Thursday Volume 575 13 February 2014 No. 123

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 13 February 2014

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 993 13 FEBRUARY 2014 994

flood defence grant in aid, and I would indeed welcome House of Commons a meeting with my hon. Friend and any representatives he wishes to bring along to discuss the matter. Thursday 13 February 2014 Several hon. Members rose— The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Mr Speaker: Order. The question started narrow and remains narrow; it does not extend beyond Hampshire. PRAYERS However, there will be other opportunities for colleagues to come in.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Climate Change

Oral Answers to Questions 2. Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk) (Con): What assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of climate change on the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events and on the need for higher priority to be ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS given to adaptation policy. [902560]

TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, The Secretary of State was asked— Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): We recognise Flood Amelioration (Hambledon) that, in line with the latest scientific understanding of our changing climate, the frequency and intensity of 1. George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) (Con): What many extreme weather events are expected to increase. future plans he has for spending on flood amelioration The UK’s first climate change risk assessment, published in 2012, assessed the trend and informed the national measures in Hambledon, Hampshire. [902558] adaptation programme that we published last year. This TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, sets out a wide range of actions by the Government, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): May I begin by business, councils and civil society to address the most passing on the Secretary of State’s apologies for not significant climate risks that we face as a country. being here this morning? He continues to recover from his eye surgery and will be back soon. I am sure the Mr Yeo: Does my hon. Friend agree that, although whole House will join me in wishing him a speedy concern is sometimes expressed about the cost of climate recovery. change mitigation, recent events are a stark warning As the country continues to experience the onslaught that the cost of adaptation to climate change is also of stormy weather, I should like to express my deepest substantial, and is a bill that might have to be paid condolences to the friends and families of those who sooner rather than later? have lost their lives, and to put on record that our thoughts are with everyone who continues to experience Dan Rogerson: I thank my hon. Friend for making the misery of flooding. that case. He has a long track record of speaking on Hampshire county council is discussing a proposal climate change, and on mitigation and adaptation. I with the Environment Agency, but the business case has agree that we must continue to ensure that this country not yet been submitted to the agency. meets all the demands that will be made of us by the changing climate. George Hollingbery: Yesterday marked the passing of 40 days and 40 nights of flooding in Hambledon since it Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab): Does the was first flooded by ground-water, and no one yet has Minister acknowledge that the Adaptation Sub-Committee any idea when the floodwater will recede. Every night, of the Committee on Climate Change recommended the residents sleep in shifts to monitor their pumps, and that the deficit of £500 million on flood defence spending every day they wake up wondering whether that will be needed to be urgently addressed? Will the Minister ask the day on which their house will be flooded. The the Secretary of State and his Cabinet colleagues to village has been cut off from the rest of the world for ensure that there is a firm commitment from the over a month now. An engineering solution that would Government in this spending review to providing that avert most of this now almost bi-annual flooding has £500 million for flood defences, which is now urgently been drawn up and costed, but funding remains a needed because of climate change? sticking point. Will the Minister meet me and potential partner agencies to try to agree a deal and get this vital Dan Rogerson: I very much welcome the work that work done as soon as possible? Lord Krebs and his sub-committee have done on these issues. We think that some of the information is based Dan Rogerson: I very much applaud the tremendous on older data that has been updated by the Environment efforts of the Hambledon community in their response Agency, so we do not entirely recognise the figures he to the groundwater flooding and the issues they are gives. The Government have secured a £2.3 billion facing. I know that the Environment Agency is working capital settlement in the next spending review period, closely with Hampshire county council to support the which will mean we are spending more than ever before community in making the strongest case in their bid for on flood defences. 995 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 996

Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): Dan Rogerson: As the hon. Lady also knows, in the Whatever the cause, we are seeing extreme weather first four years of this Government we have spent events and we need to do more between floods. Will the £2.4 billion on flood defences, which was more than the Department consider restoring the balance between £2.2 billion spent in the last four years of the previous building new flood defences, repairing and making good Government—so this Government continue to make the existing ones and maintaining water courses? May I tackling this a priority. Today, the focus remains on ask, in the presence of the Leader of the House of response and we will then move into recovery, but in the Commons, whether it would be a good idea to have a long term we have secured £2.3 billion on capital alone national statement on adaptation and on climate change into the next spending review period. generally for this purpose? Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Are movements Dan Rogerson: I pay tribute to the hon. Lady and her in the jet stream not more closely and demonstrably Committee for all the work they have done on flood linked to our current adverse weather event than climate defences— change is? To what extent is the Environment Agency using movements in the jet stream as a predictive tool Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): You for flooding? were a member of it! Dan Rogerson: The hon. Gentleman is clearly spending Dan Rogerson: Yes, I suppose I should admit to that. a great deal of time studying these methods. Given the Sadly, I am no longer a member. advice, which I respect, from scientists across government, all the signs point to the fact that the changes he is The question from my hon. Friend the Member for talking about are influenced by climate change. That is Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh) about a statement one reason why we have had more precipitation deposited is obviously a matter for the Leader of the House to in the country and had the rainiest January in a quarter consider, perhaps later this morning. On her questions of a millennium. on maintenance, given this year’s extreme weather events, the Government have made available a £130 million Food Aid investment to ensure that we repair and maintain the existing flood defences, which of course will allow us to invest in new schemes in the coming year. 3. Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): When he plans to publish his Department’s evidence review on food Maria Eagle: As I saw for myself in Somerset earlier aid provision and access in the UK. [902561] this week, the severe floods are causing unimaginable distress for many people as they see their homes wrecked, TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, farmland submerged and businesses suffer. As all the Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): The Government evidence suggests, and as the Minister has just accepted, know that some of the poorest families are struggling to that climate change will lead to extreme weather events afford to feed themselves. Although it is not the Government’s becoming more frequent, will he explain why his role to control the price of food, the impact of food Department has been forced to admit, thanks to a price inflation is of real concern to the Government, freedom of information request, that total spending on which is why we have commissioned a report. All Government- climate change mitigation and adaptation has been cut funded social research reports are required to go through by more than 40% since last year? an appropriate review and quality assurance process before publication, and the report will be published Dan Rogerson: I suspect that the hon. Lady is referring once this review is complete. to the freedom of information request submitted on behalf of Lord Lawson. I can confirm that total Mr Field: May I ask the Minister to answer the question Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs now? The House wants a date from him. It is now a year climate change spending on mitigation and adaptation since the Government commissioned this report. Does was £34.8 million in 2011-12, £49.2 million in 2012-13 that not suggest that trying to prevent more people and £47.2 million in 2013-14, and we have resources yet from becoming hungry in this country is not a Government to be allocated in the coming financial year. priority?

Maria Eagle: The figures for the domestic spend were George Eustice: No, I do not agree with that. As I £24.7 million in 2011-12 and £29.1 million in 2012-13, said, if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. That but that has decreased this year to £17.2 million, which is why these reports, like all Government reports, must is a 40% cut. The decision to cut the climate change go through a quality assurance process. Once that is mitigation and adaptation budget by 40% was a serious complete, we will publish a report—we have been clear error of judgment, one that the events of the past weeks about that. But it is important also to note that the must lead the Government to reconsider. The Minister development of food banks and the growth in their use will know that funding for flood protection remains is not unique to the UK. Canada now has more than £63.5 million below 2010 levels, even after the additional 800 food banks and 850,000 people helped; Germany funding announced last week. Will he now agree to now has 1 million people helped; and France also review the stringent cost-benefit ratio of eight to one has about 1 million people using food banks. So rather applied by his Department to flood defence spending, than being critical of this, we should celebrate the which appears to have prevented so many vital schemes good work that civil society does with some of these from going ahead? projects. 997 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 998

Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): As Ministers will TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, understandably be preoccupied for a while with the Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): In his letter of floods and flood policy, would it not be sensible for 14 January 2013 to the Secretary of State, Commissioner the time being to pass responsibility for that policy to Tonio Borg said that in order to provide answers to the the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, our hon. Friend still open scientific questions on TB vaccination, substantial the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd), experimental research and large-scale, long-lasting field so he can engage with civil society? If that were to trials were needed. That experimental research is under happen, the Church would be interested in setting up way and we will commission the detailed design of the some regional meetings with bishops, senior clergy and necessary field trials in the coming months. people working at the sharp end in food banks to discuss the qualitative and quantitative research we Bill Wiggin: In 2017, I hope that the Secretary of are doing with organisations such as the Church State and I will be campaigning to leave the European Urban Fund and to make suggestions for how we move Union. When we succeed, the excuse that it is the EU forward from food banks to make communities more that is preventing us from vaccinating our cattle will no resilient. longer be valid. Will he ensure that his Department is ready to vaccinate cattle when we leave? George Eustice: My right hon. Friend highlights an important point, which is that this issue around food George Eustice: I hope that we will be able to reform banks touches on many different Government Departments. the European Union and make it fit for purpose in the It is why, at the debate before Christmas, my hon. 21st century and campaign to stay in. On the point my Friend in the Cabinet Office responded to that report. hon. Friend makes, the European Commission set out My right hon. Friend is right that a number of Government the steps that would be needed to be taken in order for it Departments have a role in this matter, but, focusing on to make proposals for new EU rules allowing trade in the bit that is relevant to the Department for Environment, vaccinated cattle. Its tentative time line suggests that Food and Rural Affairs, it is important to recognise that that would not be before 2023. We may be in a position food price inflation is now falling. It was 1.9% in to commence field trials next year. The trials will take December, and that was below the average level of between two to five years, and there will be a further inflation, and food is now 4.8% cheaper in the UK than two to three years to agree for trade in cattle to take in France, 14% cheaper than in Germany and 18% place in the European Union. In reality, it will most cheaper than in Ireland. On food prices, the UK is in a likely be 2023, which underlines the importance in the better position than most other European countries. meantime of our using every tool open to us to bear down on this terrible disease. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): That is extraordinary complacency. In December, a group of doctors and Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab): With so leading academics from the Medical Research Council many developments on this issue, an increasing number wrote to the British Medical Journal with concerns of us are of the view that the problem is not so much to over the surge in the numbers of people requiring do with the badgers as with the Government who are emergency food aid, the decrease in the calorific intake moving the goalposts. In a not very heavy parliamentary of families and the doubling of malnutrition cases schedule, will the Government commit to time for debates presenting at English hospitals. The Government are on the vaccination and the badger cull on the Floor of presiding over a national scandal in public health as the House? well as a failure of social economic policy. When will the Minister publish that delayed report on food aid? George Eustice: I regularly debate the issue—a debate Publish and be damned! was held in Westminster Hall before the Christmas recess—and we are now waiting for the independent expert panel to produce its report. When that report is George Eustice: Let us look at the facts on food price concluded, we will make further proposals and affordability. In 2008, the poorest 20% of households announcements about the next step. were spending 16.8% of household income on food. In 2012, they were spending 16.6%, so the truth is that Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): Even if the independent the poorest households are spending roughly the same expert panel concludes that the Government’s cull policy amount of their household income now as they were is effective, which is highly unlikely, does the Minister under the previous Government. The Government have not accept that the Government must consider a plan B a number of projects to help them. Through the healthy that includes the vaccination of badgers, which they start scheme, the Government are providing a nutritional must get behind, as well as moving forward as quickly safety net in a way that encourages healthy eating, as they can with cattle vaccination? which has helped more than half a million pregnant women and children under four years old who are disadvantaged and come from households on very low George Eustice: We published a draft TB eradication incomes. We also have a number of other projects strategy at the end of last summer and we will shortly under way. publish a final version of that strategy. It accepts that there is a range of measures we should pursue, including developing vaccines, and we are doing some work to develop an oral vaccine for badgers as well as on cattle Cattle Vaccination: TB vaccines. We are considering other measures such as contraception for badgers and increased cattle movement 4. Bill Wiggin (North Herefordshire) (Con): What his controls, so we are covering a range of issues as we try policy is on vaccinating cattle against TB. [902562] to solve this difficult problem. 999 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1000

Ancient Woodlands 10. Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con): What estimate his Department has made of the number of 5. Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): properties protected from flooding during the recent What assessment he has made of the threat posed to floods. [R] [902568] ancient woodlands and their biodiversity by development in the area. [902563] 11. Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): What estimate his Department has made of the number TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, of properties protected from flooding during the recent Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): Local planning floods. [902569] authorities assess any potential threat to ancient woodland case by case while applying the strict test set out in the TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, national planning policy framework. That test stipulates Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): We estimate that planning permission should be refused unless the that to date a total of more than 1.3 million properties need for, and benefit of, any development in that location have been protected from flooding during the flood clearly outweighs the loss of any ancient woodland. events since the beginning of last December. Mr Sheerman: That sounded like a civil servant’s brief. The fact is that the Secretary of State made a Mr Burns: That answer will bring great satisfaction to widely reported statement that suggested that we could those whose houses have been protected as a result of have offsetting through a system in which ancient woodland improved flood defences, but does the Minister accept was given up because other areas of the country would that the critical issue now is to ensure that more houses be planted with trees. In some people’s minds, that are given that protection in future because of the terrible would be like introducing 100 rabbits for every badger events going on in this country at present? What shot. It is not good enough. This is precious habitat that commitment do the Government have to continue the must be defended in this country and in Africa, because work of improving flood defences to protect people’s wildlife depends on it. homes?

Dan Rogerson: I am not sure that I entirely follow the Dan Rogerson: My right hon. Friend is absolutely hon. Gentleman’s logic when it comes to British mammals, right that, thanks to the efforts of the Environment but there we go. The key principle is that ancient Agency and all the money that has been invested, many woodland must be protected and the national planning homes have been protected, as I set out. It is crucial that policy framework is totally clear about that. Offsetting we do more, however, which is why we are investing potentially offers benefits for less irreplaceable biodiverse £2.3 billion in the next spending period and we announced areas that we can explore when planning applications £344 million last week for schemes that will go ahead in are made. That is what any policy will be based on. I the next year. It is also why we are working hard on hope that there will be support across the House for partnership funding and making the case locally to introducing those solutions, but ancient woodland should bring forward schemes that would otherwise not have be protected and the planning policy framework does been funded. that. Nigel Adams: Will the Minister confirm that people Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): whose properties have suffered flooding in the recent I am sure that the whole House will join me in sending exceptional events will have insurance made available to our best wishes to the Secretary of State for a speedy them via Flood Re should their existing insurer decline recovery. He must find it frustrating not to be at the to cover them due to that flooding? Dispatch Box at this very difficult time. What is the Minister doing to respond formally to the Dan Rogerson: Until the implementation of Flood environmental statement on HS2? The Woodland Trust Re, which is planned for summer 2015, the insurance estimates that 40 ancient woodlands will be totally industry has voluntarily agreed to abide by its commitments destroyed and another 38 will be threatened by noise under the 2008 statement of principles, which means pollution, shading and dust. That is a disgraceful situation that insurers will not decline to cover those who already and people want DEFRA to respond in public to the hold flood insurance with them. In practice, that means environmental statement. Will he give me an undertaking that people who are already covered by an insurer will that he will do so? be able to continue to access flood insurance from that insurer until Flood Re comes in. Dan Rogerson: The right hon. Lady is a doughty campaigner on the route and proposals for High Speed 2. The issues with ancient woodland are of course of great Rehman Chishti: What progress are the Government concern and I have been looking at which areas of making to meet their target of better protecting ancient woodland might be affected by the route. I 145,000 homes by 2015? Experts predict that household would be happy to meet her to discuss that if she would insurance premiums might rise by about 5% after the likemeto. floods, so what is being done to address that? Flooding Dan Rogerson: The crucial measure that we are taking forward is the implementation of Flood Re and the 6. Mr Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con): What estimate Water Bill, which is being debated in another place. On his Department has made of the number of properties the first part of my hon. Friend’s question, we have protected from flooding during the recent floods. investment plans to improve protection for at least [902564] 465,000 households by the end of the decade. 1001 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1002

Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab): Yesterday of the action group, which I hope he will be able to the Prime Minister refused to say whether he would attend. The farmers have suffered a great deal since reverse the massive cuts in the number of staff working their land has been inundated, and I echo what he said on flood prevention. Will the Minister give us an assurance about charitable efforts to help them. The fund announced today that those cuts will not go ahead? by the Prime Minister will set aside money to improve the land to bring it back to the condition that we would Dan Rogerson: I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s like to see it in, and details on how to apply for that will question, but there are no massive cuts in the number of be published in due course. people involved in flood protection. The Environment Agency, like all other agencies and Departments across Water Bills: Cost of Living government, is having to use resources more efficiently as we seek to sort out the financial mess that the previous Government left us. However, its chief executive 7. Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab): What steps he is has said that he is prioritising important front-line taking to tackle the contribution of rising water bills to services, and I would like to take the opportunity to pay the cost of living. [902565] tribute to all the work that it did over December, Christmas and the new year, which it is continuing now, TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, to protect people and keep them safe. Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): Last year, the Secretary of State wrote to all water companies to stress Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): The Labour Welsh the tough times that households are facing. In setting Government have also invested heavily in flood protection. out their 2014-15 prices, several companies have decided In the light of the Prime Minister’s recent announcements not to take the full amount allowed in the 2009 price about funding, will the Minister clarify whether it will review. Ofwat estimates that the 2014 price review could involve Barnett consequentials for Wales? reduce pressure on bills by between £120 million and £750 million annually from 2015. Dan Rogerson: The hon. Lady will be aware that colleagues in the Wales Office and the Treasury will lead Mr Spellar: While water bills are soaring, the water on how the Barnett formula operates, but if she would companies are making eye-watering profits. They are like to write to me or other Ministers with specific loading up their balance sheets with debt from tax questions, I am sure we will get back to her. havens abroad and are paying hardly any tax. Are not the public being ripped off in every possible way by Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): Does the Minister these sharks in the water? Rather than those minor accept his Department’s climate change risk assessment issues, why do not the Government really get a grip on that up to 1 million more properties, including 825,000 the water companies and get them to serve the customer homes, are likely to be at risk of flooding by 2020? If he and the country? does, why is funding for flood protection £63.5 million less in the current year than in 2010, even after last Dan Rogerson: That is a very good question from the week’s budget changes? What is the implication for the Whips, but the answer is that the current price review Government’s Flood Re insurance scheme, which the period mechanism was put in place under the previous Committee on Climate Change has warned him does Government. As I have already set out, prices will be not factor in the impact of climate change at all? held at the first opportunity, and some companies are reducing them in what remains of this period. We will Dan Rogerson: The view of Lord Krebs’s sub-committee see savings in the next price review period compared on Flood Re is being debated in another place. I have with the prices forecast had we carried on with the price been ensuring that, as Flood Re goes forward, it takes review left to us by Labour. account of extreme weather events and factors involving climate change. As I have set out, the Government will Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) be investing more in flood defences than any previous (Con): Two days ago, Southern Water announced its Government, given our spending review deal on capital price rises for 2014-15 at a time when they are tankering investment. In the first four years of this Parliament, we in many parts of Romsey and villages throughout the have spent more on flood defences than the previous Test valley to ensure that homes are safe from ingress of Government did in their last four years in office. sewage. Please will the Minister assure me that he will work with Southern Water to ensure that this winter’s Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): Farmers expenditure will not negatively impact bills in future? and others in Burrowbridge to whom I spoke last night are extremely grateful for the generosity of those farmers Dan Rogerson: Ofwat works with companies to consider from the other side of the country who have sent forage what is a reasonable amount for them to charge, and it to help feed their animals, and also very much welcome will take into account all the costs that companies face. the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday of an The key thing is that as we continue to invest in flood extra fund for farming that will help them to redrill the defences and deal with some of the problems, the sorts land and get it back into a productive state. Does the of issues that we face at the moment should have less of Minister have any more details about that scheme, how an impact on the water companies. I pay tribute to it will be applied and what the process will be? water companies for doing what they are to continue to provide service in these extreme weather conditions. I Dan Rogerson: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and visited a water treatment plant yesterday to see how it is colleagues in Somerset for all their work in representing being defended and it is working well and its staff are their constituents, and I look forward to the next meeting working incredibly hard. 1003 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1004

Tree Disease prioritise negotiations, based on industry interest, projected value and achievability. Under the export action plan, 8. Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): What steps he is our aim is to maintain access to existing markets and taking to safeguard trees from the threat of disease. negotiate to open new priority markets for food and [902566] drink products in countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, the USA, Indonesia and India. TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): We have made Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Tests in West rapid progress towards implementing the recommendations Yorkshire found that more than a third of food samples of the tree health and plant biosecurity taskforce. We were not what they claimed to be or had been mislabelled have produced a prioritised plant health risk register; in some way, with ham on pizzas made with meat undertaken work on contingency planning; and recruited emulsion or meat slurry that had been dyed pink, cheese a senior chief plant health officer. Later this spring, we analogue used instead of cheese and additives used in will publish a strategy which will set out a new approach flame retardants used in fruit juice. Does the Minister to biosecurity for our plants and trees and will incorporate agree that such reports are incredibly damaging to our our response to the taskforce’s remaining recommendations. food exports and that we need to address the problem by having proper testing of food produced in this country? Sir Bob Russell: I am grateful to the Minister for that positive response. Does he agree that, particularly in George Eustice: I understand that the statistic the view of the flooding, we must also ensure that we hon. Lady mentioned—that 30% of the samples were protect all our ancient woodlands, keep all our trees and mislabelled—is a little misleading, because the samples hedgerows, and more than that, plant more trees in our looked at were based on intelligence and from areas countryside and in our urban areas? where there was greater concern in the first place. Nevertheless, we take this very seriously, which is why George Eustice: I agree with the hon. Gentleman, we set up the review by Professor Chris Elliott. He has who has been a long-standing campaigner here and, I published his interim report, and we look forward to his understand, even planted a tree at the Eden Project in final findings. Cornwall. I am pleased to be able to tell him that protection, improvement and expansion are the three Topical Questions key priorities in our forestry and woodlands policy statement. Ancient woodland remains strongly protected T1. [902588] Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): through the planning system, and refreshed advice on If he will make a statement on his departmental ancient woodland to aid planning authorities is being responsibilities. developed by Natural England and the Forestry Commission. We believe that in many landscapes, more TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, trees will deliver increased social, environmental and Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): With the country economic benefits. Next year we will invest £30 million having experienced another night of torrential rain and in woodlands, of which £6 million will fund 2,000 hectares hurricane-force winds, I would like to thank the emergency of new woodland with about 4 million trees. services, the military, the Environment Agency, local authorities and public utilities for their work to safeguard Food Exports both life and property. Many of those people have been working through the night to reconnect properties, get 9. Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): What assessment our transport network back up and running and alert he has made of the value to the UK economy of food people to the risk of flooding. There is still much more exports. [902567] to be done, but their efforts must not go unremarked upon. As more rain is on the way, I ask the public to TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, continue to take heed of the Environment Agency’s Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): The 10 years to warnings. The Prime Minister will chair the first meeting 2012 saw agri-food exports grow by 40% to £18.2 billion. of the Cabinet Committee on flooding this morning. Exports in the first 11 months of 2013 stood at £17.2 billion, compared with £16.6 billion at the same point in 2012. Pauline Latham: On my way here I saw some elephants The Government and industry are working together to near St James’s park—men dressed as elephants, I should increase exports in the agri-food sector. We launched a say—because representatives of more than 50 Governments refreshed action plan last October. It commits us to are gathering in London today for a conference on the deliver £500 million of value to the UK economy by illegal wildlife trade, which the Secretary of State and supporting 1,000 companies by October 2015. his ministerial team have played a key role in bringing about. What steps are the Government taking to help Jeremy Lefroy: I welcome the Minister’s answer. Ireland combat international wildlife crime, including the poaching and France are currently our two largest export markets of elephants, rhinos and other animals? for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Which markets does he think will have the best growth prospects for George Eustice: As my hon. Friend points out, we are producers in the United Kingdom, and indeed in my hosting a major international conference on international county of Staffordshire, in future? wildlife crime. It aims to secure the high-level political commitment needed to successfully tackle the scourge George Eustice: Obviously the EU market will remain of illegal wildlife trade. It will address three interlinked a very important one for UK producers. We work issues: improving law enforcement, reducing demand closely with the industry to identify key markets and and supporting sustainable livelihoods for affected 1005 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1006 communities. The Government have convened the saw 350 homes flooded in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, conference, but it is for all the Governments represented and it is becoming increasingly clear that the decision to to demonstrate collective will by agreeing ambitious stop dredging the Aldingbourne Rife was a contributing actions that will make a real difference on the ground. factor to that flooding. Will the Minister urge the Environment Agency to reinstate the annual dredging T8. [902596] Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): When I that was mistakenly abandoned nearly 20 years ago? visited Atherton food bank, I was told that 30% of the users were in work and that 60% went there because of Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency is working benefit changes. The Opposition believe that it is with local agencies to look at the best way of managing disgraceful that in the world’s sixth richest country water in the Aldingbourne Rife. A study is being undertaken hundreds of thousands of people are dependent on of whether dredging and other measures might be food banks. Let me give the Minister one more chance appropriate to protect the properties that experience to answer this question: when will we get the report on this flooding, and that will report in the summer of this food banks—this month, next month, or next year? year. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend should he like me to. George Eustice: I have answered that question several times. We will publish the report once the quality assurance Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): Does the offer of an process concludes. The hon. Lady highlights benefit open cheque book and “money no object” extend to changes, but I simply point out that 92% of benefits are people in Morpeth—flood victims in my area—or is now processed on time, which is six percentage points the money solely on offer to people in the south of the higher than it was in 2009. This Government have done country? a lot to address people’s problems with the cost of living. We have taken 2.4 million people out of tax altogether, increased the basic state pension by 2.5% and frozen Dan Rogerson: The clear commitment that the Prime planned fuel duty rises, which means petrol is now 13% Minister has made is on ensuring that we have the cheaper than it would have been. facilities ready to respond to the incidents we are covering at the moment, no matter where they are in the country. T2. [902589] Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): With parts of the country experiencing the wettest January T4. [902592] Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) since records began, and sadly no let-up in sight at the (Con): Our thoughts have to be with the flood victims moment, will the Minister clarify whether resources at this time. Will the Minister update the House on the from the farming and forestry improvement scheme can audit of existing sustainable drainage systems with a be used to fund vital ditch-clearing and watercourse view to establishing what role they play in flood maintenance, which is absolutely essential for rural alleviation; and what help is being given to fishermen communities if they are to tackle flooding? who are unable to fish at sea during the time of this flood event? TheParliamentaryUnder-Secretaryof StateforEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): As I said earlier, Dan Rogerson: My hon. Friend puts together two the Government have announced a £10 million fund questions that cover areas for which both my hon. Friend to help farmers with the cost of recovering from flooding. the Under-Secretary and I are responsible. As she knows, We can look at how the farming and forestry improvement I will table the regulations on introducing sustainable scheme might impact on those affected by flooding, urban drainage later this year. I am happy to write to but its primary purpose is to promote the long-term her about auditing existing provisions. My hon. Friend competitiveness of farming. the Under-Secretary is visiting Newlyn soon to discuss with fishermen the problems they are facing. T9. [902597] Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): I welcome the Government’s action plan for tackling Mr Speaker: I do not think the hon. Lady is the first wildlife crime and the renewal of funding for the person to wrap two questions into one, and I rather national wildlife crime unit until 2016, even though it doubt that she will be the last. needs to be much more long term than that. Will the Minister explain his view on making wildlife crime offences recordable and what discussions he has had Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ with colleagues at the Home Office? Co-op): In 2011-12, Britain received co-funding from the European Commission on a project to research the George Eustice: One of the principles that we are health of bees. As the Minister is aware, there is a looking at in the conference is making sure that the growing awareness of the importance of bee health in sanctions are adequate for those who commit wildlife the UK and concern about the use of pesticides. Yet in crime. Issues of sentencing are a matter for the Ministry 2012-13, the Government withdrew from the project of Justice. However, I am happy to write to the hon. and did not take the funding that was offered by the Gentleman to update him on further progress on this, European Commission. Why was that? because there has been some suggestion that the Sentencing Council should look at it further. George Eustice: We are working on a national pollinator strategy. The Government take this very seriously and T3. [902590] Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and want to prioritise it. We have been very clear in all our Littlehampton) (Con): The Aldingbourne Rife is an consultations that we want measures in our common ancient drainage river which historically protected the agricultural policy implementation that will promote coastal plain in Bognor Regis from flooding. June 2012 bees. 1007 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1008

T5. [902593] Bill Wiggin (North Herefordshire) (Con): neighbouring councils such as Merseyside, Halton and My hon. Friend the farming Minister will know that, Cheshire West continue to use it for the waste that they though it may enrage Labour Members, it will be very will not recycle or incinerate. Will the Minister consider popular with farmers when we amend legislation to issuing guidance to those councils so that if they will allow more than two hounds to flush foxes to guns. not upgrade their disposal mechanisms, they will at When does he think that will happen? least dump the waste somewhere that has planning permission? George Eustice: The Government have had representations from a number of Welsh farmers about the problems of Dan Rogerson: Sites such as that in my hon. Friend’s predation, and there has been a proposal that the legislation constituency need an environmental permit from the be amended to increase the number of dogs that can be Environment Agency and planning permission from used for flushing out. We are looking carefully at the the local authority. There is an environmental permit in issue, and we will let the House know when we reach place for that site. Any planning considerations would any conclusions. be a matter for the local authority.

Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): Last year the Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab): Further to Secretary of State claimed that climate change could the question from the hon. Member for North Herefordshire help the UK. He said: (Bill Wiggin) about the flushing of foxes, we know that “Remember that for humans, the biggest cause of death is cold there is a lot of support on the Government Benches for in winter, far bigger than heat in summer. It would also lead to the repeal of the Hunting Act 2004. Will the Minister longer growing seasons and you could extend growing a little say what discussions have taken place inside DEFRA to further north into some of the colder areas”? promote amendment of the Act, specifically with regard Does the Minister feel that those comments are a little to the flushing of foxes to guns? unfortunate, given what has just happened? George Eustice: As the hon. Gentleman said, there is Dan Rogerson: The Government are clear that we are a range of views on the issue on both sides of the investing in adaptation and mitigation, and we are House. That is why the coalition agreement said that at taking a lead in international negotiations on those some point we would have a free vote on the full repeal issues. of the Hunting Act. I made it clear that we have had a submission from some Welsh farmers and we have said T6. [902594] Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) that we will look at that, and when we are ready to (Con): What assessment has my hon. Friend made of respond, we will do so. the adequacy of flood defences for the Nene and Ouse rivers in Northamptonshire? Does he consider the Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): Record rainfall predictions for water flow through those rivers to be has found the surface drainage infrastructure in historic historically accurate? towns such as Bradford on Avon severely lacking. Will the measures that the Government have announced Dan Rogerson: Northamptonshire county council and extend to improving drainage in the built environment, its flood and water management team in particular are or will responsibility for that fall entirely upon local working on that with the Environment Agency as the councils? lead local flood authority. They are hoping to introduce schemes that will address the concerns that my hon. Dan Rogerson: My hon. Friend has already invited Friend raises, but if she would like to write to me on a me to visit Bradford on Avon. I am happy to do that particular local issue, I am happy to look into it. and to discuss with the local authority any concerns it has about the current situation. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): I welcome the £5,000 that has been announced for households Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab): In that are flooded, and I understand that it will be available the light of the Department’s withdrawal of the funding to households that flooded in Hull during the tidal for the EU programme on bee decline, how will the surge in December, but can the Minister explain to Department provide an evidenced response at the end people in Hull why it has taken two months for that of the two-year ban on neonicotinoids as pesticides? announcement to be made, and only after the playing fields of Eton flooded? George Eustice: We have a number of work streams looking at this issue, including one by the Food and Dan Rogerson: Ministers have been on the ground Environment Research Agency, but I repeat that this across the country at various events. I visited a community Government take very seriously protecting habitats for to talk about how it was affected during the east coast bees and promoting pollinators. That is why it is a key flooding. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State part of our common agricultural policy aims. has also visited a number of communities. As the hon. Lady pointed out, the money that is available to help Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park) (Con): Deep-sea people will be there for all communities, no matter bottom trawling is one of the most destructive practices where they are in the country. affecting our marine ecosystem and its value to the fishing sector is negligible. The EU is in the process of T7. [902595] David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con): rewriting the rules in relation to deep-sea fishing in the The Minister will be aware of the Arpley landfill site in north-east Atlantic. Will the Minister confirm that the my constituency. He may also be aware that planning UK will support the phase-out of the most destructive permission for continued use has now expired, yet gears? 1009 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1010

George Eustice: We share some of the concerns about church that is a hub of the community, hosting local the deep-sea access regime, but we did not agree with clubs and services to the elderly, as well as toddlers the European Parliament’s proposals for an outright groups and young people’s clubs, and, as my hon. ban. We think there would be problems in enforcing it. Friend says, organising popular tours of the village for Instead, we favour—we have argued this case with the visitors to Broadstairs. May I also draw the House’s European Commission—management measures such attention to Holy Trinity Margate, which is another as no-fish zones and other steps to help deal with the fantastic example of a church delivering almost 24/7 problem. social action?

Mr Speaker: We must draw to a close at this point, Flood Relief Fund but there will, of course, be an urgent question later on transport-related matters, so perhaps Members who 2. Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): If were unlucky on this occasion might want to come in the Church Commissioners will consider creating a on that. Church of England relief fund for flood victims to which the public could contribute. [902579]

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS Sir Tony Baldry: Last Friday the Bishop of Taunton wrote to all parishes in the Bath and Wells diocese, giving details of how parishioners could both provide The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the and access much-needed financial and practical support. Church Commissioners, was asked— On the wider question of a relief fund for flood victims, I think my hon. Friend was present on Monday when Church Property (Community Use) my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government told me that a number of charities 1. Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): What plans were offering help for flood victims and promised that the commissioners have to make their buildings and the Government would do more to signpost those voluntary other church property available for wider community organisations to help people in distress. use. [902578] Mr Speaker: I think we have time for the questions; it The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony is hoped that we have time for the answers. Baldry): With your permission, Mr Speaker, before I answer this first question, it may be convenient to the Miss McIntosh: When we had severe flooding in House if I make a short comment on the progress made 2000, the then Archbishop of York, Lord Hope, created by the General Synod this week on the Church of a Church of England relief fund, through which we England being able to consecrate women as bishops. On were very humbled to receive not just national donations, Tuesday, the General Synod completed the revision but donations from Mozambique, which is a very poor process for a new draft measure to enable women to country, but it wished to show solidarity. I hope my become bishops. The Synod also agreed to shorten the right hon. Friend will use his good offices to create such consultation period with the diocese to consider this a fund through the Church of England, to which both new measure, so the measure is now likely to come for national and international donors will be able to contribute, final approval at the July meeting of the General Synod. if they wish to do so. If the measure is approved then, I would hope that the Ecclesiastical Committee would be able to give it early Sir Tony Baldry: Every parish in flood-affected areas consideration and that both Houses would then separately is, where possible and practical, giving help to those consider it so that, if it is approved, the Synod might affected by the floods, including making churches available then be able to promulge the canon in November. That for people who have been evacuated, providing drop-in would mean that it would be possible for the first centres, visiting housebound people and delivering food woman to be nominated as a bishop in the Church of parcels. On the question of an overall fund, there is a England this year. feeling that there are already a number of national Turning to my hon. Friend’s question, the Church of funds available to help flood victims and that the Church England has changed legislation to make it much easier setting up a further fund may confuse rather than help. for church buildings to be used for a wide range of community and cultural uses. The Church of England Credit Unions encourages all parish churches to be open where possible for as long as possible. 3. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): What guidance the Church Commissioners are providing Laura Sandys: Will my right hon. Friend join me in to church congregations on supporting local credit unions. congratulating the congregation of volunteers at St Peter’s [902580] church in Broadstairs? He very kindly visited an award- winning tourism project called the St Peter’s village Sir Tony Baldry: Substantial material on the Church tour. Will he encourage other churches to use their of England’s website is publicly and readily available to facilities in order to open up to the community and church congregations to download to assist them in develop tourism propositions? supporting local credit unions. The Archbishop of Canterbury has written to all clergy to encourage them Sir Tony Baldry: I much enjoyed my visit to my hon. and their parish churches to support the new resources, Friend’s constituency. She is absolutely right. The church working with their local credit union and continuing to of St Peter’s in Broadstairs is an excellent example of a assist those in need. 1011 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1012

Andrew Selous: The Dunstable deanery wants to set Sir Edward Leigh: I do not think that the Bank of up a credit union, and the Money Matters credit union—I England should be an exception. If the National Audit save with it myself—is working with Leighton-Linslade Office had audited the Financial Services Authority town council to set up a credit union in Leighton and the Bank of England during the financial crisis of Buzzard. Churches can help there too. Do the Church 2007, there may well have been a very different result. Commissioners agree that we need more saving as well When I was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, as more affordable lending? I campaigned long and hard for us—this Parliament—to audit the Bank of England, which we should do. Sir Tony Baldry: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Ever since the Archbishop of Canterbury indicated that Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ the Church hopes over time to help compete payday Co-op): The House will be aware that the Governor of lenders out of business, there has been considerable the Bank of England recently made some important interest from parish churches right across the country comments on the currency issue if Scotland were to about helping to support credit unions in their local become independent, and it will be aware that other areas and dioceses. statements are to be made about that today. Would it not be a good idea for the National Audit Office to Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Will commission independent studies on the effects of currency the Second Church Estates Commissioner take on board decisions in relation to independence, which would the fact that although many of us support credit unions, certainly illuminate the debate both in Scotland and the if we are to move with the times it is crowdfunding and rest of the UK? crowdsourcing that are appropriate to local communities and congregations? That is being pioneered in some Sir Edward Leigh: I suspect that the National Audit areas, so will he consider it? Office would be very loth to be dragged into the debate Sir Tony Baldry: As the last debate on this subject in on the future of Scotland. Clearly, if Scotland broke the House demonstrated, there are a number of responsible away, there would have to be completely different audit ways to help people in difficulties to access credit, other arrangements for the Financial Conduct Authority, which than recourse to payday lenders. the House currently audits. Independence would indeed have implications for the National Audit Office. Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Not just church congregations but individual members can use credit National Audit Office unions. Now that the law has been changed, organisations can set up community accounts. Does the right hon. 5. Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): What support Gentleman agree that churches ought to look at investing the NAO gives to Select Committees and how the their own funds in credit unions? effectiveness of such support is monitored. [902583] Sir Tony Baldry: Yes. Indeed, many churches are already Sir Edward Leigh: In addition to the support it provides doing so. I can send the hon. Lady details of a number to the Public Accounts Committee, the NAO supports of diocesan-led initiatives that are doing exactly that. Select Committees with informal briefings, advice on selecting and designing inquiries, new research and evidence gathering in support of a Committee’s interest PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION or inquiry, and in providing experts on short-term attachments. On monitoring the effectiveness of that The Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission was support, the NAO monitors the Government’s responses asked— to PAC reports to ensure that individual Departments have accepted and implemented PAC recommendations. National Audit Office Martin Vickers: The NAO provides valuable help and 4. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): support for the PAC and Select Committees. Importantly, What recent discussions the Commission has had on it is independent of Government. Is my hon. Friend extending the scope of the NAO’s auditing of the Bank satisfied that it has adequate resources to carry out its of England and any consequent changes to the NAO’s work? budget. [902581] Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): There have been Sir Edward Leigh: I am satisfied that the NAO has no recent discussions on extending the scope of the adequate resources, but the Commission has already NAO’s role to auditing the Bank of England. As part of imposed a 15% cut to its budget in real terms. If further its wider discussions of the NAO’s budget in March cuts are demanded, the House will have to consider 2012, the Commission considered the resource implications whether the NAO will be able to continue its excellent of the NAO’s new role in implementing the Financial work to support the Committees of the House, including Services Act 2012, in that it appointed the Comptroller the Public Accounts Committee. and Auditor General to audit the Financial Conduct Authority. The Act did not change the audit arrangements Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): What proportion for the Bank itself. of the National Audit Office’s parliamentary work is taken up in servicing the Public Accounts Committee? Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: The National Audit Office can audit every single Government Department, the Sir Edward Leigh: In 2012-13, the NAO’s support to BBC and even the Queen. Why does my hon. Friend the Public Accounts Committee cost £3 million and its think that the Bank of England should be an exception? support to other Select Committees cost £2.1 million. 1013 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1014

My hon. Friend will see that the majority of the funding Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): The Electoral supports the PAC, but the NAO does valuable work to Commission intends to carry out further consultation help all our Select Committees. and analysis during 2014 to identify a proportionate and accessible scheme for verifying identity at polling stations in Great Britain. There will be consideration of CHURCH COMMISSIONERS the acceptable forms of photographic ID to be included in the scheme and the likely impact on different groups of electors, including young voters. The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked— Tom Blenkinsop: A written answer from the Under- Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Bishop of Bath and Wells: Residence Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) on 8 January stated that since 2007, the number of driving licences that are 6. Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): What recent discussions issued to people under the age of 22 has declined by the Church Commissioners have had on further 12.2%. Given that the number of young people who consultation on the decision to relocate the residence of have photographic driving licences is decreasing, does the Bishop of Bath and Wells. [902584] the hon. Gentleman share my concern that requiring photo ID for voting would further reduce the number The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony of young people who participate in democracy? Baldry): At the invitation of my hon. Friend, I visited Wells on 25 January to attend a public meeting and Mr Streeter: The experience in Northern Ireland is listen to the views of local people. I promised that I that the proposed photographic ID scheme is rather would report those views to the governors of the Church popular among young people, not least because it doubles Commissioners, which I shall do at their next meeting up as proof of age so that they can access pubs. The later this month. She also presented a petition at General Electoral Commission has advised the Government on Synod earlier this week. A number of questions on this this matter and it is for them to make the decision. matter were also asked and answered at General Synod. However, the early evidence is that voter ID cards are popular with young people. Tessa Munt: Bearing in mind that there is unity between churchgoers and those who are not churchgoers, I will quote from a letter that I received last night, which said of the Church of England: CHURCH COMMISSIONERS “It is most depressing to see it damaged by its own corporate actions… There are times when I look into the internal workings of the Church of England and despair.” The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the People understand that the investment arm can make a Church Commissioners, was asked— return on the latest asset of the Church Commissioners, Archbishops of Canterbury and York: Visits the Old Rectory at Croscombe, by renting it out on the ordinary market. However, may I make a plea for a 8. Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): What reports he graceful and sensitive response to the thousands who has received on the recent visits to South Sudan, Rwanda, have registered their disagreement with allowing the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya by the new bishop to move in, and for there to be real consultation? Archbishops of Canterbury and York. [902586]

Sir Tony Baldry: My hon. Friend has made her views The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony on this matter very clear. I have promised that I will Baldry): The Archbishops of Canterbury and York report those views to the governors of the Church have both been overseas in the past month. The Archbishop Commissioners later this month. I am sure that they of Canterbury’s recent visit to South Sudan, Burundi, will reflect carefully on all the representations that have Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo been made on this matter. were part of his programme of visits to all parts of the Anglican communion. He saw at first hand the devastating Mr Speaker: The hon. Lady has not merely asked a impact of conflict and the huge difficulties that are question, but offered the House a treatise. Some might faced by the Church and the wider population in areas even judge it to have constituted a sermon. of conflict and instability, as well as the key role that is played by the Church and the urgent need for far-reaching efforts towards reconciliation. ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE Fiona Bruce: The persecution of Christians and those of other faiths is increasing in the regions that have The hon. Member for South West Devon, representing been visited by both archbishops. What work is the the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, Church of England doing with churches on the ground was asked— to promote peace and stability in those areas? Photo Voting Identification Sir Tony Baldry: It is difficult, in the time that is 7. Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East allowed, to encapsulate the seriousness of this issue. Cleveland) (Lab): What assessment the Electoral The churches are keen to help rebuild their countries by Commission has made of the potential effect on the strengthening communities through reconciliation, healing number of young voters of its proposals to require and the overcoming of fear. As the Archbishop of photo identification for voters. [902585] Canterbury said, reconciliation requires people to face 1015 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 1016 reality and to tell the truth about the suffering that has countries, one hopes and intends that the Church will been experienced and the harm that has been done. He be present, helping to bring reconciliation. said: “When there is enough confidence to meet each other, then honest talking is possible.” Mr Speaker: I hope that we all feel uplifted by the He also stressed the importance of caring for those who voice of Sir Tony. I feel sure that we do. have suffered. In each of those war-torn and conflict-stricken 1017 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1018

Flooding: Transport Disruption signalling. The M2 in Kent is now partially reopened in both directions, with repairs ongoing to the hole in the central reservation. 10.34 am While we deal with the immediate fall-out from the weather conditions, my Department has announced Mary Creagh (Wakefield) (Lab) (Urgent Question): measures that I believe will make a real impact on the To ask the Secretary of State if he will update the ground. Those include £61 million funding for projects House on the transport disruption caused by the floods. to help repair damaged roads and build greater resilience into our railway network. Yesterday the Government The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick announced funding worth £31 million to pay for rail McLoughlin): In the past two months, Britain has been resilience projects, which includes money to continue hit by truly exceptional weather. This has been the the vital work at Cowley bridge in Exeter to improve wettest January in more than 200 years, and the severe resilience against flooding. In addition, a further £30 million weather is set to continue. From extra pumps and has been found for road maintenance, including pothole sandbags to military support and emergency funds, the repairs, for local authorities in England affected by the Government are committed to providing all the practical severe weather. That is on top of the £3.5 million from support and assistance that is needed. the £7 million flood recovery package announced by the Overnight a severe storm, with winds recorded at Government on 17 January. more than 100 miles per hour, added further to disruption Because we recognise the importance of tourism to on the transport network, with the railway network the south-west during half-term week, we have worked particularly badly affected and some motorways closed with the airline Flybe to enable it to double its daily owing to wind speeds. Network Rail and the Highways flights between Newquay and London Gatwick. It will Agency have been working through the night to address increase the number of flights from three to six per the damage caused, clearing scores of trees from blocked weekday, providing more than 4,500 additional seats lines, removing debris from carriageways and tracks, each week. Flybe has also agreed to keep prices at the and repairing overhead wires. Let me take this opportunity same level as before the weather disruption, ensuring to thank all those people for their dedication and hard that hard-working families are not penalised by the work in the most trying circumstances, and express my impact of the weather on their travel plans. On Monday sympathy with all those affected by bad weather. this week the Prime Minister also announced a Government subsidy to allow Newquay airport to waive the £5 airport As a result of the repair work overnight, I can provide development fee usually charged to those departing the following updates for those parts of the transport from the airport. Together, that package is helping to network affected by the storm. On the rail network, the keep the south-west open for business during these west coast main line is open, apart from the spur from difficult times. Runcorn to Liverpool, which is expected to be back in In addition, First Great Western, the rail operator, service later this morning. Most of the east coast line is has put in place a special ticketing arrangement so that open. Continued work on overhead line damage north rail passengers affected by the flood disruption do not of York is placing limits on the service, and trains are miss out on the cheaper advance fares while revised expected to run at 80 miles an hour between Newcastle timetables are in place. That means that passengers will and the Scottish borders until midday. The Welsh routes receive a 25% discount on walk-up fares for journeys of Fishguard and Aberystwyth are currently closed as that cross the Dawlish gap. First Great Western has also engineers work to clear scores of downed trees. ordered hundreds of extra buses to provide alternative On the roads, with a few isolated exceptions, we have transport while the track is repaired. kept motorways and major A roads running through Although the conditions are unprecedented, particularly this unprecedented level of severe weather. Although because of their severity and sustained nature, it is the hard work of engineers has mitigated the worst important that we ensure that our network is resilient in effects of the storm, there is no doubt that the transport the long term to such threats. The Department for network has taken a battering over the past week. In Transport works very closely on resilience with other Dawlish work continues apace to mend the route between Government Departments, local authorities, other transport London and the south-west. During my visit on Friday operators and the wider sector. Resilience to extreme I met south-west MPs and council and business leaders weather and climate change also form part of our to assess the impact of the severe weather on the region’s capital maintenance programme. The Government have transport network and economy. That followed a briefing asked the industry to build climate resilience into its with local south-west MPs in the House last Wednesday. plans for railway investment for the period between The collapsed wall has been shored up with material 2014 and 2019. The industry has responded by introducing salvaged from the damaged section, and a temporary more specialised equipment and trains that treat rails, breakwater made of shipping containers and filled with and that clear ice and snow or compacted leaves. rubble has been erected off the coast. Removal of the We have embarked on one of the biggest programmes damaged platform continues, and work is estimated to of rail modernisation ever. Over the next five years, be completed by 18 March. more than £38 billion will be spent to improve and At Maidenhead the water table is currently 20 metres maintain our railways. Network Rail is developing strategies higher than it would normally be at this time of the for securing the long-term resilience of the railways and year. That has damaged the signalling and had a serious has asked the Office of the Rail Regulator for nearly effect on the ability of Network Rail to run trains, with £500 million to invest in resilience projects. roughly one fifth of services currently running between On the roads, the Highways Agency has assessed the Reading and Paddington. Network Rail is working potential risks that climate change poses to the ongoing urgently to assess the time scale and to repair the operation and improvements to the strategic road network. 1019 Flooding: Transport Disruption13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1020

[Mr Patrick McLoughlin] “we will do everything we can to ensure that these important services are maintained, even when they are challenged by floods”.— It has taken action to mitigate and is spending a huge [Official Report, 16 January 2013; Vol. 556, c. 870.] amount a year on maintenance and renewal. Funding Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that £61 million for local roads maintenance has increased by £650 million was being made available by the Department for Transport in this Parliament. That figure will increase by a further to finance the repair and rebuilding of transport £500 million to £4.9 billion between 2015 and 2020. infrastructure, yet it transpires that £31 million of that As the Prime Minister said yesterday, we are in for a money was what he promised to the south-west authorities long haul. I will continue to keep the House updated, and MPs last year for resilience repairs around Exeter. but I should at this stage pay tribute, as every Member Network Rail has spent £5 million on small repair of the House would like to do, to all those tens of schemes, but the bulk of that £26 million from the thousands of people who are at the moment doing their Government, promised by the Prime Minister last January, upmost to provide services, sometimes in very dangerous has never been received. Why not? Why did that money conditions. They are trying to do their very best for the failed to materialise in the autumn statement? Did he travelling public, and we owe them a great debt of just forget? gratitude. Of the Prime Minister’s £61 million announcement Mary Creagh: I thank the Secretary of State for his yesterday, it transpires that the £30 million for council reply. Our sympathy goes out to the families and friends road repairs was actually announced on Monday by the of the three people who have tragically lost their lives in Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. the flooding and storms. Our thoughts are with everyone Will the Secretary of State confirm that the Prime who has been affected by the flooding. Minister’s announcement yesterday was a rehash of old announcements and included not one penny of new I echo the Secretary of State’s tribute to the emergency money for the urgent rail repairs that are needed across and armed services, council workers, Network Rail, the the network? Will any additional money be made available Highways Agency, the Environment Agency and power to Network Rail for repairs to damaged transport company staff who have worked round the clock in very infrastructure? Will any additional money be provided difficult conditions to keep people safe and to restore to improve transport infrastructure flood resilience? services. The Secretary of State mentioned the severe weather The Government need to speak with one voice and in the past week that has caused huge disruption. Rail their response needs to be speedier than it has been in services on Southern trains, Southeastern trains, South the recent past. The Select Committee on Energy and West Trains, First Great Western and Virgin have all Climate Change has warned that flooding is the greatest been seriously affected, and there is major disruption risk our country faces from climate change. The Prime on the motorway, with the closure of the M2 and Minister has said that “money is no object” and the regional disruption overnight as trees were brought Secretary of State has said that there is no blank cheque. down by high winds. Who is right? Communities and commuters face long weeks, potentially months, of transport disruption. They The Secretary of State said that First Great Western need leadership and clarity on what help they can has suspended its advance ticket scheme on the Dawlish expect and when. When will they get it? route. Passengers must now pay for expensive walk-on tickets rather than take advantage of lower advance fares. Although the 25% reduction in those walk-on Mr McLoughlin: In my answer, I tried to be open fares is welcome, some passengers must still pay more with the House on all the problems being faced by than £100 to travel from Paddington to Cornwall on passengers and our constituents across the country. I do rail replacement buses. Does he believe that is fair? not think it helps when the Opposition try to suggest that money is not available. When I was here last The Tunbridge Wells to Hastings line is shut as a Thursday, I was the one speaking up for all the passengers result of landslips and will take several weeks to repair. who were being inconvenienced by strikes that the One route to Exeter is closed with three quarters of a Opposition were deliberately incredibly quiet about. I mile of track under water. The Windsor branch line is need no lectures on speaking up for passengers and the blocked at Datchet. In Wales, the Cambrian coast rail people who use our public services. line has been damaged between Barmouth and Pwllheli—it was damaged in January but will not reopen until As far as money and investment is concerned, the mid-May.Network Rail estimates that the cost of repairing simple fact is this: as the Prime Minister has made that damage will be up to £30 million. What talks has absolutely clear, there is no limit to the amount of the Secretary of State held with train companies to money that the Government are providing for immediate support passengers who have experienced substantial flood relief. We will do everything we can to help those financial loss as a result of the travel disruption? The people who are very badly affected and will be affected damage at Dawlish and Pwllheli alone will cost Network for months to come. That is a commitment from the Rail £40 million to repair and Network Rail’s initial whole of the Government: the Government certainly estimate of the repair and business interruption costs speak with one voice on this subject. from flooding over the past two months is now £118 million. I also point out very clearly that, between 2014 and How much money has he asked the Treasury for to 2019 in the next round of investment in the railways carry out those vital repairs? cleared by this Government, we will see record sums In 2012, an 11-day closure of the Great Western invested in our railways. Indeed, as part of the investment railway line to Exeter caused by flooding was estimated programme, a tunnel that is very important for the by Cornwall council to have cost the regional economy south-west, has just been relined. A lot of the money we £140 million. In January last year, the Prime Minister are talking about—the £850 million being spent on said that Reading station—is all about improving resilience in 1021 Flooding: Transport Disruption13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1022 the long term. A lot of the money being spent by Secretary of State consider carefully the need to provide Network Rail over the next five years—[Interruption.] alternative main line railway routes into the west country The hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden), and also look at the road situation, because at the like a parrot, keeps saying, “It’s not new money.” The moment we are dependent on the M5 and the totally simple point is that it is new money. It is the £38 billion inadequate A303? that we are going to invest in Network Rail over the next five years. It is important, too, and represents a Mr McLoughlin: I understand the points my hon. record level of investment—a level of investment never Friend is making. There are a few things we need to do. reached by the previous Government when there was First and foremost, we need to reassure people that the plenty of money available. When the buckets were south-west is open for business and that the road network overflowing, they did not invest in our infrastructure; overall is working well. This morning, I had a meeting we are investing in it, rebuilding the British railways, with the country’s main coach operators about their and the roads as well. laying on extra services, which they are doing, and as we approach next week’s half-term holiday, and the Easter Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): break as well, people and businesses in the south-west I would like to associate myself with the remarks of want to get the message out clearly that they are open both Front Benchers about the victims and those people for business and that the south-west is not a closed area; working around the clock to help people in trouble. I and certainly the road network gives us that option. also congratulate Ministers on getting a grip of this On alternative routes, I want to see the Dawlish route situation and offering support wherever they can. reconnected as soon as possible—Network Rail estimates Following the flooding in 2008, the UK received it will take six weeks, once it starts construction properly, about £127 million from the EU solidarity fund, which, to re-establish the line—but my hon. Friend is right that in exceptional circumstances, can be used for regional we should look at the lines that have been closed. It is disasters to help with clear-up work and infrastructure not the fault of this Government, or even the last restoration. Our Welsh Conservative MEP, Dr Kay Government, that they are closed. Since 1965, successive Swinburne, has been calling on the Government to Governments have seen development take place over co-ordinate with the Welsh Government to unlock funds some of these lines. from the solidarity fund in particular. Will my right hon. Friend work with Dr Swinburne, the Welsh Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): I am sure Government and other parts of the country to ensure that the Secretary of State will join me in praising the we unlock the maximum amount of money from this work of East Coast staff who dealt with customers European fund during these terrible times? stranded on the Yorkshire moors last night. Mr McLoughlin: I can reassure my right hon. Friend When the Secretary of State and his team give figures that this matter was discussed last night in the Cobra on the late running of East Coast trains, will they meeting, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for the attempt to differentiate in respect of the weather problems Cabinet Office and Paymaster General is looking at all over the past two years—they have not occurred only the avenues for collecting any money that might be this month—and will they not blame East Coast for available. them?

Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): What Mr McLoughlin: There can be many reasons for train work is the Secretary of State doing with other Departments delays, and sometimes they are completely outside the to make an economic assessment of the loss of the rail control of Network Rail or the rail operators. I readily network, both in the south-west and across the country? accept that point. Some of the problems faced by It is important that that work is co-ordinated. operators, even leaving aside exceptional storms, are completely outside their control. Mr McLoughlin: The hon. Lady, along with council leaders and leaders of the local enterprise partnership, Mr Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con): Conservative met me last week when I was down in Plymouth. I told Members welcome the decisive action of the Prime them, following my statement in the House last Thursday, Minister and the Department for Transport in seeking that I would want to look at the long-term resilience of to tackle the immediate problem and the extra money the south-west—that is very important—but when we made available to repair the network. However, will my get a storm of the nature of last night’s, it is not just the right hon. Friend accept that the important thing over south-west we need to consider, so we need to investigate the longer term will be greater resilience and improvement what she says further and more wholly. She has made to the whole rail network? Will he confirm that the her case for the south-west, and I will certainly work £38.5 billion for greater resilience to be made available with her and other Members who attended the briefing— over the next control period will exclude the additional unfortunately I could not attend because I was preparing money for High Speed 2? for the urgent question—held by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Mr McLoughlin: I am grateful to my right hon. Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond), just before this sitting. Friend, who knows better than most the immense work going into improving resilience. Not long after I was Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): The appointed to this post, I went to Shugborough tunnel, Great Western railway is effectively out of action and which was closed over the Christmas period as it was many of our roads are under water. This clearly being relaid; about £3 million was spent on getting the demonstrates the vulnerability of the west country to rails up and putting new drainage in. The works meant weather conditions and our lack of resilience. Will the that trains could run through the tunnel at 125 mph 1023 Flooding: Transport Disruption13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1024

[Mr McLoughlin] Mr McLoughlin: I might just want to think a bit more about promising that there will always be diesel trains. rather than 50 mph. Nobody will have seen that £3 million We are investing a huge amount of money in the new being spent but it was one part of the very many things intercity express programme trains to serve on the east going on across the whole rail network that improve the coast route. I cannot give my hon. Friend an absolute facilities and services for our constituents. commitment at the Dispatch Box today, but I will certainly investigate the point that she has made. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): As the Secretary of State will know, if there is genuinely new money, Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab): Given that the Secretary there will be discussions about the Barnett consequentials. of State obviously has difficulties with Barnett Are such discussions going on? If he cannot reveal a consequentials, may I simply ask him how much extra figure, will he at least confirm that the announcements money will be coming to Wales? over the past couple of weeks have been about new money? If so, there will be Barnett consequentials. Mr McLoughlin: I think that that is a question for the Secretary of State for Wales—[Interruption.] Idonot Mr McLoughlin: Network Rail serves Wales as well, have any problems whatever with the Barnett formula. so Wales will get its share of the money that Network The point that I am making about Network Rail is that Rail is investing in the whole railway structure. it serves England and Wales.

Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con): I thank Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD): As the effects of the Secretary of State for his support for and visit to climate change multiply and increase, it is likely that Dawlish; they were very much appreciated by one and events that now seem unusual will become more and all. I join him in thanking Network Rail. I also thank more usual. Can the Secretary of State assure me that my local council and volunteers who did a sterling job his current plans for transport infrastructure strengthening in extremely difficult circumstances. will be reviewed in the light of the fact that what is happening at the moment will not be a one-off event? As the Secretary of State has seen for himself, the line is crucial not only to my constituency but to others Mr McLoughlin: The last major review we carried further south-west. The local economy depends on it. out covered the way in which the Department responded Can he assure me that he recognises that and that he is to extreme cold weather, and to snow and ice in particular. committed to ensuring that the line is sustainable for A lot of resilience factors were built into the network as the long term and to researching what needs to be done a result of that. We learn from any kind of event, and to make it truly resilient? we try to ensure that those lessons are put to good use. I hope that that answers the hon. Gentleman’s question. Mr McLoughlin: I can certainly give my hon. Friend a promise about the commitment that she seeks; the Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab): hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath) What is the Secretary of State’s estimate of the cost to also asked the question. I know how important the businesses of the severe travel disruption? main line to Dawlish and my hon. Friend’s constituency is. The other thing that we need to consider is whether Mr McLoughlin: At this stage, it is too early to give we can build in better resilience than went into the wall an exact figure. I have heard examples of some very when it was first built more than 100 years ago. stoical people going to exceptional lengths to get to work and keep their businesses operating, but at this Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): Has stage it is too early to give the hon. Lady an exact there been any major damage to the west coast main answer. line and will the Secretary of State invest any new money into it? Will he also find out why there are Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) regular hold-ups on that line between Birmingham and (Con): I thank my right hon. Friend for coming down Euston? to Plymouth last Friday, about 36 hours after the great event at Dawlish. There is obviously considerable concern Mr McLoughlin: One of the reasons why there might about what is going to happen there. Would he be be regular hold-ups was pointed out by my right hon. willing to set out a timetable for the work that will Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) a moment ensure we have a resilient railway line in the long term? ago: the question of capacity on that line. The hon. Will he also ask the Leader of the House whether we Gentleman will remember that the west coast main line can have a proper debate on this matter? It is incredibly saw investment of more than £9 billion, all north of important that we get this right, and that people know Rugby. That went some way towards improving certain what we are going to do. bits of the line’s capacity, but it did not improve the capacity into London. Mr McLoughlin: I will not trespass on the responsibilities of others in relation to promising debates on the Floor Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): I of the House. I was once in a position to deal with such thank the Department for the work it is doing. I understand questions, but I no longer do so. I will therefore leave that the East Coast trains were rescued by diesel trains that matter to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the following the catastrophic failure. Will the Secretary of House, who will be making a statement after I have State give the House an assurance that there will always spoken. My hon. Friend also asked about long-term be a fleet of diesel trains to use in scenarios such as resilience, and he is absolutely right. When I was in his these? constituency, he told me specifically how these events 1025 Flooding: Transport Disruption13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1026 were affecting his constituents. He also told me how past 20 years, the number of passengers has gone from determined he was to get a service for people to travel 750 million to 1.5 billion, and there has also been a huge from Plymouth to London in under three hours; it is a increase in freight on the railways, which we all welcome. matter of urgency for him. He has made his point, and I will look at ways in which we can try to achieve what he Sir Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): The wants. Secretary of State will be aware that the A22 in my constituency has been closed for several days, causing Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): I would like to substantial disruption to traffic in south London. The be clear about the exact figure on the cheque. I think closure is caused not so much by the flooding, which is the Secretary of State announced spending of about adjacent to the A22, but by the installation of machinery £125 million in his statement. How much of that is to limit further flooding. Will he confirm that the actual new spending, and how much of it relates to package of compensation for businesses that has been devolved competences? announced applies to businesses that may not necessarily have been flooded but which are affected by the Mr McLoughlin: The hon. Gentleman is fixated on consequences of flooding? new spending, but I do not see anything wrong, when coming to the end of the financial year, with looking at Mr McLoughlin: I would like to look into the very any underspending in the Department and using it. If valid points that my right hon. Friend has made and the there is cause for new money, I will have discussions particular cases to which he is referring. with the Treasury about it. Likewise, the natural consequences of any decisions taken by the Government Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Is will flow through to Wales under the agreed formulae. the Secretary of State satisfied that rail passengers in particular are being kept up to date with information Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): During the about travel disruption? If he is not, what more can be night, Shropshire was hit by winds of up to 76 mph, and done? this morning more than 4,000 homes and businesses are Mr McLoughlin: The hon. Lady makes a good point. without power. Will the Secretary of State join me in I have asked the train operating companies to do a lot encouraging ScottishPower and other power companies more on the social media network, which they are to get the lights back on in Shropshire? Will he also join doing. One of the frustrating aspects of this situation me in praising the hard work of West Mercia police, the for people is trying to get information. A lot of people Shropshire fire service, Telford & Wrekin council and who use the railways do not use social media, and there Shropshire council staff? is a difficulty there, but we are trying to make as much information available as we possibly can. Mr McLoughlin: I join my hon. Friend in saying that a number of people—and not only the ones he mentioned Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con): These are —have shown great stoicism in trying to make sure that unprecedented weather conditions, and I commend my services are provided, be they Network Rail staff, local right hon. Friend for the work he is doing. I also authorities, the Environment Agency or the emergency commend all the people across the country who are services. A plethora of people have done fantastic work, working so hard to get our rail and road network open and not just last night, which was when his constituency again and back to normal. Many of my constituents and his area of Shropshire were directly affected. Since depend daily on the west coast main line. What more is Christmas a huge amount of work has been done by the Secretary of State doing to make sure that there these emergency services, which have shown themselves is better resilience against this type of weather on that to be right up to the task. line?

Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ Mr McLoughlin: As I said, north of Rugby, a huge Co-op): The incident at Dawlish highlights the problems amount of money has been invested on the west coast that occur when no alternative rail route is available, main line. There is still more work to be done; for and some of the disruption of the lines from England to example, there is more work to be done on signalling, Scotland in recent years has been exacerbated because which will be happening this year as far as Watford is of a lack of alternatives or because the available alternatives concerned. That will have an impact, providing better were not put into effect quickly. Clearly, one cannot resilience overall to the services to which my hon. build alternatives to cover every situation that might Friend refers. As he rightly says, that line is one of the arise, but will the work on resilience—the word the busiest railway lines anywhere in Europe. Secretary of State is talking about—examine the possibility of making sure that it is much easier to use alternative Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Not only do routes when disruption occurs? Will there be an examination rail users in Bristol have to contend with the usual of the case for reopening currently closed lines to ensure overpriced, overcrowded trains, but they are now being that decent alternative routes are available? hit by disruption in both directions; it is affecting train services from Bristol to the west country and the Reading Mr McLoughlin: Obviously, that is one thing we have to Paddington section of the Great Western line. What got to look at in the long term. I am pleased to have support is available for rail users in Bristol? What been able to announce the reopening of several stations. compensation will be available for them? There has been a huge change in the way people look at the rail service; they want a good reliable rail service, Mr McLoughlin: I understand what the hon. Lady and that is important. We are seeing more people using says. As I said just before this statement, I have had a the railways now than we have for a long time. In the meeting with all the coach operators, and they have 1027 Flooding: Transport Disruption13 FEBRUARY 2014 Flooding: Transport Disruption 1028

[Mr McLoughlin] taken to address the concerns about sinkholes, as they pose a real risk to road safety? agreed to put on extra services. Those services are available and a lot more are being laid on. They are Mr McLoughlin: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary seeing a rise in patronage, and their prices are very of State who is responsible for roads is looking at that competitive indeed. particular incident this morning. Sinkholes are not common events, but obviously we need to learn any Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): I welcome the additional lessons that we can from them. We also need to do the support the Government are giving for extra flights proper work to ensure that no further damage has been between London Gatwick and Newquay Cornwall airports. done to the road network before we reopen it. However, I also welcome the fact that, since 2010, £11.7 million that part of the road network is now partially reopened. has been spent on the Upper River Mole protection scheme, which has certainly helped my constituency Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): This month, we have over the past couple of months. Last night, there were seen the dramatic pictures of Dawlish, but last month some concerns that groundwater levels in this unprecedented the sea washed away part of the main line to south-west weather were causing some disruption to the London Wales in my constituency. We saw even more dramatic to Brighton main rail line. Will my right hon. Friend pictures in the north with the Cambrian coast line. assure me that the Department for Transport will work Many of the railway lines along our coast are part of on the important interchange between Gatwick airport flood protection measures. Barnett consequentials for and the rail route coming into London? Wales are a matter for every single Department across Government. Will the Secretary of State work with his Mr McLoughlin: I can assure my hon. Friend that we colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food are keeping a close eye, both with Network Rail and all and Rural Affairs to work out exactly what Wales is due the other services involved, on water levels. As I said and then let us know? earlier in my statement, the levels are considerably higher than they have been for some time. The point Mr McLoughlin: As I have said, any Barnett consequentials that he makes about Brighton and the line from Gatwick that are necessary will take place. to Brighton is an important one. We are monitoring that closely. Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): The Transport Secretary will know that the midland main line runs Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): May diesel services through Kettering to his constituency in I remind the Secretary of State that, in a crisis such as Derbyshire. He will also know that all too often those this where so many people are having a miserable time services are disrupted because the overhead line south and we have had loss of life—thankfully, a small loss of of Bedford, which is used by First Capital Connect and life—it is nice to have all-party agreement? None the Thameslink services, has gone out of commission. I less, it is also the job of the official Opposition to hold echo the point about the resilience of the overhead the Government to account, whether it is over the 560 lines. Will the Transport Secretary assure us that Network redundancies that the Prime Minister did not want to Rail realises that point and will put more investment mention yesterday, or over the question of whether this into ensuring those lines stay up? is new money. On the substantive point of the resilience of our network, it is all very well having new rolling Mr McLoughlin: I am very pleased to say that the stock, but my constituents travel up and down from Government will be electrifying the whole of the line to Yorkshire on the east coast line and every time, with Sheffield, which has been called for for a very long time. much less weather disturbance than this, it is the overhead The electrification of our railways—we are committed lines that go down. That is the resilience that we need to to electrifying more than 800 miles in the next control tackle. It is no good having new trains without changing period between 2014 and 2019—is very important for the overhead lines. the long-term future of the railways in this country.

Mr McLoughlin: I know that the hon. Gentleman Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): My right hon. Friend always tries to be cross-party consensual in these sorts is absolutely right to mention resilience and the importance of questions in the House; he is renowned for it. On this of building that into any future lines. We have world-class particular occasion, I simply say that I agree with him. tunnelling expertise from Crossrail, so can we ensure that far more of our rail lines are put in tunnels rather Mr Speaker: What was that very substantial tongue than deep cuttings? Earlier, he mentioned Shugborough that I saw firmly embedded in a cheek when the Secretary tunnel in my constituency, which was put there to of State was addressing the House? ensure that local residents—particularly, I believe, the Earl of Lichfield—were not disturbed by the line. Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): I welcome the statement by the Secretary of State. I Mr McLoughlin: I cannot think what other tunnelling thank him, his Department, the Highways Agency and my hon. Friend might have in mind. Next year, we will all the other agencies for what they are doing to get the see the completion of tunnelling for Crossrail, which M2 back to normal following the discovery of a 16 feet has been a substantial investment in the rail infrastructure sinkhole in the inner reservation. What steps are being of this country. 1029 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1030

Business of the House I should also like to inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall for 27 February will be: THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY—General debate on patient 11.15 am rights and access to NHS data. Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab): Will the Leader of Ms Eagle: I thank the Leader of the House for the House give us the business for the first week after announcing the business for the week after the recess. the recess? On Tuesday the House voted to ban smoking in cars with children present, despite the Government’s opposing The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley): the move in the Lords. Will the Leader of the House The business for the week commencing 24 February is confirm that we will have a law on the statute book as follows: before the next election? MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Criminal Yesterday the House voted by a margin of 226 to 1 in Justice and Courts Bill. favour of the Bill to abolish the bedroom tax—a Bill TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY—Motions relating to the draft introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Wansbeck Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2014 and the (Ian Lavery)—on the same day as we revealed that thanks draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order to Government incompetence at least 13,000 people 2014, followed by general debate on the transatlantic have been forced to pay it when they should have been trade and investment partnership. The subject for this exempt. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions debate was determined by the Backbench Business has tabled a statutory instrument to try to force those Committee. people to pay that hated tax again, but I want to make it clear that during our next Opposition day debate Labour WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY—Opposition day (unallotted will move to annul that odious measure. The bedroom day). There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, tax is a callous attack on the poorest people in our including on Housing Benefit (Transitional Provisions) country that might end up costing more than it saves, (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, no. 212). and we do not think that anyone should have to pay it. THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY—A debate on a motion relating It seems that the ever-eager Justice Secretary is the to the effects of welfare reform on sick and disabled only Minister to have responded to a plea for some people, followed by a debate on a motion relating to business to fill the gaping holes in the Government’s parliamentary representation. The subjects for both stuttering legislative agenda. The Criminal Justice and debates were determined by the Backbench Business Courts Bill amends their own legislation from only two Committee. years ago. It has apparently been brought forward from FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY—Private Members’ Bills. next year’s legislative programme, which suggests that The provisional business for the week commencing the Government are so desperate for business that they 3 March will include: are already poaching Bills from their sparse draft of the next Queen’s Speech. Does the Leader of the House MONDAY 3MARCH—Estimates day (2nd allotted day). think it would be easier just to skip the Queen’s Speech There will be a debate on managing flood risk followed altogether and leave us officially twiddling our thumbs by a debate on Government levies on energy bills. until the next election? Further details will be given in the Official Report. The floods that are blighting many parts of our [The details are as follows: Managing Flood Risk, country are causing untold misery for thousands of Third report from the Environment, Food and Rural people. As we have just heard, the huge storm overnight Affairs Committee, HC 330, and the Government response, caused further travel chaos and left more than HC 706; The Levy Control Framework: Parliamentary 100,000 people without power. On Tuesday, the Prime oversight of the Government levies on energy bills, Eighth Minister said at his Downing street press conference Report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee, that money would be no object in dealing with the HC 872.] floods, but within 24 hours we were told that there would be no blank cheques. Will the Leader of the TUESDAY 4MARCH—Estimates day (3rd allotted day). There will be a debate on defence and cyber-security, House tell us which it is? followed by a debate on the private rented sector. Further During Prime Minister’s questions, the Prime Minister details will be given in the Official Report. At 7pm the failed to tell us whether he would commit to spending House will be asked to agree all outstanding estimates. more on flood defences, so can the Leader of the House tell us whether he will? Yesterday the Prime Minister yet Further details will be given in the Official Report. again cited inaccurate figures on flood defence spending, [The details are as follows: Defence and Cyber-Security, so will the Leader of the House finally admit that the Sixth Report form the Defence Committee, HC 106 of Government cut flood funding by £97 million when Session 2012-13, and the Government response, HC 719; they came to office in 2010, that they changed the The Private Rented Sector, First Report from the Treasury rules to make it harder to give flood protection Communities and Local Government Committee, HC 50, schemes the go-ahead, and that flood spending for this and the Government Response, CM 8730.] year is £63.5 million lower than in 2010, even after the WEDNESDAY 5MARCH—Proceedings on the Supply extra money announced last week? and Appropriation (Anticipations and Adjustments) We learned this week that Barclays intends to increase Bill, followed by general debate on the Francis report. its bonus payouts by 10% while cutting 7,000 staff in the UK. In 2011, the Prime Minister said: THURSDAY 6 March—Business to be nominated by the Backbench Business Committee. “I want the bonus pools to be lower, I want the taxes that the banks pay to be higher and…I want the lending that they do to do FRIDAY 7 March—The House will not be sitting. business…to increase.” 1031 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1032

[Ms Angela Eagle] fairness of recognising that there has been a dramatic increase, including under the last Government, of the As always with this Government, the results do not number of people seeking social housing but unable to match the rhetoric. Bankers’ bonuses have increased by find it, while at the same time large numbers of people £600 million since 2012, net lending under the funding are in under-occupied properties. It is important to get for lending scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises that fairness into the system, and yet, again, the Opposition has fallen by £2.3 billion since June 2012, and since the are resisting it. election banks have paid more than twice as much in The shadow Leader of the House again peddled the bonuses as they have paid in corporation tax. Labour proposition that the House is not busy. The House is would use a bankers bonus tax to fund real jobs for dealing with legislation. The Thursday before last, four young people, but all the Government can do is to Bills received Royal Assent. In the last three weeks, we refuse to rule out a cut in the top rate of tax. Will the have introduced three Bills, which will be carried over Leader of the House arrange for a statement from the into the final Session of this Parliament. I am not sure Chancellor on fairness so that he can explain why he what in the business statement that I have just announced stands up only for a few at the top? the hon. Lady thinks does not constitute genuine business. As Valentine’s day approaches, the coalition will be Under the Standing Orders we are required to have conscious that it has been going through a bit of a estimates days, so we are having estimates days. Under legislative dry spell. Does the Leader of the House have the Standing Orders we are required to give the Opposition any plans to spice things up, because everyone seems to access to the time of the House, but she will have be falling out of love? The Environment Secretary and noticed that the next sitting Wednesday’s debate is an the Local Government Secretary have been briefing unallotted day. Is the hon. Lady saying to me, and against each other. Apparently the Deputy Prime Minister through me, to the usual channels, that she does not thinks that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has think that that merits the attention of the House? If so, “gone native” and is basically just a Tory, and Tory hand that time back to us, and the Government can use Back Benchers are busy describing their coalition colleagues it to bring forward measures. As it is, we are busy with as legislation and the House is busy debating the issues “harder to pin down than a weasel covered in Vaseline”. that are chosen not only by the Government but by the I understand that Lord Rennard is trying to sue to the Backbench Business Committee and the Opposition. If Liberal Democrats so that he is allowed to rejoin the she objects to the Backbench Business Committee and party, but he must be the only person in the whole the Opposition having time for debates because it does country who would take legal action to become a Liberal not constitute scrutiny of legislation, the Government Democrat. will take it back and scrutinise legislation instead. The hon. Lady repeated the canard that the Government Mr Lansley: I feared that the shadow Leader of the are saying two different things about money being House’s contribution would not live up to her previous available to support the response to flooding and disruption humour, but at least she managed it at the last moment. and the recovery from that. The position is clear. It is exactly as the Prime Minister said yesterday and my Ms Eagle: It was a good one, though. right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary said today. We will do whatever is needed to support people in Mr Lansley: Yes, it was. responding to these events and in recovering from them, I was delighted that the House, in a free vote, expressed and we will not be constrained in doing that by virtue its view on smoking in cars—speaking personally, I of resources. Resources will be available to make that entirely agreed with it. The Government now have to happen. consider when we bring the relevant regulations before I do not know whether the House can have any the House, but I am afraid that it will be a while before debate in relation to Valentine’s day, but in a spirit of we can advise hon. Members of the timing. amity I point out that we have agreed that about this The hon. Lady referred to the ten-minute rule Bill time of year we will be looking towards the first opportunity proposed yesterday by the hon. Member for Wansbeck to introduce measures on same-sex marriages. The hon. (Ian Lavery), but I was sorry that she seemed not to Lady will note that the two Houses will be dealing with understand the nature of proceedings on such Bills. The the relevant regulations in the first week after the recess. House votes not on the principle of a ten-minute rule At least at this time of year, in a romantic spirit, we can Bill, but simply on whether it gives leave for the Bill to look forward to that happening by the end of next be brought in. As the House did not express a view on month. the principle of the hon. Gentleman’s Bill, I do not The hon. Lady’s reference to bank bonuses reminded think that we can draw a particular lesson from those me of the shadow Chancellor. The Opposition, having proceedings. access to time for a debate, have not chosen to debate The hon. Lady anticipated Labour’s Opposition day the economy again, which reminded me that this week debate on the next sitting Wednesday, when Ministers is national storytelling week. My nine-year-old son was will set out their position clearly, but that gives us asked by his school to look up “Aesop’s Fables”. The further evidence that the Labour party is in denial. hon. Lady will recall the fable of the eagle and the Under the Labour Government, housing benefit doubled arrow, where the eagle is flying and is shot by an arrow and the deficit quadrupled. We must arrive at a point and falls to the ground, and seeing the arrow recognises where there is welfare reform so that the fairness of the one of its own feathers in the shaft of the arrow. The system is established: the fairness of people in social moral of the fable is that we often give our enemies the housing having a similar system in relation to under- means of our destruction. That is a little story that she occupancy as those in the private rented sector; the might tell the shadow Chancellor this week. 1033 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1034

Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): May we have a debate Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady will have heard what the on equal pay, and when we do perhaps the Minister Prime Minister had to say on that subject. From memory, responsible can explain why the Government Equalities a threshold of £3 billion—if I am wrong I will provide Office pays men more than women, white people more her with more details later—must be reached before an than ethnic minorities and non-disabled people more application can be made. An application for additional than disabled people? Does the Leader of the House resources from Europe would also have implications for not agree that the Government Equalities Office should our rebate. get its own house in order before it starts lecturing everybody else around the country about equal pay? Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): Bournemouth is pleased to be receiving some emergency Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend recognises, as I do, that funding for the flooding that took place on the River it is our responsibility to meet our obligations under the Stour in my constituency, but storms have also affected Equal Pay Act and, more generally, our obligation to the seafront—one of the beach huts has been washed ensure that there is access to equal pay. I do not know away and 10 have been damaged. Sea levels are expected the circumstances in the Government Equalities Office. to rise by 3 feet over the next few decades, so may we I will of course ask the Secretary of State for Culture, have a statement on the Government’s thinking on Media and Sport so that she may respond to the points financial support for improved sea defences? raised by my hon. Friend. Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I am Mr Jim Hood (Lanark and Hamilton East) (Lab): afraid that other Members will have similarly sad tales Last week the Leader of the House was almost boasting to tell about the impact of flooding, and not only about the excellent hour he had spent on Wednesday recently but all the way back to early December. I refer in the Welsh Grand Committee, saying what an my hon. Friend to the answer I gave our hon. Friend the enjoyable time he had. We have not had a Scottish Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh). We Grand Committee since 2007, and despite my repeated will certainly look for an opportunity for that if we can. attempts the House business managers have refused to have one. In view of the Chancellor’s statement today Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): When can we on currency arrangements in the event of Scottish debate the actions of the ingrate President Karzai, who independence, does the Leader of the House agree that is about to release 65 Taliban murderers from Bagram it would be a good idea to have a Scottish Grand prison and has insulted our armed forces by saying that Committee and to invite the Chancellor along to debate the sacrifices they made in Helmand were a disgrace? the matter with Scottish Back Benchers? Can we also look at the delusional complacency of the Government who say that the mission has been Mr Lansley: I will of course consider the hon. accomplished, at a time when civilian deaths are at a Gentleman’s proposal for a Scottish Grand Committee record high, heroin production is at a record high and and discuss it with colleagues, but I point out that we large tracts of the country are occupied by the Taliban? debated Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom in this Chamber very recently, and a debate on currency and Mr Lansley: The House will know how strongly we the Union took place in Westminster Hall yesterday. feel about the work that has been done by our armed services and others in Afghanistan and the difference it Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): I has made in creating a much better position. We set warmly welcome the Leader of the House’s announcement about the process of ensuring that the Afghan national of the estimates debate on managing flood risk. Would army and security forces were in a position to maintain it be helpful to the House if we were to have an annual security after we left, and I think our forces have made statement on adaptation so that we can look at critical tremendous progress in that direction. What is needed infrastructure, including gas and electricity, pumping alongside that is political commitment and will, alongside stations, roads, bridges and other national assets such security capacity. I am afraid that in the past couple of as railway lines, take stock of the situation and have days we have sometimes seen evidence of a lack of the more of an overview between floods, rather than waiting political will to ensure that that security is maintained for the next one? to the same extent.

Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend and I Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Has my right hon. know that she has raised this matter with my right Friend seen my early-day motion on the future of hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I cannot promise a independent petrol retailers? statement, but I will of course look with our colleagues [That this House notes that there are 5,000 independent at whether, in the light of these events, there is something petrol filling stations in the UK; recognises the valuable we can do, in addition to the debate I announced, to contribution that they make to the economy and the enable us at an appropriate time to look at all the issues national infrastructure; further notes that independent relating to resilience and climate change adaptation and filling stations are closing at a rate of four per week with mitigation. the loss of 1,500 jobs per year; believes that this is a real loss for those in rural communities who rely on them, as Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): Rather than raiding well as Government due to lost revenue; and therefore the Department for International Development budget, urges the Government to implement a plan to ensure fair which is committed expenditure, may we debate urgently competition, fair taxation, and fair planning in this industry an application to the European solidarity fund, which to secure a sustainable future for the UK’s independent exists to help people during a flooding crisis? petrol filling stations.] 1035 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1036

[Robert Halfon] Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Lord Lawson said on the radio this morning that there was no evidence Is my right hon. Friend aware that independent petrol to link climate change to floods. The Energy and Climate retailers employ thousands of people across the country, Change Secretary is due to give a speech saying that yet four such outlets close every week, causing about Conservatives who deny that human activity causes 1,500 jobs to be lost every year? May we have a debate climate change are ignorant, and contribute to extreme in which we can discuss introducing fair competition, weather events such as the recent flooding. Now the fair taxation and fair planning so that these retailers can Energy Minister, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks continue to thrive? (Michael Fallon), has said: “Unthinking climate change worship has damaged British Mr Lansley: Yes, I have seen my hon. Friend’s early-day industry and put up consumer bills.” motion. I recollect that he had one of a similar character May we have a debate on climate change so that the at an earlier time and we had an opportunity to talk coalition parties can have this out with each other once about that as well. He will recall that last year the Office and for all? of Fair Trading, having undertaken inquiries, published a report. I completely agree that fair competition is absolutely what this is all about. If there is evidence of Mr Lansley: The Government’s position is very clear. any lack of such competition, it is important for it to be We, as a country and as a Government, are among given to the Office of Fair Trading so that the competition those at the forefront of tackling climate change and authorities can look at it and intervene. recognising the risks it represents. Speaking personally as somebody whose constituents have included many of those who work at the British Antarctic Survey, I have Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): Earlier this year, never been under any illusions about the man-made the Government told us that deaths from human-made impacts on global warming. But that does not mean we air pollution had gone down. A freedom of information should ever close down a debate that says we understand—it request has now revealed that this was because pollutants is exactly this point—the nature of man-made impacts called PM 2.5s had been reclassified as residual and on the climate. What we have to understand equally are non-anthropogenic. It has now been admitted that that the causative effects that that leads to and how we can is not the case. May we have a debate on transparency in adapt and mitigate those, as well as trying to minimise the classification of particulate matter? man-made impacts on the environment. Mr Lansley: Fortunately, I know that PM stands for particulate matter because of my former responsibilities John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): My constituent Chris for public health and the way in which Public Health Taylor worked as a Civil Aviation Authority test pilot England is responsible for assessing these things. Concerns for 10 years but was recently made redundant. Will the were raised 10 or more years ago in my own constituency Leader of the House make time for a statement from about the health impacts of given levels of particulate the Minister on how the CAA can retain the same matter of different sizes. I will of course ask the Minister capabilities and influence at a European level, given the responsible at the Department of Health, in the first loss of its last dedicated full-time test pilot? instance, to respond to the hon. Gentleman. Mr Lansley: I will ask my right hon. Friend the Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): Secretary of State for Transport to respond to my hon. Yesterday I had the pleasure of giving the opening Friend, although I know that my hon. Friend has had a speech at the annual Love Business East Midlands chance to meet the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, conference at Donington Park in my constituency. I am my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby pleased to inform the House that delegate numbers and (Mr Goodwill). He knows and the House will be aware business confidence were at record levels, replicating a that test pilots are employed to undertake flight tests to report by BDO which said that business confidence is evaluate aircraft design as part of certification processes. now at the highest level since 1992. As investment The European Aviation Safety Agency is responsible intention relies on confidence, may we have a debate on for the type certification of aircraft manufactured inside investment in UK businesses and the threats posed to it the European Union or registered in an EU member by the disastrous and reckless policies of the Labour state. The Civil Aviation Authority is not responsible party? for type certification and therefore does not require the services of test pilots to meet its statutory duties. That is Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I enough from me, but I will ask my right hon. Friend at applaud the opportunity he has taken, along with the Department to add a reply to my hon. Friend the his colleagues in the east midlands, to bring together Member for Salisbury (John Glen). business and to continue to push forward that sense of business confidence, which is very important. What Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): It BDO found in the east midlands was mirrored nationally is Valentine’s day tomorrow. In that spirit, may I inform in the recent biannual survey undertaken by Lloyds the Leader of the House that we probably have in this TSB, which reported business confidence at its strongest country the envy of Silicon valley in the United States since January 1994. That is a clear reflection of the in the wonderful tax incentives for individuals to invest success of this Government’s long-term economic plan, in new start-up businesses? With the Budget coming up which is giving rise to that increase. Through reducing quite soon, may we have an early debate on expanding the deficit, creating more jobs and cutting taxes, we that tax incentive to people who invest in social enterprises? are inspiring business confidence and getting business The whole world of social enterprise, crowdfunding investment coming back. and social impact investment is changing. It is a great 1037 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1038 opportunity for our country. May we have a debate so the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for that we can get those added benefits to include social Stoke-on-Trent Central (Tristram Hunt), has followed enterprises? his lead, as he is sometimes wont to do. Reinforcements such as extending school sport support and support for Mr Lansley: I am sure the House will be interested in the development of cadet forces in state schools are just what the hon. Gentleman says. I will make sure that the some examples of the ways in which we can help build Treasury sees what he has said and he may find other character. Finally—sorry to go on, Mr Speaker—this is opportunities between now and the Budget to raise the about not just character building in the sense of having matter. I entirely agree with him. I know from business a wider range of attributes and abilities, but the self-esteem angels in the Cambridge area that we in this country that goes with it. Whatever can build self-esteem will have a very strong environment in which to undertake develop in children and young people something that start-up investment. One of the key things we need is to will be of value to them throughout their lives. ensure that we have the quantity of venture capital available to support those start-ups through development, Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East because we in this country have a very high level of the Cleveland) (Lab): Charlotte Pocklington from Guisborough initial research and start-up businesses, but sometimes in my constituency was diagnosed with a rare form of we lose control of the business as it grows. cancer and needed treatment at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle after attending the James Cook hospital in Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): May Middlesbrough for diagnosis. She expected the ambulance we have a debate on Cyprus, following the courageous that was to take her there to arrive at 4.30 pm on the decision on Tuesday by President Anastasiades and same day she was diagnosed, but no ambulance arrived Dr Eroglu to restart talks to reunify Cyprus? We can until 4 am the following morning—a 12-hour wait. This then join the Prime Minister in fully supporting efforts time last year I raised the case of an elderly lady in to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement Marton in my constituency who had to wait 11 hours for all Cypriots. for an ambulance to respond. May we have an urgent about ambulance responses? Mr Lansley: I am glad my hon. Friend raises that. I saw that and I shared with him the sense of optimism Mr Lansley: To assist the hon. Gentleman, I will that those brave steps generated. It was important for make sure that my colleagues at the Department of Cyprus and for the European Union and member states Health hear what he has said. This also provides an of the European Union that those steps were taken. I opportunity for the North East ambulance service in will, if I may, refer what he says to my hon. Friends at particular to let the hon. Gentleman know what the the Foreign Office, who might want to find an opportunity situation is. If he wishes to raise the issue further, to say something about that to the House at some point. Health Ministers will be available to answer questions from the Dispatch Box on Tuesday 25 February. Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab): Given that the House rises today and that the Criminal Justice and Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): Courts Bill is scheduled for Second Reading on the day Last week I visited Claro Precision Engineering, a high- of our return, may I raise a concern that relates to quality company in Knaresborough in my constituency. schedule 4, part 1, which deals with the restraint of The company is growing well and it has reported that children in custody? My concern is that in the light of a one of the trends driving that is the reshoring of judgment by the Court of Appeal in 2008, permitting manufacturing projects and jobs, which is clearly a very the use of force for good order and discipline in secure positive trend. May we have a statement from the Business colleges may not be lawful. Will the Leader of the Secretary to update the House on what his Department House use his good offices to liaise with his colleagues is doing to promote that trend and so further boost UK at the Ministry of Justice to confirm that this is indeed manufacturing? the intended position, as currently stated in the Bill? Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes a very good Mr Lansley: Of course I will raise the point with my point. He may have heard how positively the Prime colleagues at the Ministry of Justice. The hon. Gentleman Minister feels about the way in which reshoring will understand that the Second Reading debate will opportunities have been used in recent years to help offer an opportunity to debate the principles of the Bill, boost the 1.6 million private sector jobs that have been but the point he raises might also profitably be pursued created since the election and the very positive steps then and in Committee. taken in relation to manufacturing. I am pleased to hear my hon. Friend tell the House about Claro Precision Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): There is now Engineering and I hope that many other companies will wide recognition that character and resilience are as share in the sense that they can do more here and not important as GCSEs for young people as they enter outsource and offshore their activities to other countries adulthood. May we have a debate on what that actually as much. means and implies and what more can be done in and out of school to help young people develop those key Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): May we have a traits? debate about altering the fixed-term provisions to four rather than five years? As has been intimated, the Mr Lansley: I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I coalition currently resembles the characters from the am happy not only that our Education Secretary has film, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”, said, with verve and commitment, that he wishes to who sang: build activities in state schools that mirror those that “We’re busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, often occur in independent schools, but that, only today, trying to find lots of things not to do.” 1039 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1040

[Kevin Brennan] Leader of the House arrange for a debate so that we can discuss the availability of services provided by open We could then have a general election in May and a access operators? change of Government. Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes an interesting Mr Lansley: Is that where it comes from? I thought it point. It is probably best for my hon. Friends at the was the dwarfs in “Snow White” who sang that, but I Department for Transport to respond to him. Other am sure the hon. Gentleman is right, because his knowledge hon. Members may be interested in such a debate, and if of music is so much greater than mine. Perhaps he he thinks that they might join him in seeking to secure should stick to music. I have no immediate plans for any time on the Adjournment or through the Backbench debate on revision of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. Business Committee, he might find that an interesting line to pursue.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): May Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): Will the Leader I add my voice to those of others and ask the Leader of of the House pass on my sincere best wishes to the the House for an urgent debate on flooding, particularly Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural so that I can highlight Thames Water’s lack of investment Affairs in his recovery from a very serious eye operation? in its sewerage systems in Cirencester, Fairford, South Cerney and other places? I have serious sewer flooding When the Leader of the House has a chance for a in my constituency and, unfortunately, it has been word with his right hon. Friend, will he, at an opportune exacerbated this week by the grant of a large planning moment, seek a guarantee that the independent expert application for residential dwellings in the floodplain. panel report on the failed badger culls will be fully debated and possibly voted on by all Members before an announcement is made about any further roll-out of Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend will have observed that another 10 culls this summer? on Monday 3 March, which will be an estimates day, the House will discuss managing flood risk. I hope he Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman is very gracious, will also emphasise to Ofwat—as I and other Members and I will indeed make sure that his good wishes are have done over the years—the importance of identifying, passed on to the Secretary of State for Environment, quantifying and supporting in its price control review Food and Rural Affairs, who I know is making very the investment required to minimise sewer flooding of good progress. As we might expect, it turns out that he properties. is quite resilient. The independent expert panel is still preparing its Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): report. The timing of the completion of the report and Given that the Prime Minister has announced that he of its submission to Ministers is a matter for the panel. wants to think again about his new flood insurance The hon. Gentleman will know that the report will scheme—perhaps because of the Help to Buy scheme, include an assessment of the costs, and an economic which the Government are promoting heavily in areas assessment is being prepared to inform decision making. that are prone to flood risk but will not be covered by We will of course keep the House informed about that. the new scheme—and the fact that the clauses in the Water Bill for the scheme were tabled very late, may we Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): I thank my right now have one of the right hon. Gentleman’s famous hon. Friend for providing Government time to debate legislative pauses to get the scheme right? the Francis report. Officials at the Department of Health have written to a constituent of mine in respect of the Mr Lansley: I remind the hon. Lady that the Water trust special administration of Mid Staffordshire NHS Bill is in the House of Lords, not this House, so her Foundation Trust that question does not relate directly to the business of the “the Secretary of State cannot develop his own solution or accept House at the moment. Her question was a bit rich, the proposals only in part, nor can he require any amendments to given that this Government worked incredibly hard to the TSAs’ proposals other than by using his veto.” get an agreement with the Association of British Insurers With respect, I challenge that interpretation, given the to give people the security of knowing that access to Secretary of State’s overriding powers under sections 1, affordable flood insurance was backed by a statutory 2 and 4 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. scheme. That could have been done in the last Parliament, Although they accept the broad thrust of the trust but it was not. special administrators’ recommendations, my constituents On the fact that the scheme was added to the Water look to the Secretary of State to protect local services, Bill at a late stage, we made it clear from the outset, especially for the most vulnerable in the areas of maternity through the inclusion of place holder provisions, that and paediatrics. May we have a debate on the powers of we would consult on it and bring it in later, so I cannot the Secretary of State for Health? accept the proposition that there is consequently any case for a delay. Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he said about the debate on the Francis report and the Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): Good rail services, Government response. I have said before that it is particularly to the capital, are essential for the economic important that we have such a debate and I am glad that development of our provincial towns, such as those I I have been able to announce it. represent in northern Lincolnshire. Open access operators The foundation trust special administration regime have demonstrated that they are well capable of filling could and should have been put in place by the Labour the gaps left by the main franchise holders. Will the party as part of the creation of foundation trusts, but it 1041 Business of the House13 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 1042 was not. The regime has to be carefully specified. It is the delay in publishing the report on food banks was important that it does not become a means by which the that it was going through the quality assurance process. independence of foundation trusts and the role of Monitor The quality assurance process seems to be taking longer as the regulator of foundation trusts can be overridden, than the writing of the report. Perhaps I should ask for other than specifically in relation to the Secretary of a debate on the quality of Government reports, but, in State’s adherence to his general duties. The Secretary all seriousness, will the Leader of the House speak to of State must use the measure only in exceptional his colleagues and get the report published, because this circumstances, which implies that it is a veto, rather issue is of interest to many Members and the report will than to impose his view of how services should be inform the debate on both sides of the House? configured over the views of the local commissioners. Mr Lansley: I had the benefit of hearing my hon. Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): Is the Friend’s reply to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead Leader of the House aware of the online petition organised (Mr Field) at DEFRA questions. I have also responded by Coventry City football club supporters and the local to the hon. Member for St Helens North (Mr Watts) on newspaper, which asks the Culture, Media and Sport this subject. We are ensuring that the report is in a Committee to take evidence from both sides in the position to be published. However, I am afraid that I dispute? Those on both sides of the dispute have agreed am not in a position to say when that will happen. to give evidence. Will he nudge the Chairman of the Committee to take evidence from both sides in order to Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Will the Government end the dispute, because they are calling for conciliation? consider updating the role of the Minister for cities, the Finally, can we have a date for when the Minister for Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend sport, the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), to make and Sport, the hon. Member for Maidstone and The him the Minister for cities and counties, in recognition Weald (Mrs Grant), will come to the House and tell us of the fact that growth deals are just as important in what her proposals are for reorganising the Football non-metropolitan and county areas as they are in our League? great cities?

Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman will be well aware Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend will know that some of the important report that has been produced by the 20 areas have been included in the second tranche of Culture, Media and Sport Committee. The Government city deals. Those are not only major conurbations, but will respond to that in due course, although I cannot cities and towns with a population of about 100,000. recall precisely when we are due to respond or what the Many of the deals include the surrounding rural areas, character of the response will be. Although I must not where an awful lot of economic activity and growth can tell any Select Committee what it should or should be generated. I say that advisedly because Cambridge not do, I will raise the issue of Coventry with the Chair and South Cambridgeshire are promoting a city deal of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. jointly. The Minister for cities and constitution is pursuing that model. He is identifying where growth is happening Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): With the country in order to construct city deals that support that growth. suffering some of the worst flooding in living memory—our thoughts are with the communities that have been Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Will the Leader affected—may we have a debate on the need to strengthen of the House take advantage of the relatively light the safeguards in the planning system to prevent houses legislative programme—which, in itself, is not a bad from being built on the floodplain? City of York council thing—to arrange for daily oral statements from is proposing development on flood-risk areas in my Departments on a rota basis to enhance the accountability constituency. Is it not time that we started to learn the of the Government? Given the poor quality of debates lessons of the past? on unallotted Opposition days, will he scrap them and replace them with extra days for Back-Bench debates? Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes an important Will he consider creating a Back-Bench week that would point. I am sure that people in York are only too aware be entirely devoted to issues that Back Benchers want of the risk of flooding, following the serious floods in discussed? 2007. He will know that the number of dwellings being built in areas of high flood risk is at its lowest since the Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend tempts me. [Interruption.] land use change statistics began in 1989. To mitigate the Yes—a little bit. However, I will resist that temptation risk of flooding, the Environment Agency is consulted because we are a Government who believe in ensuring on planning applications for areas that are at risk of accountability and scrutiny in the Chamber. We have flooding. In the last year for which figures are available, deliberately in this Parliament seen through reforms to 2012-13, 99% of planning decisions on housing by the Backbench Business Committee, which has afforded councils were in line with the agency’s flood risk advice. time, and from now on in this Session time in this I hope that that gives him some reassurance about the Chamber for that Committee will be in excess of its role of the Environment Agency in the decisions of his 27 allotted days. As I said earlier, the same is also true council. for the Opposition, which is fine and as it should be. We cannot have a sort of closed period for scrutiny and Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ opportunities for debates generated other than from Co-op): In Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions within the Government. Finally, I will take issue again earlier, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, with my hon. Friend. We have just seen the introduction Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Camborne of the 20th Government programme Bill in this Session, and Redruth (George Eustice), said that the reason for which, for a Session of this normal annual length, is 1043 Business of the House 13 FEBRUARY 2014 1044 [Mr Lansley] Backbench Business broadly speaking what one would expect and what we have seen in previous Sessions. There is no merit in Police Federation Reform having a large number of Bills as such—perhaps the (Normington Report) contrary—but the idea that there is a light legislative programme when we have introduced 20 programme [Relevant document: Oral evidence to the Home Affairs Bills is, I am afraid, simply not true. Committee from the Police Federation, on police and crime commissioners: progress to date, HC 757-iv.] Mr Speaker: Order. We now come to the Back-Bench debate on the Normington report on reform of the 12.2 pm Police Federation. Before I ask the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) to open the Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): debate, I will mention that four hon. Members who As ever, you flatter me too much, Mr Speaker. have applied to speak are not currently present in the I beg to move, Chamber. Further and better particulars of those hon. That this House notes the Independent Review of the Police Members can be provided to the Whips. It is incumbent Federation conducted by Sir David Normington and calls upon on Members who apply to speak in a debate to be the Government to take action to implement the report’s present at its start, both because it is a courtesy, and in recommendations and to reform the Police Federation. this case because I feel sure that they would want to I spent a large proportion of the last decade defending benefit from the wisdom of the right hon. Gentleman, the police one way or another, yet I have never experienced from which the House is about to benefit. a time when public trust in the police was at a lower level. In my view that is a tragedy, both for the vast majority of decent officers who joined up to catch criminals and protect the public, but also for the wider public. We must deal firmly with those who bring the police into disrepute if we are to restore the reputation that most policemen properly deserve. There was a similar crisis of confidence as far back as 1918-19 after the police strikes of those years, the first of which was called during wartime and caused a similar low perception of the standing of the police. That strike was ended after one day. The police were granted a considerable pay increase, but as a result, as a vital service they were forbidden both membership of a trade union and the right to strike. The Government effectively established the Police Federation in place of a union, to represent the concerns of police officers around the country. They gave it a statutory closed shop, which lasts to this day. There is no doubt that the Police Federation had a noble beginning, and for many years it was a constructive force behind British policing, raising the reputation of the British copper to the position it ought to hold. Regrettably, the federation today is a bloated and sclerotic body, and has acquired the worst characteristics of the worst trade unions that we thought—and hoped—we had seen the end of in the ’70s.

Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): Police representation crosses boundaries. This is a matter for the police rank and file on the ground, whose confidence has been shaken, and for the public; and it is a matter for hon. Members on both sides of the House and should be beyond party politics. The federation has unfortunately engaged in party politics and has politicised itself by its actions. Does my right hon. Friend agree that hon. Members on both sides of the House need to share our concerns, and that it is therefore disappointing that there are Members in number on only one side of the House to engage in the debate?

Mr Davis: I accept one aspect of what my hon. Friend says. He has had cases relating to the misbehaviour of police officers in his constituency and has done a great deal to defend them, sometimes but not always with the help of the federation. [Interruption.] If the right hon. 1045 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1046 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) wants to speak from case, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield, the Opposition Front Bench, I will happily take his has not had access. First, I expect the Metropolitan intervention. The breadth of the appeal of the debate is Police Commissioner to have a proper leak inquiry into an issue, but I do not want to make this party political. that—I have told him that this morning. Secondly, an There are now two Members on the Opposition Back astonishing interpretation was put on the leak. The leak Benches and they have strong views—the right hon. shows that an officer, four hours after attempting to Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) has tabled a stop my right hon. Friend going through the main gates motion jointly with me in the past, and the right hon. of Downing street—this did not happen in a panic or a Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) is the Chairman rush and was premeditated—wrote to his seniors not to of the Select Committee on Home Affairs. I would not say, “We have a security issue. Will somebody please make this a party political issue. Members on both sides have a conversation with Mr Mitchell to ensure he of the House have something to gain from the police understands that we cannot let him through?”, which being truly apolitical and truly upholding our democracy would be the proper thing to do and what hon. Members rather than interfering in it in the wrong way. would have done, but to set up a circumstance in which the situation would be resolved by a public confrontation Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Does my at the front gate after the officer had ensured that his right hon. Friend agree that leadership comes from the seniors supported him in doing so. If anything, that top, and that the Association of Chief Police Officers reinforces the story we were told by an anonymous has not led from the top? Many of the criticisms in the whistleblower that this was a premeditated action. Today’s excellent report could also be made of ACPO. press coverage is not a good reflection on the police in two ways: it undermines their main case and it is something Mr Davis: My hon. Friend has a point. I do not want that they simply should not have done under these to broaden the debate to include all police issues, but he circumstances. is right. ACPO is badly constituted and should never If the House will forgive me, I will try not to rest too have been set up in the way it was. There are signs that much on the Mitchell case, because it is just one of ACPO should have done more to lead firmly. We saw many in which we have reason to be concerned about that in the west midlands cases, where the various chief the role of the federation. constables were perhaps not as strong in upholding justice as they should have been. Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con): My That brings me to the federation itself. I am talking right hon. Friend is right. Does he agree, as the Normington primarily about the national federation, but also about report sets out very clearly, that the Mitchell case is just some of the regions. I say that because some of the local one illustration of the, frankly, flagrant and endemic federation organisations do a very good job on very bullying and harassment that often goes on among the thin resources to represent, as they properly should, the federation’s own members, whether online or in person? interests of their members. That is set out very clearly in the report. Nevertheless, there are many criticisms to level at the federation, including that it is inefficient and wasteful. Mr Davis: My hon. Friend—he is also an old friend—is There is a duplication of tasks and structures. It is entirely right. I will elaborate in some detail on some of profligate, spending its members’ money on grace and those cases in a moment. favour flats and on huge bar bills. It is badly governed, The federation chose a very good person to write the with no apparent strong leadership to guarantee direction report. David Normington, a distinguished ex-permanent and stability. It behaves in a manner that sometimes secretary at the Home Office, is a classic Whitehall brings police forces into disrepute by pursuing personal mandarin. If anything, he is more tempted than most to and political vendettas—the sort of things to which be careful and sober in his language, and to pull his my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate punches in his descriptions or at least to mitigate them. (Mr Burrowes) has referred—against prominent public However, it is in the best interests of police officers persons and bodies, and legal actions against private across the country that we reveal very clearly, and perhaps citizens, sometimes even the victims of crime. in starker detail than Normington did, the extent to After the Police Federation’s attack on my right hon. which the federation has failed. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), Even in its sober language, the Normington report the view of the public, and damningly of the federation’s was, as my hon. Friend intimates, utterly damning of members, was that the federation had to change. the federation’s performance. It made 36 recommendations, focusing on returning professionalism, democracy and Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con): Given my right efficiency to the Police Federation. To fully understand hon. Friend’s reference to our right hon. Friend the the extent of the problem, we should examine a number Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), will he of areas where the need for reform is particularly apparent. comment on today’s front page of The Times, which It is a matter of great concern that the Police Federation I am sure he has seen? is as profligate as it appears to be. There are numerous examples of that. It spent £26 million building its Mr Davis: I do not want to widen the debate and have Leatherhead headquarters. Frankly, that is extravagant a rerun of the Mitchell case, but I should say a couple of enough to do justice to one of the London merchant things about it. The House knows full well that I did not banks at the height of the City excesses. The headquarters approve of the Leveson process—I strongly believe in a have a hotel, a bar, an indoor swimming pool and free press—but even I am astonished that, after Leveson, 11 grace and favour apartments. Even more outrageous a police force has yet again leaked with an incredible is that, to pay for the extravagant cost, members’ spin a confidential document to which the victim in the subscription fees had to be raised by 23%. The federation’s 1047 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1048 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Mr David Davis] to perform a function we want performed—so it might be the case that taxpayers’ money is being wasted at officers, with their salaries still paid by their respective these conferences. forces, receive salary enhancements of up to £25,000 The federation appears to have a problem with from the federation. They are given those enhancements transparency. It is telling that it failed to answer even for doing what is, after all, an easier job than being on Sir David Normington’s requests concerning the so-called the cold streets of Britain on the night shift: sitting in No. 2 accounts used by the various branches. This their luxury headquarters, instead of performing public money comes from selling insurance and then keeping a duties. I have been told that full-time federation officers rake-off or commission, but so far the federation has have free use of the grace and favour flats and live on not been willing or able to provide the information that company credit cards. The purchase of large quantities Normington asked for. I understand that this probably of food and alcohol on those cards is apparently not accounts for £35 million of assets just sitting around the uncommon. country. Again, this is money that belongs to serving To put a number on this, the accounts show a provision police officers, not the organisation. of £2 million in a tax dispute with Her Majesty’s Contrary to the federation’s claims earlier this week, Revenue and Customs. As I understand it, if that provision the full details of the 11 grace and favour apartments is to meet any tax liability, at a tax rate of 40%, that are not published in its accounts. I will not spend much means that £5 million of claims have been made on time on this, but, to save colleagues time looking it up, I perks, and perhaps unjustifiably claimed as a proper recommend they read note 3 of the federation’s accounts. expense. That is astonishing. It is the only reference to the apartments, but it does not In the newspapers only a couple of days ago a police contain what I would recognise as details telling us that widow—herself a serving police constable, if the report these are grace and favour apartments used for the was right—said that federation officials treated memorial benefit of federation officers, with or without the approval services, those most important and high-gravitas of of its members. It is clear that the federation does not occasions, know what transparency means, but it can only restore trust “like a drunken jolly, getting drunk on federation credit cards. in itself if it imposes transparency on all its operations Their drunken excess upsets families every year”, as a matter of urgency. so this is not an exception. I heard similar allegations The federation’s use of funds raises another matter. It about the behaviour of federation officials at conferences, has formidable financial muscle. I guess its total assets at which bar bills of hundreds of pounds were again come to about £70 million, the majority coming from being charged to federation credit cards. subscription fees, but some from the No. 2 accounts. The last set of audited accounts showed the federation Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): Does my right with a surplus, over and above all its costs and profligacy, hon. Friend agree that the money might be better spent of £3.5 million per annum. restoring the damaged national police memorial, on the Mall, which remains broken and damaged, and that In addition, we see in the costs that about £10 million that would be a fitting tribute to the brave and dedicated was spent on administration, including the profligacies police officers who form the majority? that I talked about. Most astonishingly, £8 million every single year was spent on legal actions. Furthermore, there are provisions against the loss of certain active Mr Davis: That is an extremely imaginative suggestion. legal cases—in one case, for up to £1 million. Other such I have my own ideas about what should happen with the provisions are for £350,000 or £450,000. money, but my hon. Friend’s idea should be taken into account. Let us understand something. The right hon. Member In making these assertions, I have largely depended for Tottenham is here and will well understand that on whistleblowers—people who have bravely come forward, sometimes there are good reasons for the federation to shocked at what they have seen—but police whistleblowers act vigorously on behalf of its members. Big legal and are particularly at risk and so are loth to enter the individual interests will be in play in the Duggan case, public domain, which makes it hard to check what they and in such cases it is entirely proper that provisions have said. As a result, I called on the federation to should be made. I do not in any way criticise that publish its expense accounts and live up to generally element of legal defence, although I have to say that it expected standards of transparency. I did this so that I should come about through an insurance function rather could confirm or deny whether these claims were correct. than through the discretion of a Fed rep. Never mind. As far as I am aware, the federation has not published Such legal action is justifiable, but on many occasions these expense and credit card accounts, which leads me aggressive litigation should not be carried out against to believe that the whistleblowers are right. those bringing complaints against the police. Chris Mullin, It is up to the federation’s members whether they the distinguished predecessor of the Home Affairs consider this profligacy acceptable, because mostly—but Committee Chairman, has previously said that although not entirely—it is their money, but they cannot make most unions will not act on behalf of a member who is that judgment unless they know exactly what is being clearly in the wrong, the federation has a long track done in their name with their money. So that is another record of defending the indefensible and will gleefully reason to have total transparency in these accounts. launch claims against the victims of crime. Yet another reason concerns my right hon. Friend the There are two recent examples of the federation’s Member for Ashford (Damian Green), who as Minister appetite for litigation. PC Kelly Jones sued a burglary for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims represents victim after she tripped on a kerb outside his garage and the Home Office on the Front Bench today. We put PC Richard Seymour sued another burglary victim taxpayers’ money into the federation—it is there properly after falling over a drain on his property. In both 1049 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1050 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) instances, it was the Police Federation that assisted in lose—a cushy job and good pay—or are the interests of progressing the claims, despite the pleading of senior the members being pursued? It is vital that the members officers that such claims were detrimental to the image themselves should be properly represented. of the police force. This is based on press reportage, so I Last week, Fiona McElroy, a former principal private cannot be sure of it, but the federation has been accused secretary brought in to help the federation achieve the of pressuring PC Kelly Jones into making her claim reforms, was fired; her deputy also left the federation in when she had no desire to do so. I hear from other outrage at her treatment. I ask the Minister to give the whistleblowers that it is not uncommon for federation federation two ultimatums. First, it should immediately members to be actively encouraged to make claims that sign up to recommendation 1 and accept the revised Members might find inappropriate. A particular concern— core purpose to act in the public interest, with public accountability alongside accountability to their own Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I members. Secondly, it should accept all the other gently remind the right hon. Gentleman that the Backbench Normington recommendations before its triennial elections Business Committee recommends that the opening speech this year, when it will lock in place a whole set of should last for 10 to 15 minutes. He has now been officers for another three years. If it does not do that, speaking for 20 minutes. Ten Members wish to participate, the Government will, I think, be properly authorised to and there is another debate this afternoon. We are all intervene. In my view, if they do intervene, they should hanging on the right hon. Gentleman’s every word, but implement Normington-plus—put in place all the he should bear it in mind that other people are involved. Normington proposals and in addition act to deal with I would be grateful if he concluded soon. the profligacy and misuse of public and members’ money. Such a move, I am afraid, would mean selling the Mr Davis: Absolutely, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have Leatherhead headquarters, centralising the money and been generous with interventions— giving back to members the funds that the federation has inappropriately used in the past several years. That Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I would be about £500 a member and would still leave a have to tell the right hon. Gentleman that that does not viable federation. That is how we can make the Police count; the 10 to 15 minutes are not qualified in any way. Federation serve its members and, equally importantly, The right hon. Gentleman has been generous in giving serve the public of the nation that its members are there way, but other Members will want a reasonable time to to uphold. participate. Several hon. Members rose— Mr Davis: I will be as brisk as I can, Madam Deputy Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. Speaker. Eleven Members now wish to speak. I suggest that each I come to the most serious point of the debate: the takes no longer than 10 minutes, including interventions. bringing of defamation cases against people who disagree I will not put that limit on the clock, but if it looks as if with the police’s version of events. There is no downside some Members who have sat here patiently will not get for a police officer when they pursue a libel action to speak because we are running out of time, I will backed by the enormous resources of the Fed. That impose a formal time limit. Hopefully, however, 10 minutes raises two distinct and concerning issues. First, action with interventions will be enough for the main points to against the press, who must hold the police to account, be covered. is utterly against the interests of a fair and free society except in very clear-cut circumstances. Secondly, there 12.28 pm is the action taken against members of the public, Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I congratulate the whom the police are charged with protecting, who right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden disagree with the police’s version of events. That insulates (Mr Davis) on an excellent speech. I thank him and the the police from criticism and from being held to account other sponsors of this Backbench Business Committee for what they do. Such actions should not take place. If debate for ensuring that the House can discuss the the federation is using its financial might to crush recommendations of the Normington report at an early legitimate claims against officers or—worse—to pursue stage. This is our first opportunity in many years to those who have already been subject to a police stitch-up, have such a discussion, although we often discuss policing to take an extreme example, that huge injustice would issues in the House; we discussed the police grant here compound existing injustices. only yesterday. My next point is about the Normington report on I begin by paying tribute to the hard-working police politically motivated campaigns. It said: officers in the police service, including those such as PC “Throughout our inquiry we have heard allegations that some Craig Smith. With an off-duty paramedic, David King, Federation representatives who have personally targeted successive he struggled to free the driver of a burning car in Home Secretaries, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Winsor and others, Leicestershire and saved the person at risk. He was a bringing the Federation into disrepute and risking the police runner-up in the police bravery awards, which I, with reputation for impartiality and integrity…If the Federation wants Ministers and others, attend annually to pay tribute to to be respected and listened to in the future, this has to stop.” the marvellous work being done throughout the country Such actions are completely unacceptable and contrary by individual police officers. to the purpose of the Police Federation. I have to say that, following a proposal from the hon. Finally, I turn to what should be done. As we consider Member for Northampton North (Michael Ellis), the whether progress and reform should be left to the Select Committee on Home Affairs has unanimously federation, we should bear two simple points in mind. agreed to hold an inquiry into the Police Federation. Are the interests of its officers, who have something to The terms of reference will be announced next week, 1051 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1052 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Keith Vaz] Mark Pritchard: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. He mentioned moving on. Does he agree and I hope that they will provide an opportunity for a that the fact that carefully placed stories and leaks have full-scale inquiry into the matters that have been raised. found their way into national newspapers ahead of I shall return to this point at the end of my short speech. today’s debate does not help to restore public trust in Morale in the police service is at an all-time low, as the police service—particularly the Metropolitan police the Stevens report recognised. Indeed, if Members talk service? It is time to move on, and it is time for the to any police officer stationed here in the Palace of Metropolitan Police Commissioner to get a grip of his Westminster, they will hear that people are deciding to officers. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the leave the force because of the current state of affairs in commissioner ought to have learned from Leveson, and policing. That is regrettable. There is an obligation on from his previous mistakes in dealing with some parts all of us to ensure that we have the best police service in of the media? the world—which I think it is—and we also need to ensure that the concerns of Police Federation members Keith Vaz: Of course I deplore leaks, but we have a are met. free press. And of course it is important that everyone I want to mention the case of the right hon. Member should learn the lessons. for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell). It is not the subject Let me turn to the subject of the debate, the reform of of the debate—we are talking about the Police the Police Federation. The Normington report is pretty Federation—but the right hon. Gentleman and his family scathing in its criticism of the federation. It says that it have gone through a terrible ordeal. I believe that he has should be changed “from top to bottom”, and talks now been vindicated, given that 11 of those involved about the present crisis being the result of strategic have now become the subject of misconduct hearings failures. Sir David Normington also found that 91% of and one has gone to prison. The cases of three witnesses federation members wanted the organisation to change, who appeared before the Home Affairs Committee are so this is not a case of Parliament dictating to the still outstanding and are the subject of an Independent federation and telling it what it should do. I am sure we Police Complaints Commission inquiry that has been would all want to step away from doing that. The held in abeyance because of a judicial review application. members themselves are saying that they want change. Those of us who have been around for a long time We need to ensure that the report’s recommendations have asked ourselves: if this could happen to a serving are implemented by the current leadership of the federation. Cabinet Minister, what hope would there be if it happened I pay tribute to Steve Williams, Steve White and Ian to one of our constituents? The right hon. Gentleman Rennie, the chair, vice-chair and general secretary of has done the House and the public a great service, from the organisation. It was Steve Williams who set up his position of power as an elected Member of the the Normington inquiry; we would not have had an House, but his situation is quite different from those of inquiry, had the chairman not decided to do that. I also people in Leicester and elsewhere in the country. He has welcome the fact that they told the Select Committee been vindicated, and it is important that a line should that they intended to implement every one of Sir David’s now be drawn and that people should move on, for the recommendations. Our inquiry will commence shortly, sake of him and his family, and of the reputation of the and I hope that we will be able to look at the length of police as a whole. time it will take to implement them. I see that another member of the Committee, the Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab): My right hon. hon. Member for Rochester and Strood (Mark Reckless) Friend makes his point very effectively. Does he agree that is in his place. There were two things that caused the in cases such as these, continuing litigation could eventually Committee some concern. One was the lack of knowledge bankrupt someone, and that the organisation is capable about the No. 2 accounts that are being held across all of going way too far? What would that mean for our the regions, which the right hon. Member for Haltemprice ordinary constituents, who simply would not have the and Howden mentioned. No one knows the figures means to defend themselves in similar circumstances? involved. I would have thought that the chairman of an Keith Vaz: I thank my right hon. Friend for his organisation as important as the Police Federation would intervention. I am a little concerned at the number of know how much money it was holding locally. He told cases in which someone criticises a serving police officer the Committee that he had written to every regional and ends up being served with a legal notice or threatened chairperson to ask for that information, and I hope that with legal proceedings as a result of raising issues of they will provide it. If the leadership of the federation is legitimate concern. The Select Committee inquiry will to succeed in implementing the Normington report, as want to look at such cases. we want it to, it must have that information. The right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield and his The second issue that struck me and other members family must have been through a terrible ordeal. It is of the Committee was the fact that even Steve Williams time to draw a line and move on, and to think about did not know how many members the federation had, how we can reform the structure, now that the personal because the database was not up to date. That is also a issues have been resolved and people have gone to jail or matter of concern. Surely an organisation that speaks faced misconduct hearings. on behalf of thousands of police officers ought to have the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of every Mark Pritchard rose— single member. That information is kept on a regional basis by the regional chairs and committees, but it is not Keith Vaz: I will give way, but this will be the last time, passed on to the national headquarters, even though the because I am mindful of what Madam Deputy Speaker national leadership has to speak on behalf of the federation. has said. I hope that those two important issues will be resolved. 1053 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1054 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) The leadership issue is an important one. The hon. (Mr Mitchell) will well recall. When I first came here, Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) mentioned the adviser was the then Member for Bury St Edmunds, the need for effective leadership earlier. I want to pay Eldon Griffiths, and he was followed by Sir Michael tribute to Paul McKeever, who sadly died at the end of Shersby, the Member for Uxbridge at the time. They last year. He was a splendid leader of the Police Federation. were well paid, as indeed was the Labour representative However, we can have the best leaders in the world, but of the Police Federation, they were always called early if the structures are not right, we will not be able to in debates and they had a status within the House that implement change. The Normington report is about gave them the chance to speak up for the police. That changing the structure of the federation, and I think we was accepted as being within the traditions of the all agree that it has to change. The federation must also House and it was very much part of the concordat be open and transparent—not necessarily to Parliament, struck all those years ago. although I would love that to happen. It must be open As my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and transparent to its members. In the end, we are all and Howden has pointed out, there has been an incredibly parts of organisations whose leaderships need to respond unfortunate downhill spiral, which probably started to the members, but the members also need to respond 20 or 30 years ago, and professional standards have when leadership is shown. slipped. Part of the blame must lie with the previous I shall end by outlining some of the issues that I hope Government, who in many ways undermined the police. the Select Committee will look into. These are not They lost the confidence of the police on many different agreed terms of reference—those will be agreed at the issues, not least through their determination to drive next meeting—but they are the elements that I think we through force mergers and the fact that they encouraged need to look at. We need to look at the federation’s the building up of this compensation culture. spending and its use of public money; the contents and My right hon. Friend has listed a large catalogue of usage of the reserves and the federation’s No. 2 accounts; examples that point to a totally unacceptable culture the use of members’ subscriptions by representatives; within the national Police Federation. I have had a lot and the leadership of the federation at national and of dealings with my local police federation in Norfolk, regional level, including the elections; the current and I stress that at all times the people there have been membership and ensuring that the Police Federation’s totally professional and really impressive. They have communications with all members are robust; and ensuring gone out of their way to stand up for the interests of there is co-operation between regional and national members of the constabulary within my constituency, boards. We do need to hear from some of the people and I do not believe they have ever leaked anything to who work for the federation and have made statements the press or done anything that would undermine the in the public domain—we would like to hear from them integrity of the local police federation. Unfortunately, at Home Affairs Committee hearings. that excellent set of high standards and conduct has not Although the Normington report is damning—no been replicated within the Police Federation nationally. organisation would like to read such a report about the He described a culture of excess, explaining that it is so way in which it conducts its business—I have confidence well exemplified by the new headquarters at Leatherhead that the leadership is going to implement what Normington and the whole saga of different incidents that have has said, because it has told the Committee that that is taken place over the past few years. what it wants to do. The role of the Home Affairs Committee is to monitor that and make sure that those I wish to discuss two recent incidents that have led to good words are translated into good deeds, for the grave concerns. The first is the behaviour of the three benefit of the federation’s members and the country as Police Federation members who went to the office of a whole. my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield in his constituency: Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective 12.41 pm Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones. Their Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con): behaviour was totally and utterly unacceptable. They were It is a great pleasure to follow the right hon. Member shown to have lied and to have misled the Select Committee, for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), the Chair of the Select and they should have been dismissed immediately. Committee, who speaks many words of wisdom. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): Does Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) on initiating this my hon. Friend share my disbelief that when the three debate. As he has pointed out, the Police Federation midlands officers were invited to give an apology in the was set up nearly 96 years ago, as part of a concordat Home Affairs Committee they declined to do so? between the police and Her Majesty’s Government. A simple deal was struck: in return for not striking and Mr Bellingham: Indeed. Their performance was utterly not joining a trade union, the police would have a abysmal and it brought the federation into huge disrepute. federation that would have unprecedented access to The other incident relates to what happened outside Ministers and would receive taxpayers’ money. Over the gates of No. 10 Downing street. PC Richardson, the many years, the federation built up a superb reputation officer on duty, was quoted the other day as saying that for being measured, fair-minded and discreet. It built it was “so wrong” of federation officials to stage-manage that strong brand, which was the envy of many other the incident. He said: representative organisations and trade associations in “It was nothing to do with them. Certain people thought they this country and around the world. had a silver bullet with which they could overturn police reforms. When I first became an MP, the Police Federation I’m speaking out because I feel I have been betrayed by the actually had parliamentary advisers on both sides of leakers, mischief makers and sections of the Federation. It has the House, as my right hon. Friends the Members for caused me 18 months of grief and by going public I expect I’ll get Haltemprice and Howden and for Sutton Coldfield a lot more.” 1055 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1056 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Mr Bellingham] minorities? One of the most shocking things about the report is the lack of effort that the federation has made That speaks volumes about a culture that has to change, on people and on serving members other than white and change soon. men. In conclusion, we now have the Normington report, which contains a set of positive, constructive Mr Lammy: The hon. Gentleman makes his point recommendations. Every hard-working, decent police strongly. That point comes across crystal clear in the officer up and down the country must reclaim their report. I was going on to say that many of us have federation and try to restore it to the glory days of the watched in this country as cases involving minorities past, when they had a federation that was the envy of have often been overlooked. The truth is that there are every other organisation in this country. The Normington many cases, some of which emanate from my own report provides the opportunity to do it, if it is accepted constituency, where there have been concerns about the in full and implemented in full. Police Federation and a closed shop, particularly in relation to getting at the truth. However, what is so 12.47 pm startling is that what may have been a minority concern has broken into the mainstream. When three officers Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab): It is wonderful so blatantly tell mistruths and so blatantly refuse to that the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden apologise over an event involving a Cabinet Minister in (Mr Davis) has secured this debate, although it is sad a country such as this, it must tell us something about a that we have reached a point where there is such deep culture of impunity that has become endemic in the concern across the House about one of our most noble system. It must also say something about the necessary and great professions. It has been a great privilege for reform that must now come. I am pleased, therefore, me, over the past year or so, to serve on the police that the Police Federation has accepted the report’s parliamentary scheme and spend time with front-line recommendations. The tipping point must surely have officers across London and beyond. The scheme continues been reached if it has come to pass in this way. and I am looking forward to spending time with front-line officers next week. Overwhelmingly, the scheme has As we have this debate in 2014, it is clear that a confirmed my childhood belief, which began at about number of our institutions need to reform and to look the age of 9 when I said to my parents that I wanted to closely at these closed practices. We as Members of be a police officer, that the men and women who serve Parliament are premier amongst them. We have had in our police forces across the country do a fantastic debates about closed practices in the NHS and the need job. for a stronger whistleblowing culture. In the Leveson report, we saw real concerns about parts of the journalism These officers do a fantastic job at a time when, as profession. Now, as we come to the police, we must see has been said by the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, an end to those closed practices and to the refusal to get morale is pretty low, they feel pretty battered and they to the truth. feel that contracts forged with them, particularly in relation to their pensions, have been totally changed We have such discussions not to attack but out of around them—reform has come, as it has to so many sadness. The practices under discussion have chronic other professionals across this country. I know how effects on ordinary people’s lives and they put tremendous these officers deal with the public not just because I was pressure on families. It is the nature of any state that it there to see it, but because I have met many hundreds leaves the individuals caught up in this feeling desperately of officers. I have seen how they interact with tricky powerless. That is why we juxtapose the situation in situations. I have seen how they have dealt with the which the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield vulnerable—alcoholics, vagrants, drug addicts. I have (Mr Mitchell) has found himself with so many others. seen them do an assortment of things, and I have seen armed officers deal with the huge burden and responsibility Mr Raab: The right hon. Gentleman is making a of carrying a gun, and it has overwhelmingly left me powerful speech. Does he agree that the way in which impressed. the Police Federation uses its funds in litigation is It is against that truth that this discussion and this critical to the balanced approach that he is discussing? debate are so important. All of us have had the privilege It is one thing for it to defend its own members from of travelling to countries where corruption is endemic litigation—to use the fund as a shield—but another in the police force. I think of sitting in meetings in thing to use those funds as a sword to pursue other Brazil and also of the challenges and problems in people, especially victims or other members of the public? eastern Europe. However, we all understand that, in a growing democracy such as ours, how we treat the most Mr Lammy: Absolutely. The point is that some of vulnerable and the areas of our life where light often those funds involve taxpayers’ money, which must demand does not shine is an indication of the state of our close scrutiny. I am pleased that the Chair of the Home democracy. The day-to-day job of the police is to deal Affairs Committee suggested that scrutiny should be with a small criminal minority—fortunately, it is a small No. 1 on the agenda. It is also the case that the federation minority in our country. The light often has not shone has seen fit to go after leading members of our society and certain practices can build up. That is why it is so who are looking at police reform issues. Why is it that it fundamental that here in this Chamber we are able to thinks that it can get away with challenging a senior shine that light. Cabinet Minister? Is it because parliamentarians, MPs and Ministers at this point in the cycle just happen to be Julian Smith: Does the right hon. Gentleman agree a minority group that is up for attack and the federation that the report shows that the light is not shining in the thinks it can get away with it? There is a connection Police Federation on women or on people from ethnic with the way it might deal with certain types of criminals. 1057 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1058 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) There is a connection with the way it might deal with Our 21st century Police Federation has become a some parts of the Irish community in this country, who vehicle for a vocal minority to pursue their own personal would say that they have experienced some sharp practices agendas. That is punishing not just the public, to whom from parts of the Police Federation. I am talking about the independent statutory body is accountable, but some the notion that, “It is a minority, the public don’t care 130,000 members, many of whom are fed up with the that much and we can get away with this.” We must antics of the federation reps who are bringing their challenge that, because the honour of a great profession profession into disrepute. I am struck by an independent is at stake. Some £8 million is spent annually in relation poll that has found that 64% of the federation’s members to litigation. These are important budgets. We must are dissatisfied with its overall performance and 91% ensure that they are being used for the right purposes. believe that it is time for the organisation to change. I have been concerned, especially in the Duggan case, Those are opinion poll figures that any one of us would that officers have been advised by the Police Federation die for. not to give interviews. Attempts to suspend officers That vote of no confidence will have been consolidated facing serious allegations are always fought, whatever by recent reports of the dismissal of a senior employee— the circumstances. If any of us were caught up in a Ms Fiona McElroy, the director of communications—after situation that involved the death of another individual, just three months because she dared to challenge the we would not be able to refuse to give an interview. Why federation’s finances. Her deputy resigned in protest. As would we accord that power to people who are in that resignation shows, finances are a touchy subject uniform? This is a very important issue. because cash is key. In Sir David’s words, finances One of the fundamentals of our system is the fantastic “are inextricably linked with some of the deeper cultural, structural idea that we have policing by consent. That is at the and operational changes“ heart of our police service. Here in London, there are that he is trying to bring about. One of his recommendations only 32,000 police officers, and a population heading is to publish for the public to see all accounts from towards 10 million. In reality, it is the 10 million people which the federation derives income or to which it who work alongside the police who give us that feeling contributes revenue. In particular, we need greater that we are safe almost anywhere in London. The idea is transparency about the so-called No. 2 accounts, which that we police by consent, not by fear as is the case in are generated from fees in addition to membership America or in parts of continental Europe where police subscriptions for additional legal and support services. officers carry guns. It is an idea that we must treasure Those accounts, held by several local federation branches, and protect. It is grossly undermined when a minority are worth an estimated £50 million, but they are largely of police officers misbehave, they are not challenged kept off the books. Only 7 out of 43 local federation sufficiently, there is not sufficient scrutiny, and there is branches disclose details on their annual return. Why the sense of a closed shop where even those who are the secrecy? This cynic would say that secrecy is a pretty blatantly lying are protected. That is why this report is good way of avoiding scrutiny. so important, why the House must look closely at implementing it and why we must revisit these issues not Let me pick up on the point that was made earlier just in Backbench debates over the coming months and about it being perfectly legitimate for the police to fund years but in debates in Government time where we are legal actions to protect their members. What needs to be absolutely rigorous about protecting this important scrutinised is why this organisation, which is secretive fundamental of our democracy. about its finances, is funding libel actions. It cannot be right for a police officer, who is after all a public 12.59 pm servant, to be backed by the might of a multi-million pound outfit that is shrouded in secrecy to sue members Sir Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): It is a of the public who do not have the resources to defend pleasure to have heard two excellent speeches from themselves. That seems an improper use of money for a Opposition Members. I particularly welcome the decision statutory body that was established to look after its of the Home Affairs Committee to look into this matter. members, in cases ranging from misconduct allegations In a Parliament that has been dominated by Select to personal injury claims, and, of course, genuinely to Committees, that is welcome. The right hon. Member serve the public good. for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) has just made an excellent speech. I agree with him that this is not a political issue This week, the human rights group Liberty has spoken and that it is not about my right hon. Friend the out against this “dangerous” president, which it believes Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell). Indeed, breaches the right to freedom of expression and other 99% of police officers are good people to whom still we articles under the Human Rights Act. The public must turn in times of trouble. be able to defend themselves against police claims without Over the past couple of hours I have ascertained that fear of civil proceedings, and Liberty raises concerns the flooding situation in my constituency is seriously about the “discriminatory inequality of arms”, as police deteriorating, so I hope that you will accept my apologies, get financial support from the federation. Its excellent Madam Deputy Speaker, and forgive me if I do not stay director, Shami Chakrabarti, says: for the whole debate. “It would effectively place officers beyond criticism, silencing Three words—transparency, accountability and those wanting to protest their innocence.” credibility—go to the heart of today’s debate. They I agree. What right does the federation have to pursue ought to describe the values of the Police Federation, bloody-minded campaigns against individuals? Do these which was set up by statute almost 100 years ago to actions serve the public good, or do they serve the protect the “interests and welfare” of rank-and-file interests of the federation’s own members at a time officers, but they are conspicuously missing according when they are facing major policing reforms and changes to Sir David Normington’s devastating forensic review. to working conditions? 1059 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1060 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Sir Richard Ottaway] Police Federation, who, as far as I can tell—I am not as close to these people as the Chairman of the Home Sir David’s review described the federation’s opposition Affairs Committee—appears to be the driving force in to police reforms and personal attacks as “strategic seeking change and commissioning this report. failures” and highlighted the case of my right hon. Let us be in no doubt: the report is utterly devastating. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield, among others, Its authors—Sir David Normington, Sir Brendan Barber, as an example of the extent to which Sir Denis O’Connor and others—are people of enormous “some representatives feel they can pursue local action and campaigns public standing who are worthy of our greatest respect. regardless of the impact on the wider federation and the views of The devastating detail of the report is reflected in their colleagues.” stories that are coming out about the federation’s actions, Just reading those words, one realises that they are out such as the discomfiting behaviour of its representatives of touch. The price they pay is not just bringing the on memorial day and the astonishing financial excess federation into disrepute, but risking the police’s reputation whereby £35 million or more in No. 2 accounts is not for impartiality and integrity. I cannot agree more with properly accounted for. I am delighted that the Home the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) Affairs Committee will follow up the report, especially that as far as that particular case is concerned, it is time through an inquisition on the use of public money. My to move on. right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and The federation’s dual accountability to its members Howden (Mr Davis) suggested that police officers should and to the public has always been an implicit part of its receive a dividend from their federation by having their statutory purpose. However, implication, by definition, funds returned. The amount involved would be pretty is not a strong enough deterrent for some of the bad substantial—£500 per police officer—but in these straitened practice we have seen. There is evidence in the review times, the taxpayer probably has an interest, so I hope that despite regulations containing that the Select Committee’s detailed inquiry will examine whether it would be proper for the taxpayer to receive “a clear ethos of transparency” some restitution. in areas such as funding, for example, the spirit of those The federation has completely and utterly failed not regulations is not adhered to. only the people it serves in the police, but in its public In my judgment, only legislation can define a clear duty outlined in its founding Act—the Police Act 1919. and non-negotiable core purpose for the federation. The federation has a responsibility to the whole country. Only legislation can compel the federation to review its If the representatives of the police are seen as rotten, commitment to serving its members honestly, with integrity what conclusion are we meant to draw about the police and with the public interest at heart, and only legislation force itself? When we go out on the front line, we have can restore trust in the federation. the opportunity to see the police at first hand, so we We know that the federation is resistant to change. know that most of the time they are doing a difficult job Since the publication of Sir David’s review, we have seen extremely well. It can be difficult to deal with members nothing concrete to suggest that the federation will of the public who demand the highest standards of adopt its recommendations in full. The federation’s their police force, but that is precisely the standard that chairman has agreed that “deep cultural change” is we should expect. needed, but actions speak louder than words, and my There have been huge strides forward in policing over suspicion is that no matter how persuasive the proposed the past two or three decades. The Police and Criminal reforms are, a “powerful minority” will continue to do Evidence Act 1984 brought about a profound change in everything they can to protect their own positions and policing, as did the reaction to the Macpherson report self-interest. and the way in which senior officers have tried to lead In conclusion, today we have an opportunity to give those on the culture of the police. However, in policing, as is three words—transparency, accountability, credibility—real the case in the federation, pockets of resistance remain, meaning. I believe, and I hope that the Minister will as do old-fashioned approaches that are simply unacceptable take this on board, that legislating is a critical first step in this day and age. The federation must be a proper for Parliament in testing the federation’s commitment representative of all its officers, but it comprehensively to meaningful change. failed in that task. Let me reinforce the message about the scale of legal 1.8 pm actions taken by the federation. It is truly frightening that people can be intimidated so they do not properly Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con): It is a pleasure to criticise and complain about our police force as a result follow my parliamentary neighbour, my right hon. Friend of legal actions initiated by the federation. The situation the Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway). is so rotten that I understand that, informally within the I hope that I will not have to detain the House for too federation, police officers are encouraged to bring actions long, as the tenor of my remarks will be completely that are known as garage or extension actions because consistent with everything that has already been said. the officers end up with a new garage or extension as a The direction of travel is extremely clear. benefit of being persuaded to take legal action. Stories Like the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), also circulate about the incentives that law firms offer I have taken part in the parliamentary police scheme policemen to take action. I hope that the Home Affairs and have seen at first hand in both London and Surrey Committee’s inquiry will cover such practice on legal the terrific work that officers do on the front line. I want action which, frankly, stinks and has an especially unhappy to pick up on the point made by my right hon. Friend consequence if it makes the police seem to be as defensive the Member for Croydon South: 91% of officers want and backward looking as the federation has been in its change in their federation. That is an utterly devastating attitude to the public and dealing with straightforward figure. I commend Steve Williams, the chairman of the requirements of substantial police reform. I hope that 1061 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1062 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) there will be at least restraint on decisions about whether couple of months ago, found fault with almost every aspect legal action should be taken. Perhaps the Police Federation’s of the federation’s operations. I cannot recall a report insurers should make decisions about whether actions that was quite so damning. Federation tactics have been should take place, rather than federation officials themselves a particular source of shame, and I am appalled that, aggressively pursuing actions by using their members’ despite the publication of the report in January, they and, no doubt, public money. are still going on. There are plainly one or two people in the federation’s The report states that senior leadership who are trying to do the right thing, “many from outside have criticised its tactics particularly in which was why they commissioned this extremely responding to the Winsor review.” authoritative report, and their evidence to the Home That was about police pay. The federation Affairs Committee is that they intend to deliver on all the recommendations. We have heard further ideas during “has too often fallen back on its traditional tendency to attack and try to undermine those who are proposing the changes, rather the debate and there will no doubt be more. However, than take on the issues…This constitutes a strategic failure; the we should be absolutely clear that if the federation politics of personal attack and shouting has proved to be a will not deliver on the reforms required by the report, it wrong-headed response.” will fall to us to do so for it. It goes on to say: 1.15 pm “The Federation should be a powerful voice for standards in British policing but at present it is badly placed to be that voice. Michael Ellis (Northampton North) (Con): It is a Throughout our inquiry we have heard allegations that some pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Federation representatives who have personally targeted successive Reigate (Mr Blunt) and the excellent speeches of hon. Home Secretaries, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Winsor and others, Members on both sides of the House. It is clear that bringing the Federation into disrepute and risking the police something is very wrong in the national Police Federation, reputation for impartiality and integrity. We have also been given evidence of bad behaviour within, including poor treatment of and has been for some time. The continual drip-drip staff at HQ and the targeting of representatives in social media, at effect is reaching its zenith—or, should I say, its nadir—and Conference and elsewhere simply because they hold a different is causing considerable embarrassment and distress to point of view. If the Federation wants to be respected and listened the rank and file officers of a noble and honourable to in the future, this has to stop.” profession that has brought, and continues to bring, These are nothing more than bully-boy tactics from great honour to this country. those who are in a position to be bullies, and who are Our police service is genuinely the best in the world. hiding behind their position to intimidate others, including It deals with extremely severe threats and incidents. It democratically elected representatives. It is intolerable deals daily with historic episodes and threats to the that successive Home Secretaries should be subject to state and security of this nation, and it does so without this level of personal attack and abuse. The federation is being armed and by consent. I am very proud of the incapable of making the arguments. That is the only profession, and we all can be very proud of it, which is explanation for such personal attacks. why the Police Federation’s dysfunction is a humiliation I agree with the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee to rank and file officers throughout the country. Many that my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton officers have told me that if they did not feel that they Coldfield has been entirely vindicated. I was a barrister needed the protection of an organisation such as the in criminal practice for more than 15 years, but the federation in case they should get into trouble, they police case was so undermined that no case could rest would not choose to be members of it and to pay the on it. I understand that my right hon. Friend has exorbitant dues that have caused it to become bloated. already received an apology, and rightly so, from several The Police Federation may have started nobly in chief constables, and several police officers now face 1919, but owing to several recent scandals and cover-ups, internal misconduct or gross misconduct charges and it has lost that nobility. An opinion poll released only one has gone to prison. However, I am appalled, as I today, which has been the subject of media attention, know the House will be, that the federation is even now indicates that a third of people have lost confidence in funding litigation that seeks to keep this matter alive. the police. The lowest level of trust in the police ever now subsists in this country. In large measure, that is Keith Vaz: The hon. Gentleman will remember the due to the disgraceful misconduct of previous leaderships evidence given to the Committee by the officers from of the federation. West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands police, I have had dealings with police officers and my local whom he cross-examined extremely effectively. He will Northamptonshire federation. They do a good job, but recall that they had the opportunity to draw a line. Does we have to address the egregious examples about which he not agree that that could be done, even at this late we have heard in the debate before they cause even stage, to bring the whole sorry episode to a conclusion? greater damage to this country and its reputation. As for the incident at the gates of Downing street, if Michael Ellis: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield who leads the way in putting Select Committees at the (Mr Mitchell), then a Cabinet Minister, can be traduced forefront of getting to the issues in this Parliament. An in such a way, in such a location and in such circumstances, apology is still due, and he is right that those officers’ what hope is there for any of our constituents, without conduct and appearance before the Committee, on which that authority and without those resources to defend we both have the honour to sit, was an embarrassment themselves? to the Police Federation. I have asked for an inquiry in The review, chaired by Sir David Normington, has the Home Affairs Committee, to which the right hon. done a good job. It was set up to examine signal failures Gentleman has already alluded, partly because of that, within the federation. Its report, which was delivered a and partly because of the repeated episodes that we still 1063 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1064 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Michael Ellis] “The Police Federation was established in 1919 for the ‘purpose of enabling members of the police forces in England and Wales to hear and read about in the media. For example, the consider and to bring to the notice of police authorities and the chairman of the Police Federation told the Committee Secretary of State, all matters affecting their welfare and efficiency, other than questions of discipline and promotion affecting individuals’. that he did not know the exact figure, but he agreed At long last, for the first time in ninety years, the Police Federation with my suggestion that there were tens of millions of gave the police what they had been agitating for—the right to pounds in the No. 2 accounts. We do not have the confer; a representative, negotiating body. answers. These are enormous sums, some of which have But in granting this, constraints were placed upon it. The right been funded by a huge 20% uplift in constables’ dues to of the police to take strike action was specifically withdrawn, and the Police Federation. It is a shocking indictment. it was made a criminal offence for any police officer to strike or Meanwhile, £26 million has been spent on a luxurious for anyone to induce him to do so. Thus it was called the Police headquarters that looks like something out of science Federation rather than a police union”. fiction. Apparently, senior federation officials travelled That is really important in informing what we say today. to Italy to source the right slate for part of the edifice of We also need to understand that the structures of the that structure. Expense accounts have not been published Police Federation date all the way back to 1919 and that and salaries are not fully disclosed. According to media much of its internal organisation relies upon statute. reports that appear almost daily, Police Federation officials Those structures have changed significantly less, to put are misconducting themselves, embarrassing themselves, it mildly, than have most organisations and institutions and behaving extremely improperly in regard to their over the past 95 years. That might require Parliament to conduct and expenses. change some measures in respect of the Police Federation, But it is the bully-boy tactics that most concern me, but I think that ideally any such changes should be led as they will concern hon. Members on both sides of the by the federation. House. Ninety-one per cent. of members of the Police When Stephen Williams gave evidence to the Home Federation—an extremely high figure; it is almost Affairs Committee, in contrast to the three officers who unprecedented in opinion polls to get 91% of people to appeared before us in our previous inquiry, whom we agree with anything—of tens of thousands who apparently did not see as representative of the Police Federation—he answered the questions, want change in their own federation. was elected—we felt that our concerns were being listened This change is not being driven by the House or by one to and that he was dealing with the federation’s affairs political party; this is a cross-party issue and it is being as openly as he could, subject to some serious constraints. driven by the members of the Police Federation, who We wish him well in changing that organisation, having want and need change. I do not think that I have ever commissioned the Normington report. We want to see agreed with the right hon. Member for Tottenham it pushed through, so it is really important that we do (Mr Lammy) quite as much as I did when he spoke not just have this debate today and then let the issue go today. off the boil. That is why the Committee is having the inquiry. We have followed up on a number of our inquiries, Policing is an honourable and great profession. We which I hope will be one mechanism by which we can owe the police a great deal, and that is why we want to keep accountability and public reporting of these changes. see their leadership within the Police Federation changed, changed soon, and changed for the better. Recent reforms to the police have contained so many detailed changes that it can be difficult to keep track. 1.27 pm The Police Federation is almost unique in not having unionisation—there are also the armed forces, of course—as Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): As my the police do not have the right to strike and do not hon. Friend the Member for Northampton North (Michael have a union as such. Some of the recent changes for Ellis) said, it is a shocking statistic that 91% of members the police have been different from what has happened of the Police Federation demand change. But another elsewhere in the public services. To give just one example, shocking statistic from a poll is that only 1% of police the police had their pay increments frozen for two years. officers believe that politicians support the police. It is That might sound like a small thing, but I do not believe important that it is understood by police officers in that it is, because across much of the rest of the public particular that this debate is not Members of Parliament sector, despite the vaunted public sector pay freeze and having a go at the police, still less the constables, sergeants now the 1% maximum increase, public servants have and inspectors who do the vast amount of policing been receiving rises almost automatically year on year work. In terms of even-handedness I would add that as they serve in a post. Those increments push them up last month I was fortunate enough to have a debate in pay scales in a way that the police have been specifically Westminster Hall when we examined the Association of excluded from. That is one source of discontent among Chief Police Officers, and Members were as excoriating the police. of that organisation as hon. Members have been today Another thing that stands out about the police is of the Police Federation. that, uniquely in the public services, they cannot be The background to the Police Federation is important. sacked, except for gross misconduct. There is no mechanism We had four police strikes between 1872 and 1919, and by which one can insist that a police officer is made the federation was a resolution of the labour discontent redundant. I thought that we were going to change that. involving John Syme and Tommy Thiel, the people who Tom Winsor rightly drew attention to it. The idea that set up the initial police unions, and what was seen in the after two years of probation someone has a job for life, first world war. or at least for 30 years, has been done away with in every Of my various books on the history of the police, other sector, if indeed it was ever there. the one that I think contains the best summary of the I will enjoy hearing the Home Secretary when she setting up of the Police Federation is Richard Cowley’s strays beyond her brief and sets out some of the principles “A History of the British Police.” He writes: that we, as Conservatives, should seek to apply in future. 1065 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1066 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) It is difficult to reconcile those principles with leaving the money has been spent on, how often the police defend that “jobs for life” specific legislative exemption for the a member and how often they proactively go out with a police while every other employee is potentially subject sword, as my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton to that type of dismissal. Once a police officer has a job North said, rather than simply defending their officers, and has been in probation for two years, irrespective of making members of the public subject to a legal attack the level of the crime or the amount of money in the from the Police Federation and funded by it. That is an public sector, they have that job and nothing can be area of huge concern. We need first to understand how done about it. That sets the police apart, and I was much of that is going on and what the baseline is before looking forward to seeing that changed. I will be we can say what should be done about it. disappointed if the Home Secretary does not take that I worry about how much the law firms involved are forward. earning and on what basis they are given fees and are Another area that we need to look at, in relation to being commissioned. It is simply not good enough for the straitened financial circumstances, is facility time, the federation to say that it looks at the merits of each meaning the number of police officers working on case and then decides on the basis of the prospects for Police Federation business and the amount of their success. Simply because a case might have a better than working time that is taken up by it. There have been even chance of succeeding is not a sufficient reason for reductions in police officer numbers overall, as the engaging in legal action. The federation also needs to shadow Minister, the right hon. Member for Delyn take into account its reputation as an organisation, that (Mr Hanson), vigorously emphasises, although they of the police, the interests of its members, of course, have not been as great as they might have been, as a and the public interest. I think that area of legal spending result of the efficiencies and changes that we have made, by the federation should be very closely examined. for which the Minister deserves much support. However, Ultimately, I wish the chair of the Police Federation, when we have had those changes, have we seen similar, all its elected officers and its members the very best in and indeed appropriate, reductions in the amount of getting the organisation back into the sort of shape that time spent on Police Federation duties? will mean that both officers and the public can take Although it is good to have wider consultation, I pride in it. think that some of the structures of the Police Federation lead to a use of time that is perhaps not the most 1.39 pm productive. We need to look carefully at the extent to which police offices could be spending more time on Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): We have heard front-line duties and less on that part of federation some great speeches from colleagues on both sides of business that might not be delivering directly the the House. I will try to be brief in bringing some representative benefits that its members need. I hope we additional thoughts to the debate rather than repeating will consider that in addition to whether some of the too much of what has already been said so well. police officers could get back the £500 that it is said is The chairman of the Police Federation called for an being held on their behalf. independent review of his federation by Sir David I would like briefly to discuss the No. 2 accounts. I Normington, and that was a brave and sensible decision. have not seen evidence that anything has been going on We have an opportunity to discuss the report and its within the accounts that should not have been, and still findings and what it may mean in each of our constituencies. less that there has been any misappropriation of funds—I I am therefore grateful to my right hon. Friend the would like to make it clear that I am not suggesting that Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) for there is. However, the very fact that they are known as successfully getting it debated today. No. 2 accounts raises, for many people, the idea that Let me start by summarising some of the report’s key money might not be properly accounted for. We hear of findings. The first covered the whole issue of reform. It people running a second book of accounts in a business: found that the federation had one that is real and one that is for the tax authorities. “been a weak voice in the discussions around reforms” When people hear of the Police Federation No. 2 accounts, they wonder whether something like that is going on. I due to indecisiveness and division. It continued: have no evidence that it is, but I am concerned that “It has too often been unable to decide whether to oppose people will draw conclusions that may not be justified outright or seek changes which help its members.” until such a time as that money is properly accounted Reform is an issue for all of us in public service, and for, the chairman of the Police Federation knows what that comment in the Normington report clearly gives is going on with those accounts and they are put properly the federation an opportunity to take a different view. into the public domain. As a body, the Police Federation On austerity, the report concluded: should not operate only for its members, but act in the “The Federation as a whole” public interest. was In talking about the public interest, I think that legal “trying to resist some of what was inevitable given the wider action is an incredibly important area for us to examine. economic and public context.” The Chair of the Select Committee, the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), spoke earlier That has been a challenge for all public services, and about our terms of reference. I strongly questioned the again there is an opportunity for the federation now to officers who appeared before the Committee on what focus on moving forward, recognising some of the reforms they were doing with regard to the legal actions. I think that have already been put in place and implemented. that is an area for us to include in our terms of reference On police pay, conditions and pensions, the report and in our report. I do not think that should mean concluded that the federation has fallen back delving into the details of current legal actions, but we “on its traditional tendency to attack and try to undermine those should look back and get some baseline about what actions who are proposing the changes, rather than take on the issues.” 1067 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1068 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Richard Graham] The conclusion of the Normington report has 36 recommendations. They deal with issues that have I suspect that all of us in our constituencies will have been raised by other Members, including the transparency met members of the federation who echoed that tendency. of the No. 2 accounts, which hold £35 million, and call The report goes on to mention the federation’s habit for a 25% reduction in federation members’ 2015 of personally targeting “successive Home Secretaries, subscriptions, which I suspect many police officers across Andrew Mitchell, Tom Winsor and others, bringing the the country would welcome. Above all, they call for an Federation into disrepute and risking the police reputation ambitious programme of reform, noting that the Police for impartiality and integrity.” Federation itself commissioned this independent review in order to set and take control of the agenda. The test It concluded: now, as the report concludes, is whether the federation “If the Federation wants to be respected and listened to in the can show the same leadership in implementing this future, this has to stop.” reform programme. I think we would all echo that from the point of view The motion calls for the Government to implement of our constituencies. It has not been the approach of the recommendations of the Normington report. I call most of the police officers I know in Gloucester or in instead for the Police Federation to implement the Gloucestershire as a whole, but for those who have held recommended reforms and for us, as parliamentarians, those views, the lesson is clear. Other Members have to give them all our support in doing so. As the report mentioned the views of federation members, particularly concluded, this is something worth striving for. It is the large number who seek change. That aspect is vital, what federation members most want, and it is now for and it is the clue to future reform. their representatives to work together to deliver it. At On the views of elected representatives, the report this stage, it is not for the Government to interfere but concluded that there was rather to support and encourage, and that is what I will “a tendency for the workload to fall on a few while others enjoyed be doing locally. the fruits of elected position and with the wish of some to play political games while ignoring the interests of their members.” 1.47 pm That comment could be relevant to all of us in this Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): Usually Chamber, as well as to people in other organisations. when reports are called for by bodies, they come out Again, it provides an opportunity for change. On the with anodyne statements saying that everything is pretty views of external stakeholders, the report concluded: marvellous. It is a rare civil servant who comes out boldly and states what he views as the unvarnished “Almost all expressed frustration at the negative behaviours truth. Sir David Normington’s report is absolutely stunning and tactics of the Federation”. in its conclusions. Although my right hon. Friend the That issue must also be tackled. Again, having it so Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis)mentioned clearly spelled out in the report gives the chairman an this, it is worth repeating: a statutory body—I repeat, a opportunity to take reform forward. statutory body—used its powers to target personally This leads on to constituency feelings and what happens “successive Home Secretaries, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Winsor and close to home for all of us. MPs, bankers and estate others, bringing the Federation into disrepute and risking the agents compete for the occupation that is generally held police reputation for impartiality and integrity.” in least regard and most contempt, and I would not That is an enormously damning statement to have been wish for the police to join us in that league. The key made about a body that has particular rights and protections locally for all of us is to enhance the reputation of our by statute. Yet it is worse than that, because this body office through hard work and integrity. Although I, like that behaves in such a way—the Police Federation—finds others here, still have bruising e-mails and letters from a that many of its members, while they still look to it to few officers in the constabulary who perhaps saw an represent them in times of difficulty or crisis, say that opportunity to use plebgate as a negotiating tool during they would not otherwise pay their subscriptions. In an talks on police reforms, I do not believe that anything independent report that one might usually have expected like plebgate could ever have happened in Gloucestershire. to be relatively anodyne, the voice of policing is utterly Our constabulary would never contemplate that sort of damned by both its actions and the view of its members. political stitch-up, which, as so often with conspiracies, What concerns me most is the constitutional aspect. has turned out to be a huge own goal. We know that the federation conspired, lied and leaked Locally, our constabulary are rightly focused on the to remove a Cabinet Minister from office. We know this major problems of human and drug trafficking, reducing because we have the transcript of the meeting that took crime, and sorting out antisocial behaviour. The police place with my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton community support officers are our bobbies on the Coldfield (Mr Mitchell) in his own constituency, and street—the community face of the law—and they build the response after that meeting of Inspector Ken MacKaill, confidence in our police and all the experts who are who said: seen less often because they work behind the scenes. I “I think Mr Mitchell has no option but to resign.” am grateful for what all members of the Gloucestershire At that point, therefore, a statutory body representing constabulary do in resolving these vital issues in our the police, who have very particular powers under our city. Crime is down in Gloucester, and that is what constitution, was conspiring to bring down a Cabinet matters. That is also why I will be delighted—through Minister. That is what happens in third-world countries, the wider police service parliamentary scheme, which where the democratic rights of the people are overtaken offers us all an opportunity better to understand by the forces of law and order, which intervene to have policing—to spend time this year with our constabulary the type of government that they want, rather than the seeing what police officers learn, how they train, and type of government that the people want. It is such a how they pursue their aims. dangerous position to have got into when a body that 1069 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1070 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) has particular protections and a place in the state is able “change” and “reform” have been used a lot in this debate to abuse them and undermine the very constitution that and I want to focus not on specific events, but on how gives them those powers. the force needs to evolve. The Police Federation is made That is also very damaging, as the right hon. Member up of different levels, including constables, sergeants for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) and others have said, to and inspectors, who make up the majority of the police the concept we have in this country of policing by force. If change is to come about, they must embrace it. consent. When the police force was set up, there was In a fast-changing world, I think we would all call great concern that having a permanent, paid police ourselves reformers, but there are, perhaps, two kinds: force undermined basic civil liberties. The feeling was those who want reform and those who want reform but that they would be used to develop a police state, act as not now. I wonder which category the Police Federation an arm of the Government, enforce laws unfairly and falls into. If we observe any major traffic incident, we harass people, and that they would, therefore, lead us to will see that the efficiency and ease with which all three being a less free society. We have been very lucky that of our blue-light services work together—the gold-silver- that has not occurred and that the police have, by and bronze command structure—is extremely impressive. large, been very responsible. However, if the incident is more complex and involves I am very glad that my right hon. Friend the Minister other agencies or wider geographical areas—such as the for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims is sitting on tragedies at King’s Cross, the events at Buncefield, the the Front Bench and will respond to the debate, because 2007 floods and the 7/7 terrorist attacks—an altogether he himself felt so personally and directly an abuse of more complicated wiring diagram is relied upon, which the police’s power when they came into the Houses of attempts to link together organisations, agencies and Parliament—a royal palace—to search the office of an Government Departments by using complex processes Opposition spokesman. We have, therefore, seen the and protocols that have been built over decades, but leadership of the police—once involving the federation that urgently need to be updated. They are so embedded and once not—using their exceptional and extraordinary that successive Governments have been reluctant to power to arrest an Opposition spokesman and to force address them. from office a Cabinet Minister. The Police Federation must appreciate that there are That should worry us extremely gravely, because our cultural and technical shortcomings that affect the ability constitution works on the basis that we are a free of different constabularies to work together and with society with a civilian police force that plays no part—no other agencies. Even today, different voice procedures role—in the political life of the nation. That is why it are used in the 43 constabularies in different parts of has to have a Police Federation that is outside the the country. When Cobra sits, decision making is swift, political ambit, that is not a trade union—and that, as we have seen over the past few days, but when it therefore, might be supportive of a particular political breaks there are 43 separate police forces, 46 separate party—and that is not able to strike because it is not fire services and hundreds of local authorities running able to wield its power in a way that could appear to be separate independent local resilience forums without politically motivated. It is given special privileges and any formal co-ordination from above. protections, but the Police Federation has abused them We can all be very proud of the London 2012 Olympics. not just once but, as we have discovered, systematically It was the largest and most complex event the nation in its approach to Home Secretaries of both parties has ever hosted and it was incident free, thanks to the and, indeed, Tom Winsor. years of preparation for a time-limited event and the The report sets out the problems with extraordinary additional resources and structures that have now largely clarity and certainty. It also sets out what it perceives as been dismantled. The federation needs to appreciate being the solutions, but my goodness we should worry if that. I hope it will start to appreciate that there are membership of the Cabinet is decided not by the will strategic, operational and financial efficiencies to be of people, but by a conspiracy of dishonest members of gained from not only simpler and stronger ministerial the Police Federation. We should also worry, as other leadership, but the streamlining of policy formulation hon. Members have said, that if it can happen to my and unambiguous inter-agency operational command right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield—one at both national and local levels. of the most senior Ministers in the Government at the The federation recognises and is in fact involved in time and one of the Prime Minister’s closest confidants— the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme, which of us going about our lawful business and which designed to improve joint doctrine. The federation must of our constituents, who do not have the protections of appreciate that if a forum such as JESIP needed to be being a Member of Parliament, can feel safe? created, there is something wrong with the way in which That is the real problem of leadership in the Police our emergency services work together. Given the types Federation and perhaps more broadly in the Metropolitan of natural and man-made threats we now face, it is time Police. We all see at our local level and, indeed, in the to overhaul our resilience capability, from the local Palace of Westminster the finest standards of traditional resilience forums—the basic emergency decision-making policing. There is a disconnect between the constable units found in every county—all the way to Cobra at level and those who seek to lead them. It is damaging the top. our constitution and it needs to be reformed. Mark Reckless: Will my hon. Friend explain what 1.54 pm specific role he sees the Police Federation playing in assisting that process? Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. North East Somerset (Jacob Rees-Mogg). I pay tribute Before the hon. Member for Bournemouth East to many of my colleagues for their comments. The words (Mr Ellwood) answers that, may I say to him that this 1071 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1072 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Madam Deputy Speaker] I had the very great privilege of attending the bravery awards, as the Minister will have done, for officers who debate is about the Normington report on reform of the have put their lives and limbs at risk in very dangerous Police Federation and that the debate on the police was circumstances. There is no officer who does not wake yesterday? He needs to focus on the Normington report up every day of the week potentially to face a life-threatening and not every so often in a sentence say, “Police Federation,” situation or to have to seek a depth of courage that to make himself in order. none of us in this Chamber has to experience. Even this week, police officers have been deployed to deal with Mr Ellwood: I accept your guidance, Madam Deputy floods and serious crimes. If the right hon. Member for Speaker. I am also conscious of the time and that the Haltemprice and Howden was in his place, I would tell Front Benchers want to conclude this debate. him that every year I have had the privilege of attending My hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood memorial services for officers who have given their (Mark Reckless) makes an important point. The changes lives for their community. The police memorial services I have discussed can come about only if the federation that I have attended have been dignified, solemn events, itself embraces them. As we have heard again and again at which the police have paid tribute to their fellow today, it has been an obstruction against, and a hurdle officers. for, those changes. My hon. Friend is right to ask the On behalf of Her Majesty’s Opposition, I welcome question, but it needs to be put to the federation itself the fact that the Police Federation itself commissioned so that it can address what it needs to do to recognise the Normington report. I also welcome the fact that the the changes needed. Police Federation recognises that mistakes have been In conclusion, the Police Federation has an important made and that it might be out of touch with its members, role to play—from bottom up, not just top down. If as has been discussed, and that it has acknowledged changes are to take place and if we are to see greater the need for reform. As has been expressed from both collaboration between constabularies, that needs to be sides of the House, the Police Federation independent embraced and promoted by the federation itself. Even review is a candid, frank, hard-hitting and strong report. with the advances in communications and technology, The hon. Member for North East Somerset (Jacob traditional practices across the police force, as well as Rees-Mogg) referred to that in his speech. The report those between all three emergency services, have resulted looks in detail at how the federation operates and how in a silo mentality and a convoluted web of interoperability its membership is represented, as well as at its structures, that successive Governments have been deterred from finance and professionalism, and it makes 36 wide-ranging overhauling. The longer we wait, the more complicated recommendations for change. it becomes to improve inter-service procurement, training, We should remember a point that has been slightly operations and ministerial oversight. I believe that the lost in the debate, which is that Sir David Normington Police Federation will rise to the challenge of reform, and his team were commissioned to produce the report and I hope that it will consider some of the ideas and by the Police Federation itself. Even given what hon. solutions proposed in this debate. Members have said, there is scope for the federation to reflect on the report and its contents. 2pm I spoke this morning to Steve Williams, who is the Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): I welcome you to chair of the Police Federation. He happens to be from the Chair, Mr Deputy Speaker, at the end of a very my local North Wales Police, where he has been a senior good debate. I congratulate the right hon. Member for officer for many years. He has been officially in post as Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) and his colleagues chair only since last May, but he took over after the sad on securing this timely debate. I pass on the apologies of death of Paul McKeever in January. I think that he my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington recognises the concerns expressed from both sides of (Jack Dromey), who is the official Opposition spokesperson the House about the need for reform and review. I know on policing matters. He has a long-standing constituency from talking to him that since the report was published engagement, so I have been repatriated back from that the Police Federation has held meetings across the immigration to police matters to wind up the debate. whole of England and Wales this week in a two-day I declare a sort of interest, in that as a former police examination of the recommendations. I think that there Minister and as the then shadow Minister, I met Sir David is clear support for the direction of travel, and I hope Normington and members of his review team to give that when the federation meets in May matters can be them my private view of the issues we are debating resolved in a way that meets the aspirations of every today. I am glad that the analysis that has come out—there hon. Member who has spoken today. is broad consensus on it across the House—is what I shared with Sir David at my meeting with him. Mr Ruffley: Is it the right hon. Gentleman’s There is common consensus not only about the issues understanding that the Police Federation has adopted raised in the Normington report, but about how the all the Normington recommendations in full? police do a good job in very often dangerous and difficult circumstances. The hon. Member for Bournemouth Mr Hanson: I have only had a brief conversation with East (Mr Ellwood) has just mentioned that point, as did the chair this morning, but I know that the Police the hon. Member for Northampton North (Michael Federation is trying to decide a response to put to its Ellis), my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham conference in May. I am not a member of the federation (Mr Lammy), the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt) or party to its discussions, so I can do no better than to and my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester repeat the Home Secretary’s words at Home Office East (Keith Vaz); I look forward to his Select Committee’s questions two weeks ago. She said: report on this matter. “It is important that the federation has had the review.” 1073 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1074 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) She went on that if changes are required, the Home Reform is important, because we need professionalism Office would and standards in officers. We need officers to be registered “stand ready to work with the federation on them.” in relation to their core professionalism, and we need She also said that the chair wanted the potential to withdraw registration if officers transgress, as they occasionally do. They have done so in the “properly to review the federation’s role and whether it represents case of the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield officers”,—[Official Report, 27 January 2014; Vol. 574, c. 651.] (Mr Mitchell), with an officer now serving a prison but that it is for the Police Federation, which initiated sentence because of his actions. It is important that the review, to look at such issues. In his speech, the hon. such standards are set in place. Member for Rochester and Strood (Mark Reckless) It is important, as Members have said, that there is reflected that the Police Federation should have a chance diversity in Government action. It is particularly important, to look at the issues. as the Stevens report mentioned, that the relationship The hon. Members for Gloucester (Richard Graham) between the media and the police improves. All contact and for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) and the between police officers and the media must be recorded. right hon. Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard That will have an effect on the potential for transgressions. Ottaway) have all supported the recommendations. I am conscious of the time and of the fact that we still On behalf of the official Opposition, I want the federation have to hear from the Minister and the hon. Member to look very closely at resolving to support the for Bury St Edmunds (Mr Ruffley). The official Opposition recommendations, which include the important issues believe that much of Sir David Normington’s report is of having a revised core purpose; an annual public welcome and we want the Police Federation to address review of value for money; national guidelines on expenses, the points that it raises. Steve Williams has had the honoraria and hospitality; the publication of all expenses confidence to take on the issues in the federation and I and of accounts; guidance for local forces about committee wish him well in seeing that through. I look forward to papers; a director of equality and diversity, which was a the federation responding to the issues in May. I will let point made by the hon. Member for North West Norfolk; my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington a rolling three-year equality plan; and an examination deal with this matter from the Front Bench when the of professional standards, as well as ensuring that report is examined and, I hope, implemented in due course. there is proper capacity of professional staff at head- quarters. The creation of an executive team, proper governance and decision making, a new professional 2.10 pm means of selecting the general secretary and the election The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims of the chair by the whole membership are positive (Damian Green): I congratulate my right hon. Friend recommendations to which I hope the federation will the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) respond positively. on securing this debate and Members on both sides of There may be some water between Government Members the House on their heartfelt and thoughtful speeches, and me on the fact that I take the view that the Police and on the clarity of the debate. Anyone who has Federation is a body in its own right, and that the best listened to this debate or who reads it subsequently will person to reform it is the federation itself. If it does not, see that it has sent a very clear message to the Police there will certainly be matters for this House to look at, Federation about the Normington report. but only in due course. I simply want to echo that message. I fully agree with The report relates to police professionalism and the the principles behind the motion. I agree that public need for reform more generally. The Police Federation trust in the police is vital. I agree that the federation, needs to be part of that reform. The Independent Police which represents 130,000 rank and file police officers, Commission report on the future of policing, chaired has a vital part to play. I agree that the federation must by Lord, Lord Stevens, was established by my right hon. change significantly if it is to play its role effectively. I Friend the Member for Normanton, Pontefract and pay credit to the federation and its current leadership Castleford (Yvette Cooper). under Steve Williams for recognising that change is needed and for commissioning the independent Normington Mr Ellwood: On the right hon. Gentleman’s point review to guide that reform. The report does that very about general reform, does he agree that it cannot be clearly. I also agree with Members on both sides of the pushed by the Government or from up in Westminster? House that the vast majority of police officers do what It could be argued that Dorset constabulary is now is a difficult and sometimes dangerous job very well on too small to exist on its own, but mergers or greater a day-to-day basis. The tradition of policing by consent collaboration are hindered by grass-roots policing. is a vital part of democracy and quality of life in this Does that indicate that we should start to consider such country. That is the background to the problem that the general reform? Normington review addresses. The review was undertaken because of significant Mr Hanson: When I was lucky enough to hold the concerns about the transparency and integrity of the post of police Minister in the previous Government, Police Federation and those who act on its behalf. It is I supported voluntary mergers—for example, between important that the federation addresses those issues to Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. That was stopped ensure that it acts in the interest of its membership and not by the Police Federation, but by the elected members commands the confidence of the public. To that end, I of what were then police authorities. The members welcome the news that the Home Affairs Committee did not want mergers, although the chief constables will produce a report on these matters. and the Police Federation were happy for them to As others have said, Sir David Normington and the happen. However, I digress slightly from the Normington other members of the panel have produced a report that report. is thoughtful, comprehensive and well evidenced. It is 1075 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1076 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Damian Green] that all accounts, including No. 2 accounts, should be published and available publicly. As that information insightful on the issues that the federation faces and comes to light, we will gain a better understanding of considered in the solutions that it recommends. We all how the money is being gathered and spent. It will fall agree with Sir David that the federation must operate to the appropriate authorities to deal with any unlawful with openness and integrity. The review suggests a great or improper behaviour that is identified. That might be number of far-reaching reforms. We will soon see how the police themselves or it might be Her Majesty’s the federation responds. Revenue and Customs. Clearly, we need to know more My hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds about what is happening in those No. 2 accounts. I look (Mr Ruffley) intervened on the former police Minister, forward to seeing how the federation responds to the who is revisiting former glories today, to ask about the report’s recommendations. If help is needed from the federation’s response. Steve Williams said before the Government to implement the changes, it will certainly Normington review was published that he would accept be available. it. Obviously, discussions are now going on inside the As well as those specific reforms, the review recommends federation. I assure the House that those discussions are a great deal of far-reaching reform. I am sure that all being monitored closely by the Government. Members expect there to be change. Behind all that, the The Government agree with the sentiment that has federation must ensure that it performs its most important been expressed by Members on both sides of the House role, which is to represent rank and file officers. It is that it is for the federation to reform itself and not for clear from the important surveys that many hon. Members the Government to step in at this stage. We need to see have mentioned that those officers still want the federation what the results of the federation’s considerations are. to represent them. As such, our starting point must be We do not plan to change the legislation before the to ask how we can make the federation reform itself in review has been considered and processed by the federation. order that it can deliver that service more effectively. We However, it is important that the federation moves are at the stage of giving the federation the opportunity forward with reform. I do not rule out the possibility of to consider how it will change on the basis of the new legislation or regulations because the federation recommendations. was created by an Act of Parliament and many of the The final matter that has come up frequently is the changes may need to be made in Parliament. We will events at Downing street involving my right hon. Friend come to that at the appropriate time. the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell). It is clear that those issues have caused widespread concern One of the virtues of the Normington report is that it about police integrity, and demonstrate that unless all has produced a timetable for action by the federation. officers operate to the highest standards of integrity, Outsiders with an interest, such as this House, will be policing risks forfeiting public trust. The court has now able to see how the timetable is being met. The time to decided on the appropriate sentence for the criminal consider any legislative action that we need to take is conduct of PC Keith Wallis, and the IPCC has stated after the federation has considered its next steps. that its investigation has provided evidence to support A number of important points have been made by gross misconduct proceedings against five officers, including hon. Members. The issue of federation expenses has PC Wallis. It will be for the Metropolitan police service been raised. I take any suggestion that expenses have disciplinary panel to decide on the culpability of the been misused extremely seriously.Federation representatives officers involved. are elected by their members to represent them. They Hon. Members will also be aware that the Home Office must therefore act in their members’ interests in using is currently considering changes to the whole police federation funds. It rightly falls to the federation to disciplinary system, and the IPCC is independently handle and respond to those issues. It is important for investigating allegations that three Police Federation the federation to demonstrate that it uses its finances, officers from West Mercia, West Midlands and which are raised primarily through member subscriptions, Warwickshire police gave false accounts of their meeting in a transparent and responsible manner. If it does not with my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton show that it does so, it is difficult to see how it can Coldfield on 12 October 2012, in an attempt to discredit command the confidence of its members or the public. him. As that investigation is ongoing it would obviously References have been made to the accusations of be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. bad behaviour on national police memorial day by In conclusion, I am grateful to everyone who has representatives of the federation. Like the former police contributed to what I think will be a significant and Minister and the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, important debate that will mark progress and greater I have attended national police memorial day. It is a clarity in the necessary reform of the Police Federation very moving occasion that is important to the friends in the wake of the Normington review. I hope and and families of police officers who have given their lives expect that the federation will address those concerns, in the course of their duties. I know that the leadership so that it can become once again an institution that its of the Police Federation would want to ensure that that members will be proud of, and of which the public will occasion is treated with the dignity that it deserves. If be proud, just as they are proud of our police. there have been problems, I hope that action will be taken to ensure that they are not repeated. 2.21 pm There have been a number of references to the notorious Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): May I No. 2 accounts that are held by some branches of the express my thanks to the Backbench Business Committee Police Federation. Those financial issues have been for granting this debate, to my right hon. Friend the covered thoroughly in the Normington report. It makes Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) who a number of recommendations to improve the transparency was its principal proposer, and to my 12 colleagues and and handling of federation finances. It recommends both Front-Bench speakers who have contributed to it? 1077 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1078 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) I contribute as a former special adviser in the Home though those are, than in changes to police working Office during the rocky times with the Police Federation practices, reducing police bureaucracy, and all the things in 1992-93, when the then Home Secretary was trying to that are central to modernising the police service today. push through the Sheehy reforms. More recently, I was On accountability and ethics, Normington has quite shadow police Minister in the previous Parliament. I a bit to say: am also contributing, and I declare an interest, as a “Throughout our inquiry we have heard allegations that some friend and supporter of my right hon. Friend the Member Federation representatives…have personally targeted successive for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), whose treatment by Home Secretaries, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Winsor and others”, certain elements of the Police Federation led ultimately to this debate and to discussion of the Normington Colleagues have mentioned that issue, but I was particularly report. struck by what my hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset (Jacob Rees-Mogg) said. He reminded us The Normington report is a scathing and searing of the constitutional position that the police service—and, deconstruction of a deeply dysfunctional organisation, by extension, the Police Federation—has in this country. and if there is a more critical report commissioned by a It has a constitutional responsibility to be utterly impartial, body of itself, I have yet to see it. The “top-to-bottom” to make judgments and decisions free from political overhaul of the organisation—those are the words of interference or bias, and to do so without fear or favour. Normington—refers to It should be beyond politics, but the history of the “its cultures, behaviours, structures and organisation”, Police Federation over the past few years shows that and I wish to emphasise at the start of my remarks that that constitutional obligation to which my hon. Friend we should not allow this matter to become a cosy referred has not been fulfilled. understanding with the Police Federation that it will Then there are the views of the elected representatives reform itself. I have been in this place too long to see and the people who run the organisation. Normington well argued and important reports lost. Everyone agrees states: that the recommendations should be carried out, but “There was considerable evidence of distrust among elected then they plough into the sand. That is why I was delighted representatives, exacerbated by divisions and mistrust at Head to hear my right hon. Friend the Minister say that he Office” would not shrink from using the legislative tools at his disposal to ensure that the necessary reforms and in Leatherhead. recommendations in the report are implemented if the What about the professionalism that we need to federation does not get on with doing that itself. engender in the Police Federation and the change of The report refers to culture? That is the subject of recommendation 1, which hon. Members have drawn attention to, and which I “a phased programme of reform over the next two to three think is worth reading into the record: years,”. “The Federation should adopt immediately a revised core I would like the federation to publish a clear timetable purpose which reflects the Police Federation’s commitment to act that we can come back to and debate in this Chamber, in the public interest, with public accountability, alongside its to see how quickly it is implementing the reforms. The accountability to its members. This should be incorporated in reason we need that is that Fiona McElroy, a former legislation as soon as practicable.” principal private secretary to the Attorney-General, no I disagree with only one bit of that: it should not be “as less, was sacked because she had “serious concerns” soon as practicable” but now. about the management of the federation’s accounts. Most troubling is that—this was only a few days ago—she My right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice was opposed by a “vocal minority” who were resisting and Howden said in his outstanding opening speech attempts to implement the changes recommended by that we need an early adoption of the report, not this the Normington report. I am afraid I am not as sanguine May when the Police Federation’s triennial elections are as many colleagues who have contributed today about held. Before those elections we need a clear statement the ability of senior members of the Police Federation from anyone seeking to stand for office in May that they to reform themselves. Who are these individuals and to will adopt and sign up to every one of the Normington whom are they accountable? Given the evidence I have proposals. Without that, I think we are entitled to feel cited, they seem to be a roadblock to reform. that they are not acting in good faith. There is unanimity across the party divide, including from the right hon. Mr Blunt: Will my hon. Friend give way? Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) speaking for the Opposition, and who made a helpful speech, and from Conservative Members. It is perfectly clear, beyond Mr Ruffley: If my hon. Friend will forgive me, I shall peradventure, that no one can have any doubt about the not give way as I am aware of the time. necessity of these proposals. The report mentions many things, but it begins by We also need to remember the phrase “Follow the mentioning the police reform proposals—not just those money”, although we should not read too much into by our excellent Home Secretary, but I think this would the fact that it comes from the Watergate scandal. If I also apply to some of the reforms at the end of the have gleaned anything from the debate, it is colleagues’ previous Parliament—and states that the federation comments—they have obviously read the report—on the was financial opacity and the scandalous lack of accountability, “a weak voice in the discussions around reforms.” not only in respect of members’ subscription fees, as my Speaking from experience, I found that too many senior hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt) said, leaders of the Police Federation were—and I regret to but of the taxpayer money that goes into the Police have to say this—much more interested in pay and Federation, which, as has been mentioned, is a statutory rations, remuneration and pension changes, important body. Surpluses have been generated at national level 1079 Police Federation Reform 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Police Federation Reform 1080 (Normington Report) (Normington Report) [Mr Ruffley] could be a sign of true culture change on the part of the federation—the kind of change of ethos for which the and substantial reserves have been amassed. They put report so powerfully calls. the organisation on a sustainable footing, but, by the I should like to comment on a few of the speeches way, that is largely the result of an increase in subscription that have been made in the debate that are worthy of charges of more than 23% in 2010 alone. note. The right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith That is not the end of it. The 43 branch boards Vaz) repeated something that many colleagues have operate as separate businesses. Together, they have reserves said. He said that recent events have shown that my of approximately £35 million. The report raises concerns right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield has about the lack of accountability. After its publication, I been completely vindicated. The right hon. Gentleman heard Sir David Normington say that although he was also questioned whether it was remotely sensible, brought in by the Police Federation to undertake an appropriate or seemly to continue suing members of the independent forensic review, he was denied access to the public, including my right hon. Friend. No. 2 accounts. Who denied him access? We should be We heard eloquent contributions from the right hon. told. Why were there any bars on his looking into the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) and from my right No. 2 accounts? It is why recommendation 31 is: hon. Friend the Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard “All accounts including Number 2, group insurance and member Ottaway). My hon. Friend the Member for Reigate services accounts, funds, and trusts to be published. A general reminded us that there could be a £500 per member financial transparency clause is needed in regulations” dividend, but asked whether restitution could be made for which, I might add, the House will have responsibility, to the British taxpayer, who will have an interest in “including a requirement to publish and report all income that those huge sums, many of which are not accounted for. derives from and funds Police Federation activity.” My hon. Friends the Members for Northampton Normington also says that all branches should be required North (Michael Ellis) and for Rochester and Strood to publish full accounts online. Those of us who are (Mark Reckless) spoke from huge experience as forensic subject to the rigorous Independent Parliamentary members of the Home Affairs Committee. Both talked Standards Authority regime will say that it is about time about the lack of accountability in financial accounting. they did that. I very much look forward to that so I can They also said that many public services have been reformed, look up the accounts of the branches in my part of East but that the way in which the police do business has not Anglia. been reformed. I pray in aid a phrase used in 2006 by Recommendation 36, on finance, states: the current Prime Minister. I was speaking to Police “There should be a 25 percent reduction in subscription levels Federation Members when the Prime Minister said that for one year in 2015 financed by the reserves of the rank central the police service is committees. An extension of this one-off reduction should be “the last great unreformed public service”. reviewed for subsequent years on the basis of existing reserves, My word, they did not like that, but reform should be a reserves in unpublished accounts, and an estate strategy once the reform package is complete.” reality. They should not fight history but embrace the future. The report demonstrates that a review could mean further reductions in the subscription levy. I believe that I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for members of the federation should actively consider that Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), who pointed out that and hold their elected representatives to account. In reform of the interoperability of the blue-light services that respect, I want to steal a phrase from my hon. Friend requires the Police Federation to get with the programme. the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) I conclude with one observation. The Police Federation who, in an excellent speech, reminded us of a great must not be a roadblock to reform. It must not block tradition of the Police Federation and some of its good either Her Majesty’s Government’s policy programme history, but also said that now is the time for its members of reform or reform of itself. to reclaim their federation. Subscription levels would Question put and agreed to. not be a bad place to start. Resolved, On the estates strategy, my right hon. Friend the That this House notes the Independent Review of the Police Member for Haltemprice and Howden said that, ultimately, Federation conducted by Sir David Normington and calls upon the sale and disposal of that palace of varieties, which the Government to take action to implement the report’s has cost excessive amounts of money to build and run, recommendations and to reform the Police Federation. 1081 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1082

Cancer Priorities Health himself, speaking at the Britain Against Cancer conference in December, described survival rates as disappointing. 2.38 pm Reliable predictions suggest cancer incidence is on Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con): I beg the rise. The World Health Organisation suggests its to move, incidence will increase by 70% in the coming decades. That this House has considered the All-Party Parliamentary Macmillan Cancer Support estimates that by 2020 almost Group on Cancer report on cancer priorities in the NHS. one in two people will receive a cancer diagnosis—a phenomenal increase. The challenge for the NHS is to The motion stands in my name and those of other ensure that the significant structural change it has seen hon. Members. in recent years is not allowed to obstruct the much-needed It is not an exaggeration to say that thousands of improvement in cancer services and survival rates that lives, if not tens of thousands, depend on our getting are necessary if we are to catch up with our neighbours the cancer strategy right. That is the scale of things. I and save those thousands of extra lives. therefore thank the Backbench Business Committee for The report by the all-party group on cancer should granting the debate and allowing the all-party group on be seen in this context. We now have an NHS based cancer to debate its recent report, “Cancer across the around five domains, each with a responsibility for Domains”. I thank fellow officers, Macmillan and the delivering improved outcomes. The report makes secretariat to the all-party group, particularly Tim Nicholls recommendations across each of those domains, and is and his team, for their support and hard work. the product of an extensive consultation with the cancer The all-party group on cancer is recognised as the community, from NHS England right through to cancer wider cancer community’s voice in Parliament and has patients, carers and charities. The recommendations of a proud campaigning track record. It was an early this year-long project can therefore truly be said to advocate of the need to focus on survival rates as a reflect the views of the whole cancer community. I means of promoting earlier diagnosis. It has campaigned should take a brief moment to thank all those who are on a range of other issues, including cancer networks involved in the production of the report, from those and the cancer drugs fund. As hon. Members will know, who responded to the consultation to the charities that the group hosts the annual “Britain Against Cancer” devoted significant time and expertise to crafting it, conference, at which the cancer community comes together. including Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research Last December, it attracted about 500 delegates and UK, Prostate Cancer UK, Teenage Cancer Trust and heard excellent speeches from the Secretary of State for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Health, the shadow Secretary of State and other experts. “Cancer across the Domains”makes 18 recommendations and believes that the Government have an important Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con): I warmly role to play.Although the recommendations are specifically congratulate my hon. Friend on his sterling work in this aimed at NHS England—the body that now has responsibility field. He mentions cancer survival rates. The most recent for commissioning services—it is the Health Secretary European study, published in December last year, showed who retains overall responsibility for health services. that UK survival rates are still lagging behind those of The support of his Department is invaluable in achieving comparable western nations in most, if not all, cancers. these goals, so my first question for the Minister is: will Does he therefore agree that the need to focus on cancer she formally respond to the recommendations set out in survival rates is as great as ever? the report, or commit her Department to do so? Other hon. Members will address other parts of the Mr Baron: My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. report, but I want to focus on the importance of earlier The fact remains that, although there have been good diagnosis and accountability. There are very few magic increases in survival rates and there has been progress keys— where someone can open a door and suddenly when it comes to cancer care generally, we still lag untold opportunities lie before them. In cancer, such a behind European and international average survival magic key does exist: earlier diagnosis, the importance rates. That alone means they are costing this country of which cannot be overestimated. When the all-party thousands of lives. Thousands of families are suffering group on cancer produced its 2009 report, “Tackling as a result of our not being able to match international Cancer Inequalities”, we found that patients in this averages on cancer care. That is not to say that cancer country who reached the one year point stood as much care has not improved over recent decades—it has. chance of making it to five years as most other health Survival rates have improved, but they have done so in care systems. Where we fall down is in getting patients line with survival rates across the world. That is good, to the one year point. We came to the conclusion, which but it somewhat masks the fact that we remain well expert witnesses confirmed at the time, that this clearly behind international averages. showed that the NHS was as good, if not better, at Despite all the additional funding, we still have not treating cancer when it was detected, but very poor at managed to catch up with other health care systems and detecting it in the first place, and that is why we fell so thousands of lives are being lost as a result. My hon. far behind on survival rates. Friend alluded to the fact that if we matched European We sat down with the cancer community and asked: averages on survival rates we could save an additional what is the remedy? Do we bombard the NHS with 5,000 lives a year. The OECD recently ranked Britain more targets and regulation to try to encourage earlier towards the very bottom of the 35 countries whose diagnosis? Should we adopt a much simpler approach—and survival rates it measured, and it suggests that up to this is what we concluded—and put up in lights one and 10,000 lives could be saved if we matched international five-year cancer survival rates, broken down at a local survival averages. Indeed, the Secretary of State for NHS level, then primary care trusts, now clinical 1083 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1084

[Mr Baron] happens if a CCG is continually at the bottom of the one-year survival rate figures? Where are the levers of commissioning groups, to encourage earlier diagnosis? change to correct that? The mathematicians in the House We all know that late diagnosis makes for poor survival will understand that if we raise the game of those at the rates. Therefore, putting the survival rates up in lights bottom of the table, it will have a disproportionate and broken down by the local NHS should encourage effect on averages in general, and that is what we are underperforming CCG management to promote initiatives, talking about: catching up with European and international at primary care level, aimed at promoting earlier diagnosis. averages on survival rates. It would be up to them to choose which initiatives suit We need clarity, therefore, about what action will be their local populations: better prevention and awareness taken should CCGs continue to languish in poor campaigns, better uptake of screening programmes, performance. What support would NHS England give better diagnostics at a primary care level or better to a CCG to improve survival rates, and, should CCGs education or information for GPs. There could be a continue to languish, what powers will be used, what host of initiatives in isolation or in combination, but the levers of change will be implemented, to ensure that bottom line is that it would be up to local CCGs to improvements are made at a local level? There is no introduce them. Those at the bottom of the table would point having the CCG OIS if failure is not addressed be particularly encouraged to do so. That was the logic and there are no teeth to the correction regime. We need behind the idea of one and five-year figures. We are clarity, both to ensure that corrective action is taken, if happy to say that, with the rest of the cancer community, needed, and because CCGs need to know that the we now have one and five-year figures as outcome regime is in place. measures in the DNA of the NHS. This is to be welcomed. It is in the NHS outcomes framework and it is in the Other questions remain, which our report addresses, CCG outcomes indicator set governing CCGs at a local about the differences between the last two CCG OIS level. I will come back to the five-year outcome measure iterations, and perhaps a little clarity from the Minister at the outcomes indicator set level a little later, but that would be helpful to the wider cancer community. In the is all encouraging. 2013-14 OIS, our call for indicators for one and five-year survival rates for all cancers was accepted, and in the I will not complicate issues by going on about the 2014-15 OIS, our call, in the “Cancer Across the Domains” importance of introducing other proxy measures at a report, for indicators on staging and emergency local level, such as staging and emergency admissions. presentations was also accepted—all very good news—but We have recommended those initiatives, and they have the indicators for the five-year survival rates were dropped been taken up as complementing the one and five-year from the 2014-15 OIS. figures at a local level because of the smaller population NICE argued there were potential problems with the sizes of CCGs compared with PCTs. The campaign has five-year indicator, as the numbers were small, but those been a success, but it is a success only in that we have arguments had been made before, when we campaigned managed to get these measures included. Actions speak for one and five-year survival rate inclusion. Will the louder than words and the true success will be judged Minister help the House and the wider cancer community on what effect these measures are having on survival by explaining what changed in the data between 2013-14 rates. On that measure, the jury is still out. and 2014-15? That would be helpful. We now have an That brings me on to my next point: accountability. NHS outcomes framework that retains one and five-year There is no point in having these wonderful initiatives indicators, but a local CCG OIS that does not have the on one and five-year figures, staging and emergency five-year indicator. This suggests a disconnect. It is admissions to try to promote earlier diagnosis if it is not important that the NHS speaks with one voice, yet it followed through and there are no teeth in the system or has measures nationally different from those at a local levers of change to ensure that underperforming CCGs level. How will her Department work with NHS England raise their game on behalf of their local patients. Key to address this apparent disconnect? questions therefore remain on accountability. While earlier diagnosis increases survival rates, without How accountable is NHS England to Parliament? data on longer-term survival rates, it will be harder for NHS England’s annual report is laid before Parliament, NHS England to ensure that early diagnosis is being but it is the Secretary of State who must assess performance. improved by CCGs. Will the Minister re-examine the The extent of ministerial accountability remains unclear. case for five-year survival rates in the next iteration of Parliament seems to have a very limited role in this the CCG OIS, or at least communicate to the cancer process. So does the Minister agree that there appears community the logic behind the move and carry the to be limited scope for Members to scrutinise NHS community with the Department so that it is clear for England’s performance? Furthermore, how will the everyone to understand. It remains to be answered, Department of Health monitor NHS England’s however, why there was a difference between the 2013-14 performance on cancer care against the NHS outcomes and the 2014-15 iterations. framework and address areas that need improvement? The removal of the five-year survival rate indicator If that is one concern, a greater concern I have is the raises questions about the process. The development of accountability of CCGs themselves. While some cancer the CCG OIS is complex; suffice it to say that the services, as hon. Members will be aware, remain the system provides for newly suggested indicators, but responsibility of NHS England, owing to their specialised does not appear to recommend indicators for removal. nature, many vital services are CCG-commissioned, In the development of the 2014-15 OIS, while emergency hence the importance of the CCG outcomes indicator diagnosis and stage of diagnosis were flagged for inclusion, set as a means of monitoring performance. What remains five-year survival rates were not flagged for exclusion, unclear is the extent to which NHS England will hold meaning that the removal does not appear to have been underperforming CCGs accountable. For example, what consulted on. I find this particularly alarming. 1085 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1086

The cancer community campaigned hard for the inclusion My comments will be based on the experience of of one and five-year survival rates, both nationally and seeing the delivery of cancer services from the patient’s locally, to promote earlier diagnosis, but then, at the last viewpoint; and that experience places me among the minute and without any consultation, was made aware, 80% of cancer patients who rate their care as good or practically on the last day before Parliament rose before excellent. We have yet to see the full consequences of Christmas, that the five-year figures were being removed. the major structural changes taking place in the NHS. There was a lack of communication, and certainly the Hopefully, we can expect an improvement in cancer process itself raises questions. Will the Minister comment services—and an improvement is needed if we are to on this process? Why does she think it delivers appropriate save the extra 5,000 lives a year that we must achieve if transparency? It was not clear to the wider cancer we are to match average European survival rates. Goodness community that the five-year indicators would be removed knows we ought to set our sights on being the best, not until the final document was published. just the average. On 17 December, the hon. Member for Scunthorpe Given the scale and extent of the upheaval in the (Nic Dakin) asked the Minister whether five-year survival NHS, there is a real danger that cancer services will end rates would be included, and he received an unequivocal up being damaged and made worse. That is why the answer: all-party group on cancer’s report is so timely and “NHS England will be publishing the 2014-15 CCG OIS next important. It sets out with admirable clarity what the year…which will set out measures aimed at supporting improvements Department of Health and, through it, NHS England in the five-year cancer survival.”—[Official Report, 17 December 2013; need to do if we want to improve standards and deal Vol. 572, c. 594W.] successfully with the predicted increase in cancer diagnoses However, the OIS released three days later, on 20 December, in the period ahead. excluded the five-year figures, and it would help to The report’s recommendations do not depend on the know why the position apparently changed completely injection of large sums of money. Much of what is in those three days. recommended is about doing things in a better way— I thank the Minister for responding to this debate. shaping sensible policies and working practices, from I appreciate that she has drawn the short straw, given GP and community care group level upwards. The that this is the last debate before the half-term recess, recommendations are particularly aimed at promoting early but the all-party group would welcome a detailed response diagnosis, which, as the hon. Gentleman says, is above to all our recommendations, if not in this debate, all else the key to turning back the cancer tide. certainly subsequently. She has a great responsibility. I do not want to go through all the report’s She is well aware that few ministerial posts can literally recommendations; I just want to comment on a few save thousands of lives if policy is got right, and she points based on my own recent experience. One of the brings to her post a dedication and professionalism main reasons why I consider my patient experience to that is welcomed across the cancer community, but I have been so positive was the close involvement of remind her, on behalf of that community, that the cancer nurse specialists at every stage of my treatment. Government’s goal to save an additional 5,000 lives The easy one-to-one contact with a named individual, a every year by 2015 will not be achieved unless the NHS clinical expert in the field, meant that there was a way to raises its game, particularly on earlier diagnosis. With raise concerns and get reassurance when it was needed that thought in mind, I look forward to her response and—this was very important for me—to give me the to our recommendations. confidence to be an active player in mapping out my own care pathway. 2.58 pm The report is clear that access to clinical nurse specialists David Heyes (Ashton-under-Lyne) (Lab): I am is patchy across the country and decreasing in some unaccustomed to being called to speak so early in a areas and specialisms. NHS England needs to be clear debate, and I shall do my best to make the most of the on how it will ensure the continuation and enhancement opportunity. I rather wish that I had prepared a much of access to clinical nurse specialisms to maintain their longer speech. vital role in ensuring quality cancer care. I start by thanking the Backbench Business Committee As has been said, early diagnosis is obviously the for scheduling the debate. I particularly commend the critical factor in improving cancer survival. My GP excellent work of the hon. Member for Basildon and picked up reasonably quickly on my symptoms and I Billericay (Mr Baron) and the rest of the all-party soon entered a pathway of diagnosis and treatment. In group on cancer in producing its recommendations. I that respect, I was fortunate in having the right GP, but am especially pleased to speak in this debate as it gives sadly more than a quarter of people diagnosed with me a chance to make a brief contribution based to some cancer see their GPs three times or more before being extent on my own skirmish with cancer, which has kept referred to a specialist. Too many people are still being me away from this Chamber for much too long in the diagnosed in the advanced stages of cancer. Again, the past couple of years. report is clear on the need to improve GPs’ awareness of My experience and treatment as a patient, at the cancer symptoms as a vital factor in helping to identify Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, the Salford Royal cancer earlier and improving survival rates. NHS Foundation Trust and the Christie NHS Foundation The starting point is for NHS England to make it Trust in Manchester, has been excellent. I owe enormous clear to GPs, through its community care groups, that thanks to the remarkable surgical skills of Mr Senapati they will be held to account on the basis of their and his upper gastrointestinal team, and to the care of outcomes indicator set. Personally, I am encouraged the Macmillan clinical nurse specialists and many other that NHS England accepts the need to incorporate NHS professionals whom I have encountered in the measures to encourage earlier diagnosis by recording course of my treatment. the stage of cancer at diagnosis and whether the cancer 1087 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1088

[David Heyes] I came to the issue through one of my constituents, an inspirational lady called Nicole Witts. She was diagnosed is detected in an emergency. However, I agree with the with a brain tumour many years ago, and she contacted hon. Gentleman that that can be effective only if it is me a few years ago and explained the effect that it had recoupled with the survival rate measures to serve best had on her life. She talked about the massive need for as an important factor in pressing clinical commissioning increased research funding for brain tumours and asked groups to promote earlier diagnosis. me to become the patron of her local charity, which Under the previous Government, there was huge raises funds for such research. I gladly agreed to do so, progress in improving cancer care. The national cancer and I have been hugely inspired and impressed by all plan and the cancer networks made a real impact on that she has done. It is she who caused me to become lifting NHS care for cancer patients towards the standards the chair of the APPG and to make this speech today. being achieved in other countries. However, the move I did not know a great deal about brain tumours from 27 cancer networks to 12 strategic clinical networks, before I met Nicole, and this has been quite a sharp each covering a larger area and with fewer dedicated learning curve for me. Brain tumours are among the cancer staff, is a backward step. The report reveals that very few conditions that are becoming more prevalent the funding of cancer networks will be slashed by a than they were a few decades ago. They are much more quarter, and that 20% of their staff will go. Those common now than they were in 1970. Cancer patients worries are exacerbated by the uncertainty over what are reporting a worse experience in the NHS for brain the strategic clinical networks will be able to deliver in tumours than for any other cancer. Unfortunately, 58% comparison with cancer networks. We face a real risk of men and women diagnosed with a brain cancer die that the lack of clarity surrounding these structural within a year, compared with 5% of people with breast changes will damage outcomes for cancer patients. NHS cancer, 35% of people with leukaemia and 7% of people England needs to recognise that concern, and to act to with prostate cancer. There are also considerable regional remove the uncertainty over the functions of the strategic variations in incidence, ranging from 108 per million in clinical networks. London to 145 per million in the south-west. Brain Being in a cancer treatment programme can cause big cancer is the chief cause of cancer deaths in children, in problems and great worry for patients of working age. I the under-25s and in the under-35s. The consequence of know from talking to fellow patients that holding on to brain tumours striking so young is that the average their job and continuing or returning to work were tumour is responsible for over 20 years of life lost in the major concerns for many. This is not just about keeping average patient, making it the most lethal cancer by that the money coming in. The world of work represents a measure. sense of normality for many, and a target to aim for, to Let us look at the funding that brain tumour charities help them to get through what can be a debilitating receive. I think that Members will be quite surprised by treatment pathway. Again, I speak from experience. My how low it is. The National Cancer Research Institute treatment kept me away from this place for a long time, consistently devotes less than 1% of its research spending but my ability to continue with a good proportion of to brain tumours. Between 2002 and 2012, the figure my constituency work gave me a sense of normality and was 0.8%, and in 2012 itself the figure was only 0.78%. helped to counter the negativity and uncertainty that There was an average of 6.9 deaths among the under-45s can be a feature of living with cancer. for every £1 million spent on research for all cancers as There are good economic reasons for supporting a whole, but the corresponding figure for brain tumours cancer patients to get back to work. The report refers to was 82.5 deaths, and more than £7,700 was spent on the findings by the Policy Exchange in 2008 that estimated research for every death from leukaemia, whereas just lost productivity at £5.3 billion in that year alone as a £1,400 was spent for every death from a brain tumour. result of cancer survivors not returning to work. It is for Between 2002 and 2012, breast cancer research received all those reasons that the report calls for NHS England £352 million of funding, leukaemia research received to publish plans detailing how it will support people £291 million, prostate cancer research received £149 million, with long-term health conditions to stay in or return to cervical cancer research received £47 million and, right work. That makes sense not only for the individual at the bottom, brain tumour research received only cancer patient but for the economy. £35 million, less than 10% of what breast cancer research I am glad to have had this opportunity to make those received. As hon. Members can appreciate, brain tumour few points, and I urge those on the Government Front research funding is very much the poor relation. That is Bench to respond positively to the report’s recommendations a particular problem because, unlike with many other and to work with NHS England on implementing them cancers, brain tumour research does not benefit from as a matter of urgency. general research, for a number of clinical reasons: brain tumours are very different from other types of cancer; 3.6 pm the blood-brain barrier presents particular difficulties Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): It is for researchers; and there are more than 120 different a privilege to speak in the debate, and I should like to types of brain tumour, which makes research much start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for more difficult. The conclusion to draw is that it is only Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron) on his work chairing through giving directly to brain tumour charities and the all-party group and on his excellent speech, in which funding laboratory-based research that all types of brain he covered the whole area of cancer care. We are all tumours—adult, paediatric, low-grade, benign, high-grade grateful to him. and malignant—will be cured. I am speaking today in my capacity as the chair of Let us examine the experience of people living with the all-party parliamentary group on brain tumours. I brain tumours. I am indebted to the Brain Tumour have not held the post for long and, like many MPs, Charity for its report on that just before Christmas, just 1089 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1090 as I am to Brain Tumour Research for its excellent ages of 12 to 18. Symptoms include persistent recurring report last July on the research issue. When we examine vomiting, recurrent headaches, balance and co-ordination their experiences of care, we find that we clearly need to problems, abnormal eye movements, blurred or double make improvements to make sure that people have the vision, behavioural changes and fits and seizures. They best possible quality of life before and after diagnosis. are all on the card, which will fit in a purse or wallet. We know that 38% of people living with a brain tumour My challenge to Members here today and to those visited their GP more than five times before being who read this debate is to get these cards out to their diagnosed. We know that communication between health schools, and to our young people. We know the vast care professionals, and people living with a brain tumour difference that early diagnosis can make; it could literally and their carers, very much needs to be improved. be the difference between life and death. This is something The Brain Tumour Charity has made a number of practical that we can all do as a result of this debate, recommendations in that area: it wants professionals to and I ask all colleagues to try to do it. recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms of brain tumours more quickly; it wants data collected on 3.17 pm the quality of care in different areas up and down the country, so that we can see who is doing well and who is Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): I am delighted not; and it wants to ensure that written information to be able to speak on this matter today and congratulate about treatment options is given to people, along with my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay proper signposting to sources of expert help. (Mr Baron) on securing the debate and the Backbench I also wish to highlight the importance of clinical Business Committee on allowing it to happen. We would nurse specialists, which was mentioned by the hon. have had many more Members contributing to this Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (David Heyes). We debate if it were not on a Thursday afternoon immediately know from the 2013 cancer patient experience survey before recess. Many Members also have problems getting that there is a huge difference in the quality of care home because of disrupted transport and, when they experienced by patients when a clinical nurse specialist get there, they have to face flooding issues. It is disappointing is present. When a clinical nurse specialist was present that this debate was not scheduled for a much more 74% of patients were given easy-to-understand written popular time. information about the type of cancer they had, whereas I also pay tribute to the hon. Member for Ashton- fewer than half of patients—only 49%—received it under-Lyne (David Heyes) for coming to talk about his when no such specialist was present. Some 87% of personal experiences, which must have been very difficult. patients were given a choice of different types of I am pleased to see that he is fit and well—or appears to treatment—that is pretty important—with a specialist, be—and delighted that he is in the Chamber today. Like whereas only 67% were given it when no such specialist many Members, I have been affected by cancer, but not was present. If we look at those patients who were given personally. A number of members of my family have information about support and self-help groups—a really unfortunately died at very young ages from various important area—86% got that with a clinical nurse forms of the disease. I take a great interest in what specialist and only just over half, 51%, when there was happens to people who are either diagnosed with it or not one present. who have various issues with it. For those patients who were eligible for free prescriptions, One type of cancer that is particularly close to my 78% were informed of that when there was a clinical heart is melanoma, having lost my brother to the disease nurse specialist present and only 55% when there was 13 years ago. In 2011, more than 11,000 people were not. Prescriptions are expensive, so that can make a big diagnosed with melanoma. It is a type of cancer that is difference. Similarly, with information on financial help relatively easily treatable if it is caught early. Simply and benefits to which patients might be entitled, 58%, removing the affected tissue can usually cure the disease. who had a clinical nurse specialist were told what they Given that it is easily treatable in its early stages, it is could claim, and only 25% were told when there was not shocking that 11 % of those diagnosed die within the one present. I think the Minister will agree that those first five years. These figures would surely imply that are pretty huge variations in the quality of care. I there is a problem with awareness of the symptoms of absolutely agree with what my hon. Friend the Member the disease, and, as a consequence, with how long it for Basildon and Billericay said about the importance takes patients to be diagnosed. Doctors need to get of early diagnosis. better at it. As the hon. Gentleman said, it often takes The final matter I want to raise is the excellent three visits to a GP before referral to a specialist. My campaign run by HeadSmart, which has produced brother went to his GP three times in a year before the information cards. I know that the Minister is aware of GP suddenly said, “Well, there is nothing really wrong them. I pay huge tribute to the Brain Tumour Charity with you, but I will refer you,” By that time, it was far and to others who are absolutely determined to get too late, and he died of a melanoma a few years later. these cards into schools across our country. I have I note that the APPG’s excellent report recommends written to every colleague in the House—I hope you got that the current advertising campaigns should continue the e-mail as well, Mr Deputy Speaker—telling them and I am very pleased that an advertising campaign about how we can do that, and have provided a sample about melanoma will start in May 2014. Although letter that we can all send to our head teachers. I suggest preventing skin cancer is vital, the focus of the campaign that colleagues write to their local authorities as well. It should be on identifying its symptoms because, as lay is so easy to get these cards. HeadSmart provides them, people, most of us do not know what to look out for. I so local authorities and schools do not have to pay met one consultant who used to work in Australia, who anything. The cards provide the warning symptoms told me that Australian school children go to school that we need to look out for in pre-school children, with rucksacks on their backs to take their books and children aged five to 11 and young people between the kit to and from school and on each side are mesh 1091 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1092

[Pauline Latham] closed in 2013, and in every year of its existence it was left with lots of money to spare at the end of the holders, one for water and one for sun cream. We must financial year. One constituent of mine, Jill Bilbie, encourage that practice in the UK, and teachers must contacted me when she was funding her own treatment not be frightened to help young people apply the cream for cancer. It did not matter what I said or did, I could in case they are labelled paedophiles. That is complete not persuade the cancer drugs fund to pay for the nonsense and they need to get over it and help young Avastin she so desperately needed even when it had the children who cannot apply the cream themselves. funding. All the fund said was that Avastin did not Through my involvement with the charity Melanoma work, but she survived for three years on something UK, I know that five-year survival rates are hampered that did not work. Sadly, she has now died, but during by NICE guidelines on the treatment available to late-stage her illness, she paid more than £31,000 for the drugs, melanoma sufferers. The first line of treatment offered and people should not have to do that. It goes without to patients is dacarbazine, which is generally accepted saying that the cancer drugs fund and whatever replaces by clinicians as insufficient to treat late-stage melanoma. it in 2016 must be more flexible to the requirements of There is a call for NICE to recommend a second-line those making funding applications for drugs and must treatment, ipilimumab or Yervoy, in the first instance prevent the situation whereby desperate people exhaust rather than dacarbazine and I believe that NICE is their limited finances to fund their treatment. consulting on that. Selective internal radiation therapy involving spheres One study that recommends ipilimumab as a first-line is another cancer therapy that my constituents have had treatment concerns a man named Richard Jackson, difficulty obtaining on the NHS. I was contacted by a who was told that he had only weeks to live when he constituent, Kate, who I had known for many years, was diagnosed. He was deciding which hymns to have at who had been diagnosed with colorectal liver metastases his funeral, but when he went to his doctor he decided and was trying to get that therapy to reduce the progress to give him ipilimumab straight away. As a consequence of the disease in her liver. As the cancer had metastasised of the early prescription of ipilimumab, Richard is still from the primary tumour in her colon, she was refused. alive seven years after diagnosis. It does not make Once again, the guidelines for that particular treatment economic sense to use a first-line drug with such a low are insufficiently flexible and lead to premature mortality success rate only, in the majority of cases, to progress in otherwise treatable cancers. Another of my constituents the patient on to ipilimumab when they are much managed to get the treatment not because the NHS weakened by the first drug. That gives them much less funded it, but because she had private medical insurance. of a chance of doing well. Given the Government’s She is still alive today, which shows that the treatment commitment to fighting cancer, I think it is important works, so people should be able to get it. I am disappointed that pressure should be brought to bear on NICE to that, regarding the treatments that my constituents can ensure that ipilimumab is available in the first instance. get, the east midlands is a poor relation in comparison This debate is timely, because NICE is considering the with other areas. issue right now. I generally agree with the report’s findings. A lot of One type of cancer that has been part of a successful effort went into the report, so I congratulate my hon. national advertising campaign is, of course, bowel cancer. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay, who Perhaps Members will remember that when we had not puts in a lot of work on the subject all the time, on been here for long after the 2010 election one Member bringing it forward. There must be an emphasis on the wore a tie that contained a musical device that played a early detection of cancer, but I am worried that not tune and it went off. That probably did more to raise enough is being done to ensure that cancer patients get awareness of bowel cancer than any other event. Although the right treatment at the right time. I am pleased that the Be Clear on Cancer campaign has no doubt been the Government are aiming to reduce the number of helpful in fighting bowel cancer, it remains to be seen cancer deaths every year by 5,000, but that aim is less whether its effects have been positive, as the results of likely to succeed if the Department of Health does not the national cancer audit are due to be published later deal with early diagnosis. this year. In the interim, I welcome the APPG’s suggestion that the advertising campaign should be extended, as it 3.26 pm will undoubtedly lead to more people being diagnosed John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): It is a pleasure to speak with bowel cancer earlier. in this important debate. I congratulate the all-party People do not like talking about their bowels, but group on its work and, especially, my hon. Friend the they should. They should not be nervous or embarrassed Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron) who, about it, because if they talk about things, they might since I came to the House four years ago, has been a realise that their symptoms are the very symptoms that determined advocate on all matters relating to cancer, are causing problems for so many people. I speak about such as funding and NHS treatment. He has set a good this from personal experience because three members example to us all of how to campaign forensically on of my family have died of that cancer between the ages such matters. of 51 and 54, and one at 66. That is incredibly young There is little need for me to repeat what other hon. these days. It is such a deadly disease unless, like others, Members have said: cancer is a devastating disease. It is it is caught early. Then, it is curable. obviously right that the Government do all they can to Although there is no mention of cancer drugs in the put the best support in place and to set up appropriate report, one element of cancer care that particularly frameworks to prioritise finite resources. I welcome the concerns me is the legacy of the cancer drugs fund and all-party group’s report and its recommendations on what will happen to the provision of cancer drugs after improving survival rates and supporting patients through its closure in 2016. The east midlands cancer drugs fund recovery. A third of a million people are now diagnosed 1093 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1094 with cancer each year, and despite the considerable Patient choice and accountability are at the heart of advances in research, about half those cases will sadly many of the NHS reforms in recent months and years. still be fatal. Those principles need to apply to end-of-life care. In I shall focus my remarks on end-of-life care. There is some London boroughs, I understand that as many as a considerable gap between what people want and what 70% of all patients die in hospitals, yet fewer than half they receive. We know that 63% of all patients would of Wiltshire patients end their days in the same way. It is prefer to die at home, while a further 29% would choose unacceptable that one area can support 49% of cancer a hospice. Just 3% of patients would choose to die in patients at home, while another can reach only 16% of hospital, yet more than 53% ended up dying there last patients. It is important that patients can readily see year. Among cancer patients, nearly three quarters— these numbers, and clinical commissioning groups 73%—want to die at home, but only 29% are able to do can account for progress towards meeting their goals so, which means that 36,400 cancer patients died in and targets. hospital last year although they wanted to be at home, In 2013, NICE recommended that death in the preferred surrounded by their loved ones. That causes great distress place of care should be taken forward as an outcome to family members, and many hon. Members will have indicator. I urge the Minister to make progress on this met constituents who have expressed a lot of frustration issue and ensure that the data will be available as soon about what happens at such a difficult time in their as possible in a form that can be understood and families’ lives. digested by our constituents. But it is not just about The national end-of-life-care strategy has rightly called data for patients; it is also about data for professionals. for that to change as a priority, and it has support from Innovation allows us to ensure that this is used more across the House. However, practical barriers need to effectively, and electronic palliative care co-ordination be overcome to make it a reality. This is rooted in systems are a real step forward in that area. The proportion reprioritisation of resources, which, if done properly, of patients on EPaCCS who have died in their preferred will not mean increased costs. That is the challenge with place is 76%, and just 8% died in hospital. Not only is so much that happens in the NHS. If small changes are that a substantial relief for the families who have benefited, made in certain procedures—the way that things work but it delivers, on average, a saving of £270,000 to a and research is conducted, and the way that referral clinical commissioning group. processes take place—money can be saved. Salisbury district hospital, the outstanding hospital There are three challenges. First, high quality 24-hour at Odstock that serves my constituency, has taken that community support needs to be available. Secondly, concept further. Through greater integration with GPs patients need to be able to see how their services perform in the area, emergency department doctors can now in helping people to die at home. Thirdly, the NHS access medical records that include an end-of-life care needs to use innovative tools more effectively so that plan. They have trialled an innovative rapid discharge hospital professionals know what a patient has told pathway for patients in the last 72 hours of life, and their general practitioner. Nearly half of all primary 20 patients were successfully supported at home last care trusts in 2010 did not provide 24/7 community year. As a result, the scheme is being rolled out across services, despite groups such as Macmillan Cancer Support the hospital and will bring great benefit to patients in and Marie Curie Cancer Care emphasising its importance the last few days of their life. and despite the clear economic case for doing so. A day Obviously, cancer will continue to present a significant of community care costs around £145, compared with challenge for the NHS, but I hope that the progress that £425 for a hospital bed. Improving community care is has been made on palliative care can be built upon so one of the most effective ways to free up much-needed that the NHS can support patients during an extremely bed space and prevent emergency admissions, and, of difficult time. I would like to finish by once again course, give a better quality of life experience for the reiterating my support for the work of the APPG and patients involved. the considerable efforts being undertaken to challenge In Wiltshire, we have a dedicated community nursing the Government, in a constructive way, to come forward team, and Sarum clinical commissioning group in my with measures that will make such significant improvements constituency has chosen to focus on improving end-of-life in the quality of the experience for our constituents and care. It has a clear target to ensure that there is not just to the functioning of the NHS. 24-hour community care, but specialist support and advice, which is particularly important in the context of 3.36 pm cancer. In addition, it has chosen to set an outcomes indicator on the number of patients who are supported Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): It is a pleasure to die in their place of choice. to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury I wanted specifically to highlight this as the APPG (John Glen). On behalf of the Backbench Business cancer report recommends that the national indicators Committee, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron) not only for securing Excellence should include it. I agree. It is important that this important debate, but for agreeing to host it on patients can see how their local health services are such a difficult day—the last day of term before we respecting their wishes, or, in some cases sadly, not. It is break up for the recess. important that where they fail to do so they can be held I speak as someone who has a personal, family experience to account and a local dialogue can take place. This can of cancer and I speak on behalf of my constituents. As only happen with clear and transparent data. If this I have said in the House before, both my parents died of measure were adopted nationally, it would mean that cancer, as did three of my immediate family—uncles pressure could be exerted when patient preferences were and aunts. They died many years ago, when the treatments not being respected. now available were not available. Had they been, there is 1095 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1096

[Bob Blackman] end in 2016. Concerns are being raised—they are raised very strongly in the report by the all-party group—about no doubt that they would have survived far longer. The what will replace it and what the impact will be on good news is that progress has been made over many funding for treatment of the various diseases. years in cancer treatment. There is another big challenge in relation to the Most of this debate focuses on health matters, but clinical treatment of cancers: quality of life issues versus I want to flag up an issue that can also affect people the age of the patient and their ability to recover from who suffer from cancer. A constituent came to see me. the treatment—whether the treatment will actually kill He had worked all his life, for 40 years, in a particular the patient is a concern. More importantly, such issues industry, doing quite heavy work. He was suddenly are balanced against the cost of the treatment to be diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. He went to the provided. If a patient is going to have their life prolonged jobcentre to get benefit while he received treatment. He by a week, the clinician can be asked whether it is worth was denied any benefit, for the simple reason that his the huge amount of money that may be invested in doctor’s letter stated that his treatment was likely to last doing so. However, if they will be given another five six months. He was therefore disqualified from receiving years, there is no question about what should be provided. benefits. He was down to his last few hundred pounds Then the challenge is what to do in between those time to sustain his family. Fortunately, I was able to intervene frames. That is a direct challenge to our clinicians and and it was found that his treatment would last a minimum to all those making decisions about funding the cost of of six months, and more likely a year or longer, so he treatment and the provision that we make for it. would be out of work for that period. Unfortunately, in During this debate, we have talked about early diagnosis. many respects the way benefits are dealt with is not There is no question but that if people are diagnosed helpful to cancer sufferers. I do not expect the Minister early, their treatment is less severe and the chances of to respond to that point today, but it is something we recovery are far greater. Women, in particular, have had should flag up for Ministers in the Department for strong advice over many years to check themselves for Work and Pensions. breast cancer. Smears have been available, as have other I also speak from another perspective. When I was a forms of treatment and checks. Men often do not want local councillor, St Luke’s hospice in north-west London to talk about the fact that they may be suffering from was founded in my ward. It has gone from strength to early signs of cancer. They do not go to doctors early strength. It started out as an outreach service for people enough. They do not consider themselves to need treatment, suffering from life-threatening diseases or who were at and of course, by the end, it may be too late for that the end of their life; it helped them at home. It has now treatment to take place. moved to its own headquarters, which is also a headquarters A system of screening across the country for the most for Macmillan nurses. It treats many thousands of common forms of cancer needs to be available for every cancer sufferers across north-west London in an excellent single patient on the NHS. However, there must be a way. St Mark’s hospital, which is world-renowned in the word of warning—after screening, the patient may be treatment of bowel-related diseases, particularly cancer, shown not to be suffering from a form of cancer at the is also in my constituency. moment, but that does not mean that they will not As some Members may know, over the past year, I suffer from it next week, next month or thereafter. The have been under the care of St Mark’s hospital following risk is that people may feel that they are safe as a result medical treatment, and I have personally witnessed the of screening, but they are not. Therefore, screening terrible distress that individuals go through when they must take place regularly so that people can understand are told that unfortunately they are suffering from some that early treatment can get them into a good position. form of cancer. It is not until you see those people and There is also the aspect of specialist treatment that see the terrible effect not only on them, but on their must be available. There are a number of rare cancer relatives and friends, that it really comes home to you diseases where the cost of treatment is quite high but what a terrible thing this disease is and how important it the number of cases is relatively few. We should therefore is that we continue to treat people in an appropriate and ensure that the people who suffer from those rare forms sympathetic manner. However, the good news is that of cancer have a good chance of recovery through just because someone has been diagnosed with cancer, proper treatment, proper drugs, and proper specialist that does not mean it is the end. There is treatment care. available and the capability of a full recovery, but often I want to highlight in particular the work being done people do not realise that until they are thus affected. at University College hospital on blood cancers. One of Of course, as we all live longer and live healthier lives, the problems is that, while treatment kills many cancer there is a greater risk of suffering from cancer. As my cells, it leaves behind small numbers that are very difficult hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay to detect and that at some future stage may spring back said, within six years, one in every two people will be into action and infect the whole body via the blood. diagnosed with some form of cancer. That means that University College hospital depends on donations from every family in the country will experience the terrible members of the public for the equipment it uses. In my problem of having a relative diagnosed with cancer and view, there should be far greater investment from the the impact that that has on the whole family. We need to NHS in that research, which enables experts to make understand that this will not go away but get worse as a diagnoses and produce the detailed treatment needed potential problem. by those suffering from blood cancer in particular. I congratulate the Government on the introduction Another issue is the drug companies that produce the of the cancer drugs fund, which categorises money and drugs that treat cancers, be they common or rare. It is makes it available for treatment of cancer-related diseases. clear that the cost of research is enormous, that the The sad fact is, however, that it is time-limited; it will failure rate of the drugs is difficult to determine and 1097 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1098 that there is a challenge—this is particularly true of rare has been a gap in survival rates for cancer compared cancers—with regard to the number of patients who with those of other countries. There is a gap in how well can be treated. Will the Minister consider an open-book we harness the advances of medical science, certainly policy for the drug companies whereby they would say, relative to comparable economies in Europe, other western “We’ve spent this much money on research and this is nations and the United States. how much it has cost us to develop these drugs, so this is It is a material question whether we are managing to how much we need to recover from treatment using close the gap. I drew attention to that in a debate about these drugs”? At the moment, there seems to be a battle the cancer patient experience in Westminster Hall in between the drug companies, the National Institute for October. Since then, further statistics have been produced Health and Care Excellence and the NHS with regard by Eurocare. In December, it published a survey of to the cost of treatment. It is clear that that needs to be cancer survival rates across Europe, which looked at the addressed. five-year relative survival rates of adult patients who It would be remiss of me, during a debate on cancer, were diagnosed with cancer from 2000 to 2007. I am not to say that individuals also have a responsibility. If indebted to the House of Commons Library for providing we can educate young people to have a better diet and me with the results, which are the material comparisons not to start smoking in the first place, and if we can we should make. Eurocare is a cancer epidemiology educate people who do smoke to give up, we have a research project on the survival of European cancer chance of reducing the risks of contracting cancer. I patients, which is based on collaboration between some congratulate my hon. Friend the Minister, who has been highly esteemed cancer registries and specialists, with a Health Minister for only a short period, on the major results from 22 European countries. change earlier this week to the Government’s policy on I am afraid I have to report to the House that the smoking in cars when children are present and on the survey of 22 countries suggests that the gap in cancer issue of standardised packaging of tobacco products. survival rates remains considerable. The clinical outcomes She has made a huge impact. for cancer patients in this country lag behind those of We have not completed the job yet and we look many other countries. For every type of cancer, the forward to the regulations being introduced, but now United Kingdom is certainly well behind Scandinavian we have another challenge, which is the treatment of countries, and it is well behind western European nations cancers through the use of various drugs that assist with similar economies to our own, including France people who suffer from those terrible diseases. It is a and Germany. We are also behind southern European new challenge and a new opportunity, and I am sure nations for every type of cancer except, perhaps that the Minister will take it up with gusto and zeal and understandably, skin cancer. that she will achieve the same degree of success as she The economies of those countries are certainly no has in relation to smoking. larger than ours—in some cases, they are smaller—but it appears that their cancer survival rates are higher. For 3.48 pm example, the prostate cancer survival rate is 9% higher Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con): I congratulate in Portugal than in this country; the breast cancer my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay survival rate is 6% higher in Italy than in this country, (Mr Baron) on procuring this debate and his work in while that for stomach cancer is 15% higher; and the the all-party group on cancer. I commend the group’s stomach cancer survival rate is 8% higher in Spain than work and its recommendations to the Minister, and in this country. We have to ask why that is the case. We I hope she will respond positively to them. I am sure she are ahead of eastern European countries for most of will; as has just been rightly said, she is a very forward- the common cancers, but we are behind even them for thinking Minister. some types, particularly stomach, lung and ovarian I also commend the sterling work of Macmillan cancers. Why is the stomach cancer survival rate 5% Cancer Support in bringing the issue to the attention of higher in the Czech Republic than in this country, when the public and Parliament. So many of our constituents it laboured for so many years under a very undeveloped hold that charity and other cancer charities in high communist system? regard. As my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow I invite the Minister to address those questions. As East (Bob Blackman) has said, few families have not my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay been touched in one way or another by cancer, and and the Government have rightly said, we could save mine is certainly no exception. It was also very good to the lives of thousands of cancer patients in this country hear the personal views of the hon. Member for Ashton- if we brought our survival rates just up to the European under-Lyne (David Heyes) in his courageous and average. Why does this advanced economy, which is outstanding speech. It is always good to hear from doing very well economically compared with other personal experience. countries, have cancer survival rates that are so much Medical science has given hope to many people where lower than those of comparable nations? That question no hope existed in the past, and survival rates are much must be asked over and over again. better than they were 20 or 30 years ago. It seems to me, Some excellent points have been made about the early however, that the material question is whether this detection of cancer. I hope that the Minister will make a country harnesses the benefits of advances in medical full response to those points. I invite her to respond on science as well as other countries do. That raises many the question of cancer survival rates for older patients. questions, as I suggested in my intervention on my hon. Many people believe that older patients do not get as Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay. good a deal in this country as they do in comparable Across the health services of the constituent nations European countries. Will the Minister tell me—if she of the United Kingdom, across the years and under does not have the statistics to hand, I would be happy if Governments of both the main political parties, there she wrote to me—whether the gap that still exists is 1099 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1100

[Mr James Clappison] Cancer Research UK produced a report in December, which showed that cancer deaths have dropped by 20% being closed? Have we made any progress over the years over the past 20 years. I am proud of the Labour in closing the gap between ourselves and those European Government’s contribution to that record. We launched countries? Is it the Government’s ambition to close that the first ever national cancer plan in 2000 and made gap? What specific measures does she think would help cancer a top priority. That work was led by Professor us to achieve that? Sir Mike Richards who, as Members will know, is now There is no reason why this country should have a the chief inspector of hospitals. The plan was backed by lower cancer survival rate. The advances in medical increased funding and, crucially, by reforms to drive science are as available to us as to other countries. We improvements in cancer care, including better diagnosis, can afford them because we have a developed economy. reduced waiting times for treatment and better standards This country has wonderful pharmaceutical companies of care. As a result, survival rates have improved steadily that produce world-beating research. We also have excellent and cancer deaths have fallen by 50,000 a year. clinicians, doctors and nurses, and very good hospitals. Many hon. Members have rightly highlighted the Why is it that we have this stubborn gap in cancer need to ensure that patients with cancer have the best survival rates, with survival rates for common cancers outcomes and survival rates, and that we narrow the being much lower in this country than in comparable gap with other countries. Many figures have been cited, western nations? but in some areas we have seen the gap narrow. An I applaud the Government for their ambition, but I article by John Appleby from the King’s Fund in the urge Ministers to focus on closing that gap. It is a British Medical Journal in January 2011 reminded us stubborn gap that has been there for many years under that death rates for lung cancer in men peaked in the Governments of both main political parties. There is no late 1970s, but they have steadily come down and are reason why the public in this country should have to put now lower than those for French men. There has been a up with it. similar trend in breast cancer mortality for which we have virtually closed the gap with France. As the all-party 3.55 pm group on cancer report rightly said, however, we need to do much more to prevent, treat and cure cancer, which Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab): Like other hon. means raising awareness of the symptoms of cancer Members, I thank the Backbench Business Committee among members of the public and GPs. for providing time on the Floor of the House for us to debate this excellent report by the all-party parliamentary Mr Clappison: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for group on cancer. expanding my point because, as I made clear in my I commend the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay speech, I am not out to make any political point about (Mr Baron) for his tireless work on this issue. Like the this. According to Eurocare statistics, which I have been hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen), I have been in supplied with by the House of Commons Library and this place for four years and have been amazed at the which refer to December last year—more recent than work that the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay article the hon. Lady mentioned—the survival rate for has done and at his forensic attention to detail. He lung cancer in Frenchmen is 4% better than for people never gives up and I am sure that he never will. I am in this country. For lung cancer we lag behind nearly grateful to him for that. I also pay tribute to the work of every other country in Europe, certainly western Europe. my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris) and the noble Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, Liz Kendall: I am not a statistician; I am reporting who are officers of the group. something from the British Medical Journal. There are The hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) different ways of cutting the statistics and different was right to say that hearing the words “You have reports, but I absolutely agree that we need to do more cancer” is one of the most frightening things that can to catch up with other European countries. There are a happen to somebody. It is frightening not only for variety of statistics on that, and in some areas—but not the person who is given the diagnosis, but for their enough—we have made big improvements in recent years. family. He was also right that more and more of us will We must raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer hear those words in the future. As we live for longer, the among members of the public and GPs, to ensure that prevalence of cancer increases. Just last week, the World everyone gets the earliest possible diagnosis. We must Health Organisation warned that the world faces a tackle variations in treatment so that everyone gets the “tidal wave” of cancer, with the number of cases globally best possible care, and we must provide better support set to reach 24 million a year by 2035. We often think to cancer patients and their families as they go through of cancer and heart disease as issues of the western, treatment, not just in terms of physical care, but emotional developed world. In fact, long-term conditions are and social support such as help with finances, benefits becoming the primary health conditions in developing and work. The hon. Member for Harrow East made an countries as well. We have made big strides in tackling important point about how when they go through such conditions such as malaria and HIV, but long-term a terrible time, many patients have a problem with their conditions such as cancer are big issues in developing finances and benefits. I visited a brilliant multidisciplinary countries. cancer team at Leicester Royal Infirmary, where Macmillan In the UK, 330,000 people are diagnosed with cancer Cancer Support had a brilliant network of people providing each year. That figure has gone up by 50,000 in a decade. financial information and support, as well as emotional The primary reason for that is the ageing population. support. That joined-up care is exactly what we need. Cancer Research UK has highlighted a number of We must also ensure that people who have recovered other risk factors: alcohol and the increase in obesity from cancer can cope with life after cancer. People’s are two of the biggest drivers of that change. experience of the condition, as many hon. Members 1101 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1102 will know, does not end—hopefully—with the all-clear, we want clinical advice to drive clinical improvements because there are all sorts of emotional problems after and change, but then we go the opposite way—from that. As the hon. Member for Salisbury said, we must specialist to generic. That is cause for concern. ensure that patients who cannot be cured, and their There is also confusion about how the strategic clinical families, have real choice and control over the last days networks will work with all the other parts of the of their life, including where they die. The hon. Gentleman new system—the 10 specialist commissioning hubs, has probably not been reading the Hansard reports of the 19 commissioning support groups, the 211 clinical the Care Bill Committee, but there is cross-party support commissioning groups, the 27 local area teams, the for moving more quickly on that issue. In that Committee, 152 health and wellbeing boards, NHS England, Public the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Health England and Health Education England. The Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), said that new system is very confusing. People have to work he was personally committed to getting that up and together, so clear lines of responsibility and accountability running and sorted out quickly. are important. As the hon. Member for Salisbury said, we should We urgently need clarity on two points. First, will the help people to stay at home with the right social care Minister update Members on what is happening in and support, including support for family members. It the strategic clinical networks, and, specifically, how is can be quite frightening to think that one’s loved one the cancer expertise being protected? Secondly, will she may be dying at home, and people can feel panicked outline precisely how the strategic clinical networks will about that. If we can provide the right social care work with other parts of the system? support, and Macmillan specialist nurses to sit with people through the night, it can be better for those The all-party parliamentary group report makes many families and also provide better value for money. I hope excellent recommendations and raises many issues. I that when the Care Bill reaches Report, we will get some cannot go into all of them in detail, but will focus on clearer commitments. the two that I believe are the most important for patients. The first, as most hon. Members have said, is early The overarching question that the all-party group diagnosis. The second is improving the patient experience, focuses on is how we can make such things happen on which we have not discussed in detail. the ground. It takes the new structure within the NHS Getting early diagnosis right is the key to improving and asks, “How are we going to make this work?” The survival rates. Several things would make a difference, Health and Social Care Act 2012 reform was not perfect, but I shall describe the most important ones, the first of and it was clear that cancer networks took the lead in which is raising public awareness of symptoms. If the driving changes and improvements in cancer services. Government want to meet their target of saving an As my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne additional 5,000 lives by 2014-15, we must arm people (David Heyes) has said, we had 27 cancer networks that with knowledge of the warning signs and symptoms. brought together the commissioners of services and the Once again, the Government’s reorganisation means providers of cancer care to plan high-quality services in that the responsibilities for public health are split their areas. They were staffed by people with specific between lots of different bodies and we are not clear expertise in cancer care and local knowledge of the different how they will work together. The APPG report says hospitals and services. They worked across primary and that the responsibilities for increasing public awareness secondary care and on a wide range of issues such as must be more clearly spelt out for NHS England, the increasing the uptake of screening, improving training Department of Health and Public Health England, and for staff on the best possible treatments, spotting early for local authorities and health and wellbeing boards. symptoms and signs, and championing a focus on the I hope the Minister will set out exactly who will be patient experience and the patient’s pathway through responsible for running public awareness and other the system. campaigns. As the all-party group’s report states, there is concern, Secondly, we have to improve the ability of GPs to including among organisations such as Macmillan, that spot signs and refer people to specialists for early diagnosis. the good work and vital expertise of those networks are As the report states, more than a quarter of people being lost. I was first alerted to the problem by Dr Mike diagnosed with cancer see their GP three times or more Peake, a lung cancer specialist at Glenfield hospital. He before they are referred to a specialist. Under the old is also the national clinical lead for cancer and responsible system, before the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and for the national cancer intelligence network. The worry the reorganisation, cancer networks absolutely led is that the Government’s reorganisation means that the improvements in training for GPs and other health dedicated cancer networks have been abolished and professionals, but it is not really clear who is going to do subsumed into 12 generic strategic clinical networks, that now. How will NHS England work with Health which cover a larger geographical region and have fewer Education England, the royal colleges and other education dedicated staff. The fundamental concern is that moving providers to ensure that training programmes for health from a specialist to a generic focus will reduce the professionals are really there on the ground? ability, which we desperately need, to drive improvements in cancer care. Thirdly—this is probably the most important point in the report, one which the hon. Member for Basildon Members on both sides of the House, and clinicians and Billericay emphasised—how are we going to hold and staff, are saying that in every other part of the clinical commissioning groups to account for the one health system we need to concentrate specialist services and five-year survival rates? The report states: like cancer services to improve outcomes, rather than “NHS England has not provided any guidance on how the having them delivered through every district general one- and five-year survival rates will be used to drive improvements hospital. It does not make sense to people: we say that in CCGs.” 1103 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1104

[Liz Kendall] patient experience should be much more central to the hospital inspection process led by the chief inspector of The data may be available, but what will happen to hospitals. Currently, out of 150 CQC indicators, only them? Will NHS England identify poor performers? two concern patient experience. We need more patient Will it make practical support and guidance available to experience indicators in the work of the CQC, including CCGs? How will we know whether actions and steps one specifically for cancer teams or services. have been taken? How can we hold them to account? As Thirdly, we need to look at how we improve professionals’ a local MP, I would certainly want to know how my training in patient experience. I want to highlight a CCG rates, what the problems are, what it has not been brilliant example from my own constituency that I hope doing, what its action plan is and when it is going to the Minister will look into. Under a joint Macmillan report back. We do not know any of that. The survival and De Montfort university partnership project, people rate targets are excellent, but we have to make sure we training to be nurses, pharmacists and NHS managers can deliver. At the moment, we simply do not have the get training from Macmillan in patient experience and mechanisms to do that. how to talk to and support patients. In return, those The other point I want to focus on is improving the students volunteer for Macmillan in the community in patient experience. This is not only absolutely central order to increase awareness about cancer, particularly for patients, but a key driver of improvements in the among black and minority ethnic groups—Leicester is quality of care and better value for money. As such, it a very diverse city. That is something to think about. should be a much higher priority in the NHS. We all Has the Minister spoken to Health Education England know, whether from personal experience, the experience and the royal colleges about how to improve training in of those we love or those in our constituencies, that a patient experience for professionals, and will she speak good experience makes patients feel as though they to Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation have been supported and respected as an individual. A and Skills to see what other universities could do to bad experience makes them feel at best that their needs learn from the fantastic work at De Montfort? do not matter, and at worst that their basic human To conclude, Members on both sides of the House dignity has been denied. Cancer patients I have spoken want to see big improvements in cancer care. The new to, for example those at the Macmillan Cancer Support system in the NHS is confusing. Both as MPs and as group in my constituency, constantly emphasise their people with families and friends, we want the right experience of care and how they are treated by NHS people held to account so that they take the right staff. That would be important at any point, but for action, but it is not yet clear how that accountability someone going through such a frightening time, it is will work. For me, that was at the heart of the all-party even more important. group’s report. The Minister might not be able to respond The importance of patient experience goes far beyond to all the many questions she has been asked in this the personal value to individuals. There is now strong debate, but if she cannot, I hope she will write to me evidence that good patient experience is consistently about the specific issues I have raised. This is about and positively associated with better health outcomes, improving patient experience and early diagnosis and and safer and more clinically effective care. The British ensuring that CCGs are held to account. We as MPs Medical Journal published a systematic review of 55 studies must hold them to account on behalf of our constituents. last year, which provided very clear evidence. Patients who have a good experience are more likely to stick to 4.17 pm their recommended treatments and medicines, and more The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health likely to use preventive services such as screening and (Jane Ellison): Before addressing only some—I fear—of healthy living programmes. the many points raised in this debate, I would like to There is also increasing evidence, although I would thank the all-party group, which, as the shadow Minister say that it is from the US and not the UK at this stage, and others have said, does astonishing work. It rightly, that a good patient experience is linked to getting better and regularly, holds Ministers’ feet to the flames—my value for money. It is associated with reduced length of feet regularly feel the heat—but that is a good thing, stay in hospitals and fewer problems with patient safety—the because this is about driving up standards and pushing so-called “adverse incidents”. A good patient experience us all to work harder and do the right thing in this is also associated with higher staff retention rates and, important policy area. in turn, lower staff turnover. That is common sense: I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for when staff feel valued and respected they are more Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron), who brought this likely to treat patients in that way. debate, and to the Backbench Business Committee—it For all the reasons I have outlined, the patient experience used to be more fun being on it than responding to its in cancer care should be given an even higher priority. debates—and I also warmly welcome the contribution The cancer patient experience survey introduced by the from, and the presence of, the hon. Member for Ashton- previous Government has made a big difference in under-Lyne (David Heyes), whose personal testimony trying to drive improvements. I welcome the assurances greatly enhanced the debate this afternoon. We should given to the all-party group on cancer that the survey also pause to think of our colleague, my hon. Friend the will continue, but for how many more years? We must Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Jack Lopresti), ensure that we use that information to drive changes on who is being treated for bowel cancer; our thoughts are the ground, and I will make some concrete proposals on with him. how to do that. First, commissioners should be held to I shall try to reply to some of the many points raised account through the inclusion of a cancer patient experience in this fascinating debate. I shall try to respond, to some indicator in the CCG OIS. If that is how we hold them extent, on the structure of the report and the different to account, we have to include patient experience. Secondly, domains, and to pick up on some other points made, 1105 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1106 and I absolutely undertake to get back to colleagues knowledge of the NHS and I know that neither she nor where I cannot respond substantively. As my hon. Friend anyone else is suggesting that. However, in highlighting the Member for Basildon and Billericay said, this is part concerns about where the new system is settling down, of an ongoing dialogue, and I am delighted that he will it is sometimes tempting to think that previously Ministers be meeting the national clinical director soon. Out of had a big lever under their desks that they could pull to that dialogue, I think we can progress in some of these make everything right. Even if that was the theory, it areas. Some of the issues are inevitably a work in certainly was never the practice, as is evidenced by our progress. However, important points have been made persistent lagging in some of the key survival statistics and I shall try to respond to as many as I can while discussed today. updating the House more generally on what the The challenge is to respond to the new system and get Government are doing. clarity where there is none at the moment. A number of Many of the report’s recommendations are for NHS Members, including the shadow Minister, have mentioned England. As I said, I am pleased that the national how we hold people to account at the most local level. clinical director is to meet the all-party group later this That issue emerges from this debate as the one on which month. He will find the meeting a helpful opportunity we have the most work to do and to which we must give to discuss the report in detail. As I prepared for this the most thought. debate, I was particularly struck by the fact that NHS I want to discuss how the system is set out. I accept England is considering the report in great detail—indeed, that the way in which we make it work in practice is not it contributed during the consultation phase. I am really necessarily the same as that, but I will go through how encouraged by that, as NHS England is absolutely we have set out the different frameworks and processes critical in our new health structures. It is very aware of of accountability. its responsibilities. Some of the challenge today has The indicators in the NHS outcomes framework provide been about how we interact and how those new the basis against which the performance of the NHS responsibilities settle. will be monitored. NHS England is responsible for I want to set out some of the actions under way that I delivering year-on-year improvement and is accountable hope will provide reassurance about the Government’s to the Secretary of State. Those arrangements are set and NHS England’s commitment to delivering on our out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, under ambition, articulated by other Members, to make England which the Secretary of State set out the strategic priorities among the best in Europe on this issue. My hon. Friend for NHS England through the mandate. The mandate the Member for Hertsmere (Mr Clappison) said that we makes it clear what is expected of NHS England with had major challenges and a long way to go in that regard to contributing to the prevention of ill health regard, although the shadow Minister was right to say through the better early diagnosis and treatment of that we are beginning to make significant progress in conditions such as cancer. some areas. However, we recognise that we have a long The outcomes framework sets out different measures waytogo. against which we hold people to account, and the I was first asked to respond formally to the report, Department has quarterly accountability meetings with and it would be improper if I did not respond to such a NHS England, through which NHS England’s progress thoughtful and well put together piece of work. Obviously, in delivering those improved outcomes is monitored. I hope to respond to some degree today, but I will take We will continue to monitor its progress in delivering the report away and certainly respond formally later. against the mandate. The evidence showing how it has Some of that will be about the Government’s responsibilities met the mandate is published, and forms the basis on in holding NHS England to account. I will think about which Ministers can ultimately judge the success or how we can do that. otherwise of NHS England’s performance. The first domain that the report addresses is preventing I entirely accept the point that that is quite a macro people from dying prematurely. It raises concerns about way of looking at things, and that Members are also responsibilities and accountability in the new health seeking a sense of what can be done on the ground. system. It is right to challenge on such issues; we cannot Perhaps I need to respond in more detail after the pretend that, when there is such major change to a debate on the challenges relating to the role of the system, everything will immediately be settled and clear. strategic clinical networks. Cancer has been made a I accept that there is a challenge. Our progress must be priority for those networks. Making the new networks as speedy as possible in understanding who is responsible work is also a challenge for the national clinical directors for what—particularly in understanding how we make and other colleagues in NHS England. Their role in accountability as transparent as possible and a driver of relation to cancer is obviously to drive quality and change and improvement. innovation in prevention and screening, survivorship We are responding to the new system and the inevitable and end-of-life care. I know that NHS England is keen tensions between devolving power on delivery in a way to see the links between the national clinical directors that empowers clinicians while also being accountable and those respective networks strengthened. There is to Parliament. No one could pretend that that is not clearly more to do, and I welcome the fact that the challenging. I certainly feel that challenge as a Minister; all-party group is in direct dialogue with the national the responsibility for delivering most of that clinical clinical director. I will pick this up with the group and care sits somewhere else, so the issue is about how we with him after their meeting. respond and account to Parliament for that. With regard to clinical commissioning group I gently say that we should be careful not to suggest accountability, NHS England is responsible for ensuring that, in such a large and complex health economy, all that the CCGs secure the excellent outcomes that we was perfectly clear and beautifully directed from the want, through commissioning. The assurance framework centre before. I respect the shadow Minister’s enormous provides the basis for that assessment. It is an integral 1107 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1108

[Jane Ellison] Although I accept that this is NHS England’s ultimate responsibility, the cancer community came together on part of the agreement of improvements to be delivered this issue and it seemed to be completely ignored from locally. When CCGs are found to be at risk of failing the point of view of consultation. Perhaps the Minister to deliver improvements, NHS England will provide will look at that. the necessary support. Statutory intervention powers exist, but they are to be used as a last resort only when Jane Ellison: That is a fair challenge, and I will CCGs are demonstrably lacking the capacity to make certainly take it up and raise it. On what we can do with improvements. data and transparency at the local level, the Department Through “Everyone Counts”, the planning guidance is looking at a number of things. The Government have for 2014-15, NHS England has asked CCGs to set a tried to use data transparency in lots of different ways level of ambition for reducing premature mortality as to drive improvement and accountability, and we are part of their strategic and operational plans. They will currently looking at some other ideas which I hope will be expected to demonstrate progress against those plans. produce a far greater sense of what is happening on the The 2014-15 CCG outcomes indicator set is used as a ground and in someone’s local area. We are very open tool by CCGs to understand trends in outcomes and to to suggestions, and some have been made during the help them to identify potential priorities for improvement. debate. I am happy to look at those, but this is an area It has a range of new cancer measures covering early under active consideration. detection, stage at diagnosis, and diagnosis via emergency There has been a lot of discussion in this excellent routes. I pay tribute to the all-party group for championing debate about awareness and early diagnosis, and we the inclusion of those indicators, which have now been know that it is one of the keys to getting better survival adopted, as the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay rates. It is central to meeting our ambition of saving the said. The indicators will help to ensure that progress is additional 5,000 lives each year by 2014-15, and we have being made on early diagnosis and, in turn, on survival committed more than £450 million in funding to achieving rates. that and doing more on early diagnosis. To date, we With regard to the various bits of data, we will have run national campaigns on tackling bowel and shortly have the one-year cancer survival information lung cancers; we have the Blood in Pee campaign, which for patients diagnosed in 2012, which will tell us the hon. Members will be aware of, to raise awareness of stage at diagnosis. This will allow us to calculate stage- bladder and kidney cancers; and we are currently running adjusted one-year survival, and that will probably represent a breast cancer campaign for women aged 70 and over. the most accurate and timely cancer data that have ever The early response to that campaign has been really been available in England. Using those data, we will encouraging. be able to populate important indicators in order to The shadow Minister raised some of the core public drive up improvement, including the public health outcomes health issues which I spend much of the day job discussing: framework and the CCG outcomes indicator set, in obesity, alcohol and smoking. I am slightly surprised relation to the proportion of cancers diagnosed at that we have had relatively little discussion of those in stages 1 and 2—the early stages. the context of early diagnosis and prevention. Public On the five-year data, I am sorry that things have health has been devolved to local authorities. They have changed since the answer that I gave to the hon. Member more than £5 billion of ring-fenced money over two for Basildon and Billericay at Health questions. That years, and all the local authorities I speak to—I was at was the information that I was working on at the time. the Local Government Association public health conference NHS England has been working with the London School two weeks ago—are excited by the possibilities that that of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to establish whether holds for them. There is a fair challenge about where the the five-year indicator was statistically valid. When I responsibility sits, but if everyone is doing work on answered the hon. Gentleman’s question, the data had awareness and early diagnosis, that can only be a good not been fully gathered in. Having gathered them in, thing. Many local authorities are taking seriously the however, the conclusion was that because of the small challenge of raising their game locally, and that is in number of survivors at five years, disaggregating the addition to the national campaigns. data down to individual CCGs would not leave the data As hon. Members will be aware, many of the indicators statistically robust enough to draw conclusions. It would are very mixed; there is a variety of statistics and therefore be unsafe to do so. variation around the country. I pay tribute to my local They are not therefore planning to publish at the Wandsworth authority, whose six-week “get to know CCG level, but they are considering how it can be cancer” pop-up shop closes this Sunday. A local shopping published at a level that is not only meaningful and centre gave the authority an empty unit and it worked helpful, but statistically safe. I understand that this has with NHS London, staffing the unit for six weeks been disappointing, but I think that the all-party group during the same hours as the shopping centre. It was and Members will understand that the data set is so run on a walk-in basis, and hundreds of people in my sensitive that if it was not felt to be safe and robust, it local community have popped in to that non-threatening could not be published in that way. We will talk to NHS environment to talk to trained nurses and get advice England about it. about cancer and some of those important awareness issues. Such local initiatives can only help us in our Mr Baron: I very much welcome that explanation, ambition to do much better. which goes a long way towards explaining the reason My hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire for the change in such a short period. May I leave the (Andrew Selous) has had to leave us for a constituency Minister with the thought that there appeared to be engagement, but he touched on the work of charities. I almost a complete disregard of the need to consult? met people from the excellent HeadSmart charity recently 1109 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1110 and I undertook to write to health and wellbeing boards of people with long-term conditions and to identify the about its work, so I will give him that assurance when I useful interventions that can be made. It will be looking next see him. I also pay tribute to the work that Cancer to consider the next steps. I think it is expecting to Research UK has been doing on pilots dealing with report on that in 2015. melanoma, which my hon. Friend the Member for Mid The all-party group has also said that it would like to Derbyshire (Pauline Latham) mentioned. see wider use of the patient reported outcomes measure— NHS England works with Public Health England PROM—data. This month, we have already seen the and the Department to determine the focus of campaigns publication of “Quality of life of cancer survivors in and to manage the development of the Be Clear on England—one year on”. That is a survivorship update Cancer campaign. Decisions on the 2014-15 campaign commissioned by the Department, which provides activity will be based on the evidence and learning from important information on recovery, unmet needs and the evaluation campaigns of the past two years, and it the consequences of treatment. NHS England has already will be subject to all the normal clearances in terms of begun work to extend the PROM programme. A new delivering really good value for money. pilot PROM data collection has recently started looking To deliver access to the best treatment, we have at quality of life issues for survivors of womb, ovarian committed more than £173 million to improve and and cervical cancer. For men, NHS England is supporting expand radiotherapy services. That includes £23 million Prostate Cancer UK on a nationwide PROM data for the radiotherapy innovation fund, which has supported collection. centres to deliver increased levels of intensity modulated The all-party group makes a number of radiotherapy—a more accurate form of treatment that recommendations on the national cancer patient experience can reduce side effects. survey, which was referred to by the shadow Minister. I The cancer drugs fund featured heavily in the debate. think we all acknowledge that it has been an invaluable More than 44,000 patients have benefited from the fund tool in driving improvement in cancer care. When I first so far, and last September we announced a further heard about it and looked at it in response to an earlier £400 million to extend it to the end of March 2016. debate in Westminster Hall, I was very impressed with Going forward, we will consider what arrangements can the level of detail that it can drive down to individual be put in place to deliver access to drugs previously trusts. It uses what the best are doing to drive performance funded through the CDF at a cost that represents value among those that are not meeting the highest standards. to the NHS. I recognise the nervousness that exists NHS England recognises the value of the survey and among those who understand what the fund has done currently has no plans to halt the programme. NHS and the impact it has had on individual patients. My England is the lead, but I think the more often we in hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire highlighted Parliament recognise how important the programme is, that matter, but clearly it is something that NHS England and show how much parliamentarians value it and will be taking forward, and it will be aware of the regard it as central to understanding the cancer patient concerns that have been expressed in the House. experience, the more NHS England will feel that it is the Regarding the all-party group’s specific concern about right decision to go forward with it. I know that NHS NHS England’s duty to promote research, NHS England England intends to examine the potential for a survey- recently carried out an open consultation on a draft related indicator as part of the future development of research and development strategy to deliver its statutory the clinical commissioning group outcome indicator responsibilities and the NHS mandate duties. Again, we set. That is a good thing. The shadow Minister made will learn more about that when the meetings take some interesting points and constructive suggestions in place, and as NHS England delivers that project. that regard, which I will happily look at after the debate The all-party group rightly highlights the importance and draw to the attention of NHS England. of supporting cancer survivors. Increasingly, cancer is The all-party group was concerned that more could viewed as a long-term condition—that was certainly be done to understand the experience of those who are not the case when many of us were younger—as more close to people affected by cancer, and its members are living with and beyond the disease. In March 2013, might be interested to know that following the NHS’s the Department’s national cancer survivorship initiative commitment to carers event, held last December, a published “Living with and beyond cancer: taking action number of priorities for supporting carers were identified. to improve outcomes”. It set out key recommendations An action plan is in development and although it focuses to improve survivorship care, which were drawn from more on the experience of carers in general, NHS two years of evidence gathering. England will consider cancer care as part of that. The I understand that the national clinical director is 2014 cancer patient experience survey will begin in working closely with Macmillan, which provides the March and report in late summer. I am sure that there secretariat so ably to the all-party group, to encourage will be parliamentary interest in that report. implementation and spread of the recommendations, In order to realise the Berwick report’s vision of the including around stratified care pathways. The all-party NHS as an organisation devoted to continual learning group will be pleased to learn that ensuring all survivors and improvement, NHS England and NHS Improving benefit from the survivorship recovery package is a Quality will establish a new patient safety collaborative priority work programme. programme to spread best practice, build skills and We want to support people to stay in and return to capabilities in patient safety and improvement science, work. A specific concern of the all-party group is how and focus on actions that can make the biggest difference NHS England intends to support people to do that, as to patients in every part of the country. set out in the mandate. I can confirm that NHS England NHS England is undertaking work to improve the has issued an invitation to tender for a piece of work to collection and analysis of patient safety data, including examine the factors that impact on the employment rate introducing “safety thermometers” for medication error, 1111 Cancer Priorities13 FEBRUARY 2014 Cancer Priorities 1112

[Jane Ellison] I am sure that my hon. Friend understands why we must put that rather legalistic sounding statement on the maternity care and mental health, and revising the NHS record. serious incident framework further to support best practice. In conclusion, I apologise for the length of my response, It is working with the Care Quality Commission and but this was such a good debate and many interesting others to provide consistent and clear information for points were made. I will take away those that I have not all on what patient safety data are available. been able to respond to in detail. Once the all-party Let me try to pick up on some of the points made by group has met the national clinical director, that might hon. Members. My hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere be a good time for us to meet again, to reflect on the expressed a concern about older people with cancer. I meeting and to consider what more we can do to take will respond to him in more detail after the debate, but this important work forward. I thank everybody who we know that older people sometimes do not get the has contributed to the debate, and the all-party group support they need and what happens during diagnosis is for its continued detailed work and the challenge it puts often the primary driver of poor outcomes. He might be out to us all to do better in this area on behalf of all our interested to know that we have worked on a £1 million constituents. project with Macmillan Cancer Support and Age UK 4.44 pm to improve uptake of treatment in older people. That has established some key principles for the delivery of Mr Baron: I thank the Minister for her response and age-friendly cancer services and, as I mentioned earlier, especially welcome her offer of a meeting, which we will we are seeing encouraging take-up of the over-70 breast be more than happy to take up. screening programme in response to the current campaign. This was always going to be a difficult slot to fill. Many Members who would have wished to speak are not here, Finally—I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker, but and that is fully understandable, given the transport I had many points to respond to and although I have disruption caused by the floods. However, in that vein, I not reached all of them, I will draw my remarks to a thank those Members who did make a contribution. close—I am advised that NHS England will engage We heard excellent speeches, and I thank those who with the vision for the management of complaints and courageously shared their personal experiences, whether concerns developed on the recommendations of the as patients themselves or family members. Our thoughts right hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) are with those Members who are battling cancer, including and Professor Tricia Hart. I think the whole House my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley acknowledges the amazing work done by our parliamentary Stoke (Jack Lopresti). colleague in that regard. The plan is to establish an advisory group of patients and patient representatives If there is one message that I would like to relay to feed into the complaints improvement work. to the Minister, it is: please, please focus on clinical commissioning group accountability. There is no point My hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (John having the tools in the toolbox if they are not going to Glen) talked about palliative care. Work is going on in be used. We have the measures in place and we know that area and I shall write to him after the debate. He that we are monitoring survival rates as a means of might also be interested to know that the NHS England promoting earlier diagnosis, but we need to be sure that is considering the potential for an indicator based on there is follow-through so that underperforming CCGs death in preferred place of care. I will get back to him are brought up to the mark. If we fail to do that, we are with more detail on that. failing thousands of NHS patients throughout the country, My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob given that our survival rates are woefully behind the Blackman) mentioned issues to do with work and pensions, average on the continent and internationally. It is a which I shall refer to the Department for Work and national disgrace that a quarter—one in four—of all Pensions. He also talked about procurement issues and cancers are first diagnosed at A and E, when it is often smoking. I am afraid that at the risk of sounding a little too late. That is the challenge before us, so the NHS boring after Monday I must put on the record the fact needs to raise its game, as thousands of lives depend on that the Government have not yet made a decision it doing so. I look forward to the Minister responding to about standardised packaging. We have instead introduced our report in full in due course. regulation-making powers so that we can make a decision Question put and agreed to. when we have received the Chantler review and considered Resolved, the wider aspects of that policy while taking its findings That this House has considered the All-Party Parliamentary into account. Ministers will make the final decision. Group on Cancer report on cancer priorities in the NHS. 1113 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Syrian Refugees (Schooling) 1114

Syrian Refugees (Schooling) their teens and will never finish their education; young girls who are now being trafficked in Lebanon and in Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House other parts of the region, who dream of a future that is —(Claire Perry.) do now adjourn. violence free. In this debate—I am grateful that the Minister is here 4.47 pm to reply to it and that he had a meeting with me Mr Gordon Brown (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) yesterday about these issues—I do not want to focus on (Lab): If any one of us were to visit the children’s the diplomatic complexities of the region, nor do I want section of the museum commemorating the genocide to speculate on the foreign policy considerations that I that happened in Rwanda, we would immediately be know are involved. I am not here to do anything other drawn to a picture of a young boy called David. The than to acknowledge the Government’s £1 billion words that describe what happened to that boy are very contribution to Syrian aid; to appreciate their recent brief indeed, and the biographical details are sparse, announcement of £100 million of extra aid at the but they say, “David, aged 10; favourite sport, football; Kuwait pledging conference; to thank the Secretary of pastime, making people laugh; ambition, to be a doctor; State in her absence for the £6 million that has been death, by torture; last words, ‘The United Nations are given to Lebanon for books for Syrian and Lebanese coming to help us.’” That young boy, in his idealism and children. But I am here to join 50 international development innocence, believed that the world would honour the agencies and departments from around the world, all promise that it had made to help people such as him in known for their humanitarian work, which have today times of need and desperate difficulty. His story, and made an urgent appeal to Governments about an emergency the words that he said to his mother before he tragically that can be addressed by a very specific plan that they died, have influenced me a great deal over the years. are asking this Government and other Governments As I look at the situation that is emerging in Syria, now to support. those words come back to me, and they did so particularly Tomorrow, the Minister—to whom we should be grateful when I heard a young teenage girl in Syria issuing a plea —will be able to meet the Prime Minister of Lebanon. to the world with the words, “Why have you abandoned He is the Prime Minister of a troubled, divided country, us?” That young girl had been made homeless in her bleeding from the biggest inflow of refugees, who now city of Homs. Her father, mother and sister—her disabled form one quarter of the population of his country. His sister was in a wheelchair—were pushed out on to the plea is not only for more food, more shelter, more streets, and her school had been bombed. She was medical care for girls and boys and for adults, but, without shelter, without accommodation, without food because he knows too that these young children need and, of course, without a return to schooling. That more than food, more than shelter, more than health young girl issued a plea in a letter to me in which she care, his is an appeal that their right as children to have said that she had been a champion at chess, she had an education, even in these troubled times, be upheld, been a leader of her youth group, and she had sung with and be upheld during the crisis as long as it lasts. her church choir. Now, she said, she had lost not only I want to ask the Government today to accept and to her school and her home, but she had lost hope. She contribute to what I believe is the most innovative plan said: that has so far been developed, by UNICEF and UNHCR, “Everything is lost. I feel like I should show you so you will to provide education, not for a few hundred or a few believe me.” thousand, but for 435,000 Syrian refugee children who That young girl dreamed of continuing her education are now located in Lebanon but who now are not at despite the chaos, and by good fortune linking her up school, and without this plan may never be at school. to a great charity in Britain, she is now studying in a The plan that I want to address today is one that will college in the United Kingdom. She dreams that one support the biggest number of pupils ever helped in an day she will go back to Syria and use the skills that she education conflict zone. I believe it could be up and is learning in service of her country. running within weeks and months, not years. I believe But there are today 3 million girls and boys like her I can show that it is cost-effective and affordable, and I who are now the victims of the civil war in Syria, believe that it establishes a principle that just as the Red displaced from their homes in what is now a disaster of Cross established a right to health care 150 years ago biblical proportions. It is officially, as you know, Madam when it moved into war zones and said that health Deputy Speaker, already the biggest humanitarian tragedy should be a right of people even in these troubled areas, since the second world war. Some years from now the so too the right to education can exist across borders world will look back on what happened and wonder and even when children are located and caught and why we did so little, faced with a catastrophe that has sometimes trapped in areas of conflict. made more people permanently homeless than the world’s Let us look at the figures we are dealing with. Today, most recent natural disasters, from the Asian tsunami of the 3 million children who have been displaced in of 2004 to the Haiti earthquake of 2010. and from Syria, 1 million have had to flee their country, We know that, historically, children are the innocent and almost half of them are in beleaguered Lebanon. but often forgotten victims of conflict, and that children Those children are the subject of the call today by the need to be able think of a future ahead of them. They 50 anti-poverty advocacy groups that—this is the slogan— need to be able to dream. They need to have hope, and “education cannot wait.” On best estimates, those child the best way to deliver that hope and to give them the refugees are likely to spend at least 10 years away from future that is essential for them, is somehow to enable their homes, in camps, temporary shelters or elsewhere. them to return to school: children, like the seven and However, if we adopted the plan submitted to the eight-year-olds whom I have read about and heard of Government several weeks ago, which has been compiled who have never been at school; children who are now in by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 1115 Syrian Refugees (Schooling)13 FEBRUARY 2014 Syrian Refugees (Schooling) 1116

[Mr Gordon Brown] First, since we started on this exercise, 300,000 more people have moved into Lebanon. In the past nine and UNICEF, as many as 435,000 of those children could months, 150,000 children have been added to the list of get to school, and it could happen quickly, as I have those in need, and that number is growing at about said, because the plan is beautiful in its simplicity. It 5,000 a week. If we do not act now, the problem will would put existing Lebanese schools on double shifts, simply get worse. I think the Minister is aware of the offering one set of classes by day and one set in the evenings. politics of Lebanon, where in a divided country there is Thus, all the 435,000 refugee children, who are spread a huge dispute as to whether— across the country in about 1,500 locations, rather than concentrated in one place, could be offered the chance of schooling. Because we would be using existing classrooms 5pm and would thus be spared the expense of building new Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)). schools, the annual cost would be an astonishing £5 a Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House week per pupil, or $8, which is $400 a year. do now adjourn.—(Greg Hands.) The money, as I think the Minister knows, would go to five separate projects that are part of the Education Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): That without Borders initiative: 80,000 children would be in was a mere procedural necessity. I call Mr Gordon the schools; 100,000 would be catered for by non- Brown; the right hon. Gentleman has the Floor. governmental organisations and the Government in joint projects; 175,000 would be catered for in NGO-led Mr Brown: After 30 years in this House, Madam projects—many of the NGOs that have signed the Deputy Speaker, there are still procedures that I did not missive to the Government and other Governments are know. It is also very good to speak to a relatively empty part of that—and at the same time 40,000 children House because there is not much opposition to what would be in nursery schools, so that they could start Isay. school at age three; and 35,000 15 to 18-year-olds, many I was saying that, first, this is urgent and the Government of whom may have missed out on education over the should act because the problem is getting worse. Secondly, past three years because of the conflict, would be given the Lebanese Prime Minister, as the Minister will skills and the chance to get jobs. It is a figure that offers particularly recognise after he meets him tomorrow, has almost every refugee child in Lebanon the chance to sold this plan to a divided population, some of whom enrol in schooling and the hope of the better future that would want to throw out the Syrian refugees and some goes with it. of whom would want to deny them any help. The Prime Proof that the double shift system is working, albeit Minister is now asking why so much of the world has on a smaller scale, can be found in a north Lebanese yet to support this humanitarian plan. One of the village called Akroum. In a unique effort, we have reasons why action is urgent is that his Ministers are volunteer Syrian teachers, local Lebanese school heads risking their lives every day while his Government struggle and a small Scottish charity called Edinburgh Direct to hold together around a plan that he has personally Aid operating the local school there, in what they call a championed—and that I believe the Minister will wish timeshare, outside normal school hours to give those to support. refugees the chance to be taught, this time in Arabic. Almost immediately, boys and girls who had fled from The third reason why I think the Minister will want burnt-down and bombed schools, and who only a few to respond positively, as I hope he does, is that other weeks ago had been, in some cases, child labourers and countries want to be part of this initiative and want to even beggars, have started to recover their lost childhood help. The United States of America, Norway, Denmark, and now have hope that there is something to live for. the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and What has been achieved on that small scale in that other countries, one or two of which will announce village on the border with Syria can now be achieved at tomorrow that they are giving money, are committed to speed for 435,000 Syrian refugees, if we urgently adopt providing finance for this plan, and a consensus is this plan. growing in favour of it. It is money that will not be wasted and, as I can tell the Daily Mail, it is money that My frustration, and the reason I called this debate, will be well spent. Given the International Development with the permission of Mr Speaker, is that that idea was Secretary’s own personal commitment to the “no lost conceived nine months ago. It was negotiated with the generation” plan, which is about helping children in all Lebanese Prime Minister six months ago—we have met, the different areas of the region, I want her to put her had talks and agreed the plan. It has been subject to weight behind this plan as part of her own initiative. two in-depth reports: one by the respected Overseas Development Institute, a British charity working in that I know from my own experience as a father that every area; and the other by UNICEF, with the UNHCR. It single child is precious, every single child is unique, and is now sitting on a table awaiting implementation while every single child is special. That means that, if we can the problem has worsened and while all this winter do something about it, every single child deserves the children, with few exceptions, are walking the streets, chance to fulfil their talents, to make the most of their some tragically trafficked into prostitution and some potential, and to bridge the gap between what they are even forced into early marriage as child brides. That is and what they have it in themselves to become. We have why, for three reasons, I urge the Minister to be positive the chance to make that opportunity possible for not in his response today and to tell me not only that he just a few but several hundred thousand children in this supports in principle the plan being put forward by all troubled region. the different agencies and led by UNICEF, but that the Given that the Minister and I agree that the Government Government will contribute to it in the way that others have made a general commitment to this region and have done. that we both appreciate that the sums announced at 1117 Syrian Refugees (Schooling)13 FEBRUARY 2014 Syrian Refugees (Schooling) 1118

Kuwait include money that could be devoted this project, month. We are getting water to 930,000 people a month, I hope that he will be able specifically to address the and we have provided more than 300,000 medical UNHCR-UNICEF plan. I think it is common ground consultations. Our support is reaching children and that the Government have done a huge amount in this their families inside Syria, and also those refugees who region and that they wish to do more on education for have fled to Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Egypt. children, particularly for girls. However, what we need Food, water and medicine, however, are not enough. As to agree on today—I hope the Minister will play his the right hon. Gentleman knows all too well, bombs part in contributing to this—is that when we have an and bullets have forced nearly 2.3 million children out innovative plan, when we have the support of the Lebanese of school in Syria. Outside Syria, 735,000 school-age Government, who would find it difficult in normal refugees are simply not going to school at all. As the circumstances to finance anything that is now happening number of refugees continues to rise, so will the number with Syrian refugees, and when we have international of children without an education—unless the world aid agencies in support of this plan and prepared to acts now. unite around it, it would be a mistake for us to delay any Countries such as Lebanon and Jordan have been longer in providing this urgent support that is needed in incredibly generous in welcoming these refugees, but an emergency. It is needed for children like the girl I their schools are coming under incredible strain. As mentioned who are losing hope because, despite all our many as one in four of school-age children in Lebanon efforts, they do not feel that we are reaching their needs are from Syria. We cannot afford to let these children—the and those of their fellow children—boys and girls like future of Syria—become a generation lost to conflict. them. I hope the Minister can respond positively to the desire not just that this plan be supported but that it be That is why in September last year the Secretary of properly financed. State played a leading role in championing the “no lost generation” initiative, which is designed to galvanize a 5.4 pm global, co-ordinated effort to provide Syrian children The Minister of State, Department for International with the education, protection and psycho-social support Development (Mr Alan Duncan): May I thank the right they all so desperately need. The UK has already pledged hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) £30 million to the initiative, almost all of which has for securing this important debate and for bringing already been committed to specific projects. such an important issue to the attention of the House? For the past two years, I have personally worked with I commend him for so tirelessly using his influence to the United Arab Emirates on the Emirates-Jordanian champion the needs of Syrian children and for pushing camp for Syrian refugees, near Zarqa in Jordan. The education further up the global agenda. If there is one camp is financed by the UAE, but it is the UK, through thing we can all absolutely agree on, it is that what is UNICEF, that is funding the education that is benefiting happening to Syria’s children is intolerable. the more than 6,000 children in it. Furthermore, we In this brutal civil war, children have been shot at, have matched pound for pound the UK public’s generous tortured and sexually abused. In parts of Syria today, contributions to winter appeals for Syrian children by children are starving. They are also dying from diseases UNICEF, War Child, Oxfam, and Save the Children. that three years ago could have been easily treated. That is helping those agencies to deliver blankets, clothing Indeed, polio has returned to the country 14 years after and heating to help people to cope with winter conditions. it was officially declared polio-free. The right hon. Gentleman has asked the Government More than 1 million children have crossed the borders to support a plan to educate refugee children now in to escape the bloodshed; some have had their families Lebanon, as well as vulnerable Lebanese children there. split up and some have seen their parents and friends I want to make it clear that the Government fully killed. Away from their home, many face neglect, support this excellent plan, which has been developed exploitation and abuse. As the right hon. Gentleman with the Lebanese Government and fits squarely within has said, even very young children are being sent out to the “no lost generation” initiative that we have pushed. work or beg, while girls as young as 13 have been sold Lebanon has more Syrian refugee children than any into early marriage. Whatever the degree of trauma other country, and the UNICEF “reaching all children children might have faced, what is true more widely is with education” plan can make a huge contribution to that millions of them are missing out on a basic education. achieving one of the key goals of the “no lost generation” A destroyed childhood is a destroyed life. As this initiative by ensuring that all children affected by the crisis rages on, an entire generation of children is being Syrian crisis can receive a good education. shaped by this relentlessly brutal war that has ripped The right hon. Gentleman has rightly drawn the every bit of normality away from them. That will have House’s attention to the need to act now, and I share his profound long-term consequences for Syria, the region sense of urgency. I am pleased to inform the House that and even much further afield. the Department for International Development is already We have a clear responsibility to invest in these children supporting one of the most urgent areas identified in now and to invest in Syria’s future, because they are the plan, namely the provision of textbooks for the Syria’s future. That is why, right from the start of this current academic year. When she was in Lebanon in crisis, this Government have highlighted the plight of January, the Secretary of State announced that £4 million vulnerable children and focused on ensuring that they will be made available for 300,000 packs of textbooks have the basics they need to survive. for all children between the ages of six and 15 who The UK is leading the way.We have pledged £600 million attend state schools in Lebanon, including Syrian and for Syria and the region, which is three times the size of Palestinian refugees. our response to any other humanitarian crisis. We are The Government intend to provide further support the second largest bilateral donor after the United States. for the “reaching all children with education” plan in UK aid is getting food to almost 320,000 people a Lebanon. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that 1119 Syrian Refugees (Schooling)13 FEBRUARY 2014 Syrian Refugees (Schooling) 1120

[Mr Alan Duncan] support his work as a UN special envoy. Through DFID, this Government will do all they can to underpin I want to work very closely with him as we assess just his efforts. As a result of this debate, he can confidently where UK assistance can add most value. As he said, I tell other donors that the UK is there to support UNICEF’s will discuss all this in more detail directly with the Lebanese education plan. We will work with him to Lebanese Prime Minister tomorrow. finalise the details. I am pleased to announce that the Secretary of State It is the children of today who will have to rebuild is planning a high-level meeting of key stakeholders— their country tomorrow. The UK will continue to do donors, host Governments, UN organisations and everything possible to give them and Syria the chance of non-governmental organisations—to agree on how the a better future. We continue to call on other nations to international community can further ramp up its support do likewise and to contribute more funding both to for the education of Syrian children in the region, support this plan and to tackle the Syria humanitarian including by supporting the Lebanon plan. She has crisis more broadly. The right hon. Gentleman’s role in invited the right hon. Gentleman to attend that meeting, this initiative is crucial, and his is an effort that we which will provide a further opportunity to rally support commend and support. and to mobilise funding. Question put and agreed to. The right hon. Gentleman has done the children of Syria and Lebanon an inestimable service in fighting 5.13 pm their corner. In this sphere, we respect and wish to House adjourned. 335WH 13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 336WH

another remarkable achievement: in five of the last six Westminster Hall years, the best-selling album in the world has been by a British artist. This country continues to produce enormously Thursday 13 February 2014 successful artists, and it is worth noting that the music industry does that without any financial subsidy from the public. [MR JOE BENTON in the Chair] The electronic games industry is another hugely Supporting the Creative Economy important contributor to our economy. Some of the best-known games, including “Tomb Raider”, “Grand [Relevant documents: Third Report of the Culture, Media Theft Auto”and “Football Manager”, are British products. and Sport Committee, Supporting the Creative Economy, It is important that we continue to be a centre for the HC 674, and the Government Response, HC 945.] electronic games industry; that is another issue that I Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting want to talk about. be now adjourned.—(Mr Evennett.) I went to the MIPTV annual market in Cannes, 1.30 pm where international buyers go to purchase TV programmes. There is no question but that the UK dominates that Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): Thank you, market. BBC Worldwide has a substantial presence at Mr Benton, for this opportunity to debate the Select MIPTV, but independent production companies such Committee on Culture, Media and Sport report, as Shed Productions, Shine TV and All3Media, are also “Supporting the Creative Economy”. It was the result hugely successful at selling British products across the of a major inquiry, in which we took a great deal of world. Then there are the fashion and design industries. evidence and came up with a wide range of conclusions. Britain is in the lead in all those industries. There has been a lot of interest in some of our proposals We started our inquiry on the basis that this country across the industry and the House. I thank Elizabeth is remarkably good at the creative industries. Is there Flood, the Committee’s principal Clerk, and all the more that the Government could do to support those staff for their hard work on this inquiry and others. industries? Are there risks attached to that success? In We are debating a great success story. There is no each case we came up with recommendations. We started question but that in this country we are very good at our inquiry on the back of the most extraordinary creative industries. Since the report was published, the showcase for British talent—the 2012 Olympic and Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published Paralympic games in London, where British talent, not the latest figures, which show that the creative industries only sporting but creative, was on display. That creative are worth £71.5 billion to the UK economy and generate talent was on display not only in the Cultural Olympiad around 1.68 million jobs. They are a substantial part of but in the games themselves, in the extraordinary opening our economic activity and are growing steadily. We are ceremony by Danny Boyle, which gave us an opportunity achieving ever greater success. to exhibit British creative talent to the world. Those bare figures conceal remarkable achievements. However, we were concerned to hear, when we received In almost every sector of the creative industries that we evidence, that some of the companies that played a key have examined, there have been fantastic successes. The role in those events have not been able to take advantage British film industry continued to produce some great by using that fact in their marketing campaigns. I am films, and we have some of the greatest talent in the sure that the Minister will refer to the supplier recognition world, but we have also been remarkably successful in scheme, which is a huge step forward that gives companies attracting highly mobile international investment to the an opportunity to market themselves on the back of UK to make films. their contribution to the Olympics, but we received Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): I welcome evidence from the Professional Lighting and Sound the Committee’s report. Did the hon. Gentleman look Association, the trade body that represents the professional at the arts and the financial contribution that they make entertainment technology industry, which remains to this country? He mentioned the film industry, but disappointed that it has not been able to publicise its could he say something about the broader remit of the involvement in the London 2012 games. PLASA gave as arts? an example the fact that some of its members were responsible for the appearance of those rings out of the Mr Whittingdale: I am happy to, because I agree that fire, for the 70,500 LED tablets that were placed on the arts make a substantial contribution, not just to this every single seat in the stadium ahead of the opening country’s cultural life, but to our economic life, and ceremony, and for the industrial chimneys that rose out provide an important economic stimulus. We are well of the ground. All of those were iconic moments in the aware of that, which is why, in a few weeks, the Committee opening ceremony, and the companies should have had will conduct an inquiry into arts funding in the UK, an opportunity to make it clear that they were responsible. and will discuss with the Arts Council its priorities and We still hope that the Government will reconsider the how to ensure that the benefits are felt throughout the supplier recognition scheme and find a way to allow UK. Some hon. Members feel strongly about that, and companies in such fields as audio, video and audiovisual it is very much a component of the creative economy’s equipment to promote their success in contributing to success. the games. I have spoken a little about film, but the music A key contributor to the success of the British creative industry is another enormous success for this country. industries is the tax credits offered by the Treasury, for The biggest selling artist last year was British: the band, which we give full credit both to this Government and One Direction. I may not have added to their album the previous one. The film tax credit has been hugely sales, but that is a huge success, which comes on top of successful. I understand that last year it generated almost 337WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 338WH

[Mr Whittingdale] come to Britain to make films, but without the tax credit, they probably would not. We pay tribute to the £900 million in international investment in this country previous Government for introducing it, and to this through just 37 feature films. I will always remember Government for continuing it. visiting Paramount Pictures to see the trailer for “World I would be interested to hear from the Minister an War Z”. There was astonishment on the faces of Committee update on the progress of discussions with the European members, particularly Scottish members, when we Union on the introduction of the electronic games tax discovered that, although the film ostensibly showed credit, because that, too, is welcome. The games industry Philadelphia being overcome by waves of zombies, it is under pressure, and we have lost some companies was not Philadelphia but Glasgow. Since then, several already, so it is important for that tax credit to be members of the Committee have been to a screening of achieved soon. “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”, which is currently on at In examining the creative industries, we received a lot cinemas. That film is set in America and Moscow, but it of evidence about an issue that lies at the absolute heart was filmed in this country, mainly in London but also in of their success: intellectual property rights. For a long a number of other places; locations included Barnet, time, Governments have sought to address some of the Battersea, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Birkenhead, Liverpool, problems created by online distribution. In the previous Hatfield, and a power station in Nottinghamshire. Parliament, the Government passed the Digital Economy Act 2010, which was a valiant attempt to put in place Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con): My measures to deter online piracy. Unfortunately, it has hon. Friend has missed out the important role of Chatham, not come into force. which has become a film set, having recently produced “Les Misérables” and various other vast-selling products. I will not recap the whole history of what has happened Is that not the tax regime at its best, bringing real since the Act was passed—the judicial reviews, the benefit to local communities? arguments and so on. However, the principle behind it is that people who illegally download copyrighted material, Mr Whittingdale: My hon. Friend is completely right. and so jeopardise the success of the music, film, television, I apologise for not mentioning Chatham, and I am sure and, I suspect, in due course, games industries, need to that the fact that it was chosen for “Les Misérables” is be told that what they are doing is not only illegal, but not a reflection on her constituents. There is no question poses a real threat to the economic viability and success but that every part of the country benefits from that of those industries. It was suggested that that should be kind of international investment. We have more to look done through the dispatch of warning letters. Once forward to: “Mission: Impossible 5” will start filming in people were identified as serial downloaders, their internet Britain soon, as will part of the next episode of “Star protocol addresses should be identified and the internet Wars”. service providers asked to send letters.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Andrew Bingham (High Peak) (Con): Does my hon. Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): On “Les Misérables”, Friend agree that some people download unwittingly— I hope that my hon. Friend has noted that the stage excuse the pun—because the websites all look plausible production has brought in something north of £1 billion and completely legal? On the internet, there is no way to in revenue. At some point, he should acknowledge the distinguish what is legal and illegal on occasions. important role of British theatre in our creative industries. Mr Whittingdale: My hon. Friend is right. Some of Mr Whittingdale: The Minister is entirely right. I am the websites deliberately set out to appear legitimate. pleased that the Government are talking about extending They might even make a small charge, although often the tax credit not only, as already proposed, to high-end they are distributing the content for free. Perhaps that television drama, animation and electronic games, but would be another advantage of sending letters: it would potentially to regional theatre, because theatre is the increase awareness and oblige people to ensure that breeding ground for many of our greatest talents. when they did download, they did so from a legal site, Still on film success, we talked to the film companies so that the artists and producers concerned received the and asked why they came to make films in this country. remuneration due. A lot was to do with the extraordinary talent that we Despite the difficulties in enacting the DEA, the have here—the skills—but they also said that, without recent development of a voluntary agreement is in question, had the tax credit not been in place, they many ways preferable, if it can be made to work. In would not have been able to come here. America, that is already working well. A voluntary copyright alert programme would involve an agreement Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland between the rights owners and the ISPs that there would West) (Lab): Might one of the other reasons film companies be a system through which letters were issued to those come here be our heritage? For instance, “Harry Potter” identified as illegally downloading. If that can be done was filmed up in Northumberland at beautiful Alnwick voluntarily, that is preferable, and we should get on with castle. Looking around the world, or trying to build a that as quickly as possible. The Committee’s report is set such as Alnwick, would have cost a fortune. Does he clear: we prefer a voluntary system, but if agreement agree that that also can be a reason for people coming cannot be reached, the Government need to stand by to to this country to film? bring into force the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010, and to use legislation. Mr Whittingdale: Of course it is. In particular, historical Unfortunately, we were perhaps less optimistic on dramas make use of some of our great heritage assets. copyright law. The proposals on the modernisation of There are a large number of reasons why people want to copyright law have given rise to huge controversy. The 339WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 340WH

Minister will be only too aware of the concerns expressed artist, people use the word “download” or “MP3”, that right across the creative industries about the dangers of produces very different results. The latest figures that I tampering. Copyright law supports the success story have been given show that the proportion of links to that I have described. The enormous economic contribution infringing sites appearing in the top 10 search results made to our GDP by the creative industries is possible remains roughly the same as before. The latest figure because copyright law ensures that they receive the that I was given was 252 out of a possible 400, so reward that they are due. Extending the exemptions on 63% of results in the top 10 were illegal download sites. the basis that it might produce extra economic activity Google will tell us about the huge number of pages and income is dangerous if we do not take account of that it takes down when it is notified that they contain the risk of widened loopholes jeopardising existing copyrighted content being distributed illegally, but the success. notice refers to a single page, with the result that the We viewed the Hargreaves report with some concern. music industry has sent more than 50 million notices to When we tried to find out how Professor Hargreaves Google. Google does take the pages down when notified, came up with the figures quoted in his report on the but no sooner do they come down than they go up substantial potential benefits of some exceptions, we again. A much more sensible recommendation, which were concerned at the lack of hard evidence to support the music industry, among others, promotes, is that those figures, and no account was taken of the risk that when a website is the subject of, say, more than widening exceptions poses to the industry’s success. 10,000 notices, it should be removed from the front That debate continues, and we await the statutory page of search results, and when the figure of 100,000 instruments implementing some of the exceptions. Great notices is reached, it should be removed from the first concern is still being expressed across the industry 10 pages. Eventually, if that goes on, it should be about the lack of clarity on some of the proposed blocked in its entirety, on the basis that it plainly exceptions, and on the loopholes that might be created. consistently makes available copyrighted material illegally. We are particularly concerned to ensure that Parliament The Committee was persuaded that there was a very has an opportunity to examine each exception in detail. strong case for increasing the penalties for online copyright There should be proper scrutiny. infringement from two years to 10 years, so that they The private copying exception has caused most concern, were of the same severity as those for physical piracy. I because it has the widest effect. No one would argue know that the Government are looking at that. We were that transferring a piece of music that one has legally very impressed when we visited the new City of London purchased from one device to another should not be police’s IP crime unit. That is an encouraging innovation. permissible. Millions of people do that, and it is nonsense It is doing impressive work. However, there is a question that putting a song on an iPod, for example, technically about its long-term funding. I hope that the Minister puts them in breach of copyright law. Legalising private can give some indication of whether the Government copying, however, has to be done carefully.The Committee see it as a permanent part of our policing, with appropriate took evidence on that, and listened in particular to the funding. concerns expressed by the film industry. Most of the I now come to the final area that I want to discuss. I rest of Europe has not applied a private copying exception am sorry that the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr to audiovisual material. The film industry said that the Bradshaw) is not present, because he felt very strongly exception was unnecessary and that, in any case, legal about it. I understand that the severe flooding in the means were already being developed through which west country prevents him from being with us. I am consumers who purchased audiovisual material could referring to education. It is obviously right that the store it in the cloud, or access it through different Government focus on the promotion of the so-called devices. The Minister will know that the film industry STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering and remains very concerned about the private copying maths—but, as the Minister knows, the debate is about exception. Perhaps he will say a few words on that in his whether STEM should in fact be STEAM. In other speech. words, arts should be part of the core curriculum. I We also talked to Google, which is responsible for believe that the success of our creative industries is an some great successes and huge benefits; it is important ample demonstration of why it is so much in our to recognise that. The Committee visited the Google interests to make arts a core part of the curriculum—so campus in east London, which is providing opportunities that this country can continue to produce the extraordinary for start-up firms and app manufacturers to develop. It talent that lies behind the success of all the industries is at the forefront of the development of technology that I have talked about. and making it available to entrepreneurs and small I shall not go on talking any longer. I thank the start-up firms. YouTube has been a great success in Minister for the response that he has already given, but generating revenues for people who post material on it. there are areas where we feel that he could go further, More than £1 billion has already been generated in and I hope that he might be willing to do so later this income. afternoon. The Committee was concerned about the issue of 1.54 pm searching and the direction of people towards illegal download sites. Google has supplied us and, I am sure, Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland other hon. Members present with statistics on how, if West) (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow the Chairman of someone searches for an artist, most of the results that the Select Committee, the hon. Member for Maldon come up will be legal. Part of the argument is about the (Mr Whittingdale). This is an excellent report. I welcome fact that Google is citing results of searches in which the Select Committee’s investigation of how we should people simply put in the artist’s name, whereas the best support our creative economy. The hon. Gentleman music industry points out that if, as well as naming the made the case very well in his opening speech. 341WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 342WH

[Mrs Sharon Hodgson] some schools currently offer extra-curricular lessons in music and other things, but they must be paid for. The The UK’s creative industries are known worldwide divide is between who can and who cannot pay. for their cultural capacity to shape, influence and inspire. Nevertheless, we should definitely debate and explore As the hon. Gentleman covered in detail, the success of that idea further. the British film industry and the choice of this country Although the traditional subjects of English, maths as a location is a great example of that, as is the British and the sciences are and will always be important, so fashion industry. Our fashion designers dominate the that young people are numerically and scientifically catwalks of London, Paris, New York and Milan; British literate in the 21st century, it is also important that musicians, songwriters and composers top the charts young people are creatively and culturally literate. As and dominate the international airwaves; and British we have heard, the gaming industry is a perfect example architects and designers shape skylines and create beauty of where both the traditional and the creative can be all around the world. That is important for not just our merged to create competitively skilled employees. international cultural presence but the benefits to our economy. At this point, I should declare an indirect interest as As we have heard, Britain’s creative industries account the mother of a young man currently at Teesside university for more than 1.5 million jobs and contribute more studying computer games art, having done precursor than £70 billion to the economy. That should be all the courses at Gateshead college. According to figures cited reason we need to know why it is imperative that we do in the Select Committee’s report, the boxed and digital everything possible within our power to support such UK video game retail market was worth almost £3 billion an increasingly crucial sector, and it is why the report is in 2011, so I hope that he is going into a thriving right to address issues that affect it, such as the protection industry and will get a job after all his studies. of intellectual property, tax reliefs and education and Web-based games such as “Moshi Monsters” and skills. “RuneScape” have more than 100 million registered I chair the all-party group on art, craft and design in users between them. With two out of every three households education, which was set up to champion high- playing video games—a number that I am sure will keep quality and inclusive arts education in our schools. I rising as they become an ever more pervasive feature of therefore particularly welcome the Select Committee’s smartphones—it is an industry booming like never before, recommendation, as well as the Secretary of State’s and it is crucial that our education system is geared intervention during her speech at the British Museum towards creating the pioneers of tomorrow, including last month, for STEM—the focus on science, technology, my son, I hope. engineering and mathematics—to be expanded to STEAM, It is right that future games developers should be as we just heard from the Chair of the Select Committee, competent in maths and the sciences, and I welcome the to improve the status of arts education in our schools. introduction of computing to the English baccalaureate, That recommendation must be supported, especially to allow young people to become literate in coding from when there are concerns that changes being implemented an earlier age, but we must remember the important by the Department for Education—such as those to creative aspects of the gaming industry such as drawing discounting codes and the exclusion of creative subjects and design skills. Hence the title of my son’s course: in the gold-standard English baccalaureate performance games art. Those skills have created such British successes benchmark—will turn off the talent tap for our creative as “LittleBigPlanet”, “Tomb Raider” and “Grand Theft industries, so undermining their long-term development. Audio”, as we heard from the Chairman of the Select If we are to support and expand our creative industries, Committee. The most recent edition of “Grand Theft that must be through not just reforms to public funding Auto” has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. and protection of intellectual property, as the report calls for, but investment in the future work force by The value of creative subjects lies not only directly in ensuring that children not only have access to high-quality, supporting the creative industries, but in imparting the inclusive arts education, but are positively encouraged soft skills that benefit young people for employment in and supported to develop their skills. other sectors. That is precisely what we mean by a rounded education. As Josie Barnard, senior lecturer in Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con): It is creative writing at Middlesex university, said in evidence said that many students who attend private schools have to the Select Committee: the opportunity to develop greatly their artistic talent “Students who are taught creative writing are taught creative and flair through their longer school day and study thinking.” periods. Does the hon. Lady agree with the Secretary of That could be said of all creative subjects, from drama State for Education that we should consider extending and art to music, all of which involve problem solving the school day to give more young people the opportunity and the importance of practice, providing young people to study the arts and creativity as part of their everyday with the ability and confidence to overcome situations studies? in the workplace creatively. Mrs Hodgson: I will come on to the difference between Despite all that, reforms implemented by the Department the state and the independent sector later in my speech, for Education over the past three years have made but I agree that there is room to extend the school day access to creative subjects harder for young people. from, say, 8 am until 6 pm, especially with regard to According to the Cultural Learning Alliance, the impact child care. During that extra time, children can obviously of those changes is already being felt, with art GCSE be doing all the extra-curricular stuff that is available in take-up declining by 14% between 2010 and 2013, while the independent sector. That would be ideal, but the geography take-up has risen by 15%. We cannot fail to issue is how that is funded and who pays. We know that be cognisant of the effects that the reforms are having. 343WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 344WH

One of those reforms involves changes to discounting been criticised for recruiting extensively from the codes, so that subjects such as fine art and photography independent school sector. This brings me to the point will be credited as just one GCSE rather than two in the made by the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe school league tables, even though they have different (Damian Collins) some moments ago. This is not a teaching pathways and practices and distinct teacher criticism of the National Youth Orchestra, as all it is specialisms. How is that fair, when pupils are encouraged doing is recruiting the most talented kids, but this is a to take multiple sciences, humanities or languages, with shocking indictment of the lack of opportunity and good reason? We would find it absurd to restrict a child encouragement in our education system for involvement by discounting French and German or chemistry and and progression in the arts. The independent sector, physics, so why do we accept discrimination against rightly, values such involvement highly and, of course, creative subjects? funds it. The impact of that discrimination is that schools are Of course, this lack of involvement severely reduces pressured to deter or even prevent students from doing diversity in our cultural sector. That was raised recently similar creative subjects, not to impact their league table by Stephen McGann, who spoke about how young status. Alongside that has been the introduction of the people from working class backgrounds struggle to English baccalaureate as the gold standard performance enter the acting profession, owing to a preference for measure for schools, which has further compounded those in the independent sector who have had access to the focus on the traditional subjects of maths, science high-quality drama teaching throughout their school and geography, rather than on the creative subjects, to lives. maintain or increase ranking in the school league tables. If the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and In a recent letter to Rachel Payne, senior lecturer in Sport is not successful in her campaign to change education and media at Oxford Brookes university, the STEM to STEAM in the eyes of the Secretary of State Department for Education stated that it for Education, the trend in downgrading arts education “recognises that the arts form an integral part of children’s will continue and a two-tier system will be created, development and believes that every child should experience a where arts and design subjects are seen as inferior to the high-quality arts education throughout their time at school”. traditional subjects, particularly in the state sector. That prompts the question: why is the Department knowingly and deliberately undermining creativity in Damian Collins: Perhaps the hon. Lady is using too our schools? That is not an unsubstantiated criticism. broad a brush. There are many excellent schools in the Recent research by Ipsos MORI found that 27% of state sector. I highlight Brockhill Park school for the schools withdrew non-EBacc subjects from their curriculum performing arts, in particular, which is a comprehensive this academic year, and that art was one of the most school in my constituency with an outstanding record commonly withdrawn subjects, at 17%. in the arts and in getting young people passionate and Even the Government’s own figures have shown that excited about them. There are many great successes the take-up of creative subjects decreased in 2012, with across the state sector, still. design and technology down by 5.1% and art and design down by 2.4% from the previous academic year, Mrs Hodgson: I agree. We can all highlight the exceptional while others in the EBacc standard have increased. That state school that is really good at music, drama or decline has rightly drawn criticism from the great and dance, but regarding the majority, the figures speak for the good of the cultural world. Martin Roth, director of themselves. These subjects are being dropped, and in the Victoria and Albert Museum, was recently quoted the teaching profession numbers are dropping in initial as saying that teacher training for arts and drama teachers. We have to “if subjects such as art, design, music, drama and dance are look at this long term. In the short term, we will not see pushed out of the curriculum, Britain’s creative economy will be any damage, but if this trend continued in the long destroyed within a generation.” term, I definitely believe that we would. That is quite a strong statement. Vikki Heywood, chair If we are to have high-quality, inclusive arts education, of the Royal Society of Arts, described the reforms as we must have highly qualified teachers. However, there “half-baked” and warned that they will be detrimental are concerns about the numbers of qualified art and to the potential of our creative industries. design teachers entering the state system, with just Last November, the inaugural art party conference in 350 initial teacher education places allocated for art and Scarborough, organised by Bob and Roberta Smith, design teachers in this academic year, compared with was held purely as a reaction to the DFE’s changes. It just short of 600 in 2009, which is much fewer than the aimed to promote and celebrate art by providing a vast majority of other subjects. To respond to the hon. forum for discussing the future of art in the UK. That Gentleman’s intervention, those figures show the decline. conference brought together organisations, such as the This is further proof that the Government and the National Society for Art and Design in Education, the Secretary of State for Education are marginalising creativity, Art Fund and the Cultural Learning Alliance. because they regard creative subjects as soft and do not Not only will including art within STEM allow children value the opportunities that studying these subjects can and young people to gain creative skills, to be dynamic bring, and that is why I hope that the Minister can players in the labour market, but it will allow young assure current and future parents that their child will be people from poorer backgrounds to experience the vast taught to a high standard by a professional teacher who array of culture that this country has to offer, and even knows how to do it, especially in subjects that not only to have the opportunity to shape our national culture. fill their minds but feed their souls. I raised this matter in correspondence with the Secretary If we are to maintain our cultural importance around of State for Culture, Media and Sport late last year, the world and the creative power of UK plc and, in citing concerns that the National Youth Orchestra has addition, create a diverse cultural sector made up of 345WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 346WH

[Mrs Hodgson] Mrs Hodgson: Jolly good man. people from all walks of life—not just as contributors, Nigel Adams: Yes, he is a jolly good chap. but as consumers as well—we must invest in high-quality, inclusive arts education and allow children to find and Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab): Is he develop their talents or simply express themselves through here? the various artistic mediums available. If not, where will we find the next Julie Walters or Idris Elba—not from Nigel Adams: I cannot spot him in the Chamber our state sector? today, but I understand that he has a meeting with If we do not give children the opportunities to creatively representatives of the music industry, so I am sure that express themselves, we will end up jeopardising recent he is doing great work on our behalf. growth and the substantial economic input from our There is much important work going on to improve creative industries, owing to a weakened and depleted awareness of the importance of IP.I welcome the recent creative labour market and, indeed, lessened patronage launch of a joint IPO and UK Music game, which of creative works from a generation who have never educates young people about copyright in a fun and been inspired. interesting way. I understand that the IPO’s karaoke The creative subjects feed our soul, so reminding us shower is continuing its live tour of the UK and promoting of the creative capacity of humanity. Why do we all love the importance of IP, and that is very welcome. Through to listen to music, visit art galleries and see a play or a the Alliance for Intellectual Property, the industry has musical, a ballet or an opera? Because they move us in developed a content map, which allows users to check ways that nothing else can and connect us to our which services are licensed. Signposting and nudging deepest emotions. I hope, therefore, that the Secretary consumers in the right direction is sensible, but we need of State for Culture, Media and Sport and this excellent further action to ensure that our creators are properly Select Committee report prevail over her Cabinet colleagues rewarded. on the issue and that the Government take seriously the Those are all positive steps forward, but education Committee’s many other recommendations. will not tackle illegal content if it is not accompanied by mechanisms to ensure that consumers are able to make 2.10 pm the right choices about where to get their content. Earlier this week, I and other colleagues here today Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con): I commend were presented with a proposal from PRS for Music for my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr Whittingdale) an IP traffic light system for online content. That system on his work as Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport would provide consumers with clear and visible indicators Committee, and on a brilliant and powerful speech on that would allow them to determine easily whether a the need for Government to provide adequate support website provided illegal or legal content before they to our creative industries. I shall keep my remarks brief, entered the site. The merits of such a system are clear, because many Members want to speak. and importantly, it would tackle the root of the problem, Although the UK’s creative industries, as we have which is consumer confusion, while cutting off the heard, enjoy a pre-eminent position in the world, we traffic to illegal sites, and the revenues collected from must not be complacent. For that reason, I welcome advertising on them. In fact, in a survey by Harris, many of the recommendations made by the Select 91% of online downloaders said that they would welcome Committee in its excellent report. In particular, I welcome the introduction of a traffic light system to aid suggestions that the Intellectual Property Office should understanding of which sites were legal. become a more powerful champion for the creative I encourage technology companies to work more industries and play a greater role in educating consumers closely with the creative industries to find a way of on the value of intellectual property. The importance of delivering such a system. The company whiteBULLET, a strong and secure rights regime to the success of our which received a grant from the Intellectual Property creative industries should not be underestimated. Where Office, has being doing good work in that space, but is the incentive, for example, for a songwriter, composer, more support should be encouraged. A signal today or software developer to create content if their work from our excellent Minister that he backs the principle can effectively be stolen online? behind the traffic light system, along with a commitment I note that the Government, in their response to the to support it going forward, would be welcome. Committee’s report, provide evidence that many people still remain unsure about the legal status of the sites 2.15 pm they access. I agree that that evidence is very clear. In Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab): We are fact, Ofcom commissioned research on copyright well used to Governments of all colours responding infringement that suggested that almost half of all users to Select Committee reports by saying that they take cannot confidently identify whether the online content issue only with 10 out of 100 of the Committee’s that they download, stream or share is legal. In a recommendations and agree with the remaining 90. YouGov survey last year, more than 2,000 UK adults Usually, of course, those are the 90 places in which the were asked to differentiate illegal websites from legitimate report has agreed with the Government in the first retail sites; more than a third of parents were unable to place. The Government’s response to this report is spot pirate websites for music, film and TV content. firmly in that mould, and there is a general feeling on I am delighted that the Prime Minister has shown the Committee that it is perhaps the most disappointing great interest in the issue and has appointed an IP response we have yet had from the Government to a adviser, my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mike major report. I do not blame the Minister for that; we Weatherley). have love and respect for him. 347WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 348WH

On all fronts, the response shows a determination to In their response, the Government highlighted the plough on regardless. All too often, such a determination role of the Under-Secretary of State for Intellectual is justified loosely by a wry reference to a previous Property, Lord Younger, as the UK’s IP champion and Administration, either because the recommendation has guardian of our creative interests. The hon. Member for cropped up before but was not, for whatever reason, Selby and Ainsty (Nigel Adams) referred to the Prime pursued by the previous Government—that is the case Minister’s new IP tsar—that is my description—the with the sensible proposal to equalise penalties for hon. Member for Hove (Mike Weatherley). There is still copyright theft in the online and physical worlds—or no Liberal Democrat even on the fringes of the Department because, as in the case of the private copying exception, for Culture, Media and Sport. the recommendation follows a course that was endorsed It is worth repeating what the Minister, Viscount before 2010, but the then Government did not get Younger, told us in his evidence. As stated in paragraph 52 round to implementing the proposal. of our report, he said: The impression from the response is that it is the first “Google is one of several search engines, and I am very aware time in the history of the coalition Government that the of their power, put it that way. I am also very aware, I think, that they have access, for whatever reason, to higher levels than me in previous Labour Government have been accorded the No. 10”. accolade of omniscience. It appears, for the first time, The industry’s concern about that influence does not that we could do no policy wrong. But of course what is stop at our shores. I will quote from a recent submission right or wrong is what suits the present, not the past, to us from the BPI, which represents the music industry. not least when digital technology and services are moving It is worried not only about the Government pressing so quickly that they can often render a policy redundant, ahead with their copyright exceptions in the UK, but harmful or both. Europe doing so under the EU’s copyright directive. It In my short contribution I want to focus on two areas said: that are central to our inquiry: intellectual property and “The UK has, for reasons the BPI doesn’t fully understand, copyright, and education, which is so important to the achieved for itself a reputation in Europe as being hostile to strength of the industries. That strength is recognised copyright. This is despite the UK being one of the European worldwide. Just a fortnight ago I attended a discussion economies that gains most from the creation of copyright content and has most to lose from hostile attacks on the copyright regime.” with the CBI and its German counterpart, the Federation of German Industries, which was held at the instigation It is time for the UK Government to act to dispel that of the German embassy. The federation’s director-general, reputation, and I hope the Minister will give us some Dr Markus Kerber, made the point that although Britain comfort when he responds. might be envious of Germany’s car makers, its household I will conclude with a few words about education, electricals manufacturing and its engineering prowess in skills and training. On the education front, since 2010, general, we should realise that there is the same envy there has been a history of repeated corrective actions. and appreciation in Germany of our creative industries— Whenever a light bulb goes off in the Secretary of State music, film, video games, and general digital and online for Education’s head when he is in the bath, humming UK consumer and business services. Our report cites a “Jerusalem” and mentally chiselling his epitaph for legion of statistics about how important the creative when he is in the Elysian fields, we have to take action to industries are to the economy, and ahead of this debate try to correct what he is doing. I will give a recent such statistics have been coming in thick and fast. I will example. It has not had much coverage here, but it was not repeat them all, for lack of time. important to those involved. It involves Japanese, the language of manga comics and of “My Neighbor Totoro”, Central to the submissions from the creative industries, which is perhaps the finest and most enchanting children’s during the inquiry and since, is the importance of animation of recent times. copyright and of having a strong framework of intellectual You may be surprised, Mr Benton, to learn that quite property law and enforcement. That is the bedrock on a number of primary schools around the country teach which those industries’ success stands, and if we tinker Japanese. They tend to be clustered around factories, with the framework rashly, we will weaken those such as Toyota in Derby, where there is a lot of Japanese- foundations. Having heard the evidence, our Committee, related employment. Those schools do not have to in the report, takes issue with the direction of travel of teach Japanese. It is not statutory, but voluntary, and the Hargreaves review in general—quite frankly, its they should be commended for teaching any language. quantification of the so-called benefits of relaxing copyright However, that was not good enough for our Secretary law simply vanish under the slightest scrutiny—and of State for Education, who is always on manoeuvres. questions the effect of the proposed copyright exceptions Last year, he published a list of recommended languages in particular. for those primary schools. It included, of course, the In our conclusions, we agree with the creative industries ancients, German and French, but it did not include that too often the changes seem to be driven by the Japanese, so at a stroke, those schools felt that they were commercial interests of digital technology giants. They being discouraged from teaching Japanese. There was were invariably American, and chief among them was also the small matter of including Mandarin, and the Google. That company, as we have heard from the resulting diplomatic incident. After concerted pressure, Chairman of the Committee, clearly does some good the Secretary of State was forced to change his mind. works. It has opened up the worldwide web, through He may zig and occasionally zag, but he often returns to YouTube in particular, an outlet that is much used by his same true course; it is veritably an exercise in constant new talent. However, we must remember that like all vigilance. those American digital giants, it goes to extraordinary The creative industries’ concern starts with the Secretary lengths to avoid UK taxes, and indeed those of its own of State’s focus on the STEM subjects; he gives little country and every other. place to the arts. After much concerted campaigning, 349WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 350WH

[Paul Farrelly] of the people and businesses that make such a massive contribution to our economy, and how we might help the Government changed some of the plans for the them to grow still further. curriculum. There have been changes to the EBacc, but Several of the issues that we raised in our report the continuing concern is that schools will still encourage stand out as being particularly important for the growth pupils to opt for what they believe they are being of our creative industries. The most significant, as other measured on most strongly, and that de facto choice is hon. Members have said, is the need to stand up for being driven out of the curriculum, leading to an ongoing intellectual property rights in an ever-changing and downgrading, as we have heard, of the arts, design and increasingly challenging environment. The modern internet technology of computing in the state curriculum, but dictates most people’s daily movements, and it is all not the private sector. The industry fears that that will about accessing as much information as possible and lead to further narrowing of the social background of sharing it as easily as possible. If proper protections are those in our creative industries, making it more dominant not put in place for those who create, we will not get in the products of some of our excellent private schools. much more creation. As those protections get weaker, I urge the Minister and the Secretary of State for the chances of proper recompense diminish, which is a Culture, Media and Sport to join us in our eternal vigil, hardly an incentive to carry on creating. A critical and to give us comfort on the arguments that have been balance must be found and maintained between free forcefully made on the importance of maintaining a access and property rights, but the Government’s feedback robust, strong copyright framework, and of enforcement, on our report is not encouraging on that point. which have been the bedrock of the success of our That difficult subject provided the basis of our discussions creative industries. when we visited film studios in Los Angeles, which are 2.24 pm also battling with issues relating to copying and piracy. Whenever technology moves on, piracy moves with it, Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) (Con): The and it is always a problem. Creators need certainty that debate is important. It is clear that we need this opportunity the Government will protect the principle that the right to discuss the Government’s response to the Select people must be rewarded properly. The danger, as I Committee’s report on the shape of the creative industries think is apparent in the Government’s response, is that in the UK. Our recommendations focus on how we can standards may slip. For instance, when we met the chief harness our extraordinary success and growth in the executive of Fox, he spoke about his concern over plans field, while ensuring that that welcome development is to legalise the copying of audio-visual material on to not compromised by any failure to tackle crucial issues other formats, which is illegal at the moment but everyone such as copyright infringement. The UK has cemented does it. Organisations such as Fox are well aware of its reputation in recent years as a leading light in the that, but they choose to do very little about it, essentially creative world, a place where talent in the creative because it is too difficult. He underlined the point that industries is nurtured and allowed to develop and thrive, any change in the law that recognises the right to copy backed up by wide-ranging financial support and a would be a slippery slope. That law may be rarely sympathetic tax system. As a result, we are a destination applied, but it serves an important purpose in limiting on the film-maker’s map. We are a place to go to make abuse. Meanwhile, he and others are working on legal films, where a director can come from abroad with the mechanisms that would allow copying on to different smallest of crews, because he or she can call on superb formats but would still allow due financial reward for local technical talent to direct and produce, and where the creators. Unfortunately, the Government’s response he or she can source some of the finest acting and suggests that they have no intention of listening to that musical talent. All that creative skill, know-how and message. nous boosts the Treasury’s coffers by nearly £40 billion The name that always crops up in debates such as this a year. is Google, as we have heard today. I wonder whether I am lucky and proud to have a fantastic example of there is anyone here who does not spend a great deal of the recent renewed success of our creative economy on their time using Google to find any amount of easy-to- my doorstep in Ealing studios, the world’s best known access information. There is a darker side, however, and oldest continuously running film production studios. which is a major concern to those who worry about They showcase great British talent with, among other intellectual property rights. In providing easy-to-access things, some of the “Downton Abbey” sets and the information for nothing, Google’s search engine can stunning Imaginarium studios, which use performance take users through to sites that breach copyright regulations. capture technology under the direction of one of our Google told us that, wherever possible, it takes such best exports, Andy Serkis. The Chancellor of the Exchequer offending sites down. It is hampered, however, by the recently paid a visit to see for himself the success story many millions of pages that must be trawled through. sitting at the heart of Ealing. He was keen to find out The BPI alone sends Google well in excess of 2 million that the view of what the Treasury is doing is positive, notices per month relating to individual pages on sites and it is. The message that he got was that the film tax guilty of copyright infringement. Again, Google says relief, the extension of which he announced in the that in many cases the pages are contained on sites that autumn statement, is turning the UK into one of the otherwise host legal content, making it difficult to take most popular film locations. action. My view and that of my colleagues on the Select The Select Committee had in mind the question of Committee is that that is a pretty flimsy excuse. It is not what more might be done when we took the fascinating beyond the wit of Google and its engineers to devise evidence sessions for our report on the creative economy. proper solutions. It can certainly afford to do so. We carried out work here in London and on our Committee trip to the United States. The aim throughout was to get Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): The hon. to the bottom of how we might best protect the livelihoods Lady makes a good point. When sites are found by the 351WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 352WH courts to be providing material that has not been paid widen such opportunities. I have noticed recently that for, Google is able to take action. Does that not demonstrate people have noted the fact that so many public school that it has the technological capacity to which she is people are becoming the big names as actors and actresses, referring? because they get the drama opportunities.

Angie Bray: The hon. Lady makes a reasonable point, Mrs Hodgson: As I said earlier, I agree, but my and I tend to agree with her. concern is the funding for all the extra-curricular lessons and opportunities. Some of the necessary items, such as There are many ways in which to provide a balance to a musical instrument, are outside the reach of a lot of help everyone. The Hargreaves report recommended the children. What solutions does the hon. Lady suggest to establishment of a digital copyright exchange, which ensure equality, so that all children get those opportunities? got expanded into a copyright hub, set up in July 2013. The key point about it is that anyone may access it online to find out anything about the complexities of Angie Bray: I can assure the hon. Lady that last night copyright and about who owns what rights. The idea all the children playing in the orchestra had their violins was also to make licensing arrangements easier with a and cellos with them. Obviously, there must be access to one-stop shop. musical instruments, and in the case of Twyford, there Our Committee has made plain its firm support for certainly is. We need to work that out. First, we need the establishment of a global repertoire database, based everyone to agree that we are going to have those longer in the UK, making us a global centre for copyright hours. We must then ensure that we make the best use of exchanges. We remain of the view, however, that them to build the skills base. participation in a copyright exchange should preferably be voluntary. Mr Vaizey: Surely my hon. Friend, in welcoming many of the Government’s initiatives, will welcome the It would be childish of me not to mention some areas funding of music education by the Secretary of State in which the Government are showing a remarkable and for Education. He ring-fenced £170 million for music positive lead in promoting and nurturing our home-grown education. He has also provided financial support for creative industries. As I said earlier, the Chancellor has the national plan for cultural education. demonstrated his commitment and delighted the film and vision-effects industries with another dollop of tax Angie Bray: I certainly do. I hope that music money relief, meaning that big-budget productions will get the will be spent wisely because, as someone who studied same 25% tax relief that smaller firms already enjoy for music, I am keen to ensure that nobody loses the the first £20 million that they spend. He has also widened opportunity to build their skills base, which is important the criteria for those who can apply for the relief. for the country. All that is a huge encouragement to film makers to make their movies in the UK, thereby investing often Mrs Hodgson: Does the hon. Lady share my concern considerable sums here. It is clear that such relief easily about the discount codes? Although children might still more than pays for itself. Other beneficiaries of the new be allowed to take creative GCSE subjects, some schools points system, which will adjudicate the recipients, will may have a perverse incentive to deter children from be those who work in special and visual effects, again taking multiple GCSEs in creative subjects because they where the UK excels. We look forward to the Government’s are discounted on the league tables. introducing video games tax relief as soon as possible as well. Angie Bray: I am most concerned to ensure that we By the way, an interesting suggestion was put to us by make full use of those longer hours for the arts. Fox as a way of illustrating the economic value to Our report welcomes the greater focus on computing countries and local communities of providing locations in schools as part of the digital age. There is no doubt for film production. The idea would be to include in the that our video games and special effects industries will opening credits of films some brief information about flourish even more with a new generation of creatives the economic benefits and job opportunities as a who have the highest level of IT and programming consequence of the film being made in a given location. skills. We have a number of universities that are building The Committee has expressed concerns, as we have a global reputation for media production, including heard repeatedly this afternoon, about the downgrading Bournemouth university and the well-thought-of course of arts subjects in the curriculum, although the Government at my local university of West London. We were given a have responded by stating that a key measurement of a strong impression on our trip to Los Angeles that, tax school’s performance will continue to include art, design relief aside, the UK is such an appealing location for and music. I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for film making because the skills base is already available Folkestone and Hythe (Damian Collins), who suggested here. We need to build on that success story. that extending school hours would provide an opportunity for schools, which are perhaps sending children home at 2.37 pm 3 o’clock in the afternoon, to introduce more arts, Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): As ever, it is a drama and music. pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Benton. I congratulate I put on record that one of my local schools, Twyford, the Committee on its excellent and timely report. The has an excellent record in music. Indeed, I saw some of Chair of the Committee has given a thorough account its members playing with the English Chamber Orchestra of the many issues covered in the report. I apologise in only last night. Some state schools still take arts and advance for focusing, perhaps in tedious detail, on one music seriously, but I want to see longer hours meaning specific issue, but I think it is important to get my views that there is more opportunity, because we have to on the record. The private copying exception, which the 353WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 354WH

[Kerry McCarthy] convinced that a facility for private copying was factored into the purchase price either of music or of devices to Government are due to introduce soon, has already store, play or copy it. been mentioned by a couple of other speakers. The The introduction of an exception without fair exception remains a considerable concern to musicians compensation would leave UK artists worse off than and other performers working in the creative industries, their counterparts in 25 other EU countries. All 25 EU but it has not been much discussed in the Commons; it countries that have introduced private copying exceptions has been discussed more in the other place. As a result have also included fair compensation to rights holders of the Committee’s findings, I hope that there might be by way of a small levy on certain hardware products a change from the draft version presented for technical that allow copying. Those countries have introduced review last year, as there will be no opportunity to exceptions to copyright granted under the European improve the exception once it is introduced under the copyright directive, because they have decided, in affirmative procedure. interpreting the directive, that copying would result in The Committee adopts the Department’s definition economic harm to creators; so why is the UK, which of the creative industries: has by far the biggest music scene of all EU countries, “those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, taking a different view, as flagged up by my hon. Friend skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly)? creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual What discussions has the Minister had with his EU property”. counterparts about how the UK proposals will fit into In some circles, “intellectual property”has almost become the framework being set by the other 25 countries? a dirty word. There are people who evangelise that A process of reform of the levy system across Europe, content ought to be freely available to anyone who which compensates creators for private copying of their wants to listen to it. Why should true music lovers have work, is currently under way, and I fear that the UK to pay for music? That is fine for consumers, but it is not proposals have the potential to undermine that. I understand so good for people who have expended time, effort and that a legal opinion on how the private copying money to produce that work. I have always been baffled compensation system works in EU member states is that people do not equate someone’s labour and input likely to be given days before the measure is expected to into artistic work with labour, time and money spent on come into force in the UK, although the Government producing something more tangible and less easily shared. currently have no plans to delay implementation. Have IP and copyright are important. They allow musicians the Government received representations from UK and artists to derive an income from their creativity and collecting societies such as PPL, for British musicians, provide the basis for investment in one of the fastest-growing and the British Equity Collecting Society, for actors, sectors of the economy. The CBI forecasts that the which collect revenues from private copying levies in industry will play an even bigger role in our economy in other European countries that operate such systems? I the coming years. am concerned that what is happening is likely to put the The current working environment in the entertainment relationship under strain, especially at a time when industry is one of worsening levels of pay, or indeed no other European countries are already questioning the pay at all, for many actors, musicians and writers. lack of reciprocity with the UK on the collection of Research by the Musicians Union demonstrates that levy payments. more than half of professional musicians work for less Creators feel strongly that they should benefit from than £20,000 a year and that 60% have worked for free income streams to which their work gives value, when over the past year. Equity’s most recent survey of members so much of the income generated by MP3 players, cloud found that 9.6% earn nothing from their work in the storage and so on is derived from the value that consumers industry and more than 69% earn either nothing or less see in the music and films they hold on them. Research than £10,000 a year. by UK Music shows that consumers ascribe between 32% and 53% of the value of an MP3 player to its The Performers Alliance all-party group published a ability to copy music. There is a need for balance report late last year, and I declare an interest as its chair. between protecting creators’ rights and not placing “Work Not Play” sets out much more extensively than I inhibitions on innovation or on companies and technologies. can today the current state of play and the appallingly People who work in the industry think that the balance low pay in the industry. It is vital for us to get a grip on has gone too far towards the technology industries. In the situation, so that work in the sector will not become her evidence to the Committee, Alison Wenham, chief the preserve of the amateur, or those who are independently executive of the Association of Independent Music, said: funded or from privileged backgrounds. It is also vital to the future of new music and drama that artists “This is an opportunity to license so that the value that is created between industries can be shared and there is a balance of should be able to survive financially, and build sustainable interests. At the moment what we are seeing is a race to the careers. technology industries taking the value from the content industries, In the environment that I have described, the loss which would be a disaster for this country’s creativity at its root.” of income from the right to be compensated for the It would be good to hear from the Minister why the copying of one’s work is significant. Artists are Government are not taking the opportunity to compensate. increasingly dependent on micro-payments from collective I know from previous answers to written and oral licensing agreements, and that is likely to increase. A questions that the Government’s argument is that private few hundred extra pounds generated under a fair copying is factored into the price charged at the point of compensation scheme for format shifting would be sale, that the exception is narrowly defined, and that significant for an individual musician or performer. The economic harm would be minimal. The Minister nods, Government will argue that account is already taken of so I expect that I shall hear that again today when he that in the purchase price, but the Committee was not makes his response. In their response to the Committee 355WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 356WH inquiry, the Government said that the proposed private and could have a significant impact on the ability to copying exception will be the narrowest in Europe, but license value-added services, such as the cloud. A music they have not provided sufficient evidence to support industry representative said to my office that that. I asked them in a written question last year to “the cloud is currently the biggest technological development substantiate that claim, and the answer referred to an happening at the moment…so for the Government to create out-of-date report more than six years old, which suggested uncertainty in this area at this point before that market is fully that only two countries have wider exceptions, while the realised and understood is not helpful”. scheme in other EU countries was similar to that proposed I appreciate that my points have been rather technical for the UK. and detailed, so I suspect that I know what the Minister’s That was taken up in a debate in the other place in response will be today, but I would be pleased if he December. The Minister with responsibility for intellectual wrote to me to address some of my concerns in more property, Viscount Youngerof Leckie, wrote to participants detail. in the debate following up on points that he did not have time to answer, and it seems from that letter that 2.48 pm the Government intend to make the narrowest exception. Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con): It However, the draft exception, which was open to technical always seems when we debate the creative economy that review last summer, was as wide as most European it falls at a good time, because something interesting, exceptions. If the exception is not seen before it is laid exciting or dynamic is always happening. That is particularly before the House, there are concerns about whether the true now, as we have the BAFTA film awards, where we intention to have a narrow exception will actually match anticipate British success, London fashion week, which the wording of the legislation. Will the Minister commit has gone from strength to strength as one of the major to provide greater clarity to rights holders before legislation international fashion weeks, and the BRIT awards, is published? That is particularly true of whether the where British creativity and excellence is being celebrated. exception will cover cloud services. In the nearly four years of this Parliament, we have had It was encouraging to read in the Government’s response many debates on the creative economy and industries. to the Committee’s investigation that the private exception Warnings and concerns have often been raised, some of will not now cover cloud services. I presume that the which have been legitimate and some less so, but we Government were persuaded by the Committee’s findings always have these debates in the context of increasing and are keen to address the Committee’s serious concerns, strength, popularity and ingenuity in the creative industries including, for example, that if the exception includes nationally, regionally and locally. cloud services, it could This debate has seen considerable discussion about “mutate into a new mechanism for illegal file-sharing, such as a copyright and IP, so I do not intend to dwell on them cyber locker” too much. Instead, I want to discuss the economic and could make it more difficult to take enforcement development of the creative industries and, in particular, action against illegal downloading from the cloud. The the role of tax incentives for investment and of clustering, Committee also concluded that a private copying exception which was considered by the Culture, Media and Sport could harm the development of legal, subscription-based Committee in its report. cloud services, such as UltraViolet and iTunes, which The bedrock of the underlying strength of the UK’s are already emerging from business-to-business deals in creative industries is Britain’s talent pool and unique which rights holders are properly rewarded. heritage, as a recognised leading performer in music, As with iPods and other devices, musicians and rights film, drama and arts over many years. Why businesses holders in film and television feel that they should be are coming to this country and investing now has much able to gain some value from these income streams, to do with the tax regime that has been put in place. The because part of the service that they offer consumers, production tax credits for film, video games and high-end and the money that they generate, is around providing television drama are bringing production to the UK, greater convenience when listening to music or playing and it would not be unfair to say that those industries—in films. Cloud services are likely to grow in use and are a particular, film production and television production—are potential replacement for current methods of storage booming in this country. That is not only good for and delivery. Andy Heath, chair of UK Music, expressed companies that work in that sector directly, but for the that in strong terms to the Committee when he said that great infrastructure—the great web of businesses—that “Apple and Google are not creating Cloud storage lockers for also rely on that investment. The post-production, including fun. They are doing it for immense profit. It is another brick in the sound production, for a film shot at Pinewood their moneymaking machine, and it is completely immoral for the studios would probably take place in Soho and use the transfer of the value to occur without any level of compensation.” talents of a great number of people in that production In their response to the Committee, the Government process, from technicians to musicians and artists, as said that cloud-based music services such as iTunes well as actors. Match and Amazon Cloud Player are out of scope, which was much welcomed, but that cloud-based storage Mr Vaizey: On that note, will my hon. Friend join me is within scope. I and others are not aware of any in welcoming the advent of the new Industrial Light & cloud-based storage facility, which include Dropbox Magic base? ILM is the special effects house that grew and Google Docs, that does not allow an element of out of Lucasfilm and it is setting up its UK base in sharing. If it is to be the narrowest exception in Europe, Soho imminently to coincide with the imminent start of it surely cannot include facilities such as those? If they production of “Star Wars”. are included, the concerns raised by the Committee still hold about how that could Damian Collins: The Minister gives an excellent example “mutate into a new mechanism for illegal file-sharing, such as a of the sort of investment that the film industry and cyber locker” production industry are bringing to this country. Of 357WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 358WH

[Damian Collins] them, but Folkestone is less than an hour by high-speed rail from one of the world centres of excellence in the course, as he will be aware, we anticipate success in the creative economy—Tech City in London—and that is a film awards this year for “12 Years A Slave”, which of key reason why those businesses are in Folkestone. course is a film that Britain can be proud of. It is based Businesses in Digbeth in Birmingham, working in on a book published many years ago by Penguin. Writers places such as the Fazeley Studios and the Custard involved in the film industry are an important part of Factory, have a great place to do business and a great the talent mix. Whether the writers of original scripts or community of people to work alongside, but it is their writers who adapt books that have previously been proximity to a major global centre of excellent in London published, they are all part of the same ecosystem. that makes it so attractive to be there. When I worked in the adverting industry, I was We can have the physical infrastructure and facilities always impressed that Soho could draw on the talents of to support an expanding creative economy. The Select such a broad base of people, which is why people from Committee underlines the importance of these hubs around the world come to be here. A film company and clusters. It was right that the Committee visited seeking to make a big feature film can come to the UK silicon valley as part of its study tour, because that is a and know that we have the facilities to make it and the great example of a successful cluster that has given talents to complete the job at every level. That is what birth to a number of great companies. makes working in the creative industry in the UK so It is interesting that companies such as Facebook and exciting. Google have been born out of research laboratories and The development of creative centres of excellence, facilities, not only of universities such as Stanford, but not only in London but around the country, is an our of precursor companies in that industry, such as important part of the ecology of the creative economy Hewlett-Packard and Xerox, the success of which spawned and its future success. We do not want our creative further companies. We hope that in London new businesses industries purely to be centred and located in the traditional will come out of our creative and digital economy as it centres of excellence in London and the south-east; we develops, in turn spawning the creation of further businesses want to have a strong network of them right across the down the line and employing yet more people. country. We can see that happening now. Particularly The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out his ambition with the investment in Media City at Salford Quays and that London should be the tech hub and creative hub projects such as the Sharp Project, Manchester city for Europe. We are well on the way to achieving that, if council has come together with members of the business it has not already been achieved. One key aspect of community to create a hub for creativity in that city. making that possible is attracting businesses, investment Such developments are helping to make Manchester the and talent. We want to see as many people as possible fastest growing media city, or creative city, in Europe. In born in Britain taking advantage of the opportunities Birmingham, there is an important and growing creative to work in such a centre of excellence. We also need to hub and community in Digbeth, and in Belfast, around ensure that we can bring in the best talent from around the Titanic centre and the Titanic quarter, near the old the world. At the moment, the industry is growing Harland and Wolff shipyards, there is another important apace, but we do not currently have enough people to centre of the creative economy. satisfy all the demand. Therefore, having the right policy Yesterday, I attended an event focused on the creative on visas that allows the most talented people to work in industries in my constituency and the rest of east Kent, the UK is a crucial issue facing development. where we looked at the development of creative and Another element of that development is ensuring digital clusters around the east Kent coast, particularly that young people have the skills that they need and the in Folkestone, Ramsgate and Canterbury. In my understanding to take part in this growing sector of constituency of Folkestone and Hythe,we now have the economy. The importance of young people’s having more than 200 businesses that can be considered as part the opportunity to develop their creative talents at a of the creative technology economy, according to the young age, when at school, through music and the arts Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s definition has been discussed in this debate. I do not believe that of that economy. It is a rapidly growing sector employing the Secretary of State for Education’s focus on some a large number of people, and that growth is only core academic subjects in any way undermines that. accelerating in the scope and range of the tasks that the People need good skills and qualifications in those core sector is undertaking, as well as in the number of subjects to do almost anything that they would seek to opportunities for work that exist within the sector. do; that is an important part of a good education. One of the challenges is how we link together these There is no reason why creativity and artistic talent and different centres of excellence—these different hubs and flair cannot form part of the curriculum. Schools can clusters—and how we ensure that we have good links, do that. A longer school day will give schools many both through broadband infrastructure and transport more options in pursuing that. infrastructure, that connect the hubs in places such as There are also uses for such talents in other sectors in east Kent to the centres of excellence in Tech City in the creative industry, particularly for young people who London and elsewhere. might want to work in the video game sector. We want a Sleeping Giant Media is a search engine optimisation nation of young people who not only play video games, and social media marketing campaign company based which are increasingly made in this country and exported in Folkestone. A few years ago, it was started from around the world, but know how to build them. That is nothing and it now employs more than 20 people. There why bringing computer science into the science curriculum, are many reasons why such a company chooses to as an equal science alongside chemistry, physics and locate in Folkestone. The quality of life in Folkestone biology, is an important step. We need more young and the low cost of doing business there will be among people learning computer coding at school, so they 359WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 360WH know the building blocks of computer programming that film celebrate private copying. That is an important and the creativity needed to build websites, computer part of the story in the book. It is something that games and animation programmes. That should be an everyone has done or certainly people who grew up with important part of the curriculum. records and cassettes have done. Probably everyone in this room has breached copyright law by copying a Paul Farrelly: I recently went through GCSE choices record on to a cassette or by loading a CD into a with my son and saw first hand how the school is being computer and copying the contents on to the hard measured and how it felt that it would be measured in drive. Each time, they are infringing copyright. Some future. Once the subjects of that measurement are people may consider that once they have purchased an prescribed, there is a great limit on choice that drives item of music—once they have paid the fee for it—it is subjects such as computing out of being an effective theirs to enjoy personally. A change in the law that choice. reflects something that is already commonplace—that people already do—is not necessarily something that we Damian Collins: It note the hon. Gentleman’s point, should be frightened of. but that is why I said that it is important that computer science is given equal standing and equal weight, alongside I agree with the hon. Lady, though, that when we get other areas of the science curriculum, as part of the to a position where people can share music, in particular, core science subjects that young people can study.However, or film or another form of content through the cloud we must also consider what people do a long time and potentially with a wider audience, they are getting before they get to GCSE choices. That is why code clubs into a remit where they are no longer privately copying in primary schools are important. but, either intentionally or unintentionally, distributing I saw Google run one of its code club projects at the content. That is a very different matter and something Folkestone primary academy school in my constituency, that we must be very careful of. The hon. Lady is right getting primary schoolchildren to learn basic programming to raise that important point. techniques, which is something that those of us who are old enough to remember did on BBC Microcomputers Kerry McCarthy: May I make it clear that what I and Spectrum computers back in the 1980s, although suggested would not prevent people from copying things? advances in software render that sort of programming It would just give the musicians and other artists some redundant. Teaching coding is being brought back to compensation by putting an additional levy on the young children of primary school age. Code clubs can devices that people would use to do that. Twenty-five be part of extra-curricular activities, as part of a longer other EU countries have decided that that is the right school day, as well as being something that young way to go. I hope that the Minister will explain just why people can do in evenings out of school. the UK deserves different treatment.

[SANDRA OSBORNE in the Chair] Damian Collins: I understand the hon. Lady’s point. In Hackney, with the support of Tech City and Of course, France has done what she describes for some businesses in that area, a concerted effort is being made time. Personally, I think that it is a blunt tool and that to take coding in particular into the schools that surround the key is to ensure that we do not, particularly as the Tech City area, so that young people do not grow up technology develops, make it easier for more people to just seeing the new glass buildings and office blocks and distribute things. We have talked about the role that understanding that people are working there but never search engines play in taking people to sites where they acquiring the skills to take advantage of the jobs that can easily download music for free, in breach of copyright are being created. It is very important that we focus on rules. We should clamp down on that. the educational element of developing talent to work We have only to look at the predictive search result not only on the artistic and creative side of the creative that comes up when someone types the letters MP into industries, but on the technical side, through coding Google. I did that earlier in the debate and the result and programme writing and making. was for an MP3 converter site where people can download Another important development that the Government tracks from YouTube directly on to their MP3 player. It are supporting through the Department for Education is therefore right that we look at the various tools that is studio schools. In Folkestone, we are about to embark exist in the internet world and that make it easier for on a project to create a new studio school with a focus people to infringe copyright. I believe that that is where on the creative industries, where young people will not our energies should lie. We should be careful that a only learn subjects linked to the examinations that they private copying exemption does not have the unintended will take and the qualifications that they will gain, but consequence of allowing people to distribute music do so in conjunction with direct work experience as part through cloud systems such as Dropbox, as the hon. of the ordinary school day. Studio schools linked to Lady mentioned. We should look at that technical creative businesses in the towns and cities that they aspect very carefully. serve are an excellent way to provide that and are an The Select Committee is looking at the role of the important innovation, alongside having more of an BBC in its current inquiry. Technology is playing an emphasis on creativity and creative skills as part of the important role in how we consume television in particular. school curriculum. The distinctions between television that may be viewed The final point that I want to add to the debate about through a portable device, through a satellite or cable IP is this. I followed very closely the argument made by subscription or through what we used to call terrestrial the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) in television are going. We have a single creative stream, the speech before mine. With regard to private copying, which is distributing through multiple devices. That we can look at Nick Hornby’s book “High Fidelity” throws up not only long-term challenges for the role and the film made of it. In some ways, that book and that the BBC licence fee can play in the future, because 361WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 362WH

[Damian Collins] of most Members from Scotland—indeed, it is also quite rightly on the minds of many Members from the it is no longer wedded to the purchase of a television rest of the UK. One argument put forward by the set. It also throws up challenges about the way in which Scottish Government in support of independence is different television companies—different content creators— that the cultural and creative sectors would gain more distribute their content and pay a fair licensing fee for from independence than from the status quo. The Scottish the distribution of that content through the multiple Government do support the creative economy and cultural channels through which it is being used. industries in many ways—I pay tribute to that—but so There is a debate to be had between the cable and did previous Scottish Governments under different political satellite broadcasters, such as Sky and Virgin, and the leaderships. old terrestrial television channels, such as the BBC, Local authorities also recognise the incredible importance Channel 4 and ITV, about how they agree on a fair price of the sector. My local authority, the Labour-led Edinburgh to pay for distributing someone else’s content through council—I must be fair: it is a Labour-Scottish National their channels. That is particularly necessary if distributing party council—has been supporting the creative economy through avenues where advertising is excluded or can in many ways for many years. That illustrates how the easily be excluded by the consumer. As people consume very success of the sector in Scotland underlines the television in ways that are very different from those in fact that we are better together. We can be successful the past, we will have to debate the future of television because we are part of the UK; we do not need an and how it is funded through different revenue streams, entirely separate state to nurture such successful parts such as the licence fee, advertising or subscription. I do of our economy. They are important for us, but they not intend to go into that issue at great length now, but also benefit the economy of a much wider area and it is one for the future. allow the UK as a whole to support and draw on what we are doing in Edinburgh, and in Scotland. 3.5 pm Some good examples of that are highlighted in the Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ report, such as the international activities of UK Trade Co-op): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, & Investment, which I am sure the Minister will refer to Mrs Osborne, particularly as I want to make a few in his closing comments. Scottish creative activity can remarks with a Scottish dimension. It is also a pleasure take part in that and draw from it. There is also support to follow the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe at the UK level for film, which benefits Scotland directly (Damian Collins). He emphasised the importance of and indirectly. There is the very fact that we in Scotland the cultural and creative industries, both to the entire have access to the UK market. Of course, if Scotland UK and to different parts of the country. I represent were independent, no one is suggesting that it would Edinburgh, and the subject is of particular interest to not be able to export from its creative economy to the me, my city and my constituency; Edinburgh North and rest of the UK, but the strong foundation in a UK-wide Leith can claim to be a creative hub in many ways, as market, in which the cultural or creative economy is a many who have visited it will know. major sector, is something on which we can base our I will not run through all the positive features of my activity. That applies to other sectors as well. constituency, but I would like to mention a few. There We also have the BBC. It is interesting to note that have been a number of mentions of “Grand Theft that is one of many areas in which those supporting Auto”. Of course, that game comes out of the Rockstar independence suggest that not much would change; the North stable, which is currently headquartered in my BBC would just be slightly different. They are trying to constituency. It is perhaps a sign of the times that, as I get the best of the UK while also going for independence. understand it, it is soon to move into the building That is my picture of the benefits for Scotland of occupied at the moment by The Scotsman Publications being part of the UK, but there are of course areas in Ltd. That is an interesting example of how the emphasis which there could be improvements and more could be in the different sections of the creative industry is done. Mention was made of the importance of broadband. moving from older to newer technologies. The Minister knows that I have for some time been I was told just this morning of the success of an pressing on the issue of superfast broadband in my city e-publishing company in my constituency, so I will take of Edinburgh. It is ironic that, apparently, part of the opportunity to mention that. APS Group Scotland Edinburgh city centre will not be included under the has just won a prestigious award in the academic category arrangements for additional superfast broadband that at the digital book awards 2014 in New York, ahead of were recently announced. several hundred fellow international entrants. That is another example of success in my constituency. Of The hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe mentioned course, my city also hosts the Edinburgh festival in all the advantages to his area from being close to high-speed its many guises. rail. I will not hold the Minister and his Department responsible for High Speed 2, but I emphasise an important Mr Vaizey: Hear, hear! point: if the entire UK is to draw on the benefits of London’s role as a media centre for Europe, we need to Mark Lazarowicz: The Minister clearly recognises have fast and efficient transport from the entire UK to that festival as a showcase of great importance, not just London in as many ways as possible. That includes HS2 to Edinburgh and Scotland, but to the UK as a whole. reaching Scotland and having direct high-speed lines at The main point that I want to make is that the report the earliest possible opportunity. is about supporting the creative economy in the United There are so many clear benefits to Scotland’s creative Kingdom. It is important to make that point. Colleagues economy, and the rest of Scotland’s economy, being from outside Scotland will understand why the possible part of the UK. The Government have produced a wide implications of Scottish independence are on the minds range of useful papers by independent experts highlighting 363WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 364WH the benefits, for both Scotland and the rest of the UK, The Select Committee highlighted the role of search of Scotland’s involvement in the UK. It would be useful engines and described Google’s efforts as “derisorily if the Minister’s Department were to consider something ineffective”. From the discussions I have had with both similar in the field of the creative economy. I put that sides of the industry—the publishers and the search challenge to him today. I ask him to think about it and engines—I believe that that is a reasonable judgment. to consider bringing forward such a report or study, The Select Committee rightly states that the Intellectual allowing it to feed into the debate taking place in Property Office should be beefed-up to make it a champion Scotland. for intellectual property; at the moment, it really is not. We have some travel difficulties at the moment from My hon. Friend the Member for Bristol East (Kerry parts of the south to the north, but things are not too McCarthy) spoke eloquently about the impact that a bad at the moment, so I hope that you will excuse me, failure to get to grips with the matter will have on Mrs Osborne, if I leave the debate a few minutes before individual artists, particularly when it comes to pay, and the end of the sitting, if we go to full time. Having said she emphasised that many people in the sector have that, I am glad that I have been able to contribute to the extremely low incomes. debate with something of a Scottish perspective on the All the comments made about the different exceptions creative economies of the entire UK. and exemptions, and the complexity of the issues, highlight the importance of dealing with the issues through separate 3.14 pm statutory instruments, so that we can look at each matter individually. I hope that the Minister will discuss Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): It is a that with his colleagues in BIS, who will probably take great pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Osborne. the lead on producing those statutory instruments. I I congratulate the Select Committee and in particular hope that the Government will adopt a joined-up approach. its Chair, the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr Whittingdale), Surely it must be possible to have a regime that protects on producing a thorough report on an extremely important musicians but does not hinder, for example, scientific subject. He waxed lyrical about the great quality of the researchers in epidemiology departments. Their needs British creative industries. Whether one looks at the are not the same as the needs of people in the music economic or the artistic dimension, we have much to be sector. proud of. That is one reason why Labour Members think it is extremely strange that the Department for I want to draw the attention of hon. Members to the Business, Innovation and Skills—not the Department remarks of Roly Keating, the chief executive of the for Culture, Media and Sport, of course—has not British Library, who has said that the goal is to foster an included the creative industries among its 11 priority environment that benefits researchers and creators. That sectors. The creative industries certainly should be a is absolutely right. Separating out the statutory instruments priority sector. and enabling us to look at them individually will give us a much better chance of producing that environment. The hon. Gentleman began with a little reference to the Olympic legacy and the need to change the “no The Committee also looked at funding and finance. marketing rights” protocol to allow people who were It was right to identify that issue, but I am not so involved in the productions for the Olympic and Paralympic confident that its solutions were commensurate with the games to exploit their success further. I agree with what scale of the problem. Investors are not well informed he said, and I have met representatives from PLASA. In and do not have sufficient understanding of the value of addition, some of my constituents were involved in the intangible assets in the sector. The difficulty in securing building and engineering aspects of the games, and they finance in the sector was brought home to me by some have also been prevented from exploiting their success film makers who came to my constituency surgery in to the full. That is a shame, and I hope that the Minister Bishop Auckland. The people of Bishop Auckland are will look again at the matter. creative, imaginative and intelligent, but I have to say that the arrival of film makers at my surgery was a In this debate, a lot of time has been devoted to the surprise. The film that they had made really could not important question of copyright protection. I will not be further from the “Grand Theft Auto” model—they repeat in full the remarks I made on Second Reading of had made a rather lyrical and poetic film about the lives the Intellectual Property Bill on 20 January, but I want of hill farmers. They are finding it extremely difficult to to highlight what I believe to be the priorities. I agree move from the first stage, which is having 60 hours’ with the Select Committee that the law is not enforced worth of film, to the next stage of producing something adequately, and I agree with the remarks of my hon. that can be shown and watched. That highlighted for Friend the Member for Stoke—[Interruption.] I apologise; me the difficulties that people in the sector have, particularly I meant my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle- outside the M25. under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly). The Annunciator has not been working properly, so I have had to try to remember We need a more deliberate and proactive approach all my colleagues’ constituencies, and I clearly made a from the Government in building partnerships across mistake on this occasion. The point is that the Government sectors and skills. I was pleased to receive a briefing do not seem to understand that the copyright issue is from Creative England, and to see the work that it has urgent, and I am sorry to say that the Minister’s response done in setting up accelerator programmes and to the Select Committee report did not demonstrate the commissioning, film innovation and enterprise funds. necessary zing and zest. During this Parliament, the That is a model for what we need to do, but on a bigger total cost to the creative industries in our country of scale. people downloading films, television programmes and I also had an interesting meeting with an organisation music will be some £1 billion, which is why it is so called the Cultural Capital Exchange. It is a company—run, important to crack on energetically with tackling the incidentally, entirely by women—that promotes exchange problem. between universities and the creative and cultural sectors. 365WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 366WH

[Helen Goodman] because those self-same big cities are seeing the biggest reductions in funding in their local government settlements. It has been particularly productive in finding ideas from The reduction in Liverpool is somewhere between 30% research for extremely interesting films and television and 60%, and the picture is similar in Gateshead and programmes. A more active Government intervention Manchester. He should be less complacent about the of that kind would support the creative economy even situation faced by the creative sectors beyond London. further. It is what the economist Mariana Mazzucato He cannot get away from giving the impression that the has called “the entrepreneurial state”. We need specialists Government are not developing creative industries across in finance advice, creative business and management to the entire country because they are staying within their come together far more. comfort zone.

Damian Collins: Does the hon. Lady agree that, outside Angie Bray rose— London, the regional growth funds are playing an active role in supporting creative businesses, and, in particular, Helen Goodman: I will not take any further interventions that the various enterprise investment schemes have on this point; otherwise, the debate will deteriorate in brought a huge amount of private investment into tone, and I would not want that to happen during my businesses right across the creative sector? speech. Helen Goodman: I was going to say that the demise of I was pleased by the Select Committee Chairman’s the regional development agency and the much reduced remarks on film tax credits. I never expected to hear resources of the local enterprise partnerships have left Government Members praise tax credits, but there we rather a gap outside the M25. I know that in Folkestone have it; he has done so, at least for the film sector. I in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, people have benefited reiterate his request to the Minister: it would be good if from a philanthropist whose name escapes me— the Minister brought us up to speed on his negotiations with the European Union. I also wholeheartedly agree Mr Vaizey: Sir Roger de Haan. with what the Select Committee said on education and skills: Helen Goodman: As ever, the Minister is there, ready “The broader arts curriculum has been seriously hit by the to help at any moment. Of course, that philanthropy Government’s approach to performance measurement...The danger has bolstered considerably what has been going on in remains that schools will in practice see a continued diminution in the constituency of the hon. Member for Folkestone the provision of dance, drama and other creative subjects.” and Hythe (Damian Collins), but we need a more My hon. Friend the Member for Washington and structured approach from Government. I will come on Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson), who is doing an to talk about geography. excellent job as chair of the all-party group on art, craft and design in education, made a well-informed and Damian Collins: I am glad that we have managed to telling speech. Since 2010, there has been a 14% drop in get Roger de Haan into the debate somehow, even the number of children taking arts subjects at GCSE. though, for once, I did not refer to him in my speech. If We must incorporate arts into the curriculum at the the hon. Lady wants to come to Folkestone, as she is same level as other subjects. I cannot do better than more than welcome to, she will see that his work has quote a letter from my constituent, Jonathan Carney. created some of the infrastructure. Companies such as He is head of visual arts and photography at Redcar Cognitive Media—an animation company that is doing academy and, in preparation for this debate, he wrote to incredibly well—and other private people are renting me, saying: office space that he created. They are raising their own “I am very concerned that the current disincentives to study money, winning business, growing and doing incredibly arts subjects in schools will have a serious impact on the pipeline well. That story has been replicated right around the of UK workers in to employment in the Creative Industries and country. more broadly on our children’s ability to compete in the global jobs market. Employers look for well-balanced, well-rounded Helen Goodman: I agree that the creative sector is one individuals who are capable of expressing themselves and thinking of the few sectors that is growing rapidly. I will make my creatively.” points in a different order to deal with the hon. Gentleman’s We would all agree with that; none of us could have put intervention. Under the Labour Administration, culture it better. One thing that is a bit worrying about the was part of the regeneration programme in Liverpool, Secretary of State for Education’s approach is that he Gateshead, which was mentioned, Manchester and Salford; seems to think that those subjects are not intellectually for example, there was the movement of the BBC. rigorous. Has he not met an architect or listened to a Those were big initiatives. The hon. Gentleman will be jazz pianist? Of course those subjects are as intellectually hard-pressed to find examples of such significance in rigorous as mathematics, Latin grammar and English the current climate. The Government do not have anything literature. It is patently absurd to think that rigour is comparable to those initiatives that goes beyond the only in one part of the curriculum and not in another. M25. I hope that the Minister will go back to his colleagues Mr Vaizey: Many of those initiatives were financed in the Department for Education and reinforce the by the lottery, which was created by the Conservative message that is coming from across the sectors. Everywhere Government who preceded the Labour Government. I go, the one complaint I get that is common across the board, whether in theatre, music or museums, is about Helen Goodman: I am sorry to disappoint the Minister, the narrowing of the curriculum. but a lot of the money was put into those initiatives by I also want to take up with the Minister his remarks the regional development agencies. He needs to talk about music hubs. I do not think those are performing more to his colleagues in other Whitehall Departments, as intended. We hear many reports, particularly from 367WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 368WH the Musicians’ Union, of the undermining of music to find that the son of my hon. Friend the Member for services, and of the fact that the music hubs are not Henley (John Howell)—Conservative—has won the first making up for local authorities’ loss of direct funding scholarship from Sky Arts and been picked out by as a result of reductions by the Secretary of State for Quincy Jones as one of the most talented drummers he Communities and Local Government. Once again, the had ever seen. Let it not be said that MPs from all Minister is too roseate in his picture of what is going on parties are not making their own direct contributions to in the world. the success of the creative industries. Finally, I also agree with the Committee about the It is a good thing that all of us who have spoken in Creative Industry Council and the need for Minister to this debate can point to the success of the creative go to the council’s meetings. Surely it is not too much to industries. In the spirit of ecumenicalism that often ask Ministers to go to their own meetings. However, the surrounds such debates, I point out that the creative Committee might have looked more at two issues. One industries were identified by the former Secretary of is geographical spread, which we have discussed; I will State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lord Smith of not go over that ground again. The other is the importance Finsbury, who has managed to make an impact on of widening access and opportunities to work in the other areas of public policy since then. That was the cultural industries. That is partly about education, and process by which the UK’s creative industries were put it is partly a justice issue. These are good, fun jobs that on the map. The process of identifying a rather disparate people want, and it will not be satisfactory if, to borrow sector as a coherent whole has been followed by many George Orwell’s phrase, they become of the preserve of other countries. Because of it, we can identify the “the lower-upper-middle class”. success of the creative industries: more than 1.5 million However, just as importantly, the arts need these people. jobs, over 5% of UK jobs; growth of 8.6% since 2011; a The arts need the widest pool of talent. contribution of £70 billion to the UK economy. I will give an example. I was talking to the director of This Government have built on the achievements of one of our major dance companies, and he said that, to previous Governments in supporting the creative industries. be frank, he did not need any more middle-class girls I was particularly pleased that we have built on the from the home counties coming into his theatre. When success of the film tax credit, which now brings in the company got boys from ethnic minorities in east roughly £1 billion annually of inward investment in the London, they brought a lot more energy and innovation UK, with the introduction of television tax credit for to the theatre. That is really positive and really great. We high-end drama and a tax credit for animation, which must have a much bigger picture of what is possible for was responsible, incidentally, for more than £200 million people. in inward investment in its first year. To answer the first The Minister’s response to the Committee’s report is question posed, we are expecting an announcement a bit disappointing. We do not want a global race to the shortly from the European Commission on the video bottom, with a few multi-millionaires and thousands of games tax credit. I have been in discussions with the unpaid interns. The Opposition believe that creative Commission for a time. It has a job to do, and the Britain can do better than that. Government, particularly the Conservatives, recognise the importance of policing state aid and unfair and anti- competitive Government subsidies to industries. It is 3.34 pm important that the Commission is convinced that a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, tax credit is the right thing to do, but we have Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): I am pleased to made great progress and we expect an announcement have the chance to reply to this stimulating debate. It shortly. has been extremely wide-ranging, covering copyright, As well as the tax credit support—I was delighted education, Scottish independence and the future of when the Chancellor extended the film tax credit; it is HS2—all four of which I am not formally responsible particularly important to support the visual effects industry, for, but I will try to address the points that were raised. in which the UK is among the leaders in the sector—there I particularly enjoyed the speech of the hon. Member are other forms of support. I hear what the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson). for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman) asked about It included extensive plugs for her son—I would have whether the Department for Business, Innovation done the same thing—and his future career in the video and Skills has designated the creative industries as a games industry. Short of reading his CV into the record, priority sector. We are certainly the first Government to I do not think she could have done more to bring the set up a sector council for the creative industries; we industry’s attention to the budding talents of Hodgson now have a Creative Industries Council, which is co-chaired Junior, as I assume he is called. by the Secretaries of State for Business, Innovation The hon. Lady was followed by my hon. Friend the and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport alongside Member for Selby and Ainsty (Nigel Adams)— Nicola Mendelsohn, the chief executive of Facebook in [Interruption.] He is over here now—he is the acting Europe. parliamentary private secretary; he was promoted in the Alongside that council, which considers a range of middle of this debate. He refrained from mentioning issues including access to finance, skills and exports, we the success and talents of his son, Ben Adams, in the have set up Creative England, which is designed to soon-to-be-world-famous British band Summer City. I support the creative industries outside London. We take regretted that he did not mention it, because then we that support seriously. To respond to what my hon. could have had a contest to decide in the course of this Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian debate whether the offspring of Labour MPs are more Collins) said, it has received significant support from creative than the offspring of Conservative MPs. I was the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in particularly pleased to open a copy of my local newspaper terms of money from the regional growth fund. 369WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 370WH

[Mr Edward Vaizey] Copyright reform began with the Hargreaves review, which has been extensively consulted upon. Many views There is also Tech City, which acts as a beacon to have been taken into account, and it is important to get show this country’s support for the technology industry. the balance right. The hon. Member for Bristol East It is important to recognise that Joanna Shields, the (Kerry McCarthy) knows that I am going to say that we chairman of Tech City, has made it an imperative to believe that the private copying exception is the narrowest reach out to all the other clusters across the UK, to exception in Europe, so we do not think a levy is bring them together as a coherent whole and to ensure appropriate. I shall write to her as she invited me to, that other parts of the UK also benefit from that setting out in great detail why I think that. extraordinary growth. I have written to the chairmen and chief executives of local enterprise partnerships—many Helen Goodman: When the Minister writes to my of them already recognise this—to remind them of the hon. Friend, will he copy me in? importance of the creative industries when setting out their strategies. Some of the city deals, particularly the Mr Vaizey: I shall certainly copy in the hon. Lady. one in Brighton, have put the creative industries centre stage. With Tim Davie from BBC Worldwide, I co-chair Mr Whittingdale: And, indeed, everyone. UK Trade & Investment’s sector advisory group, which works to help the export of our successful creative Mr Vaizey: I will certainly copy the hon. Lady and industries and to attract inward investment. There is a the Chairman of the Select Committee into my reply. hugely successful story to tell about Government support Danish law allows sharing within a household; Polish for the creative industries and about the ongoing activity law apparently allows sharing within social circles—so to support the industries. there are much wider exceptions in Europe, and we have It is also important to stress that we should include been careful to draw ours as narrowly as possible. the Arts Council in the mix. The hon. Member for My hon. Friend the Select Committee Chairman Bishop Auckland talked earlier about the need to support asked about the future funding of the Police Intellectual people in employment. The Arts Council has set up a Property Crime Unit. The Intellectual Property Office £15 million fund to fund apprenticeships in the creative funded the set-up costs and the initial period of operation, industries, in addition to the £37 million creative people but I understand that the baton will pass to industry, and places fund to help fund the arts in areas where and that has always been made clear. If the work is they have previously been under-represented. The agenda worth doing, the industry should support it. I am is wide, but there is a huge range of activity to support interested in the PRS proposal on traffic lights. We that agenda. reached out to some of the relevant intermediaries but I pay tribute to the fantastic Chairman of the Select without success, but if PRS still believes that we could Committee. He rules the Committee with an iron fist pursue that system, it is worth revisiting. and directs it towards all the pertinent issues of the day. He has, as usual, produced a perspicacious and incisive As to increasing the sentences for online copyright report that focuses in particular on concerns about the infringement, I understand that the Minister with changes to the copyright regime. As the Minister with responsibility for intellectual property said that it was responsibility for the creative industries, I understand worth looking into that, and we also said so in our the concern of many in the creative industries about response. Further, the Science Minister, who responded copyright enforcement. I have tried to bring together on Second Reading in the Commons, said that we the different sides of the debate—the rights holders, the would report our findings by the end of the year. We internet service providers and the search engines. We support industry initiatives to educate people about the take a wide range of action. Let us not forget that complexities of copyright, and are in active discussions existing law has been used effectively by rights holders with the industry about how the Government can support to seek and obtain injunctions against some of the more education initiatives. biggest sites that exist for the sole purpose of distributing Perhaps that is the appropriate moment for me to infringing material. We also work with City of London pick up the point that the Select Committee Chairman police and credit card companies to take down payment made about the VCAP proposals. It has been difficult to sites, and we have one of the most advanced systems, if implement the details of the Digital Economy Act 2010. not the most advanced system, working with the advertising The Government have not resiled from it, but there are industry to ensure that advertising is not present on significant technical obstacles, including the fact that many of those websites. we were being sued by BT and TalkTalk for at least two We take a wide range of action, but my response to years from the time when it was passed. Other technical the Select Committee, which seems to have got a resounding obstacles have presented themselves, and we are actively B+ from hon. Members here today—[Interruption.] I seeking to overcome them, but nevertheless we welcome might be being optimistic. We want Google to do more, the industry initiative, not only because we hope it may and we will continue to press it to do so. be up and running before the end of the year, but because it requires a partnership between both sides of Paul Farrelly: It is a Select Committee, so the B+ is the debate, and because it brings important flexibility to cross-party. make it possible to adapt. I suspect that it will be easier Mr Vaizey: I am grateful for that clarification. My to adapt the system as technology changes. excellent officials have provided me with answers to The Select Committee’s position and that of many most of the questions that have been posed in this hon. Members who rightly act as strong advocates for debate. I feel like I should recreate the famous Bob the creative industries and rights holders is well known. Dylan video when I read them out, but I will address The Government’s position is also well established, and some of the excellent points that have been raised. there has been an extensive dialogue. I hear what has 371WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 372WH been said about the need for separate statutory instruments That is where we are in terms of music education. But when the exceptions are debated, and I am sure that the we went further and introduced the first national cultural Department responsible will listen carefully to that education plan, which, again, has put on the table recommendation. heritage schools. English Heritage is now working with Another all-pervasive issue is the position of the arts schools to ensure that heritage is taught in our schools. in education. Hon. Members will know that I sought There are many other initiatives to ensure that our out the job as culture spokesman in opposition and was children enjoy as wide a cultural education as possible. lucky enough to be appointed Minister when we came Clearly, the Secretary of State for Education has his into office. I passionately support the arts and would be own agenda in terms of ensuring, rightly, that we continue concerned if I thought that some of what people allege to drive up standards in our schools. He is utterly about the state of the arts in schools was genuine. The passionate about education and about not leaving behind Secretary of State for Education is a fantastic supporter too many children who, in the past, for whatever reason, of the arts. I have no doubt about that, and I work have been written off, as have their life chances. He has closely with him, as I have done for several years. One of determined to introduce rigour into the curriculum. the first things that we did was jointly to commission The Department for Education has listened to concerns Darren Henley to look at music education, to secure the that have been enunciated. We now have the new progress ring-fenced funding of music education services at a 8 system, which allows schools to take into account the time when most funding was being devolved to schools, arts and arts education. and when schools were becoming academies, as they There is an either/or element when we debate the arts still are. I felt that it was important to take that strong in education. No one has made teaching the arts illegal position. in schools. The Secretary of State is also about empowering We want music services to change, which is why we our teachers and head teachers to lead their schools. A re-christened them music hubs. Obviously, more has to good head teacher and a great teaching staff will recognise be done than simply change the name. We want music the importance of the arts and the fantastic bonus that organisations—orchestras, and so on—to be genuine great arts teaching brings, not just in introducing children partners with local authority music services and for to the arts, but enhancing their academic achievement music services to be able to call on the talents of a wide in many other subjects. range of people who deliver music in different ways in any local area. That is why we introduced the qualified Mrs Hodgson: Nobody doubts that the Secretary of music educator status, to allow people who teach music State cares about all this. We are not saying that it is a but are not formally teachers to be recognised for their competition or a matter of either/or. The fact is that there talents and skills. And that is why we extended the In are unintended consequences to the baccalaureate. The Harmony programme, increased its funding and integrated number of art teachers being trained has dropped by it into a wider national music plan. 14%. The discount codes are deterring young people We are at the beginning of this journey. Nobody is from taking more than one GCSE in arts subjects. This has expecting music hubs to spring fully formed from this to be looked at. The reality is there in black and white in policy change. We have achieved two important things: the figures. Will the Minister say something about the we have ring-fenced the money and established the proposal in the report for STEM to become STEAM principle that music organisations and music services and whether the Government will take that on board? should be partners. A third important principle is that the money is contestable; no one local music service or Mr Vaizey: The hon. Lady mentioned discount codes. local authority should be complacent—a word that has The Government recognise the differences between artistic been used in this debate in other contexts—and simply disciplines, and it is important to get it across that expect to receive that money every three years. decisions on discount codes are made on the basis of a detailed scrutiny of the exam specifications, rather than on a general view of the subjects concerned. Where Angie Bray: My hon. Friend the Minister will recall substantial overlap between two specifications exists, launching the Ealing music and film festival this time the subjects will be discounted. Those decisions can be last year. As I said earlier, on our first night of the reviewed and are being reviewed in the case of drama festival, last night, the English chamber orchestra was and dance. I emphasise again the Department for partnering young musicians from Twyford school. Tonight Education’s continued support for music and dance it will be partnering young musicians from Ealing youth schemes, which equates to some £18 million-worth of orchestra. Does he agree that it is good for young bursaries over the next three years, which is a huge people that such an initiative can be promoted even by a amount of support. The Department has also listened festival? to concerns about the EBacc and that is why we now have the new progress 8 measure, which allows schools Mr Vaizey: I do think it is a good thing for young to have their teaching of arts subjects taken into account people. That is absolutely brilliant. Again, we tend when measuring their progress and success. always to look at what we say is going wrong and not We have had a lively and well-balanced debate with good enough and often fail to recognise what is right in contributions from both sides of the House and from front of us, which is that tens of thousands of our hon. Members who are passionate advocates and supporters young people are brilliant musicians enjoying a brilliant of the creative industries, even when not taking part in music education. Funnily enough, I was lucky to visit this debate. Twyford school with Howard Goodall several years ago and watch its choir in action. It is a phenomenal state Helen Goodman: Before the Minister sits down, my school—I emphasise that—with phenomenal music hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and teaching. I recognise what my hon. Friend says. Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) asked whether he would look 373WH Supporting the Creative Economy13 FEBRUARY 2014 Supporting the Creative Economy 374WH

[Helen Goodman] Mr Vaizey: I will happily do that. I have regular meetings with the Scottish Culture Minister, Fiona at the potential implications of Scottish independence Hyslop, and know about the astonishing success of the on the cultural industries. It was a good suggestion, and creative industries in Scotland, the Edinburgh international I would be happy to co-operate with the Minister if he festival being not just the oldest, but the largest arts takes it forward. festival of its kind. I am looking forward this year to the second summit of culture Ministers that will take place Mr Vaizey: I hesitate to commit my Secretary of State around the Edinburgh international festival. There is a or the Government to such a report, but given today’s lot to celebrate in the creative success of Scotland, and important speech by the Chancellor about the future of of the UK where Scotland and the rest of the UK are currency in Scotland and the Prime Minister’s important better together, as the hon. Member for Edinburgh speech about Scottish independence just under a week North and Leith pointed out in his brilliant comments. ago, I am sure that an opportunity will present itself between now and the vote for the Department for This has been a wide-ranging debate covering a wide Culture, Media and Sport to highlight the effect that range of issues, but at its heart sits a truth now universally independence could have on the creative industries. acknowledged. I say that in the full knowledge that I will be going to Jane Austen’s house this evening after Paul Farrelly rose— this debate to celebrate the keeping of her ring in the UK. I know that keeping cultural objects in this country Mr Vaizey: I now give way to the hon. Gentleman not is close to the heart of the hon. Member for Bishop from Stoke. Auckland. A truth that must be universally acknowledged is that Britain is fantastically successful in the creative Paul Farrelly: It is almost a Stoke point. Before the industries, including television, film, animation, games, Minister concludes, I want to take him back to the fashion, architecture, craft, the visual arts and the beginning and point out an anomaly that was discovered performing arts. We attract massive inward investment in the definitions and statistics—although I am not for the arts and we are known around the world for going to argue for the inclusion of ceramics in the them. statistics, which is a Stoke argument. When examining the statistics, we found that, of the £36 billion, £20 billion The Government will continue to support the creative was attributed to the so-called fashion industry, so I industries directly through tax credits and indirectly asked the Chairman of the Committee why we were through policy changes and in our support for growth discussing music and film, but not clothes. It seems that in the economy. If there is one thing I would like to see, the £20 billion attributed to the fashion industries includes it is more recognition in this country for our astonishing pretty much everything that goes by the name of clothing success and our global prominence thanks to our creative on the high street, so the Minister may want to consider industries. the statistics and how they are gathered and measured. Mr Vaizey: I do not know why the Chairman of the 4.2 pm Select Committee would not want to talk about fashion. Mr Whittingdale: I had not anticipated commenting I would have thought that it was his top subject. As my further, but this has been a very good debate. I am hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe grateful to the members of my Committee who have said, London fashion week begins tomorrow, and I come along to speak and to other hon. Members. That know for a fact that the British Fashion Council would has demonstrated the degree of support and interest on welcome the Chairman of the Committee at any of its both sides of the House and, indeed, in all parts of the events over the next five days. country. As the Minister said, the debate has ranged into areas that perhaps go beyond his Department’s rose— Mark Lazarowicz responsibilities, but I hope that he will consider carefully Mr Vaizey: I see that the hon. Member for Edinburgh what has been said. North and Leith is keen to come in, but I must say that I echo everything the Minister said about the success it is interesting that every element of the creative industries of our creative industries. The Government are doing will publish reports about their value to the economy. I many good things, but the area that I remain concerned think that the British Fashion Council engaged Oxford about and that several hon. Members raised is copyright. Economics to make the serious point that the high-end, If there are to be modernisation changes, they should luxury fashion of the catwalk, which seems somewhat be made carefully, and we hope that there will be removed from our daily existence, sits at the apex or opportunities to look carefully at every proposed change. epicentre of a wide industry that includes photography, That will mean debates on the statutory instruments, if hairdressing, make-up and a whole range of things. possible, as they appear. Those are not official statistics, however. They come I thank the Minister for his reply. His official response from a report produced by the British Fashion Council. did not go as far as we might have hoped in some areas, Mark Lazarowicz: To be clear, I was thinking of but he has endeavoured in some way to make up for that something more along the line of highlighting the positive this afternoon. advantages for the creative industries if Scotland remains Question put and agreed to. in the UK. Instead of emphasising the negatives of independence, I would like to see something that highlights the positive advantages that are so clear to so many of 4.4 pm us. Sitting adjourned. 63WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 64WS

Government and administered by the Student Loans Written Statements Company. As ICR loans were not issued under the CCA, they are not affected by the issue identified above. Thursday 13 February 2014 The Government are in the process of preparing for a first sale from the ICR loan book by the end of 2015-16.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS TREASURY Student Loans Fuel Markers The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts): On 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 2WS, I announced the completion of the sale of The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Nicky Morgan): the remaining publicly owned mortgage-style (MS) student The Government are today announcing the introduction loans under the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 as of a new product to mark rebated fuels. The new amended by the Education (Student Loans) Act 1998. marker will be produced by the chemical company Dow, and will be mandated for use in off-road diesel, Administration of the loans has remained the known as red diesel in the UK, and kerosene, primarily responsibility of the Student Loans Company (SLC) used for heating oil. while work was being undertaken to prepare for migration of the sold accounts to the purchaser, Erudio Student Today’s announcement represents a significant step Loans Ltd. forward in the battle against criminals who “launder” rebated fuel and sell it on for road use at a profit. The Migration of accounts is now commencing and new marker being introduced will be highly resistant to borrowers will soon begin to receive letters informing such laundering. them of this change and any actions they are required to take as a result. The terms and conditions of borrowers’ The UK and Ireland launched a joint search for a loans—including the interest rate charged, which will new marker in 2012, which concluded last autumn after continue to be set annually by reference to published rigorous evaluation. This unique co-operation recognises RPI figures—are not changing as a result of the sale, that the criminals responsible for fuel laundering do not and borrowers will not need to take any action at this respect borders, and it means that for the first time the stage. Successful migration will trigger the payment UK and Ireland will share a significantly improved to Government of the second and final instalment marker. The Government are confident that this will of ca. £43 million out of the total purchase price of severely limit the supply of oils fraudsters can use. £160 million. This Government are clear that fuel laundering is not Late on in the sale and migration process, a potential a victimless crime; it robs the Government of tax revenue issue was identified with some of the arrears correspondence that could be used to fund vital public services; it puts that had previously been issued by SLC to a proportion all businesses that follow the rules at a commercial of MS loan borrowers. These letters could be interpreted disadvantage, from retailers to haulage firms; and it can as having not been fully compliant with the Consumer have a severe environmental impact, with considerable Credit Act (CCA) 1974—as amended in 2008—and clean-up costs. associated secondary legislation. The new marker will be introduced in consultation Although borrowers are not thought to have been with the oil industry and other affected sectors and will disadvantaged as a result, the decision has been taken be used alongside the current marker mix. It is anticipated to adjust the balance of the affected loans. Erudio that the new marker will be introduced within 12 to 18 Student Loans Ltd will remove any loan interest and/or months and the relevant legislation will be amended charges paid by the affected borrowers from the time during this period. that they first received such a letter. Borrowers need take no action and all affected borrowers will be informed as part of migration. Scotland Analysis Migration represented the first practical opportunity at which affected borrowers could be notified of their individual circumstances and at which their accounts The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander): could be updated. The agreed purchase price of £160 million The Government have today presented to Parliament reflects the £6.25 million cost of balance adjustments the 11th paper in the Scotland analysis programme and associated administration. series to inform the debate on Scotland’s future within Additionally, there are a small number of affected the United Kingdom. customers who paid off their loans prior to the sale—or “Scotland analysis: Assessment of a sterling currency had them cancelled under the loan terms—and whose union” (C8815) examines what independence would loans were consequently not included in the sale. The mean for Scotland’s economy and how this would impact SLC will separately be making contact with these customers on Scotland’s macro-economic framework choices, including to make arrangements for a refund. The cost of this is its choice of currency. estimated at £0.75 million. The analysis sets out that the UK is one of the most Income contingent repayment (ICR) loans, offered to successful monetary, fiscal and political unions in history, students after 1998, were not included in the 25 November and the current arrangements bring significant benefits sale and these loans continue to be owned by the to Scotland. Taxation, spending, monetary policy and 65WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 66WS financial stability policy are co-ordinated across the changes to valuation methods, consistent with the principle whole UK to the benefit of all parts of the UK. Risks that business rates are based on rental property values and are pooled and the UK has a common insurance against that the rates retention system rewards local government for uncertainty. growth in values; and frequency of revaluations to enable tax assessments to be Within a sterling currency union, an independent based on up-to-date property values. Scottish state would find it more difficult to adjust to the effects of economic challenges, such as a fall in the In considering possible changes to the business rates global price of oil, than Scotland is able to as part of system to be made post-2017, the review will balance the UK. In turn, the continuing UK would become the need for any system to deliver fairness, stability and exposed to much greater fiscal and financial risk from a predictability to ratepayers. Any changes will need to separate state, creating risks for continuing UK taxpayers. maintain the aggregate tax yield from which to fund The subsequent experience of the euro area in the local services, preserve the same level of financial autonomy financial crisis highlights the challenges of creating a to authorities and the local incentives to promote growth durable currency union. that were delivered through the implementation of the business rates retention scheme introduced on 1 April The analysis concludes that, in the event of a vote for 2013. independence, the Treasury would advise the UK Government against entering into a currency union. The UK pound is one of the oldest and most successful currencies in the world. If people in Scotland vote to COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT leave the UK they are also voting to leave the UK pound. Flood Response This paper builds on the analysis already published as part of the Scotland analysis programme including papers relating to currency and monetary policy, financial The Secretary of State for Communities and Local services and banking, business and micro-economic Government (Mr Eric Pickles): The country continues framework and macro-economic and fiscal performance. to suffer the effects of the recent extraordinary weather. It also draws on legal opinion published by the Government The Government are determined to do everything possible alongside their paper “Scotland analysis: Devolution to help those communities affected to recover as quickly and the implication of Scottish independence” published as they can. in February 2013. This statement updates the House on further changes being made to the Bellwin scheme which provides emergency Business Rates Administration Review financial assistance to local authorities in England. The Bellwin scheme is designed to help local authorities recover the immediate and additional costs they incur The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David when taking action to safeguard lives and properties or Gauke): The Under-Secretary of State for Communities to prevent suffering and inconvenience to local residents. and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member The scheme normally works through an application to for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis), and I have today my Department by local authorities once they have published the terms of reference for the Government’s determined costs incurred to receive reimbursement. review of business rates administration. This follows Last week I took steps to strengthen this scheme in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s autumn statement, response to the exceptional circumstances caused by where he announced a £1 billion package of business this winter’s flooding. The Government will now pay rates measures which benefits all 1.8 million ratepayers 100% of the costs incurred above the threshold, rather and means that around 360,000 small businesses pay no than the usual 85%. We have reduced the threshold for rates at all, and committed to discuss with business all county councils and unitary authorities to make it options for longer-term administrative reform of business easier for them to claim Bellwin support. This is the first rates post-2017. The terms of reference are set out time that the thresholds have been reduced in 30 years. below. In a related measure, we have allowed upper-tier authorities Terms of reference with responsibility for fire to claim Bellwin on a comparable Business rates are a tax based on property values. In basis to stand-alone fire authorities for fire-related costs. England they raise around £23 billion each year, which I am today announcing a further extension of this helps fund services provided by local government. The scheme to provide certainty and financial security to review will consider the way in which the business rates local authorities in the front line. First, local authorities system in England is administered by the Valuation now have until the end of May to incur eligible spending Office Agency and local authorities, with a view to recognising the extended nature of the weather. This strengthening its responsiveness to changes in property vital extension will give councils the reassurance that values and its simplicity and transparency to business they will have time to deal with the effects of the ratepayers. weather and still have time to properly assess local costs. The review will include consideration of the: Secondly, we will allow a large proportion of those administration of billing and collection by local authorities, Bellwin payments to be made available now, rather than including the application of reliefs and exemptions; and of waiting until the situation has cleared up before local valuation by the Valuation Office Agency, including the authorities can make those claims. This means that scope for improvements in communication and the exchange local authorities will have access to the cash they need of information between ratepayers and public bodies; right now to deal with the pressing problems caused by the circumstances under which liability can be backdated; the weather. Local authorities simply need to put in a 67WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 68WS request to my Department and we will pay up to 80% of The Sochi 2014 winter Olympic and Paralympic games spending which is eligible under the Bellwin scheme. We take place in February and March. UK Sport has will pay the remainder upon receipt of the formal claim invested £14.1 million into eight winter sports and is through the usual channels. This will be paid quickly, targeting at least three medals at the Olympics and at with as little bureaucracy as possible. These changes least two at the Paralympics. recognise the exceptional nature of the situation which As part of the continued Government funding for communities are facing. elite sport to 2016, all funded athletes have been asked For the avoidance of doubt, where local authorities to give up to five days a year to inspire children and issue sandbags as a result of an emergency the cost can young people to get involved in sport. UK Sport’s most be claimed through the Bellwin scheme. In that context, recent survey of this activity, completed in October I wish to be clear that no local authority should be 2013, revealed that athletes had given more than 6,000 days charging their residents for sandbags. to community and school sport since London 2012. These changes are one part of the Government’s World-class Facilities immediate response to the floods. Yesterday the Prime Good progress continues to be made on the Minister announced a comprehensive package of new transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park. measures to help hard-working homes, businesses and All eight of the retained park venues, including the five farmers hit by the recent flooding including a £5,000 “repair sporting venues, now have operators in place, to manage and renew” grant for all affected home owners and each of the facilities as the park reopens to the public businesses for when the flood waters subside; £10 million between now and spring 2014. for farmers and a commitment to give affected businesses relief from business rates; together with investment The Copper Box arena has welcomed over plans to strengthen our flood defences with a further 100,000 visitors and played host to the Badminton £130 million for the future. Grand Prix, the International Handball Cup, boxing The Government’s emergency committee continues and Great Britain’s men’s basketball and is home to the to meet regularly to lead the national response and we London Lions British basketball league team who are will continue to do everything we can to help the hosting 21 games for the 2013-14 season. emergency services, local authorities and community Major Sports Events members to deal with the extremely difficult situation UK Sport’s gold event series, the legacy programme they are facing. I would like to praise the ongoing hard for major events hosting within the UK, has secured work of local authorities and the emergency services 39 major events for the UK and is on track to secure and I hope that today’s announcement will give them 70 major international sporting events for the UK the financial confidence to continue serving their local between 2013 and 2019. residents in these challenging times. This year will see another 10 major events staged in the UK as part of the series, with three London 2012 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT legacy venues hosting major international sports for the first time since the London 2012 games. July will also see the UK hosting three stages of the Tour de France Sporting Legacy for the first time. Community The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Places People Play Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): Our ambition is to be the first host nation to increase the number of people Sport England’s investment in grassroots sports facilities playing sport off the back of the Olympic and Paralympic now stands at £71 million, with some 1,366 clubs already games. The long-term trends show we are on track and having benefited from the “Inspired Facilities”programme. according to the “Active People Survey” data published The next round of applications for funding has been in December 2013, some 15.5 million people are playing received, and awards for successful bids will be announced sport at least once a week. That is 1.5 million more than in the spring. when we won the bid to host the London 2012 games. Since the last update over 40,000—14 to 25-year-olds We are committed to building on that. have completed the six-eight week Sportivate coaching This shows a strong recovery on the last six months course, bringing the total number trying new sports to and a sustained growth a year after the games. As we 297,232. Some 80% of these have continued to play said in June, bad winter weather during 2012-13 meant regularly since completion of the course. The community that people lost the opportunity to play sport but not outreach sports programmes developed by the London the motivation. We have also seen record numbers of Legacy Development Corporation with over 20 delivery disabled people playing sport—1.67 million people aged partners and stakeholders including Take 12, Barry 16 years and over with a long-term limiting illness or McGuigan Boxing Academy, Active People Active Park disability—and more people from black and minority (APAP) have already helped over 20,000 local people to ethnic (BME) communities participating than ever before— get more active. The full APAP programme will be 2.7 million). The number of women playing sport has launched in spring 2014. also increased by 55,000 over the last six months. Youth Sport Strategy Elite Sport There are now over 1,500 satellite clubs in secondary Elite Funding schools. One hundred and fifty of these are for girls In February, UK Sport will publish the results of the only. annual investment reviews of summer Olympic and Sport England’s £15 million university sport activation Paralympic sports. UK Sport continues to track their fund was launched in November 2013. This is a revenue progress towards Rio 2016. fund aimed at universities, to challenge themselves continue 69WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 70WS to enhance their sport offer to appeal to more higher games. Launched in early 2013, it is on track to deliver education (HE) students, and demonstrate the value 26,000 opportunities to participate in inclusive sports that sport plays within wider university objectives. We and physical activity by 2015-16, meeting initial targets hope that by doing this we will start to create a sporting relating to throughput, supported by the appointment habit for life among more HE students. of Para-legacy agents to promote the programme. Volunteering The date for National Paralympic day 2014 has been The volunteering legacy remains a key priority for agreed (to be held on the 30th August), which will also the Government. Join In had a target of supporting feature the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival as well 10,000 events across the UK and, in December 2013, as elite sport in two or three venues on the Queen published their evaluation of the summer campaign Elizabeth Olympic park. which showed they supported over 11,000 events, helping International Development clubs and community organisations to recruit over The international inspiration programme is (or has 100,000 new volunteers. been) active in 20 countries. The vision was to reach More information on the Join In evaluation and the 12 million young people. At present more than plans for 2014 can be found on the Join In website. This 15.6 million have been reached with more than includes their local leaders network of volunteers which 230,000 trainers, coaches and teachers receiving funding. launched in January 2014 and will continue to grow I will continue to provide quarterly updates to the over the coming year. House on progress with delivery of this plan. School Games Some 16,491, or nearly 70% of all schools, are fully engaged in the programme. This is an increase of 7%. DEFENCE Some 2,343 schools have gained a school games kitemark with 260 of these achieving the highest “gold” award—an increase from 69 schools the previous year. Over 100 county Submarine Dismantling Project festivals of sport took place during the summer and winter of 2013, involving more than 100,000 young participants. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence The hugely successful School Games National Finals (Mr Philip Dunne): I am announcing today that the took place in Sheffield in September, with Manchester Ministry of Defence’s submarine dismantling project recently being announced as this year’s host city. Once (SDP) has published the provisional shortlist of candidate again a delegation of young athletes from Brazil took sites for the storage of intermediate level radioactive part in three sports winning 15 medals. In return, the waste removed from nuclear-powered submarines after UK sent some of our best young disabled athletes to they have left naval service and been defuelled. The compete at Brazil’s school Paralympic-style games in storage will be for an interim period until the UK’s November, finishing 10th overall in the medal table geological deposit facility is available some time after with an impressive haul of 21 gold medals, three silver 2040. and one bronze. I previously announced on 22 March 2013, Official PE/School Sport Report, column 61WS that all nuclear licensed and authorised sites in the UK, including those owned by Some £150 million per year of ring-fenced funding the MOD, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will now go directly to primary school head teachers to (NDA) and industry, would be considered on an equal spend solely on PE and sporting provision. An extra basis. This approach was based on the findings from an year’s funding was announced in the Chancellor’s autumn initial public consultation, which ran from October statement bringing the total to £450 million over the 2011 to February 2012, and was announced by the then next three years. Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology In addition, £18 million of lottery money will be used my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire to help around 600 schools improve their outdoor sporting (Sir Peter Luff) on 27 October 2011, Official Report, facilities. column 16WS. Disability Sport Legacy All such sites have now been considered and the five that have been provisionally shortlisted for the interim A record number of disabled people now play sport store are as follows: each week. This has increased by 62,000 over the last year, bringing the total number to its highest recorded the atomic weapons establishment sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, which are owned by the MOD and figure of 1.67 million. run by AWE plc; Awards for the next round of the inclusive sport fund Sellafield in Cumbria and Chapelcross in Dumfriesshire, and the new “Get Equipped” fund will be announced in which are owned by the NDA; and the spring. Capenhurst in Cheshire, which is run by Capenhurst Nuclear The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) Services. has continued to deliver its Paralympic legacy programme, In line with good practice on public consultation, we and has now agreed a business case to invest £1.7 million will now enter a period of pre-engagement with local over the coming three years, to be matched by a £3 million authorities, elected representatives and established site funding from external partners. Led by LLDC in stakeholder groups at each of the candidate sites. This partnership with Sport England, “Motivate East” is an will provide these groups with an early opportunity to inclusive sports participation project for disabled people understand and comment on the criteria that should be living in the host boroughs, inspired by the Paralympic considered during the main assessment of shortlisted 71WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 72WS sites. It will also help us to shape the formal public My detailed response contains further information consultation that we will carry out before any decisions on these matters. are made. Annex to written ministerial statement Following this period of pre-engagement, our aim is School TeachersReview Body’s(STRB’s)recommendations to publish the final shortlist of sites in summer 2014. and response from the Secretary of State for Education. These will then be taken forward as the basis for public [The following sets out the full set of recommendations consultation, which will be carried out locally, around from the STRB as published in the 23rd report (CM 8813) each candidate site, and nationally. Our plan is for the on 13 February 2014, together with the response from public consultation to begin towards the end of this the Secretary of State for Education.] year and end early next year. The 23rd report of the STRB is being published Further information on the SDP and a copy of the today. It covers matters referred to the STRB in April proposed criteria and screening report, which contains 2013. Copies are available in the Vote Office, the Printed more detail about why individual sites were chosen for Paper Office and in the Libraries of both Houses and the provisional shortlist, can be found at: https:// online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/submarine- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ dismantling-project-interim-storage-of-intermediate- department-for-education level-radioactive-waste. In making its recommendations, the STRB was asked Copies of these reports will also be placed in the to consider: Library of the House. how to provide a simplified and flexible framework for ensuring school leaders’ pay is appropriate to the challenge of the post and their contribution to their school or schools; EDUCATION how the current detailed provisions for allowances, other pay flexibilities and safeguarding could be reformed to allow a simpler and more flexible STPCD; and School Teachers Review Body (23rd Report) how the framework for teachers’ non-pay conditions of service could be reformed to raise the status of the profession and support the recruitment and retention of high-quality The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): teachers, and raise standards of education for all children. The 23rd report of the School Teachers Review Body I am grateful for the in-depth consideration which (STRB) is being published today. Its recommendations the STRB has given to these important matters. I am cover the issues that were referred to it in April 2013— inviting comments on the STRB’s report and my response leadership pay; allowances; provisions relating to to its recommendations by 13 March 2014. safeguarding; and teachers’ non-pay terms and conditions. The STRB has recommended: The recommendations seek to continue the process of reform that had begun with the STRB’s 23rd report on Leadership pay framework classroom teachers’ pay with a view to producing a A simple three-stage process to guide governing bodies in framework of pay and conditions that will raise the setting pay for heads and wider leadership group, taking account of challenge of the role. status of the teaching profession, and support the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers and Relevant allowances to be subsumed into the pay setting school leaders. arrangements for base pay. The removal of unnecessary rigidities in form of spine I am grateful for the consideration which the STRB points and differentials. has given to these important matters and fully support Pay progression that better reflects individual performance, the guiding principle of increased flexibility for schools for the leadership group. within a simplified and consistent national framework Continuing scope for governing body discretion to set pay that it has used as the basis for its recommendations. 25% above the broad bands, and exceptionally beyond if Copies of the STRB’s 23rd report are available in the supported by a business case. Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office and the Libraries Providing formal headroom above the current leadership of both Houses, and online at: range for the biggest leadership roles in large multiple schools. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ Scope for fixed-term contracts in limited circumstances with department-for-education provision for reward linked to delivery of specified outcomes. The STRB has made recommendations that seek to Allowances build on the reforms to teachers’ pay and provide a The existing broad framework of TLR payments be retained, framework for leadership pay that is consistent with with removal of the current provisions relating to differential that for classroom teachers. It proposes greater autonomy levels of TLR payments within schools. for schools to determine the appropriate level of pay The SEN allowance be retained unchanged. depending on the circumstances of each post and additional The chartered London teacher scheme be abolished with flexibility within the national pay framework to reflect transitional arrangements for teachers already registered. the changing nature of school leadership, including The unqualified teachers’ allowance, acting allowance and recognition of the most demanding roles. It also proposes performance payments to seconded teachers and payments greater freedom in setting the levels of allowances, the for residential duties and additional payments be retained, simplification of salary safeguarding provisions and the with amendment as necessary consequential on the changes removal of unnecessary detailed guidance on non-pay to leadership pay. conditions. Recruitment and retention benefits and incentives to be retained as a separate allowance for teachers, but be limited I am grateful to the STRB for these recommendations to housing/relocation allowances for head teachers and other and, subject to the views of consultees, I intend to members of the leadership group where pay has been set accept all the key recommendations. under the new arrangements. 73WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 74WS

A discretionary payment may only be made to head teachers are not high enough, the system of endorsement of for additional responsibilities undertaken on a temporary or courses is insufficiently rigorous, and the content of irregular basis. those courses too generic. The result is a failure to The General Teaching Council for Wales’ fee allowance be protect the most vulnerable children in our society. retained. While Sir Martin stresses that some fine social work The Department consider simplification of the presentation of allowances in a revised STPCD. courses do exist, in too many universities and in many Safeguarding social work texts, social work training can be dominated by an emphasis on inequality, empowerment and anti- The Department should bring together the current oppressive practice. As Sir Martin Narey says, safeguarding provisions into one simplified section of the STPCD. “Sometimes, parents and other carers neglect and harm children. In such circumstances, viewing those parents as Non-pay recommendations victims, seeking to treat them non oppressively, empowering The core provisions in section 2 be retained, but the list of them or working in partnership with them can divert the 21 administrative and clerical tasks at annex 3 to section 2 be practitioner’s focus from where it should be: on the child.” removed from the STPCD. Sir Martin argues that there is too much theory, not The section 4 guidance be removed from the STPCD. enough good practical experience. Training for children’s The existing statements of professional responsibilities for social work ought to include: recognition of the signs of teachers be retained. abuse; understanding of the impact of child abuse and I am grateful to the STRB for its consideration of the neglect in very early years and beyond; assessment and issues and, subject to consultees’ views, I intend to analytical skills; training in how to question and engage accept all these recommendations. I regard them as parents and children; a sound knowledge of the evidence providing the framework to move towards a more flexible base around parental capacity and effective intervention and simpler system, where the emphasis is on less including how to prepare a child to move home, either unnecessary detailed prescription and greater autonomy in an emergency or to a new permanent family; management for schools in deciding how to reward their head teachers. of risk; the legal framework; and child development. To The recommendations to remove the list of 21 learn how to apply this knowledge in practice, training administrative and clerical tasks and the section 4 guidance must always include a placement in a statutory setting. are particularly welcome. They will not only contribute towards the Government’s objective of reducing unnecessary Sir Martin reveals there are some good undergraduate guidance and of simplifying and shortening the overall courses, and there are many better Masters-based entry STPCD, but they will also provide greater flexibility for routes—but too many social workers are leaving university teachers and school leaders to use their professional today ill-prepared for their vital role working to protect judgement in exercising their professional responsibilities at-risk children. and as such represent an important step in the reform of Children’s social work requires a uniquely fine balance teachers’ conditions of employment. of moral, legal, practical and psychological considerations; In addition to its recommendations, the STRB has challenge as well as support; a hard intellect as well as a made a number of suggestions about the timing and generous heart. handling of the implementation of changes to leadership Too many prospective social workers, as Sir Martin pay and to TLRs, including that these changes should also reports, are entering university ill-equipped to meet be applied by schools as and when appointments are those demands. Between 2003 and 2012, no fewer than made or when responsibilities change. It has also made 307 social work degree courses at 83 institutions were a number of observations about governance. I will want formally approved, with a rapid increase in the number to ensure that alongside greater flexibilities there are of entrants and worryingly low entry standards: less sensible controls to avoid excessive payments and wage than a third of those on undergraduate courses had one inflation. I would welcome consultees’ views on all or more A-levels. The failure rate on these courses was these points. just 2.5%. We want to see universities demand more of Finally I will want to ensure that we have had due prospective social workers. regard to equalities considerations before confirming We accept Sir Martin’s recommendation to set out, in the Government’s response. I would welcome consultees’ one place, what a newly qualified children’s social worker views on these matters also. needs to understand, based first on a definition of what a children’s social worker is—work which is being led by Sir Martin Narey’s Report the chief social worker for children, Isabelle Trowler. (Children’s Social Workers Training) And we want to see university students committed to working with children specialise in children’s issues both academically and in their practice placements. The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): Children’s social work is one of the most demanding The chief social worker is also developing plans for careers a person can pursue, with the power to transform the introduction of a more rigorous testing regime for the lives of deeply disadvantaged children. It requires a children’s social workers, including a license to practise unique and highly complex set of skills and knowledge. examination, continuing professional development and When those skills and that knowledge are not present, compulsory revalidation; and I am personally supportive lives which might have been transformed immeasurably of this work. for the better can be left damaged instead. The Frontline and Step Up to Social Work programmes Today we publish an independent report, by former are leading the way in increasing the ambition of children’s Barnardo’s chief executive Sir Martin Narey, which social work; more traditional entry routes must, at all reveals a training system which in too many universities universities, have similar aspiration. We want to do for is not fit for purpose. He concludes that entry demands social work what has been done so successfully for 75WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 76WS teaching: raise the status of the profession and the the price review. Without this input Ofwat would be quality of those wishing to join it through higher-quality unable to regulate effectively and protect the interests of entry routes and training. 52 million consumers in England and Wales. The cluttered landscape of standards and university Parliamentary approval for additional resources of endorsement criteria should be cleared, and the criteria £3,850,000 will be sought in a supplementary estimate sharpened. We shall consider Sir Martin’s recommendations for the water services regulation authority. Pending that for a single body to approve and audit children’s social approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,500,000 work training; and further consider how to strengthen will be met by repayable cash advances from the regulation of the profession. Contingencies Fund. The fundamental reform of social work training recommended by Sir Martin sits alongside our existing reform programme in children’s social work: a swifter FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE and surer adoption system; sharper intervention in inadequate authorities; diversification in delivery; and EU (Balance of Competences Review) an innovation programme to encourage a wider range of partners, greater creativity, and more intelligent and supportive practice systems. What we would want for The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth our own children, we should aim to deliver for all Affairs (Mr William Hague): I wish to update the House children. on the progress of the balance of competences review Copies of Sir Martin’s report will be placed in the that I launched on behalf of the Government in July Libraries of both Houses. 2012. The first set of reports was published on 22 July 2013 and I am pleased to inform the House that the second set of reports has been published today on the gov.uk website. As per my written ministerial statement ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 46WS, the reports were written by lead Departments for each policy area. This set of reports covers the single market: Agriculture and Fisheries Council free movement of goods, asylum and non-EU migration, trade and investment, environment and climate change, transport, research and development, culture, tourism The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for and sport, and civil judicial co-operation. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): Calls for evidence for these reports were published in The next Agriculture and Fisheries Council will be on May 2013. As with the first set of reports, the level of 17 February in Brussels. I will represent the UK. Richard interest shown was very welcome and the evidence we Lochhead MSP and Alun Davies AM will also attend. received was again of high quality. We received over There are no fisheries items on the agenda. On agriculture 600 pieces of written evidence from parliamentary the Commission will present their proposal for a regulation committees, Members of the European Parliament, the combining and reinforcing existing school fruit and European Commission, foreign Governments, local school milk schemes. There will be debates on the government, businesses, trade associations, think-tanks, situation in the dairy sector and a proposal for reform academics, civil society groups, and professional of the regulation on information provision and promotion membership associations. I would like to take this measures for agricultural products, on the internal market opportunity to thank all those who contributed, including and third countries. the devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies, There are currently two any other business items: for their continued involvement. implementing innovation partnership for agriculture productivity As with the first set of reports, each report draws on and sustainability; the evidence submitted to provide a wide-ranging and conclusions from the 34th conference of directors of EU balanced analysis of the EU’s ability to act in a specific paying agencies. area, the impact that EU action has on the UK national interest, and the future challenges that may arise. The reports have undergone rigorous internal challenge to ensure they are balanced, robust and evidence-based. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Evidence submitted (subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act) has been published alongside the Ofwat (Contingencies Fund Advance) reports on the gov.uk website to ensure transparency. Work is continuing on the report entitled “The Single Market: Free Movement of Persons” which will be The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for published at a later date. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): Calls for evidence for semester three reports were An urgent cash advance of £1.5 million will be required launched in October 2013 and closed in January. Reports on 27 February 2014, to fund Ofwat’s ongoing operating in this semester cover: single market: services; single cost commitments while it awaits Royal Assent of its market: financial services and the free movement of supplementary estimate. capital; EU budget; cohesion; social and employment; Ofwat is heavily committed to the successful delivery agriculture; fisheries; competition and consumer policy; of the 2014 price review and is reliant on the expert energy; and fundamental rights. Reports are expected input of a number of suppliers to deliver highly specialised to be published over summer 2014. Calls for evidence work and help meet peaks of demand associated with for semester four reports will launch in spring 2014. 77WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 78WS

The first two sets of reports and the calls for evidence The Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) regulates the for semester three reports are available at: https://www.gov. sale of alcohol, the provision of late night refreshment uk/review-of-the-balance-of-competences . Copies of the and regulated entertainment in England and Wales, and second set of reports will be made available in the is primarily administered by local authorities, acting in Libraries of both Houses and hard copies are also their capacity as licensing authorities. Licensing fees are available in the Vote Office. intended to recover the costs that licensing authorities incur in carrying out their licensing functions under the 2003 Act, and are payable to licensing authorities by HEALTH holders of licences and certificates, and those making applications or issuing notices. Cosmetic Interventions Current fee levels were set in 2005 and apply nationally. They have not been adjusted since—other than for the introduction of new fees for new processes. The Police The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 amended (Dr Daniel Poulter): On 23 April 2013, the independent the 2003 Act to introduce a power for the Home Secretary “Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions”, to prescribe in regulations that in future fee levels chaired by Sir Bruce Keogh, was published. A copy has should be set by individual licensing authorities on a already been placed in the Library. cost-recovery basis. We consider that this is the best way The review highlighted how the rapid growth of the of enabling local government to recover their costs, as cosmetic interventions sector is exposing people who these vary significantly between areas. undergo these procedures to a concerning lack of The consultation proposals have been developed with safeguards. It made recommendations to improve the the intention of avoiding cross-subsidisation between quality of care, to inform and empower the public and different classes—or types—of fee payer. The consultation to ensure resolution and redress when things go wrong. seeks views on whether and how licensing authorities We fully accept the principles of the Keogh review should be able to charge different classes of fee payer and the overwhelming majority of the recommendations. different amounts and what the cap on each fee should Work is already underway on a number of them, in be. It also seeks views on how best to provide guidance particular to address the issue of ensuring proper training to licensing authorities so as to ensure that unjustifiably for cosmetic practitioners. The Royal College of Surgeons high costs and “gold-plating”(exceeding the requirements has set up an inter-specialty committee to ensure standards of the 2003 Act) are avoided and efficiency encouraged. for cosmetic surgery and will work with the General Copies of the consultation document will be placed Medical Council on a code of ethical conduct. Health in the Library of the House. Education England is leading on a review of training for providers of non-surgical interventions, such as botulinum toxin—commonly known as “Botox”—and dermal filler injections. Covert Surveillance/Covert Human Intelligence Sources Work is also underway on a breast implant registry to reassure women that if problems arise they can be contacted, kept informed and called in for treatment if necessary. The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims There are examples of high-quality surgical and non- (Damian Green): I am today announcing the publication surgical cosmetic interventions provided by trained staff of the Government’s consultation on the covert surveillance to high standards of care and satisfaction. It is these and the covert human intelligence source codes of practice. high standards that must be universal. We must protect The regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) the public and ensure proper training and oversight of contains a requirement for codes of practice to guide non-surgical as well as surgical cosmetic interventions. those who use the powers for which the Act provides. We shall legislate where required to achieve this. The majority of the proposals to update the codes of Today I have pleasure in laying before Parliament practice are as a consequence of the regulation of “Government Response to the Review of the Regulation Investigatory Powers (Covert Human Intelligence Sources: of Cosmetic Interventions”(Cm 8776). Copies are available Relevant Sources) Order 2013 which I laid on 31 October in the Library. 2013 and which came into force on 1 January 2014. In addition, there are a number technical or other amendments which provide greater clarity for those authorising and HOME DEPARTMENT using covert techniques. RIPA and its associated codes of practice have greatly improved control and oversight of the way public authorities Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) use covert investigatory techniques, in order to protect our right to privacy. The proposed changes will promote The Minister for Crime Prevention (Norman Baker): I the highest standards of professionalism and excellence am today informing Parliament of the publication of a in this most sensitive aspect of law enforcement. public consultation on the move from centrally set to The consultation will last for six weeks, during which locally set fees under the Licensing Act 2003. The time the Home Office will actively engage with partners. consultation will run for eight weeks, from 13 February Copies of the consultation will be placed in the House to 10 April. The consultation is available at: Library. An online version of this consultation will be https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/locally- available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/ set-licensing-fees consultations/covert-surveillance 79WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 80WS

Immigration Concessions (Syrian Nationals) the reforms it has put forward. I have decided to accept the tribunal’s recommendation not to implement measures to introduce compulsory severance at this time. However, The Minister for Security and Immigration (James this remains a reform that I believe government and the Brokenshire): I am today announcing a further renewal police should continue to consider. I have written to the of concessions to the immigration rules for Syrian Police Negotiating Board to explain my decision in nationals lawfully in the UK. further detail. In light of the ongoing violent conflict in Syria it has These reforms build on the changes we have already been decided that the Home Office should continue to implemented following the two reports of the Winsor operate some discretion to enable Syrians legally in the review. They continue our programme to modernise UK to extend their stay here. police pay and conditions so that they are fair to both Syrians in the UK with valid leave (or leave which has officers and other taxpayers, to retarget pay to reward expired within the last 28 days) in specified visa categories contribution, and increase local flexibility. will continue to be able to apply to extend their stay in that visa category, or switch into a different specified We remain committed to the review’s principles and category from within the UK (with some restrictions) objectives, in particular linking pay and skills, and rather than being required to return home first. Those modernising management practices. These will be important applying will still need to meet the requirements of the considerations in further discussions in the Police relevant visa category, pay the appropriate fee, and Negotiating Board and in the related work that is being adhere to the normal conditions of that category—no taken forward by the College of Policing. access to public funds, for example. If a required document The police must be able to make use of these reforms is not accessible due to the civil unrest in Syria the to the management of officers on restricted duty as Home Office may apply its discretion and the requirement soon as possible. I will therefore begin the process of to provide that document may be waived where appropriate. amending the police regulations and determinations to These concessions will remain in force until 28 February implement the tribunal’s award, including making any 2015. The Government continue to monitor the situation necessary consequential and ancillary changes. in Syria closely in order to ensure our response is appropriate and that any emerging risks are addressed. Surveillance Camera Commissioner I am placing a copy of the authorisation for this concession in the Library of the House. The Minister for Crime Prevention (Norman Baker): Police Officers and Staff (Remuneration and My hon Friend the Minister of State for Criminal Conditions of Service) Information, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, has today made the following written ministerial statement: The Secretary of State for the Home Department I am today announcing arrangements for the appointment of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner under section 34 of the (Mrs Theresa May): This statement is about police pay Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Following an open competition and conditions. It provides the Government’s response overseen by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, to the police arbitration tribunal’s findings on six this ministerial appointment will be filled by Mr Antony Porter. recommendations in the final report of Tom Winsor’s Mr Porter’s three-year term of appointment will commence on independent review of police officer and staff remuneration 10 March 2014. and conditions. The Surveillance Camera Commissioner appointment has been On 15 January last year, Official Report, column 31WS, filled by Mr Andrew Rennison who has now completed his term I laid a statement to respond to the police arbitration of office. I should like to record the Government’s appreciation of Mr Rennison’s contribution in laying the foundations for regulation tribunal’s findings on all recommendations in the final of surveillance camera systems. report of Tom Winsor’s independent review of police Mr Rennison also holds the non-statutory appointment of officer and staff remuneration and conditions. The Forensic Science Regulator. Arrangements for the recruitment of tribunal had not been able to reach a conclusion on a new Forensic Science Regulator are in hand, and Mr Rennison measures to introduce compulsory severance, and I will continue to fulfil that role on a part-time basis until a new therefore referred the matter back to the Police Negotiating appointment is made. Board. The Police Negotiating Board was not able to reach agreement on compulsory severance, nor on the management of officers on restricted duties and these matters were referred to the police arbitration tribunal JUSTICE in November 2013. The tribunal has now provided its recommendation Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and reasons, which I received on 20 December. The tribunal considered six recommendations from the Winsor review’s final report. The tribunal rejected the three The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice recommendations which relate to compulsory severance (Jeremy Wright): I am today announcing the Government and accepted the three relating to restricted duties. I plan to commence reforms to the Rehabilitation of have today placed a copy of the police arbitration Offenders Act 1974 on 10 March 2014. These reforms tribunal report in the Library of the House. are important in supporting our wider agenda on I am grateful to the tribunal for its consideration transforming rehabilitation. We know that obtaining of these important issues. Having considered the employment can be an important factor in reducing tribunal’s report thoroughly, I have decided to accept its reoffending and these reforms will help more people recommendation on restricted duties and will implement who have shown that they have put their offending 81WS Written Statements13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 82WS behaviour behind them to get back into productive England and Wales on 10 March to ensure that accurate work. The provisions will reduce the period of time criminal convictions certificates are available reflecting during which some offenders may have to disclose their the revised rehabilitation periods in this jurisdiction. convictions to prospective employers—the rehabilitation The above reforms will also allow the Government to period. I should emphasise, however, that public protection take steps to commence fully section 56 of the Data will not be compromised. It will remain the case that Protection Act 1998, the only provision in this Act not fuller disclosure of cautions and convictions will continue to be in force. Section 56 of the Data Protection Act to apply to a range of sensitive occupations and activities. 1998 will come into force shortly after the changes to In addition, the most serious convictions will remain the 1974 Act are commenced. subject to disclosure for any job. The measures being commenced are contained in INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY sections 139 and 141 and schedule 25 to the Legal Aid, STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. These reforms shorten the rehabilitation periods for IPSA Supplementary Estimate 2013-14 most convictions, after which they are considered to be “spent”and need no longer be disclosed for most purposes. Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): The Speaker’s The changes also extend the scope of the 1974 Act as it Committee for the IPSA is established under the applies in England and Wales so that custodial sentences Parliamentary Standards Act 2009. The Committee of up to, and including, 48 months may become spent. must review IPSA’s estimates before they are laid before Previously the longest custodial sentence which could the House and decide whether it is satisfied that the become spent was 30 months. The reforms will act estimate is consistent with the efficient and cost-effective retrospectively. discharge by the IPSA of its functions. IPSA’s These amendments to the 1974 Act apply in England supplementary estimate 2013-14 makes minor technical and Wales only and impact on criminal conviction amendments and does not change IPSA’s net cash certificates, which show an individual’s unspent convictions. requirement in 2013-14. section 112 of the Police Act 1997 governs the issue of The Committee has approved the draft supplementary these certificates and it is also being commenced in estimate without modification. 701W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 702W

and 589 square metres floor space in Melville Crescent Written Answers to in Edinburgh. Both buildings are leased. Their value is a matter for the owners of the buildings. Questions Public Appointments

TThursday 13 February 2014 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which paid public appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May SCOTLAND 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men; [187027] Buildings (2) what the titles are of the individual public Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for appointments that have been made by his Department Scotland what proportion of the office space owned or since May 2010; and which of those appointees were leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the women. [187087] total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer a copy of his most recent departmental real estate given on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 607W,by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster valuation. [186872] General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham David Mundell: The Scotland Office has no unused (Mr Maude). office space in its two buildings. Both are leasehold buildings. The Scotland Office does not have a real Royal Family: Official Residences estate valuation. Common Agricultural Policy Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had about public access to Royal Residences in Scotland; and if Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for he will make a statement. [187162] Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on Common Agricultural Policy implications David Mundell: The Scotland Office has had no recent for Scotland post-2014; and if he will make a discussions regarding public access to Royal Residences statement. [187219] in Scotland. David Mundell: There have been no recent discussions with the First Minister on Common Agricultural Policy Staff implications for Scotland post-2014. I hold regular discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Environment in the Scottish Government who what proportion of staff of his Department work has lead portfolio responsibility for agricultural policy outside of London; and in which local authorities such in Scotland. staff are located. [187273] Pay David Mundell: As at 31 December 2013, 65% of Scotland Office staff work outside of London and are Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland located in the city of Edinburgh local authority area. how many civil servants are on each pay grade in his Department. [187251]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office pay grade breakdown as at 31 December 2013 was: WALES

Grade Number Public Appointments

Band E-F 7.2 Band D-B 34.6 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what the titles are of the individual public Band A 14 appointments that have been made by his Department SCS 5 since May 2010; and which of those appointees were Property women; [187090] (2) which paid public appointment contracts he has Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men. tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned [187030] and (ii) occupied by his Department. [187292] Stephen Crabb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not own given on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column any property. It occupies and shares two buildings with 607W,by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster other Government bodies. The Scotland Office occupies General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham 519 square metres floor space in Dover House in London, (Mr Maude). 703W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 704W

NORTHERN IRELAND Gregory Barker: The total departmental expenditure (excluding salary costs) by the Department of Energy Public Appointments and Climate Change on promoting equality and diversity was (using rounded up figures): 2008 to 2010—£0 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for 2010 to 2011—£31,000 Northern Ireland (1) which paid public appointment contracts she has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed 2011 to 2012—£55,000 since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) 2012 to 2013—£32,000 women and (ii) men; [187025] 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013—£5,000. (2) what the titles are of the individual public The number and cost of staff employed on promoting appointments that have been made by her Department equality and diversity is: since May 2010; and which of those appointees were 2010 to 2011—1 HEO member of staff, salary band £29,261 to women. [187086] £34,424 2011 to 2012—1 HEO member of staff, salary band £29,261 to £34,424 Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the answer 2012 to 2013—0.5% HEO member of staff, salary band £29,554 given by on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column to £34,424, plus 1 Grade 7, salary band £47,445 to £56,597 607W,by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013—0.5 Grade 7, plus 1 Grade General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham 7, salary band £47,445 to £56,597. (Mr Maude). The Department currently has 0.5 full-time equivalents at Grade 7 (salary band £47,445 to £56,597) employed for the purpose of managing diversity and inclusion and the promotion of equality and diversity. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Due to the low numbers of staff involved it is not possible to give exact salary details under the Data Energy: Prices Protection Act. Procurement Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of Ofgem in Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy regulating the energy market to protect the interests of and Climate Change what his Department’s 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what consumers. [186720] savings have been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend or underspend was in each such Michael Fallon: The Government reviewed the overall contract; and what steps his Department has taken to role of Ofgem after it took office. The “Ofgem Review: monitor the performance of each supplier following Final Report” (July 2011) can be found on gov.uk at: the contract award. [187590] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/48134/2151-ofgem-review-final- Gregory Barker: The information requested is not report.pdf held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate A copy of this document will be placed in the Libraries cost. The directorates of the Department of Energy and of the House. Climate Change carry out their own purchasing with The review identified a need for greater role clarity professional support from a procurement team. between Ofgem and the Government and recommended Contracts of the Department are published on the that the Government should establish a new statutory Cabinet Office website which can be found at: strategy and policy statement (SPS). The SPS will improve www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk alignment between Government’s strategic priorities and The Department would be able to provide further the regulator, and define policy outcomes that Government information by narrowing the scope, if specific procurement considers Ofgem to have a particularly important role projects were identified. in delivering. It will also increase Ofgem’s accountability. A contract management review project is currently The Energy Act 2013 introduced the legal framework under way in the Department to improve capability and for the SPS. My Department intends to consult on the contract management arrangements. draft SPS by summer 2014. Ofgem, the Office for Fair Trading and the Competition and Markets Authority Renewable Energy are currently undertaking the first annual competition assessment for the gas and electricity markets. They are Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for planning on publishing their report in spring 2014. Energy and Climate Change with which local authorities his Department has had discussions regarding taking Equality part in the Community Energy Scheme announced in December 2013. [187414]

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Gregory Barker: On 27 January 2014, the Department and Climate Change what the (a) total departmental of Energy and Climate Change published its Community expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed Energy Strategy, available at: for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community- for each of the last five years. [187638] energy-strategy 705W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 706W

In parallel with publication, the Secretary of State for domestic violence-related offences, would require a manual Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), wrote jointly with at a disproportionate cost. Councillor Mike Jones, housing and environment chairman of the Local Government Association, to the leaders of all local authorities in England, drawing their attention Pay to the Community Energy Strategy. During the course of developing the strategy, DECC Ian Austin: To ask the Attorney-General how many officials held discussions with various local authorities, civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) the Law including the London borough of Lambeth, Plymouth Officers’ Departments and (b) agencies and public city council and Oxford city council. bodies accountable to him. [187238]

Renewable Energy: Scotland The Solicitor-General: The information requested is shown in the following table. Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has Headcount1 had with the Scottish Government about extending the Pay grade CPS SFO TSol2 Community Energy Scheme to local authorities in [187413] Administrative 63 — — Scotland. Assistant Administrative Officer/ 1,821 25 97 Gregory Barker: On 27 January 2014, the Department Personal Secretary of Energy and Climate Change published its Community Executive Officer 1,371 64 148 Energy Strategy, available at: Higher Executive 289 58 61 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community- Officer energy-strategy Senior Executive 149 47 29 Officer The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Grade 7 294 65 467 the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Grade 6 147 38 428 Davey), wrote to Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Legal Trainee 22 — 30 Enterprise and Tourism, on 13 January 2014, ahead of Legal Officer — — 40 the publication of the Community Energy Strategy. Associate Prosecutor 330 — — Many areas of energy and climate change policy are Crown Prosecutor 29 — — devolved in Scotland, but some sections of the strategy Senior Crown 1,502 — — are of particular importance there, including electricity Prosecutor generation, some aspects of energy efficiency, roll-out Special Prosecutor 164 — — of smart meters and smart grids. Crown Advocate 424 — — Key announcements in the strategy which apply to Senior Crown Advocate 40 — — Scotland are as follows: Principal Crown 20 — — Advocate A UK-wide competition to encourage innovative community Senior Legal Advisor 2 — — approaches to saving money or energy. Senior Legal Manager 54 — — A taskforce from the renewables industry which will work with Senior Civil Servant 12 13 117 the community energy sector and report to the Secretary of State Permanent Secretary — — 1 with a robust framework and timetable for implementing a substantial increase in the shared ownership of renewables developments in Total 6,733 310 1,418 the UK. 1 Data as at 31 January 2014. 2 Data also covers the Attorney-General’s Department and HM Crown A working group on grid connections to examine existing Prosecution Service Inspectorate. processes, identifying the difficulties that they pose to community groups and proposing workable solutions to the Secretary of State. Policy on grid connections is Great Britain-wide, and will Property include representatives from distribution network operators across the whole of Great Britain as well as a representative of Community Energy Scotland. Ian Austin: To ask the Attorney-General what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) the Law Officers’ Departments and (B) agencies ATTORNEY-GENERAL and public bodies accountable to him. [187279]

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General’s Office (AGO) leases one property. The Attorney-General’s Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Attorney-General how Office leases one site at 20 Victoria street, London, 2 many victimless prosecutions for domestic violence- SW1H ONF and occupy a total of 784.6m . This has a related offences there have been in each year since 2009 rateable value of £500,000. for which figures are available. [186856] The Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) lease the following buildings located in London, Croydon and The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service Taunton. HMCPSI is a sub-lessee of accommodation does not maintain a central record of victimless in TSol’s London building and also part occupy Foss prosecutions, including domestic violence cases. To obtain house in York. This building is owned by DEFRA. details of the number of victimless prosecutions for HMCPSI do not pay any rent to DEFRA. 707W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 708W

Taxation: Fraud Rental value per Property Floor space (m2) annum (£) Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how One Kemble Street, 11,117.5 3,572,590.47 many cases of tax fraud were referred to the Crown London WC2B 4TS Prosecution Service for a pre-charging decision in each Southern House, 507 49,680.96 Wellesley Grove, of the last five years; and how many of those cases Croydon, Surrey, were (a) subject to a decision to take no further action, CR0 7HJ (b) disposed of out of court, (c) prosecuted, (d) Riverside 2,946 472,103.80 prosecuted successfully and (e) prosecuted successfully Chambers, Castle where the defendant contested the charge. [182366] Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4AP The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of cases referred to it The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) occupies 3,196 square for a pre-charge decision (PCD). It is not possible to metres of property at 2-4 Cockspur street, London identify how many of these cases contained one or SW1 under a leasehold agreement. The property has a more charges relating to a tax fraud offence. Such rateable value of £1.76 million. information could be obtained only through a manual The SFO has some additional flexible accommodation search of records which would incur disproportionate requirements for large ‘blockbuster’ investigations, such cost. as that into the LIBOR matter, which have been met by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs records data on using some incremental space that the landlord has referrals to the CPS. made available in the same building. This space has the same rental value as the rest of the main office space the HMRC have made a commitment to ensure year on SFO uses. year increases in the number of cases they will refer to the CPS for prosecution from 2010 up to 2015. They are The Grown Prosecution Service (CPS) currently occupies on target to meet that commitment. 49 premises, two of which are owned, 35 commercially leased, two on leases from local authorities, one on a The CPS collects data to assist in the effective lease from a police authority, six MOTO’s (memorandum management of its prosecution functions. The CPS of terms of occupation) from other Government does not collect data which constitutes official statistics Departments. CPS also has licences for occupation (by as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act desk) at three National Crime Agency offices. Details of 2007. these properties are set out in a table which has been deposited in the Library of the House. Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of tax fraud the Crown Prosecution Service (a) charged, (b) disposed of out of court, (c) prosecuted, Staff (d) prosecuted successfully and (e) prosecuted successfully where the defendant contested the charge in each financial Ian Austin: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion year since 2010-11. [184063] of staff of (a) the Law Officers’ Departments and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work The Solicitor-General: Tax fraud comprises a range outside of London; and in which local authorities such of different offences covered by various pieces of legislation staff are located. [187260] and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not maintain a central record of cases classified as ‘tax fraud’. The Solicitor-General: As at 31 December 2013, 78.5% of Crown Prosecution Service employees held posts that were based outside of London. The Department WORK AND PENSIONS occupies premises nationwide and does not keep detailed central records as to which premises fall under each Employment and Support Allowance local authority, such information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for The proportion of staff in the Treasury Solicitor’s Work and Pensions how many people claiming employment Department, Attorney-General’s Office and HM Crown and support allowance and issued with a sanction did Prosecution Service Inspectorate who currently work not keep their claim live in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 outside of London is 2%. and (d) 2013. [187528] The local authorities in which such staff are located are: Esther McVey: The information requested on the number of employment and support allowance claimants Warrington Borough Council issued with a sanction who did not keep their claim live Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council is not readily available and could be provided only at Bristol City Council disproportionate cost. Leeds City Council Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing City of York Council Currently 1.3% of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for staff are contracted to work outside of London, they Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the are based within the county councils of Lancashire, implications for the collection of the under-occupancy Derbyshire, Sheffield and Durham. penalty of the decision of the Upper Tribunal 709W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 710W

(Administrative Appeals Chamber) on 10 January 2014, Esther McVey: The figures are compiled by extracting Appeal No. CH/140/2013, to dismiss the appeal against the number of unique individuals that received an adverse the decision of the appeal tribunal sitting at Bolton on sanction decision on any day during each calendar 18 September 2012. [187515] month shown, apart from October 2012 which covers the period from 22 October to 31 October 2012. Steve Webb: Upper Tribunal decision (CH/140/2013) relates to the award of local housing allowance not the Jobseeker’s Allowance: York removal of the spare room subsidy. The Department has considered the Tribunal’s decision Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work in depth, and whilst we do not agree with some aspects and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 January of it the outcome is correct. The Department has therefore 2014, Official Report, column 732W, on jobseeker’s decided not to appeal the decision further. allowance: York, (1) how many people in York Central If this Upper Tribunal decision is relied upon in constituency who had their benefit suspended as a subsequent First-tier tribunal decisions on the removal result of an adverse jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) sanction of the spare room subsidy the Department will consider decision had their JSA restored (a) at the end of and whether it is appropriate to intervene in individual (b) earlier than the end of their sanction period in (i) cases. October 2012 and (ii) each month since then; [187460] (2) what the average period was for which jobseeker’s Jobseeker’s Allowance allowance (JSA) was suspended for the 960 individuals from York Central constituency whose JSA was subjected to an adverse sanction decision between Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work 22 October 2012 and 30 June 2013; and what the and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 January average period of suspension was for sanctioned JSA 2014, Official Report, column 732W, on jobseeker’s claimants in the UK over the same period. [187461] allowance: York, how many individuals there were with an adverse jobseeker’s allowance sanction decision in Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily (a) (b) City of York, Yorkshire and the Humber and available and could be provided only at disproportionate (c) England in (i) October 2012 and (ii) each month cost. since then. [187462] It may be helpful to clarify that jobseeker’s allowance Esther McVey: The information requested is shown is not suspended following an adverse decision, a sanction in the following table: is applied and they retain their rights to passported benefits such as housing benefit. However for claimants Number of individuals with an adverse jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) that fail to be available for work or actively seek work, sanction decision by area and month: 22 October 2012 to 30 June 2013 their claim is disallowed and they do not retain their Yorkshire and York local England Humberside authority right to passported benefits, but can reclaim JSA immediately followed by a sanction of up to four weeks. 22 October to 21,490 2,720 70 31 October Pay November 56,080 6,930 180 2012 Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work December 2012 45,800 6,260 110 and Pensions (1) how many civil servants are on each January 2013 56,540 7,560 200 pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and February 2013 44,220 5,260 160 public bodies accountable to him; [187255] March 2013 48,560 5,890 150 (2) what proportion of staff of (a) his Department April 2013 55,150 6,600 130 and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him May 2013 57,300 6,960 160 work outside of London; and in which local authorities June 2013 52,200 6,920 140 such staff are located. [187277] Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Data are to 30 June 2013 which is the latest available information. Mike Penning: The table shows the number of civil 3. Figures may include individuals who have had more than one servants by pay grade as at 31 December 2013 in the adverse sanction decision e.g. if an individual has a sanction applied Department and its associated public bodies, that employ in two different months, they will appear in each month above. civil servants. 4. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of sanctions applied is the number of low, intermediate, DWP no longer has agencies. and high level referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information can be found here: National https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance- Department Employment overview-of-sanctions-rules for Work Health and Savings Source: and Safety Independent Trust DWP: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics database Pay grade Pensions Executive Living Fund Corporation Band A/AA 2,741 - 8 - Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Band B/AO 44,563 513 64 - and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 January Band C/EO 39,898 465 27 - 2014, Official Report, column 732W, on jobseeker’s Band 7,172 404 11 - allowance, on which date in each of the months D/HEO referred to in the answer his Department conducted its Band E/SEO 2,605 1,262 * - count of the number of individuals with an adverse Band F/G7 1,518 534 * - jobseeker’s allowance decision. [187463] Band G/G6 621 112 * - 711W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 712W

Steve Webb: We have been discussing the review with National Department Employment local authorities and their representative organisations, for Work Health and Savings as part of our overall discussions about the reforms, and Safety Independent Trust since we announced our intention to review in January Pay grade Pensions Executive Living Fund Corporation 2012. Senior Civil 218 31 - * Servants There have been some minimal costs associated with Other/Not 7---this. I will be able to provide more detail when the Known review has been completed. Grand total 99,343 3,321 119 * * Numbers below 5 are redacted to prevent identification of individuals Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for The proportion of staff working outside London in Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure the Department and its associated public bodies as at 31 that the proportion of households in the UK receiving December 2013 is in the following table. more in cash benefits than paying in total tax is reduced from 37.8 per cent. [187318] Percentage of employees outside Department/public body London Esther McVey: Universal credit, which replaces six Department for Work and Pensions 90 existing benefits with a simpler monthly payment, for Health and Safety Executive 93 claimants who are in, or out-of-work, began rolling out Independent Living Fund 100 in April 2013. Universal credit will create a simpler, National Employment Savings Trust 5.8 fairer benefits system and aims to make sure claimants are better off in work than on benefits. It will save the A table showing each local authority where the Government money and deliver significant wider economic Department and public bodies listed have staff will be benefits. placed in the Library. We estimate that 2.4 million working families will be better off as a result of universal credit, and that Property universal credit could lead to the equivalent of up to 300,000 additional people in work through improved Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work financial incentives, increased simplicity of the system and Pensions what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor and increased conditionality. space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) From April 2013 we introduced a cap on the total owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) amount of benefit that working-age people can receive agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187296] so that no household can get more in out of work benefits than the average working family earns. The Mike Penning: The information requested in parts benefit cap has been set at £500 a week for couples (with (a), (b), (c) and (d) in the question above are contained or without children) and single parent households, with in the document DWP Properties which will be placed a lower cap of £350 a week for single adult households. in the Library. The purpose of the benefit cap is to achieve long term In respect of (e) the value of each of the properties positive behavioural effects through changed attitudes that the Department occupies is commercially sensitive to welfare, responsible life choices and strong work and any disclosure would adversely affect HMG’s future incentives. ability to negotiate efficiencies and achieve value for In addition to this the removal of the spare room money to the taxpayer. subsidy has ensured that housing benefit in the social The vast majority of the properties are under leasehold rented sector only meets the cost of accommodation arrangements through a PFI arrangement with only a appropriate to a household’s needs and introduces some small number being owned by NDPBs. parity of treatment between the private and social rented sectors, with claimants in the social sector having to Some of the DWP NDPBs occupy space within the make similar decisions to those in the private sector wider DWP estate and are not shown separately as about affordability. these are covered by the existing tenure of DWP. The various tenures are identified as such in the listings. A number of properties are shown as tenure Unemployed People: Basic Skills being under a MOTO (a Memorandum of Terms of Occupation—part of the Civil Estate Occupancy Agreement) where DWP occupies space owned/leased Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for by another Government Department. Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 421W, on Social Security Benefits unemployed people: basic skills, how many of the people referred who started on Skills Conditionality activities between August 2011 and August 2013 completed their Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for course; [187466] Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, column 274W, on social (2) what criteria his Department uses to evaluate security benefits, when his Department started making mandatory skills conditionality interventions; [187582] arrangements to carry out a review; how many staff are (3) what course content the Skills Conditionality assigned to the review; and what the cost of the review interventions made between August 2011 and August has been to date. [186658] 2013 consisted of. [187583] 713W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 714W

Esther McVey: Between August 2011 and August until the outcome of their appeal. Where appropriate, 2013 there were nearly 240,000 starts to training by the payment could be backdated to start from the day benefit claimants referred under the skills conditionality after the day on which the earlier award of ESA terminated, policy. DWP does not collect figures for the number of so there was no gap between the two awards. claimants who complete the training following a referral under this policy. Work Capability Assessment: Essex The Skills Conditionality Pilot was evaluated in 2012 by a joint piece of research with the Department of Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, resulting in the Work and Pensions how many people are currently Employment, Partnerships and Skills (DWP Research awaiting a work capability assessment in (a) Chelmsford Report 830), published March 2013. This led to the constituency and (b) Essex. [187467] national roll-out of the policy. Following an interview with a Jobcentre adviser Skills Mike Penning: There are 928 people currently awaiting Conditionality interventions can include any or all of a a face to face Work Capability Assessment for the referral to a meeting with a National Careers Adviser in Chelmsford postcode area. This includes new claimants England, referral to an initial interview with a training of employment and support allowance, who should be provider in England, referral to training in England and receiving the assessment rate of the benefit; existing Scotland and referral to Skills for Work (Wales) in recipients of employment and support allowance awaiting Wales. The content of all of these interventions will a review; and existing incapacity benefit recipients awaiting depend on the needs of the individual. reassessment. The information is not readily available at constituency Work Capability Assessment and county level. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people who have had their welfare benefits TRANSPORT halted as a result of review and appeal of their work capability assessment; and what emergency provisions are available to such individuals. [186995] Abellio Greater Anglia

Mike Penning: Information on Incapacity Benefits Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Reassessments—Outcomes of Work Capability (1) what plans he has to ensure (a) refurbishment or Assessments adjusted to account for the outcome of (b) replacement of the rolling stock on (i) commuter appeal can be found at: and (ii) intercity services on the Greater Anglia franchise https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ in the (A) short Greater Anglia franchise to October attachment_data/file/274091/esa_wca_140122.xls 2016 and (B) long Greater Anglia franchise after October Individual level data on mandatory reconsiderations 2016; [187400] of ESA is not available; the Department is collecting (2) if he will take steps to ensure any rolling stock process information, such as volumes and durations, to refurbishment programmes in the short Greater Anglia understand how the reforms are operating. It will, however, franchise provide significant upgrades for customers. be some time until this information is available due to [187401] the time taken to go through the process from mandatory reconsideration to appeal outcome. Stephen Hammond: We are in discussions with Abellio Once a person has appealed against a work capability Greater Anglia about the Direct Award which will assessment decision that they are fit for work, employment operate from July this year and we are seeking modest and support allowance will be paid at the assessment improvements to rolling stock where it provides value phase rate up to the date of the appeal hearing. for money and is affordable. Negotiations are ongoing, however, we hope to improve the Mark III coaches used Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for on the Norwich-London route and this may include the Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of installation of power sockets and modifications to the employment and support allowance claimants who toilets so that waste does not fall onto the tracks. appealed against a work capability assessment decision The specification in the Invitation To Tender for the in 2012-13 were (a) eligible for and (b) received Crisis longer franchise, planned to be published in August Loan payments. [187455] 2015, will be informed by the output from the Norwich in Ninety Task Force. The Task Force will be engaging Mike Penning: The information is not readily available with all stakeholders later this year. and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for statistics requested within the disproportionate cost Transport when he expects to publish the invitation to limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics tender document for the new long Greater Anglia release in accordance with the Code of Practice for franchise expected to commence in October 2016; and Official Statistics. when he expects to award that new franchise. [187407] However, throughout the period in question, claimants who appealed against a work capability assessment Stephen Hammond: We expect to publish the invitation decision were automatically awarded ESA at the basic to tender document for the Greater Anglia franchise in rate, as long as they provided continuous medical evidence, August 2015 and to award this franchise in June 2016. 715W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 716W

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport registration, what the changes in 2013 to the Driver what service improvements he plans to incorporate into and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s vehicle registration the new short Greater Anglia franchise from July 2014 processing system were; and what the purpose of those to October 2016. [187408] changes was. [187609]

Stephen Hammond: We are currently negotiating with Stephen Hammond: Following the closure of the Driver Abellio Greater Anglia and hope to be able to provide and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Local Offices service improvements where there is value for money in the registration of previously foreign registered vehicles doing so. has been centralised at the DVLA headquarters in Swansea. As part of this process, the mechanism for Buildings recording information about imported vehicles has been simplified to increase efficiency. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the office space owned Office for Low Emission Vehicles or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for unused office space; and if he will place in the Library Transport what estimate he has made of the likely level a copy of his most recent departmental real estate of underspend in respect of the Office of Low valuation. [186873] Emission Vehicles up to 2015. [197619]

Stephen Hammond: As part of the Government’s Mr Goodwill: A provision of £400 million was made Transparency Agenda information about Department to support the early market for ultra-low emission for Transport properties is published on the vehicles (ULEVs) between 2010-15. This figure was www.data.gov.uk derived from manufacturers’ forecast sales of ultra-low website. Information on surplus properties owned and emission vehicles over the period, relying on early product leased by the Department, as well as total property launches and relatively fast consumer acceptance of costs, is available via the following web link: new technologies. Sales of ULEVs have been increasing year on year, but at a slower rate than originally anticipated. http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims We are currently projecting to spend c.£230 million over Information on the valuation of land and property the period. Grant uptake in 2013 was 335% higher than assets is available in the Department for Transport in 2011, grants in January 2014 were at a record level Annual Report and Accounts: and 679% higher than the equivalent month in 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for- transport-annual-report-and-accounts Parking: CCTV

East Anglia Railway Line Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department’s Consultation Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for on Local authority parking, published in December Transport if he will direct Network Rail to use 2013, whether primary legislation would be needed to National Journey Time Improvement Funding to abolish the use of fixed or mobile closed circuit television ensure that infrastructure improvements to reduce cameras for parking enforcement. [187628] journey times on the Great Eastern Main Line begin in Control Period 5 (2014-19). [187402] Mr Goodwill: We will carefully consider the responses to the parking consultation (which ends on 14 February), Stephen Hammond: Funding for improving journey and will make a statement on our proposed next steps in times may be available through the Passenger Journey due course—including any proposed changes to the Improvement Fund. This fund is available to the rail regulatory and legislative framework. industry to improve passenger journey experiences. The use of this funding is managed by the rail industry, Pay prioritised on the basis of a ″best case″ approach. We will also look to output from the Norwich in Ninety Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Task Force to consider other ways to improve journey Transport how many civil servants are on each pay times on this route. grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187252] Motor Vehicles: Registration Stephen Hammond: The following table provides the Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for information requested on the number of civil servants Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2014, in each pay grade in the Department and the agencies Official Report, column 319W, on motor vehicles: and public bodies:

Traffic AA AO EO HEO SEO G7 G6 SCS HEO/SEO1 officers1 Other1 Total

DfT centre <5 171 221 422 271 443 191 116 0 0 0 1,837 Agencies 1,922 4,166 3,920 1,300 1,136 561 240 76 353 1,436 20 15,130 and public bodies 1 To note that these staff do not fall within the general pay grades as they are agency specific roles. 717W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 718W

Where numbers are five or less, we have withheld the TCs and DTCs-Traffic Commissioners and Deputies precise number on grounds of confidentiality in line DOR Ltd-Directly Operated Railways Ltd with the Data Protection Act. LCR-London and Continental Railways The Department and its agencies are: ORR-Office of Rail Regulation Department for Transport central (DfTc) NLB-Northern Lighthouse Board Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Procurement Highways Agency (HA) Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Transport what his Department’s 10 largest contracts Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have been made in such contracts; what the level of DfT Public Bodies are: overspend or underspend was in each such contract; BTPA-British Transport Police Authority and what steps his Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the DPTAC-Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee contract award. [187593] PF-Passenger Focus HS2-High Speed 2 Ltd Stephen Hammond: The Information requested is set THLS-Trinity House Lighthouse Service out in the following table:

What level of What steps are taken to Contract start Actual contract What savings have been overspend or monitor the performance of Contract title date price (£) Agency made underspend each supplier

UK Search and 26 March 2013 1,600,497,465 MCA Nil. UK SAR H is a Nil. Contractual MCA Aviation Programme Rescue Helicopter contract for new service delivery Office closely monitors the Service (SAR H) capability, replacing a does not start until contractor’s Programme service previously April 2015. Plan and reports progress delivered by MoD and through quarterly returns to MCA. DfT(C) and Cabinet Office. Ongoing programme of reviews and visits looks at performance of MCA Aviation team and Bristow Helicopters Ltd.

Area 3 Asset 11 June 2013 700,000,000 HA The agency has In the time The Highways Agency is Support Contract documented availablewehave proactive in measuring and (ASC 3) extensively the savings not been able to managing supplier that have been collate this performance at contract achieved across its information at level. The specifics of business but in the contract level. performance management time available it is not differ across the contract possible to provide a portfolio but by using a contract-by-contract common umbrella summary given the framework (the Motivating multiple sources of Success Toolkit—MST) the savings that have been agency is able to ensure that delivered. there is a consistent focus on performance. The MST is weighted appropriately to reflect the needs of different types of contract—and is designed to assess the performance of the service provider against contract requirements and assess performance of providers across the strategic road network. In addition, it can also assess the effectiveness of the providers’ quality management processes and be used to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. When performance failures are identified, corrective actions are agreed and progressed to completion. If the providers persistently fail to deliver on corrective actions they can have work taken away from them. If performance does not improve this can lead to termination of the contract. In addition, the HA undertakes audits of each supplier and has an invoice checking procedure in place. 719W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 720W

What level of What steps are taken to Contract start Actual contract What savings have been overspend or monitor the performance of Contract title date price (£) Agency made underspend each supplier

Area 9 Asset 31 December 599,200,000 HA See above. See above. See above. Support Contract 2013 (ASC 9) Dartford Free-Flow 26 September 357,000,000 HA See above. See above. See above. Charging—Main 2013 Scheme (excluding civils) Area 10 Asset 13 June 2012 230,209,078 HA See above. See above. Sec above. Support Contract (ASC 10) Area 2 Asset 27 February 220,518,286 HA See above. See above. See above. Support Contract 2012 (ASC 2) Driving Theory Test March 2016 Estimated as £200- DVSA Estimated as £100 None—charges are The contractor’s and other computer 250 million over a million over a 10-year matched by fees performance is measured based testing 10-year period period dependent upon paid by test monthly through Key services dependent upon demand for driving candidates. Performance Indicators and demand for theory tests from the Service Standards. driving theory public. Performance points are tests from the allocated to each KPI or public. Service Standard for each percentage below target service level. Any performance points are paid by the contractor via a credit note. Area 8 Asset 10 October 2013 183,707,549 HA See above. See above. See above. Support Contract (ASC 8) Area 6 Asset 21 August 2013 128,830,324 HA See above. See above. See above. Support Contract (ASC 6) Provision of 1 May 2011 64,559,698 HA See above. See above. See above. information and communications technology (ICT) services to the Highways Agency

Property (2) what the titles are of the individual public appointments that have been made by his Department since May 2010; and which of those appointees were Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport women. [187088] what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies Stephen Hammond: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 February 2014, Official Report, and public bodies accountable to him. [187293] column 607W, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member Stephen Hammond: As part of the Government’s for Horsham (Mr Maude). Transparency Agenda information about Department for Transport properties is published on the Railways www.data.gov.uk website. Information on the properties owned and leased Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for by the Department, as well as floor area and tenure Transport if he will make it his policy to bring forward status, is available via the following web link: the major upgrade of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims route including electrification into Control Period 5 for Information on the valuation of land and property the purposes of supporting freight customers and assets owned by the Department for Transport is available passenger services in the East of England and on the in the Annual Report and Accounts: Great Eastern Main Line. [187431] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for- transport-annual-report-and-accounts Stephen Hammond: The programme of expenditure for the Rail Investment Strategy in Control Period 5 has Public Appointments now been agreed between the Department and Network Rail and is fully committed. A further £200 million specifically for the development of the Strategic rail Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Freight Network will be allocated according to the rail Transport (1) which paid public appointment contracts freight industry’s priorities. A number of enhancements he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May to the route between Felixstowe and Nuneaton, to 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and enhance the network used by freight trains and reduce (ii) men; [187028] conflict between freight and passenger traffic, are expected 721W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 722W to be funded through this allocation. The scope of The Support for Maritime Training programme (SMarT) those enhancements has yet to be confirmed but budget provided by Government extends to the provision electrification of that route is not thought to be a of training for ratings. priority for the rail freight sector. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Shipping: Employment contribution of long-term trends in (a) training and (b) employment in the shipping industry to the decline in the total number of UK certificated officers between John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for 2006 and 2013. [187386] Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution of long-term trends in (a) training and (b) employment in the shipping industry to the decline in the total Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport number of UK seafarers between 2012 and 2013. produces and publishes National Statistics on the number of UK certificated seafarers currently estimated to be [187384] active at sea and on the number of sea cadets in training. Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport During the period 2006-13, the total number of cadets produces and publishes National Statistics on the number in training has increased, as shown in the following of UK certificated seafarers and ratings currently estimated table. to be active at sea and on the number of sea cadets in Number of cadets in training, 2006-13 training. Data on the number of ratings in training are Number not held. 2006 1,110 During the period 2006 to 2013, the total number of 2007 1,430 cadets in training has increased, as can be seen in 2008 1,700 Table 1. 2009 1,800 Table 1: Number of cadets in training, 2006-13 2010 1,830 Number 2011 1,840 2006 1,110 2012 1,900 2007 1,430 2013 1,990 Source: 2008 1,700 UK seafarer statistics, 2013. 2009 1,800 2010 1,830 The Department for Transport monitors the data on 2011 1,840 an annual basis (or when updates are available). The 2012 1,900 Support for Maritime Training programme (SMarT) 2013 1,990 budget was increased by 25% to £15 million in September 2013 to ensure the availability of a qualified work force. Source: UK seafarer statistics, 2013 Government also has a number of other policies in place to address the decline including Maritime The Department for Transport monitors the data on apprenticeships and the tonnage tax regime with its an annual basis (or when updates are available). The mandatory training link. The Support for Maritime Support for Maritime Training programme (SMarT) Training programme (SMarT) budget provided by budget was increased by 25% to £15 million in September Government extends to the provision of training for 2013 to ensure the availability of a qualified workforce. ratings. Government also has a number of other policies in place to address the decline including Maritime John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for apprenticeships and the tonnage tax regime with its Transport what recent assessment he has made of mandatory training link. The Support for Maritime employment trends in the shipping industry. [187404] Training programme (SMarT) budget provided by Government extends to the provision of training for Stephen Hammond: National statistics on employment ratings. in the shipping sector are published by the Office for National Statistics. Data is collected as part of the John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for business register and employment survey. Transport what assessment he has made of the The Department for Transport collects and produces contribution of long-term trends in (a) training and a national statistics publication on seafarers which provides (b) employment in the shipping industry to the decline estimates for the number of UK seafarers active at sea, in the total number of UK ratings between 2012 and including demographic analysis. 2013. [187385] Data from these two Government sources, alongside industry estimates are monitored on an annual basis (or Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport when updates are available). The Department for Transport produces and publishes national statistics on the number monitors the data on an annual basis (or when updates of UK ratings currently estimated to be active at sea. are available). The Support for Maritime Training Data on the number of ratings in training is not held. programme (SMarT) budget was increased by 25% to The Department for Transport does not hold the £15 million in September 2013 to ensure the availability appropriate data regarding the available ratings work of a qualified work force. Government also has a number force and those in training to assess any long terms of other policies in place to address the decline including trends or relationships. Maritime apprenticeships and the tonnage tax regime 723W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 724W with its mandatory training link. The Support for Maritime there has been in median gross weekly pay for (a) men and (b) Training programme (SMarT) budget provided by women in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, in each Government extends to the provision of training for year since 2010. (186264) ratings. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of Staff earnings information in the United Kingdom. Weekly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and were not affected by absence. Figures relate to employee jobs, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self- (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him employed. work outside of London; and in which local authorities The following table shows estimates of median gross weekly such staff are located. [187274] earnings, and the corresponding annual percentage changes, for male and female employees in Houghton and Sunderland South Stephen Hammond: The following table contains the constituency from 2010 to 2013, the latest period for which results information relating to the proportion of staff in the are available. Department and agencies and public bodies that work Median gross weekly earnings for employees1 in Houghton and Sunderland outside of London: South constituency, 2010 to 2013 Male Female Proportion employees Previous employees Previous (percentage) Outside London Total (£) year (%) (£) year (%)

DfT centre 13 239 1,837 2010 **433.1 — *304.7 — Total agencies/ 95 14,897 15,674 20112,4 **378.7 -12.6 **324.6 6.5 public bodies 20113,4 **380.2 — **329.6 — The Department for Transport and agencies and its 2012 **376.1 -1.1 *291.3 -11.6 public bodies do not hold the information relating to 2013 *430.4 14.4 *315.0 8.1 1 Employee jobs are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed. staff location by local authorities centrally, and it could Figures relate to employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period be provided only at disproportionate cost. was not affected by absence. ASHE is based on a 1% sample of jobs taken from HM Revenue and Customs’ Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. Consequently, The Department and its agencies are: individuals with more than one job may appear in the sample more than once. Department for Transport central (DfTc) 2 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000. 3 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. 4 Estimates for years prior to 2011 are based on SOC 2000 and estimates for Highways Agency (HA) years after 2011 are based on SOC 2010. Figures are only considered to be Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) directly comparable if they are based on the same SOC. Guide to quality: Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we Driving Standards Agency (DSA) would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. DfT Public Bodies are: Key: * CV >5% and < =10% BTPA-British Transport Police Authority ** CV >10% and <=20% DPTAC-Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics. PF-Passenger Focus HS2-High Speed 2 Ltd Charities: Pay THLS-Trinity House Lighthouse Service TCs and DTCs-Traffic Commissioners and Deputies David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet DOR Ltd-Directly Operated Railways Ltd Office what steps his Department is taking to stop LCR-London and Continental Railways excessive salary payments to executives of charities. ORR-Office of Rail Regulation [187480] NLB-Northern Lighthouse Board Mr Hurd: It is important that charities are transparent about their remuneration. Charity accounting rules require CABINET OFFICE disclosure of charity employees in each £10,000 income band over £60,000. Specific concerns of disproportionate Average Earnings: Houghton-le-Spring executive pay in a charity in England or Wales should be referred to the Charity Commission for England and Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Wales. Office what change there has been in median gross weekly pay for (a) men and (b) women in Houghton Charities: Political Impartiality and Sunderland South constituency in each year since 2010. [186264] Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Office what steps he is taking to ensure that charities do responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have not use Government aid for political purposes. [187692] asked the authority to reply. Letter from Joe Grice: Mr Hurd: The terms and conditions of funding awarded On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National by the Cabinet Office, in common with other Government Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Departments, precludes funding from being used for Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what change political purposes. 725W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 726W

Civil Servants: Maternity Pay Mansfield Newcastle-upon-Tyne Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Norwich Office what average level of maternity pay is paid to Sheffield civil servants. [188013] Yo rk 91% of staff in Cabinet Office agencies and public Mr Maude: Maternity pay for civil servants is the bodies Government Procurement Service and Big Lottery responsibility of each individual Department. Fund work outside of London in the following locations: Equality Belfast Birmingham Mr Raab: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Cambridge what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number Cardiff and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of Exeter promoting equality and diversity was for each of the Glasgow last five years. [187653] Guildford Mr Maude: Responsibility for equality and diversity Leeds policy lies with the head of HR policy. Liverpool There is no central record of expenditure on equality Manchester and diversity. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Norwich Orders and Regulations Nottingham Newport Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Newtown, Powys Office how many regulations made since May 2010 contain a sunset clause. [187103] Proof of Identity

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Office for access to which public services photo ID is The information required to answer the hon. Member’s required. [187411] question is currently being compiled. I will write with a full answer shortly, and place a copy of the response in Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office does not hold this the Library of the House. information. Pay Property

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (1) what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) accountable to him; [187239] owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him; [187280] (2) what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him (2) which central government office estate buildings work outside of London; and in which local authorities are currently (a) unoccupied and (b) under-occupied; such staff are located. [187261] [187257] (3) what progress has been made on relocating civil Mr Maude: As part of the Government’s Transparency servants from expensive city centre locations since the Agenda, all Government Departments, their agencies publication of the Government’s Estate Strategy in and public bodies now publish monthly statistics on June 2013. [187258] their work force. For the Cabinet Office, this is published on the Cabinet Office website at Mr Maude: Before the last general election too much https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payroll-costs- of the Government’s property estate was under-used and-non-consolidated-pay-data-2013-2014 and under-occupied. Since 2010 this Government has and on data.gov.uk at been working to rationalise its estate and dispose of unnecessary properties. We have got out of hundreds of http://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management- information-cabinet-office properties and now publish more details than ever before on how Departments are using their buildings. Information on the local authorities that cover the The Government has exited over 1.8 million square locations where staff work in my Department and its metres between May 2010 and December 2013, reducing agencies and public bodies is not held centrally. the size of its mandated estate by around 17%. Our At 31 December 2013: 5% of staff in my Department work to rationalise the Government’s property estate work outside of London in the following locations: resulted in the disposal of 401 buildings in 2012-13, Basingstoke saving the taxpayer £620 million last year alone. Bristol Information relating to Cabinet Office properties is Easingwold, North Yorkshire available on line via Leeds http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims 727W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 728W

Information about property valuations for the Cabinet Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister Office’s Land and Buildings, which have been audited pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official by the National Audit Office, are contained in the Report, columns 386-87W on electoral register, (1) how Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2012-2013, his Department encourages local authorities to use available at their own council tax records to find eligible electors; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office- [187227] annual-report-and-accounts-2012-to-2013 (2) how many local authorities inspect their own On 1 January 2014 2.5% (220,240 square metres) of council tax records to find eligible electors. [187228] our central Government mandated estate was vacant compared to a private and public sector average of 10.1%. Greg Clark: Regulation 35 of each of the English and Welsh, and Scottish, Representation of the People Unemployment: North East Regulations 2001, enables Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to inspect records which are held by their local Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet authority to improve the completeness and accuracy of Office what recent assessment he has made of levels of the register. unemployment amongst university graduates in the North East. [187707] The Electoral Commission provides guidance for EROs on how to use other records, such as council tax records, Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the to identify people who may be eligible to be registered. responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have The Commission monitors the performance of EROs in asked the authority to reply. using these information sources through its performance standards framework. Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2014: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics As part of the transition to Individual Electoral (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question Registration, Government will also encourage local asking what recent assessment he has made of levels of unemployment authorities to make use of local data to support the amongst university graduates in the North East. (187707) maintenance of a complete and accurate register by The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles graduate enabling local data to be used to automatically confirm unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population existing electors who cannot be matched against the Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) Department for Work and Pensions records. definitions. Information on the amount of local authorities inspecting The latest APS estimates available for graduate unemployment their own council tax records is not held centrally. In are from interviews held during the period January to December 2012. Based on this survey, the number to the nearest thousand, 2012 all EROs in Great Britain met performance standard of unemployed people whose highest qualification was degree 1: ’Using information sources to verify entries on the level or higher in the North East was 13,000 and 4.7% of the register of electors and identify potential new electors’. economically active graduate population. In March 2014, the Commission will make a final As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject assessment of performance for 2013, and will report on to a margin of uncertainty. its conclusions. National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister count are available on the NOMIS website at: pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Report, columns 181-2W, on electoral register, if he will make it his policy to collect data intended to improve efficiency in registration of electors. [187229] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Greg Clark: The Electoral Commission is responsible Electoral Register for the collection and evaluation of data about the cost of electoral registration, as well as data on the performance Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). The Government assessment he has made of the reasons for the differences is already working with the Commission and EROs, in registration rates between (a) the black and Asian and electoral administrators, to ensure that costs and communities and (b) the white community. [187133] efficiencies, including the potential impact of online registration, can be understood in the context of the Greg Clark: The Government has funded qualitative transition to IER. research which examined why some of the traditionally under-registered groups are less likely to register. This Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister can be found here: pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Report, columns 803-4W, on electoral register, what attachment_data/file/62636/ assessment he has made of the reasons for the reduction URG_Research_Report_25_07_12.pdf in the number of attainers registered to vote between The Government has also funded Electoral Commission 2009 and 2012; what steps he has taken to address that research into the difference in attitudes to voting and reduction; and how successful they have been. [187348] registration between the UK general population and its black and minority ethnic population. This can be Greg Clark: Figures from the Office for National found here: Statistics indicate that falling attainer numbers between http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/ 2009 and 2012 are likely to have been at least partly pdf_file/0007/154474/Winter-tracker-2012-Topline-findings- caused by decreases in the population of the relevant BME-boost.pdf age group. 729W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 730W

To improve registration levels for young people, the 8 January 2014. The Government is carefully considering Government has made the Rock Enrol! learning resource the report and its three main recommendations and will available, which promotes democratic engagement and respond in the coming months. encourages young people to register to vote. Public Appointments The Government also manages a student forum that brings together the Higher/Further Education sector, Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Deputy Prime the National Union of Students and local authorities Minister (1) what the titles are of the individual public with the highest student populations. The forum shares appointments that have been made by his Office since best practice to support the maximum registration of May 2010; and which of those appointees were women; students. [187076] (2) which paid public appointment contracts his Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister Office has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and Report, column 386W, on electoral register, on what (ii) men. [187015] dates the student forums established by his Department for the purpose of promoting registration have met in The Deputy Prime Minister: The Deputy Prime Minister’s each region; and what the main collective outcomes of Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. these meetings were. [187350] I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Greg Clark: The student forum was established on 18 the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on July 2013, and following this, the Government has 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 607W. facilitated meetings across Great Britain. In all areas a meeting has either taken place, or is being scheduled. The aim of these regional meetings is to discuss the FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE practical steps that universities and their local Electoral Registration Officers can take to encourage students to China register to vote, including publicising how to register, and improving the better use of data at a local level. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to take steps to ensure that UK aircraft comply with pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official China’s air defence zone. [187557] Report, column 386W, on electoral register, if he will Mr Swire: We support the EU statement made by place a copy of the best practice to increase voter Baroness Ashton on 28 November expressing concern registration turnout in the Library. [187351] over the increase in regional tensions that have resulted from China’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Greg Clark: The Government, with contributions No UK airlines schedule flights that cross the Chinese from the National Union of Students and the Academic ADIZ, and we have taken no actions to ensure compliance Registrars Council, is producing a guide to student with it. voter registration. When this is released a copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library. Colombia

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is Report, column 387W, on electoral register, if he will taking to ensure the implementation of his Department’s relay this information to hon. Members and local commitment to work with Colombia on the design of a councillors on a regular basis. [187371] business and human rights strategy; and how his Department is designing this strategy in consultation Greg Clark: This information is not held centrally. with a wide variety of civil society organisations. [187139] Electoral Register: Fraud Mr Swire: Last year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded a project to assist Colombia in drafting Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he its national policy and our British embassy continues to will commission research on the effect of (a) media ensure that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) coverage of electoral registration fraud, (b) politicians’ and community groups participate actively in this process. comments on electoral registration fraud and (c) the The Colombian public policy on business and human Electoral Commission’s coverage of electoral registration rights has been formed as a result of the consultation fraud on the public’s perception of electoral fraud. process on all human rights issues in Colombia, undertaken [187129] in 33 regions and involving over 19,000 people. Our project has also carried out six workshops with civil Greg Clark: Since 2008, the Electoral Commission society in regions most affected by business and human and the Association of Chief Police Officers have produced rights issues in Colombia. an annual report into the issue of alleged electoral A large business and human rights event in Cartagena fraud. The Electoral Commission has also recently on 14 May 2013, which was part-funded by our embassy completed a review of electoral fraud in the UK, for in Bogota, confirmed that Colombia wants to continue which it commissioned research on public perceptions working closely with the UK on its business and human of electoral fraud. They published their final report on rights policy. 731W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 732W

Commonwealth The pay gap between men and women at Senior Management Structure 3/4 is attributable to the relatively Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for small number of women holding SMS3 posts and no Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is women currently holding either of the two SMS4 posts. taking to develop the UK’s trading relationship with Libya other Commonwealth countries. [187667] Mr Swire: The UK is committed to strengthening Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for trade across the Commonwealth. UK Trade and Investment Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is helping strengthen trade links with markets across the his Department is providing in the process of installing world that are key to the UK’s future prosperity and is democratic systems in Libya. [187561] now represented in 22 Commonwealth countries. These include high growth markets such as India, Singapore, Hugh Robertson: The UK remains firmly committed South Africa and Malaysia and others such as Canada, to supporting Libyan efforts to build a secure, prosperous Australia and New Zealand, where we already have and democratic country. In partnership with the UN significant and well established trading relations. We are Support Mission in Libya, and other international partners, also working hard to ensure the EU signs ambitious we are providing a comprehensive package of support Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Commonwealth over the next three years to assist the Libyan Government countries to improve the access of UK companies to in establishing accountable and human rights compliant these markets. The EU has a Trade, Development and security, justice and defence institutions. This includes Co-operation Agreement with South Africa, while training 2,000 Libyan armed forces personnel to support negotiations on FTAs with Canada and Singapore reached the Libyan Government’s efforts to increase the effectiveness a political conclusion last year. The EU/Canada and capacity of its security and justice sector institutions. Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement will The establishment of such structures in Libya is essential benefit the UK economy and businesses by over £1.3 to the democratic transition and will contribute to billion a year. EU negotiations are also ongoing with regional stability and security. India and Malaysia. The UK has 19 long-term military and civilian advisers, Ahead of this year’s Commonwealth games in Glasgow, in addition to a number of short-term experts, working UKTI, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise with the Libyan authorities across the fields of security, and the Commonwealth Business Council are working justice and defence. This includes building civil service together to deliver a business conference for 200 capacity; strengthening civilian oversight of their armed Commonwealth business leaders. UK Trade & Investment forces; disposal of arms and ammunition; improving (UKTI) are also organising a British Business House, access to justice; and helping to build the professionalism which will showcase UK plc to Commonwealth businesses. and capacity of the police force. All of these advisers As the Minister of State for the Commonwealth, I are paid for by the British Government from the tri- spoke at the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) in departmental conflict prevention pool. Colombo, which took place ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, to highlight Linda Carty the Commonwealth’s potential for increased trade and investment. UKTI sent a representative to the CBF to Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for support British businesses. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent We welcome the appointment of Lord Marland of representations he has made to his US counterpart on Odstock as Chair of the Commonwealth Business Council Linda Carty; and if he will make a statement. [187490] (CBC). We expect his appointment will help the CBC work towards increased trade and investment across the Hugh Robertson: The British Government opposes Commonwealth. the death penalty in all circumstances and we will make representations on behalf of British nationals facing Equal Pay death sentences, according to the individual circumstances of each case. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign The decision on Ms Carty’s case is a matter for the and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate the Texan authorities. I raised Ms Carty’s case with Governor reasons for the gender pay gap at senior management Rick Perry of Texas during his visit to the UK last structures 2, 3 and 4 of his Department. [186982] October. Her Majesty’s Consul General Houston had two meetings with Governor Perry’s General Counsel Hugh Robertson: The Equality and Human Rights in 2013 to raise our concerns about Ms Carty’s case. Commission (EHRC) guidelines state that difference We will continue to raise Ms Carty’s case, and the greater than 5% should be investigated and that patterns UK’s wider opposition to the death penalty, with the of difference of 3% or more should be looked into. We Texan authorities and the US Federal Government. recently conducted an equal pay analysis which shows the pay gap by gender for staff at Senior Management North Korea Structure (SMS) levels 2 and 3/4 as:

Average Pay Gap Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of Grade Female (£) Male (£) (percentage) State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what

SMS2 88,471 89,669 -1.35 recent discussions he has had with the government of SMS3/4 118,470 131,360 -10.88 North Korea on the treatment of Christians in that country. [187054] 733W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 734W

Mr Swire: Officials regularly raise our concerns about Property human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including with regard to Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign the treatment of Christians. In January 2014 our and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) name, (b) ambassador in Pyongyang raised human rights with a location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) Vice-Minister from the DPRK Ministry of Foreign value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) Affairs and Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies officials raised it with the DPRK ambassador in London. accountable to him. [187287] Supporting human rights remains one of the priorities for our policy towards the DPRK. We aim to do this in Mr Lidington: The details requested for the United three ways: by ensuring the issue remains high on the Kingdom Estate held by the Foreign and Commonwealth international community’s agenda; by using our policy Office (FCO) are as follows: of critical engagement to raise our concerns directly with the DPRK authorities; and by supporting small Floor scale projects aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable space Tenure groups in the DPRK. Name Location (m2) status Holder The annual FCO Human rights report includes the Hanslope Park Milton 25,932 Freehold FCO DPRK as a country of concern. The full report can be Keynes King Charles London 28,751 Freehold FCO found at: Street (Main www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk Building) Old Admiralty London 15,279 Freehold FCO Building Pay 1 -7 Kensington London 10,120 Leasehold FCO Palace Gardens 13 Kensington London 4,710 Leasehold FCO Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Palace Gardens and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants Northgate House Milton 3,277 Leasehold FCO are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) Keynes agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187246] 1 Carlton London 2,483 Leasehold FCO Gardens Lancaster House London 3,668 Leasehold FCO Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Artillery House London 186 Leasehold Westminster Office (FCO) at 31 January 2014 employed 4,715 UK Foundation based staff at the following paybands. for Democracy Belgrave Square London 61 Leasehold Great Britain Pay grade Number -China Centre Wiston House Steyning 2,326 Leasehold Wilton Park Al (AA) 20 Conference A2 (AO) 696 Centre B3 (EO) 766 Spring Gardens London 5,316 Leasehold British Council C4 (HEO) 1,178 Bridgewater Manchester 1,988 Leasehold British C5 (SEO) 457 House Council D6 (Grade 7) 772 Kingsway Cardiff 462 Leasehold British D7 (Grade 6) 420 Council SMS1 (SCSI) 277 Waverly Gate Edinburgh 456 Leasehold British SMS2 (SCS2) 100 Council SMS3 (SCS3) 26 The Boat Belfast 245 Leasehold British Council SMS4 (SCS4) 2 Telford Way London 1,100 Leasehold British PUS (SCS4) 1 Council

We have not provided individual valuations for each FCO Services employed 947 UK based staff at the of these properties as this information is commercially following paybands. sensitive.

Pay grade Number Overseas, the FCO runs an estate comprising more than 5,000 properties in 250 locations worldwide, and Al (AA) 34 the British Council have over 220 commercial properties A2 (AO) 90 in 110 countries. It would not be possible to provide the Apprentice 21 information requested on these properties without incurring B3 (EO) 90 disproportionate cost. Technical Payband 3 (EO) 100 C4 (HEO) 132 Technical Payband 4 (HEO) 151 Public Appointments C5 (SEO) 67 Technical Payband 5 (SEO) 120 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for D6 (Grade 7) 96 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which paid public D7 (Grade 6) 37 appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not SMS1 (SCSI) 9 renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were SMS2 (SCS2) 1 held by (i) women and (ii) men. [187019] 735W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 736W

Hugh Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to the We have expressed concerns at military involvement answer given on 11 February 2014, Official Report, in civilian activities in the north and are aware of column 607W, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office reports that the military are involved in education. and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member The Prime Minister raised land rights and militarisation for Horsham (Mr Maude). in the north of Sri Lanka during his November meeting with the Sri Lankan President Rajapaska. He called for Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for a meaningful political settlement with the north, including Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the titles are demilitarisation and full implementation of the Lessons of the individual public appointments that have been Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) made by his Department since May 2010; and which of recommendations. those appointees were women. [187080] We continue to underline to the Sri Lankan authorities the need for a long-term political settlement to address Hugh Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to the these underlying grievances and will continue to monitor answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and these issues. Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 11 February 2014, Official Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Report, column 607W. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Re-employment Department is taking in Sri Lanka to create lasting peace and reconciliation. [197621] Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Swire: I refer the right hon. Member to the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer I have given to question 186379 on 6 February answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 2013, Official Report, column 358W. 196W, on re-employment, what the total cost was of those retirements. [187586] Staff

Hugh Robertson: Of the 14 retirements, six of these Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign retired on age grounds at no cost to the Department. and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff (a) (b) The remaining eight retirements were at a total cost of his Department and agencies and public to the FCO of £647,840.06 bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. Individual payments are calculated in accordance [187268] with the civil service pension scheme rules in place at the time of retirement and are based on salary, years of Hugh Robertson: Working outside London, the Foreign service and age. and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have staff in the following local authority areas: London borough of Religious Freedom Croydon (less than 1%) and Milton Keynes (9%). FCO Services have staff in Milton Keynes (68%). Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers in Wilton Park has staff in Horsham district council his Department last met representatives of the All (100%). Party Parliamentary Group in International Religious British Council have staff in Belfast city council Freedom. [187538] (0.35%), Cardiff city council (0.37%), City of Edinburgh council (0.56%) and Manchester city council (2.99%). Mr Lidington: My noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Westminster Foundation for Democracy have no staff Warsi last met representatives of the All Party Parliamentary working outside London. Group on International Religious Freedom on 22 October Great Britain-China Centre have no staff working 2013. outside London. Sri Lanka Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission do not employ staff. Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Tanzania Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of reports of discriminatory practices Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for towards the Tamil people in Sri Lanka relating to (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the political rights, (b) education and (c) appropriation of failure of the Tanzanian Government to take action in land. [197620] relation to the seizure of Silverdale farm by Mr Benjamin Mengi in his upcoming meeting with the Mr Swire: We continue to monitor closely civil and President of Tanzania. [187581] political rights as well as land issues in Sri Lanka. We welcomed the Northern Provincial Council elections in Mark Simmonds: The British Government has raised Sri Lanka, which took place in September 2013. This the case of Silverdale farm at the highest levels on a was the first provincial council election held in the number of occasions. I raised the issue with the Tanzanian predominantly Tamil north since the 1987 establishment Agricultural Minister on 24 October last year and have of provincial councils. The opposition, Tamil National done so with the Tanzanian Foreign Minister on numerous Alliance, won over 80% of the vote. Local election occasions. We will continue to discuss the investment observers noted that elections were climate in our conversations with the Tanzanian “relatively free from violence, though not from intimidation”. Government. 737W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 738W

Ukraine Jeremy Wright: Blue Bay Support Services Ltd have received the following payments from the Ministry of Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice to provide short term support to four prisons in Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions offender management: he has had with his Ukranian counterpart aimed at (i) 2011-12—No payments bringing to an end the recent restrictions on human (ii) 2012-13—No payments. rights following protests in that country. [187668] (iii) 2013-14—11 payments totalling £24,360 for work which was brought to a conclusion in December 2013. Mr Lidington: On 10 February, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Blue Bay Support Services Limited provides Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), professionally trained and qualified staff in the criminal joined other EU Foreign Ministers in endorsing EU justice field. Similar service providers have been used on Council Conclusions which expressed deep concern at occasions over a number of years (including under a the continuing political crisis in Ukraine and the human different Government) to provide short term support to rights situation, including violence, cases of missing probation trusts and prisons. persons, torture and intimidation. The EU deplored the Probation trusts are non-departmental public bodies deaths and injuries sustained on all sides. They urged and information on individual trust contracts is not restraint and called for the authorities to take all necessary held centrally. measures to respect and protect the Ukrainian citizens’ Conditions of Employment fundamental rights and to investigate duly all acts of violence in a transparent and impartial manner and bring the perpetrators to justice. Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of On 24 January the Foreign Secretary spoke to the State for Justice what steps he is taking to balance the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Leonid Kozhara, to express legal rights and responsibilities of employees and the British Government’s deep concern at the violence employers; and if he will make a statement. [187546] in Ukraine. He said that all sides had a responsibility to refrain from violence, but particular responsibility rested Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) aims to with the government. He also outlined his concern make working within the Department a positive experience, about legislation passed on 16 January that appeared to with employees and employer upholding their rights impinge on democratic norms. I was pleased to see that and responsibilities. on 28 January the Ukrainian parliament voted to repeal Our standards and procedures are built upon what is those laws. The UK Government will continue to call expected through Legislation, Terms and Conditions of on Ukraine to adhere to its obligations as a member of Employment, the Civil Service Code which sets out the the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe value and standards expected of all civil servants, and (OSCE) and Council of Europe. other rules governing areas including confidentiality, propriety and ethics. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills JUSTICE leads on the regulation of the employer and employee Blue Bay Support Services relationship. Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Domestic Violence: Sentencing what contracts his Department has with Blue Bay Support Services; when each contract was signed; and what the Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for value and purpose is of each such contract. [177198] Justice if he will list the outcomes of sentences for Jeremy Wright: In 2013 the Ministry of Justice had convictions of domestic violence offences in 2009 by two contracts with Blue Bay Support Services Limited. local criminal justice boards. [186661] One was let on 18 October 2013 to the value of £40,000.00; and the other was let on 13 November 2013 to the value Jeremy Wright: Domestic violence covers a very wide of £9,600.00. These contracts provided short term support range of behaviour and there are many offences in to four prisons in offender management and they came England and Wales that could be relevant to cases of to an end in December 2013. domestic abuse or domestic violence. These include, but Blue Bay Support Services Limited provide professionally are not limited to, offences against the person (such as trained and qualified staff in the criminal justice field. common assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily Similar service providers have been used on occasions harm—which are both capable of including psychiatric over a number of years (including under a different injury—or wounding), sexual offences, threats to kill, Government) to provide short term support to probation blackmail, false imprisonment, harassment, stalking, trusts and prisons. putting someone in fear of violence and breach of non-molestation orders. Probation trusts are non-departmental public bodies and information on individual trust contracts is not Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice held centrally. on the court proceedings database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately what payments his Department has made to Blue Bay identify from this centrally held information convictions Support Services Ltd in each of the last three years; and and sentences for domestic violence from other offences what services that company provides to (a) his Department of assault. Information is not collated centrally on and (b) the National Offender Management Service. victims of alleged offences proceeded against, aside [178757] from the information provided by the statute under 739W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 740W which proceedings are brought. This detailed information Drugs: Sentencing may be held on the court record, but due to the size and complexity, is not reported centrally to the MOJ. As Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice such, the information requested can be obtained only at how many people have received the (a) maximum fine disproportionate cost. and (b) maximum prison sentence for (i) possession and (ii) trafficking of (A) Class A drugs (B) Class B Driving Offences: Sentencing drugs and (C) Class C drugs in each of the last five years. [180267] Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Jeremy Wright: There are tough penalties available Sentencing Council keeps under review the offence of for drug offences, with the maximum penalties set by causing death by disqualified or uninsured drivers. Parliament to deal with the worst possible cases. Trafficking [187107] Class A drugs carries a maximum prison sentence of life imprisonment and seven years minimum sentence Jeremy Wright: Guidance to the judiciary is produced on a third conviction. Within those limits it is for the independently of Government, by the Sentencing Council. courts to determine sentences in individual cases taking This is in line with the principle that, while the Government into account all the circumstances of the offence and decides what maximum penalties should be, the courts the offender. are responsible for deciding what sentence to impose The number of offenders sentenced to immediate within those limits. custody for offences relating to possession and trafficking The sentencing guideline on causing death by driving of Class A, Class B and Class C drugs, including those was published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in sentenced to the maximum penalty, at magistrates courts, 2008. It covers the offences of causing death by dangerous in England and Wales, from 2008 to 2012, can be driving and causing death by careless driving as well as viewed in Table 1. causing death by dangerous driving while under the The number of offenders sentenced to immediate influence of drink or drugs and causing death by driving custody for offences relating to possession and trafficking unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. Last year, the of Class A, Class B and Class C drugs, including those Justice Secretary wrote to the Sentencing Council (as it sentenced to the maximum penalty, at the Crown court, now is) to ask them to review the death by driving in England and Wales, from 2008 to 2012, can be guideline and they have agreed to include this in their viewed in Table 2. programme of work. The number of offenders sentenced to a fine for Severe maximum penalties, of 14 years imprisonment, offences relating to possession and trafficking of Class A, are available for those who cause death through dangerous Class B and Class C drugs, including those sentenced to driving or under the influence of drink or drugs and the maximum penalty available within magistrates’ powers statistics show that the overwhelming majority of those (or above), at magistrates courts, in England and Wales, convicted for these offences receive lengthy custodial from 2008 to 2012, can be viewed in Table 3. The sentences. The maximum penalty for causing death by custody rate remains constant (at 98%-99%) for the disqualified or uninsured driving is two years’imprisonment. number of offenders sentenced in the Crown court for We are keeping the law in this area under review. If any the most serious and high volume offence of importing changes are needed, we will bring forward proposals. Class A drugs. Drug traffickers are almost always given long custodial sentences if found guilty in the Crown Driving: Licensing court of the most serious offences. The Crown court has unlimited powers to fine, therefore Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for there is no maximum fine in the higher court. However, Justice (1) how many notifications of endorsement from the number of offenders sentenced to a fine for offences a court or fixed penalty office of a driver who meets the relating to possession and trafficking of Class A, Class criteria of the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 B and Class C drugs, at the Crown court, in England were sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Wales, from 2008 to 2012, can be viewed in Table 4. following the accumulation of six penalty points by a Those convicted of drug offences may also be subject to new driver within the two year probationary period in confiscation proceedings. each of the last five years; [187575] The tables will be placed in the Library of the House. (2) how many notifications were sent by a court or fixed penalty office to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals Agency following the accumulation of six penalty points by a new driver within the two year probationary period in each of the last five years. [187576] Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the average Mr Vara: The data is not held by HM Courts and waiting time for employment and support allowance Tribunals Service as although HM Courts and Tribunals appeals. [187112] Service is obliged to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency where the court endorses a licence Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and the notification mechanism is the same for all drivers. Child Support), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals The notification to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Service, hears appeals against Department for Work Agency does not therefore expressly state that a driver and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, including is, or is not, within their probationary period. employment and support allowance (ESA). 741W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 742W

In the period 1 April to 30 September 2013 (the latest deducted from prisoner’s earnings to help fund support period for which data has been published) the average for victims, the previous Government failed to act on waiting time from receipt of an ESA appeal at the this, depriving victims of potentially millions of pounds tribunal to disposal was 18.9 weeks. The average waiting of support. time has fallen since 2010. Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Employment Tribunals Service how much of the victim surcharge has been (a) collected and (b) uncollected in each year since 2010. Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice [180080] pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2013, Official Report, column 324W, on employment tribunal Mr Vara: Information for the financial year 2011-12, services, if he will publish the analysis sought in that including receipts received up to 18 months after the question. [197617] imposition date, and financial year 2012-13 to date, is provided in the table. Mr Vara: Data concerning outcomes of fee remission HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) takes applications made, in employment tribunal cases and in the issue of financial penalty enforcement very seriously other court and tribunal jurisdictions, are not routinely and is working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters published. is a continued priority nationwide. HMCTS actively HM Courts and Tribunals Service is working with pursues all outstanding impositions until certain they partners to develop appropriate system reporting tools cannot be collected. Collection reached an all time high that will enable extraction, interrogation and subsequent at the end of 2012-13 and has continued to rise in this quality assurance of data, including the data requested. financial year. At the end of September 2013 total Until those system reporting tools are developed, later collection (all imposition types excluding confiscation this year, we will not be able to provide the data requested. orders) was higher than the same point in the previous The Government has previously said that it plans to year and the outstanding balance had reduced since the publish a Post Implementation Review, assessing and start of the financial year. On average over the last reporting on the impacts of fee-charging on the employment 12 month 69% of accounts have been either closed or tribunals system. The reporting tools we are developing are compliant with payment terms by 12 months after will help us to undertake that work. imposition. As in my previous answer, my officials are currently HMCTS are actively seeking an external provider for undertaking this work, and I will write to the hon. the future delivery of compliance and enforcement services. Member as soon as I am able. This will bring the necessary investment and innovation to significantly improve the collection of criminal financial Fines: Surcharges penalties and reduce the cost of the service to the taxpayer. Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Under this Government, more money is being used how much of the victim surcharge has gone uncollected to fund victims’ services than ever before. Despite a law since the surcharge was introduced. [180079] being introduced in 1996, which allowed money to be deducted from prisoner’s earnings to help fund support Mr Vara: The value of uncollected victim surcharge for victims, the previous Government failed to act on as at 31 March 2013 is £12.1 million. This amount is net this, depriving victims of potentially millions of pounds of administrative cancellations. of support. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) takes Due to limitations in accounting systems, information the issue of financial penalty enforcement very seriously is not available for earlier years without disproportionate and is working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters cost. is a continued priority nationwide. HMCTS actively pursues all outstanding impositions until certain they £000 cannot be collected. Collection reached an all time high 2011-12 2012-13 at the end of 2012-13 and has continued to rise in this financial year. At the end of September 2013 total Imposed 12,293 15,715 collection (all imposition types excluding confiscation Cancelled 1,440 1,606 orders) was higher than the same point in the previous Collected 8,887 10,319 year and the outstanding balance had reduced since the Uncollected 1,966 3,791 start of the financial year. On average over the last 12 Cancellations relate mainly to remissions and statutory month 69% of accounts have been either closed or are declarations. compliant with payment terms by 12 months after imposition. Ministers HMCTS are actively seeking an external provider for the future delivery of compliance and enforcement services. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice This will bring the necessary investment and innovation how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last to significantly improve the collection of criminal financial year for which figures are available. [180104] penalties and reduce the cost of the service to the taxpayer. Mr Vara: Salaries paid to Ministers in the MOJ for Under this Government, more money is being used the financial year 2012-13 are set out in the following to fund victims’ services than ever before. Despite a law table. In respect of Ministers in the House of Commons, being introduced in 1996, which allowed money to be Departments bear only the cost of the additional ministerial 743W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 744W remuneration, the salary for their services as an MP Mr Vara: Information on the numbers of directly (£65,738 from 1 April 2010) and various allowances to employed (a) permanent and, (b) fixed-term temporary which they are entitled are borne centrally. Ministers in staff being paid the Living Wage* or above within the the House of Lords do not receive a salary but rather an Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunal Service additional remuneration which cannot be quantified (HMCTS), National Offender Management Service separately from their ministerial salaries. (NOMS), Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is detailed in the following Salary 2012-13 table. Full year Ministers Paid (£) equivalent (£) Proportion of staff The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, 39,576 68,827 employed paid Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Number paid the Living State for Justice (from 5 September the Living Wage or 2012) Wage or On strength above As at 30 November 2013 above headcount (percentage)

The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC 29,251 68,827 MOJ (Includes HQ, 25,189 25,361 99.3 MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary HMCTS, OPG and of State for Justice (to 4 September LAA) 2012) NOMS 38,643 38,880 99.4 Combined MOJ and 63,832 64,241 99.4 The Rt Hon Lord McNally*, 115,257 - NOMS total Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Living wage rates were increased in November 2013 after the implementation of the 2013 pay award. As a Jeremy Wright MP, Parliamentary 13,560 23,697 Under Secretary of State (from 5 result 0.6% of MOJ and NOMS staff are paid marginally September 2012) below the increased rates. The department is committed to ensuring that all staff are paid in line with or above Helen Grant MP, Parliamentary 13,560 23,697 the living wage and will assess this position again in Under Secretary of State (from 5 2014 as part of any pay round decisions. September 2012) Information on contractors paid less than the rate defined by the ‘Living Wage Foundation’ as a living Crispin Blunt MP, Parliamentary 10,137 23,697 Under Secretary of State (to 4 wage is not recorded centrally. We would need to approach September 2012) all of our contractors and or their agencies to get them to provide the information. This could be obtained only Jonathan Djanogly MP, 10,137 23,697 at disproportionate cost. Parliamentary Under Secretary of * Living Wage data cannot be split between Permanent and State (to 4 September 2012) Temporary as per the ONS definition and so the proportion * Lord McNally receives the Lords Office Holder Allowance (LOHA) which is overall is all that can be provided. set at £36,366 per annum. It is available to paid Lords Ministers whose main home is outside of London and is included within the figure disclosed above. (a) ONS Definition-Permanent employees are those that have a contract with no agreed expiry date or a fixed term contract of Offenders: Risk Assessment more than 12 months (regardless of the amount of time remaining on the contract). (b) ONS Definition-Temporary/casual employees are those that Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice have a fixed term contract of 12 months or less or are employed how many offender assessments using the Offender on a casual basis. Assessment System were outstanding on the first day of every month since May 2010. [181791] Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many employees of his Department or any of Jeremy Wright: Information is not held centrally to its agencies received bonus payments in each year allow a comparison of the number of applicable offenders between 2010 and 2013; [187040] in prison with those for whom a risk assessment on the Offender Assessment System (OASys) has been outstanding (2) how much was paid in bonuses to employees of on the first day of every month since May 2010. Such his Department and its agencies in each year between information could be provided only at very significant 2010 and 2013. [187066] and disproportionate cost. Given the importance of the OASys tool in assessing Mr Vara: Details of the number of employees within and managing risk, the National Offender Management the Department and its agencies receiving performance Service (NOMS) is putting in place processes to monitor related payments together with the overall cost for each and manage outstanding OASys assessments on an of the financial years since 2010-11 can be found in the ongoing basis. Such processes were absent up to May 2010. following table. Details provided relate to staff employed within the Pay Ministry of Justice HQ (MOJ), HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), National Offender Management Service Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (NOMS) and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). what proportion of (a) permanent, (b) temporary and The total amount paid in non-consolidated performance (c) contract staff in his Department are paid the awards to staff has fallen from £7.89 million in the final Living Wage or above. [186673] year of the previous administration. 745W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 746W

Mr Vara: Authority to execute a purchase is delegated Total cost of in-year/end- Number of officials year non-consolidated awarded a non- to heads of business units across the Department and performance-related consolidated performance subject to strict controls and budgetary limits. Unit Performance payments (bonuses) for related payment (bonus) in heads are then able to sub delegate to individuals within year each performance year (£) each performance year business units, again subject to strict controls. Details of 2010-11 6,201,581 13,918 numbers of individuals and grades with delegated authority 2011-12 5,311,421 11,057 to purchase are not held centrally. To determine the 2012-13 5,117,836 10,407 exact number would incur disproportionate cost as an approach to over 1,000 individual business units would be required. Probation Authority to execute contracts for goods services and works is restricted to personnel within the Department’s John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for procurement directorate and Legal Aid Agency for Justice what steps he has taken to ensure that there will contracts pertaining to legal aid. In the procurement be sufficient experienced probation officers allocated to directorate, 142 officials have delegated authority to the 21 community rehabilitation companies to assess execute contracts of which 71 have the graduate diploma risk escalation of offenders who are supervised by from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply those companies. [187389] with a further 50 in the process of completing the diploma. A breakdown by grade is shown as follows. Jeremy Wright: The 30 bidders who passed the first stage of the competition to win the regional rehabilitation Number of officials with a contracts were announced in mid December and all Number of officials with full or part professional Grade delegated authority procurement qualification have experience in working with offenders or across the wider Criminal Justice System. Providers bidding to SCS 13 3 run Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) will Band A 37 32 need to demonstrate in their bids how they will deliver Band B 57 65 high quality services and how they will maintain a Band C 2 2 workforce with appropriate levels of competence and Band D 28 18 training to deliver these services. CRCs will be free to Band E 5 1 use the Probation Qualifications Framework (PQF) to Total 142 121 ensure this. Existing probation staff have been assigned to posts in the new structures according to their experience In the case of Band B officials more are qualified and case load. than have delegated authority. Performance is assessed annually based on commercial Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice objectives derived from the Civil Service Competency (1) if he will publish the three probation level input Framework. indicators due to be published in autumn 2012; [187569] Public Appointments (2) what the average full apportioned cost to probation of delivering a community order or suspended sentence Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for order to the service definition in the National Offender Justice (1) which paid public appointment contracts he Management Service specification was for the last period has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; for which figures are available. [187570] and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men; [187024] Jeremy Wright: The three probation unit cost input (2) what the titles are of the individual public indicators, including the fully apportioned cost to NOMS appointments that have been made by his Department of delivering a community order or suspended sentence since May 2010; and which of those appointees were order, are published on an annual basis by the Ministry women. [187085] of Justice. These were first published on 25 October 2012 in respect of 2011-12. Costs for 2012-13, the latest Mr Vara: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer provided available, were published on 31 October 2013. by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster These are published as part of the prison and probation General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham trusts performance statistics through the following page (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, of the Gov.uk website: column 607W. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-and- Railways: Trespass probation-trusts-performance-statistics Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Procurement Justice how many convictions have been secured for trespassing on the railway in each of the last 10 years. Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice [187529] how many officials at each grade in his Department have the authority to execute a purchase; what proportion Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the of those officials have professional procurement Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database qualifications; and what the key indicators used in his does not include the circumstances behind each case Department to assess procurement officer’s performance beyond the description provided in the statute. Offences are. [183361] relating to trespassing on the railway system are reported 747W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 748W as part of a miscellaneous group of offences, and it is Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice not possible, therefore, to separately identify prosecutions how many (a) matched and (b) unmatched registered for these specific offences from other offences. intermediaries there were for each age group of vulnerable witnesses in each year since 2010. [184189]

Rape: Victim Support Schemes Damian Green: Registered intermediaries help to make the justice process accessible to some of the most vulnerable Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice people in our society. In some cases they will be the what plans his Department has to expand the number difference between a witness being able to testify or not. of rape support centres across the country. [187111] The data in the following table provides the requested information.

Damian Green: In response to the Ministry of Justice’s 0to4 5to11 12-17 18+ 65+ consultation and response paper “Getting it right for victims and witnesses” which outlined the Government’s 2010 intention on the future commissioning of victim’s services, Matched 85 174 226 627 49 the MOJ launched the Rape Support Fund (2011 to Unmatched 02222 2014). The Rape Support Fund has provided around Cancelled 1 3 6 24 3 £4.4 million per year, which currently supports 77 rape Total 86 179 234 653 54 support centres, including 13 new and emerging centres in areas of need. 2011 The current Rape Support Fund will end on 31 Matched 84 150 226 652 56 March 2014 and to ensure there is no gap in service Unmatched 0 1 5 16 6 provision, a new two-year £4.1 million Rape Support Cancelled 5 4 6 14 5 Fund (with the option to extend for a further year) will Total 89 155 237 682 67 commence from April 2014, the commissioning process for which has already concluded with announcements due later in February. 2012 Matched 124 262 237 683 75 The Ministry of Justice is also working with experts Unmatched 0 0 2 13 5 from the sector and are due to engage Police and Crime Cancelled 4 2 4 19 2 Commissioners, to establish potential locations for two Total 128 264 243 715 82 new centres during 2014 and £300,000 has been set aside to establish these new centres. 2013 Matched 208 364 308 778 62 Witnesses Unmatched 2 3 5 25 2 Cancelled 3 7 7 20 2 Total 213 374 320 823 66 Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) active and (b) inactive registered intermediaries there were in each year since 2010. Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice [184186] how many sexual offences were prosecuted which involved a person aged under 18 years old where that Damian Green: Registered Intermediaries help to make person was (a) matched and (b) unmatched with a the justice process accessible to some of the most vulnerable registered intermediary since 2010. [184190] people in our society. In some cases they will be the difference between a witness being able to testify or not. Damian Green: Registered intermediaries help to make The use of registered intermediaries has increased in the justice process accessible to some of the most vulnerable recent years (from 1,206 requests in 2010 to 1,796 in people in our society. In some cases they will be the 2013). Numbers of active and inactive registered difference between a witness being able to testify or not. intermediaries vary on a daily basis because of other Data is not collated for reporting purposes on whether demands on their time, and they fluctuate over time due the request for a registered intermediary by a user group to natural wastage and the 2012 review of long-term is for an initial assessment, an achieving best evidence inactive intermediaries which removed a large number interview, for a trial or any other purpose. However, the from the register. Statistics at 31 December of each data in the following table provides information on respective year indicate: requests for cases involving sexual offences and involving 2010—Separate figures were not available until 31 March all other types of offences. 2011. At this date, there were 112 active and 36 inactive, total 148; 2010 2011—active 102, inactive 42, total 144 ; Non-sexual offences Sexual offences 2012—active 88, inactive 19, total 107; and 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+

2013—active 74, inactive 20, total 94. Police Matched 100 211 286 310 During the winter of 2013, the Ministry of Justice Unmatched 1112 ran a recruitment campaign for new registered Cancelled 3 14 4 7 intermediaries. From this, 30 candidates were selected CPS Matched 22 61 61 63 for initial accreditation training courses scheduled during Unmatched 1110 January, February and March 2014. 749W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 750W

2010 2013 Non-sexual offences Sexual offences Non-sexual offences Sexual offences 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+

Cancelled 1510 Cancelled 4 8 0 4 Courts Matched 1111Courts Matched 0 0 0 0 Unmatched 0000 Unmatched 0 0 0 0 Cancelled 0 0 0 0 Cancelled 0001 Solicitor Matched 0 2 0 1 Solicitor Matched 11 17 3 12 Unmatched 0 1 0 0 Unmatched 0000 Cancelled 0 0 0 0

Cancelled 1000Total 208 352 699 537 Grand 1,796 Total 141 311 358 396 total Grand 1,206 total Written Questions: Government Responses 2011 Non-sexual offences Sexual offences Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+ pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2013, Official Police Matched 94 217 277 298 Report, column 61W,on procurement, when the information Unmatched 1 4 2 2 sought by the original question will be provided. Cancelled 4 8 8 5 [187523] CPS Matched 24 78 55 77 Unmatched 1 4 0 4 Jeremy Wright: The answer to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan) will Cancelled 0 3 2 0 be answered as soon as possible. Courts Matched 0 3 1 2 Unmatched 0 0 0 0 Young Offenders Cancelled 0 0 0 1 Solicitor Matched 2 19 7 14 Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Unmatched 0 6 2 2 what steps his Department is taking to equip young Cancelled 1 1 0 1 offenders with the skills, qualifications and self-discipline Total 127 343 354 406 they need to lead law-abiding lives in the community. Grand 1,230 [187110] total Jeremy Wright: We have recently set out our plans to 2012 transform youth custody and put education at the heart Non-sexual offences Sexual offences of youth detention. All young people should have access 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+ to a high quality education which will allow them to Police Matched 163 254 355 323 fulfil their potential. This is all the more important if a Unmatched 0 7 0 4 young person has set out on the wrong path in life, and Cancelled 4 10 4 3 needs help to get back onto the straight and narrow. CPS Matched 34 107 70 72 We will be introducing a pathfinder Secure College, a Unmatched 0 4 2 2 new form of secure educational establishment for young offenders, in the East Midlands in 2017. Secure Colleges Cancelled 1 5 1 2 will deliver an innovative and integrated regime focused Courts Matched 0 1 0 0 on educating and rehabilitating young offenders, m Unmatched 0 1 0 0 addition, we are enhancing education provision within Cancelled 0 1 0 0 Young Offender Institutions by seeking to more than Solicitor Matched 1 1 0 0 double the number of hours young people spend in Unmatched 0 0 0 0 education each week, and by bringing the head teacher Cancelled 0 0 0 0 overseeing education delivery into the senior management team of the establishment. Total 203 391 432 406 Grand 1,432 total 2013 HOME DEPARTMENT Non-sexual offences Sexual offences 0-17 18+ 0-17 18+ Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse Police Matched 155 211 512 383 Unmatched 3 12 5 4 Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Cancelled 6 5 7 5 Home Department what assessment her Department CPS Matched 39 107 174 136 has made of a link between the consumption of highly Unmatched 1 6 1 4 alcoholic beverages and anti-social and criminal behaviour; and if she will make a statement. [187178] 751W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 752W

Norman Baker: While no formal assessment has been at the moment, while we assess the response of industry made, we know that there are certain high strength to our Alcohol Strategy.In the meantime we are introducing products that are overly associated with alcohol harms. a ban on alcohol sales below the cost of duty plus VAT Evidence from Suffolk Police stated there had been a from April 2014. This fulfils the Coalition Government’s 49% reduction in anti-social “incidents of concern” in commitment and will stop the worst cases of very cheap Ipswich during the first six months of the Reducing the and harmful alcohol sales. Strength campaign, where retailers voluntarily stopped Confiscation Orders selling high-strength alcohol. That is why we are challenging industry to raise its game to help tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder including taking action to reduce Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the the size and strength of products associated with problem Home Department how many confiscation orders have drinking. been recorded by each force on (a) the Joint-Asset Recovery Database and (b) other databases for (i) below £100, (ii) between £100 and £50,000 and (iii) Alcoholic Drinks: Prices above £50,000 in each year for which figures are available. [186898] Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative Karen Bradley [holding answer 10 February 2014]: proposals to enable minimum pricing for alcohol. Under this Government more assets have been recovered [187693] from criminals than ever before. The figures of confiscation orders obtained by police forces in England and Wales Norman Baker: Minimum Unit Pricing remains a from the Joint Asset Recovery Database are provided in policy under consideration but is not being taken forward the following table:

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Below £100 4 1934112181414 Between 1 23 75 69 90 115 108 140 167 165 £100- £50,000 Above 16844511310126 £50,000 Avon and Total 21 32 88 76 99 137 132 158 193 185 Somerset Constabulary Below £100 1 005711921711 Between 9121528485546758258 £100- £50,000 Above 21214244107 £50,000 Bedfordshire Total121317345968591009976 police Below £100 0 0002429315 Between 2 5 5 8 11 24 10 18 19 16 £100- £50,000 Above 2112032254 £50,000 British Total 4 6 6 10 13 31 14 29 27 35 Transport Police Below £100 8 011254194930 Between 28 15 12 41 58 64 59 66 51 90 £100- £50,000 Above 2816640447 £50,000 Cambridgeshire Total3823144866736389104127 Constabulary Below £100 0 0 4 3 15 28 13 18 10 19 Between 9152623276960758488 £100- £50,000 Above 1116476368 £50,000 Cheshire Total 10 16 31 32 46 104 79 96 100 115 Constabulary Below £100 0 215681479 Between 9161112181018171325 £100- £50,000 753W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 754W

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Above 34447511389 £50,000 City of London Total12221621312320342843 Police Below £100 0 1 11 4 4 0 17 20 7 32 Between 0154126213049775451 £100- £50,000 Above 0023329408 £50,000 Cleveland police Total 0 16 54 33 28 32 75 101 61 91 Below £100 0 21661312152014 Between 17 12 15 26 58 63 53 52 61 61 £100- £50,000 Above 1002282164 £50,000 Cumbria Total18141634668467688779 Constabulary Below £100 3 21 22 21 37 30 23 32 21 19 Between 13 62 57 75 65 85 71 81 43 37 £100- £50,000 Above 2413732618 £50,000 Derbyshire Total 18 87 80 99 109 118 96 119 65 64 Constabulary Below £100 1 10062811411 Between 14 14 22 20 35 31 24 35 43 43 £100- £50,000 Above 12226691144 £50,000 Devon and Total16172422473941575158 Cornwall Constabulary Below £100 0 234661117106 Between 10 26 32 18 21 51 46 41 35 28 £100- £50,000 Above 1129725256 £50,000 Dorset police Total 11 29 37 31 34 59 62 60 50 40 Below £100 0 211216237 Between 6102025313037632825 £100- £50,000 Above 1121624011 £50,000 Durham Total 7 13 23 27 39 33 47 65 32 33 Constabulary Below £100 1 2 6 16 21 13 11 15 20 18 Between 7131916312926283440 £100- £50,000 Above 1201202120 £50,000 Dyfed-Powys Total 9 17 25 33 54 42 39 44 56 58 police Below £100 0 25432638432620 Between 81539353654761069476 £100- £50,000 Above 31441675119 £50,000 Essex police Total 11 18 48 43 40 86 121 154 131 105 Below £100 0 876917615513 Between 6112433577339362936 £100- £50,000 755W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 756W

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Above 3440935212 £50,000 Gloucestershire Total 9 23 35 39 75 93 50 53 35 51 Constabulary Below £100 26 126 93 99 158 124 78 49 28 45 Between 136 252 213 209 260 241 224 259 243 226 £100- £50,000 Above 1091712142118101514 £50,000 Greater Total 172 387 323 320 432 386 320 318 286 285 Manchester police Below £100 2 19 9 7 11 15 8957 Between 20 27 18 26 29 31 33 31 38 49 £100- £50,000 Above 0324324311 £50,000 Gwent police Total 22 49 29 37 43 48 45 43 44 57 Below £100 0 2 6 14 12 17 13 37 65 56 Between 22 30 38 44 34 26 19 46 118 113 £100- £50,000 Above 314210841332 £50,000 Hampshire Total2533486056513696186171 Constabulary Below £100 0 1 0 10 13 30 32 31 32 29 Between 1 6 17 29 31 63 63 69 61 57 £100- £50,000 Above 12531187786 £50,000 Hertfordshire Total 2 9 22 42 55 101 102 107 101 92 Constabulary Below £100 2 3435910835 Between 17 24 30 42 33 37 63 64 50 42 £100- £50,000 Above 12151116876 £50,000 Humberside Total20293550395779806053 police Below £100 7 8 26 14 44 50 59 55 52 35 Between 29 19 42 44 66 66 98 100 87 89 £100- £50,000 Above 8 6 4156 6157158 £50,000 Kent police Total 44 33 72 73 116 122 172 162 154 132 Below £100 0 0 3 4 15 12 7 24 16 11 Between 13 22 32 48 46 45 59 95 87 91 £100- £50,000 Above 0 5 8 6 10 13 10 6 10 11 £50,000 Lancashire Total13274358717076125113113 Constabulary Below £100 4 6 9 21 18 26 33 35 44 43 Between 18 56 70 73 100 74 114 109 133 148 £100- £50,000 Above 5563189101792 £50,000 Leicestershire Total 27 67 85 97 136 109 157 161 186 193 Constabulary Below £100 1 4 6 15 15 26 27 11 19 22 Between 12 23 35 46 32 49 44 73 52 39 £100- £50,000 757W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 758W

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Above 1181034131 £50,000 Lincolnshire Total14284962477875857462 police Below £100 7 15 50 45 51 57 50 56 49 71 Between 41 70 119 108 89 137 143 123 157 156 £100- £50,000 Above 12781181812488 £50,000 Merseyside Total 60 92 177 164 148 212 205 183 214 235 police Below £100 11 24 41 33 65 91 69 43 56 44 Between 113 169 251 227 260 311 286 337 315 265 £100- £50,000 Above 40 34 53 52 77 69 60 86 81 89 £50,000 Metropolitan Total 164 227 345 312 402 471 415 466 452 398 Police Service Below £100 0 3122313815 Between 7 7 16 23 48 58 77 85 84 69 £100- £50,000 Above 0382945461 £50,000 Norfolk Total 7 13 25 27 59 65 83 92 98 85 Constabulary Below £100 0 00292219151912 Between 7 4 414385266526546 £100- £50,000 Above 0041324424 £50,000 North Wales Total 7 4 8 17 50 76 89 71 86 62 police Below £100 0 1 4 6 15 16 12 15 9 10 Between 0162325284146403036 £100- £50,000 Above 0131331524 £50,000 North Yorkshire Total 0 18 30 32 46 60 59 60 41 50 police Below £100 2 31721729281411 Between 12 14 32 26 28 34 33 36 42 38 £100- £50,000 Above 4233833726 £50,000 Northamptonshire Total18193636385465715855 police Below £100 0 0 1 1 11 5 22 36 12 27

Between 21726344369841107966 £100- £50,000 Above 1333618856 £50,000 Northumbria Total 3 20 30 38 60 75 114 154 96 99 police Below £100 3 5 10 14 17 46 58 58 51 37

Between 14 41 71 64 78 105 94 139 129 135 £100- £50,000 Above 4428582853 £50,000 Nottinghamshire Total 21 50 83 86 100 159 154 205 185 175 police Below £100 11 40 51 51 46 48 30 34 26 21 759W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 760W

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Between 26 57 97 108 98 147 131 152 125 134 £100- £50,000 Above 0023275324 £50,000 South Wales Total 37 97 150 162 146 202 166 189 153 159 police Below £100 1 77431217181417 Between 17 53 52 57 48 61 75 86 121 114 £100- £50,000 Above 4776913104179 £50,000 South Yorkshire Total 22 67 66 67 60 86 102 108 152 140 police Below £100 0 1 1 3 13 15 12 31 37 41 Between 13 13 18 38 56 74 81 99 112 101 £100- £50,000 Above 0 1 5 4 10 11 4 10 5 10 £50,000 Staffordshire Total 13 15 24 45 79 100 97 140 154 152 police Below £100 2 4076121621811 Between 4284655747865546564 £100- £50,000 Above 2232451624 £50,000 Suffolk Total 8 34 49 64 84 95 82 81 75 79 Constabulary Below £100 0 116537231017 Between 4131619132324313030 £100- £50,000 Above 36365610557 £50,000 SurreypoliceTotal7202031233241594554 Below £100 3 2 13 15 15 24 23 29 20 27 Between 26 28 37 66 74 103 138 126 122 98 £100- £50,000 Above 333357101586 £50,000 Sussex police Total 32 33 53 84 94 134 171 170 150 131 Below £100 1 3 6 23 25 78 70 88 39 35 Between 21 33 84 95 105 133 113 138 138 100 £100- £50,000 Above 4 2 6 6 11 15 10 6 18 16 £50,000 Thames Valley Total 26 38 96 124 141 226 193 232 195 151 police Below £100 0 10989716917 Between 6 5 812222617272543 £100- £50,000 Above 0000313223 £50,000 Warwickshire Total 6 6 8 21 33 36 27 45 36 63 police Below £100 5 12 14 4 15 15 18 15 37 21 Between 32 36 38 26 55 63 58 70 76 47 £100- £50,000 Above 5430474556 £50,000 West Mercia Total425255307485809011874 Constabulary Below £100 0 17 27 67 65 60 75 53 57 36 761W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 762W

Number of confiscation orders Police forces 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Between 34 81 94 125 125 117 114 103 93 119 £100- £50,000 Above 3 3 6 15 8 20 17 14 14 18 £50,000 West Midlands Total 37 101 127 207 198 197 206 170 164 173 police Below £100 0 4 8 9 16 23 27 44 78 98 Between 12 34 144 224 202 163 199 263 289 330 £100- £50,000 Above 134138 81912263735 £50,000 West Yorkshire Total 25 42 165 241 226 205 238 333 404 463 police Below £100 0 0364177535 Between 9151920353930312734 £100- £50,000 Above 0221326141 £50,000 Wiltshire Total 9 17 24 27 42 58 43 37 34 40 Constabulary

Drugs: Misuse Karen Bradley: Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with a wide variety of international partners Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the and others as part of the process of policy development Home Department what position the UK Government and delivery.As was the case with previous Administrations, will be taking on drugs policy at the G8 Summit hosted it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of by Russia on 4 and 5 June 2014; and if she will make a all such meetings. statement. [186773] Immigration Norman Baker: The UK Government is committed to working with the international community, including Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for through the G8, to address the significant harms drugs the Home Department on what date officials in her cause to individuals, families and communities. Department were first made aware that the hon. Member During G8 meetings, including the G8 Summit, we for Forest of Dean had concerns over the immigration will discuss how the international community can work status of his cleaner. [187536] together to ensure the global approach to drugs is as effective as it can be. We will continue to advocate a James Brokenshire: Wednesday 5 February. balanced and evidence-based international response that combines effective enforcement to restrict the supply of Independent Police Complaints Commission drugs with efforts to reduce demand and build recovery. There are encouraging signs in the UK, with drug use at Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for its lowest level since records began in 1996, and people the Home Department (1) how the Independent Police going into treatment today more likely to free themselves Complaints Commission defines restraint-related deaths from dependency than ever before, but I am also keen, involving police officers that occur outside the physical through our international comparators study, to learn premises of a police station; [186413] from the experience of other countries. (2) what the Independent Police Complaints We will also seek to build on the consensus for Commission definition of a death in custody is for increased global action on new psychoactive substances statistical purposes. [186414] agreed as part of the UK’s presidency of the G8 in 2013. Damian Green [holding answer 6 February 2014]: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is responsible for publishing annual figures on deaths Human Trafficking during or following police contact. The IPCC publishes guidance which includes the definition of death categories. Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the These documents are available on the IPCC website. Home Department (1) what discussions she has had The definitions taken from the guidance are set out with her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on the here: prevention of human trafficking between jurisdictions; Restraint-related deaths: [186424] Part of the process of collating information for deaths (2) what discussions she has had with her Swedish included in the annual report includes noting whether counterpart on steps that the Swedish government has the individual was restrained at any point during the taken to tackle human trafficking. [186425] interaction with the police. 763W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 764W

This is detailed in the published reports where appropriate notify the Home Office if they have reasonable grounds for the categories ‘Deaths in or following police custody’ to suspect that a marriage is one of convenience. Submission and ‘Other deaths following police contact (which have of a section 24 report does not indicate that an offence been subject to IPCC independent investigation)’. Details has been committed; rather it reflects the suspicions of on cause of death, as recorded in the medical post the registrar. The following table shows, the number of mortem are also presented in the report. A death will section 24 reports received in each of years requested. only be classed as ‘restraint-related’ if the medical post mortem came to such conclusion. Number of section 24/24A reports of suspicious marriages and civil Death in or following police custody: partnerships1

Deaths in or following police custody includes deaths 2006 282 that occur while a person is being arrested or taken into 2007 384 detention. It includes deaths of persons who have been 2008 344 arrested or have been detained by police under the 2009 561 Mental Health Act 1983. The death may have taken 2010 934 place on police, private or medical premises, in a public 2011 1,741 place or in a police or other vehicle. 2012 1,891 This includes: 2013 (to 31 October) 1,824 Deaths that occur during or following police custody where 1 Included from 2005 injuries that contributed to the death were sustained during the In addition, since 30 September 2012 when it was period of detention. introduced, we have recorded the following numbers of Deaths that occur in or on the way to hospital (or other other reports relating to sham marriage on our Intelligence medical premises) following or during transfer from scene of Management System (previously known as the Allegations arrest or police custody. Management System). Deaths that occur as a result of injuries or other medical problems that are identified or that develop while a person is in Number of reports relating to sham custody. marriage recorded on IMS

Deaths that occur while a person is in police custody having 2012 (30 September to 31 December) 984 been detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 2013 (to 31 October) 5,782 or other related legislation. This does not include: As with figures like these, there could be a number of Suicides that occur after a person has been released from reasons for the increase including real-life increase, police custody. increase in reporting, or better detection. The Government Deaths of individuals who have been transferred to the care of is determined to clamp down on abuse of the marriage another agency and subsequently die while in their care of injuries route. Data on individual cases and whether they are or illness not identified or sustained while in police custody. genuine or sham are only held with paper case files or Deaths that occur where the police are called to assist medical within the notes sections of the Home Office’s databases. staff to restrain individuals who are not under arrest. Such information is not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean these questions could only Marriage: Fraud be answered through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the The following table provides the information we hold Home Department how many marriages were reported centrally on investigations and outcomes relating to as sham for each year since 2006; and how many such sham marriage. These figures do not give the complete marriages were (a) investigated, (b) found to be sham picture of sham marriage activity, as many investigations and (c) found to be genuine. [176129] will not result in an enforcement visit. In terms of outcomes, the fact that there has been an arrest or a. James Brokenshire: Section 24 of the Immigration removal does not necessarily indicate a marriage was a and Asylum Act 1999 places a duty on registrars to sham.

Marriage abuse enforcement activity and criminal investigations, January 2006 to October 2013

Individuals linked Removals and departures Arrests resulting Successful to sham marriage where person linked to Calendar year Enforcement visits from these ops Charged prosecutions activity sham marriage activity

2006 15 * - - - -

2007 25 5 - - - -

2008 30 5 - - - -

2009 40 40 - - - -

2010 240 165 - - - -

2011 685 365 - - - -

2012 735 310 110 45 - - 765W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 766W

Marriage abuse enforcement activity and criminal investigations, January 2006 to October 2013 Individuals linked Removals and departures Arrests resulting Successful to sham marriage where person linked to Calendar year Enforcement visits from these ops Charged prosecutions activity sham marriage activity

2013 YTD* 1,155 615 95 60 1,645 90 Notes: 1. The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. 2. Figures for enforcement visits and arrests relate to those linked to marriage abuse undertaken between 1 January 2006 and 31 October 2013 recorded onthe National Operations Database (NODMMX). 3. Figures for those charged and prosecuted relate to criminal investigation operations between 1 January 2012 and 31 October 2013 recorded on the National Operations Database (NODMMX). 4. Successful prosecutions range from cautions to custodial sentences. 5. Figures on individuals linked to sham marriage activities relate to those flagged on the Case Information Database between 14 January and 31 October 2013. Prior to 14 January this data was not tracked on CID. 6. Figures on removals relate to individuals flagged as linked to marriage abuse investigations on the Case Information Database (CID) with a removal date between 14 January and 31 October 2013. 7. Figures for arrests, charged, successful prosecutions, sham marriage activity links and removals relate to individuals. 8. Figures rounded to nearest 5 (- = 0, *=1or2).

Offences Against Children (2) what the titles are of the individual public appointments that have been made by her Department Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the since May 2010; and which of those appointees were Home Department how many former care staff and women. [187083] teachers who worked in approved schools or community homes with education in the 1970s and 1980s in (a) Karen Bradley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer England and Wales and (b) North Wales have been given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster arrested for offences of (i) physical assault and (ii) General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham sexual offences against former residents of the institutions (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, in the last 30 years; how many such people have been column 607W. (A) subsequently charged, (B) tried, (C) found guilty Public Houses: Opening Hours and (D) had convictions overturned on appeal. [187494]

Damian Green: The requested information is not Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the collected centrally. Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on incidence of (a) antisocial behaviour and Proceeds of Crime (b) domestic violence of extensions to pub opening hours. [186480] Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department paid to Norman Baker [holding answer 10 February 2014]: In each (a) police force and (b) other agency in respect of March 2008 the Home Office evaluated the impact of (i) non conviction-based confiscation orders, (ii) the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder. conviction-based confiscation orders and (iii) cash The overall volume of incidents of crime and disorder forfeiture in each year for which figures are available. remains unchanged, though there were signs that crimes [186897] involving serious violence may have reduced. Restraint Orders Karen Bradley [holding answer 10 February 2014]: The figures are provided in the tables, that I will place in the House Library. The amounts given to front-line Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the agencies by this Government under the asset recovery Home Department how many restraint orders have incentivisation scheme have been more than in any been made by each police force in each year for which previous equivalent time period. figures are available. [186900] Public Appointments Karen Bradley [holding answer 10 February 2014]: Under the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, the Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Government is committed to enabling assets to be frozen the Home Department (1) which paid public more quickly and earlier in investigations. The figures appointment contracts she has (a) renewed and (b) of the number of restraint orders obtained by police not renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were forces in England and Wales from the Joint Asset held by (i) women and (ii) men; [187022] recovery Database are provided in the following table:

Force 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Avon and Somerset 6125 7251010171917 Constabulary Bedfordshire Police 2 4 3 11 21 9 6 25 7 10 Cambridgeshire 8 17 21 7 32 25 14 24 24 17 Constabulary Cheshire Constabulary 2 4 2 6 11 15 16 14 18 14 City of London Police 2 8 1 7 12 10 25 24 14 8 767W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 768W

Force 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

ClevelandPolice1 3 3 3112826232224 Cumbria Constabulary 2 3 9 10 14 9 15 14 10 13 DerbyshireConstabulary3 3169242428221915 Devon and Cornwall 0 4 15 14 21 10 18 37 35 24 Constabulary Dorset Police 1 3 10 5 13 22 13 19 16 6 Durham Constabulary 1 8 14 30 32 19 14 25 18 22 Dyfed-PowysPolice03133107964 EssexPolice 3 1 0 4122726243024 Gloucestershire 1 3 91110125351316 Constabulary Greater Manchester 1143951448368757388 Police GwentPolice 10210709101115 Hampshire Constabulary 2 3 8 6 23 13 21 47 51 48 Hertfordshire 4 3 19 26 31 62 63 41 35 30 Constabulary Humberside Police 0 3 21 6 14 22 34 14 30 32 Kent Police 3 14 11 13 15 43 39 39 25 19 Lancashire Constabulary 7 11 29 24 28 26 49 47 32 48 Leicestershire 2123522321832272419 Constabulary Lincolnshire Police 0 5 4 4 6 12 9 13 14 5 Merseyside Police 4 5 12 16 22 7 15 12 17 24 Metropolitan Police 27 35 71 100 209 351 259 234 215 189 Service Norfolk Constabulary 8 11 18 54 33 44 40 54 28 25 North Wales Police 0 1 5 2 12 8 24 11 10 8 NorthYorkshirePolice3 9 1 6121613111213 Northamptonshire Police 0 1 10 9 12 28 9 17 16 8 Northumbria Police 5 4 4 7 20 29 58 53 15 19 Nottinghamshire Police 3 5 5 8 33 20 19 23 16 19 South Wales Police 3 5 10 6 16 18 26 34 32 18 South Yorkshire Police 0 0 20 21 39 19 21 28 14 16 StaffordshirePolice2 91328264128281224 SuffolkConstabulary3112731214742302619 Surrey Police 4 7 19 6 21 14 20 10 25 21 SussexPolice 2 61312161628311925 Thames Valley Police 7 5 23 29 18 32 28 30 15 26 Warwickshire Police 1 0 2134491115 West Mercia 1 1 4 8 8 11 12 24 14 24 Constabulary West Midlands Police 6 5 12 22 57 59 75 62 46 19 West Yorkshire Police 1 13 16 17 53 59 57 104 100 57 Wiltshire Constabulary 0 1 1 3 11 9 5 13 5 2

Staff The Home Office’s Executive non-departmental public bodies are the Independent Police Complaints Commission Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the (IPCC), the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), the Home Department what proportion of staff of (a) her Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the Office of the Department and (b) agencies and public bodies Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). accountable to her work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. [187270] The proportion of staff working outside of London, and the local authorities in which they are located, is Karen Bradley: The proportion of staff working outside provided for the IPCC in Table 3, DBS in Table 4 and of London, and the local authorities in which they are SIA in Table 5. The OISC does not have any staff located, is provided for (a) the Home Department in located outside of London. Table 1 and (b) the Executive agencies and Executive Table 1: (a) Proportion of civil servants in the core Home Office working non-departmental public bodies in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5. outside London by local authority at 31 December 2013 The Home Office’s Executive agencies are HM Passport Local Authority Percentage Office (HMPO) and the National Fraud Authority Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and North East 0.2 (NFA). Moray The proportion of staff working outside of London, Angus and Dundee City 0.0 and the local authorities in which they are located, is Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham 0.5 provided for HMPO in Table 2. The NFA does not have Bedfordshire CC 0.4 any staff located outside of London. Belfast 0.6 769W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 770W

Table 1: (a) Proportion of civil servants in the core Home Office working Table 1: (a) Proportion of civil servants in the core Home Office working outside London by local authority at 31 December 2013 outside London by local authority at 31 December 2013 Local Authority Percentage Local Authority Percentage Berkshire 0.2 Non London local authorities total 49.4 Birmingham 1.0 Blackpool 0.0 Bournemouth and Poole 0.3 London 48.4 Bristol, City of 0.6 Overseas 2.2 Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield 0.0 Cambridgeshire CC 0.0 Grand Total 100.0 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan 0.9 Notes: Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 0.0 1. Period covered: Data are provided as at 31 December 2013. Coventry 0.5 2. Extraction date: 1 January 2014. 3. Organisational coverage: Figures are for the core Home Office (including UK Derby 0.0 Visas and Immigration, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force) only. Durham CC 0.1 4. Employee coverage: Data are based on full-time equivalents (FTE) of all paid East Sussex CC 0.1 civil servants, with a known location, who were current as at the 31 December 2013. Edinburgh, City of 0.4 Data Source: Essex CC 0.6 Data View—the Home Office’s single source of Office for National Statistics Essex CC 1.0 compliant monthly snapshot corporate Human Resources data. Table 2: (b) Proportion of civil servants in HM Passport Office (HMPO) Fife 0.0 working outside London by local authority at 31 December 2013 Flintshire and Wrexham 0.0 Local authority Percentage Glasgow City 1.5 Gloucestershire 0.0 Belfast 5.7 Greater Manchester South 3.6 Berkshire 0.3 Hampshire CC 0.0 Birmingham 0.3 Harrogate 0.0 Blackburn with Darwen 0.0 Hartlepool and Stockton-On-Tees 0.1 Bristol, City of 0.1 Hertfordshire 0.6 Derby 0.2 Inverness and Nairn and Moray, Badenoch 0.0 Durham CC 19.6 and Strathspey Edinburgh, City of 0.1 Isle of Anglesey 0.1 Essex CC 0.1 Kent 7.7 Glasgow City 5.1 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 0.6 Greater Manchester South 2.5 Leeds 2.0 Kent 0.2 Leicestershire CC and Rutland 0.1 Leeds 0.3 Lincolnshire 0.1 Leicester 0.1 Liverpool 6.8 Liverpool 28.3 Luton 0.5 Monmouthshire and Newport 5.2 Medway 0.0 Peterborough 14.0 Monmouthshire and Newport 0.0 Plymouth 0.4 Norfolk 0.1 Portsmouth 0.2 North and North East Lincolnshire 0.0 Sheffield 0.1 North Lanarkshire 0.0 West Sussex 0.2 Nottingham 0.0 Non London local authorities total 83.0 Oxfordshire 0.0 Peterborough 0.1 London 17.0 Plymouth 0.3 Grand Total 100.0 Portsmouth 1.2 Notes: Sheffield 6.5 1. Period covered: Data are provided as at 31 December 2013. Shropshire CC 0.0 2. Extraction date: 1 January 2014. 3. Organisational coverage: Figures include the Executive agencies; Her Solihull 1.6 Majesty’s Passport Office and the National Fraud Authority. South and West Derbyshire 0.7 Employee coverage: Data are based on full-time equivalents (FTE) of all paid South Ayrshire 0.1 civil servants, with a known location, who were current as at the 31 December 2013. South Teesside 0.2 Data Source: Southampton 0.6 Data View—the Home Office’s single source of Office for National Statistics Southend-on-Sea 0.1 compliant monthly snapshot corporate Human Resources data. Table 3: (b) Proportion of staff in the Independent Police Complaints Stoke-on-Trent 0.2 Commission (IPCC) working outside London by local authority Suffolk 1.0 Local Authority Percentage Surrey 0.0 Cardiff County Council 14.4 Swansea 0.1 Trafford Metropolitan Borough 20.7 Thurrock 0.8 Council Tyneside 0.8 Wakefield Metropolitan Borough 8.9 West Cumbria 0.0 Council West Sussex 3.4 Warrington Borough Council 17.9 Weymouth and Portland 0.0 Non London local authorities total 61.8 Worcestershire 0.0 Yo rk 0 . 0 London 38.2 771W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 772W

Table 3: (b) Proportion of staff in the Independent Police Complaints BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Commission (IPCC) working outside London by local authority Local Authority Percentage Business Premises: Rents Grand Total 100.0 Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Note: Employee Coverage: Figures are headcount and include all staff including Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of temps and Commissioners and are up to date as of 8 February 2014 businesses with an annual rental value of £50,000 or Table 4: (b) Proportion of staff in the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) less a year are owned by (a) women and (b) men. working outside London by local authority [187174] Local authority Percentage

Darlington Borough Council 29.4 Matthew Hancock: BIS does not hold this information. Liverpool City Council 70.6 Adult Education: Barrow in Furness Non London Local Authorities Total 100.0 John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for London 0.0 Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in Grand Total 100.0 Barrow and Furness constituency enrolled in adult Data Source: skills sessions in each of the last five years. [187633] DBS Table 5: (b) Proportion of staff in the Security Industry Authority (SIA) working outside London by local authority Matthew Hancock: Final data for 2012/13 academic Local Authority Percentage year show that there were 6,020 adult (19+) learners participating in further education and skills in Barrow Bassetlaw District Council 0.6 and Furness parliamentary constituency. Bournemouth Borough Council 0.6 Cardiff Council 0.6 Equality Cherwell District Council 0.6 Coventry City Council 0.6 Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Denbighshire County Council 0.6 Innovation and Skills what the (a) total departmental Derbyshire City Council 0.6 expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people Dudley Metropolitan Council 0.6 employed for the purpose of promoting equality and Durham City Council 0.6 diversity was for each of the last five years. [187635] East Renfrewshire Council 0.6 Elmbridge Borough Council 0.6 Jenny Willott: The Department for Business, Innovation Essex County & Harlow Council 1.1 and Skills (BIS) was formed in 2009 so there are no Gravesham Borough Council 0.6 figures available until 2010-11. Figures for financial Halton Borough Council 0.6 year 2013-14 are not yet available. Harborough or Leicestershire Council 0.6 BIS is committed to ensuring its policies and practices Hinkley and Bosworth Borough Council 0.6 secure equality of opportunity for all. To help achieve Leeds City Council 1.1 this, it has spent a total of £689,470.40, including staff Leicester City Council 0.6 costs of £683,970.40, between 2010-11 and 2012-13. Lincolnshire City Council 0.6 BIS mainstreams diversity and inclusion in all of its Newcastle Under Lyme District and 0.6 Staffordshire Council policies and the total number of staff working specifically Norwich City Council 0.6 on equality, diversity and inclusion has reduced from North Kesteven District Council 0.6 4.7 FTE in 2010-11 and 2011-12 to 4.0 FTE in 2012-13. North Lanarkshire Council 0.6 In 2010-11 and 2011-12 the staffing costs were North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough 0.6 £224,076.90. In 2012-13 this rose slightly to £235,816.60 Council due to additional temporary replacement resource to Northamptonshire County Council 0.6 cover maternity leave. Northumberland 0.6 Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough 0.6 Government Assistance Council Royal Borough of Windsor and 0.6 Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Maidenhead Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer South Gloucestershire council 0.6 on state aid to Lord Stoddart of Swindon, 23 January South Somerset District Council 0.6 2014, House of Lords, Official Report, column 166WA, Stafford Borough Council 0.6 what the subject is of each of the UK state aid cases Stirling Council 0.6 currently before the European Commission for Stockport Metropolitan Council 0.6 approval. Sunderland City Council 0.6 [187055] Warrington Borough Council 1.1 West Devon Borough Council 0.6 Jenny Willott: Since the previous written answer on Wirral Council 0.6 23 January 2014, four of the 26 cases have received Non London local authorities total 23.1 approval from the European Commission. These are: All-Island Collaborative R&D Scheme (Innova)—prolongation London 76.9 Enterprise Capital Funds Grand Total 100.0 Scottish R&D&I Scheme Data Source: SIA Support for land remediation—prolongation. 773W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 774W

One further case has been put on hold by the UK, Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for and four new cases have been notified. The 25 cases Business, Innovation and Skills when he last met currently before the Commission are therefore as follows: representatives of the staff of HM Land Registry to 1. Agricultural and Horticultural Levy Board Market Research discuss the consultation on the introduction of a Land Scheme. Registry service delivery company; and if he will make 2. Agricultural and Horticultural Levy Board Technical Support a statement. [187518] Scheme. 3. Aid for indirect carbon price floor costs. Michael Fallon: As the Minister responsible for Land 4. Amendment to SA.35565—Renewables Obligation (RO) Registry, I met representatives of Land Registry staff in scheme. March 2013 to discuss the future of Land Registry and 5. Electricity Market Reform: Capacity Market. a potential change in commercial model. 6. Electricity Market Reform—Investment Contract (early Contract for Difference) for the Hinkley Point C New Nuclear Power Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Station. Business, Innovation and Skills how HM Land 7. Electricity Market Reform—Renewables Contract for Difference. Registry’s target operating model is affected by the consultation on the Registry’s status; if he will publish 8. English Woodland Grant Scheme. the model; and if he will make a statement. [187519] 9. Government support to the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. 10. Green Bus Fund. Michael Fallon: The Target Operating Model (TOM) 11. Isles of Scilly Airlinks. includes initial operational planning based on a number 12. Isles of Scilly and Penzance sealinks. of LR business delivery assumptions. The consultation 13. Liverpool City Council Cruise Liner Terminal. reflects a broader and different range of issues, as it 14. The Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (MEAD) Scheme. considers and seeks views on a range of Land Registry commercial models. 15. Modifications to NEST pension scheme. 16. Northern Ireland Gas Pipeline—extension to the West and Some parts of the TOM will be affected by the the North West. consultation’s outcome. Therefore, it would be misleading 17. Partnership support for regeneration. to provide further details 18. R&D&I Scheme for Northern Ireland—extension to 31 December 2019. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time 19. Regional Stadia Development in Northern Ireland. equivalent posts there are in each Land Registry office. 20. Renewables Obligation in Northern Ireland. [187737] 21. Regional Growth Fund—Jaguar LandRover (JLR). 22. Update to the UK Film Tax Relief. Michael Fallon: In the following table are the figures 23. Video games tax relief. requested for each individual Land Registry office as of 24. Waste Contract to provide waste disposal services for spent 1 February 2014. fuel and intermediate level waste (ILW) from new nuclear power stations. Land Registry office Number of full-time equivalent posts

25. Welsh Red Meat Advertising Scheme. Birkenhead 314 Land Registry Coventry 203 Croydon 127 Durham 374 Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Fylde 245 Innovation and Skills what effect the Government Company Gloucester 275 option in the consultation on the introduction of a Hull 214 Land Registry service delivery company would have on Head Office (Croydon) 137 the role of legal practitioners, in populating the Land Information Systems (Plymouth) 377 [187516] Register. Lytham 183 Nottingham 354 Michael Fallon: The way in which Land Registry’s Peterborough 221 services are delivered will likely change as the business Plymouth 207 pursues a digital, efficiency and modernisation agenda Telford 174 through its Business Strategy.This will continue irrespective Wales (Swansea) 403 of the outcome of the consultation—including if the Weymouth 201 status quo is maintained.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Local Enterprise Partnerships Innovation and Skills what effect he expects the consultation on the introduction of a Land Registry service delivery Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for company and HM Land Registry’s target operating Business, Innovation and Skills which Local Enterprise model to have on the size and structure of the Registry. Partnerships shared a first draft of their Strategic [187517] Economic Plans with his Department by the end of December 2013; whether his Department provided Michael Fallon: The size and structure of Land Registry feedback on each of these plans by the end of January may be influenced by the outcome of the consultation, 2014; and which such plans included specific proposals as the future structure of the organisation will necessarily relating to (a) funding for skills provisions and (b) affect business planning. capital funding for further education colleges. [187172] 775W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 776W

Michael Fallon: All 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships Please note this also includes staff on temporary promotion to (LEPs) submitted their draft Strategic Economic Plans grades. (SEPs) in December 2013. Feedback from Government began in January 2014 and will continue until the final Letter from John Hirst, dated 10 February 2014: SEPs are submitted on 31 March 2014. I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary The SEPs indicated a strong LEP interest in the skills Questions tabled on 6 February 2014, UIN 187237 to the Secretary agenda, including accessing capital funding for further of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. education colleges from the local growth fund. The Met Office does not operate a reward system based on pay grades. Rather it has a role based system where each role has a Pay defined purpose, accountabilities and required professional skills. For the purpose of answering this question, these roles have been grouped together in bands that are broadly comparable to Civil Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Service grades. The information requested, based on these bandings Innovation and Skills how many civil servants are on is provided in the following table. each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187237] Grade Current number of staff (full- time equivalent) Jenny Willott: Information about BIS grades, the associated pay ranges and number of staff (headcount) SCS 9 in these grades as at August 2013 is shown in the 6 73.6 following table. Please note a number of staff remain on 7 286.9 legacy pay ranges inherited from previous Departments. SEO 595.5 HEO 637.7 Grade Headcount EO 223.4 Senior Civil Servants 225 AO 133.8 Total 1,959.9

Grade 6 1,048 Grade 7 Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence, dated 10 February 2014: As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, SEO 1,115 I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question HEO asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Fast Stream “how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him”. EO 410 Ordnance Survey employs the following numbers in each of the civil service pay grades: EA/AO 202 AA CS grade Headcount AO 35 I have approached the chief executives of the EO 557 Department’s Executive agencies (Insolvency Service, HEO 153 Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance SEO 300 Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Grade 7 117 Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member Grade 6 24 directly. SCS 5 Information for non-departmental public bodies is Should you have any further questions, please let me know. not held centrally and could be provided only at I hope this information is helpful. disproportionate cost. Letter from Catherine Mealing-Jones, dated 10 February Letter from Tim Moss, dated 7 February 2014: 2014: I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of Question tabled 6 February 2014, UIN 187237 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to ask how many civil State for Business, Innovation and Skills. servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) The number of Civil Servants on each pay grade in Companies agencies and public bodies accountable to him. House is as follows: The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and has the following permanent Number members of staff on each pay grade: Band A 50 Grade Total Band B 477 Band C 270 G6 10 Band D 106 G7 12 Band E 31 SEO 8 Band F 19 HEO 9 Band G 10 EO 5 SCS 1 2 AO 1 SCS 2 1 777W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 778W

Letter from Peter Mason, dated 10 February 2014: Letter from Dr Richard Judge, dated 7 February 2014: I am responding in respect of the National Measurement The Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation Office (NMO), an executive agency of the Department for Business, and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, how many civil Innovation and Skills (BIS), to your Parliamentary Question servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) tabled on 6 February 2014, asking the BIS Secretary of State how agencies and public bodies accountable to him. My response many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department relates to the Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency of the and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The headcount for NMO as at 31 January 2014 is as follows: The table below shows the number of civil servants at each pay grade. Grade Number of staff Insolvency Service Pay Band Number SCS 1 G6 6 SCS Pay Band 2 <5 G7 10 SCS Pay Band 1 6 SEO 16 Grade 6 16 HEO 22 Grade 7 69 EO 17 Senior Executive Officer 261 EA 7 Higher Executive Officer 493 Executive Officer 304 Letter from John Alty: Administrative Officer 610 I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office Administrative Assistant 145 to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 06th February 2014, to the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills. The IPO has its own grading structure with Civil Service Letter from Barbara Spicer, dated 11 February 2014: equivalent grades. The following table shows the current pay Thank you for your question asking the Secretary of State for grade distribution as at 01 February 2014: Business, Innovation and Skills, how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public IPO grade CS equivalent Headcount bodies accountable to him. (187237) Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency do not A1 AA 37 operate on Civil Service pay grades and as such the information A2 AO 38 provided is based on an approximate match. On the basis of this A3 AO 153 approximate match the below table outlines the number of employees B1 EO 87 at the Skills Funding Agency on the Civil Service Grade equivalent: B2 EO 113 Civil Service Grade Equivalent Employee Count B2 Exr EO 46 B3 HEO 131 AO 85 C1 SEO 92 EO 57 C1 Exr SEO 58 HEO 155 C2 Grade 7 70 SEO 356 C2 Exr Grade 7 150 G7 446 D1 Grade 6 17 G6 161 SCS 1 SCSI 22 SCS 36 SCS 2 SCS2 2 Total 1,296 SCS 3 SCS3 1 Total 1,017 Property

Letter from Ed Lester, dated 10 February 2014: Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Innovation and Skills what the (a) name, (b) location, Question 187237 tabled on 06 February 2014 which asked the (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of following: properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. Skills, how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his [187278] Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. Jenny Willott: The following table includes the name, On 1 February 2014, Land Registry had the following substantive location, floor space and tenure status of buildings staff in service: occupied by the Department. The Department does not own any of the properties or occupy any on a ground Number lease. Therefore, there is no property value recorded against the space occupied by the Department. AA 2 I have approached the chief executives of the AO 158 Department’s Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, EO 2,306 Companies House, National Measurement Office, HEO 1,327 Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance SEO 489 Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Grade 7 48 Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member Grade 7 (L) 107 directly. Grade 6 19 Information for non-departmental public bodies SCS 12 is not held centrally and could be provided only at I hope that you find this information useful. disproportionate cost. 779W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 780W

The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department Floor Space of Business, Innovation and Skills. It does not (i) own any occupied by Property Name/Address Tenure Type BIS (m2) properties. It (ii) occupies three locations as follows:

Alexandra House, Leeds, LS16 6QY Leasehold/ 575.6 A Name Polaris House Electron 1 Victoria Licence Building Street Apex Court, Nottingham, NG2 4LA Leasehold/ 460 B Location Swindon Harwell London Licence C Floor Space 350m2 30m2 30m2 Queensway House, Billingham, TS23 2NF Leasehold/ 691.2 respectively Licence D Tenure Status Leased from Leased from Informal The Business Centre, Cambridge, CB4 9LQ Leasehold/ 89.4 the Research STFC space given to Licence Councils UK Space Victoria Street 1, London, SW1H OET Leasehold/ 30,573 Agency from Licence BIS Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London, Leasehold/ 166 E Value if none No buildings are owned by the UK Space Agency. EC1V 2NP Licence For the three office locations space is leased within larger buildings with multiple occupiers. Victoria Square House, Victoria Sq, Leasehold/ 662.6 Birmingham, B2 4AJ licence 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BN MOTO 250 Letter from John Hirst, dated 12 February 2014: St Paul’s Place, Norfolk Street. Sheffield, MOTO 1,844 I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary S1 2FJ Questions tabled on 6 February 2014, UIN 187278 to the Secretary Companies House, Maindy, Cardiff, CF14 MOTO 1,056 of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. 3UZ Watford Exchange House, Exchange Rd, MOTO 560 The Met Office owns and leases a range of properties around Watford,WD18 0JJ the UK to support its weather and climate services. This includes Europa House, Argyle Street, Glasgow, MOTO 448 office, workshop and storage accommodation, as well as a number G2 8LG of small unmanned sites which house essential operational observing Victoria House, Southampton Row, WC1B MOTO 1,056 equipment, such as weather radar and automatic weather stations. 4AD A list of these sites has been placed in the Libraries of the House. 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 MOTO 341.50 In addition, a number of Met Office staff are based at a range of 6EH MOD sites providing crucial support to military training and Arndale House, Arndale Centre. Manchester, MOTO 1— operations. M4 3AQ The value of the properties owned and occupied by the Met Moongate House, Fifth Avenue Business MOTO 1— Office which are held on balance sheet is £63.8 million. Pk, Gateshead, NE11 OHF I hope this helps. Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, MOTO 1— Guildford, GU1 4GA Letter from Tim Moss, dated 7 February 2014: Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, 2— 2— I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary DL3 9BG Question tabled 6 February 2014, UIN 187278 to the Secretary of Daresbury Laboratory, Keckwick Lane, Leasehold/ 1— State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Daresbury, Warrington, WA4 4AD licence I will answer your questions in order. Cannon House, 18 Priory Queensway, 3— 3— Birmingham B4 6BS Companies House has four locations, all named Companies Larkhill, Wiltshire 4— 4— House, in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh and Belfast. Stanley Barracks, Dorset 4— 4— The floor space for each office is as follows: 1 N/A—space occupied on desk basis. 2 Building is owned by another Government Department. No formal agreement Office Floor Space in place to occupy space. 3 Building is leased by another Government organisation. No formal agreement Cardiff 29,000 in place to occupy space. Edinburgh 725 4 Informal agreement with MOD. Note: Belfast 560 MOTO stands for Memorandum of Terms of Occupation and is a type of London 229 licence agreement for the sharing of accommodation between Government Total 30,514 organisations known as ″Crown Bodies″. The tenure status of the Cardiff site is freehold. The locations Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 12 February in London, Edinburgh and Belfast are rented. 2014: The value of the land and buildings of the freehold site in Cardiff As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, is £17,345,000. I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question Companies House Cardiff occupies 22.310 square metres of asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the site and the remaining 6,690 square metres is rented out. ″what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable Letter from National Measurement office, dated 12 February to him″. 2014: The spreadsheet details all the information requested for all I am responding in respect of the National Measurement premises owned or occupied by Ordnance Survey. This information Office (NMO), an executive agency of the Department for Business, will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons. Innovation and Skills (BIS), to your Parliamentary Question Should you have any further questions, please let me know. tabled on 6 February 2014, asking the BIS Secretary of State what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) I hope this information is helpful. value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Letter from David Parker, dated 7 February 2014: Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of him. State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to ask what the (a) The Secretary of State owns the properties on the Teddington name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value Estate which comprise the main NPL Building and other older is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department ancillary buildings. The total value of these are £177,702k which and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. is the value stated in NMO’s Annual Accounts at 31 March 2013, 781W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 782W uplifted for purchases to the end of January 2014. The total area of the buildings are 54,347m sq and are occupied by NMO, NPL Valuation Building NIA MV (£) Management Ltd (NPLML) and BMT. Agency Location Name Tenure (Sqm) (2013) NMO itself occupies a building with a value of £6,621k and an area of 4,709 m sq which is freehold. Land Plymouth Drakes Freehold 4,892.80 1,200,000 Registry Hill Court NPLML occupy buildings valued at £167,186k which are Land Nottingham Chalfont Freehold 25,207 00 13,000,000 freehold with an area of 45,117 m sq, they also occupy buildings Registry Drive valued at £3,570k with an area of 4,521 m sq on leasehold land owned by Crown Estate and Royal Parks. NPLML perform 118,176.77 80,369,000 science in support of the National Measurement System in these I hope that you find this information useful. properties and pay rent to NMO. BMT occupy freehold buildings with a value of £324,000, and Letter from John Alty, dated 9 January 2014: pay rent to NMO. I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office The above references to ‘value’ are ‘book values’ and not to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 10th February 2014, to necessarily the final sale value of the property asset. the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills. Letter from Ed Lester, dated 10 February 2014: The Intellectual Property Office is an Executive Agency and Trading Fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Skills. It operates in three locations, a main office, a small London Question 187278 tabled on 06 February 2014 which asked the Office and a warehouse. following: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Status Owned Occupied (partial) Occupied Skills, what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by Name Concept House 4 Abbey Orchard Unit 6 (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable Street to him. Location Cardiff Road Westminster Nine Mile Point Newport South London SW1P Industrial Estate The following table gives details as requested. Wales NP10 8QQ 2HT Cwmfelinfach NP11 7HZ Valuation Floor 15,788 sqm net 768 sqm NIA 2,695 sqm NIA of Building NIA MV (£) space internal area warehouse space Agency Location Name Tenure (Sqm) (2013) (NIA) including 1,803 which is sub Land Birkenhead Rosebrae Freehold 5,702.10 4,870,000 let. Registry Court Tenure Freehold Tenancy agreement Agreed to extend Land Coventry Leigh Lease 6,753.30 4,290,000 with BIS lease to November Registry Court 2017 Land Croydon Trafalgar Freehold 4,309.90 11,300,000 Value £17.85 million on Not Known Not known Registry House the basis of Land Durham Southfield Freehold 7,903.80 8,000,000 existing use Registry House Land Fylde, Wrea Freehold 3,925.80 3,950,000 Letter from Dr Richard Judge, dated 13 February 2014: Registry Preston Brook The Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation Court and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, what the (a) Land Gloucester Twyver Lease 6,876.80 1,550,000 name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value Registry House is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department Land Hull Earle Lease 4,829.20 2,100,000 and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. My Registry House response relates to the Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency (North Wing) of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Land Plymouth Seaton Freehold 6,761.00 7,850,000 The Insolvency Service does not own any property. The property Registry Court currently occupied by the Insolvency Service is as follows: Land Leicester Westbridge Freehold 4,147.10 4,300,000 Registry Place and Floor Space Nursery Name Location Tenure Status (m2) Land Nottingham Castle Lease 3,907.10 0 Registry Wharf Cannon House Level 3 and 4, Leasehold 3,990 House Cannon House, 18 Priory Queensway, Land Peterborough Stuart Lease 2,035.37 0 Birmingham B4 Registry House 6BS Land Telford Parkside Freehold 6,554.90 5,250,000 Cobalt Square 83 Hagley Road, Leasehold 1,327 Registry Court Edgbaston, Land Swansea Ty Cwm Lease 4,728.10 3,100,000 Birmingham, B16 Registry Tawe 8QG Land Weymouth Melcombe Lease 5,753.40 3,500,000 Seneca House The Links, Leasehold 688 Registry Court Blackpool Business Land Coventry Edwards Lease 2,749.90 650,000 Park, Amy Johnson Registry Keep Way, Blackpool FY4 2RS Land Hull Earle Freehold 2,246.50 1,600,000 th Registry House Crown House Part 5 Floor, Memorandum 330 (South Northside, Crown of Terms of Wing) House, 11 Regent Occupation Hill, 21 Upper with HMRC Land York James Lease 3,156.50 0 North Street, Registry House Brighton, East Land Swansea Pennard Lease 490.20 409,000 Sussex, BN1 3EL. Registry House Tower Wharf Part First Floor, Leasehold 586 Land Birkenhead Old Freehold 5,246.00 3,450,000 Tower Wharf, Registry Market Cheese Lane, Bristol House BS2 OJJ 783W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 784W

Floor Space Floor Space Name Location Tenure Status (m2) Name Location Tenure Status (m2)

Eastbrook Part Ground and Memorandum 254 Emmanuel 2 Convent Road, Leasehold 697 House Third Floor of Terms of House Norwich, NR2 1PA Eastbrook House, Occupation Cobourg 1st floor, Gobourg Leasehold 711 Cambridge CB2 with DEFRA House House, Mayflower 8DR Street, Plymouth, The West Wing, Ground Leasehold 420 PL1 1DJ Observatory Floor, The Reading Apex Plaza, 3rd Leasehold 759 Observatory, Floor, Forbury Brunei, Chatham Road, Reading, Maritime, Kent. RG11AX ME4 4NT. The Balance City Plaza, 5th Leasehold 492 Companies Companies House, Memorandum 664 Floor, City Plaza House Part 3rd Floor, of Terms of South, Pinfold Crown Way, Cardiff, Occupation Street, Sheffield, S1 CF14 3ZA with 2GU Companies MCA House 1st Floor, MCA Memorandum 372 House House, Spring of Terms of Southern 11th Floor, Southern Memorandum 743 Place, 105 Occupation House House, Wellesley of Terms of Commercial Rd, with the Grove, Croydon, Occupation Southampton, S015 Marine and CRO 1XN. with HMRC 1EG. Coastguard Agency Ladywell Ladywell House, Memorandum 500 House Part 2nd floor, of Terms of Alexander 2nd Floor West, Memorandum 500 Ladywell Road, Occupation House Alexander House, of Terms of Corstorphine, with the 21 Victoria Avenue, Occupation Edinburgh, EH12 General Southend-on-Sea, with HMRC 7TF Register Office Essex SS99 1AA for Scotland Trident House Trident House, 1st Leasehold 656 Floor, 42/48 Senate Court Senate Court, 3rd Leasehold 766 Victoria Street, St Floor, Southernhay Albans, AL1 3HR Gardens, Exeter, EX1 1UG Copthall Copthall House, Leasehold 613 House Ground Floor, Northgate Northgate Court, Leasehold 481 Copthall House, st nd Court Grnd 1 and 2 Nelson Place, King Floor,22-23 London Street, Newcastle- Road, Gloucester, under-Lyme, Staffs, GL1 3HB ST5 1UE Anchor House Anchor House, 3rd Leasehold 877 Langdon 1st,2nd and 3rd Leasehold 714 Floor—SuitesI,J, House Floors, Langdon K<he House, Langdon Maltings, Silvester Road, Swansea, Street, Hull, HU1 SA1 8QY 3HA Exchange Part 4th Floor, Memorandum 410 St Clare House 1st and 8th Floors, St Memorandum 522 House Exchange House, 60 of Terms of Clare House, of Terms of Exchange Road, Occupation Princes Street, Occupation Watford, Herts, with DWP Ipswich, IP1 1LX with HMRC WD18 0YP City Walk 1 City Walk, 3rd Leasehold 1,059 The Vanguard Suite, Licence 20 Floor, Leeds, LS11 Broadcasting 9DA House, Newport Road, Wellington Wellington House, Leasehold 568 Remote Middlesbrough, House 4th Floor, Interview TS1 5JA Wellington Street, Facility Leicester LE1 6HL Remote Conwy Business Leasehold 17 nd Rosebrae 2 Floor, Rosebrae Memorandum 336 Interview Centre, Junction Court Court, Woodside of Terms of Facility Way, Llandudno Ferry Approach, Occupation Junction, LL31 Birkenhead CH41 with the Land 9XX 6DU Registry Remote 1 Rhyd-Broughton Memorandum 30 London 4 Abbey Orchard Memorandum 2,103 Interview Lane (Tribunal of Terms of Street, London of Terms of Facility Room 3), Rhyd- Occupation SW1P2HT Occupation Broughton Lane, with Ministry with BIS Wrexham, LL13 of Justice Piccadilly 2nd Floor, 3 Leasehold 1,853 7YP Place Piccadilly place, Property leases were valued at £6,789,193 in our accounts for the London Road, Manchester, M1 year to 31 March 2013. 3BN Melbourne 1st floor, Melbourne Leasehold 604 House House, Pandon Letter from Skills Funding Agency, dated 11 February Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2014: 2JQ Thank you for your question asking the Secretary of State for Sol House 1st Floor, Sol House, Leasehold 565 Business, Innovation and Skills regarding what the (a) name, (b) 29 St Katherine’s location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of Street, properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and Northampton, NN1 (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. (187278) 2QZ Please be advised of the following: 785W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 786W

Skills Funding Agency occupied properties as at 10 February 2014 Letter from Tim Moss, dated 7 February 2014: Skills Floor I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Funding Space agency Area Question tabled 6 February 2014. UIN 187259 to the Secretary of Office Location Tenure Value (m2) State for Business, Innovation and Skills. The proportion of Companies House staff that work outside 1 Birmingham Victoria Sq Hse— MOTO — 662 London is 99%. Birmingham Bristol 2 Rivergate—Bristol MOTO 1— 418 Letter from Vanessa Lawrence, dated 10 February Chatham The Observatory— MOTO 1— 475 2014: Chatham As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, Coventry Cheylesmore House— Leasehold 1— 10,598 I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question Coventry asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Gateshead Moongate House— Leasehold 1— 2,188 ″what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies Gateshead and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London, Histon The Business Centre— MOTO 1— 531 and in which local authorities such staff are located″. Histon I can advise that 96% of Ordnance Survey employees work 1 Leeds The Cube—Leeds MOTO — 492 outside of London. In this instance we have defined ’London’ by Liverpool 12 Princes Dock— MOTO 1— 282 Borough, and excluded the areas holding ’Borough of London’ Liverpool status, for example ’London Borough of Ealing’. London 10 Victoria Street— MOTO 1— 1123 London Following is a breakdown of the local authorities where our Manchester Arndale House— Leasehold 1— 1882 employees outside of London are located. Manchester I hope the information that I have been able to provide is Nottingham Apex Court— MOTO 1— 253 helpful. Nottingham Plymouth Foliot House— Leasehold 1— 1193 Local authority Number of staff Plymouth Reading Pacific House— Leasehold 1— 1345 Aberdeen City 1 Reading Aberdeenshire 1 Titchfield Segensworth Road— MOTO 1— 397 Allerdale 1 Titchfield Angus 2 1 No value as Leasehold or MOTO. Do not own. Aylesbury Vale 1 Public Appointments Basingstoke and Deane 1 Bassetlaw 1 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Bedford 2 Business, Innovation and Skills (1) which paid public Birmingham 2 appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not Blaby 2 renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were Blackburn 2 held by (i) women and (ii) men; [187009] Blackpool 1 (2) what the titles are of the individual public Blaenau Gwent 2 appointments that have been made by his Department Bolton 2 since May 2010; and which of those appointees were Bradford 2 women. [187070] Bromsgrove 1 Jenny Willott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Broxtowe 2 given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster Burnley 1 General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Calderdale 1 Maude) on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column Cardiff 1 607W. Central Bedfordshire 2 Staff Chelmsford 4 Cherwell 2 Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Cheshire East 2 Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of Cheshire West and Chester 3 staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and Chesterfield 1 public bodies accountable to him work outside of Chichester 1 London; and in which local authorities such staff are Chorley 1 located. [187259] City of Edinburgh 3 Jenny Willott: Approximately 17% of staff in the core City of Kingston upon Hull 3 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are City of Peterborough 1 located outside of London. Data on this issue is published City of Plymouth 2 regularly on the Office for National Statistics website. City of Southampton 1 The most recent publication in October 2013 showed Cornwall 1 that 72% of civil servants working in the BIS family of Coventry 4 organisations were located outside London. Craven 1 Darlington 1 I have approached the chief executives of the Derbyshire Dales 2 Department’s Executive agencies (Insolvency Service, Doncaster 2 Companies House, National Measurement Office, Dudley 2 Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Dumfries and Galloway 1 Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Durham 6 Agency) and they will respond to the hon. Member East Cambridgeshire 2 directly. 787W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 788W

Local authority Number of staff Local authority Number of staff

East Devon 1 Shepway 4 East Hampshire 2 Shropshire 3 East Lothian 1 Solihull 1 East Renfrewshire 4 South Ayrshire 3 East Riding of Yorkshire 2 South Derbyshire 1 Eastbourne 1 South Gloucestershire 4 Erewash 1 South Hams 1 Exeter 6 South Kesteven 1 Falkirk 4 South Lanarkshire 3 Fife 3 South Norfolk 1 Flintshire 1 South Northamptonshire 1 Fylde 1 Southend-on-Sea 1 Glasgow City 1 St Edmundsbury 2 Gloucester 1 St Helens 3 Gwynedd 2 Stevenage 2 Halton 1 Suffolk Coastal 1 Hambleton 2 Sunderland 1 Harborough 2 Swale 1 Harrogate 1 Swansea 3 Herefordshire 2 Tandridge 1 High Peak 1 Taunton Deane 1 Highland 2 Telford 3 Horsham 2 Test Valley 894 Huntingdonshrie 1 The Vale of Glamorgan 1 Isle of Anglesey 1 Tonbridge and Malling 2 Isle of Wight 1 Torbay 1 Kettering 1 Torfaen 1 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk 1 Torridge 1 Kirklees 2 Trafford 1 Leeds 5 Walsall 1 Liverpool 3 Warwick 2 Maidstone 1 Waverley 1 Malvern Hills 1 Wealden 1 Medway 1 West Berkshire 1 Milton Keynes 3 West Dorset 1 Monmouthshire 1 West Lancashire 2 Moray 1 West Lindsey 2 Newcastle City 1 West Lothian 2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 1 West Oxfordshire 1 Newport 1 Weymouth and Portland 1 North Ayrshire 2 Wigan 1 North Devon 1 Wiltshire 3 North East Lincolnshire 1 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 North Hertfordshire 1 Wirral 2 North Norfolk 1 Wokingham 1 North West Leicestershire 1 Worcester 6 Northumberland 3 Wrexham 1 Norwich 2 Wychavon 1 Nottingham City 2 Wyre Forest 2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 2 Yo rk 2 Perth and Kinross 1 Letter from John Alty, dated 9 January 2014: Powys 1 I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office Reigate and Banstead 1 to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 06th February 2014, to Ribble Valley 3 the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills. Rochdale 1 A. Out of a total of 1017 staff (as at 01 February 2014), 963 Rotherham 4 (95%) are based outside London. Rugby 1 B. The following table shows the distribution breakdown and Ryedale 1 local authority: Salford 1 Location Headcount Percentage Local authority Scottish Borders 1 Sefton 1 London 54 5 n/a Selby 1 Newport 952 94 Newport City Council Sevenoaks 1 Cwmfelinfach 11 1 Caerphilly County Borough Council Sheffield 2 Total 1,017 100 789W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 790W

Letter from Ed Lester, dated 10 February 2014: Newcastle-under-Lyme District Council I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council Question 187259 tabled on 06 February 2014 which asked the following: Northampton Borough Council To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Norwich City Council Skills, what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of Nottingham City Council London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. Plymouth City Council If we use the Civil Service classification, our Croydon Office counts as the London region. If you are happy to follow that Reading Borough Council definition, as at 1 February 2014, 93.8% of our staff work outside of London. St. Albans City & District Council The following chart shows where our staff are located and in Sheffield City Council which local authorities. I hope that you find this information useful. Southampton City Council Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Office Council Swansea City Council Birkenhead Borough of Wirral Coventry Coventry City Council Watford Borough Council Croydon Croydon Council Wirral Council Durham Durham County Council Fylde Fylde Borough Council Letter from Skills Funding Agency, dated 10 February Gloucester Gloucester City Council 2014: Hull Hull City Council Thank you for your question asking the Secretary of State for Lytham Leicester City Council Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of staff of (a) Nottingham City of Nottingham his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable Peterborough Peterborough City Council to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities Plymouth South Ham District Council such staff are located. (187259) Plymouth Plymouth Council Please be advised that the proportion of Skills Funding Agency Telford Telford & Wrekin Council staff that work outside of London by local office and local Wales City of Swansea authority area is shown as follows: Weymouth West Dorset District Council Yo rk C i t y o f Yo rk Percentage of Location Local authority Total staff total staff

SFA Birmingham Birmingham 82 6.33 Letter from the Insolvency Service, dated 10 February SFA Bristol Bristol 38 2.93 2014: SFA Chatham Medway 26 2.01 The Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation SFA Coventry Coventry 453 34.95 and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, what proportion SFA Fareham Fareham 44 3.40 of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies SFA Gateshead Gateshead 75 5.79 accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local SFA Histon Cambridgeshire 52 4.01 authorities such staff are located. My response relates to the SFA Leeds Leeds 84 6.48 Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. SFA Leicester Leicester 1 0.08 SFA Liverpool Liverpool 39 3.01 Seventy nine per cent of staff work outside of London. Staff SFA Manchester Manchester 82 6.33 outside of London work within the local authority areas shown as follows: SFA Nottingham Nottingham 50 3.86 SFA Plymouth Plymouth 29 2.24 Birmingham City Council SFA Reading Reading 45 3.47 Blackpool Borough Council SFA Sheffield Sheffield 16 1.23 Brighton & Hove City Council The Skills Funding Agency has 169 staff, representing 13.04% Bristol City Council of total staff working in the London office and London authority Cambridge City Council area. The remaining 11 staff representing 0.85% of total staff are Cardiff City Council home based. Edinburgh City Council Exeter City Council Letter from David Parker, dated 7 February 2014: Gloucester City Council Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to ask what proportion Kingston-upon-Hull City Council of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies Ipswich Borough Council accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local Leeds City Council authorities such staff are located. Leicester City Council The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and 81% of its staff work Manchester City Council outside of London: located in Swindon, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire Medway Council local authorities. 791W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 792W

Letter from Met Office, dated 12 February 2014: (2) how many (a) women and (b) men aged I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary 24-years-old and above applied for Government Questions tabled on 6 February 2014, UIN 187259 to the Secretary financial assistance for further education in each of the of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. academic years between 2008 and 2013. [187048] The proportion of Met Office staff working outside of Greater London is 96.8 per cent, located in the following local authority areas: Matthew Hancock: The number of women and men Proportion of Met Office staff that have applied for 24+ advanced learning loans for Local authority (percentage) the 2013/14 academic year so far (up to 31 December 2013) is published every month. 24+ Advanced learning Aberdeen City 2.3 loans are available for eligible learners aged 24 and Antrim 0.5 above studying at Level 3 and above. The latest information Bedford 0.5 can be found here: Birmingham 0.1 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/ Cardiff 0.3 other_statistics_and_research/24advancedlearningloans/ Cambridgeshire County 0.1 Central Bedfordshire 0.4 Table 1 shows the number of learners aged 24 and Ceredigion 0.4 over participating in Government-funded further education City of Edinburgh 1.4 and skills by gender at all levels. Final data are shown Cornwall 0.3 for the 2008/09 to 2012/13 academic years and provisional Devon County 76.0 data are shown for the first quarter of the 2013/14 Dumfries and Galloway 0.1 academic year (August 2013 to October 2013). Fife 0.6 Table 1: Further education and skills learner participation by those Glasgow City 0.2 aged 24 and over by gender, 2008/09 to 2013/14 (quarter 1 provisional) Hampshire County 1.0 24+ Learner Participation Hertfordshire County 0.4 Female Male Total Isle of Anglesey 0.3 Lancashire County 0.2 2008/09 1,855,900 1,232,000 3,087,900 Leeds 0.1 2009/10 1,704,500 1,151,600 2,856,100 Lincolnshire County 2.1 2010/11 1,493,700 1,011,200 2,504,900 Moray 0.8 2011/12 1,459,000 1,027,100 2,486,100 Newcastle upon Tyne 0.1 2012/131 1,512,300 1,065,400 2,577,700 Norfolk County 0.2 2013/14 661,500 414,000 1,075,500 North Yorkshire County 1.1 1 Quarter 1 provisional. Nottinghamshire County 0.5 Notes: Overseas 1.5 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. These data include adult (aged 24+) government funded participation Oxfordshire County 1.4 in apprenticeships, workplace learning, community learning and education Shetland Islands 0.2 and training provision taken at general further education colleges Shropshire 0.5 (including tertiary) only. Southampton 0.5 3. Figures for 2011/12 are not directly comparable to earlier years as a single individualised learner record (ILR) data collection system has Stockport 0.2 been introduced. Small technical changes have been made in the way Suffolk County 0.5 learners from more than one provision type are counted, leading to a Surrey County 0.1 removal of duplicate learners and a reduction in overall learner Warrington 0.1 numbers of approximately 2%. More information on the single ILR is available at: West Sussex County 0.1 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C05DCDD5-67EE- Wiltshire 0.8 4AD0-88B9-BEBC8F7F3300/0/ Wokingham 1.2 SILR_Effects_SFR_Learners_June12.pdf Wolverhampton 0.1 4. Figures for the first quarter of 2013/14 (August 2013 to October 2013) are provisional. It is not possible to directly compare provisional I hope this helps. estimates with figures for previous years. Letter from Sarah Glasspool, dated 10 February 2014: 5. Total figures for 2013/14 include a small number of learners with an unknown gender. I am responding in respect of the National Measurement 6. Learners with an unknown age have not been included. Office (NMO), an executive agency of the Department for Business, Source: Innovation and Skills (BIS), to your Parliamentary Question Individualised Learner Record tabled on 6 February 2014, asking the BIS Secretary of State what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, The NMO is located in a single office based in Teddington Innovation and Skills which colleges have incorrectly and, as at 31 January 2014, employs 79 staff. The local authority advertised eligibility and access to Student Loans which covers NMO’s location is the London Borough of Richmond Company services in the last year. [187134] Upon Thames. Students: Loans Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Willetts: This Department has identified that, Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many (a) during the last year, Ice Academy incorrectly advertised women and (b) men applied for the 24+ advanced that students studying at several of its campuses were learning loan in the 20013-14 academic year; [187046] eligible for student support. 793W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 794W

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Philippines

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the International Development what proportion of aid pledged Government’s commitment to give due consideration by her Department to the Philippines following Typhoon to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Haiyan has arrived in that country to date. [197618] (UNCRC) when making new policy and legislation, if he will place in the Library all assessments of how new Justine Greening: The UK Government has committed policy and legislation from his Department since £77 million to support the international humanitarian January 2013 has given due consideration to the response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. UNCRC. [187399] To meet the most urgent needs, £49 million of aid has already been delivered. It is anticipated that a total of Jenny Willott: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to £72 million of aid will be delivered by the end of March my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam 2014. The remaining funds will be used to support the (Paul Burstow) on 11 February 2014, Official Report, long-term recovery of affected populations, and will be column 548W. allocated to partners according to requested periods of disbursement.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Procurement

Haiti Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department’s and Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for non-departmental public body’s 10 largest contracts let International Development what proportion of aid since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings have pledged to Haiti by her Department following the been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend earthquake in January 2010 has arrived in that country or underspend was in each such contract; and what to date. [197623] steps her Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the contract award. [187592] Justine Greening: The UK Government provided £20 million of support to Haiti following the devastating Justine Greening: DFID has established strategic supplier earthquake in 2010. All funding was dispersed within performance management, including a Statement of 12 months of the commitment. Priorities and Expectations that over 500 suppliers signed Pakistan up to, clearly laying out key areas of performance; and for its top suppliers a key supplier management programme through which relationships and performance are discussed Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for and improved. International Development what proportion of aid The Department’s 10 largest contracts let since financial pledged to Pakistan by her Department following the year 2010-11 are: floods in July and August 2010 has arrived in that country to date. [197622] Girls Education Challenge Access to Primary Healthcare Justine Greening: All of the humanitarian aid earmarked International Citizen Service for the Pakistan floods of 2010 has been delivered. Managing Agent of the Education Quality Improvement Programme in Tanzania Pay Management of the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility Impact evaluation of ″MAMATA″ Orissa Maternity Support Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scheme International Development how many civil servants are Civil Society Challenge Fund on each pay grade in (a) her Department and (b) the Private Enterprise Programme-Technical Service Provider public body accountable to her. [187249] Malaria Control in the Democratic Republic of Congo Programme Mr Duncan: As at 10 February 2014 DFID employed Procurement of East and Southern Africa Staple Food Markets 1909 civil servants. This is split by grade as follows: Programme Regular operational reviews within the DFID country Grade Numbers employed office with its suppliers, delivering programmes, ensure day to day contract and performance issues are managed. Senior Civil Servants 85 Annual reviews are conducted to ensure the contract A1 398 continues to be reflective of the current strategic vision. A2 821 The DFID procurement team was awarded the ’Best B1 325 International Procurement Project of the Year’in September B2 188 2013 by the globally-recognised Chartered Institute of C1 84 Purchasing and Supply. C2 8 The procurement department typically achieves in The public bodies accountable to DFID employ fewer the region of 10% savings across its contract spend than five civil servants in total and therefore does not through its procurement process, based upon initial permit publication as requested. tender responses to final contract award. 795W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 796W

Property Lynne Featherstone: The Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) is a basket fund which DFID and seven other Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International donors contribute to, running from 2012-16. The Deepening Development what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) Democracy programme is one of its components. floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties DGF’s support to the newly-created Human Rights (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) her Department and Committee began in 2012 and runs until June 2014, (B) the public body accountable to her. [187290] after which the DGF will make recommendations to its donors on future programming. Mr Duncan: DFID owns two HQ buildings in the UK, one in London and one in east Kilbride, Glasgow. The London office is situated at 22-26 Whitehall SW1A 2WH, has a net internal area of 8,678 square metres WOMEN AND EQUALITIES and is valued at £41,145,000. The east Kilbride office is Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride Females: Employment G75 8EA, has a net internal area of 9,513 square metres, the site area is 10.5 acres and it is valued at Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and £6,200,000. Both properties are freehold. Equalities what progress she is making on removing The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) barriers for women in the workplace; and how many is a non-departmental public body of DFID and does companies have now engaged in the Think, Act, Report not own any premises. It occupies a small part of Dover programme. [187218] House, 66 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AU. The floor space is 42.1 square metres and ICAI rents the space Jenny Willott: There are more women employed in from the Scotland Office. DFID does not hold information the UK than ever before-531,000 more than in May on the value of the Scotland Office. 2010. The Government has cut tax for over 24 million working people by raising the personal tax free allowance- Public Appointments 58% of the 2.7 million lowest paid workers who will have been lifted out of income tax altogether are women. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for We have increased free early education places for three International Development (1) what the titles are of the and four-year-olds, and are extending that to 260,000 individual public appointments that have been made by two-year-olds from September 2014. We are extending her Department since May 2010; and which of those the right to request flexible working to all employees, appointees were women; [187084] and introducing a new system of shared parental leave (2) which paid public appointment contracts she has so parents can choose how best to share caring (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and responsibilities. We have also seen unprecedented progress how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men. in women’s representation on the boards of our leading [187023] companies. Over 160 companies have now committed to supporting Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer “Think, Act, Report”, collectively employing over 2 given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster million people. Many of those companies are now General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham publishing detailed information about the position of (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, women within their work forces, and a number have column 607W. completed gender pay audits. Staff Public Appointments Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of staff of (a) her Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women Department and (b) the public body accountable to her and Equalities which paid public appointment work outside of London; and in which local authorities contracts the Government Equalities Office has (a) such staff are located. [187271] renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men. Mr Duncan: As at 10 February 2014, DFID employs [187020] 561 staff at its east Kilbride headquarters which is located in south Lanarkshire. This equates to 41.2% of Mrs Grant: The Government publishes details of its current UK-based work force. diversity in public appointments across Departments. There are no staff employed by the public bodies The latest list can be found at: accountable to DFID who work outside London. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/262039/diversity-pub-appointments-_1- Uganda April-30-Sept-2013.csv/preview Figures for 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014 will be Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for published later this year. International Development whether funding has been provided to the Ugandan parliament’s Committee on Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women Human Rights Affairs through the Deepening Democracy and Equalities what the titles are of the individual programme Phase 2; and whether such funding will be public appointments that have been made by the so provided during the remainder of the programme. Government Equalities Office since May 2010; and [187634] which of those appointees were women. [187081] 797W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 798W

Mrs Grant: Figures in relation to diversity for public (GEO) joined DCMS under a Machinery of Government appointments within the jurisdiction of the Commission transfer. The Government Equalities Office works to for Public Appointments for 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 take action on the Government’s commitment to remove can be found on the website at: barriers to equality and help to build a fairer society, http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/ leading on issues relating to women, sexual orientation Copies are also available in the Library of the House. and transgender equalities. In this broader sense the whole of the staff of GEO and its programme spend is devoted to promoting equality and diversity.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Pay Arts Council England Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Media and Sport how many civil servants are on each Culture, Media and Sport what guidance her Department pay grade in (a) her Department and (b) agencies and has issued to the Arts Council on its distribution of public bodies accountable to her. [187241] funds across urban and rural communities. [187179] Mrs Grant: The number of civil servants on each pay Mr Vaizey: The Government is committed to supporting grade in DCMS is shown in the following table: arts and culture and, as such, the Arts Council will receive nearly £3 billion of public funding over the Grade Number of Full time equivalents lifetime of this Parliament. The Arts Council is an ALB SCS 31.96 and funding decisions are made independently of AU 18.00 Government. The Arts Council’s strategy, “Achieving A 102.20 Great Art and Culture for Everyone”, states that the ″ B 132.60 Arts Council will take full account of the respective C 52.77 needs of rural and urban communities, so that people D 36.89 are not disadvantaged by where they live.″ Total 374.42 Arts: Non-domestic Rates We do not hold central records for our agency and public bodies. Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has made to (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Property the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the inclusion of (i) cinemas, (ii) art Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, galleries, (iii) local cultural centres and (iv) other Media and Sport what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) arts-related premises within the scope of business rates floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties discount. [186884] (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) her Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to her. Mr Vaizey: I have regular discussions with the Chancellor [187282] and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on a range of issues affecting the cultural Mrs Grant: The Electronic Property Information sector. The rate relief announced by the Chancellor at Mapping Service (e-PIMS™) is the central database of the autumn statement is primarily aimed at small retail Government Central Civil Estate properties and land. properties on the high street—shops, restaurants, cafes and drinking establishments. A subset of data from e-PIMS™ has been published on a quarterly basis on: However, cinemas and other arts-based premises will benefit from the 2% cap to business rates that were also www.data.gov.uk announced at the autumn statement. This data is in the public domain and includes details of property location, tenure, and other key attributes. It is Equality a sample of all departmental holdings. Information concerning the value of property owned Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, by Government Departments is commercially sensitive Media and Sport what the (a) total departmental and any disclosure would adversely affect HMG’s future expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed ability to negotiate efficiencies and achieve value for for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was money to the taxpayer. The global running cost figure for each of the last five years. [187655] for the central civil estate is c£3 billion per annum. Mrs Grant: DCMS considers equality and the need Public Appointments to draw the best from a diverse workforce in its day to day activity.While there are individuals who have particular responsibility for promoting equality and diversity, this Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for is in addition to their other duties. The Department is Culture, Media and Sport which paid public appointment unable to break down figures to show how much was contracts she has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed spent on the equality and diversity aspect of their role. since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) On 1 April 2013, the Government Equalities Office women and (ii) men. [187013] 799W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 800W

Mrs Grant: The Government publishes details of Mrs Grant: The Gallipoli Campaign is one of the key diversity in public appointments across Departments. commemorative events in our national programme. The The latest list can be found at: Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), is attachment_data/file/262039/diversity-pub-appointments-_1- attending the Gallipoli commemorations this April to April-30-Sept-2013.csv/preview help inform our planning for the centenary commemoration Figures for 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014 will be in 2015. We are of course working closely with the published later this year. Australian and New Zealand Government on the Gallipoli commemorations. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the titles are of the Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for individual public appointments that have been made by Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department her Department since May 2010; and which of those has for commemoration of the Battle of the Somme in 2016. [187679] appointees were women. [187074] Mrs Grant: The Battle of the Somme is one of the Mrs Grant: Figures in relation to diversity for public key commemorative events in our national programme. appointments within the jurisdiction of the Commission The centenary commemorative event will be held at the for Public Appointments for 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 Thiepval Memorial. Planning for the event is in the can be found on the website at: early stages and further details will be announced in due http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/ course. Copies are also available in the Library of the House.

Staff COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Bank Services Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of staff of (a) her Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Department and (b) agencies and public bodies Communities and Local Government with what bank accountable to her work outside of London; and in his Department’s bank overdraft is held; and what fees which local authorities such staff are located. [187263] and charges were payable on the core Department’s bank overdraft in the last financial year. [183240] Mrs Grant: DCMS does not have any employees who are based outside of London. Brandon Lewis: My Department banks with the We do not hold central records for our agency and Government Banking Service. Balances held in its accounts public bodies. are held at the Bank of England. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 28 Tickets January 2014, Official Report, column 489W. Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions (a) she, Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in Communities and Local Government when the report her Department have had with the Department’s on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook directors on secondary ticketing. [187504] and Springfield will be published; and when a decision on this matter will be reached. [187503] Mrs Grant: Ministers and officials in DCMS have not had any discussions with our non-executive directors on Brandon Lewis: An appeal against the establishment secondary ticketing. of the Sparkbrook and Springfield Business Improvement District has been made to the Secretary of State for Tourism: Rural Areas Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Pickles). Evidence and representations are being reviewed Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to and a decision will be made shortly. promote rural tourism in the UK. [900827] Council Tax

Mrs Grant: The Government recognises tourism as a Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for major driver of economic growth in rural areas. The Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Rural Economy Growth Review launched a £25 million answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column package to develop and promote rural tourism in England 601W, on council tax, which local authorities have and contribute to the industry target of 5% year-on-year increased council tax and by what percentage amount growth in the value of the tourism sector. in 2013-14. [187210] World War I: Anniversaries Brandon Lewis [holding answer 11 February 2014]: Information on council tax levels set by local authorities Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for in 2013-14 is published by my Department on the Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to visit gov.uk website and can be accessed at: First World War battlefields outside Europe during the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-tax- centenary commemorations. [187673] levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2013-to-2014 801W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 802W

Table 9 provides information on average council tax (b) “have long-term value for historical or other research” levels and percentage changes. E-mail accounts belonging to Ministers (other than the Prime Minister) are not required for historical/research reasons as indicated Criminal Investigation by the National Archives under their record selection policies. Individual ministerial e-mails may be retained as part of the Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for record of specific policies as necessary; or Communities and Local Government which organisation (c) “contain or relate to information recently released in his Department and its subsidiary bodies use to tackle response to a request under the Act” internal instances of crime, including corruption and Where information is known to be the subject of a request for fraud; and whether he has designated this organisation information, this is retained to allow for the appeal process to be or any individual within it to grant authorisation for exhausted if invoked. After that time, information may be destroyed carrying out directed surveillance under section 28 of or retained as a record if required for business purposes. the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Currently there are three ministerial e-mail accounts [186705] still in existence belonging to Ministers who had left the Department since May 2010. These Ministers left in Brandon Lewis: DCLG looks to the Cross Departmental October 2013 and therefore their accounts are due to be Internal Audit Service (part of which is currently hosted deleted (with their electronic calendars passed to the by DCLG) to provide it with Internal Audit Services, departmental records officer) in February 2014 in line including the investigation of reported frauds. No with the departmental record retention and disposal organisation or individual has been granted authorisation policy. All other ex-ministerial accounts have been deleted. to carry out directed surveillance under Section 28 of The Department currently has seven electronic calendars the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. in archive which relate to ex-ministerial accounts. These E-mail are due to be destroyed over the period 2019-20 in line with our departmental record retention and disposal policy. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what his The approval process for archiving or deleting the Department’s policy is on the timelines for closing ministerial e-mail accounts is governed by our departmental ministerial e-mail accounts once a Minister has left the record retention and disposal policy. Department; [186767] This general policy was in place under the last (2) what account his Department’s policy on the Administration, and the same approach was applied to retention of ministerial e-emails that are relevant to the outgoing Ministers from the Labour Government in subject of requests for information under the Freedom May 2010. of Information Act 2000 takes of section 12.3c of the Lord Chancellor’s code of practice on the management Emergency Services of records issued under section 46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; [186768] Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for (3) whether the e-mail accounts of each Minister Communities and Local Government what steps he is who has left his Department since May 2010 (a) have taking to promote the sharing of services between fire been deleted, (b) remain available to the Department brigades and (a) police forces and (b) other local and (c) have been archived; [186770] authorities. [186804] (4) what the approval process is for the archiving or deletion of ministerial e-mail accounts. [186771] Brandon Lewis: The Government supports collaboration to drive efficiencies and a better, more joined up service Brandon Lewis [holding answer 10 February 2014]: In to communities. We are committed to helping the sector line with its departmental record retention and disposal to do this. My Department is making available to fire policy, the Department for Communities and Local and rescue authorities £75 million of transformation Government maintains ministerial e-mail accounts for funding for 2015-16 to drive transformational reform a period of 120 days once a Minister has left the and deliver further efficiencies, including encouraging Department. greater collaboration between fire, police and other Prior to the deletion of the account, a copy of the authorities. A six week technical consultation on the electronic calendar is passed to the departmental records bidding process closed on 14 January 2014 and we officer for preservation. These calendars are currently expect the actual bidding process to commence shortly. retained for a period of seven years from the date of the Minister’s departure before being destroyed. Equality Under Section 12.3c of the Lord Chancellor’s code of practice on the management of records issued under Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities section 46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and Local Government what the (a) total departmental “Records should not be kept after they have ceased to be of use expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed to the authority” for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was unless they are: for each of the last five years. [187654] (a) “the subject of litigation or a request for information” Where this is the case, DCLG records are retained until the Brandon Lewis: In 2008-09, DCLG had a defined litigation or request for information is completed, after which budget of £69,000 and £72,000 for 2009-10 and 2010-11 they are subject to the records disposition procedures pertinent to for promoting equality and diversity. This budget no them; longer exists. 803W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 804W

The Department for Communities and Local this Government is helping first time buyers by enabling Government considers equality issues in exercising its them to access low interest rates, making mortgages functions, to comply with legislation and to ensure it more accessible and affordable than would otherwise be understands how its activities affect specific groups in the case. society. All staff working on policies and programmes In addition, the number of mortgages lent to first-time therefore contribute to addressing equality and diversity buyers in November 2013 was 27,000-over 60% higher issues through their day to day jobs and hence the than May 2010 (16,300). The value of residential loans overall total and total staff costs are not available advanced to first time buyers is at its highest rate since centrally. 2007 (Bank of England, “Mortgage Lenders and Fires: Death Administrators Statistics”, 10 December 2013). Floods Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the full Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for actuarial cost of fire deaths was in each of the last 10 Communities and Local Government what assessment years; [187224] he has made of the effectiveness of local authority (a) (2) how many fire deaths there were in each of the chief executives and (b) leaders in providing public last 10 years. [187225] reassurance and advice through local media during a flooding emergency. [186940] Brandon Lewis: The Department has not calculated costs of fire fatalities. Brandon Lewis: I have made no assessment of local The numbers of fire fatalities in England for each of authority leaders’ or chief executives, effectiveness. But the last 10 years are shown in the following table. This I have been having discussions in the last few weeks with shows a sustained downward trend. In 2012-13 the leaders of the all the local authorities affected by the 5 number of fire fatalities was half that of the early 1990s. and 6 December severe weather and east coast tidal This is largely due to an increasing proportion of households surge, and I and other Ministers are meeting councillors, owning a working smoke alarm. local authority staff that are working with the emergency Fire fatalities, England, 2003-04 to 2012-13 services, Environment Agency and a range of other agencies in many areas still experiencing flooding. Fire fatalities I have been impressed with the work that is being 2003-04 454. done by local authorities to help those communities 2004-05 371 that are suffering and we have pledged to give them all 2005-06 386 the support they need. 2006-07 364 A meeting with the Chairman of the Local Government 2007-08 358 Association is being convened shortly to discuss with 2008-09 323 leaders of some of the local authorities that suffered 2009-10 336 from the recent severe weather what has been learnt 2010-11 331 about effective local government response and how the 2011-12 314 lessons can be shared across all councils. 2012-13 286 Source: Housing: Older People Fire Statistics Monitor, Department for Communities and Local Government: www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-statistics-monitor-april- Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for to-september-2013 Communities and Local Government what guidance he My Department’s Fire Kills campaign directly seeks has given to (a) the Homes and Communities Agency to raise and maintain public awareness of the importance and (b) other Government Departments on of having a working smoke alarm. consideration of demand for retirement housing when disposing of public land assets. [186750] First Time Buyers Kris Hopkins: This Department has not issued guidance Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for to either the Homes and Communities Agency or any Communities and Local Government what recent other Government Department about the types of housing assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps that should built when selling public land. The future taken by the Government to assist first-time home use of public land sold by Government is determined by buyers. [186780] the local planning authority, who decide what type of housing the local area needs. Kris Hopkins: This Government is committed to In August 2013, my Department published draft supporting people’s aspirations to own their own home. planning practice guidance on providing housing for Since spring 2010, the Government has helped, or is older people and planning for an ageing population. now helping over 106,000 households to buy or reserve a property through a range of Government-backed Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for home ownership schemes. A large portion of these are Communities and Local Government (1) what steps he first-time buyers. For example, by December 2013, around is taking to encourage the delivery of retirement 90% of sales through the Help to Buy: equity loan housing for home-owners; [186753] scheme were to first-time buyers. Moreover, by tackling (2) if he will develop a national strategy for the the budget deficit inherited by the previous Administration, delivery of retirement housing. [186755] 805W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 806W

Kris Hopkins: ‘Laying the foundations: a housing preserved right-to-buy sales are collected by the Department strategy for England (2011)’, set out the Government’s on an annual basis. In the first year of the reinvigorated new deal for older people’s housing, with a better offer scheme (2012-13), there were 2,458 preserved right-to-buy to support older people to live independently for longer. sales. Sales data for previous years (table 648) can be The Government is investing £11.5 billion of capital found here: in getting Britain building in the four years to 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live- supported by further private investment. The National tables-on-social-housing-sales Planning Policy Framework clearly requires local planning It is the Department’s expectation that receipts from authorities to assess and then plan for the needs of preserved right-to-buy sales should be used to help fund older people, and introduced a powerful presumption in new homes for affordable rent, and we would encourage favour of sustainable development. housing associations to work in partnership with local The Government is also making available up to £315 authorities. million for the development of specialist housing for older people and disabled adults in addition to private Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for investment. Phase 1 will deliver more than 3,000 homes Communities and Local Government how many across the country, and phase 2 will focus on stimulating replacement homes (a) are under construction or (b) the private market for developing housing to buy. have completed as a result of all right-to-buy sales Planning Permission: Crystal Palace subsequent to the enhanced discount introduced on 2 April 2012, by local authority. [187167] Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he, Ministers Kris Hopkins: There were 1,662 homes started on site or officials of his Department have had with the Mayor or acquired as a result of the right-to-buy scheme in of London and officials or members of the Greater England from April 2012 until September 2013. Figures London Authority and the London Borough of Bromley are available at local authority level for the number of on development of the upper site at Crystal Palace; and starts on site and acquisitions, and can be found at the what the outcome of those discussions was. [187428] following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer attachment_data/file/259931/LT693.xls given to the hon. Member for Croydon North (Mr Reed), on 11 November 2013, Official Report, column There were 142 homes completed with local authority 482W.I also refer the hon. Member to the speech I gave recycled right-to-buy receipts in England in 2012-13. on 29 October 2013, Official Report, columns 898-900. Figures for the number of affordable homes completed with local authority recycled right-to-buy receipts by Officials from my Department have met with local authority in 2012-13 can be found in sheet I, representatives from the Greater London Authority columns BN and BO at the following link: and the London borough of Bromley on several occasions to discuss the initial proposals to recreate the Crystal https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/269847/lahs-data-returns-for-2012-13.xls Palace. These discussions have included the consideration of the existing legislation governing the Crystal Palace The Department therefore does not collect data on Park and what type of legislative options might be replacement homes as a result of the preserved right-to-buy required to enable the rebuilding of the Crystal Palace. scheme. No decisions have been made at this stage. My There will invariably be a certain time lag between the Department will remain engaged and further examine right-to-buy sale and the construction of the new build these issues over the coming months, once the ZhongRong home, but the replacement timetable is in control of the Group have developed more detailed plans and consulted local authority. If a council were to fail to spend the the public. receipts within three years, it would be required to return the unspent money to government with interest. Right to Buy Scheme This provides a strong financial incentive for any slow-coach councils to use this new funding and get on with building Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for more homes for local people. Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of preserved right-to-buy Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for sales on affordable housing policy; [187164] Communities and Local Government (1) what total (2) how many replacement homes (a) are under amount of discount has been applied as part of the construction or (b) have completed as a result of preserved preserved right-to-buy sales in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, right-to-buy sales subsequent to the enhanced discount (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; [187169] introduced on 2 April 2012, by local authority; [187166] (2) what the total amount of discount is that has been (3) what plans he has to replace housing stock as a applied as part of all right-to-buy sales in (a) 2009-10, result of preserved right-to-buy sales. [187170] (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13. [187171] Kris Hopkins: This Government wants to ensure that as many social tenants as possible are helped to achieve Kris Hopkins: The total amount of discount applied their home ownership aspirations. The preserved right- by local authorities in England as part of the right-to-buy to-buy ensures that social tenants who were living in scheme, and by private registered providers (housing their homes at the time of a stock transfer maintain associations) as part of the preserved right-to-buy scheme their important right to home ownership. Figures for is as follows: 807W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 808W

£000 Average discount per Right-to-buy Preserved right-to- Number of dwellings dwelling (£) discount buy discount 2008-09 996 26,940 2009-10 63,130 22,520 2009-10 804 28,010 2010-11 73,115 26,890 2010-11 956 28,130 2011-12 69,730 31,420 2011-12 1,106 28,410 2012-13 307,687 123,195 2012-13 2,458 50,120 Notes: Note: 1. Figures on the total discount through right-to-buy in 2009-10 and Figures can be found at the following link: 2010-11 have been estimated using the average discount per dwelling https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ and the number of local authority dwellings sold, which can be found attachment_data/file/249039/Table_682.xls at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for attachment_data/file/249039/Table_682.xls Communities and Local Government how many 2. Figures for the total discount through right-to-buy in 2011-12 can be found at the following link: properties were sold under the Right to Buy scheme in https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) attachment_data/file/274824/lahs-data-returns-for-2011- 2012-13; and what the average discount given to house 12_REVISED.xls buyers was under that scheme in those years in each 3. Figures for the total discount through right-to-buy in 2012-13 can local authority area. [187163] be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/269847/lahs-data-returns-for-2012-13.xls Kris Hopkins: Figures are available at local authority 4. Figures on the total discount through preserved right-to-buy have level for the annual number of dwellings sold under the been estimated using the average discount per dwelling and the right to buy scheme, and can be found at the following number of private registered provider dwellings sold, which can be link: found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/249039/Table_682.xls attachment_data/file/249042/Table_685.xls Figures for the average discount given under the right This Government wants many more people to achieve to buy scheme by local authorities are available at a the dream of home ownership. In the 1980s, the right-to-buy national level at the following link: helped millions of people living in council housing achieve their aspiration of owning their home. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/249039/Table_682.xls The right-to-buy gives something back to families Local authority level data are available for total discount who worked hard, paid their rent and played by the given under the right to buy scheme and number of rules. It allows them to do up their home, change their sales. For 2012-13 total discount can be found in sheet front door and improve their garden, without getting B, column J, and number of dwellings sold in column H permission from the council. of the following link: It gives people a sense of pride and ownership not https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ just in their home, but in their street and neighbourhood, attachment_data/file/269847/lahs-data-returns-for-2012-13.xls helping to build strong families and stable mixed For 2011-12 total discount can be found in sheet B, communities. But the Labour Government made a column H, and number of dwellings sold in column F succession of cuts to the right-to-buy, and this vital of the following link: rung on the property ladder was all but removed. This https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Government is now putting it back by dramatically attachment_data/file/274824/lahs-data-returns-for-2011- increasing the discount rates and eligibility, so that we 12_REVISED.xls support the dreams of those council tenants who to These data are not available prior to 2011-12 at local want to own the roof over their head. authority level. The reinvigorated right-to-buy scheme will see any This Government wants many more people to achieve additional homes bought under the scheme leading the dream of home ownership. In the 1980s, the right to directly to the provision of new affordable homes for buy helped millions of people living in council housing rent, increasing the overall size of the housing stock achieve their aspiration of owning their home. and supporting construction and new house building. The right to buy gives something back to families who worked hard, paid their rent and played by the Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for rules. It allows them to do up their home, change their Communities and Local Government how many properties front door and improve their garden, without getting have been sold under the preserved Right-to-Buy scheme permission from the council. in each of the last five years; what the average discount It gives people a sense of pride and ownership not given to house buyers was under the scheme in those just in their home, but in their street and neighbourhood, years; and if he will list this information by local helping to build strong families and stable mixed authority area. [187334] communities. But the Labour Government made a succession of cuts to the right to buy, and this vital rung Kris Hopkins: Figures are not available at local authority on the property ladder was all but removed. This area level for the number of dwellings sold by private Government is putting it back by dramatically increasing registered providers (housing associations) and average the discount rates and eligibility, so that we support the discount under the preserved right to buy scheme. The dreams of those council tenants who want to own the national figures are as follows: roof over their head. The reinvigorated right to buy 809W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 810W scheme will see any additional homes bought under the George Eustice: A comprehensive risk assessment scheme leading directly to the provision of new affordable carried out in 2011 prior to harmonisation with the EU homes for rent, increasing the overall size of the housing Pet Travel Scheme concluded that the risk of a pet with stock and supporting construction and new house building. rabies coming into the UK would remain very low and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person Travellers: Staffordshire would be lower still. We maintain a robust checking regime and constantly monitor the prevalence of rabies, Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for as well as other high impact diseases, around the world. Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to gain a more accurate representation of Gypsy Sea Angling and Traveller numbers in South Staffordshire constituency; and what steps he is taking to ensure that 15. Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for the duty of pitch provision is more evenly spread across Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment all nearby local authority areas. [187181] he has made of the economic value of sea angling. [902575] Brandon Lewis: The Government’s planning policy for travellers is set out in “Planning policy for traveller George Eustice: The most recent assessment of the sites” published in March 2012. economic value of sea angling in England was published We are currently reviewing the associated practice last November in the Sea Angling 2012. This found that guidance on Traveller site provision. in 2012 English anglers spent £831 million on the sport. The Localism Act 2011 introduced a duty to co-operate, When indirect and induced effects are accounted for, and we would encourage local authorities to work this could support a total of £2.1 billion of spending. constructively with their neighbours on all aspects of The report is available on the Marine Management planning. Organisation website. I also refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial Illegal Wildlife Trade statement of 17 January 2014, Official Report, column 34WS, which outlines our intention to consider 16. Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the case for changes to the planning definition of Travellers. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his aims are for the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade. [902576] ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS George Eustice: Today’s conference (13 February 2014) Badger Cull aims to secure the high-level political commitment needed to tackle successfully the scourge of the illegal wildlife 12. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for trade. It will address three interlinked issues: improving Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent law enforcement; reducing demand; and supporting assessment he has made of the findings of the badger sustainable livelihoods for affected communities. The cull pilots. [902570] Government has convened this conference, but it is for all the Governments represented to demonstrate collective George Eustice: We are waiting for the Independent will by agreeing ambitious actions that will make a real Expert Panel to report their findings. We will consider difference on the ground. all the information these pilots have generated and decide on next steps in due course. British Produce It is clear that should additional areas be culled this year, preparatory work needs to be started now. Natural 17. Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for England has published information and guidance on an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he Expression of Interest process as a first step in the is making in opening new markets to imports of British preparations needed. produce. [902577] Flood Protection Schemes George Eustice: In 2013 we opened 112 markets for animals and animal products including beef to Singapore; 13. Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for poultry, beef and lamb to Russia; pork, lamb and beef Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood to the Dominican Republic; hatching eggs/day old chicks protection schemes are going ahead as a result of to Thailand. We also extended our access to Chinese partnership funding. [902572] markets for porcine products. This contributed to growth in exports of such products to non-EU markets of Dan Rogerson: Of the 55 major schemes starting approximately £200 million. construction in 2014-15, 32 are going ahead as a result of partnership funding contributions. Anaerobic Digestion

Rabies Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance 14. Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for his Department issues to the Planning Inspectorate on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment what it should accept as the minimum proximity he has made of the adequacy of existing arrangements between anaerobic digester plant developments and to protect against rabies. [902574] non-agricultural residential properties. [187580] 811W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 812W

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA has not issued any guidance Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency constructed to the Planning Inspectorate on the proximity between the £2.4 million Coleham Head flood risk management anaerobic digester plant developments and non-agricultural scheme in 2010, which reduces flood risk for 80 properties. residential properties. Over the last three years this and the Environment However, the Environment Agency has in place a Agency’s Frankwell flood defence have been operational position statement for biowaste treatment plants handling 11 times, protecting 150 properties. more than 500 tonnes of waste that are located within The flood risk in Shrewsbury is managed by an 250 metres of a dwelling or workplace. The position integrated team of 72 that covers Shropshire, Worcestershire, statement requires a site-specific bio-aerosol risk assessment Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. It is therefore not to be carried out as part of the application for an easy to give an accurate number for Shrewsbury alone. environmental permit. Subject to this assessment, the There are no DEFRA staff working on flood risk Environment Agency may grant a permit imposing management who work specifically on flood prevention conditions to prevent the emission of bio-aerosols, in measures in Shrewsbury. order to prevent harm to human health and the environment. Floods: West Midlands

Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has Department is taking to encourage an increase in been spent on flood defences and flood prevention on-farm anaerobic digestion. [902559] measures in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Shrewsbury in each of the last three years; and if he will provide Dan Rogerson: Last year DEFRA allocated £3 million additional funding to dredge the River Severn at from our Anaerobic Digestion Loan Fund to small-scale Shrewsbury. [197615] on-farm anaerobic digestion projects. As a first stage, the Waste and Resources Action Programme is providing Dan Rogerson: £52.5 million has been spent in the grants to help farmers develop business cases. This will West Midlands region over the last three years. help farmers decide if anaerobic digestion is right for £2.8 million has been spent in Shrewsbury over the their farms. If so, the farm business can apply to the last three years. This includes £2.4 million on the Coleham Waste and Resources Action Programme for a loan of Head flood risk management scheme in 2010, £62,000 up to £400,000. on property level protection schemes and £341,000 on maintenance (£95,000 in 2011-12; £101,000 in 2012-13; Floods £145,000 in 2013-14). Funding is made available to reduce the risks of Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for flooding rather than for any particular means of achieving Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps that objective, such as dredging. he has taken to help local resilience forums (a) improve door knocking in times of flood threat, (b) enhance Fracking: Fylde flood warnings, (c) provide information and (d) assess welfare needs of those who have been affected by flooding. Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for [186942] Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what on-the-ground inspections have been planned by the Environment Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency works closely Agency for the two new proposed shale gas drilling sites with local resilience forums (LRFs) to prepare for flooding in Fylde. [187304] and prepare multi-agency flood plans. The Environment Agency also works with LRFs to help communities Dan Rogerson: If the sites identified by Cuadrilla at prepare in advance of flooding, by developing volunteer Little Plumpton and Roseacre are granted planning flood warden and community self-help schemes. permission along with the required permits from the In some situations LRFs support Environment Agency Environment Agency, the Agency would inspect the flood warnings with door-knocking. Environment Agency sites during the preparatory works and the operational staff aim to visit before flooding, working alongside life of the sites, as well as at the end of operations. This LRFs to provide advice and information. would be done at a frequency appropriate to the risks that the sites present to the environment. The Environment Agency shares information with LRFs to enable them to plan for floods and assist Once operational work has begun, the Health and communities. This includes flood risk maps, knowledge Safety Executive and the Environment Agency will of anticipated flood impacts, live river and sea levels conduct joint inspections of the key operations at the data and flood forecasts. sites. These meetings and visits may include other licensing or statutory bodies as appropriate. Floods: Shrewsbury Insecticides: Inland Waterways

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigation prevention measures have been undertaken in his Department has carried out on the effects of Shrewsbury in the last three years; and how many staff neonicotinoids on waterways; and what monitoring the of (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Government undertakes on the effects of the neonicotinoids Agency have been so employed. [197616] moratorium on the aquatic environment. [187007] 813W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 814W

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency employs Rural Areas: Economic Growth general surveillance monitoring at a range of sites which can detect the following neonicotinoids: Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for imidacloprid; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is clothianidin; taking to promote economic growth in rural areas. thiacloprid; [902571] acetamiprid; and Dan Rogerson: Stimulating economic growth is the thiamethoxam. top priority for this Government. We want to see rural A review of all monitoring data collected since 2009 areas contributing to and benefitting from that growth. (from a total of 3,400 surface and groundwater sites) We are working to improve superfast broadband and was conducted in May 2013. There were no surface mobile infrastructure in rural communities; piloting water detections for any of these neonicotinoids except Rural Growth Networks to test different ways of helping thiamethoxam (detected in 15 samples at 12 sites). businesses stimulate economic growth in rural areas; Concentrations of thiamethoxam detected in surface and boosting key sectors such as tourism. We are also water are below levels that are reported to have an effect increasing export potential and unblocking barriers to on aquatic life. The Environment Agency is continuing growth by removing red tape. to collect surveillance data for the aquatic environment and a future review of these data can be undertaken to Winter Fuel Payments check for the presence or absence of neonicotionoids. Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Members: Correspondence Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward winter fuel payments in order to protect pensioners from the price rise associated with off-grid Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for energy at the onset of winter. [187116] Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will reply substantively to the letter from the hon. Member Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of for Mid Worcestershire of 25 July 2013, acknowledged the Department for Work and Pensions. by his Department on 2 October 2013, about Hartlebury Parish Council and the proposed main The Government is currently investigating with the energy industry and MPs via the All-Party Parliamentary burn incinerator. [187545] Group on Off-Gas Grid the feasibility of bringing forward the winter fuel payment date. Dan Rogerson: My ministerial colleague, Lord de Mauley, replied to the hon. Member on 10 February.

Pay EDUCATION

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Academies: Chelmsford Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. Education what assessment he has made of the (a) [187245] take-up of places in and (b) performance of academies in the Chelmsford constituency. [187457] Dan Rogerson: The following table shows the number of civil servants (headcount) employed by core DEFRA Mr Timpson: There are 12 open academies in the and its five Executive Agencies in each grade on 31 Chelmsford constituency comprising five primary converter January 2014. academies, five secondary converter academies and two special academies. Information on the capacity of schools Core DEFRA Agencies is collected via the school capacity survey and the number of pupils on roll is collected via the school Apprentice 0 16 census. The latest data is available at school level in the AA 12 142 publication ‘School capacity: academic year 2012 to AO 154 1,999 2013’.1 EO 334 1,516 Data on the performance of academies in Chelmsford HEO 595 977 is available via the school performance tables.2 SEO 356 647 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity- Grade 7 426 507 academic-year-2012-to-2013 Grade 6 96 190 2 http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance SCS Pay Band 1 77 28 SCS Pay Band 2 16 5 SCS Pay Band 3 4 1 Adoption Permanent Secretary 1 0 Total 2,071 6,028 Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on increasing the number DEFRA’s public bodies do not employ civil servants. of children adopted in England. [187220] 815W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 816W

Mr Timpson: We are reforming the adoption system The Department for Education does not hold the so that, where adoption is in the best interests of the value of properties which it occupies under leasehold or child, children can be placed quickly in a stable and memorandum of terms of occupation agreements. Due loving home. to commercial sensitivity and disposal plans, we are Our reforms1 are designed to encourage more people unable to release the values of the freehold properties. to adopt and to reduce the time it takes for children to Since May 2010, the Department has reduced the size be placed with a loving family. This includes addressing of its estate from 30 properties, at a cost of circa a national shortage of adopters by recruiting and assessing £51 million per annum, to 11 properties costing circa adopters more quickly, working with local authorities £34 million per annum. This is a saving of circa £17 million to eradicate unnecessary delay highlighted by scorecard per annum. The Department’s current estate strategy data, and improving support services to adoptive families. includes further consolidation, reducing the size of the 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-action-plan- estate to six properties. During 2014, the Department for-adoption-tackling-delay will vacate Trust Court, Histon, realise additional sub-let income to offset rental costs of Sanctuary Buildings Buildings and Earlsdon Park, as well as transfer surplus space in Piccadilly Gate, Manchester to another Government Department. These activities will achieve further savings Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for to the Department of c. £2.5 million. The Department Education what proportion of the office space owned also plans to vacate Sanctuary Buildings at lease expiry or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what in 2017. the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate Children: Internet valuation. [186863]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education assesses Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for its properties as either being required to deliver departmental Education what meetings he has had with individuals functions (core estate) or surplus to this requirement and representatives from organisations on online safety (non-core). The current classification system does not for children since 1 January 2013. [186788] relate to the frequency of use and as a consequence we do not hold this information. Mr Timpson: Responsibility for internet safety transferred to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in The Department does not hold the value of properties September 2013. However, the Department for Education that it occupies under leasehold or Memorandum of maintains an interest in internet safety as I co-chair the Terms of Occupation agreements. Due to commercial UK Council for Child Internet Safety. sensitivity and disposal plans, we are unable to release the values of freehold properties. The Council has met four times since 1 January 2013. In addition I met representatives of Apple on 12 February Since May 2010 the Department has reduced the size 2013. I have placed a copy of the letter following this of its estate from 30 properties, at a cost of c. £51 million meeting in the House Library. per annum, to 12 properties costing c. £34 million per annum. This is a saving of c. £17 million per annum. Officials met UK Council for Child Internet Safety The Department’s current estate strategy includes further industry members frequently during 2013 to take forward consolidation, reducing the size of the estate to six progress on parental internet controls and other measures properties. During 2014, the Department will vacate to keep children safe online. Trust Court, Histon, realise additional sublet income to offset the rental costs of Earlsdon Park, and transfer surplus space in Piccadilly Gate, Manchester to another Community Schools Government Department. These activities will achieve further savings to the Department of c. £600,000. The Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Department also plans to vacate Sanctuary Buildings at Education what assessment his Department has made lease expiry in 2017. of the capacity of existing multiple academy trusts to When we complete our reduction programme in 2017, take on the remaining community schools in (a) the Department will not lease or own any non-core England and (b) Yorkshire. [187191] properties. Mr Timpson: The Department for Education’s assessment Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for is that there is currently sufficient sponsor capacity to Education what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor support underperforming maintained schools in England space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties and in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and Maintained schools that are performing well can (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. convert to become academies without the support of [187284] multi-academy trusts, although they may choose to join one. Elizabeth Truss: Details of the Department, agencies When a school is underperforming, particularly when and public bodies’ properties owned and occupied can it is judged by Ofsted to have serious weaknesses or be found at the Government’s property and land asset require special measures, the Department will attempt database, available at: to find a sponsor capable of providing the support http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims needed for transformational improvement. 817W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 818W

Education: Fraud During the last four years the numbers of officials who advise on equality and diversity matters and put in place reasonable adjustments are set out in the following Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for table: Education on how many occasions whistleblowers have reported alleged financial impropriety to the Education Staff numbers (full-time Funding Agency in each year of its operation. [186078] Financial year equivalents)

Mr Timpson: Whistleblowers have reported alleged 2009-10 5 financial impropriety to the EFA on 36 occasions since 2010-11 4.25 April 2012; 10 in 2012 to 2013 and 26 in 2013 to 2014. 2011-12 4.5. We looked at each of these cases closely. Of these, 13 2012-13 3 have resulted in a formal investigation and six are currently being assessed. In the other 17 cases, there was Free Schools no evidence of financial impropriety. Appropriate advice or follow-up work was undertaken to address any residual concerns. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that free For comparison, 191 cases of fraud in local authority schools demonstrate compliance with the Public Sector schools were reported to the Audit Commission last Equality Duty by publishing their equality information year. and objectives. [187140]

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Timpson: All academies, including free schools, Education on how many occasions an Education are public authorities and must therefore publish relevant, Funding Agency (EFA) investigation into alleged proportionate information showing compliance with financial impropriety has been undertaken in each year the equality duty, including their equality objectives. It of the EFA’s existence. [186117] is a condition of free school funding agreements that they fulfil their responsibilities under equality legislation. Mr Timpson: Since its inception on 2 April 2012, the Where there is clear evidence that an academy is in Education Funding Agency (EFA) has commissioned a breach of its obligations, the Secretary of State for total of 13 investigations into alleged financial impropriety. Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey In 2012-13, there were six investigations and, to date, in Heath (Michael Gove), can take action, including the 2013-14 there have been seven investigations. termination of the funding agreement. The Department Of these 13 cases, to date three have published for Education has issued advice to help all schools and investigation reports available online. Six cases are ongoing. academies on how the Equality Act affects them and In the remaining four cases, no financial impropriety how to fulfil their duties under the Act.1 Free schools was found. These four investigations were completed are also made aware of their responsibilities as part of before new requirements came into force in the Academies the pre-opening process. Financial Handbook on 1 September 2013, stating that In addition, the Equality and Human Rights “the EFA will publish reports into investigations it undertakes”. Commission is responsible for ensuring that public authorities comply with their specific duties to publish Equality information and can take action through the courts to enforce these duties if necessary. 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010- Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education advice-for-schools what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for promoting equality and diversity was for each of the Education what assessment his Department has made last five years. [187637] of the per pupil place value for money of free schools; and what effect the acquisition of sites (a) in London Elizabeth Truss: During the last three years the and (b) outside London has on that value for money. Department for Education has spent the following amount [187184] fulfilling its legal duties as an employer on equality and diversity: Mr Timpson: The per pupil place value for money of each free school is assessed before the capital budget is Financial year Expenditure (£) approved. 2009-10 327,280 The Department for Education considers carefully 2010-11 152,605 how to maximise value for money on a project by 2011-12 164,981 project basis, including where there are a limited number 2012-13 184,953 of available sites, such as in some parts of London and other areas. The majority of this expenditure relates to providing reasonable adjustments for staff considered disabled Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for under the Equality Act, for example, providing assistive Education how many pupil vacancies there are in free software and related training for staff with a visual schools in (a) London and (b) England; and what impairment and adjustment of office equipment or proportion of free schools opened in (i) 2012 and (ii) furniture for staff with limited mobility. 2013 have vacancies. [187185] 819W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 820W

Mr Timpson: Information on pupil numbers is collected Mr Timpson: Information on class sizes, including in the School Census. those in free schools, is provided in the publication The results of the spring 2014 collection, which will “Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2013”, include up to date figures for free schools that opened in which can be found at: 2012 and 2013, are likely to be released in June 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils- and-their-characteristics-january-2013 Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any consented free school applications Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for have been withdrawn to date by (a) the proposers in the Education (1) what estimate his Department has made community or (b) the proposed provider. [187186] of the number of children with a statement of special educational needs being educated in free schools; Mr Timpson: At 10 February 2014, 18 approved free [187192] school applications had been cancelled or withdrawn (2) what estimate his Department has made of the during the pre-opening process. number of children with (a) dyslexia and (b) dyspraxia being educated in free schools; [187193] Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for (3) what estimate his Department has made of the Education what estimate his Department has made of number of children being educated in free schools who the capital and revenue costs of free schools that (a) qualify for free school meals. [187195] have been provided to date, (b) are to be provided in 2013-14 and (c) are projected to be provided in 2014-15. [187187] Mr Timpson: Statistics on the number and percentage of pupils with a statement of special educational needs have been published in ‘Special educational needs in Mr Timpson: The Department for Education provides 1 per-pupil revenue funding to free schools on the same England: January 2013’ . Table 1d (national tables) basis as it does to all state schools. Free schools also shows these statistics by type of academy, including free receive funding during pre-opening intended to cover schools. essential costs in developing the school, and post-opening We do not collect information specifically on the funding to enable schools to cover their initial costs number of pupils with dyslexia or dyspraxia. Where the while they are growing their pupil numbers. pupil is identified as being at School Action Plus or has As the recent NAO report, ’Establishing Free Schools a statement of special educational needs, their primary (December 2013)’ commented, free schools are being need is collected. The category of primary need collected opened faster and with much lower capital costs than in which covers dyslexia and dyspraxia is ’Specific Learning previous programmes under the last Government. Difficulty’. Data for the number and percentage of pupils with this primary need, by type of academy, is General Annual Grant (per pupil) allocations for free shown in Table 10b of the publication. schools open to date have been published on the Department’s website at: Statistics on the number and percentage of pupils http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/ known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals b00213953/academies-funding-2013-14/ have been published in ‘Schools, pupils and their 2 academyallocations1314 characteristics: January 2013’ . Table 3c (national tables) Details of the funding provided to free schools for shows these statistics for free schools. pre and post-opening are in the Department’s ’How to 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-educational apply guide’ at: -needs-in-england-january-2013 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-in- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and 2014-how-to-apply-mainstream-and-16-to-19-free-schools -their-characteristics-january-2013

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many additional school places have Education what estimate his Department has made of been created by the free schools that (a) have been the proportion of free schools which participate in the provided to date and (b) are projected to be provided relevant local authority’s admissions process to enable in 2014-15. [187188] pupil place planning. [187194]

Mr Timpson: 82,000 places will be provided by the Mr Timpson: A number of the 174 open free schools 174 free schools opened so far. chose to participate in the local system of co-ordinated This will increase by an estimated 62,000 once schools admissions as soon as they opened despite all of them in the pipeline are open. having the option of being outside of co-ordination in their first year. They will normally have their arrangements Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for published in the local authority composite admissions Education whether his Department’s estimate of December prospectus for parents to see. All schools must participate 2012 that the 79 open free schools would create at least in the local system of coordination after their first year 34,000 additional school places was accurate. [187189] of opening. Whether or not a school is within the system of Mr Timpson: It was. co-ordinated admissions will not affect the ability of a local authority to plan its pupil places. As free school Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for capacity figures are published, local authorities will be Education what the average class size is in free schools able to take them into account in planning places in open to date. [187190] their areas. 821W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 822W

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Ofsted Education what discussions he has had with HM Chief Inspector of Schools about the performance of free Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education schools. [187196] how much funding his Department has provided to Ofsted in each year since 2010; and how much such Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, funding he plans to provide in each year to 2015-16; and my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath what proportion of such funding is used for inspection (Michael Gove), meets regularly with Her Majesty’s of (a) early years and childcare, (b) children and Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to discuss a wide family services, (c) schools and (d) further education range of issues, including the performance of free schools. and skills. [186684]

Further Education: Finance Mr Laws: The Ofsted settlement was:

£ million Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, 2010/11 186 Official Report, column 540W, on further education: 2011/12 176 finance, if he will report to the House the options his 2012/13 168 Department is considering by the end of the 2013-14 2013/14 170 session of Parliament. [186851] The reduction shown above was in line with savings Matthew Hancock: As the Secretary of State for made to administration and programme budgets held Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey centrally by the Department for Education and its Heath (Michael Gove), told the Education Committee arm’s length bodies, which allowed the Department to recently, he will consider options to mitigate the impact protect universal frontline services. The figure for 2013-14 of the decision, but he has made no firm commitments. includes an additional £10 million above the settlement towards the reform programme. Figures for 2014-15 are GCSE: Chelmsford still being finalised. An estimated breakdown showing the proportion of Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2013-14 budget allocated against each area for Education what proportion of pupils in Chelmsford inspection, and inspection support is shown as follows. constituency achieved no GCSEs at A* to C grade in Due to reorganisation within Ofsted, similar information 2012-13. [187459] for previous years is unavailable.

Mr Laws: The proportion of pupils in Chelmsford Ofsted 2013-14 Budget £ million constituency achieving no GCSEs (including equivalencies) Schools 59.9 at grades A* to C was 4.8% in 2012/13. In 2009/10, Further Education and Skills 15.1 15.2% of pupils in Chelmsford constituency achieved Early Childhood 25.5 no GCSEs (including equivalencies) at grades A* to C. Social Care 10.4 Front line support (includes support for 38.4 Members: Correspondence inspection and registration of childminders). Other costs 20.2 Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 7 January 2014 Pay on funding for 18 year-old full-time students in further education colleges; and for what reasons that letter was transferred to the Department for Business, Innovation Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for and Skills and then transferred back to his Education how many civil servants are on each pay Department. [187465] grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187243] Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he received the letter from the hon. Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is available Member for Birkenhead of 18 December 2013 regarding as part of published data which can be found at: Education Funding Agency guidelines for funding for www.data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management- 2014-15; and when he plans to reply to that letter. information-department-for-education [187537]

Matthew Hancock: I replied to both letters on 10 Priority School Building Programme February. The letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North (Mr Winnick) had not been transferred between Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Departments. My role as Minister for Skills and Enterprise Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the meant that officials in both the Department for Education initial advertisement which was published in the and the Department for Business, innovation and Skills Official Journal of the European Union for the priority had an interest in it. schools building programme. [187373] 823W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 824W

Mr Laws: The Priority School Building Programme Schools: Collective Worship (PSBP) is being procured using both capital and private finance funding. Schools are grouped in “batches” of Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for 4-12 schools, taking into consideration geography, Education (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that commercial viability and condition need. schools provide a daily act of worship as required by Capital funded batches are being delivered using the the Education Act 1944; [187696] Education Funding Agency’s (EFA’s) Contractors’ (2) how many schools have opted out of the daily act Framework. The notice placed in the OJEU for the of worship required by the Education Act 1944; and EFA Contractors Framework is available online at: what criteria are used to grant that exemption. [187697] http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:132773- 2013:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0 Elizabeth Truss: Schools remain legally required to Private finance batches are advertised separately via provide a daily act of worship for all registered pupils the OJEU procedure. The OJEU notices for the Herts, up to age 18. Some maintained schools and academies Luton and Reading, North East and North West private serve communities where the majority of pupils are of a finance batches are available online. religion other than Christian. In this situation, a maintained Herts, Luton and Reading: school can apply to the local Standing Advisory Council http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:212992- on Religious Education (SACRE) for a determination 2013:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0 which allows the school to provide collective worship North East: based on a non-Christian religion. We do not collect data on these applications or specify criteria that SACREs http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:257729- should use in making decisions. Academies in this situation 2013:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0 would apply to the Secretary of State, and no applications North West: have been received. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:375997- 2013:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0 Schools: Construction EFA has developed a financing model for the private finance batches based upon the establishment of a Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for funding vehicle, known as the Aggregator. The OJEU Education what consideration his Department has for the Aggregator is available online at: given to allowing local authorities to open a new school http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:203423- to meet school place demand; and what representations 2013:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0 he has received on this issue. [187199]

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Timpson: Local authorities are under a statutory Education pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2013, duty to plan and secure sufficient schools places for Official Report, columns 722-3W, on priority schools their area. The Department recently announced an building programme, what proportion of the total cost additional £2.35 billion in basic need funding, to support of the priority schools building programme will be local authorities to create the additional places that will funded by the (a) European Investment Bank and (b) be needed by September 2017, in addition to the £5 billion European Investment Fund. [187544] already committed for the period 2011-15. Where, an authority identifies the need to establish a new school, Mr Laws: The Department for Education is in discussions legislation requires it first to seek proposals for an with the European Investment Bank. Procurement for academy or free school. the Aggregator Financing Vehicle, which will fund the Where a suitable academy/free school proposal is not privately financed priority schools building programme, identified, the Secretary of State for Education, my is ongoing. right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will give consent for the local authority to hold a competition, inviting bids for academy/free schools and Public Appointments maintained foundation and voluntary schools. Where an academy or free school proposal is not Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for considered to be appropriate, local authorities can apply Education (1) which paid public appointment contracts to the Secretary of State for Education for consent to he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May publish proposals for replacement community schools, 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and or brand new or replacement foundation or voluntary (ii) men; [187016] controlled maintained schools. (2) what the titles are of the individual public Local authorities or other bodies (eg diocese) may appointments that have been made by his Department also publish proposals for maintained schools at any since May 2010; and which of those appointees were time-without the consent of the Secretary of State-if women. [187077] seeking to establish: 1. a new voluntary aided school; Elizabeth Truss: I refer the hon. Member to the 2. a new community or foundation primary school that is to answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and replace a maintained infant and a maintained junior school; Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member 3. a new school resulting from the reorganisation of existing for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official faith schools in an area, including an existing faith school losing Report, column 607W. or changing its religious designation; 825W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 826W

4. a new foundation or community school, where a suitable The information is provided in respect of years running academy/free school proposal has not been identified and a from 1 April to 31 March. Amounts are rounded to the competition has been held but did not identify a suitable provider. nearest £100,000. (a) The net amounts of penalties paid were as follows: Students: Cumbria As at 1 April to 31 March each John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for year £ Education how many people in (a) Barrow and Furness 2009-10 31,800,000 constituency and (b) Cumbria will be affected by the 2010-11 29,900,000 reduction in funding for 18-year-olds announced by the 2011-12 24,200,000 Education Funding Agency. [187632] 2012-13 22,900,000

Matthew Hancock: There are 123 students aged 18 (b) Figures for penalties discharged on successful living in Barrow and Furness constituency who are appeal are not centrally collated and could be provided affected by the reduction in funding. only at disproportionate cost. There are 533 students aged 18 living in Cumbria (c) The amounts of penalties remitted as uncollectable who are affected by the reduction in funding. debt were: The data is based on the 2012/13 R14 individualised learner record. This is the latest available full year of As at 1 April to 31 March each data. The data refers to 18-year-old non-high needs year £ students on full-time (540+ hours) programmes in post-16 2009-10 91,000,000 institutions (including school sixth forms). This will not include any students receiving apprenticeship provision. 2010-11 99,800,000 Students who live in Barrow and Furness constituency 2011-12 58,800,000 or Cumbria (upper tier local authority) do not necessarily 2012-13 53,400,000 study there. d. Information on the amounts of penalties unpaid at each year end is not available and could be provided Students: Finance only at disproportionate cost.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made Financial Services of the potential effects of the reduction in funding for full-time education places for 18-year-olds on students Nic Dakin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from disadvantaged backgrounds. [187347] pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 665W, on financial services, whether Matthew Hancock: The Department for Education any business has yet been compensated; and what the has published an impact assessment, which can be timetable is for compensation to be paid. [187468] found here: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/i/ Sajid Javid: The latest progress report published by impact%20assessment.pdf the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) showed that The impact assessment shows that there is no 2,092 redress offers worth over £300 million have so far disproportionate impact on students from disadvantaged been accepted by businesses under the review process. areas. The Financial Conduct Authority has not set a timetable for compensation to be paid. However, as set out in my answer of 30 January 2014, the FCA has published each individual bank’s projections for when they expect to TREASURY finish the redress scheme. The projections show that the banks expect to finish reviewing all cases by June 2014, Corporation Tax with some banks likely to complete the scheme before this date. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2014, Fracking Official Report, columns 728-9W, on corporation tax, if he will provide figures for all penalties imposed that were (a) paid, (b) discharged on successful appeal and Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the (c) remitted as uncollectable debt for each of the last Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to four tax years; how much remained unpaid at the end the public purse of providing companies investing in of each such year; and if he will make a statement. the exploitation of onshore oil and gas and including [184087] shale gas an allowance equal to 75 per cent of their capital spend on such projects; [186263] Mr Gauke: Over the period, fewer companies have (2) how much the recently announced tax allowance been failing to file returns on time, and HMRC has for the exploitation of onshore oil and gas and shale improved the way they identify companies that are gas will cost the public purse in tax year (a) 2015-16, asked to file a return so that returns are not requested (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18; and how such figures from companies that are not active. have been calculated. [186265] 827W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 828W

Nicky Morgan: The estimated cost of the onshore oil Nicky Morgan: The Government is not aware of any and gas allowance, which was certified by the Office for other organisation having published a summary of the Budget Responsibility, can be found on page 79 of the Wood Mackenzie report on shale gas fiscal incentives, autumn statement: but WoodMackenzie have confirmed that anyone interested https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ in seeing a copy of the original report should contact attachment_data/file/263942/ them directly. 35062_Autumn_Statement_2013.pdf In 2015-16 the estimated cost is negligible, in 2016-17 it Fuels: Excise Duties is £5 million and in 2017-18 it is £20 million. The assumptions and methodology underlying these Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer costings can be found on page 46 of the policy costings (1) what recent discussions he has had with the document: European Commission on the rural fuel rebate scheme; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ [186985] attachment_data/file/263434/autumn_statement_2013 (2) what discussions he has held with members of the _policy_costings.pdf European Parliament representing (a) English, (b) This document highlights that beyond the forecast period, Scottish, (c) Welsh, (d) Northern Ireland constituencies additional production and profits which would arise and (e) the European Committee of the Regions on the from successful onshore developments would be expected rural fuel rebate scheme. [186986] to increase Exchequer yield. Danny Alexander: At the end of January 2014, the Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Government submitted an application to the European Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Commission requesting an extension of the rural fuel Official Report, column 237W, on fracking, (1) what his rebate scheme to 17 areas on the UK mainland. The policy is on the use of non-public research in his Chancellor routinely discusses a range of issues with members from the devolved Administrations, the European Department’s publications; [186659] Commission and European Committees. (2) if he will publish a summary of the evidential basis for the statement that independent analysis shows Individual Savings Accounts that this allowance makes the UK tax regime for shale gas the most competitive in Europe; [186660] Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the (3) whether his Department commissioned the report Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made from Wood McKenzie; and whether it commissioned of the value of ISA financial products held by people any other reports on this matter. [186735] living in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK; [186828] Nicky Morgan: The Government uses a wide variety (2) what estimate his Department has made of the of resources in the process of policy development. value of ISA products issued by UK companies The Wood Mackenzie report cited in the autumn registered in (a) Scotland and (b) other parts of the statement document was not commissioned by HM UK in each of the last 10 years. [186844] Treasury and the Department has not commissioned any other reports on this matter. While the report is Mr Gauke: The numbers of individuals holding ISAs currently only available to Wood Mackenzie subscribers, and the average values of funds held broken down they have confirmed that anyone interested in seeing a geographically is provided in HMRC table 9.12: copy should contact them directly. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-value- of-individual-savings-account-isa-funds-by-country-and- Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the region Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, As of 5 April 2011, the total value of ISAs held by Official Report, column 237, on fracking, what other individuals living in Scotland was £30.2 billion (total independent analysis concludes that this allowance makes ISA holdings at that point in time are estimated to have the UK tax regime for shale gas the most competitive in been worth £375 billion). Europe. [186853] A breakdown of market values by Scottish-based ISA providers and rest of UK-based ISA providers can Nicky Morgan: The Wood Mackenzie review is the be found in this table: only one the Government is aware of that directly compares the new onshore allowance with other European (£ billion) tax regimes. However, there are several publically available Of which sources that compare global oil and gas tax regimes Total market values of funds in is held with which could be used to conduct this analysis independently. ISAs as of Scottish ISA is held with rest of 5 April providers UK ISA providers

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the 2007 287.0 31.5 255.5 Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2014, 2008 289.1 30.4 258.6 Official Report, column 237W, on fracking, whether 2009 274.4 39.7 234.7 any other organisation has published a summary of 2010 342.9 51.1 291.8 Upstream Insight: UK advances shale gas fiscal incentives. 2011 374.9 59.0 315.8 [187547] 2012 388.1 60.2 328.0 829W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 830W

Non-domestic Rates: Cash Dispensing (£ billion) Of which Total market Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the values of funds in is held with Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue accruing to ISAs as of Scottish ISA is held with rest of 5 April providers UK ISA providers the Exchequer through the application of business rates on ATMs in each year to 2018-19. [187501] 2013 442.8 75.4 367.5 Note: Brandon Lewis: I have been asked to reply on behalf Comparable figures prior to 2007 are not available. of the Department for Communities and Local Government. Mortgages: Chelmsford This information is not held centrally.

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Property Exchequer how many house sales have been completed in Chelmsford constituency using the Help to Buy Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer scheme since the introduction of that scheme. [187456] what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned Sajid Javid: On 2 January, the Prime Minister announced and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) that in the first three months of the Help to Buy: agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187294] mortgage guarantee scheme more than 6,000 people had put in offers on homes and applied for a Help to Nicky Morgan: The information is as follows: Buy mortgage. The mortgages, once approved, would represent nearly £1 billion of new lending to aspiring Department/ Floor Tenure Owned/ 2 home owners who may have previously found the property Agency Location Space M status occupied market out of reach because of the size of the deposit HM Treasury1 1 Horse Guards 22,856 Freehold Owned and required. Road, London occupied HMT Rosebery Court, 407 Leased Occupied The Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme continues Norwich to support responsible lending. On average households HMT Eastcheap 172 Leased Occupied are looking to buy homes worth £160,000 which remains Court, London below the UK average house price of £247,000. HMT Melville 28 Leased Occupied Crescent, Now the scheme is open, the Government is collecting Edinburgh data on the mortgages supported by the Help to Buy: Debt Eastcheap 1,290 Leased Occupied mortgage guarantee scheme and will report in due Management Court, London course. Office Office for Victoria Street, 247 Leased Occupied Budget London National Insurance Contributions Responsibility 1 Core HM Treasury includes HM Treasury, Office of Tax Simplification, Infrastructure UK and Infrastructure Finance Unit Ltd, all of whom are Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the based in the Treasury building at Horse Guards Road and included in the Exchequer how many people earning less than the figures above, together with the Office for Budget Responsibility. annual equivalent of the primary threshold had a class Information on the value of 1 Horse Guards Road 1 national insurance contribution liability in each of appears in Treasury’s Annual Report, copies of which the last seven years. [186823] have been deposited in the Library but it should be noted that this is a “book value” only and does not Mr Gauke: The information requested is in the following necessarily represent the final sale value of the property table. asset. Treasury does not hold information on the value of Number with earnings below its leased properties. Tax Primary threshold annualised PT paying NIC year (annualised) (£) (million) Public Appointments 2009- 5,715 3.31 1 10 Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Chancellor of the 2010- 5,715 3.39 111 Exchequer (1) which paid public appointment contracts 2011- 7,225 3.73 he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 122 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and 2012- 7,605 3.48 (ii) men; [187029] 3 13 (2) what the titles are of the individual public 2013- 7,755 3.53 143 appointments that have been made by his Department 1 These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for the year since May 2010; and which of those appointees were concerned. women. [187089] 2 This estimate is based on a 1% sample of end of year tax returns in respect of the tax year ending 5 April 2012. 3 These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for the year Nicky Morgan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer 2011-12 projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster Budget Responsibility’s December 2013 economic and fiscal outlook. General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham This information is not available for years prior to (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, 2009-10. column 608W. 831W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 832W

Taxation: Domicile In addition, more than £200 million is being invested in the further digitisation of HMRC’s services, making Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the it easier and cheaper individuals and small businesses to Exchequer (1) how many taxpayers were registered deal with their tax affairs. For example, by April 2015 up with HM Revenue and Customs as non-domiciled in to 2 million people will be able to take control of their (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; [187604] tax affairs through their own online accounts. This builds on existing digital services, such as online tax (2) how many taxpayers registered with HM Revenue calculator and phone app that allows individuals who and Customs as non-domiciled were liable for the pay tax through PAYE to see how much income tax and annual charge of £30,000 in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 national insurance they can expect to pay, and an and (c) 2012-13; [187605] illustration of how their taxes contribute to public (3) how many taxpayers registered with HM Revenue spending. and Customs as non-domiciled will be liable for the increased annual charge of £50,000; [187606] (4) if he will estimate how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer in 2012-13 from taxpayers registered as HEALTH (a) non-domiciled and liable for the annual charge of Abortion £30,000 and (b) £50,000. [187607]

Mr Gauke: The information is as follows: Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official 1. Within the self-assessment system, there were 116,000 Report, column 227W, on abortion, (1) under what taxpayers recorded as non-domiciled for 2010-11 and conditions and what other factors may influence gender 123,000 recorded as non-domiciled for 2011-12. Data being considered a relevant criterion for an abortion for 2012-13 is not yet available. under the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended); and if he 2. There were 5,600 Remittance Basis’ Charge payers will make a statement; [186308] recorded in 2010-11 and 5,900 in 2011-12. Data for (2) what measures are in place to prevent a registered 2012-13 is not yet available. medical practitioner forming an opinion in good faith 3. Data for 2012-13 is not yet available. that the baby’s gender would cause a greater risk to the 4. Data for 2012-13 is not yet available. physical or mental health of the pregnant woman than if the pregnancy were terminated; and if he will make a VAT: Rescue Services statement. [186309] Jane Ellison: The chief medical officer has written to John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the all doctors involved in abortion care on two occasions Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with (23 February 2012 and 23 November 2013). Both letters European Commission officials on VAT exemptions for stated that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is mountain rescue teams. [187631] illegal. We consider that registered medical practitioners should Mr Gauke: Officials discuss a variety of VAT issues be able to evidence how they have considered the particular with the European Commission, as a matter of course facts of the case when forming their opinion, for example, for Treasury business. by making notes in the patient record. They should Additional funding is available for mountain rescue be able to defend how they reached their decision if teams across the UK as announced in 2011 by the Chief challenged. Secretary to the Treasury. Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Welfare Tax Credits Health pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, columns 650-51W, on abortion, if he John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the will publish the available data on how many women Exchequer (1) how many new applications for child tax seeking an abortion met the authorising medical credits were made online in (a) England, (b) Cumbria practitioner in each year since 1984. [187683] and (c) Barrow and Furness constituency in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of total Jane Ellison: In light of the answer of 30 January new claims in each case; [182245] 2014, Official Report, columns 650-51W, it is not possible to specify accurately in how many cases an (2) how many and what proportion of new authorising doctor met or examined the woman seeking applications for working tax credits were made online the abortion. in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) Barrow and Furness constituency in the last 12 months. [182246] Ambulance Services: East of England

Nicky Morgan: Under the system this Government Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health inherited, applications for child tax credits and working how many East of England Ambulance Trust vehicles tax credits can be made with a physical claim form, were diverted to hospitals in North London between available from the tax credit helpline pack. 1 January and 9 February 2014. [187532] Universal credit (UC) will gradually replace tax credits and the majority of people will make their claim for UC Jane Ellison: The information requested is not centrally online. held. 833W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 834W

Barnet Hospital It follows the refreshed Mandate for NHS England (November 2013) which includes a new requirement on Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the part of the NHS that on how many occasions Barnet and Chase Farm “every community has plans to ensure no one in mental health Hospital Trust Accident and Emergency unit at Barnet crisis will be turned away from health services”. Hospital was put on divert between 1 January and The Department is also funding mental health “street 9 February 2014. [187533] triage” in nine police force areas. The forces involved are the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Jane Ellison: In the period 1 January 2014 and 9 February police, West Yorkshire police, West Midlands police, 2014, Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Thames Valley police, North Yorkshire police, Sussex Trust reported two accident and emergency diverts. police, Derbyshire constabulary, and Devon and Cornwall These occurred on the dates 31 January 2014 and 2 February police. In these schemes mental health professionals are 2014. advising and supporting police officers directly when Source: they deal with people who may have a mental health NHS England need, and are helping to make links with health services. The Department expects these schemes, and others now Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health running besides these nine pilots, together with the on how many occasions Barnet and Chase Farm concordat principles, will help reduce the unnecessary Hospital Trust Maternity unit at Barnet Hospital was use of police cells for detentions under the Mental put on divert between 1 January and 9 February 2014. Health Act. [187534] Dental Services Jane Ellison: The NHS Trust Development Authority has advised that there were no maternity unit diverts at Barnet hospital between 1 January 2014 and 9 February Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 2014. how the quantity and capacity of NHS dental provision is determined; and what requirement there is to plan provision based on population. [187464] Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients Dr Poulter: NHS England is responsible for Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for commissioning national health service dentistry and Health what assessment he has made of the reasons for has a statutory duty to commission primary dental care changes in the number of people being detained under services to reflect local needs. The latest access data the Mental Health Act 1983 over the last five years; shows that 1.8 million more patients have been able to and what plans he has to reduce instances of mental see an NHS dentist since May 2010. In the 24 months health patients being detained in police custody rather ending 31 December 2013, 29.9 million patients were than a healthcare setting. [187473] seen by an NHS dentist. How far demand for services is being met is measured regularly through the national Norman Lamb: There were 50,408 detentions under GP Patient survey.The latest survey showed that nationally, the Mental Health Act 1983 in national health service 95% of patients who had tried to get an NHS dental and independent hospitals during 2012-13. This number appointment in the last 24 months were successful. was 4% (1,777) greater than during the 2011-12 reporting period. A copy of ‘Summary of the Dental Results from the However, in 2013 (for the first time in the last five GP Patient Survey’ has been placed in the Library. The years) the number of patients detained in hospital on GP Patient Survey Dental Result, published in December 31 March significantly reduced-by 514 from 17,503 to 2013, is also available to download from NHS England’s 16,989 (3%). website at: This suggests that although there were more detentions www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/2013/12/12/2345gppsw1201314/ in the year 2012-13, they lasted for (on average) shorter periods. Department of Health The Government’s priority is to ensure that people in mental health crisis get speedy access to safe and Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for compassionate care in the right environment. Health what plans he has to rename the Department of Our forthcoming mental health “Crisis Care Concordat” Health as the Department for Public Health. [187572] is a shared agreement produced by the Home Office and the Department of Health working in association with Dr Poulter: We have no plans to change the name of 20 national organisations including NHS England, the the Department. Association of Chief Police Officers, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences The concordat will set out how police, health, social work and ambulance professionals should work together to help people going through a mental health crisis. It Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for describes the principles and best practice that need to be Health what guidelines (a) his Department and (b) in place to make sure that crisis services work together NHS England issue to medical staff on treating victims to give vulnerable people an appropriate response that of domestic and sexual violence; and when those provides safe care and support in the right setting. guidelines were last updated. [186855] 835W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 836W

Jane Ellison: The Department and NHS England Health and Wellbeing Boards have not issued guidelines to health care staff. However, expectations for the provision of sexual assault public Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for health services are set out in the “NHS public health Health how many health and wellbeing boards include functions agreements for 2013-14 and 2014-15”. representatives of the criminal justice community. A number of training tools and information exist on [187626] improving identification and the staff response to domestic Norman Lamb: Health and wellbeing boards have the and sexual violence. A handbook for front-line professionals flexibility to determine their own membership in a way published by the Department in 2009 “Improving Safety, that best meets the needs of their local communities. Reducing Harm” is being updated and will be made available this spring. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets a core membership that boards must include: The National Institute for Health Care Excellence is expected to publish dedicated guidelines on domestic at least one councillor from the local authority; violence this spring which will cover identification and the director of adult social services; prevention, including tackling the factors that affect the director of children’s services; health and well-being. the director of public health; a representative of the local Healthwatch; and a representative of each relevant local clinical commissioning group. Beyond this core membership, any other members Drugs: Rehabilitation considered appropriate by the local council may be included. Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for There is no requirement therefore on boards to include Health how many people (a) entered and (b) membership from the criminal justice community, and completed drugs treatment in the last 12 months for the Department does not keep information on the which figures are available; and in each case how many membership of individual boards. people were treated for (i) opioid, (ii) cocaine, (iii) However, membership is not the only way to engage cannabis and (iv) amphetamine addiction. [187627] with the work of boards. We expect boards will want to ensure that they have wider mechanisms in place to Jane Ellison: There were 69,247 new presentations to draw on the expertise of other groups when developing adult treatment services in England in 2012-13. Of their Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies and the these, 25,065 were treated for opiates (only) as their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments on which they are primary substance; 17,881 for opiates and crack cocaine; based. 11,280 for cannabis; 7,372 for cocaine; 2,793 for crack Hospitals: Greater London (only) and 2,507 for amphetamines. Of the 29,025 individuals successfully completing Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health treatment in 2012-13, 8,402 were treated for opiates how many operations were cancelled on or after the (only) as their primary substance; 4,947 were treated for day of admission in each NHS trust in London in each opiate and crack cocaine; 7,085 for cannabis, 4,605 for of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. cocaine; 1,352 for crack (only) and 1,478 for amphetamines. [187625] The most recent available data is for the year 2012-13 Jane Ellison: The information requested is shown in available at: the following table. Responsibility for publishing this www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/annualdrugstatistics2012-13- information transferred to NHS England on 1 April statisticalreport.pdf 2013.

Cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons, NHS organisations in London, 2008-09 to 2012-13 Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Org ID Name 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

5C5 Newham PCT — 0 2 — — R1HBartsHealthNHSTrust ————991 RAL Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust 415 800 538 479 584 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS 167 143 195 163 120 Trust RAP North Middlesex University Hospital NHS 108 100 231 154 72 Trust RAS The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation 114 227 161 148 151 Trust RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 280 181 141 129 137 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 166 62 92 112 131 RF4 Barking, Havering And Redbridge University 732 344 363 368 400 Hospitals NHS Trust RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS 62 73 43 45 77 Trust RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 194 ———— RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 323 ———— RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 271 331 232 223 — 837W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 838W

Cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons, NHS organisations in London, 2008-09 to 2012-13 Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Org ID Name 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

RGZ Queen Mary’s Sidcup NHS Trust 185 ———— RJ1 Guy’s And St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust 686 459 432 377 464 RJ2 Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust 200 177 150 164 203 RJ6 Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 188 400 321 330 270 RJ7 St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust 821 340 277 302 327 RJZ King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation 323 187 249 316 587 Trust RKE The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 94 116 83 56 102 RNH Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 76 59 73 85 — RNJ Barts And The London NHS Trust 593 475 567 501 — RP4 Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children 200 176 193 224 127 NHS Foundation Trust RP6 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation 288 178 228 188 125 Trust RPY The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust 112 122 63 64 42 RQM Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS 167 155 91 88 83 Foundation Trust RQX Homerton University Hospital NHS 114 103 41 37 37 Foundation Trust RRV University College London Hospitals NHS 1,042 871 720 858 907 Foundation Trust RT3 Royal Brompton AND Harefield NHS 291 226 267 335 358 Foundation Trust RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 606 556 447 477 517 RVL Barnet And Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 612 378 305 398 324 RVR Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals 394 297 243 218 271 NHS Trust RYJ Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 758 631 642 672 710 RYQ South London Healthcare NHS Trust — 899 954 1,250 1,357 Notes: 1. The table shows the organisations as they existed, at the time of each collection. 2. A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. 3. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; admin error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable. 4. An operation which is rescheduled to a time within 24 hours of the original scheduled operation should be recorded as a postponement and not as a cancellation. The QMCO collection does not record the number of postponements. Source: Department of Health dataset QMCO

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Jane Ellison: Information on the average length of how many out-patient appointments were cancelled in admission for patients with a primary diagnosis of each NHS trust in London in each of the last five bacterial meningitis in 2012-13 is shown in the following years; and if he will make a statement. [187630] table. Number of finished admission episodes (FAEs)l; mean and median length of Jane Ellison: Information on the number of out-patient stay2 for episodes with a primary diagnosis of bacterial meningitis3 in England appointments which were recorded as cancelled in each (English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the national health service trust in London between 2008-09 independent sector) for the year 2012-13 and 2012-13 has been placed in the Library. Mean length of Median length FAEs stay (days) of stay (days) Not all NHS trusts have provided data submissions to Out-patients Hospital Episode Statistics for the period 2012-13 1,953 14.92 8 covered. In addition, some recording practice of 1 A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the cancellations shows some variation. year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the Some providers do not record any cancellations, while number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. others have changed recording practice in the period 2 Length of stay (LOS) is the difference in days between the admission date and reported. the discharge date (duration of spell), where both dates are given. LOS is based on hospital stays and only applies to ordinary admissions not day cases (unless Meningitis otherwise stated). Information relating to LOS, including discharge method/ destination, diagnoses and any operative procedures, is based only on the final episode of the spell. Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for 3 The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 diagnosis fields in the hospital Health (1) what the average (a) length and (b) cost episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was, including all intensive care and surgical on-costs, was admitted to hospital. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD)10 codes used are: of a hospital admission owing to a case of bacterial G00 Bacterial meningitis, not elsewhere classified meningitis in the last 12 months; [R] [187578] and as the primary or first secondary diagnosis: G01.X Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. (2) what estimate he has made of (a) hospital costs, Source: (b) care maintenance costs, (c) litigation costs, (d) Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre. morbidity costs, (e) other categories of cost and (f) Information about the cost of a hospital admission total costs including all allowances of bacterial owing to a case of bacterial meningitis is not available meningitis in each year from 2008 to 2013. [R] [187579] in the format requested. This is because the cost of 839W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 840W individual diagnoses or treatments are not collected meningococcal, the most common presentations being centrally. Instead, reference costs for hospital admissions meningitis and septicaemia. Cases are classified according are collected by health care resource groups (HRGs), to meningococcal capsular group including meningococcal which are standard groupings of clinically similar treatments group B. that use common levels of resource. Reference costs are Table 1 shows the number of cases of confirmed the unit costs to national health service hospital trusts meningococcal disease (all capsular groups) and of providing defined services in a given financial year to meningococcal capsular group B disease in the last five NHS patients. years for which data are available (2007-11). Information about the weighted average unit costs in 2012-13 of HRGs that included primary diagnoses of Table 1: Confirmed meningococcal cases in England and Wales, PHE 2007-11 bacterial meningitis where no significant procedure was Cases undertaken is shown in the following table. The costs All capsular groups Capsular group B will not be wholly representative of bacterial meningitis, 2007 1,283 1,096 because the HRGs also contain other diseases and 2008 1,228 1,102 disorders. 2009 1,030 917 Healthcare resource group weighted average national average unit costs, 2012-13 2010 929 800 Weighted average unit 2011 926 756 cost (£) Activity Adults (age 19 years 2,315 23,613 These PHE data are available at: and over) Children(age18years 2,196 13,219 www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/ and under) MeningococcalDisease/EpidemiologicalData/ Notes: 1. The costs shown include day cases, elective admissions, non-elective PHE does not routinely publish data on deaths from admissions and regular day or night admissions. meningococcal disease; however, the Office for National 2. Unit costs and activity for the following HRGs were averaged for adults age Statistics (ONS) publishes data on deaths registered in 19 years and over: AA22C Cerebrovascular Accident, Nervous System Infections or England and Wales with underlying causes. Table 2 Encephalopathy, with CC (complications and co-morbidities) Score 14+ shows the number of deaths with meningococcal disease AA22D Cerebrovascular Accident, Nervous System Infections or as an underlying cause (2007-12). Encephalopathy, with CC Score 11-13 AA22E Cerebrovascular Accident, Nervous System Infections or Table 2: Reported meningococcal deaths in England and Wales, ONS 2008-12 Encephalopathy, with CC Score 8-10 Deaths AA22F Cerebrovascular Accident, Nervous System Infections or Encephalopathy, with CC Score 5-7 2007 75 AA22G Cerebrovascular Accident, Nervous System Infections or Encephalopathy, with CC Score 0-4. 2008 77 3. Unit costs and activity for the following HRGs were averaged for children 2009 60 age 18 years and under: 2010 62 (a) PA16A Major Infections with CC Score 1+ (b) PA16B Major Infections with CC Score 0. 2011 69 4. Unit costs and activity for the following HRG for children age 18 years and 2012 37 under with additional diagnoses of cancer and agranulocytosis have not been included: (a) PA45Z Febrile Neutropenia with Malignancy. 5. It is not possible to identify any critical care costs associated with these ONS does not publish data on deaths due to individual episodes, which would have been recorded separately against other critical care meningococcal capsular groups. HRGs. Source. These ONS data are available at: NHS reference costs, 2012-13. www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- We have not made an estimate of costs relating to registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2007/data-tables-- cases of bacterial meningitis from 2008 to 2013. 2007.zip However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert committee registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2008/data-tables-- that advises the Government on all immunisation matters, 2008.zip has been considering cost-effectiveness analyses for www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- meningococcal B vaccine which take account of relevant registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2009/data-tables-- costs in relation to meningococcal B disease. JCVI is 2009.zip due to report back in March 2014 following its meeting on 11 and 12 February 2014. www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2010/dr-tables- 2010.xls Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- Health how many confirmed cases of (a) bacterial registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2011/dr-table5- meningitis and (b) meningitis B there were in each of 2011.xls the last five years for which data is available; and how many cases of each such category resulted in death. [R] www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths- registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2012/dr-tables- [187584] 2012.xls Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) collects data on laboratory confirmed cases of invasive Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for meningococcal disease which is a major cause of bacterial Health what estimate he has made of the potential meningitis in England and Wales. The data does annual cost of providing meningitis B vaccine to all not distinguish between presentations of invasive 15-year-olds. [R] [187585] 841W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 842W

Jane Ellison: The Joint Committee on Vaccination Details of the Department and its ALBs property and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert data are published on a quarterly basis and is available committee that advises the Government on all immunisation at: matters, has not yet made a final recommendation http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims about the use of the meningococcal B vaccine Bexsero. A list of the properties owned by NHS Property The Department has not, therefore, estimated the Services as at 10 February 2014 has been placed in the potential annual cost of providing Bexsero to 15-year-olds. Library. JCVI is due to report back in March 2014, having These are properties with the company, inherited reviewed additional evidence at its meeting on 11 and from primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health 12 February 2014. authorities (SHAs) upon its establishment on 1 April 2013, when PCTs and SHAs were closed as part of the Mental Health Services: Greater London Government’s reforms of the national health service. Details of all properties within the portfolio of NHS Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Property Services are also available online at: how many mental health staff were employed by the NHS in each NHS trust in London in each of the last https://nhsps.micadipr.net/portals/default2.asp five years; and if he will make a statement. [187624] Figures for the value of each property are not available. Figures for the gross internal area of some properties Dr Poulter: Information on the numbers of mental are not currently available. health staff employed by each national health service trust in London in each of the last five years for which Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum figures are available has been placed in the Library. Ovarian Cancer Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on access to Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for treatment for patients of pseudoxanthoma elasticum; Health (1) what discussions his Department has had and if he will make a statement. [R] [187535] with professional practitioner groups about screening ovarian cancer patients for the BRCA1 gene; [187213] Norman Lamb: Further to my hon. Friend’s debate (2) what discussions his Department has had with on this subject on 18 October 2012, Official Report, professional practitioner groups about guidelines for column 591W, the Department has received eight ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment. [187214] representations on access to treatment for patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum through the Department’s Jane Ellison: There have been no departmental ministerial correspondence unit. discussions with professional practitioner groups about screening ovarian cancer patients for the BRCA1 gene. Public Appointments The following departmental discussions with professional groups about guidelines for ovarian cancer diagnosis Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for have taken place: Health (1) which paid public appointment contracts he 2 February 2011: Joint All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; on Cancer (Ovarian Cancer discussion); and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) 1 October 2011: Pre-brief prior to Westminster Hall debate on men; [187021] ovarian cancer; (2) what the titles are of the individual public 12 October 2011: Westminster Hall Debate—the hon. Member appointments that have been made by his Department for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) ovarian cancer; since May 2010; and which of those appointees were 29 November 2011: Meeting with APPG on ovarian cancer; women. [187082] and 28 November 2012: Ovacome ovarian cancer services Parliamentary Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the answer reception—photocall and drop in. given on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column In addition I met with hon. Members from the APPG 607W,by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster on Ovarian Cancer on 3 February for a general discussion General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham which included screening and research. (Mr Maude). Property Skin Cancer Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned Health what discussions he has had with the National and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187288] ongoing technology appraisal of ipilimumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma. [186281] Dr Poulter: A list of the properties owned and occupied by the Department and its arm’s length bodies (ALBs) Norman Lamb: Ministers have had no such discussions. as at 10 February 2014 has been placed in the Library. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence This does not include occupations in NHS Property (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for Services premises. the development of its guidance. 843W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 844W

Officials may discuss individual topics with NICE as Trauma part of the technology appraisal process, including at the topic selection stage. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 147WH, what progress the National Staff Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made in developing guidance relating to trauma. [186980] Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and Norman Lamb: As I set out in the debate on spinal (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him injuries held in Westminster Hall, the National Institute work outside of London; and in which local authorities for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing a such staff are located. [187269] number of pieces of guidance on trauma. We understand that NICE expects to publish these between autumn 2015 and spring 2016. Updates on progress are regularly Dr Poulter: 38% of the Department’s civil servants published on NICE’s website at: work outside of London. The following table provides the breakdown of the headcount of that 38% by region. www.nice.org.uk Young People: Crimes of Violence Total headcount of civil servants employed outside of London as at 31 Region December 2013 Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for

North East 1 Health what assessment he has made of the effect on North West 38 public health of youth violence; and if he will make a [187574] South East 18 statement. Yorkshire and Humber 657 Other/Unknown or Unspecified 20 Jane Ellison: “Protecting people Promoting Health”, Source: a document produced by the Department in 2012 sets Department of Health Business Management System 31 December 2013 out the extent, nature and impact of violence for England. It identifies effective action to reduce violence and sets The Department does not hold centrally the information out a public health approach to violence prevention in requested in respect of its agencies and public bodies. England, available at: The information was sought from the Department’s www.nwph.net/nwpho/Publications/Protecting%20People Executive Agencies and Executive Non Departmental %20Promoting%20Health%20Web.pdf Public Bodies. Public Health England (PHE) is working with the As at 31 December 2013, 70.5% of the staff in the Department and the Home Office on the health of Department’s Executive Agencies and Executive Non- young people involved in gang and youth violence. PHE Departmental Public Bodies worked outside London. will be producing a briefing for local areas on the The following table shows the numbers of staff in mental health issues affecting gang members, recognising each location. the importance of mental health problems for those joining gangs and those involved in gangs. The Home Executive Agencies and Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies (excluding NHS England) Office’s Youth Violence and Health Working Group is Region Total number of staff by region working with the NHS Confederation on a briefing for local Health and Wellbeing Boards on the issues of North West 1,194 violence and health. North East 686 PHE is also working with NHS England on the Yorkshire and the Humber 1,898 development of a new NHS Information Standard to West Midlands 650 enable accident and emergency departments to collect East Midlands 312 data on violent assaults and share these with Community East of England 479 Safety Partnerships in local areas to better inform planning, London 4,241 response and prevention of violent incidents. South East 954 South West 1,542 Scotland 28 Wales 6 DEFENCE Northern Ireland 0 Aircraft Carriers NHS England has provided the following information based on its regional breakdown and national support Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for centre staff, in the following table: Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of the addition of a ski ramp to the Queen Elizabeth NHS England class aircraft carriers’ radar cross-section. [187613] Region Total number of staff per region

London (Regional and National 1,103 Mr Dunne: An assessment of the effect of the addition Support Centre) of a ramp on the ship’s radar cross-section was undertaken Midlands and East 1,244 during the design phase of the Queen Elizabeth class North (Regional and National 2,518 aircraft carriers programme. The effect of the addition Support Centre) of a ramp on the radar cross-section of the ship is South 1,238 negligible. I am withholding details of the radar cross-section 845W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 846W of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, as release Mr Francois: Within the Ministry of Defence there would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, are technical, organisational, procedural and physical effectiveness or security of the armed forces. measures in place to protect against and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks. However, we do not comment Armed Forces: Recruitment on the specific detail of cyber security incidents. Defence Munitions Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of Army officers are Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for recruited from (a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales Defence what plans he has for the outsourcing of and (c) Northern Ireland; [187314] Defence Munitions Plymouth. [187092] (2) what proportion of the Army is recruited from (a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales and (c) Dr Murrison: The future of Defence Munitions Plymouth Northern Ireland. [187316] is being considered as part of the Weapons End-to-End Transformation Programme which is looking at optimising Dr Murrison: The proportion of Army officers and the weapons supply chain. The work is considering a soldiers recruited from each country within the United number of options, but it is too early say what the Kingdom for 2013-14 is shown in the following table: outcome might be.

Percentage Libya Regular Officer Soldier Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for England 89.0 86.4 Defence what involvement UK armed forces currently Scotland 6.6 6.5 have in Libya. [187321] Wales 2.8 4.7 Northern 0.5 1.9 Mr Francois: The UK has a Defence Advisory Team Ireland in Tripoli of 24 personnel, commanded by a Brigadier, Other 1.1 0.5 which works to support the UK/Libya relationship and provides advice through advisors embedded in the Libyan MOD, navy, air force, land forces and border security Reserve force. There is also a senior disarmament advisor working Officer Soldier with the Government of Libya, the UN and international England 76.1 78.0 partners on disarmament issues. Scotland 10.1 11.1 The team also provides the platform for short term Wales 4.3 3.7 training teams to support a variety of programmes, Northern 5.1 6.3 including strategic communication, developing explosive Ireland ordnance disposal schools, supporting the creation of a Other 4.4 0.9 joint operational planning staff and naval training. In November 2013, the UK also established a Defence The locations shown reflect the contact addresses Section within the British embassy, Tripoli with a Defence recorded and may not be the home address. ’Other’ Attaché. refers to non-UK contact addresses, or those not identifiable. Military Bases: Hazardous Substances Armed Forces: Republic of Ireland Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence establishments are subject to Defence how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere are currently serving in the (a) Army and (b) Royal Regulations; and which establishment received a (i) Navy. [187313] stage 1 risk assessment and (ii) stage 2 risk assessment in the most recent period for which data are available. Dr Murrison: The armed forces joint personnel [187233] administration system provides service personnel with an option to record their nationality. As of 1 October Dr Murrison: A table showing all Ministry of Defence 2013 there were 460 Army personnel and 70 naval sites subject to the Dangerous Substances and Explosive service personnel (Royal Navy, the Queen Alexandra’s Atmosphere Regulations, including details of the risk Royal Naval Nursing Service and the Royal Marines) assessments carried out up to 14 January 2014, has been who had recorded their nationality as Irish. placed in the Library of the House. There is an ongoing programme to carry out risk assessments (stage 1 and/or These figures have been rounded. 2) on those sites which still require them.

Cybercrime Military Exercises

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attempted cyber attacks on his Defence (1) how many British service personnel have Department were recorded in the last 12 months. been killed in live fire exercises in each of the last five [187308] years; [187309] 847W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 848W

(2) what steps he is taking to improve the safety of Dr Murrison: The nuclear liabilities provision contained personnel during live fire exercises. [187310] within the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts for 2012-13 was £3.7 billion. Dr Murrison: Between 1 January 2008 and 31 December Within this total, the nuclear liabilities associated 2012 (the latest date for which data are available), three with berthing and decommissioning submarines, UK regular armed forces personnel died while on live decontamination of associated sites and the storage of firing exercises, two in 2011 and one in 2012. Data for related nuclear materials are as follows: 2013 will be published in March 2014. All three of the fatalities were from the Army. Liability Description Liability (£ million)

Since 1996, the Army’s ‘Land Accident Prevention Afloat Storage 356 and Investigation Team’ (LAIT) has investigated military Submarine Dismantling 718 accidents or incidents which cause or have the potential Decommissioning of Astute Boats 1 50 to cause death, serious injury or equipment loss. The and 2 (reactor and hull) LAIT makes recommendations to ensure appropriate Long term storage and processing of 537 remedial action is taken and to reduce the risk of spent fuel recurrence. The LAIT is required to follow up Other than the afloat storage liability relating to recommendations within eight weeks to ensure remedial out-of-service submarines and the Astute boat action has been taken. decommissioning liability relating to in-service submarines, Each of the three fatalities detailed above has been the provisions cannot be disaggregated. the subject of such procedures and the recommendations It is too early in the life of the Trident replacement have been implemented. programme for liabilities to be accounted for. Alongside any action taken by the LAIT, police, Health and Safety Executive or Coroner, the appropriate Pay chain of command can convene a detailed service inquiry if anything additional can be learned to prevent recurrence. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence All three single services have robust lesson exploitation how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) processes to disseminate best practice. his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187242] Ministry of Defence Police Dr Murrison: Statistics relating to the pay grade of civil servants in the Ministry of Defence, (MOD) are Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence contained within the Quarterly Civilian Personnel Report, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that available at the following link: the Ministry of Defence Police adhere to the College of Policing standards. [187329] http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/ civilian/quarterly-civilian-personnel-report/2014-01-01 Dr Murrison: The Ministry of Defence Police works Staff numbers by pay grade for the three trading in close partnership with the College of Policing to funds of the MOD are set out in the following tables: ensure the maintenance of standards and professionalism Defence Support Group in matters relating to policing, such as firearms, training, Pay Band Staff professional standards and recruitment. SCS 4 PB1.L1 17 Navy PB1.L2 41 PB2.L1 98 Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for PB2.L2 194 Defence whether plans to establish a Navy Safety PB3.L1 535 Centre have been approved; and where this centre will PB3.L2 993 PB3TTORR 21 be located. [187337] PB4.L1 247 PB4.L2 236 Dr Murrison: The plans for the Navy Safety Centre AAP2 2 have been approved and it is based in Navy Command AAP3 1 Headquarters in Portsmouth. The Centre will achieve APP1 20 full operating capability by the end of 2014. APP2 19 APP3 7 Nuclear Submarines Nurse 2 Total 2,437

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of Grade Number nuclear liabilities associated with berthing and SCS 3 decommissioning submarines, decontamination of C1 16 associated sites and storage of related nuclear materials, C2 63 including disaggregation by (a) out-of service submarines, B1 186 (b) in-service submarines and (c) Trident replacement B2 256 submarines. [187144] 849W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 850W

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Proportion of Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel stationed outside London Grade Number as at 1 October 2013 Percentage B3 373 Total UK regulars MOD civilians Al 157 A2 25 Total 96.3 97.1 94.1 outside Contractor 60 London Temp 25 (Worldwide) Total 1,164 Total 95.8 96.7 93.2 outside Defence Science and Technology Laboratory London Pay Grade Number (UK)

9 (highest) 35 Data on the stationed location of MOD personnel by 8 120 local authority area is available in Quarterly Location 7 396 Statistics, accessible at the following link: 6 947 5 906 http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/ combined/quarterly-location-statistics/2013-10-01 4 974 3 249 298 Trident 1 109 Total 3,834 Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent estimate he has made of the Public Appointments cost at outturn prices of the Trident replacement programme; [187135] Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) what estimate he has made of the (a) expenditure Defence (1) which paid public appointment contracts and percentage share of his Department’s procurement he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May budget that the design and construction of the Trident 2010; and how many such posts were held by (i) women replacement submarines will represent and (b) what the and (ii) men; [187014] running costs and percentage share of his Department’s (2) what the titles are of the individual public overall spending of the existing Trident nuclear weapons appointments that have been made by his Department system will be in each of the next 10 years; [187142] since May 2010; and which of those appointees were (3) what the estimated annual expenditure and women. [187075] percentage share of his Department’s procurement budget the design and construction of the Astute-class Dr Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer submarines will represent in each of the next 10 years. given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster [187143] General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 11 February 2014, Official Report, Dr Murrison: Current forecast costs, including planned column 607W. Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme efficiency measures, indicate that we remain within the 2006 White Paper estimates of £11 billion-£14 billion (at 2006-07 Redundancy prices) for the Successor platform costs (assuming a four boat fleet). This equates to some £25 billion at out-turn prices. Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of I refer the hon. Member to the Ministry of Defence recent redundancies on the level of suitably Major Projects Report for 2013, published today by the experienced and qualified personnel. [187232] National Audit Office, which includes the latest estimate of costs for the Astute programme. Dr Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I The in-service costs of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, gave on 22 January 2014, Official Report, column 220W, which include the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones). costs, are around 5-6% of the defence budget. The Department’s budget beyond 2015-16 has not been agreed and will be subject to consultation in the Staff next spending review. Additionally, estimates on individual projects are subject to ongoing negotiations with industry. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Therefore, I am withholding details of the proposed what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and spending and annualised percentages at project level, as (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him to release this information would be likely to impact work outside of London; and in which local authorities upon the formulation of Government policy and future such staff are located. [187264] negotiations with industry. The Department annually publishes detail on equipment expenditure for the next Dr Murrison: The proportion of service personnel 10 years in the Defence Equipment Plan. The latest and civilians working outside London is shown in the version was published in 2012 (DMC00575 01-13) and I following table: expect to publish the 2013 version in the near future. 851W Written Answers13 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 852W

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for at outturn prices of the D5 missile extension Defence what the annual expenditure on the Trident programme. [187136] nuclear weapons system, including all capital expenditure at HMNB Clyde, AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield, Dr Murrison: The current estimate of the cost of the has been since 2000. [187138] Trident D5 Life Extension programme at out-turn prices Dr Murrison: Annual expenditure on the Trident is in the region of £250 million. nuclear weapons system, comprising D5 missile and warhead costs only, cannot be separately identified. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Certain costs, such as some expenditure at Her Majesty’s Defence what recent estimate he has made of the cost of Naval Base Clyde, relate to multiple activities, which developing and procuring a replacement missile for the cannot be broken down into individual elements. Trident D5 missile for the remainder of the replacement Trident Missiles submarine service life after 2042. [187137] Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the cost Dr Murrison: None. ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 13 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 1009 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— Archbishops of Canterbury and York: Visits ...... 1014 continued Bishop of Bath and Wells: Residence ...... 1013 Climate Change ...... 994 Church Property (Community Use) ...... 1009 Flood Amelioration (Hambledon)...... 993 Credit Unions ...... 1010 Flooding ...... 999 Flood Relief Fund ...... 1010 Food Aid...... 996 Food Exports ...... 1003 ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 1013 Topical Questions ...... 1004 Photo Voting Identification...... 1013 Tree Disease ...... 1003 Water Bills: Cost of Living...... 1002 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS...... 993 PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION ...... 1011 Ancient Woodlands...... 999 National Audit Office...... 1011 Cattle Vaccination: TB...... 997 National Audit Office...... 1012 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 13 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 63WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 76WS Student Loans...... 63WS EU (Balance of Competences Review)...... 76WS

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 66WS HEALTH...... 77WS Flood Response ...... 66WS Cosmetic Interventions ...... 77WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 77WS CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 67WS Covert Surveillance/Covert Human Intelligence Sporting Legacy...... 67WS Sources ...... 78WS Immigration Concessions (Syrian Nationals)...... 79WS DEFENCE...... 70WS Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) ...... 77WS Submarine Dismantling Project ...... 70WS Police Officers and Staff (Remuneration and Conditions of Service) ...... 79WS EDUCATION...... 71WS Surveillance Camera Commissioner...... 80WS School Teachers Review Body (23rd Report) ...... 71WS Sir Martin Narey’s Report INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY (Children’s Social Workers Training) ...... 73WS STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE ...... 82WS IPSA Supplementary Estimate 2013-14...... 82WS ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL JUSTICE...... 80WS AFFAIRS...... 75WS Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974...... 80WS Agriculture and Fisheries Council...... 75WS TREASURY ...... 64WS ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Business Rates Administration Review ...... 65WS AFFAIRS...... 75WS Fuel Markers ...... 64WS Ofwat (Contingencies Fund Advance) ...... 75WS Scotland Analysis...... 64WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 13 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 705W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued Domestic Violence: Prosecutions ...... 705W Land Registry ...... 773W Pay...... 706W Local Enterprise Partnerships...... 774W Property...... 706W Pay...... 775W Staff ...... 707W Property...... 778W Taxation: Fraud ...... 708W Public Appointments ...... 785W Staff ...... 785W Students: Loans ...... 791W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 772W UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ...... 793W Adult Education: Barrow in Furness...... 772W Business Premises: Rents...... 772W Equality ...... 772W CABINET OFFICE...... 723W Government Assistance...... 772W Average Earnings: Houghton-le-Spring ...... 723W Col. No. Col. No. CABINET OFFICE—continued EDUCATION—continued Charities: Pay...... 724W Free Schools...... 818W Charities: Political Impartiality...... 724W Further Education: Finance...... 821W Civil Servants: Maternity Pay...... 725W GCSE: Chelmsford ...... 821W Equality ...... 725W Members: Correspondence ...... 821W Orders and Regulations...... 725W Ofsted ...... 822W Pay...... 725W Pay...... 822W Proof of Identity...... 726W Priority School Building Programme ...... 822W Property...... 726W Public Appointments ...... 823W Unemployment: North East...... 727W Schools: Collective Worship...... 824W Schools: Construction...... 824W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 800W Students: Cumbria ...... 825W Bank Services...... 800W Students: Finance ...... 825W Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham ...... 800W Council Tax ...... 800W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 703W Criminal Investigation ...... 801W Energy: Prices ...... 703W E-mail ...... 801W Equality ...... 703W Emergency Services...... 802W Procurement...... 704W Equality ...... 802W Renewable Energy...... 704W Fires: Death ...... 803W Renewable Energy: Scotland ...... 705W First Time Buyers ...... 803W Floods...... 804W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Housing: Older People ...... 804W AFFAIRS...... 809W Planning Permission: Crystal Palace ...... 805W Anaerobic Digestion ...... 810W Right to Buy Scheme ...... 805W Badger Cull...... 809W Travellers: Staffordshire...... 809W British Produce ...... 810W Flood Protection Schemes...... 809W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 797W Floods...... 811W Arts Council England ...... 797W Floods: Shrewsbury ...... 811W Arts: Non-domestic Rates...... 797W Floods: West Midlands ...... 812W Equality ...... 797W Fracking: Fylde...... 812W Pay...... 798W Illegal Wildlife Trade...... 810W Property...... 798W Insecticides: Inland Waterways ...... 812W Public Appointments ...... 798W Members: Correspondence ...... 813W Staff ...... 799W Pay...... 813W Tickets ...... 799W Rabies ...... 809W Tourism: Rural Areas...... 799W Rural Areas: Economic Growth...... 814W World War I: Anniversaries...... 799W Sea Angling...... 810W Winter Fuel Payments...... 814W DEFENCE...... 840W Aircraft Carriers ...... 840W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 730W Armed Forces: Recruitment ...... 841W China ...... 730W Armed Forces: Republic of Ireland...... 841W Colombia ...... 730W Cybercrime ...... 841W Commonwealth ...... 731W Defence Munitions...... 842W Equal Pay...... 731W Libya...... 842W Libya...... 732W Military Bases: Hazardous Substances...... 842W Linda Carty ...... 732W Military Exercises ...... 842W North Korea ...... 732W Ministry of Defence Police...... 843W Pay...... 733W Navy ...... 843W Property...... 734W Nuclear Submarines...... 843W Public Appointments ...... 734W Pay...... 844W Re-employment...... 735W Public Appointments ...... 845W Religious Freedom ...... 735W Redundancy...... 845W Sri Lanka ...... 735W Staff ...... 845W Staff ...... 736W Trident ...... 846W Tanzania ...... 736W Trident Missiles...... 847W Ukraine...... 737W

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 727W HEALTH...... 832W Electoral Register...... 727W Abortion ...... 832W Electoral Register: Fraud ...... 729W Ambulance Services: East of England...... 832W Public Appointments ...... 730W Barnet Hospital...... 833W Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients ...... 833W EDUCATION...... 814W Dental Services ...... 834W Academies: Chelmsford ...... 814W Department of Health ...... 834W Adoption ...... 814W Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences...... 834W Buildings...... 815W Drugs: Rehabilitation...... 835W Children: Internet ...... 816W Health and Wellbeing Boards...... 836W Community Schools...... 816W Hospitals: Greater London ...... 836W Education: Fraud...... 817W Meningitis...... 837W Equality ...... 817W Mental Health Services: Greater London...... 841W Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH—continued NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 703W Ovarian Cancer...... 841W Public Appointments ...... 703W Property...... 841W Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum...... 842W SCOTLAND...... 701W Public Appointments ...... 842W Buildings...... 701W Skin Cancer ...... 842W Common Agricultural Policy ...... 701W Staff ...... 843W Pay...... 701W Trauma ...... 844W Property...... 701W Young People: Crimes of Violence ...... 844W Public Appointments ...... 702W Royal Family: Official Residences ...... 702W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 750W Staff ...... 702W Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse...... 750W TRANSPORT ...... 714W Alcoholic Drinks: Prices ...... 751W Abellio Greater Anglia...... 714W Confiscation Orders ...... 752W Buildings...... 715W Drugs: Misuse...... 761W East Anglia Railway Line...... 715W Human Trafficking ...... 761W Motor Vehicles: Registration...... 715W Immigration...... 762W Office for Low Emission Vehicles...... 716W Independent Police Complaints Commission...... 762W Parking: CCTV ...... 716W Marriage: Fraud...... 763W Pay...... 716W Offences Against Children ...... 765W Procurement...... 718W Proceeds of Crime...... 765W Property...... 719W Public Appointments ...... 765W Public Appointments ...... 719W Public Houses: Opening Hours ...... 766W Railways...... 720W Restraint Orders...... 766W Shipping: Employment ...... 721W Staff ...... 767W Staff ...... 723W

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 793W TREASURY ...... 825W Haiti...... 793W Corporation Tax ...... 825W Pakistan ...... 793W Financial Services ...... 826W Pay...... 793W Fracking...... 826W Philippines ...... 794W Fuels: Excise Duties ...... 828W Procurement...... 794W Individual Savings Accounts ...... 828W Property...... 795W Mortgages: Chelmsford...... 829W Public Appointments ...... 795W National Insurance Contributions ...... 829W Staff ...... 795W Non-domestic Rates: Cash Dispensing ...... 830W Uganda ...... 795W Property...... 830W Public Appointments ...... 830W JUSTICE...... 737W Taxation: Domicile ...... 831W Blue Bay Support Services ...... 737W VAT: Rescue Services ...... 831W Conditions of Employment...... 738W Welfare Tax Credits...... 831W Domestic Violence: Sentencing ...... 738W WALES...... 702W Driving: Licensing...... 739W Public Appointments ...... 702W Driving Offences: Sentencing ...... 739W Drugs: Sentencing...... 740W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 796W Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals...... 740W Females: Employment...... 796W Employment Tribunals Service...... 741W Public Appointments ...... 796W Fines: Surcharges ...... 741W Ministers...... 742W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 708W Offenders: Risk Assessment ...... 743W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 708W Pay...... 743W Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing ...... 708W Probation ...... 745W Jobseeker’s Allowance ...... 709W Procurement...... 745W Jobseeker’s Allowance: York ...... 710W Public Appointments ...... 746W Pay...... 710W Railways: Trespass ...... 746W Property...... 711W Rape: Victim Support Schemes ...... 747W Social Security Benefits...... 711W Witnesses ...... 747W Unemployed People: Basic Skills ...... 712W Written Questions: Government Responses ...... 750W Work Capability Assessment...... 713W Young Offenders ...... 750W Work Capability Assessment: Essex ...... 714W 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. 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,

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CONTENTS

Thursday 13 February 2014

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 993] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Church Commissioners Speaker’s Electoral Commission Committee Public Accounts Commission

Flooding: Transport Disruption [Col. 1017] Answer to urgent question—(Mr McLoughlin)

Business of the House [Col. 1029] Statement—(Mr Lansley)

Backbench Business Police Federation Reform (Normington Report) [Col. 1044] Motion—(Mr David Davis)—agreed to Cancer Priorities [Col. 1081] Motion—(Mr Baron)—agreed to

Syrian Refugees (Schooling) [Col. 1113] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Supporting the Creative Economy [Col. 335WH] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 63WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 701W] [see index inside back page]