Friday Volume 526 1 April 2011 No. 144

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Friday 1 April 2011

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 647 1 APRIL 2011 648 House of Commons Coinage (Measurement) Bill Bill, not amended in the Public Bill Committee, considered. Friday 1 April 2011 Third Reading

The House met at half-past Nine o’clock 9.47 am Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North) (Con): I beg PRAYERS to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. Although today is April fools’ day, I can assure hon. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Members that the Bill is no joke. It is relatively simple, but it will have a weighty impact, for it enables the Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I beg to move, Royal Mint to commemorate events of cultural significance That the House sit in private. and national importance with kilogram coins, starting Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 163). with, but not limited to, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Indeed, the only question raised in The House divided: Ayes 0, Noes 36. Committee was from the hon. Member for Dundee Division No. 250] [9.34 am East (Stewart Hosie), who queried whether the Bill will enable future events such as the Commonwealth games AYES to be similarly commemorated. The answer, of course, Tellers for the Ayes: is that it will do so, subject to the permission of Her Mr David Nuttall and Majesty and the agreement of the Chancellor. Mr Peter Bone By making two small amendments to the Coinage Act 1971, the Bill removes a technical obstacle that NOES currently prevents the Royal Mint from striking kilogram Bacon, Mr Richard Lancaster, Mark coins. The Act governs the striking of coins by the Banks, Gordon Lidington, rh Mr David Royal Mint and contains various standards in respect Benyon, Richard Milton, Anne of a coin’s weight, fineness, composition and dimensions, Bottomley, Sir Peter Neill, Robert with which coins struck by the Royal Mint must comply. Brown, rh Mr Nicholas Pincher, Christopher The Act also makes provision for permitted variations Coffey, Dr Thérèse Randall, rh Mr John from those standards. Section 1(6) requires that the David, Mr Wayne Rees-Mogg, Jacob variation from the standard weight of any coin be De Piero, Gloria Rosindell, Andrew measured as the average of a sample of not more than Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Sanders, Mr Adrian Fitzpatrick, Jim Seabeck, Alison 1 kg of that coin. As I have said before, that is perfectly Francois, rh Mr Mark Shuker, Gavin fit for the everyday coins that we have in our pockets, Green, Damian Smith, Henry but in the competitive collector-coin market it is important Greening, Justine Teather, Sarah to be able to push the boundaries and exploit growing Greenwood, Lilian Vaizey, Mr Edward technical capabilities and expertise to develop new and Hanson, rh Mr David Webb, Steve exciting products that will provide an enduring and Heath, Mr David Wright, Mr Iain lasting way of commemorating special events. Hollobone, Mr Philip Howarth, Mr Gerald Tellers for the Noes: The Royal Mint intends to strike the coins in fine Hurd, Mr Nick Mr Philip Dunne and gold and in fine silver. They will have a standard diameter Johnson, Diana Stephen Crabb of 10 cm, and will weigh 1 kg. The coins will be legal tender, although their inherent metal value will far Question accordingly negatived. outweigh their nominal face value, which will be £1,000 for the gold coins and £500 for the silver coins. Their retail price will be heavily dependent on metal prices at the time of release. The choice of design will ultimately be a matter for Her Majesty the Queen and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the advice of the Royal Mint advisory committee on the design of coins, medals, seals and decorations. The striking of kilogram coins has recently become part of the Olympic games tradition. Most other host nations in recent years, such as Australia, Canada and China, have issued coins of this type, and they have proved extremely popular with collectors internationally. Indeed, kilogram coins have featured in the international commemorative coin market since they were first issued in 1992. In the past 10 years, more than 40,000 Olympic kilogram coins have been issued around the world, and their ongoing popularity makes them an important addition to any international mint’s commemorative coin range. Not only are these coins highly attractive to numismatists across the world, but due to their size and 649 Coinage (Measurement) Bill1 APRIL 2011 Coinage (Measurement) Bill 650

[Mark Lancaster] The Royal Mint launched a competition inviting the British public to design the 50p sports series, and the high-profile artists who will be approached to design received more than 30,000 entries. The athletics 50p was them, they become works of art as well as an investment designed by the nine-year-old winner of a “Blue Peter” opportunity. competition—the first child ever to design a UK coin. Of particular relevance to my own constituency, the Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Obviously goalball 50p was designed by a Buckinghamshire artist, the word “kilogram” makes me slightly nervous, because Jonathan Wren. I am pleased for the opportunity to be it is not really British. However, my hon. Friend was sponsoring a Bill that has wide-reaching implications referring to the other countries that have done this. for the whole of the UK and beyond. My constituency When the Olympic games were held in America, did the is home to one of the Olympic training villages—and Americans issue a kilogram coin? indeed was the birthplace of the Paralympic games—so this Bill further cements a long-standing and important Mark Lancaster: That is a good point. I have some association between my constituency and the London sympathy with my hon. Friend over the use of the word 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. I am grateful for “kilogram”, but he will appreciate that the coins would the swift passage and warm welcome the Bill has enjoyed be sold on the international market, which is why a throughout the House to date, and I would like to thank kilogram coin is more appropriate. There seems to be hon. Members for their support so far. I commend the some doubt about whether the United States issued Bill to the House. such a coin. I think that it did, but I might have to come back to him. Inspiration might arrive before I finish my speech. 9.55 pm The Royal Mint anticipates similar demand for kilogram Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): I congratulate the coins for London 2012, and plans to produce approximately hon. Member for Milton Keynes North (Mark Lancaster) 60 gold coins and 14,000 silver coins. This plan is based on piloting the Bill to Third Reading and through on more than 50 years’ experience in the international Committee and Second Reading. He will know that my commemorative coin market. The Royal Mint also attends hon. Friend the Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) regular international seminars with other mints, has supported the Bill to date. That support from the numismatists, collectors and trade partners, from which official Opposition will continue today. it is clear that there is a sizeable international market for The Bill makes an important contribution to ensuring kilogram coins. In anticipation of the London 2012 that we can celebrate the Olympics next year and potentially, Olympics, the Royal Mint has put together an Olympic as the hon. Gentleman mentioned, consider the provision, coin programme that, if this Bill is successful, is likely to through Her Majesty the Queen and the Chancellor, of be the largest ever seen. further commemorative coins at suitable occasions in This Bill will allow the Royal Mint to produce kilogram the future. As he said, the Bill is required to ensure that coins that will form the pinnacle of the programme. It we establish a legal background for the change in size of has been endorsed by Jacques Rogge, President of the the coins. I am particularly pleased that we can put in International Olympic Committee, who wrote: place this coin for the Olympic games. As the then “I have no doubt that the Royal Mint’s Olympic Coin Programme Northern Ireland sports Minister, I remember standing will continue the worldwide success story of Olympic coins, and in Trafalgar square on 6 July 2005 when the Olympics will take its place in the Olympic Museum at Lausanne alongside were awarded to the United Kingdom. I think it is fair the 700 or so Olympic Coins of past years”. to say that it was one of the achievements of the The Bill will allow the Royal Mint to crown its Olympic previous Labour Government that the Olympics were coin programme with kilogram coins, but they are just awarded to the UK, with cross-party support from both part of a range of products designed to offer something sides of the House. It is certainly something that we for everyone. By providing royalties to the London look forward to next year. Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and The coin itself will provide an opportunity to add Paralympic Games, the kilogram coins will contribute value to the Olympics, allow us to celebrate them and to financing London 2012. I understand that royalties send the message to the rest of the world and collectors will also be paid to the Treasury. across the globe that London is a place to do business. I The Olympic coin programme in its entirety has been hope that the sale of the coins will bring some value to designed to ensure the widest possible participation. the Treasury. We have had many discussions with the Design competitions have been run for “Blue Peter” Minister about the level of the deficit. I am sure that viewers, for secondary school children, for art and this will bring in at least some money to offset some of design college students, and indeed for members of the the draconian measures that the Government will introduce. public in general. The intention throughout has been to However, far be it from me to inject a note of discord maximise the social and educational benefits of the into what is a day when we accept that the Bill is programme. At the other end of the scale to the kilogram needed, fulfils a purpose and will serve a useful function. coin is the London 2012 sports collection, which features I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on piloting the Bill. 29 50p pieces, each representing a different Olympic or He has our full support, and I look forward to many Paralympic sport. Indeed, I thought that the hon. Member sales of the commemorative coin next year and to a for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) was slightly cruel to successful Olympics. In future years, when commemorative me in Committee when she suggested that each coin coins are introduced on the many more occasions when should have a picture of me doing different decathlon we require them, he will be noted as the Member who events, whether the discus, javelin, the 100 metres, or introduced the Bill. I trust that the hon. Member for perhaps even the 800 metres. I fear that that will not Wellingborough (Mr Bone) does not take too unkindly be the case. to the fact that kilograms are in place today. I am sure 651 Coinage (Measurement) Bill1 APRIL 2011 Coinage (Measurement) Bill 652 that there are many areas on which we can agree, and Mr Nuttall: Indeed, it would have been easier if they although his scepticism about Europe reaches into a had been, but the pack on my hon. Friend’s back was number of areas, I hope that he, too, will fully support probably rather bulkier. I thank him for his work for the the Bill and its objectives. Army. Finally, it is often said that too few private Member’s Bills—in fact, hardly any—make it through the House. 9.58 pm I would draw hon. Members’ attention to the fact that Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I congratulate this Bill—which will, I am sure, shortly complete its my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North stages through this House—will be the fourth Bill to (Mark Lancaster) on piloting the Bill so swiftly through its complete its passage on a Friday, in addition to the stages in the House. I should like to make a couple of Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law points following on from the remarks made already. of Succession) Bill, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill and the Wreck Removal Convention Bill. That My first comment concerns the value that the coin shows that passing a private Member’s Bill is possible, will bring to the Treasury. I understand that there are to and as this Bill has shown, it is also possible to do it be two coins—a gold coin with a face value of £1,000, fairly swiftly. The Bill received its Second Reading on and a silver coin with a face value of £500. I also 4 February, went to Committee on 16 March and today, understand that 60 of the gold coins and an estimated on 1 April, will pass safely to the other place for 14,000 of the silver coins are to be minted. The value of consideration, where I hope it will receive swift approval, the coins will depend on the prevailing cost of precious so that the Royal Mint can crack on with producing the metals, but if we were to base the cost on the best coins and bringing in much needed funds to our Treasury. current estimate, a gold coin is likely to fetch about I congratulate my hon. Friend on piloting the Bill to £40,000 and a silver coin about £500. Taking those this stage and wish it well in its future consideration. together and doing a quick bit of maths, that makes £19.9 million—not bad for a morning’s work—which I 10.4 am am sure would be gratefully received by the Treasury. Indeed, I understand that 20,000 coins were sold in the The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Justine Beijing Olympics, so I wonder whether there might be Greening): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member scope for minting more than is currently allowed for. for Milton Keynes North (Mark Lancaster) on bringing the Bill successfully to this stage. As we have heard, the Mark Lancaster: I fear that the figure might even be Bill is wholly supported by the Government and, I slightly larger than my hon. Friend realises. The estimated think, by Members across the House. retail value of the silver coin will actually be £1,250. I am pleased that, as my hon. Friend observed, the Bill will allow the Royal Mint to provide an Olympic coin programme that will surpass its predecessors and Mr Nuttall: In that case the amount from the silver ensure the Royal Mint’s place as a leading international coins would be more than doubled, and there are more provider of commemorative coins. As my right hon. of them as well. Friend the Prime Minister said in an endorsement letter Let me turn to the size. On Second Reading I mentioned to the Royal Mint: my disappointment that the coins were to be minted in “As we move towards the Games it is wonderful to see British kilograms, and suggested that they be minted in a companies, such as the Royal Mint, commemorating the journey multiple of a troy ounce. It was said that the coins are in a way that brings British skill and craftsmanship to the attention for the international market. If the object of the enterprise of the world.” is to raise as much money as possible for the Treasury, In doing so, the Royal Mint will also generate a revenue the coins might be worth even more—with more collectors stream for the Exchequer, as my hon. Friend the Member for them, raising even more money for the Treasury—if for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) noted. Under the UK coin they are minted as a multiple of a troy ounce, because of contract, the Royal Mint pays a royalty to Her Majesty’s their rarity on the international market. Treasury for commemorative coins. It is estimated that Mention has been made of the suggestion made in the Olympic coin programme, including the kilogram Committee that the coin should perhaps bear an image coins, will generate a royalty payment of approximately of my hon. Friend in an athletic pose. He has been very £1.8 million, although the exact amount will depend on modest today, because he has not mentioned the fact sales volumes, retail price and metal prices. However, that, as he told the Committee, on the weekend before it the mint will no doubt receive additional profits, which sat he did his combat fitness test for the Army, running it can invest in developing the Royal Mint and its 8 miles while carrying 25 kg on his back. That is no business over the coming years, which will be welcome. mean feat, and I am not sure that many of us in the The Royal Mint has similar royalty arrangements with Chamber this morning could do that. the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, and the International Olympic Committee. As this Bill is not limited to the Olympic coin programme, Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): I future events celebrated with kilogram coins would wonder whether the 25 kg that my hon. Friend the generate similar revenue. Member for Milton Keynes North (Mark Lancaster) was carrying was made up of coins. As my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North noted, today is indeed April fools’ day. This debate brings to mind a 2008 April fool, when a Canadian Mr Nuttall: That is a good point. radio station interviewed a Royal Canadian Mint spokesman who revealed plans to replace the Canadian Mark Lancaster: I wish they had been. $5 bill with a $3 coin. The coin was dubbed a “threenie”, 653 Coinage (Measurement) Bill1 APRIL 2011 Coinage (Measurement) Bill 654

[Justine Greening] Exchequer, James Callaghan, to decentralise government activity from London to the regions? I would like to in line with the nicknames of Canada’s $1 coin—which impress on the Minister the advantages of considering is commonly called a “loonie”, as it depicts a common such moves again in the future. loon on the reverse—and the $2 coin, which is affectionately known as the “toonie”. Justine Greening: The right hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. It struck me how important the Mint was to Mr Bone: Not as an April fool, but in commemoration the local economy when I visited it. The broader point of the fact that my hon. Friend the Member for Milton that he rightly makes is that, as the economy grows in Keynes North (Mark Lancaster) has taken this Bill the coming years, we need to ensure that more growth is through the House, can the coin be called “The Lancaster”? in manufacturing, and that more of that manufacturing growth takes place outside London and the south-east, Justine Greening: It may well end up with that nickname, so that we end up with a more balanced economy. which would be appropriate for a coin that, as we heard, It is also worth pointing out that the Royal Mint will not just be minted to commemorate the Olympics produces not only coins but all our British military but could be used to commemorate a whole range of medals except the Victoria cross, and, as we have heard, special events in this country where we think that coin it has won competitive tender procedures to produce collectors might be interested in adding to their collections. medals for sporting events such as the 2005 Ashes series With their large size, the kilogram coins will be an and the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic games. exciting, artistic and eye-catching piece of numismatic My hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes art that will no doubt be treasured and passed on to North also mentioned the 50p sports series, and the future generations. At almost 1,100 years old, the Royal House should note that the 29 designs are not only Mint is a tradition in itself. The production processes—from available as collectors’ items but featured on circulating design and modelling, to the blast furnaces, and the coins currently being issued to the general public. Fourteen striking of blanks and ultimately coins—are the epitome of the 29 designs have already been issued in line with of a successful manufacturing company. As my right natural demand for coin, with the remainder entering hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in our pockets in the lead-up to next summer’s games. The last week’s Budget speech, manufacturing is crucial to 50p sports series also helped the Royal Mint to enter the the rebalancing of our economy. Under this Government record books when, last October, 1,697 newly minted manufacturing is now growing at a record rate, with Olympic 50p coins were flipped simultaneously, setting 14,000 more jobs created in the sector in the last three a new world record. I doubt that that record will be months alone. surpassed using kilogram coins, but that shows that the As the House will be aware, the Budget announced Royal Mint is part of the fabric of our British culture in several measures to help promote and further develop a broader way than many of us realise. British manufacturing, over and above the efforts that The London 2012 Olympic games will be an event of the sector is already making. I have no doubt that the huge importance for the whole country, and this legislation Royal Mint will continue to pioneer new processes and is important in ensuring that it can be appropriately develop as a pivotal part of British manufacturing. The celebrated. I believe that my right hon. Friend the Prime Royal Mint has been based in south Wales since the Minister was right in saying: 1960s and employs 850 people. I had the chance to meet “I know that everyone in the UK is eager to make London them last year when I went down there to look at their 2012 the best Olympic and Paralympic Games ever seen, and I production process and learn more about the practicalities believe that the London 2012 Coin Programme will be one of the of minting coins. I had a fascinating trip, but also learnt greatest and most successful in the history of the Games”. an awful lot about the skill that the employees have to I would like to thank my hon. Friend the Member for use to ensure that the coins that are minted—the coins Milton Keynes North for introducing the Bill, which that end up in our pockets which we spend in shops will help the Royal Mint to achieve such an ambition. every day—are ones that we can rely on. We all wish it a safe and swift passage through the other place. Mr Hanson: Does the Minister recall that the establishment of the Royal Mint in south Wales was Question put and agreed to. the result of a decision by the then Chancellor of the Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed. 655 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 656 Content) Bill Broadcasting (Public Service Content) Bill Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): I am concerned about that suggestion, because it might lead Second Reading to a whole load of left-wing voters moving to Wellingborough, which could undermine my hon. Friend’s 10.12 am majority. Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Mr Bone: Alas, the public interest comes before self- interest, and I would lay down my seat if we could get The Bill stands in the name of my hon. Friend the the BBC to move to Wellingborough. Also, if the Bill Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope), who has been were passed into law, the BBC would be a completely away on parliamentary duties and hopes to get here different kettle of fish, so I do not think I have too later, subject to any delays caused by public transport. much to worry about in that regard. One of the great In his absence, I have the great honour and privilege of advantages of the Bill, if it became law, would be that moving the Bill. the newly appointed Lord Patten would not have a job. The Bill is in many ways similar to the Broadcasting That would save the BBC a considerable amount of (Public Service Content) Bill introduced by my hon. money. Friend on 12 June 2009. It is good news that the The Bill has had a small change in its text since its Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media previous incarnation, but that change has important and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage implications for non-BBC broadcasters. The Bill is also (Mr Vaizey) is in the Chamber today, as he is the very a sequel to the 2008 private Member’s Bill introduced man who was the shadow Minister when that Bill was by my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch. The introduced. I have read his comments on that Bill with aim of the Broadcasting (Television Licence Fee Abolition) great interest in Hansard, and I can read between the Bill was fairly modest: it just wanted to abolish the lines. He cannot fool me: he was totally in favour of it. licence fee in total. I do not think that that is right. I No one who rereads that debate in Hansard could come want to retain the licence fee, but I want it to cost a lot to any other conclusion. less, and I want its benefits to be available to non-BBC It is great to be following the previous debate, and I broadcasters. At the moment, it is not so much a licence know that there are other important Bills on the Order fee as a BBC fee. All the money goes to the BBC, and Paper today, so I hope that we can make rapid progress none goes to other broadcasters. with this Second Reading. This is a non-controversial I am told that the current licence fee, which is in effect Bill that should have the support of the whole House. It a poll tax, is £145.50 a year. Almost no one can avoid really should be the fifth private Member’s Bill to paying that if they are under the age of 75. Anyone who become an Act of Parliament in this Session. has more than one television set in more than one At its heart, this is a coalition Bill, but I want to put it location has to pay more than one licence fee. It is a very clearly on the record that it is not a Whips’ handout regressive tax. Also, anyone who does not have a television Bill. It might appear to be, because it contains all the is still hounded as though they do have one. I had a elements that the coalition is in favour of, but I have to constituent—this is not made up—who told the BBC say that it is more of a Liberal-leaning Bill than a licensing authorities that he did not have a television Conservative Bill. The Liberal party believes in private set. They did not believe him. They sent inspectors trade, in giving more power to the people and in civil around to inspect every room in his home to see whether liberties. In particular, it is against regressive taxation. there was a hidden television. That is the sort of thing All those elements are dealt with in the Bill. From a we might get in a totalitarian state, but surely it is not Conservative point of view, it has the disadvantage of acceptable in the United Kingdom at any time, and breaking with tradition, but it would also lower taxation certainly not in this century? and create more trade and competition in the television Let me provide a much more up-to-date example. and broadcasting industry. In the past, the BBC was First, however, I want to put on the record my thanks to linked with the previous great Prime Minister, Tony my researchers, Mr James Newhall and Miss Victoria Blair, and many of us feel that the current Labour party Michell, who provided some of the research for my will want to distance itself from that era. For that speech, and to my hon. Friend for his previous work. reason, we might get its support for the Bill as well. Victoria Michell is my intern. She experienced the TV The right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) licensing authority’s wrath. Previously living alone, working spoke from the Dispatch Box a few minutes ago, and he hard for a living and choosing to spend her money on gave me a good idea. He pointed out that the Royal shoes rather than a television, she informed the licensing Mint had been relocated to south Wales, and that that authority that she did not own a television set and had been a tremendous success. There is therefore a thought that that would be the end of the matter. Oh good reason to relocate the BBC away from London. I no! She regularly received letters from the licensing am sure that such a move would gain the support of the authority, insisting that she must have a television set governors and all the people who work in the BBC. It and demanding to know why she had not paid the fee. might be a good idea to relocate the BBC to Swansea, She then received a visit from the inspectors. Unfortunately, but people might say that Swansea was much too far she was at work—a normal pastime of those in their away for people needing to get back to London to meet 20s—so they left her a note informing her that they important people. I have a much better solution. If the would be back. She called the authority, grudgingly BBC were relocated to Wellingborough, people would admitting she felt a little intimidated, to tell them that have only a 50-minute journey into town to meet those she worked full time and that if they wanted to visit her, people, and the rents and rates in Wellingborough are they could do so but out of working hours. She was told much lower than they are here. by the inspectors that they would visit when it suited 657 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 658 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Bone] and watch them as that is the only way I can be assured that ITV will continue. My wife does not agree with me them. She waited every night—when she was not working on that point, but then Mrs Bone does not always agree late, at the gym or having dinner with friends—eagerly with me on everything. to clear her name, prove her innocence and show off her shoe collection. However, they never came. My intern Mr Speaker: Order. May I say to the hon. Gentleman would like to inform the House, so it is absolutely on that we have heard quite a number of his philosophical the record, that she has since moved, adopted two ruminations, references to his constituents and his admirable televisions and has a TV licence. intern, for whom he hopes someone else in the House Although that is a somewhat light-hearted story, if will provide a job, and the unfailing reference to the that person had been elderly or vulnerable they would indefatigable Mrs Bone? I simply remind the hon. have felt considerably intimidated by a state regulator Gentleman that his Bill contains three clauses on “Public invading their privacy. The Bill would put an end to service content”, “Payment of licence fee” and “Short that. I should say that my intern is a well-qualified, title, commencement and extent”, and it is to be hoped highly articulate, intelligent young lady who is not that on one of those he will dilate ere long. easily intimidated. By the way, if anyone has a job going, I would recommend her as an exceptional researcher Mr Bone: I entirely take your advice, Mr Speaker, but The next part of my speech is put in to get myself I do not want to dilate long on any particular point, so I promoted! In these days of economic crisis, which is shall try to keep my points brief when I get to them. due to the mismanagement of the economy by the Okay, so that gets rid of that, that and that. That has previous Labour Administration, who believed the illusion gone, too. We will get there, Sir. of there being no more boom and bust and threw away The public service content is mentioned in clause 1(1) more and more public money, we now have a coalition and is defined in some detail in clause 1(2). Let me Government, who were put together for the purpose of outline the idea behind the Bill. The licence fee will be cutting the deficit. Everyone understands that these are available to all broadcasters and it will be paid out in tough times, and my constituents in Wellingborough return for public service broadcasting content. It will find it difficult to pay £145.50 a year for something that not be left purely to the BBC, but be open to ITV, they might not want. It is extraordinarily unfair that Channel 4, Sky and any other broadcaster and to local hard-working families who just get by have to pay radio. The licence fee, which many people think is paid nearly £150 whether they like it or not. What is really directly to the BBC, is, in fact, paid to the Secretary of unfair is that a millionaire in another part of the State, who then dishes it out. I believe that the licence country has to pay the same amount. In any other fee should be allotted for a specific purpose—in this taxation situation, Labour Members would jump up case, the provision of public service content broadcasting. and down and say that that is terribly regressive, which, That is what my Bill would do. of course, it is. I know that other very important Bills such as the The Government, led by my right hon. Friends the Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) Bill and the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Fire Safety (Protection of Tenants) Bill are still to did an exceptionally good job with the Budget, but come, so I hope this debate will not go on for too long. there were difficult decisions to be taken and they had As I say, I expect to get support, if not from Opposition to cut. It is rather strange that one thing that did not get Members, certainly from my hon. Friend the Minister, cut—and a number of things did not get cut—was the as I have read the remarks he made on the earlier Bill. cost of the television licence. Let me now turn my attention to the issue of whether The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, the BBC provides any public service content broadcasting Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): Remind at all and whether it should qualify for any money me of what I said. whatsoever under the Bill. I shall be interested to hear Members’ views about this later. The Bill calls for public Mr Bone: I will remind the Minister. Bearing in mind service content to be impartial and factual, so we need that today is 1 April, I think what he effectively said was to see whether the BBC meets that test. My argument is that it was a jolly good Bill and that it should pass. That that the BBC is, in fact, institutionally biased. It does is a summary of how I read what he said, although he not know that it is biased, but it is. I shall provide three may want to go into more detail on that. brief examples of that. Let me get back to the Bill. Public service content is The Government have ring-fenced spending on the broken down into four different categories. The first is NHS and is increasing it in real terms. The Department the news element, so if a programme is a news programme, for International Development budget is increasing and it must comprise our contributions to the EU are going from £19.8 billion “local, national, international news or current affairs which is over the last five years to £41 billion over the next five impartial, factual and objective”. years. My constituents are being asked to pay nearly Last night, I was participating in the “Anglia Late £150 to fund the state broadcaster, even though they Edition” with the hon. Member for Luton North (Kelvin may never watch the BBC. I am someone who, because Hopkins), who was very good. The trouble is that of my profession, looks at all the different channels and whenever I go on programmes with him, I find myself I occasionally have to watch the BBC, but I do not in agreement with him—and most of the time we both watch it any more than I watch the channels for which I disagree with our own parties. The hon. Member for have to pay to view or the adverts on ITV. My wife has Norwich South (Simon Wright) was also participating one of those buttons that can be pressed to miss out the and he was very good. It was a genuine programme in adverts. That seems to me to be wholly unfair, so I sit which we talked about the alternative vote, cuts and the 659 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 660 Content) Bill Content) Bill closure of an RAF station—it was everything that Jacob Rees-Mogg: Will there be a special preservation public service broadcasting should be. It was a balanced order for “Test Match Special”, which really is part of programme—a representative of the Green party was the fabric of British life? on it as well—and it is a perfect example of the sort of broadcasting that we should have. Anglia does not Mr Bone: That is a hugely important issue. According receive a penny from the licence fee, however, and I to my personal prejudice, “Test Match Special” must believe that it should. survive for ever, but the BBC cannot be trusted in that regard. Oh, no. I want now to consider, in some detail, whether the In my desire to be a new Conservative and a modern BBC could qualify for any of that public service money. man, I bought a Saab biofuel car. There was a radio in Let us return to the time of the last but one Prime it, and I tried to tune it. I understand that the new Minister, Tony Blair. I felt then, and I think many other chairman of the BBC has never listened to Radio 1 or people felt, that we had not a British Broadcasting Radio 2 except when he has experienced difficulty in Corporation but a Blair Broadcasting Corporation, tuning his radio to radio 4. Would you believe it—when institutionally biased in favour in that Government. It I tried to tune my radio to Radio 4 to listen to “Test did all the things that they liked. If someone was Match Special”, I found that it was not on the dial! The left-leaning, liberal, supported modernisation or loved BBC had removed it from medium wave and stuck it on the EU, he would be reported fairly and much more long wave. The BBC cannot be trusted with “Test than anyone else. But if people did not fall into that Match Special”. That is one of the respects in which the category, why should they be asked to pay £150 for a Bill would improve the position, and I thank my hon. licence, if they were paying for something that (a) they Friend for raising the matter. did not want to watch and (b) they did not agree with? The Bill does not, however, concern only news My Bill proposes that the licence fee should constitute programmes and sport. It also concerns other rather money for public service broadcasting, and that any important matters. Since the introduction of the earlier broadcaster who provides public service content should Bill in June 2009, commercial broadcasters have cut be able to apply for it. It would pay for no more and no current affairs and religious programmes and children’s less than that. It would not be limited to the BBC, and entertainment. I think that if such programmes were any broadcaster would be able to apply for it. If Sky made available to other broadcasters, we would be able were to broadcast public service content, it would be to welcome their return. able to apply. I estimate that the cost of a licence would I was going to give a very good example of why the fall from £150 to about £50. BBC should not be allowed to have any money for its Millions of people watch, on the BBC, “Top Gear” current affairs programmes, but I am conscious that and “EastEnders”. Millions of people also watch “Fifth time is moving on and I want to deal with the detail of Gear” and “Coronation Street”. Those two pairs of the Bill, so I shall remove that little example. I will not programmes are of exactly the same type, but one is go into it. [HON.MEMBERS: “Go on!”] No, I will not funded by the state and the other is funded commercially. allow myself to be encouraged, other than to say that it Under this Bill, the BBC would have to fund commercial related to an occasion on which Mr Brown, the then programmes itself, through product placement, by selling Prime Minister, went to the European Parliament—I the programmes on, or by imposing a small subscription will summarise it very quickly—and Dan Hannan beat fee which would, of course, have to be commercially him up briefly in a speech. Whatever one may have competitive. The effect would be that of market forces thought about that occasion, it clearly qualified as competing. Such a system would not only keep the fee public service broadcasting. Unfortunately, the BBC low, but put pressure on Sky to reduce its subscription reporter decided to walk out and not to cover it, although fee—and if I had any criticism of Sky, it would relate to he had been notified earlier that it would happen. Two the level of its subscription fee. It would provide complete million people tuned in to watch it on YouTube. protection of public service content. Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) (Con): Three One of the misconceptions about the Bill has involved million. the question of sport. During the debate on the earlier Bill, the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome Mr Bone: It seemed to me that that was an example of (Mr Heath), now Deputy Leader of the House, said the BBC’s institutionally biased view. It did not want to that because sport was not public service content, it cover anything that was anti-EU. That is why I say that would not be possible to broadcast any of it on the the BBC cannot be trusted with too much of the licence BBC. That is not the case. Commercially viable events fee money for public service broadcasting. such as test matches and the premier league would be commercially available to any broadcaster who paid the Mr Bacon: I mentioned that the event was watched by fee. As for minority sports that no one would otherwise 3 million people rather than 2 million because I monitored want to broadcast, they are covered by clause 1(2)(d), it, and I remember the figure rising from 2.6 million to which refers to the public service criterion that 2.7 million and eventually to well over 3 million. Does my hon. Friend agree that that speech would rightly “the content would not otherwise be likely to be provided by the market responding to consumer demand.” rank in an anthology of the greatest speeches of the last 10 years? It is only three or four minutes long, but it is During that earlier debate, my hon. Friend the Member one of the most extraordinary things that I have ever for Shipley (Philip Davies) referred to cuts in the seen. broadcasting of horse racing events that were considered not to be commercially viable. Under the Bill, such Mr Bone: Indeed. I have to say that I have not had the events would become available to broadcasters because privilege of seeing it because I do not know how YouTube they would fall under the catch-all of clause 1(2)(d). works, but on the very day that it was broadcast, my 661 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 662 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Bone] Bill—and I think this is why the Minister, who was the shadow Minister at the time, did not welcome it entirely hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch, who was in the last debate we had on the issue—was the fact that taking his children to school, was hauled aside by the licence fee was stuck with the BBC. The former Bill someone who said “You must come and watch this on reduced the licence fee, but that was still only paid to the YouTube.” It should have been on national television BBC. Therefore, although there would be all the advantages rather than on YouTube. He followed it up with a letter of the licence fee being payable only for public service to the director-general, who passed it on to someone content—which is, in essence, what this Bill is about—it else in the organisation to answer, who eventually replied would still be restricted to the BBC alone. The new Bill saying, “We’ve looked into this matter and”—this is the changes the wording so that the measures apply to all crucial point—“the BBC news content is subjective.” broadcasters rather than just the BBC. The logic of that How right that is! It is utterly subjective. Therefore, by change is clear. If the licence fee is payable for public the BBC’s own admission, it would fall foul of this part service content, it should be open to all broadcasters. of my Bill and so would not necessarily qualify for Therefore, an independent local radio station—Connect licence fee funding for its news output. It would then FM in Northampton, for instance—would have the have to start being objective, factual and impartial, and same right to that funding as BBC Radio Northampton. once it achieved that, it would qualify for the funding. It is a very small, but a very important, change, as I Because of what we Members do for a living, we hope will become clear when I address some of my watch all the news broadcasters to see the different ways more detailed points. they cover the news so we get a broad understanding of The Bill is essentially about public service content. what is happening. Quite often Sky, Channel 4 and ITV That is addressed in clause 1(1), which states: will have a story at the top of the bulletin that the BBC “For the purposes of the Communications Act 2003 ‘public has chosen to place further down because it is biased service television broadcasting’ shall be construed as broadcasting against that story. I do not say that with any glee; rather, material with public service content, as defined in subsection (2).” I say it with some sadness and concern. When a state This measure gives the phrase “public service television broadcaster is institutionally biased against the views of broadcasting” in the 2003 Act a proper definition, and Conservative-leaning people—even though it does not thereby improves that piece of legislation. understand that—I wonder why the majority in this country, who are Conservative leaning, have to pay a The BBC used to try to say, “Everything we do is forced poll tax. I remember the poll tax demonstrations. public service broadcasting.” [Interruption.] No,Iam All that this little, uncontroversial Bill would do is not going down that route as there are too many examples remove all of the funding from the licence fee going to of programmes about which people would say, “That the BBC, thereby reducing the cost of the fee to, let us was smutty, and had no public service content.” say, about £50, and allowing the BBC to put on other “EastEnders” is a very good programme, and I have programmes if it wants—and which it should do—but certainly watched it more times than the new chairman funding them through product placement, resale or a of the BBC, because I think the last time he watched it small subscription. The great benefit of that is that it was the last time he bought a McDonald’s meal—I would bring competition into the industry. I think all believe that is what he said to the Culture, Media and Members would agree that the BBC is overmanned and Sport Committee. “EastEnders”is entertainment, however; that some of the other stations produce the same quality it is not a programme that has public service content. of news broadcasting for far less. The key benefit for Clause 1(2) addresses the core of the definition of viewers is that after the Bill becomes the fifth private public service content, and it states: Member’s Bill to be enacted this Session, if they want to “‘Public service content’ is content which is primarily produced watch the BBC, they will find that the cost of the licence in the United Kingdom and which satisfies one or more of the fee they are required to pay—which will be the fee for following criteria”. public service content for all broadcasters plus the I have stressed that the content should be primarily subscription fee to the BBC—is less than the £150 that produced in the UK because if we are forcing UK they are forced to pay now. taxpayers to pay a fee, the least we can do is ensure that In concluding my opening remarks, I shall address the programmes are made in this country.That is especially the detail of the Bill. It is a fairly short Bill—there are the case at a time of economic crisis, but even if we were only three clauses—but it is very important. not in an economic crisis, I still think it is right that UK licence fee money should go to UK-produced programmes. Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): Will my hon. The definition of public service content is divided Friend give way? into four categories. The first is that Mr Bone: I am keen to make progress, but I will give “it comprises local, national, international news or current affairs way. which is impartial, factual and objective.” I have spent some time outlining why some of the BBC Mr Nuttall: My hon. Friend mentioned at the beginning news programmes would fall foul of that, and would of his speech that this Bill makes one minor change to therefore not get any licence fee money. However, other the Bill introduced in the previous Session by my hon. programmes such as “Question Time” and “Newsnight” Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope). What clearly would qualify for that funding. is that change, what will its effect be, and why has it been made? Something else I notice about the BBC, which, again, shows its institutional bias against anyone from the Mr Bone: It was remiss of me not to address that right, is that the people its news channel invites to earlier, but I omitted to do so because I wanted to make review the newspapers are invariably lefties with some swift progress. The problem I identified with the previous bizarre left-wing view. When is a normal citizen there? I 663 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 664 Content) Bill Content) Bill have never been invited on one of these programmes; I broadcasters the need to spend public service money on am willing to turn up and do that at some unearthly religious programmes, because the census will have hour, but I am never asked. That institutional bias is proved that a lot of people want to see them. one of the reasons I think the BBC would have a problem getting all its news output paid for by the Mr Nuttall: That is an important point, because the licence fee. Bill does not try to restrict the religious content to the The second definition of public service content is that religion that my hon. Friend and I follow. Followers of any religion—Muslims, Hindus and those from the “its primary purpose is to inform, educate or entertain children”. Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints—could qualify I think most of us would agree that that is a reasonable for protection under this Bill. definition. You, Mr Deputy Speaker, are far too young to remember this, but I can remember television going Mr Bone: Indeed. My hon. Friend makes the point off air and the test card coming on the screen at much better than I could. Some people will ask what the 5 o’clock so children could do their homework. I am census has to do with this issue, but it has a lot to do not suggesting we go back to that, but would it not be with it because it is from that census that broadcasters nice if we had some better children’s programmes? I will be able to determine what percentage of the population understand broadcasters do not want to go down that are interested in religious programmes. That is why I route at present because they are not commercially find it strange that the question on religion is optional viable. on the census form. Clause 1(2)(d) is the catch-all provision and we have Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): My hon. Friend to explain it in a little more detail later. It states that is taking us on a trip down memory lane. Would he also “the content would not otherwise be likely to be provided by the like televisions to broadcast in black and white, so that market responding to consumer demand.” he can relive those memories of the 1950s? It deals with programmes for which there is a very Mr Bone: My hon. Friend looks very young, but he is limited interest, despite the fact that they should be put obviously older than I am because I cannot remember on. The BBC does put such programmes on, as do some the black and white era, and so I cannot possibly other broadcasters, although fewer and fewer are doing comment on whether that would be a good or bad so. I am talking about programmes that cater for people thing. who are interested in steam engines—I have probably picked the wrong example, because I know that they Mr Nuttall: The go-ahead BBC still regards black interest a lot of people. Things that would not normally and white television as being sufficiently important and attract big audiences would still be funded by the taxpayer relevant as to issue a separate licence to those who have if they were in the interests of public service. black and white sets. So there clearly must be some Many questions arise from that catch-all phrase, which demand for this and it would be interesting to know is why we have to deal with it a little further on in the how many such licences are issued. One has to pay only Bill. People were saying to me that programmes that £49 to watch in black and white, rather than £145.50. were not popular would no longer be put on, but that is not the case. People have said to me, “I understand that Mr Bone: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, news, children’s programmes with educational purposes which may well be teased out in Committee. This very and charitable and religious programmes will get the good coalition Government have a one-in, one-out licence fee, but what if it is a programme that I really policy on regulation, and my Bill removes regulation. care about? How is that going to be funded? They will One licence fee would disappear because the £49 licence not put it on because it is commercially viable.” That is fee would, in effect, be the only licence fee, so no matter where clause 1(2)(d) comes in. whether someone had a black and white TV set or a Such a programme might be about fishing or it might colour one, they would not be discriminated against; be a minority programme that eventually becomes people would certainly be paying no more than they are commercially viable and has to move out of this now, but they might be paying a great deal less. My Bill arrangement. A very good example of that is coverage would end the bureaucracy of having two fees. That of American football. When American football first deals with clause 1(2)(b). came on to British screens on Channel 4 it was very Clause 1(2)(c) also deals with the public service content much a minority interest, although I am interested in it and says that if a programme is produced primarily for and I have often wondered why we do not have a NFL “charitable or religious” reasons, licence fee money all-party group. Interest in the sport grew, as did the would be provided. The cost of one of the national audience, and eventually Sky took on the coverage, with charity appeals, for example, red nose day, would fall on some of it also appearing on Channel 4 and Channel the licence fee. That is perfectly fair. This approach Five. Under my Bill, it would have initially been funded would also open things up for other organisations, such by the licence fee and no longer have needed any licence as Sky, to put on those sorts of programmes, and so fee support on becoming commercially viable. Just because more charitable money would be raised. I do not think licence fee money would be given at the beginning to that many people could be against that. develop an interest in a particular field, it would not I am old enough to remember when we had a lot have to continue to be paid once the programme became more religious programmes. I do not confess to it, but I commercially viable. am a practising Christian and this is a largely Christian The problem with that provision is, of course, one of country, as I hope the census will confirm—I remind definition. I have tried to deal with that in clause 1(3), everyone to fill it in. Bizarrely, the census question on which states: religion is optional—I believe it is the only one that is. “Where the only criterion of public service content is that That confirmation would help to demonstrate to contained in subsection (2)(d), the judgement relating to the 665 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 666 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Bone] been in the country for the past few days and I can well understand why my hon. Friend the Member for likelihood of market failure shall be made by the National Audit Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) made that point of order. Office, which must publish an opinion on any matter referred to it by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section.” On the point that my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) was previously making, about By the time my Bill comes in, and after the reshuffle on “EastEnders”, does not the fact that such programmes 6 May, I expect the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, are covered by the BBC and paid for out of the licence Olympics, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member fee prove the problem with the current definition of for Wantage (Mr Vaizey) who is with us in the Chamber public service broadcasting? They are paid for by the today to be the very Minister who makes these decisions, licence fee, as a poll tax on everyone, whereas a programme so I hope he will be paying particular attention to this such as Coronation Street, which is watched by just as provision, as he will have to deal with it. many people, does not receive a penny. The provision has been misunderstood. People have said that it means that the Secretary of State—or the Mr Bone: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for NAO—will decide on whether to have a fishing programme making that point. That is exactly the case. For the or another synchronised swimming programme, but avoidance of doubt, I am not suggesting that the reporting that is not its purpose. The broadcaster will able to of the Libyan situation by the BBC is anything other apply for the money from the licence fee for those than impartial and accurate and it has clearly been able programmes and that money will be given. The audit is to get licence fee money for that. retrospective and would deal with cases where it is felt a broadcaster was putting on something that is commercially I move to the part of the Bill on which I expect to get viable, but that it had claimed under 1(2)(d) would be a shouted down the most and get a lot of criticism— market failure. The NAO is an admirable body that clause 1(4), which states: would be able to tell clearly whether a programme was “No content shall be public service content if it fails to satisfy likely to be commercially viable or whether there would prevailing standards of good taste”. be a market failure, which would account for its taking Hon. Members might think this measure means that money from the licence fee pot. the National Audit Office is going to look at programmes To be fair to the newly promoted Secretary of State, and decide whether they are smutty, but that absolutely as I shall call him, I do not think he would actually have is not what my Bill does. My Bill says that public service to decide very often on this matter, because self-regulation content money cannot be given for programmes that do would do the trick. To use a ridiculous example, it not comply with the prevailing view of what constitutes would be very embarrassing if the BBC applied for good taste and decency. It will be the prevailing view funding for “EastEnders”, because although it would that is important. The measure would apply only if a get the money, shortly afterwards the Secretary of State broadcaster applied for public service content money would make a referral to the NAO to say, “This is from the licence fee for a programme. It could broadcast completely ridiculous.” Self-regulation would stop such any other programmes it liked, within the general law of applications, because broadcasters would be hugely the land, but it would not get any licence fee money for embarrassed if they took money from the licence fee for producing programmes that did not meet prevailing public service content only for the Secretary of State to standards of good taste and decency. It would be the refer the matter to the NAO and for it to say, “No, this British public who decided whether a programme met is a commercially viable programme. Repay that money.” those standards. If only 10 people wrote in to complain The damage it would do to that broadcaster would be about a programme, obviously the Secretary of State immense, so I think there would be self-regulation in would not refer that case to the NAO. that field. Mr Leigh: I know quite a lot about the NAO, having Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): On a point been the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Has there been a request and having had it report to me. If I may say so, this is from the Government for an urgent ministerial statement the weakest part of my hon. Friend’s Bill, because the on the arrival of the Libyan Foreign Minister Musa NAO is totally unequipped to get involved in any such Kusa? There have been reports overnight that another policy decision. It is an audit office: it looks at the envoy—this time an official envoy from the Gaddafi economy and efficiency of Government projects. If the regime—is here. These matters are of the utmost Bill were to pass into Committee, I think he would have importance, because clearly we have embarked on what to reconsider this measure. was to be a humanitarian mission and we are now very heavily engaged in the murky politics of Libya. What is Mr Bone: I have been proved a prophet, Mr Deputy going on? The House would like to know. Speaker! Already, almost within 10 seconds of my mentioning this measure, I have been criticised by a Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Ihavehad great parliamentarian of the House. That is exactly no indication that there will be any statement. what I said would happen. However, there is a misunderstanding, because it would not be the NAO Mr Bone: For those hon. Members who wonder why that determined this issue, it would be public opinion. If I was interrupted at this particular moment for that 30 million people suddenly complained about a programme point of order, it is because 11 o’clock is the usual time on the BBC, it would be the Secretary of State—by on Friday when statements are made. then, I hope, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary will be the Secretary of State—who made that decision, but Mr Nuttall: It has been reported this morning that a that would not happen unless there were an exceptional Libyan Government envoy, Mohammed Ismail, has case. 667 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 668 Content) Bill Content) Bill Mr Leigh: I have to look at what the Bill says, which is Let me return to the wording that I have already said that: might be the biggest problem, in clause 1(4): “the judgement relating to the likelihood of market failure shall “No content shall be public service content if it fails to satisfy be made by the National Audit Office”. prevailing standards of good taste and decency.” How could the NAO, which by definition is concerned I think that would be self-regulated unless a particular with the economy and efficiency of the public sector broadcaster were determined to try to circumvent the and Government projects, possibly make a judgment Bill. The measure would not mean that other, commercially relating to the market failure of a particular programme viable, programmes that broadcasters wanted to put on or set of programmes? I am confused. could not go into areas that would fall foul of the measure. Mr Bone: My hon. Friend has gone back to the I am pleased to say that we now come to clause 2, on previous measure. Subsections (3) and (4) are not joined the payment of the licence fee. Subsection (1) says: together; they are separate. Going back to subsection (3), “No licence fee revenue shall be paid to any broadcaster by the I cannot imagine a situation in which there would Secretary of State for services which do not satisfy the criteria of actually be a referral, but it would not be for the NAO public service content in section 1.” to refer. The Secretary of State would have to That is clear. An interesting point that will surprise decide that a broadcaster had taken money from the most people is that the licence fee is not paid directly to licence fee pot for a commercially viable programme. the BBC; it is handed out by the Secretary of State, so That would be difficult enough for him to do, but if he there is no real shift under the Bill. The Secretary of were of that opinion, and I gave the clear example of State will still make the payments, but instead of all the “EastEnders” as a commercially viable programme, licence fee being handed over to the BBC, it will be it would then be up to the NAO to make a divvied out to different broadcasters who provide public commercial decision, not a decision on the content, service content. on whether there might be market failure—whether that programme would not otherwise be commercially Clause 2(2) says: produced. “It shall be the duty of the National Audit Office to keep under review the total cost of public service television broadcasting.” All that might be difficult and there are hurdles. First, there is the self-regulation that would prevent virtually That is quite an important little subsection, because we any of these manoeuvres from having to take place. could find—to take things to an extreme—that because Then the Secretary of State would have to take a there is that pot of money, all the non-BBC broadcasters political decision, which would be difficult because he apply for money to put on public service content, and would not refer something to the NAO lightly. In the the overall cost would then balloon, so the National case of “EastEnders” or Top Gear, for example, the Audit Office will keep under review the total expenditure. NAO would come to the conclusion that they were I say that the licence fee should come down from about commercially viable and would be put on elsewhere. £150 to about £50. That is why that provision is in clause 2. I think it will have to be developed and amended in Committee; Members might like to put Jacob Rees-Mogg: Would not “Top Gear” be deemed some limit on the total cost of public service broadcasting, public service broadcasting? It is highly educational, but that will be subject to the will of the House and up telling people about the motor car and the workings of to the Committee. the internal combustion engine, and it exposes some of the falsehoods in elements of the green movement. Clause 2(3) says: “In pursuance of its duty under subsection (2) the National Mr Bone: It does all those things, particularly the Audit Office must conduct, in each calendar year after the year in latter, but I am afraid it is still a commercially viable which this Act is passed, a value for money audit of the expenditure incurred on the broadcasting of public service content that is programme, so, if my Bill were passed, there would still funded by the licence fee payer.” be a “Top Gear” on the BBC. There is no doubt about that. Therefore I think that I win and my hon. Friend That is pretty straightforward: the National Audit Office loses on that point. will produce a report once a year.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I Mr Leigh: Will my hon. Friend allow me to intervene? think we are doing quite well, but we have given “Top Gear” and “EastEnders” a good run and I am sure we Mr Bone: With trepidation. could move further into the Bill now. Mr Leigh: I am afraid that the provision is not Mr Bone: I hope that we are making good progress, straightforward at all, because my hon. Friend is putting Mr Deputy Speaker. We are nearly at the end of clause 1, at risk a campaign that we have waged for years to allow which is the most important, and there are only three the National Audit Office to look at the BBC’s books. clauses. My problem is coming up with BBC programmes We have said time and again that the NAO would never that I have heard of, because I watch so few of them, get involved in editorial policy; the BBC is rightly very but I do watch “Top Gear” and I occasionally see sensitive about that. How on earth can the National “EastEnders” when I am in the gym. I do not listen to Audit Office make a judgment under subsection (3) it, but it is on the television, although I never understand without in some way getting involved in editorial policy? why that is on and the Parliament channel is not. I am talking about the gym in Westminster. I am sorry Mr Bone: Under clause 2(3), it is for the National Mr Deputy Speaker, but I could not think of any other Audit Office to determine not a programme’s content, programmes. but whether the programme is made in a cost-effective 669 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 670 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Bone] That, of course, would also affect clause 3(1), because the title of the Act would have to be changed so that it way. For instance, if a programme on fishing is put on ended with “2012”. by the BBC at a cost of £200,000 an episode, and a similar programme is put on by Sky at a cost of £20,000, Mr Bone: My hon. Friend makes a good point. I it would be for the National Audit Office to point out made a judgment call. The issue was discussed in some that figure. It would not be for it to take action, but it detail with the Clerks when I was considering the drafting. would refer to the fact in its audit. If that were to happen, the Bill would have to be amended, either in Committee or on Report. The reason That happily leads me to clause 2(4), which says: that we chose 1 January 2012—this relates slightly to a “The results of all audits conducted under this section shall be debate that we had earlier this week—is that the number published in reports which must be laid before both Houses of of days for private Members’ Bills is very limited this Parliament.” Session. Instead of getting the 26 that we should have, When my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough we have only 17, which means that if the Bill is not (Mr Leigh) was effectively in charge of the overall further considered on one of those dates, it will be lost. scrutiny of the National Audit Office, the most splendid My hon. Friend makes a fair point about the situation reports in the House came out. The Public Accounts in the other place. He also raises another good and Committee is most powerful and informative, and I important point; the last private Members’ Bills day is would not want to do anything in the Bill that in any 20 January 2012, so perhaps there would be an argument way reflected badly on the National Audit Office. for pushing the date in the Bill back to after 20 January Under subsection (5), 2012. I thank him for that, and I hope that his bid to be “The Secretary of State must by regulations provide for any on the Bill Committee will be noted by the business costs incurred by the National Audit Office in the exercise of its managers. I hope that every Member who has spoken duties under this Act to be reclaimed from licence fee revenue.” gets on the Committee. To respond to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury The final provision is clause 3(3), which says: North (Mr Nuttall), the subsection is another addition “This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern to the previous Bill; I draw that point to the attention of Ireland.” the Opposition spokesmen and the Minister. We are I do not think that there is much doubt that the Bill, reducing the licence fee here, but I do not want any which affects the British Broadcasting Corporation, other cost to be put on the general taxpayer. Any cost should cover the whole of Great Britain and Northern that the National Audit Office incurs will be recovered Ireland. In fact, I probably should have put “United from the licence fee, so there will be no additional cost Kingdom” in the subsection. to the general taxpayer, and that is a change from the There is one clause that was not printed. We considered previous Bill. whether we had to print “notwithstanding the European Clause 2(6) says: Communities Act 1972”, but I was told that, unbelievably, the Bill is in no way affected by the European Union. “Regulations under subsection (5) shall be made by statutory instrument and are subject to annulment in pursuance of a Jacob Rees-Mogg: My hon. Friend has missed one resolution of either House of Parliament.” aspect of the Bill that is undoubtedly affected by the I hope that when the Bill is in Committee, we will have European Union legislation. That is where it suggests those draft regulations, so that the Committee can that payment should be made only for programmes consider them before the Bill makes further progress. produced in the United Kingdom. The European Union That, in a nutshell, is clauses 1 and 2. I am sorry to be so would come down on that like a ton of bricks. brief, but there are other important Bills that we must get on to. Mr Bone: Ah! I should not have taken that intervention. My hon. Friend raises an interesting point that I may Clause 3 is just on the short title, commencement and not have thought of. The Bill is certainly not a ploy to extent of the Bill. The short title is in clause 3(1), which cause any trouble between the House and the European says: Union. I hope that we would be at one on the matter. In “This Act may be cited as the Broadcasting (Public Service defence, all I can say is that when the Bill comes into Content) Act 2011.” effect on 1 January 2012, I do not believe that the Even if I were sitting on the Opposition Benches, I United Kingdom will be in the European Union. would have difficulty criticising that part of the clause, though I might have a go. Clause 3(2) says: 11.20 am “This Act shall come into force on a day to be appointed by the Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): I congratulate Secretary of State by order made by statutory instrument provided my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) that such date shall be no later than 1 January 2012.” on speaking so eloquently on the Bill. He has done a I have allowed plenty of time for the Bill to be passed. If public service. Although we all know that the life of the Government are so enthusiastic that they want to private Members’ Bills is nasty, brutish and short, and bring it in before 1 January 2012, they can, but we have we must be realistic about the prospect of such a Bill put in place a back-stop. ever becoming law, it is important that the BBC becomes aware of the strong opinion in Parliament about the Mr Nuttall: That may well be so, and I sincerely hope way it is funded. that the Bill does make such rapid progress, but of The licence fee paid by the taxpayer is, in effect, a poll course it may not. It may well be held up in Committee, tax on the entire population. There is no way of avoiding or in the other place. What would happen if 1 January it, except by not having a television set. Such a tax 2012 had already passed by the time of Royal Assent? should provide for public service broadcasting. The 671 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 672 Content) Bill Content) Bill definitions in the Bill are not perfect, but they do at run, whether a private finance initiative project was run least open up a debate on what constitutes public service efficiently or whether a building was procured efficiently. broadcasting. If we are going to fund television and “You will start with that, o Parliament,” the BBC says, radio from the taxpayer, it is justifiable to ask whether “but—thin end of the wedge—you will eventually want game shows or programmes such as “EastEnders” are to get involved in the editorial content. You’llbe summoning public service broadcasting or whether they are perfectly the director-general and saying that some programme acceptable programmes, made according to consumer was too left-wing or too right-wing .” demand, that could be funded in many other ways. One We finally won that argument, and we said yes, the of the purposes of the Bill will be to put pressure on the National Audit Office should be allowed to audit the BBC to justify the nature of its public service broadcasting. BBC. My hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough, The list in clause 1 is not exhaustive, but it is sensible. who is a friend as well as a colleague, is in some There is no doubt that public service broadcasting difficulties here. I was not persuaded by the replies that comprises news and current affairs, programmes that he gave me. Clause 1(2) states: “inform, educate or entertain children”, “‘Public service content’ is content which is primarily produced in the United Kingdom and which satisfies one or more of the and charitable and religious programmes, but there are following criteria—” other programmes that could be considered to be public It could be religious, educational and so on. Then we service broadcasting. For instance, if the BBC produces come to subsection (2)(d), which says a major costume drama based on a Dickens novel, is that public service broadcasting? I would argue that it “The content would not otherwise be likely to provided by the is. Or if the BBC produces opera, symphonic music or market responding to consumer demand” anything like that, I would argue that that is all public and subsection (3), which states: service broadcasting because many such programmes “Where the only criterion of public service content is that would not be commercially viable unless they were contained in subsection (2)(d), the judgement relating to the supported by some subsidy. likelihood of market failure shall be made by the National Audit Office”. I accept that that argument could be dealt with in The National Audit Office is composed of some 800 highly Committee. I hope my hon. Friend and the House will skilled people. Their job is concerned with the public recognise that all these are value judgments. That is sector. They are not qualified to deal with the concept where a Bill such as this might get into some difficulty. of market failure in a broadcasting organisation. Is it for the House to impose on a broadcaster its own value judgments of what is in the public interest? Mr Nuttall: My hon. Friend makes a valid point. I That leads me to the points that I have been making appreciate his long experience of dealing with the National in interventions about the National Audit Office. I do Audit Office. Does he think there would be scope for the not intend to delay the House very long. I want to make NAO to establish as a separate unit, perhaps, with new the point as strongly as I can. In that respect, my hon. employees who have the necessary experience to perform Friend is in severe difficulties. The BBC has said all that role, based in the general office? Is that a possibility? along that its entire ethos is that it is independent of the Executive. That is absolutely right. Nobody here wants Mr Leigh: That is a helpful intervention because it the Executive or Parliament in any way to interfere to takes me on to my next point. A couple of weeks ago the slightest extent with the editorial content of the the House did me the great honour of electing me as the BBC. We all know that in other countries public service Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission—not broadcasting has been manipulated by regimes to support the Committee, but the commission. Members may not the regime. We must make it clear in the debate that be aware of this, but it is very important that the nobody—I hope—on our Front Bench, on the Opposition National Audit Office budget is not controlled by the Front Bench or even on the Back Benches is trying to Treasury, because of course the NAO audits Government tell the BBC what sort of programmes it should put on Departments. We do not want the situation that arises and what should be in those programmes. It is not for us in other countries, where the Treasury gets its fingers on as politicians to do that. the budget of the National Audit Office. We, as a Parliament is surely entitled, however, to say that as commission and a Committee of the House, keep a that organisation is funded by tax—a licence fee, a poll close eye on the overall budget of the National Audit tax—we want to make sure that we get value for money, Office. and that the organisation is run, in the words of the My hon. Friend lightly throws into the pot the suggestion National Audit Office Act 1983, in a way that is economic that we set up a new unit in the NAO, employ more and efficient. That is why, for years, my hon. Friend the people and increase its budget. There is a price to pay Member for South Norfolk (Mr Bacon), whom I see in for all this. How many people will the National Audit the Chamber, and I, sitting on the Public Accounts Office have to employ to carry out its duties under the Committee, have been running a campaign, which at Bill? Those duties could be quite onerous. last is meeting with some success, arguing that it is I think that we are in very dangerous territory, because wrong that the BBC, virtually alone among Government- bit by bit we are dragging the National Audit Office funded organisations, does not have any parliamentary into editorial policy. It is difficult to determine the controls over its expenditure. possibility of market failure without judging whether a That has been a long-running campaign and the BBC programme is likely to be a success in the marketplace, constantly resisted us, saying that that was the thin end and how is such a judgment to be made without judging of the wedge. It argued that we would start by asking the editorial content? I am very sympathetic to what my questions about whether a studio was run properly in hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough is trying terms of its lighting or whatever, whether it was efficiently to do in the Bill, and I think that the whole House 673 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 674 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Leigh] fingers on determining what programmes were shown on the BBC. My hon. Friend shakes his head, but I am would like to apply more pressure on the BBC to use sure he will recognise that those are precisely the arguments taxpayers’ money to produce more serious programmes, that the BBC would use. If he wishes to intervene he but I hope that he will not put at risk the campaign that may do so, because it is very important that he makes is now nearing fruition. The current Secretary of State the point that there is absolutely no question of Parliament, for Culture, Media and Sport has been part of that politicians or the Government getting involved in any campaign, and he made a commitment in the Conservative way in what is shown on the BBC. Before he gives too party manifesto—it was repeated in the Labour party facile an answer, I say to him that he will know that manifesto—that for the first time the BBC’s finances, money is everything, and were the Bill to become law but not editorial policy, would be subject to the National the BBC would obviously want as many of its programmes Audit Office and, therefore, to Parliament. as possible to be deemed to be of public service content, My hon. Friend gets into even more trouble in clause 2(3), because they would be financed by the licence payer. which states: There would undoubtedly be borderline areas where it “In pursuance of its duty under subsections (2) the National was not entirely clear whether a programme had public Audit Office must conduct, in each calendar year after the year in service content or was sheer entertainment. which this Act is passed, a value for money audit of the expenditure incurred on the broadcasting of public service content”. Mr Bone: My hon. Friend is getting to a really I would like to know exactly what he means, because important point. He is absolutely right on this issue, value for money is really a term of art in these matters. but the process will be self-regulating and will be It means looking at how efficiently a contract was done by the self-regulator. We are talking about not procured, how many staff were employed and what only the BBC, but all broadcasters. It is rather like the were the finances for it, but is he suggesting—perhaps Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. No he is not—that the value for money in some sense will Member would dare to claim for anything now that was relate to whether the programmes are of interest to the even borderline; they would make sure that they got it public and have public service content? right. If someone did not do so they would be exposed. The point is that it is self-regulation, and the fact is that Mr Bone: Will my hon. Friend give way? they would be terribly embarrassed if anything was ever referred. Mr Leigh: I will give way in a moment. If that is the case, I would have thought that that is Mr Leigh: I am grateful for the reassurance that my directly asking the editorial question, “Is this programme hon. Friend is attempting to give me, but may I say, with of value to the public or sheer amusement? Is it educational, respect to him, that it is not entirely convincing? Many religious, charitable, news, or is it a programme that is of those judgments are subjective, particularly in the intended simply to entertain?” There again we are in world of broadcasting and entertainment. I hope that very dangerous territory. I am sure that my hon. Friend he does not think that I am being unduly negative. I am can reassure me that that is not his intention. simply using the opportunity of this speech to ask some questions and make some points. Mr Bone: It is indeed the former, not the later. It is Before sitting down, I want to say that I believe very whether the cost of production is value for money. It is strongly that my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch in no way intended to be an interpretation of the value (Mr Chope) and my hon. Friend the Member for of the content. That will need to be clarified further in Wellingborough have done a service, because it is very Committee. important that the BBC is aware that there is considerable feeling in Parliament that there might be alternatives to Mr Leigh: My hon. Friend assures me, so I think that the present structure. Is it right that the licence fee, we are now getting to a stage where, as a result of my which is paid for by the taxpayer, should just fund previous interventions and what I have said so far in my entertainment? The taxpayer should fund programmes speech, the National Audit Office is gradually retreating that are educational and definitely concerned with public from the Bill. That is fine, but there is another problem: sector information, but in the modern world there are who will make a judgment on what is public service so many other broadcasters and possibilities. My hon. content? That could be a very fraught issue indeed. Friend is right to make that point. Apparently, it will not now be the National Audit The BBC has become a vast tree and all other Office. It is at least generally independent, but for the broadcasters are in its shade. Public sector programmes reasons I have argued it is not right that it should do it. are declining in value and content. We know that Will it now be the Secretary of State? With that, we are independent broadcasters are under enormous pressure. in even more dangerous territory—I see the Minister One need only compare the quality of the weather sitting on the Front Bench. Would it be for the Secretary forecasts on the BBC with those on independent channels of State, a politician, to start making judgments on to know that much more money, resources and expertise what is or is not public service content? That could be go into those on the BBC. Undoubtedly, independent very dangerous. television is under enormous pressure to try to produce I can foresee the arguments that the BBC would use if high-quality programmes. It would be an entirely positive the Bill were to come close to becoming law. It would step if some of the licence fee could be diverted to them. say that it is a world-class broadcaster that is known to That would aid competition and ensure an explosion of be generally independent and that produces high-quality new and interesting programmes, including educational programmes. Were the Bill to become law, we would and religious programmes, not only from the BBC but move into an era when politicians would get their sticky from independent broadcasters. 675 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 676 Content) Bill Content) Bill I hope that my hon. Friend does not think that I am I can agree with the hon. Gentleman about the value unduly negative, as I am strongly in favour of opening of the BBC’s current affairs programming. My own up the entire debate. I do not believe that the BBC’s story can perhaps provide a little insight into my views funding structure should be set in stone. What was on the issue. I grew up in a working-class family in appropriate for the 1930s or 1950s may not be appropriate Bradford, far from the corridors of power and with no for 2015, 2020 or 2025. It may well be the case in future first-hand experience of how the world of politics worked. that the BBC’s entertainment programmes should be It was through the BBC, particularly its quality current funded by subscription, advertisements or other means. affairs programmes, that I learned how the country was The Bill is an important first step in raising the profile run. As a Yorkshire teenager, I might not have been as of those arguments, and I congratulate my hon. Friend politically obsessed as the Foreign Secretary, but as a on introducing it and in speaking in support of it. 17-year-old who wanted to make a difference I sat and watched programmes such as “On The Record”. Those 11.39 am programmes took me into worlds which I would never otherwise have known about. Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab): The Opposition do not accept the narrow definition proposed by the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) of public service Mr Bone: The hon. Lady is making a powerful speech, broadcasting. If his proposals were to succeed, many and I am sorry that she does not support the Bill—but if valuable, worthwhile and popular BBC programmes Front-Bench speakers do not support my Bill, I know would be lost. that it is totally right. Does she accept, however, that she has proved my point? The BBC is institutionally biased The BBC must continue to offer a broad mix of towards the left, because she was attracted to politics by programming that appeals to everyone who pays the the BBC. licence fee. The hon. Gentleman is wrong to suggest that licence fee payers are happy only to pay for Gloria De Piero: I am grateful for that intervention, “Newsnight”, “Blue Peter” and Radio 3. I want the because it gives me the opportunity to say that the BBC to do more than that because, as the hon. Member Education Secretary worked on “On The Record”. As for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) highlighted, where do we far as I am aware, he has never been described as a draw the line between what is informative and what is raving leftie. entertaining—programmes such as “Dragons’ Den”“The Apprentice”, “Human Planet”and Brian Cox’s “Wonders of the Universe”? Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) (Con): He has also been on “The Moral Maze”. Mr Nuttall: I hear what the hon. Lady is saying, but can she give the House any examples of programmes Gloria De Piero: Indeed. Those programmes took me made by the BBC that would not be provided for and into worlds that I would never otherwise have known would not be paid for under her definition? about. They showed me how the levers of power worked and they even managed not to put me off wanting to Gloria De Piero: It would be dangerous for politicians, continue in politics. In fact, before coming to the House including hon. Members, to begin to tell the BBC what I spent many years working at “On The Record”, programmes they should or should not broadcast. The devising questions for John Humphrys to use to skewer BBC editorial independence has long been cherished, Members of Parliament. and that must continue. Programmes such as “Dragons’ Although political programmes such as “On The Den” “The Apprentice”, “Human Planet” and Brian Record” are vital, nobody would suggest that the sole Cox’s “Wonders of the Universe” have shown that it is aim of the BBC should be to appeal to politically possible to make business, anthropology and astrophysics obsessed 17-year- olds. That is why I want to take issue appeal to a mass audience. with another flaw in the Bill. I believe that the BBC We continue to believe that a broad-based BBC fulfilling should also produce entertaining programming. It is all of Lord Reith’s original mission to “inform, educate absurd to suggest that these entertaining programmes and entertain” remains the best way to preserve the can suddenly be pulled out of a hat when the market public service broadcasting that is a hallmark of our walks away from this or that genre. At the moment, society. Many people say that if they were to leave the commercial television is having a comedy heyday with country, alongside a decent cup of tea and Marmite, it brilliant, award-winning programmes such as “Harry is our TV and radio, particularly the BBC, that they Hill’s TV Burp”, “Shameless” and “Benidorm”, but would miss most. there have been times when the market has not produced I do not believe, unlike the hon. Member for brilliant comedy. I am glad that when the market was Wellingborough, in a cod liver oil BBC—it is good for not at its best the BBC was able to continue to provide you, but it might not always taste nice and it is a bit of a the nation’s laughs. Knowing how programmes are chore to take it. That is not the way forward, and it developed and commissioned, I can tell the hon. Member would be a serious mistake. While I celebrate the BBC, I for Wellingborough that brilliant comedy formats are am not uncritical of it. This debate plays an important not made overnight; it is not as easy as turning on a tap role in expressing to the corporation views on how it to provide a stream of programmes that can immediately can redefine and develop its role. While the Opposition fill a supposed gap in the market. rigorously defend and promote the BBC, we will continue Drama is conspicuous by its absence from the Bill. to be at the forefront of pressing it to be more transparent Take this month’s stunning BBC Four adaptation of and accountable, and to work even harder to ensure “Women In Love”, for example. I have to declare a bias, that every pound of the licence fee spent delivers maximum given that I am proud to represent D. H. Lawrence’s value on the airwavesfor licence fee payers. home town of Eastwood. The series concluded last 677 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 678 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Gloria De Piero] is and the fact that any definition is subjective. One man’s demotic entertainment is another man’s vital night, and the book was brilliantly adapted by public service. Nottinghamshire writer Billy Ivory of “Made In Who is to say what constitutes that vital public service? Dagenham”fame. If we really want to talk about improving For example, is satire a public service? Some of us here public service broadcasting, we should let the BBC do might not think that it is, but many of our constituents more to inspire new British talent. As Billy Ivory reminded may believe that satire is a vital public service. What me the other day, single dramas like “Play for Today” about “Lark Rise to Candleford”? I personally think and “Screen Two”, which many hon. Members will that it is one of the most tedious and interminable remember, were vital in giving young screenwriters their programmes on the BBC, but others may say, “It’s first break. Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Stephen Frears educational and should be provided free of charge.” My were part of a whole generation of the brightest and hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset best writing and directing talent who cut their teeth on (Jacob Rees-Mogg) mentioned “Top Gear”. Some may “Play for Today” and went on to define British cinema say that it is childish and inane, whereas others may say in the decades that followed. I would like the BBC to do that Jeremy Clarkson is a national treasure who should more to ensure that it provides the space for the aspiring be preserved, and that the programme is a public service writers and actors who will be the stars of the future. that should be provided free of charge. What about In conclusion, we do not agree with the narrow “Just a Minute” on the radio? My hon. Friend the definition of what constitutes public service broadcasting. Member for Wellingborough spoke for not one minute We believe that the licence fee should not only continue without hesitation, deviation or repetition, but about to fund news, current affairs, children’s and religious 67. Is that programme just a bit of fun or does it provide programming, but should be used to allow the BBC to listeners with a good educational service, which improves continue to offer the mix of drama, science, documentaries, their English if nothing else? entertainment and sport that make it the envy of the world. I am confident that the House will join me in Mr Bone: I must leap to my feet. My hon. Friend is rejecting the hon. Gentleman’s wrong-headed proposition. on dangerous ground when he talks about “Just a It is wrong on so many counts. Turning the BBC into a Minute”. I must warn him that it is my wife’s favourite graveyard for programmes that politicians think are programme. important is not the answer and, crucially, it is not what the British people want. Christopher Pincher: I leap to its defence. I am a great fan of “Just a Minute” and I want it to continue and Nicholas Parsons to remain in the chair for as long as 11.47 am possible. I certainly do not want it taken off the air because some people say that it is not public service Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): May I say broadcasting, that it should pay its own way and, if it how pleasing, if not ironic, it is that in a debate on the cannot, that it should go. future of broadcasting the Member introducing the Bill—my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough My hon. Friend mentioned “Test Match Special”. (Mr Bone)—should be a virtual promoter, and not the Does he think that it is impartial? I would say that it is actual promoter, who is my hon. Friend the Member for not. When England play Australia, Aggers is particularly Christchurch (Mr Chope)? partial. Would my hon. Friend therefore strike the programme from the list of public service broadcasting? I had some sympathy with the Bill when I first read it, I hope that he would not. He seemed to say that he and I had some sympathy with it when I first heard my supported it. hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough speak. My hon. Friend appears to want to turn the Secretary However, as his speech went on, I lost some of my of State, the National Audit Office or both into some sympathy. The Reithian principles underpinning the sort of latter-day Lord Chamberlain’s Office, to adjudicate BBC to “inform, educate and entertain” have changed on what is appropriate for public service broadcasting. down the years, and the BBC itself is no longer the We could end up with programme makers, uncertain colossus of information that it used to be. Sundays no about whether the programme that they wish to put on longer stop for “Hancock’s Half Hour” as they did in air will qualify for public service subsidy, going script in the 1950s and we do not all sit down to “Morecambe hand to the Secretary of State, saying, “Here you are, and Wise” on Christmas day as we did in the 1970s. The sir. Read this. Do you think you’ll give us the money for BBC provided those programmes. Today, young people it?” That would put the Secretary of State or the NAO in particular get their information, news and entertainment in an invidious position. Neither are equipped for that from a diverse set of media, largely digital. The BBC role and they should not be asked to undertake it. needs to take account of that. On the basis that I do not think that we can properly However, I was concerned that one reason my hon. define public service and that the Secretary of State or Friend gave for not scrapping but reducing the licence the NAO should not be responsible for deciding what is fee was that a gang of little armies in the BBC visit aired and what is paid for, I oppose the Bill. I would recalcitrant licence payers, saying, “I’ll be back—until rather have Lord Patten, who is a big man who can take you pay.” That is no reason for saying hasta la vista to it on the chin, trying to sort out the BBC, and my hon. the BBC, which, I think, the Bill is designed to achieve. Friend the Member for Gainsborough examining closely I am uncomfortable with the Bill especially because the way in which the BBC spends our money—how of the definition of public service content. I was particularly much more than other broadcasters it spends on sending struck by the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for journalists and technicians off, for example, to the Gainsborough (Mr Leigh), which cannot be improved Olympics or to Libya—than try to interfere in editorial on, and his consideration of what public sector broadcasting content. 679 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 680 Content) Bill Content) Bill I hope that my hon. Friend the Member for modestly. I think that the first licence fee, back in the Wellingborough understands my reasons for opposing early ‘20s, was just a few shillings. It then developed the Bill and that he will consider withdrawing his support over the years to what it is today. The first licence fee for it. was for a radio—of course, there was no television when it was introduced—and was just 10 shillings in 11.54 am November 1922. The first television licence fee was £2, the first colour licence fee, which was introduced in Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): It is always a 1968, was £10, and today it is £145.50. pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher). I wanted to comment I pay tribute to the Secretary of State for ensuring further on what the hon. Member for Ashfield (Gloria that the licence fee will be frozen for the next six years. De Piero), who has just left the Chamber, said. Like her, When it comes down to the household budget, that will I grew up in Yorkshire, albeit not in Bradford, but in be of great benefit, certainly to all of my constituents. Rotherham in south Yorkshire. Also like her, I gathered a lot of political news from the BBC in my earlier years. Mr Bone: As usual, my hon. Friend is making a I remember watching the great Brian Walden on a powerful speech. I would have to disagree with him on Sunday lunchtime. I hope it is not too embarrassing to one thing though. How can it be right that when every say that in some ways, I rather looked forward to his other public service has to make cuts, the BBC only has interviews and his tremendous style. It was a great to freeze its spending? That does not seem fair to me. pleasure to me that as I progressed in politics, I had the opportunity to meet him in person and to listen to him Mr Nuttall: There is that point. One might ask why it at greater length. I am glad that he is now far more was not asked to reduce the licence fee, but it did take supportive of Conservative views than perhaps he was on additional responsibilities, as I understand it. That when a Labour Member of Parliament. Nevertheless, was covered in the letter from the Secretary of State to he was a great interviewer. Sir Michael Lyons in which he reaffirmed the Government’s respect for the BBC’s editorial and operational I have that in common with the shadow Minister, but independence, but made it clear that, as part of the new at the outset, my hon. Friend the Member for settlement, the BBC would have to provide funding for Wellingborough (Mr Bone), who so ably moved the new broadcasting activities. That includes local media, Second Reading motion, mentioned Dan Hannan’s to which I will return later. However, the thing that has successful viral video, which had 2 million or 3 million received most publicity is that it will take over funding hits from around the world. As my hon. Friend said, on for the World Service, BBC Monitoring and S4C. So the Second Reading of a similar Bill in 2009, it was mentioned Government have asked the BBC to take on new that that story was covered by the BBC not at the time, responsibilities, so, in effect, there will be a reduction. but two days later, when Mr Hannan, a Member of the European Parliament, was interviewed on the BBC not There is, however, plenty of scope for cuts to the because of the speech itself, but because of the coverage BBC’s budget. The amounts involved are eye-watering. that it received on YouTube. With typical modesty, I realise that £145.50 does not sound like very much. Mr Hannan said that he was completely perplexed and People would think, “That’s pretty good value, isn’t it?” slightly stunned by the global reaction to his speech, but It might well be good value, but the point is that it is many licence fee payers would have been completely multiplied across the whole nation. Let us consider perplexed and slightly stunned by the fact that Mr Mardell, houses split into separate flats and households. Each the reporter who covered the story, had not felt it needs a separate television licence. In large cities, such necessary or appropriate to cover the speech in his as Sheffield, Manchester and London, there are houses report from Strasbourg on the day when it was made. that have been divided into flats, and there could be six, eight, 10 or even more individual units, each paying a I shall not stand here this morning and launch a £145.50. It is therefore quite feasible for the BBC to diatribe against the BBC—far from it. I have no axe to receive more than £1,000 from just one small block. grind against the BBC, which does the job that it was set up to do. In many ways, the problem is historical and It is also notable that the licence fee has never gone lies with the legislation. Many good people work in the down. Most technologies are expensive to start with, BBC, and day in, day out, carry out their duties to the but as more and more people are drawn into the market, best of their ability. I do not see it as my job to attack the costs come down. the BBC. Christopher Pincher: Does my hon. Friend accept Debates on such matters often turn into a debate on that although the price of the licence fee has not gone whether one is pro or anti-BBC, but I want to approach down, its cost as a proportion of individuals’ incomes it from the point of the view of the public. What is best has? for the public? What is best for an average family sitting at home? What do they want from their television set Mr Nuttall: I do not know what the relative cost of a and radio? 10 shilling licence was as a proportion of weekly income We are moving to a completely new set-up for the in— whole of broadcasting, which is why I think this debate is so timely and important. The licence fee dates back to Christopher Pincher: The average weekly income in an era when broadcasting was new and cutting-edge 1922 was between £2 and £3. technology, and I can well understand why it was necessary for it to receive public help. It was sensible for Parliament Mr Nuttall: So yes, on that basis, the licence fee is at the time to say, “Look, if this new technology is to probably more affordable now. However, that is not to get off the ground, it needs help and something to push say that my underlying point about the wealth, assets it along”, and so the licence fee was born. It started life and financial power of the BBC is not entirely valid. 681 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 682 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Nuttall] (a) the provision of relevant television services which secure that programmes dealing with a wide range of subject-matters are Indeed, it might benefit the House to look at how, in made available for viewing; very broad terms, the licence fee was spent in 2009-10 (b) the provision of relevant television services in a manner and how that equates to a monthly cost for each household. which (having regard to the days on which they are shown and the For example, the cost of the television service—which times of day at which they are shown) is likely to meet the needs covers the main BBC channels, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC and satisfy the interests of as many different audiences as practicable; News, BBC Parliament, the HD service and the red (c) the provision of relevant television services which (taken button service—was £2.351 billion. That means that together and having regard to the same matters) are properly balanced, so far as their nature and subject-matters are concerned, two thirds of the licence fee went on television. The for meeting the needs and satisfying the interests of the available radio service—Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7—took up audiences; and 17% of the licence fee, at a cost of £604 million. Online (d) the provision of relevant television services which (taken services—BBC online, iPlayer and BBC Mobile—cost together) maintain high general standards with respect to the £199 million, at 6% of the fee. One might think, “Well, programmes included in them, and, in particular with respect what’s left?”, but under the final heading, “Other”, to— £406 million was spent on, for instance, “digital”, investing (i) the contents of the programmes; in new technology—one might ask what that has to do (ii) the quality of the programme making; and with public service broadcasting—running costs and collecting the licence fee. To break that down into (iii) the professional skill and editorial integrity applied in the monthly costs for each household, the television service making of the programmes.” costs £7.85, radio costs £2.01, online services cost 67p, Subsection (6) states: and “Other”, including collection, costs £1.35. Those “(6) A manner of fulfilling the purposes of public service are important figures to bear in mind for what I will say television broadcasting in the United Kingdom is compatible later about what I see as the future of broadcasting in with this subsection if it ensures— this country. (a) that the relevant television services (taken together) comprise a public service for the dissemination of information and for the Since its early days, the BBC has developed because it provision of education and entertainment; has benefited from a constant, annual, fixed flow of income. It has not had to worry about marketing its (b) that cultural activity in the United Kingdom, and its services—although it has, of course, through BBC diversity, are reflected, supported and stimulated by the representation Worldwide and its commercial arms. Indeed, in many in those services (taken together) of drama, comedy and music”. ways, part of the problem is that the BBC has been Given that statutory definition, it is not surprising that encouraged to become more than just a public service the BBC is able to broadcast anything it can think of. broadcaster, and is now a quasi-commercial animal. It It was said earlier that it is not for politicians to sells its programmes around the world and takes on new define public service broadcasting, but with great respect roles all the time. Incidentally, I have never been convinced to those who said that, I contend that that is exactly that it was necessary—and no one has been able to what politicians have tried to do. If someone has to do explain to me why it was necessary—for the BBC, a the defining, who else could it be than politicians who broadcaster, to purchase the Lonely Planet travel guides. are elected to this place to make those sorts of judgments? But we do not want to turn this into a debate about What matters is that, having provided the definition, we what is right and wrong with the BBC. It performs an then give broadcasters the independence and freedom excellent role, but the future is surely going to be more to make programmes that comply with the terms that about the local TV network, which this Government are we have set down. doing so much to develop. That is why I support the Bill. Under the terms of the settlement, only a small The definition in clause 1(2) is much narrower. It amount of money will go from the licence fee into local mentions the importance of “impartial, factual and television. I think that it is about £200 million, which is objective” as well as small beer when we consider that the BBC’s total income “local, national, international news and current affairs” is £3.5 billion. I honestly think that it could afford to do programmes. It also refers to the purpose of informing, much more than that. educating and entertaining of children and programmes It has been pointed out that the licence fee is the whose equivalent of a poll tax, in that anyone who has a “primary content is charitable or religious”. television has no choice about paying it. In return for That is perfectly adequate to cover those areas that paying it, they are guaranteed a certain level of might not properly be provided for in the competitive programming from the BBC, based on the Communications marketplace. Act 2003, which contains the crucial requirement that the broadcast programmes of the BBC must comply We are where we are with broadcasting. Although the with section 264 of the Act. This is central to our debate BBC strides the stage like a colossus in broadcasting in today, because the definition of public service broadcasting this country, fortunately it has not completely shut out lies at the root of the problem, as I said in an earlier other broadcasters. These other broadcasters are, however, intervention. shut out from having any share of the licence fee. That is why I support the Bill. It cannot be right that a small, The problem is that section 264 is drafted so widely independent broadcaster that wanted to put on, for that it covers virtually everything. I cannot think of example, a religious programme on a Sunday afternoon anything that would not be covered by it. Subsection (4) which might attract only a few thousand people should of the provision states: be excluded from access to the vast funds that the BBC “(4) The purposes of public service television broadcasting in has simply because of how our broadcasting system is the United Kingdom are— established. 683 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 684 Content) Bill Content) Bill I support the Government’s actions in trying to introduce Mr Nuttall: I know that I look old, but I must admit more diversity into our television network. I suspect that I do not remember that. Indeed, I was not aware of that, in years to come, this whole debate will become it. It is interesting to learn why they are called soap completely out of date and irrelevant. We are already operas. I always wondered why it was. That is well seeing the morphing of television and the internet into worth knowing. one seamless product. Already, high-end, top-level There is a huge amount of content on the BBC that specification televisions are being introduced with the most people outside the House would not consider to ability to take in content down the line from the internet. be part of the public service remit. It is worth examining I have a television that can be plugged into the internet the definition of public service broadcasting in more to download extra things, but I am not proficient enough detail, and it is worth looking at how other countries to be quite there yet. We all will be, however, in years to deal with the issue, because the problems that we are come. Perhaps if I did not spend as much time on my discussing are not unique to this country. feet in this place and went home to fiddle with my telly An independent media is part and parcel of any free for a few hours, I would be able to do that. I see the democracy. People always think about newspapers in Minister nodding. this respect, of course, and talk about “the free press”, All that brings enormous challenges to the BBC. If I but it is not just about the free press nowadays; rather, it were looking at it from the BBC’s point of view, I would is about free broadcasters. It is often considered to be say, “Look, in future, how are we going to be able to one of the defining qualities of a banana republic or a raise our revenue when nobody will really want to dictatorship that the Government have seized control of bother with a licence fee?” It will be considered more the state broadcaster. I well understand the points made and more anachronistic as time goes on. It will become earlier that we, as politicians, do not want to go down out of date and out of place in modern, 21st-century that route; of course we do not. The way to stop that Britain. happening, however, is to allow a diversity of broadcasters, Television will eventually have a series of online each of whom if necessary would—as the Bill allows—be channels that will be accessed through broadband and able to receive small sums in funding. I am talking here provided by a range of organisations. People may well not about billions of pounds, but about perhaps £20 million access them by means of a code or a special encrypted or £30 million. key for which they will pay a small subscription fee, and Let us consider how many separate public service which may be connected with an individual provider or broadcasters we could therefore have in this country. even an individual programme. Someone might, for That is a tremendous vision; it is a vision for the example, be interested in “Test Match Special”, as I am. 21st and the 22nd centuries. There could be dozens of There would be nothing to prevent “Test Match Special” broadcasters, and they would, perhaps, be broadcasting from being made available, perhaps not by the BBC but in a different way from in the past: not over the television, by A. N. Other organisation, which would charge a but via the internet—and, increasingly, the mobile internet. small subscription fee to those who wanted to access it People will therefore be watching these different providers through their digital radios—which are becoming far as they go about their daily lives. more common, and are installed in most modern vehicles That points to an issue that I might address after I almost as a matter of course—through their televisions, have finished my opening remarks. In the past, if someone though long wave, or online through their computers. watched a show on television on a Saturday night, they That strikes me as an entirely feasible funding model. could be pretty sure on the Monday morning when they If people were not paying £145 a year for a licence, they went into school or work that almost everybody else would be able to choose which programmes to watch had also watched it. However, we have now already and to subscribe to on a much more interest and subject- reached a situation where there are so many TV channels specific basis. At present there is a “one size fits all” that the odds are that no one else has watched that arrangement whereby people must pay for everything, show, because what takes one person’s fancy to watch of whether they are interested in it or not and whether they an evening will most probably be different from what watch it or not. takes someone else’s fancy to watch. Let us be honest about this. The figures that I read Some people, including me, have not even subscribed out earlier show that a vast proportion of the billions to Sky television. Therefore, if someone talks to me that go into the BBC each year is spent on programmes about a Sky programme that they have watched, I will that are not, by any stretch of the imagination, what not have been able to see it because I do not have a Sky most people outside the House would regard as public box. That is my choice, however; I have chosen not to service broadcasting. I have already mentioned soap subscribe. operas such as “EastEnders” and “Coronation Street”, However, I might choose to subscribe under certain and I will not pursue that line again, but I will say that, circumstances. The programmes the BBC no longer by definition, the very fact that soap operas are so broadcasts that I miss most are the cricket test matches. popular and attract millions of viewers means that they A process was gone through, and they were bought up are capable of standing on their own two feet. by a different broadcaster. I accept that, but one of the problems with the power and might of the BBC is that it can very often bid up the prices far more than a small Mr Bone: I will not press you on the fact that we are broadcaster could afford. Nevertheless, live television now going into repeats, Mr Deputy Speaker. coverage of the test matches has been lost from terrestrial Does not the definition of a soap opera make clear TV.Although there is still the highlights package, which that it cannot constitute public service content? Soap is available in the evening, ball-by-ball coverage has operas were introduced in the first place to advertise a now gone to Sky, and I have no problem with that. washing powder on television. However, if the cricket was available as a package on its 685 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 686 Content) Bill Content) Bill [Mr Nuttall] possibly say that the media—the broadcast and electronic media—in the US is anything other than free, impartial own, so we could pay just for the Sky cricket content and independent. rather than the whole sports package, I might be interested in subscribing. Mr Bone: My hon. Friend is making a good series of We have seen that development in horse racing. There points. I am interested in hearing an around-the-world are now channels specifically for horse racing. This is tour of different broadcasters, but I am trying to get us relevant because our debate is about the future of back to discussing the British Broadcasting Corporation. broadcasting. At present, horse racing is also on the BBC, however. The BBC uses some of the taxpayers’ Mr Nuttall: I just make the point that it is possible to licence fee to pay for the cost of broadcasting horse do things by other means, as other countries have racing, and it is directly competing with other broadcasters proved, although some say it cannot be done. such as the At The Races channel. That channel might I am conscious that many others want to speak and like to broadcast the Cheltenham gold cup, the grand perhaps these are matters that we can touch on in national and other major races. Committee and on Report. I would happily take up the invitation of my hon. Friend the Member for Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. We Wellingborough to serve on the Committee should the are now getting into too much programme detail. We Bill proceed, as I sincerely hope it does. There are a have touched on cricket, horse racing and “EastEnders”, number of other matters that I could touch on, but I and I recognise they may all be important, but we now will leave it there and listen—hopefully—to what the need to turn to the content of the Bill. Minister has to say.

Mr Nuttall: Hon. Members have raised the question 12.35 pm of public service, and it may well be that sport does not fall into that category, although as a matter of fact these The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, things are being dealt with at the moment. Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): Iam grateful to have the opportunity to respond to this very I wish briefly to examine the arrangements in some interesting and wide-ranging debate on a matter of other countries, which have struggled to tackle this great importance. I congratulate my hon. Friend the problem of how to deal with paying for an independent Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) on bringing broadcaster. In Pakistan, the public broadcaster is a the Bill to the House on behalf of my hon. Friend the state-owned corporation—the Pakistan Broadcasting Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope). I think that my Corporation—which was funded publicly through money hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough is still obtained from television, radio and video cassette recorder awake after the previous speech, but I just wanted to licensing. Its Radio Pakistan has stations covering all check. I note from his biography that he runs marathons the major cities and 80% of the country, serving 95.5 million for charity; his extremely lengthy speech was a marathon listeners, which is more than we have in the UK. It also effort on which I wholeheartedly congratulate him. has its own world service, broadcasting in seven languages daily. Mr Bone: I hope the Minister is not inadvertently Sadly, events in Japan have meant that the Japanese misleading the House. If he thinks that was a station that many of us have been able to see recently, as marathon speech from me, I invite him to attend on it has shown the coverage following the earthquake and other occasions. tsunami, is its main public broadcaster, NHK—the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Many English speakers Mr Vaizey: I am grateful for that clarification. I was often refer to it informally as “Radio Tokyo”. It was set going to say that despite its seeming a marathon effort up in 1926 and was modelled on the BBC. It is funded to me, it covered in great detail a number of very by a receiving fee paid by every Japanese household, it important points and was not in any way discursive or has no commercial advertising and it maintains a position repetitive. That is a real achievement and shows, once of strict political impartiality. again, that my hon. Friend is one of the most formidable Malaysia has a public service broadcaster that is debaters in the House. When one sees his name on the entirely state-owned. It was previously funded publicly annunciator, one knows that it is worth leaving what through money obtained from television licensing, but one is doing and coming to the Chamber. I also know, it is now state subsidised, as Malaysia has abolished TV because I came to the House at the same time as he did, licences. Malaysia operates 16 state and seven district that he was the director of a travel agency, which I radio stations, as well as two national terrestrial television imagine was enormously successful. Such was the detail channels. Croatia, interestingly, has a mixed approach. that he brought to the debate that I am sure customers The last figures I could find were from 2002 and they who discussed a holiday destination with him would showed that 70% of the funding for HRT—I will not have received a very detailed analysis of the options attempt to pronounce the name of Croatia’s national available all over the world. Perhaps that attention to broadcaster—comes from broadcast user fees for each detail started with his distinguished career in engineering, house, with the remainder being made up by advertising. which of course calls for great attention to detail. The best and most well-known other example of We heard important contributions from my hon. public service broadcasting can be found in the United Friends the Members for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher), States, whose arrangements are entirely different. Its for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) and for Gainsborough public service broadcasting is decentralised and is not (Mr Leigh). My hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth Government operated, yet nobody in this House could supported some of the comments that hon. Members 687 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 688 Content) Bill Content) Bill made, but he made it clear that it would be dangerous to present, I am confident in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s give politicians the chance to threaten the editorial management of the economy and his predictions that independence of the BBC. I wholeheartedly agree with inflation will fall substantially next year. that point. As I say, the licence fee is a fair deal for all involved, My hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough was bringing certainty for the BBC, a low level of licence fee concerned about the NAO’s ability to audit the proposals, for the licence fee payer, and the opportunity for efficiencies. and my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North was My hon. Friend the Member for Bury North talked keen to stress the diverse nature of broadcasting beyond about flats in multiple occupation; my understanding is the BBC and the opportunities presented by the Bill to that owing to the way in which our society is developing support that wider broadcasting ecology. the BBC will get significantly increased income because The Government strongly support the BBC and believe of the number of individuals paying a licence fee. I will it to be a jewel in our crown that is widely supported by not say any more than that, because that would obviously the British public. Indeed, the hon. Member for Ashfield be a matter of social commentary on the way people (Gloria De Piero), who gave a precise and to-the-point lead their lives today. summary of her party’s position, pointed out that the Let me turn to my concerns about some of the issues BBC ranks alongside tea and Marmite in the affections that have been raised. First, there is the issue of top-slicing of British citizens who are foolish enough to leave this the licence fee. I do not think that hon. Members wonderful country of ours; that is what they miss. actually used the phrase “top-slicing”, but it is quite The BBC is supported strongly by the public, and it is clear that they want to keep the licence fee under the important to understand that it remains an anchor for Bill, but would like it to be distributed to other broadcasters. our diverse media ecology, if that is not too much of a The issue was debated thoroughly in the previous mixed metaphor. As it relies not on advertising but on Parliament, and in fact it became quite a serious proposal the licence fee, it can provide quality programming, and in the past few years, particularly when Channel 4, it raises the quality bar—a bar for which other broadcasters under its previous leadership, argued for an element of have to aim. Other broadcasters have to balance their the licence fee. Ofcom, the independent regulator, had need for ratings with their need to produce quality examined the issue and thought it should be considered. broadcasting, given the choice available to the public. I always remained against top-slicing, for a number The BBC also provides a whole range of training of reasons. I could not understand the perspective of opportunities; many successful directors and producers people such as my hon. Friend the Member for began their careers at the BBC. It provides a valuable Wellingborough, who clearly have significant concerns resource for many independent production companies about the BBC and the quality of the programming it that provide programmes for the BBC, which is important provides. Why on earth would they want to see two, because of the window of creative competition. three or four BBCs? My hon. Friend may have concerns This country would be much poorer without the about the quality of some of the BBC’s output, but, BBC; the brand is widely recognised around the world, knowing him as I do, I suspect he probably has the and it is highly competitive. I was recently lucky enough occasional hernia about the output of Channel 4. to go to the BBC showcase in Brighton, where BBC Let us imagine that Channel 4 had a slice of the Worldwide sells BBC television programmes to buyers licence fee. My hon. Friend would have to speak in the from around the world. It was an astonishing occasion next debate not for an hour and eight minutes, but for that reminds one how much the rest of the world values two hours and 16 minutes to express his concerns. and admires the BBC. More than 500 delegates from all Imagine if there were three, four, five or six broadcasters over the world came to buy BBC programming from receiving the licence fee. Given that one licence fee-funded across the spectrum. That provides the BBC with valuable broadcaster gets an hour and eight minutes of forensic income. analysis from my hon. Friend, we could be here for As hon. Members are aware, we concluded a rapid hours listening to him get off his chest his concerns licence fee negotiation with the BBC in October, and I about the licence fee. think the result is a fair deal for all involved. It is a fair During the debate my hon. Friend raised his concerns deal for the licence fee payer; the licence fee is currently about the way the licence fee is collected. We know that £145.50, and that will be frozen for the lifetime of this this is a perennial problem. All of us as constituency Parliament, up to the 2017 renewal of the BBC’s charter. MPs have heard from individual constituents who either It is a fair deal for the BBC, because it gives it certainty do not have a television or feel that the letters they on the licence fee, instead of two years of fraught receive from TV Licensing are heavy handed. I point negotiation, and it allows it to plan for a substantial out to my hon. Friend that of the people who are period. The level of the licence fee is perhaps challenging approached by TV Licensing and asked to pay the for the BBC, but we are confident that it will be able to television licence fee when they have not done so, claiming make significant efficiency savings to absorb what is, in that they do not have a television, one in five do have a effect, a reduction in licence fee income. television. Clearly, it is important that the licence fee is collected from everyone who has a television so that all Mr Leigh: On that important point, there is already of us can enjoy the benefits of a low licence fee. The pressure on inflation, and it is impossible to predict. more people who did not pay for their licence, the What are the plans if inflation rises beyond its current higher the licence fee would rise. reasonably low levels? What will happen then? Mr Bone: The commissar Minister seems to imply Mr Vaizey: I am not sure whether my hon. Friend is that for the good of collecting the licence from one arguing for an increase in the licence fee in such person, the privacy of four others may be invaded. circumstances; I would be astonished if he was. At Surely that is from the USSR, not from Britain. 689 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 690 Content) Bill Content) Bill Mr Vaizey: I am not sure that I agree with my hon. keen to report “the success of the ‘King’s Speech’, Friend’s interpretation of what I said. All I am saying is which was funded by the UK Film Council, which is that for the television licensing organisation to approach being abolished by the Government.” Any lay person an individual and ask them to pay the licence fee may listening to that report would ask, “What’s going on? not be an unnecessary exercise in every case. We have just had a fantastically successful British film The National Audit Office was mentioned. I want to and the Government are clearly withdrawing the money bring hon. Members up to date with where we are on that supports such films.”In fact, the money that supports that. In September 2010 we announced that the National a film like “The King’s Speech” is being increased by Audit Office was to have full access to the BBC’s accounts, 60%. It would have been better if the BBC had put that and that the NAO would be able to choose which areas in context and said, “‘The King’s Speech’, which was to investigate. However, we made it clear that the BBC’s funded by the lottery, the funds of which are being editorial policy was to be safeguarded. These changes increased by the coalition by 60%.” That would have will be given effect by amending the BBC agreement. been an accurate portrayal of our policy. We are working on the detail of how the changes are to Similarly, I suspect that the Arts Council might feel be implemented, and we hope to achieve that towards slightly aggrieved by the BBC’s reporting of its decisions the end of the year. November 2011 is the date that this week. Incidentally, I will take this opportunity to appears in the Department for Culture, Media and congratulate the Arts Council’s chairman, Dame Liz Sport’s structural reform plan, which I know hon. Members Forgan, and chief executive, Alan Davey, on what I will have seen on our website, because I know they will think was a significant and successful strategic review of want to keep up to date with the targets that the its portfolio. The BBC reported that 600 arts organisations Department has set itself. had lost out as a result of Government cuts, but what it I was interested in the point made by my hon. Friend did not report was that this was the first time in the Arts the Member for Bury North about the convergence of Council’s history that it had had an open application the internet and broadcasting. That is an extremely process. As a result, 1,333 organisations applied for valid point. I hope convergence will give many more £1.4 billion of funds. If there had been no cuts to the broadcasters a chance to reach new audiences. It is Arts Council’s grant, it would still have had only about important that in a new media ecology—you can tell, £1 billion to invest, so there was already a £400 million Mr Deputy Speaker, that I like using the word shortfall. It would have been good if the BBC’s bulletins “ecology”—we give new companies the space to grow. on the morning of that decision had reflected that point. They are currently subject to co-regulation by Ofcom Now that I have got the things that bug me off my and the Authority for Television on Demand, and it is chest, I will return to the Bill. [Interruption.] I apologise, extremely important that that regulation is as light Mr Deputy Speaker; the sip of water I just had went touch as possible to allow those organisations the space down the wrong way. As hon. Members will be aware, to invest, grow and market to new audiences. the Secretary of State announced in January that there Our television experience may well change dramatically. is to be a thorough review of media and communications However, the increase in viewing of what is known as over the term of this Parliament. We hope that that will shift television, which allows live television to be paused lead to a new communications Act, with the aim of and effectively watched on demand, has not been as ensuring that we have a dynamic communications market dramatic as had been expected. A few years ago, it was that continues to be world-leading. If possible, we would expected that by this stage around 40% or 50% of like to deregulate where we can and ensure that we viewing would be on that basis, but the figure turns out encourage growth and innovation. For the purposes of to be only around 5% or 6%. We remain a conservative my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough and nation, still watching linear television as it is broadcast colleagues who support his proposals, there is a great by the main broadcasters. opportunity, because we will be publishing a high-level discussion paper very soon. That will help us to draft a In any debate on the BBC, which is inevitably what a Green Paper, which we hope to complete by the end of debate on a Bill on public service broadcasting becomes, the year. That offers an opportunity to my hon. Friend, there will be a discussion of BBC bias. I am aware that and perhaps my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch, many hon. Members feel that the BBC is biased against to make a submission setting out their concerns. It was their particular point of view. I think it was my hon. clear from the speech by my hon. Friend the Member Friend the hon. Member for Wellingborough who said for Wellingborough, and from a speech by my hon. that if Front Benchers disagreed with him, he knew he Friend the Member for Christchurch when a similar Bill was right. However, I think that it is also the case that at was introduced two years ago, that their knowledge of any one time Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative the broadcasting sector and their understanding of the Members will all allege that the BBC is biased against many challenges that it faces are among the highest in their perspectives, so perhaps one could conclude that the House. It would be a matter of personal regret if the BBC is getting it broadly right. that knowledge and depth of interest were not reflected Nevertheless, my concern with the BBC relates to the in a submission to the discussion paper that could element of accuracy, or to the need to put decisions in inform the Green Paper. The discussion paper will context. One of the frustrations I had on a particular allow people to comment on the future of public service policy area of mine—the abolition of the UK Film content and, more generally, on investment in content Council—was the way it was reported by the BBC. As in the UK. That is when we should discuss the nature of hon. Members know, the film “The King’s Speech” was public service content, assessing whether a definition is partly funded by lottery money that was invested in the needed at all and, if so, how we negotiate it. Given the film via the UK Film Council. When “The King’s importance of looking at the matter in the round, it Speech” began winning BAFTAs and Oscars, on which would be unhelpful to address the case for a new the whole House congratulates its makers, the BBC was definition in isolation in the Bill. 691 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 Broadcasting (Public Service 692 Content) Bill Content) Bill Let me set out the position more generally. The Bill more positive ratings for the PSB purposes in relation to seeks to abolish section 264 of the Communications informing our understanding of the world, stimulating Act 2003. That provision provides the basis of the knowledge and learning and elements related to reflecting framework for public service regulation set out in the the UK’s cultural identity. It is my understanding that Act, as well as the basis of Ofcom’s statutory reviews of the public regard, for example, “Strictly Come Dancing” public service broadcasting. It may help if I remind the as public service broadcasting, particularly when Ann House how public service broadcasting is covered in the Widdecombe is taking part. [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, Act, which ensures the dissemination of information hear.”] I thought that I would get some assent across the and the provision of education and entertainment. It Chamber for that remark; I thank hon. Members. provides for cultural activity, including drama, comedy, Similarly, Ofcom’s second public service broadcasting music, feature films and other visual and performing review found that audiences value highly content that arts. News and current affairs in the UK and around the meets the purposes and characteristics of public service world are covered. There is a requirement to satisfy broadcasting. The report concluded that audiences want sporting and other leisure interests, and to provide a wide range of high-quality content, which fulfils the programmes on science, religion, social issues, international purposes of providing news, promoting learning, reflecting matters, specialist matters and religion. Children’s our culture, and exposing a variety of views. It went on programming must be covered, as well as programming to note that high-quality UK-originated programming that reflects the lives of different communities, cultural plays an essential part in meeting those purposes. It is interests and traditions in the UK and, locally, in different interesting to note that audiences still strongly support parts of the UK. the BBC, but there is a clear consensus that viewers The characteristics and purposes of public service value an alternative to the BBC across a wide range of broadcasting proposed by Ofcom as part of its first programming. public service broadcasting review in 2005 are worthy of The Government recognise that the changing structure consideration. Ofcom argued that public service of the television advertising market, the different cycles in broadcasting should be defined in terms of purposes television advertising revenue, technological developments, and characteristics, rather than in terms of specific which I have already mentioned, the growth in platforms types of programmes or the output of certain institutions. and increasing convergence all have an impact on providing It concluded that the purposes of public service public service broadcasting. Such changes are now broadcasting were based on the principles of informing permanent features of the broadcasting landscape and ourselves and others; stimulating interest and knowledge; the Government will fully reflect such matters as we reflecting and strengthening our cultural identity; and develop our policy. To support us in doing so, I again making us aware of different cultures and viewpoints. It make my call to all interested parties to tell us what considered that the distinctive characteristics of public needs to change, what works well and what does not service programmes were that they were of high quality, work so well. We need to encourage a debate on public original, innovative, challenging, engaging and widely service broadcasting, and we hope and anticipate that available. the subject will be debated for a long while yet. As As hon. Members will be aware, the previous Select Ofcom noted in the conclusion to its second public Committee on Culture, Media and Sport undertook a service broadcasting review: thorough examination of what is meant by public service “The central question is how a historically strong and successful content in its report of November 2007. It is worth public service broadcasting system can navigate from its analogue highlighting the argument that not all public service form to a new digital model. We need to sustain its quality and broadcasting is provided by our established public service creative spirit while also capturing the opportunities of broadband broadcasters. A strong case can be made for the claim distribution, mobility and interactivity.” that other broadcasters produce a great deal of I summarise by saying that the Government review of programming that meets the characteristics of public media and communications will cover investment in service broadcasting, as set out in the Communications content, including public service content. The review Act. That is to be welcomed, as is the good quality provides an opportunity for all to contribute their views. content that does not seek to qualify as public service Given the importance of looking at such matters in the broadcasting. round, it would be unhelpful to address the case for a new definition in isolation through the Bill. On that Public service broadcasting, from whatever source, is basis, I am afraid that I cannot commend the Bill to the an essential element of the UK’s broadcasting landscape. House. It is entertaining, informative and educational and makes a vital contribution to a healthy, well-informed democracy. It might be worth putting on the record my support for 1.4 pm the numerous cable and satellite operators based in the Mr Bone: This has been an important and wide-ranging UK from abroad, who invest together approximately debate. I was encouraged by the fact that the shadow £1.6 billion in content and about £400 million in original Minister, who spoke very well for Her Majesty’s Loyal content, and employ around 22,000 people in this country. Opposition, and the Minister, who always speaks well, It is important that they are seen as part of the debate agreed, which absolutely assures me that I am right in when we consider the new communications measure. pressing the matter to a Division—when the two Front It is encouraging that Ofcom’s most recent report on Benchers agree, they are inevitably making the wrong public service broadcasting found that audiences continue decision. to value public service broadcasting programming and However, I am encouraged by what the Minister said to rate highly the importance of the public service on the Government review. I think he was encouraging broadcasting purposes and characteristics. In particular, me to press the matter to a Division, because such a for the PSB channels considered together, there were decision would help to inform that review. I thank my 693 Broadcasting (Public Service 1 APRIL 2011 694 Content) Bill [Mr Bone] Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) Bill hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) for his interesting points, although when he Second Reading picked on “Test Match Special” and “Just a Minute”, he hit hard at two programmes in which my wife and I 1.18 pm are very interested. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh), who has great knowledge Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) (Con): I beg to of the Public Accounts Committee. I take on board his move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. comments, but I hope they can be addressed in Committee. This is my fourth attempt to bring in a Bill to amend Of course, I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 and my first Bury North (Mr Nuttall), who as usual spoke concisely opportunity, after seven years of trying, to get a Second and eloquently. I hope the Bill receives its Second Reading debate. I am therefore very pleased to have this Reading. opportunity today.My Bill seeks to amend those regulations Question put, That the Bill be now read a Second to provide for information about the country of origin time. of food to be made available to consumers. That is it; I am not trying to restrict imports from anywhere. The House divided: Ayes 3, Noes 16. Division No. 251] [1.5 pm I am not trying to prevent people who love Spanish chorizo from buying as much of it as they want. I am AYES not trying to prevent people who want genuine German wurst from buying it by the Mercedes Benz truck load Field, rh Mr Frank Tellers for the Ayes: and importing it into this country to sell to all the Hollobone, Mr Philip Mr Peter Bone and people who want to buy it. I am not trying to prevent Leigh, Mr Edward Mr David Nuttall those who are partial to kangaroo meat from buying that, either. According to the website of J. M. Danslow, NOES a quality butcher in Gravesend, kangaroo meat is Allen, Mr Graham Randall, rh Mr John “used by some of the world’s best restaurants because of its high Bottomley, Sir Peter Rees-Mogg, Jacob quality and unique flavour.” David, Mr Wayne Sanders, Mr Adrian Those who are partial to kangaroo meat have nothing De Piero, Gloria Seabeck, Alison to fear from my Bill. Those who like bison, which is Gardiner, Barry Shuker, Gavin “the most flavoured red meat available to today’s consumer Greenwood, Lilian Vaizey, Mr Edward Hendrick, Mark …nutritious, tender and easy to prepare”, Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Tellers for the Noes: can also set their minds at rest. Michael, rh Alun Stephen Crabb and Pound, Stephen Mr Philip Dunne Likewise, no one who likes eating reindeer meat, which according to Danslow is The Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was “fine-fibred, tender and lean” not decided because fewer than 40 Members had taken as well as being part in the Division, and the business under consideration “rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and all vitamins B”, stood over until the next sitting of the House (Standing has any cause for concern. I might add that there are Order No. 41). other concerns about reindeer meat, as the Swedish store Ikea found to its cost a couple of years ago when it started selling salami made from reindeer in its UK stores at Christmas time. The idea that Rudolf’s big thank you for helping Santa to deliver all his presents in double-quick time was to be chopped up and turned into salami for the Christmas dinner table was a little too much for the nation’s children and their parents to bear. But, if there are still any secret reindeer meat eaters out there following that debacle, they have nothing to fear from my Bill. My Bill seeks to do one thing: I just want consumers to know where meat comes from. I want them to know, not to think or to guess or to hope. If producers say on the label that meat is British, it should actually be British. I have set out this argument in the House on four previous occasions: on 22 March 2004; on 29 October 2008; and in a slightly different Bill on 17 March 2009, which is identical to the Bill that I asked the Leader of the House to introduce on 11 January 2011. So I will not detain the House for very long.

Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I appreciate that my hon. Friend has set out his arguments in the House before, but I and other Members who are present 695 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 696 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill today were not here on those occasions, and we would I agree, and so did the farming Minister at the time, very much welcome listening to those arguments in Jane Kennedy, who was then the right hon. Member for some detail. Liverpool, Wavertree—and she is, I might add, very much missed. She appeared on the excellent Channel 4 Mr Bacon: I hear what my hon. Friend says, and I will programme, “Jamie Saves our Bacon”, and told Jamie set out a précis of the arguments for his benefit and for Oliver that misleading labelling was “a disgrace”. Once that of other Members. I do not want to dwell on them again, I agree. at length, however, because I also need to explore the Some progress has been made with voluntary codes, aspects of European law that are unjustifiably held to but they are voluntary. As I said in seeking leave to be fatal to the Bill. bring in this Bill, significant concerns persist about the I was saying that the Food Labelling Regulations effectiveness of voluntary agreements, while the demand (Amendment) Bill that I introduced in 2009 is worth for mandatory country-of-origin labelling continues to some attention, particularly because of its sponsors. I grow. Helen Ferrier, the chief science and regulatory reiterate that that Bill is identical to today’s Bill, save for affairs officer for the National Farmers Union said of the names of the sponsors. My 2009 Bill had a range of the guidance from the British Retail Consortium: sponsors from different parties, including my right hon. “Unless all companies sign up and then consistently stick to Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire their promises, some consumers will still be misled.” (Mr Paice) and my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance (Richard Benyon), who I am delighted to see sitting in also welcomed the guidance and urged food organisations his place today. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to to sign up to its standards, but she also lamented: introduce a Bill that I know has the support of two “The code is not mandatory, which would offer further protection people who are now Ministers in the Department for still.” Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. At the annual general meeting of the National Federation I do not wish to detain the House by talking about of Women’s Institutes in 2010, a resolution calling for the cheating that goes on, but I will briefly summarise the mandatory, clear labelling of food with its true the problem. The current rules do not do the job country of origin was passed unanimously. The Minister adequately, and consumers continue to be misled. In the might like to reflect that this is an organisation not to be case of certain foodstuffs, no indication need be given trifled with, as a former Prime Minister found out to his that the product is made with imported meat. Examples cost. The chair of the Women’s Institute, Ruth Bond include the Tesco chicken dinner in its range of children’s said: meals, which simply states “Produced in the UK”, “We know that consumers want to make informed choices, and although the chicken actually comes from Thailand. surely it is not right that consumers remain dependent on the Sometimes a phrase will be used to imply the country of goodwill of retailers signing up to a voluntary scheme. Without origin. For example, items from the Bird’s Eye Great legislation there is no guarantee that consumers will get the choice and information they are demanding.” British Menu range turn out, on closer inspection, to contain imported meat. At present, producers of imported Let me turn to deal briefly with the Bill. It is a very meat can lawfully use the Union flag on packaging to short Bill of two clauses, including the “Short title and imply that a product is British, even when it is not, and commencement”, so I suppose it is what most of us they do so. They can, and do, import meat from would call a one-clause Bill. It provides definitions of overseas, package it here and say that it has been meat products under the rubric of “Country of origin produced in the UK. labelling”. More extended provisions explain in more detail the definition of “Meat component” and the There are not many people out there who disagree circumstances in which the word “British”can be used—or with what I am saying about the need to address the where it cannot: problem. An ICM poll for the Honest Food campaign “No meat product may be labelled ‘British’ unless the animal showed that 87% of consumers in the survey believe from which the meat was derived was born, reared and slaughtered that the Government should ensure that the country of in the United Kingdom.” origin is clearly shown on food products. The survey The key issue I want to devote most of my time to also showed that 89% believe that when a product such exploring is whether there are fatal flaws in the Bill as sausages or bacon is labelled as “British” or “produced because of European Union law. Some people believe in the UK”, it should mean that the sausages or bacon that to be the case, but I am not sure that it is. Let me are from an animal reared in Britain. start by pointing out the terms of the EC directive—the The right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne original directive 2000/13/EC. It states in paragraph (6) East (Mr Brown) is a sponsor of the Bill. When he was of the preamble: an Agriculture Minister 12 years ago in 1999, he told us: “The prime consideration for any rules on the labelling of “I want to give clear unambiguous information on the real foodstuffs should be the need to inform and protect the consumer.” place of origin, not place of processing or place of slicing; I want Paragraph (8) continues: to clamp down on misleading place of origin descriptions”.—[Official “Detailed labelling, in particular giving the exact nature and Report, 28 October 1999; Vol. 366, c. 1126.] characteristics of the product, which enables the consumer to In the last Labour Administration, the then Secretary make his choice in full knowledge of the facts is the most of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the appropriate”— right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) and now we come to the most interesting bit— said: “since it creates the fewest obstacles to free trade.” “A pork pie made in Britain from Danish pork can legitimately More detailed labelling means fewer obstacles to free be labelled as a British pork pie”. trade. Paragraph (14) of the preamble continues: He added: “The rules on labelling should also prohibit the use of information “That’s nonsense, and it needs to change.” that would mislead the purchaser”. 697 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 698 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill [Mr Bacon] ‘the requirement by the importing Member State of the indication of the country of origin on the customs declaration document for Moving on from the preamble to the articles, article 2 products in free circulation…does not in itself constitute a measure states quite clearly in the first paragraph: of equivalent effect’” “The labelling and methods used must not…be such as could —in other words, one that would produce the equivalent mislead the purchaser to a material degree”. of quantitative restrictions— All over the directive, it is perfectly clear that the “‘if the goods in question are covered by measures of commercial policy adopted by that State in conformity with the Treaty.’” purpose is to protect the interests of consumers. The judgment went on to say, however—and this is the It is not at all obvious therefore that what I am point— doing—it could easily be argued that I am simply trying to transpose into UK law, albeit more effectively than “‘such a requirement would, however, fall under the prohibition contained in Article [28] of the Treaty if the importer were hitherto, the requirements of this directive—is in any required to declare, with regard to origin, something other than sense contrary to European law. However, I accept that what he knows or may reasonably be expected to know’”. there is an argument to be had. My contention is that I would say that meat suppliers should this is about consumer choice, not about restricting markets in any way. “reasonably be expected to know” where the meat that they are supplying comes from. In order to make the point in more detail, let me turn to the leading text on the free movement of goods. It is On the face of it, the requirement would not fall the fourth edition of “Free Movement of Goods in the under the prohibition in article 28. Unfortunately for European Community: under Articles 28 to 30 of the that line of argument, however—as Mr Oliver goes on EC Treaty”, by Mr Peter Oliver. As it makes clear, an to say— extant jurisprudence offers a considerable opportunity “At least since January 1, 1993, when Article 14” for complex discussion. It states: —the former article 7A— “Article28 (formerly article 30) provides: ‘Quantitative restrictions “of the Treaty took effect, all obligations to make a declaration of on imports and exports and all measures having equivalent effect origin constitute measures of equivalent effect. The qualifications shall…be prohibited between Member States…the concept of in Donckerwolcke, which related to the now moribund Article 134…no measures of equivalent effect to quantitative restrictions differs longer apply.” from quantitative restrictions themselves in that it is considerably It might be thought that that constituted “Game, set wider and more complex.” and match”, or “I am done middle stump”—depending In other words, it is quite possible that even if someone on whether a tennis or a cricketing analogy is preferred—but was not trying—as I am not trying—to restrict the even then it is not as simple as that, because the treaty imports of goods by providing that meat sold here must also contains article 30. Mr Oliver’s book is devoted be accurately labelled, that could be the equivalent almost entirely to article 28 and article 30. The main effect although it was not the intention, and article 28 exception, as he describes it—article 30—includes the prohibits measures that have the effect of quantitative subject of mandatory requirements. Article 30 states: restrictions. “The provisions of Articles 28 and 29 shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): I strongly transit justified on grounds of”— support my hon. Friend’s Bill, but I wonder what other and a whole laundry list follows— countries in the EU do. It is difficult to imagine the “public morality, public policy or public security; the protection French, for instance, tolerating the position that exists of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of in this country, and they are better at protecting their national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological own meat market. Perhaps my hon. Friend can enlighten value; or the protection of industrial and commercial property.” the House. We could drive a pyramid through that group of exceptions. That makes plenty of work for lawyers, of course, but it Mr Bacon: I will. I shall be citing a number of cases also shows that the issue is not quite as clear as some that have been heard in the European courts, which might try to make us believe. illustrate that not just the French but many other countries Mr Oliver goes on to say: have come up against these issues and that there is a “The wording of this provision shows that it applies both to developed jurisprudence. quantitative restrictions and to measures of equivalent effect. As Peter Oliver says in his book, Furthermore, it covers that latter whether they are ‘distinctly’ or ‘indistinctly’ applicable.” “in determining whether a particular measure falls under Article 28…it is imperative to proceed in two stages. The first question to ask is: He continues: does this measure restrict imports (or exports) so as to be caught “it is also clear from the wording of Article 30 that, subject to by Article 28…? If so, then the second question arises, namely: is certain limits, it merely entitles the Member States to exercise the measure nevertheless justified in Community law and thus certain powers: it does not oblige them to do so.” lawful?” We must bear in mind that I am not trying to impose Mr Oliver examines explicitly the question of the any restrictions on imports. I am merely trying to obligation to make a declaration of origin. He makes it ensure that the consumer has clear information. Therefore, clear that in “certain circumstances”, case law has held—in my proposals should receive the lightest possible the past—that interpretation in respect of these rules. “the requirement that the importer make a declaration of origin is Mr Oliver goes on to point out that as the European contrary to Article 28. This was laid down in the Donckerwolke Court of Justice judgment, already discussed” “held in Bauhuis v Netherlands, Article 30 ‘constitutes a derogation —earlier in his book, that is— from the basic rule that all obstacles to the free movement of “where the Court held: goods between Member States shall be eliminated’”. 699 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 700 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill In other words, such derogations are possible. Mr Oliver Article 30. Since the Court has now accepted that consumer continues: protection may justify restrictions otherwise prohibited by Article 28, does it make sense to approach it differently from, say, plant “To be justified under Article 30, national provisions”— health merely because in 1957 (when the Treaty of Rome was first which is what mine would be— drafted) consumer protection did not yet arouse much passion?” “must fall within one of the grounds of justification covered by Mr Oliver continued: the first sentence of Article 30”. “It always seemed clear that the ‘mandatory requirements’ I think mine do that. Public policy says there should be have the same properties as the grounds of justification in Article 30. better information for consumers so they can make As van Gerven”— informed choices, and public policy is one of the the then advocate-general— justifications under article 30. “remarked in Aragonesa de Publicidad v Departamento de Sanidad As Mr Oliver points out, to be justified under article 30 ‘…the conditions governing the applicability of the Cassis de national provisions must also Dijon doctrine and of Article [30] are the same”. “not constitute arbitrary discrimination nor a disguised restriction He continued: on trade between Member States and must be justified.” “For these reasons, the second approach has been firmly and I am not trying to put any disguised restrictions on consistently advocated in this book since its very first edition, trade between member states. I simply want information which appeared in 1982. This is despite the fact that…the Court for consumers, and what I am trying to do is certainly had already chosen to follow the other approach, which was also backed by most commentators for many years.” not arbitrary. Mr Oliver’s point in this text, which is one of the To continue: leading reference books on the free movement of goods, “the Court in ‘Cassis de Dijon’”— is that the second approach is gaining favour. He continued: one of the most famous cases in European jurisprudence— “What is more, the Court has on occasion had recourse to “has recognised a series of ‘mandatory requirements’ in addition some far-fetched—not to say exotic—devices so as to maintain to the grounds of justification expressly set out in Article 30.” the façade that the ‘mandatory requirements’apply only to ‘indistinctly As is clearly set out in the book, applicable measures’. Thus the Court has been driven to holding the following measures to be ‘indistinctly applicable’ so as to be “the better view is that the ‘mandatory requirements’ fall under able to consider the ‘mandatory requirements’ at all: a German that provision”— statutory provision to the effect that only wines from certain article 30— specific regions of Germany could be marketed in bottles of a “despite the Court’s traditional view that they were subsumed particular shape; legislation prohibiting the importation and marketing within Article 28. of meat products containing non-meat ingredients; and a measure prohibiting the use of the letter R in a circle (which indicates that The ‘mandatory requirements’ recognised so far are: the prevention a name constitutes a registered trade mark) unless such registration of tax evasion, consumer protection, the prevention of unfair had occurred in the Member States in question. competition, the protection of the environment, the improvement of working conditions, the maintenance of press diversity” Perhaps the most striking example occurred in Commission v Belgium (waste disposal), which concerned a blatantly discriminatory and so forth. ban on imports of waste into Wallonia from other Member To continue: States.” “One questions left open by ‘Cassis de Dijon’ was the relationship Mr Oliver goes on to talk about a “most welcome” between the ‘mandatory requirements’ laid down by that judgment move made by advocate-general Jacobs, whom I sat and Article 30, which is not mentioned at all in the judgment. Two next to at lunch once in Luxembourg and I found to be schools of thought evolved on this matter: a thoroughly excellent chap. Mr Oliver describes how (a) According to the first view, the ‘mandatory requirements’ Mr Jacobs are to be weighed up within Article 28, not Article 30. Moreover, only ‘indistinctly applicable’ measures may qualify, so that ‘distinctly “has criticised the Court’s traditional approach on at least two Chemische Afvalstoffen Dusseldorp v Minister van applicable’ measures may only be justified on the grounds expressly occasions. In Milieubeheer” set out in Article 30. On this view, therefore, ‘indistinctly applicable — measures’ are granted more favourable treatment in that the I think that that is Dutch, rather than German— ‘mandatory requirements’ apply to them alone. “referring to the last edition of this book, he acknowledged that (b) According to the second view, the ‘mandatory requirements’ the Court had been ‘obliged to adopt rather tortuous reasoning’ are regarded as being subsumed under Article 30, on the grounds in the cases just mentioned and most particularly in the Walloon that they constitute additions to the list of grounds of justification Waste case. In PreussenElektra v Schleswag, the same Advocate expressly set out in Article 30. On this view, the mandatory General went further, saying that ‘the reasoning in Walloon Waste requirements are subject to precisely the same tests as the latter is flawed and that ‘it is desirable that even directly discriminatory grounds.” measures can sometimes be justified on grounds of environmental Mr Oliver continues: protection’, the latter being a ‘mandatory requirement’. He then added: ‘In view of the fundamental importance for the analysis of “In support of the first theory, it should be said that the Court Article 30 of the Treaty of the question whether directly discriminatory has repeatedly held that Article 30 must be interpreted narrowly measures can be justified by imperative requirements, the Court since it constitutes an exception to a fundamental principle of should, in my view, clarify its position in order to provide the Community law.” necessary legal certainty’. He adds: Mr Oliver goes on to say: “Yet it is submitted that that is outweighed by the following “Without expressly renouncing its earlier position, the considerations: Court has grudgingly moved in this direction…first…in (a) The second view avoids the undue harshness resulting from Konsumentenombudsmannen v De Agostini”. the first theory with respect to ‘distinctly applicable’ measures necessary on such grounds as consumer protection. According to That case basically considered whether an outright ban the first theory, even though they are necessary, such measures are on advertising certain products on television, which was quite simply prohibited. According to the second theory, they are held to have a greater effect in some member states than considered to fall under Article 28, but may be justified under in others, could be justified. 701 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 702 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill [Mr Bacon] “notwithstanding” clause. If it said “notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972”, it would He continued: undoubtedly be possible to introduce food labelling “Likewise, in Decker v Caisse de maladie des employés privés, regulations. the Court considered a ‘distinctly applicable’ Luxembourg rule This is an issue of great topicality. I have been discussing requiring the prior authorisation of the purchase of glasses from food labelling for meat products with a constituent, another Member State…in PreussenElektra, blatantly discriminatory legislation on wind energy was held to be justified for the protection specifically about their religious nature. Canon John of the environment (a mandatory requirement). Baker who lives in Midsomer Norton has corresponded Mr Oliver continued: with me about his concerns that eating halal food would be in breach of a Christian’s obligations, as set “Although these developments must surely be applauded, it is a pity that the Court has not yet shown the courage to disown its out in the Acts of the Apostles, on eating food that earlier approach expressly, as this would undoubtedly be in the has been blessed in honour of gods other than our interests of legal certainty.” lord and saviour and the blessed trinity. I have taken His fundamental point is as follows: this up with the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who I “In short, the view consistently espoused in all the previous thought would be an authority on this matter. Hon. editions of this book has been gaining ground in recent years.” Members will be reassured to know, when they buy their meat, that whether it is halal or not, labelled or Why trouble the House with all this jurisprudence, not, it is still perfectly legitimate to eat. I am glad to put especially as a non-lawyer? The reason is extremely on the record the authoritative view of the established simple: I want to make it clear there is an argument to Church—not, as it happens, my Church—on this important be had. Indeed, having listened to what the Prime issue. Minister has said on the subject of food labelling, I venture to suggest that he agrees with me. He said at the Oxford farming conference: Mr Bacon: I am inclined to remark in parenthesis “Food can be imported to Britain, processed here, and subsequently that although my hon. Friend is not a member of the labelled in a way that suggests it’s genuinely British. That is established Church, we all feel that he probably ought completely wrong. I cannot overstate the importance of enabling to be were it not for the minor question of doctrine. informed consumer choice. Effective marketing can only be achieved if labelling is accurate and clear.” On the “notwithstanding” clause, I was tempted to put one in, but I did not for two reasons: first, because I He went on: contend that my Bill falls on the right side of the “I know that this may raise issues with the European Union. jurisprudence I have been talking about within the But the role of a Government that cares about British farming is European legal system, and secondly because my right not to sit on its hands and say ‘there’s nothing we can do’, but instead to test these rules and if necessary challenge and change hon. Friend the Prime Minister tends to get the heebie- them.” jeebies when the word “notwithstanding” is mentioned. As I was praying him in aid, as well as the two Department That is exactly what my Bill is designed to do and would for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Ministers accomplish, and I hope that the House will read it a who have given their support by signing the previous, Second time. identical version of the Bill, it seemed to me not a politic thing to do. 1.45 pm Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): It is Jacob Rees-Mogg: I completely understand my hon. interesting to reflect that the key aspects of both this Friend’s concern about introducing a “notwithstanding” and the previous Bill end up essentially being determined clause, because it does seem to some to be the nuclear by foreign organisations. In this one, we see clearly that option when it comes to our European relations. We it is an issue of the European Union, and it is a great would have to debate whether it was suitable to use such pleasure, as always, to see the Minister for Europe in his a powerful clause in relation to food labelling, and place, because he is wiser and better informed on these whether food labelling is an issue of such importance issues than almost anyone else in the House. In the that it is worth fracturing our relationship with Europe previous debate, the issue was whether we would be over, because the “notwithstanding”clause does ultimately allowed under European treaties to subsidise from the fracture our relationship with Europe, or leads to a licence fee the production of programmes made in the fundamental renegotiation. The question, I suppose, is United Kingdom. That is clearly an issue that Europe whether that is what the British electorate want. would have poked its nose into. Then we get into a desperately depressing discussion I have huge sympathy with my hon. Friend on the about whether something that this sovereign Parliament point about most people in this country wanting to is considering doing is legal. Whatever this sovereign know where their food comes from, how it is processed, Parliament decides to do is by its very nature legal and what is in it. It all gets frightfully stomach-churning although it may undermine some obligations we have when we read in the detail of the Bill what is classified under international treaties. I know that a senior judge— as meat: indeed the most senior judge, Lord Justice Judge—spoke “the heart, any other internal organ…the muscles of the head, the recently about the application of European Union law carpus, the tarsus, or the tail from any mammalian or bird species and the rulings of the European Court of Human recognised as fit for human consumption.” Rights in this country. He rightly pointed out that they Some of those bits do not sound fit for human consumption have effect only because of laws that this House has at all. They sound more like dog meat, which probably passed; therefore, they can have uneffect, if such a word should be equally carefully labelled, so that the great exists, if this House passes amending legislation. A dogs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland possible problem with the Bill is that it does not have a do not mistakenly consume foreign-produced dog food; 703 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 704 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill I expect that would cause them great concern, because Mr Nuttall: I must intervene on that point. The best we know that the English bulldog is a particularly quality rain, if that is what I heard my hon. Friend say, patriotic symbol. must surely fall in Manchester, in particular that part of I come back to the concerns of consumers. We have Greater Manchester which comprises my constituency, had lots of rows with Europe about how food is labelled Bury North. and processed, and Europe always seems to be on the wrong side of the argument. It always seems to be Jacob Rees-Mogg: There are occasions during a test restraining some form of trade without allowing match at Old Trafford when the rain falling can be the people to have proper information. I remember the best possible rain, when it saves England from a notable great row about where Parma ham was cut, and whether defeat, but the rain that falls on the edge of the Mendips it could be described as Parma ham if it was not is the finest rain. That, as it happens, is why Joseph of physically cut in Italy. That seemed fair old nonsense; Arimathea visited. He just wanted to see quite what if a person has a great slab of ham and cuts it up at high quality the rain was. home, it is the same ham as if they had cut it up in Italy. I think it was Asda that wanted to do that in some plant I was talking about the high quality of the beef in in the United Kingdom. Europe goes for a tough and Somerset. When one looks at a piece of meat in a farm restrictive anti-free-trade regulation. It seems to put us shop, like the farm shop that I used to live next door to, in a position where we cannot really be honest with the it has a quality that makes one look forward to one’s British consumer and let him or her know what they are Sunday lunch. With some Yorkshire pudding—I know buying. That is important, because we have read the that is not meat, but it would be most upsetting to think most appalling stories of the labelling of food that is that one’s Yorkshire pudding came from the continentals. pretty much no more than packaged in this country as if I am sure that they have no clue how to make it. Where it were British. their eggs would come from would be not quite the My hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk thing. I know that I am going on to other food products (Mr Bacon) so rightly mentioned the use of the Union that are not mentioned in the Bill. flag on food. When we see the Union flag, we want to I want to say a few words about one detailed concern— think, “That’s a best bit of British beef.” We do not perhaps a pedantic concern—that I have about the Bill. want to think that it has possibly come from Kobe, That is the reference to the Union flag. Many of our where the beef used to be very good and delicious, but most favoured nations, countries with which we have a which we might now worry was becoming radioactive. great fellow feeling, use the Union flag as a jack. I am We need to know what it is, and what is in it. If it has slightly worried that we might stop our friends in Australia come from Kobe via some European country and we and New Zealand putting their flag on because of the are not being told, that must be to the disadvantage of Union flag being used as a jack, with the stars in the fly. the British consumer when they go out to do the weekly We want to be entirely clear—this may be a point to be shopping. discussed in Committee—that flags that incorporate When one is in North East Somerset, one wants to the Union flag should be permissible as a representation know that one’s food is really from Somerset, because of the country of origin when the item comes from that some of the best food produced in the United Kingdom country. comes from God’s own county. We have the finest beef, That is a particularly welcome thing to do, because lamb, chickens—you name it; turkeys, even. It has a those tend to be countries that share a sovereign with quality, a taste, a melt-in-the-mouth flavour that makes us. We should have a particularly favourable attitude one proud to come from Somerset. That ought to be on towards them, rather than countries such as France, a label, and some bureaucrat Johnny in Brussels should which of course used to share a sovereign with us—I not be saying, “We really can’t have this, because it think of Henry VI, crowned king of France in Paris might deter you from buying a German sausage.” I some time in the 1420s; Mr Deputy Speaker, you will would not like a German sausage at all; they are much know better than I the precise date—but no longer do too spicy and flavoured for my taste. I like a good, so and have therefore lost out in the development of proper, plain, British banger. Those hon. Members who European history. One can only have sympathy for remember watching “Yes, Prime Minister” all those them in lacking such a wise and benign system of years ago will know that that has been an issue in government as we have here. British political life for decades. We want our right to eat our sausages stuffed full of bread and things like that, because when they are, they taste nice. We do not Mr Bacon: I took the trouble to mention kangaroo want all this garlic and stuff that we get in foreign meat, and how it would not be affected by my Bill. I sausages. I am tempted to mention the Flanders and have no objection to kangaroo meat showing a clear Swann song but, Mr Deputy Speaker, I know that when national Australian symbol on it, which of course I get too poetic I sometimes incur your wrath, of which incorporates the Union flag. I live in trembling fear, so I will avoid Flanders and Swann when thinking about garlic-eaters. Jacob Rees-Mogg: I thank my hon. Friend for that. I We really need to know that information, so that we am greatly relieved, because I thought he was going to can get the food that we want, like and love—ideally the propose that we might get some kangaroo meat from food from Somerset, where the grass is of particularly Somerset. Although Somerset is very good at almost high quality. Those hon. Members who understand the everything, kangaroos might find the climate a little digestion of cattle will realise that if the grass has the colder than they are used to, and perhaps the fences not right flavour, and the water that falls is the best-quality quite high enough. They might do awful things like rain, only to be found in Somerset, the meat and its hopping over to Gloucestershire, which would no doubt marbling develops in a particular way. be extremely dangerous for their health. 705 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 706 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill [Jacob Rees-Mogg] but it clearly ought to be in the ambit of this Parliament to decide without worrying about Europe. It is not, There are all sorts of other peculiar meats that one except at the most excessive level, a barrier to free trade. can eat. I remember being offered crocodile, but I did I am concerned that we should have a relationship with not have it. I thought that it was more for making Europe that is friendly, hospitable and trading, but we ladies’ handbags than a gentleman’s dinner. It was are getting to a situation where our democratic control clearly labelled as not being English; as far as I am of what we want to do is so undermined by the constant aware, there are not many crocodiles living in England, attrition from European law that the British people will although there always used to be those stories about no longer wish to accept the relationship along its them being in the sewers. As far as I know, that is not current lines. true. It was one of those urban myths. Therefore, those Ministers and hon. Members who Let us get back to the serious point while I have the are broadly in favour of a free trading area and the attention of the Minister for Europe, which is, as always, European Communities Act must bear in mind that, by a great pleasure. He knows the point that I will come allowing Europe to go too far, they might be sowing the back to and it is a serious one. We have got ourselves seeds of its own destruction, and we may be beginning into a situation in our relationship with the European to see that in the move for an in-or-out referendum. I Union where laws that are perfectly routine and sensible am very sympathetic to my hon. Friend’s Bill. I think run up against a European blockage. Whether the that it ought to be a matter for this sovereign Parliament jurisprudence of my hon. Friend the Member for South to decide, but I quite accept that the Minister may feel Norfolk is right or the Government’s current view is that, in terms of our current arrangements with the EU, right I do not know, but I do know that it has become this may not be the best battle to fight. the reason for inaction. It is one of the reasons that I greatly welcomed the European Union Bill, which is 2.3 pm passing through the other place and which we passed recently. It contains the sovereignty clause which makes Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): I strongly it clear that laws from Europe have effect only because support my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk of an Act of Parliament. (Mr Bacon) and his Bill. It would be very disappointing if the Government used their power to block it, especially The reason I think that this is so important is that we as some current members of the Government previously may get the phraseology right—and I urge my right supported it. The fact is that whatever the state of hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, European law at the moment—I understand that European Food and Rural Affairs to bear this in mind—but we regulations require labelling to refer to where the food often hear about things that are against European law was last processed—there is absolutely no reason why as being illegal. They are not illegal; they are against an the Bill should not be allowed to pass to Committee international treaty obligation. There is an important stage or, in my view, become an Act, as we could then difference. It is illegal in this country to murder someone, test the jurisprudence. which is absolutely fine. The application of European law results from a treaty obligation that we have accepted In a brilliant speech that went through the entire and incorporated into our law, but it is absolutely legal jurisprudence, my hon. Friend set the scene for an for this Parliament to decide at any point to change interesting legal case. Let us at least test the water, it. That might appear to be a relatively obscure point, because it is absolutely clear what the British public but language is important, because the House, if it so want. Indeed, I am not sure whether opinion polls have wishes, may pass the Bill with a “notwithstanding” been mentioned yet, but one commissioned by YouGov clause, but it is perfectly reasonable for the Minister to in 2007 found that 72% of the British public want to say that because of our international treaty obligations buy British meat. I begin to part company from my hon. it would not be considered wise to do so. Friend the Member for North East Somerset (Jacob Rees-Mogg), because the best sausage is Lincolnshire sausage, as he well knows; he skated over that obvious Mr Bacon: My hon. Friend, who is being generous in point. Leaving that aside, the public want to know giving way, prompts me to intervene again on the question where their food comes from. Some 72% of them want of the word “language”. Directive 2000/13/EC specifically to buy British meat, yet research done by the industry states that language can be used as a legitimate restriction, shows that 61% of pork eaten in the UK is imported. which means that a label must contain the language of The most important point is that 70% of meat that is the country where the product is to be sold. imported would be illegal if reared in this country, because our welfare standards are much higher. Jacob Rees-Mogg: That seems perfectly reasonable. It is not just a question of taste. The British people, With regard to the Bill, I suppose that, as we are in the who are patriotic, would prefer to support local suppliers, United Kingdom, the label is likely to be in English but we are conscious, too, as an animal-loving country anyway, and English is such a commonly used language of the need to support our high welfare standards, and that it is hard to see that we could get the protection the fact is that 70% of imported meat would be illegal if simply by saying that the labels had to be in English; produced here. Why cannot the House of Commons they would be anyway. That would not indicate a great state clearly and firmly that we should do what the deal. British people want? The Minister will doubtless produce We need to consider the right balance in our relationship complex arguments to explain why that would be illegal with Europe. In my view, Europe interferes too much in under EU law, but the Spanish, for instance, have already the minutiae of British life, and I would classify the Bill intervened, issuing a decree in 2003 on the compulsory in that category. Whether one is in favour of specific labelling of canned asparagus, and that was not overturned food labelling laws is neither here nor there in this sense, by the EU. 707 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 708 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill If we had the courage of our convictions, and we The British public want to be sure, when they go to allowed the Bill, or something similar, to become law, it their local butcher to buy meat, that the animal was is possible—indeed, probable—that it would not be born and reared in this country; that it was fed British overturned by the Commission because, and this point grass in Britain. When they see the flag or the symbol, has been made again and again, nothing that we have they do not want to be misled. They want to be assured proposed would promote the restraint of trade. Nothing that the meat is genuinely British. that the Bill does would stop anyone buying wonderful I am reassured about my view of the Bill because one products from France, Germany or Italy or from our of its sponsors is my hon. Friend the Member for friends all over the European Union. In many respects, Broadland (Mr Simpson), no less, Parliamentary Private British people have been given a fantastic array of Secretary to the Foreign Secretary. I am therefore in meats and products from all over the EU, and they are good company in believing that the Bill’s aims are happy to buy them. However, when it comes to some of entirely laudable. their favourite products such as bacon, beef and lamb, the majority of them want to buy British, so they As with so many good ideas that the House wants to should be given the opportunity to do so. There should promote, however, the problem is Europe and Brussels. be a clear label—this has nothing to do with the restraint That was mentioned by my right hon. Friend—sorry, of trade—telling shoppers in supermarkets that the my hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset; I meat was processed in a certain place, but was reared in am sure he will soon be “right honourable”. No matter Britain. That should be clearly set out—no ifs, no buts. how much we pontificate today about what a good idea the Bill is, food labelling is, sadly, tackled through EU legislation. In my view, that is no reason for not trying Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): My hon. Friend to change the regulations, if we are so minded. I am not makes a good point that food from animals born, one for introducing more and more rules and regulations— reared and slaughtered in this country should be so far from it. I believe that we should have as little labelled so that the British public know where it has regulation as possible. However, when it comes to food, come from. However, does he not agree that much of the British people are entitled to know what is in it and the food on which some of those animals are reared is where it comes from. imported, so should that not be on the label, too? I am not talking about imposing new regulations and Mr Leigh: We can discuss that. What the public want extra burdensome bureaucracy, because the rules already to know—and let us not get too technical about this—is exist. Food must be labelled under existing labelling whether an animal was reared in the UK. Was it slaughtered rules. In January 2010, the Food Standards Agency in the UK? Was the meat processed in the UK? Those produced a report on “origin of country” labelling. Its are the essential questions, and all that we ask of the main findings were that consumers were aware of “origin Minister for Europe is that he keep an open mind and of country” labels, although that was perhaps not their allow the Bill to proceed so that we can test European main concern. It found that meat products were the jurisprudence. food types that consumers would most like to be labelled clearly. The Bill therefore hits the nail on the head and deals with the British public’s concern. 2.9 pm Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I will be brief Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): We know because I am sure that the House wants to hear from that the Bill is supported by the Prime Minister, so does the Minister. I begin by declaring an interest: I have my hon. Friend agree that it would be a good idea to get eaten both crocodile and kangaroo meat at various the Minister’s comments on the record, in the hope that times in my life and I am still here to tell the tale. I am it can go into Committee? particularly grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset (Jacob Rees-Mogg), who reassured Mr Nuttall: I certainly agree with my hon. Friend, me that I had not offended my faith—I did not think which is why I do not wish to continue my remarks for that I had—on the many occasions that I shared halal too long this afternoon. The whole House will benefit meat with my many Muslim friends. from hearing the Minister’s comments on the Bill, and Not only the Germans are capable of producing the Government’s view of how we should deal with spicy sausages. My butcher in the village where I live, what is, in fact, a very simple matter. It can be summed Tottington, produces a “Hot Totty” sausage, which is up simply: we want to give the British public honesty in delicious and spicy. labelling, which is what Conservatives said we would do I find myself in what some people might consider an in our manifesto, what millions of British people voted unusual position, although I do not think it is, in that I for, and what was agreed in the coalition document, wholly support the Bill and its aim of introducing under which Government Members now operate. honesty in food labelling. That objective was clearly For all those reasons—there is much to commend the stated in the Conservative manifesto at the general idea of honesty in food labelling—it is about time that election: such a Bill received Second Reading. My hon. Friend “We will introduce honesty in food labelling.” the Member for South Norfolk (Mr Bacon) is to be commended for his determination and perseverance in Not only that, those very words are repeated in the introducing such Bills so many times. The fact that he “Programme for Government”, which states: has done so proves that the measure is worth while, and “We will introduce honesty in food labelling so that consumers I wholly commend it to the House. I hope it receives can be confident about where their food comes from”. widespread support, and look forward to hearing from That is the aim of the sensible Bill. the Minister. 709 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 Food Labelling Regulations 710 (Amendment) Bill (Amendment) Bill 2.16 pm Christopher Pincher: The hon. Gentleman clearly supports honesty in food labelling, but does he support Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op): Time is an extension of that to honesty in drinks labelling? He short, so I shall try to keep my remarks as brief as might have seen an article in the Sunday People last possible. The hon. Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) Sunday—I am sure it is an organ that he knows well—that will find a clear theological justification in Colossians called for high-caffeine drinks to have proper labelling 2:16. I am sure he will go away and look that up—the on cans, so that young people in particular know how hon. Member for North East Somerset (Jacob Rees-Mogg) much caffeine is in the drink. Is that something he probably knows it in the original King James, which is would also like to see? encouraging. It was interesting to hear the hon. Member for North East Somerset launch his campaign to save Gavin Shuker: The hon. Gentleman raises an important the great British sausage. If he chooses to turn that into point about labelling. It is not just about food; the a leadership bid, Labour Members will give him our full debate goes much wider than that. I will leave it to other backing. I congratulate the hon. Member for South hon. Members to speak on that matter, but he makes his Norfolk (Mr Bacon), a fellow east of England MP. A point very well. number of east of England MPs have introduced Bills today, and it will be interesting to see how this one I will make two more points, but briefly, so that the goes—they have so far won one and lost one. Minister can respond. We are obviously concerned about the burden of regulation that the Bill might put on The Opposition have a number of problems with the small producers and retailers. A report commissioned Bill in its current form, but clearly, Members on both by the previous Government on developing a framework sides of the House and consumers support origin labelling. for assessing the costs of labelling changes in the UK Consumers now have more interest in the food they eat should be extremely helpful on that matter, and we than ever before. As a nation, we care more about where should consider that report as the Bill goes forward. our food has come from, what is in it, how it was reared, Furthermore, the 10% requirement is quite a low level and how it was slaughtered. The Bill raises some very to require labelling. For example, it might affect pizza interesting points on the information that consumers and other foods with a low meat content. That should should receive on pack. be looked at. We have so many decisions and choices to make in We find it hard to reconcile the Bill’s presentation to the shops, and we need our labelling to honest, helpful the House with the fact that in the same week the to read and real. In that light, it is encouraging to see coalition Government are cutting funding to the Food the commitment in the coalition agreement, which states: Standards Agency’s nutrition website, which provides “We will introduce honesty in food labelling so that consumers consumers with more information. We broadly support can be confident about where their food comes from and its the aims and methods of the Bill. However, I think that environmental impact.” this matter should be resolved in the light of the discussions It is for the Minister to say how he will fulfil that aspect going on in Europe and of those that the Minister will of the agreement, but the Opposition believe that country- be having with other Departments. I hope that the of-origin labelling is an important aspect of food labelling. Government will do more. We will press them to do more on the issue of clear food labelling. I commend The previous Labour Government were aware of that the hon. Member for South Norfolk on raising this need and introduced a voluntary code of conduct to matter for a fourth time. We will wait to see what help both consumers and producers, but they also pushed happens next. for greater European agreement. It is helpful for labelling to be considered at European level. We support what Labour MEPs are doing on the implementation of 2.22 pm traffic light information on food labelling. We want to The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ensure that legislation is produced in conjunction with Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon): that, but I am aware that that option has faced resistance I pay a warm tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for in recent months. South Norfolk (Mr Bacon) and applaud his tenacity in The Opposition support the approach whereby bringing this important subject before the House. He mandatory rules are applied to ensure that consumers said that he was speaking as a non-lawyer, but he did are clear what origin labelling means when food businesses not sound like a non-lawyer, although perhaps his use choose to make an origin claim. For example, pork of the word “heebie-jeebies” took him some way from should only be allowed to be labelled as British pork if the legal lexicon he was using. the pig was born, reared and slaughtered in the UK, I was proud to be part of the Honest Food campaign which was a point made by a number of hon. Members. in 2009 that supported the idea behind the Bill. The We strongly support the consumer’s right to know Department is now taking forward those principles in a how their food was raised and where it has come from, way that is both effective and legal, and I would be which is why in the EU Parliament earlier this week we happy to respond to my hon. Friend’s points of supported increased labelling requirements for cloned jurisprudence. I can assure him that the finest minds at animals entering the food chain. Unfortunately, the my disposal in the Department will be available to Government opposed that measure. A Europe-wide explain our position to him. He has made an important solution would be preferable to a measure that might case, and his points deserve a response. get us into a legal minefield. The hon. Member for The Bill has come before Parliament previously. I South Norfolk raised that point. Never has European remind hon. Members that even though the Honest case law sounded so good as when he read out the Food campaign was the action of the then Opposition names of those cases. Front-Bench team, it resulted in 900 items on supermarket 711 Food Labelling Regulations 1 APRIL 2011 712 (Amendment) Bill shelves being changed as a consequence of the concerns for meat other than beef, where we do not, the consumer we raised about the improper portrayal of products on manifestly is being misled, is there not a case for now their labelling. It was clearly wrong to state that something having mandatory labelling for other meat? If there are was from a certain part of the country and for it to problems in European jurisprudence—problems that I exude every aspect of Britishness when the meat had contend are solvable—that should be tested through the been reared and slaughtered abroad but processed here, courts. and I am pleased that we made that progress. The Prime Minister’s comments, which my hon. Friend Richard Benyon: I am happy to discuss my hon. repeated, are relevant to what we are trying to achieve. Friend’s points about jurisprudence with him. I want to We are developing a framework for more honest food ensure that the consumer is treated fairly, with an labelling, especially for the origin of meat in food. This honest labelling system, and we believe that we can do is an area where the Government have been active in the so in a way that will satisfy his determination, yet not be past year. A food labelling regulation is currently being tested in court at a later stage. I can assure him that that discussed in Europe. The Government have so far been is an absolute priority for the Government. extremely successful, by including in the current text an We have successfully extended compulsory origin extension of the rules, making origin labelling mandatory labelling. We have also secured a requirement for origin for fresh and frozen meat. We are tightening the rules information to be given for main ingredients where where origin claims are made and leaving the door open origin claims are made on food products—for example, to further mandatory labelling, subject to a European the origin of the steak in a steak and kidney pie labelled Commission feasibility report. That position is reflected as “Made in the UK”. It is important that the contents in the Council’s common position, which is being debated are included. Getting a regulation in Europe is a more in the European Parliament. effective way of improving labelling in this country. In the meantime, in addition to existing Government Importantly, the Bill would apply only to England, as best practice guidance, the Department has facilitated food labelling is a devolved matter. Any English law an industry-owned voluntary code of practice on improved would place producers and retailers in England at a origin labelling for food, which has received widespread competitive disadvantage, both in the UK and in wider support from major trade organisations. We will evaluate global markets, as the requirements of the Bill would its market uptake and impact shortly. The Department increase costs not applicable across the trade, as pointed is also developing ways to improve the transparency of out by the hon. Member for Luton South (Gavin Shuker). country of origin labelling in the food service sector, The Government are committed to clearer origin working with the sector to develop guidance for the labelling and agree that consumers must be confident hospitality sector. If possible, that will be linked to about the validity of any origin claims when making the Olympics, providing an opportunity to celebrate the purchasing decisions. The Government believe that they origin of food at an international event. Although the have facilitated an industry-owned, voluntary code of Government recognise the need to provide UK consumers practice on improved origin labelling for food. This has with clear and accurate origin labelling, a number of received widespread support. We recognise the need to the Bill’s provisions deal with issues that we are already provide UK consumers with clear and accurate labelling. successfully pursuing in the European single market However— negotiations. However, I want to make it clear to my hon. Friend 2.30 pm and other Members present that the Government believe that clear food labelling is important. We have made The debate stood adjourned (Standing Order No. 11(2)). considerable progress on food labelling, and we expect Ordered, That the debate be resumed on Friday further progress in the EU, as the food information 21 October. regulations make their way through the Council and the European Parliament. Although we are supportive of Business without Debate the Bill’s aims, the Government are already proactive, with many country of origin labelling initiatives already in place. There are existing rules at the European level FIRE SAFETY (PROTECTION OF TENANTS) that, as I have said, are subject to ongoing negotiations. BILL We have been successful thus far, and we believe that we Resumption of adjourned debate on Question will be more successful in the coming months. (19 November), That the Bill be now read a Second Existing EU legislation already requires mandatory time. origin labelling for beef, veal, poultry meat and eggs from third countries, fish, most fresh fruit and vegetables, Hon. Members: Object. honey, olive oil and wine. Otherwise, origin information Debate to be resumed on Friday 21 October. is required only where its absence might mislead the consumer. Food businesses can already provide additional information voluntarily, as long as it is accurate and not CONTAMINATED BLOOD (SUPPORT FOR misleading. Food labelling rules are harmonised at the INFECTED AND BEREAVED PERSONS) BILL EU level, and changes in labelling law are a matter for [LORDS] negotiation in Europe. Motion made, That the Bill be now read a Second Mr Bacon: I am delighted that my hon. Friend has time. pointed out that we have a lot of mandatory labelling already—he has mentioned fish, olive oil and honey. Hon. Members: Object. However, if we have mandatory labelling already and if, Bill to be read a Second time on Friday 21 October. 713 Business without Debate 1 APRIL 2011 714

MEDICAL INSURANCE (PENSIONER TAX Yemen RELIEF) BILL Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House Motion made, That the Bill be now read a Second do now adjourn.—(Mr Francois.) time. 2.31 pm Hon. Members: Object. Bill to be read a Second time on Friday 13 May. Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): Mr Deputy Speaker, may I begin by thanking you for this opportunity to raise the important subject of Yemen? I should also like PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS to refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ (AMENDMENT) BILL Interests. I come to the Chamber today as the Chairman Motion made, That the Bill be now read a Second of the all-party parliamentary group on Yemen,a country time. that I and other Members have visited frequently, but I also have a personal interest in it because my sisters and Hon. Members: Object. I were born there, in Aden, and the country therefore Bill to be read a Second time on Friday 13 May. has a special hold on me and my family. I am glad to see the Minister for Europe here today. I know that Yemen is not yet part of Europe, but I understand that the relevant Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), is already on constituency business and has other important business, and I recognise that he is unable to be here. I have known the Minister for Europe for many years. We first met when we were 19 years of age, when we were debating other subjects. I do not think that he would have anticipated that, in 2011, we would be sitting across the Chamber from each other talking about Yemen, of all subjects. We have now reached a critical time in the history of that troubled country. I want to start by thanking the Government for following the processes that were set in motion by the previous Government. I know that the Prime Minister spoke to the President of Yemen,President Saleh, in the latter part of last year, and that the Foreign Secretary chose to go to Yemen on his recent visit to north Africa and the middle east. I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for doing that. Ministers at the Foreign Office and at the Department for International Development have also done that. They also accepted a request from the all-party group that the YemeniForeign Minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, one of the most distinguished Foreign Ministers in the Arab world, should come to Britain. Indeed, he came a few weeks ago and participated in bilateral negotiations. As the House knows, Yemen is one of the poorest nations in the world. Its gross national income is only £659.35 per capita, and 47% of its population live on less than $2 a day. It has an elected President, a House of Representatives and a shura council that share power. We talk about the need for the countries of north Africa and the middle east to begin the process of reform, but I believe that Yemen has already begun it. It could well be said that Yemen is perhaps the most democratic of all the countries in the region. Yemen is situated at a key point on the Saudi Arabian peninsula. It is strategically placed above the horn of Africa, and lies across one of the most utilised international shipping routes in the world. Its security and stability, and the maintenance of the same, is of paramount importance to the region—and, I believe, to the world—and is also in the interests of our country. Yemen has become an active al-Qaeda base. In fact, it is reputed to be the most active base in the whole of the middle east. It is therefore critical to address the issues in Yemen before it becomes another Libya. Today, on 715 Yemen 1 APRIL 2011 716 the streets of Sana’a, Aden and other Yemeni cities, lose sight, however, of the contribution we have made protests are going on. As the Minister will know, the so far. I pay tribute to the Government for what they protests are on both sides—some in support of President have done. Ali Abdullah Saleh, while others wish to see even more Additional spending in the form of United Kingdom radical change. Up to 28 March, there were 170 confirmed aid for Yemen will reach £76 million in 2015. That is a deaths and many more injured. As for weapons, 16,000 guns very large increase in bilateral aid, but the problem is were recently seized in Dubai on their way to other that the money can be spent properly only if there are parts of the middle east, including Yemen. organisations working in the country. Although I I want to pay tribute to all those who have been part understand why the process may have been halted of the process, including the Yemeni ambassador, His temporarily, we should bear in mind that one of the key Excellency Abdulla Ali al-Radhi, who wants to see a reasons for helping Yemen is the poverty of its people. peaceful transition, as I think does everyone who cares We must never lose sight of that fact. about Yemen.What is critical about this debate, however, I know that the Foreign Secretary and the Government is the need for us to act—and to act as quickly as have been extremely keen to urge the need for reform on possible. every Government in north Africa and the middle east. As we know, Yemen’s reunification occurred in 1990. I believe that the President has started that process, It was supposed to see an end to the separatist movement but—as the Government there know, as he knows and in the south. The YemeniGovernment claim that al-Qaeda as the opposition in Yemen have been saying—it must militants have seized a weapons factory and two towns take place at a much faster pace in order to satisfy the in southern Yemen, but that has not been confirmed by views of the people. What they require more than others. There is also a problem with the northern province anything else are mediation and dialogue. of Sa’ada now entirely under the control of Houthi How can we ensure that we are able to play a part at rebels who are running Government facilities and manning this critical time in the history of Yemen, without checkpoints. The recent strengthening of terrorist cells interfering and acting as the former colonial power in in Yemen means that the Government have to deal not southern Yemen but working in concert with our just with the problem of their own people but with international colleagues, with the backing of the United those who seek to undermine the whole structure of Nations and with the support of the European Union? I Yemeni government. think that what is required now is dialogue. As the Seventeen members of President Saleh’s party have Minister knows, I have said that many times when the recently resigned and he has lost support in other areas. Foreign Secretary has come to report to the House on The President, however, has made it clear that he wants events such as the conference on Libya. Although that to stand down as President by the end of the year. conference was not about Yemen,it was certainly discussed Obviously, those opposed to the President believe that at the margins, and I know that Hillary Clinton discussed this should happen sooner. it with the Foreign Secretary. The United States has tried to mediate and was, prior How can we become involved on a diplomatic and to recent events, funding the army. I think that the army political level, while not becoming involved in a military is now split. On 16 November 2010, the Defence Secretary way? I think that the answer is quite simple. We need to Robert Gates said that be at the forefront of this activity. I want Prime Minister Cameron to ring President Saleh over the weekend. I “providing equipment and training to Yemeni security forces was the best way to counter the threat posed by jihadists”. urged him to do that on the last occasion when he made a statement to the House. I handed the Secretary of The situation is very difficult indeed. That is why I fully State for International Development the private office understand why the Government made an announcement number of the President—not that I think the Prime a few weeks ago, which I am sure the Minister for Minister needs to be handed the President’s telephone Europe will re-emphasise today, to the effect that British number, because he has spoken to him before. citizens should leave Yemen immediately. I am sure that That dialogue is very important. I want three wise all who are there, whether it be for tourism or work, will people to be sent to Yemen now: someone acting as an want to do so and follow the lead suggested by the envoy from the United Nations, someone acting on Government. behalf of the EU, and someone acting on behalf of I want to say a few words about the Friends of Yemen Britain. I want there to be a representative from Britain conference, although I recognise that the issue of not just because of our colonial past in the area, but international development is taking second place to because I think that our Prime Minister and our what is happening in the country. The Friend of Yemen Government are highly respected in Yemen owing to process was started on 27 January 2010 when the then the work that has been done by successive Governments. Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy I think that if we wait until there is civil war, it will be and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) decided to hold a conference too late. A mission by three wise people out to Sana’a in on Yemen immediately after a conference on the middle the next few days, bringing the sides together and convening east. It was prompted by the Detroit bomber’s failed a conference there, would make a huge difference to the attempt to cause carnage in America on Christmas day future of the country. 2009. After that, we had further meetings to see what There is a risk that if we do not arrange that, the could be done further to assist Yemen. country will slide into civil war. Then people will ask, as Sadly, the next Friends of Yemen meeting, which was they do about Libya, what we can do in order to stop due to take place last week, was cancelled. I say to the the massacre of individual people—not by one side or Minister and the Government that I realise the difficulty the other, because there is no question of that happening. in progressing the Friends of Yemen process while such There is no similarity to what the President of Libya is a critical situation exists in the country. We should not doing. However, there is a similarity in terms of what 717 Yemen 1 APRIL 2011 718 might happen in the end. The only people who will gain we need to return the favour—to act now before it is too from a civil war in Yemen will be al-Qaeda, and if late. I beg the Minister from the bottom of my heart to al-Qaeda takes over Yemen, or even part of Yemen, pass this message on. there will be an impact on our country and our ability to maintain stability, not just in the region but in the context of what might happen to us here. 2.47 pm Let me give just one practical example of how we can The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington): I help. For months I have been urging the Government to congratulate the right hon. Member for Leicester East send scanners to Sana’a airport so that cargo and (Keith Vaz) on securing this debate. Anyone who heard passengers can be scanned before they embark on flights him speak will know of the importance of the issues he to the United Kingdom. The importance of that was has brought before the House, most obviously to the highlighted after the problems at East Midlands airport prosperity and well-being of the people of Yemen, but when a package arrived, originally from Sana’a, which also, as he rightly said, to the security of the United had been to Dubai and ended up in Castle Donington Kingdom and the wider global community. Anyone in north-west Leicestershire. I have said that it is a who listened to the right hon. Gentleman’s speech will simple matter and that we need not send great things, also have been left in no doubt about the depth of his but should send those scanners. What the Government knowledge of Yemen and his deep and abiding affection did was stop direct flights, which has had a huge effect for the country and its people. on the Yemeni economy and made things very difficult The UK has a long-standing relationship with Yemen, for the very poor people of Yemen. and in recent years we have, under successive Governments, I therefore say that there are several practical things sought to work with the Government of Yemen and the we can do now, but the most practical thing we can do is international community to bring about greater stability, send these wise people out there right away, because prosperity and democracy in Yemen. The current situation what is needed is prevention rather than cure, and if we in the country is a cause of deep concern, and I am send them after the event, there is no telling what might grateful for the opportunity to respond to this debate. happen. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned at the start of Yemen borders Oman, a stable and friendly country his speech the advice the Government are giving to to our country. It also borders Saudi Arabia. It is in the British nationals currently living in Yemen, and it will horn of Africa too, and we know about the piracy that be of assistance to the House if I make it clear again occurs in that part of the world. Somalia is just opposite today that we changed our travel advice again earlier Yemen. In fact, during most of my early life there, there this week, and we are now advising British nationals were a lot of Somali people who had come from Addis that they should leave Yemen now, while commercial and had settled in Yemen. carriers are still flying. Because of the violence and political turbulence in Yemenand the dangerous security What I am asking for can be done now, and—believe situation, the ability of the British Government to me—it is what the people of Yemen want. They want a provide consular assistance is very limited. If British peaceful transition, not a bloody transition and not the citizens do not leave, it is highly unlikely that the British separation of the country into two parts. If there is a Government would be able to evacuate them or to civil war and the country is split, the split will go on for provide consular assistance if the situation worsens ever and ever, and the cost to the international community further. We are therefore strongly advising British nationals in aid and support will be huge. to plan on that basis. This is as simple a solution as possible. I know it is Recent protests have brought into sharp focus the easy for me, a Back-Bench Member of Parliament, to economic, political and social challenges that have faced be suggesting something like this to the Government, Yemen for some time. The Yemeni protestors have but the fact is that it is a simple solution to an agonisingly raised their voices in a peaceful manner to demand a difficult problem. I visited Yemen when I was Minister more open political system, and their bravery has been for Europe, but the Minister has not done so, and I apparent to everybody. It is clear to us that the time has know you have not visited Yemen either, Mr Deputy come for political change in Yemen. As the right hon. Speaker. However, I hope that we will all be able to visit Gentleman said, the Yemeni people have made it clear Yemen one day. Indeed, I hope that one day I will be that they want greater political participation, greater able to take my 16-year-old son, Luke, and my 14-year-old respect for human rights, and peace and prosperity. The daughter, Anjali, to Yemen to show them the country United Kingdom Government support those aspirations. where their father was born and spent nine very happy President Ali Abdullah Saleh had led Yemen for years of his life. more than 30 years and has steered his country through I went there as a first-generation immigrant. My substantial change during that time, not least the unification parents went from India to Yemen back in those of the two Yemeni republics. He has confirmed that he unfashionable days to find work, and they settled in will not seek to run again as President of the Republic Aden. There was a very large British community there, of Yemen, although the protestors are calling for a and they exercised their right to come to this country more immediate exit from power. I wish to make it clear and bring me here when the civil war began and our to the House that it is not for the United Kingdom to troops were made to leave Yemen. I know what it was determine how Yemen should be governed or who like. I can remember the British soldiers being killed should be its President. The exact terms of the transition and their funerals, which took place very near where we have to be worked out in Yemen, but we believe that it lived. My family were immigrants, but we were treated should be carried out on the basis of a credible and so well. We were Catholics in a Muslim country, but inclusive dialogue, that it should be peaceful and orderly, they treated us with such kindness and dignity. I think and that it needs to command the support of all sides in 719 Yemen 1 APRIL 2011 720 that country. The fundamental values of democracy, Department for International Development’s programmes. respect for human rights and the rule of law should be We have supported work to build the capacity of the upheld, and we stand ready to do what we can to Yemeni Government to tackle the threat from terrorism support dialogue and transition, whether bilaterally or and, within a strict framework, we have provided training with our partners in the international Friends of to select parts of the Yemeni security forces. Yemen group. Our strategy acknowledges that developing the capacity In response to the right hon. Gentleman’s final comments, of a state cannot be just a short-term goal. It can take I would say that the Foreign Secretary, Baroness Ashton months or years and requires a long-term and serious on behalf of the European Union, and their counterparts commitment by both partners and donors. In addition in the United States are in close touch with the neighbouring to the assistance we provide in that area, the United countries of the Gulf on how best to offer assistance to Kingdom, through DFID, supports the very poorest in the Government of Yemen. Sometimes we make clear Yemen through the social fund for development. We are in public what we are doing, but sometimes these contacts one of the biggest bilateral aid donors to Yemen and are made in private, for reasons that he will appreciate. our development partnership arrangement sets out our Our judgment is that private messages are best at the development commitment through to 2017. Between moment and that a public mission would risk moving 2008 and 2011 alone, DFID will have provided £105 million the focus from the responsibility of both the Government to support development in Yemen. and opposition in Yemen to talk to each other, to The right hon. Gentleman spoke about the Friends of whether an international mission with a high public Yemen group. I am happy to pay tribute to the previous profile would or would not succeed. Although I take the Government’s initiative in establishing that group and right hon. Gentleman’s proposal seriously and will ensure of course the current Government have sought to follow that the Foreign Secretary is made aware of it, we think that through. Like the right hon. Gentleman, we were that providing detailed and frequent support in private disappointed when, at the request of the Yemeni to those who have the responsibility to ensure Government, the planned meeting in Riyadh in Saudi transformation is the right way forward. Arabia was postponed. We very much hope that it can The violence that we have seen in recent weeks is be rescheduled as soon as possible, but the timetable for shocking and unacceptable. My right hon. Friend the that would very much depend on what happens politically Foreign Secretary has made it clear on a number of in Yemen. occasions that we need to help find a way to reduce Keith Vaz: The Minister has set out the position very tension and avoid confrontation. All that violence does clearly as far as aid is concerned, but the emphasis now is undermine trust further, and that trust is essential if is on the critical nature of what is happening at the there is to be a successful negotiation and a period of moment. Given that there is the Friends of Yemen political transition. As President Saleh has acknowledged, group and that there is a structure, does he not feel that the Government of Yemen have a responsibility to an emergency meeting with the emphasis less on protect protestors and uphold the rule of law, and that development aid and more on protecting and helping needs to be done with full regard to Yemen’s international the country to stay stable would be helpful? The critical human rights obligations. point now is not how much aid we can give Yemen in As the right hon. Gentleman rightly said, violence future but how we can save people now. and the political crisis in Yemen take place against a background of a serious social and economic situation Mr Lidington: I take seriously the right hon. Gentleman’s in that country. Yemen has a large and fast-growing point, but as I said earlier, the meeting was postponed population, huge unemployment, significant rates of at the request of the Yemenis themselves. It is clearly child malnutrition, and rapidly declining oil and fresh important that they engage in such a meeting with water resources. As he said, more than 40% of Yemenis friends and neighbours. We have not forgotten about live on less than $2 a day, and the inflation in world Yemen because the friends group is not meeting: we are food commodity prices is hitting even wealthy Yemenis talking to the Saudis and other neighbours in the Gulf hard. That is happening to such an extent that major Co-operation Council about the best way forward to try international non-governmental organisations are seriously to bring about reconciliation and political transformation concerned about the potential for a significant humanitarian in Yemen and about the way in which the regional and disaster in Yemen in the coming months. Government international community can help Yemenwith development revenues there are decreasing and Government expenditure and enhancing its political stability once that period of is increasing. The economy is in serious decline and the political transition is over. That work is continuing current political instability threatens to make an already whether or not there is a formal meeting of the Friends fragile situation much worse. of Yemen group. Yemen and its prosperity matter to us all, because Keith Vaz: The Minister knows how important these any worsening of the instability, terrorist activity and matters are, and the problem is that the situation is poverty will have a detrimental effect on security within different to that in Libya, where the successor Government Yemen, in the region and globally. Therefore, the will be the Libyan people in one form or another. The Government’s strategy is to support Yemeni action to successor Government to President Saleh, unless we create a more secure, stable and economically sustainable intervene now, will be al-Qaeda, and once it is in there Yemen. A number of different policy themes interact in will be no shifting it. I would like the emphasis that was that regard. Yes, we are helping the Yemeni Government put on Libya to be put on Yemen, and I would like that to provide basic services for their people, such as health to happen as soon as possible. These bilateral discussions care and education. We have been supporting work to are great, and they will always continue as part of develop economic opportunities in that country to create Foreign and Commonwealth Office life, but there is jobs and generate income, most obviously through the urgency now. 721 Yemen 1 APRIL 2011 722

Mr Lidington: I certainly take seriously the right hon. working hard to implement it as quickly as possible, but Gentleman’s point about the threat from al-Qaeda, we are not talking about equipment that we can just especially as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and take to Yemen, and plug in and play; there are basic other al-Qaeda affiliates have operated in Yemen for operating procedures, and staff training and management some time. AQAP in particular has significant operational issues, that have to be tackled by the Yemeni authorities, capacity there. The YemeniGovernment, under President not the United Kingdom. We can move only as fast as Saleh, is of course publicly committed to combating they will allow on clearance of equipment, undertaking AQAP, and we regard it as important that those involved training and putting in place the operating procedures. in any new arrangements for government in Yemen However, we have not forgotten the issue. after President Saleh has left office should be equally The United Kingdom regards the political crisis and committed to the fight against international terrorism; the long-standing economic— we will do our utmost to work with the Government of Yemen to ensure that that happens. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned aviation security. 3.1 pm I can tell him that the technical officials in the Department House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order for Transport who are responsible for the project are No. 9(7)). 41WS Written Ministerial Statements1 APRIL 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 42WS Written Ministerial The Commission for Rural Communities From 1 April 2011, the CRC’s chairman, Dr Stuart Burgess, and commissioners will act collectively and Statements individually to fulfil their statutory functions rather than operating as an oversight board for a much larger Friday 1 April 2011 organisation. They will be supported by a small team, with back office functions such as HR, finance and IT being provided by DEFRA. Pending abolition, the ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS commission will continue to act as critical friend to DEFRA, with a work programme complementary to Rural Communities Policy Unit that of the RCPU. Further details of the commission’s plans for 2010-11 will be available from 1 April at The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for www.defra.gov.uk/crc Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon): It is no small achievement to have made the transition In June 2010, the Secretary of State for Environment, to these new rural policy delivery arrangements within Food and Rural Affairs announced that DEFRA Ministers nine months. I am grateful to all those in DEFRA, the would lead rural policy from within the Department CRC and beyond who have enabled us to get to this supported by a strengthened Rural Communities Policy point. Unit and that the Commission for Rural Communities would therefore be abolished. I am pleased to report HEALTH that, as of 1 April 2011, the first phase of this transition will be complete. The new DEFRA Rural Communities Adult Autism Strategy Policy Unit is now fully staffed and operational . Meanwhile, the Commission for Rural Communities has implemented The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul a streamlined operating model which will enable it to Burstow): I am announcing the Government’s publication continue to fulfil its statutory functions at a significantly tomorrow of “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating reduced cost pending abolition. Progress”—a set of key outcomes and service ambitions The Rural Communities Policy Unit to secure implementation of the adult autism strategy. The Government are committed to ensuring their A copy of the document has been placed in the Library. policies and programmes properly take account of the Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote needs and the potential of rural residents, businesses Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper and communities. DEFRA’S ministerial team will act Office. decisively to champion rural issues across Government. “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating Progress” We are now supported in this by an enhanced Rural has been produced to deliver against a commitment Communities Policy Unit (RCPU) which will operate as made in the first-year delivery plan to produce a self- a centre of rural expertise, supporting and co-ordinating assessment template for localities to check progress on activity within and beyond DEFRA. The RCPU will implementing the goals set out in the adult autism play an important role in helping all Government strategy. Departments to ensure that their policies are effectively The document details a set of seven key outcomes “rural proofed” before decisions are made. and three service ambitions which provide a consistent Building upon the Department’s existing rural policy and tangible way to assess progress in each area. Over team, we have drawn in staff from the Commission for time, they will evolve into a jointly owned set of outcomes Rural Communities (CRC) and from other parts of that all parties—local partners, adults with autism, Government to create the new unit. The RCPU’s immediate central Government and others—can use to understand objectives are: progress, and become a focal point for developing improved To identify issues of critical importance to rural communities services. and then support, inform and influence the development The document reflects the Government’s ambitions and implementation of relevant Government policy so as to for local autonomy, where precise top-down targets are achieve fair, practical and affordable outcomes for rural residents, businesses and communities; replaced by desired outcomes, where implementation To develop open and collaborative approaches to gathering and investment is determined by local priorities—as information, evidence and potential solutions, working closely agreed by local communities through activities such as with the wide range of organisations which support and the joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA)—and where represent rural communities. central Government’s role is about facilitation rather The RCPU will maintain and build upon the strong than direction. evidence base developed by both DEFRA and the This means a new approach to evaluating progress on CRC. This evidence will inform both the unit’s priorities the autism strategy, with a focus on identifying the and its policy-influencing function and will also be outcomes which will enable local and national assessment made available to the public via the DEFRA website. of whether the lives of adults with autism are improving. Much of the activity which helps rural communities to The Government will take the lead in supporting local thrive takes place at a remove from central Government, partners to deliver change often undertaken directly by people within the communities In developing “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: themselves. It is our intention that the RCPU’s evidence Evaluating Progress”, we have worked closely with partners will promote the Government’s drive to decentralisation such as the Care Quality Commission, the Association by supporting bodies operating sub-nationally better to of Directors of Adult Social Services, the NHS understand and take proper account of rural needs and Confederation and voluntary and independent groups, opportunities. to select the most relevant outcomes. 43WS Written Ministerial Statements1 APRIL 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 44WS

The document also includes a generic template for Responsibility for the Galileo programme will transfer estimating local area need for use when commissioning from the Secretary of State for Transport to the Secretary services for people with autism. This will help provide a of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; responsibility source of future information locally on progress. The for the space component of the Global Monitoring for learning disability public health observatory will collate Environment and Security Programme will transfer from data using the template by publishing information from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural each locality. Affairs to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation The development and launch of the autism strategy and Skills; and UK input to both programmes will be led to a range of activities at local and national level to led by the UK Space Agency, bringing together all parts improve services for adults with autism. To help continue of the Government’s policy on civil space. that momentum the self-assessment template will enable The National School of Government will be brought local areas to assess their own progress towards the into the Cabinet Office and will therefore cease to be a goals set in the strategy, and towards implementing the separate non-ministerial department. statutory guidance. The Department has also funded a series of online training resources and booklets to increase awareness and understanding of autism across all public services. Working with the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal WORK AND PENSIONS College of Psychiatrists, the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the British Psychological Society, the Royal College of General Practitioners, Healthtalkonline, Skills for Health, and Skills for Care, we have produced a Work Programme (Preferred Bidders) range of quality materials to enable front-line staff to recognise better, and thus respond more effectively to, the needs of adults with autism. The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Chris Grayling): This morning, the Government Reciprocal Health Agreement (United Kingdom took another major step forward in their delivery of the and Jersey) most sweeping welfare reforms for 60 years, announcing preferred bidders for 40 Work programme contracts. Competition for contracts was intense, with 177 bids The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health submitted by 30 organisations, and this has led to a (Anne Milton): Following discussions between the diverse and high-quality list of preferred bidders. Department of Health, the States of Jersey Government and the devolved Administrations, a new reciprocal We have also been very encouraged by preferred health agreement between the United Kingdom and bidders’ response to the emphasis we placed on the Jersey will come into effect from 1 April 2011. involvement of voluntary, local and community organisations in Work programme delivery. There is The new agreement will ensure that UK residents impressive voluntary sector involvement with almost visiting Jersey will receive free, state-provided immediately 300 voluntary sector organisations involved in delivery necessary treatment while on a temporary visit to Jersey, of the Work programme as sub-contractors, and two as will Jersey residents visiting the UK. No public voluntary sector organisations and one public sector money will change hands under the agreement, which organisation as prime contractors. Voluntary sector is a common feature of all of the United Kingdom’s organisations make up a substantial proportion of prime non-European economic area reciprocal health contractors’ supply chains, in some cases over 50%, arrangements representing an investment of £95 million in the voluntary The new agreement will provide certainty for travellers and community sector. and represents a mutually beneficial agreement for both the United Kingdom and Jersey. We have chosen at least two providers to deliver in each of the 11 contract package areas. Their relative performance will determine their future share of the PRIME MINISTER welfare-to-work market in each contract area, and we expect that this ongoing competition will continue to drive quality and performance in live running. The new payment-by-results system will deliver better Machinery of Government Changes value for money by paying providers from additional benefit savings they create, and providers will be paid more for helping those with the greatest needs, creating The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): I can announce better incentives to deliver truly tailored support for the following changes to the machinery of government: everyone. The National Fraud Authority, an Executive agency of the Attorney-General’s Office, will transfer to the The announcement of preferred bidders today keeps Home Office. us on track for successful delivery of the Work programme in June, delivering innovative back-to-work support for Responsibility for issuing British passports overseas around 2.4 million people. will transfer from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the Secretary of State for the I will place a document containing the list of preferred Home Department. bidders in the Library today. 3P Petitions1 APRIL 2011 Petitions 4P

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Petition Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to protect and preserve the Kingswood Green Belt Friday 1 April 2011 for future generations to come. And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Chris Skidmore, Official Report, 17 February 2011; Vol. 523, OBSERVATIONS c. 1214 .] [P000890] Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT and Local Government: In the coalition agreement the Government made a Protection of Kingswood Green Belt (South commitment to maintain Green Belt and, to that end, Gloucestershire) local plan-makers and decision-takers should continue The Petition of residents of Longwell Green, Hanham, to have regard to national planning policy, including Mangotsfield, Emersons Green, North Common, Oldland that currently set out in Planning Policy Guidance Common, Warmley, Siston, Bridgeyate, Bitton, Willsbridge, Note 2, “Green Belts”. and Kingswood, In May 2010 the Secretary of State announced the Declares that the Petitioners are concerned by attempts intention to abolish regional strategies, and their abolition to build inappropriate development on the Kingswood will be achieved by the passage of the Localism Bill into Green Belt; notes that Green Belt sites at Williams law. This will end the imposition of “top-down” regional Close, Longwell Green, Cossham Street, Mangotsfield plans and housing targets. These have in the past put and Barry Road, Oldland Common have faced applications pressure on local planning authorities to accept certain to build housing which has consistently been opposed levels of development and promoted the review of some by local residents, locally elected councillors and the green belt boundaries. Member of Parliament; notes that South Gloucestershire The Government said that they would make local Council’s Core Strategy protects the Kingswood Green communities fully responsible for determining the right Belt; notes that Regional Spatial Strategies responsible level and locations for development, housing site provision for placing local Green Belts at risk will shortly be and green belt in their own areas. A new “duty to abolished; notes that the Planning Inspectorate must co-operate”in the Localism Bill will require local planning take the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies into authorities to discuss with neighbouring authorities any account as a material consideration when ruling on issues of more than local importance. However, it is current appeals; and further welcomes that decisions increasingly important that local people engage in the over future development will be returned to democratically plan-making process so as to influence the shape and elected councillors. extent of future development.

513W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 514W

not obliged to charge the rates suggested. Where doctors Written Answers to intend to charge for services to patients, the BMA advises them to forewarn patients, at the earliest opportunity, Questions of the likely level of fees. Hepatitis Friday 1 April 2011 Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has undertaken an audit of or research on the health of hepatitis C patients HEALTH after they have been classed as natural clearers. [50565] Barnes Hospital Anne Milton: As part of the recent ‘Review of the support available to individuals infected with hepatitis Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for C and/or HIV by NHS supplied blood transfusions or Health what plans his Department has for the future of blood products and their dependants’, an expert scientific Barnes hospital. [50028] review of the evidence base on the spectrum and impact of disease associated with hepatitis C infection was Mr Simon Burns: The Government have pledged undertaken. The issue of patients who clear the virus, that, in future, all service changes must be led by clinicians either naturally or following treatment, was carefully and patients, not be driven from the top down. The considered. The group’s report is at annex 4 of the Secretary of State for Health has outlined new, strengthened review report. A copy of the review report has already criteria that he expects decisions on NHS service changes been placed in the Library, and a copy of the minutes of to meet. the group’s meeting has been placed in the Library. The We are advised that there have been discussions between Department has not commissioned any research on this local NHS organisations who are considering how best issue. to provide older people’s services in the boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth, and that they are committed National Commissioning Board: Research to keeping all local Members of Parliament informed. Dementia: Alcoholic Drinks Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duties the National Commissioning Board has in respect of medical research. [50735] Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with alcohol- Mr Simon Burns: Clause 19 of the Health and Social related dementia in each primary care trust area in each Care Bill outlines further provisions for the NHS of the last five years. [50051] Commissioning Board including a duty that the Board must, in the exercise of its functions, have regard to the Anne Milton: This information is not collected by the need to promote research on matters relevant to the Department. health service, and the use in the health service of General Practitioners: Fees and Charges evidence obtained from research. Sleep: Health Services Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department provides national guidelines to GPs on the fees they may charge to patients for Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for signing certificates and completing medical forms. Health how many sleep clinics there are in each primary [50530] care trust. [50023]

Mr Simon Burns: Under the terms of their contract Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held with the national health service, general practitioners centrally. (GPs) are required to provide certain, prescribed, medical certificates free of charge—such as those to prove incapacity Strategic Health Authorities: Consultants to work. Outside of these arrangements, GPs also provide a variety of other services which successive governments Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for have regarded as private matters between the patient Health what (a) management and (b) consultancy and the doctor providing the service. The doctor is free costs were incurred by each (i) strategic health authority to make a charge for these non-NHS services if he or and (ii) primary care trust in (A) 2006-07, (B) 2007-08, she wishes. (C) 2008-09 and (D) 2009-10. [50563] The fees for the provision of services by GPs outside those contracted for under GP contractual arrangements Mr Simon Burns: Information on expenditure on are not set by the Department nor are they a matter for managers and senior managers for 2006-07 to 2009-10 Government. As independent contractors, this is something and consultancy services for 2007-08 to 2009-10 for for the individual practice to determine. The Professional each strategic health authority and primary care trust Fees Committee of the British Medical Association has been placed in the Library. (BMA) suggests fees for such services to help doctors Expenditure on consultancy services was separately set their own professional fees. However, these fees are identified in the audited summarisation schedules for guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is the first time in 2007-08. 515W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 516W

SCOTLAND The facilities provided in Standard class do not meet your needs because you are suffering from a temporary or permanent Members disability There are no seats available in standard class Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for If you need to travel overnight and use a sleeping berth.” Scotland pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2011, Priests Official Report, column 31W,on Members, what criteria his Department used to identify hon. Members who have intimated an issue in Scottish affairs; and which Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the average hon. Members have been so identified. [50384] stipend for rural priests was in the latest period for David Mundell: There is no formal method for intimating which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. an interest in Scottish affairs. The Scotland Office [50243] encourages all hon. and right hon. Members to take an interest in Scottish affairs and will copy generic Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners do not correspondence to all Scottish MPs (as defined in the differentiate between which benefices are rural and answer of 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 31W, which are urban. The Church of England is keen for on Members) and to any MP who has such an interest. stipends to be adequate to enable clergy to perform their ministries without undue financial anxiety, flexible enough to aid clergy deployment and consistent enough to avoid impeding their mobility. In 2010 the national average stipend for incumbents and incumbent status NORTHERN IRELAND parochial clergy was £22,570. The projected figure for 2011 is £23,050 (based on responses from 36 dioceses). Official Engagements Each diocese sets stipends taking into account local circumstances. Dioceses set a diocesan basic stipend for Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State incumbents and incumbent status parochial clergy and for Northern Ireland in how many weeks he has spent most clergy receive stipend at this level. The diocesan more than three consecutive days on official business in basic stipends for 2010 are listed in Annex 2 to the 38th Northern Ireland since May 2010. [50398] Central Stipends Authority Report (GS Misc 977), which is on the Church of England website, and a copy of Mr Paterson: Since May 2010, there have been five which should be in the House of Commons Library. weeks that I have spent more than three consecutive days in Northern Ireland. Further to this there have From April the compulsory national minimum stipend, been 16 weeks where I have spent three or more days in below which no full-time clergy should be paid, will be Northern Ireland. £21,370.

WORK AND PENSIONS CHURCH COMMISSIONERS Departmental Expenditure Employees: Travel Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Godsiff: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, Work and Pensions what expenditure (a) his Department representing the Church Commissioners, how many and (b) each public body sponsored by his Department and what proportion of employees of the Church incurred on engaging external audit services in each of Commissioners are entitled to travel by first class rail the last three years; and to which service providers such services at the expense of the Church Commissioners payments were made in each year. [43754] within the UK. [50567] Chris Grayling: DWP and each public body it sponsors Tony Baldry: Employees of the seven Church of incurred the following expenditure on engaging external England National Church Institutions (NCI’s) include audit services in the last three years as follows: all staff working at Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Library, Bishopthorpe Palace in York, the Archbishops Entity Auditor 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Council, the Pensions Board, the National Society for The Department

Promoting Religious Education and the Church 1 Commissioners must comply with the NCI’s expenses DWP NAO 2,397,000 2,199,000 2,181,000 policy. Deloittes — 95,476 1,103,985 The NCI’s expenses policy states that: PWC — — 49,900 “Where possible travel should be undertaken outside peak Child Maintenance and NAO 2— 574,000 637,000 times during periods when the cost of travel is normally cheaper. Enforcement Advantage should be taken of discounted rail tickets, where Commission available, by early booking of Advance or other types of Saver Health and Safety NAO 126,000 129,000 137,000 fares. Executive Class of travel is determined as follows: PKF 32,810 41,685 38,705 Standard class should be used for all journeys other than (UK) where: LLP 517W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 518W

The Draft Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Entity Auditor 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Sharing on Divorce etc.) Regulations 2010 Total 2,555,810 3,039,161 4,147,590 The Draft Pension Protection Fund (Pensions on Divorce etc.: Charges) Regulations 2010 The Draft Financial Assistance Scheme and Pension Protection Other sponsored bodies Fund (Valuation, Revaluation and Indexation Amendments) Pensions Ombudsman/ NAO 15,700 17,500 25,000 Regulations 2011 Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman The Pension Protection Fund (Prescribed Payments and Investment Costs) Regulations 2011 Independent Living NAO 52,000 62,000 66,000 Fund Phasing out the default retirement age in 2010 (joint consultation The Pensions Advisory NAO 3,569 13,750 326,000 between the Department for Business Innovation and Skills Service and the Department for Work and Pensions) The Pensions Regulator NAO 31,000 34,000 49,000 Abolition of contracting out on a defined contribution basis Personal Accounts NAO 48,000 66,000 67,000 The Application of Pension Legislation to the National Delivery Authority Employment Savings Trust Corporation Regulations 2011 Pension Protection NAO 125,000 153,000 160,000 In addition, we have informally consulted representatives Fund of small businesses on a range of measures addressed Remploy Deloitte 140,000 170,000 180,000 LLP in the Making Automatic Enrolment Work review— 1 Fees charged to DWP by NAO are made on a notional basis, i.e. ‘Regulatory differences between occupational and they are recorded as expenditure and a cost to the Department but workplace personal pensions’. no physical cash payments are made to NAO. 2 Prior to the establishment of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, audit fees for the former Child Support Higher Marginal Deduction Rates Agency were included within the audit fees for the Department. Figures stated represent audit costs for both the Administration and Client Funds Accounts. Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work 3 Includes £5,000 in relation to 2008-09. 4 PADA achieved grant in aid status from March 2008. The audit fee and Pensions how many households liable for higher quoted for 2007-08 therefore includes fees for March 2008 only. marginal deduction rates he estimates will fall into each Audit services carried out in 2008-09 and 2009-10 included £10,000 income band. [45139] additional work to provide assurance in respect of the transition and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Chris Grayling: Universal credit will improve the Notes: incentives to increase hours of work. At present some 1. Both CMEC and HSE are Crown NDPBs and are therefore 0.7 million households in low paid work lose 80% or deemed to be part of the Department for accounting purposes. more of any increase in earnings. Under universal credit, 2. PPF is a public corporation. 3. Remploy has status as both an NDPB and public corporation. virtually no households will have deduction rates above 4. All other sponsored bodies are classified as NDPBs. 76%. 5. NAO fees have been included on the basis that, although classed However, there will be individuals with higher marginal as a part of the public sector, they are external to the body in question. deduction rates under universal credit compared to the current system. In some cases this will be a result of Departmental Regulation higher entitlements under universal credit than under the current system. Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for The following table shows the numbers who see a Work and Pensions on how many occasions his Department higher and lower marginal deduction rate under universal has consulted representatives of small businesses on the credit compared to the current system, and the median effects of proposed new regulations since 6 May 2010. change, split by income bands above £10,000. [46147] Estimated number of households with higher or lower marginal deduction rates under universal credit compared to the current system Chris Grayling: There is a significant amount of Median Median formal and informal consultation and engagement between Higher increase Lower decrease the Department for Work and Pensions and small business Income MDR (percentage MDR (percentage representatives. Information on specific contacts is not band (million) points) (million) points) co-ordinated centrally, and could be provided only at £10,000- 0.5 4 0.5 21 disproportionate cost, but I can confirm that we have £20,000 regular dialogue at ministerial and senior official level £20,000- 1.1 4 0.5 14 with individuals, businesses and umbrella organisations £30,000 including the Federation of Small Businesses, as well as £30,000- 0.3 4 0.2 22 larger organisations including the CBI and BCC. £40,000 1 1 During any consultation, we encourage all relevant Over —4—24 £40,000 groups and individuals to participate. During the period in question, the Department has launched the following All 1.9 4 1.3 20 1 Rounds to less than 50,000. formal consultation exercises on proposed new legislation Notes: that we would expect to be of relevance to small businesses: 1. Case loads rounded to the nearest 100,000. The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous 2. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Amendment) Regulations 2011 Source: DWP Policy Simulation Model (based on 2008-09 Family Resources The consultation on the impact of using CPI for private sector Survey). occupational pension schemes 519W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 520W

In all bands, the median decrease is larger than the We expect that lone parents will base their working median increase, reflecting the impact that universal pattern around their personal circumstances and child credit has on the highest marginal deduction rates. care arrangements. For this impact assessment, we assumed that the majority of lone parents entering work as a Social Security Benefits result of the policy change will enter work at part-time around an average of 18 hours a week; with less than a Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work third of lone parents entering work at full-time around and Pensions with reference to his Department’s an average of 38 hours a week. This assumption was impact assessment on the proposed benefit cap, what made based on evidence from the Household Annual assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed Population Survey. policy on levels of child poverty. [46403] Universal credit from 2013-14 will carry forward the same conditionality arrangements for lone parents. The Maria Miller: The benefit cap will restrict the total above does not take account of behavioural effects amount of welfare a household can receive to broadly arising from other aspects of universal credit, for example the level of the average earned income after tax for from the operation of the disregard and taper. working households. By doing this the policy will deliver fiscal savings, improve work incentives for those on Winter Fuel Payments benefits and sit alongside the other measures announced in the spending review to make the system fair and affordable. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Any measurement of the effect on child poverty, is and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to limited by the variable of individual behavioural response the public purse of implementing a change to winter to the policy. Impact on child poverty will be mitigated fuel allowances to cease making payments to British if adults in the families affected move into work. We are citizens living abroad. [50424] putting in place the Work programme, the biggest single welfare-to-work programme this country has ever seen, Steve Webb: European Union law means that some which will give unemployed people unprecedented levels benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to of personal support to get them into the workplace. The people when they move to another country within the benefit cap supports our plans to make work pay as European economic area. when someone in a household enters work and begins Winter fuel payments are only paid to former UK to receive working tax credit they will be exempt from residents living in the European economic area or the new measure. Switzerland if they qualified for a payment before leaving We are looking at ways of easing the transition for the UK. families and providing assistance for vulnerable families. In winter 2009-10 we made around 70,000 payments at a cost of around £15 million to people living outside Welfare State: Reform the UK and in the EEA. This is less than 1% of the total annual expenditure on winter fuel payments. Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department’s impact assessment on conditionality measures in the Welfare Reform Bill, what estimate he has made of (a) DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER the number of lone parents who will enter work in each year to 2015-16 and (b) the average number of hours a Members: Correspondence lone parent will work in each such year. [46383]

Maria Miller: The information is as follows: Mr Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) (a) The June 2010 Budget announced the requirement when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. for lone parents to prepare for and seek work as a Member for Torbay of 6 December 2010 on work condition of receiving benefits would be extended from placement pay; [49685] those with a youngest child aged seven or over, to those (2) when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. with a youngest child aged five or over. We estimated in Member for Torbay of 18 August 2010 on behalf of his the recent impact assessment, “Conditionality Measures constituent Mr Russell James on reform of the public in the 2011 Welfare Reform Bill” that the change will sector; [49686] help 20,000 to 25,000 extra lone parents into work in (3) when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. steady state—with around an extra 10,000 lone parents Member for Torbay of 22 July 2010 on behalf of his in work after the first full year; around an extra 20,000 constituent Mr Keith Richardson on intrusive and after the second year; and up to 25,000 in steady state. unnecessary laws; [49687] (b) There are a number of flexibilities for lone parents regarding job search requirements that can reflect different (4) when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. personal circumstances affecting availability for work. Member for Torbay of 15 June 2010 on behalf of his For example, lone parents may limit the hours they are constituent Mr Christopher Bunker on intrusive and available for work to a minimum of 16 hours a week unnecessary laws; [49691] subject to their childcare arrangements. They may also (5) when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. restrict their availability for work to their children’s Member for Torbay of 15 June 2010 on behalf of his normal school hours if any of their children are aged 12 constituent Jenny Hall on the Protection of Freedoms or under. Bill; [49692] 521W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 522W

(6) when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Nuclear Power Stations Member for Torbay of 16 July 2010 on behalf of his constituent Mr David Love on the statutory Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy requirement for schools to hold acts of daily collective and Climate Change what information his Department worship. [49693] holds on the number of third generation nuclear reactors that are in operation around the world. [50258] The Deputy Prime Minister: I answered my hon. Friend’s correspondence today. Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not hold specific information on the number of third generation nuclear plants in operation around the world. TRANSPORT A number of other organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Shipping: Oil Nuclear Association maintain lists of such information that is easily accessed on the internet: Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for www.iaea.org Transport what progress his Department has made on and its consultation on ship-to-ship oil transfers. [49963] www.world-nuclear.org

Mike Penning: I am considering the representations Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which have been made and shall take a decision at the and Climate Change whether he has assessed the suitability earliest opportunity. of boiling water nuclear reactors for deployment in the UK. [50259]

Charles Hendry: The safety, security and environmental ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE aspects of nuclear reactor designs proposed for deployment in the UK are assessed by the UK’s nuclear regulators Devolution: Northern Ireland as part of their site licensing and permitting processes. Regulators have recently assessed a number of reactor Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State designs as part of their generic design assessment (GDA) for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer process. One design, the GE-Hitachi ESBWR is an of 14 March 2011, Official Report, column 111W, on evolution of earlier boiling water reactors. Assessment devolution: Northern Ireland, for what reason no of the economic simplified boiling water reactor (ESBWR) meetings have taken place. [50249] within the GDA process ceased in September 2008 when GE-Hitachi requested a temporary suspension of Gregory Barker [holding answer 31 March 2011]: work. Meetings have not taken place between the special No boiling water reactor designs are currently being advisers of the Secretary of State and representatives of assessed for the UK. the Northern Ireland Executive and other organisations Information on the regulators assessment findings, in Northern Ireland as there have been no meeting including interim technical reports and quarterly updates requests. Officials of the Department of Energy and can be found on their website: Climate Change (DECC) have regular dialogue with www.hse.gov.uk/newreactors the Northern Ireland Executive and other Northern Irish bodies, including meetings that were attended by The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change DECC’s board-level devolution champion in Belfast on has asked UK Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike 10 and 11 March 2011 on a wide range of energy and Weightman, to provide an independent report to the climate change matters. Northern Ireland Executive Government on the implications of the unprecedented officials also sit on several DECC steering groups. events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK nuclear industry. Energy: Housing He has asked for an interim report by mid-May 2011 and a final report within six months. The reports will be published in the public domain. Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department had had with energy companies on their role in Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of informing consumers about the Green Deal. [50555] boiling water nuclear reactor designs. [50260] Gregory Barker: The Department has been working closely with energy companies, developing their role to Charles Hendry: The safety, security and environmental collect Green Deal payments from customers and exploring aspects of nuclear reactor designs proposed for deployment the potential opportunities for them as Green Deal in the UK are assessed by the UK’s nuclear regulators providers. We are also working on an agreement with as part of their site licensing and permitting processes. the larger energy companies for them to provide Regulators have recently assessed a number of reactor promotional material about the Green Deal to their designs as part of their generic design assessment process customers at key trigger points, for example when moving (GDA). One design, the GE-Hitachi economic simplified into a new property or switching energy supplier. boiling water reactor (ESBWR) is an evolution of earlier 523W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 524W boiling water reactors. Assessment of the ESBWR within www.hse.gov.uk/newreactors the GDA ceased in September 2008 when GE-Hitachi The Secretary of State has asked UK Chief Nuclear requested a temporary suspension of work. Inspector Dr Mike Weightman to provide an independent Information on the regulators assessment findings, report to the Government on the implications of the including interim technical reports and quarterly updates unprecedented events in Japan and the lessons to be can be found on their website: learned for the UK nuclear industry. www.hse.gov.uk/newreactors He has asked for an interim report by mid-May 2011 The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and a final report within six months. The reports will be has asked UK Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike published in the public domain. Weightman, to provide an independent report to the Government on the implications of the unprecedented Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK and Climate Change what estimate he has made of core nuclear industry. damage frequency for the (a) GE Hitachi (i) Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor and (ii) Advanced He has asked for an interim report by mid-May 2011 Boiling Water Reactor, (b) Westinghouse AP1000 and and a final report within six months. The reports will be (c) Areva European Pressurised Reactor; and what published in the public domain. assessment he has made of the implications of those figures for reactor safety. [50261] Nuclear Power Stations: Safety Charles Hendry: The safety, security and environmental Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy aspects of nuclear reactor designs proposed for deployment and Climate Change what assessment he has made of in the UK are assessed by the UK’s nuclear regulators the implications of the situation in Japan for his energy as part of their site licensing and permitting processes. policy. [49930] Regulators have recently assessed a number of reactor designs as part of their generic design assessment (GDA) Charles Hendry: The International Atomic Energy process. This assessment has included an appraisal of Agency integrated regulatory review service—IRRS— the calculated core damage frequencies on the Westinghouse recently noted that the UK has a mature and transparent API000 and AREVA EPR. The GE-Hitachi ESBWR regulatory system, an advanced review process, and voluntarily suspended assessment in September 2008 highly trained, expert and experienced nuclear inspectors. and the ABWR was not put forward to the GDA Nevertheless, we take the recent unprecedented events process, as such no core damage frequency assessment in Japan extremely seriously, and the Secretary of State has been undertaken by regulators on these two reactors. has asked the chief nuclear inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, Information on the regulators assessment findings, to provide a report to the Government on the implications including interim technical reports and quarterly updates and the lessons to be learned for the UK nuclear industry. can be found on their website: The coalition Government’s plans clearly envisage an www.hse.gov.uk/newreactors important role for nuclear and unless Dr Weightman’s report gives us any particular reason to reassess that, I The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change see no reason why that should not remain our view. We has asked UK Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike aim to bring the first new nuclear on stream for 2018. Weightman, to provide an independent report to the When people visit the departmental website, they can Government on the implications of the unprecedented access a pathways model called “My2050”, which allows events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK them to see the effort that would have to be made if we nuclear industry. did not have nuclear. We would have to make enormously He has asked for an interim report by mid-May 2011 greater efforts on both renewables and carbon capture and a final report within six months. The reports will be and storage. That is physically possible, but the costs published in the public domain. would be very substantial. Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State the effectiveness of inherent passive safety systems in for Energy and Climate Change when his Department published the trigger for the fast-track solar nuclear reactor design. [50117] photovoltaic feed-in tariff review; and if he will make a Charles Hendry: The safety, security and environmental statement. [46442] aspects of nuclear reactor designs proposed for deployment in the UK are assessed by the UK’s nuclear regulators Gregory Barker: At the time of the spending review as part of their site licensing and permitting processes. in 2010 we said that the first review of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme would take place as planned in 2012, Regulators have recently assessed a number of reactor taking effect in April 2013, unless higher than expected designs as part of their Generic Design Assessment deployment triggered an early review. Since then feedback (GDA) process. A number of these designs incorporate from industry has indicated that solar PV system costs either full or partial passive safety systems. Which are are now 30% lower than assumed in the original modelling assessed against publicised safety principles within the undertaken before the start of the scheme and that GDA process. there would be higher than expected deployment of Information on the regulators assessment findings, larger scale solar PV. This has resulted in the risk that including interim technical reports and quarterly updates the FITs budget would be exceeded and triggers an can be found on their website early review. 525W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 526W

The decision to begin a comprehensive review early Libya: Aviation allows us to deal with issues such as the fast falling cost of solar PV; enabling us to safeguard FITs funding for Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for small scale installations for domestic customers, schools, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s community groups and small businesses. policy is on charging (a) British and (b) non-British nationals who used recent flights chartered by his Department from Libya. [48963]

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Alistair Burt: The Department’s policy is not to charge either British or non-British nationals using flights chartered Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from Libya. In an evacuation, the Government cover the cost of transport out of the affected country if there are no Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign commercial means available. and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the political situation in Bosnia and Hercegovina. [49135] Security: EU Action

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has raised his concerns and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution he about the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina plans to make to the Council of Europe Committee of in several recent bilateral meetings with European Ministers’ informal meeting of the Drafting Group of counterparts, and at both the February and March the Istanbul Declaration on 7 April 2011; and if he will Foreign Affairs Councils. place in the Library a copy of the representations the The Secretary of State has made clear his strong Government has made on this declaration. [50272] concerns about the current negative political atmosphere and has highlighted the need for rapid progress on Mr Lidington: The UK will contribute fully to ensure government formation and on implementation of key that the draft declaration reflects our vision of the EU-related reforms. Council of Europe as an organisation focussed on the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy European Court of Human Rights and the rule of law. I will place in the Library a copy of the UK’s statement Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign in Istanbul when it is available. and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 367W, on the USA: Cotton European Court of Human Rights, whether the UK’s representative at the High Level Conference will Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for address the conference; and if he will place in the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Library a copy of representations the Government has answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, column made to the Council of Europe on reform of the 694W, on the USA: cotton, what the US ambassador’s European Court of Human Rights since May 2010. response was to Lord Brittan’s representations; what [50273] steps he plans to take in respect of US cotton subsidies as a result of that response; and if he will make a Mr Lidington: The UK will be represented by the statement. [49698] Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe Mr O’Brien: I have been asked to reply. (Mr Clarke), who will address the meeting. The Government have participated actively in a number of discussions The US ambassador responded that there were within the Council of Europe on the reform of the opponents to cotton reform in the Senate and that what European Court of Human Rights since May 2010. could be agreed would depend on the overall Doha This has not involved the submission of formal written Development Agenda (DDA). We will continue to press representations on this issue. the US bilaterally on this issue. It remains clear that a successful conclusion of the DDA will be the best route for reform of cotton subsidies. Latvia: Anti-Semitism

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT received on levels of anti-Semitism in Latvia since July 2010; what discussions he has had with the government of Latvia about anti-Semitism in Latvia since that date; Departmental Public Bodies and if he will make a statement. [50301] Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Lidington: We have not received any reports of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) costs anti-Semitism in Latvia since July 2010, nor have we and (b) savings he expects to result from the abolition engaged the Latvian Government on the issue during of the (i) UK Film Council and (ii) Museum, Libraries this period. and Archives Council. [48795] 527W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 528W

Mr Jeremy Hunt [holding answer 24 March 2011]: is of (a) the reduction of fuel duty by one penny per The costs and benefits arising from the reforms to the litre from 23 March 2011, (b) the removal of previously UK Film Council and Museums, Libraries and Archives announced above retail prices index increases in fuel Council are subject to ongoing analysis and while we duty and (c) the delay of retail prices index increases in expect they will generate administrative savings, no each year between 2011-12 and 2015-16. [50368] figures can be provided at this stage. Justine Greening: The 1p per litre fuel duty reduction, the removal of the previous Administration’s fuel duty INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT escalator and the delay of RPI increases are costed in table 2.1 of Budget 2011 at: -£1,900 million in 2011-12; Sudan: Overseas Aid -£1,600 million in 2012-13; -£1,700 million in 2013-14; -£2,100 million in 2014-15. Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the £140 million bilateral aid allocated for Sudan in the Bilateral Aid Oil: Prices review will be apportioned between north and south Sudan. [50732] John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on requirements for oil, gas and Mr Andrew Mitchell: The focus of the Bilateral Aid mining companies based in the UK to disclose payments Review is on achieving results to transform the lives of made in other countries in which they operate. [49971] poor people. As poverty indicators are generally worse in the south of Sudan, approximately 65% of our funding (around £90 million) will be focused there. Justine Greening [holding answer 31 March 2011]: As Over the next four years key results we intend to achieve the Chancellor made clear at the G20 Finance Minister’s include 240,000 more children completing primary school meeting in February 2011, the Government support the (20% more than today), 1 million more people achieving development of new international rules to require oil, food security, and over 750,000 people benefiting from gas and mining companies to report the payments they treatment or prevention of malaria. make to Governments. The UK will be seeking to make Approximately 35% of our funding (around £50 million) progress on this issue both in the G20 and at the EU. will be focused on the north of Sudan. Results we aim to deliver there include clean drinking water or sanitation for 800,000 people, access to justice for 250,000 people, Taxation and life-saving health and nutrition support to up to 4 million people in areas of humanitarian need, notably Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Darfur. (1) what recent representations he has received on proposals for (a) a financial activities tax and (b) a financial transactions tax; [50524] TREASURY (2) what discussions he has had with his (a) French and (b) German counterpart on the prospects for (i) a EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council Meeting financial activities tax and (ii) a financial transactions tax; [50525] Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (3) whether he has tasked a team in his Department what agreements were made on climate finance at the with investigating the feasibility of a financial activities EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting tax. [50526] on 15 March 2011. [50029]

Justine Greening: The EU Economic and Financial Justine Greening: As set out in the June 2010 Budget, Affairs Council of 14-15 March 2011 adopted Council the Government are exploring the costs and benefits of Conclusions on climate finance. a financial activities tax with international partners and The conclusions welcomed the outcome of the is continuing to monitor developments in this area. international negotiations in Cancun, including the decision There have been discussions at ECOFIN about financial to establish a Green Climate Fund; reaffirmed climate activities taxes and financial transactions taxes. The finance commitments made by EU member states to European Commission issued a communication on taxation provide ¤7.2 billion cumulatively over the period 2010-12 of the financial sector in October 2010, and is currently to fast start finance and to report on its climate finance running a consultation exercise as part of its impact contributions. assessment work, which it is due to publish later this year. In addition, the Government of France holds the The full text of the conclusions can be found at: presidency of the G20 for 2011, and has stated that it http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/ will bring forward discussions on financial transactions pressdata/en/ecofin/119891_pdf taxes. Fuel Duty: Public Expenditure The Government have received representations on various aspects of financial sector taxation from a wide Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the range of interested parties. In August 2010, the Government Exchequer with reference to Table 2.1 on page 42 of issued a statement on financial taxation, available at: Budget 2011, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer http://hm-treasury.gov.uk/robin_hood_tax.htm 529W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 530W

Telephone Services Local enterprise partnerships interested in bidding for an enterprise zone are being asked to submit short Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the expressions of interest during April. Once those expressions Exchequer (1) what the opening hours of the Debt of interest have been received, the Government will Management Telephone Centre unit of HM Revenue write to all interested local enterprise partnerships with and Customs will be on (a) Friday 22 April, (b) the criteria against which detailed bids will be assessed. Sunday 24 April and (c) Monday 25 April 2011; [50450] Final bids will be expected by the end of June. Those local authorities and businesses not currently covered (2) whether staff of the Debt Management Telephone by a local enterprise partnership will be able to bid to (a) Centre unit of HM Revenue and Customs will be host an enterprise zone if their proposals to form a local (b) making outbound calls to collect debts and taking enterprise partnership are approved before the deadline incoming calls during its hours of operation on (i) for bids. The prospectus already provides partnerships Friday 22 April, (ii) Sunday 24 April and (iii) Monday with an indication of the sorts of issues that they will 25 April 2011. [50451] want to consider in compiling a bid.

Justine Greening: HMRC’s Debt Management and Enterprise Zones: Finance Telephone Centre will be closed on Friday 22 April, open on Sunday 24 April from 8 am to 4 pm and closed on Monday 25 April 2011. Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he Staff contracted to work on Sunday 24 April will be plans to allocate to enterprise zones in (a) 2011-12, (b) handling inbound calls as a priority, with some opportunity 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [50582] for outbound calls to those who have failed to respond to HMRC’s written demands for payment. Mr Prisk: At the Budget, the Government announced that businesses in enterprise zones would receive business rate discounts of up to 100% for five years. These BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS discounts are subject to European Union state aid rules and are worth up to £275,000 over a five-year period for Business: Regulation each business. The Government estimate the overall cost of this tax support to be approximately £125 million Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for over the spending review period. Business, Innovation and Skills from which domestic regulations he proposes to exempt micro-businesses Regional Growth Fund and start-ups in the next three years as a result of the moratorium introduced in the 2011 Budget. [49419] Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of Mr Prisk [holding answer 28 March 2011]: All micro bids submitted to the first round of the Regional Growth and start-up businesses will be exempted from new Fund in each (a) Government office region and (b) domestic regulation in the three-year moratorium from local enterprise partnership. [50647] 1 April 2011, apart from in exceptional instances where there is a compelling argument against exemption. A Mr Prisk: 464 bids to the value of £2.78 billion have decision has been made that the abolition of default been received in round 1 of regional growth fund (RGF). retirement age will continue as planned for all businesses. The following tables gives details on the monetary value Any breach of the moratorium will require the consent of bids submitted by each Government region and of both the Reducing Regulation Cabinet Committee, Local Enterprise Partnership area. chaired by the Secretary of State, and the Economic Affairs Committee, chaired by the Chancellor of the Region £ million Exchequer. East Midlands 241 Enterprise Zones East of England 132 London 270 Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, North East 338 Innovation and Skills on what date his Department North West 577 informed (a) local authorities and (b) local enterprise South East 186 partnerships of the criteria for the establishment of South West 176 enterprise zones. [50580] West Midlands 459 Yorkshire and the Humber 402 Mr Prisk: The Secretaries of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; and for Communities and Local LEP area £ million Government wrote to local enterprise partnerships on 24 March 2011 with regard to the Budget announcement Birmingham and Solihull with 152 on enterprise zones. The prospectus that accompanied East Staffordshire, Lichfield and their letter—and which is available on the DCLG website Tamworth LEP at: Brighton and Hove, Croydon, 14 the Gatwick Diamond and West www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/ Sussex—Coast to Capital LEP enterprisezone Cheshire and Warrington LEP 94 —explained the bidding process that will be put in place Coventry and Warwickshire 139 to identify a second wave of enterprise zones. LEP 531W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 532W

Fire Services LEP area £ million

Cumbria LEP 40 Empowering Enterprise— 57 John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Communities and Local Government how many (a) LEP whole-time firefighter, (b) retained firefighter, (c) fire Greater Cambridge and Greater 24 control room and (d) total posts there were in each Peterborough LEP Fire and Rescue Service in England on 1 April 2010; Greater Manchester LEP 185 and how many posts in each category there were on Hertfordshire LEP 1— 1 April 2011. [50257] Kent-Essex LEP 128 Leeds City Region LEP 154 Leicester and Leicestershire 34 Robert Neill: The numbers of posts on 31 March LEP 2010 in each Fire and Rescue Service in England are Lincolnshire LEP 24 shown in the following table. Figures for 31 March 2011 Liverpool City Region LEP 198 are due to be submitted over the coming months and to New Anglia LEP 42 be published in August. North Eastern LE 203 Fire and rescue service posts in England at 31 March 20101 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, 112 Total Derby, Derbyshire LEP Fire and Retained (including Oxfordshire City Region LEP 1— rescue Whole- duty Fire support authorities time system2,3 control staff) Sheffield City Region LEP 223 Solent LEP 47 England 30,053 13,712 1,475 54,308 South East Midlands LEP 108 Stoke-on-Trent and 55 Avon 684 216 33 1,078 Staffordshire LEP Bedfordshire4 305 128 27 594 Tees Valley LEP 136 Berkshire 418 156 34 753 Thames Valley Berkshire LEP 1— Buckinghamshire 357 238 23 749 The Black Country LEP 32 Cambridgeshire4 271 379 35 845 The Marches Enterprise 44 Cheshire 529 387 26 1,198 Partnership—Shropshire and Herefordshire LEP Cleveland 522 69 33 753 West of England LEP 39 Cornwall 206 425 15 740 Worcestershire LEP 42 Cumbria 255 480 21 855 1 Amount redacted as it may risk disclosure of applicants. Derbyshire 460 360 26 1,009 Note: Devon and 719 1,207 45 2,220 Bids have been allocated to LEPs by their location in response to Q2 Somerset of the application and should not be taken as an indication that the Dorset 295 356 21 801 LEP has endorsed the bid. Durham 388 168 26 683 East Sussex 427 259 26 873 Essex 967 450 43 1,710 COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Gloucestershire 212 306 20 621 Children in Care: Missing Persons Greater 5,866 0 118 7,104 London Greater 1,888 42 69 2,555 Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities Manchester and Local Government what discussions he has had Hampshire 774 676 38 1,806 with the Secretary of State for Education on the number Hereford 329 369 25 865 of children (a) in total and (b) who had been trafficked and who went missing from local government care in each Worcester of the last five years for which figures are available. Hertfordshire 569 264 29 1,014 [50469] Humberside 631 376 28 1,234 Isle of 76 136 13 248 Andrew Stunell: Ministers within the Department for Wight Communities and Local Government regularly meet Isles of 11 39 0 51 colleagues from the Home Office and Department for Scilly Education to discuss a range of matters. Policies on Kent 879 716 42 1,914 trafficking, children who go missing and children in Lancashire 878 318 45 1,532 care mainly fall under the responsibility of the Home Leicestershire 486 193 41 879 Office and Department for Education. Lincolnshire 239 495 32 864 We are working closely with them on related policies Merseyside 947 67 42 1,465 such as the young runaways project and homelessness. Norfolk 305 530 27 993 For example, the Home Office and Department for North 325 392 25 834 Education are represented on the cross-Government Yorkshire Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness. In addition, Northamptonshire 288 279 26 695 the Department for Communities and Local Government Northumberland 202 155 18 451 is represented on the senior officials group overseeing Nottinghamshire 569 252 31 1,038 cross-government work on missing persons. Oxfordshire 246 328 22 655 533W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 534W

Fire and rescue service posts in England at 31 March 20101 Air Force: Redundancy Total Fire and Retained (including rescue Whole- duty Fire support Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence authorities time system2,3 control staff) what recent estimate he has made of the likely number of Royal Air Force personnel to be made redundant at Shropshire 223 343 17 664 Royal Air Force Valley as part of the programme South 831 121 42 1,269 Yorkshire announced on 1 March 2011. [49932] Staffordshire 461 454 33 1,120 Suffolk4 249 504 24 857 Mr Robathan: Between 1 March and 14 April 2011 Surrey 626 144 25 895 RAF personnel within certain trades and branches are Tyne and 885 24 38 1,243 invited to apply for redundancy following the announcement Wear of the RAF Redundancy Programme Tranche One. All Warwickshire 269 123 20 490 personnel selected for redundancy will be informed of West 1,898 0 46 2,444 the decision on 1 September 2011. Midlands Consequently, it is too soon to make an assessment West Sussex 394 310 32 861 on the number of likely redundancies at a particular West 1,467 177 53 2,127 location within the RAF. Yorkshire Wiltshire 228 303 22 659 Defence: International Cooperation 1 In full time equivalents (FTEs) except retained duty system firefighters in 24 hour units of cover. 2 In 24-hour units of cover. Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for 3 No retained duty system firefighters are recruited in London and West Midlands. Defence whether training for the France-UK bi-national 4 Estimates. rapid reaction force has begun; and if he will make a Source: statement. [49906] Annual Returns to DCLG

Local Government Finance Mr Gerald Howarth: We confirmed at last year’s bilateral Summit that we would develop a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force with France. It will foster Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for closer links between our armed forces, and improve Communities and Local Government what assessment their ability to deploy together on operations in the his Department has made of the likely effect on formula future. It will not involve standing forces. grant funding to each local authority of allowing such There are a number of bilateral exercises scheduled authorities to retain the receipts from business rates. to take place with French armed forces this year, aimed [49794] at increasing the levels of interoperability between our armed forces. Robert Neill: As part of the Local Government Resource Review’s consideration of options for allowing local authorities to retain business rates, we will be assessing Departmental Theft the impact of a range of issues, including the potential impact on local authorities’ funding. In due course, we Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for will publish the conclusions of the review. The terms of Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, the review are clear that any change must protect the Official Report, column 1227W, on departmental theft, interests of local taxpayers and the vulnerable, be fair what the policy of his Department is on monitoring (a) for all councils, and encourage growth. Councils which (i) eBay, (ii) Amazon and (iii) other online trading sites are more deprived will continue to receive central and (b) (i) Loot and (ii) other classified advertising Government support. publications in order to recover stolen property. [50527]

Mr Gerald Howarth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) police uses proactive intelligence led initiatives to identify DEFENCE and detect thefts of MOD property, and those involved in the unlawful disposal of stolen Defence property, by Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations monitoring internet trading sites and other markets, and then taking appropriate law enforcement action. This approach has proved successful in tracking potential Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence stolen MOD property and those who seek to dispose of whether bullet-proof vests are available to all UK it, with arrests, convictions and property recovery. combat troops in Afghanistan. [50382] European Defence Agency Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence issues troops with personal protective equipment which provides degrees of ballistic protection against a range of threats. All Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for UK troops deploying to Afghanistan are issued with Defence what discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and enhanced combat body armour as a minimum. Mk 4 (c) his officials have had with their French counterparts Osprey body armour is available to all troops whose on the future of the European Defence Agency since role requires it. May 2010. [49907] 535W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 536W

Mr Gerald Howarth: Defence Ministers and officials Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011: routinely discuss matters concerning the future of the As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I European Defence Agency both multilaterally and have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions bilaterally with our French counterparts. asking: 1: to facilitate public access to the underlying data from the Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings provided to the Department Defence what the Government’s policy is on the European for Communities and Local Government as the basis for the area Defence Agency; and if he will make a statement. cost adjustment calculations in West Sussex redacting personal [49909] data where necessary to assist disclosure (50645) and 2: by what procedure an individual may become an approved Mr Gerald Howarth: I refer the right hon. Member to researcher to access the data underlying the Annual Survey of the answers I gave on 11 February 2011, Official Report, Hours and Earnings prepared by the Office for National Statistics; column 453W, to the hon. Member for St Austell and and how many applications for such statistics have been (a) Newquay (Stephen Gilbert) and on 13 December 2010, approved and (b) rejected in the last 24 months. (50646) Official Report, column 659, to the Second Church Answer to question one Estates Commissioner, the hon. Member for Banbury Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data are (Tony Baldry). collected under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947. Section 9 of this Act states that unless consent has been obtained, data collected under the Act that may identify an individual unit may only be Foreign Relations made available to Government Departments in possession of a ‘direction from the Minister’. The legislation states that the data Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for may be released to the Government Department for the performance Defence on what dates (a) he, (b) his Ministers and of any of its functions. Under this Act, those Government (c) his officials have met their French counterparts Departments without a ‘ministerial direction’ are not allowed access. since May 2010. [49908] The Statistics and Registration Service Act, 2007, allows for Mr Gerald Howarth: The information is as follows: increased sharing of data between ONS and other Government Departments, subject to agreement by Parliament on a case by The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Fox) met the French case basis. The Act ensures that ONS can still use the existing Defence Minister on: 10 June 2010; 18 June 2010; 3 September gateways for access to ASHE microdata. It also promotes further 2010; 14 October 2010; 2 November 2010; 20 November 2010; statistical research by the addition of an additional gateway - 12 January 2011; and 10 March 2011. Approved Researcher. The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology The Approved Researcher is the only gateway available for (Peter Luff) met his French counterpart on: 17 June 2010; those without a ministerial direction to access ASHE microdata. 19 July 2010; 18 October 2010 and 16 March 2010. Approved Researcher status is for named individuals only and The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans applies to a specific project. It does not open a gateway to all data (Mr Robathan) met his French counterpart on 18 June 2010. for any purpose. Currently Approved Researchers can only gain I met the French Defence Minister at the EU Defence Ministers’ access to ASHE data at ONS sites. This is likely to be extended in meetings on 9 December 2010 and 24 February 2011. the near future so that Approved Researchers can access ASHE from a Secure Data Centre, at university buildings via secure Other members of the Ministry of Defence routinely computer terminals. meet with representatives of the French Ministry of The production of a redacted version of the data would render Defence. This information is not held centrally and them unsuitable for the purposes stated. Given the nature of the could be provided only at disproportionate cost. information provided under trust to ONS, it would be necessary to use a coarse recoding methodology to prevent the identification, or self-identification, of an individual from a public use data set. The methodology employed in the area cost adjustment calculations CABINET OFFICE requires detailed individual record information that would be lost as a consequence of the recoding required to prevent disclosure. Average Earnings: Statistics Answer to question two The Statistics and Registration Service Act requires that the criteria for becoming an Approved Researcher are published. The Mr Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office criteria and assessment procedure can be found on the ‘Access to (1) if he will request the Office for National Statistics to Data’ pages of the Office for National Statistics website: facilitate public access to the underlying data from the www.ons.gov.uk/about/who-we-are/our-services/unpublished- Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings provided to the data/access-to-ons-data-service/index.html Department for Communities and Local Government Only the information in the application is used for the decision as the basis for the area cost adjustment calculations in to make an applicant an Approved Researcher, although for less West Sussex, redacting personal data where necessary experienced applicants a reference may be sought from their PhD to assist disclosure; [50645] supervisor. Any individual can become an Approved Researcher (2) by what procedure an individual may become an provided they meet both the criteria for personal competence to approved researcher to access the data underlying the use confidential data securely, and the criteria for statistical Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings prepared by the research purposes. Office for National Statistics; and how many In the last 24 months 32 statistical researchers have met the applications for such status have been (a) approved criteria and have been made Approved Researchers for access to the confidential Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings dataset. and (b) rejected in the last 24 months. [50646] The researchers are working on 19 statistical research inquiries. All of these statistical researchers have used the ASHE dataset Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the within a statistical research laboratory facility on an ONS site. No responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have statistical researcher that has submitted an application has been asked the Authority to reply. rejected. 537W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 538W

Cancer: Death related in each of the last five years; and how many of those who died were aged (i) under 18, (ii) 18 to 24, (iii) 25 to 40 and (iv) over 40 years. (50964) Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet The following tables provide the number of deaths where the Office how many patients died from cancer in (a) Bolton underlying cause was (a) alcohol-related (Table 1) and (b) drug South East constituency and (b) Bolton borough in the poisoning (Table 2), for persons aged (i) under 18, (ii) 18 to 24, last five years. [50550] (iii) 25 to 40 and (iv) over 40 years, in Pendle local authority, for the years 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available). Figures for alcohol-related deaths in the UK, England and Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Wales, and government office regions are published annually on responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have the National Statistics website at: asked the authority to reply. www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14496 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011: Figures for deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales by sex, age, cause and substance involved are published As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I annually on the National Statistics website at: have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many patients died from cancer in (a) Bolton South East www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=11695 constituency and (b) Bolton borough in the last five years. (50550) Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was The following tables provide the number of deaths where the alcohol-related, Pendle local authority, 2005 to 20091, 2, 3 underlying cause was cancer in (a) Bolton South East parliamentary Persons constituency (Table 1) and (b) Bolton metropolitan district (Table 2), Age for the years 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available). group 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 It is not possible from the information given at death registration Under 00000 to state whether the deceased was a patient at the time of death. 18 Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause was cancer, 18-24 0 0000 1, 2, 3 Bolton South East parliamentary constituency, 2005-09 25-40 1 2430 Deaths (persons) Over 9 8 10 8 16 40 2005 262 Total 10 10 14 11 16 2006 244 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of 2007 248 Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific conditions which are 2008 254 included in the National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths, 2009 218 and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in Box 1 as follows. 1 Cause of death was defined using the international Classification of 2 Based on boundaries as of 2011. Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97. 3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 2 Based on boundaries as of 2011. 3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. Box 1. National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths Table 2. Number of deaths where the underlying cause was cancer, Cause of death ICD-10 codes Bolton metropolitan district, 2005-091, 2, 3 Deaths (persons) Mental and behavioural F10 disorders due to use of alcohol 2005 704 Degeneration of nervous system G31.2 2006 661 due to alcohol 2007 672 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 2008 612 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 2009 621 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Alcoholic liver disease K70 Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97. Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere K73 2 Based on boundaries as of 2011. classified 3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver K74 (excl. K74.3-K74.5) (excl. Biliary cirrhosis) Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs Alcohol induced chronic K86.0 pancreatitis Accidental poisoning by and X45 Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the exposure to alcohol Cabinet Office how many deaths in the Pendle area Intentional self-poisoning by X65 and exposure to alcohol were (a) alcohol and (b) drug-related in each of the Poisoning by and exposure to Y15 last five years; and how many of those who died were alcohol, undetermined intent aged (i) under 18, (ii) 18 to 24, (iii) 25 to 40 and (iv) over 40 years. [50964] Table 2. Number of deaths where drug poisoning was the underlying cause of death, Pendle local authority, 2005 to 20091, 2, 3 Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Persons responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Age asked the authority to reply. group 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2001: Under 00010 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I 18 have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking how 18-24 0 2100 many deaths in the Pendle area were (a) alcohol and (b) drug 25-40 2 1413 539W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 540W

Table 2. Number of deaths where drug poisoning was the underlying Following the Review of Public Bodies, I confirmed cause of death, Pendle local authority, 2005 to 20091, 2, 3 in a written statement to the House that the National Persons School of Government would no longer be a non-ministerial Age department. The functions of the School will transfer group 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 into the Cabinet Office from 1 April. Further decisions Over 45425about the school, its staff and sites are expected in due 40 course. Total68948From April, training and development across 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Government Departments in leadership, management Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The ICD-10 codes for drug and the core skills expected of every civil servant should poisoning are shown in Box 2 as follows. 2 Based on boundaries as of 2011. have will be sourced through Civil Service Learning. 3Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Box 2. ICD-10 codes for deaths related to drug poisoning New Businesses: Middlesbrough Cause of death ICD-10 codes Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Mental and behavioural F11-F16, F18-F19 disorders due to drug use Office how many business start-ups there were in (excluding alcohol and tobacco) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency Accidental poisoning by drugs, X40-X44 in each year of the last Parliament; and how many such medicaments and biological start-ups there have been since the May 2010 general substances election. [50982] Intentional self-poisoning by X60-X64 drugs, medicaments and Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the biological substances responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Assault by drugs, medicaments X85 and biological substances asked the authority to reply. Poisoning by drugs, Y10-Y14 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011: medicaments and biological As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I substances, undetermined intent have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many business start-ups there were in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year of the last Departmental Public Transport parliament; and how many such start-ups there have been since the May 2010 General Election. [50982] Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography Office if he will publish central government guidance at: issued to Ministers on modes of transport to use whilst www.statistics.gov.uk on government business. [50093] The table below contains the latest statistics available, which give the number of enterprise births from 2005 to 2009 in the Mr Maude: All travel is undertaken in accordance constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. with the Ministerial Code. Section 10 of the Ministerial Information relating to 2010 will be available following release of Code provides guidance to Ministers on travel. A copy the latest Business Demography publication in December 2011. of the Ministerial Code is available in the Library of the Table showing enterprises births in Middlesbrough South and East House. Cleveland 2005-09 Births

2005 220 Government Departments: Procurement 2006 200 2007 325 Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 2008 235 Office what training is offered by the National School 2009 200 of Government for senior responsible owners; and how many senior responsible owners have completed such training in each of the last three years. [45664] Public Bodies Mr Maude: During the last three years, the National School of Government has not offered an open programme Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet of training for senior responsible owners. Office pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2011, Official Report, column 838W, if he will publish the The school has delivered the senior responsible owner departmental estimates that were collated to arrive at masterclass as a single client product to various departments the stated estimates of savings. [50289] and organisations. In the last three years, the following numbers have attended this masterclass: Mr Maude [holding answer 31 March 2011]: On the 2010-11: 20 16 March 2011, I announced that we estimate cumulative 2009-10: 88. administrative savings of £2.6 billion will flow from 2008-09: 149 public bodies over the spending review period. The National School also offers courses on programme The departmental estimates that were collated to and project management which cover SRO responsibilities. arrive at that figure are: 541W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 542W

they are granted. Those obligations include requirements Estimated overall administrative savings from public bodies over covering a number of areas such as curriculum and Department SR period (£ million) assessment, admissions and exclusions. The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring that the terms of an BIS 882.00 academy’s funding agreement are met. That includes CO 9.71 considering complaints from parents about matters covered CLG 168.62 within the funding agreement to decide whether there Local government public bodies 60.54 has been a breach of the funding agreement by the DCMS 206.35 academy. At the moment, the YPLA considers those DEFRA 269.51 complaints on behalf of the Secretary of State. When DfE 673.88 the YPLA is abolished, the responsibility for handling DH 67.00 complaints will return to the Department for Education, MoJ (inc AGO) 86.46 either within the relevant policy directorate or a future HO 132.00 executive agency. GEO 37.16 MoD 1.59 Academies: Finance DfT 21.59 DWP 17.95 Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Total 2,634.36 (1) when he expects his Department’s review of academy I also announced that when reductions in programme funding for 2011-12 to begin; and what the objectives of and capital spend are taken into account, we estimate that review will be; [25507] that total spending through public bodies will be reduced (2) whether he expects consideration of funding by at least £11 billion per year by 2014-15, a cumulative provision for children with low incidence special amount of £30 billion over the spending review period. educational needs undertaken as part of the review of The breakdown of these figures by Department was academy funding for 2011-12 to be completed before announced as part of the spending review settlements. the School Finance (England) Regulations 2011 come into force. [25508] Unemployment: Pendle Mr Gibb: On academy funding in 2011/12, the Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Department consulted interested parties via the Academy Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the Funding Sub-Group of the School Funding number of workless households in Pendle constituency. Implementation Group. The aim of the review was to [50963] consider the methodology for the future funding of academies for academic year 2011/12 and to identify Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the any issues that needed to be considered for the academic responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have year 2012/13 and beyond. The consultation was intended asked the authority to reply. to inform Ministers and was reflected in the School Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011: Funding Settlement announced in December 2010. As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I The group considered whether funding for children have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent with special educational needs (SEN) should still be estimate has been made of the number of workless households in part of the local authority central spend equivalent Pendle constituency. (50963). grant. Furthermore, the Government have listened to Estimates of the number of workless households are derived the concerns expressed by groups which support children from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. with SEN. Therefore we will not be recovering funding These are currently available for 2004 to 2009. However, due to for SEN support services in relation to academies from the specific nature of your request it is not possible to provide reliable estimates because the sample sizes for this survey are not local authorities in the 2011-12 financial year. We wrote sufficiently large enough for the Pendle constituency. to local authorities on 9 February 2011 to confirm that they do not need to reduce funding for these services as a result of schools converting to academy status. Funding for the individually assigned resources specified in a EDUCATION child’s statement will continue to be paid directly from local authorities to academies. Academies: Complaints The School Finance (England) Regulations 2011 came into force on 15 March 2011 and can be viewed at: Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/371/introduction/ Education what consideration he has given to the made development of an alternative parental complaints mechanism following the abolition of the YoungPersons Learning Agency so as to ensure that academies are not Brook Advisory Centres required to use their resources defending litigation claims for want of an effective statutory complaints process. Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education [49579] what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) Brook Advisory Centres and (ii) the Mr Gibb: Academies are regulated through a funding Family Planning Association since May 2010; what agreement with the Secretary of State that sets out the issues were discussed; whether a note was made of each obligations placed upon them in return for the funding meeting; and if he will make a statement. [48873] 543W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 544W

Sarah Teather: There have been no individual meetings Mr Gibb [holding answer 3 February 2011]: Funding between the Secretary of State for Education, or other for education business partnership services (EBPs) will DfE Ministers, and officials from either Brook or FPA. not continue in financial year 2011-12. I have, however, met both Simon Blake (Chief Executive We have made clear that priority for education of Brook) and Julie Bentley (Chief Executive of FPA) expenditure would be on front line services in schools; on a number of occasions: funding for EBPs does not come within that category. First, at meetings of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent In future, it will be for schools to decide whether or not Advisory Group (TPIAG)—which both were members of—in to buy in services from education business partnership September and December 2010; and organisations (EBPOs) locally. EBPOs will need to ensure Secondly, when they attended a briefing event I hosted in July they are offering a high quality service if schools are 2010, with a number of other stakeholders that support young going to be persuaded to buy their services, and having people on issues related to sexual health and substance misuse. the Award for Education Business Excellence will signify There was no note of the July briefing event, but its that. purpose was to hear the views of key stakeholders on how best to help young people to avoid: unplanned English Baccalaureate pregnancies and STIs; and the harms resulting from drugs, smoking and alcohol. Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education At the TPIAG meeting in September 2010, the main what plans he has for the future of the English topic of discussion was how services could better support Baccalaureate; and if he will make a statement. [49694] boys and young men with regard to sex, relationships and sexual health. At its December meeting, TPIAG Mr Gibb: The inclusion of the English Baccalaureate presented its final report to me, a copy of which is measure in the 2010 performance tables has already had available at: a positive impact on GCSE choices in schools. It forms http://education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/ a key part of our plans to raise aspirations and increase Past%20successes%20-%20future%20challenges.pdf academic attainment in secondary schools.

Health Education: Sex Class Sizes: Berkshire Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for what meetings he has had to discuss sex and relationship Education what the average class size of (a) primary education since May 2010; and which (a) individuals and (b) secondary schools in (i) Berkshire, (ii) Reading and (b) organisations attended each such meeting. and (iii) Reading West constituency is. [49772] [34068]

Mr Gibb: The requested information is shown in the Mr Gibb: As my hon. Friend will recall, he met the table. Berkshire was reorganised in 1998, so information Secretary of State for Education on 8 February 2011 has been provided for the six local authorities that with the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson), Berkshire was divided into. the hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg Hands) Maintained primary and state-funded secondary schools1,2: Classes as and the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey) taught3 January 2010 to discuss sex and relationships education. He has had Average class size no further meetings on this subject. State-funded The Schools White Paper 2010, The Importance of 1 1,2 Maintained primary secondary Teaching sets out the Government’s intention to work Bracknell Forest 27.1 20.3 with teachers, parents, faith groups and campaign groups Windsor and 25.4 19.8 such as Stonewall to make sure sex and relationships Maidenhead education encompasses an understanding of the ways West Berkshire 25.6 18.7 in which humans love each other and stresses the Reading 27.0 19.3 importance of respecting individual autonomy. Slough 28.2 19.4 Wokingham 26.1 18.9 Schools: Drugs

Reading West 26.8 18.3 Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. Education (1) what educational materials, other than 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies. information produced by Frank, warning of the 3 One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in dangers attached to drug use his Department supplies each school on the day of the census in January. to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and if he Source: School Census will make a statement; [50031] (2) what methods his Department is using to deliver classroom-based drug prevention programmes in (a) Education Business Partnerships: Finance primary and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [50057] Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for funding education business Mr Gibb [holding answer 31 March 2011]: All schools partnership services in 2011-12; and if he will make a should teach pupils about the effects of drugs (including statement. [37905] alcohol, tobacco, volatile substances and medicines) 545W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 546W through the non-statutory framework for Personal, Social, central plans. Secondary schools are best placed to Health and Economic education (PSHE) and as part of work with local employers to determine how to provide the statutory National Curriculum for Science. The high quality work experience for their Key Stage 4 Department’s guidance, ‘Drugs: Guidance for Schools pupils. (DfES 2004)’, makes clear that drug education should start in primary schools and outlines the issues that should be covered in all key stages, having regard to the Sixth Form Education age and maturity of the pupils concerned. As part of their drug education, pupils should learn how to make informed choices about their health, how to resist pressure Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education to do wrong and to take more responsibility for their pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, actions. The guidance is available at: column 889W,on sixth form education, what assessments www.education.gov.uk/publications he undertook prior to his decision to reduce the funding for entitlement to 30 funded learning hours. [47302] We are committed to giving schools greater freedoms and flexibility, so we leave it to them to decide how they teach these basic requirements and what resources they Mr Gibb [holding answer 17 March 2011]: We considered use to support their teaching. For this reason, we do not a range of options in order to secure our commitment promote, endorse or supply any educational materials to full participation among 16 and 17-year-olds by 2015 to be used. We believe it is important that schools have and to deliver the unit costs savings announced as part the flexibility to use their professional judgment in such of the 16-19 spending review settlement. matters so that they can take account of the views of Our priority has been to protect the core education parents and the needs of pupils, as well as of the ethos programmes offered by schools and colleges that equip of the school. young people with the knowledge and skills they need Science: Education to progress and succeed. We have also increased the funding available to target disadvantage by more than one third (in 2011/12 the total funding will be £770 million) Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education to help support those students who face the greatest what steps he is taking to promote the teaching of barriers to participation in 16-19 education. We also science in schools. [49146] recognise tutorial provision for all is important and that is why we have protected that within the entitlement Mr Gibb: The Schools White Paper, ‘The Importance reduction so that all full time students can have access of Teaching’, highlights the Government’s commitment to a tutorial programme. to promoting the teaching of science in schools by improving the skills of existing teachers and increasing In light of these priorities and the state of the public the number of specialist subject teachers of science. The finances inherited from the previous Government, the Government have taken steps to improve teacher supply entitlement was reduced because the evidence to support and Initial Teacher Training designed to promote the the claim that the enrichment activity within the entitlement teaching of science. These include expanding Teach provided value for money was weak. First, and offering financial incentives to attract the That is not to say that the Government regard the very best graduates and talented career changers to other activities that might be funded from the public become teachers in shortage subjects, like physics and purse as additional enrichment activities as unimportant. chemistry. Inclusion of science in the new English However, at a time when we are experiencing a welcome Baccalaureate will help reinforce the importance of increase in participation, alongside a need to respond to science education. extremely difficult economic circumstances, providing We plan to announce what further support will be an entitlement to those activities to all full-time students made available to promote science teaching in schools cannot be a priority. in due course. Secondary Education: Work Experience Truancy: Berkshire Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to increase the Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education number of students in secondary schools participating what the rate of truancy is for secondary schools in (a) in high-quality work experience. [40678] Berkshire, (b) Reading and (c) Reading West constituency; and what steps he is taking to reduce levels of truancy. Mr Gibb: Professor Wolf concluded in her recent [49771] report on the “Review of Vocational Education” that providing 16 to 18-year-olds with work opportunities was a priority, and she questioned the value of much of Mr Gibb: Information on pupil absence in 2009/10 is the work experience that young people at Key Stage 4 shown in the table. Berkshire was reorganised in 1998, undertake. We therefore have no plans to increase the information has been provided for the six local authorities number of students at Key Stage 4 in secondary schools that Berkshire was divided into. participating in high quality work experience. This is The closest measure we have to truancy is unauthorised consistent with our Schools White Paper, “The Importance absence. However, this includes family holidays not of Teaching”, where we set out our aim to trust frontline agreed, late arrival, “other unauthorised circumstances”, professionals in schools, rather than constrain them by and “no reason given”, not all of which is truancy. 547W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 548W

Pupil absence in state-funded secondary schools1,2: 2009/10 Percentage of half days missed3 Pupil enrolments in Percentage of schools during 2009/ Unauthorised persistent 104 Authorised absence absence Overall absence absentees5,6

Bracknell Forest 5,646 0.06 0.01 0.07 0.04 Reading 5,205 0.05 0.01 0.06 0.03 Slough 8,175 0.06 0.01 0.07 0.04 West Berkshire 10,062 0.05 0.01 0.07 0.04 Windsor and Maidenhead 8,641 0.05 0.01 0.06 0.03 Wokingham 8,677 0.05 0.01 0.07 0.04 Reading West constituency 5,958 0.06 0.01 0.07 0.05 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Excludes city technology colleges and academies. 3 The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. 4 Number of pupil enrolments in schools from start of the school year until 21 May 2010. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15. Excludes boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school). 5 Number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments. 6 Persistent absentees are defined as having 64 or more sessions of absence (authorised and unauthorised) during the year, around 20% overall absence rate. Source: School Census

HOME DEPARTMENT reality a UK go live date of 2015 means that we will need to connect for testing purposes in 2014, shortly Arrest Warrants after the central system is due to be ready and the member states migrating from SIS I have bedded down Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for the their new systems Further assessments of the number of Home Department what representations she has made European Arrest Warrants on the SIS II system and to her counterpart in Poland on the number of their likely impact on the United Kingdom will be made European arrest warrants issued by that country. nearer the UK go live date. [49704] Arrest Warrants: Costs Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 March 2011]: The Minister of State for Security and Counter-terrorism Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for the (Baroness Neville-Jones) discussed the operation of the Home Department what the total cost to the UK was European Arrest Warrant with the Polish Justice Minister, of the European Arrest Warrant system in each year Mr Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, on 10 March 2011. The since 2004. [49705] Minister underlined the UK’s view that proportionality should be carefully considered by requesting member Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 March 2011]: An states before they issue a European Arrest Warrant. The exercise is under way to estimate the average cost of issue of proportionality and the European arrest warrant executing an European Arrest Warrant and an extradition has also been discussed by officials during bi-lateral request in England and Wales, and the results will be discussions in October 2008 and September 2010. Further available in due course. official-led discussions are envisaged for later in 2011. Arrest Warrants: Human Rights Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely future change in the number of European arrest Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the warrants received by the UK as a result of proposals to Home Department whether she plans to respond to implement the Schengen Information System II during the statement by the Human Rights Commissioner of 2012. [49706] the Council of Europe on Overuse of the European Arrest Warrant: a threat to human rights. [48391] Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 March 2011]: The UK’s connection date to the Schengen Information Nick Herbert: The Government are aware that concerns System II (SIS II) has been revised following the as to the proportionate use of the European arrest announcement last June of the Commission’s revised warrant (‘EAW’) have been expressed by a number of operational timetable, giving a new entry into operation people. This is why the operation of the EAW is one of date for the central EU system of early 2013. The UK’s the areas being examined by the independent panel SIS II Programme has also been the subject of a major appointed by the Government to review the UK’s project review conducted by HM Treasury and the extradition arrangements. Office for Government Commerce. This assessed that It would, however, be inappropriate to comment on the programme is in a good position to deliver its the statement ahead of the completion of the review, objectives but in the light of the announcement of the which is due to be published by the end of the summer, delay to the central system, it recommended that the 2011. A copy of the statement has however been passed UK’s connection date be moved back until 2015. In to the extradition review panel. 549W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 550W

Assaults on Police Cybercrime

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on a police Home Department what discussions (a) she and (b) constable in England and Wales were reported in (a) Ministers in her Department have had with their EU 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010. counterparts on establishing international law in the [49436] area of cyber-attack. [45339]

Nick Herbert: Available data are provided in the Nick Herbert [holding answer 10 March 2011]: The following table: UK Government continues to work closely with European Assaults1 on police constables on duty, England and Wales, 2005-06 to Union counterparts and the representatives of European 2009-10 member states to increase our collective response to Assaults cyber attacks. This includes ongoing discussions regarding the potential application of international law in the 2 2005-06 11,664 area of cyber attack. 2006-073 — 2007-084 9,059 The Secretary of State for the Home Department discussed cyber issues with her counterparts at the G6 2008-095 8,895 meeting in Krakow of 3-4 February, as she reported 2009-106 7,388 in her written ministerial statement to Parliament of 1 These data are provisional. 2 Cambridgeshire, Cleveland and Devon and Cornwall police forces 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 23WS. were not able to provide data for 2005-06. The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, my noble 3 Data not available. A significant number of police forces were Friend (Lord McNally), participated in a discussion on unable to provide their figures for 2006-07. 4. Cumbria, Greater Manchester, South Wales, North Yorkshire and the draft directive on attacks against information systems Wiltshire were unable to provide data for 2007-08. at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 25 February, 5. Cheshire, Cumbria, Essex and North Yorkshire were not able to as reported in the Secretary of State for the Home provide data for 2008-09. Department’s written ministerial statement of 3 March 6. Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire and 2011, Official Report, column 37WS. North Yorkshire were not able to provide data for 2009-10. The UK Government will continue to work multilaterally and bilaterally to support work to protect the UK’s Border Agency interests in cyber space.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Demonstrations the Home Department when she last met the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency; and what issues Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the they discussed. [50633] Home Department if she will request the Metropolitan police to publish the report of its internal investigation Damian Green: The Secretary of State met with the into the use of CS gas at the protest at the Boots store independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency on Oxford street, London on 30 January 2011. [49957] on 24 March 2011 to discuss his Inspection Plan for 2011-12. The plan was published on 31 March 2011 on Nick Herbert [holding answer 30 March 2011]: A the Chief Inspector’s website. decision on the publication of a Metropolitan police internal investigation report into the use of CS gas is a matter for the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police. Crimes of Violence: West Midlands Departmental Public Bodies Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of levels of violent crime in the west midlands in Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the each of the last three years. [47376] Home Department (1) what estimate her Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from Nick Herbert [holding answer 21 March 2011]: Data the merging of the Serious Organised Crime Agency supplied in Table A are for police recorded violence into the new National Crime Agency; [48806] against the person offences. Data are provided for west (2) what estimate her Department has made of the midlands alongside the total figures for England and level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of Wales for each year from 2007-08 to 2009-10. the National Policing Improvement Agency; [48680] (3) what estimate her Department has made of the Recorded violence against the person offences in west midlands and level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2009-10 the Security Industry Authority. [48679] Area 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

West 53,335 48,222 47,396 Nick Herbert: The Minister for the Cabinet Office midlands and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member England and 961,099 903,447 871,712 for Horsham (Mr Maude), issued a written ministerial Wales statement on 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, updating Parliament on progress on public 551W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 552W bodies reform. That statement also announced that Illegal Immigrants Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the spending review period. the Home Department what recent discussions she has The Home Office is not yet in a position to estimate had with the Scottish Executive on steps to combat net overall administrative savings from specific structural illegal migration. [50402] reforms such as the creation of the National Crime Agency in December 2013, the phasing out of the Damian Green: The matter is discussed on an ongoing National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), and basis as part of regular meetings between UK Border the transition from the Security Industry Authority to a Agency officials and officials from the Scottish Government new self-regulatory regime by the end of 2013. and the Scottish police service. It has not been the subject of recent discussions at ministerial level.

DNA: Databases Immigration Controls

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what economic impact assessment Home Department how many DNA samples police her Department undertook on the decision to implement forces submitted to the National DNA Database in a visa cap. [50385] each of the last three years. [50015] Damian Green: An impact assessment in respect of James Brokenshire: The following table shows the the Government’s policy to apply limits to tiers 1 and 2 number of subject sample profiles and the number of of the points based system was published, and placed in crime scene sample profiles loaded onto the National the Library of the House, on 16 March 2011. DNA Database (NDNAD) in each of the last three years. The figures are for profiles submitted on behalf Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the of all UK forces. Home Department what meetings (a) she and (b) The data provided are management information and Ministers in her Department have had with ministerial have not been formally assessed for compliance with the colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation Code of Practice for Official Statistics. and Skills on the decision to implement a visa cap; on what dates such meetings occurred; and who was Number of subject sample and crime scene sample profiles loaded onto the NDNAD in each year 2007-08 to 2009-10 from all forces in the UK present at each such meeting. [50386] Number of crime Number of sample scene sample profiles Damian Green: The Secretary of State and I regularly profiles loaded loaded meet our ministerial colleagues at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss matters relating 2007-08 591,028 50,579 to migration, including the limit on non-EU economic 2008-09 580,174 49,572 migration. 2009-10 540,333 43,974 Marriage of Convenience

Human Trafficking Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is taking to Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for tackle sham marriages; and if she will make a statement; the Home Department if she will press all airlines using [50404] UK airports to introduce measures to enable them to (2) how many people have been arrested for offences determine whether they are free of trafficked persons. related to sham marriages in each of the last five years. [50686] [50676]

Damian Green: Since January 2010 the UK Border Damian Green: The UK Border Agency’s Risk and Agency have been working to develop effective strategies Liaison Overseas Network (RALON) officers work closely for tackling sham marriage. The UK Border Agency is with airlines and provide training and support overseas working with the civil registration services and the on trafficking and related immigration issues to help relevant authorities within the Anglican Church in England carriers identify potential traffickers and their victims. and Wales, who are all committed to helping us to The e-Borders programme is enabling us to collect tackle the problem of sham marriage. and analyse information from carriers about passengers The UK Border Agency is offering training and intending to travel to or from the UK. This record of awareness sessions at local level as well as assisting in passenger movements informs us in advance who plans the development of effective guidance. The UK Border to cross our border so that we can check travellers Agency is working to develop closer links with register against lists of people known to pose a threat such as offices and dioceses at a local level to provide support to traffickers. those who can identify potentially suspicious marriages The Government’s forthcoming strategy on human and to facilitate early detection and appropriate action trafficking will reflect plans for further engagement against foreign nationals seeking to gain an immigration with the airline industry and to enhance knowledge of advantage from a sham marriage. Since January 2010 trafficking in this sector. two periods of targeted enforcement actions have been 553W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 554W conducted against those involved in sham marriages, exchange), (e) temporary worker (international agreement) which resulted in 155 arrests. and (f) Youth Mobility scheme Tier 5 were issued in The UK Border Agency records data relating to 2010. [50484] offenders arrested on the National Operations Database (NOD). Data are available from 2007-08 and record the Damian Green: The following table gives the requested following numbers of arrests for offences specifically figures. related to marriage abuse. Category Issued Number Tier 5 (creative and sporting) 7,760 April 2006 to March 2007 4 Tier 5 (charity worker) 2,260 April 2007 to March 2008 7 Tier 5 (religious worker) 1,550 April 2008 to March 2009 2 Tier 5 (government authorised 3,235 April 2009 to March 2010 5 exchange) April 2010 to February 2011 37 Tier 5 (international agreement) 455 Tier 5 (youth mobility scheme) 20,720 (The NOD is a management information tool and Total 35,980 data from it are not quality assured under National Statistics protocols. Figures provided from the NOD do These figures are published by the Home Office’s not constitute part of National Statistics and should be Research, Development and Statistics and are available treated as provisional). online at: As well as offences specifically related to marriage http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs11/control-immigration- abuse, persons were also arrested for general immigration q4-2010-tabs.xls offences such as illegal entry or overstaying a period of lawful entry. Police The UK Border Agency, in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service, has brought successful Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the prosecutions against a number of persons involved in Home Department what the ratio of police to public sham marriages for offences under the Immigration was in each police force area in England and Wales in Acts, Perjury Act, ID Cards Act and Fraud Act. each year since 1997. [47794] Migrant Workers Nick Herbert: The latest available data are provided Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home in the following table which shows the number of officers Department how many visas in the category of (a) per 100,000 population as at 31 March 1997 to 2010 by temporary worker (creative and sporting), (b) temporary police force area (full-time equivalent). These figures worker (charity worker), (c) temporary worker (religious have been published in the Police Service Strength in worker), (d) temporary worker (government authorised England and Wales bulletin for each year.

Number of officers per 100,000 population as at 31 March 1997 to 2010 by police force area1—England and Wales Total officers per 100,000 population2 Police force 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Avon and 204 203 203 197 197 205 213 229 225 226 224 218 213 207 Somerset Bedfordshire 200 197 189 185 184 189 198 210 215 213 207 204 209 208 Cambridgeshire 188 184 179 172 179 187 196 197 194 196 187 183 191 191 Cheshire 209 208 211 204 204 209 217 224 223 223 225 218 217 215 Cleveland 261 266 255 252 253 263 294 314 305 308 315 303 314 309 Cumbria 233 237 229 220 213 224 237 254 257 256 255 251 258 250 Derbyshire 187 184 182 183 187 189 210 216 213 212 209 212 215 207 Devon and 186 192 186 182 187 192 204 208 212 219 216 214 213 213 Cornwall Dorset 189 192 186 189 196 198 205 209 211 216 217 216 213 209 Durham 240 249 258 256 263 266 281 288 293 288 285 272 263 249 Essex 197 193 190 183 178 181 186 192 198 203 203 203 206 211 Gloucestershire 205 198 197 200 209 209 219 229 230 228 229 234 235 223 Greater 268 270 265 264 268 279 298 323 321 318 314 315 321 316 Manchester Hampshire 198 199 197 193 193 195 208 211 212 211 215 214 207 202 Hertfordshire 205 202 198 201 184 174 191 204 206 208 210 204 204 196 Humberside 230 228 223 219 217 234 244 256 255 251 251 248 233 225 Kent 210 209 204 203 209 210 221 228 227 227 229 227 231 229 Lancashire 228 229 228 223 228 231 239 252 251 253 252 254 259 253 Leicestershire 211 214 215 215 218 224 232 246 246 241 237 233 243 236 Lincolnshire 196 193 184 179 191 189 191 189 185 183 183 175 177 173 555W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 556W

Number of officers per 100,000 population as at 31 March 1997 to 2010 by police force area1—England and Wales Total officers per 100,000 population2 Police force 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

London, City —————————————7,521 of Merseyside 296 297 298 290 291 294 302 303 318 315 325 331 333 334 Metropolitan 367 356 352 341 351 366 404 420 433 417 426 430 432 436 police Norfolk 185 184 176 175 178 183 189 190 192 193 191 190 198 196 Northamptonshire 196 193 186 181 186 194 194 198 201 207 200 196 196 198 Northumbria 256 263 269 266 272 278 290 294 294 291 283 285 294 298 North 183 186 181 173 175 188 193 203 206 216 217 202 185 188 Yorkshire Nottinghamshire 225 225 216 214 214 226 239 245 245 243 235 224 227 225 South 242 244 243 243 245 246 252 261 260 259 256 248 235 226 Yorkshire Staffordshire 209 217 211 204 201 201 212 218 220 219 219 214 208 203 Suffolk 180 179 179 171 168 177 188 196 195 191 196 188 182 175 Surrey 209 207 212 227 192 184 182 183 184 184 183 179 170 172 Sussex 211 203 191 188 188 190 203 206 205 207 205 201 208 207 Thames Valley 180 183 180 178 175 177 186 195 198 202 199 194 198 201 Warwickshire 186 185 180 178 182 190 198 197 195 198 199 198 189 182 West Mercia 183 180 180 166 171 176 196 202 203 202 205 210 208 201 West 270 271 278 274 283 293 307 311 316 318 318 324 332 329 Midlands West 247 244 236 228 228 230 242 254 271 270 270 269 268 261 Yorkshire Wiltshire 195 195 192 185 184 189 190 198 198 196 192 190 191 182 Dyfed-Powys 212 210 215 217 219 234 237 236 237 237 236 237 236 236 Gwent 275 222 224 227 229 239 244 248 259 264 268 266 257 257 North Wales 208 213 212 213 220 228 234 243 250 242 238 234 234 234 South Wales 223 242 241 236 250 259 273 275 273 271 273 264 255 253 Total of all 43 241 240 237 233 234 240 254 264 267 267 266 264 266 264 forces 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. 2 Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined apart from in 2009-10.

Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the types of incident. The Cabinet Office is leading work to Home Department what plans she has for future maximise the multi-agency response to a wide range of numbers of front line police officers in England. scenarios. [47848] Detailed resilience plans are developed locally, and in most cases the police service will coordinate the activities Nick Herbert: It is for chief constables and their of the emergency services and other responding agencies police authorities to make decisions on the number of at and around the scene of an emergency or major police officers within their available resource. The incident. Government believe that forces can make savings while The response to any emergency or major incident maintaining or improving the service they provide to needs to be managed flexibly as each incident is unique the public. and the response needs to be co-ordinated in a manner to reflect local needs and circumstances. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had Police: Diamond Jubilee 2012 with Ministerial colleagues on arrangements to improve liaison between police services and other emergency Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for the responders; what assessment she has made of the Home Department whether serving police officers will preparedness for major incidents requiring close working be awarded a diamond jubilee medal; and if she will between blue-light services and other responders; and if make a statement. [49577] she will make a statement. [48150] Nick Herbert: Commemoration of the diamond jubilee Nick Herbert: The strategic defence and security review through the issuing of a medal is under consideration. records Ministers agreed intention to improve the ability Further details will be released in due course. of the emergency services to work together during emergencies. This includes implementation of procedures Police: Manpower to enable the emergency services and other responders to make best use of communications during major Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the incidents and the development and refinement of Home Department whether she has conducted (a) an operational plans for dealing with a range of different equality impact assessment and (b) a risk assessment 557W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 558W on the effects of proposed reductions in police numbers Police officers whose primary function is Criminal Investigation 1 in England and Wales in the next two years. [47365] Department (CID) , England and Wales, as at 31 March, 2008-10 (FTE)2 by police force Police force 20083 20094 20104,5 Nick Herbert [holding answer 17 March 2011]: The Home Office published an equality screening of the Suffolk 171 166 174 Spending Review 2010 on 20 October 2010. Chief constables Surrey 216 383 414 and police authorities will need to consider the local Sussex 293 318 322 impact and risks of decisions they take when making Thames 433 483 460 decisions about how they allocate resources. Forces Valley should be focusing on the middle and the back office Warwickshire 140 124 127 when making savings in order to maintain frontline West Mercia 290 294 313 services. West 1,044 1,079 1,109 Midlands Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for West 1,103 935 556 the Home Department how many CID officers there Yorkshire were in each police force in (a) each year since 2008 Wiltshire 120 161 150 and (b) in the most recent period for which figures are 1 Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police available. [48534] officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. 2 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been Nick Herbert [holding answer 23 March 2011]: The rounded to the nearest whole number. requested information is provided in the following table. 3. Includes CID Aides/Trainee Investigators. 4 Includes CID Specialist Crime Units. Police officers whose primary function is Criminal Investigation 5 Data are correct as at 5 October 2010. Department (CID)1, England and Wales, as at 31 March, 2008-10 (FTE)2 by police force Police: Olympic Games 2012 Police force 20083 20094 20104,5

Avon and 503 512 343 Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Somerset Home Department if she will estimate the likely effects Bedfordshire 129 185 181 of reductions in her Department’s budget on frontline Cambridgeshire 173 183 254 police staffing levels at the London 2012 Olympics. Cheshire 507 367 364 [43786] Cleveland 176 201 200 Cumbria 127 98 100 Nick Herbert: By improving efficiency, driving out Derbyshire 325 337 348 waste, and increasing productivity, I believe that the Devon and 498 495 525 service can make the savings required while protecting Cornwall its frontline policing capacity, including in relation to Dorset 218 197 175 the London 2012 Olympics. Durham 172 153 141 The Government will make up to £600 million available, Dyfed-Powys 70 93 101 if required, for the Olympic safety and security programme. Essex 350 328 343 At this stage, with almost two years before the Games Gloucestershire 163 160 157 begin, we estimate that it should be possible to deliver Greater 1,238 1,052 1,195 the core cross-Government safety and security programme Manchester for about £475 million. We will continue to keep security Gwent 153 154 113 planning and policing for the Games under review, but Hampshire 430 419 435 we are satisfied that sufficient funding has been made Hertfordshire 208 372 341 available to deliver the security programme in full. Humberside 430 408 374 Kent 562 589 535 Police: Overtime Lancashire 461 503 513 Leicestershire 253 219 299 Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Lincolnshire 131 119 113 for the Home Department what information her London, City 105 85 88 Department holds on the level of overtime payments to of full-time police officers at basic command unit level. Merseyside 526 526 567 [48215] Metropolitan 4,087 3,736 3,807 police Nick Herbert [holding answer 22 March 2011]: The Norfolk 167 145 172 Home Office does not collect information on overtime Northamptonshire 113 141 271 at basic command unit level. And it could be collated Northumbria 484 534 496 only at disproportionate cost. North Wales 114 112 169 North 166 169 134 Yorkshire Police: Termination of Employment Nottinghamshire 385 385 348 South Wales 521 385 441 John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for South 472 404 503 the Home Department how many police officers have Yorkshire left each police force in England and Wales during Staffordshire 295 280 347 2010-11 to date. [48024] 559W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 560W

Nick Herbert: Available information relates to police Nick Herbert: The information is as follows: officers leaving forces for the six month period to 30 September 2010 and is given in the table. £ million Statistics for the whole of 2010-11 are scheduled for 2006-07 427.6 publication in July 2011. 2007-08 444.7 Police officer leavers1, 2 England and Wales police forces at 2008-09 474.7 30 September 20103 2009-10 478.0 Police force Leavers 2010-11 469.8 Avon and Somerset 74 Serious Organised Crime: Manpower Bedfordshire 25 Cambridgeshire 41 Cheshire 45 Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Cleveland 30 Home Department how many staff at each payband the Cumbria 34 Serious Organised Crime Agency employs in (a) the UK and (b) Northern Ireland. [47254] Derbyshire 38 Devon and Cornwall 67 Nick Herbert: At the end of February 2011 the Dorset 27 Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) employed Durham 46 the following staff at each pay band in the UK: Dyfed-Powys 32 Essex 57 Grade Full-time equivalent Gloucestershire 20 Greater Manchester 174 SCS 30.9 Gwent 22 SG1 83.3 Hampshire 96 SG2 211 Hertfordshire 37 SG3 582.7 Humberside 52 SG4 1194.3 Kent 75 SG5 1434.4 Lancashire 91 SG6 356 Leicestershire 47 (b) SOCA has a UK-wide remit and has officers Lincolnshire 32 deployed throughout the UK and overseas. Staff are London, City of 19 not necessarily based in the region or area on which Merseyside 97 their work has an impact. For reasons of operational Metropolitan police 619 sensitivity it is not possible to provide details of personnel Norfolk 35 strength in specific locations. Northamptonshire 32 Northumbria 64 Serious Organised Crime: Northern Ireland North Wales 32 North Yorkshire 22 Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Nottinghamshire 65 Home Department what discussions she has had with South Wales 67 the Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive South Yorkshire 69 on the work of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in Staffordshire 41 Northern Ireland. [47248] Suffolk 26 Surrey 50 Nick Herbert: None. However the Serious Organised Sussex 69 Crime Agency (SOCA) has regular discussions at official Thames Valley 124 level with the Ministry of Justice in Northern Ireland. Warwickshire 21 Officials are briefed regularly on the work of SOCA and are consulted in the preparation of the SOCA West Mercia 100 Annual Plan. SOCA is a member of the Organised West Midlands 200 Crime Task Force (OCTF), chaired by the Minister, and West Yorkshire 143 attends both the stakeholder and strategy groups. SOCA Wiltshire 28 also contributes to specific OCTF work streams where 1 Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest it is able to add value. whole number. 2 Includes normal retirements, medical retirements, resignations, dismissals and death but not transfers to other England and Wales forces and Serious Organised Crime: Terrorism officers leaving after a period of secondment. 3 Leavers numbers are for the six month period to 30 September 2010. Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of European arrest warrants issued to the UK were in respect of Serious Organised Crime: Finance serious organised crime or terrorism offences in each year since 2004 for which figures are available. [49703] Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget of the Serious Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 March 2011]: The Organised Crime Agency was in each year since its Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown inception. [47253] Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are 561W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 562W the designated UK authorities responsible for processing categories used. To provide this figure a manual review European arrest warrants (EAWs). of all files would have to be undertaken. It is not possible to provide the figures for the number It is worth noting that the majority of European of EAWs issued to the UK broken down by offence arrest warrants (‘EAWs’) issued by EU member states type prior to April 2009. This would require a manual are circulated to other EU member states on the Schengen examination of all case files. A new recording system Information System (‘SIS’). As the UK is not party to was introduced in April 2009 and the figures for EAWs the SIS, we rely on the bi-lateral transmission of the issued to the UK broken down by offence type are EAWs. A significant proportion of the EAWs circulated available for the 2009-10 financial year. This is set out in will therefore prove to have no connection to the UK the following table. although they are registered as having been “received” It is not possible to provide the figures for the number by SOCA. This includes, for example, the 40 EAWs of EAWs issued to the UK in respect of serious organised issued in April 2009 for alleged war crimes. We understand crime specifically as this is not one of the recording that those sought have no connection to the UK.

2009 2010 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Total

Armed 3 325241633654 56 Robbery Arms — ———— 2————— 1 3 Trafficking Arson 1 1—— 1———— 1 1 1 6 Child Sex 61845221132362 64 Offences Counterfeiting — —213—41——6 2 19 Drugs 40 33 40 38 29 52 56 32 31 36 36 21 444 Trafficking E-Crime—————11—1——— 3 Fraud 49 46 55 73 48 94 118 72 45 93 117 81 891 Grievous 5 6 821101023189202010160 Bodily Harm Immigration 8 9 6 12 7 10 9 14 9 18 10 10 122 and Human Trafficking Kidnapping2 11——1213397 30 Money — — 1—— 1 1—— 3 8 1 15 Laundering Murder2754335410755101 5166 Other 714159785372844940446556712 Rape 2046269496224410142 Robbery 26 14 24 46 26 38 44 28 24 38 54 28 390 Terrorism 7 5 116546149217177 Theft 59 37 61 79 45 93 104 60 26 62 73 56 755 WarCrimes40———— 4————— 1 45 Grand total 364 314 333 378 239 407 492 289 204 350 417 313 4,100 1 Previous data provided to the House of Lords’ EU Select Committee referred to 84 EAWs (part one warrants) received by the UK for terrorist-related offences. A further data cleansing exercise carried out by SOCA has revealed that seven of these cases as requests from non-EU countries.

Telephone Tapping: Newspaper Press Lynne Featherstone: International organisations do not have access to the UK’s criminal records disclosure Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the services. Individuals can choose to supply a “basic” Home Department what information her Department certificate disclosing their unspent convictions to holds on contact between the Police Commissioner for international organisations. These are currently provided the Metropolis and News of the World editors during by Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI. The Government the time the Commissioner was responsible for are currently considering a recommendation, made by investigating telephone tapping. [47875] Sunita Mason in her recent Phase 1 report reviewing the Criminal Records’ Regime, that the Criminal Records Nick Herbert [holding answer 18 March 2011]: The Bureau should make a basic certificate available in Home Office holds no such information. England and Wales. Vetting: International Organisations Under the terms of European Union Council Decision 2005/876/JHA law enforcement agencies in an EU member Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the state can seek the previous convictions of a UK national Home Department what procedures are in place to being prosecuted in that member state. Requests are enable international organisations to access the criminal received by the UK Central Authority for the Exchange records checking procedures of UK institutions. [49400] of Criminal Records. If identity can be confirmed the 563W Written Answers1 APRIL 2011 Written Answers 564W

UK Central Authority will send the convictions, or Parties to the 1959 Council of Europe Convention on information that there are none, to the requesting member Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters who are not in state. Requests that do not concern criminal proceedings the EU can make requests, in cases of criminal proceedings, are also sent to the Central Authority. The Central under the terms of that Convention. Countries which Authority will reply using the same procedures, as long are not in the EU and are not parties to the 1959 as the purpose of the request is one for which access to Convention can make a request in cases of criminal previous convictions would be possible in a domestic proceedings, through the Serious Organised Crime Agency. case. 9MC Ministerial Corrections1 APRIL 2011 Ministerial Corrections 10MC

the Director of PICT, which is a joint department of Ministerial Corrections the two Houses. There is also an external member. The proportion of women is 17%. A new department, the Friday 1 April 2011 Department of Finance, will be launched on 1 April 2011. The Head of the new department will sit on the Management Board, and her presence will alter the proportion of women on the Board to 29%. (b) The HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION proportion of women who are heads of the four current departments of the House is zero and will rise to 20% of Females five departments in April. If PICT is included, the figures are 20% and 33% respectively. (c) Currently, Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, there are 23 Directors/Heads of Office below Head of Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Department level. 10 of these (43%) are women. If Commons Commission, what proportion of (a) members PICT is included, the figure is 37%. of the House of Commons Management Board, (b) heads of department of the House of Commons and (c) heads WORK AND PENSIONS of each office or service in each House of Commons department are women. [47823] Employment Support Services [Official Report, 18 March 2011, Vol. 525, c. 695W.] The following is the answer given by the Under-Secretary Letter of correction from Mr John Thurso: of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller) relating to questions from An error has been identified in the written answer the hon. Member for Milton Keynes South (Iain Stewart) given to the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo and the hon. Member for Battersea (Jane Ellison) during Swinson) on 18 March 2011. Work and Pensions Question Time on 28 March 2011. The full answer given was as follows: 3. Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): When John Thurso: The information is as follows: he plans to respond to the review of employment (a) The House of Commons Management Board support services for disabled people conducted by Liz comprises the Clerk of the House (Chair), the Directors Sayce. [49040] General of the four departments of the House and the 10. Jane Ellison (Battersea) (Con): When he plans to Director of PICT, which is a joint department of the two respond to the review of employment support services Houses. There is also an external member. The proportion for disabled people conducted by Liz Sayce. [49047] of women is 17%. A new department, the Department of Finance, will be launched on 1 April 2011. The Head The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work of the new department will sit on the Management and Pensions (Maria Miller): Liz Sayce is due to submit Board, and her presence will alter the proportion of her independent review of specialist disability employment women on the Board to 29%. (b) The proportion of services by the summer of 2012. We look forward to her women who are heads of the four current departments recommendations and will respond in due course. of the House is zero and will rise to 20% of five [Official Report, 28 March 2011, Vol. 526, c. 3.] departments in April. If PICT is included, the figures Letter of correction from Maria Miller: are 17.5% and 33% respectively. (c) Currently, there are 27 Directors/Heads of Office. 10 of these (43%) are An error has been identified in the oral answer given women. If PICT is included, the figure is 37%. on 28 March 2011. The correct answer should have been: The correct answer should have been: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work John Thurso: The information is as follows: and Pensions (Maria Miller): Liz Sayce is due to submit (a) The House of Commons Management Board her independent review of specialist disability employment comprises the Clerk of the House (Chair), the Directors services in summer 2011. We look forward to her General of the four departments of the House and recommendations and will respond in due course.

WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Friday 1 April 2011

Col. No. Col. No. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL PRIME MINISTER ...... 43WS AFFAIRS...... 41WS Machinery of Government Changes ...... 43WS Rural Communities Policy Unit ...... 41WS

HEALTH...... 42WS Adult Autism Strategy ...... 42WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 44WS Reciprocal Health Agreement (United Kingdom Work Programme (Preferred Bidders) ...... 44WS and Jersey) ...... 43WS PETITION

Friday 1 April 2011

Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 3P Protection of Kingswood Green Belt (South Gloucestershire)...... 3P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Friday 1 April 2011

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 529W EDUCATION...... 541W Business: Regulation ...... 529W Academies: Complaints ...... 541W Enterprise Zones...... 529W Academies: Finance ...... 542W Enterprise Zones: Finance ...... 530W Brook Advisory Centres...... 542W Regional Growth Fund ...... 530W Class Sizes: Berkshire...... 543W Education Business Partnerships: Finance ...... 543W CABINET OFFICE...... 535W English Baccalaureate ...... 544W Average Earnings: Statistics ...... 535W Health Education: Sex ...... 544W Cancer: Death...... 537W Schools: Drugs...... 544W Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs ...... 537W Science: Education ...... 545W Departmental Public Transport ...... 539W Secondary Education: Work Experience ...... 545W Government Departments: Procurement ...... 539W Sixth Form Education...... 546W New Businesses: Middlesbrough ...... 540W Truancy: Berkshire...... 546W Public Bodies ...... 540W Unemployment: Pendle...... 541W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 521W Devolution: Northern Ireland...... 521W CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 515W Energy: Housing ...... 521W Employees: Travel ...... 515W Nuclear Power Stations...... 522W Priests ...... 516W Nuclear Power Stations: Safety ...... 523W Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs...... 524W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 531W Children in Care: Missing Persons ...... 531W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 525W Fire Services...... 532W Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Local Government Finance ...... 533W Government...... 525W European Court of Human Rights ...... 525W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 526W Latvia: Anti-Semitism...... 525W Departmental Public Bodies ...... 526W Libya: Aviation ...... 526W Security: EU Action...... 526W DEFENCE...... 533W USA: Cotton...... 526W Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations ...... 533W Air Force: Redundancy...... 534W HEALTH...... 513W Defence: International Cooperation...... 534W Barnes Hospital ...... 513W Departmental Theft ...... 534W Dementia: Alcoholic Drinks ...... 513W European Defence Agency...... 534W General Practitioners: Fees and Charges...... 513W Foreign Relations...... 535W Hepatitis ...... 514W National Commissioning Board: Research ...... 514W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 520W Sleep: Health Services ...... 514W Members: Correspondence ...... 520W Strategic Health Authorities: Consultants...... 514W Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT...... 547W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 527W Arrest Warrants ...... 547W Sudan: Overseas Aid...... 527W Arrest Warrants: Costs...... 548W Arrest Warrants: Human Rights ...... 548W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 515W Assaults on Police ...... 549W Official Engagements ...... 515W Border Agency ...... 549W Crimes of Violence: West Midlands ...... 549W SCOTLAND...... 515W Cybercrime ...... 550W Members...... 515W Demonstrations ...... 550W Departmental Public Bodies ...... 550W DNA: Databases...... 551W TRANSPORT ...... 521W Human Trafficking ...... 551W Shipping: Oil...... 521W Illegal Immigrants...... 552W Immigration Controls ...... 552W TREASURY ...... 527W Marriage of Convenience...... 552W EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council Migrant Workers...... 553W Meeting...... 527W Police ...... 554W Fuel Duty: Public Expenditure ...... 527W Police: Diamond Jubilee 2012 ...... 556W Oil: Prices...... 528W Police: Manpower ...... 556W Taxation...... 528W Police: Olympic Games 2012...... 558W Telephone Services...... 529W Police: Overtime...... 558W Police: Termination of Employment ...... 558W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 516W Serious Organised Crime: Finance ...... 559W Departmental Expenditure ...... 516W Serious Organised Crime: Manpower ...... 560W Departmental Regulation...... 517W Serious Organised Crime: Northern Ireland...... 560W Higher Marginal Deduction Rates ...... 518W Serious Organised Crime: Terrorism ...... 560W Social Security Benefits...... 519W Telephone Tapping: Newspaper Press ...... 561W Welfare State: Reform ...... 519W Vetting: International Organisations ...... 561W Winter Fuel Payments...... 520W MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

Friday 1 April 2011

Col. No. Col. No. HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 9MC WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 10MC Females...... 9MC Employment Support Services ...... 10MC Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Friday 8 April 2011

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CONTENTS

Friday 1 April 2011

Coinage (Measurement) Bill [Col. 648] Not amended, considered; read the Third time and passed

Broadcasting (Public Service Content) Bill [Col. 655] Motion for Second Reading—(Mr Bone)—on a Division, negatived

Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) Bill [Col. 694] Motion for Second Reading—(Mr Bacon)

Yemen [Col. 714] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 41WS]

Petition [Col. 3P] Observations

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 513W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Corrections [Col. 9MC]