alcohol-related problems, but I doubt option A was the most popular, but was apparently very much that it will tackle the high level of drinking ignored. Some constituents have questioned the impartiality among well-off and professional women. It may dissuade of some advisers to the panel and others have pointed somebody who is doing the weekly shop from taking out that, in the consultation document, option A was advantage of deep discounting, and prevent the pre-loading described as being consistently the highest scoring option. that goes on among some younger drinkers, but more Why was there a U-turn and option B chosen? It is right needs to be done on education and awareness. that those decisions should be made by clinicians, but For professional women drinking at home who do these are legitimate questions from people concerned not come into contact with the traditional services that about the decision. offer alcohol-based education and interventions, the workplace could prove particularly important. Alcohol Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): The hon. Concern is championing the need for businesses to take Gentleman makes an important point, but the decision a responsible approach to alcohol, calling for the inclusion was not made by clinicians but by commissioners, who of an alcohol policy in the corporate governance code. have left the eastern side of England between Newcastle In principle, workplace interventions should definitely and England without a heart unit. Many of my constituents be encouraged, and I hope that the Government will would have gone to Leicester in preference to Newcastle. support that campaign. Now they will probably travel to London or . Undoubtedly, home drinking is extremely difficult to quantify. The only indication we have of the scale of the : Indeed. Many of the hon. harm done is the level of alcohol-related admissions. It Gentleman’s constituents would have been welcome in is therefore a concern that the official measurements Leicester. He is quite right: where do our constituents in used to calculate alcohol-related hospital admissions the east of the country, between Newcastle and London, could be altered in the near future to reflect only those go? That is something else that many of my constituents admissions where alcohol is a primary diagnosis. That have raised with me. could potentially exclude the reporting of conditions I wish to concentrate on the biggest deficiency of the for which excessive alcohol consumption were partly decision, which is the impact on our world-class ECMO responsible, such as a broken leg as a result of falling at service. On Friday, the Secretary of State announced home, or even domestic violence. I urge the Government that he would accept the recommendation to shift our to reconsider carefully the changes to the measurements. ECMO service from Leicester to Birmingham. In Leicester, If they do not, we may never truly understand the scale we have had a brilliant, world-renowned ECMO service of the problem, and the idea that we could achieve the for 20 years. targets set out by the Prime Minister for reducing alcohol dependency could be simply farcical. Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab): I am grateful to A vast number of women, especially in professional my hon. Friend for accepting my intervention, as I roles, are steadily drinking at home to the detriment of cannot speak in the debate because I am a Front-Bench their health. That is an issue on which it is difficult to spokesperson on health. Is he aware of the international provide direct intervention, but not one that we should evidence that shows that Glenfield’s ECMO survival simply ignore. I hope that this Government, who are rates for children are 50% to 75% higher than other responsibly trying to tackle alcohol misuse, will recognise centres? Those very good survival rates, and the benefits the problem and do whatever they can to ensure that it that they bring for children, must be taken into consideration is not simply left to fester behind the closed doors of as part of the review. homes up and down the country. Jonathan Ashworth: My hon. Friend is right, and she 2.49 pm makes the point with her usual eloquence and insight. I pay tribute to the work that she has done and, indeed, Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab): Like many the work of other Leicestershire Members—I see that other Members, I should like to say a few words about the hon. Member for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan) is the outcome of the Safe and Sustainable review. Children’s in the Chamber—on the ECMO service. I thank the heart surgery services in Glenfield, in the constituency Minister for agreeing to meet a delegation of east of my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester West (Liz midlands MPs, as we had a useful discussion. Kendall), have been earmarked for closure—a decision Giles Peek, a consultant paediatric heart surgeon, that came as shattering news when we heard it the other said last year of the ECMO service: week to many of the staff who work there and many families of patients who have been treated there. “We use it not just after surgery but also to stabilise children and to stop them dying before surgery. We are always full and Many of my constituents have got in touch with me, often take children from other hospitals…Our role at Glenfield as and I have also been contacted by people across Leicester a national reference centre for this treatment is important and and the country. I do not have time to go through underestimated.” 887 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 888

I fear that Giles Peek’s concerns have come true and Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer that our ECMO service has been underestimated. affecting about 100 new children in the UK each year. It I was grateful that the Minister said in the meeting is the most common cancer diagnosed in infancy and is that the Secretary of State’s decision was based on the responsible for 15% of cancer deaths in children. There Agnes review, but there are other ECMO experts who are very few treatments available in the United Kingdom disagree with that review, so I hope that he will consider for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, particularly publishing the Agnes report. In the few minutes I have those who have relapsed, and they have to travel abroad left, I shall run through the points that various ECMO for treatment, generally to Germany or the USA. experts have made. For example, Glenfield has a world-class I had never heard of neuroblastoma before my facility with more than 20 years-worth of service. There constituent, Mr John Macglashan of Dunstable, came are deep concerns that by uprooting it from Leicester to to see me in March this year. His two-year-old daughter Birmingham that expertise will be lost along the way. Lilly has stage 4 neuroblastoma. The Neuroblastoma Mr Kenneth Palmer, an ECMO expert, gave a stark Alliance, along with the people of Dunstable and the warning on Radio Leicester today that as a result of surrounding area with the help of The Dunstable Gazette, shifting the children’s ECMO service from Leicester to have helped to raise funds to send Lilly for treatment in Birmingham lives would be lost, saying: America. The whole family is going through an enormous “They could never have the same survival rate in another unit ordeal, and I want to relay their experiences to the if you move it like this. Leicester has one of the highest survival House, and make four suggestions to the Minister as to rates in the world, 10%-20% higher than the normal survival rate how the UK can improve the provision of treatment for in the world. To come up to the same skill it will take 5 years children with neuroblastoma. at least.” First, I know that the Government want high-quality He has been joined by other experts who have warned treatment for children with neuroblastoma to be available about the impact of shifting the unit from Leicester. Jim in the United Kingdom, and I strongly support that. To Fortenberry, the chair of the ECMO leadership council that end, the Government are participating in a European in Atlanta, when asked whether he agreed that lives collaborative research network on neuroblastoma through would be lost, said: the Société Internationale d’Oncologie Pédiatrique en “I do agree with that unfortunately. I think the risk is great that Europe That European trial does not appear to adhere by attempting to move and start over that you’d really start the to UK ethical standards of offering the best treatment learning curve all over again and the improved outcomes take available as a base line for all children meeting the time and experience to develop, and so by effect starting over on the learning curve you certainly would potentially put lives at eligibility criteria. I urge the Minister to make sure that stake and it could be very significant.” the best treatment available is offered as a baseline for I accept that the Minister takes advice from experts, but all children in the United Kingdom. given that there is one set of experts making one argument, My second concern is that clinical trials in the UK presumably he receives advice from a different set. If he are taking far too long to begin. In March 2010, the published his evidence, those of us who are laymen on Department of Health agreed to commence a new trial health policy can try to make our own judgments as to give monoclonal antibody therapy to all children those experts scrutinise one another’s work. who might benefit from it, but according to the Concerns have been raised about the Birmingham Neuroblastoma Alliance, that has not yet begun. The facility and whether it can deal with the new ECMO Government should ensure that this trial commences as service. Dr Andrew Coe, a paediatrician from Coventry, quickly as possible. said on Radio Leicester this morning that he was Thirdly, it is important that the Government ensure “not convinced that Birmingham will cope with increased demand that there is a standard procedure for allocating funds following closure” for treatment abroad across all primary care trust areas. of Glenfield. It was suggested to me that if the 80 ECMO That is particularly important as there are currently no nurses at Leicester are not prepared to leave Glenfield, NICE guidelines on the subject, which remains important it will take up to eight years for nurses in Birmingham while there is no viable treatment available in the UK. to be trained to the appropriate level of expertise. My constituent Mr Macglashan has taken his daughter Lilly to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer centre in I conclude by mentioning the family from South New York at considerable personal expense and with Cambridgeshire, which the Secretary of State represents, huge funds raised by the Neuroblastoma Alliance, a who appeared on Radio Leicester this morning. They charity that campaigns for children with the condition. said clearly and movingly that the service they received Mr Macglashan tells me that in the same hospital there for their little girl was the best they could receive and are children from Norway, France, Spain, Italy and went beyond what staff needed to do. I hope that the Greece, all of whom are being funded by their national Minister will give us guidance on what is next for health services while his family has had to rely on charity. Leicester’s ECMO service. I hope that he will consider publishing his evidence, and that we can have some sort Fourthly, it is important that the best treatment options of review of, or at least look again at, the shift of from abroad, whether from Germany or the USA, Leicester’s ECMO service to Birmingham. should be examined and, where the clinical evidence supports the case, introduced into the United Kingdom as quickly as possible. At the moment, there are too few 2.57 pm options available for high-risk neuroblastoma children Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): I who fail to achieve a lasting remission after front-line wish to raise the issue of neuroblastoma. I do so as treatment. In the UK, parents see a system that gives up someone who is proud of this Government’s record on on their children too soon while there should still be the health service and who strongly supports their hope. Much higher numbers of children are surviving introduction of the cancer drugs fund. for much longer with the American treatment, and some 889 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 890

[Andrew Selous] South? Letters are still arriving from international experts. Indeed, since I have been sitting in the debate I have are achieving permanent remission following treatment seen a letter that has arrived from the medical director at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer centre in New of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I should like York. We need to make sure that that level of expertise to read out a couple of quotes. The first is from Stephen is available here in the United Kingdom. Conrad, who is chairman of the steering committee of This is not simply a call for even greater NHS spending the Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation and who than the Government are currently budgeting for, as the says that costs of prolonged chemotherapy and radiotherapy in “moving an ECMO program is non-trivial and amounts to much the UK are not cheap and have been shown to have less more than moving equipment and some key personnel. Excellent success than the treatments provided in America. It outcomes that are now characteristic of the Leicester group, appears that the UK is not spending its health budget as whose work was instrumental in the worldwide adoption of pediatric and adult ECMO, would not be maintained following effectively as it could in this regard, and I ask the such a move.” Government to look again at the issue. The NHS already sends children suffering from cancer for treatment in Liz Kendall: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her America—for proton radiation treatment, for example—so work on, and support for, this important issue. Does no precedent would be set by sending more children for she agree that this is not simply a matter of moving the treatment in America and Germany. machines but also about the expertise and skills of the Finally, I ask the Government to look at the training staff, which would not be easy to move? Leading of consultants in neuroblastoma, as there are too few international experts on ECMO say that it could take who specialise in this area. between five and 20 years for the excellent level of service that is available in Glenfield to be made available 3.2 pm anywhere else in the country. Nicky Morgan (Loughborough) (Con): It is a pleasure to speak in this debate and particularly to follow the remarks Nicky Morgan: I am grateful to the hon. Lady; she is of the hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan absolutely right. The hon. Member for Leicester South Ashworth) about children’s heart surgery at Glenfield referred to Kenneth Palmer, who was retained to give hospital in Leicester. In view of the time limit, I will not his expert advice to the Joint Committee of Primary repeat the issues to do with the Safe and Sustainable Care Trusts on the move. Since the decision was made review, because those have been well rehearsed by other on 4 July, he has said: Members. “You will take over 20 years of experience from one of the It is no great surprise that all Members, as well as all world’s absolute best ECMO units and throw it away and then to patients, all staff, all parents and all families, want the rebuild it in another place and probably it will take at least 5 years best services when dealing with children’s heart surgery. to have some kind of quality and probably 20 years to come back We are talking about very sick young babies and children, to top quality, if it’s ever possible.” and there is no doubt that high-quality services are As the hon. Lady said, it is about the staff. Of course wanted across the country. At the same time, we have to the machinery is important, but what has been built up recognise that in the 21st century national health service in Leicester, and what it is most renowned for, is the there are bound to be reconfigurations. The reconfiguration expertise of its consultants, nursing staff, and all the that has been worked on by the Safe and Sustainable other staff. That is what people particularly rely on. In review arises out of what happened in Bristol, and there addition, Leicester has the only paediatric mobile ECMO is a very good reason for what it proposes. As we have unit, which is often called out to fly by helicopter heard, there are some serious questions still to be answered to other parts of the country to retrieve patients and about the process and the way in which decisions have take them back to Leicester. I hope that the Secretary of been made. State and the JCPCT were aware of that when they In the debate in this Chamber in June 2011, I talked made their decision. about the ECMO—extracorporeal membrane oxygenation My constituent, Mrs Edith Felstead, who wrote to me —service offered in Leicester, which the hon. Member and talked about the risk of moving the service, says that for Leicester South discussed. It is a world-class, excellent survival rates at Glenfield are 20% better than in the service, and the question is what will happen to it if the rest of the world. The point that I made last year and children’s heart surgery unit is moved from Leicester to still want to make is that we have an excellent, internationally Birmingham. Like the hon. Gentleman, I thank the renowned service, and if we move it, we must be sure Minister very much for meeting a delegation of east that we are doing so to obtain better outcomes. Will the midlands MPs this afternoon to talk about this. ECMO Minister tell me what advice was given to the JCPCT is a nationally commissioned service and the Secretary about the likely outcomes if the move were made? of State is therefore required to sign off the move. I The rather hefty tome that was published to help the understand that he accepted the recommendations of JCPCT to make its decision on 4 July, refers to the the panel last Friday. secretariat being able to provide “reasonable assurance” Those of us who are most interested in this and have that paediatric respiratory ECMO could be transferred been listening to constituents and to consultants and safely to Birmingham. I am concerned about that phrase. staff at the Glenfield unit have a number of questions to What assurances have been given? In particular, if the raise with the Minister. I would like to be sure of three move goes ahead and has to be implemented, what will things before I can be happy with how the decision has happen if it then becomes clear in the course of preparing been taken. First, before the Secretary of State signed for the move that the service cannot be safely moved off the move, was he aware of the misgivings of experts and we need to undo some of what has happened as a that have been described by the hon. Member for Leicester result of the review? 891 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 892

As the hon. Member for Leicester South said, two Logical health planning clearly dictates that services narrow questions could be independently reviewed in should be based on where the population live. Doctors relation to the Leicester move. I very much hope that should travel to where the patients are, rather than the following the meeting that we have just had and this other way around. Even the British Congenital Cardiac debate, the Minister will agree to such a review. I would Association has said that: like to know what advice was available to the Secretary “Where possible, the location of units providing paediatric of State and to the JCPCT and the Advisory Group for cardiac surgery should reflect the distribution of the population National Specialised Services before they made their to minimise disruption and strain on families.” decision. After all, it is not buildings that perform operations, but the doctors and surgeons within them. That definition 3.8 pm seemed okay in the case of Birmingham. The review stated: Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): I am grateful for the “The Birmingham centre should remain in all options due to opportunity to speak in this debate, Mr Deputy Speaker. the high level of referrals from the large population in its immediate May I offer you my congratulations on the honorary catchment area.” degree that you received yesterday from Swansea university? Why on earth does the argument about the large immediate I recognise that I may repeat many of the things that population not apply equally to Leeds? have been said, but this is such an important issue for The independent analysis of patient flows states that constituents in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire that I make many of the people in west and south Yorkshire and in no apology for doing so. I am going to talk about the Lincolnshire will probably go to Birmingham, Liverpool Safe and Sustainable review as well. We have received a or even London instead. The JCPCT reaches the figure number of e-mails from charities yesterday, one of of 403 surgical procedures for Newcastle on the basis of which said: only 25% of the patients going there. Even that is “As some MPs look to reignite” doubtful. How was the figure of 25% arrived at? the debate about changes to children’s heart units Andrew Percy: It is very convenient that the 25% “we urge MPs to think about the children.” figure gets Newcastle just over the 400 mark. However, Frankly, I found that rather offensive, because throughout my constituents in east Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire the whole campaign I have only ever thought about the will not travel to Newcastle at a rate of 25%. They will children. go straight up the M62 to Liverpool or head south to When I worked at Martin House children’s hospice, I Birmingham or even London, which are much easier to saw the effect on families when they were driven apart get to. because the poorly child had to be a long distance away. On my visit a week or so ago to the unit in Leeds, I met Stuart Andrew: My hon. Friend is right. I am sure a family who live in Sheffield. They brought their baby that that is the case for constituents across Yorkshire who was a few days old into the unit when the baby and the Humber. suddenly went very blue. Thankfully, because of the excellent work at the unit, that baby’s life was saved. Greg Mulholland: I am happy to be working so closely That child was described as “marginal” in the review with my hon. Friend on this matter. When all the meeting on 4 July. That is not my description, but that evidence is considered, is not the reality that Leeds is of the decision makers. That is a shocking statement in being sacrificed simply to allow Newcastle to achieve a my opinion. I also met another family who live in level of operations that it might not even achieve? That Sheffield. The father is making three trips a day between is no reason to close a good unit. Leeds and Sheffield because there are other siblings at home. How on earth are such people expected to travel Stuart Andrew: I could not agree with my hon. Friend three times a day up to Newcastle? more. I recognise that the review has been independent of The decision flies in the face of a fundamental aspect Government, but I have grave concerns over the way in of the NHS constitution: patient choice. The JCPCT which it has been run. I support a review, because I asserts that Newcastle could reach the minimum number want the best services for our children. I was grateful for of procedures if parents are “properly managed” to go the Minister’s comments earlier, when he said that the to there. That is simply unacceptable. The whole point call-in process means that the matter will go to an of patient choice is that people decide where they want independent panel. I would be grateful for clarification to go. of whether that panel is independent of the JCPCT. As my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland) said, the review ignored a petition Mr Simon Burns: May I reassure my hon. Friend that of 600,000 people, counting it as only one response, the Independent Reconfiguration Panel is nothing to do when 22,000 text messages in support of the Birmingham with the JCPCT, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of unit were counted as 22,000 separate responses. Why State or me? It is an independent organisation that is was that? there to look at reconfigurations across the country that The scores in the review were allocated to four bands. are referred to it by my right hon. Friend following an Each of the points from one to four were multiplied by oversight and scrutiny committee writing to him. the weighting. That gave 286 points to Newcastle and 239 points to Leeds. However, there was no clarification Stuart Andrew: I am extremely grateful to my right hon. of how the figures had been arrived at. Also the figures Friend for that clarification. I hope that the independent were not definite, but were rounded up or down, which review body will look at the issues that I raise. may have made a huge difference to the outcome. 893 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 894

[Stuart Andrew] The findings of two trials comparing Avastin and Lucentis have been published recently. Those are the As has been mentioned, clinical experts at the BCCA, comparison of age-related macular degeneration treatments the Bristol inquiry, the Paediatric Intensive Care Society trial, known as CATT, which was carried out in the and the Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists all United States, and the inhibit VEGF in age-related say that surgical centres should be chosen on the basis choroidal neovascularisation trial, known as IVAN, of their having paediatric services all on one site. That is which was carried out in the UK and was funded by the something that we enjoy in Leeds, which has a wonderful National Institute for Health Research. The IVANtrial, children’s hospital with all the services that are needed. which was NHS funded, involved 610 patients in On meeting such children, it is clear that they need the 23 hospitals. It was one of the largest research projects support not just of heart surgeons, but of other experts. studying eye diseases in the UK. The one-year results In Newcastle, the extra support will be some 3 miles were presented at an international conference in May away. There will therefore be a worse service for people this year and have been accepted for publication in the who live in and around Yorkshire, not the world-class peer-reviewed journal, Ophthalmology. service that we all want. The greatest debate about the differences between the There is much more detail that I would like to go into. two drugs is likely to be over their safety when used to I sincerely hope that we will have a Back-Bench debate treat wet AMD. Academics say that, overall, both drugs on this issue when we come back in the autumn, because are extremely safe. My contention is that it is likely that it is of grave concern to hundreds of thousands of cost pressures on the NHS will lead to increased use of people in the Yorkshire region. We will not give up our Avastin. The IVAN researchers estimated that if the fight to save our unit. NHS were to substitute Lucentis for Avastin across the UK, it would save £84.5 million each year if 17,295 eyes were treated. 3.16 pm However, I am aware of the financial environment in Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con): I wish to raise which pharmaceutical companies operate. Like other the issue of wet age-related macular degeneration and industries, they manufacture products that must be sold the treatments that are available. at a profit, but in contrast to manufacturers in other The condition usually affects the sight of people from industries their research and development costs are the age of 60, although it can affect people at an earlier prohibitive. That means that they must make money on age. AMD is the most common cause of sight loss in the their investment. I recognise that they must not only western world. In the UK, more than 500,000 people regain their expenditure through profit but achieve profits have the condition and about 250,000 people are registered to cover all the drugs that fail to get on to the market. as visually impaired. Because people are living longer, There has been criticism of NICE’s failure to recognise the number of people who are affected by AMD is and adopt innovative new medicines. The UK is a world increasing. leader in medicines research, development and manufacture, Although the condition causes central vision loss and but it is one of the slowest countries to enable patients can have a devastating impact, it does not lead to to have access to innovative treatments. Avastin fits into complete blindness as sufferers retain their peripheral that classification. I do not seek the Department’s licensing vision. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, but drugs it immediately, but I call for the Government to establish are available that can slow the growth of blood vessels an independent appraisal of it for use in ophthalmology. in the eye. Such anti-vascular endothelial growth factor Clinicians are already using it off-label, so that would medicines prevent blood vessels from forming or growing. not be a leap in the dark. The savings that there would Three drugs have been used in the treatment of wet be for the NHS if the drug did work have already been AMD: Macugen, Lucentis and Avastin. It is the latter quantified. However, if it is not safe, we must act to two drugs with which my speech is concerned. ensure the public’s health. I therefore ask the Minister Fundamentally, what is the difference between the to consider my request. two drugs? At first glance, the answer is the cost. Lucentis costs about £700 an injection, while Avastin 3.20 pm costs £60. The bigger answer is that Avastin is not officially approved for eye treatments. Lucentis gained Priti Patel (Witham) (Con): My comments will focus its European Medicines Agency approval in 2007. It is on the treatment of one GP in my constituency and his officially approved for use in eyes and is the treatment patients in Kelvedon, and on the state of health services recommended in England and Wales by the National in Witham town. Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The certification With the Government rightly empowering patients is based on extensive trials that show that is safe and and medical practitioners, it is deeply alarming to see effective for all lesion types in wet AMD. The trials have how one GP in my constituency is being treated. Dr Conor shown that it stabilises sight in more than 90% of cases Macnamara has served the people of Kelvedon for a and improves sight in 40% of cases. quarter of a century and is currently a salaried GP at The cheaper Avastin has not been approved by the the Brimpton House surgery in Kelvedon. He has been EMA for use in treatments of the eye because it has not a stalwart of our local community, and whole families gone through the proper clinical trials. It has been throughout the locality respect and trust him. He has approved as a treatment for colorectal cancers, and is upheld the values of the NHS on the front line and therefore readily available. When used for colorectal enthusiastically supported local residents. cancers, the drug is injected into a vein in the arm. Despite Dr Macnamara’s strong record, the primary When it is used for the treatment of wet AMD, it is care trust, which is now called NHS Mid Essex, and the given into the eye. GP principal at Brimpton House surgery, Dr Alsayed, 895 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 896 have decided to end his employment and stop him talked about it. They have included the hon. Member treating local patients. They did so at the end of last for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland); the hon. year without consulting his patients, and they issued a Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter), who mentioned statement informing his patients of the decision before the Brompton hospital in London, which is part and Dr Macnamara himself was formally notified of it. parcel of that review; the hon. Member for Leicester The decision to remove Dr Macnamara, and the way South (Jonathan Ashworth), who took interventions in which it was carried out, have caused considerable from the hon. Member for Leicester West (Liz Kendall); consternation among local residents. They are up in and my hon. Friends the Members for Pudsey (Stuart arms, and they have signed a petition objecting to any Andrew), for Colne Valley (Jason McCartney) and for attempt to remove this long-standing family doctor Loughborough (Nicky Morgan). from Brimpton House surgery. Yesterday, alongside the I fully accept that the reorganisation of children’s patient action group, they handed in a petition and cardiac services is a matter of real concern for the delivered a letter to Dr Alsayed, reiterating their wish to families involved, as indicated by the strength of feeling see Dr Macnamara reinstated. I pay tribute to them for shown in the contributions of all the Members who their campaign and remain extremely disappointed by have taken part in the debate. I know that some families the lack of engagement by the PCT and Dr Alsayed in have been disappointed by the outcome of the JCPCT’s addressing local concerns, and by their failure to address recent decision. As hon. Members will know, children’s Dr Macnamara’s concerns. In my view, that is a classic heart surgery has been a subject of concern for more example of NHS bureaucracy overriding patient choice. than 15 years. Clinical experts and national parents I hope that my right hon. Friend the Minister will look groups have repeatedly called for change, and there is an into the matter and help us find a good resolution that overwhelming feeling that change is long overdue. will lead to Dr Macnamara’s reinstatement. As passionately as people want to defend their local As well as ignoring patient choice in Kelvedon, NHS hospitals, it is far more important to ensure safety and bureaucrats have neglected health provision in Witham quality of care for all children with congenital heart town. It is a growing town, and the local community is disease. We must ensure that those children continue to being overlooked in the provision of health services. We receive the very best care that the NHS can deliver, and have a growing population, and the demand for new I know that no Member would disagree with that health service provision is reaching breaking point. Our overarching principle. That was what the NHS Safe and population is increasing and more and more new homes Sustainable review was aimed at, and as I have told are being built, so the provision of good-quality local many Members over the past 22 months, it was wholly health services is vital. Instead of investing in local independent of Government. services, the PCT has shamelessly spent hard-pressed The review was led by clinicians and had the support taxpayers’ money on more managers and administrators. of the Royal Colleges and national charities. Its conclusions The number of patients registered at the four GP were clear: for children with congenital heart disease to practices covering the town and surrounding villages receive the very best care, specialist surgical expertise has reached almost 30,000. Those patients are covered needs to be concentrated in a smaller number of centres. by just 13.5 whole-time equivalent GPs, which makes That will mean that surgeons have sufficient clinical more than 2,000 patients per GP. That is 40% higher work to maintain and develop their skills; that they can than the 2011 national average of about 1,600. Local provide those services around the clock; and that they people need more GPs instead of managers, and I hope can train and develop the next generation of surgeons. I that my right hon. Friend the Minister can offer us must stress that the JCPCT’s decision is not about some advice as local health campaigners. We want to closing or cutting back on children’s heart services—quite press the new clinical commissioning groups to increase the opposite. It is about ensuring that the whole range local GP provision. Progress must be made, and my of children’s heart services can deliver the very best care constituents in Witham would welcome any intervention now and in future. and encouragement that he can provide to nudge the I thank in passing my hon. Friend the Member for process along, particularly given the Government’s reforms. Loughborough and the hon. Member for Leicester South The Government have rightly prioritised the NHS, for meeting me earlier this afternoon to discuss the and their reforms will help save it in a time of financial important issue of ECMO and how it directly affects uncertainty. I hope they will now do everything possible Glenfield hospital in Leicester. to ensure that their commitment to support patient choice and invest in front-line health services can be Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I am afraid other duties delivered in Witham, to avoid a health crisis and bring in the House prevented me from being at the meeting. much-needed and long-overdue benefits to my constituents. Had I been there, I would have supported what the hon. Member for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan) and my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester South (Jonathan 3.24 pm Ashworth) said. The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon Burns): This has been an interesting and diverse debate, Mr Burns: I am extremely grateful to the right hon. giving hon. Members an opportunity to raise a range of Gentleman. Not only am I sure he would agree with every different subjects affecting their local communities and word that my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough the health and well-being of their constituents. If there and the hon. Member for Leicester South said, but I has been a main theme, it has been the Safe and Sustainable have considerable sympathy with him, as he was unable review of paediatric heart surgery. I fully recognise the to attend the meeting owing to other pressing parliamentary strength of feeling and emotion on that difficult and duties in his role as Chair of the Select Committee on sensitive subject, which is why so many Members have Home Affairs. To be even fairer to the right hon. 897 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 898

[Mr Simon Burns] Mr Burns: I will give way once more, but then I will have to make progress, because I only have 10 minutes Gentleman, the meeting was originally planned for to respond to the whole debate. 3 pm or 3.15 pm, but unfortunately, neither my hon. Friend, the hon. Gentleman nor I would have been able Stuart Andrew: Will the independent panel have the to attend because we were at that moment in the Chamber. power to request all the documentation that the Safe I understand from the nature of our discussions, as and Sustainable review and the JCPCT have been looking they will, that this is a difficult issue, because there are a at? Will everything be released so that it can look at the number of complicated parts to the problem. I hear evidence in detail? what they and other hon. Members have said about the Safe and Sustainable review, but I stick to my original Mr Burns: The IRP? position. The review is independent and is carried out Stuart Andrew: Yes. not by the Government, but by the JCPCT. It would be inappropriate for me to become directly involved, to Mr Burns: I think I can assure my hon. Friend that take sides or to pass comment because it would be felt the IRP will have available to it all the evidence, in all that I was interfering. If hon. Members’ local authorities shapes and forms, to help it to form its final opinion of disagree with the decisions or recommendations of the the complaint referred to it. I hope that that reassures him. JCPCT, their overview and scrutiny committees can I say to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough write to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for and the hon. Member for Leicester South that the same Health to express their disagreement with the decision can apply with regard to the decision about ECMO. as it affects their local community or local hospital, and I have no doubt that Leicester city council will give to request that the matter be referred to the independent consideration to that. reconfiguration panel, so that it can consider it independently and come up with a decision. I shall briefly respond to the remaining issues. My hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford As my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley said, (Tracey Crouch) made several extremely interesting his local authority has today done just that. It may be suggestions. Some of them might not be in line with helpful to him if I explain the procedure. My right hon. current Government thinking, but I shall certainly refer Friend the Secretary of State receives the representations her ideas and views to the Under-Secretary of State for and communication from the local authority overview Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne and scrutiny committee specifying that it believes that Milton), who deals with our alcohol strategy. Similarly, the decision and recommendation as they affect the my hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire local hospital—Leeds, in my hon. Friend’s case—are (Andrew Selous) raised an important issue, and again I wrong. The overview and scrutiny committee then asks will refer it to the Under-Secretary of State. my right hon. Friend whether he will refer the matter to the independent reconfiguration panel. I do not want to The hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain prejudge, but it is almost certain that my right hon. McDonagh) mentioned the potential reconfiguration at Friend will refer the matter. It will be then be up to the St Helier hospital. As she will know, the proposals are IRP, which is independent, to look at the recommendation still being worked on. There has not yet been a consultation and the criticisms made by the overview and scrutiny process, but the decisions have been taken locally by the committee, and to reach a conclusion, which will be an local NHS. I trust that, if and when there is a consultation independent conclusion, on whether it agrees with the process, she will get involved. recommendation or the criticisms of it and perhaps of Siobhain McDonagh: Absolutely. the procedures involved. The IRP will then make my right hon. Friend aware of its independent view of the Mr Burns: I thought she would say that. That is very complaint. good. After the consultation, the due processes of reconfiguration can move forward. Jason McCartney: Will the Minister clarify the time scale of the procedure he has described and also tell us My hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Dr Offord) who has the final say? asked about Avastin. A study is being done into its effects. We are following that closely, and when we find out more Mr Burns: It is difficult to give a time scale for this we will consider the matter and potentially reach a reason: as soon as my right hon. Friend receives judgment, but I cannot give him any commitments at representations from the overview and scrutiny committee, the moment. he will consider as quickly as he can whether to make a Finally, I turn to my constituency neighbour, my hon. referral. As I have said, in the life of the IRP, every Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel). I am sorry request for a referral has been granted—that is certainly to hear about the problems that she highlighted on true of my right hon. Friend’s time in office, but I behalf of her constituents. I do not want to disappoint believe it is also true of previous Secretaries of State her, because she is my neighbour and I have to live with under the previous Government. It is up to the IRP. I her on a weekly basis, but given the background to know of one example of my right hon. Friend requesting the case, I think it is a matter for the GP practice as the that the IRP respond within a certain time frame, but employer of the GP whom she mentioned. I encourage that was on a single issue. It is possible, with regard to her to engage with Mid Essex PCT, even though it has the Safe and Sustainable review, that a number of no direct powers or role in this matter, and the clinical referrals could be made by different OSCs in relation to commissioning group in the mid-Essex area, because the recommendations—I do not know but it is a possibility. they are best placed to address the concerns about the provision of services for her constituents, which I know Stuart Andrew: Will the Minister give way? she is fearless in defending, protecting and promoting. 899 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 900

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I thank the FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Minister. I wish him and those Members not staying for the other debates a happy and productive recess. We now move to a short debate on foreign and commonwealth 3.39 pm affairs, after which we will proceed to a debate on the John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): Once environment, food and rural affairs. Members listed again I wish to raise the issue of human rights and the under other topics will then be taken in the general death penalty in India. I pay tribute to four organisations— debate. We still have the five-minute limit on speeches. Kesri Lehar, Liberation, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch—that have continued to expose the Indian Government’s failure to address human rights abuses effectively. Kesri Lehar launched the “Wave for Justice” campaign, along with a petition, which has now been signed by more than 100,000 people, to seek a full debate in Parliament on the issue, which I hope we can secure later in the year. I want to raise three issues of concern. The first issue is the historic failure of the Indian Government to bring to justice those who perpetrated the massacre of the Sikhs in Operation Blue Star in 1984, which started with the attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar and resulted in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Sikhs in the following decade, and was described as Indian’s hidden genocide. Despite various commissions of inquiry into abductions, disappearances, extra-judicial executions and secret cremations, Amnesty’s latest report confirms that the Indian Government have failed to hold the perpetrators to account. In 2004, on the 20th anniversary of the massacre, I launched a report in this House called “1984: Sikhs’ Kristallnacht”. We called for an independent commission of truth and justice, under the auspices of the United Nations, to investigate the slaughter. Since then there has been no progress and the Sikhs still await justice. What is even more galling, however, is that two individuals—Jagdish Tytler and KPS Gill, who are both accused of playing leading roles in the human rights violations in 1984 to 1995—may well seek to visit Britain for the Olympics in their capacity as Olympic officials for India. It would be a travesty of justice and cause deep offence to the whole of the Sikh community in the United Kingdom if these brutes were allowed to enjoy this country’s hospitality. The human rights abuses go on. Human rights NGOs have confirmed that human rights violations against minorities continue today, including against the Sikhs. Human Rights Watch’s latest report dealt with custodial killings and police abuses, including torture. On average, 1,500 people a year are dying in custody in Indian prisons and police stations, while rape is used as a form or torture. For 18 years the Indian Government have denied the UN rapporteur on torture access to India. Amnesty now reports that over the past two years 30 human rights defenders have been targeted for abuse by state and non-state organisations, with eight people being killed as a result. Meanwhile, the Indian Government have failed to repeal the laws that afford state impunity to human rights abusers. Indeed, impunity seems to be common for the perpetrators of human rights abuses in India. That is not acceptable by any standards. The ultimate violation of human rights, however, is to take a person’s life. That is why there was such shock and anger at the Indian Government’s threat—made only months ago, after an eight-year hiatus—to implement the death penalty against people such as Professor Davinder Singh Bhullar and Balwant Singh Rajoana. Professor Bhullar was convicted only on a confession 901 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 902

[John McDonnell] war, the likelihood is that, by the time we leave, there will be another civil war and that it will be ruled by the that was obtained by torture and later retracted. Balwant Taliban once again. Singh Rajoana has already served 17 years on death For 10 years, we have heard optimism being expressed row and has suffered enough. The threat of capital by all Governments, along with exaggerations of success punishment for those individuals has been lifted for the and dismissals of the failures that mounted up, year time being, but now two thirds of the world has renounced after year. It was not necessarily a mistake to go there, the death penalty. I say as a friend of India that it is time although no British interests were threatened in 2001. It India did so too. was, however, a terrible mistake to go into Helmand I appreciate what both the last Government and this province. In our first five years in Afghanistan, only two Government have done in making representations to of our soldiers died. Then, we provocatively stirred up the Indian Government over the years. I also pay tribute the hornets’ nest in Helmand, in the foolish and mistaken to the work that the Minister has done in pressing the belief that not a shot would be fired. Our operations in Indian Government on these issues. However, I once Helmand were described in the House at the time as again urge the Government to use our bilateral talks, being as futile as the charge of the Light Brigade, but and the EU-India human rights dialogue, to call on we have now lost three times as many troops in Helmand India to take decisive action to protect human rights as were lost in that charge. and, in particular, to abolish the death penalty. It is time It is a dereliction of duty for the House not to debate India addressed this issue. India is the largest democracy the withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan. We on the globe, yet it stands alone in the developing world know that the people of this country are strongly in in still supporting the death penalty. India should adhere favour of such a withdrawal. In a recent by-election, a to human rights and, at the same time, ensure that candidate from a minority party with only one policy— capital punishment is no longer a stain on the country. withdrawal from Afghanistan—gained 56% of the votes and humiliated all the other parties. We also know that 80% of the public want our troops to withdraw now, yet 3.44 pm we are being distracted by the bread and circuses of all the events taking place this year, and we cannot find a Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): The professionalism, moment in our parliamentary diary to discuss whether valour and courage of our soldiers who have served in we should bring our troops home before we reach the Afghanistan and those serving there now are as point that Senator Kerry described when he was an distinguished as any in our long military history. Some officer in Vietnam in the final days of that war. He of our allies have already decided to withdraw their spoke of asking the agonising question: who will be the troops. They are not the nations that were not enthusiastic last soldier that I will order to die for a politician’s about the war, but those that have paid huge costs in mistake? blood and treasure. Canada withdrew its combat troops after a debate in its Parliament that was supported by every party. The Netherlands has also done so, and we 3.49 pm now know that Australia and France intend to bring their troops home early. Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I had hoped that, after the election of President Hadi in Yemen, I would The United Kingdom has lost 422 troops, and we no longer need to raise the situation in that country. have spent £20 billion, but that is only part of the cost. Sadly, however, the situation has deteriorated even further We must also take into account the number of troops since the election. Only last week, 22 people died in a who return from Afghanistan broken in body and in mind. suicide bomb attack in Sana’a. That attack followed a Figures from America show that more of its veterans number of others perpetrated by al-Qaeda in the Arabian from Afghanistan take their lives after combat than die Peninsula. I remain deeply concerned that, even though in combat. The same applied to our figures from the the old regime has gone and President Hadi has been Falklands war. We know that the dying will continue. elected, there is still a major security problem in this A case in Pembrokeshire involved a soldier who had beautiful but troubled country. suffered grievously in Afghanistan. His death is not As the House knows, I was born in Yemen, and counted among the 422 casualties, however. In Afghanistan, I spent the first nine years of my life there. I have the he was shot twice and involved in two separate incidents pleasure and privilege of chairing the all-party involving improvised explosive devices, but his loved parliamentary group on Yemen. I have not been able to ones explained that the experience that haunted him visit the country over the past two years because of the was holding his best friend, who had lost a number of security situation; so if it is bad for someone such as me limbs in an explosion, and watching as the life retreated and other Members, it is very bad for people in Yemen. from his eyes. It was that experience that drove him to I am delighted to see at the Dispatch Box the Under- take his own life. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth There are powerful reasons for saying that we are Affairs, the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire continuing to order soldiers to risk their lives for the (Alistair Burt), and I want to pay tribute both to the cause in Afghanistan, but I do not believe that a case Foreign Secretary and to him for all the good work they can be made for doing so any more. A recent briefing have done in ensuring they keep a dialogue going with said that we needed to get all our equipment out of the Yemeni Government and the Yemeni authorities. Afghanistan at enormous cost, because we did not want The Minister met last Thursday, as did I, Dr Abu Bakr to see the Taliban riding round in British tanks in five al-Kurbi, the long-standing Foreign Minister of Yemen, years’ time. However, having gone into Afghanistan and I know that useful discussions were held about the when it was ruled by the Taliban and engaged in a civil situation. 903 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 904

I am very pleased that Nicholas Hopton has taken I know that the death penalty is of particular concern to over as our ambassador in Sana’a, although the difficulty Members and their constituents, as the hon. Gentleman of having an embassy there is recognised by the fact made clear. Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign that this is truly a hardship post, and it is time limited, Secretary and the Minister of State, Foreign and which is something we do not do to many of our Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for embassies all over the world. The first issue, then, is Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), who has responsibility security. What does the Minister have to say about the for matters relating to India, receive a significant amount security situation in Yemen? What can we do to help the of correspondence on the subject. new Government? What can we do to ensure that they have the equipment and support they need? We have made our opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances clear to the Government of India on A few years ago, spoke of the need for one scanner at many occasions, urging them to formalise the now Sana’a airport, and I recently tabled a question asking eight-year de facto moratorium with a view to eventual whether the scanner had arrived, two years later, and abolition. The decision earlier this year to proceed with was told that the information could not be released the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana was therefore because it was not in the public interest to do so. I then deeply concerning. We took every opportunity to express put in a freedom of information request. I do not think that concern to the Government of India, and I am it is a big deal to tell an MP whether a scanner that was grateful for what the hon. Gentleman said about our promised two years ago has arrived at Sana’a airport. I efforts. According to the note I have here, the issue of hope that the Minister can provide that information in the death penalty and particular cases have been raised his reply. deliberately on 11 occasions in the past 12 months. We The second limb of any discussion about Yemen is are obviously pleased that a stay of execution for Balwant the humanitarian situation, and I want to pay tribute to Singh Rajoana was announced on 28 March so that the my near constituency neighbour the Minister of State, President could consider an appeal for clemency. Department for International Development, the right hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan) for Much of the correspondence received by my ministerial all the work he has done. He has attended a number of colleagues refers specifically to that and a number of the Friends of Yemen conferences, and £2.5 billion has other cases relating to Sikhs, and to events in the state been pledged over the last few years. I know that our of Punjab in recent decades. Our principled opposition Government have given £31.7 million in humanitarian to the death penalty is of course separate from the aid. It remains the case that 500,000 people are displaced specifics of cases in which we must be careful to avoid as a result of the situation in Yemen, and it remains the interference in India’s judicial process, just as we would case that 50% of the Yemeni population do not have wish other Governments to respect our own. However, access to clean water and sanitation. It remains the case, the UK is active in encouraging an improvement in the too, that the vast majority of Yemenis live on less than treatment of minority communities in India. The British £1.29 a day. This situation can only help to feed the high commission in New Delhi has discussed minority ambitions of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula. community issues with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with various other state-level authorities, All I ask from the Minister—as I said, Ministers have and I assure Members that those discussions will continue. continued the good work of Ministers under the last Government—is that we continue our strategy and our In addition to such bilateral exchanges, the main plan to help the Government of Yemen, and that we give forum for discussing concerns such as those raised by them whatever support they need. We must be cautious the hon. Gentleman is the annual EU-India human about one aspect: when we have international conferences, rights dialogue, the next round of which will take place many countries—the Saudis, for example—pledge a lot soon. It allows a frank exchange of views, and, crucially, of money, but I do not know whether it is actually paid. it is a two-way process. The matters that the hon. We must ensure that, having made a pledge, the donors Gentleman has raised today will certainly be raised ensure that the money reaches the people who matter—the again in the course of that dialogue. people of Yemen. During the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review of India in May, we urged it to 3.53 pm maintain its de facto moratorium on the death penalty. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign We asked about the Indian Government’s response to and Commonwealth Affairs (Alistair Burt): I thank the concern about India’s security legislation, and also noted three colleagues who have spoken briefly and succinctly, concern about reports of a significant number of cases but equally powerfully, in each set of comments. I am of torture by police and security authorities. We not time limited, but I will do my best to be as brief as recommended that India expedite the ratification of the possible, fair in responding to what colleagues have said convention against torture and its optional protocol, and fair to those who are waiting to speak. I shall deal and adopt robust domestic legislation to that effect. with colleagues’ contributions in order. The hon. Gentleman also raised the issue of the The hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John Olympic games, and asked specifically about accreditation. McDonnell) raised the issue of the death penalty in We do not routinely comment on individual cases, but India and some particular cases. One of the advantages our policy is clear: accreditation will be refused to any of having a deep and wide-ranging bilateral relationship individual who may present a safety or security risk or with India is that it allows us to have frank and open whose presence at the games or in the UK would not be conversations about all areas of interest and concern. conducive to the public good, and it will be refused if Where we have concerns about human rights issues, we there is independent, reliable and credible evidence that have made them clear to the Government of India. an individual has committed human rights abuses. 905 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 906

[Alistair Burt] that what they will have in the future will have been dearly bought for them by others. They are determined The hon. Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn) to make something of that. made a familiar but none the less passionate and heartfelt No one pretends there will not be difficult days to plea in relation to those who are serving in Afghanistan, come, but if we consider the protection of women, and repeating concerns that he has raised regularly about their situation, their human rights and their opportunities what he believes to be their overlong presence there. for the future, we can see that they are better now than There is no doubt that when he speaks about the they would have been had international forces not been circumstances affecting individual soldiers and what involved, and had UK forces not made the sacrifices they have experienced, either personally or through they have made. what they have observed with others, he speaks movingly and with heartfelt compassion, and no one could deny Finally, let me turn to the comments on Yemen of my the force of what he says. He constantly raises the friend, the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith questions “What has it been worth?” and “Is it ever Vaz). I would have begun by painting a slightly brighter worth it?” It would be wrong for me to stand at the picture. The security situation is not easy, but since the Dispatch Box and not give a positive answer to those election of President Hadi there have been positive questions, or rebut, as gently as I can, some of the hon. signs in a number of areas. The national dialogue—the Gentleman’s worst fears. essential political process that needs to go forward—is being engaged upon, and the President has been adept As I have said to the hon. Gentleman before, I believe in handling the armed forces, who have sometimes been that there are genuine signs of progress. We know that at odds with authority and each other. there are still difficult days to come, but let me offer an Although the security situation is difficult, there are answer to those who feel that absolutely nothing has positive signs on where Yemen is going, and the degree been achieved. The number of district governors has of confidence displayed in President Hadi, not least by risen from five in 2008 to 12. Eight of Helmand’s the Friends of Yemen, has been striking. I would therefore 13 districts, and the municipality of Lashkar Gah, are maintain that things are better than they were—and the now either in transition or about to embark on it. That right hon. Gentleman would certainly find that the means that their security will be no longer the responsibility ambassador would say that, too. of UK or international forces but that of Afghan forces, which are gradually taking more and more responsibility Let me briefly run through the major areas the right for their own areas. Tranche 3 of the transition will see hon. Gentleman discussed. A clear priority for the some 75% of the population of Afghanistan covered by President has been removing the malign threat posed by their own forces, which have been trained by the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and re-establishing international forces in order to meet the security needs security throughout the country. In his inauguration of the people in the future. That will allow the UK and speech, the President was clear about his determination international forces to retreat from their international to address the instability. Since then, we have witnessed obligations in 2014, as has long been planned. I also say great achievements by his security forces in the south, to the hon. Gentleman that we have no sense that we are with the retaking of towns across Abyan province from not going to stick to that timetable, which truly matters AQAP, but those successes have not come without for the future security of those in Afghanistan. sacrifices, including those resulting from the appalling attack in Sana’a on 21 May, the assassination of the Some 145 schools are open, an increase of 79% since southern military commander on 18 June, and, only last 2008. There are 89,000 male students in Helmand province week, an attack on young police cadets at the police and 29,000 female students. There are women teachers, academy in Sana’a. too. All these things did not happen before, which is why the people of Afghanistan are so concerned that AQAP is on the back foot, but it retains the capability the progress must be maintained. We can ensure that to conduct attacks both inside and outside Yemen. only by sticking to the timetable. Restoring security and tackling the threat of violent extremism emanating from Yemen is a top priority for The series of international conferences in the past this Government, and I assure the right hon. Gentleman year or so—Bonn, Chicago, Tokyo, Istanbul—have all that we are committed to the stability of Yemen. That been designed to demonstrate that, although combat commitment is undiminished, and we will continue to troops will be leaving in 2014, the international community’s work with the Yemeni Government in their fight against commitment to Afghanistan will continue. Chicago was AQAP. about how the future security will be guaranteed. Tokyo I am aware of the issues to do with the scanning was about international development support; we are equipment at Sana’a airport. It is in place, but because committing to give the same level of support as now of the security situation it has not been easy to get the until 2017, after which time the situation will be reviewed. people there to connect it and fix it up. That is a priority All these assurances are absolutely essential for for us, however. As the situation eases, it will be an Afghanistan’s people as they take more responsibility important thing for us to do. for their own future. The right hon. Gentleman rightly paid tribute to my That future will have been bought by the sacrifices of colleague, the Minister of State, Department for the people to whom the hon. Gentleman referred so International Development, my right hon. Friend the movingly. I disagree with his view that it has not been Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), who is worth it, however. Each individual life lost, and each doing an excellent job, such as in addressing humanitarian individual life ruined by wounding or pain, is a tragedy, issues and in respect of the Friends of Yemen donor but it has not been for nothing, and there are plenty of conference to come. He takes a particular interest in people in Afghanistan who recognise that and know how the money is spent, and in reassuring those who 907 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 908 have promised to be donors that the money will get DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD where it needs to go. That addresses one reason why in AND RURAL AFFAIRS the past donors have been hesitant to deliver on their commitments. So, I can assure the right hon. Gentleman 4.5 pm that that is a matter of importance for us that we will Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con): Thank you continue to deliver on. We think there will be further for calling me to speak, Mr Deputy Speaker, on a subject— meetings in New York later on in the summer, and the British dairy industry—hugely important to my possibly one in Riyadh. However, the Friends of Yemen constituency and, I contend, to our nation. I want to speak have recognised the President’s abilities. He was not in particular about the crisis currently engulfing it. particularly well known before he took the position, but I have always appreciated the importance of dairying. he is delivering in many different ways in Yemen.Although My first job, for the first 10 years after I joined the the security situation is difficult and will remain so, family business, was milking cows. I do not suppose I there are some good signs in a difficult area, and I hope am unique among Members in that regard, although I to be able to report on those more often in the next 12 to might be the only existing MP who has actually milked 18 months. cows by hand. I often stayed with my grandparents when I was young; they had eight cows which they milked by hand, and they produced butter that was circulated in the village. Therefore, I feel a considerable attachment to the industry—and we really did use three-legged stools, for those who are wondering. Dairy farming has shaped and maintained the countryside of Britain as we know it for a century. It is an industry we should value and support. Today, dairy farming is in deep trouble—an important primary production industry torn apart by the corporate greed and ruthlessness of processors and retailers. Dairy farming is being reduced to an unsustainable position. Dairy farmers will be forced out of business and inevitably, more dairy products will be imported unless there is change. We should do our utmost to prevent this from happening. It is not possible to calculate precisely the cost of milk production because circumstances vary, but it is generally accepted to be 29p to 31p per litre. Some of our major retailers acknowledge this. Waitrose and Marks and Spencer contract with farmers and allow for the production costs to be covered. Sainsbury’s and Tesco, too, contract with farmers for some of their milk, and they too allow the costs to be covered. However, others do not and they should be named and publicly shamed: Asda, Morrisons, and Co-op are huge businesses that show a shocking disregard for their suppliers. The processors—the in-between businesses that buy from farmers and sell to the retailers—should also be named and shamed: Arla, Robert Wiseman and Dairy Crest are happy to watch suppliers go out of business, in order that they can maintain their large profits. The dairy products marketplace, as we know, is deregulated and unbalanced. The contracts under which milk is traded are incredibly one-sided. Buyers have discretion to impose price cuts almost without warning, while sellers are tied to long-term notice periods. Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con): I congratulate my hon. Friend on raising what is a vital issue to the dairy industry. I recently met Roberta Parsons of Manor House farm in Brogden, in my constituency, which is a small farm with only 140 cows. Does he agree that it is the smallest farmers who are hardest hit by the reduction in milk prices and the abuse of power by the larger milk companies? Glyn Davies: I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. It is undoubtedly true that it is the average-sized businesses that are likely to survive and that can carry a period of loss, while the traditional farmers are likely to go out of business unless there is change. 909 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 910

[Glyn Davies] working. It is working in favour of big bullying retailers and processors, and it is causing huge damage and A few weeks ago, the processors reduced the price by driving into bankruptcy the dairy farmers that have 2p a litre—just like that: a 6% to 7% reduction. Now sustained our countryside for so long. they have told farmers that on 1 August there will be another 6 or 7% cut, which reduces the price they are 4.13 pm paying to the farmers to way below the cost of production. Last week, unsurprisingly, there was a huge reaction: Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): I support the hon. 2,500 dairy farmers came to a dairy summit here in Member for Montgomeryshire (Glyn Davies) in his Westminster and many of my hon. Friends attended. request to the Minister today. The hon. Gentleman The purpose was to highlight this unacceptable position, represents mid Wales and I represent north Wales, and a and to demand that these cuts do not ahead in August number of my constituents from the National Farmers and that those that took place in July and July be reversed. Union and from the Farmers Union of Wales have echoed very much the concerns that he has raised. They Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): I thank my hon. simply cannot plan their businesses on the basis of a Friend for raising this important issue, which is dear to 2p cut in the price of milk already, with the potential for both our hearts. Does he agree that this crisis enveloping further cuts before 1 August. As he has mentioned, the dairy industry, whereby on 1 August dairy farmers will dairies such as Robert Wiseman Dairies are squeezing face going bust, means that if we cannot find a voluntary the dairy farmers of north Wales hard on the price of code between the producers and the supermarkets, we milk. A number of farmers in my constituency have should look to impose some sort of mandatory regulatory raised the concern that they have potentially lost, because regime to save our dairy industry? of the cut to their businesses, between £40,000 and £60,000 per business. No business could take a mid-year hit of that proportion with so little notice without it Glyn Davies: I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, potentially having an impact on their viability. Farmers as he makes a point that I was intending to deal with. I in my constituency came to London last week to raise was going to raise it with the Minister to seek his the issue and are seeking the solution proposed by the opinion and perhaps his assurance on that very matter. hon. Member for Montgomeryshire. Processors in this deregulated, unbalanced market are behaving as though they are a cartel; they are Andrew Griffiths: I thank the right hon. Gentleman imposing across-the-board cuts and there seems to be for giving way and agree with much of his speech. Does some agreement between them. That is outrageous he share my concern that the contracts that dairy farmers behaviour. We know that across the world dairying is a have to put up with mean that they have to live with cuts volatile market—prices fluctuate. We all understand of 2p, then another 2p, then further erosion, but if they that; it is why there must be some order, which is why we want to get out of them they have to give six months’ have contracts. However, the current order is for the notice? Does not agree that that is unacceptable? processors and the retailers, with catastrophic chaos for the producers. I shall now deal with the point that my Mr Hanson: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for hon. Friend raised. We need a code, preferably a voluntary raising that issue and the key is to have a code of conduct one, and more balanced contracts. We had hoped that for the contracts. I know that the Minister had discussions there would have been an announcement of a voluntary last week about a potential voluntary code and look code already, and I know that the Minister had, too. forward to his updating the House today on his progress. Unless we can have an agreement on a voluntary code, If a definitive decision has not yet been made, I would the Government and the Minister have to consider welcome hearing from the Minister what plans he has to going forward with a statutory code. Only with that ensure that during the period between now and when hanging over people’s heads are we likely to achieve the the House returns in September he will be able to voluntary code we want. update Members who have an interest in the dairy In the longer term, the Government need to encourage industry, as well as Members in general, on this matter. progress on lots of other issues. We need to encourage I share the wish of the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire farmers to come together to form producer organisations. to see a voluntary code at first, but I know that my The big problem we have with individual farm businesses colleagues on the Labour Front Bench would certainly and micro-businesses is that they are incredibly small support regulation through a statutory version of that and do not carry any power. We know that there is now code if the voluntary form was not successful. an agreement from the in the dairy package that we can encourage up to 30% of farm Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): I producers to deliver producer organisations. I am hoping wonder whether my right hon. Friend can help me. Was that the Minister will reassure us that he wants to do it not a previous Conservative Government who did that. away with the milk marketing boards? The whole question We also need to move forward on the grocery adjudicator, of their being able to maintain prices meant that the although that might well have a limited impact on this farmers could maintain their businesses. particular problem, as for markets to operate we have to have a degree of fairness. When there is bullying and Mr Hanson: My hon. Friend and I have both been in unfairness, the Government have to deal with it. That is the House since 1992 and I vividly remember the Mark why we have a Competition Commission, the Office of Marque being abolished in the early 1990s, which led to Fair Trading and other such organisations. The Government a free-for-all that caused some difficulties. Let us put have to step in when the market is not working, and all those issues to one side, however, as I am concerned of us know that this market is currently simply not about how we can make progress today. 911 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 912

The Minister has an opportunity to explain to the The Minister handled the situation well, but it was a House how he is progressing on the voluntary code. If a real demonstration of our dairy farmers’ frustration voluntary code does not succeed, he will certainly have about their treatment. my support and that of my hon. Friends on the Front At a time when British agriculture is doing relatively Bench, I think, for a statutory code in due course. The well, milk prices have fallen dramatically. A year ago, key issue, however, is how to ensure that those who the average price of milk was about 35p a litre; now, it is produce get a fair price for their produce. At the moment, less than 25p a litre and, as we have been told, the cost the big businesses mentioned by the hon. Member for of milk production for the average farmer is about Montgomeryshire in his opening remarks, such as Robert 30p a litre. When people have to sell below the cost of Wiseman, can squeeze my constituents to the extent production, we will undoubtedly see farmers leave the that they cannot make a living out of the production of industry. milk. In September 2002, there were 3,100 dairy farmers in Much of the milk produced in my constituency does Wales, but by May 2012 the number had fallen to 1,900. not go to retail in supermarkets, but into the production Across the whole of my constituency, there are fewer of butter, yoghurts, cheese and other produce. The code than 10 milk producers, which is a huge fall in numbers. needs to encompass not just supermarkets but all outlets There has been a downward trend in the production of for milk. milk. In 2003, 14.5 billion litres of milk were produced, but today the figure is around 13.5 billion. If those Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Does the right trends continue, the implications are bad not only for hon. Gentleman feel the same concern as many of us farmers but also for consumers. In the medium and about the large investments that farmers have had to long term, they are bad news for retailers and processors. make because of the new regulations on slurry and its What can be done to avert a crisis? There is no single disposal? That investment, on top of a worse price for bullet, but we need action at every stage of the supply milk, makes it more difficult for them to survive. chain, from farmers, processors, retailers, consumers and the Government. As has been said, farmers need to Mr Hanson: The key point is that whatever challenges work together. The voice of one farmer carries little farmers face in their investment and their businesses, no weight in the marketplace, but when they join together, business can take the type of change that has been their negotiating power is much stronger. imposed now with a 2p cut some months ago followed Processors and retailers need to start paying a fair by a further 2p cut by August. That is being imposed by price for milk. Robert Wiseman Dairies, Arla Foods businesses that are choosing to do so to enable supermarkets and Dairy Crest must scrap the scandalous price cuts to have loss leaders. Customers can have cheaper milk, they have imposed on farmers. which must be welcomed in some ways, but ultimately we need a fair deal for all. We need a fair deal for Consumers can reward retailers that are doing the producers, for supermarkets and for those people who right thing. Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Marks buy and transport milk and make it into other products. and Spencer have a price formula based on cost. I At the moment, that is not happening because, as the commend them for that. Consumers should show their hon. Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) said, the appreciation by voting with their feet, and indeed their inflexibility of contracts means that farmers cannot get purses, and punish the Co-op, Asda and Morrisons, out of them. which do not have a similar scheme. We need an update from the Minister on the review of We need to start adding value to liquid milk. Our the contracts and an examination of how we can ensure European friends are far better than we are at increasing long-term stability for milk production. We need the profits from milk by processing it into cheese, yogurt voluntary examination of contracting and, if that fails, and the like, which means it can be exported around the we need the Government to take regulatory action to world. ensure that the interests of all parties in this important industry, not just in my area of north Wales but throughout Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): I agree the United Kingdom, are defended. with the hon. Gentleman. In my County Durham Finally, will the Minister update us on his discussions constituency, many milk producers are suffering. I also with my colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales? agree that milk producers need to sell to wider markets, They have a devolved responsibility for some aspects of but does he agree that is no excuse for the behaviour of dairy production but contracting legislation must be the wholesalers and the supermarkets? dealt with on a UK-wide basis to ensure that markets are not further distorted between England, Wales, Scotland Roger Williams: The hon. Lady makes a fair point. and Northern Ireland. I support what the hon. Member People who are powerful in the marketplace, such as the for Montgomeryshire wants to see, which the hon. processors, use their muscle to bear down on the prices Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Roger Williams) paid to producers, who are suffering. will no doubt comment on in a moment. Finally, I turn to the Government. At the summit, the Minister said that a voluntary code between farmers and processors was close to agreement. Will he update 4.19 pm the House on the latest progress? Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD): I, I commend the Government on the Groceries Code too, value the opportunity to bring the issue before the Adjudicator Bill, which is making its way through the House. I attended the meeting of 3,500 farmers in the other place. Let us ensure that the legislation passes Methodist central hall. They were very angry and unhappy. quickly, with the teeth it needs to do its job. 913 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 914

[Roger Williams] There is widespread agreement that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is one of the worst pieces of legislation I welcome the work the Minister has already done on in history. It is probably the best example of how lightening the load of regulation on British farmers, but knee-jerk reactions from politicians can sometimes make more can be done. I know he will continue to implement a bad situation worse. A key respect in which the recommendations from the Macdonald report as and legislation got it wrong was in focusing on breeds of when he can. dog, when the real problem, as my hon. Friend says, was The dairy industry is in crisis, but the crisis can be and is irresponsible dog owners. However, surely one of averted. Let us work together, so that our dairy industry the other biggest mistakes was that the law did not will have a brighter future. cover attacks that happen on private property. That is one of the most important issues for the Government to address, and the one that would have the biggest impact. 4.24 pm To be clear, owning a dog is a great thing to do, and Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con): I should like to the vast majority of dog owners in Pendle and around raise the subject of dangerous dogs, as I was unable to the country are considerate and take responsibility for participate in the recent Westminster Hall debate on the making sure that their dogs are safe. I congratulate the topic. Although I have publicly supported changing the Government on engaging with the many groups that dangerous dogs legislation for some time, and support have come together to sort out the laws on dog ownership, the Government’s proposals, the issue took on personal many of which, including the Kennel Club and the significance for me in May. My mother, Ann, had her Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, finger bitten by a dog while she was delivering local e-mailed me before today’s debate. By getting the legislation election leaflets in Colne. She was initially treated in right, we can make communities safer and more pleasant Burnley general hospital and then transferred to a to live in, and protect the reputation of those dog specialist unit in Wythenshawe hospital. I put on record my owners who make sure that their pets are safe to the thanks, and my mother’s, to the doctors and nurses public. who treated her, and to the volunteers from Age UK Thankfully, my mother is doing well, although the who made her time in Burnley general more damage to her finger is permanent. She passes on her comfortable. thanks to those colleagues of mine who have wished her The dog bit my mother’s finger so hard that it broke well, but what she would value most is us at last introducing the bone, and it also bit off the nail and the end of the a law on dangerous dogs that works and protects the finger. She was kept in hospital for several days. It is public. worth noting that my mother is not alone: two local Liberal Democrat councillors in Pendle were also bitten 4.29 pm in separate incidents in the same week. I have on a number of occasions been critical of the law relating to Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD): I return to an dangerous dogs, which fails to protect the public; indeed, issue that colleagues raised a little earlier: the dairy in February, I wrote an article in the local press calling sector, its critical importance to the economy, and the for changes to it. crisis that it faces. Last week, there was a gathering of 2,500 milk producers in central London; 300 of them were Welsh dairy farmers. There is understandably Justin Tomlinson: This is a very important subject. enormous strength of feeling on the part of the farming Does my hon. Friend agree with my wife, who has industry, following the latest round of cuts. We have studied animal behaviour, that the actions of a dog are heard from other hon. Members, and it is not an almost always linked to the way the owner brings them overstatement to say that the price cuts threaten the up and handles them, and to where they purchase the very future of many of the family farms that we represent, dog from? not just in Wales but across the United Kingdom as a whole. Indeed, the shortfall from that round of cuts will Andrew Stephenson: My hon. Friend makes an excellent cost the Welsh dairy industry alone an estimated £80 point, and I know that he is acutely aware of the million per annum—a huge sum of money that will put subject, given the recent high-profile case in his constituency, many dairy farmers out of business. The right hon. in which a two-year-old was attacked by a dog. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) discussed the hit that Something must be done to protect postal workers, businesses would suffer—£40,000, £50,000, or £60,000—and volunteers and the public from dangerous dogs, and to that would drive many struggling family farms out of remind owners of their responsibilities. As we are all business. aware, postal workers are especially at risk; there are an Although the price cuts have been set by milk processing estimated 6,000 dog attacks on them every year. Of companies, there are things that Government can do course, the issue of irresponsible dog owners goes wider to assist our dairy farmers. The Government have than that. Dog fouling, status dogs and noise nuisances commendably introduced the Groceries Code Adjudicator are all raised with me and other hon. Members time and Bill, which is going through the other place, and I share again. The local press regularly cover horrific incidents. the farming industry’s eagerness to put that law in place Last October, I read about a Staffordshire bull terrier as quickly as possible. I am relieved that, after so long, attacking a 10-year-old in Pendle after the dog had been legislation is coming our way, as it will restore some given lager to drink. Of course, because of the way the confidence in the industry and enable consumers to current law works, no one was punished. Under the make real choices between the practices of different Government’s proposals, that would change, and I especially supermarkets, allowing them to choose which ones they welcome the proposal to provide funds to train expert shop from. It will provide, I hope, an adjudicator with dog legislation officers in each force. real teeth, but it will not guarantee farm incomes. 915 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 916

Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): Asda has action over the current price slash and unfair contractual said today that it will put its prices up by 3p for direct obligations, because they will mean many job losses sales for farmers, but in 2010, it dropped the price of across the industry among suppliers. milk for four pints from £1.50 to £1. Does my hon. Next week the Welsh farming community, in its widest Friend agree that that brought about the drop in milk sense, will gather for the Royal Welsh show in Builth prices across the piece? Wells in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Roger Williams). We will Mr Williams: My hon. Friend graphically illustrates see there the breadth of the farming community. The the inconsistent role of some supermarkets. Along with supermarkets, the farming unions and the YoungFarmers the groceries code adjudicator, we need to look at how will be there, as will the machinery contractors, the we can bring about fair contracts, to which everyone feedstuff merchants and the farming families from Wales who has spoken has alluded, to stop the exploitation—an and beyond. I make this prediction: whatever the weather, emotive word, yes, but that is the perception on the the sheer number of people there will illustrate how farms that I represent, as well as that of the National important the industry is to rural Wales. The stakes Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales. The are high. contracts that farmers are required to enter are simply It is election time in Ceredigion, when we have hustings unfair, as they are required to give 12 months’ notice or with the farming unions—the FUW and the NFU. more to pull out of them whereas, as we have heard, Before elections, I am always asked this question: “Would processors can change the price they pay for milk at a you encourage a young farmer, the son of a farming few days’ notice, or quite literally overnight. family, to go into the industry and continue with the family The Government are right to move towards a voluntary farm to earn a living and contribute to the broader rural code. Like other Members, I look forward to an update community?” With hand on heart, if things do not from the Minister but I hope that if necessary, the improve and we do not have action, I would hesitate Government will proceed with regulation. As Lord about whether I could say yes to that question. Plumb said in another place, rule books without referees generally have limitations. We all agree in the House 4.36 pm that farmers deserve to receive the production cost for their milk, but Robert Wiseman Dairies has announced The Minister of State, Department for Environment, that from 1 August it will pay 24.73p per litre for milk. Food and Rural Affairs (Mr James Paice): I was expecting Arla Foods milk price will fall to 25p a litre, and the at least one further subject to be brought up during the First Milk price to 24.35p a litre—5p less than the cost debate. [Interruption.] That, like many other wonderful of production. Any situation in which farmers have to speeches, will be consigned to the filing cabinet of those accept less than the cost of production is unsustainable. never to be delivered in this Chamber. I commend Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Marks I hope that the House will forgive me if I devote most and Spencer on the positive work that they have undertaken, of my response to dairying, which was the subject of but we need to ensure that those agreements are made most Members’ speeches. First, though, I will reply to across the board, from retailers to processors, with all my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Andrew major buyers of milk and dairy products agreeing to Stephenson). I am very sorry to hear about the dog commit to a sustainable purchasing strategy. attack on his mother. I am pleased to hear that she is recovering, even if she will bear the scars for the rest of Helen Goodman: Does the hon. Gentleman not agree her life. He was absolutely right to refer not only to the that there is a problem with milk imports from countries measures that we have announced but to the importance with lower animal welfare standards and costs, and that of dealing with dog owners. As he said, often the those imports are not labelled in the UK? problems with dogs are in fact a problem with the owner, either because they do not understand how to control the dog or have the desire to use it as a form of Mr Williams: The hon. Lady served in the previous weapon for intimidation or worse. That is why the Parliament when, to be fair, the issue of labelling rose to proposals on antisocial behaviour will prominence. It is critical, because it enables consumers include measures on the use of a dog as a weapon, to make informed decisions. which will rightly be see as an antisocial activity and Given the feelings in the farming community about dealt with in that way. the recent price cuts, compounded by difficult weather My hon. Friend referred to the measures that I conditions and rising input costs on-farm, the Government announced on 23 April. The consultation that stemmed need to make it clear to processors and supermarkets from that closed on 15 June. We have begun to analyse that their failure to deliver fair prices may lead to severe the responses and will announce our conclusions as disruption to the supply chain with dire implications soon as we can. To recap, the most important element not just to farmers but ultimately to us as consumers. was to extend the criminal offence of allowing a dog to It is always worth remembering that the losses in the be dangerously out of control on private property, dairy sector will have a huge—I do not use that word which addresses his point about postmen and the many lightly—impact on the broader rural economy. Welsh other people who have a legitimate right to come on to Assembly Government statistics indicate that, as my one’s property. We are consulting on the compulsory hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire microchipping of dogs—in particular, precisely on how (Roger Williams) said, the number of dairy farms has early to do that and whether it should be at the puppy reduced by 800 over the five years from 2006 to 2011. stage. We are increasing the fee for placing a dog on the The number of dairy farmers in Wales alone halved in index of exempted dogs. We are removing the need to the past 13 years. This figure will rise if we do not take seize and kennel all dogs where court proceedings are 917 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 918

[Mr James Paice] talked about imports. We do not import liquid milk. All the imports are dairy products, but they nevertheless pending. We are also, as my hon. Friend said, making a make up a significant part of our total consumption. grant to the Association of Chief Police Officers for the What are our processors doing to combat that? One training of dog legislation officers. I hope that he agrees or two are trying to do something. Dairy Crest has that we are endeavouring to address an issue that is long gained back some of the cheese market with one of its overdue. products and it should be congratulated on that, but Dairying and the crisis in the British dairy sector there is still much to do. Where do the supermarkets were referred to by at least four Members in their with aligned dairy groups, which pay a premium for speeches and by others in interventions. Like my hon. their liquid milk, get their own-label brands? Where are Friend the Member for Montgomeryshire (Glyn Davies), their other dairy products, such as their yoghurt, produced? I had milk cows earlier in my life. I fully recognise the Do they use British milk? In many cases, they do huge crisis that is affecting many people in the sector. not. There is therefore a great opportunity for import As a number of Members have said, some supermarkets substitution. that have aligned groups of producers have not cut their There is an even greater opportunity for exports. The prices. However, the processors for many producers cut world is crying out for increased dairy products. Yes, their prices in May or June and have announced further global prices have fallen back and that is part of the cuts for 1 August. The cut will total some 3.5p to 4p per immediate problem that we face. However, I say to my litre over the two periods. We now seem to have an hon. Friend the Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) industry of haves and have-nots—those who have a that if I was asked whether I would encourage a young supermarket deal and those who do not. person to go into dairy farming, my unequivocal answer As my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and would be yes, because I am convinced that there is a Honiton (Neil Parish) said, there has been some good long-term future beyond today’s crisis. news today. Asda has announced that it will increase the premium that it pays its processor, Arla Foods, by 2p a litre, thereby nullifying the cut that Arla has Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): announced. In other words, the producers affected will Will my right hon. Friend give way? not face a cut on 1 August. From memory, that is about 227 producers. Dairy Crest has announced today that, Mr Paice: No, I am sorry, I need to press on. in future, it will require only three months’ notice when Hon. Members also raised the issue of supermarket producers leave their contracts, and it has guaranteed power. As has been said, we are introducing the groceries that it will give four weeks’ notice of any price cut. code adjudicator. I have always tried to be honest with farmers and say that on its own it will not increase the Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): I have been listening price of milk, but that it should increase fairness and to the debate and, although I do not know much about transparency. this subject, it seems to me that we should somehow ensure that price cuts are not passed on to the dairy The big problem that we face, which has been mentioned farmer. The big supermarkets should take whatever this afternoon, is what I view as the absurd level of price they wish, but they should not pass it on to the milk cutting by some retailers, particularly those in what is farmers. known as the middle ground. One retailer is openly selling milk at 99p for four pints. Mr Paice: My hon. Friend’s point is properly made and is an important one. Helen Goodman: Name them. I will concentrate on the issues that need to be addressed. I fully recognise that what matters to the Mr Donohoe: Iceland. dairy farmer is the price that they are paid. However, as several hon. Members on both sides of the Chamber have said, it is not simply a matter of reversing the price Mr Paice: It is on the record, and I did not move my cuts, although that is what the producers want. We need lips. something more substantial and more permanent than The reality is that such a price is completely unsustainable. that. Such retailers need to understand that if they go on like As I say frequently outside this place, we have an that, there will be no milk. There is a limit to cost obsession in this country with the liquid market and cutting. Maybe some producers can cut their costs, but with the desire of our processors to gain bottling contracts not to that level. It is completely impossible. There is no for supermarkets. They keep undercutting each other to country in the world that can sell bottled milk at the keep their bottling plants at full capacity. When, as has equivalent of 25p a pint by the time it has been through happened on this occasion, cream prices collapse and the whole processing chain. That is absurd, and such they face major problems, the only way in which they retailers are biting off their nose to spite their face. can recoup any income is by cutting the price for their The final issue that several hon. Members raised was producers to below the cost of production. That is a the lack of producer power and the need to promote direct consequence of the obsession with bottling for producer organisations. That brings me to the dairy supermarkets. package and the voluntary code. I am grateful to Members As several hon. Members have said, and as is abundantly of all parties for the support that they have expressed clear, there are ample other opportunities for investment. this afternoon for my work in trying to get a voluntary Some 20% of our total dairy consumption is imported. code. I genuinely believe that that offers a far better The hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman) prospect than legislation, and I shall explain why. 919 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 920

A voluntary code can, if agreed by both sides—the GENERAL MATTERS processors and the producers—cover such issues as price, notice periods, contract lengths, volume and Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): We now exclusivity. A raft of other points could be included if come to the debate on general matters. I will start off both sides wanted them to be. Conversely, the dairy with a six-minute limit on speeches, but if there are too package and the legislation that would be permissible many interventions, I will have to drop the time. I am under it are about a contract, not a code. We could trying to get everybody six minutes. I am sure it will be a legislate to make contracts compulsory, but the permitted good debate as we go into recess. legislation would limit greatly what could be put into those contracts. 4.50 pm For example, as we understand it, no notice period would be permitted. A length of contract would be Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): specified, and it would probably be a year or more. The There is a strong and growing sense of anger in Salford idea of a short notice period to get out of a contract and across Greater Manchester about the Government’s would not exist. That is just one of many examples decision to axe to 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of showing that the regulatory route, which I fully accept Fusiliers. A strong campaign in the Manchester Evening appeals to some people, is not as good as a code, which News is asking the Government to rethink their plans. could accommodate a range of measures. The 2nd Battalion has a long and distinguished service I agree with farmers and others who said last week history dating back to the Lancashire Fusiliers. Nineteen that we cannot go on like this, because the discussions heroes from the Lancashire Fusiliers, which became the on a code have now taken 14 months and we cannot 2nd Battalion, were awarded the Victoria Cross for continue simply hoping it will happen. I had a meeting bravery. The battalion has served this country in every with both sides last week before the public meeting to major conflict since 1674. Many of its soldiers gave which reference has been made. We got very close to an their lives fighting for this country. agreement, but both sides still had what I considered to In 2009, the 2nd Battalion of Fusiliers completed a be very minor issues to resolve. Those issues were tour of Afghanistan in which it lost seven men killed in obviously important to them, and they were not resolved. action. Others were wounded, some very seriously. Three There have been further, private discussions with my of the seven died together in an explosion while on officials and others over the past few days, and I intend patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on 16 August to precipitate a final decision. I do not want to give the 2009, including Fusilier Simon Annis from Salford. House more information than I have given the industry, Simon and fellow Fusilier Louis Carter were trying to because that would not be right, but I intend to say that drag their injured comrade, Lance Corporal James enough is enough, that the negotiations have been going Fullarton, to safety after a roadside bomb blast, but as on long enough and that it is time for both sides of the the pair lifted Lance Corporal Fullarton on to a stretcher, industry to show some maturity and demonstrate that they triggered a second device, causing an explosion they can agree a voluntary code of practice. that killed all three soldiers, who died at the scene. I would be foolish to pretend that it is a certainty that Simon was on his first operational tour. He was described we will get a code. There are still some stumbling blocks by a senior Army officer as a “shining example” to the on both sides, coming both from those representing nation. Simon Annis had been married for just a month producers and from at least one major processor. However, before he deployed to Afghanistan. I have every intention of driving the process forward When the 2nd Battalion had its homecoming parade and getting a result. We have got to the point at which from Afghanistan later in 2009, Salford people lined the knowing it was not going to happen would be better streets to give the returning soldiers a warm welcome. I than living in the never-never land that we have been in was proud to be at the parade and to meet my constituents, for some time. However, I emphasise that I do not Ann and Peter Annis, the parents of Fusilier Simon believe that the regulatory approach recommended by Annis. The pride his parents feel is replaced by anger at some hon. Members would give either side of the the Government’s decision to axe the battalion their son industry anything like the beneficial future that is there served so valiantly. Simon’s mother Ann has said: for the taking. “Simon was so proud to serve in the battalion and now this I hope I have answered the points raised by hon. feels like a smack in the face. He died with his mates in that Members in the debate. I entirely share their concerns. I battalion and now it will be gone…Lads are still in Afghanistan can assure the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) and dying out in Afghanistan and the Army are talking about that we are in discussions with colleagues in the devolved cuts and job losses. Morale must be at rock bottom.” Administrations. We are getting together prior to the Royal Welsh show this weekend. We were going to Bob Stewart: My uncle served in the Lancashire discuss the common agricultural policy, but we will also Fusiliers and I am very proud of that fact. Does the discuss the situation in the dairy sector. I can only hope hon. Lady agree that it would be a good idea if the that, before the cuts take place on 1 August, we can get Government could rethink their policy on cuts to infantry a voluntary code at least. I hope others agree that that is battalions—the three in England, one in Wales and one the best way forward. in Scotland—at least until we are out of Afghanistan?

Barbara Keeley: I very much agree with hon. Gentleman. I am today asking for such a rethink. The decision to axe the battalion feels like a betrayal to the memory of Simon Annis and the other soldiers who have given their lives. I agree with Mrs Annis that 921 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 922

[Barbara Keeley] Mr Donohoe: Apprenticeships are dear to my heart, but not enough is being done. Is the college that the the decision is bad for morale—it must be. There is a hon. Gentleman mentioned going to increase the number deep attachment in Salford and across Greater Manchester of apprenticeships it provides? to this battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers, which has such a long and proud history of service to this country, as I have mentioned. The 2nd Battalion is linked to Mr Turner: It is necessary that apprenticeships be Salford and other places in Greater Manchester. At this expanded at all levels, which is why I am glad that my difficult time for employment, its loss will significantly hon. Friend the Minister is visiting. I look forward to it. reduce the opportunities for local people who want to enter a career serving their country. Furthermore, the One positive way of gaining experience while looking decision will put 600 soldiers and officers at risk of for employment is voluntary work, and there are many being made redundant. excellent causes on the island. For example, the Isle of Wight food bank, which has been doing a sterling job Brigadier David Paterson, the honorary colonel of the since its launch a year ago, has helped more than 2,000 2nd Battalion, wrote in a letter to General Sir Peter Wall people in dire straits by providing food donated by that the decision would not best serve the armed forces. other islanders. I pay tribute to Hannah King, who runs In the letter, he tells of his bitter disappointment at the the food bank, and all her volunteers for the sterling decision to cut the battalion, which he describes as work they do. “the strongest in raw manning and deployable strength”, Finally, I want to touch on events that brought parts and he writes of the difficulty he will have in telling his of the island to a standstill for more than 24 hours last fusiliers, in an almost fully staffed battalion, why they month. Many hon. Members will have seen the headlines are now likely to be posted to battalions that cannot about the Isle of Wight festival chaos. The festival has recruit as well as the 2nd battalion, which has 523 trained been held in its present location since 2002, but owing soldiers out of a maximum strength of 532. He has to atrocious weather and a clear lack of contingency questioned the criteria being used to single out the unit, planning, some island roads were gridlocked on 28 and which actually has a strong record in recruiting new 29 June. The impact on some islanders’ lives was very soldiers and is the only regiment set to grow over the serious. Vehicles were at a standstill for hours, blocking next six months. roads and preventing islanders from getting to work, The Secretary of State said yesterday that the recruiting school, hospital appointments and the ferry terminals, ability of regiments over a period of 10 years had been while ferries sat in the Solent for up to five hours, unable taken into account when deciding these cuts, but it to unload cars; there was nowhere for them to go. seems wrong, given the different employment situation School children missed important exams, and others today and the battalion’s strong record in recruiting, to walked home when there were no buses. Some families take what must have been a few leaner years of recruitment were unable to get to the funerals of relatives, and other as the reason for axing this historic battalion. I urge funerals were cancelled. Ministers to reconsider the decision and instead respect the proud history and valour of the 2nd Battalion, of It is not for me to apportion blame, but a bad which I and the people of Salford are so proud. situation was certainly made much worse by a lack of communication with the island’s media. For example, Michael Coombes and Paul Topping, along with Heather McCallum, Glyn Taylor and Lucy Morgan of Isle of 4.56 pm Wight Radio, worked tirelessly to try to keep islanders Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): A good abreast of events. However, their efforts were largely education is the best start that a child can be given, so I thwarted, because nobody would tell them what was am pleased that the Isle of Wight further education going on. Thankfully, the situation was finally brought college provides a great education and now has the under control on the Friday morning, when alternative added benefit of a sixth-form department. Before the car parks were opened. Many islanders showed amazing current principal, Debbie Lavin, took over, results were community spirit, offering food, shelter and other help poor, but under her leadership it has become a to stranded festival goers. That included the Vectis 4x4 flagship college. I am also confident that Christ the responders. Without their help, vehicles would have King sixth form, which will open in September, will be been stuck in the mud bath that was the festival car park of a high standard and give its students a similar for many more hours. excellent start in life. I wish the principal, Pat Goodhead, In order to ensure that such problems do not arise the chairman of governors, David Lisseter, and all again, we need to know what went wrong this year. The those involved with Christ the King college well in their organisers, Solo, are not covering themselves in glory. endeavours. First it was announced that refunds would be given; Unemployment on the Isle of Wight has fallen in then Solo said that they would not. I know that VentnorBlog recent months, which is welcome news, but the news is has asked Solo a number of times for a copy of the not so good for young people. I know that Ministers are emergency safety plan, but those requests have been working hard to reduce youth unemployment, but one ignored. Solo may not feel accountable to local people way of doing that is to increase the number of or our local media, but without local good will the apprenticeships. To that end, the Minister for Further festival will be harder to stage. I want the festival to Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, my hon. Friend continue—so do many others on the island and, of the Member for South Holland and The Deepings course, off it—but Solo must ensure that local people (Mr Hayes), has agreed to visit the island in December are able to go about their lives around it. Then we will to help us boost local apprenticeships. all benefit again. 923 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 924

5.1 pm level 3 study while they claim to be concerned about social mobility. I ask the Minister to comment on that Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab): I point today. want to use this afternoon’s debate to put down a marker of my concern about the changes in Government In my constituency in Durham, there has been a policy towards further education and the introduction 355% increase between May 2011 and May 2012 in the of further education loans, and also about the possible number of people who have been claiming jobseeker’s impact of changes to higher education funding on allowance for 12 months. If those people want to get an social mobility. I am particularly concerned that the education, start a new career and get out of the trap of introduction of further education loans will discourage unemployment, we need to ensure that they have access people from disadvantaged backgrounds from taking to the necessary education. A survey conducted by the up access courses to university or, if they are over 24, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has from entering FE to undertake level 3 study. found that the proportion of people surveyed who were willing to take out a loan for further education has A couple of years ago I visited a school in my dropped dramatically for higher age cohorts. Worryingly, constituency which some years previously had had poor that suggests that the policy could do real damage to attainment levels. Because of the investment by the last the lifelong learning sector and to the ability of people Labour Government, it had massively increased its to retrain and re-skill in their 40s and 50s, which could levels of success at GCSE and A-level; hence, for the block their chances of regaining employment. first time ever, a lot of the young people there were considering going to university. However, I had a The importance of further education can really be conversation a couple of weeks ago with a group of seen at the moment, with so many people unemployed young people from the same school who were just not right across the country, but even in the good times we so sure that going to university was a possible way need people to be able to gain skills in certain industries forward for them. That should be a matter of great to maintain our global competitiveness. In 2006, the concern to this House. Leitch report called for the continued up-skilling of Britain’s population, but the Government are failing to Last month I attended, as I do every year, the New implement those proposals. College Durham graduation ceremony in my constituency. I also want to consider what is happening in the The students at New College range from 16-year-old higher education sector. About 70% of those enrolling school leavers to adults with families who have gone in higher education access courses are women. I know back into education, often after losing their jobs. I from a recent letter from the Minister for Further congratulated them on doing the right thing—on getting Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning that people a good education and working hard—and I wished who undertake access courses and get into university them all the best for the future. However, I am concerned will have the money that they spend on those courses that introducing further education loans may reduce refunded, but we must also take into account the deterrent the number of such people in colleges across the country effect that having to take out a loan could have on who are getting the education they deserve, gaining the people enrolling in access courses in the first place. I am skills for a new career or accessing higher education. In also worried that the number of applications to universities 2010-11, more than 370,000 people aged over 24 were for courses starting in 2012 has reduced dramatically. studying at this level, so the change will not affect just a That might not follow through to a reduction in the small number. The people in FE want to reskill, but number of students going to university, but we should they also want to get promotion or enter employment be worried by the fall in applications. for the first time. We are risking our economy and our future economic growth by not encouraging that group Finally, I want to make a plea to the Government to of people to reskill. keep supporting the widening of access to our universities. We know that they have allocated £140 million this year for widening participation, but it is essential that those Mr Donohoe: Does my hon. Friend agree that much funds should be not only maintained but increased so more emphasis should be placed on apprenticeships, that education can fulfil its role as a route to social which I mentioned earlier in the debate, by the colleges mobility. themselves?

5.8 pm Roberta Blackman-Woods: My hon. Friend makes a useful point. We need apprenticeships, but it is important Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): It is a pleasure that people—especially those aged over 24—are able to to follow my near namesake, the hon. Member for City take up those apprenticeships. We also need to support of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods). I want to talk the 16 to 24-year-olds in apprenticeships, as that is yet about three issues: the general position of policing and another route by which they can gain skills and get into criminal activity in London; the excellent work being the labour market. done by Harrow police; and the scandalous proposal to Projections predict that, by 2020, 56% of jobs will close the custody suite in Harrow. need to be graduate level jobs in order to meet the On the general position in London, some 300,000 demands of a knowledge-based economy. It is vital that people were arrested last year for alleged crimes, of people from all backgrounds are able to get the necessary whom 100,000 were foreign nationals. Of the 100,000 education to get those graduate level jobs. The Liberal foreign nationals arrested, 86,000 were convicted of a Democrat peer Baroness Sharp of Guildford has recognised criminal offence. I am one of those who welcomes that the introduction of further education loans threatens tourists who come to this country on holiday, spend social mobility, saying that she cannot understand why their money here and enjoy our wonderful heritage. I the Government are pushing forward with loans for also welcome those who come here as students and who 925 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 926

[Bob Blackman] a drag on police time and resources in Harrow, and so that we do not cease to be London’s second safest learn about this country and go back to their own borough. countries enriched by their experience of the United Kingdom. I welcome those who come here to work and Bob Stewart: Briefly, was this a police decision or a pay their taxes, and the families that choose to live here decision by someone else? and integrate into society, becoming part of our great British society overall. However, those who come as guests and then commit criminal offences, and who are responsible Bob Blackman: It is currently a proposal across London for a third of London’s crime, are a danger to everyone to close certain custody suites. I am obviously concentrating else who comes here to make this country their home. on my own constituency, but my hon. Friend should be clear that a similar proposal might well come forward That is a key concern. The worst aspect is that, as I for his own constituency, which will impact on his own understand it, of those 86,000 people convicted of borough of Bromley. We have to be careful about this criminal offences, none were deported. Worse still, none across London. were barred from returning to the UK if they chose to I am particularly concerned because I know that leave of their own volition. That, of course, creates when people are arrested in Harrow, at certain times of community tensions and concerns for all the law-abiding day it can take almost an hour to get to Wembley or people who have come here either to live here or on a Kilburn police station. Members can imagine a scenario visit. This requires prompt and immediate Government involving violent criminals kicking off in the back of a action. police van that is dragging policemen or policewomen Let me turn to the issues in Harrow. I recently had the to another station where they will be tied up for several pleasure and honour to attend a commendation service hours. Resources in Harrow will be severely stretched, for 22 policemen and women who were commended by and I suspect that there will be proposals for other the borough commander for courage and for work custody suites to be closed throughout London, which I above and beyond the call of duty. These brave individuals think would be wrong. We need to make it clear that do an excellent job in ensuring that Harrow is London’s custody suites should be in the most locally appropriate second safest borough. They cannot be praised highly area, so that criminals can be processed in a humane enough. I believe it is right and proper to pay tribute to and orderly fashion rather than transported for huge all those brave men and women who lay their lives on distances, tying up police resources unnecessarily. the line almost daily so that we can go about our I am sure that a Minister will respond to me in business in a carefree manner, as we would all wish. writing, but I hope that the Deputy Leader of the House will take the issue on board as well, so that we Finally, the third issue I want to deal with is the can be given an answer. I know that all three Harrow scandalous proposal to close the custody suite in Harrow Members are very concerned about this, as are the police station. Everyone knows that when people are Harrow public. arrested, they are often violent, they are sometimes intoxicated and they can give the police a very hard time. Such people need to be transported to a custody Jonathan Lord (Woking) (Con): Will my hon. Friend suite, and processed and looked after in the prison cells, give way? if required, in the most expeditious manner possible. The last thing that is needed is to transport people Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): It is too late. arrested in Harrow to Wembley or even to Kilburn when they may be violent, intoxicated on drink or drugs 5.15 pm and causing many problems for police officers. Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): I thank you, Another key concern is that if this proposal were to Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to go ahead, police officers would be dragged away from participate in the debate. Harrow to go to Wembley, Kilburn or beyond to process The Northern Ireland Executive have designated 2012 these individuals, and criminal investigation department the “our time, our place” year, because of the number of officers would have to attend at one of those police significant anniversaries and major events taking place stations to interview them and make sure that they were in the Province. Given that we are nearly halfway through safe and secure overnight, if necessary. That, to me, is 2012, I think it would be useful to take stock of what dragging away police officers who should be patrolling has happened in Northern Ireland so far this year, Harrow streets and unnecessarily tying them up in work that they should not need to do. Equally, there is a We have had some enormous successes. The Irish concern that people who have been arrested and put in open golf championship was the first European tour police cells need to be inspected by police inspectors on event ever to sell out completely—in this instance, for a regular basis to make sure that they are safe and all four days of the competition. It was a fantastic secure, and thus in a position to be interviewed. What is occasion, despite the weather, which did its best to being proposed suggests that there will be an attempt to dampen spirits. We have also experienced the build-up move the CID officers from Harrow to Wembley or to the Olympics. I am pleased that Northern Ireland is Kilburn in order to facilitate all this investigation work providing training venues for the Chinese male and and the necessary work of policing. female gymnastics teams and the Cuban boxers, among others. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable I therefore ask responsible Ministers to step in and for those teams to stay in Northern Ireland to train, so make sure that this proposal bites the dust very quickly that is a sign of the great progress the Province has so that we do not see a drag-down of police officers and made. 927 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 928

This year was also the centenary of the sinking of the constituency and at Glenavy in County Antrim. The fact Titanic, which was marked by the opening of the iconic is, however, that the people of Northern Ireland want to Titanic Experience building in Belfast, which is already move forward. They do not want to be held back by this attracting visitors whose number massively exceeds that tiny minority of dissidents who are opposed to the predicted. The great news is that two thirds of the peace process and political stability. visitors are “out of state”—an encouraging sign for the sustainability of this major new tourist project. Belfast Jim Shannon: On the violence in north Belfast, does has again stamped its mark on the Titanic name, which my right hon. Friend agree that the Parades Commission is important given the association of that great ship has a job to do, which it has not yet done? with the city where it was built. Her Majesty’s visit to Northern Ireland on 26 and Mr Dodds: Yes, and I will come on to that point soon. 27 June was an enormous success. A great deal of In the months and weeks leading up to this year’s attention was paid to the famous handshake between parading season, community representatives, clergy and the Deputy First Minister and Her Majesty. I for one political leaders did a lot of hard work on the ground was delighted that Her Majesty was able to come to on many different topics. There were talks, supported Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and encouraged by local politicians, on parades and and that the Deputy First Minister was presented to her protests involving the North and West Belfast Parades as part of the jubilee tour. That too is a sign of the Forum and the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents enormous progress we have made. Her Majesty has Association. The Democratic Unionist party, Sinn Fein been to Northern Ireland 20 times during her reign, but and others in north Belfast sat down and worked on the fact that on this occasion she was able to proceed investment and regeneration plans, and sought resolution through part of Belfast in an open-top vehicle in the to long-standing issues. By making progress across a presence of 20,000 members of the public shows just range of issues, we can create the environment for the how far the Province has come. resolution of the most difficult problems. I am determined Later this year, we shall mark the centenary of the that that should continue. signing of the Ulster covenant on 28 September. Back My hon. Friend the Member for Strangford (Jim in 1912, 500,000 people signed the covenant enabling Shannon) just referred to the recent situation having Ulster to remain part of the United Kingdom, in opposition been made worse by the gross mistakes of the Parades to the third Home Rule Bill. It is often forgotten that, Commission. That was the case. two years later, more than 2 million people in Britain signed a similar covenant. We look forward to those Dr William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): This events later in the year. point applies not only to north Belfast, but to my Next year, we shall celebrate Londonderry’s becoming constituency of South Antrim, where, once again, the the UK City of Culture, and the world police and fire Parades Commission bungled things—but, thankfully, games will come to Belfast. We have very good things to sense prevailed and the Orangemen and women did look forward to as we continue to make progress with their best to ensure a very happy day for all. the political stability that now exists at Stormont. However, we must also confront challenges and difficulties, one of Mr Dodds: I am glad there was such a happy outcome which is facing up to the events of the past. This in my hon. Friend’s constituency, and he is right to pay Saturday, 21 July, marks the 40th anniversary of the tribute to the people on all sides who worked to bring Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast. We have heard a lot that about. this year about the Bloody Sunday 40th anniversary, There has been a notable lack of support, or even but it is often forgotten that just a few months later understanding, in both communities in Northern Ireland some of the worst atrocities ever carried out by the IRA for the Parade Commission’s mad and bad decision to took place, when 22 bombs were set off in Belfast city give a boost to a dissident republican mob intent on centre in an 18-minute period, killing nine people and violence in the Ardoyne area of my constituency. The injuring 130, including 77 women and children. Many chairman is now trying to divert blame by passing the of those victims and their families still bear the mental buck to others, which only serves to illustrate how out and physical scars to this day. We must never forget to of touch he and his colleagues are. honour the memory of those victims, and, indeed, all We will remain committed to working through these the victims in Northern Ireland. Justice demands that problems. They are isolated and small in number, but those who know about what happened in those events—we they cause great difficulties for my constituents on both know, for instance, that Gerry Adams was commanding sides of the community. The Secretary of State for officer of the IRA in Belfast at that time—should come Northern Ireland and the Government must recognise forward even now and tell the victims and society at that the tremendous progress that has been made in large what they know, in order to provide closure and Northern Ireland must not give a veto, or allow dissidents truth for the victims. who are against everybody who is for peace and political In recent days, the Orangefest took place on and progress in Northern Ireland to hold the rest of society around 12 July. There were many Orange parades to ransom. throughout the Province. Almost all of them passed off entirely peacefully, but there was orchestrated violence 5.24 pm aimed at the police—include gunshots—by republican dissidents in Ardoyne in my constituency. Some people Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con): As the simply do not want peace; they do not want a resolution Minister with responsibility for culture, communications to any of the problems we face. There have been attacks and creative industries, my hon. Friend the Member for on Orange halls at Greencastle and Clifton street in my Wantage (Mr Vaizey) is set to review the future provision 929 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 930

[Justin Tomlinson] money generated for the latter being spent on enhancing provision and service, be that events, book stock— of e-books in libraries, now is a very apt time to staggeringly, that accounts for only 7% of library highlight the options, challenges and opportunities of expenditure—extending opening hours, outreach work e-book lending for libraries, and by default for the and so on. The publishers, in return for getting financial publishers and the authors, who control the rights to compensation for their books being borrowed, would e-books, focusing in particular on how we can make be encouraged to release some of their stock for free e-book provision widely available in a manner that access. I have met a number of publishers, and they see supports and sustains our excellent community library that as an opportunity to promote upcoming authors network and credits the creative industries. and educational books. My research has brought to light some interesting I also propose—again, this is controversial—that e-books statistics. E-book sales in 2011 were up a staggering be borrowed through a physical visit to the library, thus 366%, making up some 8% of the market and worth protecting footfall. That seems like madness in a digital £92 million. Physical book sales in the first half of 2011 world, but my fear is that if we make things too easy—I fell to a 10-year low, and e-book production overtook go back to the point about convenience—why would hardback output for the first time ever. In researching anybody buy an e-book or visit a library? Local authorities this issue and preparing this speech, I have been very across the country would soon start cutting huge swathes grateful for the feedback from and views of various of community libraries, which are very important, library campaign groups, experts, publishers, booksellers particularly for people getting their first opportunity to and professional librarians. I can tell the House that not enjoy reading, such as younger people, and those who everybody agreed with my initial thoughts, which I am cannot afford e-readers. about to set out, but it is important that we put those on I also advise the Government to look to provide a the table as part of this review and try to make some uniform e-book service. Lots of local authorities have progress. been signing up to the models currently available—at My view is that, in principle, e-books should be great expense—from the book stock fund. I fear that a widely available throughout the library network. Currently, number of authorities, through no fault of their own, 94 local authorities offer some form of e-book provision, will end up investing heavily in a “Betamax” option. but the available stock is at best poor, predominantly Underlining all this, we should keep traditional books: because the big six publishers are not willing to release paperbacks and hardbacks should always remain free, their stock. They will not do so, first, because the because they are the cornerstones of libraries. private label rights arrangement whereby publishers If we do nothing and do not convince the publishers and authors get 6p every time a physical book is lent out to release their stock, library usage will continue to fall does not apply to e-books. In the business world, authors as people drift to e-readers and e-book provision in and publishers need some form of incentive. There is libraries remains insufficient. Local authorities will continue also a worry that the balance between physical sales and to invest in the wrong forms of technology, and we will library usage would be altered, resulting in fewer physical miss out on the potential of e-books to attract new sales. generations of readers. At the moment, the balance between paperback and These are just ideas to start the debate, and I am hardback book sales, and library usage, works. It is delighted the Minister has agreed to carry out a review. often more convenient physically to buy a book than to I hope to secure a 30-minute debate in Westminster borrow one from a library: for example, some supermarkets Hall, which will provide a great opportunity to discuss that offer books open 24 hours a day, whereas libraries some of the points that have been made to me. have limited opening times. Some people choose not to use a library because they do not like the idea of a second-hand book that somebody may have spilt their 5.29 pm tea and biscuits on. A significant number of people who purchase books do so to display them on their shelves. I Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): It is a do not envisage people being told on visiting someone’s pleasure to follow the hon. Member for North Swindon house in the future, “Please browse my hard drive to (Justin Tomlinson), who made a very interesting speech, look at what I have been purchasing.” to which I listened intently. It is therefore clear that for publishers to release their I wish to speak about reform of the civil service. A e-books, they will have to be paid for, and there are two well-functioning civil service is exceptionally important options. First, a Government—of whichever colour—will to the effectiveness of any Government, and we must have to write a very large cheque, probably considerably get it right. I was therefore interested to see the bigger than the one they already write for the PLR Government’s White Paper on reform of the civil service. arrangement, to release those books. Presuming that we Ministers must be able to rely on civil servants and to be do not have a Government of a particular colour who able to drive their work forward. I was a civil servant for wish to dash to the rescue, I propose a second option 16 years, between 1980 and 1997, in the Treasury. Some that is worth considering: a small charge for e-books. 10 years later I returned as a Minister, serving briefly in As somebody who inherently does not like paying for the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and things, that does not come easy to me; however, because Pensions. So I have experience of fighting on both sides we are currently not prepared to pay the publishers, the of the barricades, as it were. books are simply not being released. I found that some aspects of the culture were unchanged I propose that the money generated from such a in the 10 years that I was out of Whitehall, with some charge be ring-fenced and shared between the publishers seemingly unchanged for 400 years. Coriolanus is told and authors, and the physical community library, with the by Shakespeare to proceed by the procedure, and I 931 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 932 think that the culture of process over delivery is a long- otherwise officials must be responsible for delivery. lasting one in Whitehall. For example, in 2006 an official I totally support the work that the Public Accounts who was working on the forecasting of the number of Committee has been doing in that regard. immigrants who would come from eastern Europe said, The negative needs a proactive solution. The Secretary “We went through all the right processes. What more of State should be able to appoint the permanent secretary could we have done?” That forecast was out 30-fold. from a shortlist that has been put together by the The good news is that we have a professional civil Appointments Commission. I had always thought that service that is largely free of corruption. I say “largely” that was a good idea, but when I heard Lord O’Donnell, because although we were all looking for more exchanges the previous Cabinet Secretary, say on Radio 4 that that between the public and the private sector, those have was the one thing he did not want to happen, I knew sometimes engendered rather unfortunate behaviour. that it was the lever that we must pull. Our civil servants are also, by and large, intelligent and committed. The problems, however, are well rehearsed and some are mentioned in the Government’s White 5.35 pm Paper. They include the fact that the civil service has a stronger capacity on policy than on delivery, which has Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): I want to been recognised as a problem in the British civil service raise the question of leasehold valuation tribunals. I since the Fulton report of 1968. In this White Paper, the declare that my parents had to leave their home in the Government say that only a third of projects are delivered 1950s after leasehold reform. I also declare that I have on time and to budget. One point that they do not raise, an interest in a leasehold flat in Worthing, where the but it is an issue, is the narrow social base and experience landlord is good, the managing agents are good and we of civil servants, particularly senior officials. That leads are all happy. That is not true of all. There are about to ignorance and naivety in areas of social policy. I 1.8 million leaseholders in this country and the figure noticed when I was a DWP Minister that I sometimes will grow. They pay about £3 billion a year in service knew far more than my officials. changes, and that figure will grow, too. Not all landlords create problems, but some do; not all of those landlords Other problems include: the lack of specialist expertise are in the private sector. Some are in the public sector in project management, in contracting and commercial and I have come across a case in which a major London work, and in finance and in human resources—those council was found to have been overcharging leaseholders are all key management delivery skills—a culture of enormously. irresponsibility; weakness in long-term and strategic I have taken up this issue because there was a long- thinking; poor oral and communication skills; a focus running problem, which is now being resolved, in Oakland on managing inwards and upwards, rather than downwards court in my constituency. I pay tribute to those on and outwards; and, I am sorry to say, a loss of both sides who are helping to resolve it, but until it administrative skills and honesty. For example, when I reached a resolution I described what was happening to was a Minister I had my electronic signature put on people who, in the majority, are frail and elderly people documents that I had not seen. in their 80s and 90s—those who are still alive since Does the Government’s White Paper address those the case began—as, in effect, legal torture, to which they issues? The answer is: up to a point. I notice that it is a were subjected as they tried to get into the leasehold document that calls for less bureaucracy, despite having valuation tribunal proceedings. Appeals, delays and three forewords. The proposal to have stronger applications from the other side blocked them from management—the measure for pushing out the bottom being heard. 10% and boosting up the top 25%—is rather crude. I Leasehold valuation tribunals are part of the residential would have thought that a well-managed organisation property system that might properly be described as a would not need to use such crude management techniques. non-departmental body. They replace the rent panels However, the Government note the importance of and I suspect that it falls between the Department for strengthening capabilities and of shared services, and Communities and Local Government and the Ministry they want to strengthen ministerial influence over senior of Justice. They are probably more the responsibility of appointments. I agree with what they are doing there, the former, but I stand to be corrected on that. but I do not think that they are going far enough. I do not expect my hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of The approach of “open” policy making is extremely the House to respond to what I am saying today as I complex. Obviously, Ministers want to be able to source would much prefer to get a letter later. My request to ideas from people other than Whitehall officials, but the him is that if in September it is possible to have a neutrality of officials is also very important and we ministerial statement from the appropriate Minister or need to hold on to it. The Government are going wrong Ministers, saying that their officials have met together, in cutting too far, there are too many new-fangled taken advice from those who staff and sit on the leasehold financial mechanisms, such as payment by results, which valuation tribunals and listened to some of the organisations will be more expensive than gilts, and they have not that have considered the issues, as well as stating how addressed the narrow social base and the experience the Government assess the situation and intend to situation. approach it in the future, I shall be grateful. The crucial issue is accountability. Three basic types Let me pay tribute to a liberal think-tank, CentreForum. of accountability are possible in an organisation: I anticipate that it will bring out a guide to the issues in hierarchical, market or democratic. In Whitehall, the leasehold valuation tribunals and the reforms that are most important of those is the democratic element. needed. Although it is not necessarily a true blue think That means that Ministers can be responsible for policy tank, I welcome its proposals and look forward to and, if they are warned, for delivering failures, but that reading its full report with great interest. 933 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 934

[Sir Peter Bottomley] low morale among the people who make this place work. For the information of the House, over the past When my constituents, ably led by John Fenwick, to few days I have talked to chefs, kitchen staff, cleaning whom I pay tribute, applied to the Bar Council pro bono staff, visitor assistants, maintenance men and women, unit to get representation, they made the point that when Library researchers, Doorkeepers, Committee staff, the leaseholders applied to challenge invoices for services procedural Clerks, finance and legal workers, human that were not being provided, they were confronted by resources staff, drivers, porters, attendants, curatorial demands from solicitors and a barrister to the tribunal staff, Hansard reporters, members of the media and “to decline jurisdiction and…to dismiss the whole of the application events teams, accommodation staff and so on. I have as being frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process, having no done my homework, and I have never met a group of prospect of success.” people so demoralised by what they have to put up with If it takes two or three goes to get in front of a tribunal as employees of Parliament. and the application costs, say, £350, there is a major We all rely on the staff in this place; we cannot problem that needs dealing with. provide a good service to our constituents without their The tribunals can be very useful for one group of support. This Parliament should be an exemplar of the leaseholders who are trying to get a recalcitrant fellow best kind of employer, but I am afraid we are not the leaseholder to pay up when they are not paying their best employer. As I talked to members of staff, they charges. A very good example appears in an article from constantly said, “It isn’t what is happening, it’s not 2007 by Liz Hodgkinson in , talking knowing what’s happening.”There is poor communication. about how they managed to get an order to make one leaseholder pay up thousands of pounds-worth of costs I am keen on management and I chair the all-party that they had not paid. management group. I know a little about good management. If managers do not keep in touch with My issue is about the inequality of arms that leads to their stakeholders—all the people who make this place oppressive behaviour by managing agents or freeholders. a success, and make it amenable to good working for If leaseholders are faced with a freeholder or managing Members of Parliament—and if they do not keep agent who has associated companies in which they do communication open and tell people what is happening, not declare their interest, we end up with the situations staff become disillusioned and unhappy in their role. disclosed in leasehold valuation tribunal judgments, whereby each leaseholder may be asked to pay insurance Over recent months—perhaps longer—there is every costs of £6,000 or £7,000 when the appropriate cost is sign that certain people who are influential in the about £2,000. There are scandals that need exposing. management of this place believe that it is a business. It We need publicity and better adoption of rules and is a funny old business where people do not know quite guidance and, if necessary, the law—although I suspect when the House will be sitting. In 2007, we sat for that the registration of managing agents would do far more 151 days, and in 2008 it was 150 days. In 2009, we sat for —so that many vulnerable and elderly people do not 134 days, in 2010—election year—128 days, and in suffer. 2011, 149 days. This is a hard-working House, but it works funny hours, because a lot of our job is done out I am grateful to Martin Boyd of the Charter Quay in the constituency, where we look after our constituents residents association in Kingston. He points out that and find out the information that we need to be effective neither leasehold valuation tribunals nor the Department parliamentarians. We cannot run this place as though it for Communities and Local Government were a commercial undertaking; indeed, the House “keep data on the effectiveness or otherwise of the legislation in voted by a majority for changes in the sitting hours, terms of outcomes.” which will make it even more difficult to run this place. He notes that FOI disclosures show Ministers and their advisers what is going on. We speak to members of staff who say, “All of us in this department, after 20 years of service, have been The DCLG and the Ministry of Justice probably asked to reapply for our jobs”, and to people in catering have very few resources. There may be only one or two who say, “We all hear that they will privatise this, and officials trying to look after those things, so the Minister we will all be out of employment.” That is either true or has to accept the advice that not much is known and not false, but whatever is happening should be communicated much needs to be done. The Government’s policy, rightly, to our members of staff, so that they have some assurance. is for more leasehold flats, with greater enfranchisement for leaseholders to challenge oppressive costs. We need change, and I look to the Government to review whether Helen Goodman: I am appalled and amazed by what staffing is appropriate and whether more people can be my hon. Friend is saying. Does he have any sense of brought in to advise Ministers so that there is a better which departments are involved, and how many staff outcome. are being treated in this way?

5.41 pm Mr Sheerman: The research is quite difficult, but Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): It there are 78 senior managers involved in one way or is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for another in the management of this place, and a range of Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley), who is a personal interesting people are involved. We have in the House a friend. We have campaigned together on many things business change manager, a director general of human over the years. resources and change, an assistant corporate risk I am saddened by the issue I have to raise this management facilitator, and an implementation manager. afternoon. As a Member with reasonably long service, I We have an awful lot of managers—and I am sure that, have been very disturbed over recent months about the according to their lights, they are doing a good job. 935 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 936

What I am saying to the House is that we should take because of the way in which they were going to be the welfare of the people who make this place work very treated by the judicial system and what was proposed by seriously indeed. the family division. I have cited the case of Toni McLeod. There is another really worrying thing, apart from I reported on her child protection conference papers the welfare of the people who work here and have, over and the fact that there were concerns that she had been the years, put so much into their work. I am not talking involved with the English Defence League. The judgment about well-paid people, or people who have the most stated: comfortable life in this country, in terms of their pay “The first concern…related to the mother’s association with and conditions. I am also talking about the people in the English Defence League.” the Palace involved in security, who believe that security The second concern was that is threatened by the lack of morale here. They are trying “the mother is someone who reacts adversely to criticism and to do the job with staff cuts, and with a declining advice from professionals.” number of people involved. I had a hand in improving The third concern was that the education offering in this place. It is so nice to see many more people visiting, and lots of children on “the mother demonstrated a lack of insight into her children’s educational visits. Interestingly enough, as was pointed emotional and social needs”, out to me when I tried to do my research, the downside—if partly because she had drawn her child’s attention there is a downside—is that this becomes a busier place “to her campaign against the family justice system and her belief to manage, in terms of numbers and security. It cannot that social workers tell lies.” be all one way. We have a serious problem if the system proposes to The reason why I asked to speak in this debate is that take a new-born baby from someone because of that there are very grave concerns about security, if some of person’s political views. That is clearly a form of persecution: the voices that I have listened to are right. Is it not about it has been done in the past and it is still going on today. time that the management of this place got better, so There is a second case in Ireland—not in Cavan; oddly that we can communicate with people in all the jobs enough, four of these cases are in Cavan, which surprised that I enumerated? We serve our constituents best if we me—in which someone was deemed a threat to his are served well by those people. We now have time to children because he expressed concern about the integrity reflect on what we are doing to the people in all these of the system. Professor Jane Ireland, who undertook departments, and to communicate and manage better. research on psychologists’ reports, showed that in the We Members of Parliament are the ones who will family courts—not the court of protection—of 124 benefit from that change. reports, two thirds were either poor or very poor. That raises concern in relation to the issue of mental 5.48 pm capacity. People’s legal existence is removed because a psychologist says that they are too stupid to instruct a John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): Civil solicitor, or do not have the mental capacity to do so. liberties are defined as There are many other things that need to be said about “the rights guaranteed to citizens or residents of a country or that. territory as a matter of fundamental law”, I am lucky to have the opportunity to introduce a and are often human rights. One of my concerns on the private Member’s Bill. Second Reading will take place subject is how workable the UK’s system is for many on 26 October, and I shall explain why it is such a good people in this country, or for those who leave this Bill and can fix some of the problems in the system. country to get away from things here. Mental capacity is Everyone knows about the process for such Bills: I need one of the areas of concern; often, if a person wishes to to consult the Government and see to what extent they challenge a judgment that says that they are too stupid respond to my concerns. Having discussed the matter to instruct a solicitor, they will not find a solicitor who quite widely, I hope to publish a draft of the Bill this is willing to take an instruction. Also, they will not be week. The measure may be significantly different on able to get papers accepted by the law. I have cited a Second Reading, because the Government may say that number of cases, and I am very concerned about the under no circumstances will they allow the measure continuing lack of scrutiny of mental capacity law. through. There are difficulties, even though the legislature My early-day motion 334, which I will not read out, has secured greater independence from the Executive, in as everyone knows it so well, looks at the issue of court getting things through against strong Government judgments. Obviously, a legal system needs court judgments, opposition. I intend to send the measure to the Opposition, but we have a serious problem with delays in getting too, as well as other political parties to seek their views court judgments. If one cannot get the court judgment, on these issues. one cannot explain to the appellate court what is wrong It may surprise Members that some parts of the with the process. measure are necessary, but it deals, first, with the right The Republic of Ireland’s Refugee Act 1996—this is to report wrongdoing. The Health Professions Council relevant—defines a refugee as still refuses to investigate allegations against psychologists “a person who, owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted —and we must remember that those psychologists can for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular paint people as non-persons and make them into secret social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or prisoners—so we must do something about that. Secondly, her nationality”. we should have academic scrutiny of the proceedings, If people have a well-founded fear of persecution as a so that we can check that they have intellectual integrity. result of their political views, they are refugees. There At the moment, things operate in a vacuum without are five or six people in the Republic of Ireland and one being peer reviewed and so on. There is not even a person in Namur in Belgium who have left the UK Daubert process. 937 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 938

[John Hemming] I stress that my private Member’s Bill asks the Government to research this and look into the modalities of introducing Thirdly, and importantly, children in care do not have it, transition periods, and so on. a voice. They are not listened to, and there is no proper One of the great advantages of a land value tax is remedy for them. When they leave care, they are often that it would be very hard to dodge, avoid or evade. It subject to discrimination, so I hope to propose in the would encourage more efficient and sustainable use of Bill to improve the situation for children in care and land and avoid distorting business behaviour, as our after they have left care. I have only a few more seconds, current business rates do. Business rates are levied as a so I shall not go into much more detail about the Bill, percentage of the estimated rental value of the property, but I hope to publish it later this week. There are serious and the effect of that is to skew economic activity away problems that need to be dealt with, and I hope to have from property-intensive production and to create a hon. Members’ support in doing something about that perverse incentive not to use or properly develop brownfield on 26 October. land first. Crucially, an LVT could discourage boom and bust in property, giving incentives against disproportionate amounts of capital being tied up in 5.54 pm property and unsustainable accumulation of debt. Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): I am Support for this idea comes from interesting quarters grateful to have this opportunity to call on the Government both historically and today. For example, in February urgently to investigate how a land value tax might be this year, Samuel Brittan said in the introduced to replace, first, business rates, and then that council tax. I call for this because it would be more “the case for a land tax is one of the oldest and least disputed progressive and fair, it would help to prevent property propositions in economic thought.” speculation and it is a potential means of redistributing He went on to explain: wealth. I am also encouraged by the fact that land value taxation has long been a key policy of one of the “Many chancellors have said that they would jump at a tax that had no disincentive effects on work or enterprise but had a coalition Government partners. I hope that the robust strong redistributive element.” reports on LVT from the likes of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, as well as debates such as this, might help to Samuel Brittan is in very good company.Winston Churchill, persuade the other partner. speaking in 1909, put the argument in favour of LVT rather eloquently: As hon. Members know, LVT is a tax or levy on the “Roads are made, streets are made, services are improved, value of land that takes account of any planning permission electric light turns night into day, water is brought from reservoirs associated with it but not of any improvements made to a hundred miles off in the mountains—all the while the landlord the site such as buildings. For domestic property, for sits still. Every one of those improvements is effected by the example, the house price includes both land and building labour and cost of other people and the taxpayers. To not one of values, but LVT would apply only to the land that the those improvements does the land monopolist, as a land monopolist, house stands on. LVT encourages efficient and sustainable contribute, and yet by every one of them the value of his land is use of land, as owners of derelict land or properties that enhanced.” they have deliberately allowed to become run down pay In addition to that, last year we had the heavyweight the same as those who take care of their properties. It report from the IFS that was commissioned from the therefore has the potential to bring more brownfield Nobel prize winner, Sir James Mirlees; it is known as sites into use and to ease pressure on green belt. Building the Mirlees review. It clearly recommends that the Treasury in towns and cities would become more efficient, urban take LVT seriously. It says: sprawl could be reduced, and speculative land banking—for “This is such a powerful idea, and one that has been so example, by big supermarkets—could be discouraged. comprehensively ignored by governments, that the case for a thorough official effort to design a workable system seems to us to Jonathan Lord: The hon. Lady cites all sorts of terrible, be overwhelming.” egregious cases, but what about the widow who wants In responding to the questions that I have put to the to carry on living in the family home but does not have Government so far on LVT, they have always fallen much income or spare capital? Would she force her to back on the work done by Sir Michael Lyons in his 2007 move home because of these taxes? inquiry into the role, function and funding of local government. There are many criticisms of the Lyons Caroline Lucas: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his report and there have been dramatic economic changes intervention, not least because it gives me the opportunity since it was released, the most obvious of which is the to reassure him that I certainly would not be asking that 2008 crash, which make Lyons’ analysis of land value widow to leave her home. What I am asking the taxation out of date. Government to do—I have drafted a private Member’s We need a study into the practicalities that looks at Bill to this effect—is to research how we would implement how we would bring in an LVT, who would be the a land value tax. Among the provisions that we would winners and losers, and what transitional measures need to consider is how to protect the widow in the case would be needed. The evidence suggests that such a to which he alludes. For example, one could give her the measure would be broadly progressive. In other words, option of continuing to pay council tax until she dies or those who can afford it would pay the most and those moves house, and if she moved house one could think who can least afford it would pay the least. I hope that about how to introduce the land value taxation at that the Government will use the response to this debate to point. I assure him that I certainly do not envisage a reply positively to the broad cross section of people scenario where this measure would force people to leave who are saying that this idea has potential. We now their homes. It would have to be brought in gradually. need research into how it would be implemented. 939 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 940

The practicalities of land valuation at the necessary By the 1920s, the road fund was repeatedly raided to level of disaggregation might seem daunting, but that prop up the Treasury. At the same time, fuel duty was does not mean that it is not possible. There is already a compounded by licence fees, vehicle taxes and so forth. substantial apparatus designed specifically to record Eventually, from 1937 motoring duty was treated as land and property values for business rates. Rating lists general taxation. By 1966, just 33% of the revenue was are compiled by the Valuation Office Agency, which in spent on roads, and by 2008, the proportion was just 2009-10 employed approximately 4,000 staff. New lists 20%. Over the years, a series of “temporary” increases are compiled every five years. The infrastructure is have been brought in. The fuel duty escalator began, in therefore already there and could be used. a sense, with the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Temporary As I said, I have introduced a private Member’s Bill Increase) Act 1956, back when duty was fluctuating between which, if we are lucky, will be discussed in November. It 5p and 6p a litre, and VAT did not exist. The temporary calls on the Treasury to do a serious piece of work that increase was a mirage. Fuel duty is now 58p a litre, with looks into how land value taxation might replace business 20% VAT on top—an increase of more than 1,000%. rates and, subsequently, council tax, and that takes I argue that the tax burden should be clear and account of transitional arrangements as necessary. I transparent on every receipt and every fuel bill. There hope that the Government will take that proposal seriously. should be also be some indication of how much is being The economic case is strong. If we took the wider view spent on our roads. My receipt would therefore say, to see how such a transition could be made, I think we “Fuel: £25. Duty: £25. VAT: £10. Amount spent on would find that such a tax would be sensible, efficient, roads: £7.” My hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich effective and progressive. () made such a proposal for income tax, which the Chancellor welcomed. Let us do the same for Several hon. Members rose— petrol and diesel. Why is that necessary? First, because we should be Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Ihaveto honest with motorists. The average family in Harlow reduce the time limit to five minutes. I hope not to spend a tenth of their income on fuel, which is more reduce it again, so short interventions are critical when than they spend on the weekly shop. In essence, they people give way. face fuel poverty and they have a moral right to know why their bills are so high. Tax transparency would also act as a deterrent to any Government hiking fuel duty 6.1 pm without good reason, because people would see the Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): I want to make just increase on their receipts. one point about the transparency of petrol and diesel prices. Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): As always, my hon. Friend makes a compelling case on this issue. Does he The Government have stepped up to the plate in agree that it is important not only that the ordinary motorist cutting fuel duty. Ministers have done more to cut fuel knows that information, but that the road haulage duty in two years than many Governments have managed. industry knows it? It has been crippled by heavy taxes. However, fuel duty is still a stealth tax. As the FairFuelUK campaign has pointed out, we are not straight with the Robert Halfon: My hon. Friend is exactly right, and I public about how much tax they pay. I pay tribute to know that when he goes back to Cleethorpes, his FairFuelUK, which is one of the most effective campaigning constituents will thank him in the streets for the work groups in our country. that he has done with me to try to cut fuel duty. When I fill up my car, my receipt says, “Fuel: £50. Tax transparency would also make it easier to hold VAT: £10.” That is wrong. If it was accurate, my receipt the big oil companies to account. The Government say would say something like, “Fuel: £25. Duty: £25. VAT: that their actions have a low impact compared with the £10.” There should be some mention of how much of huge swings in the oil price, and my proposal would give that tax is spent on our roads. I want to make three brief people hard evidence on a weekly basis of whether falls points. First, I will explain that it was never meant to be in the price of oil were being passed on to consumers. as like this. Secondly, I will say what I am proposing. recommended by the website with which I am involved, Thirdly, I will say why transparency works. www.petrolpromise.com. The history of car taxation is a textbook case of how My proposal does what it says on the tin. We need a tax becomes entrenched. First, it is temporary and is basic transparency about how much fuel duty people hypothecated for a specific purpose. It is then expanded. pay and where the money goes. That would be more Finally, it is folded out into general taxation. That is honest, it would be a deterrent against tax rises and it exactly what happened to fuel duty between 1909 and would put pressure on the oil companies to be fair. I 1937. In the early 20th century, funding for roads was hope, if the House is willing, to introduce a private drawn mainly from local ratepayers. The so-called people’s Member’s Bill on the subject later this year. In the Budget in 1909, which came from the Liberal party, put meantime, I urge the Deputy Leader of the House to a new duty on motor spirit, or petrol, in the days before consider the proposal for the autumn statement. our European Economic Community membership forced us to introduce VAT. The duty was ring-fenced for a 6.7 pm road improvement fund. The explicit promise of Lloyd George in his Budget speech on 29 April 1909 was Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I rise to bring to “that the funds so raised will not merely be devoted exclusively to the House’s attention an issue of great importance to the improvement of the roads, but that they will be well and my constituency—fishing. We have debated that critical wisely spent for that end.”—[Official Report, 29 April 1909; issue on many occasions in the House, and many Members Vol. 4, c. 497.] have a particular interest in it. I wish to underline the 941 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 942

[Jim Shannon] is the recent UK input to the EU on the issue? What is our position on the talks? We need reassurance that UK need the EU Fisheries Ministers to give full consideration mackerel fishermen, including those from Northern to how best to move forward in a positive fashion. We Ireland, will be given an update on this matter. hear much negativity about fishing, but there are also a In conclusion, given the reduction of days at sea, lot of positives. often without due consideration of, or consultation I represent the second-largest fishing village in Northern with, the fishing sector, especially when current scientific Ireland, Portavogie, a port that has borne the brunt of information shows that the Irish sea is regenerating, European legislation. There are days at sea restrictions, and given that the fishing fleet is sustainable, that more quotas on fishing catches and levels of bureaucracy jobs can be created, that more opportunity can be that, to use a colloquialism, would choke a donkey. The given, and that more economic advantage can be gained, number of fishing boats in Portavogie has reduced from I suggest, at this very late stage, that the fishing industry a high of 110 to a low of approximately 60 today, and a needs help, including from the Government. high proportion of those are 10 metres or under. I can honestly recall being able to walk from one side of 6.11 pm Portavogie harbour to the other without getting my feet Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): The provision wet, because there were so many boats in the harbour. It of rural broadband and the broadband delivery plan is very different today. for the two counties I represent—the East Riding of Many people are annoyed by the situation, because Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire—are of great importance there are enough fish to make the fishing industry to my constituents. It is good that my hon. Friend the sustainable. Scientific evidence shows that in the Irish Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) is in the sea, many fish stocks are regenerating. Cod, in particular, Chamber—he has been working in support of our are starting to come back there. plans in northern Lincolnshire. In June, EU Fisheries Ministers agreed to a phased This is a massive issue in Brigg and Goole, where we discard ban, to be completed by 2018. The industry enjoy particularly poor internet speeds. For example, supports that ban on the wasteful practice of throwing Adlingfleet in my constituency has absolutely no broadband dead fish back into the sea, but we need to know just access. Large parts of the constituency suffer speeds to when the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, which urban areas had access a decade ago. There is Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Newbury clearly demand for improved broadband access in my (Richard Benyon), and his Department will have discussions constituency, as is evidenced by the demand surveys with the fishing industry on how the rules and regulations that my local team and I have delivered—the response will be implemented. rate is between 10% and 15% in a number of wards. That figure continues to grow. There is a clamour for meaningful regionalisation and for power to be put back into the community. The I am concerned about the growing digital divide in EU has indicated that it intends to do that through the this country, with residents in rural areas missing out, common fisheries policy, but there is growing concern which is why I welcome the Government’s broadband about the approach agreed by EU Fisheries Ministers, pledge and the broadband delivery roll-out. However, I which many feel will not deliver the regionalisation that shall talk about the specific plans for North Lincolnshire we all want. Brussels will retain a veto over much of and the East Riding. My constituents are missing out fisheries policy, so the fishing industry seeks reassurance on developments in health care, such as telehealth services, that regionalisation will be meaningful and will help the which will become increasingly important, and on lives of ordinary people. In particular, it should help the educational opportunities, particularly continuing learning villagers of Portavogie to regenerate the industry and and adult education through distance learning. do better. Around 25% of East Riding households are likely to There has been much talk about the maximum be non-users of the internet. The problem is compounded sustainable yield and the long-term management plans. by poor broadband speeds. In North Lincolnshire, 52% In 2002, the world summit in Johannesburg stated, in of children under the age of 15 are unable to use the loose terminology, that the maximum sustainable yield same online tools at home as they use at school because would be achieved “where possible”. How does the of poor access, or because they have no access at home. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs I visited a school in Pollington, which is in the East see that fitting in with regard to the Irish sea? The Irish Riding part of my constituency because pupils had sea has mixed fisheries. As such, the impact on it will be written to me to ask me to see the poor broadband different from that in other places. speeds for myself. The situation was fairly appalling—the children are unable to access basic education websites. The long-term management plan has built up a backlog We know the value of increased broadband speeds, in the EU fisheries system. The next case to be reviewed so I will not go into them in too great a detail, but is the cod industry, which is vital for the section of the I want to speak briefly about the two delivery plans. I fishing industry that has experienced most of the changes shall give an example of the cost savings that can be over the last period of time. There is scientific evidence achieved with good broadband access. The average cost that the cod are coming back to the Irish sea in numbers, of residential care in North Lincolnshire is £18,000 a but we need to know exactly what is happening. year. Telehealth care services can help an individual Finally, the ongoing dispute between the EU and who wants to live at home retain their independence, Norway on the one hand, and Iceland and the Faroes and can produce savings of £11,000 a year, but poor on the other, has dragged on for three years. I understand access to broadband, which is necessary to support that a meeting will be held on 3 September, when the those services, obviously makes that much more difficult EU, Norway and Iceland will discuss the disputes. What in our areas. 943 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 944

In North Lincolnshire, the broadband bid is for The terms of tenancies and conditions for people £12 million, of which £2.62 million is being provided by living in private rented accommodation tell a very sorry Broadband Delivery UK. Both BT and Fujitsu have story indeed. From the first world war to the 1950s, there said that North Lincolnshire is one of their top six was quite rigorous rent control in the private rented priorities out of 40 bids, but the Department for Culture, sector, and the sector was subsequently built out as slum Media and Sport has ranked it only 23rd. I would like clearance took place and council housing and owner- Ministers—I am happy for them to respond by letter—to occupation developed. We have had a long period with look at the ranking that DCMS has given to the North very little council housing being built—although thankfully Lincolnshire bid, particularly in the light of the priority that is now beginning to change—but Britain also has that BT and Fujitsu have given to it, and to take into the most lax system of rent control and tenancy control account the developments along the Humber to support of any country in Europe. We have a system of assured the renewable energy and enterprise zones that we have shorthold tenancies—which give tenants a guaranteed and that will require much better broadband access. I tenancy of only six months and, after that, a two-month also ask them to consider the funding from the European notice period—along with very high rents. In my regional development fund. Our proposal involves using constituency it is quite normal to find people living ERDF funding, but there is the concern that the Yorkshire in private rented accommodation who are paying half and the Humber ERDF team might not have the capacity their take-home pay—if they are in work—on their rent. to deliver the project on time. We also have a housing benefit system that militates I have two simple requests for the East Riding. We strongly against people in the private rented sector. The understand that a national contract has been let, but a Government have introduced the rent cap, which has lot of our broadband and internet access in the East limited the levels of housing benefit being paid. I am Riding is provided by Kingston Communications. Will now facing the trauma—and it is a trauma—of seeing Ministers consider whether the unique situation, with large numbers of tenants in my constituency who were KC as the dominant local supplier, will enable the or are in receipt of housing benefit being forced to move council to go into a separate arrangement outside the out, because their housing benefit has been cut and their national structures and procurement framework with rents have gone up, and because they cannot afford to BDUK? I would also appreciate it if Ministers could meet the difference from other benefits, if they are on clarify the exact funding available to the East Riding, them, or their wages. There is, in effect, a social cleansing because there seems to be some concern about that. of inner London going on because of the imposition of Broadly speaking, I welcome what the Government are the housing benefit cap. I stress the point that a large doing, but I would appreciate it if Ministers could look number of people in receipt of housing benefit are at these requests. working—albeit on low wages, but they are in work. The current situation is an utter disaster, but it does not have to be like this, and I hope that things can 6.16 pm change. Germany, for example, has 60% of its housing Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): I wish to provided by the private rented sector. Germany has draw to the House’s attention the huge problems facing permanent tenancies and rent controls provided, and a people living in the private rented sector in this country. tax regime that encourages good rather than bad This has to be seen in the context of the overall problems management. Germany has a much more stable community of housing supply and need in Britain. In 2010, 102,000 and society as a result. new properties were provided in this country, but every I hope that the House will be able to return to this year approximately 230,000 new households are created. issue. I hope to introduce a private Member’s Bill to There are 2.8 million people on the waiting list for bring about regulation, rent controls, decency and, above council housing in the whole country and 3 million all, security in good quality homes for those living in people living in the private rented sector. private rented accommodation. This is a serious issue that must be faced for a large number of people in this I want to talk about the private rented sector because country. it has been the fastest-growing sector. Even if all the council housing I would like built was built quickly, an 6.21 pm enormous number of people would still be living in the private rented sector. Private rents have risen at double Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): There are a the rate of wages over the past 10 years, while people number of points I want to raise before the House living in the private rented sector are 10 times more adjourns for the summer recess. likely to move than owner-occupiers. Furthermore, rents London’s air ambulance service—for which my hon. are rising fast despite the low level of wage rises at the Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary moment and the relatively low levels of inflation. In Macleod) recently organised a reception—continues to other words, it costs more to live in private rented do an amazing job. It helped a huge number of people accommodation. in the London bombing, along with more than 2,000 Nationally, the number of people living in private patients last year, using a helicopter and rapid-response rented accommodation has risen from 9% to 17% over cars to deliver emergency medical care. However, the the past 20 years and continues to rise fast. In my own service is in need of a second helicopter, so I support its borough, the number of people living in private rented calls to raise £10 million over the next three years. accommodation is more than double the national Police and crime commissioner elections will be held average—about one third of my constituents live in in November. I would have thought that the last people private rented accommodation. Less than 30% are owner- we need standing are retired police officers, who will occupiers, whereas the national figure is about 68%, presumably have some sort of axe to grind. I would although that figure is falling somewhat. therefore like to know who exactly the PCCs will be 945 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 946

[Mr David Amess] the event. An official who had been with the torch throughout its journey said that the Southend event was accountable to, other than through the ballot box. the best by a mile. What will their relationship with Members of Parliament Southend-on-Sea borough council was named local be? These are important issues, particularly as police authority of the year 2012 at the Local Government authorities have proved to be so ineffective. Chronicle awards in March. I congratulate the mayor of A constituent, Miss Tina Cannadine, suffers from a Southend, Sally Carr, the chief executive, Rob Tinlin, range of medical conditions, including myalgic and his hard-working officers, the leader of the council, encephalomyelitis, yet she has been refused disability Nigel Holdcroft and Councillor John Lamb, along living allowance after an appeal. I have concerns about with everyone at the civic centre on their fantastic the assessment system, which has denied Miss Cannadine achievements. I also hope to host a centenarians’ tea her entitlements. It is clear that the required forms are party this September, at which we hope to break the too rigid, with no great leeway. They should be designed record in “Guinness World Records” again. My mother to help someone such as my constituent, not hinder is now eligible to attend. It is for all those reasons that it them. is an absolute disgrace that Southend has not been BBC executives are still paid too much money. Despite designated a city. a series of fiascos, culminating in the shoddy coverage I wish everyone in the House a very happy summer of the diamond jubilee, the executive team and its stars recess. earn hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. As licence tax payers, we pay their wages and we should be 6.26 pm entitled to better services, and if they are not delivered, they should face a pay cut. However, I think that Lord Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) (Con): It is Patten does a fantastic job, and I am still available as a a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for TV presenter. Southend West (Mr Amess) and to have listened to all The Government need to publish a robust liver strategy his suggestions. soon. Liver disease is a huge problem, but it is largely On this, the House’s final sitting day before the preventable. Urgent action is also needed on hepatitis biggest event that this country will probably ever host, it C. Deaths from liver disease caused by hepatitis C are is only right and proper that we should mention the increasing rapidly, even though it is a preventable and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. It is now usually curable virus. We can reduce deaths from liver about 10 days until they start, and the M4 and A4, disease by diagnosing and treating people living with which go through my constituency, are starting to bustle this silent killer. as the athletes and officials arrive, along with the visitors who will be attending the games. The whole United Obstructive sleep apnoea is a little known but serious Kingdom is looking forward to an excellent summer of condition, where throat muscles relax and block the sports and, of course, to lots of British medals. airways—sometimes one has only to look round the Chamber to see what a serious condition it is. I support I would like to focus today on the legacy of the games the calls by the British Lung Foundation to have everyone and on what can be done to maximise it. In fact, I shall with symptoms of OSA diagnosed quickly and accurately, pick up on one of the points that my hon. Friend the and to ensure that they receive the highest standard of Member for Southend West made. London’s bid for the care for the treatment of their OSA. That would help to games always included a comprehensive plan for a reduce NHS costs and improve patients’ quality of life. legacy, to make the most of the event for the whole UK. Among the priorities was the need to harness the UK’s Maldivian students wanting to study in the UK face passion for sport in order to increase grass-roots a challenge owing to the fiasco caused by having to get participation by young people and to encourage the their visas via Sri Lanka. Their flights are also very whole population to become more physically active. expensive. As the Maldives were a British protectorate These are the first Olympics to have a school games—that until 1965, I ask Her Majesty’s Government to do is likely to be copied by Rio in 2016, and further into something to help those students. the future—to which 14,000 schools across the country The lives of 3,400 members of the Iranian opposition have signed up. The school games recently had their are at stake in Iraq. The promises made to the residents first finals at the Olympic park. of Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty must be honoured, An extra £500 million will go into sport in the next and we have to take a stand against the human rights five years, and much has been done right across the violations occurring there. country. Locally, 180 coaches have been trained, and Unfortunately, I am concerned about a number of today I have heard that St Mary’s tennis club in Isleworth election practices in Southend. On polling day, people has secured Olympic legacy funding of just under £50,000 seem to be displaying their names and pictures right to upgrade its clay court facilities. Many other programmes outside the polling stations. The policemen go round to are being supported, including the Hitz rugby programme, the polling stations, but I wonder what they are looking the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, and the Kickz for. The Electoral Commission needs to look into those football programme delivered by Brentford football issues. club community sports trust and the Met police. There The highlight of the Olympic torch relay has already is lots going on. happened. It took place on 6 July when the torch came Another priority for the legacy plans is to exploit the to Southend. It was greeted by a choir of 6,000 on the economic growth opportunities offered by our hosting Esplanade singing the anthem “Let your light shine”, the games. The Prime Minister recently said that we composed by Tolga Khashif. I congratulate Southend expect the games to bring more than £13 billion of Metal and the council on doing a superb job of organising benefit to the UK. On the back of the games, VisitBritain 947 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 948 has launched its biggest ever global tourism campaign, To be serious, on 7 July, 4½ inches of rain fell in one supported by the GREAT campaign, which is expected day on part of my constituency—Axminster, Seaton to result in 4.6 million extra visitors. and Uplyme. There was a great deal of flooding in A further aspect of the legacy will involve developing Axminster, particularly in Willhayes park, where many the Olympic park for regeneration, which is already bungalows were flooded. Several elderly residents were happening, along with promoting community engagement confined to their beds and literally had to be rescued and achieving participation among all groups in society while the water was rising in those bungalows. I have through the games. I recently attended the Olympic toured the area this last week with the mayor of Axminster, torch relay in Osterley, which brought together primary Councillor Andrew Moulding, who has set up a local schools from across the borough. I am now looking fund to help residents. It is great to see how the local forward to my Olympic torch relay, which will take community has pulled together in Axminster; I was place on 24 July. It will come over Kew bridge before amazed at how stoic the residents whom I went to see heading through Brentford and on to Hounslow. were, considering that their houses had been flooded. Anyone who has been into houses that have been flooded My key point today is how we build on that legacy. I will be aware of the smell and contamination that would want to build on it by using part of that Olympic people have to go through. funding to support the London air ambulance. There is a great link, because the London air ambulance is supporting the Olympics, and sport is, in essence, about Mel Stride (Central Devon) (Con): My hon. Friend is health. As my hon. Friend the Member for Southend touching on an important point about the flooding that West mentioned, we have one helicopter in London that has affected many of us in the south-west. Will he join covers the entire area within the M25. It supports over me in congratulating the Environment Agency on its 10 million people over 600 square miles. Elsewhere in sterling work, particularly in keeping residents fully the country, there is one helicopter for 1.5 million informed of what was happening, including Members people. If we make comparisons internationally, London of Parliament? looks way behind. We have one air ambulance and no back-up. Last week, maintenance was necessary, and no Neil Parish: My hon. Friend must be a mind reader, support was available. because I was just about to mention the fact that the What the air ambulance does is give world-class Environment Agency has been so good, especially in trauma care, reducing death in cases involving such warning people and getting the warnings through early injuries by 30% to 40%. I am sure that if any Members so that people could take action, where possible, to or their families were involved in a serious accident and secure their properties with sandbags. A large flood were in need of an air ambulance, we would want the happened in Axminster where there was a blockage London air ambulance to be available. On 7 July 2005, across a railway under a large culvert. The water backed London’s air ambulance flew 26 missions to the various up and there was immediately a huge amount of flooding. bomb sites and treated more than 700 people. Demand In the long run, we need to not only get good flood is increasing across London, and we have to remember warnings in place, but make sure that the culverts are that the London air ambulance is a charity—it is supported clear and the rivers properly dredged so that we can get by the NHS, but it is a charity—and that it needs rid of the water when it comes. additional funding. I accept that when 4½ inches of rainfall comes down I call on the Government and those responsible for in less than 24 hours, it is very difficult to handle, but we legacy development to consider proposals to provide have to realise that the drainage channels and those sponsorship support through the London Legacy rivers are all there for a purpose. That purpose is to Development Corporation, with agreement to use the drain. Yes, they are very pretty when the water level is Olympic logo and help fund another helicopter with the kept high and they are allowed to silt up. Indeed, it all Olympic logo on it that would be part of the long-term looks lovely until the rain starts to come down and we legacy and would help to continue to save Londoners’ cannot drain the water away fast enough. I hope that lives. Ministers and the Environment Agency will think seriously about that. I conclude by wishing every success to team GB and everyone involved in the games. I look forward to the We also experienced floods in Uplyme. Down by the London 2012 games and the opportunities they will village hall, culverts were blocked and, again, there was provide to demonstrate to the world that London is a great deal of flooding. Fewer properties were involved, truly the greatest city in the world. but one was badly flooded when a stream came down from the hill. Again the rocks came out and blocked the pipe, and water cascaded through the building. As I 6.31 pm have said, it is not possible to solve all the problems, but Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): It is a I think that we need proper drainage channels with great pleasure to speak in this pre-recess debate. I echo proper grilles. the words of my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford Because I do not possess the ability of my hon. and Isleworth (Mary Macleod): we wish team GB the Friend the Member for Southend West to raise numerous greatest success in the world. May I say to my hon. matters during a short speech and am capable of raising Friend the Member for Southend West (Mr Amess), only two or three, I shall now confine myself to raising who mentioned the Guinness Book of Records, that he the serious issue of the price of milk and the problems should appear in it for the amount of stuff he can get faced by dairy farmers in my constituency.The constituency into a five-minute speech about his constituency and contains a great deal of grassland, much of which is events all across the world? He most certainly should be dairy farming land in the Blackdown hills and on the given such an award. edge of Exmoor. The dairy farmers are not receiving 949 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 950

[Neil Parish] rail track that it produces—benefits from the contracts. We should think not just of those travelling on business, the cost of production, and we need to do something but of commuters and holiday travellers. Tourism is a about it, because they are experiencing a real problem. vital source of revenue for struggling coastal communities. When 2,500 dairy farmers from all over the country A seminar at the Department for Business, Innovation come to a meeting in London—at Methodist Central and Skills last week highlighted the need for connectivity Hall—the strength of feeling is clear. We cannot stand to these resorts. by while supermarkets drive the price of milk down by In the Cleethorpes constituency, we have Immingham using it as a loss leader, as a result of which processors dock, which on Sunday will celebrate its centenary. and farmers are squeezed. About 23% of rail freight as measured by tonnes starts Members have asked what future young dairy farmers or finishes in Immingham. That highlights the importance have. I think that they have a good future, but we must of improved rail access. The local council estimates that ensure that there are more co-operatives. Farmers must by 2020 50% of containers arriving in the UK will be come together if they are to have more power in the what the industry refers to as high-cube containers. We marketplace. We must also think about future markets. must therefore upgrade the gauge from the existing W8 The Minister of State, Department for Environment, to W10 and W12. Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Finally, may I mention the inquiry currently being Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), conducted by the Office of Rail Regulation into higher has told us that when he went to China he saw many access charges for freight? This could be detrimental milk products from France, Germany and the Netherlands, not only to the port of Immingham, but environmentally. but none from Britain. I think that when we have an If we push more freight traffic on to the roads, that will expanding market in China, it is essential for us to send increase CO2 emissions and be more damaging to our our milk and milk products over there. infrastructure, but, more importantly, it will reduce the If we do not export enough dairy products and create quality of life of local residents. a demand throughout the country, and if too much I shall conclude my remarks there, Mr Speaker. liquid milk is flooding the market, it is very difficult to keep the price up for farmers. Farmers in my constituency Mr Speaker: We are extremely grateful to the hon. need a future. They spend a great deal of money themselves Gentleman. I call the Deputy Leader of the House. throughout the community, and they need to be supported. I hope that the Minister will do something about that, and will establish contracts so that farmers can make a 6.41 pm decent living. The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr David Heath): First, may I Mr Speaker: I intend to call the Deputy Leader of the pay tribute to our former colleague, Marsha Singh, the House at 6.40 pm. I now call Mr Martin Vickers. former Member for Bradford West, who, sadly, passed away today in untimely fashion? He will be much missed, 6.38 pm and I am sure the whole House will wish to send its condolences to his family and friends. May I also say Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): Like my hon. that I, or the relevant Department, will write to any Member Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), who has raised issues that I am unable to cover in the I want to raise a matter that is particularly important to relatively short period of time now available to me? northern Lincolnshire. It involves a number of rail issues. As always in such debates, we have had an excellent Although yesterday’s announcement of investment in discussion. Some 19 Members contributed. The hon. the east coast main line is valuable and welcome, towns Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley) such as Cleethorpes, which lie off the main line, also mentioned 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, need serious consideration. It is essential for the increased and I perfectly well understand why she might wish to capacity created by the forthcoming investment to allow represent her constituents in the Salford area who are either the main franchise holder or an open access rightly proud of the record of that battalion of the operator to provide the much-needed direct passenger former Lancashire Fusiliers, with its proud record of service from Cleethorpes to London. service through the years, including in the Peninsula Twenty-five years ago, there were four direct trains war and Gallipoli. We have debated these matters before from Cleethorpes to King’s Cross. They ran via Lincoln in the House, however. Every Member will wish to place and Newark, although I think it more likely that the on record their appreciation of Army units in their own Scunthorpe-Doncaster route will be used in future. If areas, but we must have a modern, efficient and effective the potential for economic growth is to gather pace—and armed forces and the Secretary of State for Defence has the Government’s creation of enterprise zones constitutes made clear his intentions. I shall pass on to him the recognition of that potential—we must improve connectivity hon. Lady’s reservations in respect of the future of with the capital. That will also boost the tourism economy. 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, however. As Members will know, Cleethorpes is the jewel in the The hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr Turner) crown of the east coast resorts. mentioned matters to do with colleges in his constituency. I was encouraged by what the Secretary of State said He mentioned apprenticeships, and it is crucial that we yesterday about ensuring that UK-based producers benefit build on our great success in increasing the number of from the construction phase. I hope that everything apprenticeships. There were 457,200 apprenticeship starts possible will be done to ensure that, for instance, Tata in 2010-11. That is an increase of 63.5%, which is a Steel—which is based in Scunthorpe, where many of my terrific achievement, but I want to see it replicated in constituents work, and whose most profitable line is the every constituency, including the hon. Gentleman’s. 951 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 952

The hon. Gentleman also talked about the problems intends to make a detailed announcement shortly, and in respect of the Isle of Wight festival. I have some what the hon. Gentleman had to say ought to feed into fellow feeling in that regard, as the Glastonbury festival that process. site is on the border of my constituency, and we have on The hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen occasions had difficulties with rain and muddy conditions Goodman) made a very interesting speech, given that there as well. It is important that the promoters of she has served as a civil servant, a Minister and a festivals work very closely with local people. We have Member of this House. She talked about the culture of had a very good relationship over the years with the process over delivery within the civil service, and I agree Glastonbury festival, and I am sure that he has good with her that that is the risk. Not all civil servants take relations, too, with the Isle of Wight festival, but it is that view, but we need to focus on outcomes, and to be crucial that promoters and local people work together more innovative and less hierarchical. She criticised the to the benefit of everybody. White Paper for having three forewords; well, better The hon. Member for City of Durham (Roberta forewords than backwards. Nevertheless, the Government Blackman-Woods) talked about further and higher are trying to achieve a better, more effective civil service, education. I understand the points she made, of course, and she clearly shares that aspiration. She also mentioned but I would just say to her that this year the proportion the accountability of Ministers. Of course, that is precisely of school leavers in England applying to university is what we were getting at with the Public Bodies Act 2011. the second highest on record. That is extremely encouraging. Too often, bodies were remote from Ministers and not The Government have also introduced the national accountable to this House. They have now been brought scholarship programme, which will greatly help those back in-house, where Ministers can account for their who come from modest-income backgrounds. It is actions, and that is absolutely right. important that we maintain the principle that higher and further education is open to all and that we maintain The hon. Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter social mobility. That is a thrust of the Government’s Bottomley) kindly said that I did not need to respond to policy. the detailed issues that he raised. He rightly divined that I was probably in a state of complete ignorance about The hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) leasehold valuation tribunals and their precise workings, talked about the importance of bearing down on crime but I will make sure that the Ministry of Justice writes in the context of those who enter our country, and he is to him on that subject. absolutely right: there is a need for a high level of co-operation between the UK Border Agency and the The hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) police, and I believe that is happening. In fact, there is talked about low morale among the staff of this House. evidence of that in his own constituency, with Operation I hope that that is not the case. Of course, I should Coffeeville. Encouragingly, not only were arrests made stress that it is not a matter for Government but for you, and successful prosecutions mounted; hopefully, the Mr Speaker, and the House of Commons Commission. proceeds of the crime are being retrieved and at the end However, it would be a matter of great concern if the of the sentence served those people will be deported. staff did not feel valued by Members of this House, That is the way the law should apply. The hon. Gentleman because they do an admirable job that we consider to be paid tribute to the police and he is absolutely right to do of huge importance. so. We sometimes forget how much we owe to our My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley excellent police forces. He also discussed the closure of (John Hemming) continued his campaign on the family custody suites, and as he knows, I share his concern justice system. I draw his attention to the Crime and about that issue. It is a local, operational matter; Courts Bill and, later, to the children and families Bill, nevertheless, he rightly mentioned it in this debate. which will give him opportunities to raise some of these The right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds) issues. I think he wanted really to have a trailer for his talked about the huge changes in Northern Ireland over private Member’s Bill, which he very successfully trailed recent years, and the successes. I share in his celebration—so in his speech. The same can be said of the hon. Member much is going on in the Province that, a few years ago, for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), who was trailing would have been unimaginable. If I were to feature one her private Member’s Bill on the subject of land value thing, it would be Her Majesty the Queen’s going to a taxation. She correctly said that the Liberal Democrats, Roman Catholic church in Enniskillen in County and previously the Liberal party, have a very long-standing Fermanagh. attachment to this subject; in fact some of our members are hugely attached to it. What she described is not the Mr Dodds indicated assent. policy of Her Majesty’s Government at the moment, and there are issues to address, one of which was raised Mr Heath: A few years ago, it would have been very in intervention on her, for those who are asset rich and hard for anyone to give credit to that idea. The right cash poor. She recognised that, and we shall see what hon. Gentleman rightly pointed out that there are develops. continuing concerns, but rather than looking always at The hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon), again, the concerns, let us celebrate the success and the way the was trailing a private Member’s Bill that he intends to process has moved forward. introduce on petrol and diesel taxation. He spoke warmly The hon. Member for North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson) of the 1909 people’s Budget, that great achievement of made some incredibly interesting points about e-books. David Lloyd George—it has been downhill ever since He knows that the Government are trying to achieve then, until the past couple of years. The hon. Gentleman fair remuneration for publishers and authors, and provide talked about tax transparency and the need for people reassurance against the illegal use of copyrighted material. to understand just how much goes in duty as part of I think the Minister with responsibility for such matters their petrol bill. 953 Summer Adjournment17 JULY 2012 Summer Adjournment 954

[Mr Heath] and I will not reiterate the points raised by the Minister then, but its importance is clear. The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) The hon. Gentleman raised police and crime talked about fishing and represented very well the people commissioners, his constituent Tina Cannadine and her of Portavogie in his constituency. He drew attention to difficulties with DLA, BBC executives, hepatology, sleep the movement we have had in the right direction in apnoea, the problems of students from the Maldives in recent weeks on the reform of fishing policies and the getting their visas, Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty, need, nevertheless, to be sensitive to the industry, and to election fraud and the Olympic torch. I am sure that the people in his constituency, in particular. I am grateful Southend did a very good job with the torch, but I was to him for raising that with us. told by officials that the performance in Somerton was The hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew the best that they had seen in the country. Surely they Percy) talked about rural high-speed broadband, which are not saying to us all that we are providing the best is very dear to my heart. I could wax lyrical about the need coverage of the Olympic torch. for rural high-speed broadband in my constituency and I congratulate Southend borough council on being even in my own village; I have often said that a man council of the year. The hon. Gentleman has every with a stick would be quicker than our so-called “high-speed reason to look forward to his centenarian’s tea party broadband”. However, we are looking forward to the with his mother, Maud. I feel like I know his family as sort of change that is going to happen as a result of the well as I know that of the hon. Member for Wellingborough Government’s programme on this matter. I do not know (Mr Bone), they are mentioned in debates so often. We whether he was in the House for a previous debate of congratulate her and look forward to that happy occasion. this kind when an Opposition Member gave his opinion The hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth talked that rural high-speed broadband was simply for about the Olympic legacy, which is so important. We “millionaires” to do their “internet shopping”. The are looking forward to that great event, which will be hon. Member for Brigg and Goole and I recognise that good for sport, for business and for regeneration in this that is not the case and that rural high-speed broadband country, but we must ensure that every bit of it leaves a is essential for communities up and down the country, lasting legacy. It should not be something that simply be they in cities or rural areas, so that they can take a passes, goes and is seen no more. We should benefit proper part in the modern world. I look forward to that from it in the long term and the hon. Lady is absolutely happening. He raised a specific point, which I shall right that we need to maximise that benefit, not just in arrange for the Department to write to him about, on the east end of London, which will clearly benefit, but the position of Kingston Communications. I will pass across London and across the wider country. that on to the relevant Minister. The hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Neil The hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) Parish) talked about the flooding in his area, particularly talked about the private rented sector, which I know is a in the Axminster area. I do not think that there is big feature in his constituency, although it is important anything more distressing than flooding. We have right the way across the country. The most recent figures— experienced it—I found myself in a car that I had to this may not apply in Islington but it certainly applies abandon through the windows a few years ago, because across the country—show that the level of private rent it was caught in flood water—and it is frightening, is rising slightly less than general inflation at the moment, distressing and, for those whose homes are wrecked, it so private rental is becoming slightly cheaper. I appreciate can be a long time before things are back in order. I am that that has not been the case over an extended period. grateful to him for raising the issue today, as well as the He will know about Sir Adrian Montague’s imminent work that is done by so many of the agencies involved, report on institutional investment, and the key part of including the Environment Agency, which takes a lot of that is the overall strategy to increase the supply of new trouble to give proper warning. I am also grateful to homes. I have to say that this is the key thing for him for stressing the need for drain and culvert clearance, housing policy: simply having more homes. If we have which are a contributing factor. Nothing will stop flooding more homes, people will have opportunities to live in when we have torrential rainfall, but if we ensure that them and the price will be more achievable. drains and culverts are properly cleared we can at least The hon. Member for Southend West (Mr Amess) contribute towards mitigating the consequences. put in a bid to hired as a TV presenter on the BBC. I Last but not least, the hon. Member for Cleethorpes have to say that if he became one, the likelihood would (Martin Vickers), who is another Member whose be that an entire week’s productions would be concentrated constituency I feel I have got to know better over the within a half-hour TV slot—blink and you would miss past couple of years, talked about rail improvements. I it. People would miss something crucial because he think he was probably in his place yesterday when we covers so many areas. He covered the London air heard the announcement from the Secretary of State of ambulance, which was a subject also raised by the hon. the £9.4 billion package, which is excellent news. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod). I wish all staff of the House well over the recess, as The air ambulance services across this country, both in well as all Members of the House and you, Mr Speaker. London and outside it, provide an essential service. I Let us look forward to a very enjoyable recess and a applaud what they do, as I think it is terrific that they wonderfully successful Olympics. provide that level of service to people who otherwise Question put and agreed to. would be in dire danger from the results of acute Resolved, trauma. We need to find ways to ensure that it is That this House has considered matters to be raised before the funded. There has been a debate on this subject recently forthcoming adjournment. 955 17 JULY 2012 Sittings in Westminster Hall 956 (E-Petitions) Sittings in Westminster Hall (E-Petitions) Backbench Business Committee has determined should be debated, and each such e-petition shall be debated on the motion, That this House has considered the Mr Speaker: I inform the House that I have selected e-petition from [petitioners] relating to [subject of amendment (a). petition]. (b) Paragraph (10) of this Order shall not apply to proceedings 6.59 pm under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph; no dilatory motion may be made in relation to proceedings under Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con): I beg to that sub-paragraph except by a Minister of the Crown; move, and the question on any such dilatory motion shall be That the following changes be made to Standing Order No.10 put forthwith.’ (Sittings in Westminster Hall) until the end of the next session of (2) In Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public Parliament: business), line 50, at the end, add: (1) In Standing Order No. 10 (Sittings in Westminster Hall): ‘(3AA) In addition to those days allotted under paragraph (a) in line 3, at the end, add the following new sub-paragraph— (3A) of this order, the Backbench Business Committee ‘(za) on Mondays beginning at half-past four o’clock and may determine that a sitting in Westminster Hall may continuing for up to three hours, if the Backbench be held on a Monday in accordance with paragraph Business Committee has reported its determination (3) (za) of Standing Order No. 10 to consider e-petitions.’ that a sitting in Westminster Hall to consider an (3) In Standing Order No. 152J (Backbench Business e-petition or e-petitions should take place on that day;’. Committee), leave out from ‘with’ in line 39 to ‘of’ in (b) in line 28, at the end, add the following new paragraph— line 40 and insert ‘paragraphs (3A) and (3B)’. ‘(3B) (a) The business taken at a Monday sitting in Westminster Hall shall be the e-petition or e-petitions Mr Speaker: May I reciprocate the great courtesy which the Backbench Business Committee has shown by the Deputy Leader of the House? I wish him determined should be debated, and each such and all Members of the House an extremely relaxing e-petition shall be debated on the motion, That and restorative summer recess. this House has considered the e-petition from [petitioners] relating to [subject of petition]. (b) Paragraph (10) of this Order shall not apply to proceedings under sub-paragraph (a) of this PETITION paragraph; no dilatory motion may be made in relation to proceedings under that sub-paragraph Access to Homeopathic Medicines except by a Minister of the Crown; and the question on any such dilatory motion shall be put forthwith.’ 6.59 pm (2) In Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), line 50, at the end, add: Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Homeopathic ‘(3AA) In addition to those days allotted under paragraph medicines deliver a health care option to many people, (3A) of this order, the Backbench Business Committee including in my constituency. For many of them, the may determine that a sitting in Westminster Hall issue relates to freedom and personal choice. may be held on a Monday in accordance with paragraph (3) (za) of Standing Order No. 10 to The petition I present is from people in my constituency consider e-petitions.’ who are concerned that section 10 of the consolidated (3) In Standing Order No. 152J (Backbench Business Human Medicines Regulations 2012 should remain Committee), leave out from ‘with’ in line 39 to ‘of’ in unchanged. I believe the Government are not willing at line 40 and insert ‘paragraphs (3A) and (3B)’.— this stage to agree a change, but a marker needs to be (Mr Knight.) put down. A small but well co-ordinated group with an Amendment made, in line 2, to leave out ‘the next’ and insert anti-homeopathy agenda must be resisted by MPs and ‘this’.—(Mr Bone.) by Government. Choice on access to homeopathic Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to. medicines is paramount, and it must be retained and Ordered, That the following changes be made to standing enshrined by Government. The petition requests that orders, until the end of this session of Parliament— the status quo continue. (1) In Standing Order No. 10 (Sittings in Westminster The petition states: Hall): The Humble Petition of the citizens of the UK. (a) in line 3, at the end, add the following new sub-paragraph— Declares that the Petitioners are concerned about proposed changes to the Medicines Act that may restrict access to homeopathic ‘(za) on Mondays beginning at half-past four o’clock and medicine. continuing for up to three hours, if the Backbench Business Committee has reported its determination Wherefore your Petitioners request that the House of Commons that a sitting in Westminster Hall to consider an urges the Government to ensure that any changes to the Medicine e-petition or e-petitions should take place on that day;’. Act allow greater freedom to homeopathic practitioners to dispense (b) in line 28, at the end, add the following new paragraph— remedies. ‘(3B) (a) The business taken at a Monday sitting in Westminster And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Hall shall be the e-petition or e-petitions which the [P001112] 957 17 JULY 2012 Bail (Dangerous Drivers) 958

Bail (Dangerous Drivers) work for the Government to do in this area, and I will certainly listen to my hon. Friend’s and his constituents’ concerns.”—[Official Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House Report, 1 February 2012; Vol. 539, c. 822.] do now adjourn.—(Mr Vara.) That was very welcome news. Let me make it clear that this is not an isolated case. 7.1 pm The campaign group, RoadPeace, in its guide for bereaved Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): On new families in precisely this situation, says: year’s eve, 31 December 2010, as people in Otley and all “Bail can be conditional or unconditional…Drivers charged over the country were celebrating, my constituent James with causing a death are not immediately banned from driving. Peter Still, known as Jamie to his family and friends, Driving bans are imposed only if the defendant is believed to be was doing what 16-year-olds were doing up and down at risk of reoffending, but this is rarely the case. If a driver has a driving ban as part of his bail condition and they are caught the country. He was out enjoying the evening with driving, they can be put in jail”, friends. Tragically, at around 9 pm, Jamie was hit by a drunk and speeding motorist, who lost control of his but vehicle and veered on to the pavement. “Insufficient priority is given to keeping dangerous drivers off the road. Driving bans are short and can overlap with custodial Jamie was assisted by people at the scene, including sentences. It is a sad indictment of our society that we will regulars from the White Swan and Manor House pubs. imprison drivers before we will confiscate their vehicles and that He was rushed to hospital but died soon afterwards. His we will crush vehicles for being driven without insurance but not mother, who had rushed to the scene, was at his bedside. for being driven” No other members of the family were able to get there in these cases. in time to see him. His death left a family devastated It is true that a driving ban can be handed out and a community and town in shock. following a guilty plea, or prior to sentencing reports, The driver had been out drinking. His blood-alcohol but that is at the discretion of the trial judge, and is content was estimated at about twice the drink-drive simply not being applied in many cases. If someone is limit. He had been travelling at speeds estimated at accused of drink-driving but has caused no harm, they 50 mph in a 30 mph zone in the middle of the town. will lose their licence quickly, yet if a drink-driver has Shortly before the accident he was reportedly performing killed another human being, they can, and often do, handbrake turns in the car park of a nearby garden hold on to their licence and continue to drive. We can centre. In addition, he had been using his mobile phone, only imagine the distress that Jamie’s mother, Karen, and in the half hour before the crash had received no and his sister, Rebecca, had to face as a result of this fewer than 12 calls from his girlfriend. She was pleading man continuing to drive in the weapon with which he with him to stop driving. It was not until 24 May 2011 killed their loved one. Indeed, Karen says: that the driver was charged with causing death by “why does the law allow offenders such as McRae to continue careless driving while under the influence of alcohol, performing the activities that led to someone’s death?” and pleaded guilty to those charges. He was finally Recently, Humberside police banned two drivers who convicted at Leeds Crown court on 8 September 2011. were caught being too drunk to drive following a night He was sent to jail for four years and disqualified from of watching Euro 2012. Those two men had their licences driving for five years. suspended immediately, yet in the case that I am raising, The point of my debate and the campaign is that the that is not happening, although there is a charge of driver who killed Jamie Still on new year’s eve was death by careless or dangerous driving. allowed to—and indeed did—carry on driving until his The family and I are calling on the Government to sentence, eight months later in September. The man look into making the suspension of driving licences in who had killed someone by driving dangerously was such fatal cases no longer discretionary, but mandatory. allowed on the roads for a further eight months. Usually, Currently, driving bans are imposed only if the defendant an individual’s licence is suspended soon after a drink- is believed to be at risk of reoffending, or a risk to the driving offence, because prosecution is swift, but public, but that is rarely believed to be the case, and it unfortunately, in this case, as the driver had actually misses the point about the distress that Jamie’s family killed someone, the prosecution took much longer, and had to endure as a result of the driver continuing to the licence is not suspended until conviction. That is, in drive. It is surely possible to make a driving ban a effect, a loophole that allows many people charged with condition of bail in all cases where an offender is death by dangerous or careless driving to continue to charged with death by dangerous or careless driving. drive, long after they are arrested, and even charged, up until their conviction and sentencing; that can, as this At the heart of the campaign is Jamie’s sister, Rebecca. case has shown, be many months later. Unbeknown even to her own mother, she decided, off her own bat, even though she was grieving, to start an I was pleased to meet the Minister, along with Jamie’s e-petition calling for those who kill as a result of dangerous mother, Karen, his sister, Rebecca and his grandfather, driving to have their licences suspended as a condition Peter. I thank the Minister for meeting the family to of bail. It has now received more than 12,000 signatures. hear their concerns, and I appreciate that he is looking We believe that that is possible, and I hope sincerely that into the matter. I was also very pleased to receive a the Minister will look into it. response on the issue from the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s questions. He said: It is possible to apply the measure to people who have been drink-driving and have tested more than twice “He raises a very important point about what happens in cases over the legal limit. The Institute of Alcohol Studies such as these and what one can and cannot do with bail conditions. I will certainly go away and look at that. It may well be that this is has suggested that something that we can consider alongside the recommendations “those at least twice over the limit or…have previous convictions that we are considering about drug-related driving. There is more should have their licence withdrawn as a condition of bail. The 959 Bail (Dangerous Drivers)17 JULY 2012 Bail (Dangerous Drivers) 960

Government should be prepared to effect this by primary legislation essential in any case, let alone one with such tragic and treat the bail condition as an interim disqualification.” circumstances, that the right charge is brought against To make the position clear, we are talking about suspension the suspect, it is right that we should seek to do better, from the moment of charge until trial. If someone is and we are. We have just published our proposals to found to be innocent, as applies to any bail condition, reform the criminal justice system to deliver swift and their driving licence would be reinstated immediately, so sure justice. A swifter outcome in this case would have there would be no implication that this is in any way a been preferable for all parties. suggestion of guilt. To explain the time taken in this case, I should point Jamie’s family believe that driving bans for such out that it is a fundamental tenet of the criminal justice crimes are far too short and should not overlap custodial system that due process is followed, so even when some sentences. I urge the Minister to look at that because, as evidence appears to be very strong, charging decisions he knows, driving bans do overlap custodial sentences, cannot be made under the full code test in the code for which in many cases nullifies the driving ban. In this Crown prosecutors until all the relevant circumstances awful case, the driving ban was set at five years, but the have been investigated by the police and all relevant custodial sentence was four years in jail, which means evidence has been reviewed by a prosecutor. The that if the driver served his full sentence—in reality he investigation and gathering of evidence can sometimes will not do so—his driving ban would last only a year be a lengthy process, and it can take a considerable time after release. It is simply not acceptable that someone from when an offence is committed to when a charging who has caused a death as a result of dangerous or decision is made. The importance attached to such careless driving and has behaved recklessly and criminally serious cases is reflected by the fact that the final should be allowed back on the road after being out in decision on the most appropriate charge in this case was society for just one year. The family feel aggrieved, as taken at one of the highest levels of the Crown Prosecution they have told the Minister, and believe that the five-year Service. sentence handed down to the perpetrator is not enough, However, after the decision to charge was made, it given that he knowingly took to the wheel of his car took another three months before the defendant was twice over the drink-drive limit. convicted and sentenced after he pleaded guilty to I am pleased that this is on the agenda. The family are causing death by careless driving while under the influence grateful, and they feel that Ministers, including my hon. of drink or drugs. This offence is an indictable-only Friend the Under-Secretary, have listened to their campaign one; in other words, it must be tried in the Crown court. on what appears to be a loophole that could be closed In such cases, defendants cannot plead until they reach fairly easily. I hope that my hon. Friend will take this the Crown court. Until very recently, there was no forward, echoing the Prime Minister’s comment that he formal opportunity for a defendant in such a case who will look at that alongside tightening the drug-driving wished to plead guilty to let the magistrates know. The laws—something else that I support. I have pledged to criminal procedure rules have now been changed, with the family that I will carry on campaigning alongside the result that an early appearance can be arranged in Rebecca, Karen and Peter, Jamie’s grandfather. It is the Crown court when a defendant has signalled that he astonishing that, despite their devastating loss, which intends to plead guilty. Even when the defendant has can never be rectified—a hole that can never be filled—they not done so, it may be that the case could be identified still want to do something at least to prevent some of by the CPS as one in which a guilty plea is likely and the pain and trauma from affecting other families. I will thus listed for an early Crown court hearing. Arrangements carry on campaigning with them until we have secured enabling this to happen—the so-called early guilty plea changes to achieve that. I thank the Minister for his system—have been piloted in Liverpool, Bristol, Winchester interest, and I hope that he will work with me and the and Reading, and are now being adopted in many more family to see what we can do to address some of these Crown court centres. Such initiatives complement the issues. principles of swift and sure justice that underlie the recent White Paper on criminal justice system reform. 7.13 pm However, my hon. Friend has made clear the pain of the eight months of seeing Max McRae, the guilty drunken The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice driver, still driving, and I hope that the change that I (Mr Crispin Blunt): I applaud my hon. Friend the have outlined might address that to some degree. Member for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland) for his tenacity on behalf of his constituents and for securing The offender in this case pleaded guilty and expressed this debate on an issue that he has already raised with remorse to the court. A guilty plea is welcome, not only the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s questions. I because it enables cases to be resolved more quickly but would like to begin by expressing once again our sympathy because it may indicate willingness on the part of offenders to the family of Jamie Still, who was taken so early from to face up to what they have done. Restorative justice them and in such tragic circumstances. As my hon. can go further in helping offenders to confront the Friend reminded us, in April, he and I met Karen consequences of their actions and their impact on others. Strong, Jamie’s mother, as well as Jamie’s grandfather, I am convinced that in the right circumstances a restorative Peter Strong, and his sister, Rebecca. We were able to process can be highly beneficial, but it can only meaningfully discuss their concerns about the case in some detail. take place when offenders admit responsibility and they The Prime Minister has continued to take a personal and the victims have been assessed as fully able and interest in the case. willing to engage in it. Something that contributed in no small measure to The important thing about restorative justice is that it the family’s distress in this case is the time that elapsed makes the victims central to the justice process. Jamie’s between the incident and the suspect being charged, relatives expressed understandable upset to me that which was no less than five months. Although it is McRae offered remorse to the court but not to them. 961 Bail (Dangerous Drivers)17 JULY 2012 Bail (Dangerous Drivers) 962

[Mr Crispin Blunt] such an example. An innocent young man died as a result of an incident that combined alleged careless It is not clear what advice he received about whether driving and driving with significantly more than the such an expression would have been welcome or whether permitted level of alcohol. It is arguable that a no-drive Jamie’s relatives had been counselled as to what they condition is, on the face of it, suitable in such circumstances. could expect in a proper restorative justice process. The However, it is the duty of the court to carry out the risk only observation that I would make is that in over two assessment. The Crown Prosecution Service has a vital years of meeting prisoners, this group of offenders role to play in the process, because the prosecutor may tends to stand out as the most remorseful and the most make representations in relation to the grant of bail conscious of the appalling and irreparable hurt they following Jamie’s case. have caused. This case further convinces me of the need Earlier this year, all prosecutors were reminded of the to improve our capacity for victims to have access to need for a careful approach on the question of whether properly mediated restorative justice, and we are actively to oppose bail in cases of bad driving that has resulted considering this in our policy development on victims in death. The Director of Public Prosecutions is in the and witnesses. process of reviewing the Crown Prosecution Service’s The central issue for my hon. Friend is that the policy on bad driving cases in general. That includes a offender was permitted to continue driving while he was review of the approach taken by prosecutors on the under investigation and awaiting trial. He will know question of bail in such cases, especially where the that it is open to the police and the courts to require as a incident results in the death of a victim. I anticipate condition of bail, alongside any other conditions that that, with regard to fatal collisions, the guidance will are considered necessary, that a suspect or defendant emphasise the appropriateness of a no-drive bail condition must not drive while on bail. While a person is being when the facts and circumstances of the case suggest investigated for an offence, the question of bail is an that if the defendant is released on bail, he will present a operational matter for the police. Once a suspect has danger to other road users by committing further driving been charged with an offence and appears in court, the offences. question of bail becomes one for the court. If there are There will be a public consultation on the review later substantial grounds for believing that a suspect, if released in the year. That will be an opportunity for the public in on bail, will commit further offences, fail to surrender general, Jamie Still’s family, my hon. Friend and any to bail, or interfere with witnesses, the police or the other family who have suffered a similar tragedy to court may grant bail with one or more conditions make their views known. I will keep my hon. Friend attached. A condition that would prohibit a suspect informed about the progress on this matter. from driving is an option if it is thought necessary and Essentially, it has to remain the position that every appropriate in all the circumstances of the case. case will be treated on its merits. It is right that, where The police and the courts have to make difficult necessary, Parliament will provide statutory requirements decisions, balancing the need to protect the rights of for courts to follow and that organisations will provide individuals who are suspected of a crime against the guidelines on how to approach cases to make sure that need to protect victims of crime and all other members there is consistency in standards. We ensure that legislation of the public. It cannot be the purpose of any bail upholds the rights and needs of everyone who is affected condition to anticipate the punishment that a defendant by the criminal justice system in this country and we might receive if he were convicted of the offence with allow the professionals to apply the requirements correctly which he has been charged, or that a suspect might in each and every case. receive if he were charged and convicted. The purpose I congratulate my hon. Friend again on securing this of bail conditions is simply to protect the public from debate and on raising this tragic case. I commend him the consequences of further offending, or to secure the for the tenacious way in which he campaigns on behalf smooth running of justice by ensuring that the defendant of his constituents. I know that he will await the outcome turns up at a police station or in court. of the review by the Director of Public Prosecutions, as That is why, although it may be likely or even inevitable we all will. Changes have already been made in the light that a person who has been charged with certain motoring of the tragedy that overtook Jamie Still and I anticipate offences will be banned from driving if he or she is that there will be further changes following the review. convicted, it does not follow that a driving ban should I wish you, Mr Speaker, and all the Officials of the be imposed as a condition of bail. It is a question of House an enjoyable and agreeable recess as we enjoy the risk. The difficult task facing the court, with the assistance success of our Olympic athletes. of the Crown Prosecution Service, is to assess that risk. Question put and agreed to. I recognise that there are cases where the nature of the offence suggests that a risk exists. It is arguable—and I have some sympathy with this view—that the incident 7.23 pm in which Jamie Still was killed on that new year’s eve is House adjourned. 193WH 17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 194WH

security mafia loyal to President Mugabe has been on a Westminster Hall hunt for sources of off-budget finance. It has now found those sources, thanks to an accident of geology and the failures of the international community. Tuesday 17 July 2012 In 2006, diamonds were found in the Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe. The area holds one of the world’s [MR DAI HAVARD in the Chair] richest deposits of alluvial diamonds. The gems lie close to the surface of the ground, making them easy to Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) collect by hand. During 2008, the military deployed soldiers and helicopter gunships during the clearance of Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting thousands of small-scale miners from the Marange be now adjourned.—(Bill Wiggin.) diamond fields, killing and wounding many people in the process. Nearly every soldier in Marange is involved 9.30 am in one way or another in illegal mining. Soldiers have Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab): May I welcome you to formed syndicates of diamond panners, whom they the Chair, Mr Havard? It is a delight to speak under protect and escort. your guidance, as a fellow south Wales valleys Member Many of the diamonds are smuggled to the town of of Parliament. I immediately pay tribute to my hon. Vila de Manica, in Mozambique, only 12 miles from the Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey); in her Zimbabwe border. It is crawling with illegal dealers chairmanship of the all-party group on Zimbabwe, she from countries such as Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Guinea, has provided inspirational leadership for a long time. the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly Israel, most living in smart houses, bristling with barbed adopted resolution A/RES/55/56, supporting the creation wire and CCTV cameras, and guarded by armed men, of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. admitting they do so with the help of army syndicates That led to the Kimberley process, a mechanism for and senior ZANU-PF politicians. negotiations, and the international treaty banning blood Global Witness deserves our thanks for its impressive diamonds, established under UN Security Council report, “Financing a Parallel Government?”, which has resolution 1459 in January 2003. I put a great deal of unearthed devastating evidence on Zimbabwe’s blood effort into achieving that when I was British Minister diamond trade. In Zimbabwe, mineral rights are vested for Africa, because illegally traded blood diamonds not in the state, but with the President. Robert Mugabe were paying for arms, which fuelled conflicts in Angola has granted a series of mining concessions. One was to and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in Canadile, a company that has since collapsed amid Sierra Leone, where those very arms were used against allegations of corruption, including against Obert Mpofu, British troops by terrorists. Now we are seeing a different the ZANU-PF Minister of Mines. Mpofu is a man on a kind of blood diamond from Marange in Zimbabwe, £1,200 monthly salary, who is now rich enough to spend and it is high time that the Kimberley process and the over £13 million buying a bank. Another was to Mbada World Diamond Council stopped turning a blind eye to Diamonds. Its chief executive officer, Robert Mhlanga, serious abuse with an anti-democratic, violent purpose. a Mugabe crony, is developing a £20-million mansion in The history of Zimbabwe has been punctuated with Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal. Behind Mbada Diamonds and violence. Cecil Rhodes’s exercise of colonial power in up to its neck in its shady start-up, is a South African southern Africa was built on a monopoly of violence. scrap metal company, New Reclamation, and its former Until it was swept away by the liberation war, which I chief executive officer, South African business man, supported as a British anti-apartheid leader at the time, David Kassell. Ian Smith’s racist Rhodesian regime used violence against South African business interests were heavily involved opponents demanding democracy. Robert Mugabe’s in mining diamonds in Marange or profiting from their ZANU, first elected in a landslide victory in 1980, irregular sale, in what the South African Broadcasting betrayed the freedom struggle that it once led with Company last October reported as a: distinction, by systematically using violence as a political “blatant disregard for the rule of law and continued plundering of strategy to maintain power and the privileges of an the diamond fields in Eastern Zimbabwe. New evidence suggests increasingly corrupt mafia surrounding him. Killings, that South African firms have muscled in, and are mining there torture and beatings of ZANU-PF opponents and massive illegally.” human rights abuses accompanied the elections of 2000, In 2011, 25% of the shares of Mbada were transferred 2002 and 2008. Mugabe’s regime specialised in stealing to a mysterious network of shell companies based in those elections by violence. Mauritius, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands. My fear is that Zimbabwe’s forthcoming election, due Those companies are connected to Robert Mhlanga, a by June next year, might be no different despite the retired air vice-marshal in the Zimbabwean air force. Government of national unity, who have given some The use of secrecy jurisdictions and tax havens should relief to their beleaguered, suffering nation. In that raise a red flag for any legitimate businesses trading Government, the Movement for Democratic Change with Mbada. They should be asking the question, who has been given the Ministries of Finance, Education are the real beneficial owners of Mbada? We have seen and Health, among others. ZANU-PF retained the with Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi how banks, lawyers and Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Mines and the businesses colluded in illicit financial outflows of national Office of the President, the home of Zimbabwe’s feared wealth. I fear that that is being repeated in Zimbabwe. secret police—the Central Intelligence Organisation or A third mining concession was to Sino Zimbabwe CIO. Since the MDC took control of the Ministry of Development and a fourth to Anjin Investments. Sino Finance and clipped the wings of the Reserve bank, the Zimbabwe Development purports to be a joint venture 195WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 196WH

[Mr Peter Hain] Why is that important? First, the Zimbabwean military and secret police are known for their uncompromising between the state-owned Zimbabwe minerals development support for ZANU-PF. It has even been alleged that corporation and an investor, Sam Pa—a businessman money from Sam Pa has been allocated towards a CIO from the Queensway syndicate, a network of companies smear campaign against MDC Prime Minister Tsvangirai, based in Hong Kong, Singapore and Angola. Sam Pa called Operation Spiderweb. If the secret police have and the Queensway syndicate were the subject of a access to off-budget sources of funding, they can set recent feature in The Economist, which raised two issues and finance their own agenda, in flagrant breach of in particular. First, the Queensway syndicate’s amoral democratic and civilian control of the security forces deal in Guinea. Just one month after security forces budget. massacred 150 protestors in a stadium, the syndicate Secondly, Zimbabwe desperately needs tax revenues. signed a multi-billion dollar deal with the Guinea junta— Life expectancy at birth in Zimbabwe is 47 for a man effectively providing a financial lifeline to that pariah and 50 for a woman. The Government are slowly rebuilding regime. Secondly, The Economist alleged that the syndicate the education and health infrastructure after the devastation was buying Angolan oil ridiculously cheaply and selling wrought by years of misrule and the hyper-inflation of it on at market prices to Chinese oil companies—suggesting 2008. Out of a budget of US $4 billion, the MDC the Angolan people may have been cheated out of Finance Minister Tendai Biti was promised US $600 million billions of dollars. in diamond revenues by the Ministry of Mines and In Zimbabwe, several sources suggest that Sam Pa Mining Development. Yet he recently stated that Anjin gave the secret police—the CIO—a large sum of money, had not paid one cent to the Zimbabwean Treasury, which one CIO document places at $100 million, and adding that Anjin’s failure to remit diamond proceeds over 200 Nissan pick-up trucks. In return for that to the consolidated revenue fund was in breach of the apparent assistance, Sino Zimbabwe Development was constitution. Anjin claims that it paid some money to granted opportunities in Zimbabwe’s diamond and cotton the ZANU-PF-controlled Zimbabwe Minerals sectors. Sino Zimbabwe Development was set up and Development Corporation. Yet none of that has yet registered in Zimbabwe and Singapore. The Singaporean reached the Finance Ministry’s consolidated revenue company is in turn part-owned by Strong Achieve Holdings, fund. Diamond revenues are being siphoned off when a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and Zimbabwe needs teachers and nurses, not attack helicopters controlled by someone believed to be a member of the and secret police thugs. Zimbabwean secret police. That, again, illustrates the Thirdly, there is a risk that any money given by Sam highly disreputable role of the British Virgin Islands in Pa, Anjin and Sino Zimbabwe Development to the facilitating such murky dealings. Sino Zimbabwe security forces will fund human rights abuses in the Development is ostensibly a legitimate business. Yet its run-up to next year’s election. Let us remember that, to three Zimbabwean directors, Gift Kallisto Machengete, cling on to power in the 2008 election, soldiers, ZANU Masimba Ignatius Kamba and Pritchard Zhou are all supporters, secret policemen and so-called war veterans—a believed to be members of the CIO, and the firm is in pseudonym for Mugabe’s thugs—killed 200 people, tortured reality a front company for the Zimbabwean secret and assaulted 5,000 and forced 36,000 more to flee their police. homes. Anjin Investments purports to be a joint venture What can the British Government do? I urge them to between a previously unknown Zimbabwean firm, Matt engage with the Southern African Development Bronze, and a Chinese construction company. In reality, Community facilitators to push security sector reform Anjin’s company secretary is Brigadier Charles Tarumbwa, and democratic and civilian control of budgets up the who is also the Judge Advocate General at Zimbabwe’s agenda in forthcoming negotiations. In the long term, Ministry of Defence, and is on the EU sanctions list for much more must be done to regulate the diamond orchestrating violence. Anjin’s executive board includes industry properly. I feel strongly that the Kimberley Martin Rushwaya, the permanent secretary of the Ministry process certification scheme, which is designed to stop of Defence, and serving and retired military and police the trade in blood diamonds, has failed to deliver on the officers. Anjin claims to be the biggest diamond mining original objectives that we designed for it during my company in the world and has been described by informed time as a Foreign Office Minister between 2000 and observers as having the potential to be the next De 2002. It has three weaknesses that have not been addressed. Beers. In reality, Anjin is a front for the Zimbabwean It does not cover polished gems—only rough diamonds. military; nor does that shadowy activity involve only It applies only to crimes committed by rebel groups, not diamonds. to human rights abuses committed by Governments On 27 June, the Russian business newspaper Kommersant such as Zimbabwe’s. It does not enforce its own rules reported that Zimbabwean officials had approached properly: the scheme is found wanting when confronted Russian companies with a prospective platinum deal in with problems in Venezuela, Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe. exchange for attack helicopters. A Russian joint venture, The Kimberley process report on Anjin praises the named by Kommersant as involved in the deal, is called modern security procedures of the company, makes Russ Zim and Rushchrome. The deal is ostensibly with small recommendations to reduce the risk of theft and the parastatal Zimbabwe Minerals Development smuggling and thanks the Minister of Mines for his Corporation. However, Anjin’s Brigadier Charles Tarumbwa co-operation, yet not once does it ask who owns Anjin. is company secretary of the Russian joint venture, and That is wilful blindness, and it has led member states, the chairman of its executive board is Martin Rushwaya, including the UK, acting through the EU, to authorise the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, exports of Anjin diamonds. who is on the board of Anjin. Again, the planned deal Let us be clear: Zimbabwean military-controlled blood seems to have been cooked up by the Zimbabwean diamonds are now sold in the EU and almost certainly military-industrial complex. in the UK, appearing on wedding rings all over the 197WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 198WH place. It is time for jewellery companies to stop hiding examine the more calibrated strategy that is recommended behind the facade of the Kimberley process and to take by the International Crisis Group and that is being responsibility for their own supply chains. Each company considered by southern African countries. We must must ask, “Where do my diamonds come from, under ensure that substantive sanctions, such as asset freezes what conditions are they mined and traded, and who on Anjin and Sam Pa, are imposed so that the security benefits from their sale?” That system, known in the forces cannot build a war chest before the election. jargon as supply chain due diligence, was first developed If off-budget financing of the security forces is not for the trade in conflict minerals sourced from the addressed immediately, regardless of what happens to Democratic Republic of the Congo. It should be adapted Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe could soon be ruled by a for the trade in diamonds and other gems, so that those free-floating securocrat elite: unaccountable, unelectable resources can play a constructive role in the development and unstoppable. More than enough damage has been of other countries at risk, such as Zimbabwe, Afghanistan done already to the wonderful people of Zimbabwe, as and Burma. a once-prosperous country has been reduced to penury. I urge the British Government to commission the Let us ensure that we do not perpetuate the terrible OECD, which has played an important role in working damage that has been done by premature suspensions out the details of such a scheme for the trade in gold, of highly targeted sanctions, especially on those who tin, tungsten and tantalum, to examine how it could be are responsible for the Marange blood diamonds, when applied to precious stones such as diamonds. I hope the imperative is to impose more not less. that the Minister will tell us something about that. The World Diamond Council and Governments with The European Union has placed many individuals a substantial diamond trade must act to block blood and entities on restrictive measures: travel bans and diamonds from Marange, or the whole diamond trade asset freezes. One such entity is the Zimbabwe Minerals could well find itself tarnished and targeted by boycotts Development Corporation and its subsidiaries and joint and protesters, just as was threatened until it acted in ventures. Bizarrely, Anjin is not on the sanctions list, 2000. I hope that hon. Members will consider these despite there being a more compelling case for its inclusion matters and that the Government will take forward the than for the inclusion of other mining firms that are policies that I have recommended for targeted sanctions. sanctioned by virtue of their association with the Zimbabwe Minerals Development Corporation. Recently, the Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Mines stated in 9.52 am Parliament that “Anjin is owned by the Chinese and the Government of Zimbabwe Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) where ZMDC owns 10% and Zimbabwe Defence Industries owns (Con): I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this a 40% shareholding”. debate, and it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Given that both Zimbabwe Defence Industries, which is Mr Havard. I congratulate the right hon. Member for wholly owned by the Ministry of Defence, and the Neath (Mr Hain) on securing this debate. Much of ZMDC are already on sanctions lists, it seems to me what he said was incredibly interesting and important, that Anjin should be listed as well, not least on the and I am grateful to him for the lesson that he gave. grounds that it is a subsidiary of listed entities. My own involvement in southern Africa began in Even stranger, in my view, is the news that at its 1979 when I spent four months in Zimbabwe, Malawi Foreign Ministers Council on Monday the EU proposes and South Africa. I had two great uncles working for to remove or suspend some or all targeted sanctions. To the Colonial do that less than a year before Zimbabwe’s next election could be very damaging. Are EU and UK officials Service in Nyasaland, which is now Malawi, and a really suggesting removing an asset freeze on someone cousin who ran a fruit farm in the east highlands. In like Didymus Mutasa, the former State Security Minister, 1994, I gave advice to one of the political parties who is accused by the EU of being involved in the general election campaign in Malawi. Such experience gave me a good understanding of the “involved in murders in Manicaland”, political and cultural differences between this country or lifting the EU travel ban on our old friend Brigadier and the west and southern Africa. Charles Tarumbwa, who is accused by the EU of being I will not pretend for one moment that I have a better “directly involved in the terror campaign waged before and during the elections” knowledge of southern Africa than the right hon. Gentleman. None the less, my understanding of the and of being in charge of a region’s culture, coupled with my experience as a “torture base in Makoni West, Mutasa Central in 2007/2008”? Conservative party agent, means that I understand the Instead of suspending sanctions at the behest of need for organisation within places. Added to that, my ZANU-PF, Monday’s EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting first ever job was working for the Diamond Corporation, and the British Government should argue for Sam Pa, so I have a little understanding of how the diamond Anjin and Sino Zimbabwe Development to be placed world operates and how important southern Africa is to on the EU’s targeted sanctions list and for the Zimbabwe the whole industry. Minerals Development Corporation to remain on the Let me explain where Zimbabwe is at the moment list. That should remain the case at least until the and how it has got there. In 1965, as the Federation was election—probably less than 12 months away—has passed falling to pieces, Ian Smith declared independence. From off peacefully. that moment on, with perhaps a short period of respite, If the intention is to wave a carrot and not just a Zimbabwe has had a very chequered career. UDI lasted stick, by all means suspend sanctions against some of for about 15 years and only became unsustainable following those lower down the ZANU-PF command list, or a bloody and difficult civil war. Zimbabwe was always 199WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 200WH

[Oliver Colvile] the registration process and before the election. If we do not do that, once again—unfortunately—ZANU-PF considered to be the bread basket of Africa, and was and Mugabe will go and steal the election, which would able to deliver food into a part of the world that be very difficult to accept. We also need to have an desperately needed it. approach that recognises that those people in what is Zimbabwe is a country of strategic importance, as it probably the medium part of the military feel that if is the gateway to South Africa, which is the principal there is somebody else in power they are going to lose regional power in this part of the world. We need to be all of their assets. Adopting that approach is going to be working very closely with the Southern African another thing that is very difficult for us to go through. Development Community and other countries in the I am also very keen to ensure that we recognise that region to deliver the route map that has been agreed. We southern Africa has a fundamental part in the whole of also need to ensure that the international community the world political strategy. Indeed, the Cape routes begins to prepare for life after Mugabe has gone. Indeed, have always been incredibly important to us, because by my understanding is that Mugabe is not well. He is using them we can ensure that we can export a lot of thought to have prostate cancer and is spending a lot of our goods. It would be most unfortunate if the submarines time in Singapore. Therefore, we need to ensure that we bases down in Simonstown were to fall into the wrong have a solution for the future that enables us to get close hands. That could be a threat as far as we are concerned. to the region. We need to encourage the moderates As I say, having a judicial system that is free and within ZANU-PF for the time when Mugabe has gone. independent is absolutely vital. I have recently heard Although the west views Mugabe as a demon whose stories of some Dutch farmers who have made quite regime is most certainly responsible for a series of a large investment in Zimbabwe. They have been in a murderous and bloody attacks, he is still seen, in many court case and they are having real difficulty in trying to parts of southern Africa, as one of the great heroes of ensure that they can get the moneys that they are owed the struggle for independence. When the hon. Member paid to them. for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) and I were in Zimbabwe last In conclusion, we need to ensure that there is support year, we heard the story of how President Zuma took for the route map, and also that the more moderate Mugabe into a crowded football stadium, with some people in ZANU-PF will have the opportunity to find a 50,000 people, and welcomed him as a war hero. That is way out and do not feel that the west has totally and one of the difficulties facing President Zuma; how does utterly turned its back on a lot of people. It would be he keep on side the balance of those people in his helpful if the Minister could set out the Government’s country on whom he depends for election but, at the attitude towards Zimbabwe. same time, help to deliver this route map as well? I will not pretend for one moment that Mugabe’s presidency has been a success; it most certainly was at 10.2 am the very beginning. Unfortunately, as he has become Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): It is very nice to serve more isolated, he has turned to more and more violent under your chairmanship, Mr. Havard. It is also very activities. I am concerned that the proceeds from the nice to follow the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton Marange diamonds have ended up being used in a and Devonport (Oliver Colvile), one of the vice-chairs corrupt way to fund the ZANU-PF coffers as it prepares of the all-party group on Zimbabwe, of which I am the for the general election when that happens—probably chair. in the next year. I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for We must build relationships with the more moderate Neath (Mr Hain) for his persistence in securing this elements of ZANU-PF and ensure that we work with debate and for the fact that we are lifting the veil of them to develop a governance process that will lead to darkness that sometimes hangs over the whole of the an independent judicial system and a police force that is diamond industry generally and particularly in Zimbabwe. not corrupt. That is incredibly important. I have been He was an outstanding Minister for Africa and I am talking with my hon. Friends in the Foreign Office absolutely delighted that now he is back on the Back about how we might develop a staff college to help Benches he is again able to get more positively engaged those people from the emerging countries, especially in helping Zimbabwe, because his knowledge of southern places such as Zimbabwe, and show them how to set up Africa is absolutely tremendous. a proper judicial system and a police force that is not I share most of my right hon. Friend’s analysis—in corrupt. If we do not do that, people will not be willing fact, all of it. I will not go through some of the issues to invest in Zimbabwe. They will say to themselves, related to individuals involved in the Marange diamond “What is the point of us putting money and investment area, but I want to raise some further issues related to into Zimbabwe, if it is just going to end up being filtered that area. Having said that, I am absolutely delighted and dealt with in a corrupt manner?” that over the years the all-party group on Zimbabwe has When the hon. Member for Vauxhall and I were in managed to keep some of these issues about Marange Zimbabwe last year, we heard that some investments to the forefront. Just a couple of years ago, in June from South Africa were under a real threat of being 2010, the then vice-chair of the group, Baroness D’Souza, confiscated. If that happens, frankly it will be very who is now obviously in charge of the , difficult to encourage anybody to invest in Zimbabwe. and I wrote to Stéphane Chardon, the EU representative One of the things that we need to do is to work very who chaired the Kimberley process Working Group on closely with South Africa to deliver a route map, and I Monitoring at that time. We expressed our grave concern hope that the Minister will take note of that point. We about the way that human rights abuses and reports of need to ensure that there is decent registration, and that killings in the Marange diamond field were being we have observers in the country during the course of investigated by the group. We did so because in the 201WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 202WH many years since the situation in Zimbabwe became We just cannot ignore the fact that a British company really serious the UK Government and other Governments is involved in this way. When we talked to the chairman around the world have felt powerless, but through the and chief executive of Old Mutual, of course they made Kimberley process and through having an EU appointee the point that they are representing their shareholders as chair of the group we had some direct responsibility and they cannot actually make policy. However, there is and control. With many of the points that my right hon. a moral judgment to be made in some of this activity, Friend made, we need to look at how the Kimberley and as a primary landowner and property manager in process is working and consider whether we can make Zimbabwe Old Mutual is interwoven within the fabric some effective changes. of society and its investment policy, far from being apolitical or just about business, plays a really important I pay tribute to some of the members of the all-party role in the country, and if it wishes to avoid perceptions group on Zimbabwe, particularly some of those in the of collusion or acquiescence in the continuing repression House of Lords, who have continued to probe and ask and human rights violations in Zimbabwe, it should questions about Zimbabwe. Lord Avebury, Baroness disengage completely from anything that is linked with Kinnock and Baroness Boothroyd have been assiduous blood diamonds, and I call on it to do so. in keeping pressure on our Government and— indirectly—on the EU, and in ensuring that Government I want to talk very briefly about a worry that exists at Ministers of whatever party have remained closely engaged the moment and that was referred to by my right hon. with Zimbabwe. I also pay tribute to the Under-Secretary Friend in his speech. It is a worry about the rumours—in of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the fact, they are not rumours, because we all know that hon. Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham), there are discussions on this subject going on within the who is the current Minister for Africa, for the close EU—about whether there could be suspension of some personal interest that he has taken in Zimbabwe and of the sanctions that have been imposed. We need to indeed in the whole of southern Africa. I am sorry that start from the understanding that we are not involved in he is not here for this debate today. When he phoned me a “blame game” about who is right or wrong on whether yesterday, he was in Malawi, so I know that he is very we should consider suspending sanctions; it is a situation intent on trying to see what the British Government can in which everyone wants to do the right thing. Sometimes do to help the process in southern Africa. when we are over here discussing what is happening in Zimbabwe, what may seem to us the right thing may not Of course, Zimbabwe is of close interest to British necessarily be the right thing to the people who are taxpayers. Through our international development involved in the struggle in Zimbabwe. programme, we are expected to pick up the bill There is a strong push, particularly from the Southern eventually—it is quite right that we should do so, and I African Development Community and South Africa, have no problem with it—for rebuilding much of the for a carrot in the form of a vote on the new constitution, infrastructure and institutions of the terribly ruined probably in an October referendum, as part of the country of Zimbabwe. However, it would be the most global political agreement—the GPA. That would allow appalling irony if the revenue from the massive national the process to go forward to free and fair elections next windfall of diamonds should end up in the pockets and year, and I understand that we would then suspend overseas bank accounts of the very same army officers sanctions. The detail may not yet be finalised as to how and ZANU-PF politicians who have wrecked Zimbabwe, many would be suspended and whether it would be just especially if they are allowed to use that windfall to buy sanctions on individuals or also direct sanctions involving, weapons, tanks and other vehicles to extend their illegal for example, the EU’s funding of industry in Zimbabwe, grip on power. but they would not be lifted, or rather not suspended—it There is no doubt that, as my right hon. Friend has is important that I use the correct terminology—until already said, ZANU-PF functionaries and Ministers such time as there was a free and well-organised referendum are effectively running a parallel economy in Zimbabwe. on the constitution. That is clearly chronicled in the excellent report on It would be easy for a free and relatively peaceful Zimbabwe by Global Witness and it is something that referendum to take place in the autumn, but those who we just cannot ignore. continue to be able to turn on the tap of violence can do I will mention one particular British company that so almost at will, and I worry that once we have suspended sometimes does not get mentioned in discussions of the sanctions—should we get a free constitutional Zimbabwe, but that has an involvement in the country. process—it will be easy for that tap to be turned on That company is Old Mutual. Last year, we met the extremely quickly. The violence is still there, whenever chairman of Old Mutual, Patrick O’Sullivan, and its ZANU-PF and its apparatchiks want to carry out some chief executive of long-term savings, Paul Hanratty, atrocity. Just last weekend, they stopped a Movement here in London just before one of the company’s annual for Democratic Change rally, so it is clear that they can general meetings, where some people were turning up to do huge damage at will, and the money from the illegal protest against the fact that Old Mutual’s wholly-owned diamond sales makes it easier for the violence to be subsidiary, Old Mutual Investment Group (South Africa) turned on, with the machinery that they have. or OMIGSA, had invested in a South African company, SADC and South Africa are absolutely crucial, but I the New Reclamation Group, which of course the right have mixed feelings, and am concerned. Perhaps when hon. Member has already referred to. New Reclamation discussing the suspension of sanctions we can tie South Group has a very poor reputation in Johannesburg. It is Africa and SADC into the process, so that if some of in fact, as has been said, more or less a scrap metals the sanctions were suspended, but the GPA were not merchant. It basically presented a business case to Old then fulfilled and violence started again, we could be Mutual to invest in the Mbada Diamonds company, absolutely certain that South Africa and the other SADC and that investment was made. countries would do what they have said they would do if 203WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 204WH

[Kate Hoey] I want to end by saying that I wish that everyone could read the amazing speech made by one of my the sanctions were suspended. Disappointingly, the SADC Zimbabwean heroes, Roy Bennett, at Rhodes house in leaders have, time after time, seen their solidarity not Oxford in May. Entitled, “Smoke and Mirrors: another with the people of Zimbabwe, not with all those who look at politics and ethnicity in Zimbabwe”, it was a have bravely and patiently struggled to represent the wonderful speech, which put into around a dozen pages democratic will of the people, but with the crooks, just what the future for Zimbabwe could be, and how bullies and corrupt people who are committed to keeping we, as the British Government, can help. Mugabe in power at any price. If the British Government and the European Union suspend sanctions they will be putting huge trust in SADC, and in South Africa in 10.18 am particular as the guarantor of the safety and rights of Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Thank you, the Zimbabwean people, and we must be certain that Mr Havard, for allowing me to speak. I congratulate the that trust will be rewarded in full by an unequivocal right hon. Member for Neath (Mr Hain) on bringing refusal by South Africa, leading the rest of SADC, to this matter, which is of interest to a great many people, excuse or turn a blind eye to any resurgence of violence. to Westminster Hall. The right hon. Gentleman clearly outlined the case for Zimbabwe, and passionately spoke I do not believe that Mugabe will give up power of the need for the British Government, Europe and the peacefully, or that he will want what we would call a free democratic countries to be involved. genuinely free and fair election—even with the best will in the world, I do not think that we can have a really free It is simply outrageous that some countries are intent and fair election as we would see it. We can make next on ensuring that blood diamonds are mined and then year’s election much better than the last one, but only if sold all over the world. Some such countries, as Members South Africa and SADC unequivocally accept that they have already said, are China—in particular—Russia have an international responsibility, and the quid pro and the United Arab Emirates. Those countries and quo of removing the ridiculous idea that the sanctions others turn a blind eye to where diamonds come from. have caused Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. We all, and I want to focus on the funding through blood diamonds even the most extreme member of ZANU-PF, know of Robert Mugabe’s election terror campaign, and how that that is nonsense, but it has been a potent weapon, it will affect the future of Zimbabwe. Who is Zimbabwe’s used particularly in rural areas where the broadcasting main partner in mining blood diamonds? China. The media are still totally in ZANU-PF’s hands, and that shadow of China hangs ominously over many sections has not changed under the GPA. The newspaper media of Africa, but nowhere more than in Zimbabwe. Anjin are slightly freer, but the broadcasting media, which are Investments, a Chinese-led venture in Zimbabwe, has the ones that get into the rural areas, are 100% ZANU-PF announced that it is the biggest diamond producer, with dominated. The SADC leaders have too often allowed allegedly 3 million carats to sell. In return, that company Mugabe that kind of propaganda victory, by remaining is funding a new military college in Zimbabwe for silent on the violence until relatively recently and speaking Robert Mugabe. The much-feared Central Intelligence out only to condemn the targeted measures imposed Organisation or CIO, Mugabe’s secret police force, is under the Cotonou agreement. well known for torture, brutality and suppression of freedom and rights in Zimbabwe. The CIO is flush with Many many years ago, when we were young, my right cash. hon. Friend and I joined together in protests about At the last election, Mugabe’s coalition partner controlled apartheid in South Africa, in what was called the Stop finance and, through that, where money went within the Seventy Tour, but nothing we did is an excuse for the Zimbabwe. Now, with money coming from blood diamonds, unleashing of violence and intimidation on Zimbabweans things are changing, and edging much more towards the just because Mugabe has a problem with the United next election and Mugabe’s hopes for the future. Blood Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the United States. diamond money has purchased hundreds of new vehicles Such things are never excusable. I have no expectation in the past few months and has rearmed the army with that the ZANU-PF hard-liners or the Zimbabwe military thousands of new weapons from China. Salaries have will change their ways. They are worried about losing been increased, and thousands of new officers have their wealth and their ill-gotten gains. been trained. We must ask why. Is it happening in advance of the election and constitution change later I hope that we can give enough encouragement to this year, and of future elections? Many suspect that it men and women of good will, especially the younger will be used to intimidate voters in the next election. generation who hope for a new Zimbabwe and all the millions of Zimbabweans who have left the country and The key to the outcome of the next election lies with live around the world. I understand that under the new the problem of blood diamonds. Over the past nine constitution such people will, importantly, retain their years, the Kimberley process has failed to evolve or to citizenship, and be able to play their part in the new address the clear links between diamonds, violence and Zimbabwe, and we can help with that. We have to be tyranny. It has been said: very careful with the handling of the suspension of “The KP has failed to deal with the trade in conflict diamonds sanctions, because some sanctions have worked. It is from Côte d’Ivoire, breaches of the rules by Venezuela and nonsense to say that they have not—that is why there is diamonds fuelling corruption and state-sponsored violence in such a push to get them lifted—but I accept that there Zimbabwe” might be some that could be suspended. I absolutely and agree with my right hon. Friend, however, that there are “has turned an international conflict prevention mechanism into some people we cannot possibly take off the lists—indeed, a cynical corporate accreditation scheme.” there are one or two we might add. That sums up exactly where we are. 205WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 206WH

The EU represents 27 member states. What discussions The other point that I want to raise with the Minister have the British Government had to work with other is that I have a lot of experience of the European EU countries to stop or control the trade in blood Parliament. Undoubtedly, a lot of countries in Europe diamonds? It is not an issue for the British Government with colonial backgrounds have links to different countries. alone; it is also an EU issue. We need to ensure that we It is therefore important not to take it for granted that work with our partners. all European countries will pull together on Zimbabwe. It is alleged that dirty diamonds are being mixed with I ask him to speak to his counterparts in France, clean gems, which means that corruption is happening Belgium, Germany and all the other states of Europe at the highest levels. It is further alleged that officers in with past links to Africa to ensure that we pull together the Zimbabwean army hold senior positions in the to put as much pressure as possible on the regime, close Anjin partnership mining venture. Anjin has an estimated down the trade in blood diamonds and bring about real stockpile of up to 3.6 million carats. Should anyone be democratic change. All of this is part and parcel of that. in any doubt about the extent to which Mugabe’s regime The EU has an important role to play. The diamonds will go, the BBC has claimed in the past few days to are getting through in various ways, and the EU can do have discovered a torture camp known as Diamond more to pull together. Thank you again, Mr Havard, for Base in one of the areas from which the EU wants to letting me speak. approve exports. Again, I suggest that the British Government and the EU need to work together strongly. 10.28 am Why approve something when evidence clearly indicates Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): It is a pleasure as always that torture, killings and brutality are taking place? We to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Havard. It has do not want those things to happen. I am sure that the been a privilege to listen to my right hon. Friend the Minister will respond positively. Member for Neath (Mr Hain) in this extremely important I have had an interest in Zimbabwe—or Rhodesia, as debate, in which Members have shown their collective I knew it then—from an early age. I have many friends experience, knowledge and wisdom. The debate is useful who have lived and worked there, helping its economy in framing an important period for Zimbabwe. It gives and its people. That is why I am here to contribute to us an opportunity to set some context for the important this debate. Ian Smith, former Prime Minister of Rhodesia, elections due to take place next year. had a famous saying that many Members will remember: I have listened carefully to my right hon. Friend, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. whose knowledge of the issue we all understand. He But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” brings with him the specific experience of having been a I hope that Zimbabwe will have a free, democratic Minister for Africa and having been involved in the election and that Mugabe will be ousted, but I have Kimberley process. We need to use this debate to consider, some concerns, like the hon. Member for Vauxhall analyse and assess where the Kimberley process is. If we (Kate Hoey), that the elections will be changed by the are to make progress in dealing not just with Zimbabwe barrel of a gun and money from blood diamonds. We but with Africa as a whole, the steps taken by the must, I believe, burst the blister of blood diamonds. The international community and international institutions British Government’s involvement is critical. to assess the income from the extractive industries in The Minister is well known for his compassion and Africa will be a key part of belief in governance and his level-headed responses, and we hold him in great politics in Africa going forward. It is important that we respect. I ask him to show us how the British Government, take that into consideration. along with their EU partners, will ensure that the democratic I thank the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and process in Zimbabwe is free of violence and brutality, Devonport (Oliver Colvile) for his important observations and that the people can decide on their future. on the importance of independence in judicial processes, which are still sadly lacking in Zimbabwe. He also made 10.25 am an important point about preparations for next year’s elections. Will the Minister reflect on the contribution Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): Thank that parliamentarians can make in observing elections you, Mr Havard, for allowing me to make a short in countries that are undertaking extremely important speech although I was late getting here. I congratulate consultations on constitutional matters? There is an the right hon. Member for Neath (Mr Hain) on securing increasing tendency for parliamentarians to be excluded, this extremely important debate. ironically, from election observation missions. It is a I have quite good experience of Zimbabwe, as I was sorry trend. There are a lot of missions. For example, I an election observer in 2000. I have been banned by went to the Congo last year at a very important time for Mugabe from returning to the country, as I was critical a very important election—the visit was funded by of the regime. This debate is one of many that we have Christian Aid—and I think that I was the only Member had here that are essential to put pressure on the of the House of Commons present, although I was Mugabe regime. joined by a colleague of mine from the House of Lords. I have some simple points to make. ZANU-PF and It is important that the House of Commons considers the Mugabe regime need to pay for their army and their the role of parliamentarians at important elections in tyranny, which is why they need money. That is the countries such as Zimbabwe. blunt message that we need to convey in this debate. With all due respect to the hon. Gentleman, however, Blood diamonds are part of the criminal element that we have to be careful and think about the context of our feeds into Government. I would go so far as to call it relations with Zimbabwe, the way in which the United state-sponsored terrorism and violence. Blood diamonds Kingdom is perceived there, and our connections and feed a terrible regime that goes on destroying its people imperial past. That is never an excuse for bad behaviour, despite the so-called coalition Government in Zimbabwe. but, as I will say later, we need to operate from the 207WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 208WH

[Ian Lucas] To set that relationship in context, the previous Labour Government increased aid to Zimbabwe to £67 million perspective of principle and ask what the right thing to in 2009-10, and I am pleased that the present Government do is in dealing with the elections. We must try to avoid have maintained their own commitment to bilateral the lazy accusation that is so often made against the support. We want to do all we can to support the people United Kingdom whereby our actions are perceived of Zimbabwe, and our own constituents also feel strongly through the prism of our imperialist past by some in about the issue. The Government of Zimbabwe should Zimbabwe, particularly the Zimbabwean Government. recognise that. Our commitment is an historic one and My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate it should continue. Hoey) made an excellent contribution, as I would expect. It is extremely important that we pay tribute to the I promise to read Roy Bennett’s speech, and I am sure valuable work of a number of organisations in and that she will give me the full details of it following the around Zimbabwe, including Global Witness, to which debate. An overall assessment of the position in Zimbabwe my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath has referred, is desperately needed. We have made some progress. the Open Society Foundations, the British Trades Union Obviously, the involvement of Mr Tsvangirai in government and Action for Southern Africa, which arose out of the has mitigated some of the dreadful things that were anti-apartheid movement. They have all informed and happening earlier in the decade, but it is clearly the contributed to the debate. case—much of what my right hon. Friend the Member I note that Members from all parties have started for Neath has said explains why—that some individuals questioning the credibility of the Kimberley process. in Zimbabwe are extracting vast wealth and they are The evidence produced by my right hon. Friend is using it for their own personal interest. That explains extremely important and deeply worrying. What is the their desperate efforts to retain power and I take on UK Government’s present assessment of the credibility board the scepticism of my hon. Friend the Member for of the Kimberley process? Do they think that enough is Vauxhall about them ever giving it up. We have to do all being done to regulate the diamond industry fully and we can to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe, who properly, both generally and specifically in relation to have suffered so much in recent years, and who still Zimbabwe? We have agreed during this debate that the suffer, have the opportunity at the ballot box to elect a issues are of international importance and that they Government who truly represent their interests, and not need to be dealt with on an international basis. In order the partial and corrupt interests of many of those to achieve an effective international process, we must people to whom my right hon. Friend the Member for have belief in the processes that we have set up. My right Neath has referred. hon. Friend has raised some real concerns, and unless We have also heard from the hon. Member for Strangford they are addressed, it will be difficult to retain the trust (Jim Shannon), who made the important point that this required in the process to enable us to participate effectively. is not just a matter for the British Government. Obviously, This debate is timely, because just a few weeks ago a we operate at a European level through the European group of western ambassadors visited two high-security Union’s institutions, but this process can lead to a mining fields in Zimbabwe—the Chinese-owned Anjin positive result only if the international community works and Marange resources. The group was headed by the together. Institutions need to be developed that can EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia; the effectively monitor the way in which international trade first visit was by foreign diplomats. The Minister will is conducted and that can ensure that the proceeds of know that, since the EU ambassador’s return, he has the huge wealth under discussion are used for the benefit spoken about his doubts about the transparency of the of the Zimbabwean people. operations. What discussions have the UK Government On that wealth, transparency in the extractive industries had with the EU ambassadors who visited the fields, will be key both to effective governance throughout and what were the outcomes of the recent visit? many states in Africa and to dealing with the curse of We have also heard of Members’ concerns about corruption, which still afflicts so many countries in enforcement. Critics believe that the Kimberley process Africa. We have focused on Zimbabwe and the diamond appears to be applying enforcement only to crimes industry, but the principles of openness and accountability committed by rebel groups, but not to human rights are essential if we are to build credibility and belief in abuses committed by Governments such as Zimbabwe’s. politics in Africa. The Kimberley process took the decision in November Today is an important opportunity for us to reiterate 2011 to lift a ban on the sale of diamonds from the our support for and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, Marange fields in Zimbabwe. We have heard the evidence following the country’s tragic recent history, and to today; it is deeply disturbing and specific in content, recognise the bravery of so many of the Zimbabwean and without a response to those allegations it is difficult people who have stood up to state-sponsored violence to extend further support and confidence to the Kimberley and intimidation over so many years. We as the United process. What representations have the Government Kingdom have a responsibility to promote peace and made to those supervising the Kimberley process on democracy in Zimbabwe, and successive British human rights abuses in Zimbabwe’s diamond fields? Governments have been guided by the principle of how As I have said, transparency is crucial in all extraction best to make it possible for the people of Zimbabwe to mining activities, including the diamond sector. As my decide on the future of their own country. Of course, right hon. Friend the Member for Neath set out, the our own relationship has been perceived through the Opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, prism of our historic role, but it is important that our runs the Ministries of Finance, of Education, Sport present policy is based on principles of openness and and Culture, and of Health and Child Welfare, while accountability and that it should be seen as such by the Mugabe’s ZANU-PF retains other Ministries, including Government of Zimbabwe. the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Mines and 209WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 210WH

Mining Development. The Finance Minister, Tendai The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Biti, reports that the Treasury is yet to receive money and Commonwealth Affairs (Alistair Burt): That is not from the owned Anjin and Marange diamond reserves, me. and a crucial and simple question must be addressed: where is the money going? Mr Dai Havard (in the Chair): I apologise. I should have struck that name off. It is essential that funds from diamond reserves go directly to the Treasury of Zimbabwe so that it can 10.44 am support the people of that country and their specific needs. As we have heard, life expectancy remains low, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign but the Zimbabwean Government are slowly rebuilding and Commonwealth Affairs (Alistair Burt): In the absence the education and health infrastructure. We—the British of my hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds taxpayer—are trying to help with that process, but we (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), I will begin by thanking you, must know and understand that the proceeds of Zimbabwe’s Mr Havard, for chairing the debate. It is a pleasure to wealth will be spent on Zimbabwe’s real needs: doctors, serve under your chairmanship. I also apologise for the nurses and teachers. obvious absence of the Minister for Africa, the Under- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth In a bilateral aid review by the Department for Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West International Development for 2011-12, the Government Norfolk (Mr Bellingham). As the hon. Member for rightly focused on the UK’s commitment to improving Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) said, he is currently travelling on health and education for the people of Zimbabwe, the continent, although I know that he has taken a keen including maternal and child health, water and sanitation. interest in this debate. He has followed this issue closely We cannot, however, countenance a situation in which over recent months, and I suspect that he has been in the proceeds of Zimbabwe’s wealth are used for the contact with most of the Members present today. He personal aggrandisement of politicians, or the corrupting will be interested to read the text of the debate, and he or influencing of elections. It has been widely speculated helped me considerably with compiling a response. that money is being diverted away from the progress that we all want to see, and used instead to supplement I also thank the right hon. Member for Neath (Mr Hain) and support President Mugabe’s security forces. None for initiating the debate. His background in this issue, of us wants a repeat of the horror and bloodshed that his courage over the years in dealing with the issues that took place in the run-up to the 2008 elections in Zimbabwe, lie behind this debate, not only in Zimbabwe but in when ZANU-PF supporters and secret policemen killed South Africa, and his knowledge of the area and work and tortured hundreds of people. There are reports that as a Minister, have been exemplary. I appreciate his Mugabe’s regime has already used diamond money to comments and I will reflect on them as the debate buy weapons and invest in training to intimidate voters progresses. I share the comments made by the hon. in the elections. Less than a year before Zimbabwe’s Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) about other hon. next election, can we be confident that diamond assets Members who have made significant contributions to will not go towards funding ZANU-PF electoral violence? the debate and expressed their various points of view and knowledge. I look forward to hearing the Minister reiterate the UK’s support for the reform of security forces in Zimbabwe, I would like to highlight the work of Global Witness particularly with regard to preventing ZANU-PF violence and the contribution that it has made with the publication and intimidation in the run-up to elections. What discussions of its report and the various other issues with which it is have the UK Government had with the Southern Africa involved. I commend it for its unrelenting efforts to Development Community and the African Union to keep the spotlight firmly on Marange diamonds, and push the issue of security sector reform? stress how much the Government share its concerns. The issues raised today are of considerable importance I hope that the Government are working with the for the future of Zimbabwe and the prospects for free international community to ensure the strong presence and fair elections in that country, and it is therefore of electoral observers—including parliamentary important that we approach the debate in that context. observers—both prior to and during the elections in Zimbabwe next year. Reports suggest that the EU is Since the formation of the inclusive Government, the considering removing or suspending some of the targeted situation in Zimbabwe has grown increasingly complex. sanctions. What discussions have the Minister or his We should no longer view Zimbabwe solely through the colleagues had with the EU on that issue, and what is lens of Mugabe’s continued grip on power, although we the position of the UK in those discussions? must not be naive in assessing prospects for the future. The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) and We all know that Zimbabwe has great potential, not other hon. Members have been keen to press that point, only because of its courageous people but because of its and I assure the Chamber that the Government are in past agricultural productivity, resources and the region’s no way being naive when assessing the current situation natural advantages. Given our strong historical ties, the of the Zimbabwean Government. For each reform made, UK has a responsibility to do all it can to help to ensure another appears to be ignored. Instances of human that Zimbabwe becomes a prosperous, stable country. rights abuses continue to decline, but low-level intimidation That includes ensuring that the diamond process is and harassment continue. The visit of the UN high transparent, that funds reach the Treasury and that the commissioner for Human Rights was an important step population benefits. It is our responsibility to exert as forward, but the day after her departure an MDC much pressure as we can to achieve that end, and I hope activist was brutally killed as a result of political violence. that the Minister’s comments will reaffirm that collective goal. Therefore, before I address in detail the issue of Zimbabwe’s diamonds and the relevant EU measures, I Mr Dai Havard (in the Chair): Thank you. I call would be grateful for a few minutes in which to set out Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. the broader picture as viewed by the Government. First, 211WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 212WH

[Alistair Burt] That continues to be the unfortunate, underlying reality of the situation in Zimbabwe. I hope that that note of as has been noted in previous debates, we must acknowledge caution is recognised by the Chamber. We very much the fundamental progress that has been made in Zimbabwe understanding that reforms are not irreversible. Everything since the formation of the inclusive Government in has to be watched very carefully, despite the progress 2009, and particularly the impressive and vital turnaround that has been made. of the Zimbabwean economy. It is fair to say that the That leads me back to the central issue that is being pace of political progress has been slower than economic debated today: the question of Zimbabwe’s diamonds progress, but there have been steps forward, particularly and the influence they will have on the coming elections. within the last six months. Two key pieces of legislation—the The concerns raised by the right hon. Gentleman are Human Rights Commission Bill and the Electoral shared by the Government. As he is aware, there have Amendment Bill—are about to pass through Parliament. been some positive developments. The most recent reports Those important steps demonstrate that the global political by civil society confirm that human rights abuses in agreement is not yet dead. Marange have decreased significantly since their peak Even more important is the progress that has been in 2008, and we welcome that. However, I share the made in the constitutional process, and we understand right hon. Gentleman’s concerns that revenue from that negotiators from all parties have agreed a final Marange diamonds is being used to build an infrastructure draft that will soon be submitted to principals for of violence and intimidation in the run-up to elections. approval. Once agreed, a second all-stakeholders conference It is clear that revenue from diamonds is being siphoned should follow before the constitutional referendum takes off, as the hon. Gentleman mentioned. Finance Minister place, and that is expected before the end of the year. Biti reported a shortfall of $92 million of revenue in the Understandably, there are critics of the process, and first quarter of 2012. particularly of the violence associated with the early The question of governance and transparency in stages of outreach. None the less, it represents a significant diamond revenue flows therefore remains genuinely difficult achievement and an important step towards the elections to answer. It is clear that although there is still an that we expect to see next year. important role for the international community—of course, we have discussed this with partners—solutions It is also important to recognise the ongoing efforts will have to be found inside Zimbabwe in light of lack of of President Zuma and his partners in the Southern international unity. We have raised concerns about the African Development Community—a point made strongly handling of diamond finance with the British Virgin by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton Islands. We will continue to work with international and Devonport (Oliver Colvile). At the Luanda summit partners to support Zimbabwe, but our focus is increasingly on 1 June, SADC again confirmed that elections cannot on helping to improve conditions for effective regulation take place until necessary reforms have been completed. of the industry. We are, therefore, supporting initiatives We continue to support SADC in its role as guarantor by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund of the global political agreement, and applaud its efforts in the mining sector. We will also bring the new Global to work with all parties to keep the reform process Witness report allegations on Anjin to the attention of moving forward. the Chinese. The hon. Member for Wrexham raised the issue of The challenge in achieving international unity was freedom and fairness, and of elections and the importance illustrated by the difficulties faced by the Kimberley of electoral monitoring including parliamentarians. I process in dealing with the situation in Marange. Despite strongly support him on that. I was an election observer being unable directly to address human rights violations in South Africa in 1999, for the second elections there. due to its narrow mandate, the Kimberley process managed Parliamentarians have an immense contribution to make, to impose a near total ban on Marange diamond exports and it is increasingly important that they have, and take, from 2009 to 2011. The agreement reached at Kinshasa the opportunity. We look with some concern at attempts last November, to allow restricted exports, is robust but to make it more difficult for parliamentarians to take fair. It allows Zimbabwe only to export diamonds from part, so it is important to keep that process moving the Marange region that comply with Kimberley process forward. More than one hon. Member said that South standards. It established a credible independent monitoring Africa had to take its responsibilities seriously and mechanism to ensure those standards are respected, ensure that what everyone is talking about, a freer and including a role for civil society—something hon. Members fairer election process, actually happens on the ground. from all parts of House have supported the fight to That will be the acid test of whether those currently in achieve. However, as is well known to hon. Members, power in Zimbabwe recognise the democratic right of a the remit of the Kimberley process only allows it to take people to change their Government as and when they action to tackle wish, and to ensure that the process is there for that to “rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to be a possibility. finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments”. Such a commitment is vital, despite progress, as there It is unable directly to address the issue of revenue flows is a long road to travel and a closing window of opportunity. from the sale of diamonds in Zimbabwe, although it has High Commissioner Pillay identified many unresolved played a helpful role in increasing transparency over issues following her recent visit, in particular, the risk production and export data from Zimbabwe. posed by some partisan elements in Zimbabwe’s security In answer to the questions from the right hon. Member sector. We share her concerns that for Neath and others, I confirm that the UK would like “unless the parties agree quickly on some key major reforms and to see the Kimberley Process’s mandate expanded to there is a distinct shift in attitude, the next election…could turn enable it to take human rights more explicitly into into a repeat of…2008”. consideration. We have negotiated a strong EU position— 213WH Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds)17 JULY 2012 Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) 214WH the hon. Member for Strangford was keen to know a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum, the what we had been doing with EU members, and their EU should respond accordingly with a suspension of responsibility—that reflects our sense that the mandate the ban on direct EU development aid and a suspension of the process must be widened, and we are encouraging of the asset freeze and travel ban on all but a small core other Kimberley process participants to support that of individuals around President Mugabe, particularly position. those who will have most influence on the potential for violence in the next election. For the avoidance of Mr Hain: I welcome the fact that the Minister has doubt, there is no prospect of any suspension being indicated that the Government will seek to broaden the applied to President Mugabe himself. The process will remit of the Kimberley process on rough diamonds. demonstrate to reformers across the political spectrum However, despite a welcome indication that he will raise that the EU is serious about responding to concrete the question of Anjin with the Chinese Government, he progress on the ground, and reflects our confidence in has not said yet whether Anjin, Sam Pa and the Sino- the facilitation process being undertaken by President Zimbabwe development will be put on the EU sanctions Zuma and the leaders of SADC. It also puts the onus list when the British Government go to the Foreign on to the Zimbabwe Government to live up to their Affairs Council meeting on Monday. commitments. If the situation deteriorates, we can, of course, respond appropriately. Alistair Burt: May I address that point a little later in As my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and my remarks? The right hon. Gentleman anticipates Honiton (Neil Parish) said, all EU partners need to where I am going. agree a shift in approach, and discussions are ongoing. While in principle we welcome the development of a Alternative approaches have also been suggested, including supplement on diamonds to the OECD due diligence steps the EU could take in advance of a constitutional guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals from referendum. conflict-affected and high-risk areas, we do not believe Within that broad approach, the question of diamonds that this is the right time to launch such a process given is particularly acute. We are grateful to Global Witness the risk of undermining ongoing efforts to reform the for its continued effort to shine a light on evidence, and Kimberley process. An OECD-led process would also to the right hon. Gentleman for the evidence he set out be effective only if the diamond industry and diamond today. We have listened carefully, and I know that my producing states agreed to participate, and therefore hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State will do so, significant further consultations would be needed before too. The militarisation of diamond finance is an issue any such process could begin. that has a direct impact on the prospects for free and fair elections, and we are acutely aware of that risk. We That leads me on to the important and live question are looking very carefully at the evidence and we will of the EU’s targeted measures on Zimbabwe. As all are share it with partners. Although the dynamic we seek is aware, those measures are under discussion in Brussels. one of responding to progress, where there is strong In answer to the questions from hon. Members, let me evidence we will of course take it seriously and encourage set out our aim. We want to support the process towards the addition of further names, but hon. Members will a credible referendum ahead of free and fair elections in understand if I do not go into detail. Ultimately, this 2013. In doing so, we need to encourage progress and decision will be taken by all 27 member states in unanimity, incentivise reform, which is why we need to use the based on the legal arguments. measures in the right way to effect a change in behaviour. Therefore, we, and our EU partners, are looking at what We have had a very important debate, the consequences options exist to best respond to the clear calls from of which are long lasting. I hope I have done something reformers, including the Movement for Democratic Change, to indicate the general approach of the Government, to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and recognise the evidence raised, and to give an assurance President Zuma and the SADC, for the EU to show that evidence is taken into account in our discussion flexibility to support the reform process. with all our partners. We know this is a complex area. We want to see progress and we hope that the deliberations I was grateful to the hon. Member for Vauxhall, of the Chamber and our own considerations will help because she put it correctly when she spoke of mixed that progress to move forward without any suspicion of feelings about how to proceed, and of the uncertainty. I naivety in our approach to the Government of Zimbabwe. do not think it would be any surprise to indicate that that is exactly where we all are. It is difficult to get the Mr Dai Havard (in the Chair): I apologise for my balance right. However, we believe the best way to senior moment earlier, Mr Burt, and I thank you for the support progress is through a shift in the EU approach. quality of your responses. We now move to the next We have, therefore, proposed to partners that, if there is debate. 215WH 17 JULY 2012 Stop and Search (Metropolitan 216WH Police) Stop and Search (Metropolitan Police) 2009, the number of those searches nationally went from 44,659 to 118,112. Within that figure, the number 11 am of black people stopped increased by 303%, from about 9,000 to nearly 39,000, and the number of Asian people Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): I am grateful stopped increased by 399%. Although that type of for the opportunity to have this debate about the use of stop-and-search is now thankfully on the decline, with a stop-and-search by the Metropolitan police. I should 49% drop in the past year, it lies behind the resentment like to declare an interest, although it is not the normal and anger that have grown in some communities in type of interest that Members of Parliament declare in London. It is the backdrop to a situation that was the House. I am a white 37-year-old woman. I have reflected in the report by the Equality and Human never been stopped by the police. My contact with them Rights Commission last month, which showed that if has only ever been polite, professional and reassuring. you are black you are 37 times more likely to be stopped On the whole, I think they do a difficult job very well. under a section 60 notice than if you are white. Although I suspect those sentiments are shared by the majority of my constituents, I know they are not shared Getting a grip on section 60 notices and limiting the by all of them. That is why I called for this debate. instances in which they are used is one action point When I became an MP two years ago, I had limited identified by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in knowledge of stop-and-search as a policing tool. I his plan to improve effectiveness of stop-and-search. I knew that the police had the power to stop people welcome that move and urge him, and the Government, whom they suspected of wrongdoing and to search to monitor closely boroughs in London with the highest them for weapons and drugs. I knew that on occasions authorisations historically, especially where those the police could issue a blanket provision in an area for authorisations cover whole boroughs, as opposed to a specified period, which would enable officers to stop specific localities. individuals, even without reasonable suspicion, if serious violence was anticipated or had just happened. I also Richard Fuller (Bedford) (Con): I congratulate the knew that under terrorism legislation the police could hon. Lady on securing the debate. A hallmark of a free stop and search individuals who were suspected of society is that all citizens are able to walk freely around involvement in terrorist acts. without undue expectation of being stopped. She correctly What I did not know when I became an MP, but do observes that the statistics between boroughs are variable. know now, is how often stop-and-search is used by the Is she puzzled, as I am, about why, out of all the police in certain parts of London and how young black stop-and-searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, none and Asian men in particular are disproportionately resulted in arrests for terrorism offences and fewer than affected. I had not appreciated the damage that can be 1% for other offences? It is not just disproportionality done to individuals, families and communities when between boroughs and in the total amount that ought that policing tool is used inappropriately and to excess. to be a consideration for the Minister; he should also I also know now that only one in 10 stop-and-searches consider the effectiveness of stop-and-search in stopping in London results in an arrest. crime. In my two years as an MP, I have had my eyes opened. Mums have attended my surgeries in tears Heidi Alexander: I share the hon. Gentleman’s puzzlement about the way in which their sons have been treated by about those facts. Although I do not plan to speak a lot the police. I have met young men and boys who tell me about the effectiveness of stop-and-search as a policing that they have been stopped by the police and been tool in the short time available today, the Metropolitan treated roughly and rudely and that they have felt police and the Government need to consider that in embarrassed, humiliated and targeted. To be fair, I have terms of the number of arrests. It could be argued—the met others who have also been stopped and searched hon. Gentleman has made this point in previous debates— who tell me that, although it was not a nice experience, that police time is being wasted in some respects and they thought that the police did a reasonable job and would be better spent focusing on other areas. that they did not have any complaints. It is critical that people understand that there is a The Government and the Metropolitan police need clear reason for the stop, and the manner in which the to go further and faster to improve the way that stop- stop-and-search is carried out is also important. The and-search is used. As it is used at the moment, it can be problem with the section 60 stops is that they seem to be counter-productive and can create tension and mistrust underpinned by a generic rationale and expectation that between the police and the communities that they serve there will be or has been trouble. That serves to label and protect. I want to be assured that, at the highest certain individuals and groups, even if it is not the level, the Government and the police understand the intention. resentment that has built up over a number of years An excessive use of section 60 notices has exacerbated among some individuals in certain sections of the police-community tensions in London. Other issues population who feel that they are being disproportionately must also be addressed. Young people in particular targeted. Although the power to stop and search is need to better understand their rights and, to put it important and must remain, the number of occasions bluntly, more complaints need to be made when stop- on which stop-and-search is used in London should be and-search is carried out badly. When complaints are reduced. Section 60 notices—the blanket provisions justified and found to be fair, they must lead to changes that I have mentioned—must be used less frequently in police practice. and cover smaller areas. I often ask young men who express their concern to Of all stop-and-searches carried out under section 60 me about stop-and-search whether they have ever made of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, 89% a complaint. The answer is a universal no, even when are in the Metropolitan police area. Between 2006 and they feel that they have been treated disrespectfully. 217WH Stop and Search (Metropolitan 17 JULY 2012 Stop and Search (Metropolitan 218WH Police) Police) There is often a lack of trust in the system and a fear I am conscious that the Government and the that, if they complain, it will just make matters worse. Metropolitan police realise that stop-and-search is an That is true for the families of the individuals being issue. Indeed, the report earlier this year from the Riots, stopped as much as for the individuals themselves. In Communities and Victims Panel noted that police stop- fact, during my advice surgery in Catford this Saturday, and-search practices were one of the factors behind last that point was made to me by a mum of a young man year’s riots. The Government have their review of best who had been repeatedly stopped. Some parents— practice, and the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner particularly without English as their first language—lack has set out a number of areas in which he would like to the basic understanding of what is acceptable and not see improvement, but looking at best practice is one acceptable and how to make a complaint. A way around thing, being honest about bad practice is another—both that has to be found. If complaints are not made and must happen if everyone is to have faith in the system. individual officers are not disciplined because bad practice We also need a means by which to measure progress is not identified and dealt with, how will progress ever against the laudable aims set out by the police commissioner be made? in London. Perhaps the Minister can say what he sees I mentioned the mum I spoke to on Saturday, and I success and failure looking like in London. What specific will tell the Chamber a bit more about her family’s changes would he like to see in the practice of stop-and- experiences. As I said, her 16-year-old son has been search in our capital city, and over what time frame? stopped repeatedly by the police. I asked her how many Stop-and-search is an important police power. If we times and she said that she had lost count. Her son has are to tackle the serious problems of gun and knife severe special needs and earlier this year he was charged crime, there will be occasions on which the police have with resisting arrest following a stop-and-search. On to be able to perform a stop-and-search. At the moment, Friday last week, the courts found him not guilty of the however, young people in my constituency feel “over-policed charge, but the judge in summing up referred to the and under-protected”, as the Home Affairs Committee excessive police force used against him. said a few years ago. That has to change, and I look The effect of perpetual but arguably unwarranted forward to hearing the Minister’s comments today on police attention on that young man cannot be overstated. how he plans to achieve that. His mum believes that the reason he is now being treated by Lewisham’s child and adolescent mental 11.14 pm health services is that his self-esteem has been damaged The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick so badly by the police approach towards him. In a Herbert): I congratulate the hon. Member for Lewisham follow-up e-mail to me on Sunday, she said: East (Heidi Alexander) on securing the debate. The “I feel that the police should have a greater understanding of subject is of great interest to many people and communities, our young people with SEN needs. My son has had an educational in London and elsewhere, and I welcome the opportunity statement since he was 8 years old. This means that since this age to discuss it. it has been acknowledged he has complex needs, yet when I told Stop-and-search is an important area of operational Lewisham police station that he was under CAMHS they had no policing policy and I recognise that, despite many idea what I was talking about. The police are taking statements from young men without any idea of their mental or educational improvements in how stop-and-search is carried out disabilities.” and recorded, its use continues to be a source of tension and concern in some communities and, in particular, That is not the only case of that sort that has been among those of black and minority ethnic origin. The brought to my attention in the past year. Other mums Government and the Metropolitan Police Service are have talked to me about how their sons have felt targeted clear that stop-and-search is a vital part of a police by the police, how their sons’ attitude towards the police officer’s toolkit in deterring and combating crime and has changed and, in some cases, how their sons’ behaviour antisocial behaviour, especially knife crime, which is of has also changed. I appreciate that in some cases the particular public concern. It is, however, unacceptable practice of poor police stop-and-search may not be the that individuals might be targeted because of their race. only factor contributing to their sons’ behaviour change, but I have heard it from enough parents to believe that Stop-and-search is an important tool for the police we must address the issue. but, in order to maintain the British model of policing by consent, which is so important, it is essential that the Better training of police officers in the practice of powers are used fairly and with the support of communities stop-and-search is vital if people’s experience of it is to to protect the public. The uninformed use of stop-and- improve. In Lewisham, we are lucky to have Second search, without the proper use of intelligence and the Wave, a local community group based in the borough, briefing of front-line officers, is likely to be unproductive which has done excellent work to help the local police in terms of identifying those carrying weapons and and the territorial support groups to understand the counter-productive in terms of community confidence. perspectives of the young people who are on the other I agreed with what the hon. Lady and my hon. Friend end of that policing tool. Second Wave also goes into the Member for Bedford (Richard Fuller) said about schools to enable young people to understand the the importance of ensuring that any disposals such as perspective of the police. That sort of approach should this that are used by the police are used in a way that be universal throughout the Metropolitan police area. ultimately succeeds in reducing crime—in reducing crime, We are also fortunate in Lewisham to have, as part of it is important that public confidence in the actions of our police community consultative group, an active the police is maintained. The benefits of stop-and-search stop-and-search group, which is concerned by suggestions need to be carefully weighed against any negative impact that such groups might be abolished and is adamant on the confidence in the police service by the community that the police must be more and not less transparent and, in particular, by those from black and minority and accountable in how they use stop-and-search. I agree. ethnic backgrounds. 219WH Stop and Search (Metropolitan 17 JULY 2012 Stop and Search (Metropolitan 220WH Police) Police) [Nick Herbert] That general approach of the more targeted use of stop-and-search by the Met will also continue during In general, stop-and-search powers are used in a the Olympics, and I can confirm that there are no plans proportionate and appropriate way in most cases, but for blanket section 60 orders to be in place in particular their use needs to be improved by some forces. That is areas. It remains an important policing tactic and a why in December last year the Home Secretary asked deterrent to crime, and will be used when appropriate, the Association of Chief Police Officers to look at best but based on the crime and intelligence picture at the practice on stop-and-search. ACPO has submitted its time. report to the Home Secretary, which I am keen to see The hon. Lady’s borough of Lewisham has been at published so that forces may take advantage of the the forefront of stop-and-search work for some time, learning in it. The report is an important reminder that particularly in relation to the level of community there are excellent examples of effective practice in the engagement. She may know that in November 2010, a use of stop-and-search. ACPO is considering arrangements National Policing Improvement Agency-led initiative, for publication. “Next Steps” was piloted in Lewisham. The purpose of The Metropolitan Police Service is the largest user of that work was to improve community confidence in the stop-and-search, and the new Commissioner and the use of stop-and-search. Evaluation of the work found Deputy Commissioner are aware of the impact on that community satisfaction rates had improved, and community trust and confidence of stop-and-search, that community groups were effective in their monitoring which is why this January they announced a radical of stop-and-search. programme, “Stop It”, to improve the effectiveness of One element of “Next Steps” was the briefing process, stop-and-search. The programme has led to a significant based on situation, background, assessment and change in the way that the Metropolitan police use recommendations, given to task officers to carry out stop-and-search powers. I noted that the hon. Lady stop-and-search based directly on intelligence. That element herself referred to the action that the leadership of the has now been adopted within the “Stop It” initiative. Metropolitan police is taking and it is welcome. When the initiative commenced this year, some key The “Stop It” programme focuses on three main performance indicators were set by the Met. They included areas in relation to the use of the powers: trust and improving the positive outcome rate to 20%, reducing confidence; effectiveness; and the protection of communities the volume of negative drugs searches by 50%, increasing from violent crime. The aim is to renew the focus on the proportion of weapon searches to 20%, and a 50% reducing violence and for the power to be used in a reduction in pre-planned section 60 authorities. The more intelligence-led and targeted way, reducing the Met is aiming to achieve those targets by the end of numbers of searches, leading to more arrests and more March 2013. weapons seized and improving the standard of the The hon. Lady asked what specific steps I would like encounter between the police and the public. to be taken to ensure demonstrable progress. I have I want to come back to the “Stop It” initiative shortly, described the general reduction in the number of stop- but I first want to address the issues that have been and-search occurrences, and I hope that it is helpful for raised, including previously by the hon. Lady, about the her to know that the Met has set itself indicators that it blanket use of stop-and-search powers under section 60 aims to achieve. of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, The progress made in relation to the “Stop It” initiative which is sometimes referred to as a “no suspicion” is reported to the Police Public Encounters Board, power. There are appropriate safeguards in the authorisation which is chaired by the ACPO lead for the stop-and-search process for a section 60 order and the authorisation is initiative, and the Deputy Commissioner of the Met, rightly limited in its scope. I am pleased to learn that in Craig Mackey. Current performance shows that the the Roberts case the High Court has just found that the positive outcome rate, which consists of arrests and powers under section 60 are lawful. The Court stated cannabis warnings or penalty notices for disorder, is that, while nothing in the legislation is racially 17.3% for June 2012. That is a significant improvement discriminatory, the question of whether the legislation on the rate in January 2011, which was 10.6%. The total is being used in a racially discriminatory way is important. number of pre-planned section 60 authorities for the Section 60 enables a police officer of at least inspector Met for June 2012 was just six, a significant reduction rank to authorise officers to stop individuals to search on June last year where there were 103 authorities. them for knives and other offensive weapons. The officers The Met is committed to ensuring “Stop It” will making the stops do not need to have individual suspicion continue beyond this period as a routine part of policing that the person they are stopping is carrying a weapon. to achieve the highest levels of trust and confidence in The authorisation, once granted for a period of up to the use of Stop-and-search as a tactic for keeping our 24 hours, can be extended only for a further 24 hours if streets safe. Effective community monitoring remains at authorised by an officer of at least superintendent rank. the heart of that work, and provides an opportunity to The hon. Lady will be interested to note that the Met, have an accountable process for delivering on confidence under its “Stop It” programme, is aiming to reduce the and satisfaction. Local monitoring will take place through overall number of authorisations under section 60 and the community monitoring groups, which are provided to increase the intelligence threshold required to authorise with the most up-to-date performance data for their pre-planned section 60 orders. The latest statistics on respective areas and a process to hold senior officers to police powers and procedures demonstrate considerable account. progress, showing that the use of section 60 stop-and-search by the Met fell by 41% between 2009-10 and 2010-11. Richard Fuller: I am grateful for the information As “Stop It”rolls out, we expect the use of stop-and-search about the reduction in stop-and-search that the Met has to drop further still. achieved. I do not want to drag the Minister too far 221WH Stop and Search (Metropolitan 17 JULY 2012 Stop and Search (Metropolitan 222WH Police) Police) away from the specifics of the metropolitan area, but It is the Mayor’s responsibility to ensure that there is will he comment on the impact that elected police and sufficient and effective policing. Of course we take crime commissioners may have in enhancing accountability an overall interest in policing, but it is for the Mayor to local communities in their sensitivities to stop-and-search? to exercise that scrutiny, and to account to Londoners for that. Nick Herbert: I know of my hon. Friend’s long-standing Notifying people that they are in an area where interest in this policy area. Elected police and crime searches may take place is also being taken forward in commissioners will be responsible for holding the police the Met. That provides a number of benefits, including to account in their force area, and in turn will be providing reassurance, acting as a preventive measure, accountable to the public. Their responsibility is to and sending a clear message to those intent on carrying secure efficient and effective policing, but they will need weapons that the police will seek them out and arrest to be aware that to do that and to drive down crime—I them. The Met is currently using and expanding its use have no doubt every candidate seeking election on of a number of methods of communication, including 15 November will aim to do that—they must maintain leaflets, signs, text messaging, e-mail, Twitter, and other the confidence of communities in their local police social networks. service. They will need to be alive to the importance of In conclusion, I reiterate the Government’s commitment effective programmes to build community confidence in to supporting the police to improve the use of stop-and- the way that the police service is policing the streets, and search. However, individual police forces know their the use of stop-and-search powers and so on, but also own communities better than Whitehall does. Increasingly, in terms of the ambition that we should collectively they will be answerable to their local communities in the have to ensure that the police service is reflective in its use of police tactics such as stop-and-search. In London, make-up of society today and that we continue to make that will be through the Mayor’s Office for Policing and progress. That has been important but not sufficient in Crime and, as my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford relation to the proportion of officers from black, minority noted, in the rest of the England and Wales, through and ethnic communities, both in the nature of policing elected police and crime commissioners from November and how it is conducted, and in the make-up of the 2012. Furthermore, we announced in December our police service as a whole, and the wider interactions that intention to introduce a new professional policing body the police service has with the community. Police and that will develop skills and leadership, and improve crime commissioners will want to be alive to all those policing standards. I expect that body to take the closest issues, because they all relate directly to the force’s interest in this policy area. Yesterday, we updated the ability to reduce crime. They are not nice-to-do things House on the very good progress on the formation of or add-on things; they are important in themselves. that body by the end of the year. It will be known as the College of Policing, and I am pleased that ACPO, the Heidi Alexander: Before taking that intervention, the Police Superintendents’ Association and others are Minister was talking about the “Stop It” action plan, supporting it. It will be a service-led body to ensure that and the progress that he and the Commissioner want to we are promoting high standards in policing. see by March 2013. Six months have already passed I hope that that gives the hon. Lady some assurance since the action plan was launched in January this year, that both the Government and the senior leadership and I wonder what progress report he has received on of the Metropolitan police takes this issue very the specific indicators, other than section 60 stops. Can seriously, and are committed to reducing any undue he update us on the progress that has been made so far? disproportionality, improving the efficiency and effectiveness in the use of stop-and-search powers, and enhancing Nick Herbert: I provided the hon. Lady with some of public confidence in their use. the updated information to last month about the number of stop-and-searches. First and foremost, the Met is 11.29 am held to account locally by the Mayor, and that is important. Sitting suspended. 223WH 17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 224WH

High Speed 2 (Heathrow) explain where he thinks such a hub would be located? What are his best views on the options for the hub’s location?

[DR WILLIAM MCCREA in the Chair] Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: I will explain, but it was not my purpose to favour any one particular commercial 2.30 pm option in this speech. A site is available within the Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): It is vicinity of the interchange of the M25 and the M4, and a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr McCrea, there may well be others. It is a significant site of about and I am delighted to see that my right hon. Friend the 500 acres of largely disused land, so a possibility is Minister of State is present. I am sure that she has lots available. of better things to do on an afternoon such as this, and it is a great pleasure to have her and other colleagues, all John McDonnell: Is that the Iver site? of whom are friends, in the debate. There have been a number of Government Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: I believe it is. announcements about rail investment over the past few As I was saying, HS2 is the most costly single project days, so today’s debate is most timely. Let me state from ever envisaged by the Government, and will probably the outset that I stand fully behind the Government’s require more than the £34 billion often quoted. That proposed investments in our rail and high-speed rail figure is based largely on the assumption that 70% of networks. In order to allow our economy to compete HS2 users will be leisure passengers, and that seems a with its European and global counterparts, it is vital somewhat optimistic projection of income given that that we have a truly world-class infrastructure. those people are price sensitive rather than time sensitive. I shall begin my remarks by discussing briefly the To provide the House with a comparison, £34 billion issue of western access to Heathrow—a matter of interest compares with the £25 billion cost of the Trident to my constituents in the Cotswolds—and I will then replacement, and with the £17 billion for the Queen discuss the connectivity, or lack of, between High Speed Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and aircraft. HS2 is, 2 and Heathrow. It is, of course, possible for my constituents, therefore, a massive capital infrastructure project. and others in the west and south-west, to reach Heathrow by rail, but the requirement to change trains acts as a Chris White (Warwick and Leamington) (Con): I huge disincentive so people travel by road instead. For congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. example, of the 650,000 passenger journeys from Oxford He talked about HS2 being phenomenally expensive, to Heathrow each year, an overwhelming number— and he has mentioned that a number of assumptions 98.9%—take place by road, rather than by rail. It is have been made. Does he believe that it would be therefore important that all necessary steps are taken to important and useful to have an independent review of encourage more people from the west of the country to HS2 and its usefulness to the economy? access Heathrow by rail. The creation of a spur from Reading to Heathrow Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: In light of what I am about will benefit those in the immediate vicinities of Reading to say about the alternative hub possibility, it may be and Slough, but for those further afield, at least one that some form of review of the whole HS2 route would change of trains will be required. In addition to the be a good idea. Perhaps my hon. Friend’s concerns and Reading link, the creation of a new Heathrow station my suggestions could be incorporated into one study. and a new hub with fast transport links to the main In this Parliament alone we will be spending £750 million airport would provide a direct rail link to Heathrow for on HS2 before a spade enters the ground, with £529 million people in the west, south-west and Wales. Such a hub to be spent between 2012 and 2015, according to answers would act as a gateway to the airport, with connections to my written parliamentary questions, Nos. 106148 by road as well as rail. A significant amount of the and 106541. With the greatest humility, I say to the check-in and logistical facilities could be hosted at Minister that it is vital that we get the scheme right. It is the new hub, allowing a complete transformation of the no good commencing works only to realise at a later terminal structure at Heathrow airport. That would date that we could have done something better, because allow a far more efficient airport structure, with significant by that point it will be too late to change course. The benefits for passengers and freight services—that is UK has lagged behind our European counterparts in vital given that Heathrow is responsible for handling the construction of a high-speed rail project, but that over half of the UK’s total air freight. presents us with an opportunity to take on board what Given that we are in the process of electrifying the has worked previously, and learn from mistakes made in Great Western main line, we have a huge opportunity to other countries. There appears to be a lack of a strategic create a fantastic rail and aviation link between the east link between our aviation and rail policies. Indeed, as and west of the country, with potentially huge benefits the Transport Committee in its recent report on high-speed for people and businesses in the west, south-west and rail stated: Wales. In my view, that goes hand in hand with the “The development of what could emerge as separate strategies construction of HS2, which is the most costly single for rail and aviation again highlights the absence of an overall project ever envisaged by the Government. transport strategy: this is a lacuna which must be filled.”

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): I apologise for intervening so early, but I may have to go congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important to the other Chamber for a debate. Will the hon. Gentleman debate. On the relationship between aviation and rail, 225WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 226WH does he think that by the time the project is actually Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I congratulate the completed, there may well be a totally different set of hon. Gentleman on bringing this matter to the House. circumstances as far as air transport is concerned? When the Civil Aviation Bill was discussed in Committee and on the Floor of the House, rail links were clearly Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: I anticipated that sort of important factors. The hon. Gentleman is outlining intervention, and perhaps I will cover the hon. Gentleman’s that case now. Does he believe that if a rail link is point in my speech. If I do not, I will be happy to give established along the lines that he is suggesting, that will way to him later in the debate. provide an economic boost? I am thinking of, for instance, We need only to look at the Netherlands, Germany connections with the BRIC countries—Brazil, Russia, and France, and at airports such as Schiphol, Frankfurt India and China—the world’s developing economies, and Charles de Gaulle, to see the routeing of new where job opportunities come from and where contacts high-speed lines via hub airports to create a direct are made. Does he believe that there will be job creation interchange between air, high-speed rail, and the existing in his constituency and other constituencies as a result? classic rail network. The purpose of linking Heathrow and HS2 is to provide an integrated rail and aviation Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: That is why I think that system that would release scarce airport capacity by world-class infrastructure is vital—for job creation and shifting short-haul flights to rail. economic prosperity—but it is also vital, when spending The current proposal is to build a spur from HS2 to these very large sums, to ensure that we have the best Heathrow. However, that will not happen until the solution. I will go on to explain why I believe that my 2030s at the earliest, so at best, Heathrow will not proposal not only is cheaper, but could be delivered receive a high-speed rail link for around 20 years. If quicker and will produce a better result. HS2 were linked directly to Heathrow under the proposals As there is no airport in the UK larger and more that I am outlining, it would receive a high-speed link important than Heathrow, which alone accounts for 1% soon after construction on phase 1 begins in 2026. of the UK’s GDP, should we not do whatever we can to Another important design factor is that because the improve rail links, including with the HS2 project, as I spur points only north, rail services between Heathrow was saying to the hon. Gentleman? The Government and Europe would not be possible, and the potential for have repeatedly stated their wish to see Heathrow become replacing short-haul flights will not be fully realised. We a “better, not bigger” airport, but Heathrow continues would, therefore, have to wait even longer until the spur to grow in terms of the numbers of passengers using the has been extended to form a southern loop around airport. That is something that we should celebrate, Heathrow to connect it with HS1, but no plans are in frankly. However, air quality, congestion and delays are place for that, let alone a firm budget. Again, I say with already significant issues at Heathrow and, in the case great humility to the Minister that no other country of the air quality, it is illegal. Without an integrated deliberately seeks to bypass its main airport in that way. approach to surface access, Heathrow’s challenges can only get worse. The spur is also inherently inefficient as it relies solely on airport passengers filling trains. European precedents How would a direct link between Heathrow and HS2 show the benefit of having airports on a main line, help? The answer can be found in the Conservative thereby allowing trains to serve both city-to-city and party’s rail review, published in opposition by the Minister. airport passengers, like a string of pearls linking each Although she will not thank me for quoting it, I will together. nevertheless. It clearly sets out the benefits of integrating air and rail infrastructure. It states: Mr Donohoe: In a previous Adjournment debate, one “Good connections to major airports…also significantly enhance question was never raised although it might have solved the benefits of high speed rail. So a Conservative Government will support proposals…for a new Heathrow rail hub. This would a lot of problems. Is the hon. Gentleman aware—as a link Heathrow terminals directly into the main rail network and regular customer of the airport, I am—of the distances the lines to Reading, Oxford, Bristol, Plymouth, Cardiff, Swansea, and time it takes to travel between terminals at Heathrow? Cheltenham and Southampton, greatly improving public transport As a consequence of those times and distances, a single links to the airport.” hub railway station would not really make a lot of It also stated: difference. “The plan would also include construction of a new high speed link connecting Heathrow…to the Channel Tunnel Rail link and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: The hon. Gentleman picks the new route north, providing a viable alternative to thousands up a very important point. I was not going to have time of short haul flights now clogging up the airport. By freeing up to make it in my speech, but I will now answer his landing slots, our proposal would help tackle overcrowding problems intervention. I believe that it would be perfectly possible and allow more space for long haul flights, making Heathrow a to have, from the hub that I am suggesting, a relatively much better airport, but without the environmental damage that high-speed bus that not only takes people into a terminal would be caused by a third runway.” at Heathrow, but takes them directly to where the I could not have put it better myself. aircraft are. There are all sorts of exciting possibilities It is potentially billions of pounds cheaper to route to make passenger journeys an awful lot easier than the high-speed line via a Heathrow interchange on the they are at present. Great Western main line, compared with the current In the “Draft Aviation Policy Framework”, published proposal for the development of a series of branch last Friday by the Government, they recognise the following: lines, loops and spurs. The current costs of building “Rail offers opportunities for efficient and environmentally-friendly HS2 from London to Birmingham, followed by a spur connections to airports, particularly for larger airports where from HS2 to Heathrow and then a loop to rejoin the passenger numbers are sufficient to justify fast and frequent HS2 main line at Old Oak Common, is projected to be services.” in the region of £20.5 billion to £20.7 billion. However, 227WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 228WH

[Geoffrey Clifton-Brown] Chilterns would be minimised. This tunnel not only would be shorter, but would remove almost entirely the a connection along the lines that I am suggesting, impact of HS2 on the AONB. That might assuage the between HS1 and HS2, connected directly to Heathrow extremely vocal and well funded local opposition groups and then on to Birmingham and further north, is projected that have been set up and that are heavily involved in the to cost £17.5 billion, which represents a significant judicial review proceedings against the Government in saving on the current proposal. That route, I believe, relation to the current HS2 proposals. would be quicker to build, and the passage of the Directly connecting Heathrow with the UK’s regions hybrid Bill through Parliament might well be easier, as and Europe in the first phase of high speed rail allows there would be fewer objections. rail to replace both domestic and European short-haul Shifting passengers from road to rail and making flights, releasing vital additional capacity and resilience Heathrow operate more efficiently by reducing passenger while linking the UK’s regions to the country’s hub and aircraft overcrowding means that the environmental airport. Improving access from the UK regions to Heathrow, impacts will be reduced. Let me give an example. Unite our only hub, means that business links with global the Union calculates that a B747 taxiing and holding markets are improved, giving passengers the choice of for 40 minutes on the ground—a not uncommon occurrence flying via Heathrow or from regional airports. at Heathrow—uses as much fuel as it does at cruise I am sure that the hon. Member for Hayes and altitude from the UK to New York. Of course, that not Harlington would agree with this. The UK is beginning only contributes to Heathrow’s air quality failing to to lose the aviation advantage that we have consistently comply with legal limits, but increases airlines’ costs. had in the past by offering more flights to Asia. Heathrow Additionally, the relocation—the point that the hon. is now losing out to airports such as Charles de Gaulle, Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) Schiphol and Frankfurt, which are offering more flights was making—of landside facilities outside the existing to Asian destinations. The knock-on effect is that congested airport site will create more space for aircraft, businesses— allowing for more efficient operations. It is suggested that removing unnecessary ground facilities and streamlining The Minister of State, Department for Transport the structures of the terminals at Heathrow could allow (Mrs Theresa Villiers): That is just not true. Heathrow is the creation of an additional 18% of air capacity in one one of the most successful hub airports in the world. It fell swoop. Although that would not remove the demand offers more flights to BRIC destinations; it offers more for a third runway at Heathrow, it would certainly flights to China than any of its continental rivals. provide the breathing space necessary for the Government London is arguably the best-connected city in the world, to undertake full consideration of the options available with far more connections than equivalent cities around to them, as my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick Europe, including connections to 360 destinations and Leamington (Chris White) suggested. worldwide. A high-speed route via Heathrow also avoids the major environmental impacts of the current proposals Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: With great respect to my on the Chilterns and west London. It would follow the right hon. Friend, that may be true for routes to example of HS1 by following motorway corridors and north America, but I think that it is beginning to the shortest route through an area of outstanding natural be—[HON.MEMBERS: “No.”] Let us look at the figures. I beauty, with tunnelling below existing rail corridors think that for secondary Chinese airports, Frankfurt is where the new line passes through urban areas. The beginning to overtake Heathrow. I am happy to stand proposed route of HS2 will pass underground from corrected on that, if it is not true. The knock-on effect is Euston to Old Oak Common before moving overground that businesses are likely to locate to where the best air through large parts of densely populated west London. connections are, not only for passengers, but for freight. The line then goes through 20.8 km of an AONB, of Are there any disadvantages to the approach I am which 7.6 km will be above ground and the remaining outlining? The answer, in my view, is not really.Birmingham 13.2 km in a tunnel. is as far west of London as it is north, so it is incorrect My alternative route via Heathrow would see the to say that a route west of HS2’s alignment is somehow entire route through west London tunnelled underneath taking the line out of its way. A diversion of HS2 via the Great Western main line before surfacing near Heathrow. Heathrow will add perhaps only three minutes to journey Of course, that would involve significantly more tunnelling time for trains to stop at Heathrow. I suggest that that is in London than the current proposals. However, the immaterial when set against the benefits I outline. Indeed, greatest costs of tunnelling are in the initial set-up. The British Airways and HS2’s own external challenge groups cost per mile of tunnelling drops as we tunnel further. confirm that, in reality, passengers do not ascribe any That approach would greatly reduce noise and air pollution value to such small journey time savings, and claiming during the construction phase for very large numbers of that each minute saved is worth £0.6 billion seems people. It would follow the precedent set by HS1: much rather simplistic. of the line is tunnelled under London, with only a The direct linking of Heathrow and HS2 and improved 1-mile section approaching St Pancras overground. It access to Heathrow from the west would provide enormous would then have far less surface impact than the current benefits to the people and businesses in my constituency HS2 route, which will pass overground through vast and many others to the west of Heathrow. It is, as I have swathes of west London. said, vital, given the costs involved, that we maximise The line would then proceed overground to Beaconsfield the benefits of high-speed rail. in the M40 corridor before entering a 12-km tunnel I am fully supportive of the project in principle, and I through the entire width of the Chilterns AONB at its am certainly not calling for the Government to abandon narrowest point. In other words, the impact on the and give up on all the good work they have done so far. 229WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 230WH

I would urge the Minister however to use the opportunity, the Government’s consideration of the representations before the hybrid Bill is introduced to Parliament, to that have been made by the London borough of Hillingdon pause and reflect on whether the direction we are taking, and others. both physically and metaphorically, is the right one. If we take time to consider an integrated approach to air Mr Donohoe: Can my hon. Friend, as one of the local and rail, we can consider the entire HS2 route at the Members, indicate the time it takes to travel between same time. We could then start construction from both the terminals—terminals 1 to 5—and the distances? I north and south in order that the completion date is not have looked at it, and it does not make a lot of sense to extended. have a hub outwith the airport. Though it is obviously only one element of the HS2 project, the decreasing business case ratio for HS2, John McDonnell: That is an extremely valid point. To which now stands at 1.2:1, is another reason why we give BAA its due, it is looking at the efficiency of the should examine the matter further. Indeed, as the Secretary transportation of passengers within the airport complex. of State’s predecessor, the now Secretary of State for I do not necessarily think my hon. Friend’s point negates Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede the full argument about a hub, but it certainly undermines and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), said in evidence to the some of the arguments for it. Select Committee on Transport: “If it”—the business The hub option was raised previously, as well as in case ratio— local consultations that I undertook, and it would have “were to fall much below 1.5, I would certainly be putting it under environmental consequences for that part of west London, some very close scrutiny.” particularly West Drayton, which is located fairly close Given the importance of putting in place world-class to the proposed Iver site. Some green belt areas would infrastructure, it is vital that the Government retain an also be lost. In addition, there are concerns about the open mind. I look forward to hearing what my right links from the hub into Heathrow airport. Whether hon. Friend the Minister has to say on the matter. I there is a high-speed bus link or a separate direct would be grateful if she agreed to meet me and other railway line to the airport from the hub, there will be interested colleagues once Parliament has returned in consequences, depending on the route, for the Heathrow September, to discuss this matter in further detail. villages, which have only just recovered from the threat of the third runway. If there is not to be a hub, and one Not only would the hub proposal enormously improve of the 11 direct-link options is taken up, the link will road, rail and air connectivity, it is also a win-win: it is travel through my constituency and, I say to the Minister, potentially cheaper; the disturbance and environmental we would expect the same commitment to tunnelling as pollution in densely populated areas of London is has been given to other areas, to avoid the environmental reduced; the damage to the Chilterns AONB is far less; impacts on people’s homes and communities. and the connectivity to Heathrow for my constituents, businesses in the Cotswolds and others in the west, The Government tell us that the consultation on the south-west and Wales is greatly improved. In short, it is next stage will be in the autumn. When we raised that the sort of strategic infrastructure investment that the matter with the Secretary of State, there was an indication UK needs to project us back towards the top echelons that interested Members may well receive some form of of global competitiveness for the duration of the briefing on some of the narrowed options being considered 21st century. in advance of the formal consultation. I would welcome the opportunity to bring together interested Members, as the hon. Member for The Cotswolds said, to discuss 2.53 pm with Ministers the range of narrowed options and the consequences for our individual constituencies, to ensure John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I that we can provide local input into the Government’s apologise to the Minister; I cannot be here for her final consideration, but also highlight the impacts on response because I will be in the debate in the main our individual communities. Chamber. I congratulate the hon. Member for The As I have said in previous debates, to be frank, having Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) on securing the separate consultations on the main line and on the link debate. It is an invaluable debate to secure at this time. into Heathrow is no way to plan a railway network. Let In several debates on the issue, I have expressed us now make up the ground and ensure that there is full concerns that the High Speed 2 consultation did not involvement of MPs in the final stage of consideration include the Heathrow link as part of a comprehensive and, after that, of whole communities in the consultations consultation on the overall route. The consultation on on the implications of the different options that the the Heathrow link was done separately, which was Government are exploring. None of the options is free incongruous to say the least. So far, we have witnessed from environmental consequences, certainly within my 11 separate options for the link between high-speed rail area. Many of my constituents would welcome a more and Heathrow, in addition to the hub proposal that has efficient Heathrow, as other Members have said, because been brought forward. I would welcome more information many of them work there, but they want to protect their from the Minister in due course on the exact route of local communities and homes from any further direct the western link into Heathrow announced yesterday. environmental impacts that might result. High-speed rail has consequences for my borough. I welcome the debate. I do not believe the hub is Despite the Government’s welcome assurances on the necessarily the solution. It has consequences. We need tunnelling that will go ahead, areas of Hillingdon will early consideration of the range of options as soon as still be directly impacted by high-speed rail. It will have possible, to give some certainty to local communities a deleterious effect on people’s homes and local and to avoid the continuation of what is becoming a communities. I would welcome further information on blight—certainly on my area. 231WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 232WH

2.58 pm this brief interlude to do a bit of strategic thinking and to ask themselves, “Have we got the detail of this right, Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): It is a or are there better options available?” pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr McCrea. Let me give a couple of suggestions to illustrate what I add my congratulations to those that others have I mean. If we look at Birmingham airport in conjunction given to my hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds with Heathrow, there is real potential that together they (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) on securing this important can be regarded as a split hub or a virtual hub. The hon. debate. I agree with the thrust of much of what he said. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) has raised Let me start by welcoming the Government’s the issue of the travel time between different Heathrow announcement of the western spur link to Heathrow. It terminals. If—it is a big if—High Speed 2 is constructed will greatly improve Heathrow’s rail connectivity to the efficiently, it will not take much longer to travel between west and to some areas to the north. I have slightly Heathrow and Birmingham airport than it does between higher ambitions for the link than my hon. Friend. If Heathrow terminals. It will possibly require air site to we combined that spur with the electrification of the air site connections that do not involve changing trains Great Western line and the extra pass it would create, it somewhere, but it does, none the less, offer huge potential. might be possible to schedule direct services from the With modest capital expenditure on its runway, west into Heathrow. I do not have the exact timetable Birmingham airport has considerable capacity. It would modelling to hand, but I believe that it would be possible. be perfectly possible for it to be regarded as part of In conjunction with the welcome announcement of Heathrow—as part of a split hub. I do not think that the east-west rail link, which goes through my constituency the detailed planning work has been carried out. Before and will also be electrified, it is proposed that some we get into radical long-term options such as building a trains will run from Reading to Oxford and then over to third or fourth runway at Heathrow, Boris island or any Milton Keynes and Bedford. I see no reason why those other option, we should consider much more carefully services should not start at Heathrow, which would be the potential that we have. I believe that options such as most welcome in my part of the world. Such a move a split hub are possible, but I am not a railway civil would boost the connectivity of Milton Keynes and our engineer; there are people far brainier than me who can local enterprise area and be attractive for inward investment. determine such things. The option should be considered, The announcement is certainly welcome and hugely because it would find favour with the people at Birmingham significant. airport who are aware of its huge potential. Let me turn to High Speed 2 and its connections with Mr Donohoe: I thank the hon. Gentleman, who is a Heathrow. As a member of the Transport Committee, I fellow Scot, for giving way. The biggest problem in have looked at the matter in some detail. For some time, transport today is the connectivity between various I have taken the view that we must look at our strategic forms of transport. Unless and until we wake up to the rail and aviation policies as two parts of the same fact that technology is now available to overcome that, whole. They cannot be looked at in isolation from each all of what he says is meaningless. As somebody who other, and I have a number of suggestions on which I has to travel on a weekly basis, using three or four hope the Minister will reflect. different forms of transport, I see how much time is One of the ambitions for high-speed rail is to achieve wasted every time I have to travel back to my constituency. a modal shift from domestic aviation to high-speed rail, Until that problem is overcome and is understood by which is welcome. If we look at the upgrade of the west Government, any of the hon. Gentleman’s proposals coast main line, there is a significant shift of traffic from are of no value whatever. Manchester to London from air to rail. High-speed rail offers greater potential to achieve that shift in domestic Iain Stewart: In part, I agree with the hon. Gentleman. travel, and, as my hon. Friend said, that will free up We must look at journeys as a whole and not as individual some slots at Heathrow for longer-haul destinations. component parts. For decades, we, as a country, have However, that is only part of the answer. The number of not got this right. Improvements could be made in a slots that that will free up is comparatively small in number of areas, from ticketing arrangements through relation to the total and increasing demand on Heathrow. to big capital investment. Yes, we have to do that, but I At present, there are 1.25 million journeys a year from am putting forward one idea through which we might Heathrow to Edinburgh; 1 million to Glasgow; and be able to achieve better connectivity. A journey from 800,000 to Manchester, with a significant percentage of London to New York might involve taking a train for those transferring to other flights. Heathrow is not the the first part of it. In Germany, such through-ticketing destination for many people. Strategically siting a Heathrow options do exist. The first part of the journey, for hub to attract more of that domestic aviation market example, is on Deutsche Bahn before the passenger will offer huge potential and relieve some of the capacity transfers on to Lufthansa. Although I agree with the at Heathrow. hon. Gentleman, I am more optimistic about the potential I urge the Government to have a think at this critical to achieve such connectivity. juncture before we commit to the detailed legislation on If High Speed 2 is properly connected to High Speed High Speed 2 and proceed with the aviation strategy. 1 and the channel tunnel, we will open up the option of We should not rush in and commit ourselves to one achieving a modal shift not only in the number of project that we might later regret. I do not expect a domestic passengers into Heathrow but in the number detailed answer from the Minister at this point. My of passengers travelling from Heathrow and Birmingham hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds has mentioned to the near continent, to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. a Heathrow hub, but that is one of many solutions. It would require careful planning. At the moment, it is Others may be available. I urge the Government to use estimated that the pivotal point for making a rail journey 233WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 234WH more attractive than flying is about three and a half constituents than connectivity with the centre of London, hours. That will probably lengthen as business travellers which is why the announcement last week by the value properly constructed carriages that allow them to Department for Transport about the creation of a western do business during the course of their journey. If we connection from Heathrow to the Great Western line look at the total travel time involved in a journey from was welcome news indeed. Of course, we understand Birmingham to Paris, there is real potential to achieve that the control period is up to 2021, but a commitment that modal shift, which will free up more capacity for of just under half a billion pounds is a significant shot longer-haul destinations without having to resort to the in the arm for the economy that I represent. It potentially radical options of new runways or a completely new brings Swindon within 55 minutes of Heathrow airport, airport. if the line from Reading through Maidenhead and Let me give a few figures. There are 1.3 million flight Slough to Heathrow is constructed. Electrification would passengers a year going from Heathrow to Amsterdam, bring greater flexibility and, as my hon. Friend the the same number going to Paris and Frankfurt, and Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) 500,000 to Brussels and Dusseldorf. Therefore, significant has said, we hope to see a direct service from Swindon capacity at Heathrow could be released if we get the and the west to Heathrow airport. planning right. However, the debate today is somewhat more long-term. It is quite a common mistake that we all fall into as Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: There is another point in my politicians in failing to appreciate the amount of time hon. Friend’s equation. Railway stations seem to be that a lot of these big projects take. We must remind located in the middle of city centres, whereas airports ourselves that the High Speed 2 project is a project that are on the outskirts of cities, and sometimes considerably will take 15 years or longer, rather than something that so. There is always the necessity for a different type of deals with the here and now. Although it is always journey to get to the airports. If we go directly from the important to look at the raw facts when it comes to the centre of Glasgow to the centre of Paris, there may not current operating success of Heathrow, that does not be too much difference in time with high-speed rail. mean that in the medium to long term that position will remain the same. It is important to remember that when Iain Stewart: My hon. Friend makes a valuable point. we consider this debate and where we are going. We are It is not an either/or situation. The line between Frankfurt talking about a long-term future for Heathrow and and Cologne calls at Frankfurt airport, so people have long-term connectivity and capacity. That is why it is the option of going either to the city centre or to the important that the case made so strongly by my hon. main airport. Friend is considered very carefully indeed. My hon. Friend has put forward the Heathrow hub I accept that many different permutations and options as a specific model. I do not have any particular detailed have been put on the table in the long debate about how knowledge about whether that is the correct solution, we connect Heathrow airport with our rail network. My but it is one of several possibilities that should be hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes South (Iain seriously considered. Stewart) was careful to make that point and he is In essence, that is my point. I do not want the absolutely right to say that neither he nor anybody else Minister to come back and reject the Heathrow hub or has a particular monopoly of wisdom when it comes to favour another option. I just urge the Government in the precise nature of such a scheme. the recess, when tempers cool down a little and there is time for a little more blue-sky strategic thinking, to use Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: None of us have. that natural pause in our strategic transport planning to assess whether we have got this matter right or whether Mr Buckland: My hon. Friend says, “None of us we could make some adjustments to improve the capacity have”, and I reinforce that message. However, it is very of what we have and what is already planned before we important for people such as myself to make a strong start committing ourselves to more radical options, plea for the Government to look to the long term and to which have all sorts of other issues surrounding them. understand that it is only by achieving direct connectivity On that point, I will conclude and allow other Members to airports such as Heathrow that we will acknowledge to speak in the debate. the fact that, with the exponential and welcome increase in the use of our railways, the demands upon our network will only become more stringent. 3.10 pm My worry is that we will be standing or sitting here in Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con): I am Westminster Hall in 15 years’ time, and looking back very grateful, Dr McCrea, for the opportunity to speak, and realising that we have missed a great opportunity to and I apologise in advance for not having notified you rectify an historic anomaly when it comes to an airport of my wish to do so. However, bearing in mind the time of the significance and size of Heathrow. There it was, that we have, it is important that a wide spectrum of having been constructed in the post-war era, and it opinion on this issue is heard. expanded to meet the huge demand placed upon it, and As you know, Dr McCrea, I represent South Swindon, yet there were no direct rail links to it until many years which my constituents and I regard as the hub of the later, when there was the link to Paddington. Now we Great Western Railway. Swindon is very much a town have more development, which is welcome indeed. However, that looks outwards in terms of its opportunities for those poor rail links to Heathrow are an anomaly of growth, jobs and investment. One of the main concerns history that we are duty-bound to try to rectify. of businesses in Swindon, the town I have the honour to That is why it is absolutely vital that, in understanding represent, is connectivity with Heathrow airport. In the potential of HS2 to unlock the north, we must not many cases, that is a more important issue for my forget the west. That is the plea I make today, that in 235WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 236WH

[Mr Buckland] competitors and indeed to those of many smaller UK airports. And this debate is timely because last week we any future development of HS2 priority is placed upon had not only the very welcome news of investment in a the need to connect the major airport for our country western rail link to Heathrow but a continuation of the with the rest of England and the wider UK. Central silence about the central issue of airport capacity in the London is, of course, an important destination, but the south-east. Of course, this debate is closely tied to that businesses that I represent tell me time and time again issue. In addition, the issues surrounding the Boston that it is Heathrow airport that is crucial to their future Manor viaduct on the M4 have underlined the fragility success. The importance of businesses’ ability to link of existing transport links to Heathrow, as well as the with Heathrow should not be underestimated. need for infrastructure resilience and a range of alternative routes. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: I am sorry to keep intervening The proposed construction of a rail spur to link on my hon. Friends’ speeches; both my hon. Friend and destinations to the west of Heathrow directly to the my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes South airport could bring real improvements. Removing the (Iain Stewart) have made very good points. need for a journey via Paddington or a coach from The reason that I called this particular debate today Reading will reduce journey times and it will make rail a was that once the planning gets too far down the more attractive option for hundreds of thousands of line—excuse the pun—and particularly when the hybrid airport users each year, cutting congestion on the M4 Bill has gone through this place, it will be much more and other roads. Both the draft aviation strategy framework difficult to consider alternatives than it is now. Now is and the high-level output statement are short on detail, the time that we must urge the Minister to stand back, so perhaps the Minister will fill in some of the gaps. pause and consider whether there are any better alternatives; What is the status of the £500 million of funding there may not be, but she should look to see if there are. mentioned for the scheme? Does she expect the aviation industry to foot some of the bill? What is the timetable Mr Buckland: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for for putting together a business case for the programme, that intervention. When I looked in detail at a map of and can she confirm the planned opening date of 2021, Old Oak Common—and I am delighted that it will which has been mentioned in the media? Is it intended become an important part of this network—one thing that the link will provide through services from the west struck me very forcibly that I had not realised before, of England and south Wales to Heathrow, or will local and that is how close the Euston line runs to the Great trains simply shuttle between Reading, Slough and the Western Line. In fact, there is a connecting spur now airport? that allows trains to move between the two networks. That spur is a metaphor for the debate that we are Mr Donohoe: Has my hon. Friend considered how having today. We are within an ace of getting things long the connection to Scotland will take? right in terms of judging future demand, not only for rail capacity but for the future of our principal airport. John Woodcock: That, I know, is a continuing and As I have said, it would be a missed opportunity, as well important longer-term issue for High Speed 2. Every as a tragedy, if we were within an ace of getting things time it is raised it is incumbent on us all to stress that right and we then missed the opportunity that, as my even the first phase, as it is currently set out, would hon. Friend says, the hybrid Bill presents. He is right to reduce journey times to Scotland. Obviously the further say that once we proceed down the line of legislation, it north the high-speed line goes, the faster those journey will become more difficult to add on various concepts times will be, which we all want. or indeed to get the basic concepts right in the first A western link would provide welcome improved place. So this debate today is timely, I welcome it and I connections, as will the commencement of Crossrail in congratulate him on securing it. I wish to add my voice 2018; but if Heathrow is to function better as a major on behalf of both the west of England and south national airport it needs national connectivity. The Wales—let us not forget that region—and the whole airport currently has 70 million passengers a year. Whatever growing economy and growing population that need decisions are eventually made on south-east expansion—if support and proper connectivity with what will continue they are made—Heathrow will remain dominant for the to be our principal airport for many years to come. foreseeable future. Yet for much of the country, it is cosmically hard to access, at present, except by car or a 3.17 pm domestic flight. To take the example of my constituents in south Cumbria, there are many business or holiday John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op): destinations to which only Heathrow offers a direct Thank you, Dr McCrea, for the opportunity to speak. flight, and if people want to avoid a five-hour drive and It is a great pleasure to serve under you in the Chair. hefty parking charges they consider taking the train. I also congratulate the hon. Member for The Cotswolds However, they find that that will take just as long and (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) on securing this important will require four changes, which is not much fun for and timely debate today. I commend him for making a people with a lot of luggage, those with a young family, speech that had many excellent and vital points. He will or people who have limited mobility. Instead, many take be delighted to hear that I will reinforce those points in a domestic flight from Manchester, at financial and my own speech. environmental cost, or they fly via a European hub This debate is important because, despite the step airport. change when Heathrow was linked to the national network High Speed 2 could help to solve that problem and in 1999 and which has already been referred to, its rail significantly strengthen Heathrow as a truly national links remain inferior to those of most of its European airport. Linking Heathrow into HS2 at the earliest 237WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 238WH possible opportunity would allow for faster, far better 3.27 pm integrated journeys between the airport and various The Minister of State, Department for Transport northern destinations. Connecting Heathrow would, as (Mrs Theresa Villiers): It is a pleasure to respond to an has been well explained in several speeches today, make interesting and well-informed debate. I congratulate, as it possible to boost the economies of the regions, reduce other hon. Members have done, my hon. Friend the road congestion and cut short-haul flights, and, in Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), doing so, begin to address Heathrow’s chronic capacity on securing it and on his thoughtful and insightful problem. We deeply regret, therefore, that Ministers speech on his ideas for the route options for HS2. I have chosen to reject Labour’s call for the first phase of thank him and other hon. Members for the support that HS2 to run via Heathrow. Instead, they have opted thus they have expressed for the announcements that we far for an expensive branch line, which it appears will made yesterday on improving the rail network and for not even be legislated for as part of phase 1 and will not their support in principle for the dramatic further be built until an unspecified future date. Can the Minister improvement that we will deliver with the HS2 project. provide any more clarity on that point? It is always welcome to hear Opposition Front Benchers An Old Oak Common interchange with Crossrail repeat their support for high-speed rail, because it is would indeed make for an easier journey to Heathrow only with cross-party support that projects of such for many people; but it is no substitute, as has been magnitude can be successful. explained today, for a through train. As the hon. Gentleman The Government have put transport at the heart of eloquently explained, the sad thing is that the Minister their strategy for economic growth and recovery, because used to get that. If she does not mind, I shall quote her. improving our transport system is one of the best ways In March 2010, just before the general election—how to support British jobs, boost business and create growth. things change—she told the House of Commons that That is one reason for our commitment to the biggest “the idea that some kind of ‘Wormwood Scrubs international’ rail capacity expansion programme since the Victorian station is the best rail solution for Heathrow is just not credible.”— era. Yesterday, we added a further major package of [Official Report, 11 March 2010; Vol. 507, c. 451.] projects to that already ambitious programme. Hear, hear: but just two years on, that is exactly what We fully accept the importance of high-quality surface the Minister proposes—at least until 2033. Why the access to airports, and we emphasised that point in the volte face? Will she take this opportunity to condemn aviation framework document that we published last the potentially deeply damaging briefings from somewhere week. We are co-ordinating our rail and aviation policies, in Government, suggesting a wobble on the entire project? and I fully agree with the points made this afternoon If she is not wobbling, it is important that she should about the importance of co-ordination and integration, say so now, and I am delighted to give way. between air and rail on the ground and in the decision and policy-making processes. That point was made by my hon. and great Friend the Member for South Swindon Mrs Villiers: There is no wobble on this project. HS2 (Mr Buckland), and by my hon. Friends the Members is going ahead. for The Cotswolds and for Milton Keynes South (Iain Stewart). [Interruption.] Well, I have known my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon for 20 years, so John Woodcock: The Minister is not for wobbling he gets an extra-warm mention whenever we are in a and we are very pleased to hear it. debate together. Any aviation strategy—and it would be nice to have Reliable rail and road access can obviously contribute one—must have as its starting point maximising the greatly to the quality of the passenger experience at our efficiency of the capacity that already exists. It is far airports, and it is an important component in ensuring better to use a slot to land 600 passengers from Beijing that our airports provide high-quality international than 200 from Manchester. Ministers are right to cite, in gateways. It is particularly important to airport workers their recent document, the potential for code sharing to and crucial to the air freight sector, which is another promote through tickets from international flights to important UK industry. I agree with my hon. Friend the trains; but the key to that success is that the high-speed Member for The Cotswolds that greater use of rail train should stop at the airport, not several miles away. access to airports has the potential to reduce carbon Further, as has been mentioned, an HS2 link into emissions, as well as relieving road congestion, and also Heathrow could provide a connection to the existing improving air quality, which is a real issue at Heathrow. line to the channel tunnel, raising the possibility of high-speed trains replacing hub flights to nearby European Mr Donohoe: I am sure that the Minister has listened destinations. to my questions to some of the other contributors this There is still time for Ministers to reconsider their afternoon. Can she tell us how long it takes the passenger stance on HS2. The right hon. Lady knows that high-speed who gets out of a plane at terminal 4 to get to terminal rail commands support across the House. It has the full 1, and what distance they travel? support of the Opposition, and we are keen to work together to get the necessary legislation on the statute Mrs Villiers: Certainly. It takes passenger a while to book and to get spades in the ground. However, we will get from terminal 4 to the other terminals. The hon. continue to argue that Heathrow should be part of Gentleman is right to raise that issue about Heathrow’s phase 1 of the scheme. A failure to connect Britain’s current layout, and I will come to it in a moment. hub airport to its first domestic high-speed line would Despite the adversities, however, Heathrow continues to epitomise the failure to join up UK infrastructure be a successful airport. I appreciate and understand the planning—a failure in transport that has bedevilled the point of view of my hon. Friend the Member for The country for too long. Cotswolds, but one of the fundamental drawbacks of 239WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 240WH

[Mrs Villiers] electrification and east-west rail proposals, to see if we can further improve and enhance access to Heathrow his proposed rail hub at Iver, to support Heathrow, is airport. that it would be more than three miles from the airport The shadow Minister asked a number of questions terminals. What my hon. Friend advocates would about the project. More work is needed to refine it and compound the problem that the hon. Member for Central assess delivery time scales over the coming months, Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) has just alluded to, which is including the consideration of route options. The scheme that Heathrow is already very spread out. remains subject to the delivery of a robust business Returning for a moment to the environmental impact case, and we hope to secure funding contributions from of surface access, I welcome the comments made by the the Heathrow aviation community. hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (John Woodcock). It is important that we all focus on the environmental Mr Donohoe: When this issue was presented to the impact of surface access, as well on that of aviation. We House, at the outset, an area of some dubiety was that are committed to working with airport operators, local tunnelling would be cheaper than putting rail above authorities and local enterprise partnerships to improve ground. I have talked to a number of civil engineers, surface access to our major airports across the country. and none of them believes in that prospect. Can the Time constrains me from going into detail, but Minister shed any light on where the information came improvements are under way in Manchester and from? Birmingham, and Luton will get better road access and Gatwick a new station. A tremendous amount of work is under way to improve access at a number of airports. Dr William McCrea (in the Chair): I know that the Minister is delighted to look towards her very good friend, and her other hon. Friends, but it is always nice Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: My right hon. Friend is making if you turn towards the Chair and look also at Opposition a helpful speech, but I would not like the four interventions Members. made by the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) to colour the debate. With innovative solutions, it is possible for travellers, having checked Mrs Villiers: I do apologise, Dr McCrea, and I shall their bags in at the hub that I propose—or others ensure that I project more efficiently around the room. I propose—to get in to a more rationalised Heathrow have now completely forgotten what the hon. Gentleman airport and on to an aeroplane via high-speed rail at asked me about. considerably increased speeds. Mr Donohoe: Tunnelling. Mrs Villiers: But it remains the case that among the downsides of my hon. Friend’s suggestion are the distance Mrs Villiers: Yes. It depends on the circumstances. It from the terminals, the lack of a serious proposal about is important to appreciate that a significant cost associated how that distance will be travelled and a failure to cost with tunnelling is that of the disposal of spoil. In the idea. certain instances, combining two tunnels might reduce Returning to the work that is being done on rail the cost of such disposal, so tunnelling does not end up access to Heathrow—the subject of the debate—Crossrail cheaper than doing something on the surface in every is now well under way, more than two decades since it case. However, where we can get synergies between two was first proposed, and the tunnel boring machines different projects that reduce the cost of spoil disposal, have started their journey under central London. We we can deliver an overall reduction in cost. expect the Crossrail project to provide new services that On the route options, whether for western access to link Heathrow directly with the west end, the City and Heathrow via conventional rail or, in due course, the Canary Wharf for the first time. The 2010 spending high-speed rail spur to the airport, we will seriously review confirmed the Government’s shared commitment consider what is viable regarding tunnelling, just as we with the Mayor to the tube upgrade programme, which have done in relation to the rest of the HS2 route. It is will increase the overall capacity of the London too early to make the decisions because they are subject underground network by 30% and improve reliability, to consultation and further processes, but we will, of benefiting people travelling to Heathrow by tube. course, seriously consider that, given the areas through Last week, as has been acknowledged, we announced which the new lines would go. as part of our aviation policy framework that the In response to the question asked by the hon. Member Government will provide funding for a new rail line to for Barrow and Furness, if things progress smoothly, Heathrow from the Great Western main line near Slough. the new line giving western access to Heathrow could be It would provide significantly improved connections operational by around 2020 or 2022. No final decisions from destinations west of the airport—a point already have yet been made on timetables for direct trains, but made—and would cut journey times from those destinations we expect there to be through trains from destinations by as much as half an hour. Easier, faster and more in the west, because that would be the better way to convenient access to one of the world’s busiest and most realise the benefits of the programme. successful airports should provide a significant boost to Our high-level output specification proposals, announced the economies of the Thames valley, south Wales and last week, to improve access to Heathrow from the west the west and south-west of England. will complement our work on HS2, which we expect to I very much welcome the enthusiasm shown by my provide greatly improved access to the airport from hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes South destinations in the midlands and the north of England. about how we might seek to take advantage of the We are taking a phased approach to HS2. 241WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 242WH

In phase 1, when the London to Birmingham line is my hon. Friends the Member for The Cotswolds and built, we want passengers from the , for Milton Keynes South, asked for a pause. I assure Manchester and other cities in the north to be able to them that other options, including a direct alignment connect as seamlessly as possible with the Heathrow that would have taken the line to Birmingham nearer to Express at a new station at Old Oak common. Phase 1 is Heathrow, were considered before deciding on the preferred expected to open in 2026, and will include a direct route that was presented for consultation. connection to Birmingham airport. I welcome the Further thought and analysis was carried out on interesting ideas proposed by my hon. Friend the Member direct alignment as part of the consultation and the for Milton Keynes South about how we might use that Government’s consideration of the many thousands of improved surface access to Birmingham to help the responses. As I said, it was one of the most extensive airport flourish and attract more aviation passengers, consultations ever carried out, and I am confident that potentially from the south-east, given the improved rail the outcome is the right one. I assure my hon. Friends access that HS2 will deliver. that further scrutiny will take place when the hybrid Bill Phase 2 will follow in 2032-33, when the HS2 line will goes through Parliament. be extended to Manchester and Leeds. A direct connection with Heathrow is planned as part of the second phase. After the consultation and analysis were completed, it was decided that a spur to Heathrow would provide the better option, and it was concluded that the proposal John Woodcock: Why has the Minister changed her advocated by my hon. Friend the Member for The mind? Has the Secretary of State for Transport just Cotswolds would have involved too great a journey time taken a different view? penalty and too much extra cost and, as I said, would not have taken the line to the airport. The site at Iver, Mrs Villiers: A huge amount of work has been done the proposal for which he supports, is more than three to analyse the options, including one of the biggest miles from the airport terminals. consultations ever undertaken in this country. I would be arrogant to ignore the results of that work and that consultation. I am absolutely convinced that the preferred Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: I appreciate my right hon. route, which will be proposed in a hybrid Bill, is the Friend’s sincere belief in the Government’s preferred right one, and I will explain why in due course. solution rather than the option that I proposed, but I am trying to get something out of this debate. Will she John Woodcock: You have not said that you agree carefully consider building the Heathrow spur in the with it. first phase of HS2, so that at least the residents of Birmingham and Birmingham airport can get the benefit of that spur as soon as possible? Will she also consider Mrs Villiers: I do agree with it. I give the shadow the northward-facing aspect of the spur, so that at least Minister my firm assurance that the preferred route that it can be used from central London, as well as by those we are proposing, after the consultation and consideration approaching London from the north? of all the consultation responses, is the right one.

Mr Donohoe: May I show the Minister a poster that I Mrs Villiers: I will come to timing in a moment. We picked up in Wendover on Sunday? It does not give us are enthusiastic about making progress on all aspects of much hope that constituents in that part of the world HS2 as soon as we can. If we can speed up the process, are likely to have as much enthusiasm as us about the we will be delighted to do so, but as I said, I will come in building of HS2. a moment to the timing of the next steps on phase 2 and the spur. I assure my hon. Friend that the spur is planned to have what is known as a delta junction, Mrs Villiers: It is inevitable, when one seeks to build a which could enable trains to run from Heathrow on to major piece of infrastructure, that it will cause anxiety HS1, and possibly on to European destinations, when in the areas in which it will have a local impact. I will the spur is built. come in a moment to the efforts that the Government have been making to mitigate or reduce the impact of On the timetable, the Government have asked HS2 HS2. We fully understand the anxiety felt by those in Ltd to develop detailed route options for the spur. The the local areas affected and by those with wider concerns plans will then be subject to detailed public consultation about protecting the countryside, but as I have said in in 2014, alongside the rest of phase 2. If possible, we the House many times, I firmly believe that, with high- would like to make fast progress and start the consultation quality engineering and care, we can mitigate the worst next year. Depending on the results of that consultation, effects of HS2 and emulate the success of HS1, which the spur could be included in the hybrid Bill for the has been delivered without the catastrophic local impacts second phase, including the Y network. once predicted for it. I believe that it is possible to HS2 represents a valuable opportunity to draw important deliver infrastructure on that scale in a way that is fair strategic links between major components of our transport to the local communities affected by it. The Government infrastructure. As my hon. Friend mentioned, other are determined to do all that is reasonable to ensure countries have successfully integrated high-speed rail that we mitigate the local impact of HS2. services with their international airports. Using HS2 to To pick up where I left off, the Government’s preferred improve access to the country’s major hub airport for option for delivering the direct connection to Heathrow businesses in the midlands and the north will create new is a spur running from the main HS2 line, which would opportunities for growth. Better links to Heathrow will allow passengers from the midlands and the north to make those regions even more attractive locations to travel directly to the airport without having to change invest and do business in, because they will benefit from trains. Some of my hon. Friends and colleagues, including Heathrow’s global reach as a successful hub airport. 243WH High Speed 2 (Heathrow)17 JULY 2012 High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 244WH

[Mrs Villiers] the plan to the train. The shadow Minister has made a valid point on those maters. As I said earlier, London has one of the most extensive No debate on HS2 would be complete without reference aviation networks in the world, with connections to to the local environmental impact. I fully recognise more than 360 destinations. Heathrow alone has more people’s concerns about the local environmental impact flights to the crucial BRIC economies than any of its of HS2 and the preferred route, including the potential rivals, including more flights to China. Airlines are impact of a proposed Heathrow spur. There is no easy expanding and covering new routes to key emerging way to build a new train line through our country. I am markets. For example, British Airways recently started afraid that the alignment proposed by my hon. Friend a new route to Seoul. and supported by Mark Bostock would not be a miracle I agree with my hon. Friend and other hon. Members solution. Local impacts would still have to be considered, that we should look to HS2 to provide an attractive and, frankly, there would still be controversy. It would alternative to thousands of short-haul flights. Experience just be transplanted to a different area. in Europe shows that where high-speed rail competes We have gone to very great lengths to listen to those with aviation, it can capture a significant proportion of with concerns about our preferred route and to take the market for journeys of up to three or even four steps to mitigate its local impact. In particular, we are hours. For example, Air France stopped flying between working to respond to the concerns of communities Paris and Brussels entirely when the high-speed rail link around Euston, where the station redevelopment impacts opened between the two cities, and high-speed rail in most on homes and communities. The Secretary of Spain led to a significant switch from domestic aviation State for Transport regularly meets elected representatives to the train. Deutsche Bahn proposes to start direct from the area; we are working with Camden council; services between London, Amsterdam and Paris, so the and we have already agreed to fund the Euston opportunity train could start to compete with the plane for some area planning framework to address the issues raised by passengers on those routes, just as Eurostar already the planned Euston expansion, including the investigation does on the Paris-Brussels-London route. of options for the provision of replacement social housing. Elsewhere on the route, there will be a more than 50% Mr Donohoe: There has even been a change domestically: increase in tunnel or green tunnel compared with the BA has removed all services from Birmingham to London plans that we inherited from our Labour predecessors. as a result of the upgrading of the west coast main line. As I have said many times, I believe that, with the right mitigation and high-quality engineering, HS2 need Mrs Villiers: Absolutely. The upgrading of the west not have anything like the extreme impact that its coast main line encouraged a switch from air to rail opponents fear. The precedent provided by HS1 shows travel from Manchester as well. that it is possible to have a high-speed line that does not I believe that the HS2 plans that I have outlined have devastate the communities through which is passes. the potential to deliver further air to rail switch. In There are difficult times ahead, whether in relation to particular, the completion of phase 2 will deliver journey the main part of HS2 or to the Heathrow spur under times between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London of discussion, but I firmly believe that this project will not much more than three and a half hours. In 2010, generate tremendous economic benefits. It is vital if we there were about 382 flights a week between those are to deal with the capacity crunch that we will face on destinations and Heathrow, and about 962 flights a our inter-city rail connections in the coming years, and week to the five London airports from Glasgow and that is why I welcome the support that has been expressed Edinburgh. for HS2 in today’s debate. Providing an attractive alternative to those flights could release vital capacity, which could provide Dr William McCrea (in the Chair): Thank you, Minister, opportunities for developing new routes to emerging and I also thank all the hon. Members who has participated markets and other key long-haul destinations in just the in the debate. I wish those Members who will now leave way that my hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds the Chamber a very pleasant recess. and others have outlined today. Better integration of rail and air in terms of flight schedules, through-ticketing 3.52 pm and baggage check-in could intensify the switch from Sitting suspended. 245WH 17 JULY 2012 246WH

Cyprus Greek and —have the freedom and capacity to determine their future as a reunited island based on the principles of the United Nations framework 4pm of the bizonal, bicommunal federal solution. Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): It is a pleasure to speak in this debate on Cyprus under your Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): Having been to chairmanship, Dr McCrea. I welcome the Minister, Cyprus on two separate occasions in the past six weeks who is not the Minister for Europe, but his portfolio as Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, I includes responsibility for human rights. The issue of very much endorse what my hon. Friend is saying. We human rights transcends the boundaries of Cyprus and are conscious of the problem that he has identified, and should be a matter of concern to us all. Indeed, some it would be extremely helpful if the present Cypriot years ago, the Minister was on the campaign trail in Government addressed the problem of fraudulent titles, Enfield, Southgate and may know about the issue of which is a problem for some 2,000 people in the UK Cyprus. It is certainly of great concern to my constituents who have interests in the land. A Minister in the Ministry and others. of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus told me that they would In the past 40 years there have been many debates try to sort it out. Does my hon. Friend agree that, just about Cyprus in this House. Over the seven years that I as we have to sort out the Turkish question, the Cypriots have been in Parliament, and particularly given my have a responsibility to sort out the problem of fraudulent constituency interest, I have inevitably been involved in titles? speaking on Cyprus and securing many such debates. This time it is a particular pleasure to have secured a Mr Burrowes: I welcome my hon. Friend’s intervention debate, because this month Cyprus has assumed the on the issues of fraudulent titles and illegal occupation presidency of the European Union. It is a great historic of land. The Foreign Office website advises UK citizens achievement of a small but important island in Europe. to be clear about property ownership in the north. It It is a cause for celebration of the independence and advises against exploiting the situation and highlights sovereignty of Cyprus. Its leadership comes at a crucial the illegality in the north. It is a huge problem that time, given the travails in Europe. I am sure that the needs to be resolved. House will wish the Cyprus presidency well over the I imagine the Minister who took up the brief today next six months. may have approached the debate with some weariness But—sadly, with Cyprus politics there is usually a given the stalemate in the talks between the Cypriot “but”. The reason why there have been so many debates leaders. The House is familiar with the debate. The over nearly four decades is that Cyprus remains divided, main purpose of the debate today is to seek to break with the north occupied by Turkish troops. Ministers—and new ground and to urge the Government not to sit on perhaps the Minister here today—will visit Nicosia the sidelines or just cheer or cajole from the terraces, during the next six months. That city is the only divided but to take seriously our historic responsibilities and capital in Europe; part of the island in the north remains our responsibilities as a guarantor power. We have occupied by troops from a foreign country—Turkey— responsibilities to many of those represented here. I see leading to the north being one of the most militarised my hon. Friends here. The Minister of State, Department places in the world. for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), has a significant number During this six-month period, pressure needs to be of Cypriot constituents, as do my hon. Friends the put on Turkey to properly recognise the Republic of Members for Enfield North (Nick de Bois), for Hendon Cyprus. The threats made by Turkish leaders to freeze (Dr Offord) and for Congleton (Fiona Bruce). It is clear relations with the European Union while Cyprus has that many Members are concerned that we do not the presidency should not wash with the United Kingdom simply let the next six months pass. or the Government. If—as many want—Turkey wants in time to be a member of the European club, it needs to One of the areas of new ground is curiously an old play by the rules, which include respecting the rotating one: religious and cultural heritage. Last May, I led an presidency and also respecting European agreements, all-party group delegation, including my hon. Friends not least the customs union. It is extraordinary that, the Members for Enfield North and for Hendon and although a key aim of the presidency is developing the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North European Union maritime policy, Turkey refuses to (Jim Sheridan), to clean up some cemeteries and churches fulfil the Ankara protocol and to accept Cyprus ships at in Cyprus. Some of the cemeteries had been neglected, its ports. I hope that the Minister will be able to assure but most had been desecrated. Having visited the north me that during the next six months the Government will last November, I witnessed for myself the desecration do all they can to put pressure on Turkey to recognise and damage. I resolved that the next time I returned we Cyprus and not let it off the hook during a period that would do something practical about it. can be seen too easily as a vacuum period. Our delegation did not visit national political leaders, The subject of the debate is Cyprus, but I have which is what usually happens. We wanted to focus on already spent time talking about Turkey. When I spoke the local communities and villages to try not only in a debate two weeks ago about UK relations with physically to restore respect to trashed cemeteries and Turkey, I spoke about Cyprus. Sadly, Turkey’s influence pillaged churches, but to restore the link between the and involvement in Cyprus is significant. We and no village associations—both Greek and Turkish Cypriot— doubt the Minister will want to reaffirm that the future which, through the conflict, has sadly been lost. of Cyprus must be properly determined by Cypriots, Our visit’s aim was not to try to change the world or but Turkey calls the shots in the north. It is therefore to solve the Cyprus problem—or indeed to restore all incumbent on Britain to help to ensure that Cypriots— religious and cultural heritage—in a few days. The aim 247WH Cyprus17 JULY 2012 Cyprus 248WH

[Mr Burrowes] have done in years gone by. They will not simply take orders from those on high. They were concerned more was to take some small but practical steps through with the relationship they had with us and the village cleaning a cemetery or a church to rebuild confidence association people, and they were willing to take steps. and to make the point that, as British Members of They said very clearly that they would give permission Parliament with responsibilities, along with the Cypriots for future cleaning programmes, which was encouraging who were with us, we would not tolerate the desecration and we need to make progress. of religious heritage. One of the highlights was our visit to Assia. Again, We will not accept the status quo. We made the point there were cautionary notes about it being in a nationalist loud and clear that the situation cannot just be accepted area and close to an army base. However, with Greek and allowed to carry on. The memories of loved ones Cypriot association villagers who had the confidence to and the places of worship that people want to go to come over for the first time with us, we were able to matter. Such respect transcends faiths, backgrounds build a good degree of confidence with local Turkish and countries. It is about respect for common shared Cypriots, mukhtars and mayors and say, “Yes, together values. In building those small steps of confidence, the we can do something about this.” In that village, a aim was to lead to a better future. mosque and a church need restoring, and together they want to work on them. We also went to a cemetery that Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con): I am delighted had been trashed over the years, but they were able to that my hon. Friend has secured this debate. Does he go there for the first time and see that we cared about agree that when we visited heritage sites on the north the fact that the cemetery needs to be in a better and the south of the island they were sadly not as they condition. should be? By reaching beyond the politicians in the villages of Pigi and Peristerona, we saw people coming Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con): I am grateful to together from both sides of the island who have not my hon. Friend, for securing the debate and for organising seen each other for a long time. They shared that wish the visit. He mentioned the visit to Assia, which I found for respect and for restoration. We can reach above the very poignant. Some of the people who accompanied politicians, and civic society has a role to play in helping us from the UK and, as he said, felt safe coming out to bring about the right solution. with us, took us on a tour around the graveyard. One gentleman’s aunt had died on the day I was born, so I certainly feel a link with what we want to achieve in Mr Burrowes: That visit was one of the most positive Assia. I certainly hope that, following our visit, we will that I have been on, because we were able to see that. have a programme of works, and that the mukhtars and The common refrain is that the problem is not the the people in the north will engage with the people from people, it is the politics and the involvement of an the south, and from the United Kingdom, to ensure outside political force in the form of Turkey. For example, that graveyards are cleaned up, churches are repaired in Peristerona—because of our presence, no doubt—there and some kind of civility is brought back to the island was a feeling of wanting to do something about a of Cyprus. church that, throughout the time of division, had not been touched. Over time, debris, rubbish and droppings had accumulated. While we were there, we were able to Mr Burrowes: Those were poignant moments. The see that church cleared of the debris—we were able to villagers of Assia have agreed to go back, in agreement make a video—for the first time. A Cypriot who lived in with Bishop Porfyrios, to restore the crosses that have Liverpool just happened to turn up on a visit. He had been broken and put them back in their place. That will been baptised in the church before it was destroyed and be an important symbolic moment that says that this is desecrated. To see someone take an interest and some a village where we care for our loved ones. In fact, when care—local Turkish Cypriots were helping to restore it I went back in November, which was a motivation for as well—made a big difference to him. He said that this visit, they were saying, “How can we respect the there is a brighter future and that we can do something living if we cannot respect the dead?” about it—not just so much talk that we often hear about, but real, practical action. Nick de Bois: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for letting me make a very brief intervention. I hope that he There were, however, some who warned us against will understand why, at this point, I am also keen to doing that. Particularly in the north, politicians tried to remind hon. Members of our visit to the south. For lobby against us and build division where there was example, in Kivisili we also saw a willingness to put none. The media also seemed to be against us. There right some of the graveyards that were not in a satisfactory was caution, too, from the Foreign and Commonwealth condition. The spirit he talks about relating to our visit Office. I see some of the team here, and I pay tribute to to the north is also reflected in the south. its helpful advice throughout the trip, for which I was grateful. There was a cautionary note saying that we Mr Burrowes: We agreed to go across the whole should do things only when we had the approval of island, so we visited Limassol, Larnaca, Dromolaxia, various people, not least Mr Kucuk in the north, the Kivisili and Kalo Choiro, as well as Afania, Assia, so-called Prime Minister. He would give us direction on Genagra, Pigi, Peristerona and Nicosia. That was important. whether we were able to go ahead with our cleaning For example, we went to the Limassol mosque which, activities. not long before we visited, had been partially burned by What we actually found was that Cyprus does not vandals. We were able to visit the mosque with Bishop wholly work like that—quite properly so. It works through Porfyrios and Imam Shakir, who were affirming their villages. It works through different villages that take united support for a greater respect for religious and their orders from no one; they run themselves as they cultural heritage. The problem is not one of division or 249WH Cyprus17 JULY 2012 Cyprus 250WH religious division—that is not a problem at all. They That does not need to wait for a settlement; progress were saying that we can look at the issue of religious can be made, as it can in the area of missing persons. cultural heritage as one where we can respect religion, There was a protest yet again last week by the relatives which can be a uniting, not dividing, force, to build of missing persons. The relatives are still literally crying confidence and trust for all Cypriots. I ask the Minister out for basic information about their loved ones, despite to support such confidence-building measures in areas the great efforts of the communal committee for missing of religious cultural heritage. Citizens from this country persons—work supported by the European Union, and will be going to Cyprus to carry out such visits in the by the UK taxpayer, too. Unfortunately, the whereabouts future. of those relatives are in the domain of Turkish authorities, This is a current issue, and there is a concern that it is in military bases and in Turkey itself. There must be not all positive. There are reports this week that the compliance with the European Court of Human Rights cemetery in the village of Trachoni in the north has judgments to allow the whereabouts of those missing been completely destroyed to make way for the building people to be established. of a new police station. That does not help at all when It is important that we do not rely simply on the fact we want to build a common future for Greek and that the talks have stalled in the past six months, on Turkish Cypriots, and I ask the Minister to condemn what will be said, which is that we want to ensure that that approach. the Cyprus problem is resolved by Cypriots, and on the UN framework. Obviously, we want that, but we want Mr Cash: Would my hon. Friend be kind enough to to ensure that Britain takes its responsibilities seriously take another question which relates, as I understand it, and that we as a Government step up our pressure on to the refusal of the Turkish Government to recognise Turkey to recognise Cyprus when Cyprus has the European the law of the sea and the exclusive economic zone in presidency. We also encourage Cypriots to step up and relation to gas? That is a huge issue that raises massive civil society to take a place where there are political questions about good faith. talks and restore religious heritage and other things beyond that. We will be right behind them, supporting Mr Burrowes: I was going to come on to that. The them every step of the way. We are doing that on behalf discovery of hydrocarbon reserves is a wonderful of British Cypriots and because of our historical opportunity—a natural resource for the whole of the responsibilities, so that we can, at long last, end the island of Cyprus—to help resource a reunited island. need for such debates in Parliament. There are struggles in the region both with energy and finance, and that provides hope for a brighter future. Dr Offord: While we were in Cyprus, the mukhtars in That is why it is depressing that, at this time, Turkey is the north part assured us that they would continue with being provocative in bringing ships around to show an some of the reconstructive works that they had engaged aggressive approach, and not fully recognising that this in before we got there. That was a sign of great hope is a resource for Cyprus. Outside powers should not be and a positive step during our visit, but will my hon. trying to get their hands on it. As a guarantor power, Friend confirm that he has received letters of reassurance Britain has responsibility for the independence of the from the mukhtars to say that the work will continue, island. This is a threat to that independence. I understand which they assured us during our visit that they would that the Minister for Europe has been vigorous in provide? making representations, and I ask the Minister present to reaffirm that respect for the integrity of that resource Mr Burrowes: The words were positive. I have said for the benefit of the island, which offers real hope for that we need actions, not just words. It is disappointing the future—a dynamic that can happen now and can be that we have not yet had that practical confirmation assured. from those authorities. We will pursue that. If the Foreign Office can help us to do that as well, that would This period could lapse into a vacuum period of six be much appreciated, because we have laid the groundwork months where the talks are stalled, but we can make and now need to ensure that we carry on with it. We practical progress. In Famagusta, the fenced-off Varosha should now allow a lot of Cypriots to walk over the area has been looted, uninhabited and decaying for bridges that have been built, so that we can build nearly 40 years. Will the Minister reaffirm what the confidence. Prime Minister has said—I am sure that he will want to do so—in response to my reference to this on behalf of We are happy to talk about Cyprus a lot, but it is other hon. Members? The Prime Minister said: important that we do not have more debates about it in the present context of a divided island. We want to “We fully support all the relevant Security Council resolutions, support and stand full square, throughout the House, including UNSCR550 and UNSCR789. We have raised this with the Turkish authorities”. for a free, reunited Cyprus. As the holder of the presidency of the EU, it should be free and reunited. We need that I urge the Government to continue to do that. The sooner rather than later. Prime Minister recognises “that measures to build confidence between the communities in Cyprus can have great value in facilitating efforts towards a 4.22 pm comprehensive settlement. We continue to encourage all parties The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth to the Cyprus problem to develop such measures.” Office (Mr Jeremy Browne): It is a great honour to serve Famagusta is one such area that can come under UN under your chairmanship, Dr McCrea. I pay tribute to supervision and properly allow, in compliance with my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate those United Nations resolutions, for the return of (Mr Burrowes). He is right. I belong in the elite group of lawful inhabitants. Hon. Members believe that that people who have stood in Enfield, Southgate in a general would help to facilitate efforts towards a settlement. election. He belongs in the even more elite group of 251WH Cyprus17 JULY 2012 Cyprus 252WH

[Mr Jeremy Browne] Of course, to complete its vital work the CMP must be granted access to all areas where it needs to excavate. people who have won in that constituency. I pay tribute I therefore urge all those in control of such areas, to all colleagues who have joined us for this important including the Turkish military, to co-operate fully with debate, specifically my hon. Friend, who has a deep, the committee. The Committee of Ministers responsible consistent interest in this subject, which is a cause of for the supervision of the Turkey v. Cyprus case in the great importance to a large number of his constituents European Court of Human Rights case has also underlined and in which he takes an interest more widely. the need for Turkish authorities to take concrete measures Let me make a couple of points in response to in relation to the missing persons, and particularly in specific issues that my hon. Friend raised, then touch on relation to the CMP’s access to all relevant information three themes that came out of the debate: cultural sites, and places. missing persons and natural gas and mineral reserves, Secondly, the cultural heritage of the island, which which were mentioned in an intervention by my hon. my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate Friend the Member for Stone (Mr Cash). discussed at some length, is a sensitive area and the The United Kingdom fully supports Security Council technical committee on cultural heritage, established in resolutions 550 and 789, which my hon. Friend the April 2008, has the mandate to work on improving the Member for Enfield, Southgate mentioned, and we will situation. The committee has developed an action plan continue to raise those issues with the Turkish authorities. to protect vulnerable buildings. It has already started We urge Turkey to implement the additional Ankara work on some projects and hopes, with further funding, protocol when we have a suitable opportunity to bring to be able to implement more of its plan. The UK that to its attention. It is important that the European Government strongly believe that respect for religious Union and Turkey find a way to make progress on this and cultural buildings is a key element in building trust issue. between different communities, including through the preservation of churches, mosques and other buildings My hon. Friend was right to draw the attention of of religious and cultural heritage. the House to this significant moment in the long history of Cyprus, because from 1 July until the end of this year Thirdly, and finally—I am conscious that I am slightly it holds the presidency of the Council of the European skimming through these areas, but I know that hon. Union. There are close links between our countries: Members will want to hear the response to specific Cyprus is one of only three EU member states in the points—my hon. Friends the Members for Stone and Commonwealth; more than 80,000 British citizens live for Enfield, Southgate mentioned the discovery of on the island; more than 300,000 Cypriots live permanently substantial gas reserves in Cyprus’ exclusive economic in the UK, many of them in Enfield and other parts of zone, which we regard as good news for the island. north London and across the country; a million British There has never been any doubt about the United people visit the island annually; and 11,000 Cypriot Kingdom’s support for the right of the Republic of students attend British universities. I strongly take on Cyprus to develop the reserves that lie within its exclusive board the point that was made about our historical economic zone. Along with the international community obligations and our contemporary interest in events we have publicly stated our recognition of Cyprus’ happening in Cyprus. sovereign rights to do so. We welcome President Christofias’s saying that the Mr Cash: Will the Minister commit to looking into gas reserves should benefit all the people living in the question of the fraudulent title to land? Many Cyprus. We hope that the Government of the Republic thousands of English—British—people have land in of Cyprus will take further steps to demonstrate to Cyprus. I raised that matter when I visited. Will he Turkish Cypriots that they have a clear interest in the commit to taking that forward, to ensure that there is a development of these reserves. We call on all parties to proper resolution in the courts so that these titles can be handle the issue in a way that does not undermine the remedied? settlement process and urge both sides not to escalate the issue. Mr Browne: I will happily undertake to task the I express once again, on behalf of the Government, Department with looking into that. The Minister for my gratitude to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Europe or I will write to my hon. Friend. Southgate for raising this subject and reiterate that the I have mentioned the three areas that I want to talk Government remain committed to seeing a comprehensive about in the five minutes available to me. First, on settlement in Cyprus. missing people, there are significant efforts to help families discover the fate of their relatives and give Dr Offord: Treading carefully, because this Government them the opportunity to bury them with respect. We and no other Government apart from the Turkish understand that this is an important and sensitive issue Government recognise the northern Republic of Cyprus, for all Cypriots and recognise the need for it to be will the Minister undertake, or give us assurances, that resolved. The work of the committee for missing persons his Department will assist either the all-party parliamentary is of great significance. Since its establishment in 1981, group on Cyprus or hon. Members present in seeking it has been one of the only institutionalised bi-communal assurances from the mukhtars in the north that they committees in Cyprus. To date, the remains of 853 would undertake the work that we have described? individuals have been exhumed from different burial sites located across the island and 321 remains of individuals Mr Browne: In the seconds that I have left, let me say exhumed within the framework of the CMP project that I will bring that to the attention of the Minister for have been identified through this process—255 Greek Europe, whom I am sure will take it on board as he does Cypriots and 66 Turkish Cypriots. all representations from hon. Members. 253WH 17 JULY 2012 Further Education Loans 254WH

Further Education Loans Clearly, we need a larger evidence base and greater scrutiny of the proposals. Some 375,000 adult learners 4.30 pm stand to be affected by the changes, of which a disproportionate number are women—often carers. At Tristram Hunt (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Lab): It is a Stoke-on-Trent college in my constituency, 1,080 of the great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, 1,780 affected students are women. That is why the Dr McCrea. I think that we last met in the Joint £50 million bursary for vulnerable students is a welcome Committee on the draft House of Lords Reform Bill—what addition, although I would be grateful if the Minister a spectacular use of all our time that was. I hope to confirmed whether that money is being drawn from finish a little early to allow some of my colleagues to say other learner support budgets? If so, could he tell us a few words—in particular, the shadow Minister, my whether the negative impacts of removing the funds hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool South have been properly assessed? (Mr Marsden). It is a great pleasure to have secured this debate on John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab): I the last day of term—an important debate that, frankly, congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. At following the Minister’s announcements last week should Stoke-on-Trent, which is similar to Rotherham, he have been held on the Floor of the House. However, as mentioned 1,800 students; in Rotherham and Barnsley, with the Government’s higher education policy, on which there are probably 3,000 students over 24 who could be we wait in vain for a White Paper and proper scrutiny, hit by up to £4,000 a year extra, for the first time ever the Government have a terrible fear of discussing their paying the full cost of their fees and having to take out skills and education strategy—such as it is. student loans for further education. Does he agree that that will put people off and that it is perhaps the worst It is also a great pleasure to have in the debate the possible time to introduce student loans for further Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong education, when people are worried about their jobs, Learning, who graciously visited Stoke-on-Trent a fortnight their debt and how they are going to pay the bills? ago to see the excellent work done by Sara Robinson and her team at Stoke-on-Trent college. For a city such Tristram Hunt: In Stoke-on-Trent and, I imagine, in as Stoke-on-Trent, the debate is vital. As a report from my right hon. Friend’s constituency, we have seen a fall the Centre for Cities think-tank revealed only last week, in the number of those who are seeking to go on to “Skills are the biggest determinant of success for cities, and are higher education in local universities as a result of the critical to the life chances of individuals.” increase in tuition fees to £9,000. Will we see the self-same We are a city with some of the finest craftsman and fall among those who are seeking to go on to further most skilled workers in the land, who produce objects education? That is exactly the wrong strategy to pursue of inestimable beauty, but we also need to up our in such cities, which, above all, need to upgrade their educational and skills attainment levels and we expect skills. Government partnership to help us to do so. I also welcome Government recognition that there is Thus far, sadly, we have not had the kind of support a capital issue in FE with the STEM subjects of science, that we would like: the scrapping of education maintenance technology, engineering and maths, although it is not allowances was not helpful, while the botched introduction clear how that will prevent the cost differential between of higher education tuition fees has seen steep falls in those more expensive courses and the cheaper humanity applications to the surrounding universities of Keele, courses in a sustainable way. Again, we need more Staffordshire and Manchester Metropolitan. My fear is details. that some of the strategic thinking that was at work on Another difference between the higher and further higher education policy has also been at work in further education sectors does not stack up well for the proposals— education—not only the same model of lending, but the the relative homogeneity of higher education courses in same insouciance about detail and accountability. terms of length, the academic calendar, qualifications There are some crucial differences between the higher offered and the application process, compared with education sector and the further education sector. A courses in further education, which can often vary in system of loans is an entirely new approach to FE length, begin at different points and have much less provision and the so-called deterrent factor seems more obvious timings. To be generous, the Student Loans complex. The argument that up-front course fees can Company does not have an outstanding record of delivery act as a deterrent to learning has some merit. The even when administering the far simpler world of higher impact of debt is less clear. I was concerned about the education loans. In the Minister’s response, will he piling up of debt by students moving from level 3 outline what steps he is taking to ensure that the Student qualifications to higher education and facing a double Loans Company can cope with that added pressure? We whammy. will certainly see the consequences in our constituency I therefore wholeheartedly welcome the Minister’s surgeries if the change goes wrong. concession in last Thursday’s statement that the Student My greatest concern with the proposals, however, Loans Company will now wipe the outstanding loan for surrounds their financing. It is my understanding that access course students who go on to complete a higher the Government have estimated that only 40% of all education course. Perhaps the Minister could explain, level 3 qualification loans will get fully repaid. As my however, why that offer does not apply to other level 3 right hon. Friend implied, under the current policy, the qualifications, such as A-levels, BTECs or advanced Skills Funding Agency funds 50% of the cost of further apprenticeships. The Minister must surely be concerned education courses. There is a powerful case for not by his Department’s impact assessment, which suggests decreasing state support for further education on social that up to 150,000 students might drop out of adult mobility grounds—perhaps even more so than for higher learning altogether. education—but the Government have been clear that 255WH Further Education Loans17 JULY 2012 Further Education Loans 256WH

[Tristram Hunt] how the funds will operate, what flexibility he is going to give to colleges, and what extra administrative burdens deficit reduction is part of their motivation. If only 40% that will place on them? Will he pledge to lobby the of the loans are repaid, how would that represent a Treasury if the £50 million proves inadequate? better deal for the taxpayer? The chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education said that the loans system is new Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): I congratulate territory and creates uncertainty, and as we have heard, my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. the Government have asked the Student Loans Company Does he not also agree that there will be an in-built to administer FE loans as well. The SLC’s mixed record inefficiency if the numbers of students fall so substantially in such matters is well known. Will it have additional that the fixed costs of colleges are no longer adequately staff to administer the more complex FE structure, covered by student fees? without the central processing mechanism used by UCAS in higher education? Will the Minister comment on the Tristram Hunt: That is precisely the kind of area that admission by his officials to stakeholders—I was present we will need to look at when considering how the loans when it was made—that colleges may have to work with play out. What we saw in the higher education loans a paper-based system from the Student Loans Company system was all sorts of additions to the initial policy, as for the first year because of the speed with which FE the Government sought to unpick the consequences. In loans are being introduced? the way that things have been managed, we simply do not have the data to appreciate what will happen. The Government have promised to write off HE access course loans, but stakeholders such as Million+ We can be positive about many elements of the are rightly concerned—as was my hon. Friend—that Government plans, but we need to thrash out the questions vulnerable individuals will shy away from taking up of the consequences: value for money for the taxpayers; access courses in the first place. Will the Minister look whether the Government have a philosophical objection at a potential broadening of the write-off, or at a grace to public investment in skills, although we know how period of perhaps three to five years for HE access important they are; and some of the detailed practicalities students who, through no fault of their own but due to surrounding last week’s announcement, as my right family circumstances or whatever, find themselves unable hon. and hon. Friends have suggested. It would have to get on an HE course immediately? been helpful to have had the discussion in the House, with more colleagues with FE colleges in their constituencies Loans are also to be enforced on adult advanced and present to explore such major public policy changes. higher apprentices to take out on an individual basis. However, the written ministerial statement made little reference to how that will work, or to the concerns 4.40 pm voiced by the Government’s Commission for Employment Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South) (Lab): It is a and Skills about the potential reluctance of individuals pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr McCrea, and employers to participate. Why has the Minister so and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for far not taken note of those concerns and those of Stoke-on-Trent Central (Tristram Hunt) not only on Unionlearn? What consultation has he had with major securing this debate, but on the detailed, cogent and employers involved in apprenticeship programmes, including strong case he made that gave both an overview of the the armed forces, about such reservations? Have his issue and the specific details from his constituency. This officials made an estimate of the number of adult debate is necessary because, as has been pointed out, apprentices who are at risk of dropping out if they are the Government have used negative resolution procedure forced to take up loans on an individual basis? In a to lay regulations on these loans without any debate or written reply, the Minister told me that he currently has oral statements. This is the biggest change for a generation; no agreement with the Treasury to prevent it from it will affect 375,000 learners, and because of the way clawing back unused loan funding if take-up is slower the Government have introduced the regulations, it will or poorer than anticipated. Will he undertake to obtain come into effect on 1 September which is before the such an agreement before the loans are introduced next House returns from its summer recess. That is why it is March? so important to have more details from the Minister As my hon. Friend and other colleagues have said, we today. need adult learners to continue to prosper and thrive, Further education colleges now have to make decisions and not to be nudged away in places such as my hon. about retaining courses and staff as part of a Treasury Friend’s constituency in Stoke from improving their life cuts-driven loans system—let us make no bones about chances and—this is important—from contributing to it—that even the Department’s officials say will cover kick-starting growth in our local economies, something only 80% of the current learner cohort. I appreciate the that we desperately need. concession that the Government have made in response to widespread concerns across the sector, and the personal Esther McVey (Wirral West) (Con): I, too, congratulate diligence shown by the Minister and the Secretary of the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Tristram State on this matter. Those concessions, however, and Hunt) on initiating this important debate. He and the the written ministerial statement, have only provoked hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden) have further concerns of substance from all FE stakeholders, spoken about skills being critical to cities. Do they and I want to raise one or two of those points with the therefore concur that the FE freedoms outlined in the Minister today. “New Challenges, New Chances” report will give more My hon. Friend noted that only about £20 million of freedom to employers to meet the needs and demands the bursary money is new money, and the 157 Group of the future work force, and are a positive step in the has also drawn attention to that. Will the Minister say right direction? 257WH Further Education Loans17 JULY 2012 Further Education Loans 258WH

Mr Marsden: That is probably more a point for the a deliberate attempt—more than an attempt; a deliberate Minister than for me, but I will observe that freedoms policy decision—to prioritise the least advantaged, because are great but, as we know, the freedom to dine at the in my judgment, it is the duty of the fortunate to Ritz is not a very useful freedom. This measure must be promote the interests of the less fortunate, no less in seen in the context of extra administrative burdens that government than in our personal affairs. the FE loan system may place on colleges. In a way, that In net terms, around 10% of FE learners will be brings me to my final point. The devil is in the detail, affected by the new loans, and as I have said, they will and the Government will be judged on how they deliver be older learners and people studying at level 3 and this huge change to the further education system over above. Notwithstanding, however, that that is a small the next 12 months. minority of the FE cohort, I received representations over time, we conducted an impact assessment, we 4.45 pm surveyed the sector, and we engaged in discussions with The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong the 157 Group, NIACE, the AOC and others—the hon. Learning (Mr John Hayes): It is a pleasure to speak in Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden) referred to this debate, and I congratulate the hon. Member for them all. Those representations made it clear to us, and Stoke-on-Trent Central (Tristram Hunt) on securing it. that analysis showed, that some kinds of learner might He is right to say that it is timely and, to pick up on his be, in the words of the right hon. Member for Wentworth first point, that we should have an opportunity to and Dearne (John Healey), disproportionately affected debate the issue at greater length. I have already made, by the prospect of loans. One has to be a little cautious, and I will continue to make overtures to create some because similar evidence before the introduction of HE space for such a debate when we return, not least loans suggested a lower take-up than subsequently occurred. because I am always happy to debate skills and further One therefore needs to qualify one’s doubts in those education. I do not say that those things are the terms, but I do share the view that we needed to do Government’s only shining example of success—far more. Indeed, that was set out in the very good letter from it—but they are certainly shining brightly. That is sent to me at the end of June by the hon. Member for because we are determined to give FE colleges the Blackpool South, who has contributed for the Opposition. freedoms and flexibilities that they need to become He identified four areas in which he believed that there increasingly responsive to employer need and learner was a particular issue and he put his case, as ever, very choice—my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West reasonably and fairly. Those four areas were essentially (Esther McVey) referred to that. access to— Disraeli said that it is easier to be critical than to be correct. The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central John Healey: Will the Minister give way? was not terribly critical and was correct to welcome the measures that have been put in place, which I shall Mr Hayes: Yes, I will happily give way. mention in a moment. First, however, let me set the scene. With the new freedoms that I have given the John Healey: When I came into the Chamber, the sector, it is essential that further education is able to Minister said, “Are you here to pay tribute to my offer as many people as possible the opportunity to gain work?” I have been known to do that and I suspect that learning as a means of improving their prospects through his hand has been forced somewhat on this question of progressive learning or access to employment. student loans. Before he moves off the impact assessment When we debated the comprehensive spending review, and the research, is he not worried that that research I and my colleagues in Department for Business, Innovation showed that only one in 10 of current students would and Skills—in particular the Secretary of State—were definitely do their course if they were faced with having determined that our priority should be those who are student loans as he is proposing? most disadvantaged, either by an absence of prior learning or by their circumstances, and those to whom we could Mr Hayes: Actually, if one looks at the impact assessment make the most difference in terms of further education. closely, it suggests that after clear communication of That is not to underestimate the significance of lifelong the offer, we will expect full take-up of the funding for learning or second and third chance education. Indeed, loans. A very significant majority of people, when the in the same CSR negotiations we cemented and safeguarded circumstances of the loans were explained to them, said the adult and community learning budget that had been that they would participate. Initially, some were very threatened and—I am reluctant to say this—sometimes likely to do so and some were less certain, but the disparaged by the Labour party when in government. number saying that they would participate grew as these That safeguarding surprised some who had not anticipated things were explained to them. By the way, full take-up that we would be so protective, but I believe in adult and of the loans would be 90% of 24-plus learners studying community learning not only as a means of re-engaging at level 3 and above. We are therefore talking about a people but because it adds to the individual and collective very significant majority of 10% of the cohort. That is well-being of our nation. As you know, Dr McCrea, I where we are in terms of the overall FE numbers. believe in the promotion of the common good and It should be borne in mind that the impact assessment would not do anything to inhibit the interests of the was carried out before I announced the mitigation people. package, to which the hon. Member for Blackpool To that end, we made it clear that priority would South has referred. I was coming on to why we put that continue to be placed on basic skills, younger learners in place. A case was made about access to HE. It seems and people below level 3. When introducing loans, we to me perfectly fair to argue that it would be unacceptable limited them to people over the age of 24 and those for someone to borrow to study an access course and then studying for a qualification at level 3 or above. That was borrow again to study an HE course. The hon. Member 259WH Further Education Loans17 JULY 2012 Further Education Loans 260WH

[Mr Hayes] a chance to debate the matter more fully until this September, it is not happening until the year after the for Blackpool South asked whether we could look at the next academic year. The hon. Member for Blackpool issue of timing. I think that we should and I will do so. I South makes the point that FE colleges must plan and think that there is an argument for people who do not he is right. That is why we have done what we have now, immediately progress to HE, but do so perhaps a year rather than waiting any longer. I hope that the fund will or two years later. We need to consider how we manage address the issue of older learners, who were, according that, but the hon. Gentleman makes a fair point and I to the impact assessment, disproportionately risk averse will certainly look at it. in terms of loans. That is hardly surprising. Someone of 55 might perceive a 30-year loan in a rather different Jonathan Lord (Woking) (Con): Would my hon. Friend way from someone of 20 or 25. the Minister care to tell us a little more about the £50 million bursary fund that is available over two George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con): My years, because that is quite an important element of the hon. Friend the Minister makes a very important point. mitigation and support package? May I welcome the cautious approach that he has taken in this area? Does he agree with me that at a time of Mr Hayes: I am almost as excited about that as my recession, when we are trying to get our economy going, hon. Friend. I will certainly come to it, because it is supporting adult learning is incredibly important for wonderful news. I have been asked to give more detail reskilling the work force and those who may find themselves and I will in the time available. Let me just finish my out of work? point about the access-to-HE measures. They mean that anyone who goes on to HE will see their access loan Mr Hayes: As I am the champion of apprenticeships, written off. That is very important, as that route my hon. Friend would hardly expect me to disagree disproportionately contains people with poor levels of with that analysis. He is right that skills are critical to prior attainment, after all that is why they are doing recalibrating the competences of our work force in a access-to-HE courses. They are often doing so later in way that makes our economy more sustainable by making life. There is also a disproportionate number of women our businesses more resilient. and women returners in that group. That is very important, The bursary fund is exciting and new and will allow too. What we are doing is therefore socially regenerative; us to address some of the perfectly properly argued it is about social justice. All I do is driven by my passion concerns of Opposition Members, but more than that, I for social justice. That is what those courses are about wanted to accept NIACE’s proposal of a mid-life learning and that is why we have taken this action. health check, so that we could look at people at the age However, that alone, in my judgment, would not have of 40 and 50 perhaps and use the national careers been sufficient. That is why I wanted a bursary fund. service to gauge when and where they could study to The hon. Member for Blackpool South has asked how upskill or reskill. That there is a need for that has been much of that is drawn from existing provision. About argued by the sector for some time, and we have taken it £20 million is completely new money. As hon. Members on board as part of this package. will know, there is some existing learner support money On the issue of STEM, which was raised specifically, in FE. It is targeted at, for example, people with learning I take the view that tying capital investment to STEM is difficulties and disabilities. That will be made part of not only about growing capacity, but about pinning this bursary, but I do not anticipate that any learner will down the costs of those courses. It is often argued that be worse off as a result of these changes. In other the costs are so high because of the need to resource in words, we are not displacing the interests of any group order to deliver them. I will look at how we can be of learners. It is just more straightforward for colleges specific about that in the next FE capital round. We and learners to have these things in a single national have already had a number of such rounds, and we will bursary package. have many more, because it is vital that we invest in our I have always favoured the idea of a national bursary college infrastructure. We have excellent colleges, such fund, by the way, so this is the fulfilment of another as the one that I visited in Stoke, when, as a result of the long-held ambition, framed by the discussions that I kindness of the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent North have had over many years with the sector, which argued (Joan Walley), I was able to take away with me an that it would be a very effective way of allowing colleges Arnold Bennett volume to read over my brief summer to respond to local circumstances. They know their sojourn. cohort best; they know their circumstances better than I All of that represents responsiveness. It was developed ever could. We therefore need to build in a level of after discussion with hon. Members on both sides of discretion to allow colleges to work with their communities, the House. It was certainly discussed with the sector. It their learner base and their local employers to ensure is a considerable step forward. But I just say this. Our that what they are providing meets the needs. determination is to ensure that it is put in place efficiently However, the point made from the Opposition side of and effectively, so there will be no paper-based system. the Chamber about how much discretion there will be This will be done properly. The Student Loans Company was well made. I think that we should set down some will get it right, as the hon. Member for Blackpool criteria according to which we expect the money to be South urged it to do, quite properly. This is a fair allocated and I will do so, having had discussions with package—a just package. It is a package of which we the sector and bearing in mind—let us get the time scale can all be proud. We should now move forward together clear—that the application period for loans opens in with confidence to put in place loans and get rid of April 2013 for courses starting in August or September up-front fees—a point that the hon. Member for Stoke- 2013. Therefore, although it is true that we will not have on-Trent Central very generously made and that I would 261WH Further Education Loans17 JULY 2012 Further Education Loans 262WH have made otherwise. We should do so in the spirit that Question put and agreed to. has imbued all we have done; one of elevating practical learning by elevating those who teach and learn in our FE colleges, who change so many lives by changing so many life chances. 5pm Dr William McCrea (in the Chair): Order. I wish right Sitting adjourned. hon. and hon. Members a very pleasant recess.

115WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 116WS

available to them from ECGD if they require credit Written Ministerial insurance, export working capital finance, contract bond support or if their buyers require export credit loan Statements finance. Through engagement with overseas project sponsors ECGD has also promoted the availability of export credit finance to help to influence them to purchase Tuesday 17 July 2012 supplies from companies based in the UK. This work by UKTI and ECGD is intended to assist UK exporters of low-carbon technologies and support BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS them in taking advantage of international opportunities. As to support for dirty fossil fuel energy production, “dirty” should be taken as referring to projects which Competition and Markets Authority produce pollution in excess of international environmental standards. The standards which ECGD applies are those set out by the OECD in the OECD Council The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and recommendation on Common Approaches on Officially Skills (Vince Cable): I have decided to appoint Lord Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Currie as the chair-designate to the Competition and Due Diligence and are usually those of the World Bank Markets Authority. Group. ECGD will normally refuse support for exports Lord Currie will commence his appointment in the to projects that do not meet those standards. summer which will be for an initial period of four years. The UK will seek to promote the strengthening of His appointment as chairman will be subject to the the relevant World Bank Group international standards Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill receiving Royal to include limits on emissions of greenhouse gases. Assent and to scrutiny by the BIS Select Committee. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ code of Capital for Enterprise Ltd (Triennial Review) practice (April 2012). Lord Currie was chair of Ofcom from its inception in 2002 until 2009, dean of Cass Business School from The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation 2001 until 2008 and before that deputy dean at London and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk): The triennial review of Business School. Capital for Enterprise Ltd will commence during October He is currently chair of the International Centre for 2012. Financial Regulation and board member of Dubai The coalition Government made a commitment Financial Services Authority. Lord Currie also holds a to review public bodies, with the aim of increasing number of non-executive roles spanning academia, accountability for actions carried out on behalf of the Government and the voluntary sector and sits as a state. cross-bencher in the House of Lords. BIS has agreed with the Cabinet Office that Capital Lord Currie will be stepping down from his current for Enterprise Ltd will be one of the NDPBs for which non-executive directorships of Royal Mail, IG Group the review will commence during the second year of the and BDO. triennial review programme, financial year 2012-13. The review will be conducted as set out in Cabinet Green Technologies (UKTI/ECGD Support) Office guidance, in two stages. Stage 1 will: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Identify and examine the key functions of the Capital for Skills (Vince Cable): The 2010 coalition programme for Enterprise Ltd and assess how these functions contribute to government contained a commitment that: the core business of BIS. Assess the requirement for these to continue. “We will ensure that UK Trade and Investment and the Export Credits Guarantee Department become champions for British If continuing, then assess delivery options and where the companies that develop and export innovative green technologies conclusion is that a particular function is still needed examine round the world, instead of supporting investment in dirty fossil-fuel how this function might best be delivered, including a cost production.” and benefits analysis where appropriate. UKTI set out in its strategy “Britain Open for Business” If one of these options is continuing delivery through Capital how it would promote low-carbon exports; this includes for Enterprise Ltd, then make an assessment against the a green export campaign that aims to build the UK’s Government’s “three tests”, which are: technical function; reputation in the green and low-carbon sector and to political impartiality; need for independence from Ministers. promote this capability overseas. UKTI is embedding If the outcome of stage 1 is that delivery should this campaign into trade work in all markets where continue through Capital for Enterprise Ltd then the there is a clear opportunity to do so. second stage of the project will be to ensure that it is The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), operating in line with the recognised principles of good operating as UK Export Finance, has been engaging corporate governance, using the Cabinet Office “comply with companies and trade bodies based in the UK or explain” standard approach. which are involved in the development and export of The report of the review should be completed within green technology exports. The purpose has been to six months from commencement, and will be placed in ensure companies are aware of the support that is the Libraries of both Houses. 117WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 118WS

CABINET OFFICE The proposals being taken forward will both reduce the regulatory burden on firms and make the UK’s money laundering regime more effective and proportionate. Government Consultation The amendments are, for the most part, intended to benefit UK businesses by removing from the scope of The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr Oliver the regulations those firms that are not at high risk of Letwin): Today my hon. Friend the Minister of State, money laundering or terrorist financing and by enabling Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the UK businesses to take full advantage of simplification Minister with responsibility for business and enterprise, measures provided in the European Union (EU) directive. the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk) and The Government committed to a post-implementation I are announcing a new approach to Government review of the 2007 regulations two years after they came consultations. into force. This review was undertaken in 2009-10, in The civil service reform plan commits the Government conjunction with the Better Regulation Executive. The to improving policy making and implementation with a review entailed an extensive call for evidence, meetings, greater focus on robust evidence, transparency and engaging conferences and interviews with stakeholders. The with key groups earlier in the process. Government’s response to the review was published in As a result the Government are improving the way June 2011 and contained a consultation on 17 proposals they consult by adopting a more proportionate and to improve the UK’s anti-money laundering and counter- targeted approach. The new approach to consultation is terrorist financing regime. based on making the type and scale of engagement Following this consultation, which drew 72 responses proportional to the potential impacts of the proposal. and involved extensive engagement, the Government The emphasis is on understanding the effects of a are taking forward proposals with a net annual benefit proposal and ensuring real engagement rather than for businesses of £3 million. following the same bureaucratic process. The measures that will be taken forward are: This guidance therefore replaces the code of practice Extending the use of reliance: The Government will on consultation issued in July 2008. extend the permitted use of reliance, a mechanism by This will mean that Departments will follow a range which a firm can rely on the customer due diligence of time scales rather than defaulting to a 12-week (CDD) carried out by a different firm. This will minimise period, particularly where extensive engagement has the duplication of CDD checks by the regulated sector occurred before. Policy makers will need to give more and reduce the burden CDD places upon customers. thought to how we consult with people. The aim is to replace potentially unproductive process with real Exempting non-lending credit institutions: Only businesses engagement with those who are affected—in some cases that lend and advance money should be subject to the earlier consultation so groups can shape policy earlier regulations. The regulations will be amended to exempt in the process. credit institutions that offer time to pay for non-refundable Consultation can take different forms but the expectation services, such as health and golf clubs. The Government is that it will be “digital by default.” This approach will do not consider that such businesses present a high risk need to be varied for vulnerable or other groups whose of money laundering and terrorist financing, or that the access to information technology is limited, but it should global standards and EU directive require such businesses mean that Departments can be more, not less, effective to be regulated. at reaching particular groups affected by policies. Regulating overseas estate agents: Global standards The principles of the compact between Government and the EU directive require the regulation of estate and the voluntary and community sector will continue agents because of the high money laundering risks in to be respected. this sector. UK estate agents selling overseas properties The new consultation principles will be promoted will, therefore, now be within scope of the regulations. within Whitehall now, and the public will begin to see Amending the fit and proper test: The “fit and proper new guidance take effect after recess. In line with the persons” test is applied by Her Majesty’s Revenue and principles of open policy making we welcome views on Customs (HMRC) to decide whether a person is suitable how the new approach should operate in practice. Copies to run a money service business (MSB). This test will be of the new guidance have been placed in the Library of amended in the regulations to ensure that individuals the House. who are not fit and proper cannot run a business which is at high risk of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation of financing. This also ensures consistency TREASURY with the financial action taskforce (FATF) global standards, the EU directive and the fit and proper test applied by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Payment Money Laundering Services Regulations. Right to appeal against HMRC decision: The Government The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Mark will clarify the right to appeal, to ensure that individuals Hoban): The Government are today publishing their have easy and economic access to a fair hearing if they response to the consultation on proposed changes to wish to challenge HMRC’s decision. the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and an impact Regulatory enforcement measures: These measures assessment on those changes. The 2007 regulations support the Office of Fair Trading, HMRC and the implement the European Union’s third money laundering FSA as supervisors in taking action to ensure compliance directive in the UK. with the regulations. 119WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 120WS

A full explanation of the proposals being taken forward autumn: the Council held a preliminary exchange of can be found in the Government’s response document views in advance of these. I intervened to welcome the and impact assessment. Copies have been placed in the European Council’s commitment to the integrity of the Libraries of both Houses. single market and to highlight the need to protect against its fragmentation—such as discrimination between the euro area and euro “outs”—and I pointed out that ECOFIN banking union makes sense for the euro area, as mutualised risk should be accompanied by mutualised control. European Semester The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Mark Hoban): The Economic and Financial Affairs Council The Council adopted the recommendations to member was held in Brussels on 10 July 2012. Ministers discussed states on their economic and fiscal policies, and the the following items: specific recommendation on the economic policies of the member states of the euro area. As required by the Economic governance—“two pack” “comply or explain” principle established by economic The incoming Cypriot presidency updated Ministers governance legislation agreed last year, the Council on the process to be followed for trilogue negotiations provided explanations of its modifications of Commission with the European Parliament on the “two pack” of proposals and recommendations. economic governance proposals. The Parliament has Ministers also discussed the European semester more suggested changes to the proposals. The Council confirmed broadly and suggested ideas for improving the process that the general approach it agreed on 21 February in 2013. The presidency called for further discussions at would be the starting point for the negotiations: the Council meetings scheduled for the autumn. first working-level meeting with the Parliament was scheduled for 11 July. Spain’s Excessive Deficit Procedure Revised capital requirements rules (CRD4) In a late addition to the agenda. Ministers agreed to The presidency briefed Ministers on progress made in extend Spain’s deadline to correct its deficit under its trilogue negotiations, and expressed its wish to finalise excessive deficit procedure. Spain will now have until the negotiations as soon as possible. It had already held 2014 to bring its deficit below the EU’s 3% of GDP its first trilogue and had scheduled further meetings reference value. very soon. It will aim to achieve adoption of both the Other business directive and the regulation at first reading, though it The Council agreed to recommend the nomination of acknowledges several outstanding issues requiring Yves Mersch (currently Head of Luxembourg’s central resolution—including the mechanism for member states bank) to the executive board of the European Central to impose additional prudential requirements, remuneration Bank (ECB). This recommendation will be submitted policies, crisis management, sanctions, the balance of to the European Council for a decision, after consultation power between the authorities of “home” and “host” with the European Parliament and the ECB’s governing countries, corporate governance, and the powers of the council. European Banking Authority (EBA). The UK favours a full and faithful implementation of Basel 3 in the EU and member states having the flexibility to increase minimum standards in order to protect financial stability Tax Policy (Consultation) in their jurisdiction. Proposal for Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive The Commission presented its proposals for a directive, The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David which the Council noted, and Ministers held a preliminary Gauke): Budget 2012 announced a number of tax policy exchange of views. The presidency’s aim is for the changes that will be subject to consultation. HM Revenue Council to agree a general approach by December. and Customs is today publishing the following documents: Presentation of the Cyprus Presidency Work Programme High-risk areas of the tax code: the stamp duty land The new presidency presented its work programme tax (SDLT) “transfer of rights” or “subsale” rules—A on economic and financial affairs for the next six months. consultation on broad options to address SDLT subsales It will prioritise implementation of recently adopted avoidance. initiatives on economic governance, fiscal consolidation, VAT treatment of small cable-based transport—A strengthening the European financial services framework consultation on the introduction of a reduced rate of and accelerating structural reforms, as well as some tax VAT for small cable-based transport. issues. Ministers exchanged views on this: I highlighted the European Commission’s ¤15 billion upward revision The following consultations are due to be published to its June proposal for the 2014-2020 multi-annual during summer recess: financial framework, which was already unaffordable, Life insurance policies: time apportioned reduction and called for re-prioritisation of the EU budget. The —A consultation on reform to time apportionment Council took note of the presidency’s programme. reductions reflecting a policyholder’s period of residence Follow-up to the European Council on 28-29 June 2012 outside the UK. Ministers discussed work required to follow up the Foreign currency assets and chargeable gains—A June European Council discussions, on establishing what consultation on whether to introduce a rule requiring has been termed “genuine economic and monetary companies with a non-sterling functional currency to union” and a banking supervisor. On the latter, the compute their capital gains and losses in their functional Commission will present proposals, expected in the currency. 121WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 122WS

Details of these and other planned consultations are http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/brr/sumcon/ included in a consultation tracker, available from the index.htm HM Treasury website: We look forward to receiving views on our proposals. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/tax_updates.htm. The consultation period will close on 24 September The tracker includes specific anticipated launch dates 2012. We will then put forward our proposals for local wherever possible, to help representative groups and government funding for 2013-14 in a draft local government others manage their engagement with the Government finance settlement later this year. on tax policy development. Any changes to the dates Council Tax Information Letter mentioned above will be publicised on the tax consultation The Government also today issued a council tax tracker. information letter to local authorities to make them aware that, when considering applications from service personnel for second homes discount on their private properties, they do make payments on their UK or COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT overseas service accommodation in lieu of council tax. This payment is paid to the billing authority where the service accommodation is located by the Ministry of Local Government Finance Defence. Council tax support The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for To support the planning of local council tax reduction Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill): Iam schemes, and to provide clarity on our plans for secondary today publishing a consultation and informing the House legislation, I have also published, on 16 July 2012, key of a number of steps we have taken to support our draft regulations regarding the localisation of council localism agenda and the important financial reforms we tax support, as we said we would in the detailed statement are delivering through the Local Government Finance of intent on regulations published in May. Bill. Under the reforms set out in the Local Government Business rates retention Finance Bill 2012, local authorities will be required to make their own council tax support schemes by 31 January The business rates retention scheme will enable local 2013. The draft regulations I published yesterday will authorities to retain a proportion of locally collected ensure all local schemes contain any requirements prescribed business rates to help fund the services they provide, by the Secretary of State, including provision of support therefore creating a direct link between business rates for vulnerable pensioners, and also set out the requirements collected and local authority income, and reducing for a default scheme, which will come into effect if a local authorities’ dependency on central Government local authority fails to make a scheme by the prescribed grants. The technical consultation document, also published deadline. today, sets out proposals for the detailed workings of the new business rates retention scheme that is to be The publication of these regulations in draft form is introduced from April 2013. intended to give authorities and interested parties the opportunity to make any comments or ask questions on The scheme will give councils a strong financial incentive the process and the draft regulations, to ensure that the to promote local business growth while ensuring that all final versions will enable local authorities to implement local authorities have adequate resources to provide the prescribed requirements or default scheme smoothly. services to local people. Analysis undertaken by the Department for Communities and Local Government It is essential that local authorities press ahead now shows that the projected economic benefits of the new with developing their schemes. Schemes have to be business rate retention scheme could add an additional agreed by the end of January 2013 and will apply from £10 billion to national gross domestic product over the 1 April 2013. This means local authorities need to start next seven years. And councils who succeed in growing consulting now to ensure they can give full consideration their local economy get a direct boost to their coffers. to the views local people express, and provisions in the This is not simply about redistributing the proceeds of Local Government Finance Bill make clear that the growth—if these reforms lead to every council working billing authority can consult prior to the Bill coming as hard as it possibly can to help businesses thrive, then into force. they have the potential to increase growth overall, which Parish and community cheques is good news for communities in as much as any increase Today we have published a consultation paper proposing in business rates means more money to invest in local the removal of an outdated rule that limits the ability of services. parish and community councils to use modern methods This publication follows the 2011 consultation on the of payment. The rule requires all cheques and other proposals for business rates retention and extensive orders for the payment of money to be signed by two discussions on the proposals with the local government members of the council. It applies to all parish councils sector, as well as the associated statements of intent in England and community councils in Wales, as well as published on 17 May this year. I have placed copies of some charter trustees in England. As the rule is contained the consultation document in the Library of the House. in primary legislation the paper proposes that the reform The consultation document, a supporting equality should be implemented by a legislative reform order statement, a Plain English Guide to Business Rates made under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Retention, a step by step guide and a revised pooling Act 2006. The paper sets out the robust yet flexible prospectus are also available on the Department for control framework that will take the place of the two Communities and Local Government website and the signature rules; this framework has been developed by Local Government Finance website at: the local council sector. Subject to the outcome of the 123WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 124WS consultation, the Government propose to lay a draft each year, with money spent managing the consequences order before Parliament in the autumn. A copy of the of delay rather than delivering maximum capability for consultation paper has been placed in the Library of the armed forces. the House. I was able to announce to the House on 14 May, Official Report, column 261, that we had finally balanced Local Government Pension Scheme the defence budget. The MOD is now engaged in a process of transformation to deliver the behaviour-changing incentives and structures that will maintain the budget The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for in balance in the fixture. The restructuring of DE&S is Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill): My key to this process. right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, made a statement to the House For decades the Ministry of Defence has wrestled on 20 December 2011 setting out principles to govern with this issue without success, and it is clear that the reform of the local government pension scheme addressing it within current structures will be extremely agreed between the Local Government Association and challenging. Earlier this year, I therefore asked my local government trade unions. These reforms are designed officials to focus their efforts on considering the comparative to ensure the scheme is sustainable and affordable in the benefits which could be derived from changing DE&S long term, while at the same time being fair to both into either an executive non-departmental public body scheme members and local taxpayers. with a strategic partner from the private sector (ENDPB/ SP), or a Government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) I can now report to the House that the Local Government entity. The work done to date, suggests that the strategic Association and local government trade unions have case for the GOCO option is stronger than the ENDPB begun informal consultations with their respective option. Further value-for-money work is under way to memberships on new design proposals for the scheme confirm this assessment. In the meantime, as resources to be in place by 2014, within the 19.5% cost ceiling and commercial appetite constrain our ability to pursue agreed by the Government. A favourable outcome will these two options simultaneously to the next stage, I be followed by a statutory, national consultation by the have decided that MOD should focus its effort on Government in the autumn. developing and testing the GOCO option further. Details of the proposals are contained in a joint The work to determine value for money between the statement issued by the local government trade unions options will take place over the next few months, and in and the Local Government Association which can be parallel we will begin development of a commercial found at www.lgps.org.uk. A copy of the statement has strategy, engaging industry to hone our requirement. been placed in the Library of the House. This work will support decisions later in the year on whether to proceed with the GOCO option and whether DEFENCE to launch a competition for the private sector management company to run the organisation. Provided that the Defence Materiel Strategy further work demonstrates that the value-for-money case for GOCO over ENDPB/SP is conclusive, this will be followed by an investment appraisal that will test the The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): GOCO against a public sector comparator, following A core element of the transformation process under which a decision on whether or not to proceed will be way in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is reforming its taken. acquisition system to drive better value from the defence budget. This includes changes to the Defence Equipment DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & Support (DE&S) organisation to ensure it has the structures, management and skills it needs to provide Individual Electoral Registration the right equipment to our armed forces at the right time, and at the right cost. This is essential to tackle the legacy problems in defence acquisition that led to cost The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Mark and schedule overruns, and which have resisted previous Harper): I am announcing today that the Government reform. The people at DE&S work hard to provide have placed the implementation plan for individual battle-winning equipment, support and logistics, but electoral registration (IER) in the House Library. The the current system does not work for them, does not plan has also been published on the Cabinet Office always support them, and is not delivering value for website. money for the taxpayer. The aim of this plan is to explain how the new system Over the last year, Bernard Gray, the Chief of Defence will affect citizens and electoral administrators and how Materiel, has analysed the root causes of the current this change will be delivered. In particular, it outlines situation and identified three interlinked issues. These the timetable for the work and how this will be managed are: a historically overheated equipment programme, alongside other activities electoral administrators will where far more projects were planned than could be have to carry out over that period. This plan has been paid for; a weak interface between DE&S and the wider developed in consultation with key delivery partners, Ministry of Defence with poor discipline and change the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA), the control between those setting requirements for equipment Electoral Commission (EC) and the Society of Local and those delivering the programmes; and insufficient Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). levels of business capability at DE&S for the scale and We have been working with stakeholders throughout complexity of the portfolio it is asked to deliver. The the process of developing our proposals for IER, and result has been significant additional costs in the defence have already consulted on the overall policy and the budget of the order of hundreds of millions of pounds Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, adapting 125WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 126WS our policy to reflect feedback from Parliament (notably functions will be transferred from the Department for the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, Communities and Local Government, to be administered which carried out pre-legislative scrutiny on our proposals), by the Department for Education, and so I am consulting the public, and other stakeholders. We piloted data on these proposals alongside the Secretary of State for matching last year with 22 local authorities. We will Communities and Local Government’s consultation on continue the approach of working with stakeholders the introduction of a business rates retention scheme throughout the delivery of this change, to ensure that from 2013-14. we have assurance that the new service will work effectively Distributing this money on a clear and transparent on the ground before we go live in 2014. basis will help to restore confidence in the system and will put an end to the dramatic year-on-year turbulence and national variation in funding levels. This will take EDUCATION us further in achieving our objective of raising the attainment of all pupils across the country. Education Services Reform I have also published the Government’s response to the consultation held late last year on the way that The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): funding for central education services was removed We need to reform the way that local authorities and from local authorities in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to reflect academies are funded for central education services. We the transfer of responsibilities to academies. This sets have inherited a complicated system which can no longer out the steps we have taken to ensure that the amounts support the rapid growth in the number of academies deducted better reflect the number of academies in each and today I am announcing proposals to make it fairer, local authority over the two-year period. simpler and more transparent from 2013-14. Copies of these publications will be placed in the Academies are responsible for a range of education Libraries of both Houses. services such as school improvement, audit and HR, that local authorities perform on behalf of maintained FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE schools. Academies receive a grant (known as the local authority central spend equivalent grant or LACSEG) British Council (Annual Report) to fund those additional duties. This gives academies greater freedom to secure the right services for their pupils. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Jeremy Browne): Copies of the British Council’s Local authorities and academies receive funding for annual report and accounts for the 2011-12 financial these responsibilities separately and the current method year have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. of calculating how much money each academy should It can also be found at the British Council’s website receive is convoluted and bureaucratic. We have to wait www.britishcouncil.org. until every local authority tells us how much they plan to spend on services for maintained schools in their area DuringtheperiodtheBritishCouncilreceived£180,500,000 before we can calculate the grants for academies. This grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth means that academies can receive vastly different levels Office. of funding from one year to the next and the rates tend to vary starkly across the country. Building Stability Overseas Moreover, as more schools adopt the freedoms of academy status, basing this grant on the amount spent The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth by the local authority is increasingly incongruous. In Affairs (Mr ): I, together with my right two local authorities, for instance, all state funded secondary hon. Friends the Secretary of State for International schools are now academies and the funding for education Development and the Secretary of State for Defence, services needs to be brought into line with this significant wish to update the House on the progress our three shift in school provision. Departments have made in implementing the Building Local authorities fund central education services from Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS) that we launched on the money they receive for schools from the Department 19 July 2011. The BSOS is one of the cross-Government for Education, as well as from their general funding. strategies adopted following the strategic defence and The Government believe that money intended for schools security review. should be given straight to schools themselves so that We launched the BSOS at the time of the Arab they can decide how best to spend it. That is why I spring, which was a profound demonstration that genuine announced in March that, from 2013-14, it will be stability can only be achieved when societies have strong compulsory for local authorities to allocate all of the and legitimate institutions to manage tensions peacefully. money that they receive specifically for schools (the The BSOS was the first cross-Government strategy on dedicated schools grant) directly to the maintained conflict issues. It sets out that it is in the UK’s interest to schools and academies in their area. build capacities overseas that help prevent the conditions I am also proposing that the money that is currently that lead to conflict before they develop; and to identify paid separately to local authorities and academies for emerging crises early and to respond rapidly to prevent central education services should be replaced by a single or mitigate them. grant. This would be allocated on a simple national We have made good progress in implementing the basis according to the numbers of pupils for which they new strategy since its publication. The BSOS has produced are responsible. The new grant would be paid directly to a range of different mechanisms that ensure that the individual academies and to each local authority for all different skills, perspectives and expertise across Government the pupils in maintained schools. The funding for these are brought together in an integrated way. 127WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 128WS

We have established new systems for early warning, with the UN’s Department for Political Affairs to improve to better identify rising risks. Senior officials from across its capacity for conflict prevention. We have provided Government meet regularly to systematically review UK secondees to the European External Action Service and, if necessary, challenge the Government’s approach conflict prevention team and we are ensuring conflict to selected priority countries. prevention features in EU budget negotiations. We are We have increased the level of overall resources for also engaging with a broader range of partners, including conflict prevention in the tri-departmental conflict pool Brazil and South Africa. The BSOS has enabled the UK and are aligning the pool’s approach more towards to remain at the heart of international thinking on upstream conflict prevention. I intend to place before conflict prevention. The London conference on Somalia the House details of proposed conflict resources allocations, in February was a good example of the way UK leadership through the conflict pool, for financial years 2012-13 can reinvigorate and galvanise international efforts. and 2014-15 once the National Security Council has We recognise that Government do not have all the endorsed them. answers and therefore we are seeking deliberately wider Our aim is to ensure a clear fit between conflict views beyond Whitehall to provide challenge and to pool allocations and the Government’s highest conflict ensure we access, reflect on and assimilate latest thinking. and stability priorities. We have increased conflict pool We have used the positive reaction to the publication funding for the middle east and north Africa region, of BSOS from NGOs and academics specialising in aligning our work closely with that of our Arab partnership conflict to develop relationships further through joint initiative which supports Arab-led efforts to build more initiatives. open, prosperous and stable societies. We are increasing The BSOS recognised the need to include the protection our support to Somalia and Pakistan, while continuing of women and children. I informed the House of the important commitments to the Balkans, the Caucasus Government’s new initiative to tackle sexual violence in and to the UK’s peacekeeping presence in Cyprus. conflict on 12 June including the establishment of a new Within the conflict pool, we have also created a new team of experts and an international diplomatic campaign £20 million early action facility (EAF) to provide rapid during our G8 presidency in 2013. As well as directly funding for unforeseen crises or to address new supporting and undertaking investigations, this team opportunities for conflict prevention. The facility has will support upstream interventions by providing training already been used to support work on Syria. to national authorities to strengthen their domestic For the first time, we have made conflict pool allocations response to rape and other crimes of sexual violence. across more than one financial year, increasing our In post-conflict scenarios, holding those responsible ability to plan ahead, deliver better value for money for appalling crimes of sexual violence and removing and improve the impact of our work. Weare strengthening the the sense of impunity will contribute to the peace conflict pool’s focus on achieving results. Our reform building process. programme will draw on recommendations from independent The new approach outlined in the building stability reviews this year by the National Audit Office and the overseas strategy is already beginning to have real impact Independent Commission for Aid Impact. on way the UK tackles conflict and instability overseas. We commissioned an internal review of the tri- We have the tools in place and are now working on departmental stabilisation unit. The review concluded implementation. Addressing instability and conflict overseas that there continues to be a clear need for the stabilisation is a sound investment in both our national interest and unit. It will remain an important tool to help integrate a better future for all. the Government’s approach to conflict and to help build more stable states. We are working to implement the recommendations of the review, including strengthening HEALTH the leadership of the unit and its oversight by our three Departments, moving the unit to a new location and Informal Health Council driving value for money and efficiency changes (including headcount reductions). Our development programme continues to prevent The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health conflict upstream, supporting countries to make that (Anne Milton): EU Health Ministers met in Nicosia, vital transition towards a peaceful, stable and lasting Cyprus, on 10 and 11 July. The United Kingdom was future. Three-quarters of the Department for International represented at official level. The agenda included discussions Development’s (DFID) focus countries are fragile and on organ donation and transplantation, the health work conflict affected states. DFID is on track to direct force, and health security. 30% of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) The meeting began with a discussion on organ donation to such countries by 2014-15. In 2011-12 UK aid and transplantation. This discussion was followed by a investments supported freer and fairer elections in lunch debate on the health work force, centring on the four countries, helped 300,000 women to access justice priorities outlined in the EU’s action plan for the EU through the courts, police and legal assistance and health work force. There was also broad consensus that helped over 16 million people hold their authorities to the EU could support the pursuit of these priorities in account. member states by facilitating the sharing of experiences The UK can achieve a much greater impact to building and best practices, but that member states alone were stability and preventing conflict around the world when competent to define their own work force strategies. we work with others. We are well placed to do so, Following presentations from the presidency, the exploiting the UK’s established roles and networks at Commission, the World Health Organisation (WHO) the UN, within the EU, NATO and other multilateral and Greece, health security was also discussed, in particular forum and with our traditional partners. We are working risk and crisis communication strategies. 129WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 130WS

JUSTICE considered further advice from the Civil Justice Council and I can therefore set out further details of those provisions. Boundary Commission for England (Reappointment of A regime of qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS) Deputy Chair) is to be introduced in personal injury claims, so that claimants conducting their case properly will not have to pay towards defendants’ costs if the claim fails. Rules The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice will be drafted on the following basis: (Mr Kenneth Clarke): I should like to inform the House that I have made the following appointment under i. QOCS will apply to all claimants whatever their means; schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986: there is to be no financial test to determine eligibility; ii. Subject to the provisions below, claimants who lose will The Honourable Mr Justice Sales re-appointed as not have to contribute towards defendants’ costs (there is to Deputy Chairman of the Boundary Commission for be no minimum payment by a losing claimant); England effective until 30 June 2014. iii. QOCS protection would be lost if: (a) the claim is found to be fraudulent on the balance of Senior Civil Service Appointments (Correction to probabilities; Parliamentary Answer) (b) the claimant has failed to beat a defendant’s “Part 36” offer to settle; or (c) the case has been struck out where the claim discloses no reasonable cause of action or where it is otherwise an abuse The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice of the court’s process (or is otherwise likely to obstruct the (Mr Kenneth Clarke): I regret to inform the House that just disposal of the proceedings). I have recently discovered that there was an inaccuracy iv. The principles set out in part 36 of the civil procedure in the answer I gave to a commons parliamentary rules override QOCS, but only up to the level of damages question (85074) on 15 December 2011, Official Report, recovered by the claimant; column 882W, about off payroll senior civil service v. QOCS protection would apply in relation to claims that appointments to the hon. Member for Harrow West are discontinued during proceedings (subject to iii(a) above); (Mr Thomas). and I am now advised that the correct answer is that at the vi. QOCS protection would be allowed for all appeal proceedings time of the question in December 2011, the Ministry of as the requirement for permission to appeal controls Justice had engaged nine senior managers working in unmeritorious appeals. senior civil service positions on an interim basis (deployed The Ministry of Justice is considering further the within the MOJ IT directorate). Within its executive practicality of QOCS protection not applying to elements agencies and non-departmental bodies, there were two of a claim for personal injury that are pursued for the senior managers engaged in a senior civil service position benefit of a third party (such as a property damage on an interim basis (one in the National Offender insurer or a credit hire provider) in respect of goods, Management Service and the other in the Legal Service services or indemnity provided by a third party to the Commission). claimant as a consequence of the accident. Furthermore the answer described the process for the The sanctions under part 36 of the civil procedure procurement of contractors and interims through a rules (offers to settle) are to be reformed on the following single managed service provider, Capita Resourcing basis in order to encourage early settlement: Ltd. This was normally the case for the main Department i. There is to be an additional amount to be paid by a and its executive agencies. However, it should have been defendant who does not accept a claimant’s offer to settle made clear that the Ministry’s non-departmental public where the court gives judgment for the claimant that is at bodies have their own processes and are not obliged to least as advantageous as an offer the claimant made to settle use the Ministry’s single managed service provider. In the claim. This additional sanction is to be calculated as 10% addition, where the single managed service provider of damages where damages are in issue, and 10% of costs for was unable to source specifically skilled individuals, non-damages claims; then other providers are engaged. ii. In mixed (damages and non-damages) claims, the sanction will be calculated as 10% of the damages element of the claim; Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders iii. However, the sanction under these provisions is to be Act 2012 (Civil Litigation and Funding Costs) subject to a tapering system for claims over £500,000 so that the maximum sanction is likely to be £75,000; and iv. There would only be one sanction applicable for split The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice trials. (Mr Jonathan Djanogly): This statement amends the The new rule on proportionality has been agreed by one I made on 10 July 2012, Official Report, column the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC), and the 20WS. The wording in relation to the sanctions under test is intended to control the costs of activity that is part 36 of the civil procedure rules (offers to settle), clearly disproportionate to the value, complexity and paragraph (i), contained a factual error, which has now importance of the claim. The senior judiciary are been corrected. considering revisions to the costs practice direction to On 24 May 2012, Official Report, column 94WS, I give effect to the new rule. announced the Government’s implementation plans for Changes to the civil procedure rules (CPR) will be the provisions under part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing considered by the CPRC in the autumn, in order for the and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 relating to civil necessary changes to come into effect for April 2013. litigation funding and costs. The Government have now The Ministry of Justice will continue to engage with key 131WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 132WS stakeholders throughout the implementation stage and written to the heads of jurisdiction today setting out my will also work closely with the senior judiciary on other proposals that will ensure that the pension provision for aspects of Lord Justice Jackson’s reforms, which are judges compares fairly with that offered to others in the due to come into effect at the same time. Updates are public service. They also meet Government expectations provided on the judiciary website at: for reform. This will be discussed with the judiciary http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications-and-reports/review-of- over the summer and I will come back to the House civil-litigation-costs. further on the final detail.

Prison Capacity Management Detainee Inquiry

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke): In my statement on 18 January (Mr Kenneth Clarke): The Government are determined 2012, Official Report, column 751, announcing the to provide a fit-for-purpose modern custodial estate Government’s decision to bring the detainee inquiry to that can deliver high quality, cost-effective and secure a conclusion, I said that Sir Peter Gibson, the inquiry regimes that protect the public and reform prisoners. chair, had agreed to provide the Government with a While the prison population temporarily rose as a result report on its preparatory work to date, highlighting of last summer’s civil disturbances, since April it has particular themes or issues which might be the subject resumed falling. New modern prison places in the private of further examination. The inquiry sent its report to estate at HMP Oakwood and HMP Thameside have the Prime Minister on 27 June 2012. The Government begun to come on stream so that we now have an are now looking carefully at its contents and remain opportunity to close some of our more expensive and committed to publishing as much of this interim report superfluous prison places. as possible. I will provide a further update when the I am therefore announcing the closure of HMP House returns. Wellingborough which will see a reduction of 588 prison places. On Friday 13 July the gap between the prison population and our useable capacity stood at 3,500 places. The PRIME MINISTER prison estate in England and Wales has not operated with this degree of headroom since early 2011 and there is more unused capacity in the prison estate now than Military Medals Review there was before the announcement in July last year to close HMPs Latchmere House and Brockhill, or prior The Prime Minister (Mr ): Ihave to the serious public disorder in August 2011. today placed a copy of Sir John Holmes’ interim Capacity continues to grow with the number of available review of the rules and principles governing the prison places planned to reach 91,600 by the end of the award of military medals in the Libraries of both year. This will ensure that our operational capacity Houses. The interim report brings welcome transparency continues to take account of prison population projections to these arrangements. It finds that the overall approach in a way which meets the need both for greater efficiency is reasonably based. However, it also identifies areas and ability to support a strengthened focus on protection where it is worth considering whether the rules could of the public and rehabilitation. be applied with greater flexibility and transparency. It The closure of these places will provide estimated proposes ways forward to address some past cost savings of over £10 million in annual running costs grievances while maintaining the distinctive British tradition and avoid significant capital costs on refurbishment of that military medals are hard earned. I hope this will up to £50 million in the next few years. We would expect help to draw a line under past campaigns and provide a to be able to absorb most staff displaced by this process more open decision-making process in future. I welcome elsewhere in the system and to avoid the use of compulsory the report and have asked Sir John to lead a second redundancies wherever possible. stage of work to make further recommendations using the principles he has proposed to implement his findings. This work will be completed as soon as possible in the autumn. Judicial Pensions Reform

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Special Advisers (Mr Kenneth Clarke): On 5 July the Chief Secretary to the Treasury confirmed to the House that the Government The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): Listed will be taking forward legislation to introduce changes below are the names of the special advisers in post at to pension schemes for the NHS, teachers and civil 17 July 2012, including each special adviser’s pay band, servants. and actual salary where this is £58,200 or higher, together I have been considering the necessary reforms of the with details of the special advisers’ pay ranges for judicial pension scheme (JPS) in line with these wider 2012-13. public service pension reforms. The JPS is a critical The paybill for the period 2011-12 was £6.2 million1. element of the remuneration offered to the judiciary. This compares to £6.8 million for the period 2009-10 Nevertheless we must ensure that the pensions provided (excluding severance payments made at the general are fair, sustainable and affordable. Accordingly, I have election to special advisers in the last Administration). 133WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 134WS

Salary if £58,200 or higher Appointing Minister Special Adviser in Post Payband (£)

The Prime Minister Andrew Cooper Within scheme ceiling 140,000 Craig Oliver Within scheme ceiling 140,000 Edward Llewellyn Within scheme ceiling 125,000 Kate Fall PB4 100,000 Julian Glover PB3 83,000 Gabby Bertin PB3 80,000 Liz Sugg PB3 80,000 Patrick Rock PB3 78,000 Andrew Dunlop PB3 74,000 Rohan Silva PB2 69,266 Ameet Gill PB2 67,000 Michael Salter PB2 65,000 Ramsay Jones PB2 65,000 Claire Foges PB2 63,000 Alan Sendorek PB2 60,000 Shaun Bailey PB2 60,000 Laura Trott PB2 60,000 Isabel Spearman (p/t) PB2 Alex Dawson PB1 Deputy Prime Minister Jonny Gates PB4 98,500 Neil Sherlock PB3 80,000 Joanne Foster PB2 65,000 James McGrory PB1

No. 10 Advisers Julian Astle2 PB3 80,000 Oily Grender3 PB3 80,000 Sean Kemp PB2 60,000 Tim Colbourne PB1

Departmental Advisers Bridget Harris4 PB2 69,266 Veena Hudson5 PB2 65,000 John Foster6 PB1 Matt Sanders7 PB1 Veridity Harding8 Minica Allen9

First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs PB3 70,000 Chloe Dalton PB2 64,500 Denzil Davidson PB2 Chancellor of the Exchequer10 Ramesh Chhabra PB2 60,000 Poppy Mitchell-Rose PB1

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Hass PB2 69,266 Kathryn Laing PB1 Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equality Fiona Cunningham PB2 65,000 135WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 136WS

Salary if £58,200 or higher Appointing Minister Special Adviser in Post Payband (£)

Nick Timothy PB2 65,000 Secretary of State for Defence Hayden Allan PB2 Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Emily Walch PB2 60,000 Giles Wilkes PB1 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Philippa Stroud PB2 69,250 Lisa Hunter PB1 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Nicholson PB3 80,000 Katie Waring PB2 Secretary of State for Health Bill Morgan PB3 76,000 Paul Stephenson PB3 68,000 Secretary of State for Education PB2 69,266 Henry de Zoete PB2 Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Giles Kenningham PB2 64,500 Sheridan Westlake PB2 64,500 Secretary of State for Transport Graham Hook PB2 65,000 Victoria Crawfod PB2 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Amy Fisher PB2 60,000 Simon Cawte PB2 Secretary of State for International Development Philipa Buckley PB1 Richard Parr PB1 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Jonathan Caine PB2 69,266 Secretary of State for Scotland Euan Roddin PB2 60,000 Secretary of State for Wales Richard Hazlewood PB2 Secretary of State for Culture, Media, the Olympics and Sport Sue Beeby PB2 Guy Levin PB1 Chief Secretary PB3 74,000 Will de Peyer PB3 63,000 Minister without Portfolio Naweed Khan PB0 Leader of the House of Lords, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster James Marshall PB2 Elizabeth Plummer PB1 Flora Coleman PB0 Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General Henry Newman PB2 Simone Finn (p/t) PB2 137WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 138WS

Salary if £58,200 or higher Appointing Minister Special Adviser in Post Payband (£)

Minister of State, Cabinet Office Martha Varney PB1 Minister of State (Universities and Science), BIS Nick Hillman PB2 Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal Robert Riddell PB2 Chief Whip (Commons) Ben Williams PB2 68,000 Chris White PB2 1Includes salary, severance pay and pension contributions. 2Maternity leave cover for Polly Mackenzie. 3Maternity leave cover for Lena Pietsch. 4Covering work in the House of Lords. 5Covering work in the Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 6Covering work in the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions. 7Covering work in the Cabinet Office, Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 8Covering work in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. 9Covering work in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. 10In addition, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed (PB3, £80,000), and Eleanor Shawcross (PB2) to the Council of Economic Advisers.

Special Adviser Pay Bands for 2012-13 numbers) is then transferred to a higher value stolen car The pay bands and pay ranges for special advisers for which, now apparently genuine, can be sold at market 2012-13 are as follows: price. Scheme Ceiling £142,668 Since the introduction of the VIC scheme in April Pay Band 4 £88,966 - £106,864 2003, around 717,000 checks have been undertaken and 38 confirmed “ringers” detected, at a cost of around Pay Band 3 and Premium £66,512 - £103,263 £30 million to the motorist. About 75% of the checks Pay Band 2 £52,215 - £69,266 were undertaken on cars which were seven years or Pay Band 1 £40,3 52 - £54,121 older, which were written off because the cost of even Pay Band 0 up to £40,352 small repairs was greater than the very low market value of the vehicle, often meaning that the cost of the check fell on the less well-off members of society. TRANSPORT Although it is felt that the scheme has become, unintentionally, an unnecessary burden to many honest DVLA Office Closures (Correction to Parliamentary motorists, the police feel that it is still the only deterrent Answer) to “ringers”. The scheme also enables vehicle purchasers to be aware that the vehicle they are considering purchasing has previously been a write-off and confirms that the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport vehicle identity has been checked and therefore provides (Mike Penning): There was an inadvertent error in the some protection against purchasing a stolen vehicle. answer to the parliamentary question from Charles Kennedy on 9 July, [115811], Official Report, column 69W. The I intend to consult on whether to retain, re-scope or answer indicated that Bangor, Beverley, Chester, Dundee, abolish the scope of the VIC scheme in a move to Exeter,Inverness, Maidstone, Peterborough, Sidcup, Theale, explore whether fewer vehicles can be checked in the Truro, and Worcester Local Offices would close on future in order to remove unnecessary burden on law- 30 November 2012. The date should have read 30 November abiding citizens, without jeopardising prevention of vehicle 2013. ringing. The consultation documents can be found on the Vehicle Identity Check Scheme Department’s website. An electronic copy has been lodged with the House Library.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Red Tape Challenge (Mike Penning): The Department has today published a consultation paper on the future of the vehicle identity check (VIC) scheme. The Minister of State, Department for Transport The purpose of the VIC scheme is to deter the crime (Mrs Theresa Villiers): Last November, the Department of vehicle ringing. Typically, this involves the theft of a for Transport launched the rail transport theme of the car often of significant value, which is then given the red tape challenge—part of the Cabinet Office’s project identity of a similar car (make, model, colour etc) to review all of the outstanding regulations currently on which has been the subject of an insurance write-off. the statute book. Following a rigorous process of challenge, The written-off car is obtained cheaply; its identity stakeholder discussion and public consultation, I am (vehicle identification number (VIN) and registration now pleased to be able to announce the results. 139WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 140WS

The Department put forward every secondary regulation Future—Consultation Summary Report”). This report relating to rail transportation for public discussion under formed just one of the elements supporting my decisions, the rail transport red tape challenge. Some 198 of these alongside other evidence including analysis of issues were judged still to be live with a further 23 being raised in consultation responses carried out by my identified as already “lapsed or spent”. Of these 221, I Department and HS2 Ltd, as well as engagement with propose to scrap, merge, simplify, amend or improve 88 the public, MPs and other stakeholders through roadshow (40%). events, seminars, visits and meetings. The detailed breakdown I propose is: Of the 413 responses identified, six had been incorrectly marked as duplicates by Dialogue by Design. The remaining Keep Improve Scrap Moved* 407 were among those sent in by email to my Department rather than via the direct channels set out in the consultation Number 129 28 60 4 document and were unintentionally not forwarded to Percentage 58% 13% 27% 2% Dialogue by Design for analysis. * Moved regulations predominantly relate to another Red Tape theme My Department commissioned a supplementary analysis and will be resolved in a different part of the Challenge. Among the measures being pursued, we intend to: from Dialogue by Design which concluded that these responses harmonise and simplify the process for obtaining an operating licence; “do not provide any information that was not already included in the previous consultation summary report or would have made a reduce regulatory burdens and costs on historic cableways; difference to the substantive content or balance of that report”. merge a number of instruments to make regulations easier to understand; and Inclusion in the original analysis would not have changed remove a significant number of lapsed or redundant instruments. the substance of Dialogue by Design’s findings, nor affected the considerations which informed me in taking The full list of regulations, including further information my decisions following the consultation. on the actions we are intending to take, is available on the Department’s website at: www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/ All affected respondents will be contacted with these gov-20111110. details. Overall, this represents an important step forward in removing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Some elements WORK AND PENSIONS of this programme will mark a major shift in the way the Department does business. Jobseeking (Additional Support) The outcomes also need to be viewed against the backdrop of the Government’s wider efforts to put an end to the micro-management that occurred under the The Minister of State, Department for Work and last Government in relation to matters such as franchise Pensions (Chris Grayling): The Government have a strong management. Both our franchise reform programme offer of support to help young people find work: the and our Command Paper “Reforming Our Railways: Work programme, the Youth Contract and measures Putting the Customer First”seek to transfer more decisions such as work experience and apprenticeships. from Whitehall to the professionals who run our railways We know that lack of experience in the workplace as part of our efforts to deliver a more financially can be a fundamental stumbling block for young jobseekers. sustainable and customer-focused railway. This is compounded in difficult economic times when The Department is already implementing the results the labour market is even more challenging for those of the roads transport red tape challenge (see: seeking their first job. www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/gov-20110520) and aviation I will test the impact of providing additional support transportation, the final transport theme, is now open to young people with a limited work history from the for public comment until 26 July. very start of their benefit claim. This trial has been jointly developed with the Authority. High Speed 2 (Consultation Update) Further information on the details of this scheme will follow in due course.

The Secretary of State for Transport (Justine Greening): Workplace Pension Reform On 10 January this year, I made a statement to the House announcing my decision to take forward proposals for a national high speed rail network following the The Minister of State, Department for Work and completion of a major public consultation exercise. Pensions (Steve Webb): Later today I will be publishing On 29 May, the consultation responses were made the Command Paper “Government response to the available online. Subsequently, when it became clear consultation: Improving transfers and dealing with small that a small number of responses had not been published, pension pots, (Cm8402)”, along with an associated my Department and HS2 Ltd reviewed how the impact assessment. consultation responses had been processed. From this month, the first savers will start to be This review identified that 413 responses, amounting automatically enrolled into workplace pension schemes. to less than 1% of the 55,322 responses received in total, This will help many people to start saving, or save more had not been included in the part of the consultation into a pension. But bringing more people into pension response assessment carried out by the Government’s saving will increase the numbers of small dormant pots, independent response analysis consultants, Dialogue by which are created as people move jobs. Design. The results of this analysis were summarised in Our updated figures, set out in the impact assessment, their report published alongside my announcement of suggest that around 50 million dormant pots will be 10 January (“High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain’s created by 2050 if no changes are made to the current 141WS Written Ministerial Statements17 JULY 2012 Written Ministerial Statements 142WS transfers system. This could significantly undermine The overwhelming response to the consultation was the Government’s commitment to encourage pension that the small pots issue urgently needs to be resolved. saving if people lose track of their pots, and so miss out The vast majority of our respondents agreed that an on valuable retirement income automated transfer system is the best way forward. Creating a system in which small pots follow people We need to reduce the number of small dormant through employment is the preferred approach among pension pots in the system, making it easier for people savers, according to a recent survey by the Association to keep track of their savings. This will also reduce of British Insurers. The Government’s analysis indicates administrative burdens for providers, supporting low-cost that this option will achieve the most consolidation and pension provision. We issued a consultation document generate the most administrative savings in the long in December 2011 which set out ways to deal with a run. We have outlined our preference for this approach proliferation of small pots, ranging from small changes in the Command Paper, ahead of essential work with all to the current system to encourage transfers, to automatic interested parties to firm up the policy and design an transfers of small pension pots. I am grateful to all implementation strategy. those individuals and organisations who provided responses I will place a copy of the impact assessment in the and participated in our workshops. House Library. 3P Petitions17 JULY 2012 Petitions 4P

teenage girl, and further requires that the Petitioner Petition interfere with those witnesses by discouraging them from pursuing the matter. Tuesday 17 July 2012 Declares that subsequently the Petitioner became aware that some of Amy Lee’s former employees had published online on a site other than EvThreads.com paedophile material including a story about sexual offences PRESENTED PETITION against a physically disabled male minor and cartoons Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor with pre-teens in lawful poses but with sexualised captions, including sexual activity with animals and one caption regarding a toddler consuming human faeces, and that Cyber bullying the Petitioner believes that this material unfortunately Declares that on 06/08/2010 Schillings Lawyers, acting falls through a loophole in the law and is not illegal in for Amy Lynn Lee Hartzler of the American Rock Band the UK; and further that the Petitioner also has grounds Evanescence and her manager Andrew Lurie sent a letter to reasonably suspect the persons concerned of also of claim to the Petitioner, which the Petitioner claims was circulating illegal child pornography including photographs. demanding that Mr Smith give undertakings not to report Declares that on 03/11/2011 the Petitioner wrote to alleged criminal offences to the authorities; further declares Schillings asking their clients to allow him to report the the Petitioner believes that Schillings, on behalf of their alleged paedophile activities to the authorities in the clients, admitted that a teenage user of their website relevant countries. On 08/11/2011 three members of EvThreads.com had engaged in a course of conduct of Parliament placed before the House an Early Day Motion “mean-spirited” remarks towards a Californian girl, Crystal requesting that Amy Lee and Andrew Lurie allow the Dawson, and that the Petitioner believes that despite Petitioner to report the alleged criminal activity. On having described the alleged perpetrator in writing through 25/11/2011 the Petitioner wrote again to Schillings repeating her lawyers as “mean-spirited” and deserving of being and clarifying the request. To date Schillings have not prohibited from the website, Amy Lee later appointed the acquiesced and the Petitioner believes that their clients perpetrator concerned, Amanda DeMarzi, to a supervisory have knowingly allowed the publishers of the alleged role with authority over other users including minors. paedophile material to have access to EvThreads.com Declares that the Petitioner believes that Schillings where they can interact with thousands of minors. compelled the Petitioner to sign a contract that requires The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of him not to report a number of alleged offences in Commons passes the Family Justice (Transparency, relation to their website EvThreads.com, including drugs Accountability and Cost of Living) Bill, and asks the offences that have been expressly admitted by the alleged Government to urge Amy Lee and Andrew Lurie to perpetrators and that the Petitioner believes that the take appropriate steps to resolve matters. contract also acknowledges the existence of three witnesses And the Petitioner remains, etc.—[Presented by John as to the culpability of Amy Lee and Andrew Lurie of Hemming .] 110 Management in attempts to procure the suicide of a [P001113]

605W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 606W

Hydroelectric, Wave and Tidal, Geothermal, Distributed Written Answers to solar PV.Networks, Storage, demand shifting and backup. Note that these infrastructure costs exclude the cost of Questions fossil fuels used in electricity generation. In one of these pathways, ″higher renewables, more energy efficiency″, electricity generation capacity doubles Tuesday 17 July 2012 by 2050 (from 77 GW in 2007 to 162 GW in 2050). In this pathway, the annual total electricity infrastructure and operating cost is £29.7 billion in the period to 2050. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE The total annual energy system cost is £359 billion in Carbon Sequestration the period to 2050. Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for If we do not tackle climate change, electricity generation Energy and Climate Change with reference to his capacity may rise to 96 GW by 2050. The total annual Department’s Carbon Capture and Storage Roadmap, electricity infrastructure and operating cost is estimated what the timetable is for the development of a strategy at £12.8 billion and the total energy system cost could for carbon capture and storage outside the power be £333 billion in the period to 2050. sector. [117664] The development of the 2050 Calculator’s cost methodology was open to the public, and scrutinised by Charles Hendry: The CCS Roadmap, which was experts across the energy field. However, given the long published on 3 April, explored the long-term development time frame involved, there are still considerable uncertainties of CCS for both power and energy intensive industries. around the estimates. The CCS Commercialisation programme, which was 1 As published in December 2011. See: launched alongside the Roadmap, makes available £1 billion http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/carbon_plan/ in capital grant funding to support projects to develop carbon_plan.aspx CCS. Following closure of bids on 3 July, decisions on 2 Note: which projects to support will be made in the autumn http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/2050/2050.aspx following an assessment and evaluation process. Results taken from version published in July 2012. Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for 3 Annual average in the period to 2050. Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the role of clusters of power stations when Energy: Prices considering the location of carbon capture and storage projects. [117665] Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Charles Hendry: I have made no such assessment. and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the However, the Government has supported directly and proportion of households likely to be net (a) gainers indirectly a number of studies into CCS cluster and (b) losers under current energy policies in 2020. development. Under the CCS Commercialisation [117653] programme, which closed to bids on 3 July, all bidders were required to include an assessment on clustering Charles Hendry: DECC is transparent about the cost potential. and expected impact of its policies on households. All Energy: Infrastructure policies are subject to Impact Assessments which are publicly available on the DECC website. DECC also Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy publishes analysis of the estimated cumulative impact and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the of policies on household energy bills each year alongside cost of energy infrastructure needed if generation the Annual Energy Statement. The Estimated impacts capacity has (a) at least to double and (b) potentially of energy and climate change policies on energy prices to triple, as envisaged in paragraph 3.3.14 of the and bills was last published in November 2011. This Revised Draft Overarching National Policy Statement analysis includes information on the distributional bill for Energy, October 2010. [117657] impacts of policies across the household distribution. Some policies—like those requiring products to be 1 Charles Hendry: In the Carbon Plan , the Department more efficient—are likely to bring benefits to the vast explored four scenarios which are consistent with its majority of households over the next decade. target to cut green house gas emissions by 80% by 2050. In these pathways, electricity generation capacity increases By 2020, DECC also estimates that around 35% of from 77 GW in 2007 to 89-162 GW in 2050. households will benefit from one or more of the following: 2 an insulation measure (partly or fully subsidised), small-scale The Department’s 2050 Calculator estimates the renewable electricity measure in receipt of tariff payments costs of these pathways. The annual total cost of the or the warm home discount. energy system (including everything from power stations and industrial processes; to cars, planes and trains and Policies such as cold weather payments and winter the fuel they use; to gas boilers and cavity wall insulation) fuel allowance provide income benefits which are not ranges from £330 billion to £370 billion in the period to reflected in bills and therefore additional to these. 20503. Of this, annual total electricity infrastructure The Government’s energy policies also deliver important capital and operating costs are estimated to vary between benefits to households through increased comfort, emissions £17.9 billion and £29.7 billion. This includes the following reductions and benefits of security of energy supply, technologies: Conventional thermal plant, Combustion which cannot be captured in estimates which look only + CCS, Nuclear power, Onshore wind, Offshore wind, at bills. 607W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 608W

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to cost of domestic fuel bills at constant prices in (a) reform the differential cost of electricity rates between 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014, (d) 2015 and (e) 2016. English regions; and if he will make a statement. [117654] [117922]

Charles Hendry: DECC published estimates of average Charles Hendry: Several factors drive the differential annual household energy (gas and electricity) bills in cost of electricity rates between English regions. The 2011, 2020 and 2030 alongside the Annual Energy most significant is the different levels of investment in, Statement (AES) in November 2011. This analysis is and operation, of the local distribution and high voltage available online at: transmission networks in each region which can affect http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/aes/ costs and hence network charges. impacts/impacts.aspx Network charges are a matter for Ofgem as the DECC has committed to updating these estimates annually independent regulator of the gas and electricity markets. as part of the AES. All network companies are incentivised by Ofgem to The main driver of movements in energy bills over operate efficiently. These incentives and the performance the next few years is likely to remain fossil fuel prices, of network companies against them are regularly monitored which are volatile. The estimated changes in energy bills by Ofgem. over time presented in this report are a reasonable assessment of the trends over the period given the Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for assumptions about future fossil fuel prices and the Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made estimated impact of climate change and energy policies of the number of small business customers who have on prices and consumption. In reality, however, other been subject to automatic rollover of their electricity factors will also drive changes in energy bills (largely and gas supply contracts in the latest period for which through consumption), most notably annual changes in figures are available. [117924] weather and consumer tastes. For the purpose of this analysis, the impacts of these other factors have not been captured in our energy bills estimates. Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold the information requested. The following table presents a time series of estimated average household energy bills (in real 2010 prices) in Ofgem is responsible for the regulation of gas and each year from 2012 to 2016 consistent with the published electricity supply, including supply to the non-domestic analysis and based on DECC’s central scenario for sector. If a non-domestic customer does not notify their fossil fuel prices. These figures also include the estimated existing supplier that they wish to agree a new contract impact of Government policies consistent with this or switch to another supplier within the time limit set scenario: out in the terms of the contract, the supplier will roll over the contract for a further 12 months. This ensures Estimated average household energy (gas and electricity) bills (real that the non-domestic customer continues to receive 2010 prices) their energy supply. Average household energy (gas + electricity) bills (real 2010 prices) (£) Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for 2012 1,320 Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of bringing small business contracts into 2013 1,363 alignment with the code of practice for accurate bills 2014 1,408 which applies to domestic supply agreements. [117925] 2015 1,402 2016 1,402 Gregory Barker: It is for Ofgem, as the independent regulator for gas and electricity markets, to consider Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for whether further regulatory protection is required in the Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made non-domestic supply sector. of the number of small businesses which have been Micro-businesses—those who consume less than subject to back-billing for energy supplies of (a) one to 200,000 kWh gas per year or 55,000 kWh electricity per two, (b) two to three, (c) three to four, (d) four to five year, or have a turnover/balance sheet of less than and (e) five to six years in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and ¤2 million, or fewer than 10 full-time employees—may (iii) 2012-13 to date. [117920] ask the Ombudsman Service to investigate complaints about their energy supply if their energy providers are Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold the information unable to resolve the disputes. Larger business can requested. address issues through the legal system, as they would Ofgem is responsible for the regulation of gas and with disputes with suppliers of other goods and services. electricity supply, including to the non-domestic sector. Ofgem has been working with industry and consumer Environment Protection: Employment groups to assess the financial impact of backbilling on small businesses and energy suppliers. This has led to the introduction of a new set of voluntary standards for Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for the treatment of micro-businesses. Some suppliers have Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made made further commitments on the time limit on backbilling, of the likely change in the number of jobs in the UK and Ofgem is continuing to monitor this issue. renewable energy sector up to 2015. [115944] 609W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 610W

Gregory Barker: DECC has not made an estimate of prevent customers losing supply if they run out of the likely change in the number of jobs in the UK credit overnight or when shops are closed. The costs renewable energy sector up to 2015. associated with this payment method will reduce and We are also aware of a number of other reports we expect the premium historically paid by pre-payment which show the potential future benefits from renewables. customers to end. For example, in its “Renewable Energy: Made in Britain” report, published in April, the Renewable Energy Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Association (REA) estimates that over 400,000 jobs Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the would be needed to deliver the UK’s renewable energy number of households that have entered fuel poverty in target by 2020. The turnover associated with this rate of (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) growth would be approaching £50 billion. Northern Ireland since May 2010. [117957] In addition, implementing our electricity market reforms Gregory Barker: The latest year for which data are will require a significant increase in skilled professionals available is 2010. The following table shows the number and will support the creation of jobs in the sector. of households in fuel poverty in England, Scotland, Initial estimates suggest that the infrastructure investment Wales and Northern Ireland in 2010. Fuel poverty is a enabled by our electricity market reforms could lead to devolved measurement and each country of the UK is as many as 250,000 more people being employed in the responsible for measuring the number of fuel poor low-carbon energy sector by 2030. households in their own country. Fuel Poverty Fuel poor households Number of households in fuel Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for poverty (thousand) Energy and Climate Change what progress his England 3,536 Department has made towards its statutory obligation Scotland 658 to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016. [117955] Wales 1332 Gregory Barker: The coalition Government is committed Northern Ireland 1297 to doing all that is reasonably practicable to end fuel 1 Estimate. poverty in England by 2016 and to supporting low The latest annual fuel poverty statistics report projects income vulnerable households heat their homes at an that the number of households in fuel poverty in England affordable cost. will remain around 3.5 million in 2011 and increase to A household is said to be fuel poor if it needs to 3.9 million in 2012. This information is available only spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain for England. an adequate level of warmth. Fuel poverty is therefore based on modelled spending on energy rather than Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for actual spending. In 2010, the latest year for which data Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made are available, the number of households in fuel poverty of the proportion of people (a) under and (b) over 65 was estimated to be 3.5 million in England, which is a years who are currently living in fuel poverty. [117958] reduction of 0.5 million since 2009. Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is measured at household Although the number of households in fuel poverty level, and fuel poverty among over 65s can be estimated reduced between 2009 and 2010, fuel poverty remains a by looking at households whose oldest member is over huge challenge. The Government has a range of policies 65. In 2010, the latest year for which data are available, to address the contributing factors of fuel poverty, the proportion of households containing no one over including Warm Front, carbon emissions reduction target, 65 in England in fuel poverty was estimated to be 13%. warm home discount, winter fuel payments and cold The proportion of households where the oldest person weather payments. In the future, the new Green Deal was aged 65 or over estimated to be in fuel poverty in and Energy Company Obligation will be our flagship England was 26%. policy for improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s housing stock. Natural Gas: Exploration

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department Energy and Climate Change if he will take into has conducted an impact assessment of the installation account in the formulation of his gas strategy the of smart meters on people in fuel poverty. [117956] findings of (a) the review by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering of hydraulic fracturing Gregory Barker: The programme has assessed the published on 29 June 2012, (b) the International impact of smart meters on those that are considered to Energy Agency report on shale gas published on be in fuel poverty; the EDRP trials suggest that consumers 29 May 2012 and (c) Chapter two of the Committee in areas with a higher proportion of fuel poverty saved on Climate Change’s 2012 progress report to at least as much as those in other areas. An end to Parliament published on 29 June 2012; and if he will estimated billing will reduce the debt risk for lower make a statement. [117073] income households. Pre-payment customers often are disproportionately Charles Hendry: The Gas Generation Strategy will be on lower incomes and are expected to benefit significantly published in autumn 2012 looking at the role of gas in from installation of smart meters. Installation will make the UK electricity market. It will clearly need to do so it easier to top up and switch between payment methods with reference to the gas supply outlook. It will consider while also permitting ’friendly credit’ arrangements which these reports among others. 611W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 612W

Nuclear Power 2012, Official Report, column 343W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) consultation documents and (c) publications since Energy and Climate Change what advice his May 2010. [117826] Department has commissioned from UK-based financial firms on the strike price for nuclear power; Gregory Barker: With reference to my previous response and what the total cost to the public purse was. on 11 June, a central record of the spend involved in [116557] publishing documents is not kept centrally and therefore would incur disproportionate cost to provide. The list Charles Hendry: The Department plans to make use of the documents referred to in my response of 28 June of advice from financial firms to inform its discussions is available electronically but the cost of any hard copies with developers on enabling early investment decisions produced is again not held centrally and would also ahead of electricity market reform, and any subsequent incur disproportionate cost to provide. decision on strike prices. Such advice is in the process of being commissioned and the costs will be published in Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs due course in line with the Government’s policy on publishing spending data. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to Pay undertake a revised impact assessment for the operation of a multi-party counterparty for Contracts : To ask the Secretary of State for for Difference. [117921] Energy and Climate Change how many staff of his Department received bonuses in (a) 2010 and (b) Charles Hendry: The impact assessment published 2011. [116748] alongside the Energy White Paper and the modelling underpinning it are based on there being a credible Gregory Barker [holding answer 13 July 2012]: The counterparty that would ensure low risk. Department of Energy and Climate Change currently awards both non-consolidated end of year performance While we consider that the model proposed in the awards and in-year special awards. draft Bill provides that, I recognise the concerns that have been raised by industry and we have therefore been The Department uses non-consolidated performance assessing the viability of alternative models, including related payments to help drive high performance as those based on a single counter-party. Both models they: would be supported by a robust legal framework established encourage continuous high attainment because the payments by Government in legislation. are dependent upon continuing strong performance; Since both models are based on there being a credible prevent a permanent rise in salary and an increase in pension counterparty, we do not consider that the impact assessment on the basis of one-off performances while still allowing good performance to be rewarded; needs revision. An updated summary impact assessment reflecting revised assumptions and modelling enhancements, have no long-term costs, in particular it does not increase as noted in the summary impact assessment accompanying future pension payments; the draft Energy Bill, will be published alongside the focus the work of employees more directly on the priority Energy Bill on introduction. goals of the organisation; motivate employees by linking an element of compensation to I await the outcome of the Energy and Climate the achievement of objectives rather than offering payment for Change Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny before making time served; a decision on whether to make any changes in the Bill. target money at those who make the biggest contribution. End of year non-consolidated performance awards Windows: Energy are used to reward the Department’s highest performers as assessed in their end of year appraisal reports. Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Non-consolidated in-year special awards are used to and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the recognise performance or behaviours which might not proportion of windows in the UK that are rated C or be fully reflected in an end of year performance appraisal. below for energy efficiency. [117744] These may be used to reward staff for exceptional pieces of work or taking on additional responsibilities. Gregory Barker: Information on the rating of windows The number of staff who have received these awards is not collected by DECC. DECC uses the English in 2010 and 2011 is as follows: housing survey and Scottish and Welsh equivalents to estimate the potential for energy efficient measures in January to December Number of staff the housing stock. The rating of windows is not collected in these surveys. Building regulations have required 2010 573 replacement glazing and glazing in newly built homes to 2011 735 be of at least C-rating since 2010.

Publications Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for number of replacement windows that could be eligible Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answers of for funding under the energy company obligation. 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 75W and 28 June [117745] 613W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 614W

Gregory Barker: Any replacement window could be Mr Vaizey: Ofcom has undertaken a consultation on eligible for funding through the energy company obligation whether to permit a variation to Everything Everywhere’s (ECO) providing it exceeds current building regulation licence at 1800 MHz to allow 4G services. This consultation standards, subject to the other rules of the ECO scheme, closed on 8 May 2012. Ofcom have received a number which will allow for their inclusion in certain circumstances. of responses, including from the other mobile operators and these responses raise a number of detailed issues that Ofcom must now consider carefully before issuing CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT a statement. Football I have made no assessment regarding how quickly after liberalisation Everything Everywhere could roll Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for out 4G services. Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent meetings he has had with David Bernstein on the Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport select committee’s report on Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment football governance, and the FA’s response to that he has made of the contribution to the economy of report. [117736] having 4G services widely available before the end of Hugh Robertson: Neither the Secretary of State nor I 2012. [117724] have met formally with the football authorities to discuss football governance since they published their response. Mr Vaizey: I have made no such assessment. Any consideration of the benefits to consumers of the I am pleased that the football authorities have responded introduction of 4G/LTE services, including liberalisation positively to the challenges set by the Government and of 1800 MHz would normally fall to Ofcom. The the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, and benefits to consumers and the effect of a delay to have proposed improvements to the way the sport is liberalisation were considered in Ofcom’s March governed. However, before we engage further, the Select consultation on liberalising the 1800 MHz spectrum. Committee must conclude its deliberations and provide a formal response to these proposals. Odyssey Marine Exploration Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Olympics, Media and Sport how many times he has Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects a met representatives of Odyssey Marine Exploration decision to be made on the spectrum liberalisation Inc. [117716] request by Everything Everywhere. [117635] Mr Vaizey: Ofcom, the independent spectrum regulator, John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, has undertaken a consultation on whether to permit a Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the variation to Everything Everywhere’s licence at 1800 MHz Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has had no to allow 4G services. This consultation closed on 8 May meetings with representatives of Odyssey Marine 2012. Ofcom have received a number of responses, Exploration. including from the other mobile operators and these Olympic Games 2012 responses raise a number of detailed issues that Ofcom must now consider carefully before issuing a statement. Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his he has made of the economic effect of the London Department is taking to ensure that deployment of 2012 Olympics on towns and cities outside London 4G/LTE mobile services takes place as soon as possible. which are hosting events; and if he will make a [117670] statement. [117573] Mr Vaizey: Ofcom are currently considering the responses received as a result of their recent consultation on the Hugh Robertson: The Department has not made a auction of spectrum suitable for 4G services, which specific assessment of the economic effect of the London closed on 22 March, and are expected to make a statement 2012 Games on host towns and cities outside of London. in the summer. However, the Department has commissioned a meta- evaluation of the impacts and legacy of the London Ofcom remain on schedule for the UK auction process 2012 Games. The meta-evaluation will estimate the to start by the end of 2012. This is compatible with the impact of the 2012 Games on GVA and employment in spectrum becoming available to allow successful bidders the nations and regions, and in London. The initial to start rolling out 4G services in these bands in 2013. report will be published in the autumn and a further Ofcom are also currently considering a request from report in summer 2013. The Prime Minister recently Everything Everywhere to allow them to use their existing announced that the Games are expected to bring £13 billion spectrum to roll-out out 4G services. of benefits to the UK over the next four years via Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for inward investment, which amounts to a strong economic Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when Ofcom legacy from the Games right across the UK. plans to respond to the proposal for liberalisation of The whole of the UK stands to gain from the wide the 1800 band to enable 4G services; and what range of opportunities created by the Games. The new assessment he has made of the likelihood of 4G £130 million tourism campaign to showcase services being available in the UK before the end of in 2012 aims to deliver an additional 4.6 million visitors, 2012. [117723] £2.7 billion of extra spend and the creation of about 615W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 616W

60,000 job opportunities across the UK. In addition, Olympic and Paralympic Games on distribution of VisitEngland has launched a new domestic tourism these tickets; what response he received; and if he will campaign aimed at boosting tourism throughout the make a statement; [117630] UK, maximising the economic legacy of the Games for (2) what recent discussions he has had with the the whole country and making the most of the Torch London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Relay and the Cultural Olympiad to showcase the whole Paralympic Games on the allocation of tickets to the nation. The campaign is expected to deliver £500 million London 2012 Olympics to (a) worldwide Olympic in extra visitor spend over four years. partners, (b) London 2012 Olympic partners and (c) The UK is already benefiting from the Games. To London 2012 providers and suppliers; and if he will date, the ODA has directly awarded contracts worth make a statement. [117683] £6 billion to over 1,500 suppliers, 50% of which are based outside of London. Many more companies have Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London won work within the supply chains. 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), which is a private company operating independently of Government. A Olympic Games 2012: Tickets total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets are available for London’s games. Ministers at the Department Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, for Culture, Media and Sport regularly hold discussions Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many tickets for with representatives of LOCOG about various London the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have been 2012 matters including ticketing. LOCOG has promised allocated to (a) Coca Cola, (b) Acer, (c) Atos, (d) to provide a comprehensive break-down of ticket Dow, (e) GE, (f) McDonalds, (g) Omega, (h) distribution after sales have been completed. Until all Panasonic, (i) P&G,(j) Samsung and (k) Visa; what the tickets have been sold it would be misleading to restrictions are placed on these tickets; what the provide incomplete information that would be instantly average price is of each ticket; for what sport each is; out-of-date. and if he will make a statement; [117626] Royal Archives (2) how many tickets for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have been allocated to (a) Addidas, (b) BMW, (c) BP, (d) British Airways, (e) BT, (f) Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for EDF and (g) Lloyds TSB; what restrictions are placed Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he last on these tickets; what the average price is of each ticket; visited the Royal Archives in an official capacity; and if for what sport each is; and if he will make a statement; he will make a statement. [117779] [117627] (3) how many tickets for the London 2012 Olympics Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, and Paralympics have been (a) allocated to and (b) Media and Sport has not visited the Royal Archives in taken up by (i) worldwide Olympic partners, (ii) an official capacity. London 2012 Olympic partners and (iii) London 2012 providers and suppliers; what the retail value is of each Telephone Services: Unsolicited Goods and Services ticket allocated; for what sport each is; what restrictions are placed on these tickets; and if he will Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State make a statement; [117628] for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) (4) whether London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics investigations his Department has undertaken into and tickets allocated to (a) worldwide Olympic partners, (b) discussions he has had on cold-calling and (b) London 2012 Olympic partners and (c) London unwanted sales calls to households. [117181] 2012 providers and suppliers may be resold; and if he will make a statement. [117629] Mr Vaizey: The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) provides protection for Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London consumers from receiving unwanted telephone marketing 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), which is a private calls by enabling them to register their number with the company operating independently of Government. Telephone Preference Service (TPS), which is a free LOCOG must raise its revenues to stage the Games service. Consumers are also protected under PECR if through sponsorship, ticketing, media rights and they have previously advised the caller that they do not merchandise. A total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic wish to receive such calls. The PECR regulations are tickets are available for London’s Games, of which 8% not enforced by the Department for Culture Media and are allocated for purchase by sponsors and stakeholders Sport (DCMS), but by the Information Commissioner’s (global and domestic). These are separate to the 75% of Office (ICO), which is independent from Government. tickets available for the UK public. Tickets purchased The ICO has powers to take formal action against those by sponsors are across a range of prices and sports. who wilfully or negligently continue to make calls despite They cannot be re-sold but are being used for a variety having been informed of their obligations not to do so of purposes including promotions to the UK public, and can issue a fine of up to £500,000 for the most staff, community groups, and customers. serious breaches. I have met with Office of Communications (Ofcom), Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, TPS and the ICO, to see how consumers can be better Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many tickets for protected and what improvements can be made. DCMS the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics are is also seeking views on how the current consumer available; for what sports; what recent discussions he protections can be improved as part of the Communications has had with the London Organising Committee of the Review. 617W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 618W

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State United Nations: European Union for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has any plans to introduce further protection for the public Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister from unwanted telephone marketing calls. [117182] which representatives of the business sector he has met to discuss the UN’s relationship with the EU. [117818] Mr Vaizey: Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) consumers The Prime Minister: I and officials have meetings are protected from receiving unwanted telephone marketing with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a calls by registering their number with the Telephone range of subjects; I refer the hon. Member to the list of Preference Service (TPS), which is a free service, or if my official meetings with external organisations. This is they have previously advised the caller that they do not available on the Cabinet Office website: wish to receive such calls. Companies within the UK, or http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial- from outside the UK on behalf of UK companies, are gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations required not to call a number that is registered with the TPS. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) LEADER OF THE HOUSE is currently exploring possible improvements to the TPS LIBOR with key stakeholders including the Office of Communications (Ofcom), TPS and the Information Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Leader of the Commissioners Office (ICO), which will help to ensure House if he will make it his policy that the that the protections provided under PECR remain effectively Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards implemented. DCMS is also seeking views on how the should examine the effect of LIBOR manipulation on current consumer protections can be improved as part the sale of interest rate swap products to small and of the Communications Review. medium-size enterprises. [117942] Sir George Young: The House resolved on 16 July to establish a Parliamentary Commission for Banking ATTORNEY-GENERAL Standards, and its terms of reference were included Steroid Drugs: Prosecutions within that resolution.

Jo Swinson: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions there have been under the Misuse of NORTHERN IRELAND Drugs Regulations for supplying anabolic steroids in Assisted Areas each of the last 10 years. [117851] Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State The Solicitor-General: For the last seven complete for Northern Ireland (1) what discussions he has had financial years for which CPS offence data is held, the with (a) the Minister for Finance in the Northern following number of prosecutions and charges for supplying Ireland Executive, (b) the Minister for Enterprise, anabolic steroids were as follows: Trade and Investment in the Northern Ireland Executive, (c) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Number of Number of offences prosecutions charged (d) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the future of Northern Ireland’s assisted area 2005-06 1 1 status; [117872] 2006-07 1 1 (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the 2007-08 1 1 Northern Ireland economy of the proposal to remove 2008-09 0 0 automatic assisted area status in 2014. [117873] 2009-10 0 0 2010-11 2 6 Mr Paterson: I have discussed these matters with 2011-12 0 0 both the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable). PRIME MINISTER The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) G8 has held discussions on this issue with both the Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Hugh Bayley: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to and the Minister of State, Department for Business, the answer of 11 July 2012, Official Report, column Innovation and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for 274W, on G8, if he will ensure that the agenda for the Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk). UK presidency of the G8 Summit in 2013 will include I have stressed the need to take account of factors consideration of development, trade and security particular to Northern Ireland in taking forward proposals concerns in Africa. [117804] to draw up the new UK assisted areas map for 2014-20. We are seeking to ensure that assisted area status is The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the focused on the areas of greatest need where it can make answer I gave to him on 11 July 2012, Official Report, the greatest impact on promoting economic development column 247W. across the UK. 619W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 620W

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Richard Benyon: The 2012 round of road traffic noise mapping is being undertaken as one integrated task for Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State the whole of England. Consequently, it is not possible for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with to say precisely when the noise mapping for the A3 in the Secretary of State for Transport on the effects on East Hampshire will be completed. We anticipate publishing Northern Ireland of the proposal to centralise the the results next summer, once the various outputs have Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2013. [117874] been assimilated and the quality assurance processes completed. Mr Paterson: I discussed this matter with the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member Animal Welfare: Circuses for Putney (Justine Greening), on 10 July following a meeting I had with the Northern Ireland Minister of Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment the previous day. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) names and (b) qualifications are of the inspectors Parades Commission involved in her Department’s research on the use of wild animals in circuses. [117599] Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made Mr Paice: DEFRA has not and does not plan to to the Parades Commission on July 2012 parades and commission research on the use of wild animals in protests against them. [117385] circuses. We accept the findings of the 2007 Radford Report, including the conclusion that, due to the relatively Mr Paterson: The Parades Commission is an independent small number of animals involved, the results of any body. I have therefore not made any representations. further research would not be sufficiently meaningful or Publications robust enough to better inform the debate. Cattle: Mastitis Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2012, Official Report, column 539W, on publications, Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what (b) consultation documents and (c) publications since assessment her Department has made of the effect of May 2010. [117913] mastitis in cow herds; [115479] (2) what advice her Department is providing to Mr Paterson: The majority of circulars, consultation farmers on tackling mastitis in cow herds. [115480] documents and publications produced by my Department are issued via the internet. Some publications may incur Mr Paice: Mastitis is the most common disease of a cost, though the expense of obtaining this information dairy cows and involuntary culling due to mastitis is a at this stage would be disproportionate. major cost to the dairy industry, as was highlighted in the Farm Animal Welfare Council’s 2009 Opinion on Ulster Bank the Welfare of the Dairy Cow. The dairy industry has established the Cattle Health Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for and Welfare Group, which includes representatives from Northern Ireland what the outcome was of his DEFRA and the Animal Health and Veterinary discussions with Sir Philip Hampton on 9 July 2012 on Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). The Group has four resolving the problems at Ulster Bank; and if he will key priorities, one of which is the dairy cow welfare make a statement. [117811] strategy which was launched in August 2010 with support of the whole dairy supply chain. The strategy is aiming Mr Paterson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I to improve recognition, treatment, prevention and control gave to the hon. Member for South Down (Ms Ritchie), of mastitis and expand the excellent work of DairyCo on 9 July 2012, Official Report, columns 21-22W, which and its Mastitis Control Initiative to reduce levels of reports on the discussions of the Minister of State, mastitis. The strategy’s first progress report published Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member in September last year reported the incidence rate of for East Devon (Mr Swire), with the chief executive of cows affected by clinical mastitis (expressed as the RBS and the continued efforts the bank has undertaken proportion of cows affected) reduced by 7.8% over the to make in order to overcome the difficulties suffered by 12 months to June 2011. The AHVLA provides a diagnostic its customers. service for diseases, including mastitis and maintains a database of submissions and diagnosis as part of its surveillance remit. A summary of its analysis is published ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS annually. DEFRA’s cattle welfare code provides farmers with A3 good husbandry advice based on best practice and includes guidance on mastitis. Over a number of years Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for ADAS, on behalf of DEFRA, has provided comprehensive Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects welfare advice through a variety of media for farmers to (a) complete and (b) publish results from the 2012 around the country to encourage good welfare, in an round of noise mapping for the A3 in East Hampshire. effort to reduce the incidence of mastitis in cow herds. [117314] The programme has included advice on ’Reducing injuries 621W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 622W to Dairy Cows’, ’Milking Management and the Mastitis Cost of GHG emissions Financial Management Action Plan’ and more recently ’Breeding compliance over savedintheUK savings over Dairy cows for Longevity’. next 10 years (£ over next 10 next 10 years (£ million) years million)

Voluntary 6.3 Up to Up to 58 Farmers: Graduates reporting 0.6MtCO2e Quoted 28 Up to Up to 460 companies 4.8MtCO2e Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State Large companies 903 Up to Up to 1,017 for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice 13.8MtCO2e her Department provides to graduates on employment Energy use 145 Up to Up to 383 criteria 4.2MtCO e in the farming sector. [115478] 2 In addition, the value of air quality savings are Mr Paice: Advice on employment is industry led and quantified in the Impact Assessment. DEFRA is supportive of the industry in its work to The wider benefits that have not been monetised in promote the opportunities available. Lantra, the sector the Impact Assessment are: process emissions, other skills council for agriculture that is awarded its funding transport emissions, intangible benefits, reputation and from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills branding benefits, and reduced investment risk. (Section 9 (UKCES), provides information and advice to graduates of the Impact Assessment gives further details.) In on employment in the farming sector. addition, the costs and benefits associated with reporting international emissions have not been included in the headline estimates in the Impact Assessment. This is Food: Labelling because of the larger uncertainties around measuring these impacts; however a range of these potential Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for international impacts has been included in Section 10 of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she the Impact Assessment. has to change the rules on (a) use by, (b) best before Waste and (c) sell by dates on packaged food. [116966] Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is Mr Paice: The Food Labelling Regulations in the UK taking to reduce waste within her Department. [112105] only cover requirements for the two legally required forms of date mark: ’use by’; and ’best before’. Other Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA strives to reduce waste forms of date mark, including the ’sell by’ date, can be within the Department, including both operational provided by businesses on a voluntary basis so long as inefficiency and the waste generated by operations and they are not misleading. procurement: DEFRA issued guidance on the application of date Operational efficiency: marking to food businesses in September 2011 to help DEFRA’s Business Plan for 2012 to 20151 outlines them improve the consistency of the use of the ’best the actions the Department is taking to improve operational before’ and ’use by’ date marks to prevent food being efficiency, including measures to reduce spend on estates, needlessly thrown away. There are no current plans to procurement, HR, IT and corporate services. change either the legislation or the guidance. A summary of DEFRA’s financial performance in 2010-11 will be included in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which was laid before Parliament Greenhouse Gas Emissions on 12 July 2012. This will shortly be available in the House Library. Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Generated waste: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment New commitments for greening Government operations she has made of the impact of each of the four options and procurement2 were published in February 2011, proposed in her Department’s consultation on including pan-Government targets to reduce greenhouse greenhouse gas emissions in terms of (a) the cost of gas emissions, waste and water use by 2015. compliance, (b) the emissions saved, (c) the wider Core DEFRA has implemented a number of initiatives benefits of emissions reporting and (d) the expected to reduce waste generation and increase recycling. For contribution to the UK’s emission reduction targets. example, core DEFRA has achieved a 23% reduction in [116041] paper use in 2011-12, in part through changes to printing facilities. Core DEFRA’s IT contractors reuse or recycle Richard Benyon [holding answer 9 July 2012]: The 98% of our redundant IT equipment. final Impact Assessment of options for company An overview of performance on sustainability in greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, which is available on 2010-11 will be included in the Department’s Annual DEFRA’s website, shows cost of compliance, emissions Report and Accounts. DEFRA will also contribute to a saved, and financial savings from reduced fuel use for pan- Government report on performance in 2011-12 the four options. This information is presented in the against the Greening Government Commitments. This following table. The range of GHG emissions savings is due to be published in November. provides an indication of the expected contribution of 1http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DEFRA each policy option to the UK’s emission reduction -2012-Business-Plan.pdf targets over the next 10 years: 2 http://sd.defra.gov.uk/gov/green-government/commitments 623W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 624W

Waste: Exports As noted in my response to the hon. Gentlemen on 6 July 2012, Official Report, column 863W, the HM David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Revenue and Customs assessment of the impact of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) volume Budget 2012 measures on individuals and households and (b) proportion of waste that would be otherwise can be found online at: have gone to landfill was exported in each of the last http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/ootlar.htm five years. [117738] Police Richard Benyon: Under the UK Plan for Shipments of Waste, exports of waste for disposal, which includes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales landfill, are prohibited with very few exceptions. Therefore, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2012, Official Report, waste that is only fit for landfill cannot be exported. No columns 531-2W, on police, and with reference to the exports for landfill are recorded. report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Policing in Austerity: one year on, what assessment she has Wildlife: Circuses made of the likely trends in the number of frontline officers in the next three years. [117739] Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Mrs Gillan: Individual forces and police authorities Department differentiates between performing and determine where best to deploy their resources—taking non-performing wild animals travelling with circuses in into account the challenges they face and the benefits to its proposals for a ban on wild animals in circuses and be gained. The effectiveness of a police force depends, for interim regulations. [117115] not on overall numbers, but on how it deploys its resources. HMIC’s latest report makes clear the frontline Mr Paice: The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling of policing is being protected overall and service to the Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 were laid before public has largely been maintained. Parliament on 12 July. The Regulations cover any wild animal which is kept or introduced in a travelling circus whether for the purpose of performance, display or SCOTLAND otherwise. Our proposals for an ethics based ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses will require Maritime and Coastguard Agency primary legislation. We expect to publish draft legislation for pre-legislative scrutiny later this session. It will Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for ultimately be for Parliament to determine which wild Scotland what progress has been made on identifying a animals will be covered by the ban. long-term solution for provision of Maritime and Coastguard Agency duties around the Western Isles and West Highlands, including work between operators, vessel owners and the Maritime and WALES Coastguard Agency on working practices and Lost Working Days protocols covering the arrangements. [116960]

Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales David Mundell: Following the recent Government what the average number of working days lost per decision to provide renewed funding for a single emergency person was in her Department in each of the last three towing vessel to operate around the waters of Northern years. [116423] Scotland, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has procured a suitable vessel, the Herakles, which has Mr David Jones: The numbers of average working arrived on station. days lost (AWDL) due to sickness absence is shown in The Herakles will commence operations shortly and the following table: will undertake directed operations under the MCA’s control, within a designated area covering both the AWDL Northern and Western Isles.

1 The Government are continuing to explore options 2009 — with the oil and gas industry to secure a commercial 2010 4.9 call-out arrangement, using an industry vessel, for the 2011 7.1 Northern Isles. I remain grateful to the efforts of the 1 Wales Office figures formed part of the Ministry of Justice figures at companies participating in this work and to Oil and this time. However, a local report shows that the AWDL as at 31 March 2010 was 5.11. Gas UK for their facilitation. Personal Income Work Experience

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2012, Official Report, Scotland how many interns work in his Department’s columns 650-1W, on taxation, what assessment she has press office. [117677] made of the net effect of changes to taxation and benefits on an average family in Wales. [117791] David Mundell: No interns work in the Scotland Office’s press office. However, the Office currently has Mrs Gillan: HM Treasury and HM Revenue and one intern on the Civil Service Fast Stream Summer Customs make assessments of this nature. Diversity Internship programme. 625W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 626W

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION (3) what discussions the Commission has had with Capita on their plans to relocate the longstanding Members: ICT switchboard staff to Southampton. [117721] Alun Cairns: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, John Thurso: The Operator Bureau is an outsourced Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of service. Following a procurement exercise, a new third Commons Commission, whether a business impact party service provider took over the contract and the level assessment was conducted before iPads were existing staff in May 2012 from the previous contracted provided to hon. Members. [116978] supplier. The Commission cannot comment on the future location of the Operator Bureau since this is John Thurso: Assessments of the business use, and subject to consultation between the supplier and its ICT security, aspects of iPad deployment were conducted staff; however, the procurement process explored the before iPads were provided to hon. Members. issues that relocating the service might present, including The Administration Committee agreed to pilot the matters relating to security, IT systems, and service use of iPads in the summer of 2011 and conclusions continuity, and the Commission is satisfied that the were drawn in January 2012. The Administration proposals that have been made are low risk given the Committee found the use of iPads and electronic papers approach that is being taken. beneficial to the Committee’s working. In addition to The management of the staff concerned is a matter the pilot, a security assessment of the use of iPads was for the third party service provider. The Commission undertaken with external expert advice. The conclusion has been reassured by the provider that the staff will be was that with the configuration and software deployed formally consulted on any changes that are made and by Parliament iPads were safe to use for standard that they will be supported throughout. The House parliamentary material. authorities hold regular meetings with the service provider The Commission’s decision to loan iPads to Members to review the contract and its management. This includes in specific circumstances was taken in the context of a plans for the future and the management and support wider strategic desire to enhance significantly the range offered to their staff. and quality of digital information on parliamentary proceedings and to provide these services to Members and the public more efficiently.In doing so, the Commission WOMEN AND EQUALITIES is responding to a well-established trend that has seen Females: Victim Support Schemes demand upon the House Administration for digital services increase dramatically in recent years, and especially Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for Women and since the 2010 election. The Print to Web Strand of the Equalities what discussions she has had with the (a) Savings Programme has demonstrated that exploiting Ministers in the Home Department, (b) the Secretary and stimulating further the shift in Members’ and others’ of State for Justice and (c) the Secretary of State for preferences towards electronic provision of information Health on the adoption of national minimum can result in both aims being achieved simultaneously. standards for the commissioning of services for women Work is under way to improve the electronic presentation survivors of violence. [117388] of information, starting with the House’s key business papers such as the Order Paper and Select Committee Lynne Featherstone: No discussions have taken place evidence, to make it easier to find, search and use on the between myself and the (a) Ministers in the Home internet and on mobile devices. Those select committees Department, (b) the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of that opt for paperless working will have their papers State for Justice, the right hon. and learned Member for delivered smartly to their iPads, reducing expenditure Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), (c) the Secretary of State for on reprographics and contributing to environmental Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire objectives. At the same time, the Commission is conscious (Mr Lansley), in relation to the adoption of national that iPads may open up new and more effective ways of minimum standards for the commissioning of services working for Members and for the House service in for women survivors of violence. other areas. It has therefore requested examination of In response to the Ministry of Justice ″Getting it the potential to deliver a wider range of information Right for Victims and Witnesses″ consultation, only and services to Members through iPads where to do so certain victim services will be nationally commissioned, will achieve further improvements in service quality and this will include Rape Support Centres. Following their reductions in administrative expenditure. The Commission election, the commissioning of victim support services will review the outcomes of this investigation later this will be devolved to Police and Crime Commissioners year. who will be best placed to determine the commissioning of services for all victims in accordance with local Switchboard Staff: Relocation needs. Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of TRANSPORT Commons Commission, (1) what estimate the Airports: Transport Commission has made of the risks involved in the move of switchboard staff to a centre in Southampton; Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport and what steps are being taken to mitigate them; what estimate she has made of the number of [117719] passengers from overseas transiting via (a) Heathrow, (2) what consideration the Commission has given to (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted whose destination is longstanding contracted-out staff in Parliament being another airport within the UK; and to which airports moved out of London; [117720] such passengers travel. [117947] 627W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 628W

Mrs Villiers: Estimated number of passengers from Road and rail investments referred to in 12 July WMS overseas transferring via Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Actual or estimated whose destination is another airport in the UK in 2011 Direct/ cost/ is given in the following table. The estimates are based indirect investment upon the Civil Aviation Authority’s passenger survey; Scheme Airport benefit (in £000s) sample sizes from this survey are too small to show to Gateway link road construction to Robin Direct 18,000 which airports such passengers travel subsequently travel enhance links between Sheffield and Hood to. airport A45 Corridor improvement to enable Birmingham. Direct 15,700 runway extension Passengers from overseas transferring at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted M1 J19/M6 Improvement Birmingham Indirect 229,000 whose destination is another airport in M4 J19 to J20 and M5 J15 to J17 Bristol Indirect 89,000 the UK, 2011 (thousand) Managed Motorway A556 Knutsford to Bowdon Manchester Indirect 175,000 Heathrow 2,487 Improvement Gatwick 836 M62 J18 to J20 Managed Motorway Manchester Indirect 103,500 Stansted 104 A453 widening East Indirect 168,000 Midlands Aviation M62 J25 to J30 Managed Motorway Leeds Indirect 150,000 Bradford M5 J29 Improvement Exeter Indirect 10,427 Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Norwich Northern Distributor Road Norwich Direct 86,500 for Transport (1) what steps she is taking to develop cross-departmental consensus on the development of Total investment 1,428,427 the aviation industry; [117618] 1 8,000 provided by Gatwick Airport. (2) what discussions her Department has had with industry on the development of aviation policy. Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport [117619] for what reasons proposals to liberalise the UK aviation market to encourage foreign airlines to Mrs Villiers: On 12 July, the Department for Transport develop new routes by permitting foreign airlines to published a draft Aviation Policy Framework which sets pick up passengers when flying to other destinations out the importance of aviation to the UK economy and only apply to Gatwick and Stansted. [117785] the Government’s proposals on how aviation can support economic growth while meeting its noise and climate change obligations. We intend to adopt the final Aviation Mrs Villiers: There has been a long standing policy Policy Framework in spring 2013. presumption in favour of open fifth freedom rights for all of the UK outside of . In the We have worked closely with colleagues in other draft Aviation Policy Framework we are consulting on Government Departments and with a wide range of a proposal to extend that liberal policy to Gatwick, stakeholders, including the aviation industry in developing Luton and Stansted airports. That is, to all UK airports this draft Framework and we will continue to do so. with the exception of Heathrow. The relevant section of the draft Aviation Policy Framework is paragraphs 2.45 Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to 2.48: pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, on Aviation Policy Framework, which projects http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-35 are in receipt of the £1.4 billion investment in rail and We are also considering whether further liberalisation, road schemes referred to; and what the projected direct going beyond fifth freedom rights might be suitable for or indirect benefit is on each airport. [117784] airports outside the South East.

Mrs Villiers: The details of the road and rail investment Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport schemes referred to in the written ministerial statement what the smaller planes are in respect of which her of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 59WS, by the forthcoming proposals will seek to restrict access at the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend busiest airports; and from which airports such flights the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), are listed in most frequently originate. [117786] the following table. Schemes are expected to improve the passenger experience of travelling to the relevant airports; either through journey time savings or upgraded Mrs Villiers: The type of smaller aircraft and extent services. Those schemes offering direct benefits to airports to which their access might be restricted at our busiest are also expected to improve connectivity with towns airports is ultimately a matter for the relevant airport and/or business centres; thereby offering economic benefits. operator, who would need to work with their stakeholders to implement any such proposals. Road and rail investments referred to in 12 July WMS Actual or As stated in our draft Aviation Policy Framework, estimated the Government supports in principle any reasonable, Direct/ cost/ indirect investment non-discriminatory steps that airport operators may Scheme Airport benefit (in £000s) wish to take to limit access to smaller aircraft to make the best use of existing capacity, where appropriate. Gatwick electric trains Gatwick Indirect 153,000 M3 J2 to J4a Managed Motorway Heathrow Indirect 250,000 All responses to the consultation on aviation policy Luton-Dunstable Busway rapid Luton Direct 80,300 will be considered on this proposal, along with ail the transit scheme other ideas in the draft framework. 629W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 630W

Bmibaby: Redundancy (a) One application to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme was recommended for acceptance by the panel but subsequently refused by the Secretary of State for Transport or a Minister acting on her Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State behalf. for Transport whether she has had discussions with her (b) Three applications to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme Ministerial colleagues on the position of pilots who were recommended for refusal by the panel but subsequently will be made redundant by the closure of the airline accepted by the Secretary of State for Transport or a Minister bmibaby. [117817] acting on her behalf.

Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Transport what additional expenditure has been Greening), has not had discussions with ministerial allocated to enable her Department to purchase colleagues about potential pilot redundancies as a result property along the High Speed Rail 2 preferred line of the closure of bmibaby Ltd. While any staff redundancies route; and if she will make a statement. [115822] are regrettable, these are commercial matters for bmibaby’s new owner International Airlines Group and British Justine Greening [holding answer 9 July 2012]: I refer Airways to consider in consultation with staff and the my hon. Friend to Table 12 of the ‘Economic Case for relevant trade unions. HS2: Updated appraisal of transport user benefits and wider economic benefits,’ at the following link: Driving: Licensing http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hs2-economic-case- appraisal-update/hs2-economic-case-appraisal-update.pdf Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in the UK held a full HS2 Ltd driving licence at the age of 17 years in the period (a) 1980-89, (b) 1990-99, (c) 2000-09 and (d) 2010 to Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for date. [117940] Transport how many staff have been employed at HS2 Ltd in each month since its creation. [109287] Mike Penning: According to data held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) there were 68,852 Justine Greening [holding answer 24 May 2012]: people aged 17 who held a full driving licence in Great From the time HS2 was established until my decision to Britain as at 1 June 2012. This is approximately 9% of proceed with High Speed Rail in January 2012, HS2 the estimated total population aged 17. Data are not Ltd staff comprised a mix of direct employees, secondees held centrally for the UK as a whole as driver licensing from DFT and Network Rail and temporary staff. is administered separately in Northern Ireland. Following the announcement, a development partner, Comparable historical data are not available from CH2M Hill, was appointed. Its staff (86) was integrated this source. However, the National Travel Survey shows into the HS2 organisation structure between March the proportion of licence holders by age group from the and May and are included in the following numbers. mid-1970s until 2010. Figures are available in table Further recruitment has been undertaken, and is continuing, NTS0201 at the following link: to provide HS2 Ltd with the capability to deliver its http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/tables/nts0201/ extended remit. In addition, HS2 is now moving to secure permanent appointments into roles and reduce to a minimum its need for temporary staff. Ex Gratia Payments Month ending Number of staff Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of 2010 the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made April 34 through schemes administered by her Department in May 40 the last two years. [116811] June 43 July 46 Norman Baker: To the best of my knowledge, the August 46 Department for Transport has made no such payments September 56 since May 2012. October 61 November 60 High Speed 2 Railway Line December 61

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for 2011 Transport how many applications to the Exceptional January 60 Hardship Scheme have been (a) accepted by the February 70 Exceptional Hardship Scheme Panel but upon review March 78 rejected by her or a Minister acting on her behalf and April 80 (b) rejected by the panel but upon review been May 80 accepted by her or a Minister acting on her behalf. June 80 [111043] July 80 August 81 Justine Greening [holding answer 13 June 2012]: The September 86 information requested is as follows: 631W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 632W

The above data include direct employees of HS2 Ltd. Month ending Number of staff Data exclude 86 staff contracted through CH2M Hill, October 87 10 Network Rail secondees and 35 temporary staff paid November 90 by agencies. For these staff members we are charged a December 92 rate which includes other employment costs and we do not hold individual salary information which would 2012 allow us to place staff in the above salary bands. Data also exclude 22 DFT secondees. January 100 February 103 Network Rail March 171 April 210 Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for May 226 Transport (1) with reference to her Department’s White Paper, Reforming our Railways: Putting the Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Customer First, whether she has agreed with Network Transport how many staff at HS2 Ltd are employed to Rail that it will appoint her preferred candidate as a work on the (a) Project Board, (b) Officers Working public interest director on its Remuneration Group, (c) Consultation/Working Group, (d) Committee; [116112] Environmental Working Group, (e) Economic (2) what representations she has made to the board Business Case Working Group and (f) Legal of Network Rail on remuneration for executives; Challenge Group; and how many are projected to be [116113] employed in each group in each year to 2015. [109288] (3) what process she has agreed with Network Rail to ensure her Department’s input into the selection of Justine Greening [holding answer 24 May 2012]: Network Rail’s Public Interest Director; [116114] Staff are employed to work in specific roles within HS2 (4) whether (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Ltd, but not within the working group categories as Department, (c) special advisers in her Department outlined in the question. and (d) officials in her Department plan to attend With reference to how many are projected to be Network Rail’s Annual General Meeting; [116115] employed in each group in each year up to 2015, HS2 (5) what meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Ltd’s overall budget has been established for the years Department and (c) officials in her Department have in question; however, since we do not group staff within had with Network Rail to discuss bonus payments the categories described in the question, we are not able since February 2012. [116116] to say at this time precisely how many people will be deployed on these activities. Justine Greening [holding answer 9 July 2012]: Ministers and officials meet Network Rail regularly to discuss a Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for wide range of operational and strategic issues. Transport (1) how many additional staff HS2 Ltd is Executive remuneration remains a matter for Network projected to hire in each year until 2015; [109289] Rail, as a private sector, not-for-dividend Company (2) how many staff at HS2 Ltd have salaries of (a) limited by guarantee. Earlier this year I made my views £20,000 to £30,000, (b) 30,001 to £40,000, (c) £40,001 on the subject clear when I said that the proposed to £50,000, (d) £50,001 to £60,000, (e) £60,001 to reforms to Network Rail’s incentive plan were unacceptable, £70,000, (f) £70,001 to £80,000, (g) £80,001 to and that taxpayers and farepayers would expect reward £90,000, (h) £90,001 to £100,000 and (i) £100,001 and to be proportionate and to reflect performance. above; and how many staff are projected to be in each Network Rail subsequently announced its plans to salary band in each year up to 2015. [109290] improve its corporate governance, including the appointment of a public interest director to articulate Justine Greening [holding answer 24 May 2012]: HS2 taxpayers’ interests in board discussions. The individual Ltd expects to hire up to an additional 105 staff before will need to demonstrate specific skills and interests in end March 2013. Although the overall budget for the public policy, finance and corporate and social responsibility. programme has been established, the precise details of The Company has already advertised for the post, and how many staff will be required in each year up to 2015 will involve all members, collectively, in the appointment have not yet been set and will to some extent depend process. upon progress of the project. Proposals for the reform of Network Rail’s Management Salary bands Number of staff current Incentive Plan will be taken forward in the autumn, under the new governance structure and with the £20,000 to £30,000 26 involvement of the public interest director. As in the £30,000 to £40,000 15 past, since Network Rail’s creation in 2002, no Minister £40,000 to £50,000 17 plans to attend the AGM. £50,000 to £60,000 9 Railways: Freight £60,000 to £70,000 4 £70,000 to £80,000 0 £80,000 to £90,000 1 Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport £90,000 to £100,000 0 what discussions she has had with the Office of Rail £100,000+ 1 Regulation on proposed changes to the level of charges Total 73 to freight companies for transporting coal by rail. [117151] 633W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 634W

Mrs Villiers: The track access charges levied on rail Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for freight operators in the next railway funding Control Transport with reference to the Office of Rail Period from 2014 to 2019 are matters for the Office of Regulation’s 13th Periodic Review, what assessment she Rail Regulation (ORR), which is the independent economic has made of the effect on the competitiveness of UK and safety regulator for the railways in Great Britain. industry of rail freight charges. [117684] Some elements of these charges are the subject of a current ORR consultation on the variable usage charge Mrs Villiers: The track access charges levied on rail and a freight specific charge. This consultation can be freight operators in the next railway funding control found on ORR’s website at period from 2014 to 2019 are matters for the Office of http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk Rail Regulation (ORR), which is the independent economic and safety regulator for the railways in Great Britain. Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Some elements of these charges are the subject of a what charges were levied on the rail transportation of current ORR consultation on the variable usage charge coal used for electricity generation in each year since and a freight specific charge which can be found on the 1997. [117153] ORR’s website at: Mrs Villiers: Information relating to the track access http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk charges paid by rail freight operators for the transportation of coal for the electricity supply industry since 1997 is a Railways: Scotland matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network, overseen by the rail regulator. Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Network Rail’s chief executive can be contacted at Transport what progress has been made on improving the following address for a response to this question: train journey times from (a) London to Edinburgh David Higgins and Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh and Glasgow to Chief Executive Inverness. [116961] Network Rail Kings Place Norman Baker: Recent infrastructure improvements 90 York Way have enabled East Coast to achieve a 4-hour timing London, N1 9AG. between Edinburgh and London, and Virgin West Coast a 4h 08m timing on the Euston to Glasgow route. A Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport new timetable for East Coast train services introduced whether she has made an assessment of the effect of an in May 2011 provided a new standard interval timetable increase in the charges levied on freight transported by with additional services to and from Edinburgh, and a rail on (a) road congestion, (b) safety and (c) small improvement in average journey times. Further pollution. [117154] incremental improvements in journey times are expected in the next few years when IEP trains are introduced on Mrs Villiers: No, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) the East Coast and through further timetabling initiatives has responsibility for regulating track access charges on on West Coast. the UK rail network. On 16th July, the Secretary of State announced the The ORR have assessed the effects on a number of High Level Output Specification (HLOS) for the railway. variables including demand for rail freight services that This provides £240m for improvements to the East could result from a rise in track access charges for Coast Main Line to increase capacity and reduce journey freight transported by rail. This is set out in their times, and the industry will publish, through Network consultation document on the variable usage charge Rail, a Strategic Business Plan in due course responding and a freight specific charge which can be found on to the HLOS and setting out initial ideas for this and ORR’s website at many other HLOS requirements. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk Train services between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Inverness are the responsibility of Transport Scotland. Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Office of Rail Road Traffic Control Regulation’s 13th Periodic Review, what environmental impact assessments she has made of proposals to increase rail freight charges; and if she will assess the Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for extent to which such proposals fit with the Transport by what method traffic density was recorded; Government’s broader goals on the environment, and what the average traffic density was in the period growth and competitiveness. [117662] (a) 1980-89, (b) 1990-99, (c) 2000-09 and (d) 2010 to date. [117941] Mrs Villiers: The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which is the independent economic and safety regulator Mike Penning: The Department for Transport does for the railways in Great Britain, has assessed the effects not produce and publish traffic density statistics. on a number of variables that could result from a rise in Although figures for traffic density (eg traffic volume track access charges for freight transported by rail in a per lane mile) are not calculated, DFT does publish consultation document on the variable usage charge annual estimates of total traffic volume. These figures and a freight specific charge. This can be found on the are measured in vehicle miles and show the total distance ORR’s website at: travelled by vehicles on the roads of Great Britain each http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk year. 635W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 636W

The latest estimates for 2011 were published on 28usb Contributory factor in reported personal injury accidents1: GB 2007-11 June and showed that over the past year, total traffic Contributory factor Fatal Serious Slight All volume was broadly stable. Traffic volumes are over As a percentage of all 1.2 1.1 0.7 0.7 10 times higher than in 1949, although over the last accidents with 20 years there has been a decline in the rate of traffic contributory factor growth. Motor vehicle traffic grew by 50% during the 1980s, by 14% during the 1990s and by 6% between 2011 Poor or defective road 10 196 650 856 2000 and 2009. Motor vehicle traffic peaked in 2007 surface following which it fell for three consecutive years; the Total number of 1,663 18,391 98,349 118,403 accidents with first consecutive annual falls since traffic records began. contributory factors To calculate traffic density figures we would have to As a percentage of all 0.6 1.1 0.7 0.7 divide the total volume of traffic in Great Britain by the accidents with contributory factor total length of all lanes on the road network. Although 1 Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which DFT does publish statistics on total length of the road a contributory factor was reported. network each year, this does not include information on It is particularly notable that there were two separate total lane length. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate periods of sustained snow and ice across many areas of figures for traffic density. Great Britain during 2010 (one at the beginning of the year, one at the end) which may have led to a deterioration Roads: Accidents of road surfaces. This may explain the higher proportion of accidents during that year for which “poor or defective Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for road surface” was a contributory factor. Transport whether she has made an assessment of any The Department for Transport provided £200 million correlation between levels of maintenance on road in March 2011 to repair damage on the highway caused infrastructure and road casualties. [117685] by the 2010 winter and is providing further £3 billion over four years to 2014-15 to local highway authorities Mike Penning: The Department has not carried out in England for roads for which they are responsible. any formal analysis into the correlation between levels of maintenance on road infrastructure and road casualties. Simon Hoare However, the Department does collect information on contributory factors for reported personal injury Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for road accidents attended by a police officer at the scene Transport with reference to the answer of 26 March of the accident. The contributory factors for road 2012, Official Report, column 947W, on rail freight, environment has a specific factor for “Poor or defective whether the Minister of State has had any other private road surface”. The following table provides the relevant or social meetings with (a) Simon Hoare and (b) any trend since 2007 for Great Britain: representatives of Helioslough before or after her meeting of 10 August 2011 with Simon Hoare. [116199] Contributory factor in reported personal injury accidents1: GB 2007-11 Contributory factor Fatal Serious Slight All Mrs Villiers: I refer to my answers of 30 April 2012, 2007 Poor or defective road 22 153 707 882 Official Report, columns 1270-1W and 1269-70W. surface Total number of 2,538 21,346 116,477 140,361 accidents with South East Airports Taskforce contributory factors As a percentage of all 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.6 Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport accidents with contributory factor (1) what assessment she has made of the costs to date of servicing the South East Airports Taskforce; [117782] 2008 Poor or defective road 6 157 733 896 surface (2) how the South East Airports Taskforce was (a) Total number of 2,170 20,429 108,993 131,592 constituted and (b) funded. [117783] accidents with contributory factors Mrs Villiers: The South East Airports Taskforce was As a percentage of all 0.3 0.8 0.7 ¦ 0.7 accidents with announced by written ministerial statement by the then contributory factor Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge 2009 Poor or defective road 15 197 613 825 (Mr Hammond) on 15 June 2010, Official Report, column surface 48WS, to explore measures to help make the most of Total number of 1,935 19,566 106,684 128,185 existing infrastructure and improve conditions for all accidents with contributory factors users at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The As a percentage of all 0.8 1.0 0.6 0.6 taskforce, which I chaired as Aviation Minister, included accidents with representation from each of the main London airports, contributory factor long-haul and short-haul carriers and the no-frills operators, and business, passenger and environmental interests. 2010 Poor or defective road 19 191 671 881 The Department for Transport organised and hosted surface Taskforce meetings and the only expenditure incurred Total number of 1,620 18,043 101,164 120,827 accidents with by my Department was £119,568 paid to the CAA for contributory factors analytical work undertaken to look at ways in which to 637W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 638W improve punctuality, resilience and delay at these airports. Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for The taskforce was disbanded on publication of its Transport for what reasons the signing of the conclusions in July 2011. Thameslink rolling stock contract has been delayed. The terms of reference for the taskforce, membership, [117134] meeting minutes and conclusions can be found on the Mrs Villiers [holding answer 13 July 2012]: The Department for Transport’s website at the following Thameslink rolling stock contract is a large and complex web address: transaction. The Department expects to conclude the http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/south-east-airports- core project agreements with Siemens and Cross London taskforce Trains shortly. Cross London Trains and their lending Southeastern banks also need to conclude the financing documentation required to secure the necessary equity and debt funding for the project. The Department expects to award the Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Thameslink rolling stock contract during the summer. Transport (1) what the amount of (a) subsidy paid to and (b) franchise premium sought from the holders of the new South Eastern franchise planned to commence JUSTICE on 1 April 2014 will be in each year of the new franchise; [116758] Cemeteries (2) when she intends to make public the amount of Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (a) subsidy paid to and (b) franchise premium sought how his Department assesses demand for burial space from the holder of the new South Eastern franchise in burial grounds. [117496] planned to commence on 1 April 2014 in each year of the new franchise. [116759] Mr Djanogly: A survey of burial grounds conducted in 2005 concluded that there would be a median remaining Mrs Villiers: The new southeastern contract is expected lifetime of 30 years (i.e. until 2035) for existing burial to be signed in December 2013. The amount of subsidy grounds if current levels of demand continue. paid or premium sought is not known at this stage of The issue of burial space is routinely discussed at the re-letting process. bi-annual meetings of the Burial and Cremation Advisory Group, which is chaired by the Ministry of Justice. Staff Community Orders Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Transport how many staff of her Department were in how many people were given a community sentence the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date with a condition of being electronically tagged in Wales for which figures are available; and how many of these and England in 2011. [117529] had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date. [116812] Mr Blunt: In 2011 63,164 new electronically monitored supervision orders were started as part of a community Norman Baker: Within the central Department and sentence in England and Wales. its seven executive agencies there are currently 21 staff Coroners who are in the redeployment pools (staff whose jobs ended and are now seeking alternative roles). Of those Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for 21, 7 have been in the redeployment pool for more than Justice what steps his Department has taken to ensure six months and 14 have been in the redeployment pool that, in inquest procedures, the wishes of families of for less than six months. These figures are accurate as at deceased who would, on religious grounds, choose (a) 13 July 2012. non-invasive autopsy procedures and (b) burial as soon as possible are respected. [117550] The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) declared 1213 members of staff surplus on 4th July and Mr Djanogly: Less invasive post-mortem examinations are currently going through the process of determining are permitted under coroner legislation. The legislation how many of these staff will be seeking redeployment. also allows coroners to issue certificates to allow removal of the body from the jurisdiction to facilitate burial Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock abroad where this is desired for religious reasons. The Charter for Coroner Services, issued by the Ministry of Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in March 2012, states that coroners should take Transport (1) whether she plans to announce the account of families’ religious and community requirements decision on financial close for the Thameslink rolling during the inquest process where this is compatible with stock contract in a ministerial statement to Parliament; the coroner’s statutory duties. [117133] Data Protection: EU Action (2) whether she plans to announce the decision on financial close for the Thameslink rolling stock Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in contract before 17 July 2012. [117135] each year since EU Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA came into force, how many data subjects Mrs Villiers [holding answer 13 July 2012]: The in the UK have (a) requested the rectification, erasure Department expects to conclude negotiations and award or blocking of their personal data under Article 4 of the Thameslink rolling stock contract during the summer. the Decision and (b) received compensation for an A written ministerial statement will be made to Parliament unlawful processing operation under Article 19 of the once a decision is made. Decision. [112794] 639W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 640W

Mr Kenneth Clarke: I am answering this question as Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes data protection and the application of EU Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA are Ministry of Justice issues. Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for The information asked for, in parts (a) and (b),are Justice what the (a) nationality and (b) gender was of held neither by the Ministry of Justice nor the Home each suspected victim of trafficking referred to the Office centrally. Furthermore, the information is not Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the held individually within the bodies covered by the scope Salvation Army in June 2012; in which region each of of Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA. the suspected victims was found; and which agency referred each case to the scheme. [117756] Employment Tribunals Service Mr Blunt: In June 2012 there were 46 referrals to the Government-funded support service for adult victims Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for of human trafficking in England and Wales administered Justice with reference to the answer of 29 February by the Salvation Army. Details are as follows: 2012, Official Report, columns 369-70W, on the Employment Tribunals Service, how many (a) single Nationality Gender Region Referring agency claims, (b) multiple claims and (c) multiple claim cases (i) were accepted by employment tribunals in Albanian Female South East UKBA 2011-12 and (ii) are awaiting determination by an Albanian Female Yorkshire UKBA employment tribunal. [117718] Albanian Female Yorkshire UKBA Albanian Female Yorkshire UKBA Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice publishes Bangladeshi Female West Midlands UKBA information, both quarterly and annually, on the workloads Bulgarian Female South East Social services before tribunals administered by Her Majesty’s Courts Bulgarian Male South East Social services and Tribunals Service. This information includes statistics Czech Female West Midlands Police on the receipts, disposals and outstanding (or ’live’) Czech Female West Midlands Police caseload in the employment tribunals system. Statistics Czech Female South East Police are available online at: Czech Female South East Police Czech Male South East NGO http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/tribunals Eritrean Female Yorkshire UKBA In the financial year 2011-12, employment tribunals Gambian Female South East NGO received 186,300 new claims. Of those new claim receipts, Ghanaian Female South East UKBA 59,200 were ’singles’ and 127,100 were ’multiples’. The Hungarian Male South East Police multiple claims were grouped into 4,300 actions, or Indian Male West Midlands Legal ’multiple claim cases’. representative Mali an Female South East Legal At the end of the financial year 2011-12, the employment representative tribunals had a live caseload of 540,800 claims. That Moldavian Female South East Self-referral total was made up of 26,500 singles claims (a fall of 7% Moldavian Female South East Local authority from the end of the previous financial year) and 514,300 Nigerian Male South Fast Legal multiples claims, the large majority of which were stayed representative pending appellate decisions or otherwise unready for Nigerian Female Wales NGO final hearing. Information on the total number of Nigerian Female South East UKBA outstanding multiple claims cases is not yet available. I Nigerian Female South East Legal will write to the hon. Member with the information as representative soon as my officials can provide it. Nigerian Female South East NGO Nigerian Female South East NGO Fines: Surcharges Nigerian Female Yorkshire UKBA Nigerian Female Yorkshire UKBA Polish Male Wales GLA Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Polish Male Wales GLA Justice what assessment he has made of the likelihood Polish Male Wales GLA of recovering the proposed new victims surcharge Polish Female Wales GLA penalty from offenders who are sentenced to immediate Polish Male West Midlands NGO custody; and what additional penalty there will be for Polish Male West Midlands NGO non-payment of that surcharge for those who are given Polish Male Yorkshire NGO prison sentences. [117926] Polish Male South East NGO Romanian Female South East Police Mr Blunt: It is right that offenders subject to immediate Romanian Female South East Police custody should be expected to take responsibility for Slovakian Male Not known Not known their crimes and contribute to the costs of repairing the Slovakian Male West Midlands NGO harm done to victims. We will put in place mechanisms UK Female South East UKHTC to enable the surcharge to be collected from offenders in UK Male North West NGO prison and ensure effective enforcement of the imposition US Male Yorkshire UKBA upon release. Zambian Female South East NGO Not known Female West Midlands Prison service At the moment we do not envisage imposing additional Not known Female West Midlands UKBA penalties on those offenders who fail to pay the surcharge. 641W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 642W

Immigration Advisory Service Home Detention Curfew scheme are published on a quarterly and annual basis, and are available at the Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice following link: what steps he plans to take to ensure that files formerly http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/ held by the Immigration Advisory Service are retained oms-quarterly for use by their clients. [117521] The data show that, in 2011, a total of 12,727 prisoners were released on HDC. This is a 30% release rate; ie Mr Djanogly: The Immigration Advisory Service was 30% of those serving between three months and just placed into administration on 8 July 2011. Following less than four years (the HDC eligibility range, although the orderly transfer of legal aid clients to new providers many in this range will be ineligible or presumed unsuitable by the Legal Services Commission, the court ordered for HDC by nature of offence). We estimate that, of that the administrators allow three months for former those released on HDC, (including those serving three clients of IAS to make requests for their archived files. and six months) around 30% are likely to have been This opportunity closed on 28 May 2012 and any released at the earliest possible date, i.e. their HDC remaining files are expected to be securely destroyed. eligibility date, and will, therefore, have served the minimum period in prison available to them. The rest of the Legal Aid Scheme prisoners in this range will have served at least the minimum period in prison available to them and were Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice released between their HDC eligibility date and the (1) how much was paid in legal aid to defendants with halfway point in their sentence. assets held under restraint in each of the last three As noted in the previous answer, the minimum period financial years; [117705] in prison in an individual case may be reduced by any (2) what the names are of all convicted offenders relevant tagged bail time directed to count by the court. from whom the Legal Services Commission is seeking The Department does not hold data on the incidence of to recover legal aid payments of £100,000 or more; and tagged bail being directed to count by the court. how much was paid to each offender. [117706] Prisoners: Females Mr Djanogly: The information requested is not readily available: it involves matching data in different formats Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice from several current and legacy legal aid schemes from how many female inmates were reprimanded in respect which the information could be extracted only at of offences involving the use of drugs in prison in (a) disproportionate cost. 2010 and (b) 2011; and if he will make a statement. [117343] Life Imprisonment Mr Blunt: Adjudication procedures deal with offences Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice against discipline alleged to have been committed by how many life-sentence prisoners in Wales and prisoners, and contribute to maintaining order and England have been continuously in custody since 1977; control, and a safe environment, within prisons. and how many of those are on a full-life tariff. [117530] Since 2010 we have no longer been able to identify drug offences separately. However, the number of proven Mr Blunt: Based on those offenders in prison at the offences for ‘unauthorised transaction/possession’ end of March 2012, the number of life sentence prisoners committed by females in prison and dealt with under recorded as being in custody continuously since 1977 is the prison adjudication process in 2010 and 2011 were 58. Of these, two are serving a whole life tariff. 1,198 and 1,175 respectively. These may also include This does not include those transferred under mental possession of other unauthorised items, for example a health legislation from prison to secure hospitals. mobile phone. These figures count the number of offences, not the number of individuals; one prisoner may be Prisoners’ Release responsible for more than one offence. This information is published in the annual tables of Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Offender Management Statistics. The publication is Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official available free of charge on the Ministry of Justice Report, column 918W, on prisoners’ release, what website via this link: estimate he has made of the proportion of offenders http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/ who were sentenced to (a) two weeks, (b) four weeks, oms-quarterly (c) three months and (d) six months who served the These figures have been drawn from administrative minimum amount of time in prison. [117939] IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry Mr Blunt: Prisoners will generally serve the minimum and processing. amount of time in prison that was indicated in the previous reply, ie half the length of sentence, less any Prostitution: Greater London period of release under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme (HDC). Those serving less than three months are ineligible for HDC so those serving two and four Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice weeks will all generally be released after serving half of how many cautions were issued to sex workers in each the sentence. Data on the release of prisoners under the London borough during the last 12 months. [117533] 643W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 644W

Mr Blunt: Statistical information held centrally by £593,270,7181. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service the Ministry of Justice from the Police National Computer (HMCTS) cannot disaggregate this total to provide the on cautions issued in England and Wales does not information requested. The outstanding balance quoted identify all the specific circumstances of each case. It is is made up of financial penalties which include those not possible to identify the specific activities behind not yet due, currently being paid in instalments such as each offence. deduction from benefits or by an attachment of earnings, The number of offenders cautioned for selected or are in arrears. prostitution related offences in Greater London, in The Government takes the issue of fine enforcement 2011, can be viewed in the following table. very seriously and HMCTS is working to ensure that Cautions data are not available at borough level. clamping down on fine dodgers is a continued priority nationwide. Offenders cautioned1, 2 for selected prostitution related offences3, Greater London4, 20115 Source: Greater London4 Number Libra Local Standard Reports as at end of March 2012

Prostitution offences 130 1 The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 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 Council Housing: Construction reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. 3 Offences include: Causing or inciting prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 2003 s52 Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Keeping a brothel for prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 1956 33a Keeping a brothel—Sexual Offences Act 1956 s33 Communities and Local Government how many Placing of advertisement relating to prostitution—Criminal Justice and Police council houses were built in each local authority in Act 2001 s46 each year since 1997. [117141] Person persistently loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution—Street Offences Act 1959 s1 4 Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. Andrew Stunell: Data on house building can be found 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 on the Department for Communities and Local from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police Government website: forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/ Source: Live table 253 gives house building by tenure, including Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. the local authority tenure, for each local authority Sentencing: Females district for each financial year since 1998-99.

Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Families: Disadvantaged how many women were sentenced to imprisonment for making false allegations about rape or sexual assault in Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for each of the last three years. [117531] Communities and Local Government what evidence informed the connection in the Government’s Troubled Mr Blunt: Persons accused of making a false accusation Families programme between crime and anti-social that a criminal offence has been committed may be behaviour and families with at least five of the seven proceeded against under a number of offences, including characteristics. [111138] perverting the course of justice, wasting police time and perjury. Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answers Statistical information held centrally by the Ministry of 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 685W; of of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database for 21 June 2012, Official Report, column 1116W; and of England and Wales does not identify the circumstances 3 July 2012, Official Report, column 615W. of each offence. Therefore it is not possible to separately identify those cases resulting in court proceedings Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for that have arisen solely from persons making false Communities and Local Government what research accusations. informed the Government’s estimate that there are 120,000 troubled families; what sample size the figure Unpaid Fines was based on; and when the research was conducted. [111139] John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2012, Official Robert Neill: The estimate that there were likely to be Report, column 88W, on unpaid fines, what the total 120,000 troubled families in England was based on balance is of outstanding financial penalties which are indicative numbers in previous Government research. not being collected by instalments or by deduction The analysis was updated in 2011. The survey was from benefits, and for which additional time to pay has based on interviews with nearly 7,000 families. not been given by the court, in England and Wales for In December 2011, all upper-tier local authorities the latest period for which figures are available. [117088] were provided with figures on the indicative number of troubled families in their area. All local authorities Mr Djanogly: At the end of March 2012 the total accepted these figures for their own area, which, in amount of outstanding financial penalties was aggregate, confirmed a 120,000 figure. 645W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 646W

The “Troubled Families Financial Framework”, a The Department does, however, collect figures the copy of which is available in the Library of the House, number of households applying for assistance under outlines the process for councils to draw up the list of the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act that were found families who will be part of the programme. to be ‘eligible, homeless and in priority need, but intentionally so’. Figures for each local authority area Free Schools: Planning Permission are available on the Department’s website at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/ Communities and Local Government if he will take livetables/ steps to prevent local authorities requiring payments in Table 784 (for financial years 2004-05 to 2011-12) under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning and 784a (separately for all four quarters of 2011-12). Act 1990 from new free school developments; and if he The Department also collects figures—as at the end will make a statement. [117781] of each quarter—on the number of households that were intentionally homeless and were being accommodated : The Government is committed to ensuring by a local authority for a reasonable period. England free schools are able to set up quickly. The National totals for the end of each quarter from March 2002 are Planning Policy Framework published on 27 March set out in the following table: 2012 makes clear that local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter Households that were intentionally homeless and in temporary accommodation—England schools. Local planning authorities must ensure that any section 106 planning obligations meet three statutory As at end: March June September December tests—that they are necessary to make the development 2002 750 660 800 730 acceptable in planning terms, directly related to the 2003 830 1,090 1,120 1,230 development, and fairly and reasonably related in scale 2004 1,180 1,340 1,340 1,430 and kind to the development. 2005 1,420 1,370 1,460 1,400 2006 1,340 1,460 1,130 1,230 Homelessness 2007 1,370 1,120 980 1,050 2008 810 820 1,000 590 Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009 840 720 600 590 Communities and Local Government what guidance 2010 690 620 610 720 his Department has issued to local authorities on the 2011 670 660 840 710 provision of services to households which are 2012 740 1— 1— 1— designated intentionally homeless; what provision is 1 Not yet available made for emergency accommodation for households Note: which are classified as intentionally homeless; how Numbers of households are rounded to nearest 10. many households classified as intentionally homeless in Source: each of the last three years included children; how Quarterly PIE returns many households classified as intentionally homeless The coalition Government is committed to tackling were provided with emergency accommodation in each homelessness. We are investing £400 million in homelessness of the last three years; how many such households were prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15). On top accommodated for more than (a) 28 and (b) 60 days; of that we provided an additional £70 million last year how many households in each local authority area were to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness. classified as intentionally homeless in each of the last Homelessness is half the average rate that it was under three years; how many households in temporary the previous Administration and remains lower than in accommodation were classified as intentionally 28 of the last 30 years. homeless in each of the last three years; and how many The additional £70 million comprises the following: of the households in temporary accommodation were classified as intentionally homeless on the latest date £20 million—Homelessness Transition Fund to support the roll-out of ‘No Second Night Out’ and protect vital front line for which figures are available. [110426] services. £20 million—Preventing Repossessions funding to enable local Grant Shapps: This Department issued the Homelessness authorities intervene earlier and help people stay in their homes. Code of Guidance for Local Authorities in July 2006 £20 million—Single Homelessness Prevention funding to help which outlines those duties owed to intentionally homeless ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice. households and explains those circumstances in which emergency accommodation for these households can be £5 million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to £42.5 million) to deliver improved used. In May 2008 this Department and the Department hostel provision and provide over 1,500 new and improved bed for Education produced joint guidance, ‘Joint working spaces. between Housing and Children’s Services: Preventing £5 million—Social Impact Bond—using a payment by results homelessness and tackling its effects on children and model to help persistent rough sleepers in London. This is the young people’, which focused on children of families first Social Impact Bond set up to tackle homelessness in the who have been, or are at risk of being, found intentionally world. homeless by a housing authority. The Department does not collect information on the Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for numbers of households classified as intentionally homeless Communities and Local Government whether he has that: (i) include children; (ii) were provided with emergency made a recent assessment of the number of (a) accommodation; or (iii) had been accommodated for homeless people and (b) rough sleepers in (i) Coventry, longer than a particular period. (ii) the west midlands and (iii) England. [116449] 647W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 648W

Grant Shapps [holding answer 11 July 2012]: Statistical Robert Neill: Details of staff employed by the releases showing the most recent statutory homelessness Department of Communities and Local Government, figures are published on the DCLG website at: its Executive agencies and non-departmental public http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ bodies through off-payroll engagements costing more housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/ than £58,200 per annum were published on 23 May publicationshomelessness/ 2012, and can be found on the Department’s website at: Figures for each local authority area are available on http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/newsroom/ the Department’s website at: 2149952 http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ This includes staff for whom the cost if employed for a housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/ full year would be more than £58,200, but where the livetables/ actual cost is or may be less than £58,200. in table 784 (for financial year 2004-05 to 2011-12) and 784a (separately for all four quarters of 2011-12). Details of staff employed by DCLG’s Executive agencies and non-departmental bodies is not held The most recent statistics on rough sleeping (autumn centrally, and the additional information requested on 2011) can be found on the Department’s website at: staff employed through off-payroll engagements http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/ costing less than £58,200 per annum can be obtained 20936651.xls only at disproportionate cost. Information has therefore We secured an additional £70 million last year to help been obtained for DCLG and its Executive agencies local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness and only. rough sleeping. This is on top of the £400 million we are investing for homelessness prevention over four years As of 31 May 2012, there were 11 such staff employed (2011-12 to 2014-15). by DCLG, one by the Fire Service College and 10 by the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. In We have also acted decisively to introduce a more addition, the Planning Inspectorate had 93 non-salaried accurate assessment of rough sleeping levels so that inspectors paid on a case-by-case basis to provide there is clear information in all areas, to inform service additional capacity to determine planning appeals where provision and action to address the problem. The previous required. Government’s approach to assessing rough sleeping did not capture the full extent of the problem across the In relation to the Planning Inspectorate, these long- country. standing arrangements for non-salaried inspectors have been agreed with HM Revenue and Customs, and Housing: Bedfordshire appropriate checks are in place to prevent any conflict of interest with outside work. Such arrangements reduce Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for costs for the taxpayer and allows the Inspectorate to Communities and Local Government if he will handle better workload volume as well as seasonal estimate the number of homes that have obtained peaks and troughs in demand. planning permission but have not yet been built in Mid As far as I am aware, there is no suggestion that there Bedfordshire constituency. [115015] are any inappropriate tax avoidance arrangements by these specialist contractors. Greg Clark: The information requested is not available. Parks: Standards Planning Permission Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the advert for the licence to deliver the Green Flag Communities and Local Government if he will Award Scheme has yet to be published; if he will extend consider introducing a special planning licence for the scheme for a further year to enable the necessary bookmakers and other betting establishments to give consultation and tender process to be undertaken; and local authorities the power to refuse or modify if he will make a statement. [117899] applications in order to achieve a varied mix of shops and businesses. [117315] Andrew Stunell: The Department is fully supportive of the Green Flag Award—the national benchmark for quality public green spaces—and wishes to see it sustained Robert Neill: Local authorities already have a range beyond the end of the current contract. Work continues of powers available to tackle any localised problems. and details of the licence offer will be made as soon as These can be used to target specific areas where the possible in order to ensure that it is still possible to cumulative impact of betting shops is becoming achieve a positive outcome this year without detriment unacceptable. to the scheme. Taken together with powers under the Gambling Act Pay to tackle individual premises, councils have a powerful set of tools with which to address any problems where they arise. Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff Notwithstanding, the Government has recently published working for his Department, its executive agencies and a consultation paper on planning, which asks whether non-departmental public bodies are employed through there is a case for making further changes to the broader off-payroll engagements costing less than £58,200 per change of use regime. Hon. Members may wish to make annum; and if he will make a statement. [110815] a representation to the consultation. 649W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 650W

Social Rented Housing Absenteeism

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Communities and Local Government what assistance Home Department what the absenteeism rate was in his Department is providing to those unable to meet her Department in each of the last three years. [116664] their financial commitments as a result of rising rent and service charges; and what steps he is taking to Damian Green: The following table shows absenteeism prevent housing associations raising such costs. rates for sickness absence for the Home Office for the [114626] last three financial years. Percentage absenteeism rates for sick absence—Home Department (including Grant Shapps: Any tenants facing difficulties in meeting executive agencies) the cost of their rent or service charges should discuss Percentage average Number of staff employed this with their landlord. The regulatory framework Financial year working days lost3 during the period3 requires registered providers to develop and provide services that will support tenants to maintain their 2009-10 3.91 26,547 1 tenancy and prevent unnecessary evictions. 2010-11 3.48 29,224 2011-122 3.50 26,939 Tenants on low incomes are also supported by the 1 Work force changes in 2010-11: housing benefit system, depending on individual 4,603 (full-time equivalent (FTE)) HM Revenue and Customs detection staff circumstance. As well as talking to their landlords, joined United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) on 1 April 2010 in a machinery of government change. tenants should also discuss what support is available 2 Work force changes in 2011-2012: with their local authority. 88 (FTE) Government Equalities Office employees transferred to Home Office headquarters on 1 April 2011 in a machinery of government change. 7,466 (FTE) Border Force staff moved from UKBA to Home Office Headquarters on 1 March 2012 in an internal restructure. HOME DEPARTMENT 42 (FTE) National Fraud Authority (NFA) employees transferred to the Home 101 Calls Office on 1 April 2011 when NFA became an executive agency of the Department in a Machinery of Government change. 3 Figures calculated using HR information provided to Permanent Secretaries Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Management Group. The number of staff employed during the period includes Home Department what the cost was of the 101 current employees at the end of each financial year as well as 12 months leaver employees during the year. non-emergency number in each of the last three years; Extract date: how much income has been drawn from calls to the 1 April of each year (Figures based on period from 1 April to 31 March in each number in each year; and if she will make a statement. year). Source: [116120] Data View for 31 March 2010/11/12 Methodology: Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 July 2012]: In 2010-11 Figures include all paid civil servants (current employees and those who left and 2011-12 the cost to the Government of developing during the financial year). the 101 police non-emergency number was approximately Association of Chief Police Officers £900,000 and £950,000 respectively. In 2011-12, the Government extended the service to cover all forces in Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the England and Wales under a renegotiated contract, with Home Department what total amount of funding was police forces now funding the ongoing running costs provided by her Department to the Association of from their budgets. There is no central funding for 101 Chief Police Officers in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and in 2012-13. (c) 2011-12; and what estimate she has made of such Police forces and government receive no income from funding for 2012-13. [114237] calls to 101; the 15 pence flat rate charge for each 101 call goes directly to the telephony company to cover the Nick Herbert: The information requested is provided cost of carrying the calls. in the following table. (projected)

Table 1: Home Office funding allocations to ACPO for 2009-10 to 2011-12 £ Funding area Details 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-131

Grant-in-Aid funding To meet the costs of the ACPO president and 836,232 823,688 792,770 562,000 ACPO HQ central administration/office costs Supplementary Grant-in-Aid funding One-off payment to help meet shortfall in — — 250,000 — funding from Police Authorities

UK Disaster Victim Identification To provide national expertise and support on 673,565 540,950 458,000 474,000 the identification of victims in the event of mass fatality incidents National Domestic Extremism Team1 To provide intelligence on domestic extremism 2,000,000 — — — and strategic public order issues in the UK Conferences and seconded officers fees Payment for strategic advice to UKBA 19,300 — — — for UKBA ACPO-Terrorism and Allied Matters payments to ACPO HQ: Co-ordination of Counter-Terrorism Funds the national co-ordination functions: 7,960,600 — — — policing the National Co-ordinator of Special Branch, media liaison work, Counter-Terrorism training needs analysis and the police contribution to the Border Management programme 651W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 652W

Table 1: Home Office funding allocations to ACPO for 2009-10 to 2011-12 £ Funding area Details 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-131

Prevent Prevent Channel project-a multi-agency 2,427,750 — — — approach to protecting people from the risk of radicalisation Prevent Provision of Prevent Engagement Officers 3,867,990 — — — who connect Counter-Terrorism policing, neighbourhood policing and communities Prisoner Intelligence Network Provides strategic and tactical functions on 4,267,000 — — — matters relating to the intelligence, security, activity and location of all terrorist and extremist prisoners across England, Wales and Scotland Policing the Olympics Co-ordinating work -provided directly to ACPO 414,923 380,888 557,958 376,010 Contribution to the Police National Funding to PNICC for Olympic -related work — 113,551 471,653 392,010 Intelligence Coordination Centre (PNICC) TOTAL 22,476,360 1,859,077 2,530,381 1,804,079 1 Projected

Asylum Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: At the end of March 2012, 11,454 applications were awaiting Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the an initial decision or the outcome of an appeal or Home Department how many cases are being dealt further review. This figure is for applications received by with by the Case Assurances and Audit Unit. [116420] main applicants since April 2006. Damian Green: On 15 May 2012, Rob Whiteman The number of asylum applications pending is published reported to the Home Affairs Select Committee that as on a quarterly basis. Latest figures are available in Table of 31 March 2012 the following cases remained with the ‘as.01.q’ of the release ‘Immigration Statistics, January Case Assurances and Audit Unit (CAAU): to March 2012’ which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science website 21,000 live asylum legacy cases at: 80,000 asylum legacy cases in the controlled archive http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research- 21,500 migration cases in the controlled archive statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/ The Home Affairs Select Committee will be provided immigration-q1-2012/ with updated figures shortly. Civil Disorder Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the longest period of time an application for asylum which is currently outstanding Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the has taken to process. [117517] Home Department what steps she has taken in respect of the law on face coverings since the public disorder of Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Asylum August 2011. [R] [115643] applications that pre-date the creation of the electronic Case Information Database in 2001 were subsequently Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 July 2012]: Following added to that database and assigned default application the 2011 disorder, the Government launched a public dates. It is therefore not possible to determine the age of consultation into extending police powers, including in the oldest of these cases without undertaking a manual respect of face coverings. We are considering the results check of each individual case file which would incur of the consultation and will be issuing a response in due disproportionate cost. course.

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Closed Curcuit Television Home Department what the average period of time taken to process applications made for asylum was in Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the the last two years. [117518] Home Department if she will assess the efficacy of Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: This Facewatch ID technology for circulating CCTV stills to information is not held in a format compatible with the public to enable them to assist the police in locating National Statistics protocols. persons of interest and possible witnesses to crimes; However, published statistics regarding asylum and what plans she has to roll such technology out to applications and decisions on a quarterly and annual all police forces. [117927] basis are available in table ‘as.01.q.’ at: Nick Herbert: To date a small number of police http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research- statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/ forces have adopted Facewatch in a number of locations, immigration-tabs-q1-2012/asylum1-q1-2012- including the Metropolitan Police Service. Ministers tabs?view=Binary and Home Office officials have witnessed the system in operation and the Association of Chief Police Officers Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the and the National Police Improvement Agency are working Home Department how many outstanding applications together to establish a shared national view of its for asylum are being processed by her Department. effectiveness, with a view to providing advice to all [117519] forces on the potential benefits. 653W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 654W

Convictions: Nottinghamshire they can conduct robust scrutiny of the Bill. We will keep this issue under review as the legislative process Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the develops. Home Department how many and what proportion of Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the the crimes (a) reported to the police and (b) identified Home Department on how many occasions (a) she, by the British crime survey in (i) Ashfield constituency (b) Ministers in her Department, (c) the Director- and (ii) Nottinghamshire in (A) 2008 and (B) each year General, Security and Counter-Terrorism and (d) since 2008 resulted in a conviction. [117390] other officials in her Department have met (i) Google, (ii) Facebook and (iii) Skype to discuss the draft Nick Herbert: The information requested is not available. Communications Data Bill; and on what dates. [117238] The Home Office is unable to track from centrally held records individual offences through to their conclusion James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 July 2012]: at court. Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with This includes offences recorded by the police and a wide variety of partners, including organisations and those identified by the Crime Survey for England and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of Wales (CSEW, previously the British crime survey). the process of policy development and delivery. Effective engagement with industry is central to this; we have The police.uk website compiled by the National Policing regular discussions with a number of companies. As Improvement Agency contains information on the number was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the and types of offences at street level, and for some crimes Government’s practice to provide details of all such it includes the outcome of these offences. These data are meetings. Revealing exactly which companies have been available from January 2012, but are not Official Statistics involved in discussions can reveal and compromise the and are considered a developmental dataset at this time. operational capabilities that we develop in partnership with the industry. Detention Centres Drugs: Misuse

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the the Home Department how many individuals have Home Department what her most recent estimate is of been arrested and held in immigration detention when the size of the illicit drug market in the UK. [117367] or immediately after reporting at local police stations or reporting centres in (a) Oxford East constituency, James Brokenshire [holding answer 16 July 2012]: (b) Oxfordshire, (c) the South East and (d) the UK in The most recent estimate by the Home Office of the size the last 12 months. [117260] of the UK illicit drugs market was published in 2006. It estimated the value of the UK illicit drug market at Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not between £4 billion to £6.6 billion for the reference year hold data centrally on the number of individuals arrested 2003-04. and held in immigration detention when or immediately Source: after reporting at local police stations or reporting Reference: Pudney et al. (2006) ’Estimating the size of the UK centres. illicit drug market’ In Singleton, N. et al. (eds.) ’Measuring different aspects of problem drug use: methodological developments’. Home Office Online Report 16/06): Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr1606.pdf the Home Department how many individuals have been arrested and held in immigration detention after John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for being stopped and searched in (a) Oxford East the Home Department whether she has considered constituency, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) the South East and Professor Jake Chapman’s conclusions from his recent (d) the UK in the last 12 months. [117261] systems approach to drugs policy in Being Real on Drugs; and whether her Department will be making Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not any response. [117489] hold data centrally on the number of individuals arrested and held in immigration detention after being stopped James Brokenshire: Home Office officials have noted and searched. the conclusions in Professor Chapman’s pamphlet. Entry Clearances: Carers Draft Communications Data Bill Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the issuing of Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the visas to non-UK citizens who are paid overseas as Home Department what plans she has to publish draft permanent carers for UK citizens based overseas and orders under Clause 1 of the draft Communications are accompanying that UK citizen on a short visit to Data Bill for use by the Committee on the draft Bill. the UK; and what class of visa such carers would be [117237] allocated. [117542] James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 July 2012]: As Damian Green: Where an overseas-based UK citizen I informed the House in response to the hon. Member’s is returning to the UK for a short visit lasting no more question on 9 July 2012, Official Report, column 6, we than six months, they may be accompanied by an are working closely with the Joint Committee on the established domestic employee providing personal care. draft Communications Data Bill, in order to ensure that The carer must meet the requirements of the Immigration 655W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 656W

Rules for domestic workers in overseas households. Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: For These include the requirement that the worker has been students from outside the European Economic Area on employed in this capacity by the UK citizen for a period courses longer than six months a Tier 4 general student of at least one year. Successful applicants are issued visa is required. Where a student is studying for less with a domestic worker visa. Whilst in the UK, the than six months a student visitor visa can be used. In domestic worker is subject to UK employment laws and 2011 the Government introduced a new Extended Student must have agreed written terms and conditions of Visitor category. This allows students employment with their employer. to remain for up to 11 months. The Government is satisfied that these routes are adequate and there are no Entry Clearances: Overseas Students current plans to introduce a new category of study visa. Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the the Home Department how many student visas issued Home Department how many students were granted in 2011 were for study at (a) Higher Education Tier 4 entry clearance for each level of course studied institutions, (b) private further education colleges, (c) in the latest period for which figures are available. public further education colleges and (d) language [117010] colleges. [117433]

Damian Green: The number of tier 4 student entry Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The clearance visas issued from January to March 2012 was number of entry clearance visas issued in 2011 for the 18,405. purposes of study, including tier 4 (students) and student visitors was 322,653. To provide an accurate answer to the question tabled would require the examination of individual records, To provide a more detailed breakdown would require which would incur disproportionate costs. the examination of individual records, which would incur disproportionate costs.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for First Offenders the Home Department with reference to the answer from the Minister of State for Universities and Science Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the of 19 March 2012, Official Report, columns 519-20W, Home Department how many first-time offenders were on overseas students: entry clearances, if she will carry arrested and charged in (a) 1997, (b) 2001, (c) 2005, out an assessment of the effect of changes to the Tier 4 (d) 2010 and (e) the latest year for which data is visa system on the international reputation of the UK’s available. [115722] higher education sector. [117065] Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 July 2012]: The Damian Green: The Government continues to welcome information requested is not collected centrally by the the brightest and best students to our world-leading Home Office. academic institutions. Our student visa policies represent a great offer to international students. Those with an Immigration offer from a licensed institution, who can speak English and support themselves in the UK, can come here, with Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the no limits on numbers. University graduates can stay Home Department how many people were granted and work if they have an offer of a job paying £20,000 temporary leave to remain upon arrival in the UK (a) or more. Our new educational oversight arrangements between February 2011 and July 2011 and (b) since ensure that genuine foreign students can have confidence February 2012. [117234] that they are studying at a bona fide institution offering a good standard of education. Damian Green [holding answer 13 July 2012]: No Official Higher Education Statistics Agency statistics arrivals at the UK border were granted temporary leave on the number of non-EU students at universities during to remain upon arrival at port. Leave to remain is either the 2011-12 academic year will not be available until granted through the issuing of a visa or through an February 2013. However, UCAS figures continue to application submitted in-country. show an increasing number of international students applying to study at our universities, and the UK’s Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for universities continue to report growth. the Home Department how many active immigration case files there were in each of the last 10 years. The Government does not intend to carry out any [117432] assessment of the effect of changes to Tier 4 to the international reputation of the UK’s higher education Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The sector. The measures we have taken to tackle abuse and information is not held centrally and could be obtained protect the position of our world-class universities should only at disproportionate cost. enhance the reputation of UK education overseas. But it is the quality and value of the education on offer, not Immigration Controls the visa regime, that should be the key determinant of international reputation. Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had their Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the applications for further leave to remain refused in 2011; Home Department what consideration she has given to and how many of them e-borders recorded as introducing a new category of study visa. [117426] subsequently leaving the UK. [R] [117377] 657W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 658W

Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: In and in the House of Commons Library. 2011, there were 54,272 decisions, including dependants, to refuse an application for an extension of stay in the Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the United Kingdom. Home Department what the longest period of time an This is a provisional figure released in table ex.01 in application for a Highly Trusted Sponsor Certificate the Home Office’s ‘Immigration Statistics January—March has taken to determine for applications which were 2012’ which is available from the Library of the House outstanding at July 2010. [117813] and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at: Damian Green: Of those Highly Trusted Sponsor http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research- applications which were submitted before 1 July 2010 statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/ and remained outstanding after 31 July 2010, the longest immigration-q1-2012/?view=Standard&pubID=1024555 period of time it took to make a decision was 658 days. The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on This was an exceptional case involving issues with individuals arriving or exiting the UK, but does not sponsor accreditation and required further investigation. collect information specifically on individuals identified as having been refused further leave to remain, except Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the when they leave the UK on certain routes. Home Department what the average length of time was for the Border Agency to determine an application for Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the a Highly Trusted Sponsor Certificate in the latest Home Department how many people arrived on visitor period for which figures are available. [117814] visas in 2011; and how many of them e-borders recorded as subsequently leaving the UK. [R] [117378] Damian Green: The average length of time taken to Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The determine an application for Highly Trusted Sponsor requested information is not yet available for 2011. (HTS) status is shown as follows. Statistics on numbers of passenger arrivals to the United Average processing time Kingdom in 2011, by reason for entry, are scheduled for Cases despatched (days) release in the in the Home Office’s ‘Immigration Statistics April—June 2012’ on 30 August 2012. The release will 2010 694 78 be available from the Home Office Science, research and 2011 800 122 statistics web pages at: 2012 (year to date) 620 167 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research- statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/ The figures provided have been derived from local The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on management information and have not been subject to individuals arriving or exiting the UK, but does not national statistical protocols. collect information specifically on individuals identified This information excludes those applications where as having left the UK, except when they have done so on there is no received or despatched date, i.e. where publicly certain routes. funded educational institutions were automatically given HTS status for the first 12 months. Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the The average processing time for HTS applications Home Department what steps her Department is has increased since 2010 principally because the application taking to reduce the number of people granted process is more detailed. More automated processes settlement outside of the immigration rules. [R] have been introduced to ensure that applications are [117379] dealt with in a timely fashion. Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: On 13 June 2012 the Secretary of State for the Home Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Home Department how many applications for Highly Maidenhead (Mrs May), laid a Statement of Changes Trusted Sponsor Certificates remain to be determined in Immigration Rules on family migration, which came by the UK Border Agency. [117815] into force on 9 July 2012. A person who does not meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules will no Damian Green: As of 12 July 2012, 936 Highly Trusted longer be considered for discretionary leave outside the Sponsor applications remain to be determined. rules on Article 8 grounds. Provision has now been made in the Rules themselves for leave to remain on the Immigration Controls: St Pancras Station basis of private or family life. The eligibility for this leave, and the conditions attached to it, are set out in the Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Rules. This brings to an end the previous widespread Home Department whether all Eurostar passengers practice of granting discretionary leave outside the arriving from (a) Brussels, (b) Lille and (c) Paris are rules on Article 8 grounds. In future, if a person does checked by UK Border Force staff on arrival at St not qualify for leave under the rules, or for leave outside Pancras station. [116949] the rules on a genuinely exceptional basis, they will not receive any form, of leave and will be expected to leave Damian Green: Full passport checks are carried out the UK. on Eurostar passengers at the Eurostar stations in Brussels, Full details are in the Statement of Intent, available Paris and Lille by Border Force officers. Full Passport on the UK Border Agency website at: checks are carried out on trains arriving Marne la http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/ Vallee (Disneyland) and seasonal trains from Bourg news/soi-fam-mig.pdf Saint Maurice and Avignon at St Pancras. 659W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 660W

Border Force staff at St Pancras also undertake secondary Metals: Theft customs examination as required on all services and perform additional ticket checks on passengers from Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Brussels. Home Department what steps police forces are taking to charge those who either buy or pass on metal Independent Police Complaints Commission acquired by theft with the offence of handling stolen goods under the Theft Act 1968. [117928] Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the James Brokenshire: Police forces have sought prosecutions Home Department (1) how many complaints lodged for the offence of handling stolen goods where it is with the Independent Police Complaints Commission possible to do so. Officers have, however, experienced are outstanding (a) three to six months, (b) six difficulties obtaining sufficient evidence with many scrap months to one year and (c) in excess of one year after metal dealers claiming that they were unaware that the having been lodged; and if she will make a statement; metals they were handling were stolen. Similarly, police [117898] forces have struggled to prove the theft of metals, with a (2) what discussions she has had with the common defence being metals were simply found rather Independent Police Complaints Commission on the than stolen. time taken to deal with complaints lodged by members The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill currently before the of the public; and if she will make a statement. House will ensure that scrap metal dealers take steps to [117897] verify the seller’s identification, as well as introducing more stringent rules concerning record keeping for all Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to the answer transactions. We believe that this will increase transparency given on 4 July 2012, Official Report, column 656W. across the industry and provide clearer records of the The 2011-12 annual report and statement of accounts metals being purchased. was laid in Parliament on 10 July 2012. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Manchester Airport: Security Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of scrap metal dealers who bought metal acquired by theft who are charged with handling stolen Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the goods under the Theft Act 1968. [117929] Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the security arrangements at Manchester James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally. Airport; and what steps she plans to take to prevent Centrally held crime statistics do not record any information future security breaches. [117386] on persons who are charged with any offence.

Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Security Migration at Manchester airport is a partnership between the airport operator, Border Force, the Police and the Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport. Security arrangements are Home Department what consideration she has given to continuously reviewed and assessed, particularly in response adopting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation to security incidents, to identify risk areas and appropriate and Development’s definition of migration. [117427] action is taken to strengthen those arrangements. Damian Green [holding answer 16 July 2012]: In assessing overall migration flows the Home Office uses Members: Correspondence figures derived from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey.The basis for the definition Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the of migrant in these figures is the internationally recognised Home Department (1) when she plans to reply to the UN definition of a migrant. This is also the definition letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation 19 April 2012 in respect of a constituent, ref: and Development’s definition (OECD ) in assessing the M5696/12; [108233] UK’s net migration. (2) when she plans to answer question 108233 tabled Ministerial Policy Advisers by the hon. Member for Walsall North on 15 May 2012 for answer on 21 May 2012. [113698] Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether special advisers in her Nick Herbert [holding answers 17 May and 25 June Department are permitted to use non-departmental 2012]: A response was sent to the hon. Member on 17 email addresses for departmental business. [113074] July 2012. Damian Green [holding answer 21 June 2012]: Any Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home communication of protectively marked material outside Department for what reason her Department has not the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) network on been able to provide a response to the right hon. personal ICT equipment is strictly prohibited. Member for Yeovil’s letter dated 11 May 2012, on Other forms of electronic communication may be proposals for police reforms. [116457] occasionally used in the course of conducting Government business but this will depend on all the circumstances, Nick Herbert: A response was sent to the right hon. including the nature and sensitivity of the information Gentleman on 17 July 2012. being communicated. 661W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 662W

Passports: Lost Property Nick Herbert: No additional resources have been requested from HM Treasury to promote police and Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for crime commissioner elections. the Home Department how many complaints have been received on the system for reporting lost or stolen Police: Bureaucracy passports in the last 12 months. [117122] Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Damian Green: Between June 2011 and June 2012 a Home Department with reference to the answer of total of 32 complaints were received relating to the lost 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on police: and stolen passport process from UK and overseas bureaucracy, how many national police forms have customers. been drawn up for use by all forces. [116407]

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Nick Herbert [holding answer 10 July 2012]: It is the Home Department what the average cost per largely for individual forces to determine which forms customer was of a call to report a lost or stolen they use. In 2011 the Government conducted a review passport over the last 12 months. [117123] of these forms in consultation with the joint Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers Reducing Damian Green: Calls to report a lost or stolen passport Bureaucracy Programme Board. As a result of this are made to the Identity and Passport Service Advice review, there is now a standard national set of forms line number, which is: 0300 222 0000. The cost of (known as the Manual of Guidance or MG forms) calling 0300 numbers is no more than a national call which are required by the Crown Prosecution Service if from any type of phone or provider. National call rate a case leads to charge and prosecution. charges will vary dependant upon the customer’s service provider, but calls from landlines typically cost between Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the 1p and 3p per minute and from mobiles 5p and 31p per Home Department pursuant to her answer of 23 April minute. Average call costs are dependent upon the 2012, Official Report, columns 626-27W, on duration of the call and this information is not recorded bureaucracy: police, when she expects to publish the by the Identity and Passport Service. outcome of her Department’s work on cutting police red tape. [116408] Police Nick Herbert [holding answer 10 July 2012]: An overview of the work being taken forward by the joint Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers Home Department if she Department will take steps to Reducing Bureaucracy Programme is now available on use police training to build awareness of suicidal the Home Office website at: behaviour so that officers are better equipped to www.homeoffice.gov.uk recognise those at risk; and if she will make a statement. [111267] Police: Conditions of Employment Nick Herbert: It is the duty of the chief constable of Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the each force to ensure that police officers are sufficiently Home Department (1) whether she specified on well trained to deal with all situations that they might appointing Tom Winsor to review police officer and face. The Home Office does not mandate training for staff pay and conditions that the legal firm for which police officers. he works should play no part in advising any private The subject of suicide is mentioned on several occasions sector company on the outsourcing of any police during the initial training for all police officers. services (a) during the period of the review and (b) for The police are currently taking part in a number a any specified period of time following the review; and if Government-led cross-sector forums which seek to improve she will make a statement; [111148] practice in the investigation of sudden deaths. (2) when she expects to answer question 111148, on the appointment of Tom Winsor, tabled on 8 June 2012 Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the for answer on 12 June 2012; and what the reasons are Home Department when she expects to publish her for the time taken to answer the question. [115624] proposals for a Professional Policing Body. [115594] Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 July 2012]: Tom Nick Herbert: The Secretary of State for the Home Winsor’s report was his own, not his firm’s, and it does Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for not make recommendations on business partnering. I Maidenhead (Mrs May), updated the House on the understand that, until after his report was written, he police professional body in a WMS on 16 July 2012, had no knowledge of the involvement of other members Official Report, column 107WS. of his firm with forces.

Police and Crime Commissioners Police: Court Orders

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department whether she has requested the Home Department if she will make an estimate of additional resources from HM Treasury to promote the the costs involved in establishing a central register of elections for police commissioners. [117012] applications for production orders. [116391] 663W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 664W

Nick Herbert: As we do not currently collect any data Destination Time of visit in relation to production orders, and I am unable to make an estimate of the costs of establishing such a 8 February 2012 Heathrow 7.30 am to 9 am register without placing a bureaucratic burden on the 28 February 2012 Stansted 12.30 pm to 3 pm police who make these applications. Furthermore, as 11 April 2012 Farnborough Airport & 10 am to 2.30 pm this is an operational matter which is already subject to Blackbushe Airport judicial oversight, we do not see the need to collect this 1 May 2012 Heathrow 11.30 am to 12.30 pm information. 14 May 2012 Heathrow 7.30 am to 8.30 am 7 June 2012 Stansted 5 pm to 6 pm Police: Pay 20 June 2012 Heathrow 1.30 pm to 3 pm 10 July 2012 Heathrow 7 am to 8 am Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effect on police staff retention of Prisons: Mental Health Services implementation of the Winsor proposals on pay. [115779] Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standard operational Nick Herbert [holding answer 6 July 2012]: The procedures are in place to deal with (a) an escape and Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right (b) a patient absconding while on escort from the hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), secure or medium secure units at Bethlem Royal has referred specific recommendations about police staff Hospital. [116589] pay from the final report of Tom Winsor’s independent review to the Police Staff Council and other relevant Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply on behalf of bodies. She will consider the outcome of their consideration the Department of Health. very carefully. This is a matter for the South London and Maudsley Police: Scotland NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to the trust’s Chair, Madeliene Long, informing her of your inquiry. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the She will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be Home Department (1) how many police officers from a placed in the Library. police force in England and Wales have been engaged in police activity in Scotland in each month since Prostitution: Greater London May 2007; [115484] (2) on how many occasions a police officer from a Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the police force in England and Wales has been engaged in Home Department how many incidents of violence police activity in Scotland in each month since May against sex workers were recorded by the police in the 2007. [115485] Greater London area during 2011. [117532]

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold the Lynne Featherstone: The information is not available information requested. The deployment of police officers from the recorded crime statistics collected by the is an operational matter for chief constables. Mutual Home Office. Offences where the victim is a sex worker aid between police forces in the United Kingdom is cannot be separately identified from other offences co-ordinated through the Association of Chief Police recorded within an offence classification. In an Officers (ACPO) and the Police National Information incident of a sex worker being assaulted, it is the Co-ordination Centre (PNICC). appropriate offence that will be recorded by the Ports police, for example, actual bodily harm (ABH) and other injury. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates and at what time (a) Public Expenditure she and (b) the Minister of State for Immigration visited UK ports in the last 12 months. [116951] Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she expects her Damian Green: In the last 12 months, Home Office Department to underspend its budget for 2012-13; and Ministers have made the following visits to UK ports: what estimate she has made of any such underspend. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my [116465] right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) visited Heathrow on 27 June 2012. Damian Green: The Office for Budget Responsibility The Immigration Minister visited ports on the following provide forecasts as part of their Economic and Fiscal dates and times: Outlook in the autumn. As part of the Transparency Agenda the Government publishes the full detail of Destination Time of visit plans and out-turn for all Departments after the end of

24 August 2011 Plymouth 11 am to 4 pm the financial year. HM Treasury publishes out-turn 10 October 2011 Heathrow Airport 11 am to 1 pm data for all departments from the COINS database, 18 October 2011 Heathrow Airport 1 pm to 3pm available on the Treasury website on a quarterly basis. 5 January 2012 Dover 12 pm to 3.30 pm Forecasts for 2012-13 out-turn by Department will be published at Budget 2013. 665W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 666W

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties Court of Justice jurisdiction for pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures in 2014. This measure will be Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the reviewed accordingly. Home Department how many fixed penalty notices Shipping: Work Permits were issued to motorists in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) the east midlands and (c) Nottinghamshire in each of the last three years. [117460] Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of the relevant James Brokenshire: Available data held by the Home operational instruction relating to the administration Office are at police force area level and relate to the of the controls applied to seamen covered by Council number of persons who were issued with fixed penalty Regulation 3577/92/EC and work permits will be notices in Nottinghamshire police force area and the completed. [116963] east midlands region. These data are given in the following table. Information relating to Ashfield constituency is Damian Green: The UK Border Agency aims to not collected centrally. complete the review of the relevant operational instruction Data for 2011 are scheduled to be published next relating to the administration of the controls applied to spring. seamen by the end of the year. Number of fixed penalty notices issued for motoring offences, Staff: Surveys Nottinghamshire police force area and east midlands Government office region, 2008-10 Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Area 2008 2009 2010 the Home Department by what means staff are Nottinghamshire 55,145 48,649 34,974 surveyed in (a) the UK Border Agency and (b) her police force Department; and on what dates the results of the next area such survey will be made public. [117099] East midlands 186,978 152,649 134,613 region Damian Green: Staff in the Home Office, including Schengen Agreement: ICT the UK Border Agency, participate in the annual Civil Service People Survey. The last survey was in autumn 2011, and the results for the Department can be found Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home at: Department with reference to EU Council Decision 2008/334/JHA, whether the UK has fully adopted the http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/staff- survey-2011/ SIRENE manual and other implementing measures for the second generation Schengen Information System. The 2012 survey will be launched in autumn this year. [116565] The Cabinet Office expects all Departments to publish their 2012 People Survey results by 1 February 2013. James Brokenshire [holding answer 12 July 2012]: Steroid Drugs The UK has adopted EU Commission Decision 2008/ 334/JHA adopting the SIRENE manual and other implementing measures for the second generation Schengen Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Information System. However as the second generation Home Department what recent discussions she has had Schengen Information System is not yet in operation on the classification of anabolic steroids. [117850] adoption of the Decision has not required the UK or any other member state to take practical measures in James Brokenshire: The Advisory Council on the relation to the Commission Decision. Misuse of Drugs provided further advice on anabolic Between the adoption of this decision and the present, steroids (‘Consideration of the anabolic steroids’) in changes have been suggested to the SIRENE manual September 2010. The Government accepted its advice and other implementing measures for the second generation that anabolic steroids should continue to be controlled Schengen Information System to reflect the operational Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act. needs of end-users and staff involved in SIRENE operations The Government also acted on recommendations to better, to improve consistency of working procedures strengthen the legal framework so as to prevent the and ensure that technical rules are compliant. The importation of anabolic steroids not intended for medical European Commission is therefore drafting new legislation use. The Statutory Instrument amending the Misuse of which will repeal and replace EU Commission Decision Drugs Regulations 2001 to implement the Council’s 2008/334/JHA of 4 March 2008. advice came into effect on 23 April 2012. Schengen Agreement: Switzerland UK Border Agency

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Department with reference to EU Council Decision the Home Department if she will place in the Library 2008/149/JHA, what assessment her Department has copies of all internal audit recommendations made in made of the effects of the involvement of the Swiss relation to the UK Border Agency in the last five years. Confederation with the Schengen acquis. [117787] [117098]

James Brokenshire: This measure is on the list of 133 Damian Green: Release of these recommendations notified to Parliament on 21 December 2011 as part of would, or would be likely to, inhibit the free and open the decision to be made on whether we accept European discussions between internal audit and senior management 667W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 668W in order to provide impartial advice on governance, risk The criteria for releasing discretionary information management or control within the organisation. For held in local police records on enhanced criminal record this reason I will not place copies of these recommendations certificates will change. Currently, the chief officer can in the Library. release any information that ‘might be relevant’ and ‘ought to be included in the certificate’. From September, Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for this will change to information the chief officer ‘reasonably the Home Department how many workplace raids the believes’ to be relevant and ‘ought to be included in the UK Border Agency has conducted in (a) Oxford East certificate.’ Statutory guidance on providing information constituency, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) the South East and for inclusion in enhanced criminal record certificates, (d) the UK in the last 12 months. [117258] incorporating this new test of relevance, will be available to chief officers to which they must have regard. Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not The Act also introduces the right to appeal to an collate information centrally on the number of illegal independent monitor against any discretionary information working enforcement visits specifically by constituency the applicant believes should not be included on the and county level. certificate. Records indicate that between 1 April 2011 to 31 March The Home Office has worked closely with a number 2012 there were 5291 illegal working enforcement visits of Departments on these reforms and during the passage carried out in the United Kingdom, of which 1948 were of the Protection of Freedoms Act. in London and the South East.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Victim Support Schemes the Home Department how many raids of home addresses the UK Border Agency has conducted in (a) Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Oxford East constituency, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) the Home Department (1) what guidance she will issue to South East and (d) the UK in the last 12 months. police and crime commissioners on the commissioning [117259] of services for victims; and when she expects to issue that guidance; [115679] Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not (2) if she will meet with providers of victim support collate information centrally on the number of enforcement services to discuss future arrangements for the delivery home visits specifically by constituency and county. of such services when commissioned by police and Records indicate that between 1 April 2011 to 31 March crime commissioners. [115680] 2012 there were 5618 enforcement home visits carried out in the United Kingdom, of which 2571 were in Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the London and the South East. Ministry of Justice. UK Border Agency: Scotland In the Government response to the consultation ‘Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses’ we said we would Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the provide an outcomes-based commissioning framework Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff for use by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). Its of each rank were employed at Stranraer and content will be developed with the involvement of interested parties including the voluntary sector and PCCs themselves. Cairnryan ports in each of the last three years. [117412] While PCCs will not be compelled to use the framework Damian Green: During the period in question the UK our intention is that they will find the advice and Border Agency had no staff employed at the stated information it contains helpful as they undertake the ports. The Agency funded the secondment of three task of commissioning victims’ services that are right policemen, one detective sergeant and two detective for their areas. constables at the Galloway ports from July 2006 until The Government values the hard work and commitment November 2010. of providers of victims’ services. As the new commissioning arrangements develop Ministers will be happy to meet Vetting with providers of victims’ services when it would be helpful to do so. Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans she has to bring Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the forward proposals to reform (a) regular Criminal Home Department how many (a) independent Record Bureau (CRB) checks and (b) the domestic violence advisers and (b) independent sexual discretionary aspect of enhanced CRBs; [117878] violence advisers there were in the last five years for (2) what assessment she has made of the effect of which figures are available; and what the (i) location, subjectivity in the discretionary element of enhanced (ii) number of reported cases dealt with and (iii) Criminal Record Bureau checks on the capacity of recorded involvement in criminal prosecutions has for individuals to gain employment; and what discussions each such category of advisor in each such year. she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and [117617] Pensions on reform of this element. [117877] Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Lynne Featherstone: We are reforming the Criminal The number of Government funded Independent Domestic Records Regime to make it more proportionate and Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual efficient. There are a number of changes in the Protection Violence Advisers (ISVAs) and their locations over the of Freedoms Act (2012) to achieve this. last five years are set out in tables A and B. 669W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 670W

The total number of IDVAs and ISVAs is not known Information on the numbers of reported cases dealt because some are funded and employed by a range of with by IDVAs and ISVAs and recorded involvement in organisations, and do not have to register with anyone. criminal prosecutions for IDVAs and ISVAs is not held centrally.

Table 1: ISVA funding 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2013-12 to 2014-15

North West 6 6 8 7 4 12 NorthEast222336 East of England 1 1 1229 West Midlands 6 6 7 7 10 12 South East 1 1 2259 East Midlands 2 2 2438 South West 2 2 3457 London 6 6 5668 Yorkshire and Humber 5 5 4668 Wales333208 Total343437434487

Table 2: IDVA Funding Ministry of Justice Victims and Home Office Witness IDVA IDVA General Fund Funding Funding 2011-12 to 2011-12 to 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

NorthWest232520985015 NorthEast12131675314 East of England 8 8 8440411 Midlands 12 14 94201026 South East 13 14 11 311719 South West 17 17 11 110816 London 10 10 12 12 8 1 6 22 Yorkshire and Humber 13 13 7110412 Wales 16178100319 Total 124 131 102 42 30 10 44 144

Work Permits Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2012, Official Report, column 602W, on work permits, Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the what recent assessment she has made of the effect of Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 May changes to the immigration system made after 10 May 2012, Official Report, column 602W, on work permits, 2010 on the application of tier 2 of the points-based what recent assessment she has made of the effect of system to non-EEA seafarers seeking admission to the European Council Regulation 3577/92/EC on the work UK to work on vessels where the tour of duty does not permit requirements for non-EEA seafarers employed leave British waters. [117318] on vessels flagged to (a) another EU state and (b) non-EEA states working exclusively within British waters. [117317] Damian Green: Non-EEA seafarers working on vessels which do not leave British waters would need to obtain permission to work through tier 2 of the points-based Damian Green: A non-EEA national seeking entry to system. the UK for the purpose of joining, as a contracted crew member, a vessel as which will operate wholly or largely In April 2011, the skills requirement for tier 2 of the within British waters will generally require permission points-based system was increased from NQF 3 to to work under the points-based system. However, NQF 4. The Government has subsequently, in June this Regulation 3577/92/EC specifies that matters, including year, raised the requirement to NQF 6 for the majority work permit requirements, relating to the manning of a of tier 2 roles—the exceptions being jobs on the shortage vessel registered in another member state and engaged occupation list, which currently does not include any in cabotage between ports situated in the same member seafaring occupations, and certain creative roles. Therefore, state will be responsibility of the member state in which unless non-EEA seafarers are intending to take up roles the vessel is registered, except where the vessel is smaller skilled to NQF 6 or above, they are not eligible to come than 650 gt and where it is engaged in cabotage between to the UK under tier 2. mainland ports and ports situated in the same member The Migration Advisory Committee considered whether state. This exception to the work permit requirement ship’s officers should be added to the tier 2 shortage does not apply to vessels registered in a country outside occupation list as part of its review of that list published the EEA. in September 2011. It concluded that this occupation 671W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 672W should not be added to the list. The impact of the tier 2 Banks: Unfair Practices limit for 2012-13, including the impacts on specific occupations of raising the skills threshold for tier 2 to Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer NQF 6, were assessed by the Migration Advisory if he will take steps to encourage discussions between Committee on its report published in February 2012. HM Revenue and Customs and the Financial Services The MAC’s reports are available at: Authority on the implications of mis-selling of interest www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/workingwithus/ rate swap products and minimising financial hardship indbodies/mac/reports-publications/ for small businesses who have been mis-sold such products. [117795]

TREASURY Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the what recent discussions he has had with (a) Government’s practice to provide details of all such representatives of the aggregates industry in Northern representations. Ireland and (b) the European Commission on the credit levy scheme in Northern Ireland; and if he will Business: Barnsley make a statement. [117780] Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Miss Chloe Smith: Officials from HM Treasury, HM what steps he is taking to make financial support Revenue and Customs, Northern Ireland Office and the available to small businesses in Barnsley Central Northern Ireland Executive met members of the Quarry constituency which wish to take out a swap loan Products Association Northern Ireland on 3 July 2012. agreement. [116446] The Government was asked industry members to share data to assist the UK Government in responding Mr Prisk [holding answer 11 July 2012]: I have been to the European Commission’s formal investigation of asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, the scheme. Innovation and Skills. The Government continues to work closely and The Government have a range of initiatives to support constructively with the European Commission, following small businesses across the country access finance, including the Government’s first formal response to the investigation the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and the National in November 2011. Loan Guarantee scheme. However, the Government do The Government continues to believe that the best not currently have a scheme to help small businesses way to achieve a speedy and positive resolution for the access IRSA products. But the Government are acutely quarrying industry in Northern Ireland is to co-operate aware of the concerns some businesses may have around fully with the Commission’s investigation and provide interest rates. That is why we launched the National them with the data and evidence they have requested. Loan Guarantee scheme, to enable businesses to borrow at interest rates 1% lower than they would otherwise be Air Passenger Duty able to, and why the Bank of England announced the Anna Soubry: To ask the Chancellor of the Funding for Lending scheme, which will provide support Exchequer whether his Department has commissioned through the banks to enable more lending to households research into the effect that the level of air passenger and businesses. duty has on (a) the number of flights booked by UK Business: Government Assistance holidaymakers, (b) employment and (c) economic growth. [117264] Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Miss Chloe Smith: The Government consulted extensively how much of the Business Finance Partnership funds on APD after Budget 2011 and published its response are unallocated. [117375] on 6 December 2011. The report can be found online Mr Hoban [holding answer 16 July 2012]: All £1.2 billion here: of the available funds for the Business Finance Partnership http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.htm are in the process of being allocated. As announced at Banks: Regulation Budget 2012, up to £700 million is being invested in a shortlist of fund managers that lend to mid-sized businesses, David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the subject to due diligence. The Treasury is currently requesting Exchequer if he will introduce reforms to banking proposals for investing a further £400 million in such before 2019. [117644] fund managers, and the Department for Business is requesting proposals for investing £100 million in non- Mr Hoban: The Government published its proposals traditional lending channels that can reach smaller on ring-fencing in the Banking Reform White Paper on businesses. 14 June 2012. The consultation on these proposals will close on 6 September 2012. Charities: Occupied Territories Following the consultation, the Government intends to bring forward legislation to implement ring-fencing Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the and relevant recommendations of the Independent Exchequer whether it is his policy that tax relief is not Commission on Banking (ICB) as soon as parliamentary given to charities that donate to Israeli settlement time allows. As the ICB recommended, banks will be development in the occupied Palestinian territories. expected to have implemented reforms by 2019. [116969] 673W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 674W

Mr Gauke: Where an organisation is recognised as a In the European Commission’s review of the markets in financial charity by the Charity Commission and by HM Revenue instruments directive (MiFID), the Government is supportive of and Customs it is entitled to UK tax relief on its the legislative proposals to ensure; (1) that where appropriate, income, subject to that income being applied for wholly standardised over-the-counter derivatives are traded on exchanges or electronic platforms; (2) there is strong regulatory oversight charitable purposes only. Applying income for wholly powers on commodities markets through the application of a charitable purposes can include making a payment to a position management regime based on strong supervision and body outside the UK, but for tax relief to remain intact, market monitoring; and (3) periodic reporting of commodities HM Revenue and Customs must be satisfied that the data, and also ensuring more comparability across different trading charity has taken reasonable steps to ensure that payment venues. This will make it easier for regulators to analyse, interpret will be applied for charitable purposes only. and act where necessary within commodity derivatives markets. The Charities Act 2011 lists charitable purposes, which In addition, under the European Commission’s review of the Market Abuse Regulation, the Government is supportive of are followed for UK tax purposes. It follows that if proposals to capture cross market manipulation between commodity payments are made to organisations in Israel and those derivative and spot commodity markets. payments are applied for wholly charitable purposes, the charity remains entitled to tax relief. Company Accounts: Disclosure of Information If a charity applies its income for non-charitable purposes, tax relief is denied, and where it has already Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the been given it is recovered. Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require multinational corporations based in the UK to publish Child Care Tax Credit a profit and loss account and limited balance sheet and cash flow information for each jurisdiction in which Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the they trade as part of their annual financial statements; Exchequer how many households claimed child care and if he will make a statement. [117807] tax credits in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [113931] Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Mr Gauke [holding answer 26 June 2012]: The average The UK has no plans to require any corporation number of families benefiting from the child care element registered in the UK to publish a profit and loss account 2010-11 is available in table 3.2 of the HMRC publication and limited balance sheet and cash flow information for “Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised each jurisdiction in which they trade. This level of detail Annual Awards 2010-11” which is available at: is not necessary for the financial statements achieve http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final- their objective of providing a true and fair view of a award-main.htm corporation’s financial position. There are, however, In 2010-11, 455,000 families benefited. negotiations at EU level that relate to accounting that Figures for 2011-12 will be available in May 2013. have yet to be concluded. More recent data on the number of families benefiting Credit from the child care element is available in table 4.4 of the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credit Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Statistics April 2012” which is available at: Exchequer what progress his Department has made on http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc- research on introducing a variable cap on the total cost quarterly-stats.htm of credit that can be charged in the high cost credit As at the beginning of April 2012, 454,900 families market. [116231] benefited. This publication takes a snapshot of the tax credits Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply on behalf population and therefore shows the number of claimants of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. at a particular point in time based on the family BIS has commissioned research to establish the impact circumstances that we have been informed of at that of introducing a cap on the total cost of credit that can time. be charged in the short to medium term high cost credit market. The research will look at a number of areas Commodity Markets including how other countries regulate their markets and whether a cap on the total cost of credit would Sandra Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the reduce access to credit for some consumers. The research Exchequer what steps he plans to improve regulation of is being carried out by Bristol University’s Personal the commodity markets. [117263] Finance Research Centre. The fieldwork has been completed and a progress report lodged in Parliament on 24 May Mr Hoban: The Government strongly supports the 2012: G20 commitments to improve the regulation, functioning, http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/consumer-issues/docs/i/ and transparency of financial and commodity markets, 12-822-impact-variable-cap-on-high-cost-credit-update.pdf. including position reporting. The Government are pursuing We expect the research to report back by late summer a number of legislative changes that will take these G20 2012. commitments forward: E-mail Under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), the Government has agreed legislative requirements that will ensure that all standardised over-the-counter derivatives should Mr Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer be cleared, through central counterparties. This would help to how many e-mails he received to his official contribute towards the broader aim of mitigating against systemic government e-mail address in each month since May risk in financial markets, including commodities derivatives markets. 2010. [113744] 675W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 676W

Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested could The sanctions in respect of Egypt impose an asset be provided only at disproportionate cost. freeze against 19 individuals identified as responsible for the misappropriation of Egyptian state funds. For Finance Act 2008 details I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) on Mr Buckland: To ask the Chancellor of the 26 January 2012, Official Report, column 329W. Exchequer how many taxpayers are affected by the provisions of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008. Government Departments: Conditions of Employment [111483] Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Gauke: UK residents are taxable on their worldwide (1) how often and in what circumstances Government income wherever it arises—including situations where it departments will exercise their right to seek assurance arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of that off-payroll engagees are meeting their income tax Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond and national insurance contributions obligations; and doubt and in so doing, made dear that a wholly artificial whether this will occur for every contract or only be tax avoidance scheme involving a foreign partnership exercised in selected circumstances or roles; [117108] comprised of foreign trustees did not work. As section (2) what evidence he requires an off-payroll engagee 58 retrospectively clarified existing legislation, its in the public sector to provide that their income tax and introduction had no affect on any taxpayer’s tax position. national insurance contributions obligations are being HMRC has identified around 1,900 individuals who met. [117109] used the avoidance scheme or one of its variants and whose tax returns are currently under inquiry. Danny Alexander: On 23 May, I announced the findings Financial Services: Advisory Services of the “Review of the Tax Arrangements of Public Sector Appointees”. This set out the extent of senior off-payroll engagements across Government—and made Mark Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the recommendations to ensure that Government employers Exchequer what information his Department holds on can assure themselves that their senior off-payroll staff the number of independent financial advisers who have are meeting their tax obligations. entered into administration as a result of rising indemnity costs; and if he will make a statement. It will be for Government Departments and their arm’s length bodies to determine when to exercise the [117758] right to assurance. However, I have announced that the Mr Hoban: HM Treasury does not hold the information Treasury will monitor departmental implementation requested by the hon. Member. and report back to me after one year. There are a number of ways in which off-payroll Mark Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the engagees can provide evidence that they are meeting Exchequer whether (a) he and (b) his Department their income tax and national insurance obligations. have had discussions with the Financial Ombudsman These include: showing that they are drawing salary via Service on the case fees independent financial advisers a payslip, or demonstrating that they are operating the are charged for every complaint made against them. anti-avoidance intermediaries legislation known as IR35. [117759] Income Tax: Kilmarnock Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of authorities Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the Details of meetings that Ministers have with external number of taxpayers in Kilmarnock and Loudoun stakeholders are published on a quarterly basis on the constituency who earn more than (a) £60,000 and (b) Treasury’s website under the Government’s transparency £150,000 per year; and what revenue accrued from agenda. income tax levied on these taxpayers in the last year. With regards to the case fees independent financial [116299] advisers are charged, this is a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), whose day-to-day operations Mr Gauke: Survey of Personal Incomes based estimates are independent from Government control and influence. of taxpayers in Kilmarnock and Loudoun and other I have asked the FOS to write to the hon. Member with parliamentary constituencies in 2009-10 are available in the information requested. A copy of the response will table 3.15, at: be placed in the Library of the House. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-3-15- mar2012.xls Freezing Orders: Egypt Estimates of number of taxpayers at specific high income levels are not published, reflecting generally David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the declining reliability of estimates for smaller taxpayer Exchequer whether any Egyptian governmental assets subpopulations at local level. are still frozen in the UK; and what their total estimated value is. [117647] Individual Savings Accounts

Mr Hoban: No UN or EU sanctions have been imposed Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the on the Egyptian Government and so no Egyptian Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Government assets are frozen in the UK. Member for the City of Chester of 8 March 2012, 677W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 678W

Official Report, columns 892-93W, (1) what research Loans: Republic of Ireland his Department plans to conduct on enabling holders of child trust funds to transfer to junior ISAs; [112552] Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the (2) how he plans to monitor whether or not action is Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect necessary in the future to enable holders of child trust on the Exchequer in cash terms of the decision to funds to transfer to junior ISAs. [112553] change the interest rate payable on the bilateral loan to the Irish Republic. [112376] Mr Hoban: The Government has no immediate plans to allow transfers between child trust funds and junior Mr Hoban: The reduction in the interest rate on the ISAs. UK bilateral loan to Ireland, through lower interest As part of its ordinary business, Her Majesty’s Revenue payments received from Ireland, will result in reduced and Customs will publish statistics on ISAs and junior income for the Exchequer. However, as I outlined in my ISAs towards the end of July and September 2012. A written ministerial statement of 11 June, the UK will full set of child trust fund statistics is expected to be still be covering its cost of funding. My statement of available towards the end of 2012. 11 June also outlined that I will update Parliament once the loan agreement has been finalised to reflect the new The Government uses statistics from Her Majesty’s interest rate. Revenue and Customs, as well as evidence from a range of other sources, to inform its approach to tax policy. Pensions

Landfill Communities Fund Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason a drawdown pension Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer scheme that puts money into a building society account (1) what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary which has no management charges or opening charges of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (b) for a savings account cannot be offered. [117589] voluntary sector organisations and (c) ENTRUST on the effect of the Landfill Community Fund challenge Mr Hoban: There are no tax rules preventing a building to environmental bodies to reduce their reserves; society from opening an account for the member of a [117671] drawdown pension scheme. (2) what assessment he has made of the funding Prudential Regulatory Authority allocated by environmental bodies through the Landfill Community Fund following its challenge to Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer environmental bodies to reduce their unspent reserves. what the terms of the lease are entered into by the new [117672] Prudential Regulation Authority for its Moorgate offices; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Miss Chloe Smith: Budget 2011 announced that future lease agreement. [117875] decisions on the value of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) would take account of the success of Mr Hoban: The terms of the lease are commercially Environmental Bodies (EBs) in reducing the level of sensitive. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given unspent funds held. This level needs to be managed to on 22 May 2012, Official Report, column 579W. ensure that the LCF is effective and efficient in supporting local community environmental projects. Public Sector Debt Officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) routinely discuss a range of issues Sir John Stanley: To ask the Chancellor of the with EBs and the LCF regulator, ENTRUST. The impact Exchequer what the total current indebtedness of the on funding allocated by EBs following the challenge to public sector is in respect of unfunded public-sector reduce unspent funds is formally monitored by ENTRUST, pension liabilities; and if he will state the Government’s who report data to HMRC annually on the how the policy on disclosing that indebtedness and including it level of unspent funds is changing. in the Government’s official figure of debt as a proportion of gross domestic product. [116760] LIBOR Danny Alexander: On 12 July Government published the unaudited summary Whole of Government Accounts Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for 2010-11 which transparently presented the unfunded by what date he expects the Financial Services public service pension liabilities that have accrued to the Authority to publish final notices relating to its end of that financial year. investigation into LIBOR in respect of other UK banks under investigation. [117799] The account discloses that at 31 March 2011, on an unaudited consolidated basis, the liability for unfunded Mr Hoban: Tracey McDermott, the FSA’s acting public sector pension liabilities was £893.3 billion. The director of enforcement and financial crime, informed Government will publish Whole of Government Accounts the Treasury Select Committee on 16 July 2012 that the annually, including unfunded public service pension FSA is investigating seven firms—not all of them UK liabilities. firms—in relation to misconduct regarding LIBOR and The official measure of public sector net debt (PSND) other benchmark rates. The FSA will publish final is produced in accordance with the European System of notices once each investigation is concluded, in line Accounts 1995. This figure includes past payments for with its standard practice. public service pension schemes, it does not include an 679W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 680W estimate of payments for future promises and therefore 1 April 1 April 31 March 31 March 31 March is a different measure of the liability than shown in the As at: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 WGA. PSND is currently shown as a proportion of gross domestic product; please see the document at the CI 1,810 2,052 1,828 1,862 2,222 following link: HMRC produces Staff in Post data on a ‘point in http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/psf.pdf time’ basis. From March 2010 the reporting point changed from the first day of April to the last day of March. Sir John Stanley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total current indebtedness of These figures do not relate purely to ‘investigators’; public sector bodies is in respect of debts incurred they are for all staff at all grades in SI and CI who are under the private finance initiative; and if he will state involved, to a lesser or greater degree, in aspects of the Government’s policy on disclosing that investigation, compliance or law enforcement within indebtedness and including it in the Government’s those business areas. official figure of debt as a proportion of gross domestic A disaggregated breakdown of these data is only product. [116761] available at a disproportionate cost. These figures do not cover all HMRC staff engaged Danny Alexander: On 12 July Government published in investigation, compliance or law enforcement activities. the unaudited summary Whole of Government Accounts Within HMRC compliance and investigation work is for 2010-11 which transparently presents the public primarily carried out by staff in the Enforcement and sector’s liabilities and the ongoing commitments under Compliance line of business. The numbers of staff PFI contracts. employed (full-time equivalent) by Enforcement and The account discloses that at 31 March 2011, on an Compliance over the last five years are: unaudited consolidated basis, the liability for capital repayments under PFI contracts was £32 billion. Staff in HMRC Enforcement and The Government will publish Whole of Government As at: Compliance Accounts annually, including PFI liabilities. 1 April 2008 27,172 1 April 2009 32,243 Revenue and Customs 31 March 2010 26,863 31 March 2011 25,475 Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the 31 March 2012 25,334 Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2012, Official Report, column 301W, on revenue and customs, The figures above include the staff numbers for SI (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of and CI as they are part of Enforcement and Compliance. callers who will be able to access the information required from the HM Revenue and Customs helpline Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the without having to wait to speak to an adviser; [112531] Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs paid (2) when he expects further options to be added to in compensation to (a) individuals and (b) automated processes on HM Revenue and Customs organisations following errors it has made in each of helplines to reduce the number of customers who have the last five years. [116851] to wait to speak to an adviser. [112532] Mr Gauke: HMRC does not distinguish payments Mr Gauke: HMRC plans to begin to enhance the made to individual customers from those made to automated solutions available to callers during 2012-13. businesses. In 2011-12 around 19% of calls were handled by automated messaging with no need for the customer to Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer call back or hold to speak to an adviser. when he expects the Chief Executive of HM Revenue Once the enhanced automated solutions begin to be and Customs to respond to the letters of (a) introduced HMRC expects the proportion of callers 21 February 2012, (b) 20 March 2012 and (c) 9May able to access the information required from the HM 2012 from the right hon. Member for Delyn regarding Revenue and Customs helpline without having to wait Mr D Whale of Mold, Flintshire. [117013] to speak to an adviser to increase further. Mr Gauke: HMRC replied to a letter dated 9 January Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the 2012 on 23 April 2012 and considered that this also Exchequer how many investigators HM Revenue and replied to the letters dated 21 February 2012 and 20 March Customs employed in each month of the last five years. 2012. The letter dated 9 May 2012 was replied to on [116850] 13 July 2012. Mr Gauke: HMRC primarily uses the term ‘investigator’ Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the for staff employed within two specific business areas: Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of all Specialist Investigations (SI) and Criminal Investigations internal audit recommendations made in relation to (CI). The total numbers of staff within SI and CI are: HM Revenue and Customs in the last five years. [117094] 1 April 1 April 31 March 31 March 31 March As at: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

SI 1,948 1,506 1,563 1,521 1,424 Mr Gauke: HMRC is unable to provide the information requested without disproportionate cost. 681W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 682W

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Athletes resident outside of the UK who compete at Exchequer by what means staff are surveyed in (a) the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games will be exempt HM Revenue and Customs and (b) his Department; from UK income tax relating to their performance at and on what dates the results of the next such survey the games. will be made public. [117095] Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of authorities as part of Mr Gauke: HMRC and HM Treasury conduct an the process of policy development and delivery. As was annual people survey as part of a civil service wide the case with previous administrations, it is not the survey co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office. Government’s practice to provide details of all such Staff are invited to take part by completing an online meetings and discussions. questionnaire which canvasses their views on how they Tobacco: Packaging feel about working in their Departments. Cabinet Office guidance indicated the 2012 people Brandon Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the survey will open on 1 October 2012 and close on 31 Exchequer what assessment his Department has made October 2012. of the financial effects on the Exchequer of any change The Cabinet Office determines the date by which all in the level of illicit or counterfeit tobacco products departments must publish their results externally but resulting from the introduction of plain cigarette this date has not yet been decided. packaging. [117116] Miss Chloe Smith: The information is not currently Taxation: Offshore Industry available. The consultation on plain cigarette packaging has been extended until 10 August 2012. HMRC will Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the consider the responses to inform the assessment of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the impact of plain packaging on the Exchequer and on the Exchequer of providing decommissioning relief deeds illicit trade. to the oil industry. [116651] Trade Union Officials

Miss Chloe Smith: At Budget 2012 the Government Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that it will introduce legislation in 2013 how many days were used by trade union giving it statutory authority to sign contracts with representatives in HM Revenue and Customs for companies operating in the UK and UK Continental facility time in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and what Shelf, to provide assurance on the relief they will receive estimate he has made of the total cost to the public when decommissioning assets. purse of the associated salary costs. [112147] The Government committed to consult further on the form and detail of such contracts, and on 9 July Mr Gauke [holding answer 18 June 2012]: In 2010-11, published a consultation document on its proposal for 41,045 days were used by unions representatives in Decommissioning Relief Deeds: HMRC for facility time, with an estimated salary cost to the department of £4,361,736. In 2011-12, 38,870 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/ consult_decommissioning_relief_deeds_090712.pdf days were used, with an estimated cost to the department of £4,149,734. This measure is expected to lead to additional investment The Cabinet Office has been undertaking a review and production, increasing Exchequer revenues. The into how much paid time civil servants should be allowed Exchequer effects of providing greater certainty on as facility time. HMRC has participated fully in this decommissioning relief are set out at line 9 of Table 2.1 review and a formal consultation between the civil of the Red Book: service and the trade unions was launched on 13 July. http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_chapter2.pdf VAT Taxation: Olympic Games 2012 Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for VAT registration Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the submitted in the last 12 months took over (a) one, (b) Exchequer if he will encourage all companies operating two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) as part of the London 2012 Olympics to voluntarily eight, (i) nine, (j) 10, (k) 11 and (l) 12 weeks to clear. pay tax to the UK on profits arising from the [117093] Olympics; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Olympics and Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Sport on the payment of tax in relation to the 2014 aims to issue VAT registration numbers as quickly as Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; and if he will possible, while protecting the VAT system from fraud. It make a statement. [117774] is necessary to balance the speed of registration against the need to risk assess applications and carry out necessary Mr Gauke: The intention of the bidding conditions checks to safeguard against fraud. set out by the International Olympic Committee is that HMRC does not collect and maintain statistics on taxation should not be a consideration in any bid to the processing of VAT registration applications to the host an Olympic and Paralympic games. The UK will level of detail requested. HMRC does hold figures for comply with the commitments required to meet these the percentage of applications processed within 10 calendar conditions. days and 60 working days. 683W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 684W

In 2011-12, 81.3% of applications were processed Written Questions: Government Responses within 10 calendar days. During the same time frame, HMRC processed 98.6% of applications within 60 working Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer days. when he plans to answer questions (a) 115719, (b) 115718, (c) 115717 and (d) 115715, tabled on 3 July VAT: Further and Higher Education 2012 for answer on 6 July 2012. [117656]

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Mr Hoban: These questions were answered on 12 July Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the annual 2012, Official Report, column 384W. cost to the Exchequer of exempting all commercial providers of further education from VAT; [117104] (2) what estimate he has made of the annual cost to CABINET OFFICE the Exchequer of exempting commercial providers of Breast Cancer higher education from VAT; and how much of the cost is accounted for by each provider type; [117105] Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for the (3) what progress he has made on his review of Cabinet Office if he will publish (a) one and (b) five exempting commercial universities from VAT. [117106] year survival rates for breast cancer patients aged (i) 49 years and under, (ii) 50 to 59, (iii) 60 to 69, (iv) 70 to 79, Mr Gauke: No estimates have been made. (v) 80 to 89 and (vi) over 90 years in each (A) cancer Further to the announcement made at Budget 2012, network and (B) primary care trust area in each year HMRC officials have been working with officials in the since 1997. [117943] Department for Business Innovation and Skills on the review of the VAT exemption for providers of education, Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the in particular at university degree level, to ensure that responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have commercial universities are treated fairly. asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2012: Welfare Tax Credits As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking if [we] will Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the publish (a) one and (b) five year survival rates for breast cancer patients aged (i) 49 years and under, (ii) 50 to 59, (iii) 60 to 69, (iv) Exchequer what proportion of (a) child tax credits and 70 to 79, (v) 80 to 89 and (vi) over 90 years in each (A) cancer (b) working tax credits were paid in error to claimants network and (B) primary care trust in each year since 1997 for in (i) Coventry, (ii) the west midlands and (iii) England which data are available. [117943]. in each of the last five years. [116253] ONS publish one-year and five-year cancer survival estimates for adults (aged 15-99). Survival is calculated from the date of Mr Gauke [holding answer 10 July 2012]: This diagnosis. information is not available. The latest (a) one-year and (b) five-year survival estimates for women diagnosed with breast cancer for (A) cancer networks in Welfare Tax Credits: Fraud England are for patients diagnosed in 1996-2009 and followed up to 2010. These figures are available on the National Statistics website at: Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival-by- Exchequer what the commencement date was for use of cancer-network/index.html Experian data to detect fraud in tax credits in (a) the One-year survival estimates are presented for four time periods UK and (b) Wales. [117776] (1996, 2001, 2005 and 2009), and five-year survival estimates are presented for three time periods (1996, 2001 and 2005), for Mr Gauke: HMRC has been using Experian data to persons aged 15-99 years. detect tax credits fraud in the whole of the UK (including Survival estimates for breast cancer are not available for (B) Wales) since 5 December 2011. primary care trusts in England.

Table 1. One-year and five-year relative survival (percentage), with 95 per cent confidence intervals, for females (aged 15-99 years) diagnosed with breast cancer In England, by age group and period of diagnosis1,2,3,4

One-year survival Five-year survival

95% confidence 95% confidence Standardisation/age group % intervals % intervals

Women diagnosed during 2000-04, followed up to 2005:

Age-standardised 94.4 94.3 94.5 81.1 80.8 81.5

Unstandardised 95.7 95.6 95.8 83.7 83.4 84.0

15-39 97 97 98 80 79 81

40-49 98 98 98 86 85 86

50-59 98 98 98 88 88 89

60-69 96 96 97 86 86 87

70-79 92 91 92 77 76 78 685W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 686W

Table 1. One-year and five-year relative survival (percentage), with 95 per cent confidence intervals, for females (aged 15-99 years) diagnosed with breast cancer In England, by age group and period of diagnosis1,2,3,4 One-year survival Five-year survival 95% confidence 95% confidence Standardisation/age group % intervals % intervals

80-99 83 83 84 61 60 63

Women diagnosed during 2001-06, followed up to 2007: Age-standardised 94.9 94.8 95.0 82.0 81.8 82.3 Unstandardised 96.1 96.0 96.2 84.5 84.3 84.8 15-39 98 97 98 81 80 82 40-49 98 98 98 86 86 87 50-59 98 98 98 89 88 89 60-69 97 97 97 87 86 87 70-79 92 92 93 78 77 78 80-99 85 84 85 64 62 65

Women diagnosed during 2003-07, followed up to 2008: Age-standardised 95.4 95.3 95.5 83.3 83.0 83.6 Unstandardised 96.5 96.4 96.7 85.8 85.5 86.1 15-39 98 98 98 82 81 83 40-49 98 98 98 87 86 88 50-59 98 98 98 90 89 90 60-69 97 97 98 88 88 89 70-79 93 93 93 79 78 80 80-99 86 85 86 66 64 67

Women diagnosed during 2004-08, followed up to 2009: Age-standardised 95.6 95.5 95.7 84.2 83.9 84.6 Unstandardised 96.7 96.6 96.8 86.6 86.4 86.9 15-39 98 98 98 83 81 84 40-49 98 98 99 88 88 89 50-59 98 98 98 90 90 90 60-69 98 97 98 89 89 90 70-79 93 93 94 80 79 81 80-99 86 86 87 67 66 69

Women diagnosed during 2005-09, followed up to 2010: Age-standardised 95.8 95.7 95.9 85.1 84.8 85.4 Unstandardised 96.9 96.8 97.0 87.4 87.2 87.7 15-39 98 98 98 84 82 85 40-49 98 98 99 89 89 90 50-59 98 98 98 90 90 91 60-69 98 98 98 90 90 91 70-79 94 93 94 81 80 82 80-99 87 87 88 69 67 70 1 Relative survival is the probability of survival (shown here as a percentage) after correction far other causes of death. 2 Because cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, the summary survival estimates for all ages combined (15-99 years) have been age-standardised, where possible, to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time. 3 Breast cancer is defined by the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision (1CD-10) code C50. 4 Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. As a general rule, If the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for the Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2012: Cabinet Office how many women aged (a) 49 years As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79, (e) been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many 80 to 89 and (f) over 90 years were diagnosed with women aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) breast cancer in each (i) cancer network and (ii) 70 to 79, (e) 80 to 89 and (f) over 90 years were diagnosed with primary care trust area in each year since 1997. breast cancer in each (i) cancer network and (ii) primary care trust in each year since 1997 for which data are available. [117945] [117945] The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2010. Please note that these numbers Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the may not be the same as the number of women diagnosed with responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have breast cancer, because a woman may be diagnosed with more asked the Authority to reply. than one primary breast cancer. 687W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 688W

Information is not readily available in the form requested and Mr Maude: The budget for 2011/12 and the financial could only be obtained (compiled) at disproportionate cost however. year to date of the Gov.uk, alpha and beta sites is Table 1 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of approximately £4.6 million. breast cancer in women by the age groups (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79, (e) 80 to 89 and (f) over 90 The cost to the public purse of the directgov website years, for cancer networks in England, for the years 1997 to 2010 in the latest period for which figures are available (2010/11) combined. is £21.392 million. This is published on the Cabinet Table 2 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of Office website at: breast cancer in women by year of registration for cancer networks http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/ in England, for each of the years from 1997 to 2010. reporting-on-website-progress-Oct2011.pdf Table 3 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of Moving departmental websites onto Gov.uk will, in breast cancer in women by the age groups (a) 49 years and under, due course, realise significant savings for the taxpayer. (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79, (e) 80 to 89 and (f) over 90 years, for primary care organisations in England, for the years Ex Gratia Payments 1997 to 2010 combined. Table 4 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet breast cancer in women by year of registration for primary care organisations in England, for each of the years from 1997 to Office what estimate his Department has made of the 2010. monetary value of ex gratia payments made through Copies of Tables 1 to 4 have been placed in the House of schemes administered by his Department over the last Commons library. two years. [116799] The latest published figures on the incidence of cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at: Mr Maude: The value of ex gratia payments made by http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics- the Cabinet Office over the last two years totalled registrations--england--series-mb1-/index.html £25,355.33.

Charity Commission ICT

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Alun Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will give powers to the Charity Office how many iPads are owned by his Department; Commission to allow it to intervene more easily where and whether these devices are accredited to Business an allegation of wrongdoing within a charity is made; Level Impact Level 3. [117006] [117120] (2) whether his recent discussions with the Chief Mr Maude [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The Cabinet Executive of the Charity Commission have included Office has purchased 13 iPads for official use. All these discussion of the Commission’s powers to investigate devices are unclassified. The iPads are used to support allegations of wrongdoing. [117121] trials and various projects, particularly when it is cheaper than using a dedicated laptop. Mr Maude: The Charity Commission already has substantial powers of intervention including, in extreme Internet: Regulation cases, powers of entry and suspension of trustees. Information relating to internal discussion and advice is Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet not normally disclosed. Office what recent discussions he has had with international partners on promoting consensus on Civil Servants: Training what constitutes acceptable behaviour in cyberspace; and if he will make a statement. [117658] Michael Fallon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to encourage the development Mr Maude: Last November the London Conference of finance skills in the Civil Service. [117428] initiated a global conversation on the future of the internet and how we might establish certain norms of Mr Maude [holding answer 16 July 2012]: For too behaviour in cyberspace. This dialogue will continue at long the civil service has lacked finance skills. The Civil the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace in October, Service Reform Plan, published on 19 June 2012, notes which I plan to attend, and in South Korea in 2013. that we will produce by the autumn, for the first time, a The UK is playing an active role in many international five-year capabilities plan for the whole civil service. fora including at the United Nations Group of Government This plan will identify which skills and capabilities are Experts. We are also building a network of bilateral in deficit, and set out how gaps will be filled. In addition, cyber relationships with partners developing and promoting the plan notes that: the benefits of confidence building measures as part of “financial management across the civil service needs to be the discussions regarding norms of behaviour. further strengthened, and the finance functions in departments and agencies given greater authority.” NDPBs: Public Appointments This will be accomplished primarily through the Finance Transformation Programme (FTP). Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations his Department Electronic Government has received from the chairs and officers of non- departmental public bodies on the time taken for Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet appointments and reappointments to those bodies. Office what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) [116945] government.uk and (b) directgov website in the latest period for which figures are available. [116681] Mr Maude: No central record is held. 689W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 690W

Orders and Regulations Press Officers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many statutory instruments were (a) made, Office how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses (b) repealed and (c) amended in each of the last five by press officers in his Department, its agencies and years. [117140] arm’s length bodies since May 2010. [109880] Mr Maude [holding answer 11 June 2012]: This Mr Maude: Details of statutory instruments are published information is not normally held centrally in the form on: requested. www.legislation.gov.uk Public Sector: Mobile Phones Pay Alun Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has made any contingency plans for Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet the event that a supplier of mobile devices to the public Office how many staff working for his Department, its sector is acquired by a company which is not Executive agencies and non-departmental public considered to be an appropriate supplier for the public bodies are employed through off-payroll engagements sector. [117663] costing less than £58,200 per annum; and if he will make a statement. [110814] Mr Maude: Contingency plans for the event that a supplier is acquired by another company should be Mr Maude: Since 2010 the Cabinet Office has applied covered by the appropriate contract management strict controls on the engagement of consultants, interim arrangements of any given contract. managers and specialist contractors who may not be The Cabinet Office recommends that contracts include engaged without prior approval from the Cabinet Office a clause specifying that: Approvals Board. “the Contractor shall not assign, sub-contract or in any other Approval is only given to engage contractors and way dispose of the Contract or any part of it without prior agency staff if a case can be made that shows that the Approval”; use of such non-payroll resource is ’operationally necessary’, and allows termination of the contract in the event of a could not be fulfilled by an existing civil servant, and change of control. offers value for money. Public Sector: Procurement Annual expenditure by the Cabinet Office on consultancy fell dramatically in 2011-12 and in 2010-11 expenditure Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet was around a third of what it was in 2009-10. Expenditure Office (1) what mechanisms exist to prevent on temporary staff was also reduced by more than 40%. contractors for public sector projects from revising The Cabinet Office has 35 contractors and agency their initially proposed payment figures to staff whose contracts are expected to cost less than subcontractors upon completion of a project; [117789] £58,200. Of these, seven are expected to cease over the (2) what steps he is taking to prevent incomplete course of the next few months, and the rest remain payments from being made by construction industry under review. contractors working on public sector projects. [117790] Sometimes there is a requirement for a contractor with specific knowledge and expertise to be engaged for Mr Maude: The Government is increasingly making a longer period to see through a big project—just as any use of Project Bank Accounts, which ensure that private sector organisation would do. It makes sense, subcontractors down to at least tier 3 of supply chains under these circumstances, to use a contractor when the are paid directly and promptly. alternative would be to recruit a permanent employee Where Project Bank Accounts are not used the which would incur more ongoing, longer term cost to requirement for contractors to pay their subcontractors the taxpayer. within 30 days—in line with the Government’s Prompt Payment Code—is specified in contract terms. Permanent Secretaries We are also encouraging subcontractors to use the ’Mystery Shopper’ service to report instances to us where this is not happening. We regularly publish details Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet of investigated cases on the Cabinet Office website. Office pursuant to the question following the statement made on 19 June 2012, Official Report, columns 743-6 Secondment on civil service reform, by what date the objectives for permanent secretaries will be published; how often Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet such objectives will be updated; how many permanent Office with reference to the answer of 15 March 2012, secretaries in operational roles have two or more years Official Report, column 382W, on Government commercial or operational experience. [115158] Departments: secondment, whether any staff are supplied to his Department without charge by (a) Mr Maude [holding answer 3 July 2012]: Permanent KPMG, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) PWC and (d) any Secretaries’ objectives will be published shortly and other firms; and what the (i) function, (ii) grade and updated periodically.Information on permanent secretaries’ (iii) level of security clearance is of any such staff in professional experience will also be published shortly. each case. [116180] 691W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 692W

Mr Maude: For the period 1 April 2011 to 30 June laundering and other important matters. CDC also has 2012 Cabinet Office has not been supplied with any a team with dedicated personnel responsible for monitoring unpaid staff from KPMG, Ernst and Young or and addressing corruption compliance issues. CDC regularly PricewaterhouseCoopers. reports to DFID on all such matters. We have 10 secondees from other organisations on a DFID worked with CDC to develop a new complaints free of charge basis. They are filling posts at SCSI to B2 mechanism. This allows those who have been negatively level, in placements ranging from one month to 12 months. affected by a breach in CDC’s Investment Code to These include secondments as part of the Commercial complain directly to CDC. The Investment Code has a Interchange Programme which was launched in 2011 as governance section which includes corruption and anti- part of a suite of measures to improve commercial bribery. CDC investigates these complaints and, if eligible, capability within Government through an exchange of seek a solution that addresses the complaint as quickly skills and knowledge with the private sector. as possible. All secondees are security cleared to the level required for the work being undertaken. Developing Countries: Education Senior Civil Servants: Pay Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet made of the effect of his Department’s expenditure on Office when he plans to publish the list of senior civil developing countries on the number of children servants earning more than £150,000. [117930] attending school. [117660] Mr Maude: Further to my answer of 24 April 2012, a list will be published later this year. Such information Mr O’Brien: The Department for International was not publicly available prior to 2010. Development’s 2012 Annual Report shows that UK investments are supporting 5.3 million children in primary Staff education and 600,000 in lower secondary in developing countries. Over the comprehensive spending review period : To ask the Minister for the Cabinet the UK has pledged to support 9 million children in Office which individuals the Minister without Portfolio primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and recommended to provide assistance organising 2 million in lower secondary. We have also launched a outreach events during her visit to Pakistan in July new Girls’ Education Challenge, which will galvanise 2010. [116540] innovation in the non-state sector to support up to an additional 1 million of the world’s poorest girls through Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the report of a full cycle of schooling. the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Minister’s The quality of education remains very low in many Interests published on 27 June 2012, a copy of which is countries. We are therefore prioritising quality as well available in the Library of the House. as access to education in all our programmes. We have committed to measure reading fluency in the early years Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet and we have helped to train 90,000 teachers to improve Office how many staff of his Department were in the the quality of education and assist children’s learning. Civil Service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for been in the redeployment pool for more than six International Development what steps his Department months at that date. [116800] (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to work with the private sector to deliver education for poor people in Mr Maude: As at 30 June 2012 there were two staff in developing countries; and what (i) current and (ii) the redeployment pool in the Cabinet Office and its proposed initiatives will be supported or funded by his non-departmental public bodies. These staff are allocated Department’s country programmes. [117937] to short term critical projects. Mr O’Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) works to get the best possible INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT outcomes for the poor. Over the comprehensive spending review period the UK has pledged to support nine CDC million children in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and two million in lower secondary. DFID’s Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for 2012 annual report shows that we are currently supporting International Development what guidance his 5.3 million children in primary education and 600,000 Department has issued to CDC on the reporting of in lower secondary. We take a pragmatic, non-ideological corruption allegations. [117866] stance on how services should be delivered. In addition to our extensive support to public sector delivery of Mr O’Brien: CDC takes all allegations of corruption education, we also support non-state education providers, seriously and complies with all relevant legal requirements. including the low cost private sector. CDC has issued detailed business integrity policies and In September 2011, the UK launched the Girls’ procedures to all employees, alongside on-going training. Education Challenge (GEC) which will galvanise innovation This ensures that CDC’s commitment to integrity and in the non-state sector to support up to an additional legal compliance is followed, including procedures one million of the world’s poorest girls through a full dealing with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money cycle of schooling. The GEC is developing strategic 693W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 694W partnerships with the corporate sector to incentivise Kenya investment in girl’s education including new ways to improve the quality of teaching and learning for girls. Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for DFID is currently working on the design of a global, International Development with reference to his public and free internet database. This will profile non-state Operational Plan for Kenya 2011-15, what evidence he education programmes with a view to facilitating the used to reach his conclusion that private schools are the scale up of non-state education innovations for poor most cost effective way to get out-of-school children people. DFID is also developing programmes to support into the classroom in slum areas with limited state quality, non-state education provision in four countries. schooling capacity. [117934] In Pakistan DFID plans to support up to 200,000 children in low cost private schools in Sindh Province. Mr O’Brien: A study by the Department for International In India an additional 13,000 children in slums will be Development has shown that there are at least 300,000 reached with DFID support to the non-state provider children in low cost private schools for the poor in “Gyan Shala”. DFID-Nigeria is developing a programme Kenya, most of which are located in or around the to improve the functioning of the Lagos education many urban slums in Kenya’s larger towns and cities. market, with a provisional target of reaching 380,000 The study also showed that low cost private schools children. DFID-Kenya plans to launch a new programme typically charge around £30 per year for each student, to research the constraints on low cost private schools considerably less than the £70 or so that it costs to and to help the private education sector meet the needs educate a child in a state school according to Government of poor people. of Kenya figures. Data from the Kenyan Ministry of Education further show that schools in urban centres Developing Countries: Poliomyelitis are already more than full, and would require substantial expansion to accommodate these additional children, Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State which would take several years for International Development with reference to the 65th World Health Assembly, what plans he has to Overseas Aid meet non-governmental organisations and charities to discuss the intensification of the global polio Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for eradication initiative. [117066] International Development what steps his Department takes to monitor the effectiveness of poverty reduction Mr O’Brien: The Department for International programmes delivered by Private Sector Development Development (DFID) is a major contributor to the and funded through decentralised spending decisions. Global Polio Eradication Initiative and remains firmly [117451] committed to polio eradication. In January 2011 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Prime Minister Mr O’Brien: All of the Department for International pledged an additional £40 million for 2011-12, effectively Development’s (DFID’s) programmes—including private doubling our contribution last year and this. sector programmes funded through country offices—are DFID is actively engaged in polio eradication efforts subject to a rigorous monitoring process. DFID uses a and meets regularly with partners to discuss issues. value for money framework to assess the effectiveness DFID is considering its support from 2013. and efficiency of all projects, with specific indicators determined on a case-by-case basis. All proposals for Food: Prices DFID funding must be accompanied by a business case. This is the main record of the proposal, summarising Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for value for money considerations and intended results. International Development what assessment his Indicators for tracking effectiveness are included in the Department has made of the effects on health and logical framework, which is an annex to the business well-being of (a) young children and (b) others of case. DFID’s monitoring and evaluation processes include temporary food price spikes. [116954] an annual review against the indicators in the logical framework and require an assessment of whether a Mr O’Brien: The UK’s Future of Food and Farming project remains good value for money. The project report (2011) showed that high and volatile food prices database (projects.dfid.gov.uk/) provides access to business threaten good nutrition. Pregnant women and young cases, logical frameworks and annual reviews. children are at greatest risks as their nutritional needs Further information on how we measure progress are higher. High prices directly impact on the poor who against our objectives is available on the DFID website purchase most of their food as they have to spend more http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/ on staple foods, making less more nutritious foods unaffordable. Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for The specific effects of temporary food price spikes on International Development what criteria will be used to health and well-being of young children and others is evaluate the performance of each of his Department’s difficult to measure. The UK is working with partners proposed cash-on-delivery aid programmes; and who in the G8 and the G20 to address food price volatility, will evaluate those programmes. [117935] including a global market information system supported by the G20, programmes to improve regional food Mr O’Brien: We have designed three payment by markets and trade; and investments in smallholder results (PBR) (also known as cash on delivery) pilots agriculture in many parts for Africa and Asia to improve and independent evaluation is built in to each of these availability of food at affordable prices. to learn from this innovative approach. The evaluations 695W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 696W are tailored to the individual pilots. The key criterion to Mr O’Brien: The UK Government takes a pragmatic, evaluate performance is whether PBR leads to additional non-ideological stance on how services should be delivered. results. In addition the evaluations will look at how The Department for International Development (DFID) PBR works, in order that we can apply lessons to future supports private sector education providers where we design and implementation. believe they will increase choice, equity, value for money, Independent contractors are hired to evaluate each of and learning outcomes. Support to non-state education our pilots: Cambridge Education for our Ethiopia pilot providers complements the UK’s extensive support to and the Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health for our public sector delivery of education. In Nigeria, for pilot in Northern Uganda. We are in the process of example, we are researching the educational choices of contracting an independent evaluator for our Rwanda low income parents, with a view to improving low-cost pilot. private education alongside existing UK support to reform the public education sector. We are also currently Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for developing a low-cost private sector education programme International Development what estimate he has made in Kenya. of the likely cost of each of his Department’s proposed From 2011-15, the UK will support 9 million children cash-on-delivery aid programmes. [117936] in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and 2 million in lower secondary school. In addition, DFID Mr O’Brien: The cost of each of the Department for has launched a new Girls’ Education Challenge, which International Development’s payment by results (also will galvanise innovation in the non- state sector to known as cash on delivery) pilot programmes is as support up to an additional 1 million of the world’s follows: poorest girls through a full cycle of schooling. UN Women Programme Total programme cost £ million

Ethiopia 30 Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions he has Rwanda 9 had with his overseas counterparts on encouraging the Northern Uganda 8 international community to meet the resource and Independent evaluations 1— funding shortage for UN Women; [117595] 1Up to £1.5 million per programme. (2) what recent assessment he has made of the As we only pay for results, the final cost of each pilot performance of UN Women against the four priorities will depend upon the results achieved. set out in the Multi-lateral Aid Review; and what The cost of each of these pilots is relatively small to consequent decisions he has taken on the level of allow us to test payment by results and understand how future UK funding for that organisation; [117596] it works before we scale it up. (3) against which criteria his Department plans to South Sudan assess the performance of UN Women in advance of taking a decision on whether to continue funding that Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State organisation beyond 2015; [117597] for International Development what assistance the (4) what his policy is on future UK financial support Government is giving to the Government of South for UN Women. [117598] (a) (b) [117621] Sudan on malnutrition and hygiene. Mr O’Brien: The Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) identified four key priority reform areas for UN Women: Mr O’Brien: The UK is committed to helping deliver delivery of programmes at the country level; results health care to the people of South Sudan. Our development management; transparency; and cost effectiveness. The goals in South Sudan over the next three years will give Department for International Development will review over 469,000 people access to clean water and sanitation; progress against these reform priorities in 2013. This help 250,000 people get enough food to eat; and enable review will determine the level of funding for 2013-14 2 million people receive life-saving health care and and 2014-15. In addition, we regularly monitor progress nutrition. In addition, the UK is a key supporter of the with UN Women on follow up to the MAR. current humanitarian response in South Sudan, contributing £15 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund which We will continue to fund UN Women up till 2015, will help to provide clean water for 130,000 people. We based on their ability to perform, but beyond that no have also allocated £10 million to the World Food decision has been taken. Programme to help feed 100,000 people through the The UN Women annual report notes that in 2011, hunger gap period this year. contributions to UN Women totalled $235 million, In the health facilities supported by the UK’s contribution representing a 33% increase from 2011. Despite missing to the Basic Services Fund, we run programmes to its 2011 funding targets this shows a real commitment educate people about the importance of hygiene, 23,000 to UN Women by other donors. We continue to work people were reached in 2010-11. This programme is also closely with UN Women and other donors to ensure it extended to children attending local schools. is as effective an organisation as it can be.

Sub-Saharan Africa HEALTH NHS: Financial Stability Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on 16. Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for support or funding for low cost private schools in Health what steps he is taking to ensure the financial Sub-Saharan Africa. [117011] sustainability of NHS organisations. [117295] 697W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 698W

Mr Lansley: We are working directly with all NHS Mr Simon Burns: The total number and the average trusts to enable them to achieve foundation trust status, number of days lost to sickness in the Department, for in the main by April 2014. To achieve foundation trust each of the last three calendar years, are shown in the status will mean NHS trusts have achieved sustainable, following table: high levels of clinical quality and financial governance. Total number of Average working days (working) absence days lost per staff year due Reconfiguration: South-east London Calendar year due to sickness to sickness

17. Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009 11,262 4.6 Health what the cost was to South London Healthcare 2010 11,810 4.5 NHS Trust of the delay in implementing the proposals 2011 9,962 4.1 contained in the “A Picture of Health” consultation on the reconfiguring of local health services in south-east Cancer London. [117297] Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Mr Simon Burns: Implementation of “A Picture of (1) what assessment his Department has made of the Health” has not been subject to delay. Between May effects of removing its support services from cancer and December 2010, NHS London carried out a thorough networks on the delivery of their functions; [116638] review of the proposals against the Secretary of States (2) what assessment has been made of the effects on “four tests” that all reconfiguration schemes must meet. existing cancer networks of the restructuring of clinical networks; [116639] NHS Walk-in Centres (3) what funding from the main NHS programme budget was allocated to cancer networks in (a) 18. Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [116652] Health how many NHS walk-in centres have (a) closed and (b) reduced their opening hours since May 2010. Paul Burstow: Funding to support cancer networks is [117298] mainly provided through what is called the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) bundle. In addition to funding Mr Simon Burns: Since 2007, the local NHS has been from the bundle, networks receive funding from other responsible for NHS walk-in centres. It is for primary sources, such as their constituent primary care trusts or care trusts to decide locally on the availability of these from one or more of their provider trusts. The amounts services. No information is held centrally. included in the SHA bundle for cancer networks for 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 20012-13 can be found PFI Contracts in the following table.

20. Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Cancer Network Funding (£ million) Health if he will estimate the proportion of the PFI 2009-10 18.3 negotiations agreed prior to 2010 that have led to 2010-11 18.5 unsustainable contractual obligations being placed on 2011-12 18.5 NHS hospitals. [117300] These allocations are based on estimates of the funding Mr Lansley: From 2012-13, we are providing the required to deliver cancer networks. However, it is for seven worst affected trusts with PFI scheme access to a each SHA to determine how the total amount they £1.5 billion support fund over a period of 25 years receive in the SHA bundle is allocated to specific services, directly from the Department. such as cancer networks, taking into account the needs of local populations. Patient Outcomes We have already made clear that there is an important role for clinical networks, such as cancer networks, in Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the reformed national health service. The cancer networks what progress the NHS is making in improving are a clear example of how this way of working delivers outcomes for patients; and if he will make a statement. improved outcomes for patients. That is why we announced [117299] in May 2011 that we would continue to fund cancer networks in 2012-13 and that the NHS Commissioning Mr Lansley: Since last December, we have published Board (NHS CB) would fund and host a number of data against 34 indicators in the NHS Outcomes strengthened strategic clinical networks in the new health Framework. Where trend data is available, the majority system. Strategic clinical networks will be supported of indicators suggest performance has maintained or through network support teams covering 12 defined improved. This includes MRSA infections down by geographical areas. The use of shared support teams, 25% and C difficile infections down by 17% in 2011-12 with dedicated clinical leads, will ensure that the available compared with 2010-11. resources for strategic clinical networks are used to maximum effect. Absenteeism It is expected that cancer networks will be able to make a significant contribution to driving improvements John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in outcomes for patients in the new health system and what the absenteeism rate was in his Department in will made a significant contribution to achieving the each of the last three years. [116660] goals set out in the Cancer Outcomes Strategy. 699W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 700W

A review of clinical networks is currently under way of 10 and 16 years have received access to drugs to consider the functions, structures and governance through the Cancer Drugs Fund since its creation; and that will mostly effectively support commissioners to what the total cost for this treatment has been. [117199] deliver improved quality and outcomes in the future. The NHS CB Authority will publish its recommendations Paul Burstow: Information on patients funded through for clinical networks later in the summer. the Cancer Drugs Fund is not collected at parliamentary constituency level. Information on the age of patients Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who have received cancer drugs is also not collected. (1) if he will ensure that data collected by the forthcoming National Cancer Patient Experience Cancer: Older People Survey is published by equality group within tumor Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for types; [117482] Health (1) what progress has been made on the work (2) what progress his Department has made in led by his Department, the National Cancer Equality providing information to commissioners on (a) the age Initiative and Macmillan Cancer Support to test new profile of local cancer populations, (b) the outcomes approaches to clinical assessment for older patients; and experiences of local patients by age and (c) how [117859] their performance compares with other areas; and if he (2) what steps his Department is taking to encourage will make a statement. [117483] multidisciplinary teams to undertake patient-level equity audits; and if he will make a statement. [117860] Paul Burstow: A major focus of activity for the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) has been Paul Burstow: We are working with Macmillan Cancer the development and publication of comparative Support and Age UK on a £1 million programme to information or ’profiles’. Profiles for general practitioner improve cancer care for older people. The programme practices, commissioners and individual multidisciplinary will help us to deliver improved outcomes by ensuring teams mean that cancer services and outcomes can be that older people’s needs are properly assessed and met. benchmarked across the treatment pathway. The programme consists of 14 pilot sites across the The NCIN has also published a range of data reports country to improve intervention rates for people over 70 that are providing valuable insight into cancer patient with cancer. The pilots are introducing new ways of outcomes across England. These have included data on assessing an older person for cancer treatment, offering surgical resection rates, 30-day post-operative mortality short-term practical support for older people undergoing after colorectal surgery and pancreatic cancer trends in cancer treatment and addressing any age discrimination younger people. Wherever possible, all NCIN reports in cancer services by identifying and meeting the training are published broken down by equality characteristic. needs of all professionals working with older people. All new datasets include gender, socio-economic deprivation and age, including older people and children, teenagers To date, over 500 people have received assessment as and young adults. part of the project. The effectiveness and feasibility of this intervention is currently being evaluated. The pilots The National Report of the 2010 Cancer Patient will report back in September 2012 and the final report Experience Survey, published in December 2010, recorded and recommendations will be published in December the views of over 67,000 cancer patients treated across 2012. 158 trusts against over 50 scored questions. A key part of disseminating the 2010 results has been benchmarking “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published the performance of trusts against one-another. The on 12 January 2011, said that multidisciplinary teams bespoke trust level, reports display the results for each (MDTs) are being encouraged to embed equalities into question in the survey benchmarked against other trusts clinical practice. The National Cancer Action Team and also benchmarks by teams within trusts where (NCAT) and the National Cancer Intelligence Network numbers allowed. have been developing patient characteristics profiles for breast and bowel cancer MDTs, and NCAT will be The fieldwork for the National Cancer Patient Experience working with cancer networks to develop MDT equity Survey 2011-12 is finished and analysis is under way. audits. We are aware of good progress being made by Data collected from the 2011-12 National Cancer Patient Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network, who Experience Survey will be published by equality group will be working closely with local clinicians to refine within cancer-type groupings where sufficient numbers their patient characteristics profiles. Good practice will allow, and a report will be placed on the website of our be shared through other cancer networks and the National survey supplier Quality Health. Cancer Equality Initiative. The 2011 survey will show who has really improved As part of their National Cancer Peer Review and where further action is required. National and trust Programme self-assessment, under the key theme of level reports are expected to be published later this structure and function of the service, MDTs are requested summer. to comment how many patients by equality characteristic Cancer: Drugs (race, age and gender) they diagnosed/treated in the previous year. Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Care Homes Health (1) how many patients in each parliamentary constituency have received access to drugs on the Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Cancer Drugs Fund since its creation; [117097] Health (1) what steps he plans to take to ensure (2) how many patients (a) under the age of five, (b) uniform standards are achieved in the delivery of social between the age of five and 10 and (c) between the age care nationwide; [117251] 701W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 702W

(2) what plans he has to improve the regulation of However, independent analysts, such as Laing and Buisson, private care homes; and whether his plans include the estimate there to be a national vacancy rate of around setting of standards in staff training. [117254] 10% in the sector at present. The Department does not envisage or expect that there will be a shortage of Paul Burstow: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) places. is the independent regulator of health and adult social The Government has allocated an additional £7.2 billion care providers in England. It has key responsibility in by 2014-15 to councils to support the delivery of the overall assurance of essential levels of safety and social care, plus an additional £300 million from the quality of health and adult social care services. Under Care and Support White Paper. This funding, the Health and Social Care Act 2008, all providers of together with an ambitious programme of efficiency, regulated activities, including national health service should enable councils to protect people’s access to and independent providers, have to be registered with services and deliver new approaches to improving their the CQC and meet the 16 registration requirements care. setting out the essential levels of safety and quality. Failure to comply with the requirements is an offence, and under the 2008 Act, the CQC has a wide range of Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for enforcement powers that it can use if the provider is not Health if he will extend the protection offered to local compliant. authority arranged care recipients under the Human Rights Act 1998 to care recipients who are self funded. The registration requirements include a requirement [117255] for the registered person to have suitable arrangements in place to ensure that persons employed for the purpose of carrying on the regulated activity are appropriately Paul Burstow: The Government’s view is that all supported in relation to their responsibilities, to enable providers of publicly arranged health and social care them to deliver care and treatment to service users services, including private and voluntary sector providers, safely and to an appropriate standard including by should consider themselves to be bound by the duty receiving appropriate training, professional development, imposed by section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998, supervision and appraisal. not to act in a way which is incompatible with a convention The CQC is responsible for developing and consulting right. on its methodology for assessing whether providers are Any amendment to the Human Rights Act in relation meeting the registration requirements and published its to third sector and private providers of home care, to “Guidance About Compliance” in March 2010. specify explicitly that they are subject to the section 6 Our White Paper, draft Bill and progress report mark duty, risks casting doubt about the interpretation of the the most significant Government action in over 60 years Human Rights Act in other sectors. Each time specific to fix a system that is fragmented, confusing and of provision is made with respect to a particular type of variable quality and provision. The White Paper introduces body, we weaken the applicability of the general test new tools to help deliver better quality services and to and raise doubt about all those bodies that have not improve the care that people experience, including greater been specified explicitly in the legislation. transparency, with new provider quality profiles and the The Government has established a Commission to piloting of new care audits. It also clarifies what quality look at how human rights are protected in the United in care and support means, by setting out principles, Kingdom to see if things can be done better and in a standards, roles and responsibilities for driving up the way that reflects our traditions. The Commission is due quality of care. to report by the end of this year. I and my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under- Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Secretary of State (Earl Howe), are to host a round Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that table discussion on 19 September, at which we will seek changes in local council social care budgets do not the views of key partners and stakeholders to establish affect the supply of residential care homes. [117252] how, both individually and collectively, we will work to promote and protect peoples’ human rights in health Paul Burstow: The level of residential care provision and social care services. is not determined solely by local council social care budgets. The supply of care home places is governed The round table will be a one-off event, hosted by the principally by demand, which comes from both public Department, to facilitate a discussion on the promotion commissioners, such as local councils and the national and protection of human rights of people using social health service and private purchasers of services. care services. It will look at how government strategy on adult social care contributes to improvements in this According to the Care Quality Commission, there area. are approximately 18,000 care and nursing homes in England, with around 460,000 places, in England at Partners present at the roundtable will identify what present. We are informed by the NHS Information actions they are taking to deliver improvements in the Centre that, during 2010-11 (the latest available data) promotion and protection of human rights. The event the number of people receiving permanent council- will focus upon the principal aim of preventing abuse of supported residential care was 213,000. A further 72,000 people’s human rights, rather than concentrating on received short-term residential care during the year. routes of redress, once abuse has actually occurred. The remainder of places are purchased by those The Department will consider any recommendations who fund their own care. The Department does not made on the day and will continue to work closely with collect information on occupancy levels in care homes. key stakeholders in this area. 703W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 704W

Care Homes: Fees and Charges Carers

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department holds on Health whether he plans to place requirements on the whether private care homes in receipt of registered NHS Commissioning Board to improve patient nursing care contributions payments reflect such support for carers whose health is affected by their payments in the level of fees payable by self-funding caring duties. [117248] residents; [116942] (2) what the average weekly cost is to the NHS of Paul Burstow: “Our NHS care objectives: A draft NHS-funded nursing care contributions paid to mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board”was published residents in private nursing homes; and what steps his for consultation on 4 July. The draft mandate emphasises Department takes to monitor whether such homes use the importance of identifying and meeting the needs of those contributions for the purpose of patient care; carers, and proposes a specific objective asking the [116943] board to improve support for carers (objective 15). (3) whether private care homes in receipt of Annex B to the draft mandate proposes some key registered nursing care contribution payments are measures for assessing progress on the objectives, and reflecting such payments in the fees charged to asks for evidence that carers are supported to look after self-funding residents. [117731] their health and well-being (annex B, page 10). The mandate will be published in the autumn of this year, Paul Burstow: National health service-funded nursing and the NHS Commissioning Board will have a legal care is the funding contribution provided by the NHS obligation to seek to meet the objectives it sets out. to homes providing nursing to support the provision of The consultation closes on 26 September. Copies of nursing care by a registered nurse for those assessed as the consultation documents have already been placed in eligible. Once the need for such care is agreed, it is the the Library, and can be found at: responsibility of primary care trusts to pay a flat rate www.mandate.dh.gov.uk contribution towards these costs. Currently, the weekly flat rate is £108.70. However, Clinical Trials: Older People those people assessed prior to October 2007 as being eligible for the higher rate contribution, continue to qualify for this higher rate payment, currently £149.60, Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for unless their nursing needs have diminished or ceased. Health what steps his Department is taking to address inequalities in access to clinical trials amongst those The home must provide a written contract or statement aged 65 and over; and if he will make a statement. of terms and conditions to the resident, or the resident’s [117861] family, setting out how much the NHS is contributing to the nursing care of the individual concerned and how Mr Simon Burns: The Department will continue to this payment reduces the fees being paid for private work with partner organisations to ensure that when care. It should include the care and services covered by researchers design a clinical trial and settle the inclusion the fee, the level of the fees and any additional services criteria, they take account of equality legislation. available at extra cost. Such contracts and the charges made by care homes are a matter between providers and The national Age and Ageing Specialty Group which purchasers of care. The Department does not monitor is part of the National Institute for Health Research these centrally. Clinical Research Network (CRN) continues to raise the issue of arbitrary upper-age cut offs in clinical trials to help ensure those aged 65 and over are offered entry Care Homes: Vetting to CRN-hosted trials wherever appropriate. To highlight the importance of this, members of the group have Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for recently published in the journal “Age and Ageing” a Health what plans he has to create an offence of not guide to good practice in recruiting older people into undertaking full Criminal Record Bureau checks on clinical research. staff working with vulnerable people in care homes. [117879] Community Health Services: Suffolk Paul Burstow: Providers of care homes in England are required to register with the Care Quality Commission Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) and to meet a series of registration requirements that what assessment he has made of the decision to award set the essential levels of safety and quality. Failure to Suffolk community health services to Serco; and comply with the essential levels is a criminal offence. whether experience of operating county-wide Under the requirement relating to workers, service providers community health services was a qualifying criteria for must have available an enhanced criminal records check organisations wishing to provide such services; [117808] for all eligible staff. (2) if he will assess the comparative costs of the (a) In addition, it is a criminal offence to knowingly current provider of Suffolk community health services employ a person to work with adults in a care home and (b) Serco bid for those services; [117809] who is barred by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (3) whether NHS Suffolk undertook any public (ISA). The ISA bars people automatically if they commit consultation regarding the transfer of Suffolk the most serious criminal offences and consider a person’s community health services from the NHS to the private criminal record when making their barring decisions. sector. [117810] 705W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 706W

Mr Simon Burns: The awarding of the contract to treatment for renal failure is best for them, including provide Suffolk community health services is a local various options for dialysis. Patients should be able to decision by Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT), assured change modality if a different approach becomes more by the Strategic Health Authority, NHS Midlands and appropriate. East. Therefore, the Department has not made an National health service providers of dialysis services assessment of this decision. It is the responsibility of are encouraged to have regard to the Quality Standard Suffolk PCT to ensure that the contract provides good for Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults produced by the value for money. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Suffolk PCT did not undertake a public consultation and published in March 2011. The Quality Standard because there will be no change to services. Patients will describes the high quality, cost-effective care that will continue to receive the same high quality care. best improve care for dialysis patients. Additionally, NHS Kidney Care is leading a number of projects Consultants aimed at embedding good practice into local services. Flour Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of external consultancy for each public body for which his Department is John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for responsible in the latest period for which figures are Health what assessment his Department has made of available; for which projects such consultancy was the extent, causes, treatment and prevention of health commissioned; and what the cost of each project was. conditions arising from exposure to flour in the [117146] workplace. [115712]

Mr Simon Burns: The Department submits a monthly Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply on behalf consultancy spend tracker report to Cabinet Office of the Department for Work and Pensions. Government Procurement which captures total spend The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for information on consultancy together with information the assessment of the extent, cause and prevention of on new contracts let or extended by the Department occupational health conditions. Treatment is not within and the arm’s length bodies and agencies for which it is HSE’s area of competence. responsible. This consultancy expenditure in May 2012 Exposure to flour in the workplace (through inhalation by the Department’s arm’s length bodies and agencies and skin contact) can lead to a variety of health conditions is set out in the following table. The figures are based on including occupational contact dermatitis, and occupational the definition of consultancy services provided by Cabinet asthma. In recent years, the majority of new cases of Office Government Procurement (formerly the Office of respiratory disease where flour was the suspected cause Government Commerce). Information on the individual were occupational asthma. Further information on the projects against which this expenditure is incurred and extent of these conditions is available on the Health and on the spend for each project is not available. To provide Safety Executive’s website at: that information would incur a disproportionate cost. http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma.htm

Arm’s length body or agency Expenditure in May 2012 (£) and http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/dermatitis/index.htm Council For Healthcare Regulatory 3,361 Excellence Prevention of health conditions arising from exposure Health and Social Care Information 44,293 to flour dust and their long-term consequences depends Centre on reducing the risk of exposure and on the early Human Fertilisation and Embryology 24,258 recognition of harm. Guidance on minimising exposure Authority to flour dust can be found at: Human Tissue Authority 12,246 http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/bakers.htm Monitor 1,160,721 National Patient Safety Agency 22,563 Similarly, guidance on simple measures to prevent work- NHS Blood and Transplant 325,592 related contact dermatitis can be found at: NHS Institute for Innovation and 19,968 http://www.hse.gov.uk/catering/dermatitis.htm Improvement NHS Litigation Authority 20,000 Fractures: Older People Food Standards Agency 0 Medicine and Healthcare products 0 Regulatory Agency Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Care Quality Commission 0 Health if he will include the prevention of fragility fractures in older people in his mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board. [R] [117858] Dialysis Machines Paul Burstow: Our ‘NHS care objectives: A draft Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board’ was published Health what steps he is taking to improve services for for consultation on 4 July. The draft mandate focuses dialysis patients. [117284] on the ultimate outcomes of care that matter to patients and professionals, based on the NHS Outcomes Mr Simon Burns: The Department and the NHS Framework. The draft proposes to set the board stretching leadership team have funded development of a patient ambitions to improve against each of the five domains decision aid to support patients in making an informed of the framework. Although we propose that the mandate decision with their clinician about which method of avoids singling out specific clinical conditions or patient 707W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 708W groups, in order to promote local autonomy and avoid Health Services: Older People distorting clinical priorities, the prevention of fragility fractures is relevant to several of the care objectives. Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Because serious fragility fractures are a recognised Health what assessment he has made of the effect of factor in early mortality, prevention is relevant to achieving GP commissioning on the provision of hospital the objectives set in Domain 1—Preventing people from services for older people. [117214] dying prematurely. Because osteoporosis is a chronic and progressive long-term condition and good management Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 can help prevent fragility fractures, prevention is relevant provides for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to Domain 2—Enhancing quality of life for people with to become responsible for commissioning the majority long-term conditions. Because fragility fractures can of NHS services. CCGs will be required to involve other occur in hospitals and other care settings, prevention is local health and social care professionals to understand relevant to Domain 5—Treating and caring for people the needs, of local populations and how to work with in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable their local populations to design care pathways and harm. services that meet those needs. The consultation on the draft mandate closes on Health and wellbeing boards will also provide the 26 September. Copies of the consultation documents vehicle to enable local authorities to work in partnership have already been placed in the Library, and can be with CCGs and other community partners to deliver found at: meaningful joint health and wellbeing strategies which will in turn set the local framework for commissioning www.mandate.dh.gov.uk of health, social care and public health, maximising the General Practitioners: Telephone Services opportunities for integrating health and social care. This should mean that groups such as older users of Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for hospital services experience health and care services Health what steps he has taken since January 2012 to that are better joined up and better meet their needs as ensure that GP surgeries adhere to his Department’s individuals. direction prohibiting the use of telephone numbers that charge patients more than the equivalent cost of calling Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for a geographical number to contact the NHS. [117661] Health what steps he expects the NHS Commissioning Board to take to ensure continuous and open Mr Simon Burns: The Department issued further communication between consultants and other medical guidance on 23 February 2012 clarifying directions staff and an older person’s next of kin or issued to national health service bodies in December representative. [117215] 2009 on the cost of telephone calls. These directions and guidance prohibit the use of telephone numbers Paul Burstow: The NHS Commissioning Board is which charge people more than the equivalent cost of subject to a legal obligation to publish guidance on calling a geographical number to contact any part of information sharing. Best clinical practice would be to the NHS. Where NHS bodies are charging people more, share information appropriately with all who have a all reasonable steps should be taken to rectify this. ’need to know’. It may also be helpful to explain that an independent Health Services: Equality panel of experts chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott is conducting a review of information governance on Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for behalf of the Secretary of State for Health, the right Health if his Department will issue guidance to ensure hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley). that all professional regulatory organisations review The Review Panel will report its findings and make and, if necessary, revise their standards, codes of recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health. conduct and education programmes to advance The review is considering the sharing of information equality and to ensure that age discriminatory with third parties. One of the topic areas is the behaviour is identified as unacceptable; and if he will communication of patient information between consultants make a statement. [117862] and medical staff (and social care staff) and next of kin, representatives or carers. Anne Milton: The health and care professions regulatory More information can be found at the following link: bodies are statutory bodies which are independent of www.caldicott2.dh.gov.uk Government. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for (Mr Lansley), has no powers to direct the way that they Health what measures he plans to propose to foster the undertake their functions. However, the Government development of positive perceptions of older people in intends to commence provisions of the Equality Act his White Paper on Social Care. [117231] later this year which will prohibit age discrimination in the provision of services. Under the Equality Act, the Paul Burstow: The White Paper “Caring for our health professions regulators will be under a duty to future: reforming care and support” was published in eliminate age discrimination and advance equality of July 2012, following a public engagement in 2011. The opportunity for older people. We would expect these need for people who receive care and support—the duties to be reflected in the way that the professional majority of whom are older people—to be treated with regulators undertake all of their functions, including dignity and respect was a key message from the engagement, those in respect of setting standards for regulated and this has been reflected by the policies in the White professionals. Paper. 709W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 710W

In addition to the White Paper, the Government Hospitals: Waiting Lists intends to bring in a ban of age discrimination in the provision of goods and services, from October this year. Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for There will be no exceptions to the ban in health and Health how many NHS patients in (a) Coventry, (b) social care, aside from a statutory exception that allows, the west midlands and (c) England waited longer than for example, free prescriptions. The aim is to ban 18 weeks for treatment in each of the last five years. unjustifiable age discrimination against people aged 18 [117689] and over when accessing services and in the exercise of public functions. Harassment related to age and Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is shown victimisation is also banned. Adults of all ages will in the following table: benefit from better access to services and for the first time people will have a legal right to redress from the Number of patients who waited longer than 18 weeks to start treatment courts if they are unjustifiably discriminated against Provider name 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 because of age. Coventry Teaching 8,136 3,395 3,377 3,853 In July 2011, the Equality Delivery System (EDS) Primary Care Trust was made available to the national health service. The (PCT) West Midlands 84,320 49,298 52,285 65,237 purpose of the EDS is to drive up equality performance Strategic Health and embed equality into mainstream NHS business. It Authority has been designed to help NHS organisations—in the England 740,516 495,098 528,768 610,240 current and new NHS structures—to meet the requirements Notes: of the public sector Equality Duty, as well as equality Data are available from 2008-09. Includes patients who commenced treatment on admitted and non admitted pathways. aspects of other duties. Source: Department of Health Unif/2 data collection - referral to treatment waiting time statistics Health Services: Social Services Latest data for April 2012 show that 94.6% of admitted patients and 98.1% of non-admitted patients in Coventry Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Teaching PCT started their treatment within a maximum Health what steps he expects the NHS Commissioning of 18 weeks of referral. Board to take to ensure joined-up service provision between providers of social care and the NHS. [117216] Learning Disability: Sussex

Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care. Act 2012 Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for places a duty on the Board concerning promoting Health how many adults are registered as having a integration in the way in which services are provided, severe learning disability in (a) Mid Sussex where this will lead to better outcomes and reduce constituency and (b) West Sussex. [117008] inequalities. “Our NHS care objectives: A draft mandate to the Paul Burstow: This information is not held centrally. NHS Commissioning Board” was published for consultation on 4 July. The draft mandate emphasises NHS Commissioning Board the importance of integrated care, and proposes a specific objective asking the Board to ensure that the new commissioning system promotes and supports the Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health integration of care (including through joint commissioning) what discussions he had with the Cabinet Secretary around individuals, particularly people with dementia before appointing Mr Naguib Kheraj to the NHS or other complex long-term needs (objective 13). Annex B Commissioning Board. [117291] to the draft mandate proposes some key measures for assessing progress on the objectives, and asks for evidence, Mr Lansley: None. All public appointments to the for example that the Board has provided leadership and Commissioning Board, including Mr Kheraj’s, were practical support for clinical commissioning groups on made in accordance with the code of practice issued by commissioning integrated services or that patients report the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Candidates more integrated care—to be measured by a new indicator were put through due diligence checks and all of the in the NHS Outcomes Framework. The mandate will be appointments were made on merit. published in the autumn of this year, and the NHS Commissioning Board will have a legal obligation to Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for seek to meet the objectives it sets out. The consultation Health what progress he has made on incorporating the closes on 26 September. Copies of the consultation recommendations of the national neuromuscular work documents have already been placed in the Library, and plan into the NHS Commissioning Board set-up; and if can be found at: he will make a statement. [117296] www.mandate.dh.gov.uk Later this year, the Government will publish a framework, Paul Burstow: The work-plan will support a national co-produced with partners across the new health and approach to the commissioning of specialised care system (including the NHS Commissioning Board, neuromuscular services. Monitor, local government, patients, people who use We will set out an initial list of nationally commissioned services, and carers), that will support the removal of services this summer, which will be subject to consultation barriers to making evidence-based integrated care and with the Commissioning Board before subsequently support the norm over the next five years. being confirmed in regulations. 711W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 712W

NHS: Fees and Charges NHS: Innovation

Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for whether NHS hospitals are offering self-funding Health (1) when he plans to develop and publish an services whereby patients are charged for NHS care innovation scorecard to track compliance with the that could not otherwise be received; and how many National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence patients have been charged for such services. [117722] technology appraisals; and if he will make a statement; [117796] Mr Simon Burns: The Department is not aware of (2) with reference to his Department’s publication, any evidence to suggest that trusts are charging for Innovation, Health and Wealth, Accelerating Adoption NHS services. and Diffusion in the NHS, when he plans to launch the Trusts are, however, permitted to charge private patients innovation pipeline project. [117797] for services which are not available on the national health service. They have always been allowed to do Mr Simon Burns: ‘Innovation Health and Wealth: this. accelerating adoption and diffusion in the NHS’ was published on the 5 December 2011 and we are making The principle that NHS services should be free at the good progress on all recommendations. point of use, based on clinical need and not an individual’s ability to pay, has underpinned the NHS since its The NHS Confederation, Association of the British establishment in 1948. This principle is enshrined in the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Association of British NHS Constitution, and reaffirmed in the Health and Healthcare Industries launched the Innovation Pipeline Social Care Act 2012. Project in February 2012. Development of the innovation scorecard is under way with a wide range of stakeholders. The first release NHS: Finance will be published in September 2012. NHS: Property Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reviews into the financial position of NHS trusts his Department commissioned in each Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for financial year since 1997; what the cost was of each Health (1) what discussions he has had with PropCo on such report; and if he will publish each such report. future rent levels for NHS properties; [117402] [117145] (2) what safeguards he plans to put in place to protect hospitals from high rent increases after the Mr Simon Burns: This information is not available in transfer of NHS property assets to PropCo. [117403] the format requested. However, since 2003 the Department has commissioned historic due diligence Mr Simon Burns: The Department is currently developing reviews on the financial position of national health lettings policies that NHS Property Services Ltd will service trusts who are applying for NHS foundation adopt once operational. These will be published in due trust status. The number of reviews and the total cost in course, so that new organisations that will become each year from 2003, is shown in the following table. tenants of NHS Property Services as of 31 March 2013 The historic due diligence reports and working capital will understand the terms and conditions of their leases, reviews are held by individual NHS trusts and not by including rent levels. the Department. Existing tenants of primary care trusts already in In 2011 the Department commissioned McKinsey’s occupation of property that is due to transfer to NHS and Co to review the financial position of 22NHS trusts Property Services on 31 March 2013 will remain on the who had private finance initiative schemes, which might terms and conditions of existing leases and tenancy effect the ability to achieve NHS foundation trust status. agreements in the first instance. It is likely that NHS The cost of this review was £240,000. Property Services will conduct periodic rent reviews, as is the standard practice within the property management Number of NHS sector. trusts Amount (£) NHS: Standards 2003 25 1,068,500 2005 15 1,486,563 Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for 2006 32 2,989,917 Health whether the NHS Commissioning Board’s 2007 33 3,409,695 objectives will include the specification of dignified 2008 39 4,717,189 care as a key objective. [117210] 2009 48 5,618,655 2010 17 3,191,478 Mr Simon Burns: The Government’s ambition is for a 2011 10 1,285,060 national health service which provides high quality, safe 2012 26 3,117,784 and effective care, treating patients with compassion, Total — 26,884,841 dignity and respect. Note: The Government will set objectives in a mandate to A number of contracts may not have been completed in the relevant year and some work may not have been finished where NHS trusts the NHS Commissioning Board that the board must have deferred from the application process. Therefore, the total cost of seek to achieve, and the outcomes in the NHS Outcomes the work may be less than stated. Framework will be at its core. 713W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 714W

The Government published a draft mandate for making sure that people have a positive experience of care in consultation on 4 July, which makes it clear that treating the NHS; and patients with dignity and respect is key to achieving the treating people in a clean, safe, environment and protecting improved outcomes for which the board will be held to them from unnecessary harm. account, particularly when improving patient experience The Department is now seeking public feedback on of care. the draft care objectives. The consultation period will Building on the board’s duty in the Health and Social run from 4 July to 26 September. Responses will help to Care Act 2012 to promote the NHS Constitution, the inform the final care objectives, which will be published draft mandate also contains an objective asking the in autumn 2012, before they officially come into force in board to uphold, and where possible, improve performance April 2013. on the rights and pledges for patients in the NHS Constitution. Among these rights is the right to be Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for treated with dignity and respect. Health what assessment he has made of the potential As the draft mandate makes clear, the importance of effect on quality of service provision of his decision to treating patients and staff with dignity and respect make Monitor the economic regulator of the health touches on the very purpose of the health service described and social care sector. [117247] in the Constitution—to support people: Mr Simon Burns: Monitor’s overarching duty will be “at times of basic human need, when care and compassion are to protect and promote the interest of patients by what matter most.” promoting NHS services that are economic, efficient and effective, and maintains or improves the quality of Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for services. Improving the value for money of NHS services Health what steps he plans to take to ensure the will support commissioners’in driving quality improvements achievement of dignity in care is reflected in funding in NHS services for patients. for hospitals. [117211] The impact assessment for the Health and Social Paul Burstow: The Department is responsible for the Care Act 2012 assesses the impact of Monitor’s new allocation of resources to primary care trusts (PCTs). It role as sector regulator for the NHS. A copy has already is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment been placed in the Library and is available on the locally—including funding for hospitals—taking into Department’s website at: account both local and national priorities. www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/ documents/digitalasset/dh_129917.pdf In terms of departmental policy, the standard national health service contract incorporates a number of obligations Nutrition around dignity in care, including general requirements relating to good health and care practice through Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) essential what (a) research and (b) trials his Department has (i) standards of quality and safety. The NHS Operating commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the potential Framework reinforces the need for high quality, dignified effects of diet on the incidence of anti-social behaviour; and compassionate care, and sets it as one of four key and what the outcomes were of such research or trials. priorities for the NHS in 2012-13. The framework establishes the introduction of the NHS Safety Thermometer [111647] Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the goal. This provides NHS organisations with a financial Ministry of Justice. incentive to measure harm from pressure ulcers, falls, urinary tract infections in patients with catheters, and The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) new treatment for venous thromboembolism. The CQUIN has responsibility for providing instructions to all prisons goal will help fulfil the commitment made to publish on the provision of meals for prisoners. The most recent outcomes data on pressure ulcers, and supports wider guidelines are contained within Prison Service Instruction work to deliver higher quality care to patients. 44/2010, Catering Meals for Prisoners which became effective from 1 October 2010. From 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) will be responsible for the future allocation of resources NOMS has not funded any research into the relationship to clinical commissioning groups, and the Department between diet and the issues mentioned in the question. will make a ring-fenced public health grant to local However NOMS has been supportive towards the charity authorities for their new public health responsibilities. ″Natural Justice″ which has conducted research into the On 4 July 2012, the Department published a draft effects of nutritional supplements on the behaviour of mandate to the NHSCB. This includes a number of young offenders. NHS care objectives—setting out the expectations for This research was conducted in 1996 at HMYOI the health service of the Secretary of State for Health, Aylesbury and was reviewed by Home Office researchers the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr who concluded that while the results showed a positive Lansley). At the heart of the care objectives are a series effect on behaviour, the numbers involved were too of standards that broadly cover the range of work the small to make the drawing of wider conclusions possible. NHS does: The study did not follow up with the trainees once they preventing premature deaths—helping people live longer; were released so the question of whether re-offending supporting people with a long-term condition to look after was affected was not considered. themselves; Additionally in 2009 (reported in the Journal Science) supporting people through their recovery from episodes of ill a further three-year research study commenced led by health or injury; Professor John Stein in three UK prisons: Hindley, 715W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 716W

Greater Manchester; Lancaster Farms, Lancashire; and Mr Simon Burns: National health service organisations’ Polmont, Falkirk (Scotland). This study was not VAT costs are recognised in the public funding they commissioned by NOMS but has been in part supported receive. The NHS’ spending settlement covers any VAT by £1.4 million from the charitable foundation the costs it incurs in the same way that it covers any other Wellcome Trust. The results of this study are subject to cost. academic evaluation prior to publication of findings. The Department currently allocates funding, to all Currently NOMS has no plans to fund research or primary care trusts through recurrent revenue allocations. trials relating to diet and behaviour. Once allocated, it is for individual primary care trusts to decide how their budgets are invested to meet the health Palliative Care care needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities. This would include the Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health provision of out-patient dispensing, whether provided what assessment his Department has made of the in-house or outsourced. monetary value to the NHS of the contribution of Any decision to outsource the out-patient pharmacy informal carers for people at the end of life; and what service would be a matter for local decision making plans he has to improve support for carers of people at which would be patient centred. the end of life. [117101] School Milk Paul Burstow: We are very much aware of and greatly value the significant contribution that carers make to Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the care of those at the end of life. There is scope for Health how many settings in each local authority area debate about how best to put a financial value on this claiming for the cost of free milk through the nursery care but there can be no doubt about its huge value to milk scheme claimed more than 90 pence per pint in those who receive care and to the wider community. the latest period for which figures are available; and what the (a) highest and (b) median cost per pint for No assessment has been undertaken by the Department, milk was in each local authority. [117150] but some external organisations have made estimates of the monetary value of carers’ contribution. However, Anne Milton: The Department does not hold information formal services would not need to replace every hour of centrally on the number of settings in each local authority unpaid care: for example, carers may include among (LA) area that claimed more than 90 pence per pint of hours of unpaid care time spent with the cared for free nursery milk in 2011-12. However we are able to person, in case they should need help, but undertaking provide figures as follows for the total number of settings other activities. It does not include a valuation of the that claimed more than 90p per pint in June 2012. long-term impacts of intensive caring on the carer’s Cost claimed by the child care settings in providing free nursery own health and well-being or on the carer’s career milk in the month of June 2012—more than 90p per pint prospects and life-time earnings and pensions. Number of child care settings—8,962 The Care and Support White Paper, together with the Information is not held centrally on the highest and draft Care and Support Bill, which the Government median cost per pint of milk in each LA geographical published on 11 July, set out the Government’s plans area. for transformation of care and support. This is a historic Steroid Drugs step forward in relation to carers as the draft Bill, for the first time, includes provision for a new duty on local Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support. (1) what recent steps his Department has taken to This will put them on the same footing as the people inform the public of the health risks of anabolic they care for. steroids; how much has been spent to that end in the We think that there is much merit in providing free last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; health and social care in a fully integrated service at the [117852] end of life and this is reflected in the White Paper. This (2) how many people in each region (a) aged under was acknowledged in the independent Palliative Care 18 years and (b) in total were treated for poisoning by Funding Review report and we will use the evaluation steroid in each of the last five years. [117853] of the eight palliative care funding pilot sites to gather the data to inform this. Anne Milton: Information and advice about anabolic steroids, including the health risks associated with using Pharmacy anabolic steroids, is provided by FRANK and NHS Choices. It is not possible to break-down the FRANK Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health or NHS Choices budget to show the cost of providing (1) pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2012, Official information on a particular subject such as anabolic Report, column 1106W, on Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS steroids. Foundation Trust: pharmacy, whether funding NHS When used in clinical practice, doctors prescribing a bodies receive from his Department provides each trust course of anabolic steroids are expected to discuss with a budget allocation to reimburse actual pharmacy potential side effects and to draw patients’ attention to VAT costs incurred; and whether this allocation the additional information contained in the Patient provides equality to an NHS provider when pharmacy Information Leaflet. services are market tested; [117711] The information in the following tables show counts (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS of finished admission episodes by strategic health authority pharmacy services provided within NHS hospitals can (SHA) of residence, for primary diagnoses of poisoning compete with private providers who are eligible for a by steroids for all ages and for under 18-year-olds for VAT exemption. [117712] 2006-07 to 2010-11. 717W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 718W

Finished admission episodes1 with a primary diagnosis of steroid poisoning2, by SHA residence3, under 18 and all ages, 2006-07 to 2010-114 Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Under 18 Strategic health authority of residence 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Total 13 10 12 12 13 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority Q33 11131 East of England Strategic Health Authority Q35 — — 1 — 1 London Strategic Health Authority Q36 1 1 1 — 1 North East Strategic Health Authority Q30 3 — 2 — 1 North West Strategic Health Authority Q31 32123 South Central Strategic Health Authority Q38 — — 1 — 2 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority Q37 22221 South West Strategic Health Authority Q39 2112— West Midlands Strategic Health Authority Q34 12112 Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority Q32 — — — 2 1 Other (including unknown) — 1 1 — —

Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector All ages (including unknown) Strategic health authority of residence 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Total 41 51 61 53 65 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority Q33 32949 East of England Strategic Health Authority Q35 36554 London Strategic Health Authority Q36 63726 NorthEastStrategicHealthAuthorityQ3042654 North West Strategic Health Authority Q31 10 9 8 10 12 South Central Strategic Health Authority Q38 24836 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority Q37 37534 South West Strategic Health Authority Q39 425811 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority Q34 38153 Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority Q32 27576 Other (including unknown) 11210 1 Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2 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. ICD10 codes used: T38.5 Poisoning by other estrogens and progestogens (includes Antineoplastic, estrogen hormone steroids) T38.7 Poisoning by androgens and anabolic congeners (includes Anabolic steroids, Androgenic steroid, Antineoplastic, hormone steroids) 3 SHA/PCT of residence The strategic health authority (SHA) or primary care trust (PCT) containing the patient’s normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. 4 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 outpatient settings and so no longer includein admitted patient HES data. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some 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. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Thalidomide Thalidomide prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England1 Number Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 19 October 2011, 2009 404 Official Report, column 1042W, on thalidomide, how 2010 267 many prescriptions were issued for each product in 2011 200 each of the last three years. [117201] 1 Does not include items dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. Mr Simon Burns: Thalidomide is listed in the British Source: National Formulary as a possible treatment for leprosy Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and untreated multiple myeloma. The table shows the actual number of prescription items dispensed in the Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health community for Thalidomide in each of the last three (1) with reference to the answer of 19 October 2011, calendar years. Official Report, column 1042W, on thalidomide, how 719W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 720W the off-label prescription of thalidomide is monitored There is only one authorised product available in the and controlled; and what scientific evidence has been UK that contains thalidomide (Thalidomide Celgene provided in product licence applications to the 50mg Capsules, MA holder: Celgene Europe Ltd, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Middlesex, UK). Agency to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of these Marketed products are clearly labelled on both the products; [117202] outer container and in the patient information leaflet (2) how many product licences have been issued for supplied with the medicine to provide the name of the the manufacture or supply of each of these products; active ingredient in addition to any brand name given to to which companies; and how patients are informed the product. that the products contain thalidomide; [117203] Given that there is an obligation for the patient to sign an informed consent form and to be counselled as (3) how many products containing thalidomide or to the risks of thalidomide with every prescription, and thalidomide analogue compounds are licensed for use; that it must be recorded that counselling has taken and what the product names are. [117204] place, it should not be possible for patients to receive Thalidomide Celgene in the UK without being aware that the product contains thalidomide. Mr Simon Burns: The distribution and supply of thalidomide is strictly controlled throughout the European Union in order to ensure that patients, both male and Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State female, cannot receive the product without observing for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to appropriate safeguards against pregnancy. In the United ensure that its cost data captures the costs of Kingdom, the Pregnancy Prevention Programme for thalidomide needs nationwide; [117820] thalidomide involves the restriction of supply to specifically (2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure registered pharmacies that have agreed to abide by the that standards in home care for thalidomiders are programme. The Pregnancy Prevention Programme is consistently high and at a specialist level. [117821] required to be implemented regardless of whether thalidomide is prescribed for the authorised indication Paul Burstow: Our expectation is that good quality (multiple myeloma), or for an unauthorised indication. home care should be available to anyone that needs it. Prescriptions can be dispensed in the UK only if they The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent are accompanied by a dedicated Prescription Authorisation regulator of health and adult social care providers in Form. The prescription authorisation form requires the England and has a key responsibility in the overall indication for treatment with thalidomide to be recorded. assurance of essential levels of safety and quality of health and adult social care services. Under the Health The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory and Social Care Act 2008, all providers of regulated Agency (MHRA) has put in place measures to ensure activities, including national health service and independent that the maximum treatment duration for one prescription providers, have to register with the CQC and meet a set is four weeks for women of childbearing potential. of 16 safety and quality registration requirements. Prescriptions can only be dispensed within seven days The 16 requirements reflect the essential levels of of the date of the prescription, and women who are safety and quality of care that people should be able to capable of becoming pregnant must provide evidence of expect, and are built around the main risks inherent in a recent negative pregnancy test prior to receiving each the provision of health and adult social care services. new prescription. The CQC is responsible for developing and consulting According to the terms of the Marketing Authorisation on its methodology for assessing whether providers are for Thalidomide Celgene, the Marketing Authorisation meeting the registration requirements and published its Holder is required to conduct regular audits to confirm “Guidance About Compliance” in March 2010. compliance with the requirements of the Pregnancy Failure to comply with the requirements is an offence, Prevention Programme. Audits are conducted annually and under the 2008 Act, the CQC has a wide range of based on the information recorded on the prescription enforcement powers that it can use if the provider is not authorisation forms. Pharmacies registered to supply compliant. thalidomide return the information in their prescription authorisation forms to the Marketing Authorisation Holder, who then collates and analyses the data supplied. Trade Unions The data are then compiled into a report, which is sent to the MHRA for information and comment. One of Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the items analysed during the conduct of the annual Health how many trade union representatives worked pharmacy audit is the indication for treatment with at each public body for which his Department is thalidomide. This allows the MHRA to monitor the responsible on a full-time basis in each financial year nature and extent of prescription for unlicensed indications. since 1997-98; what the salary was for these full-time As with all marketing authorisation applications, before representatives in each year; and what the total cost to thalidomide was granted a licence and became available his Department was in each case. [117147] in the UK they were fully evaluated in relation to the appropriate standards required in the relevant European Mr Simon Burns: Information provided by the Rules and Regulations on Medicinal Products. Data Department’s 20 public bodies indicated that between submitted in support of the application demonstrated 1997-98 and 2006-07, there were no full-time trade that the safety and efficacy of the product were satisfactory union representatives, though one public body did not in the claimed indication and patient population. have available information for the years 2005-06 to 721W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 722W

2006-07. Information for the years from 2007-08 is set Alistair Burt: The UK remains concerned about the out in the following table, using salary bandings of human rights situation in Bahrain and continues to £5,000. raise this regularly with the Bahraini Government at the As with other personal data, the Department’s disclosure most senior levels. of the details of this type of information is subject to We did not sign up to the joint statement because we data protection legislation and standing instructions did not consider it appropriate at this stage to raise from the Cabinet Office that, where numbers of individuals Bahrain under agenda item 4. While we agree with the are five or fewer in a particular category, the figures are substance of the Swiss-led statement, item 4 is reserved not released to prevent individuals being personally for highlighting situations of the most serious concern identified directly or in combination with other published for human rights, and the UK does not believe that the information. In this instance, the aggregation of data situation in Bahrain is currently comparable with the acts to protect the identity and privacy of individuals. situation in the other countries raised under this item, such as Syria. A number of other countries, including Number of trade the US and other EU member states, agreed with this union representatives assessment and did not sign the statement. thatworkedona The UK made its concerns clear when we raised full-time basis Salary range Total cost range Human Rights in Bahrain under item 10 at the HRC. 2007-08 Five or fewer £15,000 to £20,000 to We noted that while progress has been made in a £45,000 £55,000 number of areas, much more must be done to address 2008-09 Five or fewer £15,000 to £25,000 to the continuing failings and to ensure the recommendations £45,000 £55,000 of the National Commission of Inquiry are implemented 2009-10 Five or fewer £15,000 to £25,000 to £45,000 £60,000 in full. In particular, we called on the Bahraini Government 2010-11 Five or fewer £15,000 to £25,000 to to ensure that the postponed visit of the Special Rapporteur £50,000 £60,000 on Torture goes ahead as soon as possible. As a long 2011-12 Five or fewer £35,000 to £45,000 to standing ally the UK will continue to support Bahrain £45,000 £60,000 in this work.

Burma FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Absenteeism Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the Government of Burma to establish an independent John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign inquiry, with international assistance, into the violence and Commonwealth Affairs what the absenteeism rate in Arakan State in that country. [117535] was in his Department in each of the last three years. [116662] Mr Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by the recent violence in Rakhine (Arakan) state. We are aware Mr Bellingham: The total number of working days that the Burmese authorities have opened an inquiry lost through short and long term sick absence, for the into the recent violence. We will monitor this closely financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12, are published in and will urge the Burmese Government to ensure that the Annual Departmental Report produced by the Foreign inquiry is able to work in a transparent manner and that and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which can be accessed its findings are balanced and credible. via: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/ Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for publications1/annual-reports/departmental-report/ Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the The figures for the last three years are: government of Burma to stop the violence and persecution of Rohingyas in Arakan State in that Number country. [117549]

2011-12 19,290 Mr Jeremy Browne: The recent inter-communal violence 2010-11 26,555 in Rakhine State in western Burma has highlighted 2009-10 27,804 both the fragility of the situation in Burma, and drawn The total number of days lost through sick absence in further and much needed attention to the plight of the 2009-10 was 27,804. The figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 Rohingya. I issued a statement on 10 June which expressed include absences in FCO Services. FCO Services is now deep concern about the situation and urged all groups a Trading Fund of the FCO. The 2011-12 figure excludes to open a dialogue to end the violence. FCO Services absences. On 12 June our ambassador met Burmese President Thein Sein. The ambassador emphasised our deep concern Bahrain about the hostilities in Rakhine State, and urged him to make every effort to resolve the situation peacefully. Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for On 22 June officials from our embassy in Rangoon Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons raised our concerns over the lack of regular humanitarian he did not support the joint statement on Bahrain aid access to Rakhine State and the closure of the proposed at the recent UN Human Rights Council; border with Bangladesh with the Burmese Ministry of and if he will make a statement. [116952] Foreign Affairs. 723W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 724W

We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation Ethiopia in Rakhine State and will continue to monitor this closely. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for assessment he has made of the freedom of the press in Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ethiopia. [117486] he has had on the situation in Arakan State, Burma Mr Bellingham: We are concerned about the increasing with his counterparts in other EU member states and restrictions on the freedom of the press in Ethiopia, in the US. [117552] including recent convictions of journalists under the anti-terrorism legislation. We have raised these concerns Mr Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by the with the Ethiopian Government at the highest level, recent violence in Rakhine (Arakan) State. We regularly including most recently on 12 July when I met with-the discuss the ethnic conflict in Burma and the specific Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister. Other developments issues affecting the Rohingya with our European and have also made the operating environment for the press US colleagues. We are set to discuss the matter further more difficult, including the passing of a law in July at senior official level in Brussels on 18 July. that restricts the ratio of advertising to news coverage. Iran Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for he has had on the situation in Arakan State, Burma Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he with his counterparts in Bangladesh and India and in has received on Iranian activity at the Parchin facility. members states of the Association of South East Asian [117570] Nations. [117553] Alistair Burt: In the annex to its November 2011 report, the International and Atomic Energy Agency Mr Jeremy Browne: We regularly raise the ethnic (IAEA) states that it had been provided with information conflict in Burma and the specific issues affecting the which indicates that Iran “constructed a large explosives Rohingya with countries in the region, including the containment vessel in which to conduct hydrodynamic Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), experiments” at Parchin. It also received information India and Bangladesh. alleging that Iran “was conducting high explosive testing” Our high commissioner in Dhaka raised this issue at the site. As the IAEA report details, with the Government of Bangladesh as part of an EU “hydrodynamic experiments [...] which involve high explosives demarche in late June and officials from our high in conjunction with nuclear material or nuclear material surrogates, commission have continued to discuss it with the are strong indicators of possible weapon development.” Bangladesh authorities since. At the same time as it continues to deny the Agency We acknowledge Bangladesh’s efforts in dealing with access, we are concerned that Iran is now undertaking development and humanitarian issues in Cox’s Bazar sanitisation work at Parchin. The IAEA’s most recent district over several decades and understand the challenges report of 25 May 2012 referred to a letter dated 2 May accepting further refugees would cause. We continue to 2012 in which the Agency reiterated its request for early urge Bangladesh to continue to provide treatment for access to a specified location within the Parchin site. In individuals displaced from Burma in need of emergency the same letter, the Agency informed Iran that satellite medical care. imagery had shown that “at this location, where virtually no activity had been observed In our meetings with ASEAN member states we for a number of years, the buildings of interest to the Agency are continue to stress the important role that ASEAN and now subject to extensive activities that could hamper the Agency’s its members have in both supporting the reform process ability to undertake effective verification.” and resolving ethnic conflict in Burma. In particular, Inline with an IAEA Board of Governors resolution we have called on ASEAN member states to draw upon adopted on 18 November 2011, we continue to call on their own experiences to assist Burma’s transition to Iran to provide the Agency with “access to all relevant democracy. information, documentation, sites, material and personnel in Iran”in order to address the international community’s Diplomatic Service concerns about the possible military dimensions to its nuclear programme. Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he ambassadors and (b) high commissioners are female. has received of the access of International and Atomic [117195] Energy Agency inspectors to the Parchin facility in Iran. [117571] Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Alistair Burt: In its November 2011 resolution, the Office (FCO) has 38 heads of post who are female. This International and Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board includes 26 ambassadors and high commissioners. The of Governors calls on Iran to provide the Agency with remainder are heads of subordinate posts. “access to all relevant information, documentation, sites, material The FCO produces an annual Equality report which and personnel in Iran.” can be accessed at: Since then, the IAEA has in successive reports reiterated http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/ its request for access to Parchin, including most recently publications1/annual-reports/equality-report in its report of 25 May 2012. In response to the agency’s 725W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 726W request in May, Iran stated that access would not be Mr Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth Office possible until agreement had been reached on a structured staff in London and at our embassy in Mexico City are approach to clarify all outstanding issues. Despite the closely monitoring the situation following the election agency’s efforts, Iran has so far failed to finalise agreement and are in contact with the relevant authorities. The to such a structured approach, and continues to deny provisional results of the presidential election were the agency the access it needs to be able to assure the announced on 2 July, with Enrique Peña Nieto gaining international community that there are no ongoing the most votes. The final result will be ratified by the activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive independent Electoral Tribunal by 6 September. To date device. the Electoral Tribunal has pronounced itself satisfied Iraq with the electoral process. This followed a recount of around half of all ballot boxes in response to a request Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State from one of the other presidential candidates. The UK for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what and Mexico have an excellent bilateral relationship built assessment his Department has made of reports that on mutual understanding and respect, and we look the Iraqi Government has been refusing to allow Iraqis forward to working with the new administration, once who left as refugees to return to Iraq. [117620] it is confirmed, on a wide range of bilateral and international issues. Alistair Burt: The British Government continues to Middle East make returns to Iraq on a case by case basis and Iraqis who have failed to establish an asylum claim can and do Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for return voluntarily. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Kashmir he has made of recent reports of rocket fire from the Sinai Peninsula into Israel. [117338] Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Alistair Burt: We are not aware of any confirmed he has made of the allegations of human rights abuses reports of rocket fire from the Sinai peninsula into made in the Channel 4 documentary, Kashmir’s Israel. However, the British Government remains concerned Torture Trail; and if he will make a statement. [117788] about the security situation in the Sinai and we regularly raise this issue with the Egyptian authorities. Alistair Burt: We are aware of the Channel 4 On 22 June, I issued a statement expressing concern documentary on Kashmir. We monitor developments in the escalation of violence around southern Israel and Kashmir closely and regularly raise concerns about the Gaza, including indiscriminate rocket fire into southern human rights situation on both sides of the Line of Israel. Control. The UK has consistently called for an end to all external support for violence in Kashmir. Prime The UK continues to urge all parties to exercise Minister Singh has made it clear that human rights restraint and prevent civilian casualties and loss of life. abuses by security forces in Kashmir will not be tolerated. Occupied Territories We note that the Indian Government decided to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign or arbitrary executions to pay a fact-finding visit to and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has Kashmir last March. We are following the investigations had with the government of Israel on ending Israeli of the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights settlements in area C of the west bank. [117729] Commission. We welcome the initiative by Prime Minister Singh to appoint three interlocutors to engage with a Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about the expansion wide range of interested parties to help resolve the of Israeli settlements and the demolition of Palestinian situation in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Indian property in area C of the west bank (the area under full Government has recently published the interlocutors’ Israeli control). Both are contrary to Israel’s obligations report, which sets out a range of confidence building under international humanitarian law and harmful to measures, including addressing human rights concerns. the peace process. We continue to urge the Israeli authorities, I understand that the Indian Government will take a including at the highest levels, to cease all settlement decision on how to implement the report after a period building and to desist from the demolition of Palestinian of consultation. homes and infrastructure. The long standing position of the UK is that it is for These are concerns shared across Europe. The EU’s India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the Foreign Affairs Council, in Conclusions agreed on 14 May, situation in Kashmir, one which takes into account the called on Israel to meet its obligations regarding the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area prescribe a solution or to mediate in finding one. We C, including by halting the forced transfer of the population welcome the positive steps being taken by Pakistan and and the demolition of Palestinian housing and India to build trust and confidence. infrastructure, ensuring access to water and addressing humanitarian needs. Together with our EU partners, we Mexico will continue to make this case to the Israeli Government. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Palestinians Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with authorities in Mexico on Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign the recent presidential election and public and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his demonstrations against the result; and if he will make a Department has made of the adequacy of healthcare statement. [117931] and education available to the people of Gaza. [117703] 727W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 728W

Alistair Burt: Access to education and healthcare for The FCO produces an annual Equality report which the people of Gaza has been seriously undermined by can be accessed at: continuing movement and access restrictions. www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/ The most recent assessment of healthcare provision publications1/annual-reports/equality-report in Gaza by the World Health Organisation and a report on children in Gaza by Save the Children and Medical Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Aid for Palestinians conclude that there has been a and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff employed deterioration in the quality of care, as a result of Israeli by his Department (a) in the UK and (b) overseas are movement and access restrictions, and political and (i) female and (ii) male. [117197] institutional separation between the west bank and Gaza. Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth The UK continues to provide practical assistance to Office (FCO) employs: the Palestinian population of Gaza. The Department (a) 1,292 women and 1,303 men in the UK for International Development’s (DFID) current work (b) 675 women and 1,317 men overseas. on Gaza addresses the key access constraints, promotes These figures are for UK-based staff only and do not economic growth and provides support to the poorest include staff from FCO Services Trading Fund or the and most vulnerable parts of society. The UK supports UK Border Agency. Neither do they include locally the Palestinian Authority and UN Relief and Works engaged staff employed overseas. Agency (UNRWA) to provide basic services, such as The FCO produces an annual Equality report which education and health, to the people of Gaza. can be accessed at: DFID further helps 24 UN agencies and 132 http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/ international NGOs to facilitate the transfer of vital publications1/annual-reports/equality-report humanitarian assistance, including medical equipment and supplies, in and out of Gaza through our support Sudan: South Sudan to the UN Access Co-ordination Unit and the Palestinian Authority’s crossing co-ordination committee. DFID are also providing financial support to the Palestinian Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Authority to help deliver essential services, including for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what medical supplies, to Gaza. assistance the Government is giving to facilitate improved relations between Sudan and South Sudan. Property [117622]

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Bellingham: Britain fully supports the African Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Union (AU) High Level Implementation Panel, which properties his Department (a) owns and (b) rents (i) in is facilitating negotiations between both countries in the UK and (ii) overseas. [117276] Addis Ababa, and to which it has provided political, financial and technical support. We continue to make Mr Lidington: The following table sets out the number clear to both countries that they must comply fully and of owned and rented properties in the UK and overseas. without preconditions with all the provisions of the AU road map of 24 April 2012, and UN Security Council (i) UK (ii) Overseas Total resolution 2046, which endorses that road map.

(a) Owned 3 2,150 2,153 (b) Rented 7 2,613 2,620 Syria Total 10 4,763 4,773 David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) global Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessments network extends to 141 sovereign and 130 subordinate have been made regarding the impact of additional posts in 170 countries. The overseas estate consists of Russian military assets being moved to Syria. [117639] properties, ranging from embassy and high commission buildings to staff accommodation and other facilities. Alistair Burt: Russian provision of attack helicopters The overseas estate accommodates not only FCO staff and other weapons to the Syrian regime is deeply but also Government partners and wider public sector concerning. We believe this will only exacerbate the organisations. The estate mix responds to operational cycle of violence. The Secretary of State for Foreign needs as well as the performance of properties. We are and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the restructuring the FCO global estate by reducing the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has raised cost of office and residential accommodation. the issue of arms sales to the Syrian regime with the Staff Russian Foreign Minister. The Prime Minister also raised it with President Putin. There have been reports Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign that Russia has decided to stop shipments of new arms and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of senior to Syria. But we urge Russia to stop all arms shipments management jobs in his Department are held by to Syria. women. [117196] We have strengthened the EU arms embargo so that the insurance and re-insurance of arms shipments to Mr Bellingham: In the Foreign and Commonwealth Syria is explicitly prohibited following the action to Office (FCO) 22.4% of senior management jobs are prevent a Russian ship providing attack helicopters to held by women. those leading the repression in Syria. 729W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 730W

Turkey Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for written ministerial statement of 13 May 2011, Official Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Report, column 49WS, on the Government wine cellar assessment he has made of the freedom of the press in review, for what reasons his Department has not Turkey. [117485] published an annual statement to Parliament on the Government’s wine cellar. [117194] Mr Lidington: We share concerns expressed by the Mr Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer European Commission, OSCE, and given on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 570W, to others over the deterioration in freedom of expression the hon. Member for Makerfield (Yvonne Fovargue). in Turkey. We are particularly concerned about the high number of journalists currently imprisoned in Turkey. The Turkish Government has assured us that it is EDUCATION committed to improving the climate for freedom of expression. Parliament has just passed a judicial reform Academies: Middlesbrough package which, we have been told, will reduce the Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for number of people in pre-trial detention. We welcome Education what recent discussions his Department has news that a further judicial reform package aimed had with Middlesbrough borough council on schools specifically at improving the climate for freedom of in Middlesbrough becoming academies. [117273] expression will be debated by the Turkish Parliament in the autumn. With our financial support, the Council of Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Since July Europe will launch a project later this year aimed at 2011, there have been 24 meetings, emails or telephone promoting media freedom in Turkey. conversations between officials and the local authority to discuss academies across the borough. Two sponsored UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara primary academies have been approved and one primary and one secondary school have been given approval to Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for convert. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Academies: Worcestershire answer of 22 May 2012, Official Report, column 571W, on UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for whether he has received a response from the UN Education how many academies there are in (a) Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara Worcestershire and (b) Redditch. [110973] (MINURSO) on where the documents which had been removed from the MINURSO website can be obtained Mr Gibb: The information requested is as follows: publicly. [117541] (a) In Worcestershire, there are 25 open academies; (b) In Redditch constituency there are four open Academies. Alistair Burt: The documents are now available in the Information about open academies and those in House of Commons Library. They were placed in the development is available on the Department for Education Library on 24 May under deposit reference DEP2012-0860. website at: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/ Western Sahara typesofschools/academies/b00208569/open-academies Adoption Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct HM Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Ambassador to Morocco to raise with the Moroccan Education what the average length of time was to authorities the assault on the children of the Saharawi successfully complete the adoption process in the last human rights activist Aminatou Haidar while travelling (a) five and (b) 10 years. [117229] between Agadir, Morocco and El Aauin, Western Sahara on 8 July 2012. [117339] Tim Loughton: The average time to successfully complete the adoption process in the last (a) five years was two Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of alleged years and seven months, and in (b) the last 10 years was assault on Aminatou Haidar’s children and are monitoring two years and eight months. this. We have no current plans to raise this issue. We These averages are based on the time taken from the regularly raise with the Moroccan authorities the start of the child’s last period of care to the date when importance of ensuring full respect for human rights in the adoption order was made. Western Sahara. Information on adopted children can be found in the Statistical First Release (SFR) ’Children Looked After Wines by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011’, which Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign is available on the Department’s website via the following and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects his link: Department’s wine cellar will be self-financing. [117193] http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/ index.shtml Mr Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer The methodology used to answer this question follows given on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 570W, to that used in Table E2 of the SFR for the yearly average the hon. Member for Makerfield (Yvonne Fovargue). time between entry into care and adoption. 731W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 732W

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children in Care Education how many couples in (a) Dartford constituency, (b) Kent and (c) England (i) successfully Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for adopted a child and (ii) were rejected for adoption of a Education what steps his Department is taking to child in the last 10 years. [117230] ensure that young people leaving care have access to adequate financial support and employment advice. Tim Loughton: The Department collects information [117449] on looked after children adopted by single people, civil partners, married and unmarried (same sex and different Tim Loughton: In 2010 we introduced revised regulations sex) couples. Some couples adopt two or more children, and guidance on support for care leavers. These are and therefore the number of couples who adopt will be intended to improve the quality of support, and bring lower than the number of children they adopted. greater consistency in local authority practice to help Information on the legal status of adopters of looked ensure all young people receive the same opportunities after children has been collected since 2006-07. to succeed as their peers. Consequently, the number of looked after children adopted Key entitlements for care leavers include duties on by couples can be provided only for the last five years. local authorities to: Figures for Kent and England are shown in the Provide support from a suitably qualified personal adviser up following tables. to age 21 or up to aged 25 if they are on an agreed education or training course (this includes providing access to careers advice); Figures for England have been taken from Table E3 Develop and support the implementation of a pathway plan of the Statistical First Release, “Children Looked After including how the young person will undertake education courses by Local Authorities in England (including adoption or gain employment; and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011”. This Pay a £2,000 Higher Education Bursary for all eligible care can be accessed at: leavers; http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/ Support to make a successful financial transition to adulthood index.shtml including access to emergency payments where necessary. Information at constituency level is not available. The Other key areas of Government support for care Department does not collect data on the number of leavers include: prospective adopters who have been considered unsuitable Funding of the “From Care2Work” programme, run by the to adopt a looked after child. National Care Advisory Service, to improve employment opportunities for care leavers by offering young people work experience, and Children looked after in Kent local authority who were adopted during the years through apprenticeships to part and full time jobs in the public 1 ending 31 March by legal status of adopters —Years ending 31 March 2007 to and private sector; 2011 Number Placing a duty on the Skills Funding Agency to prioritise 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 funding for apprenticeships training for certain groups of young people who have secured an apprenticeship place. This includes All looked after children who were 90 90 75 70 60 19 to 24-year-olds who have been in local authority care; adopted during the year ending 31 March Funding a new 16-19 further education bursary scheme which began at the start of the 2011/12 academic year. Looked after Legal status of adopters: young people and care leavers are guaranteed a £1,200 bursary if Single adopter 10 10 2— 2— 2— they continue in full-time education. Same sex couple not in civil 2—002—0 partnership Giving priority for care leavers to access the Work Programme. This has been introduced to provide intensive personalised support Different sex unmarried couple 2— 2— 2— 2—10 for people who are at risk of long term unemployment. Civil partnership couple 0 2— 2— 2— 2— Married couple 80 75 70 60 45 1 Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. 2 Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. Children: Day Care Source: SSDA 903 Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children looked after who were adopted during the years ending 31 March by Education how many (a) after-school and (b) legal status of adopters1—Years ending 31 March 2007 to 2011—Coverage: England before-school places are available for children over the Number age of five. [116267] 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Sarah Teather: The Government reports the number All looked after children who were 3,330 3,180 3,330 3,200 3,050 adopted during the year ending 31 of Ofsted registered places in England in the Childcare March and Early Years Providers Survey series. The latest Legal status of adopters: report is for 2010. Single adopter 290 270 270 280 290 The number of after-school club places is provided Same sex couple not in civil 70 50 50 60 40 below for each year from 2006. After-school clubs are partnership defined here as facilities providing after school activities Different sex unmarried couple 150 140 190 180 230 or childcare during term time to school aged children Civil partnership couple 20 30 70 60 60 aged under eight, for more than two hours in any day Married couple 2,800 2,690 2,740 2,620 2,430 and more than five days a year. Age break downs are 1 Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: not available. The equivalent information for before-school SSDA 903 places is not collected. 733W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 734W

Number of Ofsted registered places for after-school clubs (England) The number of three and four-year-old children Ofsted registered places benefiting from free early education in England, by type 2006 260,100 of provider, is shown in the table. 2007 259,900 Number of three and four-year-old children benefiting from free early education1, 2008 282,700 2 by type of provider. England, 2012 2009 272,500 Three-year-olds Four-year-olds 2010 368,100 Private and voluntary 364,610 112,940 Source: providers3 2010 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey

Independent schools 15,170 17,370 Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on Maintained nursery and state- 242,640 503,740 the average staff-child ratios for child care services for funded primary schools4: children in each age group. [116268] Nursery schools and nursery 241,430 100,590 classes in primary schools Infant classes in primary 1,220 403,160 Sarah Teather: Adult:child ratios are set out in the schools5 Early YearsFoundation Stage statutory framework (EYFS) which sets learning and development and welfare standards State-funded secondary 1,320 2,380 that all early year providers must meet, for children schools6 from birth to five. For children aged six and seven ratios are set in regulations for the General Childcare Register Special schools7 1,700 2,540 (GCR). All providers 625,440 638,970 Age of children Adult:child ratio 1 Count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year. Child care 2 Numbers of three and four-year-olds in schools may include some two-year- 0totwo-year- 1:3 olds. 3 olds Includes some local authority day nurseries registered to receive funding. 4 Includes primary converter academies, primary sponsor-led academies and Two-year-olds 1:4 primary free schools. Three to five- 1:8 or 1:13 (applies between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm, 5 Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes. year-olds where a person with Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years 6 Includes maintained secondary schools, secondary converter academies, Professional Status or another suitable level 6 qualification sponsor-led academies, secondary free schools and city technology is working directly with the children, provided that at least 7 Includes general hospital schools. one other member of staff holds relevant level 3 qualification). Source: Six to seven- 1:8 Early Years Census (EYC), School Census (SC), and School Level Annual year-olds School Census (SLASC) This information can be found in the “Provision for Child minding Children under Five Years of Age in England: January 0 to seven-year- 1:6 A maximum of three may be young children, however 2012” Statistical First Release at the following link: olds where four and five-year-old children only attend the child minding setting before and/or after a normal school day, http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001074/ they may be classed as children over the age of five for index.shtml ratio purposes. Normally, no more than one child may be The Department also provides funding for free early under the age of one, however a child minder may be registered to care for two children under the age of one education places for less advantaged two-year-olds, currently where they are able to demonstrate that they can meet and through the early intervention grant (EIG). From September reconcile the individual needs of all the children being 2013, the Government is introducing a legal entitlement cared for. Exceptions to these ratios can be made for siblings and to provide continuity of care in certain to free early education for two year olds. We estimate circumstances, provided that the total number of children that around 150,000 children (approximately 20%) will under the age of eight being cared for does not exceed six. be eligible for free places from September 2013, rising to around 300,000 (around 40%) from September 2014. The revised EYFS which comes into effect on 1 September sets the same adult:child ratios for child care and child minding. Children’s Rights

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many childcare places are funded by Education (1) on how many occasions his Department his Department by type of provider; [116289] has made representations to other Government Departments on the compatibility of proposals, (2) how many childcare places (a) in total and (b) policies or legislation with the UN convention on the for children of each age his Department estimates are rights of the child since May 2010; and if he will place funded through its spending on (i) Sure Start and (ii) in the Library copies of any such correspondence; [116266] childcare. [117381] (2) what representations his Department has received Sarah Teather: The Department does not fund child on the compatibility of its policies with the (a) UN care places. The Department provides funding to local convention on the rights of the child and (b) UN authorities through the dedicated schools grant (DSG) convention on the rights of persons with disabilities; to provide 15 hours a week of free early education for and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such 38 weeks of the year for all three and four-year-olds. item of correspondence. [117382] 735W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 736W

Sarah Teather [holding answer 16 July 2012]: As of pupils. Details on the qualifications to be included in Minister for Children and Families, I regularly champion the 2014 key stage 4 performance tables are available on the rights of children with my ministerial colleagues. our website at: The Government do not normally disclose information http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/ relating to internal discussion and policy advice. qualifications/otherqualifications/a00202523/reform-of-14-to- 16-performance-tables The Department has received a number of representations about the compatibility of its policies A list of qualifications that will not be included from with the UNCRC. These include reports and 2014 onwards, entered by at least one pupil reported in correspondence from the UK Children’s Commissioners— the 2011 key stage 4 performance tables, has been “Mid Term report”; the Children’s Rights Alliance for placed in the House Libraries. This list includes the England—“State of Children’s Rights in England 2011”; number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 entered for and Save the Children UK—“Governance fit for Children”. each qualification in 2011. Some existing qualifications The Department has also received representations from on that list will not be counted in their current form individuals on a wide range of specific matters. Our from 2014 onwards, but will be superseded by revised policy is not to share correspondence from individuals versions which have been judged to be high quality, without their agreement. rigorous and enable progression to a range of study and employment opportunities for the majority of pupils. Similarly, a number of individuals and organisations As long as the qualifications in this list remain regulated have raised issues with the Department regarding the by Ofqual and approved for teaching pre-16 they will compatibility of our policies with the UN convention continue to be included in the 2012 and 2013 key stage 4 on the rights of persons with disabilities. performance tables. Disclosure of Information In 2011, 552,575 pupils (88%) at the end of key stage 4 were entered for at least one of 2,572 qualifications Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for that will not be included in the key stage 4 performance Education how much his Department spent on the tables from 2014. This analysis has been based on the updating of published data in line with the qualifications list from January 2012; the list was revised Government’s transparency agenda in each month in May 2012 to add 15 new qualifications that we are since September 2011. [110712] not able to incorporate. Mr Gibb: Transparency is a key operating principle Education: Qualifications for the Department and we release a wide range of data and statistics on an ongoing basis. Given the broad Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for range of data sets which are processed and released by Education how many pupils took qualifications which the Department it is not possible to provide the exact he plans to remove from performance tables in each monthly breakdown requested. The estimated additional year since 2004. [116005] cost associated with updating and enhancing published Mr Gibb: The information requested, for 2007-11, is data to meet the specific transparency commitments shown in the following table. From 2014, the key stage 4 announced in letters from the Prime Minister in May performance tables will be restricted to qualifications 2010 and July 2011 in 2011-12 is £1,140,000 in financial that are high quality, rigorous and enable progression to year 2011-12. This figure includes internal staff costs a range of study and employment opportunities for the associated with preparing and publishing data and the majority of pupils. Regulated qualifications have a set development costs associated with enhancing the 2011 review date after which the qualification can be either school performance tables to release a significantly amended with a new review date or removed from the expanded set of data about primary and secondary list of qualifications. Many of the qualifications that schools. the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Education: Assessments Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), plans to remove from performance tables have become Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for available to pupils only in recent years—sometimes Education (1) how many and what proportion of replacing similar qualifications. Therefore the trend, in 16-year-olds took qualifications in 2011 which will no the following table, of rising take-up of these qualifications longer count in performance tables following his may not reflect a real trend towards these qualifications. reforms of equivalent qualifications; [114161] Only qualifications that are currently Ofqual regulated, (2) how many pupils were examined in 2011 in each have section 96 approval and meet the Department’s qualification that he plans to remove from key stage 4 rigorous standards have been included in the list of performance tables; [114193] qualifications that will count towards the performance (3) which qualifications he plans to remove from key tables in 2014. The information in the following table is stage 4 performance tables from 2014; and how many based on qualifications that are currently regulated for children sat each such qualification in 2011; [114195] use, but will not be eligible to count in performance tables from 2014 onwards. (4) how many qualifications were awarded last year which will in future no longer count in performance Information for earlier years is not available. tables due to reforms to the equivalent qualifications. Number and percentage of pupils who were entered for at least one of the [114191] qualifications that will not be included in the key stage 4 performance tables from 2014 onwards, 2006/07 to 2010/111, England Mr Gibb: From 2014, the key stage 4 performance Percentage of pupils tables will be restricted to qualifications that are high Number of pupils (%) quality, rigorous and enable progression to a range of 2006/07 483,206 74 study and employment opportunities for the majority 2007/08 511,041 78 737W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 738W

Number and percentage of pupils who were entered for at least one of the Standard measures of attainment at the end of Key qualifications that will not be included in the key stage 4 performance tables from 2014 onwards, 2006/07 to 2010/111, England Stage 4 include achievement of five or more GCSEs at Percentage of pupils A*-C grade. Information for five or more A*-E grades Number of pupils (%) could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

2008/09 527,570 83 Internet 2009/10 551,727 86 2010/112 552,575 88 Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Includes attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic Education whether his Department plans to create a years. 2 Figures for 2010/11 are revised, all other figures are final. myth buster section on its website similar to that of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Email [117904]

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Tim Loughton: The Department for Education works Education what recent guidance he has issued to (a) to ensure that accurate and timely information is provided Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his to the public and workforces through all communication Department on the use of private email accounts to channels. discuss items of Government business; and if he will The Department has no current plans to create a make a statement. [113928] myth buster section on its website similar to that of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Tim Loughton [holding answer 26 June 2012]: None. The Information Commissioner published guidance on Newham Free Academy 15 December 2011 concerning information held in private email accounts. The Cabinet Office is considering this Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for and has said that it will issue further guidance to Education how many pupils have applied to join the Departments. The Department will then review its own Newham Free Academy in September 2012. [116452] guidance accordingly. Mr Gibb [holding answer 11 July 2012]: Following Freedom of Information careful consideration, we have judged that the proposal to establish Newham Free Academy has not progressed Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for sufficiently for it to proceed to opening and it has been Education how much money his Department spent on withdrawn from the free school programme. legal advice on its compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each month since September Pre-school Education 2011. [113369] Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Tim Loughton: The Department has since September Education what plans he has for the early years 2011 spent a total of £23,988.28 on external legal advice curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [116269] and litigation services relating to compliance with the Sarah Teather: In March, we published a revised Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA). The Department Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) following an spent £19,163:28 in relation to two Decision Notices independent review by Dame Clare Tickell. The EYFS issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office in is a statutory framework which sets the standards that 2011 or earlier, and £4,825 for advice from counsel in all early year providers must meet, covering children relation to use of non-departmental accounts for official from birth to five. It includes requirements to ensure business. that children learn and develop well and that they are These break down by month as follows: kept healthy and safe. The new, simpler and clearer EYFS, which comes into force in September, places a Departmental spend in £ stronger emphasis on learning and development, with a March 2012 18,548.86 clearer focus on the three prime areas of learning and April 2012 1,575 development that are essential for children’s healthy May 2012 614.42 development and readiness for school. It also simplifies July 2012 (to date) 3,250 assessment at age five and provides for earlier intervention for those children who need extra help, through the The costs of internal legal advice on FoIA matters introduction of a progress check when children are aged are not held in such a way that they can be separately two. identified. Runaway Children: Missing Persons GCSE: York Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to Education what proportion of students at state schools reduce the number of incidents in which a failure to in York achieved five or more GCSEs at grades (a) A* track runaway and missing children results in them to C and (b) A* to E in each year from 1997-98. becoming vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. [117725] [117447] Mr Gibb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I Tim Loughton: Identifying and ensuring the safe return gave him on 3 July 2012, Official Report, columns of children who go missing is a key part of the police 590-94W. service’s child protection and wider safeguarding role. 739W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 740W

However, as the missing children and adults cross Table 2: Average per pupil revenue funding (real) Government strategy makes clear, tackling missing persons Peterborough (primary) Peterborough (secondary) issues requires a multi-agency response and co-ordination across a range of policies and operational partners 1997-98 2,723 3,673 including local authorities, who are key where children 1998-99 2,877 3,798 go missing. 1999-2000 3,109 3,988 The Department is planning to consult on the statutory 2000-01 3,377 4,314 guidance on ’children who run away or go missing from 2001-02 3,561 4,521 home or care’ to give local authorities a clearer 2002-03 3,675 4,714 understanding of their duties and more flexibility to 2003-04 3,985 4,927 decide on the arrangements which are suitable for their areas. 2004-05 4,144 5,203 The Department is also driving forward work to 2005-06 4,375 5,407 ensure that there is better and more transparent data Notes: 1. Price base: Real terms at 2010-11 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 28 about children who go missing from care (and who may March 2012 often then be at risk of sexual exploitation). We have 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Standard Spending Assessment/Education already written to all local authorities asking them to Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental review their own data collections, and to check their expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three to 15 and exclude education figures against those collected by local police forces. maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. The Department is now working with an expert group 4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series. to develop a data collection system which is more 5. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those meaningful and gives a much clearer picture of the underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state numbers of children who go missing from care. Better support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not local data collection will contribute to improved local included in the SSA pupil numbers. strategies for minimising missing persons incidents and 6. Rounding: Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £1. improving protection for children in care. The total revenue per pupil figures shown in the Schools: Peterborough following table are taken from the new Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). They are not comparable with those for Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 because the introduction for Education how much (a) revenue and (b) capital of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how funding was provided (i) in cash terms and (ii) at 2012 local authorities are funded. prices to state (A) primary and (B) secondary schools in Peterborough in each year since 1997. [114654] The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education Mr Gibb: The information is as follows: part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus Revenue Funding various grants. This was an assessment of what local Average per pupil revenue funding figures, provided authorities needed to fund education rather than what from the Department for Education to Peterborough they spent. The DSG is based largely on an authority’s city council, for pupils aged three to 10 (primary) and previous spending. In addition, the DSG has a different 11 to 15 (secondary) for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and are as follows (Table 1 provides figures in cash terms an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas and table 2 provides the equivalent real terms figures): DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG’s Local Government Finance Table 1: Average per pupil revenue funding (cash) Settlement but education items cannot be separately Peterborough (primary) Peterborough (secondary) identified. Consequently, there is a break in the 1997-98 2,056 2,774 Department’s time series as the two sets of data are not 1998-99 2,204 2,909 comparable. An alternative time series is currently under 1999-2000 2,430 3,117 development. 2000-01 2,650 3,385 To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the 2001-02 2,846 3,612 Department have isolated the schools block equivalent 2002-03 3,013 3,866 funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not 2003-04 3,336 4,125 represent the totality of ’education’ funding in that 2004-05 3,569 4,480 year. 2005-06 3,845 4,751 Notes: 1. Price base: cash. The total and per pupil revenue funding figures 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Standard Spending Assessment/Education for years 2005-06 to 2010-11 for Peterborough are Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS provided in the following table. The following figures and LSC. 3. Funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 and are in cash limits relevant to pupils aged three to 15 and exclude education maintenance terms: allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, Average revenue per pupil funding (DSG + grants cash) related funding no longer appears in the series. Peterborough 5. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old 2005-06 Baseline 4,060 maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state 2006-07 4,320 support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 2007-08 4,580 6. Rounding: Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 2008-09 4,840 741W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 742W

Average revenue per pupil funding (DSG + grants cash) £ million Peterborough Peterborough Capital allocations1 PFI credits2 2009-10 5,010 1996-97 3n/a 4— 2010-11 5,170 1997-98 n/a 4— Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards 1998-99 2.3 4— Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well 1999-2000 2.4 4— as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are 2000-01 10.6 4— not allocated at LA level. 2. Price base: Cash 2001-02 10.1 4— 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19. 2002-03 9.1 4— 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. 2003-04 15.1 4— These figures are in real terms: 2004-05 11.0 4— 2005-06 18.8 4— Average per pupil revenue funding (DSG + Grants real) 2006-07 22.5 63.7 Peterborough 2007-08 12.6 4— 2005-06 Baseline 4,620 2008-09 25.3 4— 2006-07 4,750 2009-10 18.8 4— 2007-08 4,940 2010-11 28.4 4— 2008-09 5,060 2011-12 21.0 4— 2009-10 5,140 2012-13 6.9 — 2010-11 5,170 1 Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations. Notes: 2 PFI credit allocations are counted at financial close. 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards 3 Peterborough did not receive funding in its own right in 1996-97 and 1997-98 Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as it formed part of Cambridgeshire local authority. as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are 4 Indicates that no funding was given in that year. not allocated at LA level. Note: 2. Price base: Real terms at 2010-11 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 28 Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000. March 2012. Schools: Yorkshire and Humberside 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full-time equivalent (a) teachers, (b) teaching assistants and (c) other staff have been Capital funding employed at (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in (A) York and (B) North Yorkshire and York (1) in total The following table shows capital funding allocated and (2) per pupil in each year since 1992. [111434] to Peterborough local authority for the financial years that are available. The data are in cash terms as allocations Mr Gibb: The following tables provide the full-time are phased across more than one year making real equivalent numbers of teachers, teaching assistants and terms calculations misleading. Complete information support staff in the North Yorkshire and York local on the split of capital between phases of education is authorities in each January from 1994 to November not held centrally. 2011.

Full-time equivalent teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in service in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools. Coverage: North Yorkshire and City of York Years: January 1992 to January 2009 and November 2010 Nursery/Primary Secondary FTE Teaching FTE support FTE Teaching FTE support FTE teachers assistants staff FTE teachers assistants staff

North Yorkshire pre-April 1996 local government reorganisation: 1992 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 1993 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 1994 2,680 2,870 1— 1— 1— 1— 1995 2,680 310 330 2,920 40 470 1996 2,720 350 350 3,020 50 490 North Yorkshire and York post April 1996 local government reorganisation: 1997 2,780 400 370 2,940 80 490 1998 2,670 490 360 2,990 90 510 1999 2,730 500 370 3,080 120 520 2000 2,820 550 420 3,190 160 560 2001 2,880 700 500 3,250 190 600 2002 2,950 1,040 360 3,220 280 660 2003 2,900 1,050 340 3,310 330 620 2004 2,830 1,210 390 3,450 400 740 2005 2,810 1,350 400 3,460 410 870 2006 2,840 1,510 410 3,520 480 950 2007 2,860 1,590 470 3,520 520 1,050 2008 2,850 1,740 470 3,520 610 1,090 2009 2,770 1,810 490 3,370 650 1,170 2010 2,760 1,870 490 3,360 670 1,220 743W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 744W

Full-time equivalent teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in service in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools. Coverage: North Yorkshire and City of York Years: January 1992 to January 2009 and November 2010 Nursery/Primary Secondary FTE Teaching FTE support FTE Teaching FTE support FTE teachers assistants staff FTE teachers assistants staff

2011 2,640 1,640 480 2,460 590 880 City of York: 1997 630 90 70 600 10 100 1998 610 110 70 600 10 110 1999 630 120 80 600 10 100 2000 650 130 90 640 30 120 2001 650 160 90 660 30 120 2002 680 230 70 650 50 140 2003 640 240 80 680 60 140 2004 630 260 80 700 70 150 2005 620 290 80 700 90 170 2006 620 330 80 700 100 180 2007 650 330 90 700 110 190 2008 630 350 100 680 130 190 2009 610 360 110 690 140 200 2010 690 370 100 720 140 240 2011 590 380 110 550 130 170 1 Equals not available. Note: Staff numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Sources: FTE teachers (1997 to 2009 618g survey, 2010 School Workforce Census), FTE teaching assistants, support staff and pupils from School Census.

The methodology for calculating pupil teacher ratios York and North Yorkshire are only available on the new has recently changed to take account of dual registered methodology for November 2010 and 2011 and these pupils. At present the pupil teacher ratios for City of are given in the following table.

Full-time equivalent pupils, qualified teachers and pupil teacher ratios1 in local authority primary and secondary schools. Maintained Coverage: York local authority and North Yorkshire and York—November 2010 and 2011 Primary Secondary FTE qualified FTE qualified FTE pupils teachers PTR FTE pupils teachers PTR

2010 City of York 12,720 520 24.6 9,950 620 16,0 North Yorkshire and York 54,340 2,310 23.5 49,910 2,870 17.4 2011 City of York 12,970 550 23.7 7,950 510 15.5 North Yorkshire and York 53,980 2,500 21.6 38,290 2,320 16.5 1 PTRs are calculated using the FTE number of sole and dual registered pupils on roll by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools. Notes: 1. Figures for 2011 include only those schools that remained with local authority maintained status at January 2012. 2. Staff numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Sources: FTE teachers (2010 School Workforce Census), FTE pupils (School Census).

These statistics are provided and are sourced from for special educational needs, (b) in the School Action the Statistical First Release “School Workforce in category and (c) in the School Action Plus category in England, November 2011”. National statistics were each year since 1997. [116006] published in April 2012 and underlying regional, local authority and school information on 12 July at the Sarah Teather: The available information on numbers following web link: of pupils with statements of special educational needs, http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/stats/ at School Action and at School Action Plus is shown in a00205723/school-workforce-in-england-provisional-nov- the following table. The three stages of special, educational 2011 needs (SEN) came into effect with the SEN Code of Table 17 of the SFR provides the revised national Practice in 2002; comparable information is therefore pupil teacher ratio time series and the underlying data not available prior to 2003. provides the local authority breakdown for November 2011. The latest available information on special educational needs was published in the “Special Educational Needs Special Educational Needs in England: January 2011” Statistical First Release on 30 June 2011 at Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001007/ Education how many children were (a) statemented index.shtml 745W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 746W

Data as at January 2012 will be published in the The information requested here, for 2012, will be available “Special Educational Needs in England: January 2012” in Tables 1A and 1B. Statistical First Release on 12 July 2012 at http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001075/ index.shtml

All schools: Pupils with special educational needs (SEN)1. As at January each year: 2003-11, England 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

All schools Pupils on roll 8,375,545 8,347,730 8,287,195 8,231,050 8,167,715 8,121,955 8,092,280 8,098,360 8,123,865 Pupils with statements 251,480 250,450 245,510 240,220 232,760 227,315 225,400 223,945 224,210 SEN provision—School 786,190 789,870 807,505 843,765 860,670 886,875 903,845 919,015 889,540 Action2 SEN provision—School 333,935 354,770 369,385 394,550 418,160 447,465 472,810 503,050 500,155 Action Plus2 Pupils with SEN 1,175,515 1,204,720 1,238,435 1,302,160 1,344,505 1,402,895 1,447,205 1,481,035 1,449,685 without statements3

State-funded schools Maintained nursery Pupils on roll 40,485 38,975 37,445 37,030 37,640 37,440 37,285 37,575 38,830 Pupils with statements 550 465 410 325 310 265 285 265 250 SEN provision—Early n/a 720 1,100 1,920 2,030 1,855 1,815 1,890 2,025 Years Action SEN provision—Early n/a 785 1,170 1,970 1,980 2,110 2,105 2,220 2,460 Years Action Plus Pupils with SEN 4,460 4,270 4,110 3,885 4,015 3,960 3,920 4,110 4,490 without statements

State-funded primary4, 5 Pupils on roll 4,309,775 4,254,205 4,205,665 4,150,595 4,110,750 4,090,400 4,077,350 4,096,580 4,137,755 Pupils with statements 71,310 69,995 67,820 65,330 61,800 59,695 58,505 57,850 57,855 SEN provision—School 475,350 467,230 468,555 483,180 485,260 486,555 482,015 486,960 467,615 Action SEN provision—School 209,950 219,020 224,315 234,185 243,630 254,545 262,325 273,635 274,950 Action Plus Pupils with SEN 685,300 686,250 692,865 717,365 728,890 741,100 744,345 760,590 742,565 without statements

State-funded secondary4, 6 Pupils on roll 3,328,730 3,353,360 3,349,220 3,347,500 3,325,625 3,294,575 3,278,130 3,278,485 3,262,635 Pupils with statements 79,610 79,205 77,445 75,045 71,190 67,875 65,890 64,605 63,720 SEN provision—School 310,640 321,735 337,605 358,420 373,140 398,255 419,810 428,835 418,935 Action SEN provision—School 121,950 133,070 142,140 156,640 170,710 188,805 206,555 217,085 212,480 Action Plus Pupils with SEN 432,590 454,800 479,745 515,060 543,850 587,060 626,365 645,920 631,415 without statements

Maintained special7 Pupils on roll 90,970 88,955 87,465 86,850 87,010 87,135 87,615 88,690 89,860 Pupils with statements 86,370 85,175 84,145 83,850 83,645 83,600 84,295 85,445 86,660 SEN provision—School 190 185 240 225 230 205 200 155 185 Action SEN provision—School 2,000 1,875 1,730 1,710 1,810 1,970 1,785 1,585 1,595 Action Plus Pupils with SEN 2,195 2,060 1,970 1,935 2,040 2,175 2,375 2,145 2,245 without statements

Pupil Referral Units8 Pupils on roll 17,525 20,330 22,480 23,670 24,165 25,290 24,760 15,550 14,050 Pupils with statements 2,010 3,610 3,685 3,640 3,425 3,260 3,230 1,910 1,695 SEN provision—School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,175 770 Action SEN provision—School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 8,495 8,630 Action Plus 747W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 748W

All schools: Pupils with special educational needs (SEN)1. As at January each year: 2003-11, England 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Pupils with SEN 10,660 12,300 13,045 14,770 15,185 15,685 16,360 9,670 9,405 without statements

Other schools Independent9 Pupils on roll 583,105 587,055 580,040 580,625 577,785 582,425 582,490 576,940 576,325 Pupils with statements 6,780 7,290 7,255 7,355 7,760 8,055 8,690 9,470 9,750 SEN provision—School n/an/an/a15x0505 Action SEN provision—School n/an/an/ax00555 Action Plus Pupils with SEN 40,270 45,015 46,660 49,085 50,490 52,870 53,805 58,570 59,535 without statements

Non-maintained special Pupils on roll 4,955 4,845 4,880 4,785 4,740 4,695 4,655 4,540 4,415 Pupils with statements 4,845 4,705 4,750 4,680 4,630 4,565 4,500 4,400 4,280 SEN provision—School 55101055xxx Action SEN provision—School 30 20 30 45 30 35 40 25 25 Action Plus Pupils with SEN 35 25 40 55 35 40 40 30 25 without statements n/a = Not available. x=1or2pupils. 1 Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Excludes pupils in Alternative provision (except those in Pupil Referral Units). 2 Excludes independent schools and general hospital schools as data collected is not broken down by SEN provision for all years from 2003. Includes direct grant nurseries. 3 Includes pupils with SEN without statements in all school types. 4 Includes middle schools as deemed. 5 Includes primary academies. 6 Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies, including all-through academies. 7 Prior to 2009 information on pupils with SEN without statements was not collected from general hospital schools. General hospital schools are included from 2009. 8 Includes pupils registered with other providers and in further education colleges. In 2003-09 includes dual subsidiary registered pupils. 9 Includes direct grant nursery schools. Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: School Census

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for these earlier releases will be included in the appropriate Education with reference to the answer of 19 places in the report and additional data will be published December 2011, Official Report, column 944W, on alongside the main report. special educational needs: children, and to his Department’s publication, Children with Special Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Educational Needs 2011: an analysis, for what reason Education with reference to page 12 of the Department local authority and regional level data were not for Business, Innovation and Skills’ publication, included in the 2011 report; and if he will ensure that National Careers Service: The Right Advice at the they are included in the 2012 report. [117416] Right Time, how much he expects local authorities to contribute from their early intervention grant allocations towards supporting young people with Sarah Teather [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Changes special educational needs and disabilities to participate to the statistical publication, ‘Children with Special in education and training up to the age of 25; and what Educational Needs: an Analysis’, are determined when guidance he has issued to local authorities in respect of planning and producing the publication based on the this duty and how to fund it. [117470] immediate needs of the Department and its customers, requests and feedback on previous versions, departmental resources and availability of the analysis from other Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Section 68 of releases. Large amounts of analysis on special educational the Education and Skills Act 2008 requires local authorities needs by local authority and region were published by to make available support that will encourage, enable the Department in earlier releases. To include the detail and assist the participation of young people in education in the release ‘Children with Special Educational Needs: or training up to the age of 19. This duty is extended to an Analysis’ would have duplicated much of this the age of 25 in the case of individuals with learning information. difficulties and/or disabilities. The services offered by local authorities under this duty are targeted on overcoming The 2012 report will contain comment on local authority barriers to continuing in education and training. In level figures in other statistical releases which are available some cases, this may include careers guidance for young and limited additional breakdowns of figures which adults who need assistance assessing the education and have not been previously made public. Web links to training options available to them. 749W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 750W

The Department issued statutory guidance to local Infantry personnel who had an episode of care1 at a MOD Department of Community Mental Health or in-patient admission between April 2007 and authorities on targeted support services for young people March 2012 who had previously deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq2 in April 2011. This is available on the DFE website at: Number http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/l/ Afghanistan Iraq la%20guidance%20apr%202011.pdf Other than the elements highlighted in the statutory Mild traumatic brain injury3 178 5— guidance, it is for local authorities to decide how they should meet their statutory responsibilities taking into Other psychological conditions (including those account the needs of individuals. Government has allocated which may be considered transient4): £2.3 billion to the Early Intervention Grant in 2012-13 Other mood disorders (excluding depressive 18 29 episode) and has given local authorities the flexibility to determine Other neurotic disorder (excluding PTSD and 152 164 how it is spent. adjustment disorder) Local authorities have a power to undertake a learning Adjustment disorder 682 481 difficulty Assessment for young people under the age of Other psychoactive substance misuse (excluding 9 5— 25 who are receiving or are likely to receive post-16 alcohol) education. Local authorities must have regard to statutory Other mental health disorders 80 85 guidance when carrying out learning difficulty assessments. No psychiatric disorder diagnosed 427 402 This is intended to help local authorities make consistent, effective and robust judgments that will lead to well- No International Classification of Disease 717 informed decisions relating to education and training classification provided for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. 1 If personnel who have served in both Afghanistan and Iraq present with symptoms they are counted in both categories presented. If personnel have Revised statutory guidance was published by the more than one episode of care for the same condition they are counted once Department for Education in February 2012 and is against that condition. If a person has an episode of care for different conditions, available on the DFE website at: they are counted once against each condition. 2 Data are based on the initial health assessment during a patient’s first http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/send/ appointment, based on complaints presenting at that time. Final diagnosis may g00203393/lda differ. 3 Data for mild traumatic brain injuries are compiled from information held by the relevant multi-disciplinary team at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court for the period from 1 June 2008. DEFENCE 4 Assessments are made using Chapter 10 of the International Classification of Diseases, which does not use the term ’transient psychological distress’. Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations 5 In order to reduce the risk of individuals being identified, all numbers fewer than five have been suppressed and the symbol ’—’ used. Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many infantry soldiers have been Amanatullah Ali deployed to (a) Afghanistan and to (b) Iraq; and how many deployed to each country have been treated for (i) transient psychological distress, (ii) alcohol misuse, (iii) Mr Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence post traumatic stress disorder, (iv) depression, (v) mild what information his Department holds on the arrest, traumatic brain injury and (vi) each other treatment and rendition of Amanatullah Ali by US psychological condition during and since their forces; and if he will make a statement. [116992] deployment. [115262] Nick Harvey [holding answer 13 July 2012]: I understand Mr Robathan: Information relating to the total number that the hon. Member’s question refers to one of two of infantry soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba members who were captured from 2001 and 2003 respectively, and the number of by British Forces in and around Baghdad in February infantry soldiers treated during their deployment, is not 2004 who then were immediately transferred to US available centrally in the format requested and could be detention in accordance with established practice at the provided only at disproportionate cost. time. However, between 1 April 2007 and 31 May 2012, the The individuals were initially held in US detention in number of Army infantry officers and soldiers, excluding and around Baghdad, and subsequently transferred to a infantry personnel in the Brigade of Gurkhas, who had US detention facility in Afghanistan in March 2004. We deployed to Afghanistan was 25,300 and Iraq was 7,910. have been assured that the detainees are held in a Details of infantry personnel who had an episode of humane, safe and secure environment that meets care at a Ministry of Defence Department of Community international standards that are consistent with cultural Mental Health or in-patient admission between April and religious norms. The International Committee of 2007 and March 2012, and who have been identified as the Red Cross has had regular access to the detainees. previously deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, is provided in the following table. An episode of care may be limited to an initial assessment, which may not subsequently Armed Forces: Homelessness require the individual receiving treatment. Infantry personnel who had an episode of care1 at a MOD Department of Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Community Mental Health or in-patient admission between April 2007 and 2 Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the number March 2012 who had previously deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq of service personnel or their families in each branch of Number the armed services who sought assistance from the Afghanistan Iraq relevant service welfare organisations for assistance Alcohol misuse 139 136 and advice on (a) obtaining state benefits, (b) housing Post traumatic stress disorder 234 136 repossession and (c) homelessness in each of the last Depressive episode 163 156 two years; [116975] 751W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 752W

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of serving in Afghanistan since May 2010. The service service personnel and their families in each branch of provided is very similar to the one that was used to send the armed services who were declared homeless in each mail to those who were deployed to Iraq. of the last two years; [116976] The provision of a free mail service to allow armed (3) what estimate he has made of the number of forces personnel serving in Iraq to receive mail from service personnel in each branch of the armed services families and friends was first introduced in April 2003; who have had their homes repossessed while they this has since evolved into the Enduring Free Mail served in Afghanistan. [116977] Service (EFMS). Armed forces personnel deployed on specified operations, including in Afghanistan, and on Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes board ships supporting those operations, benefit from its duty of care for its service personnel very seriously. the EFMS. This is a joint venture between the British All service personnel have an entitlement to be Forces’ Post Office and the Royal Mail and enables accommodated by the MOD in service families friends and family members to send packages from the accommodation, or in single living accommodation, as UK weighing up to 2kg free of charge. appropriate. Armed Forces: Sexual Offences No service personnel are left homeless. Should any service person living in their own home be subject to repossession, they would be re-housed under MOD Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence policy. However, such an eventuality would be a private how many allegations of sexual assault made by matter and no records of it are maintained by the members of the armed forces concluded with charges MOD. being (a) brought and (b) dropped in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a Armed Forces: Mass Media statement. [116655]

Mr Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer for what reason the commitment introduced in the I gave on 6 July 2012, Official Report, column 822W. 2005 edition of his Department’s Green Book that The following table contains the updated figures for British forces would never deliberately target 2012 and includes those cases that did not meet the Full journalists or media facilities has been removed from Code test for prosecution for 2011. the latest edition of the Green Book; and if he will make a statement. [116040] Full Code Sexual test for assault prosecution Mr Robathan: The Green Book is produced in referrals Directions Convictions not met consultation with editors and press and broadcasting organisations as a general guide to the procedures that 2011 58 37 23 21 the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) will 2012 to 11 16 4 11— adopt in working with the media throughout the full July spectrum of military operations. 1 Two ongoing Allegations referred in any one year are not necessarily The current October 2010 edition states at paragraph tried, or directed for trial in the same year. 12, page 6: “It is also important to understand that UK Forces on Operations The Full Code test for prosecution has two main will not deliberately target individual correspondents” elements, relating to whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction, and the public interest, but there may be and is available at the following link: other reasons not to pursue a case, for example the http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BAFF11F2-EF45-4A99- accused may have been convicted of other offences and B8BA-A1BDA6AFE8A4/0/green_book_v7_011010.pdf received a heavy sentence and after discussion with the The Green Book is in the process of being revised victim a decision has been made not to proceed. again and the MOD has recently consulted editors, press and broadcasting organisations on its contents. Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence While there has been no change in the underlying pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2012, Official policy, the initial draft of this proposed revision did not Report, column 195W, on armed forces: sexual contain words along the lines quoted because they were offences, how many rape allegations were made by (a) considered unnecessary. female and (b) male members of the armed forces in There is no question of UK forces on operations ever each of the last three years; in how many of those cases intentionally targeting individual correspondents. Unless (i) charges were directed for trial and (ii) trials were they are targeting our troops, such action would be held; and if he will make a statement. [116686] illegal. Mr Robathan: The information requested is not Armed Forces: Postal Services immediately available and will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available. Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether changes have been made to postal Armoured Fighting Vehicles services from the UK to personnel serving in Afghanistan since May 2010. [114468] Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the export Nick Harvey: There have been no changes to the potential of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle system for sending mail to armed forces personnel Foxhound; and if he will make a statement. [116990] 753W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 754W

Mr Gerald Howarth [holding answer 13 July 2012]: Nick Harvey: It is too early to say where specific As set out in the “National Security Through Technology” formations and units will be based across the UK by White Paper CM8273 published February 2012, we 2020, however, the Army intends maintaining a significant must provide our armed forces with the best capabilities presence across the UK. we can afford. A number of these capabilities, such as The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is leading Foxhound, have export potential, and the Government work on the Ministry of Defence’s footprint strategy in is committed to supporting industry in realising that order to deliver a Defence estate of the right size and potential. shape that is sustainable and delivers the most cost-effective While the company have received a number of inquiries approach to future force basing. Initial decisions are from potential overseas customers, no firm export expected to be made later this year. opportunities have, as yet, arisen. However, the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation, Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for as the Government lead for defence and security exports, Defence when members of the Yorkshire Regiment 3rd are already exploring and supporting the aspirations of Battalion were informed of the content of his Army General Dynamics Land Systems-Force Protection Europe 2020 statement. [116936] in any export opportunities which arise in relation to Foxhound. Its recent deployment on operations will enable us to assess its full capability. Nick Harvey: All members of the British Army (including those units deployed on operations) should have been informed of the detail of the Army 2020 statement as Army close as reasonably practicable to the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announcement to the Defence if he will publish military advice he received House on 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 1085. on (a) the amalgamation of the Queen’s Royal The briefing of members of the 3rd Battalion, the Lancers with the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and (b) a Yorkshire Regiment (3 Yorks), both those based in the merger between the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments. UK and those deployed in Afghanistan, coincided with [116932] the announcement in the House. Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge Defence (1) what the timetable is for the reduction in (Mr Hammond), in his announcement on 5 July 2012, Army numbers to 82,000; [116938] Official Report, column 1086, in which he said that, (2) what the size of the Army will be in each year up Army 2020 calls for a greater focus in future on to 2020. [116939] mobility and the ability to mount expeditionary warfare based around the air assault and armoured Nick Harvey: The precise timetable for the reduction infantry brigades of the reaction forces. This continues in trained regular Army strength to 82,000, and therefore the Army’s evolution from the cold war posture that the size of the Army in any given year up to 2020, has was reliant on more armoured units. The consequence not yet been finalised. These reductions will be achieved of this concept of operations is a requirement to reduce through a combination of both natural wastage and the number of Royal Armoured Corps regiments from redundancy. eleven to nine. The Army’s decision on which regiments to remove Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for from the Order of Battle was taken on the basis of Defence how many personnel in each of the 17 major advice provided by the Royal Armoured Corps which units proposed to be lost under the Army 2020 review took account of a number of criteria. Although ensuring will be deployed to other units. [117050] delivery of the correct capability in the most effective way was the overriding concern, the other criteria used included a desire to minimise the number of cap badge Nick Harvey [holding answer 13 July 2012]: I refer reductions to promote the regimental system, taking the right hon. Member to the statement made by the account of past amalgamations within the Royal Armoured Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member Corps, so wherever possible those who amalgamated for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on most recently were less likely to be affected, and merging 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns 1085-88, in which or amalgamating regiments with similar history and he said that an individual in a unit which is being tradition, and current capabilities. withdrawn or merged is no more or less likely than any other individual with similar skills and service record to Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for be selected for future redundancy.When units are withdrawn Defence which (a) Army brigades, (b) Army Air from the Army’s order of battle their personnel will be Corps, (c) Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured reassigned to other units, where possible within the corps, (d) Royal Regiment Artillery, (e) Corps of same regiment. Royal Engineers, (f) Royal Corps of Signals, (g) Royal While further redundancies will be required to reduce Logistics Corps, (h) Army Medical Services, (i) Royal the Army to 82,000 regular personnel, the precise numbers Military Police, (j) Royal Intelligence Corps, (k) and timing have yet to be decided. It is, however, clear Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers that individuals will not be disadvantaged by the fact regiments will be based in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and that they are in a unit which has been withdrawn under (iii) Wales by 2020. [116935] Army 2020. 755W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 756W

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Individuals in a unit which is being withdrawn or Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 5 July 2012, merged are no more or less likely than any other individual Official Report, column 1086, on Army 2020, how with similar skills and service records to be selected for many of the 17 major units affected were within (a) 5 future redundancy. When units are withdrawn from the and (b) 10 per cent of full recruitment. [117068] Army’s order of battle their personnel will be reassigned to other units, where possible within the same regiment. Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Defence if he will estimate the proportion of soldiers in Hammond) on 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns The 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh who will be 1087-88, in which he announced changes to a number absorbed into other battalions as part of his planned of units that will be withdrawn, amalgamated or merged reorganisation of the army. [117474] resulting in the reduction overall of 17 units. Of these, eight units are within 5% (plus or minus) of Nick Harvey [holding answer 16 July 2012]: I refer their full unit establishment and a further six units are the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary within 10% (plus or minus) of their full unit establishment. of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede These figures include all regular Army personnel under and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) on 5 July 2012, Official the command of the unit’s commanding officer and Report, column 1085, in which he said that an individual therefore include Army personnel from other arms and in a unit which is being withdrawn or merged is no more corps employed at the unit. or less likely than any other individual with similar skills and service record to be selected for future redundancy. A range of criteria was used, including recruitment When units are withdrawn from the Army’s order of performance over 10 years, not just current levels. battle their personnel will be reassigned to other units, where possible within the same regiment. Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for While further redundancies will be required to reduce Defence how many people were recruited into the 2nd the Army to 82,000 regular personnel, the precise numbers Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and timing have yet to be decided. It is, however, clear from (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Redcar and Cleveland, that individuals will not be disadvantaged by the fact (c) Stockton-on-Tees, (d) Hartlepool, (e) County that they are in a unit which has been withdrawn under Durham and (f) North Yorkshire in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, Army 2020. (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011. [117360] Army: Germany Nick Harvey [holding answer 16 July 2012]: Information showing how many people were recruited from specific Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for towns and areas is not held in the format requested and Defence with reference to the strategic defence and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. security review, on what timescale troops will be withdrawn from Germany. [116941] Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with the Green Nick Harvey: As part of the strategic defence and Howards Association on the proposed abolition of the security review we announced our intention to return 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green personnel based in Germany back to the UK by 2020. Howards); [117361] Following the announcement of Army 2020, the Army (2) what discussions he has had with the Royal will now begin to work with the Defence Infrastructure British Legion on the proposed abolition of the 2nd Organisation to determine the optimum basing solution Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards). for the Army while making best use of the existing [117362] Defence estate. It is too early at this stage to give any more detail on the precise time scales for the withdrawal Nick Harvey [holding answer 16 July 2012]: No of troops from Germany. discussions were held with the Royal British Legion or the Green Howards Association about the withdrawal Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for of the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Defence what funding has been allocated for Howards). Discussions with regiments were led by the converting RAF bases to Army bases to achieve the Chief of General Staff and his staff. planned withdrawal of UK troops from Germany in each financial year until 2020. [117049] Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Nick Harvey [holding answer 13 July 2012]: It is too Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks early to say at this time what funding has been allocated there are in the 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment for converting RAF bases to Army bases. (Green Howards). [117401] This project will deliver an estate of the right size and Nick Harvey: As at 1 April 2012, there were 32 shape; that is sustainable and will deliver the most cost officers and 487 other ranks in the 2nd Battalion, the effective approach to Future Force 2020 basing. Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards). Consultants These numbers represent the numbers of infantrymen in the battalion and do not include personnel from Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for other cap badges which support the battalion (for example Defence how much his Department spent on external mechanics, administrators and medics). consultants for services delivered in 2011-12. [117624] 757W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 758W

Mr Robathan: The final 2011-12 outturn on external Mr Robathan: The Defence Technical Undergraduate consultancy is not yet available. Scheme is partnered by the universities of Aston, In financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence Birmingham, Loughborough, Newcastle, Northumbria (MOD), including its Trading Fund agencies, spent £26 and Southampton. In addition, the scheme also supports million on external consultancy contracts (as defined by a limited number of students at the universities of the Cabinet Office). The MOD has made significant Oxford and Cambridge and . savings in external assistance in recent years. The following There are currently no plans to extend the scheme table provides expenditure information for the past six beyond the current partner universities. However, the financial years: geographical extent of the scheme is kept under review. To provide the home county of origin of each student £ million would require us to access individual records. This could be done only at disproportionate cost. 2005-06 261 2006-07 129 The students receive an annual bursary of £4,000 2007-08 120 from their respective single service and payment during training events. In addition, they can also claim appropriate 2008-09 106 expenditure incurred during training events. Students 2009-10 79 are supported academically and pastorally throughout 2010-11 26 their studies by the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme staff and also undertake a programme of personal We continue to minimise expenditure on consultancy development to prepare them for their future training in compliance with the tighter controls announced by and service in either the armed forces or for civilians as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in May 2010. part of the Defence Engineering and Science Group. Expenditure on external consultancy is published annually in UK Defence Statistics (UKDS). The European Defence Agency information for 2010-11 can be found online in the transparency supplement to the 2011 edition of UKDS Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for under the heading External Assistance at the following Defence how much funding his Department has address: provided to the European Defence Agency in each year http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2011/c1/ since 2010; and what funding has been allocated in trans_sup.php each of the next three years. [117623]

Defence Equipment Nick Harvey: The European Defence Agency (EDA)’s budget has been frozen at ¤30.5 million for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) missile tube training facilities The amount paid by the Ministry of Defence to the and (b) nuclear transport vehicles of each equipment EDA’s budget has, however, fluctuated through this type are permanently based in each location in period owing to changes in exchange rates and cost share. It was £3.26 million in 2010, £3.64 million in 2011 Scotland. [117582] and is estimated to be £3.37 million in 2012. The budget Nick Harvey: The Trident Training Facility at Her for 2013 and the Three Year Financial Framework will Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, Faslane, which not be agreed until the EDA Ministerial Steering Board includes the Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) meet in November 2012. Coulport, is the only missile tube training facility in Ex Gratia Payments Scotland. The only nuclear transport vehicles permanently based Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for in Scotland are the 11 Re-entry Body Assembly Intra-facility Defence what estimate his Department has made of the Transporters, which are used for the movement of assets monetary value of ex gratia payments made through only within the RNAD Coulport. schemes administered by his Department in the last two years. [116763] Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Mr Robathan: The monetary value of ex gratia payments formally signed off in 2010-11 was some £19 million Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for and in 2011-12 some £135,000. Defence (1) at which universities the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme operates; [116669] The figures for 2010-11 reflect the closure of two significant cases in that year. (2) whether his Department has any plans to extend the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme to a Expenditure on special payments (that is, ex gratia Scottish university; [116670] payments, compensation payments and extra-statutory and extra-regulatory payments), is disclosed in the MOD’s (3) how many students from (a) Scotland, (b) Annual Report and Accounts each year. England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) other countries have graduated through the Defence Gibraltar Technical Undergraduate Scheme in each year since 2001; [116671] Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for (4) what (a) financial and (b) other support is Defence (1) which Royal Navy and Royal Fleet provided to students accepted onto the Defence Auxiliary vessels visited Gibraltar in (a) 2010, (b) Technical Undergraduate Scheme. [116672] 2011 and (c) 2012 prior to 31 May; [117071] 759W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 760W

(2) which Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary HMS Westminster vessels visited Spanish ports in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and HMS Liverpool (c) 2012 prior to 31 May 2012. [117072] HMS Cumberland Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary HMS Albion vessels that visited Spain and Gibraltar in 2010, 2011 HMS Sutherland and 2012 are shown in the following lists: HMS Cornwall 2010 HMS Quorn Spain HMS Ramsey HMS Chatham HMS Enterprise HMS Middleton HMS St Albans HMS Monmouth HMS Brocklesby HMS Kent HMS Somerset HMS Lancaster RFA Cardigan Bay HMS Atherstone RFA Argus HMS York RFA Orangeleaf HMS Raider 2012 (prior to May 31) HMS Tracker Spain HMS St Albans HMS Ledbury HMS Montrose HMS Argyll HMS Gloucester HMS Portland Gibraltar HMS Somerset HMS Ledbury RFA Gold Rover HMS Daring RFA Cardigan Bay HMS Westminster Gibraltar RFA Wave Knight HMS Enterprise This list does not include HMS Scimitar and HMS HMS Manchester Sabre which are permanently based in Gibraltar. HMS St Albans No Royal Navy submarines visited Spain or Gibraltar HMS Kent during this period. HMS Northumberland HMS Somerset Hercules Aircraft HMS Raider HMS Tracker Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence HMS Chatham how many C-130J and K models are in temporary HMS Cumberland hangars at Marshalls of Cambridge; what the likely HMS Montrose cost is of using the hangars; and what the associated RFA Diligence costs are of hotel accommodation. [106739] RFA Argus RFA Cardigan Bay Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has no Hercules 2011 C-130 aircraft in temporary hangars at Marshalls of Spain Cambridge. The company provides depth maintenance for Hercules aircraft under the Hercules Integrated HMS Brocklesbury Operational Support contract. RAF teams also utilise HMS Richmond hangar space at Marshalls of Cambridge to undertake HMS Albion frontline maintenance that cannot be completed at RAF HMS Grimsby Brize Norton. This occurred on two occasions in the HMS Monmouth last financial year. A further aircraft was sent to Marshalls HMS Montrose for frontline maintenance on 21 May 2012 and work is HMS Enterprise ongoing. HMS Edinburgh Hangar costs for the first two aircraft were not separately RFA Bayleaf identified from maintenance costs. Travel and subsistence RFA Black Rover costs have yet to be finalised, I will write to my hon. Friend when this information is available. No costs have RFA Gold Rover yet been identified for the third aircraft. Gibraltar HMS Argyll HMS Victory HMS Bangor HMS Ocean Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for HMS Richmond Defence (1) whether his Department has reached any HMS Iron Duke agreement with (a) Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc HMS Portland and (b) the Maritime Heritage Foundation on the HMS York treatment of any human remains from HMS Victory; HMS Monmouth [117206] 761W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 762W

(2) whether his Department has authorised (a) the Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence takes any Maritime Heritage Foundation and (b) Odyssey theft of, loss of, attacks on, or misuse of, its information, Marine Exploration Inc to undertake any excavation networks and associated media storage devices very and recovery work on the wreck site of HMS Victory. seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate [117207] against and investigate such occurrences. Furthermore, new processes, instructions and technological aids are Mr Robathan: The Maritime Heritage Foundation continually being implemented to mitigate human errors has proposed a programme of work to address potential and raise the awareness of every individual in the threats to the wreck site. We are considering this, together Department with regards to cyber security. with recommendations by the advisory group, in accordance The following table lists, by year, the number of with the Deed of Gift, on the extent to which the work reported losses of USB sticks and laptop computers would be consistent with the archaeological principles centrally reported from 1 January 2008 to 12 July 2012. set out in Annex A to the UNESCO Convention on the Figures will continue to be adjusted to incorporate Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. No subsequent recoveries of items, the reporting of additional decisions have yet been taken. Any decisions made, and losses and subsequent clarification of historic incidents. the basis for them, will be announced in due course. USB sticks Laptop computers Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many parties interested in the management of 2008 91 182 the wreck site of HMS Victory 1744 he met prior to 2009 76 27 taking a decision to gift the site to the Maritime 2010 46 261 Heritage Foundation; [117714] 2011 39 69 (2) why his Department did not use a bidding 20121 32 14 process to select charities interested in managing the 1 Incidents from 1 January to 12 July 2012. HMS Victory 1744 site. [117715] Notes: 1. These are only the incidents that were reported centrally and may Mr Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence, my not represent the true number of losses during this time. 2. The totals may include some losses relating to accounting anomalies right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and during force rotation and/or disposal activities. Weybridge (Mr Hammond), did not meet any of the parties. During 2010 The Ministry of Defence and Military Bases Department of Culture, Media and Sport launched a joint public consultation on options for the management Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for of the wreck site of HMS Victory 1744. Only one group Defence what the annual cost is of the British military in responding to the consultation offered to manage the bases in (a) Canada, (b) Cyprus, (c) the Falkland site. Islands, (d) Germany, (e) Gibraltar and (f) Ascension Island, in each category of expenditure. [114545] Horses Nick Harvey: The information is taking time to collate. Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available. Defence how much was spent on maintaining horses used by the (a) Household Cavalry and (b) armed Olympic Games 2012 forces in each of the last five years. [117107]

Mr Robathan: Information on the costs of maintaining Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for horses is not held centrally in the format requested. Defence (1) how many members of the Army are due to be on leave in July and August 2012; [117420] Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) what changes have been made to the timeframe in Defence how many horses were maintained by the which members of the Army must be ready for recall in armed forces in each of the last five years. [117110] order to be available to provide security at the London 2012 Olympics; [117421] Mr Robathan: Information on the number of horses (3) how many members of the Army have been asked maintained by the armed forces over the last five years to (a) shorten their leave and (b) be ready for recall to is not held in the format requested. However, there are provide security at the London 2012 Olympics; [117422] currently 501 horses maintained by the armed forces as (4) what changes have been made to Army leave at 13 July 2012. provision for those providing security at the London I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2012 Olympics; [117423] 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 5W, to my hon. (5) how much each rank of the Army is paid during Friend the Member for Carmarthen West and South post-operational tour leave; and how much each rank Pembrokeshire (Simon Hart) regarding the number of will be paid whilst deployed for venue security purposes horses maintained on that date. during the London 2012 Olympics; [117794] Lost Property (6) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, on military support to Olympic security, Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for what additional training those from the Army who will Defence how many (a) USB sticks and (b) laptop be deployed for venue security purposes during the computers issued by his Department were reported lost London 2012 Olympics have received to enable them to by employees in each of the last five years for which perform this task; and what tasks they will be asked to figures are available. [116964] perform; [117867] 763W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 764W

(7) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of readiness to fulfil such requirements and the associated 12 July 2012, on military support to Olympic security, personnel are therefore fully aware of their notice to whether the forces will be given any additional payment move. above that that they would have earned on their post-operational tour leave; [117868] Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the armed forces units called (8) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of on to provide extra security for the London 2012 12 July 2012, on military support to Olympic security, Olympics are proposed to be abolished under his whether any special arrangements have been made for Department’s Army 2020 review. [117676] members of the forces to see their families during the period of the London 2012 Olympics; [117869] Nick Harvey: The only formed ‘unit’ being called on (9) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of to provide the extra 3,500 venue security force which 12 July 2012, on military support to Olympic security, was affected by Army 2020 is 5th Battalion The Royal how many members of the services have had their Regiment of Scotland (the Argyll and Sutherland post-operational tour leave cancelled. [117870] Highlanders). Piracy

Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for information on the number of army personnel due to be Defence what assessment he has made of the on leave in July and August 2012, and the information effectiveness of the extension of Operation Atalanta as on the number of personnel who have been asked to a means of tackling piracy; and if he will make a shorten their leave is not held centrally and could be statement. [117345] provided only at disproportionate cost. No members of the armed forces have had their Nick Harvey: Op Atalanta continues to deter and post-operational tour leave cancelled. As the Secretary prevent piracy off the Horn of Africa; in particular, of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member through its protection of World Food Programme, African for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other in his written statement on 12 July 2012, Official Report, vulnerable shipping. Since its inception in 2008, there columns 42-43WS, we will ensure that all those taking has been a clear decline in the number of successful part receive their full leave entitlement, even if it has to pirate attacks. The extension of the Op Atalanta mandate be rescheduled. in March 2012 until December 2014 will ensure it can continue this work. Personnel from all three armed forces are contributing to providing safety and security for the Olympics. We As part of the mandate extension, the Operation have planned for 13,500 personnel for some time to Commander was authorised to carry out Disruption of provide a range of support. A number of additional Pirate Logistic Dumps (DPLD) ashore and the first units were also warned earlier this year that they may be such activity took place in May 2012. This was deemed required for Olympic duties and their notice to move a success and both impacted upon the pirates’ capability could be subject to change. Notice to move has been to launch attacks and sent a strong message to other brought forward in most cases by between five to nine pirates that the international community will take the days. necessary action to prevent piracy in the region. Radio Frequencies The basic pay for all members of the armed forces does not change whether on duty or on leave. The Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for normal package of allowances will be payable to personnel Defence what progress has been made on his to recognise living conditions and separation, the most Department’s consultation on the release of the significant of which is longer separation allowance. 870-872 and 915-917 MHz bandwidths; and if he will Personnel remain free to see their families on days make a statement on timelines. [117236] off. We are currently looking at what measures can be taken to recognise their efforts. Peter Luff [holding answer 13 July 2012]: The Ministry of Defence is currently liaising with a number of other All those personnel deployed for Olympics duties will Government Departments and Ofcom to conduct the be suitably trained for the tasks they are required to do. technical and regulatory analysis required to enable the Tasks will principally include pedestrian and vehicle sharing of the spectrum in 870-872 and 915-917MHz. I screening, and perimeter security. will write to the hon. Member once the position is clearer. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Reserve Forces Defence during the period of the London 2012 Olympics, what remaining capacity the armed forces Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for have to meet further requests from other Government Defence what targets he has set for the recruitment of Departments to deploy at short notice; and how many reserves; and by what date he expects to have personnel so deployed would have to be recalled from established a contingent of 30,000 reserves. [116728] leave. [117675] Nick Harvey [holding answer 12 July 2012]: The territorial component of the Army has set a manpower Nick Harvey: Defence retains a number of capabilities target of 30,000 trained reservists by 2018. The Royal to cover a broad range of national security and other Auxiliary Air Force has a target of 1,800 and the Royal contingent tasks in support of other Government Navy and Royal Marine Reserve a target of 3,100 by Departments. Some of these capabilities are held at 2018. 765W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 766W

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for day of POL for every nine days in theatre. There is no Defence how much training (a) before and (b) after qualifying period before POL can be received and deployment his Department requires from reservists entitlement commences on the day that personnel deploy. with six months deployed service. [116734] POL is taken once the deployment has been completed. In addition most operational deployments will enable Nick Harvey [holding answer 12 July 2012]: The a period of rest and recuperation (R&R), to be undertaken training requirement depends on the location concerned. during the deployment. Each operational theatre has a stated training standard that both regular and reservist must attain before they Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for are allowed to deploy. At the end of the deployment the Defence pursuant to the Oral Statement of 5 July 2012, reservist returns to the UK. They do not undertake any Official Report, column 1094, on Army 2020, what new further mission specific training but they will begin a training kit, uniforms and equipment have been demobilisation process. They will then return to their purchased for the reservists; and what the timescale is reserve unit and take part in its routine training activities. for its delivery. [117069] Currently, the most onerous training regime is for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. A reservist will Mr Robathan: We have allocated an additional £1.8 billion undertake an uplifted programme within their reserve over 10 years to ensure that reservists will receive the kit unit for one year, then undergo three weeks centralised and the training they need to meet their future roles. training where they demonstrate that they can meet As part of their fully integrated role under Army regular standards and receive initial threat-based individual 2020, equipment is now being delivered to the reserves. training. They will then join the regular unit for This includes modern vehicles, such as refurbished weapons approximately three months collective training before mounted installations kit Land Rovers (RWMIK) with deployment into theatre. the delivery of the initial tranche of 48 starting in October 2012, and a further 12 for a training fleet being Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for delivered once they are no longer required for Operation Defence what the contingency budget is for the HERRICK training, Land Rovers (784 by December initiation of his reforms to the reserve forces. [116928] 2012) and the latest MAN support vehicles (876 by March 2013); Bowman radios, previously withdrawn Mr Robathan: To deliver the future reserves, the from the reserves in 2008-09, now available for issue in Ministry of Defence is planning to invest an additional September 2012 and overseas training exercises from £1.8 billion over the next 10 years. October 2012; and personal combat system combat uniform (issued to all personnel by March 2013). Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legislative proposals he plans to bring Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for forward to encourage employers to release employees Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 5 July 2012, to serve in the Territorial Army. [116929] Official Report, column 1094, on Army 2020, how many formed sub-units and formed units of reservists Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the statement will be part of the adaptable force. [117070] made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge Mr Robathan: The process of reshaping the reserve (Mr Hammond) on 5 July 2012, Official Report, column for their future role has already begun but further work 1085, in which he said that a consultation paper would is required to determine the precise number of reserve be published in the autumn. Following consultation, units and sub-units which will form part of the integrated informed decisions will be made early next year including reaction and adaptable forces. on any legislation necessary to underpin and support our vision for the Reserves. This work is dependent on the future lay-down of regular units with which reserve units will be paired for Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for training, force generation and integration on operations. Defence what the membership is of the independent The intent is to finalise the structure and laydown of scrutiny team considering the process of reshaping of Army reserve units by the end of the year, as part of the the reserves. [116933] Army basing plan.

Mr Robathan: The independent scrutiny team will be Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for headed up by Lieutenant General (retd) Robin Brims Defence (1) what (a) assessment he has made of the and the composition will be announced in due course. prospects for and (b) targets have been set in respect of recruitment to the new 502 (Ulster) Reserve Squadron Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for at JHC Station Aldergrove; [117320] Defence what additional post-deployment rest and (2) what resources his Department has allocated for recuperation will be made available for reservists. the development of the 502 (Ulster) Reserve Squadron [116934] at JHC Station Aldergrove. [117321]

Mr Robathan: Post operational leave (POL) is awarded Mr Robathan: The prospects for recruiting into 502 to regular and reserve personnel as a result of time (Ulster) Sqn RAuxAF are good. The Reserve components spent on a qualifying operational deployment. When a of the Royal Navy and Army in Northern Ireland are reservist is called into permanent service and serves in a already strongly supported and the historical association theatre of operations for which POL is granted then, in between the Royal Air Force and the people of Northern the same way as regular personnel, they will gain one Ireland augurs well for the unit. Recruitment for the 767W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 768W project team and leadership elements will commence Royal Regt 2011-12 within the next six months, followed by recruitment of Scotland 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 part time volunteers. I anticipate the Squadron will reach full manning of some 130 by early 2016. Establishment 2,780 2,788 2,818 2,782 2,775 2,764 Strength 2,461 2,518 2,311 2,332 2,376 2,410 The project has been allocated some £1.5 million over +/- -319 -270 -507 -450 -399 -354 the next four years while the build up is taking place. Thereafter running costs are likely to be in the region of Recruiting 556 486 545 688 455 671 £650,000 per year. Target Actual 418 262 311 639 456 641 Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for +/- -138 -224 -234 -49 1 -30 Defence what funding he has made available to reserve forces in Northern Ireland to fulfil the recruitment The recruitment target figures for 2010-11 are artificially requirement in Future Reserves 2020. [117355] low due to a nine month pause in infantry training. Mr Robathan: As part of the Future Reserves 2020, the armed forces plan to spend £7.7 million on the Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for reserves recruiting campaign which will include recruitment Defence from where he expects recruits to the Argyll activity in Northern Ireland. The single services are and Sutherland Highlanders to be drawn under his now drawing up plans for their marketing campaigns in Department’s proposals for restructuring the Army. financial year 2013-14. [116879]

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Nick Harvey [holding answer 13 July 2012]: Infantry Defence if he will make an assessment of the effect of recruits are not limited to joining regiments or battalions his proposals to increase the period of time during from any particular geographic location. Recruits state which reservists will train and deploy on their mental their regimental preference during the selection process at their recruiting office, and their battalion preference health. [117655] during Phase One training. Mr Robathan: The mental health of all military personnel, Recruits are asked to make three choices of regiment, both regulars and reservists, is of paramount importance. battalion and job or trade. While the Army attempts to Implementation of the recommendations of the Future allocate recruits to their first choice, this will depend on Reserves 2020 (FR20) Review will take place over the their suitability for their chosen trade and vacancies next few years, and any possible implications for the within individual battalions. Priority is given to battalions mental health of reserve personnel will be taken into preparing for operations. account during this process. In his announcement of 5 July 2012, Official While mobilised for deployment, all reservists will Report, columns 1087-88, the Secretary of State for continue to be entitled to the same mental health care as Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and regular personnel, which is provided by the Defence Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced that the Argyll Medical Services. Following demobilisation, any reservist and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion the Royal who believes that the deployment may have adversely Regiment of Scotland, will be re-roled as a public affected their mental health is entitled to apply to the duties company. The Public Duties Incremental Reserves Mental Health Programme (RMHP) for Company (PDIC) will be made up of troops who will assessment and treatment via one of the Ministry of be drawn from the remaining four battalions of The Defence’s 15 Departments of Community Mental Health Royal Regiment of Scotland and will rotate through the (DCMHs). These entitlements will not be affected by company. the FR20 proposals.

Royal Regiment of Scotland Staff

Mr Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for what the (a) recruitment target and (b) level of Defence how many full-time equivalent officials in his recruitment was for each battalion of the Royal Department are working on the delivery of urgent Regiment of Scotland in each year since the Regiment operational requirements. [117473] was formed. [116614] Peter Luff [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The number Nick Harvey: The Royal Regiment of Scotland was of staff working on the delivery of urgent operational formed from the six regiments of the Scottish Division requirements (UORs) will vary depending upon the into a single regiment of five regular battalions and two number and complexity of UORs that are in progress at reserve battalions in March 2006. any particular time. Currently, there are approximately 455 full-time equivalent Defence equipment & support The Army sets recruitment targets at regimental level. personnel employed in their delivery. Additional personnel Recruits are then allocated to the battalion within their across the Ministry of Defence are engaged in ongoing chosen regiment where the demand is greatest. Priority support to equipment delivered through the UOR process is given to battalions preparing for operations. including the provision of technical advice, inspection, Recruiting figures and manning levels for the Royal integration, testing and pre-deployment training. The Regiment of Scotland since its formation are shown in additional number of personnel engaged in these activities the following table. could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 769W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 770W

Trident Submarines confidently and capability to work with minimal supervision. They must have passed their most recent Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for fitness test, be medically fit and have authorised annual Defence what representations he has received from the leave for the full period. First Minister of Wales and Welsh Assembly In 2012, 315 armed forces personnel supported the Government on the relocation of the Trident nuclear Wimbledon tennis championships. These personnel took weapons system to Milford Haven. [117056] annual leave for the full period and did not claim travel or subsistence costs. The All England Lawn Tennis and Nick Harvey: I have not received any official Croquet Club paid each individual a daily rate of representations from the First Minister of Wales or the accommodation and food allowance for each day of the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the basing in championships. Wales of the nuclear deterrent fleet. The UK is not making plans for Scottish independence and is not making plans to move the nuclear deterrent or other WORK AND PENSIONS submarines from Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde. The UK Government position is clear: Scotland benefits Atos Healthcare from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of Veterans: Radiation Exposure 27 February 2012, Official Report, columns 24-5W, on Atos Healthcare: manpower, when he plans to take a decision on re-introducing Atos Healthcare Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for professionals into benefit centres. [116556] Defence if he will publish the terms of his Department’s settlement proposal for British nuclear Chris Grayling: The deployment of Atos Healthcare test programme veterans, including the total sums Professionals in benefit centres was trialled to see whether discussed by the parties. [115596] it would improve communications between the Healthcare Professionals and the DWP Decision Makers, as Mr Robathan: In accordance with the wishes of recommended by Professor Malcolm Harrington. Mr Justice Foskett of the High Court discussions were A telephone advice line was formally introduced from held between representatives of the Ministry of Defence December last year, whereby Decision Makers are able and the Claimants involved in the Atomic Veterans to call Healthcare Professionals to discuss individual group litigation. I am unable to publish the terms of the cases on which they require further clarification. This discussions because these were and remain subject to a provides a more responsive and cost effective service confidentiality agreement between the parties. than face to face deployment. Such discussions took place before the hearings This along with the other recommendations from conducted by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court Professor Harrington’s first review are continuing to be in which both courts ruled against the Atomic Veterans monitored and evaluated to support the ongoing case proceeding. programme of improvements the Government has committed to. Veterans: Teachers DWP are completing a series of evaluation reports and the findings will feed into Professor Harrington Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for third independent review, expected to be published in Defence how many service personnel have participated November. Based on the findings, decisions will be in the Troops to Teachers programme since its made later in the year on implementing further inception. [115651] recommendations to improve the work capability assessment process, including whether to trial again HCP deployment Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer in benefit centres. given by the Minister for Schools, my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), Bmibaby: Redundancy on 13 July 2012, Official Report, column 421W. Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Wimbledon Tennis Championships for Work and Pensions what support he plans to provide to pilots who may be made redundant as a result of the closure of the airline bmibaby to find new Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for jobs which match their skillsets. [117183] Defence (1) what the criteria were for selection for armed forces personnel deployed at the Wimbledon Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus through its Rapid tennis championships this month; [116926] Response Service is working closely with bmibaby to (2) how many armed forces personnel were deployed deliver a comprehensive package of support to pilots at the Wimbledon tennis championships this month; and other staff affected by potential redundancies. and what the cost to the public purse was of such The support package includes Jobsfairs which were deployments. [116927] held 13-14 June which were opened by the bmibaby managing director These were attended by 24 national Mr Robathan: Non-commissioned service personnel and international employers. are invited to volunteer as service stewards at the Wimbledon These were followed by another Jobsfair on 18 June. tennis championships. Successful volunteers are selected In attendance were national and international on their military character, presentation, ability to speak manufacturing companies. 771W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 772W

Currently a two day Jobsfair is under way in West Employment and Support Allowance Drayton (London) at which other UK airlines are offering jobs and support. Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for In addition, a Jobcentre Plus specialist adviser has Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants been seconded to work at bmi headquarters at East found not fit for work were placed in (a) the support Midlands airport, providing advice and guidance to group and (b) on a work related activity group in the support those involved in the redundancy situation. latest period for which figures are available. [116392] Further support includes an event aimed specifically at pilots and cabin crew which is currently being planned. Chris Grayling: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance Children: Maintenance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest report was published in April 2012 and can be found on the internet at the following link: Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many families in Newport http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/ East constituency are using the Child Support Agency index.php?page=esa_wca for maintenance payments; [117777] Employment Schemes (2) what the total uncollected arrears is for Child Support Agency-managed maintenance payments in Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Newport East constituency. [117778] Work and Pensions how many people joined the Work programme in 2011-12 in (a) Worcestershire and (b) Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Redditch. [110998] Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner Chris Grayling: The number of people taking part in to write to the hon. Member with the information the Work programme for the period 1 June 2011 to requested and I have seen the response. 31 January 2012 are shown in the following table. Letter from Noel Shanahan: Type In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive Area Referrals Attachments reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child County— 3,390 3,200 Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance Worcestershire and Enforcement Commission (“the Commission”). Local authority— 700 680 You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how Redditch many families in Newport East constituency are using the Child Notes: Support Agency for maintenance payments. [117777] and 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what also been applied. Figures are refreshed each quarter and are subject to change. 2. Referrals: Referrals shown are ‘net’ referrals which do not include rejections, the total uncollected arrears is for Child Support Agency-managed cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. maintenance payments in Newport East constituency. [117778] 3. Attachments: The date of the first engagement activity between the provider In the quarter to March 2012, there were 1,960 Child Support and the participant as recorded on the payment administrative system. 4. County: The claimant’s county at the time of referral. Agency cases where the parent with care resides in Newport East 5. Local authority: The claimant’s local authority at the time of referral. Parliamentary Constituency. Source: In the year to March 2012, the total amount of maintenance DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS). collected and arranged for those cases where the parent with care resides in Newport East Parliamentary Constituency was £2,462,000 Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for of which £874,000 was arrears. Work and Pensions how many people identified as In March 2012, the total amount of outstanding arrears owed having (a) drug and (b) alcohol problems have been by non-resident parents on those cases where the parent with care referred to the Work programme so far. [117792] resides in Newport East Parliamentary Constituency stood at £6,479,000. £3,598,000 of this is owed specifically to the parents Chris Grayling: The information for the period 1 June with care with the remainder owed to the Secretary of State. 2011 to 31 January 2012 is in the following table:

Employers’ Liability Primary health condition Number

Alcoholism 1,810 Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Drug abuse 1,150 Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of Notes: 30 April 2012, Official Report, column 1319W, on 1. Figures are cumulative and are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum employers’ liability, when he expects to provide an due to rounding. 2. Referrals shown are ’net’ referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations update on the progress of the Employers’ Liability or referrals to ESA information systems. Insurance Bureau; what has caused the delay in 3. Primary health condition is for employment and support allowance/incapacity providing an update; and if he will make a statement. benefit customers only. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health [117919] Organisation. Medical condition is based on evidence provided and this in itself does not confer entitlement to employment and support allowance/incapacity Chris Grayling: I appreciate that the Government’s benefit. Source: response to the consultation is taking longer to publish DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS). than many had hoped. However, the issues raised are complex, and to ensure we get this right we have been Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for working intensely with stakeholders, including the insurance Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 25 June industry, over the past 18 months to find a solution. 2012, Official Report, column 6, on jobseeker training, 773W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 774W what standards companies are required to meet before Employment Schemes: Birmingham they are approved to provide placements for Work Programme participants. [117932] Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from Chris Grayling: Work Programme providers and their Birmingham, Ladywood constituency have (a) supply chain partners are obligated under the terms of volunteered and (b) been required to take part in the their contracts to ensure the safety and well being of Work Programme in the last 12 months. [115652] participants on provision. This includes an appropriate health and safety induction, training and supervision Chris Grayling: The number of voluntary and mandatory while participants are on work placement. referrals to the Work Programme for the period 1 June All providers should have systems in place for checking 2011 to 31 January 2012 are shown in the following that participants are engaged in a healthy and safe table. working environment and that the employer has appropriate Employers Liability Insurance in place. Referral type Providers are also responsible for ensuring that Parliamentary participants are not exploited. Prior to arranging work constituency Voluntary Mandatory experience with an employer, providers should check Birmingham, 50 3,580 that the placement is genuine, and that the participant Ladywood does not fill a role which would otherwise have been a Notes: vacancy. 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest 10 to avoid data disclosure. 2. Referrals shown are ’net’ referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for 3. Geographies are at the time of referral. Work and Pensions what discussions his Department 4. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a claimant’s circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of claimants appear in has had with Close Protection UK on the Work an incorrect group caused by the way information is recorded on the administrative Programme. [117938] system. 5. Mandatory referrals are classified as referrals to the following customer groups; JSA 18-24, JSA 25+, JSA NEET, JSA Claiming 22 of 24 Mths, JSA Chris Grayling: The Department places responsibility ExIB, ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory and ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth for managing relationships with companies providing Mandatory ExIB. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf work placements in the hands of Work Programme Source: providers. Therefore, the Department has no direct DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS) interaction with companies. Consequently, although the Department has not had direct discussions with Close Protection UK, Work Programme providers who have Employment Schemes: Scotland placed individuals with this company have had the appropriate discussions with them. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from (a) Employment Schemes: Bexley Scotland, (b) each local authority in Scotland and (c) each parliamentary constituency in Scotland have (i) volunteered and (ii) been required to take part in the Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Work programme in the last 12 months. [115411] and Pensions how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley have been required to take part in the Work Chris Grayling: The number of people taking part in the Work programme in the last 12 months for which programme since its inception. [115575] figures are available (1 June 2011 to 31 January 2012) are shown in the following table. Chris Grayling: The number of mandatory referrals to the Work programme for the period 1 June 2011 to 31 Referral type January 2012 is shown in the following table: Area Mandatory Voluntary

Area Mandatory referral (a) Region

Parliamentary constituency— 670 Scotland 56,310 1,770 Bexleyheath and Crayford Local authority—Bexley 1,660 (b) Local authority Notes: Aberdeen 1,240 50 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest 10 to avoid data disclosure. Aberdeenshire 660 30 2. Referrals shown are ‘net’ referrals which do not include rejections, Angus 880 70 cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. Argyll and Bute 750 30 3. Geographies are at the time of referral. 4. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a Clackmannanshire 770 — claimant’s circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of Dumfries and Galloway 960 20 claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is Dundee 2,310 30 recorded on the administrative system. 5. Mandatory referrals are classified as referrals to the following customer East Ayrshire 2,130 30 groups; JSA 18-24, JSA 25+, JSA NEET, JSA Claiming 22 of 24 Mths, JSA East Dunbartonshire 670 20 ExIB, ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory and ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory ExIB. More detailed information can be found at: East Lothian 680 40 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf East Renfrewshire 490 10 Source: Edinburgh 4,090 240 DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS) Falkirk 1,630 20 775W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 776W

Referral type Referral type Area Mandatory Voluntary Area Mandatory Voluntary

Fife 4,700 100 Glasgow North West 1,590 20 Glasgow 11,280 190 Glasgow South 1,370 10 Highland (Islands) 1,380 40 Glasgow South West 1,720 50 Inverclyde 910 40 Glenrothes 1,500 20 Gordon 180 — Midlothian 710 60 Inverclyde 910 40 Moray 470 10 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch 550 20 North Ayrshire 2,290 90 and Strathspey North Lanarkshire 4,490 120 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 1,590 20 Orkney 90 — Kirkcaldy and 1,590 60 Cowdenbeath Perth and Kinross 620 40 Lanark and Hamilton East 1,120 20 Renfrewshire 2,090 80 Linlithgow and East 1,150 80 Scottish Borders 860 70 Falkirk Shetland 50 10 Livingston 980 70 South Ayrshire 990 50 Midlothian 710 60 South Lanarkshire 3,620 90 Moray 470 10 Stirling 610 10 Motherwell and Wishaw 1,500 20 West Dunbartonshire 1,940 20 North Ayrshire and Arran 1,620 70 North East Fife 370 — West Lothian 1,590 150 Ochil and South Perthshire 920 10 Western Isles 200 — Orkney and Shetland 140 20 Unknown 150 — Paisley and Renfrewshire 800 20 North (c) Parliamentary Paisley and Renfrewshire 1,280 60 constituency South Aberdeen North 770 40 Perth and North Perthshire 460 40 Ross, Skye and Lochaber 250 10 Aberdeen South 420 10 Rutherglen and Hamilton 1,410 20 Airdrie and Shotts 1,210 50 West Angus 790 60 Stirling 610 10 Argyll and Bute 750 30 West Aberdeenshire and 130 — Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock 1,220 40 Kincardine West Dunbartonshire 1,940 20 Banff and Buchan 400 30 Unknown 210 10 Berwickshire, Roxburgh 780 60 and Selkirk Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest ten to avoid data Caithness, Sutherland and 570 TO disclosure. “—”indicates nil or negligible. Easter Ross 2. The components of the table may not sum to the total due to independent Central Ayrshire 980 40 rounding. 3. Referrals shown are ’net referrals which do not include rejections, Coatbridge, Chryston and 1,160 40 cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. Bellshill 4. Geographies are at the time of referral. Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and 940 20 5. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a Kirkintilloch East claimant’s circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is Dumfries and Galloway 660 10 recorded on the administrative system. Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale 510 20 6. Mandatory referrals are classified as referrals to the following customer and Tweeddale groups. 7. JSA 18-24, JSA 25+, JSA NEET, JSA Claiming 22 of 24 Mths, JSA ExIB, Dundee East 1,070 20 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory and ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Dundee West 1,330 20 Mandatory ExIB. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf Dunfermline and West Fife 1,240 10 Source: East Dunbartonshire 350 10 DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS) East Kilbride, Strathaven 960 50 and Lesmahagow Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for East Lothian 680 40 Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Scotland East Renfrewshire 490 10 and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have Edinburgh East 1,040 60 (i) volunteered and (ii) been required to take part in the Edinburgh North and Leith 1,120 40 work programme in the last 12 months. [116298] Edinburgh South 530 30 Edinburgh South West 830 80 Chris Grayling: The number of people taking part in Edinburgh West 560 30 the Work Programme in the last 12 months for which Na h-Eileanan an Iar 200 — figures are available (1 June 2011 to 31 January 2012) Falkirk 1,090 10 are shown in the following table. Glasgow Central 1,650 40 Referral type Glasgow East 1,950 40 Area Mandatory Voluntary Glasgow North 980 10 Glasgow North East 1,990 20 Region—Scotland 56,310 1,770 777W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 778W

Chris Grayling: Statistics on how many people were Referral type in receipt of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, Area Mandatory Voluntary (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the Parliamentary constituency— 1,590 20 UK in each of the last five years are available on the Kilmarnock and Loudoun Department’s website at: Notes: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Referrals shown are ’net’ referrals which do not include rejections, Guidance for users is available at: cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf 3. Geographies are at the time of referral. 4. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a claimant’s circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of Income Support claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is recorded on the administrative system. Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work 5. Mandatory referrals are classified as referrals to the following customer groups; JSA 18-24, JSA 25+, JSA NEET, JSA Claiming 22 of 24 Mths, JSA and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number ExlB, ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory and ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth of people in the UK in receipt of income support who Mandatory ExiB. More detailed information can be found at: have parental responsibility for a child under the age of http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf Source: 15 who ordinarily resides with that person or are in DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS) receipt of a qualifying component. [116679]

Employment Schemes: Young People Chris Grayling: As at May 2010, the number of children under the age of 15 years and dependent on a Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for parent or guardian who is claiming income support, in Work and Pensions how many 18 to 24-year-olds Great Britain was 1,563,850. resident in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency have Notes: taken up one of the (a) additional work experience 1. The figure is rounded to the nearest 10. places and (b) subsidised jobs provided under the 2. Data for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department Youth Contract. [109014] for Social Development. Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available Source: and has not previously been published as official statistics. DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data and We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the HMRC Child Benefit administrative data. statistics requested within the disproportionate cost Jobcentre Plus limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Official Statistics. Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a Housing Benefit: Young People copy of each document relating to his Department’s pilot of customer segmentation at Jobcentre Plus. Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and [117793] Pensions how many people under the age of 25 and in receipt of housing benefit were (a) in employment and Chris Grayling: The Government White Paper of (b) not in employment in each (i) parliamentary December 2009 offered Jobcentre Plus the opportunity constituency and (ii) local authority area in (A) to identify four ‘Black Box’ districts, finding local and England, (B) Scotland and (C) Wales in each of the last flexible ways to personalise services to customers. In four financial years. [115264] Jobcentre Plus this became known as Delegated Flexibility Steve Webb: Information is not readily available for Pilots and, later Local Autonomy Trailblazers—now housing benefit recipients aged under 25 at parliamentary Freedoms and Flexibilities Trailblazers. constituency level, and to provide it would incur The main focus of the trailblazers has always been disproportionate cost. improving the quality of services offered by Jobcentre The information requested by local authority is not Plus, tailoring services to customers. Greater Manchester available. Central and Cheshire District’s trailblazer has looked to build this ethos of tailoring services upon Customer The economic status of all housing benefit (HB) Insight. recipients is not available. Information is only available for those HB recipients whose claim is not passported: Customer Insight can play a big part in ensuring that is for those who do not receive either income relevance, to a local level, in the services we offer. support, jobseeker’s allowance (income-based), employment Independently of the Flexibilities Trailblazers, DWP and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit commissioned research to better understand DWP’s (guaranteed credit). A small proportion of the passported customers’ attitudes to, values and beliefs about work. cases will be in part-time employment. This research is called ‘Beliefs about work: An attitudinal The available information for housing benefit recipients- segmentation of out-of-work people in Great Britain’. aged under 25 by local authority has been placed in the The published report on this research is available on the Library. DWP intralink. Incapacity Benefit Our exploration in how we were progressing with tailoring services to customers identified that we were Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work relying on a largely intuitive way of working out how to and Pensions how many people were in receipt of best tailor services to customers and, within the offer of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) Freedoms and Flexibilities, there was an opportunity to South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in inject more use of customer insight to better tailor each of the last five years. [106955] services. 779W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 780W

Teams in Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire Pay designed several segmentation and diagnostic tools, particularly in the early months of its Delegated Flexibility Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Pilot. Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire District Work and Pensions what the lowest hourly rate paid to brought the research and the Freedoms and Flexibilities staff by his Department is; how many members of staff status together, developing a segmentation and diagnostic based outside London are paid less than £7.20 per tool called ‘Reperio’. hour; and how many members of staff based in Operating with psychographic data, the Reperio tool London are paid less than £8.30 per hour. [116379] works in such a way that it will use the database of Chris Grayling: DWP employees are paid an annual information from the original research to reflect a new salary. customer’s current appeal to the labour market—a tool The lowest annual salary paid to staff is £14,400 that operates using Customer Insight. which equates to an hourly rate of £7.48. The tool is designed to support advisers in delivering No DWP staff based outside of London are paid less more insightful interviews, understanding how to improve than £7.20 per hour. An hourly rate of £7.20 equates to their approach to finding work and encourage tailored an annual salary of £13,853 (for staff based outside of action planning to achieve this. London). It was designed essentially as a proof of concept that No DWP staff based in London are paid less than such a tool could be devised and used to support our £8.30 per hour. An hourly rate of £8.30 equates to an advisory service in better segmenting our customer annual salary of £15,538 (for staff based in London). bases and conducting more insightful diagnoses of The lowest salary paid to staff in London is an annual customers’ needs. salary of £18,050 which equates to an hourly rate of Local use has been small but emerging findings include £9.64. more sophisticated customer diagnosis of needs for different services, and improved customer segmentation. Pension, Disability and Carers Service One Jobcentre found that using Reperio to organise Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work customers to different group sessions improved off-flow and Pensions (1) in what circumstances the Chief performance by 20% from those attending those sessions. Operating Officer, in the Pensions, Disability and Wessex District, another Freedoms and Flexibilities Carers Service of his Department signs replies to hon. pilot district, has been using an old version of the tool Members who have written on behalf of their which they tailored to suit their needs. constituents; [117812] West London District is now scoping a trial of the (2) how many replies the Chief Operating Officer in tool, including experts from corporate teams to conduct the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service of his a full evaluation of the tool. Currently, there are no Department signed to hon. Members who have written reports or evaluation to publish, hence the trial is a real on behalf of their constituents in the last (a) six and opportunity to test Reperio’s true potential and gather (b) 12 months. [117816] resulting evaluation. In Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire, Stretford’s Chris Grayling: The DWP’s Chief Operating Officer Universal Credit Live Innovations Test is using elements (COO) is responsible for the operational delivery of of the latest version of Reperio as part of that testing DWP services previously delivered by Jobcentre Plus process. The latest version of the tool is called ‘About and the Pension Disability and Carers Service. This Me’. includes responsibility for ensuring replies are sent to hon. Members who have written to the COO, or to Jobseeker’s Allowance Ministers, on operational matters. Due to the volumes Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for of correspondence received, the COO cannot personally Work and Pensions how many lone parents are in reply on every occasion. He personally replies to 15 letters receipt of jobseeker’s allowance in Barnsley a week from hon. Members across a range of issues; all other letters are responded to by an appropriate DWP metropolitan borough. [107819] operations director. Chris Grayling: In April 2012, there were 495 lone The information about the number of replies is not parents claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Barnsley local available in the form requested; the available information authority. is in the following table: The figure has been rounded to the nearest five. Replies to hon. Members correspondence from the DWP’s Chief Operating Part-time Employment Officer (COO) and operational directors 2011 Jan-June 2012

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Letters addressed to Ministers 2,209 1,209 Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the Letters addressed to COO/officials 4,886 2,204 total number of households containing a couple Total 7,095 3,413 working 16 to 18 hours a week on the minimum wage Source: living in their own house and paying £1000 in council DWP management information tax. [117435] Post Office Card Account Chris Grayling: We use Family Resources Survey data Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work to provide estimates of household economic status and and Pensions how many people in each region use the housing costs. However, the sample size is not sufficient Post Office card account for receipt of (a) state to provide estimates for small groups such as those pension, (b) pension credit and (c) other benefits. requested. [117167] 781W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 782W

Steve Webb: The information is not available in the limit and, if so, will issue them in an official statistics format requested as data held relates to payment accounts release in accordance with the code of practice for rather than people. A customer may receive benefits in official statistics. the form of a separate payment for each benefit to which they are entitled or a single, combined payment. Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents Each of these payments is termed a payment account which would be paid into the same Post Office card account. Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of Payments into Post Office card accounts, by benefit type and region, at 31 March 2012 lone parents with children under five years to whom State pension Pension credit Other benefits the household benefit cap will apply; and how many such people are currently in receipt of income support All 1,358,980 700,510 1,425,050 (a) in total and (b) in each Jobcentre Plus district in England. [109759] North East 80,690 50,430 102,510 North West 181,860 99,730 234,770 Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available Yorkshire and 140,100 71,770 137,870 and has not previously been published as official statistics. Humberside We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the West Midlands 105,470 47,550 90,930 statistics requested within the disproportionate cost East Midlands 142,230 77,520 143,420 limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics East of England 107,570 48,480 79,000 release in accordance with the Code of Practice for London 89,040 67,450 157,680 Official Statistics. South East 124,940 53,690 98,840 South West 128,670 50,550 85,150 Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Wales 118,850 53,240 120,410 Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of Scotland 139,550 80,090 174,480 lone parents subject to the benefit cap who have Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, totals may not sum due to rounding. children aged (a) under six months, (b) six months to 2. Figures only relate to live and in payment accounts on the specified date. a year, (c) between one and two years and (d) between 3. Data does not include Northern Ireland. two and five years. [109760] 4. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one payments account will be counted for each account. 5. Where a combined payment is made, this is shown under the heading Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available corresponding to the benefit system used to pay the combined payment. and has not previously been published as official statistics. 6. Child benefit is now administered by HM Revenue and Customs and war pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the excluded. statistics requested within the disproportionate cost Source: limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics DWP, Information, Governance and Security Directorate, 100% data. release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Public Expenditure Official Statistics. Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Pensions what estimate he has made of the total Work and Pensions whether he expects his Department number of children of lone parents in receipt of to underspend its budget for 2012-13; and what income support who will be affected by the household estimate he has made of any such underspend. [116468] benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus district in England. Chris Grayling: The OBR forecast underspends in [109761] Departmental Expenditure Limits as part of their Economic and Fiscal Outlook in the autumn. Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. As part of the Transparency Agenda the Government We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the publishes the full detail of plans and outturn for all statistics requested within the disproportionate cost Departments after the end of the financial year, usually limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics in September. HM Treasury publish outturn data for all release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Departments from the COINS database, available on Official Statistics. the Treasury website on a quarterly basis. Forecasts for 2012-13 outturn by Department will be published at Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Budget 2013. Pensions how many children aged (a) up to one year and (b) between one and five years there are in Social Security Benefits lone-parent households who will be subject to the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus area in Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and London. [109762] Pensions how many families in receipt of carers’ allowance will be affected by the household benefit cap Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available in each Jobcentre Plus district. [109763] and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider, whether it is feasible to produce the Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available statistics requested within the disproportionate cost and has not previously been published as official statistics. limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the release in accordance with the Code of Practice for statistics requested within the disproportionate cost Official Statistics. 783W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 784W

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Work Capability Assessment Pensions how many lone-parent households will be affected by the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Plus district in London where the household is in Work and Pensions how many people identified as receipt of (a) income support, (b) jobseeker’s having (a) drug and (b) alcohol problems were allowance, (c) maternity allowance, (d) carers referred for a work capability assessment in each year allowance, (e) employment support allowance and (f) since the assessment was introduced. [117871] incapacity benefit. [109764] Chris Grayling: The Department has published Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available information on the outcomes of work capability assessments and has not previously been published as official statistics. broken down by detailed medical condition, including We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the mental and behavioural disorders due to use of drugs statistics requested within the disproportionate cost and alcohol. It can be found at the following link: limit and, if so, will issue them in an official statistics http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2011/ release in accordance with the code of practice for 110906_wcaresultsbycondition_clean.xls official statistics. Please note that this publication covers all new employment and support allowance claims that began Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations between October 2008 and November 2010 and does not break them down on a yearly basis. We will consider Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested Work and Pensions if he will ensure that each Atos within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will assessment centre has a recording device available so issue them in an official statistics release in accordance that medical assessments can be recorded at the request with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. of a claimant or their representative. [R] [117849] Work Capability Assessment: Mental Illness Chris Grayling: Based on the results of a trial during 2011, we have not implemented universal recording for Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for claimants going through the work capability assessment Work and Pensions (1) what recent representations he (WCA). We have asked Atos Healthcare to accommodate has received on current assessments made by Atos requests for audio recording, where a claimant makes a Healthcare of people with mental health conditions; request in advance of their assessment. This approach and if he will make a statement; [117687] began in late 2011 and we will monitor take-up during (2) whether he plans to make any changes to work 2012 before making a decision on the requirement for capability assessments for people with mental health recording assessments, taking into account factors such conditions. [117688] as value for money and the value it adds to the WCA process. Chris Grayling: The Department continues to value As part of this process we are also reviewing Atos the views of disability groups and we are engaged in capacity to provide recordings for those claimants who ongoing and helpful dialogue both at ministerial and currently request one. Additional machines have been official level with group representatives. ordered. However a large scale purchase of machines in Recognising that particular concerns have been raised the absence of an evaluation of the process is not about the way the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) effective use of public money. Although there have been works for people with mental health conditions, Professor increases in requests these still represent only a small Harrington, as part of his second independent review percentage of overall work capability assessments. of the WCA, has asked leading mental health charities In the meantime, while Atos will do all that they can to make recommendations to refine the mental, intellectual to accommodate requests for audio recording there may and cognitive descriptors used in the assessment. be times when the service cannot be offered, for example Professor Harrington agreed with the Government where it has not be possible to get access to recording that further evidence is required to establish whether equipment on the date/time of the WCA. In these the charities’ proposed descriptors would make the circumstances clients will be told in advance that their assessment more accurate and we are currently working request cannot be accommodated and offered a later with these groups to build up such an evidence base. date. Meanwhile the Department is also engaging with the charities to consider whether there are changes that Statistics could be made to the ESA50 questionnaire. In particular, we wish to understand whether it is possible to incorporate Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for elements of the recommendations around frequency, Work and Pensions with reference to the letter of severity and duration into the questionnaire to improve 28 June 2012 from the Chair of the UK Statistics the collection of information from individuals with Authority to the right hon. Member for East Ham, if fluctuating conditions. he will make it his policy that speeches made by Ministers in his Department are checked by departmental statisticians before delivery. [117775] BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Chris Grayling: The Department’s normal procedure 3D Copying is that ministerial speeches are checked by analysts in the relevant policy area who are familiar with the statistics, Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for as the Permanent Secretary of the Department explained Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) meetings he in his letter to the authority of 28 June 2012. has had with and (b) representations he has received 785W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 786W from designers in the film and theatre industries on achievements had a length of stay of six months or less, section 51 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents 56.1% (97,690 achievements) had a length of stay of Act 1988 and the protection of designs for sets, props 12 months or less and 43.9% (76,390 achievements) had and costumes against 3D copying; and whether he a length of stay of 13 months or more. Achievements plans to review the effect of that section on such and durations relate to starts in any academic year. designs. [117389] It should be noted that apprenticeship durations do not necessarily reflect the guided learning hours or the Norman Lamb: Officials from the Intellectual Property actual length of time in learning. For this reason Office have had one meeting with representatives of the apprenticeship durations should be seen as contributory film industry to discuss this issue and have received no information to any broader assessment of the apprenticeship more than three written submissions. experience and quality. The measure is intended to There are no plans to review the application of section 51. exclude those apprentices with some prior attainment. From August 2012 Ministers have decided that an Absenteeism apprenticeship must last at least 12 months for under 19s, and for adults unless prior learning is recorded and John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for funding reduced accordingly, in order to ensure that Business, Innovation and Skills what the absenteeism every apprenticeship involves sufficient new learning rate was in his Department in each of the last three and opportunity to embed new skills. years. [116661] Information on apprenticeship starts and success rates is published in a Statistical First Release (SFR). The Norman Lamb: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012: gave to the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds (Mr Ruffley) on 10 July 2012, Official Report, columns 166-68W. http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current Aerospace Industry Information on apprenticeship achievements by duration is published within the ’Other Statistics’ section of the Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for SFR website: Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ aerospace sector is to the economy in (a) the UK, (b) statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_other_statistics/ the East Midlands, (c) Nottinghamshire and (d) Ashfield constituency. [117394] Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many Mr Prisk: Latest figures from the Office for National apprenticeships in sales and telesales were started by Statistics show that the manufacture, maintenance and people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) over 25 repair of aircraft and spacecraft contributed £5.3 billion years old in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; [117142] of gross value added to the UK economy in 2010. Gross (2) how many apprenticeships were started by people value added figures for this sector are not compiled at aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) over 25 years the regional, county and constituency level. old in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [117144]

Apprentices Mr Hayes: Table 1 gives the overall number of apprenticeship programme starts and those in the “sales Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State and telesales” framework by age for 2010/11 and the for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many first nine months of 2011/12. apprenticeships have been taken up since May 2010; Provisional data for the first nine months of the and how many of those apprenticeships have ended 2011/12 academic year (August 2011 to April 2012) before their anticipated date of completion; [116345] provide an early view of performance and will change (2) how many apprenticeships since May 2010 have as further data returns are received from further education ceased before (a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) colleges and providers. These data should not be compared two years; [116346] against data from earlier academic years. Figures for (3) how many people have taken up an 2011/12 will be updated in the October 2012 Statistical apprenticeship since May 2010. [116347] First Release. Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in the sales and telesales framework Mr Hayes [holding answer 12 July 2012]: An estimated by age, 2010/11 (final data) and 2011/12 (provisional) 904,900 apprenticeship starts have taken place between 2010/11 2011/12 August to May 2010 and April 2012. This includes provisional Framework Age (Final) April (Provisional) data (383,200 starts) for the period since August 2011, Sales and Under 19 530 280 which is subject to further adjustment. Telesales In 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are 19-24 860 920 available, 192,900 apprenticeships ended more than a 25+ 630 1,090 month before the anticipated end date. Of these, 82,200 Total 2,020 2,300 successfully achieved an apprenticeship. However for the programme as a whole the apprenticeship success All Under 19 131,700 104,500 rate was 76.4%. These data relate to all learners irrespective Apprenticeship of when they started. Frameworks In 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are 19-24 143,400 119,000 available, 15.9% (27,660 achievements) of apprenticeship 25+ 182,100 159,600 787W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 788W

Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in the sales and telesales framework Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was by age, 2010/11 (final data) and 2011/12 (provisional) published on 28 June 2012: 2010/11 2011/12 August to Framework Age (Final) April (Provisional) http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current Total 457,200 383,200 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ Notes statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/ 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 apart from the totals which are Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/ rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 2. Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme. Source: Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Individualised Learner Record. Business, Innovation and Skills what skills units Further breakdowns of the number of apprenticeship subjects are eligible for his policy to allow micro starts and achievements are published in supplementary companies to add up to two broader business skills table to the quarterly Post 16 Further Education and units to apprenticeships. [117843] Skills Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012 at: Mr Hayes: The Education and Skills Growth Review http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ contained a commitment to enable micro businesses statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current to add up to two broader business skills units to any http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/ full apprenticeship, recognising the wider skills range statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/ that employees in such businesses will often need. The Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/ National Apprenticeship Service will be publishing the final agreed list of units on 1 August via their website. Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for This will include units in accountancy, business Business, Innovation and Skills how much the administration, customer service and other units that Government spent on (a) apprenticeships and (b) have been identified by small businesses. apprenticeships in sales and telesales in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [117143] Business: Regulation Mr Hayes: Government spending on apprenticeships in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years is set out in Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Table 1 as follows. Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he Table 1: Government spending on apprenticeships has given to extending the moratorium on new £000 regulation for micro-businesses beyond 2014. [117666] BIS funded adult (19+) DFE funded (16-18) apprenticeships apprenticeships Mr Prisk: The Government has no plans to extend 2010-11 450,880 744,870 the moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro- 2011-12 624,602 758,966 businesses and start-ups at the present time. Source: Skills Funding Agency Annual Report 2011 -12 Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for We estimate that just over £4 million1 of Government Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he funding supported the delivery of sales and telesales is giving to implementing a one-in, one-out process for apprenticeship frameworks in the 2010/11 academic aspects of legislation affecting businesses other than year for those aged 16 and over. Information for the regulation. [117667] 2011/12 academic year is not available yet. 1 Figures for estimated funding come from the individualised Mr Prisk: One of the most significant areas of learner record. They provide an indication of the level of Government legislation affecting business other than regulation is funding. They should not be treated as actual spend, as spending tax. For the spending review period Her Majesty’s is not reported at the framework level. Revenue and Customs (HMRC) aims to reduce costs for customers in meeting their tax obligations, while Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for committing not to increase the administrative burdens Business, Innovation and Skills how many on business. HMRC has also strengthened the external apprenticeships starts there were by people aged (a) 16 and independent challenge function of the Administrative to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 and over in (i) the North Burdens Advisory Board (ABAB), its panel of businesses East, (ii) the North West. (iii) Yorkshire and the and tax professionals who are either SMEs or work Humber, (iv) the East Midlands, (v) the West with them. Midlands, (vi) the East of England, (vii) London, (viii) the South East and (ix) the South West in the first three In response to a review of small business related issues by the Office of Tax Simplification HMRC is quarters of 2010-11. [117262] consulting on a simpler system for small businesses to calculate tax on a cash receipts basis, and on simplified Mr Hayes [holding answer 13 July 2012]: I will place business expenses. HMRC also published, at Budget in the Libraries of the House data which shows the 2012, the report ″Making tax easier, quicker and simpler number of apprenticeship starts by age, region and for small business″ which sets out HMRC’s commitments quarter in the 2010-11 academic year. to helping small businesses to find tax easier to understand, Further breakdowns of the number of apprenticeship and to making it simpler and quicker for them to do starts are published in supplementary table to the what they need to do (register, keep records, file, pay), quarterly Post 16 Further Education and Skills with greater certainty and accuracy. 789W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 790W

Business: Rural Areas Gross value added of the construction industry £ million Derbyshire Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for North and East United Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to NottinghamshireNottinghamshire midlands Kingdom reduce the burden of administration on rural 2008 933 3,375 6,919 98,467 businesses. [117341] 2009 856 3,054 6,194 85,576 2010 — — — 88,857 Mr Prisk: The Government is committed to reducing Source: the overall burden of regulation on all business, which Regional, sub-regional and local gross value added 2010 and UK National includes rural businesses. To achieve this, the Government Accounts; both ONS has announced a ‘One-In, One-Out’ rule, so that any new regulatory burden cannot be introduced without Debts: Advisory Services another being removed, and a moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro businesses and start-ups Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for until April 2014. Sunset clauses have been introduced in Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his new regulations which impose costs on business to Department is taking to improve standards and the ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose. The quality of provision across the debt management Government has also introduced a new approach to sector; and if he will make a statement. [117607] transposing EU directives which includes removing gold plating and to ensure that UK businesses are not Norman Lamb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: On disadvantaged in relation to their EU competitors. 14 June 2012 I chaired a round-table discussion on what The Government is also looking at ways of reducing a voluntary code for debt management plans might the existing burden of regulation through the Red Tape achieve, and how it might work. I want to see improved Challenge by identifying and removing unnecessary standards—especially for any vulnerable consumers that regulation and conducting a review of the enforcement may fall into financial difficulty. I want consumers to the first of which is on small food manufacturers, many know where they can get appropriate debt advice that of whom are rural. The Government also published its leads to repayment plans that are sustainable and if response to the Farming Regulation Taskforce in February they choose to pay for it, that they know what they are 2012 setting out how it would reduce unnecessary burdens getting for their money. on the farming industry, including commitments to I believe that the industry should take this opportunity reduce inspections for farmers who are already achieving to show it can act responsibly and made it clear that I desired outcomes, reducing paperwork and seeking non- would like to see a voluntary agreement in place by regulatory solutions wherever possible. The response November 2012. can be viewed at the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13717- In addition the Department for Business, Innovation farmregulationtaskforce-response.pdf and Skills (BIS) is working with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Money Advice Service to improve Conditions of Employment standards and the quality of provision across the debt management sector.

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date he plans Business, Innovation and Skills what measures are in to publish the Government’s response to his place to promote high standards amongst debt solution Department’s consultation on no-fault dismissal for providers in both the not-for-profit and commercial micro businesses. [117802] sectors to ensure there is sufficient availability of suitable, quality provision to meet the needs of Norman Lamb: We anticipate publishing a response vulnerable individuals. [117608] in due course. The call for evidence ‘Dealing with Dismissal and Compensated No Fault Dismissal for Norman Lamb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: All Micro Businesses’ closed on 8 June. We received over who provide debt management services are required to 250 responses which we are analysing in detail. be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has a duty to ensure that Construction: Nottinghamshire applicants are fit to engage in the activities for which they wish to be licensed and to monitor the continuing Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for fitness of those to whom licences have been granted. To Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the assist in their monitoring role, the OFT produces Debt construction sector is to the economy in (a) Management Guidance, which sets the standards expected Nottinghamshire and (b) Ashfield constituency. of all debt management businesses and makes clear [117491] they must, amongst other things, ensure that the advice provided is in the customers’ best interests. Where the Mr Prisk: The construction sector contributed the OFT has evidence of unfair practices, action can be following amounts of gross value added to the economies taken to refuse or revoke or place conditions on the of the UK overall, the east midlands, Derbyshire and consumer credit licence of those concerned. Nottinghamshire and North Nottinghamshire (which The Money Advice Service has commissioned Money contains the Ashfield constituency) between 2008 and Advice Trust to develop a ‘best-practice’ standards 2010. Sub-national data are not yet available for 2010. framework for the delivery of debt advice across the UK. 791W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 792W

Energy by improving the competitiveness of supply chains. There have been several successful bids for the RGF in Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the south-east of England, of which some include green Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the projects. energy sector is to the economy in (a) the UK, (b) the In addition, last year the Government published east midlands, (c) Nottinghamshire and (d) Ashfield ‘Enabling the Transition to a Green Economy’ which constituency. [117395] will help inform the continuing dialogue between Government, business and communities. It sets out the Mr Prisk: The energy sector contributed the following range of policies we are using to support the transition amounts of gross value added to the UK economy to a green economy, the opportunities that are created overall and the east midlands economy between 2008 and the implications for the way in which businesses and 2010. These data are not collected at the county operate. and constituency level and regional data are not yet available for 2010. EU Internal Trade Gross value added of the energy industry Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for £ million Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his East midlands United Kingdom Department is taking to work with the European Commission to improve the functioning of the Single 2008 1,168 16,791 Market. [117494] 2009 1,313 19,024 2010 — 18,942 Norman Lamb: We have been working closely with Source: the European Commission to improve the functioning Regional Annual Business Survey 2009 and UK National Accounts; of the Single Market. The Commission is currently both ONS preparing a further Single Market Act, a package of Environment Protection: Sevenoaks measures to strengthen the Single Market, to be published in the autumn. Working with other like-minded member Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for states, we submitted our proposals for measures that Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking should be included in any further reform of the Single to encourage green investment in Sevenoaks. [117430] Market, and we will continue to lobby to influence the content of the second Single Market Act. Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 July 2012]: We are More broadly, we have fed in our views across the committed to taking action now to put the whole economy various strands of the internal market, particularly on a low-carbon, resource efficient path. In doing so we the recent Commission Communications on the need to maintain UK competitiveness and lay the implementation of the Services Directive and on the foundations for strong and sustainable growth in the governance of the Single Market. These Communications future. broadly reflect UK priorities, following early engagement The Government is making rapid progress towards with the Commission, and we will continue to work establishment of the UK Green Investment Bank, which closely with the Commission to ensure that the actions will be a key component of the transition to a green identified are implemented at the earliest opportunity. economy. UK Green Investment Bank plc has now been Ex Gratia Payments formed with funding of £3 billion; it will complement other green policies to help accelerate additional capital Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for in green infrastructure. It is expected to be fully operational Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his in the autumn, following state aid approval. In the Department has made of the monetary value of ex interim, the Government’s UK Green Investments team gratia payments made through schemes administered (UKGI) is making Government investments in green by his Department in the last two years. [116790] infrastructure. Norman Lamb: Details of the Department’s ex gratia Following an open competition, UKGI has committed payments are given in the Department’s Annual Report £80 million to two fund mangers to co-invest equity and Accounts. The monetary value of ex gratia payments into smaller waste infrastructure projects (project size made in 2010-11 and 2011-12 by the core Department generally below £30 million). A similar competition for was nil. fund managers to invest £100 million in smaller non domestic energy efficiency projects is at the due diligence Foreign Investment in UK stage. A pipeline of further projects is under development All these investments will be made on market terms or Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, meet the requirements for existing state aid exemptions Innovation and Skills what meetings he has had with or approvals. non-UK Government stakeholders since 11 January 2011 to encourage regional foreign direct investment in The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) has a number of programmes that are relevant to the all the regions of England. [117610] development of the UK’s green economy. Government initiatives, such as the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 July 2012]: I see it as an the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain (AMSC) important part of my role to promote foreign direct fund and the work of UK Green Investment Bank plc, investment (FDI) for all regions of the UK. I have encourage investment across sectors and regions, including regular meetings with foreign Governments, investment green or low carbon sectors in the south-east. The agencies and business to promote the whole of the UK £125 million Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain as a world class investment destination and to encourage fund aims to increase growth potential in manufacturing investment. 793W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 794W

Green Investment Bank Mr Willetts: Information for the 2012/13 academic year will not be available until the end of the application cycle at the end of this year. Figures for the two most Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for recently completed application cycles show that in 2010/11 Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking 371,840 applicants from all domiciles holding a firm to ensure the Green Investment Bank delivers the level first choice offer at a UK institution obtained a place of investment needed to green the economy. [117696] on that course, compared to 374,311 in 2011/12. Norman Lamb: We are making good progress towards Housing: Construction the Green Investment Bank becoming operational later this year. Lord Smith of Kelvin has been appointed as chair of UK Green Investment Bank plc (UK GIB), Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for and Sir Adrian Montague as deputy chair and senior Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings have independent director. With extensive corporate backgrounds been held at his Department to discuss construction and a wealth of experience, they are ideally suited to and housing finance in the last three months; and if he ensuring the Bank achieves its mission of accelerating will publish the list of attendees, minutes and agendas investment in the UK’s transition to a green economy. of these meetings. [117668] The Bank is being funded with £3 billion to 2015. Mr Prisk: During the period of 17 April to 17 July This will provide the Bank with substantial capacity to 2012 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills make investments, mobilise private capital, and build a has had in excess of 50 meetings with the construction track record as an acknowledged leader in green financing. and housing industries on a range of issues including The Government have also committed that the Bank finance. will borrow from April 2015, subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of GDP. Established as To collate and publish details of attendees, agendas a Companies Act Company, the Bank has the legal and minutes can be carried out only at a disproportionate power to borrow in 2015. As a publicly-owned institution, cost. any borrowing by the Bank will count towards public sector debt and borrowing totals. Insolvency Service: Medway To pave the way for the Bank we have set up a dedicated team of finance professionals, called UK Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Green Investments (UKGI), within BIS to make Business, Innovation and Skills what cost-benefit Government investments on commercial terms in green assessment has been conducted in respect of the infrastructure. UKGI’s first transactions were in April, proposed closure of the Medway Insolvency Service allocating £80 million to fund managers for investment Office. [117398] in waste projects. Norman Lamb: The Insolvency Service has prepared Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for a cost-benefit assessment principally based upon the Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Green accommodation and ICT cost savings arising from no Investment Bank will be able to raise funds through the longer maintaining an office in Medway, together with capital markets when it is established; and if he will reduced salary costs in respect of any staff who may make a statement. [117806] decide to exit rather than relocate, whom it is then decided not to replace. Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) is being These savings are then offset by a number of costs funded with £3 billion to 2015. This will provide the including: Bank with substantial capacity to make investments, (a) relocating staff or paying excess fares; mobilise private capital, and build a track record as an (b) the ICT costs in providing more flexible working solutions acknowledged leader in green financing. Catalysing private for staff; sector capital is central to the Bank’s remit. (c) the costs of any relevant exit schemes; The Bank will focus not only on investing £3 billion (d) an element of lost productivity and travel costs for increased in projects which demonstrate ability to make a positive work related journey times; and commercial return and green impact, but also on mobilising (e) the costs of recruiting and training staff if a decision is additional capital into a wide range of green infrastructure. taken to replace any who choose to leave. The Government have also committed that the Bank Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for will borrow from April 2015, subject to public sector Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has net debt falling as a percentage of GDP. As a publicly- made of the potential effect on the local community of owned institution, any borrowing by the Bank will the closure of the Medway Insolvency Service Office. count towards public sector debt and borrowing totals. [117399]

Higher Education: Admissions Norman Lamb: In relation to the impact on the local community, should closure be pursued, no further Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for assessment has been made other than that as set out in Business, Innovation and Skills how many students the consultation document of March 2012. A copy of were offered a place at their first choice university in the consultation document can be found in the Libraries the (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13 academic years. of the House and online at: [116241] http://www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/Consultations/Medway 795W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 796W

The consultation, which closed on 22 June 2012, Meetings sought to test the assumptions and estimates set out within the document, and sought further comment on Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the impact of the proposed closure. Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he has The Insolvency Service is now considering the responses had to discuss the letter sent jointly by the Prime to the consultation, and representations made by hon. Minister and other EU leaders to President Van Members, to help inform a decision whether to proceed Rompuy and President Barroso on 20 February 2012. with the proposed closure or not. [117863] Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Prisk: The joint letter sent by my right hon. Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has Friend the Prime Minister and 11 other EU leaders was made of the financial savings which would accrue from part of our ongoing efforts to work with likeminded closure of the Insolvency Office, Medway. [117400] member states to promote the EU growth agenda. The issues raised in the letter have subsequently been discussed Norman Lamb: Any estimate of the net savings would at: the Ministerial Likeminded Group for EU Growth be dependant upon decisions individual staff may take meeting in Vilnius in April which the Secretary of State should a decision be made to close the office, including for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member transferring to the nearest office, relocation or taking for Twickenham (Vince Cable) attended; the May an exit scheme. Competitiveness Council which the Minister for Estimated costs and benefits have therefore been Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, prepared across a range of potential outcomes. the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) For example, taking account of all potential costs attended; a meeting between the European Affairs sub- and benefits, and an assumption that 25% of staff Committee and the German Ministerial Committee on would seek an exit scheme rather than relocation, a Issues of the European Union which Norman Lamb total estimate of net savings over a five year period attended; and bilateral meetings with Ministers from a would be in the region of £690,000. number of member states (including Lithuania, Spain, Portugal and Germany) and Members of the European Local Enterprise Partnerships Parliament. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries Business, Innovation and Skills what the administrative cost of each of the local enterprise partnerships has Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for been since their introduction. [117547] Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider the recommendations of the report by the All-Party Mr Prisk: Administrative costs are a matter for each Parliamentary Motor Group on Delivering Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). To support LEP opportunities: Automotive investment for growth of core operational capacity BIS has made available £9 million July 2012. [117953] of start up and capacity funding for the period 2011-15. Mr Prisk: The Government has already taken action Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for to address a number of areas that were highlighted in Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group’s recent report. review the progress of local enterprise partnerships. I will write to the hon. Member shortly setting out what [117548] the Government is doing and will place a copy of my response in the Libraries of the House. Mr Prisk: Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) progress is reviewed regularly between this Department and the Origin Marking: Israel Department for Communities and Local Government. Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for This is informed by the regular meetings that I have Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on with LEPs. mandatory labelling of goods from illegal settlements Manufacturing Industries in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. [116968]

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Norman Lamb: The Government’s policy in relation for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he to Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in East has made of the likely effect of a change in the UK’s Jerusalem is quite clear: those settlements are illegal relationship with the EU on the manufacturing under international law, an obstacle to peace and make industry. [117819] a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation Under current legislation there is no mandatory and Skills regularly reviews the benefits for UK business requirement for goods produced in settlements in East from the single market, including easier access to 500 Jerusalem and the West Bank to be labelled as such. million consumers. We will also participate fully in the Where specific EU legislation in the food sectors requires recently announced Review of the Balance of Competences the country of origin to be indicated the Government between the UK and the European Union. In the believes that “Produce of The West Bank” is a lawful meantime we will continue to engage constructively description of the origin of such goods (no food or with the European Commission, European Parliament drink of East Jerusalem provenance is imported into and other countries to shape future EU industrial policy the United Kingdom). The West Bank is a recognised in a manner consistent with the needs of the UK geographical area within the Occupied Palestinian manufacturers. Territories. 797W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 798W

So far as food and drink of West Bank origin imported Vennells, the chief executive of Post Office Ltd, to into the UK is concerned, the Department for Environment, respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her Food and Rural Affairs has issued voluntary technical reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House. advice for the benefit of those importers and retailers Regional Growth Fund who believe that their customers wish to distinguish between products of Israeli settlement provenance and John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for those which originate from Palestinian growers. Business, Innovation and Skills how many projects More generally the Consumer Protection from Unfair successful in rounds one and two of the Regional Trading Regulations 2008 ban traders in all sectors Growth Fund programme have received the funding from using misleading commercial practices which are awarded to them; how much this amounts to; and how likely to distort the transactional decision of the average much remains to be awarded pending the completion consumer. This includes statements about the geographical of due diligence processes and signing of contracts. or commercial origin of products. [117064] As with other elements of goods, the Government Mr Prisk: 176 bids under Rounds 1 and 2 of the encourages consumers who are interested in a particular Regional Growth were conditionally allocated funding property of goods, including their origin, to ask the subject to confirmatory due-diligence. These bids translated seller. If they are not happy with the reply, then they can to 237 individual awards as some bids have multiple shop elsewhere. If they suspect that the reply is not counterparties. As of 16 July 2012 110 offers have been truthful, then they can take the matter up with their finalised. A further 56 bidders have agreed terms and local authority Trading Standards Officers who enforce conditions and are undertaking due diligence. Offer the CPRs. letters specify the triggers for drawing down Regional Overseas Students: Japan Growth Fund (RGF) awards. Normally, awards are Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, drawn down in tranches after specific investment and/or Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of employment milestones have been reached. To date a the contribution to (a) the UK language school total of £502 million has been drawn down against industry and (b) the UK economy of revenue arising 46 final offers. Outstanding RGF funding is forecast to from language students from Japan. [116880] be drawn down over the period to March 2014 in line with the budget for the RGF. Mr Hayes [holding answer 13 July 2012]: Language schools in this country operate as private businesses and, Regional Growth Fund: Birmingham as such, are not required to register with the Department Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which does Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications not collect data on them. Recent research on the value his Department has received for support from the of education and training exports carried out by BIS Regional Growth Fund from businesses in shows that the overall contribution to the UK economy Birmingham, Ladywood constituency; and how many by language schools in 2008/09 was £2 billion. However, have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful to date. I am unable to tell the hon. Member what proportion of [117063] that arose from language students from Japan. The information on the contribution to the UK economy Mr Prisk: In Round 1, 15 projects or packages of by language schools comes from “Estimating the Value project applications located within the Birmingham to the UK of Education Exports”, BIS Research Paper metropolitan borough (see following note) were received. Number 46, June 2011. None of these applications were successful. In Round 2, 10 projects, packages of projects, or programme applications Postal Services were received located within the Birmingham metropolitan Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, borough, of which three of which were successful. Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Note: Department has made on making the Post Office the Each project/programme or package of projects application has front office for government. [117186] been given a single location. These are estimated using the information given within the time of application. In cases where the location is Norman Lamb: Post Office Ltd has set out a clear vague e.g. covering a range of postcodes, or activities located at ambition to become a ’front office for Government’ by multiple sites, and the local authority district has been deemed as developing new services and winning new work from the key location where most of the activity occurs. both local and national Government. Government supports Locations describe where the project will occur rather than the this ambition. Post Office Ltd has made good progress address of the applicant or a project partner. Information is not so far, winning new business at the local and national provided at a geographic level smaller than local authority district. Some programmes have a national reach these have not been level—examples include work with UK Borders Agency, assigned a location, though may well operate in the area concerned. the Public Carriage Office, Westminster and Hammersmith Some projects/packages/programmes are still subject to due diligence. and Fulham—and it continues to develop this element The outcome of this process may change the amount of funding of its business. allocated to a project/programme initially. Information on individual projects and programmes or for areas Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, where there are fewer than three bids is not released for reasons of Innovation and Skills what Government services have commercial confidentiality. been administered by the Post Office since May 2010. [117187] Technology and Innovation Centres Norman Lamb: Post Office Ltd is responsible for Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for operational matters relating to the services it administers Business, Innovation and Skills what the status is of on behalf of Government. I have therefore asked Paula each catapult centre announced to date; how much 799W Written Answers17 JULY 2012 Written Answers 800W funding each centre has received from (a) the public Training: Shipping purse and (b) other sources; what the membership is of each (i) leadership team and (ii) business-led steering Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for group; and what the programme of activity is in each Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his case. [117478] Department is taking to encourage skills and training in the marine industry. [117650]

Mr Willetts [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The High Mr Prisk: The Government and industry published a Value Manufacturing Catapult centre opened for business Marine Industry Growth Strategy in September 2011. in October 2011 and is operating and working with UK This work is being taken forward by the Marine Industries businesses large and small. Bob Gilbert was recently Leadership Council which I chair jointly with Richard appointed as the chair of the supervisory board and the Sadler (CEO Lloyd’s Register). As part of this work we High Value Manufacturing Catapult leadership team have formed a Marine Sector Skills Group which works comprises the management board consisting of the closely with Semta, the sector skills council for the CEOs of the individual centres and an interim CEO. advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors. This work has strengthened relationships among stakeholders, The High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre has and continues to expose the skills agenda to a widening to date received some £27 million as core grant funding community of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). from the Technology Strategy Board. Its activities are For example, an intermediate apprenticeship framework focused on improving and expanding the capability of has been developed by the Marine Skills Alliance for the seven member centres, for example investing in the Merchant Navy and other maritime jobs. novel machining centres that will help businesses take A University Technology College specialising in marine cost out of the manufacture of new precision components. engineering is planning to open in Plymouth in 2013. It There are a series of programmes, such as low carbon will cater for students aged 14 to 19, offering technically vehicle developments through light-weighting and energy oriented study in a school equipped to industrial standards. storage and management programmes that will help keep the UK in a leading position in the field, and those to support the process industry in developing the supply DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER chain for printed electronic inks, photovoltaic components and their integration into novel structures. Pay The Cell Therapy Catapult has recently appointed Mr Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how chief operating officer Keith Thompson and, as I recently many staff working for his Office are employed announced, will-be located in Guy’s Tower at London through off-payroll engagements costing less than Bridge. The Catapult is starting to design the facility £58,200 per annum; and if he will make a statement. and specify the equipment for its Guy’s base and, to [110831] date, has received funding of £270,000 from the Technology Strategy Board. It will become operational in the winter Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of of 2012/13. the Cabinet Office. Since 2010 the Cabinet Office has applied strict controls The Technology Strategy Board is making good process on the engagement of consultants, interim managers in establishing the other five Catapult centres. The and specialist contractors who may not be engaged delivery consortium has been announced and is working without prior approval from the Cabinet Office Approvals on the detailed plans for the Offshore Renewable Energy Board. Catapult based in Glasgow and the North East of England. To date no funding has been paid to this Approval is only given to engage contractors and Catapult. It will also become operational in the winter agency staff if a case can be made that shows that the of 2012/13. use of such non-payroll resource is ’operationally necessary’, could not be fulfilled by an existing civil servant, and Also, I announced recently that the Satellite Applications offers value for money. Catapult will be based at Harwell and the delivery Annual expenditure by the Cabinet Office on consultancy consortium is developing the plans. The leadership teams fell dramatically in 2011-12 and in 2010-11 expenditure for each of the Catapult centres are being actively was around a third of what it was in 2009-10. Expenditure recruited, starting with the chair and CEO. Additionally, on temporary staff was also reduced by more than 40%. the Technology Strategy Board teams are actively engaged The Cabinet Office has 35 contractors and agency with industry and stakeholders to refine the operational staff whose contracts are expected to cost less than principles for the Catapults in Connected Digital Economy, £58,200. Of these, seven are expected to cease over the Future Cities and Transport Systems. To date, no funding course of the next few months, and the rest remain has been paid to these four Catapults. They will become under review. operational in 2013. Sometimes there is a requirement for a contractor Of the seven Catapult centres, only the High Value with specific knowledge and expertise to be engaged for Manufacturing Catapult has received funding from sources a longer period to see through a big project—just as any other than the Technology Strategy Board. We will private sector organisation would do. It makes sense, gather this information from the seven centres that under these circumstances, to use a contractor when the comprise the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and I alternative would be to recruit a permanent employee will write in due course when it is available and place a which would incur more ongoing, longer term cost to copy of the information in the Library of the House. the taxpayer. 1MC Ministerial Corrections17 JULY 2012 Ministerial Corrections 2MC

to decide how to proceed on the schemes in their Ministerial Correction respective countries. It is important to make that point. [Official Report, 27 June 2012, Vol. 547, c. 97WH.] Tuesday 17 July 2012 Letter of correction from Andrew Stunell: An error has been identified in the closing speech given during the Westminster Hall debate on 27 June COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2012. The error relates to the method by which the funding for localised council tax support to be allocated Council Tax Benefit Localisation to the Scottish and Welsh Government for council tax The following is an extract from the closing speech support will be calculated. given by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities The correct version is as follows: and Local Government, the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell), during the Westminster Hall debate Andrew Stunell: That brings me to the contributions on Council Tax Benefit Localisation on 27 June 2012. of hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales and Scotland. In both those nations, it is intended that Andrew Stunell: That brings me to the contributions the allocation of the reduction will be in accordance with of hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales shares of current expenditure on council tax benefit, and and Scotland. In both those nations, the allocation of that reduction is no more ring-fenced in its decrease the reduction is strictly in accordance with the Barnett than any increase in shares of expenditure. It is entirely a formula, and that reduction is no more ring-fenced in matter for the Welsh and Scottish Administrations to its decrease than any increase under the formula. It is decide how to proceed on the schemes in their respective entirely a matter for the Welsh and Scottish Administrations countries. It is important to make that point.

ORAL ANSWERS

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH...... 823 HEALTH—continued Children’s Heart Services...... 835 Nursery Milk Scheme ...... 830 Clinically Led Commissioning ...... 823 Residential Care (Funding)...... 835 Health Allocation Formula...... 834 Social Care...... 825 Health Inequalities...... 831 Social Care...... 828 Insulin Pumps ...... 829 Topical Questions ...... 837 NHS Performance...... 827 Wythenshawe Hospital A and E...... 832 NHS (Whistleblowers) ...... 836 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 115WS JUSTICE—continued Capital for Enterprise Ltd (Triennial Review) ...... 116WS Detainee Inquiry...... 132WS Competition and Markets Authority...... 115WS Judicial Pensions Reform ...... 131WS Green Technologies (UKTI/ECGD Support) ...... 115WS Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Civil Litigation and CABINET OFFICE...... 117WS Funding Costs) ...... 129WS Government Consultation...... 117WS Prison Capacity Management ...... 131WS Senior Civil Service Appointments (Correction to COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 121WS Parliamentary Answer) ...... 129WS Local Government Finance ...... 121WS Local Government Pension Scheme...... 123WS PRIME MINISTER ...... 132WS Military Medals Review...... 132WS DEFENCE...... 123WS Special Advisers ...... 132WS Defence Materiel Strategy...... 123WS

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 124WS TRANSPORT ...... 137WS Individual Electoral Registration ...... 124WS DVLA Office Closures (Correction to Parliamentary Answer) ...... 137WS EDUCATION...... 125WS High Speed 2 (Consultation Update) ...... 139WS Education Services Reform ...... 125WS Red Tape Challenge ...... 138WS Vehicle Identity Check Scheme ...... 137WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 126WS British Council (Annual Report)...... 126WS TREASURY ...... 117WS Building Stability Overseas ...... 126WS ECOFIN...... 119WS Money Laundering ...... 117WS HEALTH...... 128WS Tax Policy (Consultation) ...... 120WS Informal Health Council...... 128WS

JUSTICE...... 129WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 140WS Boundary Commission for England Jobseeking (Additional Support) ...... 140WS (Reappointment of Deputy Chair)...... 129WS Workplace Pension Reform...... 140WS PETITION

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Col. No. Col. No. PRESENTED PETITION ...... 3P Cyber bullying ...... 3P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 617W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 784W Steroid Drugs: Prosecutions...... 617W 3D Copying ...... 784W Absenteeism...... 785W Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued DEFENCE—continued Aerospace Industry...... 785W Amanatullah Ali ...... 750W Apprentices...... 785W Armed Forces: Homelessness...... 750W Business: Regulation ...... 788W Armed Forces: Mass Media ...... 751W Business: Rural Areas ...... 789W Armed Forces: Postal Services ...... 751W Conditions of Employment...... 789W Armed Forces: Sexual Offences...... 752W Construction: Nottinghamshire ...... 789W Armoured Fighting Vehicles ...... 752W Debts: Advisory Services...... 790W Army...... 753W Energy...... 791W Army: Germany...... 756W Environment Protection: Sevenoaks...... 791W Consultants...... 756W EU Internal Trade...... 792W Defence Equipment ...... 757W Ex Gratia Payments ...... 792W Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme ...... 757W Foreign Investment in UK ...... 792W European Defence Agency...... 758W Green Investment Bank ...... 793W Ex Gratia Payments ...... 758W Higher Education: Admissions ...... 793W Gibraltar...... 758W Housing: Construction...... 794W Hercules Aircraft ...... 760W Insolvency Service: Medway...... 794W HMS Victory ...... 760W Local Enterprise Partnerships...... 795W Horses...... 761W Manufacturing Industries ...... 795W Lost Property...... 761W Meetings ...... 796W Military Bases...... 762W Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries...... 796W Olympic Games 2012 ...... 762W Origin Marking: Israel ...... 796W Piracy...... 764W Overseas Students: Japan ...... 797W Radio Frequencies ...... 764W Postal Services...... 797W Reserve Forces ...... 764W Regional Growth Fund ...... 797W Royal Regiment of Scotland ...... 767W Regional Growth Fund: Birmingham ...... 798W Staff ...... 768W Technology and Innovation Centres...... 798W Trident Submarines...... 769W Training: Shipping ...... 799W Veterans: Radiation Exposure...... 769W Veterans: Teachers ...... 769W CABINET OFFICE...... 684W Wimbledon Tennis Championships...... 769W Breast Cancer...... 684W Charity Commission ...... 687W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 800W Civil Servants: Training...... 687W Pay...... 800W Electronic Government ...... 687W Ex Gratia Payments ...... 688W EDUCATION...... 730W ICT ...... 688W Academies: Middlesbrough...... 730W Internet: Regulation...... 688W Academies: Worcestershire...... 730W NDPBs: Public Appointments ...... 688W Adoption ...... 730W Orders and Regulations...... 689W Children: Day Care ...... 732W Pay...... 689W Children in Care...... 732W Permanent Secretaries...... 689W Children’s Rights...... 734W Press Officers ...... 690W Disclosure of Information ...... 735W Public Sector: Mobile Phones ...... 690W Education: Assessments ...... 735W Public Sector: Procurement...... 690W Education: Qualifications...... 736W Secondment ...... 690W Email ...... 737W Senior Civil Servants: Pay ...... 691W Freedom of Information ...... 737W Staff ...... 691W GCSE: York...... 737W Internet ...... 738W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 644W Newham Free Academy ...... 738W Council Housing: Construction ...... 644W Pre-school Education...... 738W Families: Disadvantaged ...... 644W Runaway Children: Missing Persons ...... 738W Free Schools: Planning Permission...... 645W Schools: Peterborough ...... 739W Homelessness...... 645W Schools: Yorkshire and Humberside ...... 742W Housing: Bedfordshire ...... 647W Special Educational Needs...... 743W Parks: Standards ...... 647W Pay...... 647W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 605W Planning Permission ...... 648W Carbon Sequestration ...... 605W Social Rented Housing...... 649W Energy: Infrastructure...... 605W Energy: Prices ...... 606W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 613W Environment Protection: Employment...... 608W Football ...... 613W Fuel Poverty...... 609W Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies...... 613W Natural Gas: Exploration ...... 610W Odyssey Marine Exploration ...... 614W Nuclear Power...... 611W Olympic Games 2012 ...... 614W Pay...... 611W Olympic Games 2012: Tickets...... 615W Publications ...... 611W Royal Archives ...... 616W Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs...... 612W Telephone Services: Unsolicited Goods and Windows: Energy...... 612W Services ...... 616W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL DEFENCE...... 749W AFFAIRS...... 619W Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations.... 749W A3...... 619W Col. No. Col. No. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— HEALTH—continued continued Thalidomide...... 717W Animal Welfare: Circuses...... 620W Trade Unions ...... 720W Cattle: Mastitis ...... 620W Farmers: Graduates ...... 621W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 649W Food: Labelling...... 621W 101 Calls ...... 649W Greenhouse Gas Emissions...... 621W Absenteeism...... 650W Waste ...... 622W Association of Chief Police Officers ...... 650W Waste: Exports...... 623W Asylum ...... 651W Wildlife: Circuses ...... 623W Civil Disorder ...... 652W Closed Curcuit Television ...... 652W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 721W Convictions: Nottinghamshire ...... 653W Absenteeism...... 721W Detention Centres...... 653W Bahrain ...... 721W Draft Communications Data Bill ...... 653W Burma...... 722W Drugs: Misuse...... 654W Diplomatic Service...... 723W Entry Clearances: Carers ...... 654W Ethiopia ...... 724W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 655W Iran...... 724W First Offenders...... 656W Iraq...... 725W Immigration...... 656W Kashmir...... 725W Immigration Controls ...... 656W Mexico...... 725W Immigration Controls: St Pancras Station...... 658W Middle East ...... 726W Independent Police Complaints Commission...... 659W Occupied Territories...... 726W Manchester Airport: Security...... 659W Palestinians ...... 726W Members: Correspondence ...... 659W Property...... 727W Metals: Theft ...... 660W Staff ...... 727W Migration...... 660W Sudan: South Sudan ...... 728W Ministerial Policy Advisers...... 660W Syria...... 728W Passports: Lost Property...... 661W Turkey...... 729W Police ...... 661W UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Police and Crime Commissioners...... 661W Sahara...... 729W Police: Bureaucracy...... 662W Western Sahara ...... 729W Police: Conditions of Employment ...... 662W Wines ...... 729W Police: Court Orders ...... 662W Police: Pay...... 663W Police: Scotland...... 663W HEALTH...... 696W Ports ...... 663W Absenteeism...... 697W Prisons: Mental Health Services...... 664W Cancer ...... 698W Prostitution: Greater London ...... 664W Cancer: Drugs...... 699W Public Expenditure...... 664W Cancer: Older People ...... 700W Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties...... 665W Care Homes ...... 700W Schengen Agreement: ICT ...... 665W Care Homes: Fees and Charges...... 703W Schengen Agreement: Switzerland ...... 665W Care Homes: Vetting...... 703W Shipping: Work Permits ...... 666W Carers ...... 704W Staff: Surveys ...... 666W Clinical Trials: Older People...... 704W Steroid Drugs...... 666W Community Health Services: Suffolk ...... 704W UK Border Agency ...... 666W Consultants...... 705W UK Border Agency: Scotland ...... 667W Dialysis Machines ...... 705W Vetting ...... 667W Flour...... 706W Victim Support Schemes ...... 668W Fractures: Older People...... 706W Work Permits ...... 669W General Practitioners: Telephone Services...... 707W Health Services: Equality ...... 707W Health Services: Older People ...... 708W HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 625W Health Services: Social Services ...... 709W Members: ICT ...... 625W Hospitals: Waiting Lists...... 710W Switchboard Staff: Relocation ...... 625W Learning Disability: Sussex...... 710W NHS Commissioning Board ...... 710W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 691W NHS: Fees and Charges ...... 711W CDC ...... 691W NHS: Finance ...... 711W Developing Countries: Education ...... 692W NHS: Financial Stability...... 696W Developing Countries: Poliomyelitis ...... 693W NHS: Innovation ...... 712W Food: Prices ...... 693W NHS: Property...... 712W Kenya...... 694W NHS: Standards...... 712W Overseas Aid...... 694W NHS Walk-in Centres ...... 697W South Sudan ...... 695W Nutrition...... 714W Sub-Saharan Africa ...... 695W Palliative Care...... 715W UN Women...... 696W Patient Outcomes...... 697W PFI Contracts ...... 697W JUSTICE...... 638W Pharmacy...... 715W Cemeteries ...... 638W Reconfiguration: South-east London...... 697W Community Orders ...... 638W School Milk ...... 716W Coroners ...... 638W Steroid Drugs...... 716W Data Protection: EU Action ...... 638W Col. No. Col. No. JUSTICE—continued TREASURY—continued Employment Tribunals Service...... 639W Credit...... 674W Fines: Surcharges ...... 639W E-mail ...... 674W Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes ...... 640W Finance Act 2008 ...... 675W Immigration Advisory Service...... 641W Financial Services: Advisory Services...... 675W Legal Aid Scheme ...... 641W Freezing Orders: Egypt ...... 675W Life Imprisonment ...... 641W Government Departments: Conditions of Prisoners: Females ...... 642W Employment ...... 676W Prisoners’ Release...... 641W Income Tax: Kilmarnock ...... 676W Prostitution: Greater London ...... 642W Individual Savings Accounts ...... 676W Sentencing: Females...... 643W Landfill Communities Fund...... 677W Unpaid Fines ...... 643W LIBOR...... 677W Loans: Republic of Ireland ...... 678W LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 618W Pensions...... 678W LIBOR...... 618W Prudential Regulatory Authority ...... 678W Public Sector Debt ...... 678W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 618W Revenue and Customs...... 679W Assisted Areas...... 618W Taxation: Offshore Industry...... 681W Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency...... 619W Taxation: Olympic Games 2012 ...... 681W Parades Commission...... 619W Tobacco: Packaging ...... 682W Publications ...... 619W Trade Union Officials...... 682W Ulster Bank...... 619W VAT ...... 682W VAT: Further and Higher Education...... 683W PRIME MINISTER ...... 617W Welfare Tax Credits...... 683W G8...... 617W Welfare Tax Credits: Fraud ...... 683W United Nations: European Union...... 618W Written Questions: Government Responses ...... 684W WALES...... 623W SCOTLAND...... 624W Lost Working Days ...... 623W Maritime and Coastguard Agency ...... 624W Personal Income ...... 623W Work Experience...... 624W Police ...... 624W

TRANSPORT ...... 626W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 626W Airports: Transport...... 626W Females: Victim Support Schemes ...... 626W Aviation ...... 627W Bmibaby: Redundancy...... 629W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 770W Driving: Licensing...... 629W Atos Healthcare ...... 770W Ex Gratia Payments ...... 629W Bmibaby: Redundancy...... 770W High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 629W Children: Maintenance ...... 771W HS2 Ltd ...... 630W Employers’ Liability...... 771W Network Rail ...... 632W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 772W Railways: Freight ...... 632W Employment Schemes ...... 772W Railways: Scotland...... 634W Employment Schemes: Bexley...... 773W Road Traffic Control...... 634W Employment Schemes: Birmingham ...... 774W Roads: Accidents ...... 635W Employment Schemes: Scotland ...... 774W Simon Hoare...... 636W Employment Schemes: Young People...... 777W South East Airports Taskforce...... 636W Housing Benefit: Young People...... 777W Southeastern ...... 637W Incapacity Benefit ...... 777W Staff ...... 637W Income Support ...... 778W Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock ...... 637W Jobcentre Plus ...... 778W Jobseeker’s Allowance...... 779W TREASURY ...... 671W Part-time Employment...... 779W Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland...... 671W Pay...... 780W Air Passenger Duty ...... 671W Pension, Disability and Carers Service ...... 780W Banks: Regulation...... 671W Post Office Card Account ...... 780W Banks: Unfair Practices ...... 672W Public Expenditure...... 781W Business: Barnsley...... 672W Social Security Benefits...... 781W Business: Government Assistance ...... 672W Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents ...... 782W Charities: Occupied Territories ...... 672W Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations..... 783W Child Care Tax Credit...... 673W Statistics...... 783W Commodity Markets...... 673W Work Capability Assessment...... 784W Company Accounts: Disclosure of Information .... 674W Work Capability Assessment: Mental Illness...... 784W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .1MC Council Tax Benefit Localisation ...... 1MC 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 Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Tuesday 24 July 2012

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CONTENTS

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 823] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Health

Defence Equipment and Support [Col. 845] Answer to urgent question—(Nick Harvey)

Wellingborough Prison [Col. 854] Application for emergency debate under Standing Order No. 24

Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum Standards) [Col. 856] Motion for leave to bring in Bill—(Ann Clwyd)—agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time

Backbench Business [Unallotted day] Prime Minister’s Adviser on Ministers’ Interests [Col. 859] Motion—(Mr Jenkin)—agreed to

Summer Adjournment [Col. 877] Motion—(Mr Heath)—agreed to

Petition [Col. 956]

Bail (Dangerous Drivers) [Col. 957] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Zimbabwe (Blood Diamonds) [Col. 193WH] Stop and Search (Metropolitan Police) [Col. 215WH] High Speed 2 (Heathrow) [Col. 223WH] Cyprus [Col. 245WH] Further Education Loans [Col. 253WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 115WS]

Petition [Col. 3P]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 605W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 1MC]