Thursday Volume 583 3 July 2014 No. 18

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 3 July 2014

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1057 3 JULY 2014 1058

Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con): The House of Commons Secretary of State will be aware that alongside the national lottery, society lotteries contributed £145 million Thursday 3 July 2014 to good causes in 2012-13 and could provide a lot more if the prizes, draw and turnover rules were deregulated. The House met at half-past Nine o’clock His Department has long promised a consultation on this but has yet to publish it. In the light of the recent PRAYERS Centre for Economics and Business Research report on society lotteries, can he tell the House when the consultation might come? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Sajid Javid: Changes in lottery and gambling markets have made it clear to us that the consultation on society Oral Answers to Questions lotteries should be more wide ranging than we had previously thought. The Gambling Commission is providing us with further information and advice, and we are CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT planning to conduct the consultation later this year.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): The Arts was asked— Council announced this week that 99 organisations will National Lottery Funding be financed solely by the national lottery and it has to cut support to 58 other arts organisations because of 1. Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): What the huge cuts in the Department. Local authorities have steps he has taken to promote national lottery funding also been forced to reduce support to arts organisations. to sport, heritage and arts groups in the past 12 months. Given that London gets 20 times as much philanthropic [904613] money per person as the rest of the country, does the Secretary of State agree with the statement from the The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (Sajid Javid): Through the work of the national lottery the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey) that arts promotions unit and individual national lottery distributors, organisations that cannot raise philanthropic funds are we continue to raise awareness of funding for good totally misguided and “pathetic”? causes. Demand for lottery funding continues to outstrip supply, with over £1.5 billion spent on national lottery Sajid Javid: The hon. Lady will know that I do not projects in just the past 12 months. agree with her. She knows that Government grants for Iain Stewart: The Heritage Lottery Fund recently arts funding have been cut because the Government of made a large contribution to the new visitors centre at whom she was part left our country with the largest Bletchley Park in my constituency and also paid for the deficit in the industrialised world and left us with very restoration of some of the old codebreaking huts. May difficult decisions to make. The good news is that the I invite my right hon. Friend to visit Bletchley Park to Arts Council receives funding from other sources and, see for himself what a vital role the Heritage Lottery taken together with total funding of almost £3 billion Fund plays in preserving the heritage of the country? during the life of this Parliament, the level of funding is virtually unchanged from the situation in the previous Sajid Javid: I have visited Bletchley Park a number of Parliament. times, as I am sure all hon. Members have done, to look at its vivid story and see how that is brought to life. I Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD): Given would be more than happy to do so again. It is a fitting that many regions, particularly in the north, generate tribute to the remarkable men and women who worked disproportionately more revenue for the national lottery, there, including a wonderful woman in my own what further steps will the Government take to ensure constituency, Betty Webb, who served there. I am delighted that other regions where more money is generated get that Bletchley Park has received funding from the Heritage their fair share of sport, heritage and arts funding? Lottery Fund for its restoration. My hon. Friend is right to give credit to John Major, as he has done in the Sajid Javid: The hon. Gentleman is right to raise that past, for setting up the fund. important point about the regional distribution of the Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): The funds. It is something we discuss with the lottery, and I Secretary of State may know that as chair of the John shall be taking it up with it further. Clare Trust, I have been the beneficiary of quite a lot of Heritage Lottery funding. I am delighted with it and Superfast Broadband would like more for projects going forward in my constituency, but will the right hon. Gentleman remember 2. Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): that it does not replace a Government committed to What steps he is taking to ensure that superfast culture and heritage? broadband is available in remote areas of the UK. Sajid Javid: I am pleased to hear that the hon. Gentleman [904614] supports the work that the fund is doing for the causes that he holds dear, which are very good causes. The The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport principle of additionality is very important and the (Sajid Javid): The Government’s broadband programme distributors must adhere to it at all times. will provide superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises 1059 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1060 by 2017. In February 2014 we announced nearly £3 million Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): The analyst, Redburn, in further grant funding to support superfast coverage has pointed out that claims that the UK is doing well on in Cornwall. superfast broadband are “only true using a rather unambitious definition of superfast”. Sheryll Murray: One of my constituents who runs a A number of European countries now have over 20% fibre- small business in a not-spot area purchased satellite to-the-home penetration, with symmetric 100 megabits- broadband after being told that they would not get a per-second services. The Under-Secretary of State, the fibre-optic connection. Can they now bid for some hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), told me in a money if Cornwall council is successful to enable other written answer on 23 June that he does not know how connections, and will it cost people more for any other much of that we have in the UK, but the industry type of connection? estimates penetration to be about 0.5%. Surely we need to be doing much better. Sajid Javid: Superfast Cornwall has a satellite broadband offer for premises that currently have slow-speed broadband Sajid Javid: The right hon. Gentleman will be pleased and are not likely to gain a fibre-optic connection. The to know that superfast coverage in the UK is the highest grant of almost £3 million that the Government gave in among the EU5 countries; it is higher than Germany, February in phase 2 will help increase coverage. My higher than Spain, five times higher than Italy and three hon. Friend’s constituent can make an application to times higher than France. Superfast Cornwall, and that will be a decision for it to Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD): I was pleased make. We are making progress on the issue, but I agree when the Government announced the awarding of the that there is much more to do. contract to look into ways of using satellite to bring superfast broadband to remote areas of Scotland that 10. [904626] Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan fibre-optic cables cannot reach. It is very important that an Iar) (SNP): Finland and Sweden will cover about that work is done as soon as possible. What time scale 99% of their populations with 4G networks capable of does the Minister envisage for bringing superfast broadband delivering high-speed broadband, but the UK’s model to remote areas of the highlands and islands by satellite? of coverage with 2G and 3G has failed many people in rural and island areas. Will the Secretary of State Sajid Javid: These pilots began in June, so they are consider a different approach to 4G for rural areas, very recent and it will take a number of months before including mast-sharing and controls on rents at mast any results are known. We have deliberately picked a sites, especially as 4G will deliver up to 30 megabits and number of different companies with different types of might wirelessly reach areas that cable broadband technology to ensure that we learn as much as we can. I might not reach? envisage that we will have more information in six months. Sajid Javid: The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to Tourism Industry know that there has been a significant increase in superfast broadband coverage since 2010, rising from 45% to 3. Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): What 73%, but there is much more to do. There has also been steps he is taking to support the tourism industry. a significant change in 4G coverage in the UK, which [904615] many people use for broadband, as he rightly highlights. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport For example, O2, which has a licence for 4G, is committed (Sajid Javid): The tourism industry is central to the to extending it to 99% of the country. Government’s long-term economic plan, which is why we are investing over £177 million, including partner Several hon. Members rose— funding, in the GREAT campaign and other international and domestic marketing campaigns. We recently re-launched Mr Speaker: I do not know why this question was not the Tourism Council, a partnership between industry grouped, but I will treat it as though it had been. and the Government. Mr Stephen Metcalfe. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Suffolk coast is well known 7. [904623] Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East as a very attractive place to visit, with its open skies, Thurrock) (Con): Linford and parts of East Tilbury beaches and cultural offerings. You are certainly most and West Tilbury in my constituency fall between the welcome—both you, Mr Speaker, and the Secretary of Tilbury and Stanford-le-Hope exchanges, which means State—as the shadow Secretary of State will know. that a small but significant community will not benefit However, also adding to the long-term economic plan from either the commercial roll-out of superfast will hopefully be the construction of Sizewell C. My broadband or the Government-funded programme. local businesses have understandable concerns about What options do I have to ensure that those residents the impact of the construction phase on tourism in the are not disadvantaged by a geographic anomaly? area. Can he offer any helpful advice? Mr Speaker: The hon. Lady wins her badge for the Sajid Javid: My hon. Friend will be pleased to know corps diplomatique. that the Government have announced additional funding of £10.72 million for Essex under phase 2 of our Sajid Javid: I can tell my hon. Friend that I will be superfast broadband programme. The local project team more than happy to visit. I am sure that Mr Speaker has for Essex should be able to advise him on the revised been a number of times himself. The Suffolk coast is coverage targets. The Government have also announced indeed beautiful—it is a jewel in Britain—and everyone eight market testing pilots to explore supply solutions should be encouraged to visit. She will know that I for improving broadband coverage beyond 95%. cannot comment on any planning application that is 1061 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1062 taking place, but she will be pleased to know that the FIFA: Corruption Government will continue to work hard to promote Suffolk through VisitEngland and other organisations. The wonderful Suffolk coastline featured in VisitEngland’s 4. Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) “Coastal Escapes” marketing campaign was funded by (Lab): What recent discussions he has had with the regional growth fund. England’s international football representatives on allegations of corruption within FIFA. [904618] Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (PC): The NATO summit in Newport provides an The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, opportunity to promote Wales to the world, boosting Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): These are very tourism and the wider economy. What discussions are serious allegations. Of course, major sporting events the UK Government having with the Welsh Government need to be awarded in an open, fair and transparent to ensure that the summit has a distinct Welsh flavour? manner, but, as the Prime Minister has already said, we need to wait to see the results of Michael Garcia’s Sajid Javid: We work very closely with the Welsh inquiry before discussing next steps. Government on these issues. There is a lot to be gained from cross-co-operation, and a number of initiatives Michael Connarty: I thank the Minister for that very are in place. cautious response. I have just finished two years as chair of the sports committee of the Parliamentary Assembly 8. [904624] Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): of the Council of Europe, and I am its rapporteur on Inbound tourism is as strategic a sector for this country corruption and governance in sport. Now that the as advanced manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, and investigative journalists of The Times have revealed the Tourism Council presents an opportunity for it to how much corruption is going on, and Greg Dyke has punch at its weight. Will my right hon. Friend set his spoken out very boldly on this, does the Minister agree sights high in terms of productivity, skills development, that it may be time for a Joint Committee of the House and co-operative working on distribution channels in to look at this question in some detail before the beautiful marketing this country to the world? game is mired by the behaviour of FIFA? Sajid Javid: I absolutely agree. My hon. Friend will Mrs Grant: I am very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman be pleased to know, as will other hon. Members, that to discuss his suggestion; I thank him. last year inbound tourism hit a new record high of 33 million visitors spending a record amount of £21 billion Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): What in the UK. He rightly points out the importance of discussions is the Minister having with her colleagues in improving skills, and we are working with the Tourism the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with football Council on that. governing bodies to bring about an end to the abuse of the migrant workers who are facing very serious human Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): Despite recent sporting rights abuses building stadiums in Qatar? setbacks, our enthusiasm remains at fever pitch. Will the Minister, like me, be among the 3 million people it is Mrs Grant: The hon. Gentleman makes a very important anticipated will go to watch the start of the Tour de point. We of course expect Qatar and FIFA to ensure France this weekend? The Grand Depart will showcase that the rights of all migrant workers are upheld and some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside. Will he respected. join me in wishing Yorkshire every success in hosting this event and wish every participant well, and, of Mobile Telephone Coverage course, success to our British riders? What is he doing to ensure that the event goes smoothly and that the 5. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): If his Department region continues to benefit from the boost to tourism will commission research on methods of improving that it will get from hosting this event? mobile telephone coverage; and if he will make a statement. [904619] Sajid Javid: I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the importance of the Grand Depart taking place in The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Yorkshire. It is a very important sporting moment for (Sajid Javid): We need to improve mobile coverage in the UK. I will be visiting on day one, on Saturday, and I the UK, and I have been discussing with Ofcom and the look forward to seeing him there. The Prime Minister mobile network operators what more can be done. The will also be visiting, and the sports Minister, my hon. mobile infrastructure project will extend coverage to Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald remote and rural areas that currently have no coverage. (Mrs Grant), will be helping as well. Charlie Elphicke: Many visitors from the European 14. [904632] Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con): Fylde is the Union travel by ferry to my constituency of Dover and, golf capital of Lancashire, with outstanding courses because of international roaming, those from France including the Open championship course at Royal get better mobile coverage than my own constituents. Lytham & St Annes. What are the Government doing How can this be? to ensure that Britain is getting the most out of this lucrative section of the tourist market? Sajid Javid: As usual, my hon. Friend makes a very good point. It is true that French nationals who visit the Sajid Javid: My hon. Friend will be pleased to know UK get better coverage than his constituents because of that VisitBritain has a specific initiative on promoting international roaming. I encourage operators in the UK golf throughout the UK. That campaign is showing to go further and I am discussing the issue with mobile early signs of working, but we will be looking to see operators and Ofcom. No firm decisions have been what more can be done. taken at this point, but it is a very important issue. 1063 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1064

Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): May I commend be connected over the next few months, but there are a my right hon. Friend on his efforts to extend mobile lot of villages in exactly the position described by the coverage, but is he aware that many of my constituents hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh) have been without any mobile coverage for nearly three that will not be connected. Does the Minister recognise weeks due to Vodafone having to remove a mast from how critical Somerset’s bid to the superfast extension premises that the landlord required it to vacate? Will he fund is in filling in some of those gaps and getting consider looking at the electronic communications code broadband to the rural areas that desperately need it? to see whether it can be strengthened to give the same sorts of rights that already exist for other utilities, such Mr Vaizey: Yes, I do. The whole point of all the as water and electricity? completely justified questions that have been asked is that people want broadband. That is why we are putting Sajid Javid: I was not aware of that particular issue in £1.2 billion into rolling out rural broadband and why my hon. Friend’s constituency, but now he has raised it total funding of something like £70 million from BT, I will certainly look into it and see whether we can help. European funding and Broadband Delivery UK is going The electronic communications code is a very important into connecting Devon and Somerset. More than issue and I am looking into it right now, because I agree 250,000 premises are planned to be networked and we that it was set up for a different age and there need to be have allocated a provisional £22 million for the next significant changes. phase.

Broadband Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): This issue is not just a rural problem. At my recent business event, 6. Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): companies told me how lack of access to fast broadband What comparative assessment he has made of the is seriously hampering their businesses. How will the extent of broadband coverage in the UK and other EU Minister ensure that areas on the edge of major urban member states. [904620] centres also get superfast broadband? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Mr Vaizey: The whole point of the rural broadband Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): As the House has programme is to help the areas she speaks about. Local already heard from my right hon. Friend the Secretary councils are in charge of the roll-out, so they should of State, the UK’s broadband coverage is among the know best where the money should go first for the most best in Europe: 73% of premises can access superfast impact. As I say, we have had phase 1 to get to 90%; we broadband compared with just 45% in 2010. Government now have phase 2 to get to 95%; and the money we have investment will drive superfast coverage up to 95% by allocated for new technologies will give us the figure we 2017. need to get to 100%. Miss McIntosh: Sadly, rural areas will be left behind. I understand from NYnet that Thirsk, Malton and Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): In some cases, Filey will have only 78% coverage by 2015-16. Given the only way to improve broadband speeds is to install a that farmers will have to apply digitally for farm payments new cabinet. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the cost from 2015, they will be grossly disadvantaged. Will the of such installation is within the scope of the Government’s Government please make it a top priority to ensure that assistance scheme? those who have the weakest coverage will be fast-tracked to superfast broadband? Mr Vaizey: My understanding is that, where appropriate, new cabinets can be installed under the scheme. Much Mr Vaizey: We certainly will. NYnet is one of our of the scheme will be for funding the upgrade of existing most effective programmes and I praise the county cabinets, but occasionally it can be for a new cabinet. council for its effective work. We have already passed 120,000 premises under this programme. We will have First World War Centenary reached 170,000 by next spring and we have allocated further millions to take coverage even further. 9. Sir Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire) (Con): What Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): The EU is a steps he is taking to ensure that Commonwealth very big area, but Bridle road in Stanfree in Bolsover is countries are included in the commemorative events relatively small. They told me to ask the appropriate planned for the first world war centenary. [904625] Minister to sort out the broadband that they have been messing about with for four years in that Bridle road, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Stanfree area. They must have a letter—get it sorted. Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): The important contribution of all our Commonwealth partners will be Mr Vaizey: After a question such as that, it beggars commemorated as part of our centenary programme, belief that the Labour party would not have such a man starting with a service of commemoration on 4 August on its national executive committee. On this side of the in Glasgow cathedral. House, when the hon. Gentleman speaks, we act. Sir Peter Luff: It is right that we honour the remarkable Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): I am sacrifice of so many members of the Commonwealth tempted to just say to the Minister, “Somerset—get it during the first world war, including the 40,000 Indian sorted.” The good news is that two more communities and Anzac casualties at Gallipoli. Will the Minister in my constituency—Fivehead and Milborne Port—will assure me, as someone whose father fought and so 1065 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1066 nearly died in that controversial campaign, that the for the roll-out of superfast broadband. We are confident centenary events for Gallipoli next April will include that this will benefit the Welsh tourist industry, as well full recognition of the contribution of the 27,000 French as the Welsh economy more generally. casualties and the 120,000 British casualties at Gallipoli? Guto Bebb: My hon. Friend will be aware that I Mrs Grant: As my hon. Friend will know, Gallipoli is consider his Department’s decision to allocate funding one of our key dates in the Government’s programme. for rural broadband to the Welsh Government to be a My Department is working very closely with the embassy mistake. A total of £120 million has now been allocated in Ankara to ensure that the event at Cape Helles on from taxpayer funds for the roll-out of broadband in 24 April next year marks the British and Commonwealth rural Wales, yet my constituents and businesses in the contribution appropriately. We are also working with tourist sector in my constituency are no nearer to the Gallipoli Association on a UK-led event, and I getting any answers from the Welsh Government about would welcome my hon. Friend’s input into its planning. when and where they will have roll-outs. Does my hon. Friend agree that transparency is crucial when £120 million Regional Museums and Galleries of taxpayer funding is being spent?

11. Robert Jenrick (Newark) (Con): What steps his Mr Vaizey: It is important that roll-out is as transparent Department is taking to encourage (a) national as possible—people need to know when broadband is collections and (b) the royal collection to loan works of coming to their area. More than 160,000 premises have art to regional museums and galleries. [904627] been passed but I am sure that Opposition Members will have a word with their Labour colleagues in Wales The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, to encourage them to be more transparent with my hon. Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): First, may I Friend. welcome my hon. Friend to the Chamber? This is the first opportunity I have had the chance to welcome him Tour de France to the House. In 2012-13, national museums sponsored by the 13. Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab): What long- Department for Culture, Media and Sport lent objects term cycling legacy he expects from the Tour de France to more than 1,500 museums around the country through grand départ in Yorkshire. [904629] touring exhibitions, star object loans, loans of local significance and long-term loans. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): There has been a Robert Jenrick: Regional museums would benefit from strong legacy of cycling from the London 2012 games a much more active programme of loans from national and I am sure that the grand départ in Yorkshire will museums, which are sitting on hundreds of thousands if inspire cycling across the region and the UK as a whole. not millions of works of art that are rarely if ever seen by the general public. The Secretary of State recently Hugh Bayley: I sincerely hope so. I know the Minister viewed the site of the new Newark national civil war will join me in congratulating City of York council and museum, which is a perfect example of a regional the other local authorities involved, along with the museum that would benefit from active loans from cycling organisations, on all the preparations they have national institutions. What can the Department do to made for the race. In terms of public participation, encourage national museums to review their civil war cycling is the third most popular sport in the country. collections and to loan them to our museum in Newark? The biggest single disincentive for cyclists is the state of the roads and the danger. Will her Department set up a Mr Vaizey: I know for a fact that the Secretary of joint initiative with the Department for Transport to State thoroughly enjoyed his visit to the new National improve road safety and so get more people on their Civil War centre, which was awarded a grant by the bikes and cycling? Heritage Lottery Fund of £3.5 million in 2012, and we look forward to its opening next year. I am certainly Mrs Grant: I think that the Tour de France grand happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss what we can départ will be a tremendous success. All plans are on do to encourage loans of civil war objects from national track, and I join the hon. Gentleman in thanking all museums, but it is important for the House to remember those involved in the preparations—the teams in Yorkshire, that national museums are of course independent and Essex, London and Cambridge. It will be an amazing do not simply do what the Government tell them. highlight for the year and one we will never forget. I am Broadband: Wales happy to have a chat with him about his suggestion. Thank you.

12. Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con): What assessment Mr Speaker: We are uncharacteristically ahead of he has made of the success of the broadband roll-out schedule today, but as all the principals are present we programme in Wales and that programme’s effect on should now proceed straight away to topical questions. the tourism industry in Wales. [904628]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Topical Questions Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): Independent research estimates that the Government’s investment T1. [904603] Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) will generate £20 for every £1 by 2024. Wales has (Lab): If he will make a statement on his departmental received almost £70 million from the UK Government responsibilities. 1067 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1068

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Sajid Javid: As the right hon. and learned Lady (Sajid Javid): Although England’s footballers and Andy points out, there was rightly a cross-party approach on Murray have sadly fallen, our sporting season is still in this important issue. The key to that consensus was that full swing. This weekend sees the climax of the Wimbledon whatever transpired needed to be independent of championships, the grand prix at Silverstone and the Government and that there needed to be a self-regulatory Tour de France grand départ, as we have just heard. body. I will not comment on anyone who is appointed Politicians who wish sports stars well seem to jinx them, to the recognition panel, because I do not believe that so I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of that is a job for Government. It is an independent Mark Cavendish’s rivals the best of luck. process and the Government, including my Department, have no role in it. It would therefore not be proper for Diana Johnson: The additional £5 million arts funding me to talk about any individual. allocated to Hull this week is very welcome, but is a As for whether a body should apply for recognition, drop in the ocean compared with the money that goes it is up to the body to decide whether the incentives that to some of our national institutions, such as the National we have put in place are enough to encourage it to join. Theatre, which gets £18 million a year. What pressure The Government have done what they set out to do. can the Secretary of State bring to bear on national institutions to make sure they do everything they can to T3. [904605] Andrew Bingham (High Peak) (Con): Last support our national city of culture for 2017, bearing in week, I organised a music skills day at Glossopdale mind that Hull has had a 25% cut in our council community college in my constituency in conjunction funding during this Parliament? with UK Music, at which more than 100 students from across High Peak learned about the different skills in Sajid Javid: I know that the hon. Lady is as excited as the industry. The Secretary of State will know that the I am that Hull is the city of culture for 2017. It won creative industries are a big economic force in this against strong competition and has done extremely country and earn about £70 billion each year for the well. She is right to point out the recent announcement economy. The music skills event gave young people of additional funding from the Arts Council. It also information about the opportunities to work in that announced that Hull will become a major partner museum, sector. Will he say what else is being done to provide which is a significant step forward. The Hull initiative even more support to the creative industries across the for 2017 and beyond will boost the local economy and country? jobs, which I am sure she will welcome. I am happy to look into what more can be done to help. Sajid Javid: My hon. Friend makes an important point. I join him in welcoming the work of UK Music in promoting careers in that industry to young people. T2. [904604] Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) Just this week, a report showed that the creative industries (Con): Given BT’s virtual monopoly in contracts for have added more than £70 billion to the economy over superfast broadband and the problems with that the past year and that they employ more than 1.7 million company that have been raised by hon. Members today people. Employment is growing five times faster in that and previously, is it not about time that the sector than in the rest of the economy. Just yesterday, I Government held an inquiry into its performance, helped to launch the industry-led creative industries or would that be better done by the competition strategy, which is full of more good ideas. authorities? T4. [904606] Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Tyne East) (Lab): Will the Minister join me in Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): The National congratulating the excellent Tyne and Wear Archives Audit Office conducted an inquiry. I am confident that and Museums and other arts organisations based in BT is doing its job incredibly effectively. We are passing Newcastle upon Tyne on their successful Arts Council a total of 20,000 premises a week with broadband, and bids? In doing so, will he acknowledge that there is still that figure will soon be up to 40,000 a week. More than a problem with the disproportionate amount of private £60 million has been allocated to Lancashire and more sector arts funding—the figure is 82%—that is drawn than 130,000 homes there will get superfast broadband into the capital and not to the regions of England, and as a result. consider the remedy that is set out in “Rebalancing Our Cultural Capital”? If he has not read that report, I Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham) (Lab): commend it to him. The evidence before the Leveson inquiry laid bare the pain and suffering caused to victims of press abuse. The Mr Vaizey: I am very happy to join the right hon. press felt they could act with impunity as there was no Gentleman in congratulating Tyne and Wear Archives proper complaints system, and all parties in both Houses and Museums—it is a fantastic place that I have visited agreed to a new system of independent self-regulation on at least one occasion. I am pleased that following the for the press. Will the Secretary of State join me in Arts Council settlement the balance between London welcoming the appointment of David Wolfe as chair of and the regions has shifted in favour of the regions. As the recognition board for the new press complaints he knows, I believe that every arts organisation around system? Does he agree that the rest of the board should the country is capable of raising private funding and be appointed as soon as possible, and will he join me in should be doing so. encouraging the press to establish and put forward for recognition a Leveson-compliant, independent regulator T5. [904607] Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): so that there is an effective complaints system that is I thank the Minister for the assistance that he and independent of both politicians and the press? Ofcom have given the community radio station in my 1069 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1070 constituency, MKFM, in its bid for a permanent FM Stroud valleys and vale that they will have access to licence. Will he assure me that he will continue to do broadband so that their businesses and lifestyles can all he can to assist such community radio stations to thrive? expand the vital service they provide to local communities? Mr Vaizey: We are putting more than £1 billion into Mr Vaizey: My hon. Friend has made an excellent broadband roll-out. We continue to invest to take it to case for MKFM—his excellent local community radio 95%. I will happily work with any Member to ensure station. I am very pleased that the independent regulator, that the broadband rural programme goes smoothly in Ofcom, listened and included MKFM on its timetable their constituency. for early consideration for an FM licence. T8. [904610] Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP): The theme of much of this morning’s T6. [904608] Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) exchanges has been broadband and mobile coverage. (Lab): Ministers will know that cyber-bullying is a Will the Minister meet me and other interested rural growing problem, particularly among teenagers, but and island Members of Parliament to discuss how the offences fall, confusingly, between five different proper 4G coverage on a Swedish or Finnish model Acts. Is it not time for Ministers to talk to their may help the aims of comprehensive mobile and fast colleagues in other Departments to bring about a broadband coverage in the years to come? specific offence of cyber-bullying that mirrors the offence of harassment in the real world? Mr Vaizey: Broadband is going extremely well in the UK, mainly because we are better together. We are Mr Vaizey: I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. I working with Scotland and Wales to roll out broadband work closely with the Minister for Policing, Criminal and 4G coverage. The hon. Gentleman should not be so Justice and Victims and the Under-Secretary of State modest: we have outstripped a lot of the Scandinavian for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe countries. We have just laid 400 km of undersea cable to and Nantwich (Mr Timpson), on the UK Council for the highlands and islands. That could not have been Child Internet Safety. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman’s done without the UK Government working with the representations have been heard and they will be considered devolved Government to bring broadband to our rural in the usual way. areas. We are better together.

T9. [904611] Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Tourism is a major Will the libraries Minister join me in congratulating economic generator in Colchester. Does the Minister Northamptonshire county council’s library and agree that the best way to support tourism is by reducing information service on being named the best council VAT on tourism to 5%? Will he have a chat with the services team at this year’s Municipal Journal awards? Chancellor, please? Whereas other local authorities are closing libraries and cutting opening times, the Conservative council in The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Northamptonshire is extending opening to seven days Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): As my hon. Friend a week and extending the range of services on offer, knows, VAT is a matter for the Chancellor. We keep all and has recruited more than 600 library volunteers. taxes under review, but there is no plan to reduce tax for the tourism sector. Mr Vaizey: Libraries are funded and run by local authorities, and it does not surprise me that an excellent Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab): Sarah Conservative local authority is investing in its libraries. Hunter from North Tyneside is part of the England women’s rugby squad. Despite what the Minister said earlier, will he join me in wishing Sarah and the team T7. [904609] Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I the best of luck as they head off to the women’s rugby congratulate the Minister for creative industries on his world cup in Paris this summer? outstanding work in encouraging international film makers, especially from Bollywood, to come and make Mrs Grant: I wish her and her team the very, very best their films in the United Kingdom. Does he agree that of luck. it is important that that helps with jobs, growth and the diversity of UK film making? Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): I enjoyed visiting that wonderful rainbow festival, London Pride, Mr Vaizey: I am very pleased to have that question over the weekend in our capital. It has become a magnet from the right hon. Gentleman. Although we obviously for hundreds of thousands of tourists, who enjoy the welcome investment from the west coast of America, rich diversity of the United Kingdom. particularly yesterday’s announcement by Warner Bros. With the ability to convert civil partnerships into that it will be filming J. K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts”, marriage later this year, does the Secretary of State it is important to remember that Bollywood is bigger believe that there is even more to celebrate in pride than Hollywood, and we need also to encourage Indian festivals throughout the UK in the coming months and film makers to make films in this country with our years? excellent crew and casts. Sajid Javid: My hon. Friend makes a good point, and T10. [904612] Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): To I agree with him. He may be interested to know that the reinforce points already made this morning, what Government will today lay the draft regulations for assurance can the Minister give my constituents in converting civil partnerships to marriage. The Government 1071 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1072 previously said that the cost of conversion would be Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): I calculated on a cost recovery basis, and that is correct. forgot to welcome the Secretary of State, so I do so We had indicated about £100, but I am happy to say warmly and ask whether he will support our all-party that, in almost all cases, the cost will be £45. It would be effort to get at least 150 MPs to read a poem of the unfair to charge couples who were in civil partnerships countryside, and raise funds to get kids from poorer before same sex marriage was available, so I am pleased parts of our country out to the countryside this year? to announce that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has agreed to waive the conversion fee for one year from Sajid Javid: I certainly will; that is an excellent initiative. 10 December. Since A. E. Housman came from my constituency, that would be a good start. Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Tourism is important to my constituency of Strangford. It definitely brings Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): There is concern that jobs and opportunities, as promoted by the Northern the Government’s approach to allocating funding for Ireland Tourist Board. Will the Minister consider joint the superfast broadband extension programme will leave tourism promotions with the Northern Ireland Tourist most rural areas at a disadvantage. What help and Board so that we can benefit from tourism throughout assurances will the Minister give to constituents in the the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern villages of Rumburgh, St James and Ringsfield that Ireland? they will not be penalised? Mrs Grant: I will consider all good ideas and sensible Mr Vaizey: The principle behind the programme is suggestions to promote tourism in this country, and I that we allocate funding in order to get to 95% coverage. am happy to have a chat with the hon. Gentleman. As We expect local authorities to match that, and we will he knows, VisitBritain and VisitEngland do a good job then work with them to target the areas where it is in promoting the regions and the nations. needed most. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the best way forward. Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con): Will the Minister join me in welcoming two pieces of excellent nautical news for Portsmouth harbour? Not only will it play host to Sir Ben Ainslie’s new America’s Cup sailing team hub, but today it welcomes Oceans of Hope—the WOMEN AND EQUALITIES first yacht to complete a global circumnavigation with a working crew with multiple sclerosis, including my Gosport constituent Phil Gowers. The Ministers for Women and Equalities were asked— Mrs Grant: Of course I congratulate them, and I Rights of Women and Girls think the Oceans of Hope project is fantastic. The crew are a real inspiration and deserve our warmest 1. Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): What recent congratulations. discussions she has had with her counterparts overseas on protecting the rights of women and girls Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): internationally. [904633] The Minister will no doubt be aware that Northern Stage’s excellent adaptation of Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” The Minister for Women (Nicky Morgan): The closed at the weekend at Richmond, following a successful Government are committed to the protection and nationwide run. What is the Minister doing to ensure promotion of women’s rights in the UK and internationally. that regions outside the north-east benefit from the I met many of my overseas counterparts at the global excellent cultural talent that we produce? summit to end sexual violence in conflict last month, which brought together 128 country delegations, UN Mr Vaizey: The latest round of Arts Council funding agencies and civil society. We discussed how best to has pushed more money out to the regions, and I am achieve that aim, including providing opportunities for particularly pleased about the new £15 million fund it international collaboration and the exchange of best has set up specifically to support talent outside London, practices. and to keep people outside London working in our regional theatres and doing innovative work. Neil Carmichael: I thank the Minister for that answer. Mr Speaker: With extreme brevity please, Mr Philip What can the Government do to help prevent distressing Davies. cases such as that of Mariam Ibrahim which arose simply because she was a Christian? Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Earlier this week I visited GamCare at its headquarters in Clapham to see Nicky Morgan: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the wonderful work it does helping people with problem raising this case, and pleased that Mariam Ibrahim and gambling. May I urge the Secretary of State and the her family have now been released. They are currently Minister to go themselves to listen to the counsellors, as staying at the US embassy in Khartoum. The British I did, and to get their perspective on what we can best embassy in Khartoum continues to follow the case do to help people who sadly develop a gambling addiction? closely and is in close contact with the defence team. We continue to raise our concerns about this case and the Mrs Grant: My hon. Friend makes a good point. broader human rights situation in Sudan with the Sudanese GamCare has been to see me, and I am happy to authorities, including with a recent delegation of Sudanese arrange a visit in the coming months. female MPs whom I met. We will continue to work 1073 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1074 bilaterally and in international forums such as the UN initiative. As the pay gap is partly driven by the different to tackle violence and all forms of discrimination against sectors and jobs in which men and women work, we are women. encouraging girls and young women to consider a wider range of careers through the “Your Life” initiative. Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab): Ministers are right to draw attention to the appalling sexual violence faced by women and girls in Heidi Alexander: I, too, welcome the Minister back to conflict, but we also have responsibilities when women her place. The Equal Pay Act 1970 dates back some seek sanctuary in the UK. Will the Minister set out 44 years, so why does the Minister think that last year what action is being taken following the serious allegations the difference between earnings for men and women and concerns about operations at Yarl’s Wood detention went up and not down, and why have women in their centre? 20s seen the gender pay gap double since her Government came to power? Nicky Morgan: The hon. Lady is right, and it is important and extremely welcome that the Government Jo Swinson: The 0.1% increase in the pay gap in the set up last month’s global summit. Those who seek past year is certainly not a sign of things going in the asylum in the UK need to be offered protection, and the right direction, although it was a very small increase. Government are committed to making our asylum system The hon. Lady is absolutely right to highlight the fact more gender sensitive. We have made significant progress, that 40 years after equal pay legislation, it is not good including putting in place new enhanced guidance supported enough that we still have a pay gap in this country. We by high-quality training for all decision makers. Women need to look at the causes of that pay gap, which might who seek asylum can request a female interviewing include time out of the workplace. The new flexible officer and interpreter. They can also bring a friend working entitlements regime that came in this week will with them to interviews to provide emotional support if help to change the culture of our workplace. As I needed. mentioned, we need to look at occupational segregation. We also need to look at discrimination and outdated Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab): In last night’s attitudes when women are not being paid the same for Adjournment debate, my right hon. Friend the Member the same work. We need to change that, which is why we for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) talked are working with businesses. about the case of the abducted girls in Nigeria. He made the point that the problem is not that those girls were abducted, or that others have been abducted since, Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): What more can be but that many are at risk and are no longer going to done to get women to consider a wider range of careers, school. Will the Minister look at that speech and prepare particularly in science and engineering? a written statement on behalf of her Department to respond to the points my right hon. Friend made? Jo Swinson: My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. Nicky Morgan: I certainly will look at that speech—I Only 7% of engineers are women. That difference in the am afraid I did not have a chance to read it in full before sectors is a significant driver of the pay gap. The problems this morning’s Question Time. The hon. Gentleman is start very early in children’s lives, so we need to look at absolutely right that one of the tragedies of the situation the messages that are being put out through the education that has evolved in Nigeria is that the girls who were system but also more widely in the media regarding abducted were doing exactly the right thing—they were stereotypes and what young girls are encouraged to in school and taking exams. We absolutely do not want aspire to. We are encouraging parents and schools to to put girls around the world off their education. The have the information they need to assist their children. UK remains committed to helping to find the schoolgirls. I shall look at the speech and think about how best to Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab): I, too, welcome the respond. Minister back. Gender Pay Gap Progress on narrowing the pay gap has all but come to a standstill. Progress was much quicker under Labour, 2. Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): What so will the Minister admit that narrowing the gap by 0.1% in four years is just not good enough? steps she is taking to close the gender pay gap. [904634]

Mr Speaker: I call Minister Jo Swinson. Welcome Jo Swinson: I certainly agree that we need to ensure back, Minister. that we close the pay gap. This is an important issue. It is ideal if we can work with employers to do so. The The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women “Think, Act, Report” initiative means that 200 employers and Equalities (Jo Swinson): Thank you very much, covering 2 million employees in the work force are Mr Speaker. It is good to be back. May I place on the working to improve the situation for women. They have record my thanks to my hon. Friend the Member for already made significant steps forward since joining up Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) for the fantastic job she and since that initiative started in 2011. Two thirds of did in covering my maternity leave? those employers say that they now publish more information The full-time pay gap has now been almost eliminated on gender pay. Nearly half of them now do pay audits. for women under the age of 40, but we must close the That would not have happened without this Government’s gap across all ages and for part-time workers. We are initiative, but we have said that we will keep the issue promoting transparency through the “Think, Act, Report” under review, because we need success. 1075 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1076

Global Economy anyone else in recent years to triumph and to talk about the importance of all students, particularly girls, studying 3. David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con): science and maths. [Interruption.] I am glad to hear the What discussions she has had with her counterparts hon. Gentleman was there supporting her, too. overseas on the contribution of women and girls to the global economy. [904636] Female Entrepreneurs

The Minister for Women (Nicky Morgan): In June I 4. Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): What recent progress met many of my overseas counterparts at a global she has made on encouraging women to set up their ministerial round table at the global summit of women own businesses. [904637] held in Paris. This event brought together business, professional and governmental leaders to explore strategies The Minister for Women (Nicky Morgan): The and best practices in accelerating women’s economic Government offer a wide range of support to women progress worldwide. The most important task for the entrepreneurs—for example, the new enterprise allowance, UK Government, as for the rest of the global community, mentoring, business advice and start-up loans. I also is to build a stronger, fairer economy capable of delivering recently announced a £1 million challenge fund specifically lasting prosperity. Women and girls are essential to the to support women to move their businesses online and UK’s economic growth. take advantage of superfast broadband. We know these measures are making a difference, with more women David Morris: I thank my right hon. Friend for that running their own businesses than ever before. comprehensive reply. What issues were identified in those recent discussions? Steve Baker: Which particular areas have the Government identified where we can celebrate the success of women Nicky Morgan: What was really interesting about entrepreneurs? going to the international summit—it was the same when I went to the Commonwealth summit in Bangladesh Nicky Morgan: There are many different areas, but last year—was just how many of the same issues we let me just pick one. The latest statistics from the share around the world in terms of enabling women to Federation of Small Businesses show a dramatic increase play their full part in economies. We talked about in the number of women starting up businesses in the gender equality, parental leave, returners to work, supporting retail sector, and high streets across the country are older workers, women’s access to finance and the importance seeing the benefit. Half of all small businesses established of coaching, mentoring and role models in encouraging in retail in the past two years are primarily owned by women to set up their own businesses. women. That is in stark contrast with 20 years ago, when it was less than a quarter. That demonstrates the Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): fundamental role that women are playing in helping the Last week we had national women in engineering day. country to recover from recession. I hope that Members As the Minister says, only 7% of professional engineers on all sides of the House will encourage retail businesses in this country are women. What she did not say is that on their high streets to apply for the Future High that is the lowest figure in Europe. In eastern European Streets Forum’s Great British high streets awards. countries, the figure is 30% and countries such as China and India are far ahead of us. In her conversations, will Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): Nobody doubts the she see what we can learn from other countries that are Minister’s commitment to equality, but why are there so more successful? few black and Asian women sitting on the boards of our companies? Nicky Morgan: When I speak to counterparts overseas, I always engage with the lessons Britain can share and Nicky Morgan: It is a very good question. There is no what we can learn from other countries. I am proud to doubt that more progress is needed. Earlier this week I represent Loughborough university, which has, I am was at an event for the 30% Club, which has been told, the highest number of female engineers in the campaigning for a voluntary business-led approach, country. I understand that last night the hon. Lady was started by Lord Davies, to get more women in particular at the Royal Academy of Engineering awards, where on the boards of companies. Part of that is about more than one half of the rising stars awards went to working with executive search companies and asking female engineers. There is, however, more progress to be the chairmen of companies to think differently about made. appointments. Often the traditional and expected route of a CV is not something that women or others, particularly Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): We from black and minority ethnic communities, can put want young girls to achieve and to travel the world. forward. We need to broaden the way in which chairmen Many young girls want to get into business and to of boards, and the boards themselves, appoint new travel. If they do not have science and maths as a basis directors. for getting into business and getting good careers, they will not succeed. 6. [904640] Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): The rise and rise of women in business is boosting growth Nicky Morgan: I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. and opportunity across the country. We have an I assume that he supports the EBacc and that he welcomes inspiring role model in Gloucester, in the first female the work of the Under-Secretary of State for Education, editor of the Gloucester Citizen in its 138-year history, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Norfolk Jenny Eastwood. The chair of the Gloucestershire local (Elizabeth Truss), who I think has done more than enterprise partnership, Diane Savory, is one of only 1077 Oral Answers3 JULY 2014 Oral Answers 1078 three female chairs of the 39 LEPS. Will my right hon. thereafter. What will the Minister do to encourage Friend join me in recognising their achievements, and people who have never had a positive experience of in encouraging both Jenny and Diane to do even more sport to take our necessary exercise by that means? to promote new female “Gloucesterpreneurs” like Sarah Churchill of the award-winning Artisan Kitchen? Mrs Grant: The hon. Lady has made a very interesting point. I would say that there is a sport out there for Nicky Morgan: I congratulate my hon. Friend on absolutely everyone. We need to listen to what people coining the new word “Gloucesterpreneurs”, and I hope want, and give it to them. that he will campaign vigorously under that slogan over the next few months. I am happy to join him in Marriage Certificates congratulating Gloucestershire Media on its Women in Business awards. Through the work of the Minister for Cities—my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge 7. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): What steps Wells (Greg Clark)—and the Deputy Prime Minister, she is taking to ensure that mothers’ names are the Government are focusing on regional growth, city included on marriage certificates; and if she will make deals and the power of local enterprise partnerships, a statement. [904641] and on encouraging growth outside London. That is why I am particularly pleased to hear about the new The Minister for Equalities (Sajid Javid): The content female entrepreneurs in Gloucester who have set up of marriage registers has not changed since civil marriage businesses during the past few years. was introduced in 1837, so it is about time we took a further look. I have discussed this matter with my right Participation in Sport hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and we are currently considering a range of options. 5. Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con): What recent steps the Government have taken to encourage Huw Irranca-Davies: The Minister has referred to a access for, and participation by, under-represented groups range of options. Given that Labour changed the law in in (a) grass-roots and (b) professional sports. [904638] respect of same-sex couples and adoption back in 2002, what consideration has he given to ensuring that any The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women changes that may be made to marriage certificates reflect and Equalities (Mrs Helen Grant): Sport England and the fact that many individuals now have legal parents of UK Sport are committed to achieving equality in grass-roots the same sex? and elite sport. They invest in a range of expert bodies to work with sport to remove barriers to participation Sajid Javid: I agree with the hon. Gentleman, who among under-represented groups. has raised a very important point. When the rules were drawn up in 1837, equality was not a priority for our Eric Ollerenshaw: Does my hon. Friend agree that we society. Today, thankfully, it is, so those are just the kind might achieve even more success in international sporting of changes that we are considering. competitions if our sporting authorities had deeper contacts among ethnic minorities, and were able to use Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland their expertise in what we might consider to be minority West) (Lab): Can the Minister tell us how much it would sports, but what in their countries of origin are majority cost to bring marriage certificates into the 21st century? sports? If he cannot, why are his colleagues in the Home Office team saying that it would be too expensive? What price Mrs Grant: My hon. Friend has made an interesting do he and the Government place on equality? point. UK Sport and national governing bodies capitalise on a wealth of diverse global expertise in order to get Sajid Javid: If the hon. Lady had been listening athletes on to the podium. Sport England also invests in carefully, she would have already heard the answer to organisations such as Sporting Equals to promote physical that question; I talked about civil partnerships earlier. activity and diversity in all sport. We have rightly said that when people are converting civil partnerships into marriage, having entered into Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab): I know that I those partnerships before same-sex marriage was available, speak for a certain proportion of people in this country we will waive the fee. I think that that demonstrates the who were dreadful at sport at school and never improved Government’s priorities. 1079 3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1080

Business of the House Ms Eagle: I thank the Leader of the House for announcing next week’s business. On Monday, we will have the first allotted day for the debate on the estimates. 10.33 am That is an arcane and opaque process that does little to scrutinise the actual spending of the Government. Does Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab): Will the Leader of the Leader of the House agree that we need to reform the House give us the business for next week? the estimates process to ensure real scrutiny? Will he support my call for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew answer questions in the Chamber on the estimates, Lansley): The business next week will be as follows: separately from the Budget, and for each Cabinet Minister to have a yearly Budget question and answer on spending MONDAY 7JULY—Estimates day [1st allotted day]. in their Department? There will be a debate on universal credit implementation, followed by a debate on the implementation of the On Tuesday, we will debate the Modern Slavery Bill, common agricultural policy in England. Further details which the Opposition support but which in some areas will be given in the Official Report. does not go far enough. Will the Leader of the House tell us whether his Government will accept our amendments [The details are as follows: There will be a debate on to provide statutory legal guardians for child victims of universal credit implementation: monitoring DWP’s trafficking, and greater transparency in supply chains performance in 2012-13, Fifth Report from the Work and to ensure that companies do much more to prevent Pensions Committee, HC 1209, Session 2013-14, and the slave labour? Government response published as Second Special Report, HC 426, Session 2014-15. Yesterday, private Members’ Bills were formally introduced. Labour Members brought forward a series The lead Department is Work and Pensions. of Bills to tackle the scourge of zero-hours contracts, to There will be a debate on the implementation of the strengthen the minimum wage and to protect the NHS. common agricultural policy in England 2014-20, Seventh However, all Conservative Members could do was cheer Report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs yet another Bill on the UK’s membership of the European Committee, HC 745, Session 2013-14, and the Government Union. [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, hear.”] They are at it response published as Seventh Special Report, HC 1008, again. While we bring forward practical solutions to the 2013-14. crisis in living standards, all they can do is bang on The lead Department is Environment, Food and Rural about Europe. Affairs.] It has been a year and a half since what was billed as At 10 pm, the House will be asked to agree all the Prime Minister’s last speech on Europe, but what outstanding estimates. have we seen since? A Prime Minister too afraid to stand up to the Eurosceptics in his own party has been TUESDAY 8JULY—Second Reading of the Modern suffering rebellion after rebellion. The more they bully Slavery Bill, followed by proceedings on the Supply and him, the more he appeases them by picking fights in Appropriation (Main Estimates) Bill. Europe. The trouble is that he keeps losing. Only this WEDNESDAY 9JULY—Opposition day [4th allotted day]. Prime Minister could come to the Chamber and claim There will be a debate on the subject of education, that losing 26-2 is actually a triumph. If that is what followed by a debate on housing supply. Both debates success looks like, I would not like to see what happens will arise on an Opposition motion. when he fails. THURSDAY 10 JULY—There will be a general debate on We have a PR Prime Minister who cannot deliver the the UK’s justice and home affairs opt-outs. goods. He promised to protect the NHS and keep waiting lists down, but four years later cancer waits FRIDAY 11 JULY—The House will not be sitting. have increased by nearly half. Two thirds of people The provisional business for the week commencing cannot see their GP within two days and the A and E 14 July will include the following: waiting time target has now been missed every week for MONDAY 14 JULY—Consideration of a Bill, followed almost a year. Instead of getting his facts wrong and by a motion to approve the first report from the Committee smearing the Welsh health service, the Prime Minister on Standards on the respect policy. should listen to the chair of the British Medical Association, who said that the NHS is TUESDAY 15 JULY—A motion on the retirement of the Clerk of the House, followed by Second Reading of the “palpably fraying at the edges”. Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. Will the Leader of the House finally admit that people WEDNESDAY 16 JULY—Opposition day [5th allotted cannot trust the Tories with the NHS? Will he arrange day]. There will be debates on Opposition motions, for a debate in Government time, so that the Secretary including one on the subject of health. of State for Health can come clean about the scale of his failure? THURSDAY 17 JULY—Business to be nominated by the Backbench Business Committee. The Government are living in a parallel universe. The Chancellor claimed that we are “all in this together” but FRIDAY 18 JULY—The House will not be sitting. Government figures show that in the last two years 1 I should also like to inform the House that the million more people fell into absolute poverty. Lord business in Westminster Hall will be as follows: Finkelstein, the Tory peer and one of the Chancellor’s THURSDAY 10 JULY—A debate on the second report of closest confidantes, let the cat out of the bag recently the Work and Pensions Committee on the role of Jobcentre when he said that future Tory cuts will Plus in the reformed welfare system. “undoubtedly fall on poor people”. 1081 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1082

Does the Leader of the House agree with him, and will The decisions that the Labour party has made on the he tell me whether Lord Finkelstein was present last NHS in Wales should be understood by people in night at the Tory summer ball, where, I am told, a bottle England as well as by people in Wales. The Labour of champagne was auctioned for £45,000? [Interruption.] party has cut the budget for the NHS by 8% in Wales, Was that cheap champagne? We now know that last whereas this year this coalition Government are increasing year’s event was attended by six billionaires, 73 financiers, the budget for the NHS by £3.5 billion. Over this the owner of a strip club and the judo partner of Parliament the NHS budget will increase by £12.7 billion— Vladimir Putin. While the Chancellor’s hedge fund that is a real-terms increase. That is what is enabling the mates and dodgy donors are getting tax cuts, millions of NHS to deal with rising demand and very large number Britons are living in poverty, and now the Chancellor’s of additional patients: 1.3 million more accident and ally says they can only expect it to get worse. So can the emergency attendances; more than 1 million more in-patient Leader of the House arrange for a debate in Government admissions; 6.5 million more out-patient appointments; time on the meaning of “all in this together”? and 3.5 million more diagnostic tests. Those are substantial The Conservatives recently tried to rebrand themselves increases in demand, and the NHS, with a small real-terms as the worker’s party. They produced that beer and increase, is coping extremely well with that—better than bingo advert aimed at people they think of as proles, in Wales, where the budget has been cut. For that but this week they have had to abandon a photo-shoot reason, the latest report—the 2014 report—from the for working-class MPs because they could find only Commonwealth Fund in America put the UK at the 14 of them. That is far fewer than went to Eton. It is top of its comparison of leading health systems across becoming harder for them even to pretend they are in the world. We can be proud of that. All the data on touch with real life: the right hon. Member for Croydon which it is derived, contrary to what the shadow Health South (Sir Richard Ottaway) thinks that Londoners Secretary was saying, relate to the experience of the who cannot afford the soaring rents should get on their people in this country, in the health service, under this bikes to Manchester; the family business of the hon. coalition Government. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon) is buying up The hon. Lady asked about private Members’ Bills. I swathes of social housing, trebling rents and threatening am looking forward to debating those Bills, not least the mass evictions; and a Tory councillor in Coventry thinks EU Referendum Bill of my hon. Friend the Member for that people who use food banks are selfish. Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 17 October. The Tories say they have changed on Europe, they say I do not understand why she thinks that that matter is they have changed on the NHS and they say they have not important to the people of this country. If the modernised the Conservative party, but we all know the European parliamentary elections did nothing else they truth: no matter what spin they put on it, it is the same demonstrated that it is important to the people here. old Tories. Let me say something that is quite unusual for me. The hon. Lady should listen to Len McCluskey and Unite, Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the shadow Leader of because they are telling her party that it should be the House for responding to the business statement, supporting a referendum on our relationship with Europe. and to her and her colleagues for giving me the opportunity The Prime Minister’s speech, the Bloomberg speech, to announce the business for next Wednesday. She was important as it made it clear to the people of this asked about reforming the estimates. As she knows, I country that they had a right to expect us to enter into a am not proposing any reform of the estimates process renegotiation of our terms that would lead to reform as such, but Select Committees have considerable latitude and give them a choice. As the Prime Minister has said, and potential to undertake inquiries on departmental at the end of the day it is the people of this country who expenditure plans and, through the Liaison Committee, will have a choice. He has fought and won in Europe to bring forward, on estimates days, opportunities for before. He won in getting us out of the banking bail-out the House to debate those. I recall that when I was in which the Labour party would have left us. He got the Health Secretary the Health Committee undertook an budget cut. When we had a Labour Government, they annual substantive inquiry on all aspects of the health gave away part of the rebate. Our Prime Minister protected budget. That is not true of all Select Committees, but it the rebate and cut the budget, and that is important. He is an important pointer to the direction in which we will win those battles again. may go. She will be aware that the Public Administration Committee is in discussion with the National Audit Finally, I did have the pleasure of going to the Office and often emphasises the importance of NAO summer party last night. I did not see my noble Friend support, not only to the PAC but to other Select Danny Finkelstein—[Interruption.] I did not buy the Committees, in the scrutiny of departmental expenditure. champagne, which was bought not for drinking purposes The hon. Lady asked about the Modern Slavery Bill. but because it was signed by Margaret Thatcher. [HON. Its Second Reading is coming up next week, so, if I may, MEMBERS: “Yes!”] The highlight of the evening was not I will leave things until that debate. We agree on the the auction but a speech by my right hon. Friend the principles, and I hope the legislation will be of substantial Prime Minister, who illustrated the positive achievements importance. We need to get it right, but, working together, of this coalition Government and the increasing likelihood not least with the benefit of the pre-legislative scrutiny, of a Conservative victory at the next general election. which has been important in that context, I am sure we will have an opportunity to respond to the issues she Mr Speaker: I gently remind colleagues that they mentions. might like to focus their questions on next week’s business. The hon. Lady referred, as did the Leader of the Opposition, to the NHS. I remind her that the Prime Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): Can we Minister was in no sense smearing the NHS in Wales. have a debate on the eminent suitability of Derby as the On the contrary, he was setting out some simple facts. location for the HS2 college? The land is vacant and it is 1083 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1084

[Pauline Latham] Mr Lansley: As my hon. Friend knows, BT has won many contracts across the country to provide the roll-out a brownfield site. We can offer apprenticeships and of broadband. As he will have heard during questions everything that the HS2 college requires, and we are to my right hon. and hon. Friends in the Department celebrating 175 years of the rail industry in Derby. It is for Culture, Media and Sport, the overall progress of the best place in the country for such a project, so I wish broadband roll-out is now very impressive, but we must to have a debate on that. ensure that it reaches many parts. We both know how frustrating it is that, despite the rapid increases in Mr Lansley: I understand and applaud my hon. demand for broadband services, in areas where the Friend for her support for that project and for her infrastructure for superfast access to broadband has constituency. She will know that the HS2 college will not been put in place, services are deteriorating rather act as a national college, operating on a hub and spoke than remaining stable. It is vital, and I endorse what my model, with a main site linking a network of providers hon. Friend says: we need BT and other contract across the country. We launched a consultation to identify providers—but principally BT—to be well aware of the the most suitable main site for the new college. Bids requirements to put every effort into meeting and, if were assessed and four locations were shortlisted: Derby, possible, exceeding their contractual commitments on Birmingham, Doncaster and Manchester. Those locations superfast broadband. gave presentations to support their bids on 27 June, and a final decision on the preferred site will be taken by Ministers shortly. Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): I endorse everything said by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman), but on a Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Foreign Secretary domestic issue raised earlier by my hon. Friend the to make an urgent statement in which he condemns the Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle), may I suggest that we murder by Israeli terrorists of the Palestinian, Mohammed have a statement or a debate on political funding so that Abu Khdeir, who was kidnapped yesterday? The murder we may try to find out how many Ministers have been was the outcome of the hysteria that was deliberately involved in meetings and social events with some of the provoked by the Israeli Prime Minister following the richest people in this country in order to raise cash? kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Will he Must the Tory party always prostitute itself with an ask the Foreign Secretary to send our sympathy to the election looming? And the Tories have the impertinence family of Mohammed Abu Khdeir; to join the American to criticise trade unions! Secretary of State, John Kerry, who has described the murder as “sickening”; and to make it clear to the Mr Lansley: I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that Israelis that we expect nothing more than the hunting there is no prohibition on social events, although perhaps down and bringing to justice of the murderers of this he wishes for one; I am not sure. As far as I am aware, poor boy? only one political donation in this country buys influence and that is the political donation made by the trade Mr Lansley: The right hon. Gentleman rightly calls unions to the Labour party, with £12.6 million donated these murders sickening, as are all murders of teenagers. by Unite since the right hon. Member for Doncaster The Government very much condemn the abduction North (Edward Miliband) became the hon. Gentleman’s and murder of the Israeli teenagers and the abduction leader. They are now demanding the appointment of a and murder of the Palestinian teenager. It is vital that Cabinet Minister for trade unions, no less, whose purpose those who are responsible are held accountable, and in will be, they say, to bring home the bacon. Since they that respect we welcome Israel’s commitment to bring already decide the candidates for the Labour party, those responsible to justice and President Abbas’s firm determine the policy of the Labour party and effectively condemnation of the abduction of youngsters. It is control the leadership of the Labour party, that is some essential, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, to avoid bacon—or perhaps I should say some bacon sandwich. any action or rhetoric that could lead to further loss of life, and events such as these highlight the importance of reaching a negotiated two-state solution with the Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): Will my benefits that that would bring to all Israelis and Palestinians. right hon. Friend find time for a debate on the publication I will of course, as he asks, draw his comments to the of the Chilcot report? As someone who attended the attention of the Foreign Secretary. As he knows, the debate and changed my mind on how to vote because of Foreign Secretary and his colleagues are assiduous in what the then non-working-class Labour Prime Minister keeping the House informed of events in the middle Tony Blair told the House of Commons, I think that it east. These events and others in the middle east are of is essential that the Chilcot report is published as soon serious concern. as possible without redactions so that the House can judge the veracity of what we were told on that momentous Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) occasion. (Con): BT is still using its position as a monopoly supplier to hold up the roll-out of rural broadband. May we have time to discuss that in this place? I have Mr Lansley: Those of us who did not support the just had the latest list from my constituency and it is invasion of Iraq in 2003 are as anxious as my hon. pitiful how many places have been enabled. The time Friend to see the Chilcot report. In his letter of 28 May has come to send a clear message to BT from the House to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir John Chilcot said that it of Commons that we have had enough of its using its was the inquiry’s intention to submit its report to the position to blackmail the people of this country and to Prime Minister as soon as possible. I can tell the House slow down high-speed roll-out. that it is the Prime Minister’s hope that it will be able to 1085 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1086 do so before the end of the year. The Government will many high streets, including in my own constituency, not comment on the Iraq inquiry before the publication and the loss of the last remaining bank in some villages. of the report. It is difficult to go anywhere else for that kind of access. My hon. Friend and other Members might exploit the Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): Each and opportunity, through the Backbench Business Committee every time a Government Minister is asked about zero-hours or otherwise, to see whether there is demand among contracts, they reference their hope to ban exclusivity Members for such a debate. He is a member of the clauses, but there are far more problems associated with Backbench Business Committee, so I know that he is zero-hours contracts than that, and many other ways in familiar with how that Committee works. which people are exploited. May we therefore have a debate on zero-hours contracts in Government time? Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): Back in 2010, when I believe the Leader of the House was the Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady will be aware that the Health Secretary, a promise was made to fund a paediatric provision that Ministers refer to is in the Small Business, neuromuscular consultant post for Birmingham. Would Enterprise and Employment Bill. There will be an he be interested in a debate in which he can tell us what opportunity, as I announced in the provisional business, steps are needed to turn that into reality? for that to be debated. Mr Lansley: I do not recall the detail in relation to Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): Control of discretionary that, so I will ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of social funds passed from the Department for Work and State for Health to update the hon. Gentleman and me. Pensions to local councils on 1 April 2013. In the first year, my local Labour council, Redcar and Cleveland, Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): It is two turned down 91% of applications from people in need years since the Chancellor halved the bridge tolls on the and spent only £256,000 of its £765,000 allocation. May Humber bridge, and figures out this month show that we have a debate on how councils are making use of local car users have saved £19 million in crossing tolls. these discretionary social funds? At the same time the number of Humber bridge crossings have gone up. Businesses have also saved money through Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes an interesting the halving of heavy goods vehicle tolls. May we have a point, which might benefit from an application for an debate next week on how our long-term economic plan Adjournment debate, not least because there may be is helping the Humber? That would give us an opportunity other Members elsewhere in the House who feel strongly, to explain to the House why the HS2 college should be as he does, about this and their local authority’s decisions. in Doncaster.

Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): Boxing, swimming, Mr Lansley: I am glad that my hon. Friend can running and cycling, though not all at the same time, illustrate with evidence the success of what the Chancellor are incredibly well followed and practised sports across of the Exchequer has announced. It is part of the Northern Ireland. Will the Leader of the House make broader process of ensuring that we have effective time for a debate on the legacy of the Commonwealth infrastructure to support the growth that our long-term games so that we can see how the benefit of those economic plan is generating. I am delighted that it is wonderful games will be applied to sportspeople across having that effect on infrastructure, as well as on Northern Ireland? employment, which is going up, and on the deficit, which is coming down, and with taxes now being able to Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting be brought down and with education and skills being point. I do not know whether we have time available promoted, not least through apprenticeships. That is all before the Commonwealth games for such a debate. We very much part of the long-term economic plan for are very much looking forward to the Commonwealth regeneration on Humberside. games, which will be a tremendous event, and to the opportunity to see this country, not least Scotland, Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): During the showcasing itself as a venue for great sporting achievement. first and second world wars the majority of engineers in In that context, in Cambridge and in my constituency, Britain were women, yet today women make up only we are also very much looking forward to seeing the 7% of the engineering work force, the lowest percentage Tour de France coming through on Monday. across Europe. Iceland has 43%. May we have a debate on how we can ensure that women understand that Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): At the end of engineering is a first-class career option, for example this month NatWest bank proposes to close the final with companies such as Ford in Bridgend? bank branch in Harrow Weald high street, which will have a devastating effect on businesses and individuals Mr Lansley: I have every sympathy with what the in the area. The key point nationally is why banks are hon. Lady says and absolutely agree with the principle allowed to close the last branch in a high street. May we of trying to bring more women into engineering. Clearly have a debate in Government time on the future of that is very much in our interests, by supporting the retail banking and the effects on the high street? further rebalancing of the economy and the growth in manufacturing. It has been pursued by successive Mr Lansley: I know that my hon. Friend raises a Governments. I remember working as a civil servant, point that will be of interest to many Members across way back in 1980, on the Young Engineers campaign, the House, not least at the moment when there is a sort and Women into Science and Engineering was established of secular change taking place in the structure of retail at that point too. That was 34 years ago and we have banking, with the withdrawal of retail banking from still not succeeded. We must ensure that engineering is 1087 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1088

[Mr Lansley] I want to be helpful to the shadow Leader of the House because of her view that Conservative Members at the forefront of careers advice, that there is support are rabid fanatics obsessed with the issue of Europe. for the right courses and, indeed, that engineering role Will the Leader of the House find time next week for a models are made available to young women. debate on Europe in order that we can praise the Prime Minister for his valiant standing up for British interests Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): May we have an against the election of President Juncker? We could also urgent debate on the independence of think-tank charities? look at reform of Europe. There has to be something Last year the Institute for Public Policy Research took wrong when we spend £30 million of our money by up to £40,000 in donations from the TUC and then sending it abroad to youngsters who have never set foot published a report calling for—wait for it—more trade in the United Kingdom via the payments that we give in union power. It looks more like a sock puppet than an support to these children. I believe that we now have the independent think-tank charity. support of Germany on this. I think it is therefore an area where real reform can now be made. Mr Lansley: I am interested in what my hon. Friend has to say. He might want look for opportunities to Mr Lansley: I noted the reports this morning about raise the matter himself, perhaps in an Adjournment debates in the Bundestag about exactly these issues of debate. In any case, I think that it is an important transfer payments and benefit payments to other countries. subject for all of us to be aware of. Wherever we are That highlights the fact that there is a growing sympathy engaged in public policy making, I hope that it will be for what our Prime Minister and members of this evidence-based and objective. One of the Nolan principles Government have been saying about the necessity of is objectivity. That should be as true for those who seek the free movement of peoples being about free movement to influence policy as it is for those who make it. for the purposes of work, not of access to benefits, and that will form part of our reform programme. I cannot promise an immediate debate, although my hon. Friend Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab): Last night I attended will have noted that next week’s business includes a a function organised by the all-party group on rail in debate on the justice and home affairs opt-out. the north at which Northern Rail set out its future investment programme. Unfortunately, it will only go as Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does far north as York. At another recent meeting, Network the Leader of the House agree that it is disgraceful that Rail outlined its proposals for the next control period, a very high percentage of children up and down our none of which will go beyond York. The current disparity country never get to visit the British countryside? May in public infrastructure spending between London and we have an early debate on access to the countryside? the north-east is 520:1. May we have a debate on when Will he join my campaign, which is an all-party campaign this Government will put that right? that includes some very good Members on his Benches, to get 150 people in every constituency to read a countryside Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman will be aware, not poem on video, thereby raising £5,000 that will go least from the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s speech at towards getting schools in poorer areas of our country the beginning of last week, of the importance that we to visit the countryside to love it and learn about it? attach to the further promotion on infrastructure that enables all parts of the United Kingdom to have maximum Mr Lansley: I have every sympathy with what the access to the economic growth being generated by this hon. Gentleman says. I am fortunate enough to have, Government’s long-term economic plan. High-speed and to live in, a constituency that is predominantly in rail will clearly make a significant difference, but there the countryside, and I very much appreciate what a are many other projects being promoted by Network privilege that is. It is something that is not necessarily Rail. I will draw the attention of the Chancellor and the available to people in cities and urban areas, and we Secretary of State for Transport to the point the hon. should give them access to it. I am very engaged with Gentleman makes as we approach the publication later what he describes about the reading of poetry. I will this year of the infrastructure plans for the next 10 years. talk to my hon. Friends at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Environment, Several hon. Members rose— Food and Rural Affairs about ways in which his admirable objective can be pursued. Mr Speaker: Order. It is both exceptionally cheeky and thoroughly disorderly for the hon. Member for Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): There is concern Stone (Sir William Cash) to be seeking to catch my eye among residents in my constituency that the two hospitals at business questions, for which he arrived almost half that serve it, based in Grimsby and Scunthorpe, are an hour late. I do not doubt that he has a point of the having to share more and more services and the different highest importance in his mind, and of which he thinks specialisms at each location. May we have a debate to the House needs urgently to be informed, but there are explore the reasons for this? Much of it is driven by other mechanisms, including points of order, whereby medical professionals, which is quite right, but, as the he might be able to realise his objective. Meanwhile, I Leader of the House will appreciate, it causes considerable am concerned for his leg muscles and advise him to concern to constituents. remain in his seat. I call Mr Nigel Evans. Mr Lansley: I completely understand what my hon. Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): Thank you, Friend says. As he says, this is, and should be, clinically Mr Speaker; I will ask my hon. Friend’s question for led, and it should be evidence-based. He will recall, no him. doubt, that this has been happening over the years; it is 1089 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1090 a steady process, not something that started under this where ministerial responsibility lies: given what the hon. coalition Government. It is sometimes the necessary Lady has said, it probably lies more with the Department consequence of securing access to sufficient staff with for Business, Innovation and Skills than directly with sufficient expertise and sufficient regular practice to be the Treasury. able to provide a 24/7 service; we need a 24/7 NHS. It should not, however, lead to a loss of access that has a Chris White (Warwick and Leamington) (Con): This damaging impact on outcomes; it should be outcomes- week is create UK week, giving us the opportunity to based. In relation to his local area, I will ask my hon. reflect on the £70 billion-a-year contribution to the Friends at the Department of Health to respond specifically economy from the creative industries. In my constituency to his point. there is an ever-expanding creative industry, providing some 1,200 jobs in the video games sector in my area Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): This House has made alone. May we have a debate about the contribution of real progress on scrutinising important public appointments. creative industries to our economy? Will the Leader of the House outline what process will be in place to allow the House to scrutinise the Mr Lansley: I understand the important role played Government’s nomination for the next European by our creative industries, including the video games Commissioner? sector, in our economic recovery. Indeed, I think that was illustrated by the replies given by my colleagues to Mr Lansley: I think that the Prime Minister in this the preceding questions to the Department for Culture, House and my noble Friend Baroness Warsi in the Media and Sport. The creative sector is worth £71 billion House of Lords yesterday made it clear that while this to our economy, with its employment figure growing at nomination is one for the Prime Minister, it is open to five times that of the economy as a whole. It is a great the scrutiny Committees of the House to request, as success and we are committed to working with the they could on any nomination for commissioner, that creative industries to take the strategy forward. Create evidence be given to them. It will be a matter for the UK was launched just yesterday in order to make nominee concerned as to how to respond. further progress, and I hope my hon. Friend’s constituency, which is such a leading location for firms in the sector, Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Earlier this week, my will be able to fully benefit from the strategy. hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Heather Wheeler) raised the case of Keith Williams in Justice Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): questions. He was released early from prison by the Last week’s Sunday Express reported that a suspected Parole Board, completely and utterly against the wishes terrorist was freely supporting and encouraging young and views of the victim of his terrible crimes. May we Britons to travel to Syria to fight jihad. May we please have a debate on how we can make sure that the victim’s have a debate in Government time on what additional views are paramount in the criminal justice system, so powers we may need to introduce for returning radicalised that before anybody is released on parole, moved to an young people who have been fighting jihad in Syria and open prison or released on temporary licence, the views Iraq? of the victim are taken fully into account and put at the top of the priority list? Such a debate would also Mr Lansley: I understand completely the seriousness showcase the fantastic work of organisations such as and importance of the point raised by the hon. Lady. Families Fighting for Justice. There will be Home Office questions on Monday. We also intend to introduce powers under the Serious Crime Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords, relating making his case very well. I will ask my colleagues at the to extraterritorial jurisdiction in relation to acts concerned Ministry of Justice to respond directly to him. I am sure with terrorism, preparation for terrorism and similar. I he will find further opportunities for a debate, perhaps know I may be asking the hon. Lady to wait a little, but on the Adjournment or elsewhere, in order to raise the this House will have an opportunity to debate that Bill issues properly.I hope he recognises that, through legislation in due course. and other action, the Government have sought continuously to put the interests of victims at the forefront of the John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): Salisbury cathedral’s criminal justice system. repair programme has been ongoing for 27 years at a cost of £1 million a year. Therefore, I am very pleased Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): As secretary of the to know that the Government’s first world war centenary all-party group on steel and metal related industry, I repair fund offers an opportunity to provide a boost to have received a response from the Exchequer Secretary the work at the cathedral. Will the Leader of the House declining to meet us. Given that this week, in announcing make time for a ministerial statement on the outcome of the devastating loss of 400 jobs in south Wales, Karl the application, so that Salisbury cathedral can make Köhler, head of Tata Steel Europe, cited problems with use of that much-needed funding? Government policy, such as business rates and delays in getting help for energy intensive industries, will the Mr Lansley: I am very glad that we have been able to Leader of the House prevail on his colleague to meet give support to our cathedrals, which are a wonderful the all-party steel and metal related industry group? aspect of our overall heritage, especially as they are often the focus of commemorative events. Indeed, I was Mr Lansley: I was aware, of course, of the very sad able to be with the Royal Anglian Regiment at a loss of jobs at Port Talbot and sympathise with the hon. commemorative event in Ely cathedral just the Sunday Lady’s constituents. I will discuss the issue with my before last. The cathedrals that have been successful in ministerial colleagues. There may be a question about securing grants from the first world war centenary 1091 Business of the House3 JULY 2014 Business of the House 1092

[Mr Lansley] possible to have collaborative arrangements between NHS trusts precisely to ensure that there is such support. repair fund will be announced in a written statement on The NHS works together, and it is the job of NHS Thursday 10 July. I will of course ensure that my hon. England to ensure that it does so in order to deliver safe Friend’s comments are noted by the Department for and effective care to patients. Where that is at risk in any Culture, Media and Sport. location, it is important to provide support. I am delighted that under this Government, because Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Will of the resources we are putting in and the savings we are the Leader of the House find time for a debate on making in administration—delivering £5.5 billion savings transport connectivity in the north of England? This on administration in this Parliament, with recurring week, there was a suggestion—thankfully, a misleading savings of £1.5 billion a year thereafter—we have been one—that Denton and Reddish South stations may be able to have some 16,000 more clinical staff and some forced to close. A review of the northern franchise is 19,000 fewer administrative staff. That shift into front-line coming up. Frankly, it is no good for the Chancellor of care is at the heart of enabling trusts, such as my hon. the Exchequer to come up to Manchester to talk up Friend’s, to deliver services in future. improved connectivity between the city regions in the north of England if transport cuts make it more difficult Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): This week, to get to those city regions. finally and at long last, the European Court of Human Rights has made a sensible decision about something. Mr Lansley: I do not think that the hon. Gentleman Given that it has this week decided that the ban on can talk about transport cuts at a time when we have an Islamic veils in France breaches no one’s human rights, unprecedented scale of Network Rail investment in the will the Leader of the House or another Minister make largest rail investment programme since the Victorian a statement to the House next week to say that Her era. What he said was equally misplaced in that it is Majesty’s Government intend to introduce such legislation absolutely appropriate, at the same time as we are in this country? We will never have a fully functioning, investing to try to deliver improvements in the existing fully integrated multicultural society if growing numbers rail network, for the Chancellor to express his views of our citizens go around with their faces covered. about what the vision might be for further developments in connectivity in the years ahead. Mr Lansley: I noted that decision by the Court, but part of it was about the issue of subsidiarity and the Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): right of countries to make such decisions for themselves. Last week, my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and In that context I do not anticipate a statement by a Ripon (Julian Smith) and I attended an export fair run Minister in the form my hon. Friend seeks. by UK Trade & Investment at Ripon race course. It was timed to coincide with the increased international attention Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Has my right hon. on our area with the Tour de France departing from Friend seen my early-day motion 207 on excessive hospital Yorkshire this weekend. The event was designed to car-parking charges? encourage more companies to be exporters. May we please have a debate to consider the importance of [That this House notes that hospital parking charges can export growth in our long-term economic plan and be a huge burden on patients and visitors at a vulnerable rebalancing our economy, and what more can be done time in their lives; further notes that Nottingham City to support British companies seeking to export? Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre charge £4.00 for one hour of parking, that Royal Free Hospital, Guy’s Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am Hospital, St Thomas’s Hospital, and Chelsea and delighted that he and our hon. Friend the Member for Westminster Hospital charge £6.00 for two hours of Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) are actively supporting parking, that Royal Free Hospital, Guy’s Hospital, businesses and UKTI, working together to achieve that. St Thomas’s Hospital and South Bristol Community Other business organisations were no doubt party to it Hospital charge £12.00 for four hours of parking, that as well. We do need—and, happily, we are seeing—a Royal Free Hospital charges £72 for one day of parking growth in exports. Indeed, I note that the greatest and £504.00 for one week of parking; recognises that growth in exports has been in the west midlands. Off the these charges are disproportionate and onerous for patients; back of the Tour de France and the focus on the area’s therefore condemns these hospitals and others which charge attractions, Yorkshire might be able to come forward in similar fees; and urges the Government to consider ways encouraging people to undertake more exporting and to reduce the cost of hospital parking.] get to the front of the pack. My right hon. Friend will be aware that 109 colleagues from all sides of the House have signed a draft Back-Bench Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): May we have an motion on the issue. Despite Government guidance urgent debate on support for NHS trusts, such as my stating that hospital car parking charges should be fair Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which have and proportionate, 80% of NHS hospitals in England difficulties in recruiting key staff? It is vital that essential continue to charge their staff, visitors and patients services are maintained, and the debate might consider extortionate amounts to park on their sites. May we the creation of a central pool of senior clinical staff have a statement on the issue and will he do all he can to who can help out at short notice. deal with it?

Mr Lansley: I will draw the attention of my right hon. Mr Lansley: I have read my hon. Friend’s early-day and hon. Friends at the Department of Health to that motion and had the pleasure of hearing him and colleagues idea. As I know from past experience, it is sometimes make their application for a debate to the Backbench 1093 Business of the House 3 JULY 2014 1094

Business Committee. It will be for that Committee to Points of Order determine whether a debate should take place. I will say—I freely admit that this is a personal view—that 11.23 am although there is a hospital in my constituency with Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con): On a point of order, very high parking charges, I am concerned about deciding Mr Speaker. simply to subsidise or pay for car parking, as happens in Wales. This is money that would otherwise be available Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con) rose— for clinical—[Interruption.] It is a simple fact that that Mr Speaker: The Leader of the House is in his place money would otherwise be available for clinical services. and I have a sense that the point of order from the hon. When the NHS in Wales is underperforming on standards Member for Stone (Sir William Cash) is of a pressing and achievements relative to England, one has to reflect topical character, so we will take it now before we come on whether that subsidy could form part of the problem. to the Select Committee statements. Sir William Cash: I am extremely grateful to you, Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Earlier this year, Argentina Mr Speaker. I entirely accept your observations on my absurdly started issuing a 50 peso note with a map on it attempting to get in during business questions, but I of the Falklands Islands, in the colours of the Argentine was not here earlier because I was waiting outside the flag. Far more sensibly, in contrast, earlier this year my Chamber, as I feared that the Government might introduce right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer a Command Paper, of huge importance to this House announced a new £1 coin, which will be more secure and to the United Kingdom, on the issue of justice and and reaches back to the heritage of our coinage. May home affairs and the opt-outs and opt-ins on 35 measures. we have a statement from the Treasury as to whether the That is the reason for my point of order. I fear that I tails side of that new £1 coin could feature the coat of have to say that the Government, knowing that that was arms of the Falkland Islands and of other overseas the case, did not refer to that paper in the business territories, in the same way as England, Scotland, Wales statement. The difficulty is that by reason of it not and Northern Ireland feature? being raised before, I was precluded from seeking an urgent question, because I was not entirely aware of the Mr Speaker: The hon. Gentleman was too self-effacing fact that it was going to happen. I simply make the to draw to the attention of the House that he is himself point that I feel very strongly that we should have a a renowned vexillologist. debate as soon as possible on the issue. Perhaps the Leader of the House will be good enough to indicate Mr Lansley: Indeed, Mr Speaker. I will draw my hon. the position through you, Mr Speaker. Friend’s views to the attention of the Treasury. I forget Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I the precise title of his role in this regard, but the am not sure that that was a point of order, but he has Chancellor is responsible for the Royal Mint, and there put his concerns on the record. The Leader of the is an advisory committee to help him in that role, so it House will say whatever he wants to say, but I just point may be a matter of taking independent advice rather out that he did reference the general debate on the UK’s than of the Government imposing their own view. justice and home affairs opt-outs, which will take place on Thursday 10 July. The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley): Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I need say little more, other than to draw the attention of the House, as my hon. Friend the Member for Stone (Sir William Cash) has done, to the document that was published this morning on the decision pursuant to article 10(5) of protocol 36 to the treaty on the functioning of the European Union, which relates to the justice and home affairs opt-outs. The document may be debated, as you rightly say, Mr Speaker, next Thursday. Mr Speaker: It would seem churlish and unkind not to allow the hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) to make his point of order. Robert Halfon: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Following the question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman), I fear that the wrong impression has been given to the House. The Israeli Prime Minister and the mayor of Jerusalem condemned the death of the Palestinian in Israel in the last few days. There is absolutely no evidence that that atrocity was carried out by an Israeli. Mr Speaker: We are grateful to the hon. Gentleman. His point is on the record. 1095 3 JULY 2014 Food Security 1096

Food Security Self-sufficiency is in decline. Over the past 20 years, it has reduced from some 75% to around 62%. We need to SELECT COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, stem and reverse that decline. We need to look to FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS become more self-sufficient in food, but also aim to be a Select Committee statement major exporter in those products that we can afford to export and that are surplus to demand in this country. Mr Speaker: We now come to the first of two Select We applaud DEFRA’s efforts and congratulate it on Committee statements. The Chair of the Select Committee its budget and on the work of the Secretary of State and on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Miss Anne Ministers here and in the other place in leading a McIntosh, will speak on her subject for no more than vibrant export campaign to ensure that our farmers 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. export more. On a visit to Denmark that the Committee At the conclusion of her statement, I will call Members undertook during the Danish presidency, we were struck to put questions on its subject, and call Miss Anne by the ability of Danish farmers, often working through McIntosh to respond to them in turn. Members can co-operatives, but with Government support, to export, expect to be called only once. Interventions should be particularly milk, cheese and other dairy products. We questions and should be brief. Front Benchers may take therefore applaud the Department’s efforts to open up part in the questioning. new markets where demand is growing. 11.27 am However, barriers remain, not least in certain emerging Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): On markets. I do not wish to single out China, but let me behalf of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs give a particular example. There is a joint operation Committee, may I say how delighted we are to have between the Malton bacon factory and the Cookstown secured this time to launch our report on food production plant, and there will be many pig parts, such as pigs’ and the supply dimensions of food security? I welcome feet, that humans do not eat in this country but for the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food which there is wide demand in China. That is a wonderful and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for opportunity for export and we urge the Government— North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson) to his place. The whether DEFRA, the Foreign Office or the Department Committee would like to thank all those who contributed for Business, Innovation and Skills—to intervene. Having to the inquiry, submitted evidence or appeared before just removed the barriers to cheese exports, we must act us. I give special thanks to the Committee staff who urgently to remove the very real barriers to pigmeat. In drew all the evidence together and helped us reach our my constituency alone, in Malton and the hinterland, conclusions. that will mean thousands, if not millions of pounds every year. We urge the Government to press for opening We believe that the Department for Environment, up those markets to allow such exports to grow. Food and Rural Affairs is the key to providing leadership on long-term food security. I should say at the outset The boost to food security is challenged by some that the food and drink sector accounts for 3.7 million food production systems and threats such as the impact jobs and 7% of the overall economy. Food security has of extreme weather events. We call for several measures. been described by the UN Food and Agriculture We need supermarkets to use shorter supply chains, and Organisation as we applaud efforts on that and look forward to Professor “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access Elliott’s final report and recommendations. We need to to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary diversify if supply is to be safeguarded against disease, needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. severe weather or other domestic supply disruption, That implicitly includes future generations and requires and we must be open to imports where they are needed. food security methods in the UK and elsewhere to be We also call on UK farmers to satisfy home consumer sustainable. tastes and extend seasonal production of fresh fruit and The UK currently enjoys a high level of food security, vegetables in co-ordination with the Agriculture and but we believe that there is no room for complacency. I Horticulture Development Board, and working with would like to take this opportunity to thank and pay central and local government. We urge the Government tribute to all the farmers across the land who work so to work hard to reduce dependence on imported soybean hard in all weathers to ensure that we have food on our or animal feed, as increased demand for protein from plates. Food security is under severe challenge from emerging economies threatens current supply lines. changes in weather patterns, growing populations and I ask the Government to produce a detailed emissions rising global demand for food. The report therefore reduction plan for the UK agriculture sector. focuses on what food production, supply and systems we need to ensure that we have long-term food security. Agriculture currently accounts for 9% of all greenhouse What can we do? Our core recommendation is to gas emissions, and livestock production accounts for a have a single champion for farming and food security, staggering 49% of farm-related emissions. The headlines and we believe that it should be the Department for this week mentioned flatulence from animals, and we Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. While it is right wish to reduce that wherever we can. The report applauds that other Departments are involved, such as the the work that is going on, particularly that being trialled Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the by Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets, as well as the Department of Energy and Climate Change, there is a research that we have heard about to grow high sugar real need for cross-departmental communication, and grass that will singlehandedly reduce such emissions. DEFRA should step up to the plate and take the lead. We also welcome the £410 million that the Government We also urge DEFRA to appoint a food security are currently spending on agricultural research, and the co-ordinator from the Department to ensure a coherent £160 million for agri-tech strategy.We urge the Government and co-ordinated approach. to act, perhaps as a sort of Cilla Black, and to unite, go 1097 Food Security3 JULY 2014 Food Security 1098 out and find partners and bring them the marketplace—a Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): As a sort of “Blind Date”, urging research institutes in this member of the Committee, I very much welcome my country to find other such institutes, including across hon. Friend’s report. It is right for us to talk about food Europe and internationally, and to ensure that farmers security not only in this country, but throughout the benefit and that research is brought to farmers and to world, because the world population is 7 billion and will the marketplace. rise to 9 billion by 2050. We can grow good grass, good We believe that there needs to be an urgent public meat and good vegetables in this country along with debate to allay public concerns on genetically modified cereals, but with climate change, we will need to be able crops, and the Government are best placed to do that. to adapt our crops more and more. Biotechnology is On extreme weather events, thousands of acres of land out there—there is a blight-resistant potato that does were flooded and taken out of production during the not need spraying—but we close our minds to it. We recent flooding, and we need better long-term forecasting need the Government to be much more proactive so so that farmers know what crops to grow and when. We that people can believe they are safe, and so that we can welcome new entrants and believe that with limited produce more food in this country using fewer chemicals land in supply, and with its conflicting uses such as for to do so. housing as well as farming, younger farmers and new Miss McIntosh: My hon. Friend makes a valid point. entrants will embrace the technology available. I should take this opportunity to thank him for the This is the first of two reports and it draws on the expertise and knowledge he brings to the Committee. work of the previous Government, on which the Committee On precision technologies and new technologies such as reported in 2009. I believe that it will be warmly welcomed genetically modified foods, we must ensure that the by farmers, supermarkets and retailers. First and foremost, public have an open mind. If it is the case that there is it is a vote of confidence in British farming, and places no cross-contamination, we need to go out there and DEFRA as the champion for farming and food security. sell the message. I believe it is for the Government to lead in that regard. Denmark is probably more focused Mr Speaker: I am most grateful to the hon. Lady for on organic crops, but the UK has many producers in a her comprehensive statement, and the House is obliged niche market of organic foods. They need to know that to her for providing Members with a helping hand their crops will not be cross-contaminated in that way. through her graphic descriptions of what she had in An interesting piece of research that the Department mind. It is always useful, in my experience, to have a bit for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs could ask for of information. is precisely on the yields compared with organic production—my hon. Friend gave an example. I understand that that work has never been conducted. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): There is much to be commended and debated in this welcome report, Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): I congratulate and I hope we will have the opportunity to do so in the hon. Lady and her Committee on the report. I am short order, not least the acknowledgement that: glad she raised the rather uncomfortable issue—it is “Food security is not simply about becoming more self-sufficient uncomfortable for some of us—of the lack of progress in food production.” in reducing emissions in the agricultural sector. She as well as the imperative for the UK to boost its mentioned a taskforce and spoke of a wind of change productivity for domestic and export reasons. running through the sector—that is just a pun—but what action could the taskforce take? Does she have any Why does the Committee feel it necessary, as its first evidence that DEFRA and the Department of Energy recommendation, to urge the Government to and Climate Change are working together well to bring “identify Defra as the lead Department for food security” about further progress? given that that should be the Department’s raison d’être and a core part of its mission? Why is it necessary to Miss McIntosh: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her highlight that, even though it is welcome? question and her eloquent description of the problem—it was much more eloquent than the one I was able to come up with in the time available. There is evidence Miss McIntosh: I welcome the welcome from the hon. that DEFRA, DECC and the Department for Business, Gentleman, and we are grateful to BBC 5 Live for using Innovation and Skills are working closely together. The such graphic language, which I felt would also be acceptable evidence we received in writing and on the visit to the in the Chamber. We stated that DEFRA should be a Rothamsted institute showed the long lead times needed champion and a lead Department because in areas such in respect of research on the long grass with the extra as farming and—dare I say it?—also outside farming in sugar content that can lead to the wind of change to tourism, which impacts on the rural economy more which she referred. I make a plea to the Department for broadly, policy often cuts across many different Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department Departments. In this instance, the agri-tech strategy is for Business, Innovation and Skills: we need longer-term important in promoting and boosting food security and security of research funding. That was the plea of the increasing self-sufficiency, and it potentially goes to the Rothamsted institute in its evidence to the Committee. heart of exports, and cuts across the three Departments If no other good comes from the report, it would be a I mentioned. We just want to give DEFRA a little bit of positive step if we left that message with the House welly to go out and be confident in discussions with today. other Departments. Farming remains at the heart of DEFRA. It is our fourth priority to grow the rural Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): I hope you economy, and I believe that DEFRA is best placed to have had your Weetabix this morning, Mr Speaker—if lead on that. you had Weetabix, it came from the Weetabix plant 1099 Food Security 3 JULY 2014 1100

[Mr Philip Hollobone] Gibraltar located in Burton Latimer in my constituency. In congratulating my hon. Friend on her Committee’s SELECT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS excellent report, and with specific reference to the parts Select Committee statement of the report that focus on supply chains and export opportunities, will she join me and take this opportunity Mr Speaker: I hope it is not necessary for me to to congratulate Weetabix, which sources all the wheat repeat what I said prior to the delivery of the previous for its products from farms within a 50-mile radius of statement. I think everybody who is present now was the Burton Latimer plant, and which is increasingly present then. The same procedure applies to the second looking to export its product to help the British balance statement, which is heard for up to 10 minutes without of payments? interruption, following which there is an opportunity for brief questions to the Chair of the Select Committee Miss McIntosh: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his on Foreign Affairs, whom I now invite to deliver his work, and I also congratulate Weetabix. The price of statement. wheat was the talk of the barbecue held by the National Farmers Union and Morrisons this week. It is worrying 11.45 am indeed. It is to be commended that Weetabix turned to Sir Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): When British producers to source its wheat. problems emerged in Gibraltar last summer, with seven- hour-long delays to cross the border, the Foreign Affairs Committee took a strong interest in the situation and in what the Government were doing, and were going to do, in response. On Tuesday, the Committee published its report, “Gibraltar: Time to get off the fence”. We concluded that the behaviour of Spain towards Gibraltar is unacceptable. A NATO and EU ally is, as a matter of deliberate policy, impacting the economy and functioning of a British overseas territory. In our opinion, it is time for the Government to take a tougher line. The dispute has a 300-year-long history. However, in the past three years, the Partido Popular Government in Spain have taken a more hard-line approach to the dispute. They have significantly increased pressure on Gibraltar and its people, and Gibraltarians have suffered. They have suffered: the deliberately imposed border delays; aggressive maritime incursions; calculated pressure at the EU and the UN; and inflammatory rhetoric from Spanish Ministers about Gibraltar’s sovereignty and its economic affairs. We acknowledge that Spain’s actions have placed the UK Government in a difficult position. They have a strong bilateral relationship with Spain that is in the interests of all British citizens, including the 1 million Britons who live in Spain. However, the Government also have responsibilities towards Gibraltar and cannot ignore actions by Spain that are intended to make the lives of Gibraltarians more difficult. First, we regret that talks including all three partners— Spain, the UK and Gibraltar—have been suspended, and we ask the Government to set out what offer they have made to Spain in connection with these talks and how they intend to restart them. We are deeply concerned about the dramatic increase in maritime incursions in British Gibraltarian territorial waters and the hostile tactics of some of the vessels that conduct them. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office rightly protests about each incursion, but we were disappointed to find that it sometimes lodges diplomatic protests weeks after the event, robbing them of all force. This gives the wrong impression to Spain about how seriously the UK takes this issue. We recommend that protests are lodged within seven days. We have no doubt that delays imposed by Spain at the border with Gibraltar are politically motivated, and that the border is being used as a means of coercion. The Government should state publicly that they will 1101 Gibraltar3 JULY 2014 Gibraltar 1102 take legal action against Spain in the European Court Sir Richard Ottaway: I am grateful to the right hon. if there is little improvement at the border in the next Gentleman for his support for the report, and for his six months. comments. The report was agreed unanimously, and it The Committee considered the possibility of Gibraltar has all-party support. joining Schengen, while the UK remains outside. Although The right hon. Gentleman asked about visits by we saw the merit in this idea and the impact it would Ministers. I think, to be fair to the Government, that have, we suspect that the legal and economic implications the Minister for Europe has been to Gibraltar twice could be considerable. during the current Parliament. The Minister for the Spain continues to use international institutions as a Armed Forces went there in the autumn of last year, means of applying pressure on Gibraltar. Gibraltar and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury was there remains on the UN list of non-self-governing territories, earlier this year. I think that there has been a sustained despite repeated UK Government attempts to de-list it. level of visits, but I take the right hon. Gentleman’s Only a few weeks ago, Spanish MEPs in the European points on board. Of course, there can never be enough Parliament were trying to limit Gibraltar’s aviation visits of this kind. rights. Spain also continues to refuse to allow direct As for the timetable for incursions, it is worth noting military movements between Gibraltar and Spain, even that the Spanish ambassador has been called into the among its NATO partners. As a result of this, Gibraltar Foreign Office—I think—six times since the escalation feels it is under siege. of this incident, and that only the Syrian ambassador The Government’s laudable attempts to de-escalate has been called in more frequently. We none the less the dispute have not worked. They were right to try recommend that the criteria for calling in the ambassadors diplomacy, but they must now take a more robust be reviewed in order to emphasise the impact, the approach, as long as this is agreed with the Government significance and the importance of the incidents, while of Gibraltar. We recommend that the Government take also taking account of the fact that if they are called in some immediate actions now, including: more prompt too often, the impact is sometimes devalued. There diplomatic protests against incursions and border delays, must be a balance. and summoning the ambassador; increased efforts at The right hon. Gentleman asked how we expect the the EU and UN on Gibraltar’s behalf; renewed effort to situation to develop. As I said, we recommend that if establish trilateral talks that are currently not taking there are no improvements, action should begin in the place; and withholding UK support for Spain’s international European Court within six months. I think that that goals, such as its aspiration to membership of the UN provides a suitable window allowing the Spanish Security Council, unless its attitude toward Gibraltar Government to improve the situation. changes. As for more serious measures, we further recommend that the Government be more robust in Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): I thank my right their defence of the territorial waters around Gibraltar, hon. Friend for leading the inquiry conducted by the and we have asked them to report back on how they Foreign Affairs Committee, on which I am proud to intend to do that. serve. Finally, we recommend that if those measures do not This is a timely and an absolutely necessary report. improve the situation within six months, the UK should We have seen, over a long period, shameful and disgraceful take Spain to court for infringement of EU obligations behaviour on the part of a so-called NATO and EU at the border. I commend the report to the House. ally, Spain, against the people of Gibraltar. I hope that Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab): I congratulate the my right hon. Friend and all other Members agree that Committee and its Chairman on a timely, well-balanced it is time for much more robust action by our own report, and look forward to a wider debate about it. Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with the The report underlines the concern that is felt about issue. the fact that no Minister from the Foreign and The report refers to high-profile visits. Leaving ministerial Commonwealth Office visited Gibraltar between 2011 visits aside, I can tell the House that it was on 10 May and 2014. What reassurances has the Committee received 1954 that the Queen of Gibraltar, our own Head of that that is now a priority for the FCO and, indeed, for State, visited the Rock. Does my right hon. Friend agree other Departments? that it is time Her Majesty was advised that it would be The Committee rightly expresses concern about the timely for her to visit the people of Gibraltar? mixed message that has been sent by the delay in the delivery of protests about incursions into British Sir Richard Ottaway: I am grateful to my hon. Friend Gibraltarian territorial waters, which it says—quite for the consistent support he gave me throughout the rightly—gives an impression of “going through the report’s preparation. He will be aware that the convention motions”. The Committee suggests a much tighter timetable. in this House is not to bring the royal family into When does the right hon. Gentleman intend to seek a debates of this kind. None the less, we recommend that progress report from the Department on the implementation a high-level visit take place, and I am sure that will have of that? been noted in the Foreign Office. On 27 November last year, I said in the House: “it is vital that the Spanish Government today hear a united Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab): statement from the House that such provocative and unlawful I thank the Chairman of the Committee for today’s acts are not acceptable to this Parliament or to the British people. presentation. He has worked very hard on the report They cannot be ignored.”—[Official Report, 27 November 2013; and the Committee has come up with some robust Vol. 571, c. 263.] recommendations, which I hope the Government will Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the Foreign listen to. Why have the Spanish Government escalated Office has heard that message? the situation to almost crisis-level and put good relations 1103 Gibraltar3 JULY 2014 Gibraltar 1104

[Sandra Osborne] Spain. He makes a very strong point about Ceuta and Melilla. Spain argues that there is a constitutional difference with one of their most important allies at risk? Are the involved, but I find it utterly hypocritical that it should Spanish Government trying to take attention away from take such a line. It is a matter of particular interest that the serious economic circumstances in Spain? Ceuta is being used to refuel Russian warships. If, as Spain maintains, Ceuta is a part of Spain rather than an Sir Richard Ottaway: I am grateful to my hon. Friend overseas territory, that would result in the rather unusual for her question and for the support she has given me in situation of a NATO country refuelling Russian warships the report’s preparation. All the evidence we received while NATO is in dispute with Russia over Ukraine. suggested that this was triggered by the Government who took office in Spain in 2011. Spain was in a dire Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): In a previous economic situation. Various scandals were going on in life, I had the honour of being one of six representatives the Spanish Government. The evidence we received was in the European Parliament for Gibraltar and south-west that this was an attempt to distract attention from their England. My experience is that when Spain closes the own domestic policies. Leaders in other countries around border, it is the workers of La Línea and the people of the world have on occasion taken similar action. Gibraltar who are really affected by the economic problems that ensue. However, Spain is affected as well. The Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): I commend my right whole situation is absolutely ridiculous. Aviation also hon. Friend for his robust report, which clearly sets out plays a part in the economy of Gibraltar. I thank my how objectionable it is for a supposed ally to treat the right hon. Friend for his report. Spain is a real bully, people of Gibraltar in such a way. Gatwick airport in and it must be stood up to. I am not a great believer in my constituency is a major link to the airport in Gibraltar. sending everything to the European Court, but I think I encourage the Foreign Affairs Committee to continue it is time to refer Spain to it, because it is completely out to be robust on that issue as well, so that it has is no of order. effect on trade. As a member of the European Scrutiny Committee, I know that it would be interested in pursuing Sir Richard Ottaway: Gibraltar’s loss is Parliament’s these issues, too. gain, following my hon. Friend’s move from the European Parliament to this House. He is quite right about Spain’s Sir Richard Ottaway: Indeed. I understand that the bullying approach. Over the past year, the Government European Scrutiny Committee is examining EU-Ukraine have been right not to raise the temperature and to try aviation rights. We will be watching with interest the to keep the situation calm. However, as the First Minister answers to the questions that my hon. Friend has posed. said in evidence to the Committee, a year has gone by, The Spanish Government are using aviation rights as the queues are still there and the talks are not happening. one of their lines of attack. Limiting aviation access to That is why we are now calling for a more robust Gibraltar airport will have quite a profound effect on approach by the Foreign Office, and I hope that it will the economy. The Foreign Office is robustly resisting agree with us in its response. that and I understand that so far it has been successful, but it must persevere and be diligent in protecting Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): I commend aviation rights. my right hon. Friend and his Committee for their excellent report. Given the growing number of major Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op): The Chairman and minor maritime incursions into Gibraltarian waters of the Committee has produced, with the rest of us on by civilian and official vessels from Spain, and the great the Committee, an important and valuable report. One terrorist risk that Britain and her territories face, particularly issue needs to be highlighted: the Partido Popular at this time of tension in the middle east, someone is Government are against the policies of their predecessors, going to get killed sooner or later unless we prevent this who negotiated the Cordoba agreement with the Labour escalation. I was concerned to read in the report that, Government. Things were improving. That was working despite Gibraltar being a self-governing territory with a well. Many people in Spain disagree with the current constitution, legislature and Government, it is still on Spanish Government’s approach, particularly workers the UN list of non-self-governing territories. Given the in La Línea and other Spanish citizens, who are going UK’s presence as a permanent member of the Security to work in Gibraltar every day. It is their work and their Council and a founding member of the United Nations, jobs that are being disrupted. Therefore, there are potential should not Her Majesty’s Government make it a top allies in this debate. The Chairman did not mention that priority to get Gibraltar off that list? Spain itself has two enclaves on the north African coast—Ceuta and Melilla. Could not the Foreign Office Sir Richard Ottaway: My hon. Friend is absolutely consider upping the ante on those issues and improving right to draw attention to the risk of further escalation relations even more with Morocco to make it clear to leading to loss of life, and to the importance of getting Spain that there is a level of hypocrisy in its attitude to a grip on the situation before it gets hopelessly out of Gibraltar? control. He referred to the UN list of non-self-governing countries. I have to confess that I am not an expert on Sir Richard Ottaway: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the internal machinations relating to voting rights inside for his support for the report, and for the work he has the UN, but he makes a strong point. I gather from put into producing it. He is right to talk about the local private conversations that the Foreign Office is actively Spanish community just over the border with Gibraltar. looking at the situation and that it has made repeated I think I am right in saying that he has engaged with the attempts to take Gibraltar off that list. That would trade unions in the area. It is one of the more puzzling make it a self-governing territory, recognised by the aspects of Spain’s behaviour that it is damaging not UN, and I hope that the Government will address this only Gibraltar’s economy but the economy of southern point in their response. 1105 3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1106

to the middle east, where we saw how UK aid is working Backbench Business to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. Since the Syrian conflict began, more than 2.3 million Protecting Children in Conflict people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. In Lebanon, families are being settled in host communities. Although the vast majority of refugees in Jordan are in 12.3 pm host communities, there are also large-scale camps, such Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): I beg to move, as Camp Zaatari, which the Committee visited. The That this House has considered the matter of protecting children UK has pledged £600 million in aid and we can all be in conflict. proud of that, but it cannot compare to the response I should like to begin by thanking the Backbench from Lebanon and Jordan. It is almost impossible for Business Committee for granting me the opportunity to us in the UK to imagine the scale of the challenges they have this debate today, and to thank the Members from face and the impact on their own country and people, all parts of the House who supported my application be it on education, water security or employment. for the debate. This is a great opportunity to hear the voices of those who are often not heard. Children Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con): whose lives are impacted by conflict are all too often Does the hon. Lady share my concern that in situations voiceless. It is also appropriate that this debate should such as that in Syria early enforced marriage is seen as a follow on from the conference in London that called for way of escape for young girls? Does she join me in action to end sexual violence in conflict. I congratulate welcoming the Department for International Development’s the Foreign Secretary, the Under-Secretary of State for upcoming summit on ending female genital mutilation Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member and early enforced marriage? for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), and the whole Department on holding that conference. Indeed, Fiona O’Donnell: Absolutely. When we were in Camp the Minister and I attended an event hosted by War Zaatari we heard about families who suddenly had no Child, and I hope he will say what progress he believes prospects—they do not know when they are going to will be made on these children’s issues. This is not just return to Syria and they have no way to earn a livelihood— about ending sexual violence against children; it is and we were told that if they have daughters the temptation about preventing children from losing their childhood. is to marry them off early and, in order for those One reason I am passionately and energetically daughters to be as prized as possible, to consider awful, campaigning in Scotland for a no vote in the referendum gruesome child abuse such as FGM. We also heard on 18 September is that we are better placed as Scots to about an increased prevalence of domestic violence in be a force for good in the world as part of the United those camps. That has an impact not only on the Kingdom. The humanitarian global summit in 2016 women, but on the children in those families. I am provides a further opportunity for the nations of the grateful for the hon. Lady’s intervention. UK to work together and show leadership, and I hope Life for the children can be very difficult in these the Minister will say today that the UK will continue to situations, as many parents fled Syria with just the take a leading role in protecting children in conflict. clothes on their back. At times, they live in horrific We need not only to protect children, but to be more conditions, but even when the housing is of a satisfactory active in promoting children’s rights within their own standard, there are needs children have, beyond the roof countries and their awareness of those rights. We should over their head, which are just not being met. not just be promoting the UN rights respecting programmes in our own schools in the UK; we should be doing so Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): wherever we are helping to fund education across the I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and congratulate globe. Children need to learn that they have rights and her on securing this important debate. She describes a that other children different from them have rights, too. very terrible situation, but does she agree that it is Teachers and parents will then learn these rights and wrong to incite to violence children in conflict situations? perhaps future generations will do a better job than this For example, a young boy who was speaking about a one of protecting children in conflict. game being shown on Palestine TV in May said that Children and youths constitute more than 50% of the Zion is Satan with a tail. Is it not terrible for someone to populations of conflict-affected countries. As of 2010, incite a young boy to make such a statement? more than 1 billion children worldwide lived in countries or territories affected by armed conflict. Sadly, changes Fiona O’Donnell: If my hon. Friend bears with me, in the nature of conflict have had profound consequences she will find that I come on to that matter later. I am not for children, who are being denied the special protections usually someone who speaks from notes, but I will due to them under international law. Child injuries and today as this is such a complex issue, deaths were traditionally seen as the collateral damage On the IDC visit, we met a family living in an of war, but children are increasingly being targeted unfinished block of flats. Speaking to three generations directly. Those trends need to be met with a renewed of the family—children, mother and grandmother—living focus on how children can be protected in situations of in that small space, I asked what life was like for the conflict, alongside heightened scrutiny of duty bearers children. I was told that they were not attending school. who are failing to safeguard children’s rights. The mother never took them out into the town and they As a member of the Select Committee on International were not allowed to play outside as she was worried that Development, I have been incredibly privileged to have someone would complain about the noise. With no one seen with my own eyes the impact conflict has on the able to say when the conflict will end, it is clearly lives of children. The Committee’s most recent visit was unacceptable for children to continue to live in such a 1107 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1108

[Fiona O’Donnell] Analysis of the 2013 UN appeal tracking data shows that less than 2% of UN humanitarian appeal funds way. The family had sanitation, water, energy and food, went to education and that only 40% of requests for but for children to grow and develop into healthy adults funding for education were met. A coalition comprising and to reach their potential, they need so much more. non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and others I cannot say with any authority that the children in under the banner of the “Education Cannot Wait” the camps had better lives, but there is an advantage in campaign is calling for education funding to be at least that services of scale can be delivered more easily. We 4%, and I hope that DFID Ministers will support that saw evidence of that, with the delivery of psychological, campaign. Perhaps the Minister will give us an indication health and education services. None of those services is today of what he thinks about that. a luxury that can wait to be delivered at some later date. I am pleased to see colleagues in the Chamber who The children who manage to register for school in the have a record of defending children’s rights. I am sure community face many barriers to learning, such as that they will focus on individual countries, but I want social isolation, language difficulties, and, for those to ensure that the debate today does not pass without who had already started school in Syria, the problems speaking up for the children of the Central African of adjusting to a different curriculum. For children to Republic The UN has reported “unprecedented” levels be able to take advantage of the opportunity to learn, it of brutality against children in the Central African is essential that they receive therapeutic services. When Republic, including mutilation and beheading. Save the they are so traumatised, how can they possibly be Children says that it is not aware of plans to deploy expected to learn? Some 28.5 million children are out of child protection experts on the new UN mission in the school in conflict and emergency-related areas. The CAR, even though there is clear evidence of large-scale humanitarian response does not accord the same priority recruitment of children to armed groups and of other to education or child protection as it does to water, grave violations, including sexual violence. shelter and food. The UK could and should be leading on such action by deploying its own experts on the mission or by insisting on pre-deployment training covering things Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab): such as how to work with children who have been I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. recruited to armed groups. It should also be championing She will be aware of the initiative of my right hon. funding for child protection and education in the CAR. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Will the Minister tell us what is being done as part of (Mr Brown) on safety in schools, particularly in Nigeria. the preventing sexual violence initiative to ensure that Does she agree that that is a huge step forward, although, there are experts in child protection in every team and at the moment, the school girls are still missing? That that all staff have some training in child protection initiative will allow other parents in the same state to issues? Schools need to be safe places in which children send their children to school. can learn. There is a rapidly growing international consensus in Fiona O’Donnell: Absolutely. Just last night I attended support of the Lucens guidelines, but so far the UK a meeting in the House in which the Finance Minister Government have yet to endorse them. By restricting of Nigeria talked about the campaign to build safer the use of schools by armies in times of conflict, states schools. As a fellow Scot, my hon. Friend will remember can directly and substantially reduce the prevalence of the awful tragedy of the shooting in Dunblane and the violation of girls and boys in wars, and can facilitate the action we had to take to make our children safe in reintegration of survivors into their communities. Earlier school. Children in Nigeria, and girls attending school, this month, the Norwegian Government officially deserve the same protection. Such is the power of announced that they will lead in promoting the guidelines. education that many people see it as threat. Will the Minister commit the UK—and call for other states to do so—to adopting the Lucens guidelines on Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): I return to the hon. the military use of schools, amend the military codes of Lady’s important point about counselling. Does she conduct and issue a clear and unambiguous prohibition recall the Committee’s visit to a centre in Jordan where of attacks on and military use of schools? we met some children who had recently come from A 45% increase in the number of child casualties Syria? The first things that they drew were AK47s and from explosive weapons use was recorded from 2011 to other terrible things to do with war. Now they are 2012. In November 2013, a report entitled “Stolen drawing pictures of homes and gardens and other things Futures”, which was released by the Oxford Research connected to a much more peaceful way of life. Group, identified explosive weapons as the primary cause of child casualties in Syria. It showed that of Fiona O’Donnell: I thank the hon. Gentleman both 12,000 then-recorded casualties, more than 70% of children for his intervention and for his comradeship—if he does died as a result of explosive weapons, illustrating the not mind that term—during that visit to the middle devastating impact that such use has on children. east. He will also recall a visit where we saw children The use of explosive weapons may not result in the miming the experience of being refugees—how they killing or injuring of children, but its effects on their were turned away from one country and then another everyday lives are incredibly damaging. Such weapons before they were given refuge in Lebanon and Jordan, may cause debilitating injury, displacement or long-term and just how moving that was. We also had a game on a psychological scars and block life-saving humanitarian 3G pitch. MPs, who are always competitive, managed aid. It is time that states, including the UK, publicly to beat the refugee children 2-0. It was good to see the recognised the humanitarian impact of the use of explosive facility being used. weapons in populated areas and championed moves 1109 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1110 toward an intergovernmental political declaration against the need for programmes targeting girls who have given such practice. Norway is providing leadership, and hosted birth during the conflict and their children. When children a meeting last month to build consensus. I am not sure leave armed groups, reintegration cannot be seen as a whether the UK was present, but will the Minister short-term process to be completed in a few months. today commit the UK to being part of a global campaign World Vision’s experience has shown that reintegration to protect the innocent victims of war? takes much longer and needs to be part of both peace- This debate is about not just children’s rights but the building and development work. It must be funded hope of a safer, more peaceful world for us and future accordingly. We know that children’s involvement in generations. Children are exposed to high levels of violence goes beyond the kind of activity seen in the violence in conflict, which can significantly impact on west bank. It is estimated that a quarter of a million their beliefs, behaviours, future opportunities and children are active in armed groups. Work to try to aspirations. As my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, prevent the recruitment of child soldiers must focus on Riverside (Mrs Ellman) said, beliefs, practices and habits stopping armed forces and groups recruiting and using that foster violence easily become deeply embedded and children and on strengthening the systems that protect can fuel repeated conflict unless addressed. Every civil children, making them less vulnerable to recruitment. war since 2003 was a resumption of a previous civil war, As I draw my remarks to a close, I ask the Minister to and the majority of conflicts re-emerge within 10 years support the recommendations from Save the Children, of a ceasefire. which could save the lives and outcomes of children in The Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes victims of children conflict. We need to mainstream child protection in on both sides. The Leader of the Opposition was right conflict, ensuring that there are sufficient resources. to highlight the tragedy of Israeli children learning in Only 36% and 28% of appeal requests for child protection schools which have to be able to survive rockets attacks and education respectively are met in emergency responses. from Gaza. What kind of environment is that for children That is simply not good enough. The UN and regional to learn? peacekeeping missions must include adequate capacity I would be grateful if the Minister commented on last to prevent and respond to the violation of children’s year’s UNICEF report which stated that the ill-treatment rights, including mandatory pre-deployment training. of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention Governments and partners must provide co-ordinated system was widespread, systematic and institutionalised. assistance to children who are unaccompanied or separated What discussions has his Department had with the as a result of armed conflict. Violations of children’s Israeli Government and, given the recent loss of young rights must be monitored and recorded and all reasonable Israeli and Palestinian lives, how is his Department steps must be taken to hold perpetrators to account. working with the Department for International Finally, I want to pay tribute today to the many Development and NGOs to protect children, particularly NGOs who work in the most difficult and dangerous in Gaza? conflict zones, sometimes giving their lives to deliver I have constituents who have spent time working in life-saving aid to children. When we see the worst of the west bank, ensuring that Palestinian children can humanity, they show us the very best. walk safely to school. Sadly, the people from whom they need to protect the children are all too often other 12.24 pm children. Israeli settler children are taught terms of Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): The whole abuse and encouraged to throw stones. That is a tragedy House will be grateful to the hon. Member for East and an abuse not just of the Palestinian children but of Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell) for initiating this debate on the Israeli children. They are all victims. That is why I protecting children in conflict. She was right to deal tabled an early-day motion and wrote to the Foreign with the Palestinian situation, but I will not follow her Secretary asking him to reintroduce funding for Breaking example in any detail as I do not want to get involved in the Silence so that ordinary Israelis can hear credible the debate about the rights and wrongs of the Palestinian voices telling them what is being done in their name. issue, except for noting the suffering of both the Palestinian Children’s involvement in violence goes far beyond that people and the Israeli people in a very difficult conflict. kind of activity, however. I want to make some general remarks about how the Mrs Ellman: I take the point my hon. Friend makes British Government could try to improve the protection very seriously; when wrongdoing occurs it must be put of children in conflict areas, particularly when it comes right. Does she agree with me that there is a consistent to education. Education is the subject on which I want and relentless campaign of incitement to violence on to focus and I would be grateful if the Minister could the Palestinian media almost daily, which inevitably has deal with that problem when he replies. an impact on young children who then start to commit I should perhaps declare a family interest. I am acts of violence? speaking today because both my elder daughters work for charities in Africa and have worked in Kenya, Rwanda, Fiona O’Donnell: My hon. Friend is right, and I saw the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central that when I visited the area. As a mother, I thought how African Republic. They keep me informed of their work difficult it would be to raise children and try to prevent and what is going on and, a few years ago, I visited the them from indulging in acts of violence while at the Congo with War Child to look at the appalling privations same time making them aware of their rights and that children faced, particularly because of the conflict encouraging them to challenge injustice. I welcome her and the use of child soldiers. My visit had a deep impact contribution. on me and I am sure that, even despite all the excellent For children who have been involved with armed work of my hon. Friend the Minister and other Ministers forces and groups, rehabilitation and reintegration tailored in the FCO and DFID, there is still more that we to their specific needs is essential. World Vision identifies can do. 1111 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1112

[Sir Edward Leigh] dress their children in immaculate uniforms to walk through bombed-out streets to get school. Education is As I say, I want to concentrate on education, but why extraordinarily important for them. are children particularly vulnerable? It is an obvious point, but they are vulnerable because they are young. Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): When a three-year-old loses their parents in a bomb My hon. Friend makes a compelling case based on his attack, it is virtually impossible for them to survive experiences in Africa. It is deeply humbling when we go alone. If a 25-year-old loses a parent, it is a tragedy, but to developing countries in parts of Africa and elsewhere they can survive. It is right that the House should focus and see children who have walked miles and miles and particularly on the appalling impact of conflict on miles to attend a classroom where they have no seats, children, which is much greater than its impact on but may have rocks to sit on, if they are lucky, and mature people. which have corrugated iron roofs. Their parents have made a contribution out of what limited resources they Of course, children suffer appalling and severe trauma have, because they absolutely value education as the from witnessing events. They do not have the life experience way out of poverty and conflict. Does my hon. Friend or emotional maturity to integrate a particular scene agree that that is deeply humbling for those of us here into the rest of their life. We have been brought up in a who take education for granted? very comfortable environment, but we all know how even quite small events from our childhood can have a Sir Edward Leigh: My hon. Friend has made that traumatic effect later on. Imagine a child in a conflict point very movingly. We live in such a comfortable situation witnessing their mother being raped or their environment here where education is, frankly, of a brother being dragged off as a child soldier or witnessing fantastically high standard and is free—paid for by the murders or the appalling scenes that have happened in taxpayer—that we simply do not appreciate the appalling Syria. That trauma will live with those children for ever. sacrifices made, in places where education is not free, by Children are targeted in conflict situations for sexual parents who have nothing. They make that huge effort attacks. Girls and boys make up more than half the to try to educate their children, because they know, as rape cases in such conflicts and that is an appalling we know, that education is everything. statistic. Imagine the appalling emotional trauma of We can establish a case that education is absolutely that. Children are also targeted by military groups that vital, therefore, in terms of taking children out of are keen to expand their ranks quickly and we have seen conflict situations and giving them life chances. So, that in particular over the years in Congo. As I know having made that case, we would expect it to be prioritised from my visit to the Congo and as we all know, it is by humanitarian agencies and Governments, but analysis appalling to talk to former child soldiers who have been of the 2013 United Nations appeal tracking data shows dragged into these events. They have committed terrible that only 1.9% of UN humanitarian appeal funds went things and terrible things have happened to them, sometimes to education. That seems to me to be very low, and I when they are just 13 or 14-years-old. was surprised when I saw that. I cannot believe that the War destroys livelihoods, and children are often seen figure is so low, but that is what I have been told. as a way for distressed families to get income. Girls can Donors simply did not prioritise that part of the UN be married early for a price or used as sex workers and appeals. boys can be sent out to work in fields and factories or to collect rubbish from the streets. I occasionally visit the Nicola Blackwood: Does my hon. Friend agree that middle east, and we see the desperate struggle for survival, one way we can encourage donor countries to prioritise particularly for Syrian refugees in Lebanon or Jordan education is by the post-2015 development framework when there is no social security available to any significant including secondary, as well as primary, education as a extent. In conflict situations, families are desperate to core priority? survive, and we all know that children have to be used as part of that. Sir Edward Leigh: That is a very good point and I hope the Minister has made a note of it, and perhaps The point I want to stress and focus on for the rest of will reply to it. my speech is that it is children and not adults who lose UN-funded education projects, largely delivered through their opportunity for education. Once that opportunity non-governmental organisations, only reach 3.5 million is lost, it is lost for ever and can never be repeated. of the children who were targeted for education in Education is essential for children and particularly for emergencies in 2013, and development donors do not children in conflict areas. It is a life chance that comes get involved in education in emergencies even though only once and a reasonable level of education is even they prioritise the education of children in other places. more important for children who will be expected to When a humanitarian agency arrives in an appalling build a peaceful recovery from conflict. Education keeps situation where people are dying, starving and so forth, children safe. Obviously, if a child is in a school or in an and it has to feed them and make sure they are sheltered, educational environment, it is less likely that they will I can quite understand the mindset leading it not be married early, raped, abducted or recruited by armed immediately to prioritise education. However, we must groups. All that is much more unlikely when schools are recognise—my daughter made this point to me—that open. these are often not the sorts of the intensely violent Actually, education is prioritised by families in conflict conflicts that we have witnessed in Europe and that last areas. We have seen on television, such as during the for three or four years; they are often low-level conflicts Iraq conflicts, and from our own experience how families that can go on for many years and therefore children that are often desperate and have nothing—owning can be kept out of school for many years, because nothing, surviving on nothing—still make the effort to education is not seen as a priority. 1113 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1114

Education falls between the two major funding streams, I have visited their villages—are in an extraordinarily therefore, with the result that of the 58 million primary-age stressed situation now. They are being driven from their children not in school, 28.5 million are in conflict villages by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, and countries. Pretty soon the only children not in school in what is happening to the children does not bear thinking the world will be those living in conflict countries, not about. because they are hard to reach—mostly, they are easy to So let me read out this family testimony from Irbil in reach—but because the funding system has bypassed Iraq, because it is important for me to put it on the them almost entirely. That is a serious point for us and record as it is personal experience, which is always more this House. interesting than general comments: What needs to happen? First, humanitarian donors “War Child met with a mother of two young boys aged nine need to develop policies for education in emergencies and twelve who had suffered displacement three times as a result that make education a central part of the first response of the recent violence and ended up having to smuggle themselves phase, so when they go in, education is at the forefront into a place of safety. Their reason for leaving their home town was the mother’s fear of her sons being recruited to fight in the of their minds. Secondly, the development side of violence. The devastated 12-year-old told War Child, ‘I just want Government donor offices need to stretch their to be in school’. He has been forced to leave his education during understanding of education to include providing primary his exams which will mean all previous years of schooling will education in emergency settings—primary education is count as a ‘fail’ within the system. He is unable to go to school as absolutely vital—and to do this in a way that builds, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) because when the family develops and protects the local education infrastructure. fled they had to leave all belongings, including the necessary This has to be a prominent and early part of their certification, at home.” investment. Thirdly, total funding for education within The report continues: humanitarian responses needs to reach at least 4% of “They are sharing rented accommodation with another three total humanitarian funding in emergencies. That figure families and will run out of money at the end of the month. ‘We was given to me by War Child and it seems a fair one. have nowhere to go’, the mother told us. ‘When our money runs This is the target supported by the Education Cannot out we will have no choice but to sleep in the public park.’ There Wait campaign, which is backed by the Global Education are many families already sleeping in the rough and engaging in casual labour or begging for survival. ‘We are so frustrated and so Cluster and the International Network for Education in humiliated. I used to work and have a normal life and now I have Emergencies, so presumably it is a well-researched figure no idea what will happen to us,’ the mother said. and it makes sense. Fourthly, there is a need to conduct Let me sum up the arguments. To me, the education an urgent review of the amount of humanitarian aid part of this debate is one of the most interesting and the DFID allocates to education and child protection; the most important. Sadly, humanitarian actors still often Minister can no doubt defend the Government’s position. do not prioritise education programming at the start of Inclusion of this point in party manifestos would an emergency. I accept, as I said, all the problems that demonstrate a strong commitment to meeting the needs they face, but education must be at the forefront of their of children affected by conflict. minds. This is still considered something to pick up six As chairman of my party’s Back-Bench committee months into or after a conflict. Instead, there is no on DFID and foreign affairs, I am involved in helping reason why children cannot continue in school if authorities to write the manifesto. I do not know how much notice or humanitarian actors have the right support. Surely the Foreign Secretary will take of my comments, but I we can all agree that children have a right to education will do my best. The Minister might take back to the throughout their childhood. Schools can keep children Foreign Secretary the suggestion to include a phrase or safe and they are important environments for being able sentence about education in our party manifesto, and to provide other services such as social care to address perhaps the Labour party will consider doing the same trauma. thing, because manifestos are very important. Once it is In the Central African Republic where an appalling there in writing in the manifesto, when whoever wins conflict is going on, most of the schools in the capital the next election comes to frame their humanitarian are not open. This is largely due to the collapsed responses, education will be in the forefront of their Government’s inability to continue paying teachers’ minds. Also, Members of Parliament need to talk about salaries, and the humanitarian NGOs that are providing these things and to raise them up the political agenda, most of the services in the city cannot access enough which is why this debate is important. funding for education in particular, so reopening schools Before I sit down, perhaps I can give testimony from is not the priority. As a result, in the capital city large a family from Irbil in Iraq, which I have visited. This numbers of children are not in school. It is not just a family testimony was given to me by War Child. It was question of funding. Unfortunately, the reality is that of interest to me because I have been to northern Iraq, aside from conflict, the quality of education on offer in not with War Child but with another charity, and the these countries is incredibly low. We need to ensure that situation there is appalling. It was terrible to hear what once in school, children actually learn. Levels of violence people had to say. There was a mother. She and her are also shockingly high, with corporal punishment family had been living in Baghdad, and her husband widely used. Organisations such as War Child and Save and son went to church and were never seen again. They the Children are trying to address all these issues. I just vanished—kidnapped, and obviously murdered. know that my hon. Friend the Minister, on behalf of There was mother after mother like that. The situation the Government, will try to help them. Schools need to in northern Iraq is, dare I say it, even more terrible than be safe spaces, with zero tolerance being shown if they what is going on in Palestine, so may I give a tiny are attacked or used by armed groups. mention for a part of the population there with whom I Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me have worked. In the conflict in northern Iraq there is no to speak this debate. I am grateful to the hon. Member doubt that the Christian communities around Mosul— for East Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell), and I am sure we 1115 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1116

[Sir Edward Leigh] will continue to worry for their children’s safety and young people will continue to suffer and die as a result can continue to highlight these issues and ensure that of a conflict that is not of their making. in these desperate situations our children all over the There is a danger that the current climate of vengeance world get a decent education. and retribution will worsen the situation. Uri Ariel, the Israeli housing Minister, has called for a “proper 12.42 pm Zionist response”, meaning an acceleration of Israel’s illegal expansion of settlements in the west bank and Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): I congratulate East Jerusalem and a programme of punitive house my good and hon. Friend the Member for East Lothian demolitions. The Israeli Deputy Minister of Defence, (Fiona O’Donnell) and the Backbench Business Committee Danny Danon, said that Israel should make the entire on allocating time for such an important and timely Palestinian leadership pay a heavy price for the killing subject for debate. of the three Israeli teenagers, and Mr Lieberman, the I want to cover some areas of interest relating to the Israeli Foreign Minister, advocated a full-scale invasion protection of children in conflict in Palestine and Israel, of Gaza as a legitimate response. In the name of security, child prisoners and the situation of children in Gaza. I rights, justice and peace, the demands of these politicians shall be interested to hear the Minister’s response. Clearly, must be rebutted, resisted and challenged by the the events of the past few weeks have once again brought international community. to our attention in this House and throughout the Children are never the causes of conflict, but too world the enduring suffering of children as a result of often they are its victims, and if the cycle of revenge and the Israel-Palestine conflict. I draw to the attention of violence is accelerated, it is they who will pay the the House my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial heaviest price. I was interested in the intervention from Interests. my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside I would like to express my heartfelt and sincere (Mrs Ellman), in which she pointed out the radicalisation sympathy to the families of the three Israeli youths of Palestinian youth as a consequence of broadcasts in abducted and killed in cold blood. My youngest son is the Palestinian media. We should also think about the of a similar age and I cannot begin to comprehend the consequences of their day-to-day experience of being grief that their parents must be experiencing at this brutalised by the occupying power and the impact that time. There is no greater tragedy than that of a young that has on young minds. That cannot be discounted and innocent life full of potential being taken away by and the effects attributed to brainwashing by their own conflict. In response to an urgent question earlier this communities. These are relevant issues, but we cannot week, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth discount the huge pressures on the Palestinians’ day-to-day Office, the right hon. Member for Faversham and Mid existence. Israel has by far the greater ability to make Kent (Hugh Robertson) said something that I found the Palestinians suffer. I fear that it will escalate its poignant. He commented that there is no “hierarchy of policy of punishing them collectively—a crime under victimhood” and that the deaths of innocent Palestinian international law—for the violent actions of a minority. children are equally tragic. I wholeheartedly agree with The subject of this debate is “Protecting Children in that sentiment. Conflict”. I would like to refer briefly to the plight of For Palestinians, this week’s kidnapping and murder children in Gaza. The Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip of a 16-year-old boy in a suspected revenge attack and has now entered its seventh year, spelling despair for its the two innocent teenagers shot dead by Israeli soldiers population of 1.6 million, 42% of whom are children at Ofer in May this year are just as painful and just as aged 14 or younger. Some international organisations tragic to the Palestinian communities as the deaths of are suggesting that the situation cannot continue. The the Israeli youths are for Israel. Since 2001, 1,407 Palestinian International Monetary Fund, for example, has said children have been killed by Israeli military forces and that the blockade and other restrictions imposed by the Israeli settlers as a consequence of an unjust and illegal Israelis on Gaza cost the Palestinians 78% of their military occupation. Worryingly, according to the United GDP, or an estimated $6.3 billion a year. With 80% of Nations, the instances of Israeli soldiers using live fire families in Gaza dependent on humanitarian aid, the against the Palestinian civilian population in recent consequences are more than economic. weeks have increased. I place on record my condolences Gaza’s children suffer immeasurably as a result of the to all the families who have lost children in this conflict, severe restrictions Israel places on imports, exports and and I emphasise my desire to see those responsible the movement of people, whether by land, air or sea. brought to justice under the rule of law. Restrictions on the import of construction equipment It is my wish that no more families on either side mean that vital infrastructure, such as housing, health should have to suffer such tragedies in the future. I care facilities and schools, are not fit for purpose. More know that that wish is shared by right hon. and hon. worryingly, water and sewage treatment services are Members, some of whom are here today, who have starting to break down. The blockade causes endemic participated in other debates and spoken knowledgeably and long-lasting poverty, preventing families from being about their experiences, bringing their insight and knowledge able to put nutritious food on the table. That manifests of international law and treaties. Right hon. and hon. itself in malnutrition among the children. Stunting as a Members who share this sentiment recognise that the result of long-term exposure to chronic malnutrition is conflict will continue, and children will continue to be found in 10% of children under five in Gaza. Anaemia harmed and killed until a fair and just settlement is affects 68% of children and a third of pregnant women. achieved. Until international law, United Nations Some 90% of the water extracted from Gaza’s only resolutions and international conventions for peace are aquifer is unfit for human consumption, and the UN implemented in the middle east, parents of the region has warned that it will be irreversibly damaged by 2020. 1117 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1118

Fiona O’Donnell: My hon. Friend is making a powerful verbal abuse by the Israeli authorities against those speech. Unfortunately, the Israeli authorities would not children is commonplace. They can be detained without allow the Select Committee to travel to Gaza. Does he charge for 188 days and then be made to wait two more share my concerns about salt in the water? When mothers years before the conclusion of their trial. They are often have to make formula with water that contains salt, that arrested in the refugee camps or the occupied territories, has huge implications for their young children’s physical but they are held in military detention within Israel. and mental development. Again, I am not a lawyer, but I believe that that contravenes a United Nations convention. Grahame M. Morris: I am grateful to my hon. Friend Most of those children are forced to sign confessions for making that point. I was a member of a delegation in Hebrew. They might have some understanding of that visited the west bank, and we, too, were refused Hebrew when it is spoken, but not when it is written. entry to Gaza. I have certainly heard from other right They often sign the confession in the hope of speeding hon. and hon. Members who visited Gaza and can up the trial. Unsurprisingly, given the flagrant disregard corroborate exactly what she says. I think that the for international law, the overall conviction rate for Minister should make representations to the Israeli Palestinian children in Israeli military courts—I should authorities on humanitarian grounds. not laugh, but this number is like something from The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian North Korea—is 99.74%. Affairs has said that the blockade is I believe that a form of psychological warfare is being “a collective punishment of all those living in Gaza and is a denial waged on an entire community and that it is children of basic human rights in contravention of international law”. who are being made to bear the brunt of Israel’s punitive I completely agree. There is no moral or legal justification measures. I have witnessed those court proceedings for Israel’s collective punishment of over 800,000 children. while visiting Israel. Indeed, the image of a young boy Although they are kept apart by military checkpoints the same age as my youngest son being marched along and separation walls—my hon. Friend the Member for by soldiers with his hands and feet in shackles was truly East Lothian and I were unable to gain access to Gaza shocking and will stay with me for the rest of my life. because of the restrictions imposed by the Israeli Recent events have served as a stark reminder of the authorities—the children of Gaza’s fellow Palestinians brutality of life for children in conflict areas. As a in the illegally occupied west bank and east Jerusalem, parent, I wish that no mother or father had to experience and indeed in the refugee camps, also suffer profoundly the tragic loss of their child. For a serious commitment as a result of the conflict. towards that end, we must understand that recent tragedies The rights of Palestinian children are routinely violated are rooted in a conflict that will not end until Israel acts as Israeli military detention fails to safeguard basic in accordance with international law, United Nations human rights or to adhere to international law in relation resolutions and the overwhelming consensus of the to detaining children. The most recent figures indicate international community in order to realise peace and that 196 Palestinian children were being held in Israeli justice in the middle east. military custody at the end of April, but I suspect that In conclusion, I ask the Minister, in conjunction with the number has increased dramatically in recent weeks. his ministerial colleagues, to press the Israeli Government I am disturbed that the Israeli authorities are no longer to adhere to these international conventions, particularly releasing information on precisely how many children in relation to the right of the child. are being held in military detention. My hon. Friend referred to the independent report 12.59 pm “Children in Military Custody”, which was authored by Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): It is an honour to seven senior lawyers from the United Kingdom and follow the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It Morris) and my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough highlights how two distinct legal systems are applied by (Sir Edward Leigh), who made a particularly important the Israeli authorities to residents of the west bank speech about education. I will refer to that as well, but depending on an individual’s race or national identity. he has covered the ground extensively. I thank the hon. When that policy was applied in South Africa, it was Member for East Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell) for called apartheid, and international politicians, including introducing the debate so well and so eloquently, and John Kerry, have used that term with respect to what is for her comradeship on International Development happening in the west bank. That independent report Committee trips to the middle east and elsewhere. by leading lawyers, commissioned by our own Foreign Syria, Iraq, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia, Office, concluded that Israel is in breach of seven articles Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, of the UN convention on the rights of the child, including Pakistan, South Sudan, and many other places: there is in relation to discrimination, the child’s best interests, a growing list of terrible conflicts, particularly civil premature resort to detention, non-separation from adults, conflicts, around the world. In all these, women and prompt access to lawyers and the use of shackles. children, in particular, are at risk in many different ways: When I was first elected, I had the opportunity to violence, of course; education, as my hon. Friend the Member visit the west bank and see one of those military courts for Gainsborough explained; health; and, as the hon. in operation. Some of the children are very young. Member for East Lothian said, the way they think about Some are arrested in midnight raids. The crime for things—their freedom of thought and freedom of faith. which they are most commonly arrested is throwing In a powerful article in The Independent, the head of stones, and there is often little evidence that the arrested War Child, Rob Williams, wrote: child is the one responsible. They are then shackled and “Sexual violence in conflict zones includes extreme physical blindfolded before being questioned without their parents violence, the use of sticks, bats, bottles, the cutting of genitals, being present and without access to any legal representation. and the sexual torture of victims who are left with horrific There are extensive reports indicating that physical and injuries.” 1119 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1120

[Jeremy Lefroy] the first response to a crisis must be a focus on education. I entirely agree. When the Committee visited Lebanon Against anybody, these would be terrible, terrible acts; and Jordan, we saw the work that DFID was doing in against children they are just unspeakable. Yet this kind supporting education. I congratulate DFID and, indeed, of thing is going on day in, day out in many countries. It the Foreign Office on their rightful focus on that. is not just about the violence itself but its consequences—not I would like to put on record my admiration for the only the medical consequences that are so severe, but welcome that Lebanon and Jordan have given to refugees. the rejection that can occur within these children’s Let us not forget that Lebanon, with a population of communities and families because of things that have 4 million, now has more than 1 million refugees from been done to them that are absolutely no fault of theirs. Syria. Twenty per cent. of its population are now refugees, We hear of stories where girls and women who are yet they were welcomed pretty much with open arms. raped are prosecuted for adultery. What an upside-down The same is true of Jordan. Not only that, but those world we live in when that happens. countries have accepted refugee children into their own The article refers to the HEAL hospital in Goma in state education systems. Quite a high percentage of the the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three years ago, children being educated in Lebanon’s state system are the International Development Committee and I had now Syrian refugees. Let us think about whether we the privilege of visiting that hospital, which was under would do the same in similar circumstances. In relative the admirable leadership of Dr Lusi. Sadly, Dr Lusi terms, that would mean 12 million refugees coming into passed away not so long ago. She was the subject of an the United Kingdom, and probably millions—because outstanding obituary in The Economist that showed the a high percentage are children—being educated in our sort of work that she and all those who worked with her state schools. Would we be prepared to be as hospitable in that place have done. In the first half of 2012, 74% of as that? I hope so, but Lebanon is doing it now. sexual violence survivors in the hospital were children—I I am glad of the support that DFID is giving those repeat, 74%. We often hear about violence against women, countries in upping their numbers of school places, which is absolutely terrible, but this is against children. because that will need to be done. As my hon. Friend Then there is the issue of child soldiers, where I the Member for Gainsborough said, education is not would like to introduce a slight element of hope. Although just a matter of going in and sorting it out for a few child soldiers are still recruited pretty much everywhere weeks or months—it takes a matter of years. The conflict there is conflict, there can be a life after that. During the in Syria is not going to go away; it is going to continue, Committee’s most recent visit to Sierra Leone and regrettably and painfully. Therefore, our support for the Liberia, we saw two countries where child soldiers were education of those children must continue, wherever commonplace—children as young as 10 taken and forced they are, including in Syria itself, where DFID is also to carry arms and to kill members of their own families. helping, although obviously our Committee was unable Yet now, thanks to the intervention of the international to go there. community—in Sierra Leone, particularly the intervention There is a serious problem, specifically, with girls’ of UK forces—those two countries are at peace, and education. In many countries, as the former Prime many of the young children who were forced to be child Minister said last night, girls are treated very much as soldiers are gradually adapting to a more peaceful life. second class in education. If there is not enough money A few years ago, I was involved in setting up a business to go round, they will be the ones who are not educated, in Sierra Leone, and some of the young men we were or ideologies will say that it is not worth educating girls able to take on were former child soldiers. It is absolutely and they should not be educated. For Boko Haram, critical that those who have been involved, through no western education is forbidden, specifically education fault of their own, are able to re-engage in normal life of girls. afterwards. At the same time—we saw good evidence of Again, I want to introduce an element of hope. When this in Sierra Leone—there has to be emphasis on we were in Sierra Leone, we saw examples of second-chance reconciliation: on truth coming out and on making sure schools supported by DFID—schools for children who that what went on in the past is not just brushed under have completely missed out on education because of the carpet. There is hope. There are examples in west conflict but who are now able, in very difficult circumstances, Africa of how countries can come out of this, albeit to receive an education. Often, the buildings used are with great pain and grief. schools during the day and teachers go there in the What are the answers? Perhaps “answers” is too trite evening or late afternoon to provide an education. It a word to use. In his admirable work, together with was humbling to see children crowding into those dirty many others, on violence against women in conflict and classrooms, which had broken desks and no facilities violence in conflict more generally, the Foreign Secretary and where white boards were a million miles away, has rightly focused on prosecution. War Child mentions desperate for a second chance at education, because volunteer committees, which are a more local solution they knew how important it was. in helping people to educate their own communities The impact of conflict on health, particularly that of about what is going on and, perhaps, how to prevent it. children, is another issue. Worryingly, we are seeing the There are also child safety centres. Last night, I attended re-emergence of polio in Syria as a direct consequence the excellent debate on education led by the right hon. of conflict. That is a problem not just for Syria, but for Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), all of us. We had believed that we were close to eradicating the former Prime Minister. Focusing in particular on polio—a magnificent achievement over the past 20 or Nigeria, he talked about safe schools where children 30 years—but its re-emergence in Syria may mean that could be protected in that most vital of all activities, many of those gains have been lost in that part of the education. My hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough world. Leishmaniasis, which is a terrible, disfiguring said—I believe I am quoting him—that a central part of disease caused by the sandfly, is also on the increase in 1121 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1122

Syria. That is another disease that we were perhaps on forces and trainers do a fantastic job, but I believe we track to, if not eradicating, certainly minimising around could do much more. As we draw down from Afghanistan, the world. I believe our armed forces can play a very important There are other diseases. In order to reduce the future role in providing training in peacekeeping and incidence of malaria, people need to sleep under the protection of civilians, particularly women and insecticide-treated bed nets. I declare an interest as children, and in perhaps more muscular peacekeeping chairman of the all-party group on malaria and neglected than is the case at present around the world. tropical diseases. When people are in a conflict situation We also need to see action from local citizens. We and are being driven from pillar to post, it is very have seen how the great example of Malala Yousafzai unlikely that they will have access to bed nets, so they, and her courageous stand galvanised the world, but we and children and pregnant women in particular, will be need to see far more of that and we need to protect and more liable to catch malaria and possibly die from it. endorse such people. I pay tribute to those organisations that provide We also need to see more mediators and more women health services in the most incredibly difficult circumstances, in particular involved in mediation. Far too few women including Médecins sans Frontières, Christian and other are involved in the reconciliation and mediation that faith-based hospitals that provide assistance all the way needs to take place in order to bring peace. That is not through conflicts, even though they are under desperate because of a lack of incredibly capable women, but pressure, and the committed individuals who sometimes because they are not thought of or they are not in the give their lives in the service of their fellow women and right place at the right time. We need an active programme men. to train and develop women mediators internationally, I want to touch briefly on the question of thought, so that they can go in and help those countries achieve belief and freedoms. At a time of conflict, people’s way peace. of life and the way in which they have been brought up can come under tremendous pressure, because sometimes In conclusion, we face a difficult situation. The situation conflicts are driven by ideology. Children are taken for children in conflict is, I believe, getting worse, not away and brainwashed into thinking something completely better. We have seen some encouraging examples of different, perhaps into hating their parents and their how countries can come out of it, particularly Sierra upbringing to the extent that some who have perhaps Leone and Liberia, and what can be done to reintegrate also been given drugs are prepared to kill their own children affected by conflict, whether they have been parents or other members of their family. We sometimes involved as child soldiers or damaged by conflict. However, forget that this not just about health, education and current events in Africa and the middle east in particular violence itself, but about the emotional trauma of conflict are throwing the issue into stark relief. We need much, and the way in which all the certainties with which a much more robust international action. The United child has been brought up are taken away and replaced Nations needs to step up to the plate. I hope that in his by hatred by vile men. response the Minister will outline what the UK Government I also want to talk about the United Nations and are doing, particularly at the United Nations and with what the world can do that it is not doing at the regard to the individual countries suffering from conflict moment. The United Nations Security Council has set at the moment. out six violations against children in conflict: the killing and maiming of children; the recruitment or use of 1.18 pm children as soldiers; sexual violence against children; attacks against schools or hospitals; denial of humanitarian Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): access for children; and abduction of children. Sadly, I am delighted to follow the very thoughtful contributions we have read about all those things in our newspapers in made to the debate so far. I pay tribute to the hon. recent weeks and months, yet too little is happening at Member for East Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell) for making the United Nations. it possible, and I apologise for missing the very first part I am a great believer in the United Nations—it is of her speech. I was talking about conflict and children the only game in town and the only thing we have in another context elsewhere. I had not anticipated internationally to work together—but it must do much, taking part in this debate, but such is its importance much more. First, it must speak up constantly about that I want to pick up on some of the points made by this issue, which is relevant not just to one, two or three previous speakers and draw on my own experiences of countries, but to dozens of countries across the world. visiting conflict zones. Secondly, as has been said, peacekeepers play a vital This is, of course, a timely debate, for the most tragic role. Personally, having seen peacekeepers in various of reasons. The images we saw from Palestine earlier countries, I do not think we make nearly enough use of this week of the three Israeli children who became them. They are often sitting in camps, just protecting victims of war starkly brought home to us the ghastly themselves. They do not have a robust enough mandate. things and tragedies that are daily occurring in other That was particularly true in the DRC, where they were parts of the world. Another image that brought that not able to go out and deal with the very problems that home was that of the Nigerian girls, who were the we as taxpayers believed we were paying them to deal subject of last night’s excellent debate—of which I read, with. Yes, they were there—this is not to take anything but, alas, was not part—led by the former Prime Minister, away from the peacekeepers themselves—but their mandates the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath were not strong enough, particularly for the protection (Mr Brown). For hundreds of girls to be taken by of children and violence against civilians. terrorists from their schools, where they expected to be I believe that the UK has a very important, perhaps educated and to do all the things our children take for unique, role to play.We are involved in training peacekeepers granted, and for their lives now to be in the balance—they in many of the regions affected by conflict. Our armed have perhaps already been sold into the sex trade or 1123 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1124

[Tim Loughton] Fiona O’Donnell: The hon. Gentleman is making a powerful speech. In looking at our record on international whatever, because such threats have been made under prosecutions for acts of sexual violence so far, would the nose of that country’s Government—is absolutely the suggestion made by one of his colleagues about alarming. having a local form of justice, rather the western developed So alarming is that situation that we now have to talk world being seen to impose its standards on other about “safe schools”. Schools should be places of safety. countries, be a better way forward? When we send our children off to school, we expect them to be looked after and safeguarded. The fact that Tim Loughton: I absolutely agree. If there can be a terrorists can make them pawns in some misguided holy home-grown solution—so that people have ownership war—that is how they try to portray their terrorism—is of it, and it can be adapted to their cultures and to the quite inconceivable to us today. baggage of tribal conflicts, histories and cultural identities A third image that sends a chill down all our spines that have been asserted through violence—that has to was one I saw on a news report from the conflict be better. Otherwise, there is a risk that the former involving the so-called ISIS forces in Iraq: on the back colonial power is seen as trying to reassert its ways. of a pick-up were two boys, who could not have been There are some common basic moral standards that more than 10 years old, with two AK47s and belts of we should not resile from asserting in the international ammunition to go with them. Those 10-year-olds are context, including that children are children, not young combatants of war, who have been expected to join, and adults to be sent into war zones or to become victims of coaxed and promoted into, the front line of the ghastly war in all its ghastly forms. They are children, and we and misguided conflict in that country. We recently treat children differently—they need our protection and debated an amendment to the Criminal Justice and respect—whether they are in Khartoum, Boston, Worthing, Courts Bill—I supported the amendment, which was East Lothian or anywhere else in the world. We should tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield not resile from the expression of such international North (Nick de Bois)—to make sentencing mandatory values, in which we should take pride. for 16 to 18-year-olds caught in unlawful possession of The Government have already committed to providing a knife as a second offence. That is something pretty more than £140 million to the survivors of sexual ghastly in this country, but to have children routinely violence and their supporters. In the context of the taking AK47s into places of conflict perhaps puts it many victims of historical cases of horrendous sexual into context. abuse that have recently hit the headlines in the United Those three images starkly portray the tragedy that Kingdom, a key factor is making sure that victims who we are debating today, but they are of course the tip have had the bravery to come forward get the support of the iceberg, as are the 250,000 children—surely an they need in order to come to terms with the trauma underestimate—who are child soldiers, including the that befell them, often as children. In this debate, we are notorious ones in places such as Uganda. I repeat talking about victims who have perhaps seen their parents the tributes paid by all hon. Members to the staff of the gruesomely killed in front of them, their homes burned, NGOs, whom many of us have visited and worked with their sisters raped, or their brothers, sisters and school in places of conflict. They absolutely put their lives on friends kidnapped and taken off into slavery or the sex the line to try to protect and to give some safety and trade. These children need our support, and they need security to children who, through no fault of their own, rehabilitation to get over traumas caused by what happened find themselves victims of conflict. I particularly in front of their eyes, which is why that project is so want to repeat the tribute paid by my hon. Friend the important. The Government have also called for all Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy) to Rob Williams soldiers and peacekeepers to be trained not only to and the excellent charity, War Child. He does such a understand the gravity of sexual violence in conflict, good job with that charity, as he previously did with but to help to prevent it and to protect people. Those UK-based charities involved with families. Such are all practical measures that we can sometimes overlook. images haunt all hon. Members and, I am sure, all our The Government, particularly the Foreign Secretary, constituents. should be given great credit for the great initiative of the There are, however, things in which we should take global summit to end sexual violence in conflict—quite great pride, and I am sure that we will hear more about rightly, it hit the media, including our television screens— them when the Minister sums up. As in so many cases, which he co-hosted with the special envoy Angelina the UK is setting the example—putting its money where Jolie last month in the east end of London. It brought its mouth is and leading the world—in trying to turn together more than 140 countries and more than around the juggernaut of children’s involvement in conflict 900 experts, making it the biggest global meeting ever zones. convened on the issue. Let us hope that it was not just a The international protocol on the documentation talking shop, but that delegates from nations where and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, which such violence happens daily could take comfort, ideas was launched by the UK, is working to establish and support, could make contacts and could engage international standards to help to strengthen prosecutions with projects that will help them in the future. for rape in conflict, and it is increasing the prospects for The preventing sexual violence initiative—again, the successful convictions. We have got to bring people to Government are spearheading it—aims to strengthen book to show that such sexual violence is unacceptable. and support international efforts to respond to sexual In whatever part of the world, developed or undeveloped, violence in conflict, including by enhancing the capacity it must not happen and the perpetrators must not get of countries, institutions and communities to support away with it. We must all work together against the survivors and to end impunity for perpetrators. A team forces of evil who allow it to happen. of UK experts has been deployed to conflict-affected 1125 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1126 countries at the heart of the problem, such as Libya, schools, pre-loaded with lots of information about how Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mali, to name but to be more environmentally friendly, how girls can get a few. The initiative provides good practical experience, better education, engagement in the democratic process and we should be proud that DFID, our Foreign Office and so on. In return, he brings back lots of wonderful and this Government are pioneering, leading and setting shopping bags made from old plastic carrier bags by such an example on the global stage. some of the kids and the families out there. Education is absolutely vital in all this, as my hon. A few years ago, we did a satellite link-up with the Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward British Council between one school in a very impoverished Leigh) mentioned. That is why I welcome DFID’s pledge area whose pupils were using those computers and the that by 2015 it will spend half of its direct educational 250 local kids at my eco-summit. Incredibly, the technology aid on unstable or war-torn countries where more than worked. British kids and Ghanaian kids in completely two fifths of the world’s out-of-school children are contrasting environments spoke to each other, and found and where a lack of education can contribute understood and empathised with one another. It was a directly to conflict. In such a revolving doors scenario, wonderful moment. To see the advantage that a bit of kids are indoctrinated to hate other kids and families old technology that we were throwing out had brought from other tribes and religions in other parts of the to those kids—it was going to transform their educational country. If they are brought up to accept that as normal, opportunities and, I hope, keep that country out of it is little surprise that they are susceptible to taking up conflict—was deeply humbling, and a very proud moment arms when a conflict happens. We have to start at the for those of us who had helped to make it happen. beginning, by educating against conflict and the mentality Girls’ education is a particularly important part of of vehement retaliation right at the outset. Education is preventing conflict in the future. I will draw on a couple so important. The United Kingdom’s commitment of of examples. I do not need to go over all the statistics up to £300 million for the Global Partnership for Education about what is happening in Syria at the moment, but over the next four years is therefore particularly welcome. there are now 2.3 million children in Syria who are out Many children out of school are marginalised and of school or at risk of dropping out of school. Many hard to reach, and nearly half of them live in fragile and hundreds of thousands are refugees outside Syria, as conflict-affected areas. Marginalisation affects children well. I am due to visit some Syrian refugee camps in right through the education system, from early education Jordan later this month—they are vast camps—just as to university level. In post-conflict environments and some years ago in Syria I visited what was then the fragile states, getting children back into school and largest refugee camp run by the United Nations High addressing out-of-school youth, some of whom may Commissioner for Refugees in the world. It was for have been child soldiers or refugees themselves, helps to Iraqis fleeing conflict who had gone to Damascus. I saw bring back a sense of equity, justice and cohesion to the great efforts of the UNHCR and other charities, what can be a fractured society. That has to be the start. which were trying to make sure that there was some normality in the lives of those kids. Getting some Girls’ education is a big issue. The girls’ education ongoing education for them was absolutely key. We challenge will give up to 1 million of the world’s poorest must make sure that children who are displaced because girls the opportunity to improve their lives through of the horrible war dragging on in Syria can at least education. The point made by my hon. Friend the have some semblance of a normal childhood by continuing Member for Stafford was important: if more women some form of education. The crisis in Syria has placed were doing the educating—and, indeed, the negotiating many women and girls at risk of violence, exploitation before or after a conflict, as well—there might be a and insecurity. We often forget that. better chance of avoiding the worst excesses of conflict Drawing on some of my previous trips, the very first in the first place. parliamentary delegation that I went on, some 15 or so We will perhaps think of places such as Afghanistan, years ago, was to Ethiopia. That country had been riven where under the Taliban regime girls were excluded by civil war under a particularly nasty Marxist regime. from education. Despite all the horrors that have taken People had been driven out of their properties and place in that country, one great success that we should sexual violence was part of the conflict. I remember never cease to emphasise is that so many young women visiting the Fistula hospital in Addis Ababa. It is a and girls in Afghanistan now have the opportunity to charity set up by some wonderful medics, where visiting get an education in school and to go on to university. clinicians go to help out. Daily I saw 12-year-old, We should never underestimate the importance of that. 13-year-old and 14-year-old women—in some cases However, there are other countries, which are not in they had walked hundreds of miles—who had had bad such familiar conflict zones, where young women do experiences giving birth because they had been too not get access to education. There is so much more to young. They were victims either of conflict, of misguided do, particularly in parts of Africa. That is why DFID’s forced marriage or of being raped, effectively under the priority of concentrating aid on getting more girls into noses of their families in their villages, and had then education across the world is a good one that many of been cast out. The only sanctuary and help they could us can support. get was by walking literally hundreds of miles to that I have seen projects in places such as Ghana. In my wonderful hospital in Addis Ababa. The war in Ethiopia constituency, I run the EYE project—it stands for Eco, did huge damage but the country is, I hope, on a better Young and Engaged—and every year we have an eco- path now. summit; recently we had our seventh. A very enthusiastic I visited schools in the drought-affected areas, and, as local man called Jib Hagan runs a charity called CARE— I said earlier, kids were walking 10 miles or more each Collecting and Recycling Ecologically. He collects old day to and from their homes to attend school, because it computers that are being thrown out by local schools was such a big deal. They loved it. Nobody was playing and businesses, takes them to Ghana and puts them in hooky there; no truancy officer was needed. They went 1127 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1128

[Tim Loughton] on children’s lives. Armed conflicts continue to take the young lives of thousands of children each year, whether to school because their parents wanted them to go, as as civilians or as child soldiers. My hon. Friend said they could see it was a good thing. The kids themselves that, whereas children used to be caught up in collateral wanted to go to school and get an education, because damage, they are increasingly being targeted during that was their ladder out of poverty. It would stop them conflict, whether to be recruited as child soldiers or as getting sucked into the conflict that so often happens in the victims of sexual violence. these impoverished zones, where people will fight over a When children are affected by conflict, it has a lasting little dustbowl of land. legacy, even when countries emerge from that conflict. I remember going to Mozambique—again, a country Some people have physical injuries because they have riven by vicious civil war over many, many years. There been maimed in the conflict. My hon. Friend spoke were many displaced kids who had fled parts of about the concern over the growth of indiscriminate Mozambique and had gone to what they thought was explosive weapons such as cluster bombs. Other people the relative safety of South Africa, but had ended up in are harmed psychologically and suffer trauma because the sex trade. I worked with some hugely dedicated of what they witnessed or took part in during their charities in Mozambique that were trying to rescue childhood. Quite often, people suffer because they have those kids. missed out on education or suffered health consequences. A few years ago I went to Tajikistan, where I was My hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Grahame taken to a school in Duschanbe, because I wanted to see M. Morris) spoke of the suffering and deprivation of some of the refugees from Afghanistan—there were a the children living in Gaza. lot of them there. They asked me to give a class to kids Eight years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Uganda of all different ages. They spoke wonderful English and with Oxfam. It was the first overseas visit that I made as were really enthusiastic about being there. They were a Member of Parliament. What I saw there still resonates there because they had been driven out of Afghanistan. with me today. I went to the camps for internally There had been a big spate of kidnappings: brothers displaced people in the north. That was at the beginning and sisters had been kidnapped; indeed, the teacher’s of the peace talks between the Government and the own children had been kidnapped and she had never Lord’s Resistance Army, and there were about 1.5 million seen them again. Tajikistan was giving them sanctuary, people living in the camps. I heard horrific stories about and had given them a school and some teaching resources, child soldiers who had been abducted by the Lord’s because the way forward is education. Resistance Army. More than 25,000 children, some as There are many other subjects that we could mention young as 10, were abducted, indoctrinated and forced in this debate. Forced marriages are another form of to become child soldiers or, in the case of girls, soldiers’ conflict, frankly. Female genital mutilation, of which wives. Some were forced to commit atrocities against we have been hearing so much recently, is another form their own families, such as killing or amputating the of violence inflicted on children. It is not acceptable in limbs of their parents, brothers or sisters, so that they the modern world, and we should not be afraid of lived in fear of returning to their villages and would not saying so, whatever cultural differences might separate escape. us from those people who say it is all right. It is not all Being forced to become a child soldier does not right. It is not acceptable in this day and age. It is necessarily condemn someone for the rest of their life. violence against girls and women. The hon. Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy) talked There is no excuse for children being caught up in about setting up a business in Sierra Leone that recruited war and conflict. Children are different and special, and former child soldiers. I commend him for that. If he has as adults we have a duty to do whatever we can to not read Ishmael Beah’s excellent book, “A Long Way protect them, in this country or in any far-flung corner Gone”, I recommend it to him. It is aptly described as of the globe in which they are involved in conflict. In “a child’s journey to hell and back”. Ishmael Beah was many of the countries that we are talking about, almost recruited at the age of 13 by the Government army in half the population is under the age of 18, so we are Sierra Leone, but was eventually released. It is the talking about huge numbers of people who are the amazing story of how he was helped by a UNICEF future of those countries. If we do not get it right for rehabilitation centre. I think that he is now living in those war-torn countries now, we will not get it right in New York and has published his first novel. He is a the future. If they get back on the road to peace and compelling writer and the book offers inspiration and prosperity, their kids might at last get an education and hope for those who are suffering a similar fate today. a chance to prosper. I also pay tribute to Emmanuel Jal, who is a former child soldier from South Sudan. I was privileged to meet him at Glastonbury last year in his new incarnation 1.39 pm as a rap artist and political activist. That just shows Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): I thank my what people can achieve. The fact that those two men hon. Friend the Member for East Lothian (Fiona are out there as spokespeople for former child soldiers O’Donnell) and the Backbench Business Committee for is incredibly inspiring. providing the opportunity to debate this subject. It is Many Members have spoken about the importance sadly not the best attended debate, but that is often the of education. The hon. Member for Gainsborough case on Thursday afternoons. However, the speeches (Sir Edward Leigh) was very specific in what he asked of have been genuinely excellent, if a little depressing in the Minister. I look forward to what the Minister has to content. say about education often being neglected and underfunded We have heard much about the suffering of children in the humanitarian response to conflict. The hon. who are affected by conflict and about the disproportionate, Gentleman argued that education should be included in devastating and far-reaching impact that conflict has the first phase of the humanitarian response and that at 1129 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1130 least 4% of the funding in such situations should be on what he thinks can be achieved. He will know that targeted at education. I look forward to hearing what Save the Children has called for the appointment of a the Minister has to say about that. special envoy and the deployment of UK experts. As we have heard, this is a timely debate, given the In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the picture publication on Tuesday of the UN Secretary-General’s is a little more mixed. Some 30,000 child soldiers have annual report on children and armed conflict, which been demobilised, according to the World Bank’s figures documents 23 conflict situations in which children were from 2011. There has been progress in prosecuting the recruited, maimed, killed or subjected to sexual violence people responsible for recruiting child soldiers. The UN and other grave human rights abuses in 2013. The UN has reported that 910 children were recruited in 2013 to reports that seven national armies recruited child soldiers, be used as combatants or for supporting roles in the as did 50 armed groups in 14 countries. The Secretary- camps. Most of the girls who were recruited were subjected General concluded that last year was marked by “worrisome to sexual slavery. The UN was able to verify 209 cases of trends”that necessitate “a redoubling of efforts”, including conflict-related sexual violence. UNICEF has done excellent “a significant spike in the killing and maiming of children”. work to help nearly 5,000 children who had been associated There were 4,000 cases of the recruitment and use of with the conflict. It is imperative that such work continues. children. Of course, those are only the documented My hon. Friend the Member for Easington made a cases and there could have been many more. The report powerful speech about his personal experiences of visiting also noted the continued detention of children allegedly Israel and the occupied territories. I am contacted regularly involved with armed groups. by constituents who are concerned by the plight of In Afghanistan, the Secretary-General documented Palestinian children in particular. As we have heard, by the recruitment of boys as young as eight to be suicide the end of December, 154 boys were being held in bombers or sex slaves, or to manufacture and plant Israeli military detention, most in pre-trial detention. improvised explosive devices. In December, there were There is concern at the fact that that more than 196 boys in juvenile rehabilitation centres in Afghanistan 1,000 children were arrested by Israeli security forces on national security related charges. The UN has received last year. As my hon. Friend said, that conflict is a several reports of alleged ill-treatment of child detainees, tragedy for the children on both sides and for the including sexual abuse. The number of child casualties families on both sides who have lost children, who have in Afghanistan increased by 30% last year and the UN seen their children suffer or who have had to watch their verified reports of sexual violence against girls and boys children grow up with the ongoing conflict, perhaps committed not only by the Taliban and the Haqqani being stoned on the way to school, suffering abuse or network, but by the national police. Children were also living in fear of rocket attacks. I look forward to hearing affected by attacks on hospitals and schools. Schools what the Minister has to say about that. were attacked on at last 73 occasions, resulting in at least 11 children losing their lives. Grahame M. Morris: While my hon. Friend is on War Child reports that one in seven Afghan children that point, I would like to ask her opinion on the will not reach their fifth birthday. There are no social specific recommendations of the report that the Foreign services to protect the poorest and most vulnerable and Commonwealth Office and Baroness Scotland children. One in three children under the age of five is commissioned on the treatment of Palestinian child moderately or severely underweight. I could go on with detainees, which the Israeli authorities have largely ignored. the horrific statistics that are revealed by the report. Some 49% of Afghanistan’s internally displaced people Kerry McCarthy: I have read the powerful “Children are under 18. That all demonstrates the need to maintain in Military Custody” report, to which my hon. Friend a focus on Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the refers. Obviously, the Minister is not in a position to international security assistance force. take it forward with the Israeli authorities, but the As we heard from my hon. Friend the Member for recommendations should be acted on. East Lothian, the Central African Republic presents Burma, too, is an ongoing concern. We had an excellent one of the most pressing challenges. The recruitment of debate in Westminster Hall a week or two ago about the child soldiers in that country is described as “endemic”. continuing conflict, particularly as it affects ethnic minorities I have been contacted by many constituents, as I am in Burma, especially in Rakhine state, but also in other sure have other Members, who support the Save the areas where it remains a problem. Given the time available, Children campaign for the more than 1 million children and that fact that we documented it in some detail in who are desperate for life-saving assistance. Save the that debate, I will move on. However, at the end of the Children has highlighted the threat of sexual violence in sexual violence summit, the Minister said that addressing the CAR and I know that the Minister has focused on the problem of children in conflict was a personal that issue. Indeed, I was pleased to attend his “Voices of priority for him. Will he therefore tell us whether the Children in Conflict” event at the global summit to end training offered by the UK to the Burmese military was sexual violence, as did my hon. Friend the Member for conditional on ending the use of child soldiers? There is East Lothian, where we heard more about the efforts also the problem of the prevalence of sexual violence in to help the estimated 6,000 child soldiers in the CAR, the Burmese military and the immunity enjoyed by the 40% of whom are girls and are more at risk of sexual army. Given that we are providing some support for the violence. As the Secretary-General summarised it, children Burmese army, it is important that we flag up the use of are suffering “abominable atrocities”. We have heard of child soldiers with Burma. cases of boys being beheaded, for example. As we have heard, the devastating crisis in Syria has I understand that the international contact group on created more than 1.2 million child refugees. I pay the CAR is due to meet next week. I would be grateful if tribute to the work of my right hon. Friend the Member the Minister updated us on his priorities for that, and for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) on ensuring 1131 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1132

[Kerry McCarthy] talking about education because several hon. Members have done more than justice to that topic today. It is that children are not the forgotten victims of the conflict. obviously incredibly important. Several Members paid tribute to his Adjournment debate I conclude by thanking my hon. Friend the Member last night on the abduction of the Nigerian schoolgirls for East Lothian again for leading the debate. She and the need for safe schools there. I was a present at a understandably cares passionately about the subject debate that he held a couple of months ago about and I commend her for her efforts to ensure that the education for children, particularly displaced Syrian specific needs and vulnerabilities of children in conflict refugee children in the camps in Lebanon. He brought are not overlooked or subsumed in a homogenous forward an amazing initiative. He had been talking to approach that neglects the complexities of these atrocities. the Department for International Development that day and the Minister said that he would act upon the former Prime Minister’s suggestion for sharing school 1.55 pm time: there are two shifts in a school, and the Lebanese The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign children would attend for part of the day and the Syrian and Commonwealth Affairs (Mark Simmonds): I refugee children would attend for the rest of the day. congratulate the hon. Member for East Lothian (Fiona Several hundred thousand children would benefit from O’Donnell) on securing this important debate and on that initiative, and I commend my right hon. Friend for the passionate, informed and articulate way in which that, and his work on addressing the problem of Boko she introduced it. She was right to highlight some of the Haram and the Nigerian schoolgirls. Boko Haram was complexities of those important issues, and I will come added to the Secretary-General’s list published this to some of the very specific points that she asked about week, and many other countries, such as Sudan, South later. Sudan and Somalia were also included. It needs to be said that the subject has been at the Slightly more positively, the national army in Chad forefront of the Government’s agenda, coming as it has met all the requirements of its action plan and has does after the recent global summit to end sexual violence been removed from the list of those recruiting children, in conflict. The hon. Lady was right to congratulate the which is good news. That shows the difference that the Foreign Secretary and all the officials who were involved UN can make. It is imperative that the international in organising the summit, which was the largest ever community pushes for, first and foremost of course, an held on the issue. It set in motion a series of unprecedented end to all those devastating conflicts, but also for special practical steps and commitments, such as the first ever consideration for how children can be protected, and international protocol on how to document and investigate for these countries to work with the UN on the development sexual violence in conflict, and a statement of action, and implementation of action plans. uniting Governments, UN agencies, civil society, experts The examples we have heard today demonstrate the and survivors in a shared determination to tackle sexual multiple and severe ways in which children are affected violence. by conflict, necessitating a multifaceted, variable and enduring response from the international community. When it comes to children’s lives, all efforts must be The UN Children, Not Soldiers campaign launched made. That is why I am personally committed to tackling this March works in Afghanistan, Chad, DRC, Burma, this issue, not least as the father of three children. I am Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen to end and prevent the concentrating my efforts on raising awareness and helping recruitment of child soldiers by Government security to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed forces by 2016. I would be grateful if the Minister set conflict, focusing on demobilising child soldiers and out how the UK is supporting this, and what discussions preventing sexual violence against children, working there have been on deploying child protection experts. It with multilateral agencies and encouraging those with is important, too, as I am sure that the Minister agrees, successful track records to assist those who still have that the FCO provides robust protections for human challenges. rights defenders speaking up for children who are denied During visits to Somalia, South Sudan and the DRC, I a voice. have witnessed at first hand the devastation that conflict I am sorry—I am making an awful lot of demands on causes not just to children, but to whole communities. I the Minister in the time he has—but it would be helpful have also seen the excellent work of NGOs such as War to have an update on how enforcement of the arms Child, which make a real difference to children’s lives on trade treaty could protect children and deter the recruitment the ground. I take the opportunity to join other Members of child soldiers. I am sure that the Minister will, when of all parties in acknowledging and thanking all the he speaks, reiterate the personal commitment he has NGOs involved in the issue for their tireless commitment shown to helping children in conflict. He will know that and energy. the FCO has our full support for its work to end sexual As several hon. Members highlighted, on the fringes violence. of the ESVC summit, I held and spoke at a meeting on I hope that the Minister can tell us a little more about children and armed conflict in front of a knowledgeable the concrete steps taken at the summit last month to and large audience. There were powerful testimonies protect some of the most vulnerable children around from a survivor of the war in Sierra Leone and a child the world from such appalling crimes and to ensure that soldier from Uganda, both of whom spoke bravely and survivors can access age-appropriate support, given the articulately about their experiences. Closer to home, a particular difficulties children will face in speaking out very brave lady, who was affected by the conflict in about the sexual violence that they have endured. Bosnia, spoke. That collectively underlined the grave Today’s debate has also highlighted DFID’s role in dangers that children face during conflict and the need working to secure access to education, health care and for us to take urgent action to prevent this from affecting humanitarian assistance. I have not spent so much time a greater number of children around the world. 1133 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1134

In addition to that fringe meeting in the ESVC summit, Syrian children. In addition to education, support partners I also brought together Ministers from the DRC and are running child-friendly spaces that provide a safe Somalia along with countries that have experience of place for Syrian children to play and study. This is successfully tackling the issue. My hon. Friend the therefore a global issue that requires a global solution. I Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy) rightly mentioned highlight to the House the importance that the Prime Sierra Leone, whose Minister underlined the importance Minister and Government attach to the girl summit of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration that will be held in July in the United Kingdom, which programmes to ensure that children have crucial access will hopefully mobilise domestic and international efforts to education and training. As other hon. Members have to end female genital mutilation, and early and forced highlighted, that is vital in ensuring that children become marriage. less vulnerable to recruitment and sexual violence. As the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) Fiona O’Donnell: To return briefly to the Minister’s rightly said, those who have made progress more recently, comments about Lebanon and Jordan, does he recognise for example, Chad, have a significant role to play in a possible future problem in that our aid is supporting assisting others. refugees whereas the Jordanian and Lebanese populations At this stage let me tackle head-on the point made by are struggling as rent prices are forced up? We must my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford about the role guard against that possible tension in the future. of the United Nations. It has been 15 years since the Security Council recognised children in armed conflict Mark Simmonds: The hon. Lady is right to make that as an issue of international peace and security, with the point and there are huge challenges, primarily because adoption of resolution 1261. As my hon. Friend the of the scale of what is happening in Syria and the Member for East Worthingand Shoreham (Tim Loughton) displacement of people, both inside Syria and across rightly pointed out, the United Kingdom continues to geopolitical boundaries. In a moment I will detail some play a leading role at the United Nations and internationally of the support that the Department for International on that issue. I was therefore pleased that under the Development is providing to people still within Syria, UK’s presidency of the Security Council in July last and those who are outside. year, the UN adopted a strong presidential statement to protect the robust mandate of the UN special representative Let me use this opportunity to respond to some of for children affected by armed conflict, as well as introducing the important points that the hon. Lady raised. Hopefully, steps for tackling persistent perpetrators. That was followed she will be aware that the UK is an active member of by UN Security Council resolution 2143 in March this the UN working group on children and armed conflict, year, which outlines practical steps for combating violations and right at the forefront of the international response against children, while drawing attention to attacks on to issues of child soldiers and child protection. The UK schools. pushes at multilateral level for the inclusion of child protection in peacekeeping responses through UN I commend the efforts of the United Nations in mandates, both as they are renewed and initial resolutions. tackling that issue, and in particular the excellent UN Child protection advisers are currently deployed through special representative of the Secretary-General for the the UN missions in Mali, the Central African Republic, initiative Children, not Soldiers, which is designed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, end the recruitment and use of children by Government Somalia, Haiti, Côte d’Ivoire, Darfur, Iraq and Afghanistan. armed forces in conflict by 2016. As a result of the SRSG’s excellent work in that area, more than 20 countries have The hon. Lady was right to ask forcefully about agreed action plans with the UN, and to halt the recruitment child protection training for front-line staff, and the and use of children—including, most recently, the UK is providing £232,000 for the UN Department of Government of Yemen.Those action plans play a crucial Peacekeeping Operations to develop pre-deployment role in putting pressure on the perpetrators of those child protection training modules for military and police abhorrent violations against children. peacekeepers who encounter children affected by armed In Africa, as I mentioned, we have seen progress in conflict. She mentioned the draft Lucens guidelines, Chad with a completion of its action plan, and a and the Department welcomes that those underline recommitment from South Sudan this month to the existing rules for international humanitarian law to action plan it signed in 2012. We must be clear, however, promote better understanding and implementation of that this issue does not affect only African countries. As the Geneva conventions and their protocols. The draft we saw in the Secretary-General’s annual report on guidelines form part of our wider protection of civilians children and armed conflict, which was released on approach. A decision on UK Government support for Tuesday, grave violations have been committed against those guidelines needs cross-Whitehall agreement, and children in 23 countries, including Iraq, Syria and Burma, we are engaging with our colleagues across Departments. and all those countries have been rightly raised in this My hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough debate. (Sir Edward Leigh) made an excellent speech that In Syria and the wider region, 5.5 million children are articulately and strongly highlighted the terrible events in need of education, and more than half are out of and crimes that affect children. I know he has been to school. There is danger of a “lost generation” of Syrian the DRC, and he will therefore be aware of the funding children experiencing trauma, displacement and missing that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides to out on education, which is the cornerstone for brighter a project in that country led by War Child. I recently futures. Their lives have been disrupted and potentially visited Goma and saw for myself the excellent work wasted. That is why the UK is supporting UNICEF and being done by the UN on disarmament, demobilisation others in Syria and the region through the No Lost and the reintegration of children back into communities. Generation initiative, which aims to increase support It must also be acknowledged that authorities in the for education, psychosocial support, and protection for DRC have made good progress in removing children 1135 Protecting Children in Conflict3 JULY 2014 Protecting Children in Conflict 1136

[Mark Simmonds] My hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) was right to crystallise some from the ranks of the Congolese army, and they are of the horrific events we have seen recently. Hopefully, significantly committed to implementing their action he is aware of the support that the UK Government are plan, which they discussed in the ESVC summit and the providing to the Nigerian Government specifically to fringe meetings that took place. deal with the challenges in northern Nigeria. He was My hon. Friend also, quite rightly, mentioned the right to highlight the fact that the UK is leading in that importance of education, and as part of the package to area, whether on ending impunity, building capacity, support the Nigerian Government after the terrible training, assistance for rehabilitation or allocating funding. events that have occurred in northern Nigeria, DFID, My hon. Friend was correct, as he concluded his along with the United States Agency for International remarks, to highlight the importance of forced marriage Development, is hoping to put in place policies and and female genital mutilation. In July, the Prime Minister funding that will draw back into education more than will host the UK’s first girl summit, but I should take 1 million children in northern Nigeria. DFID is the this opportunity to be unequivocal on the UK position largest bilateral education donor. Some 11% of its on FGM and forced marriages. In the UK, both are funding goes on education aid, half of which is committed criminal offences, and they are child abuse when minors to being spent in fragile and conflicted-affected states. are involved. We are fully committed to tackling those The UK funds partners to provide education supply issues, for example through the work of the joint Foreign kits in refugee camps in Syria, and is committed to and Commonwealth Office and Home Office forced providing packs of textbooks to benefit 300,000 Syrian marriage unit, and through providing funding for NGOs. children and to funding programmes in Syria to provide The hon. Member for Bristol East, who spoke for the basic education. I inform my hon. Friend the Member Opposition, was right to mention the challenges and the for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) horrific events that have taken place in the Central that an open working group at the UN will conclude a African Republic. We have contributed £23 million to report on post-2015 goals for discussion at the General the CAR, providing emergency health care and support Assembly. Education will clearly form an integral part for hundreds of thousands of people. The CAR interim of that, and those discussions are ongoing. president has rightly referred the situation in the country The hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris) to the International Criminal Court, which has the made a powerful contribution discussing primarily the scope to investigate the allegations, but the situation is challenges that are raging in the middle east, particularly dire, particularly outside the capital, and we are doing as they relate to the Israel-Palestine conflict. I reiterate everything we can to ensure that UN Security Council that we utterly condemn the appalling murders of both resolution 2149, which was adopted earlier this year, is the Israeli and Palestinian children, and we stand ready deployed by 15 September. to help bring those responsible to justice. We are concerned I recognise the hon. Lady’s points on Burma, but I about the recent increase in violence in Gaza and the want to ensure that the House understands that the risks to children. Rockets coming from Gaza into Israel Burmese Government are committed to end the practice must stop. We call on Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian that she mentioned, building on the progress since Authority to work together to allow for the legal use of signing the action plan with the UN in June 2012. Some the Gaza strip for innocent people. I also inform the child soldiers have been released in Burma, but we are hon. Gentleman that DFID has a number of initiatives working closely with the Burmese authorities to ensure to protect children specifically in the region, including that releases continue. psychosocial support and clearing schools of unexploded All parties to armed conflict, state and non-state devices. alike, must abide by international law. The protection of My hon. Friend the Member for Stafford has knowledge civilians during armed conflict is a priority for the of, passion for and interest in Africa. He was right to United Kingdom and forms an integral part of our highlight the appalling actions there, including women building stability overseas strategy. We therefore remain being raped and then prosecuted, and ending up in committed to making progress. I believe that such abuse prison, as I have seen for myself, and the extraordinary of children, wherever it is in the world, but particularly challenge of child soldiers. He was right to suggest that in conflict areas, should not and must not be tolerated. progress can and is being made in reconciliation and The words “children” and “soldiers” should not and do rehabilitation. Like the hon. Member for Bristol East not belong in the same sentence. (Kerry McCarthy), I saw for myself the displaced peoples camps up in Gulu in northern Uganda—it sounds as 2.14 pm though we were there at a similar time—and the Fiona O’Donnell: I thank all hon. Members for taking extraordinary work being done by NGOs such as Oxfam part in the debate. As my hon. Friend the Member for and Christian Aid, not just on assimilating people back Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) said, we might not have into communities, but on forgiveness in such difficult had quantity, but we have certainly had quality in the and challenging areas. contributions. The hon. Member for Stafford (Jeremy My hon. Friend may also be interested to know of Lefroy) was right to say that the situation regarding the significant progress that has been made by Chad, protecting children in conflict is getting worse. I was Sierra Leone and Liberia on stopping recruitment in pleased that my hon. Friend drew attention to the UN the first place by putting in place policies on, for example, report published on Tuesday that makes that clear. birth registration. The safer schools initiative is important. There was hope in the debate. If we had had a debate Hopefully, he is aware that the UK has invested in that before the Syria crisis, we would not have emphasised initiative in northern Nigeria, which is being ably led by education as much as we have today. The hon. Member our ex-Prime Minister. for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh), in an in-depth, 1137 Protecting Children in Conflict 3 JULY 2014 1138 considered and informed contribution—it was not Social Mobility/Child Poverty Strategy lengthy—told us of his personal experience of the benefits that education can bring. It is not an add-on, but an 2.16 pm essential part of our response to humanitarian crisis. The difference is that the Syrian refugees are not people Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles) (Lab): I beg to for whom conflict was the last straw. Those people had move, quite good lives by middle eastern standards—in many That this House has considered social mobility and the child cases, they are professional people. poverty strategy. For children who have seen and experienced things I was tremendously moved and impressed by the that no child should ever see, there is not a loss of hope, depth of knowledge of my hon. Friend the Member for because children have a wonderful quality—resilience. East Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell) and the other Members All we need to do is give them that bridge to a life that who contributed to the previous debate. It was a pleasure was good. That can mean education or an attachment to listen to their contributions. to one person in their lives who makes them feel valued. The second debate this afternoon is also on a very I presume the hon. Member for East Worthing and important topic on which there is a great deal of cross-party Shoreham (Tim Loughton) was talking about going to consensus. We may differ on some issues, but, like the Za’atari camp. One amazing thing that struck me is protecting children in conflict, social mobility raises a that families there now have a supermarket to go to. It sense of passion, commitment and determination to would be the most amazing therapeutic experience for a improve things, which should be a matter for celebration child to be in a supermarket trolley, because it is a among hon. Members. I look forward to their contributions. bridge to a life in which that child was a happy child. We I thank my fellow members of the all-party group on need to offer children all the time those bridges and social mobility, some of whom are in the Chamber, opportunities to a better and happier time, and to a although Baroness Tyler cannot be here because she is a childhood. Member of the other place. I pay tribute to her work on I thank the Minister for the work that he and his character and resilience, and on the manifesto she has Department are doing. He has the support of Members published. I also pay tribute to the in-depth academic on both sides of the House. Today, it seems that we are and practical information she has drawn together, which all comrades. almost gives a new perspective on social mobility, and Question put and agreed to. which we have debated for a considerable period. I will Resolved, mention later a couple of the points she makes. That this House has considered the matter of protecting children I also thank Alan Milburn, chair of the commission in conflict. on poverty and social mobility. All the members of the commission are doing a tremendous job on behalf of the House. In the introduction to his “State of the Nation” report, he says he was appointed to hold the Government’s feet to the fire. He is pleased about that, and he has not pulled any punches in his recommendations. He has excellent people with him on the commission. In my view, they make not only academic observations, but practical recommendations not only for the Government but for employers, hon. Members, parents, families and citizens of our country. For the Government, taking the step to appoint the commission was brave, because having an external body that holds their feet to the fire is not always the most comfortable situation, as I can testify as a former Minister. However, external bodies give different views, information and perspectives. The report has therefore been tremendously helpful for all of us. The work that has been done is absolutely meticulous. The research conducted means that we now have a body of evidence on child poverty and social mobility that we did not have previously. That has been translated into pretty accessible language that I think most people can understand. The commission has given us a new impetus to take these issues forward. The question we will all be asking ourselves at the outset is this: why does social mobility matter? Why is it the subject of regular debates in the House? Why, increasingly, are employers concerned about it? Why does it affect every bit of our community? For me, this is a very personal issue. My mum and dad left school at 14. They did not have the opportunity to stay on into further education, let alone have access to higher education. They were absolutely determined that their children would have the opportunities that they had not had. My mum probably coined the phrase 1139 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1140 Strategy Strategy [Hazel Blears] of reasons, do not end up there. There are 3,000 children who are good enough academically, but are not able to “Education, education, education”long before our previous take that next step into higher education. Four private Prime Minister. That has been the sense for many years schools and one elite college sent more students to in our country: the people who did not have the educational Oxbridge over three years than 2,000 schools and colleges opportunities, money and resources to pursue their own across the United Kingdom. State school pupils, when dreams wanted to make sure that the next generation they do get there, are far more likely to get a 2:1 or a would have that chance. first class degree at university than their private school My mum—I just want to place this on record as a counterparts with the same A-level results. It is therefore tribute to my mum—won a scholarship to the Royal not that children from working class backgrounds are Academy of Arts when she was 14 years old. She was an not capable of achieving some extremely high academic immensely talented artist. Her father was at the war. outcomes; it is that there are barriers in the system that She came from a very poor background and did not prevent them from achieving their potential. have the money to take up the scholarship in London. Those are worrying facts. We clearly need to take She was, therefore, unable to go. If anything, that action to ensure, as far as possible, that we get rid of the absolutely redoubled her commitment to education. barriers that are not about how clever, bright, determined She took her first O-level at the age of 38. She took an or hard-working pupils are. They are systemic barriers A-level in English in her 40s. Her lifelong love of that have dogged us for generations. We are making education was absolutely apparent. In our lives, sometimes some progress. I acknowledge that Government action the people in our families are our inspiration to try to is taking us along, but it is so slow and so inch-by-inch make things better. She was certainly my inspiration. that I think there is more we can do more quickly to I think the issue matters because it is about fairness. make that happen. Most of us are committed to fairness and ensuring that, Alan Milburn, in a very important previous report, as far as possible, people have a platform to succeed and raised the ability of children to access professions. He to reach their potential. It is also about merit—a talked about the rising use of unpaid internships to characteristic that is deeply embedded in most of us in access many professions, whether law, journalism, fashion, this country and in countries across the world. That couture and, dare I say it, politics. Internships increasingly sense of a meritocracy—that if someone is good enough became the way to access professions, but they were they will be able to get on in life and break through denied to many young people from less-affluent barriers—is a really powerful driver. backgrounds. Working for free does not come cheap. It is also, perhaps in more prosaic terms, a financial Most of the internships that provide access to professions issue. Research undertaken by the Sutton Trust states are based here in London. If people cannot afford that if we do not tackle the issues of social mobility, the accommodation and do not have the bank of mum and subsequent waste of talent and skills could cost this dad, it is virtually impossible to come to London and country £140 billion by 2050. There is an ideological take them up. justification, but also an absolutely compelling practical and financial justification too. Many companies have made progress on internships Where are we at the moment? I am afraid that the in the past few years. The social mobility business report does not paint a very happy picture: compact, working with employers, has begun to highlight the fact that offering long-term unpaid internships is “We see a danger that social mobility – having risen in the middle of the last century then flat-lined towards the end – could utterly unfair. It is a bad practice and it should not be go into reverse in the first part of this century.” carried out by the best firms in our country. We now It is part of Britain’s DNA that everyone should have a have a whole range of companies providing first-class fair chance in life, but at the moment Alan Milburn paid internships, with proper development opportunities. warns that Britain could become “a divided country”. Companies such as KPMG, Ernst and Young, British Those comments should make us all take a step back, Academy of Film and Television Arts, and Fujitsu, reflect on where we are and redouble our efforts to which operates in my area, are offering paid internships make sure that the situation does not continue, and and developing young people’s skills and talents. CH2M does not continue to get worse, in the coming years. Hill, a massive engineering firm, has just set up a There has been some extremely good research by the scheme for paid internships, particularly to draw more Sutton Trust and I want to outline a few sharp bullet women into science, engineering and consulting. Johnson points that might help to put the debate in perspective. & Johnson, the medical and pharmaceutical industries The state we are in now in the 21st century, in a modern and BP are just some of the examples I know about industrialised, relatively wealthy affluent nation, causes where firms have changed their practice. In the past, us all a great deal of concern. Children in the poorest they may have had unpaid internships, but now that fifth of families are already nearly a year behind children practice is no longer acceptable. That is making a key from middle-income families when they start school at difference to young people, not just in attaining education the age of five. I see this in my constituency day after but in providing the access to professions and jobs that day. I see children coming to school with speech and will ensure that they earn a decent income and can have language problems—they are not even ready to access an exciting future. education. I see children, because of difficult family We used to have a lot of unpaid internships in the backgrounds, falling behind almost immediately when House some years ago. I am delighted to say that with they come to school because they do not have the the advent of the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement back-up from home and the community. Scheme, which I helped to establish with the 100% At the other end of the scale, 3,000 state-educated backing of Mr Speaker, I think and hope the number of pupils achieve the A-level grades necessary to enter the MPs who take people on unpaid internships can now be country’s most selective universities, but who, for a variety counted on the fingers of one hand—maybe just one or 1141 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1142 Strategy Strategy two Members. We all now recognise that that might time punting than they spent attending lectures and have been the culture in the past, but excluding young gaining academic achievements. There is still a wide people from working-class backgrounds from getting range of barriers, and I think that we still have a long into politics is not just unfair to them: it is bad for our waytogo. politics. We have a lot of complaints about the political The report also deals with poverty and poverty pay. class. I did some research. In 1979, 3% of MPs of all Many children are finding it very difficult to achieve in parties came from that career transmission belt of being the same way as their colleagues because of poverty. special advisers working for Ministers and so on. At the The Government will tell me that many more families last election, it was nearly 25%. We have a real problem are now in work, and that the number of completely getting people from diverse backgrounds to Parliament. workless households has been dramatically reduced. I am pleased to say that Mr Speaker’s scheme is making However, there is still poverty in families who are out a significant difference. I am grateful to the companies there working hard, doing all the things that we ask that have supported the scheme. I am beginning a them to do, playing by the rules and supporting the dialogue with the Government on how we can ensure system. that it is sustainable in the long term. I am extremely The problem of the cost of living and low incomes is encouraged by the all-party commitment to the scheme, a really stubborn one. We need to deal with it, because which has been endorsed by the three party leaders. that poverty is feeding through to children. It is very That is evidence of consensus across the House. I hope difficult for them to have a platform for achievement we can achieve sustainability. when they are living in difficult housing conditions There are problems at the beginning of life and with with no room to do their homework, their parents are early years development. There are problems with A-level extremely low-paid, and life is a real struggle. The achievement, problems with access to university and report recommends that the minimum wage should be problems with access to professions. These are all systemic increased, and that we should try to give people access barriers. to the living wage. I think that that is the least that we However, as we get better at tackling each of those can do if we want to give children and young people a issues, the problem seems to settle in different areas. An chance to get on in life. example of that arose from a case in my constituency Another significant issue raised in the report is one to involving post-graduate education. At first I wondered which I referred earlier. The issue of character and why post-graduate education was a social mobility issue: resilience is very new in this area. In the past, people surely, I thought, by the time people reached that stage, used to say that children at private schools somehow they would have gone through the system, obtained acquired the character and resilience that they were their degrees and so forth. However, when a young man taught in that environment, whereas children at state in my constituency, Damien Shannon, applied to Oxford schools did not have the “grit” that is, increasingly, a for a place on a post-graduate course, he was required foundation for success. As was shown in the “Character to meet certain conditions. Not only did he have to find and Resilience Manifesto” produced by my noble Friend £11,000 for tuition fees; he also had to find just over Baroness Tyler, that quality of character and resilience £10,000 to cover living expenses, and he had to prove is not something that people are born with. It is not that the necessary liquid cash was available to him. The necessarily in their genetic make-up, and they do not “living expenses” included entertaining, dining in hall, have it because they come from the best families in the and being able to sustain an “Oxford lifestyle”. land. Character and resilience can be taught. I have been fascinated to learn that character and Damien comes from Salford, and he is a very bright resilience, and the ability to get on in life, are about young man. He decided that, one, the requirement was three things. First, one must have a work ethic and be not fair, and two, he could not possibly meet it. He prepared to focus, concentrate and apply one’s mind to could get a career development loan for the tuition fees, a task for a long period. That can be taught. Secondly, but there was no way in which he could get a loan to one must be prepared to accept deferred gratification enable him to have an “Oxford lifestyle” in the form of and be prepared to invest for the longer term, rather dining and entertaining. He therefore decided to bring a than wanting success immediately. That means saying legal challenge, and we have worked on that together “If I work now, I will get results. I may get them a little for the last 18 months. I initiated a very good debate further down the line, but it will be absolutely worth it.” about the matter in the House, to which the Minister Thirdly, in the context of social mobility, one must have for Universities and Science, the right hon. Member for the ability to bounce back from adversity. There is an Havant (Mr Willetts), responded. We had endless increasing body of evidence to suggest that those three conversations with Oxford university, which, I am delighted things can be taught, and they are crucial to the personal to say, has now changed its admission requirements ability of someone to succeed in life. for post-graduate education, and has abandoned the Let me ask the Government specifically to look into requirement for applicants to show that they have sufficient what we are doing in our state school system to inculcate living expenses. in youngsters from tough backgrounds the ability to Damien has taken up his place at Oxford. He is work hard, focus and concentrate, the ability to accept absolutely delighted, and he is doing really well. I want deferred gratification—it will not all come now—and to place on record my admiration for a brave, clever, that essential resilience and ability to bounce back from determined young man who was not going to let the adversity. If we do that, we shall be doing something system beat him. I have no doubt that he will have an which I think will be sustainable in the long term. absolutely brilliant career in the future. However, we Rather than developing a programme or a specific really cannot have that in this day and age, in our top initiative, we shall be training our young people to universities. We cannot allow them to hark back to recognise that it is their responsibility as well to acquire another age when people may have spent slightly more the tools that they need in order to make progress. 1143 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1144 Strategy Strategy [Hazel Blears] simply is not there. I believe that there is still a huge gap in that regard. There should be more support for parents Alan Milburn has made some very interesting practical to enable them to do for their children what they no recommendations about what the Government could doubt want to do, but for various reasons are incapable do in regard to educational attainment in particular. He of doing. All politicians should be as brave as the refers to, for instance, the need to ensure that we can commission has been in saying that we need not just to have the best teachers in the worst schools. We have talk about that problem, but to take action on it, before talked about that for a long time. I remember, before I the family are so dysfunctional that we have to have a was in the Government, looking at our manifesto and troubled families programme, with all the intrusion and asking “Is there a way in which we can reward the intervention that that entails. teachers who are prepared to come and teach in difficult What practically can we do through early intervention? inner-city schools where life can be really tough?” We In his most recent Ofsted report, Michael Wilshaw said have experimented with various schemes and programmes that the big problems of educational under-attainment such as Teach First, but I think we must recognise that have moved from the inner cities to some very poor teaching in some of our most challenged schools is an coastal areas, remote areas and suburban areas. I was extremely hard job. I should like to see something in the fascinated to see how that has happened. A lot has been system, rather than a scheme or a project, which recognises said about the London challenge and how that has that and rewards teachers for doing it. transformed schools in London. When I came into Parliament in 1997, about 22% of children in Salford Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): were getting five A to C grades. Now the figure is 76%. The right hon. Lady is making a powerful speech, and I There has been a fantastic transformation in the quality think that she and Alan Milburn are absolutely right of the schools in my inner-city constituency. That is to focus on the need to embed those incentives in the where the focus has been. The big problems of social system. The combination of the pupil premium and the mobility are now in communities that have not had changes in accountability are systemic approaches to access to such provision and are not well-off—they are provide the wherewithal to reward people for coming in quite poor and almost not on the radar. Michael Wilshaw to teach in those schools, and to ensure that we do not has done us all a great service in highlighting that. He have an accountability system whereby those in more said: prosperous areas are less likely to be found wanting “Today, many of the disadvantaged children performing least than those in areas where the educational fight is fiercest. well in school can be found in leafy suburbs, market towns or seaside resorts. Hazel Blears: Obviously I support the pupil premium, There are stark consequences for our nation if we do not act because it is a way of putting a substantial amount of with sufficient urgency.” money into the system to be targeted at the children and That reinforces the view I took when I was Secretary of young people who need the most help. However, I have State for Communities and Local Government that to say that I have been very disappointed by the monitoring there were pockets of deprivation in otherwise affluent and the accountability of the pupil premium. I know of areas and that, for reasons to do with the data and the many schools where—unsurprisingly, at a time of really information we had, they were not addressed. What are tight budgets—it is being used to back-fill what could the Minister’s plans to ensure that children in those be described as conventional posts, rather than being areas receive the attention that they need? targeted at the children for whom it was designed. The I find it fascinating that, if there is early intervention challenge for us is to ensure that the money is used in in schools through a specific programme where there is the way in which it was intended, to raise the achievements evidence that it can make a difference, the transformation of the poorest children to the level of, at least, the can be dramatic. I want to single out two schemes of average achievements of the rest. I shall refer to some which I have personal experience. The Place to Be schemes that have been able to do that, but let me say to scheme operates in six primary schools in my city and the Minister now that better monitoring of the use of helps families and children who are in the most difficult the pupil premium is essential. circumstances imaginable. Many of the children’s parents Alan Milburn also talks about action by employers, have problems with alcohol and drug addiction. Many and refers to the living wage, apprenticeships and fair of the children are not able to go to school sometimes internships. Those are practical measures, and if we can because of family difficulties. Place to Be provides a persuade all employers to adopt them, we shall make a support and counselling service. It has been operating difference. Alan also makes what I think is quite a brave with the pupil premium—that is the reason that money suggestion; he is well known for being prepared to be has been provided. I have seen evaluated evidence that brave. He talks of breaking the last “taboo”, which he is incredibly impressive. The rate of progress of the says is parenting. children in the worst families is now the same as the I am a former Home Office Minister who was responsible average rate of progress among the other children in for the antisocial behaviour programme, the respect those schools. It is almost a miracle, dare I say it. The programme and the beginning of the troubled families head teachers who chose to use the pupil premium for programme. The Government are continuing some of that project have done a great service to their community. that work, but at the time it was highly controversial The Shine on Saturdays scheme does Saturday schools. territory: why were the Government telling parents how It does Serious Fun on Saturdays. It has a fantastic to bring up their children? However, all of us will know evidence base. Owing to the work it does on Saturdays, from our constituencies that in some families the it is helping the most deprived communities. In many responsibility for setting boundaries, and for supporting places, people will say, “We do not have the money to children and encouraging them to do their very best, do that extra programme, on top of what we are already 1145 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1146 Strategy Strategy doing.” I ask the Minister to consider carefully—I have every child comes up to a standard. More of them are spoken to the Secretary of State about the matter—the capable of it than we have realised. Sometimes perhaps possibility of mobilising social investment to fund such we have been so quick to recognise the different pace community-based interventions, which are able to make and different circumstances of each child that we lose a dramatic impact and have a strong, rigorous evidence the idea that they are capable of a lot more if we ensure base. That social investment can be repaid through the that they are aware that if they work hard they will savings that we make when those children get on in life, get on. rather than causing myriad problems, including welfare I thank the Backbench Business Committee, chaired dependency and criminal action, which cost us a fortune. by the hon. Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha It is an excellent way to invest for the long term. Now Engel), for granting the opportunity to discuss this that we have an evidence base, we have a responsibility important issue today. As has been said, last week the to find out how we can spread that across the country. Government published their child poverty strategy from I will declare my unpaid interest as a member of Big 2014 and 2017. It has three main strands: supporting Society Capital’s advisory board. The things I have families into work, raising living standards and raising seen, which can be done if we mobilise private investment educational attainment. It is on the last of those three for public good, are impressive and I ask the Minister to that I will focus. take that into account in his closing remarks. The work of our education system will go a long way I had a couple of other questions for the Minister; towards determining whether we are able to break the I think I have raised most of the questions that I had. I connection that the right hon. Lady touched on between have no doubt that he will be pressed for time. Social demography, deprivation and destiny. Because of that, mobility is sometimes a relatively academic term for the Education Committee held a pre-appointment hearing something that most of us know in our hearts: all to scrutinise the appointment of Alan Milburn as the families want their children to have a decent start, to get chairman of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty a good education to get on in life and to be able to bring Commission two years ago. The Government have two up their own family. If we are not careful, we are in main education priorities: raising standards for all and danger of not seeing that generational improvement. I narrowing the achievement gap between the most do not want to live in a society in which people are not disadvantaged pupils and the rest. Those aims underpins motivated to get on and do their best and succeed. It is a the reforms that the Government have undertaken in primary responsibility of any society to provide a framework the past four years. in which that can happen. That is most obviously apparent in the introduction I was always told growing up, “If you work hard, the of the pupil premium, now extended to cover the early world’s your oyster. You can do anything. You can years. The right hon. Lady made some telling points achieve anything.” That has motivated me throughout about ensuring that that money is used to best effect. my life. I want us to be able to say that to every child in Perhaps too often in the Government in which she this country—if they work hard, the world is their served, there was ring-fencing to try to ensure that oyster, they are as good as anyone else in this country ministerial will was translated into action. Often that and they will succeed. It is a huge challenge for us and I had counter-productive results. What we have now is a look forward to what colleagues and the Minister have framework in which Ofsted, when it inspects schools, to say. looks at the way in which they use the pupil premium, and data are used to try to ensure that the performance 2.45 pm of children on free school meals, or the “ever 6” is Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): watched carefully from the governors downwards and It is a pleasure to take part in the debate and to follow informs their questioning of the head to ensure that the right hon. Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel every school offers opportunity to all those children. Blears), who made a powerful speech. In her closing The right hon. Lady made strong points about the need remarks, she put her finger on a key point: if children constantly to ensure that that money is used for the work hard, they are as good as anyone else and they can purpose for which it was provided. get somewhere. Perhaps at times it has been suggested That thinking also lies at the heart of the structural too often in this country that it is not about working changes made by Ministers. An example is the extension hard. Yesterday and the day before, 32 maths hubs of free child care, and the refining of accountability around the country were launched. They are designed structures so that teachers can focus on the whole class to ensure that the methodologies used in the eastern rather than just on the pupils at the C-D grade borderline. countries, which have such a big lead over us in maths I welcome the fact that these reforms focus on the whole education, are brought here. What are the core principles cohort of young people. It means that school leaders there? They do not say to someone who does well in can place equal emphasis on pushing a child on an A maths, “You are very clever at maths.” They say, “You’ve grade up to an A* or perhaps—this would not be worked hard and mastered those skills.” They emphasise captured by the accountability mechanisms, but I would the fact that with practice and application, every child hope that the system would acknowledge it in spirit— can do well. pushing a child on an A* from their present score to a A number of years ago in Japan, all the children in a higher score still. class would be judged by the performance of the weakest Too many children have been “warehoused”—I use child in the class, which is an interesting concept of the word advisedly—because those in authority believe communal working on the basis that every child can that they are unlikely ever to contribute to the A to C learn. Sometimes in our education debate—it will be grades in a school. They therefore see it as a sensible the primary focus today—we talk too much about deployment of resources to assign the least able teaching differentiation and insufficiently about ensuring that practitioners to the most needy pupils. I do not recognise 1147 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1148 Strategy Strategy [Mr Graham Stuart] the observation, but those powerful people from poor backgrounds are often obsessed by people like themselves. that as the right thing to do, but I recognise that it is A lot of the social mobility agenda appears to be about what a head teacher would be tempted to do if they getting a tiny number of very bright kids out of the were being held to account and stood to lose their job if poorest homes and into the top universities and the top they failed to meet that threshold. The practice has had jobs. That is indeed an important aim, but the question a detrimental effect. of whether someone goes to the university that is ranked This goes to the heart of a whole series of issues 30th rather than second is not our society’s biggest relating to incentives in the system, to which the right problem. hon. Member for Salford and Eccles and Alan Milburn The biggest problem in our society is that we do such have referred. It is important to get those incentives a dismal job for those people who are not only poor but right. Otherwise, there is a risk that successive Governments do not have massive academic ability. They are not who have a genuine commitment to closing the gap will hopeless, however. We know that, if they have the right create an uneven playing field for the key resource in teaching, they can do well. Our problem as a society is education—namely, teachers. I am referring in particular that so many young people end up on the dole. In other to quality teachers. Not all teachers are the same; there countries, such as Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, is a massive difference between those at the top of the the education system does not leave similarly disadvantaged performance levels and those at the bottom. people in the dole queue; it enables them to enter As well as trying to increase the overall quality of the employment. work force, we need to put in place incentives to ensure I am just throwing this into the debate because social that teachers are deployed in the most equitable way mobility is very popular with people such as Sir Peter possible. Some of the most idealistic people are committed Lampl of the Sutton Trust, which does fantastic work. to doing their best to help in the most deprived areas, He is from a fairly underprivileged background and has but at the moment they are being incentivised to teach reached the top. I say to him that the challenge is not elsewhere. A head teacher in a prosperous leafy suburb people like him. It is not our biggest problem if people is far less likely to be fired than one in a deprived like him end up in middle management instead of inner-city school. The same is true for department becoming multi-millionaire philanthropists like him. heads and other teachers. The Government say that Our biggest problem is that so many people have lousy, they want to close the gap, yet the key resource—quality miserable, deprived lives because we did not give them teachers—is being incentivised to roll down the hill the basic tools that they needed, along with a bit of towards where they are least needed. self-belief and the idea that if they worked hard, they This reminds me of the Select Committee’s recent could do maths and pretty much anything else they report, “Underachievement in Education by White Working wanted to do in life. I just throw that in to be controversial. Class Children”, which found that this was not just a It cannot be emphasised too often that the key lies in boy problem. It was thought that white working-class the quality of teaching. Professor Eric Hanushek from boys had a particular problem, but the report showed Stanford university, working with Professor Steve Machin that white working-class boys and girls now constitute and Richard Murphy from the London School of the lowest performing ethnic minority group. One of Economics, calculated that one year with a very effective the most telling pieces of information I saw during that teacher adds an extra 25% to 45% of an average school inquiry related to what free-school-meals children were year to a pupil’s maths score performance. There is an achieving in the four different Ofsted categories of idea that there is an enormous difference between a schools. The percentage of such children getting five teacher in the 90th percentile and one in the 10th percentile. good GCSEs—grades A to C on the current measure—in The figures that I have already mentioned show that inadequate schools was about 25%. In outstanding good teachers have a peculiarly positive impact on schools, the figure was 50%. There was a 100% increase children who have less support at home, and a peculiarly in the number of children from the poorest groups negative impact on those same children as well. The getting five good GCSEs. The difference between the effects of high-quality teaching are especially significant inadequate and outstanding schools for children not in for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who gain the poorest group was only 50%. an extra year’s worth of learning under very effective That reinforces the long-standing view, which the teachers, compared with poorly performing ones. Committee has examined, that poor children are peculiarly These findings underline the importance of good sensitive to the quality of leadership and teaching in recruitment and teacher training, which are critical. their schools. This is not just a social equity point; the They also show that we must ensure that the best pupils that we need to get the most effective teaching to teachers work where they are needed the most. In its are the poorest children. They are also the ones who are 2013 report, the Social Mobility and Child Poverty the most responsive to it, and if they are provided with Commission found that fewer than a third of schools in it, they can do a great deal better. the most deprived areas in the north-east had teaching I support initiatives designed to help talented youngsters rated as good or outstanding, compared with 85% in from deprived backgrounds to achieve great things. the least deprived areas. That this does not have to be Ultimately, however, the goal of increasing social mobility the case is shown, as the right hon. Member for Salford is best served by taking action at system-wide level, and Eccles said, by the statistics from London, where which will benefit children of average and below-average 77% of the teaching in the most deprived areas was ability as well. I am often told that this country is good or outstanding. We need to put in place the right dominated by a public school elite, but it is frequently incentives to encourage the best teachers and school people from poorer backgrounds who have made it leaders to work in those schools. Governing bodies’ to the top who tell me this. There is some truth in newly granted flexibility to design attractive pay packages 1149 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1150 Strategy Strategy to recruit and retain teachers will help, especially when quality and frequently affected by perverse incentives, coupled with the additional financial firepower of the such as those that discourage some struggling schools pupil premium for schools that serve particularly deprived from advertising further education or apprenticeships communities. properly for fear of losing the funding that follows the Linked to this, we also need to encourage schools to pupil and because of the need to keep pupils sitting on work together to share expertise. The Education Committee seats. For too many school and college leaders, in a has recommended that the Government should widen system with very sharp-edged accountability structures, the funding available to schools to support collaboration careers advice and guidance is simply not a priority. If it beyond academy sponsorship, so that it could be used is to improve, we need more challenge in the system. to assist other partnerships. The Government’s own The Department’s development of destinations data, figures provided to the Select Committee in February showing where pupils go on to work and study, may showed that the majority of academies were not currently help to build this challenge in the medium term, although part of a formal partnership. More needs to be done to they also may not be the silver bullet that some hope build on the greater collaboration that exists in our for. Time will tell how useful the data are, not least in schools, between schools in academy chains and across driving behaviour and accountability in schools. academy groups as well as between academies and A more immediate such challenge can be posed by other maintained schools. We need to go further to school governors, particularly where the school appoints ensure that we have the right incentives in place to make a designated careers governor to focus on this area—that that collaboration genuine and much more prevalent person could be from a local employer. That is what is than it is now. recommended by the Humber local enterprise partnership, The Select Committee also recommended that the which has just published its gold standard assessment Government reintroduce targeted seedcorn funding for criteria for schools in Hull, East Yorkshire and North sustainable partnerships between independent and state Lincolnshire. The document sets out, in comprehensive schools. School leaders could be encouraged to sign up detail, the work that schools and colleges should be to partnerships by introducing the excellent leadership doing to provide a first-class careers education, and I awards proposed by Ofsted’s Sir Michael Wilshaw, which recommend it to Ministers. Its stipulations include a would be available only to those who supported requirement that schools offer young people face-to-face underperforming schools in disadvantaged communities. careers guidance and that employer engagement and Never again should anyone be able to be seen as a external expertise are integrated into the programme national leader in education or a significant player in through mentoring, work experience and enterprise clubs. our education system—or to be given an award of any Too often, it seems as though schools can be hermetically sort—if they are not working in some of the deprived sealed worlds with their own drivers, cut off from the communities. We have to make working and being real world into which the young people in them will successful in those communities the sine qua non of come blinking, and too many will be left on the dole as recognition of someone doing the best job in the toughest a result. We need to open up the schools and allow the of circumstances. world of employment into them in multiple ways. I On other possible measures, the Education Committee know that Lord Lucas is working on a programme to has advised that it would be helpful if school accountability get employers to help to do the practicals that will be measures could be redesigned to incorporate encouragement part of the science A-levels in future; they will move to for schools to work together. I am not yet clear exactly being on a pass/fail basis because of the difficulty of what that would look like. Head teachers must be held externally monitoring standards there. If employers are to account for the performance of their schools, but we getting involved in practicals in all our sixth forms, that must consider how we ensure that someone’s work in will not only help to embed a careers perspective into collaboration with others is recognised and encouraged. that learning, but it will make the learning richer and When considering how to support pupils from deprived more interesting, and make the practical skills learned backgrounds we need to remember that patterns of seem relevant in an exams system that might have deprivation are complex. Ofsted’s “Unseen children” appeared to have downgraded their importance. report highlighted that the places where the most disadvantaged children are being let down are, as the The local enterprise partnership gold standard right hon. Lady said, now no longer so much in the stipulations also include targeting and prioritising those inner cities, but in rural and coastal areas. In 2012, four most at risk of disengaging from learning or of becoming of the bottom five performing local authorities on NEET—not in education, employment or training. The attainment outcomes for pupils on free school meals Humber gold standard is being piloted in a small number were Peterborough, West Berkshire, Herefordshire and of local academies and maintained schools, with a view the Isle of Wight. The weak performance of many to a roll-out across the LEP area from this autumn. schools in rural and coastal areas is yet another reason, There will be lessons to learn from the pilot experience, alongside basic fairness, why launching a national funding but this approach, which is being complemented by an formula that is based on need rather than on skewed integrated online portal and the employment of dedicated political priorities should be such an important priority advisers, appears to be a potential model of its kind. for the Government. Helping young people to make informed choices about the courses they take and the careers they follow is vital In the relatively short time available to me, I wish to to boost their success in finding employment. discuss a second area where performance needs to improve if we are to increase social mobility: careers advice and A couple of years ago, the Education and Employers guidance for young people. At the moment, organisations Taskforce undertook a major survey of 15-year-olds, ranging from Ofsted to the CBI and to my Select asking them where they thought they would be working Committee are clear that careers provision in schools is in years to come and then mapping their responses patchy in its availability, too often underwhelming in against the national data on where the jobs are expected 1151 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1152 Strategy Strategy [Mr Graham Stuart] real divides of wealth and opportunity in every part of these islands. It cannot be the mark of a decent society to be. It showed a horrific mismatch. If I recall it correctly, that, in the ward in which my constituency office is it showed that 29% of young people thought they were based, nearly one in every two children is in poverty, going to work in culture, media and sport, even though while just a few minutes away, in the constituency of the fewer than 5% of jobs are expected to be in those areas. Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and It showed that only 5% of young people expected to Skills, the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo work in finance, yet 20% of the jobs are expected to be Swinson), the number stands at only one in 12. Some in in that area. We have to find ways of making this this House might envisage the answer as being the information available to young people and their parents, creation of new state borders across these islands, but not so that they can discard their dreams, hopes and the more progressive solution is to bring down the desires, but so that they can be informed by the realities barriers that hold back too many of our talented young of the labour market when they make their choices, people. The concern that many Members will have is both in school and beyond. that the detail of the Government’s child poverty strategy The ultimate goal of the £57 billion a year that the simply does not meet the scale of the commission’s Department spends is to help young people get on in report, or indeed the need of the people whose voices life. Getting a decent job is the first step in climbing the deserve to be heard in this debate. ladder in a socially mobile society, as the Government’s The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that, with no child poverty strategy acknowledges. This is a huge and change in current policies, there will be big rises in child complex area of policy, and I look forward to hearing poverty. I hope that this debate will give the Government the thoughts of colleagues and the Minister today. an opportunity to reflect on that and to work with the When considering this issue, we must remember that the Opposition for a long-term approach to defeating and extent to which social mobility is achievable goes to the ending child poverty. heart of who we are and what we are about as a nation, and what we achieve in this area for the next generation The first key point is that we are facing a crisis in the will determine the sort of country Britain will become. nature and security of employment that previous generations in recent times did not encounter in the same way. Global flows of labour, services, goods and 3.6 pm capital and the hollowing out of the jobs market, which Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): It is a saw the loss of tens of thousands of skilled manufacturing pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Beverley and and construction jobs, has meant that there is an even Holderness (Mr Stuart). I congratulate my right hon. bigger premium on skills for people at every stage of Friend the Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears) their working lives. on securing this important debate and launching it with Glasgow Kelvin college, which sits across the road such an excellent, passionate speech. I also congratulate from my constituency office, is now the beating economic the Backbench Business Committee on granting the heart of my constituency. It gives young people from time to discuss this study, which was published last very difficult family backgrounds—I am talking about October by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty backgrounds in which there is alcohol abuse, violence in Commission. I have a particular interest in this issue for the home or drug abuse—the first, second or third several reasons, the principal one being that the opportunity to get the literacy, numeracy or other vocational commission’s chair made a very well-received speech skills that are required to get the jobs of today and the last year at Springburn academy, in my constituency. future. It is only by doing that that we will begin to see The experiences of my constituents in communities genuine shared prosperity across this country. suffering from multiple deprivation will form the context to my contribution. Two weeks ago, the principal of that local college told me that nearly one young person in five in the My parents, like those of my right hon. Friend, both north and east of Glasgow lacks skills at even level 3. If left school before the age of 16. They had to work hard we continue with that level of illiteracy and innumeracy, in jobs as teenagers, because that was needed in order to we will not see a rise in social mobility in our country. provide for the rest of the family. The concern that That is the scale of the crisis that we see in one of the many millions of people across this country have is that poorest parts of these islands. their dream of seeing their children do better than they did—a dream we thought would continue through The analysis published by the OECD last autumn, generations to come—is in danger not only of failing to with data from England and Northern Ireland—Scotland be realised, but of actually going into reverse unless we and Wales were not included—also provides us with a make big policy changes. I also endorse entirely what stark warning about reduced living standards in the my right hon. Friend said about the need for universities future compared with other countries if we fail to get to and colleges to reach out and be open to talent in every grips with the skills agenda. In the decades to come, part of the country, regardless of someone’s ability to inequality in skills will be as big a barrier to a good life pay or family connections. That was a big part of my as inequality of financial wealth. job when I was a university admissions tutor in London I hope the Government will work with the Opposition and in Glasgow. Links between universities, colleges to look at the impact of the 16-hour rule on many of and schools are central to breaking down the old boy our colleges. Recently, I spoke to some young people and old girl networks that are too prevalent in many who said that they are unable to get state support if they professions and in our politics. want to train and improve their skills to level 3 or above The underlying causes of child poverty are numerous, at a local college. The rule also limits what courses its solutions complex, but there should be a commitment colleges can offer to improve skills. My local college by all Members across this House to end it. There are principal is excited about the prospect of removing that 1153 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1154 Strategy Strategy rule and designing new courses that would allow young economy. Nearly 3 million people have been trapped on people to improve their skills and be able to get into the pay around the minimum wage for five years or longer. employment market. Without a ladder out of that low-paid trap, they will Recently, members of the Business, Innovation and never see an improvement in their living standards and Skills Committee, of which I and the hon. Member for we will face mass inequality in this country. Worcester (Mr Walker), who is in his place, are members, Fifthly, as my right hon. Friend the Member for saw the huge benefits that come to our society and Salford and Eccles has said, we need new pathways to economy from strong links between business and boost social mobility, which is showing worrying signs universities. We must break down the barriers that of reversal. Too few people on low incomes, for example, suggest that universities are ivory towers. Universities are having the opportunity to save, so the gap between give real skills and experience to people in engineering, those who have capital, whether it is in a home or which is the kind of career that we need if we are to another vehicle, and those who do not have capital or thrive and see opportunity flow throughout the country. any savings at all is growing. Not only in discussions in Secondly, the biggest reason for the rise in wealth in this city about Thomas Piketty’s book but on the doorstep many households in the past 40 years is the increase in in every community across the country, we see the the female employment rate. If we are to continue that impact that that increase in asset inequality is having on progress, which is in danger of being reversed, we need communities. A young person might be unable to save to get real about the need to invest in quality, affordable to get the car that would allow them to get their first child care as that is the biggest barrier to some 1 million job. Other people might be unable to save to get the women being able to get back into the labour market. money together to allow them to take up a university course. Courses for adult learning are also being cut, I hear over and over from mothers in my constituency particularly in Scotland because of some of the misguided that the costs for after-school care are rising and that decisions taken by the Scottish Government. The lack the hours of child care that they need even to work of assets is a driving factor in the growing inequality part-time simply are not available. In an era when between our poorest communities and other parts of public spending will remain tight, we need to ensure our society. that we invest available funds in building institutions for people in their own communities, recognising that social We also know that the professions have to throw action without state support and vice versa will not open their doors. I have experience from the law, which bring about the permanent reductions in poverty that has some good and innovative schemes to include people we seek. In an era of tight public spending, I urge the from difficult backgrounds. I know from my experience Government to work with the Opposition to see how we as a university lecturer, however, how difficult it was for can increase investment in child care. It is essential to people to get pupillages to become barristers just because our country’s future and to reducing the inequality gap. they came from certain universities. The law and other professions must break down these barriers. We must Thirdly, the Government should think again about remove these old-boy and old-girl networks if we are to the design of the universal credit system, if it ever gets see a proper meritocracy in our country, and see people off the ground in any meaningful way, and about the who have the talent given the opportunities they deserve. tax credit system overall. As Gingerbread and other charities have pointed out, the new system will mean There is nothing inevitable about poverty. Inequality that tens of thousands of mothers in two-earner households is not a natural state for any society. Let us hope that with children will face an uphill battle to be better off in this debate can serve the purpose of ending the stop-start work should they work more than 20 hours a week. The approach we have seen in policy in this area for too tax and benefit system ought to be rewarding such long. More opportunities and a fairer society are not households, not setting a cap or limit on their aspirations optional extras if we are to pay our way in the world. In or efforts. I urge the Government to look at these rules the 21st century, they will be essential for this country’s and at the work allowance for universal credit to ensure success. that mothers and families do not lose out as a result. Fourthly, we need to become a living wage society. 3.20 pm Two out of every three families in which people are in work are now poor and they see little way of improving Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD): I congratulate their standard of living in the future. More hours at the Backbench Business Committee on giving us the work are not available, and pay is continuing to fall in opportunity to debate this important subject, and I real terms even now. As few as three in 10 of the people support many of the points made by Members on both who go out to work in my constituency bring home a sides of the House so far. living wage. Encouraging employers to pay a living It is a cause of great shame that in the 21st century wage to their staff will have the benefits of reducing the best indicator of a child’s future outcomes remains staff turnover, contributing to greater productivity, which their social class. Education is one of the most important is stagnant in our economy, enhancing satisfaction at tools we have to effect change. Quality education can work and helping to reduce the bill for tax credits and transform a child’s life chances, yet over several decades housing benefit. our education system has not adequately driven social The Government can also use their procurement mobility. powers to favour living wage employers. They should Poor children are, however, doing better at school. also be inviting the Low Pay Commission to revise its The proportion of children on free school meals getting remit to give proper forward guidance on raising the five good GCSEs including English and maths increased minimum wage across the economy and to examine the from 31% in 2010 to 38% last year. That is welcome, but case for a higher sector-by-sector floor so that as many the attainment gap between children from disadvantaged people as possible can be taken out of the low-wage backgrounds and their peers remains too wide. 1155 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1156 Strategy Strategy [Simon Wright] the work of the Norwich living wage campaign, which is looking at how we can do that. The Government The pupil premium is supporting the progress of could build on its own approach to making work pay by students from poorer backgrounds. It is vital that head encouraging more employers to pay a living wage, starting teachers retain the freedom to use this funding in a way with Government and public sector employers and their that provides the greatest benefit to the circumstances contractors. of those it is intended to support. It also vital, however, Finally, I refer briefly to an unresolved question that head teachers can make well-informed spending regarding the definition of child poverty. The previous decisions through an evidence-based understanding of Government worked to a relatively narrow definition what works. The Education Endowment Foundation is based on relative income. Using this as a driver for policy providing resources to help schools identify the most comes with perverse risks—for example, Governments effective interventions and its toolkit is now used by would find it easier to reduce relative child poverty by nearly half of all school leaders, but the attainment gap freezing the state pension over a period of time. Doing opens at a very young age, before children have even so would take many children closer and over an arbitrary started school. The Sutton Trust believes that there is a median income line, but would make absolutely no 19-month gap at the start of school between the most difference to the lives of those in poverty. and least advantaged children. A relative income definition of child poverty by itself, The coalition has taken important steps through the therefore, fails to capture the experiences and barriers provision of 15 hours of free early-years education for faced by those in poverty, such as health inequalities, disadvantaged two-year-olds, which is so important educational attainment and quality of housing. An because this is the age at which the attainment gap effective definition of child poverty should include relative becomes detectable, and I strongly welcome the published and absolute poverty, but it must also account for the consultation on the new early-years pupil premium for causes and consequences of poverty.An effective definition disadvantaged three and four-year-olds. Just as schools of child poverty would become the driver of Government have been learning how to get the most out of the pupil policy in this area, with appropriate indicators providing premium, it is also vital that early-years settings have the accountability for Government action as we seek to the tools and evidence they need to ensure that the eliminate child poverty by 2020. early-years pupil premium will help youngsters from There are few issues more important than ensuring disadvantaged backgrounds. that no child in a poor household grows up expecting a One of the most effective interventions would be to lifetime of enslavement by poverty. The distribution attract more highly qualified early-years specialists, and of opportunity is a key indicator of the fairness of a I am encouraged that the remit of the EEF has recently society, and it is our duty to ensure that where children been extended to include the early years. The challenges start off in life should not determine where they end up in raising awareness of what works in the early years in life. will be different, due to the diversity of provision, but this is important work. 3.27 pm At every stage of a child’s education, the greatest support that a school or provider can give comes through Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): I thank the the quality of its teachers and work force. Liberal Backbench Business Committee for allowing time for Democrats believe that all teachers in state schools this important debate, and I congratulate the right hon. should hold qualified teacher status, or be working Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears) and my towards it. Recruiting, training and retaining a highly hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness skilled teaching work force is crucial for all young (Mr Stuart) on securing it. I pay tribute to my hon. people, and particularly for those from disadvantaged Friend for the work that his Committee has done on families. crucial aspects of social mobility, including most recently To improve social mobility, we need to encourage the the report on poor white children, and to the right hon. strongest teachers into schools that serve high numbers Lady for not only talking about these things but doing of disadvantaged children. We also need to support the them in a practical way, not only in her constituency but continuing professional development of teachers and more broadly. She is to be commended and thanked ensure that research is applied to classroom practice, in particular on behalf of all of us for the Speaker’s perhaps by encouraging a profession-led royal college Parliamentary Placement Scheme. I benefited from having of teaching. one of the fantastic young people on the scheme, who One of the Liberal Democrats’ proudest achievements has gone on to work for the civil service. in government is the increase in the income tax threshold, For so many of us, opportunity for the many, making which will rise again to £10,500 next year. In October, society fairer and relieving poverty are the things that the national minimum wage will rise to £6.50. The brought us into politics in the first place, and they go to combined effect is that every person working full time the heart of today’s debate. Bringing up the rear of the on the national minimum wage will pocket £1,579 more debate, as I do, there is the tiniest danger that I might from their earnings than in 2010. As has been highlighted repeat some of the things that have gone before, but I in the debate, there is also a role for a living wage based see that as positive as it reflects the commonality across on local circumstances for low pay households, and I the House on some of the challenges that we face. am delighted that the Houses of Parliament have this There are big challenges today. We have entrenched week been accredited as living wage employers. Aviva, multigenerational poverty in parts of our country, massive which employs around 6,000 people in Norwich, has geographical differences, and social mobility that is low recently joined other employers in my constituency by by international standards and seems to have been committing to be a living wage employer. I encourage stagnant over a number of decades. For the avoidance others to follow its lead, and I commend in particular of doubt, none of these issues has arisen since 2010, or 1157 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1158 Strategy Strategy indeed since 1997, and will not be solved within the stellar things, going from very humble backgrounds to term of any one Government. But we have to get our running the world. The danger is that we forget the act together and work together because whatever the third group, the 70% or 80% in the middle, where social problems are today there are more difficult headwinds mobility is about helping everybody to get on, to be the coming tomorrow in the form of globalisation, the best they can be, to make the most of their talents and further effects of technological change and the differential to achieve some security in life. effect that has on people, whether their job is enhanced The three policy areas that I want to focus on cross-cut and enabled by the computer or is in competition with those three subject areas. I want to focus on teachers, the computer. Those effects are partly responsible for parents and character development. We know that the hollowing out of the labour market that the hon. education is fundamental to social mobility. At the Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain) referred to, heart of the social mobility debate is a close correlation where there are more jobs in the so-called knowledge between the circumstances, social class and income of economy at the top of the scale, lots of jobs in the low parents and the eventual circumstances, social class and wage service sector at the bottom of the scale and income of their children—but it is not a direct causal relatively fewer in between. link. Rather, disadvantage among parents tends to be We must think about mobility, fairness and distribution associated with low educational attainment, and it is within our society, but we must also think about those that which drives the child’s eventual circumstances. If things collectively on behalf of our society, relative to we can break that link between poverty among parents the rest of the world. The two go hand in hand, because and low educational achievement we can achieve a good unless everyone’s talents are optimally deployed, economic degree of social mobility. efficiency is impossible. The pupil premium is the structural measure that I think that the Government are on the right track. enables many of the initiatives for doing that, but it The child poverty strategy is right to focus on the root does not actually tell us what to do. The right hon. causes of poverty, because although cash transfers can Member for Salford and Eccles alluded to that, as did alleviate and mitigate poverty, they cannot cure it. Curing the hon. Member for Norwich South (Simon Wright). it, of course, is about many things, including regulatory Thanks to the Educational Endowment Foundation measures, such as the national minimum wage, and tax, and others, we now know more about the things that but it is also about bearing down on the extra costs can make a difference. We also have to face up to some incurred as a result of being poor. It is about building of the things that apparently do not make a difference more homes, because the single biggest cost in most but are favoured policy areas of lots of people in this people’s lives is rent, and we will not solve that issue House and elsewhere, such as reducing class sizes a structurally until we have more housing. It is about little, which, according to the data, does not seem to affordable credit and trying to help people to save and make a huge amount of difference, or the deployment build up a cushion of resilience against the nasty shocks of additional teaching assistants, which again, according that life inevitably brings. Most of all, it is about work: to the data, does not seem to make a lot of difference. I getting into it and getting on in it, and building up the can see people looking at me as though I must be mad skills required to do that. I am proud to support a to suggest that. These are still controversial things to Government who are grasping the nettle on welfare say in such debates. reform, especially through universal credit, and addressing the crucial issue of work incentives. What we do know, and I think everybody can agree I am also proud that, as my hon. Friend the Member on, is that the most important thing in education is the for Beverley and Holderness said, everything that the person standing at the front of the room. When the Government are doing on education—I pay tribute to Secretary of State says that we have the best generation the Schools Minister, who is sitting in front of me, and ever of teachers in this country, he is absolutely correct. his colleagues—is about both raising the average level A number of things have raised the status of teaching, of attainment and narrowing the gap between the rich one of which is Teach First. The figures are remarkable, and the poor. We see that most obviously in the pupil even compared with when I was at school. A couple of premium, but it is in so many other measures as well, years ago, 6% of Russell Group graduates and 10% of such as the early years extensions. We also see that in Oxford graduates applied to be teachers. Teaching has measures, such as the English baccalaureate, that act as become one of the top graduate employers at our great signalling devices to give young people a clear message universities. That, in itself, is a good thing. about which subject choices will keep their options It is also true—this is another controversial thing that most open in case that advice is not forthcoming from one sometimes finds it difficult to say—that qualifications other directions. alone are not a great predictor of who is going to make I will focus the rest of my remarks on social mobility. a great teacher. When I served on the Education Committee, When people talk about social mobility, they are generally we produced a report on attracting, training, retaining talking about one of three subjects. They often assume and developing teachers. When we tried to address the that everybody else is talking about the same thing, but question of what makes a great teacher, we kept finding they are distinct subjects that are in danger of being ourselves unable to answer it, except to say, “You know conflated. The first subject is what I call breaking out, it when you see it.” In having great teachers, we need to meaning breaking out of severe poverty. That is the link start with the premise that we have to see it in order between social mobility and child poverty. The subject to be able to know it. at the other end is what we might call stars to shine, Teaching is a very high-stakes profession. It is one of which is about nurturing outstanding talent. My hon. the few occupations left where the assumption is pretty Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness talked much that someone who starts in it at 21 will still be about how that sometimes develops into an obsession doing it in their 60s. It is a massive decision for someone with a relatively small number of people who do amazing, to go and do an undergrad degree in teaching or a 1159 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1160 Strategy Strategy [Damian Hinds] Speaking of parents and parenting, I am reminded of another vital factor in social mobility—character. We postgraduate certificate in education. I think we need all know of kids from among those we grew up with more auditioning in teaching. If we know it when we who got either no or one or two GCSEs—or, from my see it, we have to be able to see the person have a go at generation, O-levels—and have gone on to do brilliant teaching, not just at the stage of interview for a post in a things. We also know of people who had A grades to school but in pre-initial teacher training. People also spare who have ended up doing nothing that exciting. need more opportunity to see it in themselves. It is very The difference between them tends to come down to difficult for anybody to know whether they would make self-belief, drive, tenacity and, admittedly, a little bit of a great teacher—I am pretty sure I would not—and luck. There is a big overlap between those things and they need opportunities to see that in themselves. I the employability skills that firms are looking for and would welcome more taster sessions for undergraduates that we hear about so much these days. It is claimed that who might think about doing a PGCE or sixth formers they are less prevalent now than they used to be—although who might think about doing an undergrad degree in it is difficult to say whether there was ever a golden age teaching. for such things—but in the new world economy they are There is another side to this, I am afraid. People say more important than ever. However, our education quite readily and easily, “Everyone remembers a great system now and ever since I was born has been all but teacher.” The truth is that we can all also remember exclusively focused on young people’s exam results. someone who really was not a great teacher. We cannot The all-party group on social mobility’s character just wait a generation or two generations for brilliant and resilience manifesto was written by a think-tank, teachers to come through. There is a big challenge along with the noble Baroness Tyler of Enfield. We had today in making sure that continuing professional a simple definition of character and resilience: people development is good. Slightly more controversially, there need to believe they can achieve; understand the relationship is the issue of performance pay for teachers—not as a between effort and sometimes distant reward; stick with way of punishing those who are not so good but the task at hand; and bounce back from life’s inevitable encouraging those who are good to stay in the profession setbacks. That is easier said than done, but if people can and rewarding them accordingly. master those things they will have a very good shout in doing as well as they can in life. The key question is: are One of the lessons from the London Challenge, which those things inherent, or can they be taught? As has we do not see so much in the reports but always hear been said, the evidence tends to suggest—although we from the people who ran it—who were absolutely at the have to be careful about being dogmatic about this—that top of it—was that a key aspect was the attitude of not they can at least be developed and enhanced through quite ruthlessness but an intense focus on quality of life. That can be done through all sorts of things, leadership in London schools in saying, if it was not including volunteering and Saturday jobs, which have working out, “There’s another job for you somewhere, been in massive decline, and the National Citizen Service, but this one is not quite the right one for you.” We need competitive team sport and the scouts, the guides and to have a great focus on making sure that we have the the cadets. right people in place. The question for public policy is how to institute There is a group of people who are far more important those character development strands into the social even than teachers, and they are, of course, parents. mobility strategy. The process has to start early, so Everybody who has ever looked at social mobility knows thinking about character should be part of how we that the earlier the involvement in a child’s life, the think about school readiness. Schools have a key role to more impact—the more leverage—it is possible to have play. When our all-party group asked the headmaster of on where they end up. Between years zero and five, one of Britain’s leading public schools what it was children are not with teachers, nursery workers, the about his school that meant it apparently did so well on early years work force, or whomsoever, all that much—they character, the first thing he said was, “We teach boys are with parents. Studies of children who succeed against the how to fail—the ability for things to go wrong—and odds—who are born into backgrounds and circumstances then how to bounce back.” I think there are lessons to where all the academic literature would predict they are be learned from that, not only by individual schools but not going to do well but manage to break out from that by the system as a whole. and do, in fact, do well—suggest that that has a lot to Perhaps the most obvious thing of all is extra-curricular do with parenting style. We can define that to the nth activities. It seems that the gap in extra-curricular activity degree and in a very complicated way, but I would use between better-off and worse-off kids is more about “books and boundaries” as shorthand for the parenting take-up than availability: a lot of programmes are made style that emerges. available, but they are not used that much. I would like As the right hon. Member for Salford and Eccles has to see more emphasis on extra-curricular activities not said, Alan Milburn has called parenting the last taboo necessarily happening in schools, but being led, driven in public policy, and he is right. It is a scary thing to talk and encouraged by schools. That could be a legitimate about and I think that everybody is reticent to do so. use of pupil premium money, given how important we There is good reason for that: nobody wants to try to know such activities are for how young people get on in tell parents how to bring up their children. Many people life, and I would like Ofsted to pay even more attention probably feel qualified to advise other parents on how to the issue in future. The Government are looking at to do so, but it is dangerous territory for the state or, this in earnest and I hope it will end up becoming a key indeed, anybody else. It is vital, however, that we somehow part of the social mobility strategy. start to take steps to break through the taboo, do more I want to talk about some of things that we do not work in this area, build up knowledge and find new know. In many public policy areas, we think that if we ways to provide support to parents when they want it. know the facts we need only to have a bit of a barney to 1161 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1162 Strategy Strategy find solutions or ways forward. On social mobility, we Damian Hinds: Three reports have come along at still do not know many of the facts and the situation is once. still evolving. Lots of different effects are taking place, and we need We are blessed with one example of a place in Britain to understand them much better. What we can be sure that has gone from zero to hero in educational attainment, of is that there is no one simple and obvious answer, and probably in wider social mobility measures as well, because it would have been found by now. More generally, which is London, particularly inner London. When we we do not know enough about the patterns of uneven look at the data, it is striking to see how far inner opportunity in this country. We know that some big London in particular has moved. Today, disadvantaged areas are worse than others, and we can identify pockets children growing up in London do half a grade better of poor schooling, sometimes in affluent wider areas, per GCSE than those growing up elsewhere; they appear where school results are not good enough. However, we to be twice as likely to go to university as those growing do not understand enough about our country as a up elsewhere; and they are even more likely than that—the whole in relation to who stands to do better than others, maths becomes quite difficult because the numbers are why that should be the case and what we can do to small—to go to a top university than disadvantaged mitigate it. kids growing up elsewhere. In the United States, a recent study on equality of The stock answer that rolls off everybody’s tongue opportunity, led by Raj Chetty of Harvard, has helped when we say that is, “Oh, yes, but those children had the us as never before to understand inequality of opportunity London Challenge.” Hon. Members should not get me and the patterns of inequality in the United States. It wrong, because the London Challenge was good and found that the chances of achieving the American dream positive, and it is difficult to argue against elements of are two and a half times higher in Salt Lake City than in it, but there are several reasons for believing that it was Charlotte, North Carolina. To put that in context, not the sole or primary cause of the change. The first average social mobility in the UK is about halfway reason is that the improvement predated the London along the range for cities in the United States. There is Challenge: the London Challenge began in 2003, which every reason to believe that there will also be quite a was also the year in which GCSE results in London range, perhaps for different reasons, in this country. The caught up with those elsewhere. The second reason is Chetty study has some challenging findings on the that the improvement was in primary schools as well as potential causes of inequality, including the de facto secondary schools, but at that time the London Challenge segregation that still exists in some American cities and covered only secondary schools, and from the limited the family structures in different places, as well as data we have, it appears that disadvantaged kids in dealing with the more obvious issues that we might expect: London do better even in nursery, before their schooling income inequality, school quality and social capital. has even begun. The third reason is that the improvement That study was carried out by linking tax data to was very concentrated among poor kids. The fourth school records to track how people did through life and reason is that when the London Challenge was tried in look at the differences—seeing how someone was affected Manchester and Birmingham—again, hon. Members if they moved to a different area, and so on. I do not should not get me wrong, because there was some know whether I am the only Member in the House success—the results were not replicated in nearly the today to have had the benefit of some e-mails from 38 same way. Degrees this week on whether it is legitimate to use data We now have to cope with or come to terms with the from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for other strange situation that coming from an ethnic minority purposes. I totally recognise and share the massive data and/or having English as an additional language is a security concerns about that, but I hope that the predictor of doing better at school, which challenges Government will look at the potential of using the data policy makers a great deal. Given the massive population to understand this issue better so that we are able to do change in London during the past 20 years, we must at something about it. least entertain the possibility not just that that situation Social mobility alone will not solve poverty or child is related to the fact that schools are now different and poverty, but it can solve a part of those problems. It is a have got better in London, but that it has something—not huge issue for both social justice and economic growth. entirely, but partly—to do with the population make-up It is self-evident that every person in our land should of people living in London. That brings us back to have equal opportunities to fulfil their intrinsic potential. questions about parenting. It is also true that maximisation of national income requires optimal deployment of resources, including Mr Graham Stuart: Has my hon. Friend seen the human resources. It could bring an extra £150 billion a articles by Christopher Cook, who is now the BBC’s year of national income, or a one-off 4% rise in growth, education correspondent, which suggest that there is a and that is an opportunity that we as a country cannot link between the London effect and graduates, particularly afford to miss. graduate teachers, marrying? 3.51 pm Damian Hinds: I have not seen the marrying study, although I have seen several of Chris Cook’s articles in Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab): I the Financial Times. There are another two reports. At congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for one launch, the Minister for Schools rightly said, Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears) on securing this important “Londoners are used to this sort of thing. You wait a debate, and thank the Backbench Business Committee long time for a report about schools, and two come at for providing time for it. once.” Throughout her time in Parliament my right hon. Friend has made an outstanding contribution on improving Mr Stuart: Three. the life chances of young people, as I know from direct 1163 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1164 Strategy Strategy [Rushanara Ali] parents, especially mothers, to secure work and contribute to the family income so that their children do not live in experience. I established a charity called UpRising, poverty. Labour’s proposals to link the minimum wage which has the support of the three party leaders. It to average earnings and to address insecure work are works on empowering young people to get into politics badly needed to tackle low pay and the child poverty and public life, promoting social mobility and supporting that occurs as a consequence. young people with regard to skills and employability. Last year’s landmark report by the Social Mobility When I was working to establish that charity, she was and Child Poverty Commission condemned the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Government’s failure to produce a credible strategy to and her Department supported UpRising through the tackle in-work poverty. The Child Poverty Action Group empowerment fund; the current Government have has rightly highlighted the importance of promoting continued in that effort. Her work on the Speaker’s second-earner employment among couples with children. parliamentary placements scheme has been outstanding It points to the Resolution Foundation’s estimate that 1 in providing excellent support to young people who million women are missing from the Labour market. We want to find an opportunity to work in Parliament and will never meet the child poverty target without addressing join us here in this Chamber in the future. that problem. That means that we must address the My right hon. Friend spoke powerfully about the serious flaw in the proposals for universal credit that inspiration her mother provided to her in everything she makes second-earner work incentives worse than under has achieved. The phrase, “The world is your oyster if the current system. The universal credit rescue committee you work hard,” is one that I can associate with my own submitted its report to the Labour party last week. On experiences. It echoes the message I received not only second-earner work incentives, it said that from my mother and the rest of my family but from my “Universal Credit will weaken the incentive for second earners teachers, who had a profound effect on what I went on in couples to work. One in five children in poverty now lives with to do and the opportunities I had to get a great education a single-earner couple, and ensuring that more second earners, in Tower Hamlets, where I then lived. Other Members principally women, are able to take up employment will be critical to reducing child poverty rates.” have talked about their own direct experience of how education has provided the critical chance for them to The last Labour Government reduced the number of achieve their aspirations and make a contribution. children in poverty by almost 900,000. In the final years of the last Government, child poverty went down to its That is the context for this debate on the importance lowest level since the ’80s. However, there was much of making sure that young people today do not do less more to do and this Government needed to continue well than their parents’ generation. We all have a duty that trend of reducing poverty. This should always be a and a responsibility to make sure that the next generation collective effort. What we have seen is an increase in does better than the current one, as has been the case poverty that threatens to obliterate that progress. Save previously.All Members who have spoken have highlighted the Children, the End Child Poverty campaign and the the grave position that we are now in as a society. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation have warned that the twin challenges of tackling child poverty and powering Government will miss their own 2020 target by a staggering social mobility should demand the most urgent attention margin. That cannot be acceptable, whichever end of from this House, the Government, employers and wider the political spectrum one is on. society. The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission Figures that came out this week show that, on this gives us no reason to hope that the Government can Government’s watch, 2.6 million children are now living turn the situation around. It says that, despite the in absolute poverty. That means that almost one in five Government’s decent intentions, their recent work on young people face profound threats to their childhoods, child poverty reads like a “list of policies”, rather than aspirations and life chances. Many Members across the the coherent strategy that our children and young people political divide represent constituencies in which child need; lacks any poverty is a widespread reality. In my constituency, 42% “clear measures to assess progress” of children are living in poverty. That is one of the over the coming years; and fails to “engage with independent highest levels in the country. I was a commissioner on projections” of rising poverty. Experts are united in the the London Child Poverty Commission for a number of belief that the strategy simply lacks any credibility. The years and we highlighted the dangers of the stubbornly commission goes on to say that the strategy is a “missed high level of child poverty in this city, which results opportunity” to create momentum towards securing a from the high cost of living, including the cost of housing, high-mobility, low-poverty society. We desperately need and the level of worklessness. decisive action to support young people in realising The hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) their aspirations and talents. I hope that the Minister said that we must build homes and create opportunities will address the concerns that have been expressed by for people to work. He is absolutely right. That is what the commission and hon. Members. we must do to help children in poverty not only in That analysis underpins much of the discussion today London, but in other parts of the country. He was about declining social mobility. Family background, particularly right about work. Parents must have the educational attainment and later life chances remain opportunity to earn a decent wage so that they can closely bound together in the UK. Organisation for provide a decent living for their children. Economic Co-operation and Development research shows What is coming into sharper focus is that more than that intergenerational mobility in the UK is weaker two thirds of children in poverty are growing up in than in most comparable nations, including France and families in which someone works. Not only is early Germany. The Government have so far unfortunately intervention, such as support for child care and Sure failed to close the attainment gap between those who Start centres, critical to children’s development; it enables have free school meals and those who do not. 1165 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1166 Strategy Strategy The hon. Member for East Hampshire talked about support and access to benefits, one young woman whom the success of the London Challenge and I am grateful my charity supported would not have made it from a for his remarks about that. He is right to point out that broken family and having been made homeless to what some areas were already doing much of what London turned out to be an incredible opportunity: she got a Challenge did. In my constituency, head teachers led place at Cambridge. the way, along with those in Newham and other parts of She would not have had that ladder of opportunity if the country. It is clear that the lessons learned from the support system offered by the state had been removed. specific examples, such as in my borough throughout We must consider many welfare changes to ensure that the late 1990s and beyond, were pulled together to the barriers to young people being socially mobile are promote collaboration, joint working, good management not added to, and that we all work hard to remove them. and leadership by head teachers and other teachers The hon. Member for Norwich South (Simon Wright) working with the wider community.That was an important highlighted the importance of qualified teachers and way of driving up standards in London, which has the need for a royal college of teaching. I am delighted experienced the most improvements in the country. It is that he emphasised the importance of qualified teachers, a great shame that the Government are not speaking up and his party’s support for that. It is a great shame that for those sorts of initiatives, trying to ensure that educational the Government, the Secretary of State and the standards are improved throughout the country and Conservative party do not support that provision, but that lessons are learned from what has worked, whoever I hope we can get agreement on that. happened to introduce it. Damian Hinds rose— Mr Graham Stuart: The shadow Minister is being a little churlish, which is not in her nature, so I am sure Rushanara Ali: I did not give way to the hon. Gentleman, she will want to correct what she has said. After all, the but if he insists—if I am allowed to continue then I am results for children who have free school meals have happy to, but I will give way. improved against a tougher level, and that is worth celebrating. One of the interesting aspects of our report Damian Hinds: The hon. Lady was talking about was looking at the gap between free school meals children London a moment ago. Can she tell the House which in inadequate schools and those in outstanding schools. region has the highest proportion of unqualified teachers? That gap stayed roughly the same, but doubling outcomes for them is something to celebrate, regardless. Rushanara Ali: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will say why his Secretary of State said that there is no need for Rushanara Ali: I referred to the failure to close the qualified teachers, when evidence suggests that qualified gap. The hon. Gentleman is right that there have been teachers play a profound in role in young people’s improvements, but that is not enough. It is not satisfactory. attainment. On his point about London, I suspect he is As the Education Committee’s commendable work referring to the last Labour Government. We increased highlights, the position of white working-class children— the supply of teachers by introducing teaching assistants boys and girls—is deeply disturbing. As a society, we who then got qualifications. We have called for teachers have failed them. Most of them are in that category of and for those who are not trained to be able to work having free school meals, so the position is not good towards training, and that is what we did. Perhaps the enough. The Government should take seriously the Conservative party will address that point given that the hon. Gentleman’s work, which has cross-party support, Conservative Chair of the Education Committee has on the plight of white working-class children. We need said that qualified teachers make a massive difference to to step up and address the challenge. young people’s potential to achieve. It is clear from the speeches that we all want children to do well, regardless of background. We want their Damian Hinds rose— talents to be maximised, not wasted, so that their abilities are recognised and they can contribute to our economy Rushanara Ali: I will not give way any further because and our society. I have already given way twice to the hon. Gentleman— The Government’s policy of scrapping the education [Interruption.] A number of times to his colleagues maintenance allowance has had a direct impact on then. I would like to make progress because I know the social mobility. I know that from the experience of Minister will want to address some of these points. several groups. More than 80% of ethnic minority children, for example, from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, Mr Graham Stuart rose— relied on that grant. Young people from parts of the country where they spend money on transport now Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. It struggle to commute to their further education colleges. might be helpful to say that it is up to the shadow Many have highlighted the challenges they face because Minister whether she wishes to give way. It is in the they do not have the support that they need. Some go to hands of Rushanara Ali whether she gives way or not. their further education colleges not being able to feed themselves. In a climate of high levels of poverty and Rushanara Ali: I will give way to the Chair of the deprivation, provision such as an education maintenance Education Committee. allowance was a great help and its removal has contributed to taking away the ladders to progress. Mr Stuart: I am grateful to the hon. Lady since she I know from direct experience with young people that mentioned me. As she has made clear, qualified teachers other changes, such as the proposal to scrap support for can do a great job, but I trust heads to make that young people under 24, are deeply troubling. Without decision. Given the accountability they are subject to, 1167 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1168 Strategy Strategy [Mr Graham Stuart] children, whereas those from professional backgrounds are better placed to use their networks to provide work the idea that heads would take on people who they do experience opportunities for their children. We need to not think will improve the education of their children is ensure that schools and other educational establishments false, and there are fewer non-qualified teachers than can work together to provide work experience opportunities, when the Labour party left office. I just throw that mentors and a ladder for recognising, and learning in—it is a bit of a distraction when such a tiny percentage about, professions that are not accessible to many young of the work force do not have that particular piece of people in our country because of their social class paper, which is not all that indicative of quality. background. Enabling that requires Government action. The careers co-ordinator role and careers support are Rushanara Ali: I am rather disappointed that the critical in helping to orchestrate and provide such help Chair of the Select Committee is taking such a partisan and support for young people. Families are being left to view. The point is that if a policy is introduced and a their own devices, which is creating more disparities, message sent that there is no need for qualified teachers not only in work experience—horizons are either opened or to invest in their qualifications, that is wrong. It or left closed for people from working-class backgrounds— means that the supply of qualified teachers in the future but in careers information and guidance, which is limited will decline, which is a huge concern. Evidence shows in some places and virtually non-existent in others. that qualified teachers make a massive difference, There are many great examples of great work—all particularly when they are dealing with large class sizes, hon. Members know of it in our constituencies—but we as is the case in most state-funded schools—unlike in need to be concerned about those who do not have private schools, which is often the comparison made by access to independent guidance and advice. I hope the the Conservative party. Minister takes on board the concerns raised by hon. Let me move on to the point about professions, which Members of all parties. The lack of independent guidance I hope Government Members might agree on. Institutions, and advice blocks young people from realising their whether Parliament, the legal or financial professions, aspirations, whatever their background. journalism, and many others, all have a major job to ensure that young people from working and lower middle- Youthunemployment remains incredibly high—850,000 class backgrounds have the opportunity to access those young people are still unemployed. We need to ensure professions. Those young people’s chances of being able that, in future, young people who are unemployed get to access those professions remain much lower than for the support they need. My hon. Friend the Member for those from upper middle-class backgrounds, and there Glasgow North East (Mr Bain), highlighted the importance remains a massive disparity between those who are of ensuring that the 16-hour rule is flexed so that young privately educated and those who go to state schools, people can get the appropriate training and skills to get although progress is being made. There is a role for into the labour market. That is critical. ensuring that private schools, which have to pass a I hope the Government reconsider the Opposition’s public benefit test, make more effort to work with state proposal for a youth jobs guarantee. The Labour schools, and share not only their physical assets and Government introduced the future jobs fund, which facilities, which many do, but their social capital, which showed dramatic and positive results. The current they have in abundance. Such sharing could support Government’s Work programme has had limited success. and promote learning in both private and state schools— In constituencies such as mine, only 14% of those on private schools have much to learn from the work of the Work programme have gone into a job, and the state schools and vice versa. My right hon. Friend the numbers nationally are much worse. I hope the Minister Member for Salford and Eccles mentioned the work on and his Government will be pragmatic and look at what resilience and on how young people adapt and learn in works, learn from it and reform proposals to ensure that the state sector. That is an important aspect of shared young people’s life chances are not further worsened. learning. A number of hon. Members, including the Chair the Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): Will the hon. Education Committee, referred to careers guidance in Lady give way? education, which is a deep concern for all hon. Members. As the Committee report points out, major challenges Rushanara Ali: I am not going to give way. I want to need to be addressed. Changes made by the Government conclude and let the Minister make his speech. If have led to massive problems in what schools offer to Mr Deputy Speaker says that I should give way then young people. We need to rectify that quickly. The CBI’s I might consider it. verdict is that the Government’s changes mean that careers guidance in our country has been left on life support. The Chair of the Committee highlighted some Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): It’supto of the conflicts of interest that can arise. Schools have you. been given a statutory duty, but they might not be in a position to provide independent advice and guidance to Rushanara Ali: I will make some more progress and young people, which is important if they are to keep then I will consider giving way. their options open and have the broadest awareness of Apprenticeships are critical. The number of what is on offer, whether that is university or training apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds has actually gone and apprenticeship opportunities, and of the institutions down over the course of this Parliament. Although the they will go on to. number is beginning to go up for other groups, we want Furthermore, the removal of the entitlement to work more apprenticeships for young people. I hope the Minister experience means that many working-class parents—the will consider why the figure is so low for 16 to 18-year-olds majority—are struggling to find placements for their and what his Government will do to improve it. 1169 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1170 Strategy Strategy The hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness It is not getting people back to work. Last year, only 3% (Mr Stuart) highlighted the challenges faced by those of my constituents were getting jobs. If the hon. Gentleman who do not go to university and are being left behind. I looks at the facts, he will find that the future jobs fund know he would not want to use the term coined by the was a success and the current programme is still struggling. leader of my party, “the forgotten 50%”, but whatever He ought to stop being so obsessed with something that we call that group, this is a serious issue. Successive is not working, and start looking at policies that work Governments have overlooked the need to ensure that and encouraging his Ministers to implement them. young people have a world-class vocational, educational Despite the fall in youth unemployment, 870,000 young and training pathway into work or higher education, if people are still unemployed. [Interruption.] Is the hon. they choose to go into higher education later on. We Member for Reading East denying that? I think it is a must all take action to ensure they have the opportunity scandal if he is in denial about it. Those people are to gain meaningful work and the skills they desperately desperate for work and desperate for opportunities. He need to avoid long-term unemployment, despair and needs to recognise that instead of living in denial, hopelessness. It is important, particularly in times of because otherwise people will think—quite rightly—that economic downturn, that we do not lose out on their he and his party are completely out of touch. potential to make a contribution to our economy. Let me end by returning to the subject raised by my Child poverty and social mobility are of paramount right hon. Friend the Member for Salford and Eccles, importance. We have, as was evident from the reaction whose work in this field has been phenomenal. She has of Government Members to some my comments, massive stood up for young people, and not only in relation to disagreements on how we get there, but we all want to this agenda. She mentioned her work in supporting get to the same destination: making sure that young troubled families, her work on the respect agenda, and people, whatever their background, can reach their full her work in supporting families and education, promoting potential. We want to ensure that the barriers that can empowerment, and tackling powerlessness and exclusion be removed, such as class, social connections and lack during her career here in Parliament. I am sad that she of opportunities, are removed whoever is in government. is leaving Parliament, and I know that Members in all We cannot have a situation in which so many children parts of the House will be sad as well. However, we look are in poverty and more are likely to be in the future. We forward to working with her in fighting for young need a step change to ensure that we eliminate poverty, people, tackling child poverty, and promoting social not just halve it. If we want to reduce global child mobility. We will all be there, whatever our political poverty, we need to practise what we preach here at leanings, to support the causes for which she will continue home. I hope we can all agree that that is a task we must to fight, including the very important causes that we all work towards. We must ensure that we agree to do have discussed today. what we can to make sure that young people have the best possible opportunities. We need leadership, resources 4.22 pm and investment in young people’s life chances to tackle those inequalities and barriers. The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws): I thank the Backbench Business Committee for giving us the Did the hon. Member for Reading East (Mr Wilson) opportunity to debate this very important and wide-ranging want to intervene? I note that he has been restless. subject. I also thank the right hon. Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears) and the Chair of the Education Mr Rob Wilson: I thank the hon. Lady for giving way Committee, the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness and for being so generous with her time. I would like to (Mr Stuart), for sponsoring the debate and for opening take her back, briefly, to her comments on youth it in such a powerful way. Their extensive speeches unemployment. covered a great many of the major policy areas relating to social mobility. Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. I am sorry, but I just need I especially enjoyed the right hon. Lady’s speech. I to clear up this matter. It is up to the shadow Minister, enjoyed her challenges on some of the issues about the Minister and any Member to decide whether to give which she thinks the Government should be doing way. It is not up to the Chair and I want to keep out of more. I was interested to hear about her own family any disputes that may arise. background, and her mother’s efforts to take all the opportunities that life presented. I congratulate her Mr Wilson: I would just like to take the hon. Lady particularly on her success, and the success of her back to her comments on youth unemployment. From constituent, in helping to change some of what sounded what she said we would not know that youth unemployment like the rather backward-looking arrangements for the is falling rapidly. She did not state how the policies she admission of post-graduates to Oxford university. I is putting forward would make that fall more rapid than imagine that it is even more difficult to change the it is at the moment. What is the solution to making it arrangements for admissions to Oxford university than fall even more rapidly than it is falling at the moment? it can sometimes be to change Government policy, so I think that that was something of a victory for her and Rushanara Ali: If the hon. Gentleman looks at the her constituent. evidence, he will find that the future jobs fund got The Government are committed to the principle that young people back to work very quickly. His party where people start in life should not determine where rapidly scrapped it without replacing it, and the massive they end up, and that forms the basis of a huge amount delay that followed meant that people all over the of work that we are doing on both economic and social country, including people in my constituency, had no policy, which we have set out in the recent child poverty programme at all. His party then introduced the Work strategy and the social mobility strategy. It was good to programme, which was and continues to be a disgrace. hear not only the two opening speeches, but the speeches 1171 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1172 Strategy Strategy [Mr David Laws] strategy of relying on ever more means-tested benefits was not sustainable in the long term, particularly in an made by other Members including the hon. Member for environment where the public finances were deeply in Glasgow North East (Mr Bain), my hon. Friend the deficit. Member for Norwich South (Simon Wright), the hon. Therefore, we are now focusing on tackling the causes Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) and, of of inequality and social injustice. That is why we are course, the hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Bow putting a particular focus on some of the areas that (Rushanara Ali). They made powerful speeches which right hon. and hon. Members have raised today: on covered different aspects of the debate, and which signalled investing in the early years, on improving the quality of that in all parties, whatever their philosophy and whatever our schools system, and on ensuring that people get their ideology, there is a strong commitment to changing more opportunities in work and make progress in work, society in this regard, and ensuring that there is genuine rather than simply being in work on low pay. I would opportunity for everyone regardless of background. like to set out some of the Government’s plans in those That national consensus comes across clearly in the areas and to try to respond to some of the points that foreword to the Social Mobility and Child Poverty right hon. and hon. Members have made. Commission report from the autumn of 2013, where The right hon. Lady placed a heavy emphasis on the Alan Milburn and his fellow commissioners said: importance of tackling disadvantage in the early years, “It is part of Britain’s DNA that everyone should have a fair as did a number of other Members, rightly. The chance in life. Yet too often demography is destiny in our country. Being born poor often leads to a lifetime of poverty. Poor schools Government fully share the view that, in order to address ease people into poor jobs. Disadvantage and advantage cascade disadvantage and inequality of opportunity, we have to down the generations.” be able to act early on. Far too many young people start That is the challenge that we all face. The last Government off way behind as they join our schools system. Schools faced it and we face it in this Parliament. then struggle to try to make good the disadvantage that has already been embedded in the early years. We have It is our ambition to build not only a stronger economy to do more in those crucial early years to prevent these out of the rubble of the crash of 2008 but a fairer gaps from opening up, so across the early years we are society, even in these challenging times. We are not only helping disadvantaged children to gain access to high-quality getting on with that job but making progress, as we have education and we are providing more help to parents set out in our strategy report and as is highlighted in who want to get back to work. Our new entitlement for parts of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission the parents of the most disadvantaged 40% of two-year-olds report. The economy is now escaping from the worst will mean that about 260,000 disadvantaged two-year-olds recession in generations. We have already helped record will be entitled to get a Government-funded early education numbers of people into work and put in place far-reaching place from September. measures to improve the educational attainment of the poorest people in society. Earlier this year, we also announced that from 2015-16 The right hon. Lady praised Alan Milburn and all we will extend the pupil premium, which is having a members of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty profoundly important impact in schools, into the early Commission for their work, commitment and dedication years, so that we ensure that three-year-olds and four- to that shared cause. I join her in thanking Alan Milburn year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and the commissioners for their work. She was also can get the best start in life. That is extra money to raise kind enough to praise the Government for their bravery, the quality of teaching and pay for more qualified I think she said, in taking the novel step of setting up an teaching staff, particularly in settings with a large number independent watchdog and asking a leading former of disadvantaged youngsters. We have announced the Cabinet Minister from the Labour party to chair it and consultation on that and the level of the early years to be our critical friend on those issues. That demonstrates pupil premium for 2015-16, and I very much hope that how serious the coalition Government are about that the party or parties in government after the next election policy agenda. We decided to take a risk in setting up a will continue to be committed to the early years pupil body that we fully expected would be not only a friend premium and to the schools pupil premium. I hope we but a critical friend and would challenge us on our will significantly increase the early years pupil premium ambitions to address social injustice and create a society so that it is at least as great financially—if anything, I of real opportunity for every individual. hope it is more—as the pupil premium for primary schools, on a full-time equivalent basis. We know that The Government’s child poverty strategy sets out that investment in these areas makes the biggest impact our approach is rigorous and evidence-based. We are when we invest early, which is why we decided in 2014-15 focusing on sustainable solutions that will work in the to put almost all the increase in the pupil premium into long term and make our society fairer. I acknowledge the primary setting rather than into secondary education. that the last Government also had a strong commitment We are also doing other good work. in that area. It did some important work, not least in schools policy. In the debate, we have talked about the Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): The pupil premium success of London schools in the last 15 or so years. I is based on free school meal eligibility, but we still do pay tribute to former Education Secretaries and individuals not know which recipients of universal credit will be such as Lord Adonis who played a large part in some of entitled to free school meals for their children. We have those education reforms. been waiting for this decision for about three years, and It is also true that, in their strategy in this area, the I think the delay is because of a disagreement—or an last Government became very dependent on public inability to reach agreement—between the Department expenditure through the benefits and tax credits system. for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education. By the end of the last Parliament, it became clear to Is the Minister able to tell us when that very important most commentators and people in the House that the policy decision will be made? 1173 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1174 Strategy Strategy Mr Laws: I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that disadvantaged young people. In those schools, including there is no disagreement in government. This is a very in areas such as inner London, the teachers and the important decision to get right, for the reasons he head teachers are proving that there is nothing inevitable explains, and we have no intention of undermining about this level of underperformance. There are parts support for disadvantaged youngsters through the decisions of the country today where almost 80% of young we take. We have to make sure that we use the new people who are considered disadvantaged are failing to mechanisms that will be available, including through get those five Cs, and that is not something that any of universal credit, to target money effectively. We will be us can accept. taking decisions shortly—Ministers often say that—on We are continuing to put our money where our mouth this matter, but in the meantime it is perfectly reasonable —through the pupil premium. Since 2011, we have for him to ask questions about it, because it is important invested almost £4 billion to help schools directly to for us to get it right. address educational disadvantage. This year, the pupil We are also taking other action to support families in premium will increase to £2.5 billion a year—the full the early years: for working families on universal credit, amount that we promised in the coalition agreement. we are further increasing support for child care costs to That means that children who are poor and who receive 85%, as Alan Milburn’s commission urged us to do, the pupil premium throughout their school career will making sure that for these families work will always now receive—or their schools will receive—an additional pay; we are introducing tax-free child care; and the Deputy £14,000 to boost their attainment, which is a significant Prime Minister recently announced the commencement amount of money. Schools will be able to make powerful of flexible parental leave, so that all parents can get the use of that money, and they will be informed by the support they need to go back to work. As the Social mechanisms to improve education that the Education Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has consistently Endowment Foundation has flagged up as things that argued, the early years are the most important years in work. young people’s lives. That is why we are investing so I have been to schools in very disadvantaged heavily to make sure that all our children get the very neighbourhoods around the country, and recognise that best start they can and why we are giving a priority in this boost to the budget is quite transformational. With public expenditure terms to this area, even in these my hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Ian Swales), I times of austerity. visited a school in his constituency with very high levels Understandably, education in our schools system has of deprivation—80% or 90% of young people were been a major area debated today, and it is one of the entitled to the pupil premium. It is a community that Government’s big priorities. I am very proud, as a never really recovered from the de-industrialisation of member of the coalition Government, that even in these the 1980s and a community where aspirations have been times of austerity, when we are trying to deal with the very low. This additional amount of money is giving massive deficit we inherited, that we have made the that school the opportunity to change the life chances commitment to fund a pupil premium for schools. As of those young people. hon. Members have said, we are focused not only on Of course we have to ensure that, even though we raising attainment for all school pupils, but on closing give discretion to schools to spend this money in the the unacceptable attainment gap between richer and way that they think best, there is accountability for it. poorer pupils, and we are making progress. Under this The right thing to do in the school system is to have Government, poor children are doing better than ever more freedom and autonomy, but those things have to at school. The proportion of children on free school come with accountability. The accountability mechanism meals and the pupil premium who are getting five good that we have chosen is through Ofsted. When Ofsted GCSEs has increased, as my hon. Friend the Member goes into a school, it will look to see whether the for Norwich South said, from 31% when the coalition disadvantaged pupils are making good progress and it came to power to 38% now. That is a very significant will see whether the gap is closing. If those things are increase over a relatively short period, and comes at a happening, it will not have to ask lots of questions and time when we are ensuring that there is no grade inflation it will not be wasting the time of school leaders and in the system, which means that these improvements in teachers by creating a bureaucracy around this. Where recorded results are real improvements. there is not progress and where the gaps are not closing, it will challenge schools. Schools that thought they We are also making big improvements in narrowing might be outstanding will discover that they are not so the gap at key stages 2 and 4. At key stage 2, the graded because they are failing in this area. Schools that acceleration in narrowing the gap seems to have been are weaker will be highlighted. Head teachers today present since the pupil premium came in, and we need know that this is now an important area for their to ensure that that acceleration is sustained in future school’s performance, and Ofsted will recommend pupil years and that it is present in both key stages 2 and 4. premium reviews by outstanding system leaders of schools As hon. Members have said, a massive amount more that are not using this money sensibly. needs to be done in this area. It is still the case that, Later this month, Ofsted will report on its view of despite the progress, six in 10 children on free school how the pupil premium is being used in schools. Although meals fail to secure five C grades at GCSE, including I would be the first to accept that not every school is English and maths. I hope that all of us across the using every penny perfectly, I believe that the evidence House agree that that is entirely unacceptable in an will show that the school system increasingly does advanced country such as Britain. As the Chair of the understand what this money is for and is using it and Select Committee pointed out so powerfully, we can see targeting it in the right way. that that is unacceptable when we look at the levels Another important thing that we have done is to of attainment and the reduction in the gap in some change the accountability systems for both primary and of the best schools where they have large numbers of secondary schools and in 16-to-19 provision. For too 1175 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1176 Strategy Strategy [Mr Laws] As well as addressing attainment in education for disadvantaged groups, we need to help them to secure long in primary education we have set the bar too low the right jobs so that they can get on in life. Apprenticeships for schools. At one stage, we accepted that 40% of are at the heart of our drive to equip people of all ages young people could fail to reach the level of attainment with the skills employers need to grow and compete, to which we were aspiring and we now know that even and we are very proud that more than 1.6 million new that level was too modest and was, for those people who apprenticeships have been started in this Parliament at were just achieving it, a passport to failure later in life more than 200,000 workplaces. More than 860,000 people and in their educational career. We are raising the bar undertook an apprenticeship in the past academic and we are expecting more young people to get over it. year, which is the highest recorded figure in modern As the Chairman of the Select Committee pointed history. Our new programme of traineeships will help out, by focusing more on progress and not on the C-D young people to develop the skills and attributes they borderline, we are giving a real incentive to schools to need to secure apprenticeships and other sustainable value the progress made by every pupil—the B-grade jobs. students going to A, the A-grade students going to A* We are also pleased that the work we are doing with and, critically, the F-grade students going to E, the young people means that the number not in education, E-grade students going to D and the D-grade students employment or training has been falling. We will continue going to C. One of the disappointments under the to do more to help young people from 16 to 18 and to previous Government, in spite of the progress made in ensure that, as a number of hon. Members have said, we some areas of education, was that a lot of the progress have proper careers advice and guidance, and proper was across the C-D borderline on which schools had an incentives for educational establishments to focus on incentive to focus. A lot of the most disadvantaged destinations. youngsters who were not on that borderline saw almost We are also helping young people in work, helping no improvement in performance under the previous parents to find jobs and helping to ensure that take-home Government. They and many of the most disadvantaged pay after tax increases. We are incentivising employers communities saw precious little improvement during to take on more young people by abolishing employer the last Parliament and I hope that our accountability national insurance contributions for most employees reforms will change that. under 21 from April of next year. We are raising the I am optimistic. We had the pupil premium awards national minimum wage to £6.50 per hour, which represents recently and saw some splendid best practice across the the biggest cash increase since 2008 and will increase country. Schools are doing the right things, with high the pay of more than 1 million people. We are cutting expectations and good teaching. That includes schools income tax for those on the minimum wage by almost such as Mossbourne academy. The recent destinations two thirds and we have increased the personal allowance data show that a large number of young people from five times, from £6,475 when the coalition came to those schools are going to first-class jobs and first-class power to £10,500 in 2015-16, which is a massive support educational settings, and are going on to places such as to many people on low pay in employment—people Oxford and Cambridge. More people from that school who are also, incidentally, going to benefit from the free did that than was the case from some entire local school meals for infant-age pupils from this September, authority areas, as, disgracefully, there are still some and that will also be extended for the first time to parts of the country in which no pupil at all goes on to disadvantaged young people in college settings who our best universities. previously, for no rational reason, were excluded from the entitlement that there was to free school meals for Mr Graham Stuart: The Minister will know that those in schools. I am pleased that this Government thanks in part to the flexibilities that this Government have resolved that very long-running injustice. have introduced, there is an increasing correlation between the amount of money that schools get and We are also working with business to ensure that it their efficacy in a way that there was not in the past, helps people to progress, earn more and have responsible which is probably a good thing. That shows the need for terms and conditions. We are addressing exclusivity clauses a new national funding formula that ensures equitable in zero-hours contracts and are committed to the social distribution of funds across the country. We do not mobility business compact. I am proud that, as a have that now. London is doing well, and we are all consequence of the work the Government have done delighted about that, but it is also the best-funded part and of the recovery of the economy, employment has of the country. increased by nearly 1.7 million. In just the past year unemployment is down by almost 350,000, and we have Mr Laws: I entirely agree. Money is of course not one of the highest employment rates in the history of always the answer—if it is spent badly, for instance—but our country. it is really important. If we did not think that money Because we know that work is the best route out of was important we would not have the pupil premium, poverty, our welfare reforms will incentivise even more which is about money, accountability and best practice. people into work, and ensure that work always pays and We must make sure that we have a fairer national that work pays more than benefits. We provide intensive, funding formula. We are making the biggest step for 10 personalised support for parents who have been out of or 20 years towards fairer school funding through the work for 12 months or more through the Work programme. minimum funding levels we are introducing, and I hope To date, around 300,000 people on the Work programme that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be have found lasting work. We are also supporting families able to say more about the additional funding we can with multiple disadvantages to get back to work through give to underfunded parts of the country when our the troubled families programme, in order to help young consultation concludes. people. 1177 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 3 JULY 2014 Social Mobility/Child Poverty 1178 Strategy Strategy We cannot highlight the importance of social mobility I thank the Minister for his response, his personal and of tackling child poverty enough. They are central commitment and his passion for this area. He has to the Government’s mission and to what the coalition acknowledged that a lot has been done and there is a lot hopes to achieve over our period of five years in more to do. That is a familiar phrase that we all should government. Quite simply, no child should become a subscribe to. poor adult for the simple reason that their parents were I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow poor. North East (Mr Bain), too. I had no idea he was a I have set out the steps we are taking in early-years university admissions tutor. It is amazing how much education and 16-to-19 education, and in trying to information we discover about each other in these debates. improve employment outcomes, but we know there is I thank the Chair of the Education Committee, the more to do. We have listened carefully to the proposals hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr Stuart), made by hon. Members and we are listening carefully to for his support in going to the Backbench Business what comes out of Alan Milburn’s reports and the work Committee to request this cross-party debate. of his commissioners. We will seek to build on the success so far, to make sure we break this unacceptable My final thanks are to the commission on social link between social backgrounds and success in life. mobility, and to a particular member of it. I would not normally single out a member of that commission, but 4.48 pm David Johnston, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, is a key member of it. For many years he Hazel Blears: I record my thanks to the Backbench has not just been talking about the problem; he has Business Committee for allocating time for this debate. been running the Social Mobility Foundation. He and I hope it will agree with me that the time was extremely that organisation have helped thousands of young people well spent. become doctors, lawyers and engineers or get jobs in the We heard a number of very high quality, well-informed, finance professions. Those young people would never accurate and passionate speeches from Members on have got to university without the residential programmes, both sides of the House. I want to thank in particular one-to-one mentoring and face-to-face careers guidance— the chair of the all-party group on social mobility, the all the things that we talked about today. My thanks go hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds), to David Johnston because he stuck at it. who again gave us a formidable tour de force of his data That is the message for us on this agenda. It will still analysis. I like to think my politics are evidence-based. be here when we come and go. We have to stick at it and Occasionally he does manage to convince me, but work together, as we can. In that way we will continue occasionally my emotions also play a part in my political to make progress to ensure that everybody in this country ideology, but I have great respect for the work he does in has the chance to achieve what they are capable of and this area. to do well. It is an incredibly optimistic agenda and one I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal that I am delighted to be part of. Green and Bow (Rushanara Ali) for her contribution, and I would like to say to her that I hope electoral Question put and agreed to. circumstances may result in her having the chance to Resolved, achieve her undoubted potential to be a very successful That this House has considered social mobility and the child Minister in future. poverty strategy. 1179 3 JULY 2014 Data Transparency (Banking) 1180

Data Transparency (Banking) Disclosure of lending figures will, it is hoped, clearly identify those who are effectively excluded from the Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House banking system. That type of financial exclusion is do now adjourn.—(Claire Perry.) often localised, meaning that the framework needs to disclose information on a local area basis, and hopefully 4.51 pm in a way that is consistent with local measures of diversity and deprivation. Without that type of local Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): The debate area disclosure, communities are left in the dark on how is starting a little earlier than expected, but I am pleased their savings are being invested. to see that all are present and correct. At the time of the launch in July, the Government The debate is about the voluntary agreement for the indicated that they expected more lenders, including disclosure of bank lending data for every community in banks, building societies, credit unions and other types Britain, which came into effect last December and has of finance providers, to sign up to the voluntary framework. been, on the whole, well received. Thanks are due to What progress has been made on improving the coverage Members of both Houses, the British Bankers Association, of the voluntary framework and what new lenders have Her Majesty’s Treasury and the seven participating been, or are being, signed up? banks and building societies—Barclays and Clydesdale As part of the voluntary agreement, the British Bankers and Yorkshire banks, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Association and the Council of Mortgage Lenders jointly Nationwide building society, Royal Bank of Scotland publish quarterly aggregated data detailing the outstanding and Santander—for agreeing to work together to create stock of lending that has been committed to customers a voluntary framework for the disclosure of bank lending in three different categories: loans and overdrafts to data. I echo the words of the Minister and welcome the small and medium-sized enterprises; mortgages; and positive engagement of the UK’s largest lenders to unsecured personal loans to individuals. make this agreement happen. Each postcode sector is broken down by category to The first tranche of data was released in December show the exact lending being made to each. Wherever 2013, the second in April 2014 and the next is due in a possible, any figures for an individual lender that either couple of weeks. Among the advantages of disclosure is could not be attributed to a specific sector postcode or that it clearly identifies the availability of bank lending had to be redacted for data privacy or other reasons in all communities—who the banks are reaching and have been added to the area totals. In a small number of who they are excluding. At the time of its announcement instances, data privacy reasons prevent the attribution the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said that the agreement of specific amounts to certain postal areas. That means “is a major step forward in terms of transparency and should that aggregate figures might not be exactly comparable encourage competition by helping smaller lenders to identify gaps across different postal areas. Therefore, sector postcodes in the market and allowing businesses to hold their local bank to account where they aren’t lending.” do not necessarily map across readily or exactly to alternative geographic classifications. This is an important first step, but today I will ask the Minister to go further. If we are to make the most of the data released by the voluntary framework, surely they must be truly For the Community Investment Coalition, the objective comprehensive and presented consistently, making them of the disclosure is to create clarity about which easy to analyse. They must also include all lenders, large communities are well or poorly served by mainstream and small, other than possibly an exemption for the banking institutions and the action that is required to smallest providers. Only that will give a fully inclusive fill the gaps in areas that are poorly served. As a result, picture of lending in all communities. it is hoped that every adult household or business will That is borne out by the experience of the wide range eventually have access to appropriate and affordable of organisations that are beginning to use these data to financial products. identify gaps in the supply of lending. They include: Bank data disclosure, as I understand it, means providing universities and academics working on financial exclusion; information about a range of banking activities in local authorities and local enterprise partnerships looking defined geographical areas. The data show the ways to extend access to affordable credit to support economic in which banks invest the money that the public deposit growth; and decision makers developing effective with them. Disclosure of lending data can also provide approaches to support innovation in the supply of an opportunity to deepen understanding of market affordable credit and the provision of financial services trends and refine products and services better to serve to all communities and businesses. For example, local markets. Moreover, data disclosure highlights whether Birmingham city council has already analysed its local the main high street lenders are concentrating the provision data and is now working with partners to fill the gaps in of credit in certain areas, leaving other areas to become lending, for instance by supporting the development of credit deserts, with businesses and consumers in these local credit unions and community development finance areas struggling to access affordable credit. institutions. The voluntary framework is a major step forward in In response to concerns regarding consistency in the terms of transparency, as the new data will allow the format of the released data, it has been suggested that public to see clearly how the bank and building society that could be overcome if the framework scheme were sectors are serving the wider economy. Publishing data to be managed by an independent organisation such in such a detailed way will assist competition, allowing as the Office for National Statistics. What more can new entrants such as credit unions and community the Government do to ensure the consistency of the development finance institutions to identify where there data disclosed in the voluntary agreement, and what is unmet demand and pursue new business in those consideration is being given to bringing in an independent areas. body to manage the scheme? 1181 Data Transparency (Banking)3 JULY 2014 Data Transparency (Banking) 1182

The methodology used for data collection centres on and community development finance institutions to move into the postal addresses represented by Royal Mail postcodes. those areas and to offer finance to those customers who are The data published reflect borrowing in live postcodes crying out for support to make their business grow”. and give an up-to-date picture of its geographic distribution With that in mind, what use is the Treasury making of across Great Britain. However, there are no figures the data on bank lending to promote greater competition provided for Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the and enable smaller lenders to pursue new SME business? Isle of Man. What efforts are being made to extend the We would like to see further progress and a clear voluntary framework to include the whole of the United Government plan to increase the amount of data released, Kingdom, not just Great Britain? For as long as the and a strategy to fill gaps in the provision of financial framework remains voluntary, it is open to many financial services where they exist. It is crucial that the Government services providers to choose not to participate. There is and regulators start to use the data to inform policy and also the possibility that those currently participating market interventions, and we would like to understand will pull out, for whatever reason. What assurances has plans and time scales for this. Has the Treasury made the Minister received on future involvement in the any request to the Financial Conduct Authority to framework? Is consideration being given— undertake an analysis of these figures as part of its objective to “have regard”to competition and accessibility 5pm to better inform policy and decision making? Is the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)). Treasury developing a clear Government strategy to Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House tackle the “credit deserts” in many of our communities do now adjourn.—(Claire Perry.) up and down the country? The release of more consistent and comprehensive Mr Love: That rather surprised me, Mr Deputy Speaker. bank lending data has the potential to make a significant I should have realised that when we got to 5 o’clock that contribution to tackling financial exclusion, generating announcement would have to be made. more fairness in the provision of financial services, Is consideration being given to putting the framework supporting the growth of the SME sector and benefiting on a statutory basis? consumers by opening the door to a more competitive It is important to take considerable care in interpreting market. I commend that to the House. local-level figures, as they will not necessarily be truly representative of the current picture for lending as a 5.5 pm whole. For example, personal loan figures for participating Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): I lenders together represent fewer than 30% of the total am grateful to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and to my hon. national unsecured credit market and only an estimated Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr Love) and, 60% of all personal loans. There are no figures for indeed, to the Economic Secretary for allowing me to larger payday lenders or for credit unions. Similarly, contribute to this brief debate. The Economic Secretary SME lending figures relate only to borrowing through is a Minister of particular intelligence and sophistication, loans and overdrafts. Other forms of finance, including and I hope as a result she will be sympathetic to my business credit cards and asset-based finance, are widely hon. Friend’s request for clarity on whether the Financial used by SMEs but are not included in the data. SME Conduct Authority and, behind it, the Treasury and the loans and overdrafts for participating lenders represent Bank of England are really using the data on lending about 60% of the total national market for all lending patterns that are being disclosed in order to identify the to SMEs, but this does not include community development credit deserts across the UK which clearly exist. finance institutions. The picture for the mortgage market, which includes most buy-to-let activity, as well as borrowing One lesson from the United States, where similar by home owners, is slightly better, with participating disclosure of lending data takes place, is just how important lenders together reporting on about three quarters of the data are in identifying where credit unions or community the national market. banks—the community development financial institutions to which my hon. Friend referred—can help to plug the Recently, following the Minister’s predecessor’s speech gaps. If the FCA or the Bank of England look with to the Community Development Finance Association vigour at the lessons that can be learned from the data, conference in Bristol, the Community Development that might help steer the work of the credit union Foundation wrote to him outlining the additional data expansion project being undertaken by the Department sets that would help to better explain which communities for Work and Pensions and the efforts of local enterprise struggle to access affordable credit. These include the partnerships to support CDFIs in plugging the lending number of applications and loans in each area; the gaps. demographics of applications, including age, gender and ethnicity; and, regarding the loan itself, the interest I support my hon. Friend in all the different points he rate and length of the loan. Greater transparency on all made and urge the Minister to press the FCA to undertake these issues will help to inform strategy to promote open and rigorous scrutiny of the data following the competition. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure forthcoming second disclosure, so that we can begin to that the data enable an accurate understanding of patterns get a sense of the emerging patterns and as a result of lending and highlights communities that struggle to better direct our resources to drive the expansion of access affordable credit? alternative sources of lending in the credit deserts. Recently, in a comment on the disclosure framework, 5.7 pm the Minister, in launching the Business Banking Insight survey said, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Andrea Leadsom): “postcode lending data has highlighted the more deprived areas First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Edmonton where larger banks are often not willing to lend and that will (Mr Love) on securing this debate and presenting his enable; challenger banks, smaller building societies, credit unions case so eloquently.He was, of course, one of my partners 1183 Data Transparency (Banking)3 JULY 2014 Data Transparency (Banking) 1184

[Andrea Leadsom] in the market. The Government also made it very clear that we intend to discuss with interested peers and the in crime on the Treasury Committee, during which time industry exactly how the data could be extended to together we held the Government to account. Therefore, cover other types of institutions, including banks, building given that this is our second debate together in as many societies, credit unions and other finance providers. It months, I am very glad that he is doing just as good a is, however, important to bear in mind that the cost of job of holding the Government to account now that I such a level of disclosure, particularly for smaller institutions, am not on the Treasury Committee. I am grateful to him might be prohibitive and might increase the costs they for that. The other thing that he and I share is a huge pass on to their customers. We therefore want to consider enthusiasm for greater competition, greater transparency the matter very carefully before we act. and far greater choice and diversity of financial services With regard to expanding coverage across the country, for businesses and customers. We have worked together the hon. Member for Edmonton will know that the first on that agenda for a very long time. dataset did not include lending in Northern Ireland, Before I get on to the hon. Gentleman’s specific due to the differing banking markets and reporting points, I want to highlight the many measures that the requirements for Northern Ireland banks. However, I Government are taking to try to improve that competition, assure him that the Government will ensure that any choice and diversity. As he will know, we are currently future extension includes the main Northern Ireland consulting on whether to make the large banks provide banks, and I confirm that the Government, with the referrals to challenger banks when they do not wish to British Bankers Association, are discussing with the lend to a small or medium-sized business. We are already Northern Ireland banks how the agreement might be looking at legislating through the small business Bill to extended to them. require banks to share credit histories with credit reference I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it is agencies so that challenger banks with permission can important that due time is given for discussions to look at other areas for lending. We are supporting ensure that any agreement is proportionate and that peer-to-peer funding and crowdfunding. data provided will be beneficial. I am also sure that he Last week, in our bid to support the credit union will welcome the news that, just yesterday, the BBA movement, and quite apart from the funding from the published composite bank lending data for Northern Department for Work and Pensions, we put out a call Ireland businesses and households for the first time. for evidence to look at the future of the credit union The Northern Ireland data have been sought after for movement and what is wanted from communities and some time, and their publication has been encouraged the credit unions themselves. The Government therefore and helped by the joint ministerial taskforce on banking have a big agenda to promote precisely the transparency and access to finance. and competition on which the hon. Gentleman and I have worked very hard over the past few years. The hon. Gentleman suggested that the framework in question should be managed by an independent The hon. Gentleman has raised a number of specific organisation, such as the Office for National Statistics, issues, but before turning to them I would like to but the BBA already collects and publishes a range of provide a brief reminder of how far along we are with comprehensive data on lending to individuals, households the work on postcode lending data and why we believe and businesses, so it is very well positioned to agree the it is so important. As the hon. Gentleman has pointed necessary standards on data release and accessibility. out, the Government secured an agreement with the However, as he would expect, the Government will keep major banks last July to publish lending data across the situation under review. nearly 10,000 postcodes. It is worth reminding hon. Members that the measure has made the British banking industry into one of the most transparent in the world. Mr Love: The reality is that data provided through the BBA are not entirely consistent. Are Ministers As the hon. Gentleman well knows, improving discussing with the banks and the BBA how to ensure competition in banking is a No. 1 priority for many consistency in the provision of data through the voluntary jurisdictions, not least the UK. The publication of the agreement? data will therefore play a big role in improving competition by enabling challenger banks, smaller building societies, credit unions and CDFIs to identify and move into Andrea Leadsom: Yes, the Government are keeping areas that are not currently served by the larger banks. the matter under review, and we will discuss exactly that It will also mean that our economy is better served by with the BBA. their offering finance to customers who are crying out The hon. Gentleman expressed concern that postcode for support to help their business grow. I certainly lending data do not give a full picture of lending in the believe that the project is vital, and that it will play a key UK, and suggested that a wider set of lenders and role in improving lending in areas where it is currently products might be included. For example, he noted that lacking. I am sure that he agrees with that overarching SME figures represent about 60% of the national market, sentiment. covering loans and overdrafts only. Other forms of I turn now to the specific points made by the hon. finance, such as business credit cards and asset-based Gentleman and the hon. Member for Harrow West finance, are not included at this stage. He is therefore (Mr Thomas). On the comments of the hon. Member right that it is important for public data to be as broad for Edmonton about expanding coverage across institutions, as possible, but as I have mentioned, we must bear in the Government made a clear commitment during the mind that, particularly for smaller institutions, the cost passage of the Financial Services Bill that the data of making such disclosure might be prohibitive and would initially involve the lending of the seven major might increase the costs passed on to customers and lenders. That decision was taken because of their dominance businesses. It is important to see postcode data as part 1185 Data Transparency (Banking)3 JULY 2014 Data Transparency (Banking) 1186 of a wide range of data to which the Government, specific point where he believes that there may be evidence banks and businesses have access, on top of data from of a distinct imbalance I would be delighted to look the Bank of England, the BBA and other surveys. into it and respond to him. We will continue to monitor Those other surveys, including the SME Finance the data and ensure that as trends become more identifiable Monitor and the new Business Banking Insight, can we can make more use of the data to assess potential also be of real importance. The latter, which the areas where there is a lack of banking facilities. Government announced in the Budget and I launched In conclusion— just over a month ago, is a really useful tool for UK businesses, as it lets them see which banks are in a good Mr Love: Will the Minister give way? place to offer them the products and services they need at the right prices and will give them a decent service in Andrea Leadsom: I will give way one last time. their area and their particular market. Finally, the hon. Gentleman asked what use the Mr Love: I apologise—when the Minister said, “In Government are making of the data on bank lending conclusion,” I thought I had missed my opportunity. and whether we have a clear strategy for tackling any The Financial Conduct Authority has an objective of credit deserts in UK communities; the hon. Member for looking at particular areas, specifically for the purpose Harrow West also raised that issue. I reassure them both of researching into credit deserts. Have Treasury Ministers that the Government regularly interrogate these data as had any discussions with the FCA on that? part of our wider analysis of bank lending conditions across the UK. However, the full usefulness of the data Andrea Leadsom: I assure the hon. Gentleman that will only really be known once we have been able to officials meet the FCA on a regular basis, as do I. If it identify longer term series and trends. will make him feel better, I shall make a point of raising At the current time, the data do not appear to show that issue with the FCA the next time we meet to ensure any regional imbalances, but we will continue to monitor that it is looking at it carefully. that. As the dataset grows and trends become more I thank the hon. Members for Edmonton and for readily identifiable, we plan to make increasing use of Harrow West again for raising this important issue. As the data. We will of course take action on the issue if we they know—the hon. Member for Edmonton certainly think it is needed. knows this—transparency and competition are central to the Government’s work on financial services. My Mr Thomas: Will the Minister give us a little more interest lies very much in that area, so the hon. Member clarity on who is analysing the trends? I ask, having for Edmonton and I are aligned on that. Although I am asked the Financial Inclusion Centre specifically to give sorry that I cannot give him the answers that he wants me a sense of the bank lending data for London; its right now, because the new policy has not been in place analysis suggested that there was a wide disparity among for long and we do not have enough material as yet and different postcodes—potentially 50% to 300% of the because of our natural reticence to increase the costs for average per capita lending per postcode. As my hon. smaller institutions in the early days, I hope that I have Friend the Member for Edmonton mentioned, my sense reassured him that we will continue to monitor the data was that there was a need for one particular organisation and look for ways to improve the service. Ultimately, I to analyse those data. am confident that we will end up with a banking system that better serves people and businesses up and down Andrea Leadsom: As I have said, at the current time the country. the data do not seem to show any major regional Question put and agreed to. imbalances, but my officials, the Bank of England, the BBA and the banks themselves are looking at the data. 5.19 pm If the hon. Gentleman wants to write to me on a House adjourned.

313WH 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 314WH Response) African solutions—not yet, anyway. The African Union Westminster Hall and its affiliated regional bodies do not yet seem able effectively to impose peace on a troubled area. Latent or open clashes can suddenly turn into far-reaching conflicts Thursday 3 July 2014 that can result in general instability, kidnappings, sexual violence, the imposition of sharia law, humanitarian crises and even mass killings. [MR DAVID AMESS in the Chair] As we look back over the events of the past 12 to North and West Africa (UK Response) 18 months, what is striking is the speed with which things change and how new groups appear. According [Relevant documents: Seventh Report of the Foreign to the United Nations, terrorist acts in the Sahel and the Affairs Committee, The UK’s Response to Extremism Maghreb increased by 60% in 2013 compared with and Instability in North and West Africa, HC 86, and 2012, reaching the region’s highest annual total for the the Government response, Cm 8861.] past 12 years. This is not a criticism but an observation: Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting the UK and other western countries seem to have been be now adjourned.—(Mr Evennett.) caught out by the eruption of successive conflicts in Africa’s western Sahel-Sahara region. The region has 1.30 pm always been subject to local ethnic rivalries and power plays between states, and now it has become a powder Sir Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): It is a keg. Jihadists and drug smugglers have taken advantage pleasure to have this important debate under your of its marginalised areas and porous borders and have chairmanship, Mr Amess. capitalised on economic misery, chronic unemployment, Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister warned against weak state security and popular anger with corrupt the threats posed by extremists fighting in Iraq and governing elites. Syria. He said: The downfall of the Gaddafi regime in Libya has “The most important intervention of all is to ensure that those only worsened the situation. The western military Governments are fully representative of the people who live in intervention was a success in that it stopped Gaddafi their countries, that they close down the ungoverned space and bombing his own people and thus averted a humanitarian that they remove the support for the extremists. We must do that not only in Syria, but in Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria and Mali, because disaster in Libya, but international powers, including these problems will come back and hit us at home if we do the United Kingdom, failed to foresee and mitigate the not.”—[Official Report, 18 June 2014; Vol. 582, c. 1108.] regional fallout. The former regime’s arms have spread Those words remind me of the Prime Minister’s all over the region, old mercenaries have made alliances statement in January 2013, just after the al-Qaeda-linked with jihadists and extremists have settled in southern attack on the In Amenas gas facility in Algeria in which Libya. Libya has also become the busiest transit route 39 foreign workers, including six Britons, lost their lives. for illegal immigration from Africa to Europe. The terrorists hit Algeria a couple of days after France On the UK’s role in the situation, the UK Government intervened in Mali in order to push back Islamists. At pledged in January last year to increase their political that time, the Prime Minister said: security and economic engagement in north and west “Those who believe that there is a terrorist, extremist al-Qaeda Africa, but in all honesty, since then, their actions have problem in parts of north Africa, but that it is a problem for those not matched their ambitions. The evidence points to a places and we can somehow back off and ignore it, are profoundly mismatch between the Government’s rhetoric and the wrong. This is a problem for those places and for us.”—[Official UK’s scant diplomatic resources in the region. If Report, 18 January 2013; Vol. 556, c. 1167.] the Government want to engage more effectively in the He warned that those terrorists posed an existential region, they must accumulate deeper specialist expertise threat. and knowledge about the western Sahel-Sahara, and That threat, and the spread of jihadist extremism in they must expand their diplomatic network in the Africa’s western Sahel-Sahara region, was considered francophone part of the region. Here the UK’s soft and by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, which I hard power could be of great help, but the UK cannot have the privilege of chairing, and we published a do it on its own; it must co-operate closely with other report entitled “The UK’s response to extremism and western powers. instability in north and west Africa”. We considered We as a Committee advocate that the UK should three case studies: the French intervention in Mali, the press for an international accord aimed at bringing In Amenas gas facility attack and the emergence of security and stability to the region. The prime responsibility Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. Crises in Mali, Algeria, for implementing that agreement should rest with the the Central African Republic or even Libya do not ring tripartite leadership of France, the UK and the United a bell with much of UK public opinion. The abduction States, assisted by the European External Action Service. of more than 200 Nigerian girls by Boko Haram is an This is a golden opportunity for the EEAS to get its exception, but only due to the global social media teeth into something and come up with a solution. The campaign and international press coverage. Sadly, the three powers have already worked together, when France girls have not yet been rescued, and, worse, the kidnappings sent its troops to Mali; both the UK and the US continue. supported Paris with logistics and technical assistance. The situation in north and west Africa is serious. The Although Operation Serval has routed the jihadists region has become a new front line in the contest with from their northern stronghold, the fight is not yet over. Islamist extremism and terrorism, and those threats Recent events in the city of Kidal, where the Malian must be addressed, not only by regional powers but by army was humiliated by Tuareg separatists, have forced the west. African problems will not be fixed only with France to prolong its military mission in the country. 315WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 316WH Response) Response) [Sir Richard Ottaway] 600 people, the navy discovered 30 bodies. That has echoes of the incident off Lampedusa last winter, when Obviously, the UK must co-operate with regional hundreds of dead people were found in a boat of migrants. powers on foreign security and military policies. Algeria Illegal immigration and human trafficking from north and Morocco, two stable countries in the region, are key Africa into Europe is a growing problem facing more to delivering stability there. They are natural partners and more EU countries. What really bothers us is the for the UK and other western countries. However, the fact that the European Union does not seem to have a issue of western Sahara still divides them, and its resolution clear strategy for dealing with it. My question to the should always be on the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister—it was posed in our report, but I am afraid Office agenda. The same goes for Nigeria: the UK that the Foreign Office did not really take it up in its should assist Nigeria in its battle against Boko Haram, response—is this. If a boatload of refugees is found in and it is rightly doing so. However, we should never the middle of the Mediterranean, is the policy to shepherd forget that country’s poor record on human rights, its them to safety or to encourage them to turn back to the lack of leadership and widespread corruption and the port they have come from? That is a fairly straightforward brutality of its security forces. question. A new opportunity for military co-operation will We need quick action. Islamic extremism is a dynamic open by the end of the year, following the final withdrawal phenomenon. All eyes are now on advances in Iraq and of UK troops from Afghanistan. I think I am right in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, but we saying that it will be the first time for many decades that should not forget the spread of extremism in north and we have not had an overseas deployment. We thought west Africa. Concerted and quick action is a must, so I that the suggestion made by the previous Chief of the urge the Government to outline soon their strategy for Defence Staff—that we should seriously consider the dealing with the regional insecurity and crawling terrorism possibility of sending some of those well-skilled soldiers that are blighting a continent with which Britain has to training missions in Africa—was a good one, and I had so many connections over the centuries. am pleased that the Minister, in his evidence to us, confirmed that the CDS was not just flying a kite. The 1.43 pm UK is already providing military training to Kenya, Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab): Mali and Somalia, and it would assist the security and The Foreign Affairs Committee report is important, stability of fragile states, which could lead to assistance and unfortunately it did not get the coverage that it with good governance. Once stability was achieved, we deserved when it was published. I wonder whether that could move on to economic aid packages. I think that would still be the case today, given everything that has that would contribute a lot to providing stability and happened in the region, especially in Nigeria. security in the region. The spread of jihadist groups in the region is becoming Aid development is an issue that needs to be reviewed. more and more apparent, and it represents a new front All the evidence points to the fact that in some places, line in violent extremism, which is spreading and becoming international aid development programmes may have increasingly assertive and networked. We are concerned become part of the problem instead of the solution. by the seeming failure of the states concerned and the That is not to decry the good intentions of the aid international community to anticipate events and respond providers, but in Mali the Committee was concerned to quickly, despite the statement in the Government’s response note that western help may have inadvertently inhibited to our report that the UK and its partners had identified the development of responsive and responsible government Mali, the Central African Republic and the wider Sahel and entrenched corruption in the country’s political region as being at risk of conflicts several years earlier culture. We also believe—this is an old chestnut, but it is due to the factors the Committee identified in our highly relevant—that development assistance should be report. Those factors included weak governance, failure redefined. At present, the OECD describes development to address historic disputes, ungoverned spaces and assistance as organised crime, as well as the presence of terrorist groups. That prompts the question, why was more “promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing timely action not taken? What lessons can be learned countries”. and what is to be done now to stem the escalation of We believe that in a rapidly changing world, security those problems? assistance should be included in that definition. Such Among the report’s recommendations, we make the an enhanced definition would guarantee financing for point that the UK Government should match the rhetoric the security of inland borders, as well as funding for of their ambitions to increase their political, security training and non-lethal equipment. and economic engagement with the region with substantive Illegal immigration facing southern Europe is another diplomatic input and resources. Even within the current pressing issue. Despite the family planning programmes financial restraints, they should make it a priority to that the UK is now funding, there are unsustainable support humanitarian efforts where people, especially levels of population growth right across the Sahel. women and girls, are being displaced and subjected to Millions of young men and women are being born into the most heinous atrocities. The prioritisation of such an economic desert, with little or no economic prospects, action is entirely consistent with the Government’s initiative which is leading to increased political instability, organised on tackling violence against women and girls in conflict, crime and the spread of radical views. It also pushes and I know that the Department for International people to risk their lives to find a safer place to live. Development is doing a lot of work in northern Nigeria. Unfortunately, that often turns into human exploitation Such action is also a priority if we are to protect the and sometimes death. Only last week, the Italian UK’s long-term interests and play a leading role with navy rescued more than 5,000 migrants who were France and the US in developing an international security trying to cross from north Africa. On one boat carrying and stability policy for that region. 317WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 318WH Response) Response) Although I am a member of the Foreign Affairs Inadequate military capacity is only one of the Committee, I joined the Committee mid-way through impediments to addressing the insurgency. Political will, the inquiry, so I participated mainly in the aspects of accountability and credibility are also key to regaining the report that relate to Nigeria. The Committee’s visit stability and preventing the continuation of radicalisation. to Nigeria was one of the most shocking experiences I At the moment, the political leadership of the three have had during my time as a member of the Defence states in the north-east is aligned with the opposition Committee and, now, the Foreign Affairs Committee. All Progressives Congress. On 14 May, the BBC reported There is no doubt that violent extremism has taken root that Mr Ledum Mitee, a former activist from the same because of the inadequacy or absence of state institutions region as President Goodluck Jonathan, had been quoted and the abandonment of huge sections of the population as saying: in remote and marginalised—mainly Muslim—areas, “People around the President, his closest allies, all tell him this where the need to address socio-economic disadvantage Boko Haram is manufactured by the northerners to play politics… has been met by complacency, even though Nigeria is This leads him to distance himself from the whole affair.” the richest country in Africa. The country has been He also said that the military commanders have to play unable to provide security for its people. politics because if Government officials in Nigeria informed us during “they give the impression it is a very bad situation, they risk being our visit that measures will be taken to tackle unemployment branded incompetent, so they give a less bad picture to their and poverty, and they said that they recognised the link bosses.” between deprivation and extremism, but more action is He went on to say that when the crisis erupts, no one is needed, rather than words. The fact that the Government able to deal with it effectively because it is so confused. have undertaken to work with international and regional That is just one person’s analysis, and he is probably no bodies to build resilience and capacity to prevent state friend of the president, but if that was the situation structures from being overwhelmed is welcome, but previously, recent developments have surely proved that those structures have already been overwhelmed. In Boko Haram is only too real. Borno state, it has been reported that Boko Haram has At the meeting last night, chaired by the Speaker and free rein in the area. It is doing what it likes, when it attended by Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo- likes. Far from defeating those forces, the state of emergency Iweala, I was pleased to hear that the president has been declared more than a year ago in north-east Nigeria has meeting with people across the political spectrum and failed to curb the Islamist insurgency and attacks have across civil society to bring the people of Nigeria together increased. In the past couple of months, Boko Haram at this time of crisis. She also said that the search is has attacked several military bases. It is extending its being stepped up with a greater and better equipped reach beyond its remote north-eastern heartlands, and Nigerian army presence to take on Boko Haram in the on two occasions has bombed a bus terminal in the northern states. capital, Abuja. Only last week, it bombed an upmarket shopping district in the capital, killing 21 people. As we The recent relentless violence—including a bomb in a all know, in April it kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from vehicle carrying charcoal that exploded in a busy market Chibok, an event that shocked the world. in north-east Nigeria, killing at least 20 people—has led to widespread concern, including in the capital, Abuja, The military have no public credibility because of and that is showing itself in public demonstrations. their record of human rights abuses, and they lack International pressure over the kidnapping of the girls modern equipment, training and motivation. They also from Chibok has forced the Nigerian Government to lack air cover, and they requested help in that area from take notice and allow advisers from China, France, the US and the UK while we were in the country. Israel, the UK and the US to assist its forces, but their Compared with the size of the population, the military presence is likely to be limited to assisting the search for are small in number and do not have the capacity to the kidnapped girls, and will not include a general role prosecute large-scale counter-insurgency operations. As in improving the Nigerian military’s capacity, over and the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the right above what is already being done. hon. Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway), has said, there are constraints on the military support I was pleased to hear from my right hon. Friend the that the UK can provide because of human rights Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) concerns, which have been highlighted by Amnesty that President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a International and Human Rights Watch. The sale of plan to co-ordinate international anti-terrorist capability lethal weapons is prohibited by UK law because of in the fight against Boko Haram and al-Qaeda-linked those concerns. That is a Catch-22 situation, because groups. That is precisely what our Committee has asked without training, the Nigerian military cannot get for—not just in Nigeria, but in the whole north-west equipment or dramatically improve their capacity.Without Africa region. I add my support to my right hon. those, they will remain weak in the face of the most Friend’s request that the UK Government support the ruthless and determined attacks from Boko Haram. initiative. The UK has a large Nigerian diaspora and trading 1.52 pm links with Nigeria, so UK bilateral input to that part of the region is particularly relevant. I therefore support Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op): I want to the Committee’s recommendation that the UK Government highlight a wider aspect of this issue: the ongoing should provide as much security and intelligence as is conflict within Islam, which is taking place not only in consistent with their human rights values. However, north and west Africa; it is a global struggle. It is not years of intensive commitment will surely be required helpful to refer to moderates and extremists, because for that to have any real effect. I wonder how much the there are complex historical religious disputes and power international community and the regional groupings, struggles in which individuals are using religion to try including the African Union, are committed to that. to gain political or economic power. 319WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 320WH Response) Response) [Mike Gapes] Mike Gapes: Unfortunately, there are a number of examples of groups in different parts of the world that There was a justified intervention in Libya in 2011, to have used illegal activities to finance their organisations. save the people of Benghazi from being killed, as Gaddafi The pattern is not just prevalent among Islamist groups; intended, house by house, like rats. One unfortunate the IRA used to rob banks, so such criminal activities consequence of that intervention was that the country, are not confined to Muslims. I believe that some people which was in many senses an artificial creation—as are use the ideology and label as a way of getting external many countries in the middle east, too, lines having support. When we were in Nigeria, we were told that been drawn on maps in the colonial period—has ceased Boko Haram had originally started as a localised conflict to function in any way as what we would regard to be a group, but managed to get itself endorsed as an al-Qaeda state. Because of the weaponry stockpiled by Gaddafi’s franchise. Presumably that means that people in parts regime, and the way he used mercenaries and citizens of of Saudi Arabia may be indirectly financing those groups; other states as part of his elite forces, an unintended that is something that we have to confront. consequence of that intervention has been that masses The essence of the point I am trying to make, which of weaponry have come out of Libya, much of it going the former Prime Minister Tony Blair correctly made, is to other parts of north and west Africa, but some is that there is an ideological aspect. One of the problems going to Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim Arab that we face, as we touched on in our report, is that we world. are not only dealing with what is happening in the We have already heard mention of the instability in region; there are diaspora communities, as has been Mali as the Tuaregs swept across the desert and reinforced said, but there are also people who have been radicalised the incipient disaffected insurgency in the north of the by the internet. There are also people who have come country. I went with the Select Committee to visit both back from conflicts to which they went as foreign Mali and Nigeria, and we also visited Algeria. It is very fighters, and of course there are people who have converted. revealing to visit a country and get the sense that the The terrible murder of Lee Rigby was carried out by lines on the map have created an absolute nightmare. In people who were born into Christian families from terms of its borders, Mali must be the strangest country Nigeria but who, at a later stage, converted to become of almost any. There is a round part at the bottom and a part of the same radicalised, Islamist terrorist network. triangle going out at the top. There is a completely The roots of the problems are therefore complex, and ungovernable desert area, called Azawad, and the River they are with us not just this year, next year or even next Niger bending round. All the population lives alongside decade; they are probably with us for decades. Those of the river, and there are huge areas of desert and us who believe in societies in which men and women are ungovernable space. In any state where the mass of the equal, in which we do not discriminate and in which population is in the capital in the south, I do not know minority religions are protected have a difficult dilemma. how any Government would be able to govern areas My hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and hundreds or thousands of miles away, with virtually no Cumnock (Sandra Osborne) referred to that dilemma people—except small communities living in areas with when she talked about the human rights problems in access to water, and nomadic populations—and lots of Nigeria. poverty. How any Government, even the most advanced, The same argument applies—I referred to this in our with massive economic resources, would be able to debate on Africa a few weeks ago—to the attitude that govern that space effectively is beyond me. the British Government should take to the situation in The Chairman of the Select Committee, the right Egypt. The best can be the enemy of the good. We can hon. Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway), insist on stepping back because things are difficult, or quite rightly referred to the attack on the BP facility in because we do not want to be associated with a Government In Amenas in Algeria. People swept across from desert with whom we do not agree on all matters, but such areas and launched a terrorist attack; workers were Governments are infinitely better than societies that are taken hostage and killed, and there was the terrible either ungoverned or taken over by Islamist, al-Qaeda-linked long-term consequence of instability in the region. terrorist organisations, or worse. That is a recipe for We now have a nexus of robbers, bandits and criminal disaster. bands who would normally be smuggling tobacco or People who think that all the world’s problems were other products across the desert, or smuggling people to caused by the 2003 intervention in Iraq will not agree the coast to try to board the very same vessels heading with what I am about to say, but we are dealing with across the Mediterranean that were referred to earlier, fundamental issues that are related to a conflict within and that nexus is linked to Islamist ideology and the Islam that goes back decades or centuries. We cannot weaponry that has come out of the Libyan conflict. The solve that conflict from outside, but we can at least try Governments in the region face enormous, insurmountable to help people whose view is closer to that of western problems. European and north American society. Given that Islam is a religion within our country, we cannot sit on the Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend side and ignore it. The radicalisation and de-radicalisation said “linked”; what is the link between criminal gangs of young men, and some young women, in our European that are smuggling, arms dealing and dealing in drugs and British society is part of the domestic debate in this from south America, and those who claim that their country, too. movement is about faith, ideology and the Islamic What goes on in north and west Africa also affects us. religion? What is the connection between the two? I The Prime Minister is right that we have to engage on cannot see one, so how does my hon. Friend make that those issues as internationalists, and as people who link, and, for that matter, how do they make links with believe in human values and defending women’s rights, each other? the right of girls to go to school and all the other things 321WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 322WH Response) Response) to which we agreed when we signed the universal declaration gold. Africa has become a battleground extraordinaire of human rights, which was written by Eleanor Roosevelt between rich and poor because it is a continent where, and a few other people in 1948. Those values are under in many ways, economic development seems to be going attack from activities not only in north and west Africa backwards while there is huge wealth and potential but in other parts of the world. Countries such as prosperity from which very few people benefit. Egypt, Nigeria and others therefore need our support Different things happened in our three case studies. and solidarity as they engage with such difficult issues. There was French intervention in Mali. In Algeria we Finally, non-intervention also has consequences. We particularly looked at the In Amenas incident, and I will see spill-over consequences in neighbouring states if still get inquiries to this day from people who work for we sit back and say that it is too difficult: “Some oil companies attached not only to Algeria but to other 170,000 people have died in Syria—well, it’s too difficult. parts of north Africa. I can draw on what members of Nine million people have been internally displaced or the Committee learned from travelling to Algeria. The made refugees—it’s too difficult.” The same issue could third country that we looked at, Nigeria, has hit the arise if extremist Salafists destabilise the Sinai peninsula. headlines at the moment. Visiting Nigeria had a big What if, as a result, a more extreme situation arises in impact on me, as it did on my hon. Friend the Member Gaza? I am still in Africa when I talk about Sinai, but I for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Sandra Osborne). To do not think I am when I talk about Gaza, although it is see the rampant and explicit nature of the terrorism in a complex issue. We are able to understand those issues, northern Nigeria was indeed a shock, and of course but nevertheless, for perhaps understandable reasons, since our return it has become much worse; I will refer there is great reluctance to address them. People ask to that development later. why we should get involved. The reason why we should One of the conclusions of the report is that north and get involved, and why we should support people who west Africa has become a new front line. We all knew are working for equality of men and women, for girls to about the existing front line. In the east, it started go to school and for human rights, is because these around Chechnya, in what was a southern part of the things affect us, too. Soviet Union; it reached through to the middle east and I recognise that our report did not get the publicity it north Africa; and it covered Somalia in eastern Africa. deserved, but the people who look at these issues in Now it has extended across to north and west Africa, detail will understand that the report makes a valuable the region that we are considering today. It is an arc contribution to the debate and raises questions for the reaching from north-eastern Europe through the middle Government, particularly on our co-operation with other east and across the whole of Africa, and it is encircling partners. We were right to support Operation Serval, Europe. The UK is obviously a bit further afield because the French intervention in Mali, and we are right to be of our geographical location, and I will discuss the UK involved in the European Union training mission, but later. Nevertheless, the effect is being felt not only in much more needs to be done, not just in Mali but in mainland Europe but in the UK, as we are already other countries in the region. One country that has not beginning to see; my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford been mentioned is the Central African Republic, where South (Mike Gapes) mentioned that earlier. there has been terrible Christian-Muslim violence. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a The report outlines many of our findings, but let me member of NATO, the European Union and the UN go through some of the events that have taken place in Human Rights Council, we have an important international Africa this year alone. I believe that there is no end in responsibility to ensure that the world does not forget sight to the current instability in the region of north and assists countries in north and west Africa. and west Africa, particularly in the three countries we looked at but further afield as well. In Libya, we have 2.6 pm seen continued instability, with political assassinations and attempted coups, and there is now fighting in the Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): The Chairman capital between the rebels and the army. On 11 January, of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the right hon. Member the deputy Industry Minister, Hassan al-Droui, was for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway), rightly shot dead during a visit to his home town of Sirte, highlighted the three case studies in the report: Mali, which is east of Tripoli. The identity of the shooters is Algeria and Nigeria. We wanted to establish the principal still unknown. On 20 February, Libyans went to the causes of the extremism that we saw in those countries polls to elect a panel to draft a new constitution. Just and what we, in Britain, could do about it. We found a 1.1 million of the 3.4 million eligible voters went to heady mix. As I am sure is of no surprise to many register, compared with the more than 2.7 million people people in the Chamber, the combination of poverty, who participated in Libya’s first free election in July inequality, corruption and misgovernance contributed 2012. to the situation we found in Africa. Those things are not unique to Africa, and they occur in the middle east, When Labour was in Government and Mr Blair went Asia and many other parts of the world where terrorism to embrace Colonel Gaddafi, Libya quite openly and is beginning to flourish. They are a recipe for instability. willingly discarded its nuclear weapons. We thought If we look back to 19th and 20th century Europe, we that would possibly be a new beginning in Libya. Since see that, from the beginning of the industrial revolution then, however, we and the French have intervened in through to the nuclear age, there was affluence and what was the beginning of a civil war. Afterwards, when wealth but a huge difference between rich and poor. we thought we had what we would call a result in Libya, That mix spawned the revolutions and instability of the situation became even worse, and currently there is those centuries. We are seeing the same in the 21st great instability. century, but it is much worse and on a global scale. We Two coup d’état attempts have been made in 2014 by particularly see that in Africa, where there is newfound forces loyal to Major General Haftar, the commander wealth from oil, gas, valuable materials, diamonds and of the Libyan ground forces. First Haftar took control 323WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 324WH Response) Response) [Mark Hendrick] corruption is endemic and self-serving politicians are rife, so what is going on in the north of the country is of of Libya’s main institutions, before announcing on TV little or no consequence to people in Lagos. that he had suspended the General National Congress, Nigeria has nearly 16,000 millionaires, a number that the Government and the constitutional declaration. On has jumped by 44% in the past six years. As I have said, 18 May, it was reported that the Parliament building much of the wealth is concentrated in Lagos, Nigeria’s had been stormed by troops loyal to him. biggest city, where the northern rebellion by Boko Haram As my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South said, feels like a distant rumour. The divide between the there are consequences of intervention, even if it is very Christian south and the Muslim north is huge, and the difficult to say what they are. Then again, we know the extent of relative poverty and inequality in the north consequences of non-intervention, because the people has led several analysts and organisations to argue that of Benghazi would have been slaughtered by Colonel socio-economic deprivation is the main factor behind Gaddafi’s forces if the west had not intervened in the Boko Haram’s campaign of violence there. way that it did and he had remained in power. The communities of northern Nigeria are being wrecked We have seen the ousting of the sitting Prime Minister, by poverty, deteriorating social services and infrastructure, and on 11 March the rebels sold oil to North Korea; the educational backwardness, rising numbers of unemployed Morning Glory tanker reportedly took at least 234,000 graduates, massive numbers of unemployed youths, barrels of crude oil there. It was the first vessel to have dwindling fortunes in agriculture and the weak and loaded oil from a rebel-held port since the revolt against dwindling production base of the northern economy. the Tripoli authorities erupted last July. Such unchecked As for Mali, after Gaddafi’s fall in Libya the Tuareg activities are going on in the background, and a rogue people who had fought for him went home to Mali. state such as North Korea can receive support from a Poor and with no livelihoods, within months they had country such as Libya. There has been further fighting tipped northern Mali into full-scale armed rebellion by rebels in Libya, too. We could not have predicted and there was a takeover of the region by Islamist what is going on today, and that is the problem with fighters. The Tuareg have traditionally been a nomadic intervention. people with little personal wealth. The French intervened in Mali. In May, the ceasefire As I have said, Libya is reliant on oil and much of the was broken with clashes between the two sides in the current fighting is about the oil revenues going to the northern city of Kidal, which killed at least 36 people. capital and not to other parts of the country. There is a Mali’s army launched an operation to seize Kidal but strong argument in many places for greater autonomy. was defeated by the rebels, who then seized two more What the Tuareg separatists in Mali, Boko Haram in towns. Also in May, the fragile truce with the Tuareg Nigeria and the Islamist rebels in Libya all have in National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad common is a desire for their own state, as we have seen separatists broke down in the north of the country, and in Syria and Iraq with ISIS. Extremist as they may be, the separatists seized control of Kidal and the towns of they feel that they are not getting a fair deal from the Menaka, Agelhok, Anefis and Tessalit. existing establishment. A lot of that stems from the In Nigeria, things are also getting worse. On Tuesday, growth inequalities that I have spoken about. Ultimately, the military said that it had broken up a Boko Haram they desire to govern their own affairs. cell that had masterminded the kidnapping of more In Mali, the separatist movements demand greater than 200 schoolgirls in April, but hours before that a autonomy for the north, which they term Azawad, as bomb blast struck a busy market in Maiduguri, the my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South mentioned. capital of the Islamist insurgents’ home state of Borno. Yet Governments in the region continue to be mistrustful At least 2,000 people have been killed this year, compared of Islamists in politics, as they would put it. The Prime with an estimated 3,600 in the four years since the Minister of Mali, Moussa Mara, said: insurgency began. This year alone, there have been 20 attacks by Boko Haram that have been officially “Say we give the Kidal region more resources and a lot more decentralized power, and they elect a jihadist to lead Kidal. That reported, in which at least 1,158 people have been means we would have given our territory to jihadists, and killed, and an estimated 12,000 people have died so far democratically. This is what we want to avoid”. in the five-year insurgency. A similar sentiment is offered by many Governments As I said at the beginning of my contribution, the throughout the region and the throughout the west. link between economic inequality and extremism is well known and well developed. Nigeria has the resources to We know that boundaries in many of these countries beat Boko Haram if it was determined to do so, but do not reflect historical tribal land occupations, religious most of its staggering oil wealth—up to $70 billion differences that exist between groups and locations of annually—is held by a small, politically connected elite, resources. In the aftermath of colonialisation, the who remain insulated from Boko Haram’s terror tactics development of cities and the exploitation of resources and seem almost indifferent to the war. As far as many do not take account of population needs. That is the people in Lagos are concerned, Boko Haram is Muslims reason for the current conflict. killing Muslims. Those people in Lagos are Christians, What can we do? Diplomatic effort by the UK in so do they care? No, they do not. That attitude permeates Africa may have a little effect, but many African countries the political realm in Nigeria. remember the colonisation of Africa by the United When we were in Nigeria and spoke to people there, Kingdom. As much as Britain has good intentions, we learned that Nigerian MPs are paid a salary 10 times given that history, it is not always trusted in Africa. that of a Member of this House, and if they are not We have tried intervention in Libya and Iraq. As my corrupt people think that there is something wrong with hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South said, we have them as a politician. It is the sort of society where also tried inaction sometimes, and non-intervention, for 325WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 326WH Response) Response) example in Syria, although that is not a response. It especially through the medium of the English language. seems contradictory and inconsistent to have invaded This has been recognised by our ambassador to Algeria, Iraq, as we in the west did with the Americans, where for example, who is working hard to try to develop there were no weapons of mass destruction and no better connections. There is also a good, developing chemical weapons, but not to have invaded Syria when relationship between Morocco and the UK in terms of we had the option to do so, albeit from the air or by trade and education, which is a force for good, and a helping separatists, when there were chemical weapons. way that we can try to begin to address some long-term Maliki is blaming Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia is issues. blaming Maliki. In America, the Republicans are blaming The Committee Chair made an important point, Obama and the liberals are blaming Bush. Everybody is which I, too, would emphasise, about Algeria and Morocco blaming each other when looking at the separatists, being natural partners. These two countries in the region whether ISIS or terrorist operations in Africa. Everybody are stable, albeit that they have different histories, and in every country has to take some responsibility. we know that they are rivals. During my visit to Algeria Aid is helpful if it is targeted, but there are governance and Morocco, I had constructive discussions with politicians problems and corruption. In Africa and elsewhere around in both countries, until I mentioned either Morocco or the world, post-colonialism, there was a move towards Algeria. My hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mark nationalism, whether in Africa or in the Arab middle Hendrick) mentioned the European historical context; east—Assad in Syria, Gaddafi in Libya, Mugabe in their relationship reminds me of the French-German Zimbabwe. However, many nationalist leaders have, as relationship. For example, the Western Sahara situation a result of impoverishment and inequalities, now been has parallels with Alsace-Lorraine. swept away by religious movements. People are now It would be a major step forward if those of us saying, “Perhaps we should have supported Gaddafi, developing good relations with both Algeria and Morocco Saddam Hussein or Assad, because what we are seeing could emphasise the importance of trying to find a way now is much worse.” We will never know the answer. forward on the Western Sahara issue. The border between However, we are now sure that pure military intervention Algeria and Morocco is still closed. We cannot conceive is no solution. of a good trading relationship and real economic A long-term solution may be to shape events, win development in that region while that situation pertains. hearts and minds and try to secure economic development where it is needed, but that cannot be done by Britain Mark Hendrick: Some 30 years ago, when I was a alone. Many of us think that because of our colonial student in Liverpool, many students on my electrical past—hon. Members can see that I am a product of our engineering course were from Algeria. I think that colonial past—Britain has all the answers. However, we Algeria is relatively stable now because many of those do not and neither does the United States. Although we students who came to the UK and elsewhere in Europe have good intentions, the future of this country’s wider to study engineering went back with degrees, although international influence is in helping people shape events they had little opportunity to exploit and use them. The for the greater good, rather than just attacking or experience of the tremendous upheavals in Algeria 20 years intervening because we do not like people or standing ago has made it much more stable and more resistant to back because we are too scared about public opinion. terrorism than many other countries in the north of We have to be brave about this. I look forward to Africa. hearing the Minister’s response. Ian Lucas: There was indeed a dreadful civil war in 2.24 pm Algeria that predated the Arab uprisings, and stability Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): It is a real pleasure to there is a product of recent history.There is an opportunity serve under your chairmanship, Mr Amess, and it has in Algeria, which is on the cusp of change, in my view, been a pleasure to listen to the debate. having had various discussions about it. There have to I thank the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, be better relationships within the region—that is the right hon. Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard important—and we must try to find, within the region, Ottaway), and Committee members for undertaking improved mechanisms for dealing with issues, because this inquiry and producing an incredibly valuable report, the people who are most profoundly and immediately which I found helpful, dealing with profound issues affected by all the instability that the report outlines are affecting this region. As we have heard, it is difficult to those who live in the region. limit discussion of the region to this geographical area Another country that has not been mentioned is alone. As hon. Members have indicated, many themes Tunisia. It is an important country that has struggled and big issues confront us within this region and beyond hard since the beginning of the Arab uprisings, which it; these are common and reach across into north-east started there. It has managed to accommodate different Africa and the middle east. These are some of the major viewpoints and, through hard work in difficult times, it issues of our time, which we must confront. The Committee has created a constitution that will hopefully lead to Chair’s introduction was valuable. elections in the near future. I would like to see Tunisia I should like to make a point that I do not think has to work together with other countries, along with those been emphasised enough in this debate. This area of the of us who wish for this part of the world to stabilise, to world has a great deal of potential. When visiting make progress. I know—there have been references to Algeria, I was struck, on meeting a huge number of this—that there is profound unease in Tunisia and young people at the university of Algiers, by the fact Algeria about the instability in Libya, and that unease that they were intensely ambitious and knowledgeable extends to Egypt, as the Chair of the Select Committee about the world, including the United Kingdom. They knows. The instability in Libya is a real worry, and it is were keen to develop close links with the UK in particular, affecting many countries in the region. 327WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 328WH Response) Response) [Ian Lucas] That is a sharp observation. I find it helpful that I have to cover the whole of Africa, because so many of the The debate has highlighted the different pressures issues relating to Africa extend from north Africa down and the seriousness of the situation, but there is an to Nigeria and the band right across the continent from opportunity, through the more stable countries in the Somalia in the east to Mauritania and Morocco in the region, to build an approach that confronts many of the west. In the Foreign Office, thought should at least be issues that my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South given to that, and whether the current organisation of (Mike Gapes) raised. They are profound issues for us areas reflects the massive challenges. I have thought all, and he is right to emphasise that they are not distant about that point, and it was picked up on by the from us. Anyone who has been to the strait of Gibraltar Committee. knows how close Europe is to Africa. In the days of the We heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Roman empire, the quickest routes to Africa were across Carrick and Cumnock about the work that my right the sea from Italy to places such as Libya. Such places hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath as Leptis Magna show the common culture that existed (Mr Brown) has been doing. I attended the meetings in that part of the world. Instability in north Africa will and the Adjournment debate last night on the young inevitably affect all of Europe—not just southern Europe. women abducted in Nigeria. That horrific series of The important issues highlighted by my hon. Friend are incidents has troubled us all in the House, and my right part of why we need to engage so strongly with young hon. Friend should be commended on his superb work. people in places such as Algiers, Morocco and Egypt, in He put it interestingly when he referred to this being a order to encourage them and understand why some civil rights issue for girls. I was struck by that terminology. people—not just in north Africa; it has happened in the This is not only an issue in Nigeria; there are threats to United Kingdom—are radicalised and commit heinous girls’ future right across the region. Many of the people crimes. I have met in Algiers and during my visits across north It is important that we deal with the economic disparities Africa have been women—highly educated women with in the region. On Nigeria, which my hon. Friend the massive potential, who can offer much to their countries. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Sandra Osborne) The idea that they should be prevented from contributing focused on because she joined the Committee when the to their future, and the future of their family and inquiry was looking at that country, it is intensely country, simply because they are women is so abhorrent frustrating that a country that has so many millionaires, that we should see it as a civil rights issue. It should and so much wealth and potential, seems incapable of motivate us, right across the political spectrum and the administering the area that it governs. That must play a world, to confront this. part in why some people feel that they have no stake in We need to look for long-term solutions, and to learn that country and see extreme ideologies as offering from the report, which I commend again, how to develop something that is not being offered by the Government. a better analysis. Our connection with the region is The issues are long term, but the questions of economic perhaps lesser, historically, than our connections with stability and economic opportunities for young people many other parts of Africa. There is more of a French are urgent. In these days of the internet and global connection, historically. I have been struck by Morocco connectivity, a common theme among young people is and Algeria wishing to have closer relations with the ambition, and a common theme across north Africa is United Kingdom, and we need to build on that. Our the number of highly educated young people who have education system provides the key to the door. We need great capabilities and talents that are not supported to be passionate in our advocacy of women as part of sufficiently by the number of jobs created in the local the future of the region. Tunisia is a potential beacon of economy. They and their families are not being offered open democracy in the region, so can we please ensure the real opportunities to progress that they need. Those that is has support? It was able to create a constitution big questions—I am sorry that they are such big questions, and can work with partners across north Africa to because big questions have complex and protracted secure a more stable situation in the years ahead. solutions—mean that we have to be in this for the long term. There are not a million miles between the Minister 2.40 pm and me on these issues. It is important that the United The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Kingdom stays in this for the long term and devises the Office (Hugh Robertson): It is a pleasure to serve under best approach, so that we can play a positive role. I have your chairmanship, Mr Amess. I start by thanking the met with members of the ambassadorial teams, who Select Committee on Foreign Affairs for its report and have an ambitious role, but the report is right to highlight hon. Members for their contributions, and by apologising that the reality does not match the rhetoric. for not being the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Another point that the report picks up on is the and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member ministerial organisation within the Foreign and for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds)—the Minister Commonwealth Office. I am shadow Minister with with responsibility for Africa—who has been responding responsibility for Africa and the middle east. The Minister’s to the debate in the Chamber. I will try my best to remit is the middle east and north Africa, and there is a answer the questions that have been put to me, but if I separate Minister with the remit of Africa. The FCO cannot, I hope that hon. Members will accept a response splits the remit of Africa between two different teams in writing after the debate. because of the Sahara. The report states: The hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas), the “A common thread in UK policy appears to be a weakness of Opposition spokesman, said that there was not a million analysis in relation to crises straddling North Africa and West miles—was it a million or 100 million?—between us. Africa: the Sahara may form a departmental barrier within the The honest truth is that there is not even 1 mile between Foreign Office, but it is not one for terrorists.” us on this matter. The danger, as pointed out by my 329WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 330WH Response) Response) right hon. Friend the Member for Croydon South (Sir nearest safe port or their home country, whichever is Richard Ottaway), the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs closer. That is the common-sense answer, but I will Committee, is that we tend to examine threats and then check and write to him. the focus moves on. Since the Committee produced its report, the focus moved to Syria and is now on Iraq. The hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock The spotlight moves on and we tend to follow it. As (Sandra Osborne) talked mainly about Nigeria, which I many hon. Members said, the underlying problems are have not visited, but I was struck by the impression that long term and systemic, and only by committing ourselves it had made on her. She is right to say that the UK to the region multilaterally will they be addressed. Government should give as much support as possible. I presume that she is aware of the package of support Before addressing the points raised in the debate, I announced by the Secretary of State for Foreign and was asked to put on the record the apologies of the Commonwealth Affairs on 12 June, following the London Prime Minister’s representative for the Sahel, my right ministerial meeting, which includes direct tactical training hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr O’Brien), and advice for Nigerian forces about the fight against for not being here. He is in Niger, where, I am glad to terrorism. We are also involved in a regional intelligence- say, he is overseeing the first contract signed by that sharing partnership with France, the US, Nigeria and country with a UK company, so there is progress of a its neighbours. The Department for International sort. Development and the United States Agency for The best way for me to respond might be to go International Development partnership will hopefully through the various contributions to pick up the questions draw a million more children into education by 2020, asked—[Interruption.] I have just been told that that is which is in addition to the million that this country probably not the way to do it, but there we go. Let me committed to in May under the UN safe schools initiative, start with the speech of my right hon. Friend the and DFID will commit to 60% of its spend in northern Member for Croydon South, the Chairman of the Nigeria over coming years. Before coming here, I asked Committee. He and others are right that Morocco and about last night’s debate introduced by the former Prime Algeria are natural allies of ours. They are two countries Minister, the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and for which I am responsible and I have visited both this Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), and was delighted to hear year. In the past, we might have suffered from the that it went well. Indeed, I believe that he welcomed the misapprehension that, being Francophone countries, UK’s support for Nigeria. they look to Paris, but they are keen to broaden their approach and to do more business with this part of the The hon. Member for Ilford South (Mike Gapes), the world, and, as the hon. Member for Wrexham said, the former Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, English language is key to that. Younger people in both made a thought-provoking speech, and I absolutely countries are keen to learn English—the language of agree with him. He will be amused to know that when I the internet. The idea that the quid pro quo for that first met the Foreign Minister of the Kurdish autonomous should be a much more proactive involvement in the region, as we were walking out at the end of a half-hour international affairs of north and west Africa is absolutely meeting, he said, “I forgot to do the thing that I should something that they understand and agree with. have done, which is to thank you for saving us all in 1991.” He then laughed and said, “And blame you for Western Sahara is the sticky issue that prevents that, causing the problem in the first place.” The lines that however. Relations between the two countries are not we—Sykes and Picot in that case—drew across maps good. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that both recognise have caused many repercussions, and the hon. Gentleman that relations are not good and that that is a barrier to is right to point to their illogicality. further progress. I hope that a slight change in how this country deals with Morocco—to set parameters regarding The hon. Gentleman is also right that engagement Western Sahara and then to encourage it to meet them, with a country—this has really struck during my 10 months which is a more proactive involvement, spearheaded by in the Foreign Office—is always much more powerful our excellent ambassador in Rabat—is starting to make than standing off and criticising. It is all too easy to a difference. think that because we are uncomfortable with some I agree with my right hon. Friend, the Chairman of things that a country does it is better to disengage and the Committee, that the definition of development assistance criticise. It is almost always right to get involved and must be enhanced and he is right that security and other then make comments from the position of critical friend. areas can play a role; it cannot simply be the traditional There is a balance, but he is correct to say that non- definition. The same is true for the work of the Foreign intervention also has consequences. When we do not and Commonwealth Office. There was a time, some intervene, the problem often arrives in due course anyway. 20 years ago perhaps, when the Foreign Office saw its role in terms of pure diplomacy. These days, our The hon. Gentleman asked in particular about arms relationships with countries are also about defence, and ammunition in Libya. The Government have security, health and education and, in some places, even committed £20 million to address that problem. I am culture and sport. We must learn to engage across a not sure whether this came out in the inquiry, but it was much wider waterfront. suggested to me that more than 400 arms dumps were left across Libya when Gaddafi fell, and that more arms Mentioning a wider waterfront brings me on to the and ammunition were floating around than when the question about the boat. The best answer is that I will eastern bloc fell in the late 1980s, which is a worrying write to my right hon. Friend, but I will have a go. Task statistic. Force Mediterranean is focused on prevention rather than stopping people leaving in the first place. I suspect In another excellent speech, the hon. Member for that the answer to his question is that once a boat of Preston (Mark Hendrick) made some good points about migrants is intercepted, they would be returned to the Mali, Nigeria, Libya and others. On Libya, the Prime 331WH North and West Africa (UK 3 JULY 2014 North and West Africa (UK 332WH Response) Response) [Hugh Robertson] that English has become the language of the internet and the preferred language for many young people. It Minister has just appointed Jonathan Powell, who used gives us a real opportunity, which we should not miss. to work for Tony Blair, as special envoy. He will work We have spoken about reconciliation between Morocco closely with his US counterpart to try to support and and Algeria, but the hon. Gentleman also made a good bring together reconciliation efforts in the country. Every point about Tunisia, the home of the Arab spring and country must take its share of responsibility. Looking in many ways its most successful graduate. There has across the whole area, the key to solving the issues and been progress, although things seem to get there just to long-term, sustained engagement will be a multilateral before the critical moment. As he said, however, it is approach, involving us, the French, the United Nations, good to see that elections are scheduled for the autumn. African forces and the rest coming together to achieve a It is vital that this country continues to support the common agenda. It is fair to say that that has not been Tunisians. the case up to now, and we are in the early stages of I will deal with the easy points made by the hon. doing it, but that is clearly the way forward. Gentleman. He is absolutely right about civil rights and Nigeria—he is on the money there. On the question of The hon. Member for Wrexham also made that point— ministerial responsibilities, the situation predates me, the multilateral approach using stable countries will be and I took over from someone with the same brief as the key to progress in the region—and he is absolutely mine. On the question of how things are divided up, the right to talk about the phenomenal potential of countries danger of grouping the middle east and all of Africa is such as Algeria and Morocco. We have both visited that together they are a large part of the cake, which Algeria, a country that is changing extraordinarily quickly. raises the issue of whether someone could give the The Algerians said to me, “The west has only just region all the attention it deserves. I suspect we follow woken up to what we went through in the 1990s,” and, the Arab League arrangements, which take in the countries having come out of that, slowly but surely, they are keen of north Africa, but not much further beyond. not only to forge closer links with us in the west, and When I arrived in the Foreign Office, however, the probably to shake off that Paris focus in policy, but to Foreign Secretary said that he was always open to see what they can do in the region. When I was last in moving responsibilities around as situations changed. Algeria, on my second visit, the Algerians were in the The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, and that is process of hosting peace talks for the Malian Government. something we should definitely keep under review. If That was the first time, I think, that the Algerian there is a more sensible way to arrange responsibilities, Government had reached out beyond their own borders. there is no political reason for not doing so. We applaud such encouraging signs there. I finish where I started, and thank the Select Committee and its Chairman for a thoughtful piece of work, which The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to talk about we in the Foreign Office have read carefully. Many of the key role of the English language. In a sense, the the points made are good ones, which we agree with, British Council can never do enough in such areas, and the report has given us a firm platform for progress although we have been helped enormously by the fact in the years ahead. 333WH 3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 334WH

Local Government Procurement government to sort out, but of course in partnership with central Government. The Cabinet Office, the DCLG, [Relevant documents: Sixth Report of the Communities the LGA and local government can work together on and Local Government Committee, Session 2013-14, HC 712, this, as well as with business, listening to what it has to and the Government response, Cm 8888.] say about procurement and the ease with which it can engage with the process. There is also the third sector; 2.53 pm we must not forget that a good percentage of local Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab): It is a authority services are delivered not only by private pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Amess, businesses, but by the third sector. and to introduce the debate on the sixth report of the The second overarching message is that procurement Select Committee on Communities and Local Government is not only a job for specialists. There is the idea that in the 2013-14 Session. some expert procurement officer in a local authority The main theme of what I have to say is that there is can be given a problem, if there is one, to sort out. First, an awful lot of agreement on local government however, we have to ensure that what we are procuring procurement, which is probably unusual, given some of will result in the service that we want to see delivered. the subjects that we discuss in debates on communities Procurement is simply another way of delivering a and local government. Many of our recommendations—a service to the residents of an area. Getting what we little unusually for our reports—are aimed at local want delivered, how we want it delivered, right from the authorities and at the Local Government Association, start is important. In councils, that involves councillors rather than at central Government. That is consistent who are responsible for service delivery, as well as with the Committee’s intention to take a localist approach experts in procurement. to such matters. Indeed, if I may tease the Minister, the Procurement is not just about cost. Cost is vital, extent to which the Government agree with the Committee’s particularly at the moment, but other issues must be recommendations is partly because most of the looked at as well: the effect on local businesses, recommendations are not aimed at them, but at local environmental issues, the possibility of getting training government. That might be a little unkind, because for apprentices as part of any procurement arrangements generally we are on the same page. —they are all important, and need to be thought about Talking of the LGA and its supportive response to by councils when procuring. There is no point complaining our report, I am pleased to be going to the LGA afterwards that no local businesses got any tenders, if conference next week, and to the launch of its national the response is that perhaps the way that councils procurement strategy, which is an important part of designed the contracts excluded those businesses. The delivering the Committee’s recommendations. I look delivery of services must be monitored. Procurement is forward to giving a presentation, and to hearing what not only about getting tenders in and selecting the the LGA has to say. lowest price, the one with the best quality or a mixture Local government procurement might not be the of the two, but about seeing whether what is promised is most exciting of subjects, but it is an important one, delivered. That is crucial and involves not only procurement because local authorities spend £45 billion a year, which officers, but other council officials, councillors and members is not an inconsiderable sum of public money. Indeed, of the public. 25% of local authority expenditure is involved in procuring The third overarching message is political leadership. goods and services from outside local government. In We welcome the fact that some authorities have appointed our inquiry, we found some really good examples of a cabinet member to be responsible for procurement, councils moving ahead and developing good or excellent and that some involved front-line councillors in monitoring practice, which in some instances central Government what happens when a contract is let. A simple proposal might learn from. that we made—I do not think it has been made elsewhere— We clearly identified that many councils are doing the which the LGA endorsed, is that every year the whole right thing and getting better all the time at procurement, council should provide an annual report on its procurement although some councils have not moved forward at all. strategy, setting out what it is trying to achieve, rather Patchy performance was highlighted by our inquiry, than thinking of things after contracts have been let. and the obvious requirement is for those councils that have not addressed the issue seriously, or are not performing [HUGH BAYLEY in the Chair] well, to get up to the standard of the authorities where Turning to the specific proposals, we argued strongly there is first-class procurement. In that way, an awful lot that a centralised approach should not be imposed, but could be achieved, an awful lot of money saved and we estimated that willing and voluntary collaboration better value delivered. by councils could deliver about £1.8 billion. I do not Returning to the localist theme, we were strongly of want to be held to every £100,000 of that, but it is a the view that the problem would not be solved by the reasonable ballpark estimate of what might be achieved. imposition of centralised purchasing, or by the Department We recognise that collaboration will sometimes not be for Communities and Local Government coming up appropriate, and that councils sometimes have specific with new regulations to compel local authorities to local issues and intentions when making purchases. behave in a certain way. This is about encouraging the Sometimes, forcing collaboration could lead to extra local authority sector, with the LGA in a key role, to bureaucracy and delay, but with a simple purchase of a look at best performance and to replicate it in many fairly standardised product, such as energy, councils more circumstances. can gain a lot by collaborating and ensuring that they Three overarching messages come out of the report. have market power and influence. Provided it is done in First, we welcome the LGA and local government in a considered way, collaboration can certainly produce general taking a lead on procurement. It is for local benefits. 335WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 336WH

[Mr Clive Betts] contract and when the service is delivered how that accountability goes back to the council. That calls into Cost is important, but there are other issues to be question the front-line councillors who represent their considered, such as the impact on local companies, constituents. If something goes wrong, how is that dealt whether small and medium-sized enterprises really have with? Does the council simply say, “Well, that’s the access to the tenders, and whether tenders can be split contractor’s responsibility; it’s nothing to do with us up to allow more access by smaller companies. That is any more”? That is not so, and contracts should recognise important for small businesses and for apprentices. It is that as far as the public are concerned, the service is a not simply the council that should employ apprentices; council one delivered in a different way. There must be a the private sector can also do that, and it could be clear line of accountability when things go wrong, and encouraged or be required to do so as part of a tender. the public must be clear about whom they complain to The Government’s aspiration is to have 25% of their when that happens, and how their complaints will be contracts with SMEs. Local government already has dealt with. 47% of its contracts with SMEs. Central Government The same applies to employment. When services are will probably never get anywhere near that, so full outsourced, the council does not directly employ the marks to local government, which is ahead of the game workers, but it nevertheless has a responsibility. It puts again. We should congratulate it on that. the contract out and decides which contractor does the On the cost of procurement, there were quite a lot of job. TUPE arrangements are in place when staff are complaints about EU rules and regulations, and suggestions transferred as part of the outsourcing, but we felt in that we sometimes over-apply them. We thought it was general terms that there is a responsibility on councils. desirable to have a proportionate approach to the We did not come to the view that they had to do one application of EU rules. We would like a clearer definition thing or another, but they should at least consider issues from the Minister of what the Government believe a such as the operation of zero-hours contracts. The proportionate approach might be. If he cannot give that Government have promised proposals, and we welcome today, it would be helpful if he would write to the that and look forward to seeing what they suggest. Committee. We discussed the living wage. Some councils insist We received a lot of evidence about pre-qualification not merely on paying the living wage, but that their questionnaires, and we heard that for every tender, contractors do so. When the Committee went to Sheffield, different authorities, or parts of the public sector, seem we saw some excellent procurement practices. The council to devise different questionnaires. Businesses, particularly was very honest with us, and said that it writes into small businesses, are upset about that and about the contracts for construction and many other council services cost. The Committee’s view was slightly different from a requirement for contractors to pay the living wage. that of the Government, and the LGA sided with us on The one area where they are unable to do that is social this. We still think that pre-qualification questionnaires care. There is concern that social care contracts are are useful in virtually every respect, because without outsourced not to improve the quality of service, but them, even for fairly small contracts, it is open to because the cost of paying the workers will be reduced. anyone to put in a bid, and far too many firms end up There are real issues about the future cost of social wasting time and effort trying to bid for a contract. care. The Committee did not go into that, but raised it There may be dozens of firms tendering. If there is a as an issue of concern. It is a challenge across the party questionnaire, at least the number can be thinned out spectrum to look into the future, when more people will and a reasonable number of tenders made, giving firms require care, the population will get older, and we will a reasonable chance. In addition, the local authority encourage and help people to remain in their homes, does not have to do quite as much work analysing lots instead of spending nights in hospital when they need of tenders that will not be successful. We welcome the not be there. There are challenges in how that social LGA’s response, and thought the Government were care is delivered, in paying the people who provide that perhaps not quite up to the game on that and should care, in training and in other costs. think about it again. We did not find much evidence of fraud in local There was a lot of agreement on the requirement to government. We asked for information and evidence. pay subcontractors on time. There has been a lot of Clearly, there are examples, but nothing like those the pressure on local authorities to pay their contracts on Government have been grappling with in the Ministry time, and the evidence shows that they are generally of Justice recently involving contracts for monitoring pretty good at that. The problem is further down the prisoners and so on. We found very little fraud, but that chain. Small companies are probably most affected by does not mean that the Government should be complacent. cash-flow issues, and may be put out of business if a We believe that there should be a proactive approach, contractor does not pay them. We welcome the particularly on transparency.Making information available Government’s proposals to legislate in this area, which to the public and councils is one of the best ways of are positive; the Committee may return to scrutinise the ensuring that fraud does not happen. legislation when we see it. There is general agreement We welcome the fact that the LGA will produce on that. guidance to councils, so that when they write contracts, The Committee made it clear that outsourcing—changing they ensure that they have a right to data created under the organisation that delivers a service—does not absolve those contracts. It is a bit of a worry that private the council of responsibility for delivering that service. companies sometimes hide behind commercial As far as the public are concerned, it is a council service confidentiality, saying, “We can’t let you know what’s being provided by a different organisation, and they going on because this is our information, not yours.” If expect their councillors, whom they elect, to be accountable they are being paid public money for delivering a service and responsible. Sometimes, it is not always clear in the or providing goods, there is a public interest. Some 337WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 338WH councils are looking at extending the freedom of Everything else being equal, they want, where possible, information provisions to contracts that they let. We to prioritise local service delivery, but many felt unable concluded that that was for councils to decide on, but to do so because of EU legislation, and the issue was transparency is important. raised again and again. Some 67% of the responding If there is corruption, it is likely that it will not be councils said they did not prioritise local goods and revealed by highly paid auditors searching through services and that the main reason for that was the books. They will sometimes find evidence of fraud, but perceived restrictions in European legislation. I should it is more likely to be found as a result of whistleblowing say that that was before we saw the new directive on by people who see at first hand what is going on, and procurement. who say, “This is not right. I’m going to tell.” It is Armed with that information, I did a second round therefore important to have methods of enabling of freedom of information requests, seeking more detail anonymous reporting. on what councils were doing locally, and it showed that We said that councils should insist on a requirement there were differences, depending on the councils’ political in contracts that where whistleblowing is identified and make-up. On average, a Labour council will procure information is made available to the contractor, the about 40% of its goods and services from the local contractor must pass that information on to the council. authority area, while the average Conservative council In that way, the information will be available to the procures about 31%, although that might have improved. council, not just the contractor, who may cover it up What was striking, however, was the range of local because something is going wrong in their organisation. procurement. The highest proportion of goods procured We await the Government’s proposals on strengthening locally was 80%, while the lowest was 2.5%, so there is the whistleblowing framework, but we welcome their great variation in practice. approach; again, we are moving in the same direction. The second set of questions also asked about the use To summarise, Mr Amess—sorry, Mr Bayley; welcome of social value clauses in contracts, and I discovered to you—there is general agreement on the way forward. that about 56% of councils used them in their procurement I have highlighted one or two areas where we have a strategy. Indeed, most councils—about 90%—had a slight difference of emphasis from the Government, written procurement strategy, which was also pretty and where we need a bit more clarification, as on the good. I also asked councils whether they took into policy on EU directives. Essentially, procurement is a account whether suppliers gave employees non-statutory matter for a localist approach; it is about identifying benefits such as the living wage, and about 40% said best practice in local government and getting all local they did. authorities to implement it, following the example of That was all very interesting, and as we have a few others. moments, I thought I would outline some of the good I very much look forward to going to the LGA practice I discovered, because it reflects some of the conference next week and hearing from its members at issues in the report. the national procurement strategy launch, where I will Newcastle city council supports a living wage and be speaking. I also look forward to working with the promotes it not only in the direct delivery of council LGA on developing many of the ideas the Committee services, but in its supply chain. The council also said recommended in its report. that 53% of its spend was with local—north-east—suppliers, compared with a national average of 35.8%. In addition, 3.11 pm the corporate procurement team seeks to obtain at least Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab): one north-east quote for all contracts not requiring a May I say what a pleasure it is to serve under your formal tender process. chairmanship again, Mr Bayley? The council also ensures that the lots within larger I find myself here again on a Thursday afternoon contracts are a proper size to encourage bids and congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield competition, and it works with north-east procurement South East (Mr Betts) and his Select Committee on an organisations to streamline procurement documentation, excellent report. I want to take a few moments to making procurement processes consistent across the explain why it is an excellent report, before going on to region and easier to understand. look at some of the issues it raised. As we can see from The council has participated in a regional supplier looking around the Chamber, few of our parliamentary development pilot to educate, and improve competitiveness colleagues think local government procurement is a of, the region’s small and medium-sized enterprises. It really exciting issue or one they want to spend their has also ensured that SMEs have received training on Thursday debating, so I might be one of the few who procurement. The council’s “Quick Quotes” initiative are interested in it. was launched to streamline and speed up the process for Given the cuts facing local councils, particularly those small bids. The council is also committed to e-procurement serving poor areas, and given the jobs that will be lost as and to making communication on all aspects of a result, I decided, as the shadow Minister with procurement much easier to understand. responsibility for the issue, to see whether councils were Finally, through its targeted recruitment and training using procurement to support local employment where programme, the council focuses on job creation by possible. I sent out two rounds of freedom of information including clauses on it in the procurement process, requests to 400 councils and got 367 responses, which is bringing new jobs to the area. Through their procurement pretty good. The responses highlighted a number of the strategies, a number of other councils have also tried to issues raised in the Committee’s report. deliver jobs where possible. The responses to my first request demonstrated that a There were equally good examples at Sheffield city significant number of councils want to take on a more council, which has adopted the national procurement proactive role in deciding who to award contracts to. concordat for SMEs to encourage trade between SMEs 339WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 340WH

[Roberta Blackman-Woods] We thought that there was much good practice in local government. We saw that local authorities would and the council. It looks at how to get more local come together voluntarily in an area that made sense to businesses, particularly small businesses, competing for them, to deal with procurement. Often they would council contracts. It also monitors closely the proportion procure back office functions between several authorities, of the council spend that goes to local businesses, which or they would look at working more effectively to is about 72%. There were similar processes in Birmingham, improve value for money. Large contracts were another although there was much stronger focus there on delivering reason for them to come together. We hope that the local jobs and local training opportunities. Government will support local authorities in working That is all by way of preamble. Like my hon. Friend together voluntarily, and perhaps in setting up, at regional, and his Committee, I thought there was really good sub-regional or combined authority level, ways to make practice out there in opening up procurement processes procurement easier, more consistent and easier to and ensuring, where possible, that SMEs got a chance understand. to bid for contracts and that procurement could deliver I also agree with the Select Committee’s conclusion for the local community. There were issues, but it was that the difficult balancing act for local authorities is to comforting—this is why I wanted to go through the get best value while supporting local businesses. In preamble—to know that the Committee and I had many cases, simply going by cost may not necessarily discovered similar issues and concerns. Indeed, I was mean the best service, or the one that local people want, reflecting this morning on the fact that I could probably and it can mean employees from another area providing have sat back and let my hon. Friend’s Committee do the service: local authorities thus cannot use procurement the work I did through my freedom of information to benefit the people they represent. That is a difficult requests. balancing act, but the people who are best able to chart We need to ask a fundamental question: why are we a course through the difficulty are the local authorities, here discussing procurement? The public sector spends either alone or in co-operation. about £220 billion a year on procurement, of which I was pleased that the report showed that smart about £50 billion a year is for local government procurement can bring other benefits, such as a living procurement. That is a huge amount of money, and we wage, training and upskilling opportunities, and are asking whether it is being spent wisely. About 47% apprenticeships. It is right to suggest that the Local of what local government spends on procurement goes Government Association could and should do more to to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Federation promote sharing good practice of that kind. We came of Small Businesses has shown that for every £1 spent in across good examples, and felt that all local authorities the local economy 83p goes back into it. Obviously, it need to understand how to use procurement more effectively. makes a lot of sense for local governments that want to In the responses we received, European rules that build their local economies to try to get as much local were never really outlined in detail were often used to procurement as possible. justify a lack of imagination in the way councils procure The way local authorities choose to spend their money services. Things were often very bureaucratic, and the can have significant impact on businesses and jobs, and reason we were given was, “We have to do this because on wider social value. What they do could include using of Europe.” However, some councils managed to avoid more SMEs; ensuring that suppliers give staff non-statutory that. I was therefore pleased that the Select Committee benefits, such as the living wage or extra training; and paid attention to the issue, informing us that procurement asking suppliers to provide apprenticeships or jobs for takes longer and is more expensive in the UK than in those who struggle to find work and to use local businesses other EU countries. I hope that that worries the Minister; if possible. There is growing evidence to suggest that it worries me. I thought that it showed that the Select SMEs provide better quality and more flexible services, Committee report is timely, and that its recommendations and that they are more responsive when the procurer’s should be acted on. demands change, or there is a need to change a contract. The report states: I was therefore interested in the excellent report that has been produced, and in the evidence that the Select “Some 75% of all contracts tendered in the UK have a value Committee took on the need for local authorities to get below the thresholds at which the full EU requirements apply, but witnesses contended that councils applied the full rules to many better at procurement. Interestingly, the report reached of these lower value contracts”. the same conclusion as the shadow team. It is always tempting for people involved in central Government to We came across that, and clearly it must cease. It is think that centralising everything will get things done imperative that the Department for Communities and better, because of economies of scale and because there Local Government and the Local Government Association can be, for example, one pre-application questionnaire, act on the relevant recommendation, at paragraph 59 of simplifying the whole process, but I wonder about that. the report. Local authorities need to become more Many councils told us they could not do certain things competent in applying EU rules. The first step is surely because of EU legislation, which we were not sure was for the Government and sector leaders, including the really the case. Some local authorities seemed to manage LGA, to spell out what constitutes a sensible approach to do what others could not. However, I agree with my that complies with the regulations proportionately. The hon. Friend’s conclusion that it would be wrong to LGA should produce guidance on that aspect of the centralise the procurement system for local government, new EU directive on public procurement, and work because that could mean services being unresponsive or with local authorities to disseminate best practice. inappropriate, which would be a major disbenefit. It The report is right to highlight the need for a consistent, could, indeed, lead ultimately to higher service delivery measured approach to the management of the procurement costs in the long term, particularly if contracts broke process. We, like the Select Committee, found huge down and had to be retendered. variation in practice for pre-qualification questionnaires. 341WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 342WH

We interviewed small businesses, and for some of them— Roberta Blackman-Woods: That is wonderful. I am with some councils—the PQQ experience was truly interested and pleased to hear that, and look forward to frightening. Often there is a lack of consistency between seeing the report. councils in dealing with PQQs, but sometimes the lack I am not exactly sure what action the Government of consistency is between departments within a council. will take to enable local authorities to understand better Our plea would be that if there is to be support to the new EU procurement framework, which is a result enable councils to get more streamlined systems, attention of the new directive published on 28 March. I would should be paid to PQQs. Indeed, there should be assistance like to hear what the Minister’s Department is doing to from central Government or the LGA in developing a communicate that to councils. If the Minister and the better system. Department intend that the LGA should take that role There was much good practice. We found, as did the on board, he should make that clear today and assure Select Committee, good examples of streamlining to us that the LGA has the resources to undertake the make the procurement and tendering process more task, because it is critical in improving procurement. straightforward, but there is a big role for the LGA to Local authorities have to get away from the belief that play in ensuring that all local authorities follow best the EU directive stops them doing all sorts of interesting practice. That is what the Select Committee report says, things locally. I also look forward to seeing the I think. Government’s response to the consultation on zero-hours contracts and the implications for the care sector in I was pleased that the Select Committee considered particular. the quality of employment that is provided, through outsourcing in particular, and that it pressed the I was perhaps a bit disappointed that the Government’s Government to monitor the quality of employment. As response did not seem to show any real determination, my hon. Friend said, that is particularly an issue for the or vigour, to assist local government in transforming care sector. I note that his Committee was not able to procurement, so that it would not only deliver value for pay a huge amount of attention to that, but I hope that money, but take on all the social value issues and deliver it will examine it in more detail later, because, again, we jobs and improvements for their local communities, found real issues there. although perhaps I am being unduly unfair to the Minister, and perhaps he will convince me that he finds The Minister can tell us later whether he is in favour this a really interesting area, and that the Government of zero-hours contracts. We are not against them, but need to put their weight behind it to get real changes in we want to see them only where they are appropriate local government procurement. I look forward to hearing and welcomed by staff. I feel strongly that they should what he has to say. not be imposed on people, as they often are, but there is a wider issue of outsourcing that can happen as a result of the local authority procurement process. We also 3.35 pm want to reflect on the issues of accountability that the report produced by my hon. Friend’s Committee went The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for into in some detail. It is all too easy for councils, once Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): It they have outsourced a particular service, to think that is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today, they no longer have any responsibility for the quality or Mr Bayley. I thank the hon. Member for Sheffield delivery of that service, which would be quite wrong. South East (Mr Betts) and congratulate him on securing the debate. He is quite right: we absolutely welcome the Elsewhere, the report talks about the need for councils Select Committee’s report and endorse its view on the to demonstrate probity, have good monitoring and need for councils to improve the way in which they complaints systems in place, and, critically, have a procure goods and services. The hon. Member for City whistleblowing system, so that if there is fraud or bad of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods) made a good practice, it is easy for people to highlight that, bring it point about the number of Members who have joined into the open and make it transparent. We thought that us for this debate this afternoon. I appreciate that there there was some very good practice, which the report is also an important debate in the Chamber, but this is highlighted, but again, this is about the LGA and the an important matter, and it is good to have the chance Department encouraging the sharing of good practice. to air some issues, discuss good practice, which I will The report was excellent, so I looked forward to touch on, and highlight how important procurement is reading the Government’s response, which I thought and what local government should be doing to focus started well. It is good that, over the coming year, the on it. Government will take a range of further actions to I will resist the urge to go too far down the road that promote the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, the hon. Lady tempted me down at the end of her and that they will review progress throughout the year speech, when she mentioned social values and jobs. As and consider what actions to take as a result of that meritorious as those issues are, and as important as it is review. There is also a commitment to continue reviewing that councils are aware of them, going in that direction the impact of the community right to challenge. Will would tempt us towards having some sort of central the Minister tell us when those reviews are likely to be governance over what those values should be, which is completed and how they will be published and put into the very opposite of the localism that I believe in. It has the public domain? to be for local authorities to decide what the right values are for them. Mr Betts: My hon. Friend might like to know that the We agree with the Communities and Local Government Committee will do an inquiry into the community right Committee that councils, with the support of the Local to challenge and how it is functioning. That is one of Government Association, should absolutely take the the inquiries we will do in the autumn. lead and have the responsibility for delivering on the 343WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 344WH

[Brandon Lewis] the requirement for public bodies, including local authorities, to use Contracts Finder, which is a national procurement procurement agenda. Councils are uniquely placed— portal. geographically as well as structurally—to understand We are developing a standard pre-qualification the needs of their residents and communities and to be questionnaire—for contracts that above the EU threshold, locally accountable to them for their actions and decisions. I stress—and councils will be encouraged to use that. The hon. Lady gave some figures, and just to put The aim is to ensure that businesses no longer have to things in context, this is a hugely important area, not complete the countless different versions that currently least because last year the local government sector exist. That will make it easier for small businesses and spent £57 billion on procuring goods and services. As voluntary organisations to bid for contracts and increase she said, that accounts for roughly a quarter of all collaboration across authorities. public sector procurement. Councils are often one of I noted the hon. Gentleman’s comments and the the largest spenders and one of the largest employers in Select Committee’s points on pre-qualification their local economy. By being more astute and imaginative questionnaires. I can understand why local authorities in how they use that spending power, they can do much like them, but if we want to get more small businesses more to ensure that they achieve greater value for involved, I think the risk of having more tendering is a money and help their local economies to grow. When good risk and one that could actually be to the benefit we talk about savings, most sensible business people, of local authorities. If they want to reduce that risk, hearing that local government spending is £57 billion, they can do that by getting their tender documentation would come to the conclusion straight away that just a right in the first place. little improvement in procurement could bring a small percentage saving, which would be a very large amount Mr Betts: Clearly, this is one of the few areas of of money. specific disagreement. We picked up from small businesses that if suddenly they found that they were putting a I accept that the Government have an important role tender in along with 20 other organisations, 19 of them to play, at least in incentivising service transformation would be wasting their time. As long as it is a standardised and encouraging innovation. As set out in our evidence and simple pre-qualification questionnaire to thin out and response, we have already introduced a range of the number that will tender, it could be greatly to the key public sector procurement reforms that will open up advantage of small businesses in particular and reduce procurement opportunities to both small and medium-sized their costs overall. enterprises. As the hon. Member for Sheffield South East said, the FSB has targeted those opportunities. Sometime last year, I was on a platform with the LGA Brandon Lewis: Of course, if councils are giving an and the FSB talking about the added local benefit that up-front line on their procurement process, that gives can be brought particularly by small businesses but companies more time to plan and, particularly for small also, as he rightly says, by voluntary and community businesses, allows them to decide whether it is right for organisations—the third sector as a whole. them to tender and whether they want to do so. However, most small businesses also tender for business in the The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill private sector, where they will be used to being involved was introduced into the House on 25 June. It will help in competitive tendering for work that they want and to deliver our commitment to build a stronger economy going up against anything from one to a countless by supporting small businesses. The Bill contains a number of competitors. That is how the market works. number of measures intended to improve public sector From my experience of working in and talking to procurement, which will, subject to consultation, ensure businesses—small, medium and large, but small businesses that procurers run an efficient process, accept electronic in particular—I know that another piece of paper from invoices, do not charge for bid information and do an authority that they have to fill in before they even proper pre-market engagement. start to tender is just another layer of bureaucracy, red tape and paper that they do not want. The Bill will also make it easier for small businesses We have been providing support for councils by to raise concerns about public procurement practices encouraging them to use Contracts Finder now rather and cut down on red tape by ensuring that regulations than waiting for its use to become mandatory. We have affecting businesses are reviewed frequently and remain pointed out the benefits that it can bring for both effective. It will deter employers from breaking the procurers and suppliers, because it opens up procurement national minimum wage legislation by creating a power opportunities and makes them transparent. We have to allow the penalty for underpayment to be imposed been encouraging councils to start using the current on employers on a per-worker basis, and it will stop the simplified pre-qualification questionnaire for contracts abuse of zero-hours contracts—the hon. Member for that are, I stress again, over the EU threshold. The hon. City of Durham mentioned them, and I shall come Member for City of Durham made a good point about back to this point in a moment—by preventing the the myths that exist about what can be done in a whole inclusion of exclusivity clauses, which are used to prevent range of areas that local authorities deal with. I will individuals from working for other employers, even if come back to that. the current employer is offering no work. We have been encouraging the improvement of Other key reforms, which will be introduced later this commissioning skills among local authority employees—a year, include the abolition of the pre-qualification very important issue—by offering access to the questionnaires for contracts below the EU threshold—I commissioning academy. We have been sharing expertise note the comment by the hon. Member for Sheffield by offering access to courses and learning tools provided South East, and I will come back to that in a moment—and by the Crown Commercial Service. We are providing 345WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 346WH

£16.5 million of funding over two years to change the organisation’s assistive technology contract. The behaviour and perception in respect of tackling fraud in Central Buying Consortium can also help councils deliver local authorities, including in local government savings. For example, the royal borough of Kingston procurement, regardless of how small it may be. We upon Thames, which I visited today, achieved 26% total should bear in mind the fact that overall fraud and error cost savings on a £32 million project to expand its in local government costs more than £2 billion, but that primary schools by using a public buying organisation. does not necessarily involve procurement. However, it is That was a substantial saving for that community. still an important matter, and we need to ensure that we However, despite the examples of good practice, too are on top of it. We are providing guidance on social many local authorities still have a long way to go. They value considerations and the pre-procurement market need to go further in saving money and doing more for engagement process. less through better procurement. Councils need to adopt Following the success of last year’s transformation a strategic approach to their procurement and use their challenge award, which was hugely oversubscribed, we collective buying power to best effect. They need to have launched another one for 2014 to 2016, and ensure that their procurement officers have the necessary £320 million will be available over that period. The aim skills and that they take advantage of the learning of the award is to encourage and reward local authorities opportunities and tools that are available to them. They that are able significantly to improve their services so also need to find ways of sharing best practice around that they better meet the needs of local residents. That local government. That is a role not just for councils, can include making improvements to and transforming working with their partners, but for the Local Government how services are commissioned and procured through Association. greater sharing and efficiency, such as integrated All too often small firms are locked out of local commissioning in shared financial planning, testing government contracts, or at least perceive and believe new tools and pooling budgets. There can also be joint that they are, by councils adopting over-complicated procurement of things such as ICT, and services can be procurement processes. Councils need to be sure that extended to nearby local authorities. In addition, we they are doing everything they can to remove those have been working with the Local Government Association barriers. I always say to councillors, and I will say it on its draft national procurement strategy and supporting again on the record today, that if officers are quoting to the Chief Fire Officers Association’s national procurement them regulations, guidance or EU bureaucracy that is group in developing a national procurement strategy. getting in the way, they need to ensure that that is However, the central Government cannot deliver better correct. Let us bust those myths. Let us ensure that local procurement ourselves, nor should we try to. That councillors are challenging the officers and getting to can only lead to more red tape, bureaucracy and top-down see what is in the way to make sure that it is real rather control, which no one in local government or the small than perceived. That will mean that we can start to open business sector wants. What we can do and should aim things up even more. to do is to create the right conditions for it by eliminating There are many simple things that councils can do to unnecessary red tape and removing barriers to local improve their procurement practices. For example, in innovation. As the Select Committee recognised, it is addition to abolishing unnecessary requirements to complete then for local authorities themselves to take the initiative. a pre-qualification questionnaire for contracts below We do see examples of good practice throughout the the EU threshold and publishing all their tenders and country. We have time, so I will place on record some contracts online, they should build up a supplier network good examples that we know exist. Halton borough and engage with suppliers. council has abolished pre-qualification questionnaires That is related to one of the myths that I would like for all its contracts below the EU threshold. In Norfolk, to bust and be clear about. EU procurement rules apply my home county, the county council no longer uses only once a council has made a decision to procure them for contracts under £100,000, and a number of goods and services. Early engagement with suppliers other local councils do not use them for low-value can mean that innovation and co-design are built in contracts. Oxford city council had the idea of running a from the outset, leading to better services. Creating and programme of workshops specifically targeted at small publishing a future pipeline of commercial activity so and medium-sized enterprises. That is about helping that suppliers can plan ahead is another positive step them on how to tender for business. Herefordshire that councils can take. They can publish details of council has a programme of opportunities and events contracts that have been awarded so that contractors for current and potential suppliers, which it developed can not only see what has happened before, in order to as a way of informing, and maintaining strong relationships get an idea of what will be expected of them in the with, the local supply market. future, but view subcontracting opportunities. A number of local authorities have developed local Councils can ensure that they have robust procedures procurement hubs, such as Supply Hertfordshire, in place to tackle fraud. We need to ensure that we keep Procurement Lincolnshire and the East Sussex procurement fraud low and aim to drive it to zero. An important hub. Those hubs cover large areas. There are also hubs point, which relates to one that the hon. Member for that cover even larger areas, such as The Chest, which City of Durham made, is that they can stop gold-plating covers much of the north-west. Across the country, on equalities. Equalities impact assessments are not, there are also a number of multi-authority purchasing and never have been, a legal requirement. Officers can and public buying organisations, such as the Yorkshire use their judgment to pay due regard to equality without Purchasing Organisation, which has already helped North resorting to time-consuming, often bureaucratic tick-box Yorkshire county council make savings of about a third exercises at the end of a decision-making process—the of a million pounds by buying social care equipment to very thing that can put people off. Councils can break help people with daily living. That was done through contracts up into smaller lots to open up procurement 347WH Local Government Procurement3 JULY 2014 Local Government Procurement 348WH

[Brandon Lewis] as their counterparts that are delivering a first-class service to learn from that best practice and emulate it. I by bringing in more competition on price and attracting am sure the Select Committee will want to return to the some of the smaller firms that prefer to go for smaller issue in future to monitor and assess whether the contracts. improvements that we think can be made have been Better procurement, the sharing of senior management made. teams, service transformation, asset rationalisation and I have one slight worry about a disagreement that the driving of local economic growth all contribute to I had not expected. On behalf of the Select Committee, the overall improvement in local government productivity. I identified £45 billion in local government procurement. Some councils—I have given just a few examples, but To show that I was paying close attention to what the there are many more—have already made considerable two Front-Bench spokespeople said, I think my hon. progress in improving their procurement processes, making Friend the Member for City of Durham (Roberta it much easier for businesses to bid effectively for contracts. Blackman-Woods) put the figure at £50 billion, while However, I am not yet convinced that all local authorities the Minister set it at £57 billion. If we had had more have made the necessary changes, although I am confident, speakers, we might have seen an exponential growth in based on its approach to the Select Committee report, local authority procurement. Clearly, there is a difference that the Local Government Association and its national in how we evaluate it. We may want to clear that up at procurement strategy can play an important part in some point in future. helping driving forward the changes. Nationally, we Finally, I am sure that it is appropriate for me, on need to keep talking about it in order to motivate and behalf of the whole Committee, to thank Sarah Coe, encourage local authorities, but it is vital to remember our second Clerk, who was the lead officer in helping us that it is for local authorities to deliver. produce this report. We very much appreciated her excellent support, which was instrumental in helping us 3.50 pm get to the end result. I also thank Colin Cram, our Mr Betts: I will take a couple of minutes to summarise specialist adviser, who was extremely helpful as well. this constructive, well-informed debate, in which agreement has generally been found across the parties and between Hugh Bayley (in the Chair): Thank you all for an the Select Committee and both Front Benches. That interesting debate. should be welcomed. I think that we have all ultimately Question put and agreed to. agreed that this is a matter for local councils, and that it is for local government in general, and the Local Government Association in particular, to help councils 3.52 pm that are not up to the same level of procurement practice Sitting adjourned. 61WS Written Statements3 JULY 2014 Written Statements 62WS Written Statements HOME DEPARTMENT

Thursday 3 July 2014 Daniel Morgan

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May): Daniel Morgan, a private investigator, was found murdered in a pub car park in south-east Plutonium Management London on 10 March 1987. It is one of the country’s most notorious unsolved murder cases. After numerous separate police investigations into the case between 1987 The Minister of State, Department of Energy and and 2002, the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued Climate Change (Michael Fallon): In December 2011 the attempted prosecution against five suspects in 2011. the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) The Metropolitan Police admitted that police corruption published its response to the consultation on plutonium was a “debilitating factor” in the original investigation. management. Last May I announced the creation of the Daniel The consultation response indicated that Government’s Morgan independent panel and the appointment of preferred option was to reuse the plutonium as MOX Sir Stanley Burnton as chair of the panel. On 19 November fuel, but that we would be open to consider alternative 2013, I reported to the House the decision of Sir Stanley options that offered better value to the UK taxpayer. Burnton to resign from this role for personal reasons. In addition Government said that overseas owners of I am now able to announce the appointment of plutonium stored in the UK could have that plutonium Baroness Nuala O’Loan of Kirkinriola, DBE, MRIA, managed in line with UK plutonium, subject to commercial as chair of the independent panel. Baroness O’Loan terms that are acceptable to the UK Government. In was Northern Ireland’s first Police Ombudsman from addition, subject to compliance with intergovernmental 2000 to 2007, during which time she investigated thousands agreements and acceptable commercial arrangements, of cases, including the police handling of the Omagh the UK is prepared to take ownership of overseas bombing in 1998 and police collusion with loyalist plutonium stored in the UK as a result of which it paramilitaries engaged in the most serious crime between would be treated in the same way as UK-owned plutonium. 1990 and 2002. The Government consider that there are advantages to having national control over more of the civil plutonium The remit of the panel is to shine a light on the in the UK, as this gives us greater influence over how we circumstances of Daniel Morgan’s murder, its background ultimately manage it. and the handling of the case over the period since 1987. I am very grateful to Baroness O’Loan for accepting The Department of Energy and Climate Change has this important role and look forward to the panel agreed to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA): completing its work. Taking ownership of about 800 kg of material previously owned by a Swedish utility. Taking ownership of about 140 kg of material previously owned by a German research organisation. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT These transactions, which have been agreed by the Euratom supply agency, will not result in any new plutonium being brought into the UK and will not Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Overseas therefore increase the overall amount of plutonium in the UK. We have agreed to these transactions as they offer a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for cost-effective and beneficial arrangement, which removes International Development (Lynne Featherstone): I would the need to transport separated plutonium, allows the like to update the House on my work championing the UK to gain national control over more of the civil issue of tackling violence against women and girls plutonium in the UK and enables an outstanding contract internationally, building policy coherence across Whitehall with a Swedish utility to be concluded. and pushing for as much progress as possible towards In line with the DECC policy statement, the NDA our goal of ending all forms of violence. continues to engage with other third parties regarding The concerning abduction of over 200 school girls in taking ownership of further overseas plutonium in the Nigeria in April and the recent gang rape and murder of UK arising from overseas reprocessing contracts. As girls in India are a sharp reminder of the low status of well as UK Government approval, these transactions women and girls globally and the terrible injustice and will require consent from the relevant overseas Governments violence faced by so many. and regulatory bodies, and thereafter Euratom supply The UNMISS human rights report on the conflict in agency agreement, before any contracts are enacted. South Sudan, published on 8 May 2014, presents grim The UK has committed to publish annual figures for evidence of how the conflict has exacerbated the national holdings of civil plutonium at the end of each vulnerability of women and children. All parties to the calendar year to improve transparency and public conflict have committed acts of rape and other forms of confidence. The most recent data can be found at: sexual violence against women with impunity. The ability http://www.onr.org.uk/safeguards/civilplut13.htm of survivors of sexual violence to receive services in this This data will be updated in due course to reflect the environment has diminished, leaving most incidents changes described above. unreported. 63WS Written Statements3 JULY 2014 Written Statements 64WS

I am proud to say that the UK is supporting the A social media campaign has also been launched this International Rescue Committee in South Sudan to week. The campaign aims to receive pledges of support conduct outreach and support services to survivors of from people across the UK, reaching beyond the usual gender-based violence. network of development organisations and civil society Since my last statement the UK has refreshed our supporters. The action focuses around “play your part”—we cross-government action plan, “A call to end violence are asking people to play their part in ending these against women and girls”, which sets out an ambitious harmful practices through pledging support and spreading agenda for the year ahead, including how we will continue the word. to bring international and domestic work on violence In the coming months, I will visit more of our against women and girls closer together. programmes overseas so that I can see in practice how our commitments to this agenda are being implemented. The International Development (Gender Equality) Act came into force on 13 May. This Act, strongly NORTHERN IRELAND supported by the Secretary of State for International Development, makes it law for the UK to consider Northern Ireland Economic Pact gender equality before it provides development assistance, and the differences in gender-related needs for its The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa humanitarian support. This puts our existing commitment Villiers): My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I to delivering important outcomes for girls and women— met yesterday with the First Minister and Deputy First including a reduction in violence—on a statutory footing. Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the economic pact, “Building a prosperous and united community”. In May I had the great privilege of speaking at DFID We considered the progress that has been made by the Mozambique’s summit on ending child, early and forced Government and Northern Ireland Executive against marriage (CEFM). This is a huge issue in Mozambique, our respective commitments made last June. We also where one in two girls is married before her 18th birthday. agreed to publish a joint report, “Building a Prosperous CEFM is a global issue that has a significant negative and United Community—One Year On”, that highlights impact on girls, their families, communities and countries. our successes as well considering the challenges ahead. I On 10 to 13 June over 120 country delegations, over have placed a copy of this report in the Libraries of 80 Ministers, and around 1,700 delegates including both Houses. eight UN agency heads, presidents and prosecutors The Government’s long-term economic plan is working from the ICC and international tribunals, civil society, for Northern Ireland. Figures published for the first and over 300 sponsored delegates, including from conflict- time yesterday show that credit conditions are easing affected countries, among them a number of survivors, and many more businesses are accessing the funds they came together at the global summit to end sexual violence need to grow. The Green Investment Bank is also making in conflict hosted by the Foreign Secretary and UN investments in Northern Ireland providing a total of special envoy, Angelina Jolie. £3.2 million of funding. I was proud to be part of the summit and to formally The Government and the Executive working together launch “What works to prevent violence” DFID’s new have helped deliver a record year for investment advancing research and innovation fund. I spoke on the panel with our shared aims to strengthen the private sector and leading experts to highlight the need to invest in work to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy.The international understand and address the root causes and social investment conference last October was hugely successful, norms which underpin many forms of violence—both contributing to the 11,000 jobs that Invest NI has in times of peace and in conflict. I also participated in promoted over the last year. the ministerial round table on hidden victims to highlight There has also been some progress in supporting the issues of domestic violence, female genital mutilation initiatives designed to build a shared society. The (FGM/C) and CEFM which are often exacerbated in Government made available an additional £100 million conflict. The Secretary of State for International of borrowing and have now agreed to the Executive’s Development chaired a ministerial round table on the proposals to use this for improved facilities at integrated call to action to protect women and girls in humanitarian primary schools, a new further education college, and emergencies and jointly launched the UK’s new national increased provision of shared housing. The Government action plan on women, peace and security with the have also identified 106 surplus Ministry of Defence Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary. homes that could be gifted to the Executive for use as additional shared housing if the Executive bring forward The momentum will continue over the summer. In appropriate proposals. The update also sets out the July, the UK Prime Minister and UNICEF will co-host latest position on the support the Government are a Girl summit on female genital mutilation and child, giving to the Executive on further improving broadband early and forced marriage. The summit aims to support infrastructure and mobile coverage in Northern Ireland. southern leadership on these issues and to further rally This report confirms that the Government remain on a global movement to end the practices for all girls, track to make a final decision on the devolution of within a generation. I know that many in the House will corporation tax no later than the 2014 autumn statement. have an interest in these issues, given the impact they Work has taken place to look at how the international have in the UK as well as internationally. tax regime might apply in an intra-country situation as A youth event will be held at DFID on 19 July with well as how a regime might work for both smaller and 170 attendees, made up of young people, including larger companies. several nominated by Members of Parliament, several There remain areas that require further work from from developing countries, a youth panel and other both the Government and the Executive. The British-Irish attendees nominated by partners. visa scheme is due to begin in the autumn, encouraging 65WS Written Statements3 JULY 2014 Written Statements 66WS tourism by allowing Indian and Chinese nationals to We have also announced that Crossrail will now be visit Northern Ireland using an Irish visit visa. This is extended to Reading. The extension of Crossrail services part of the continuing programme of engagement set to Reading will achieve the best use of capacity on the out at the annual UK-Ireland summits to boost trade Great Western line while also offering greater flexibility and strengthen economic co-operation between the UK for future timetabled services. and Ireland. The National Audit Office published their report on There will also be further progress on the Executive’s the project in February and this found that taxpayers’ red tape review, ambassador-led trade missions to Northern interest in the Crossrail programme has so far been well Ireland and continued efforts to improve access to protected. A Public Accounts Committee hearing held finance. on 9 April supported those findings. The economic pact set out a new approach for the As we move towards the operational phase of the Government and the Executive to work more closely on project, work is progressing on the appointment of the our joint objectives. The report shows this approach can operator of the Crossrail services. Transport for London deliver better results for the people of Northern Ireland expect to announce the award of the Crossrail train and we will continue to build on the good progress operating concession later this year. already made. The Crossrail board continues to forecast that the costs of constructing Crossrail will be within the agreed TRANSPORT funding limits. We expect Crossrail to cost no more than £14.5 billion (excluding rolling stock costs). Crossrail During the passage of the Crossrail Bill through Parliament, a commitment was given that a statement The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport would be published at least every 12 months until the (Stephen Hammond): In January the Prime Minister completion of the construction of Crossrail, setting out joined me at Tottenham Court Road to mark 50% information about the project’s funding and finances. completion of the Crossrail project. The Crossrail project has now moved into the peak of its construction phase. In line with this commitment, this statement comes There are over 11,000 people working at over 40 sites within 12 months of my last one which was published across London. Four of the tunnel boring machines on 9 July 2013. The relevant information is as follows: have completed their journeys and the new rail tunnels Total funding amounts provided to Crossrail £5,981,006,3091 are over 80% complete including the Thames tunnel. Ltd by the Department for Transport and The final tunnel drives are now under way and tunnelling Transport for London in relation to the should be completed by next spring. Construction is construction of Crossrail to the end of the also progressing on the 10 new Crossrail stations and on period—22 July 2008 to 29 May 2014. works above ground west of Paddington and east of Expenditure incurred (including committed land £1,576,835,000 Stratford. and property spend not yet paid out) by Crossrail Ltd in relation to the construction of Crossrail In the past year we have made great progress in many in the period—30 May 2013 to 29 May 2014 different areas of the project. Last July we announced (excluding recoverable VAT on land and property that there would be a Crossrail station in Woolwich purchases. which is now the catalyst for the regeneration of the Total expenditure incurred (including committed £6,011,730,000 surrounding area, attracting investment from businesses land and property spend not yet paid out) by and developers and supporting our plans for long-term Crossrail Ltd in relation to the construction of Crossrail to the end of the period—22 July economic growth. 2008 to 29 May 2014 (excluding recoverable In February the joint sponsors announced the contract VAT on land and property puchases). to provide the rolling stock and depot was awarded to The amounts realised by the disposal of any Nil Bombardier UK plc. The contract covers the supply, land or property for the purposes of the delivery and maintenance of 66 new trains and a depot construction of Crossrail by the Secretary of State, TFL or Crossrail Ltd in the period at Old Oak Common. This will support 760 UK covered by this statement. manufacturing jobs plus 80 apprenticeships building The total funding amounts provided to CRL by the Department for the trains in Derby. The construction of the maintenance Transport and Transport for London refer to the expenditure drawn depot at Old Oak Common will see 244 jobs plus 16 down from the Sponsor Funding Account in the period 22 July 2008 apprenticeships supported when fully operational. and 29 May 2014. Included within the amount of £5,981,006, 309 that This is just one part of the contribution Crossrail is was drawn down from the Sponsor Funding Account is £498,780, 936 of interim funding that has been provided to Network Rail to finance making to economic growth across the United Kingdom. their delivery of the On-Network Works between 1 April 2009 and It is estimated that during the construction phase the 29 May 2014. project will generate at least 75,000 business opportunities The numbers above are drawn from Crossrail Ltd’s and support the equivalent of 55,000 full-time jobs books of account and have been prepared on a consistent around the UK. Firms from across the United Kingdom basis with the update provided last year. The figure for are winning business from the project. Sixty-two per expenditure incurred includes moneys already paid out cent of the suppliers winning work are outside London in relevant periods, including committed land and property and over half (58%) are small and medium-sized enterprises. expenditure where this has not yet been paid. It does Ninety-seven per cent of Crossrail’s contracts are based not include future expenditure on construction contracts in the United Kingdom. that have been awarded.

681W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 682W Written Answers to CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Broadband

Questions Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects superfast Thursday 3 July 2014 broadband to be fully rolled out in (a) England and (b) Central Bedfordshire. [904622]

Mr Vaizey: 90% of the UK, including Central Bedfordshire will be able to receive superfast broadband SCOTLAND by early 2016, rising to 95% by 2017. Broadband: South West

Universal Credit Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for taken to further the provision of high speed broadband Scotland (1) if he will estimate the cost to the public in the Heart of the South West area. [904631] purse of extending entitlement to NHS prescriptions to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit Mr Vaizey: Devon and Somerset has already received has been fully rolled out in Scotland; [202681] nearly £32 million to provide superfast broadband to 95% of premises by early 2016. We have recently announced (2) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of a further £22.75 million to extend coverage to 95% by extending entitlement to free school meals to all 2017. Devon and Somerset will also be the location for claimants of universal credit once universal credit has one of the pilots looking at the potential to go beyond been fully rolled out in Scotland; [202680] 95% coverage. (3) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to NHS dentistry exemptions to Culture: Finance all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out in Scotland; [202682] John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, (4) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the extending entitlement to legal aid to all claimants of effects of the distribution of cultural funds and universal credit once universal credit has been fully subsidies throughout the regions of the UK. [904630] rolled out in Scotland; [202683] Mr Vaizey: Funding decisions for the arts are made (5) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of independently of Ministers by Arts Council England extending entitlement to court fees exemptions to all (ACE). Earlier this week, ACE announced an increase claimants of universal credit once universal credit has in the proportion of spend on regional arts and major been fully rolled out in Scotland; [202684] partner museums. (6) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of Direct Selling extending entitlement to repayment of children’s welfare loans to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out in Scotland; Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for [202685] Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the penalties available (7) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of for repeat offenders against the law relating to nuisance extending entitlement to education maintenance calls. [201465] allowance to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out in Scotland; Mr Vaizey: Further legislation is not necessary, as [202686] both the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and (8) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) can issue extending entitlement to the energy assistance package, substantive monetary penalties of up to £500,000 and stage 3, to all claimants of universal credit once £2 million respectively to any organisation that deliberately universal credit has been fully rolled out in Scotland. continues to contravene the regulations. [202687] EU Education, Youth and Culture Council

David Mundell: The Scottish Government is responsible Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for for defining the entitlement criteria for these passported Culture, Media and Sport what input officials in his benefits. They will need to consider the current eligibility Department sought from their counterparts in the Northern criteria and make arrangements to ensure that they can Ireland Executive in preparation for the UK’s attendance continue to deliver these benefits as universal credit is at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council introduced. held in Brussels on 20 and 21 May 2014. [202604] There is ongoing engagement between the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions Mr Vaizey: DCMS officials seek to keep their to ensure that any solution is simple, fair, easy to counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive informed understand and affordable. of relevant EU developments on an ongoing basis. 683W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 684W

There was no specific contact prior to the meeting of Literature, will be delivered and developed as part of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 20 the three-year, £19.8m project ’Growing Tourism Locally’, and 21 May. funded by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (BIS), with contributions from VisitEngland and private Tour de France sector. The project focuses on working directly with destinations and the private sector, to create a number Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for of dedicated marketing campaigns throughout the country Culture, Media and Sport if his Department will estimate with emphasis on specific areas and themes. This will the level of financial benefit in (a) Harrogate and also benefit SMEs in the hospitality sector. Knaresborough constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber as a result of the upcoming launch of the Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Tour de France. [202643] Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to help the tourism industry retain its role as a key provider Mrs Grant: UK Sport is supporting the production of skills and training for the UK workforce. [202719] of a full economic impact assessment of the event and this will be made available later this year. Mrs Grant: The Government has recently launched a new Tourism Council, whose remit is jobs, skills and Tourism enterprise. The council is a partnership between Government and industry and will be jointly chaired by Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for myself, the Minister for Skills and Enterprise, my hon. Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock), made of the importance of regional tourism in the UK; and Simon Vincent, Chair of the Hospitality Guild and and what steps he has taken to support small, local Hilton President, Europe, Middle East and East Africa. hospitality businesses. [202718] In March, the Prime Minister announced that there will be two new apprenticeship Trailblazers for Tourism and Mrs Grant: Estimates of the direct tourism gross Hospitality. value added (GVA) contribution to the UK economy for each English region, Scotland, Wales and Northern Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Ireland were recently published by the Office for National Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has Statistics for the year 2011. In total, they show that made of the implications for his policies of the findings tourism directly contributed a GVAof around £50 billion of the Great Britain Tourism Survey that domestic to the UK (4% of the economy). trips in the UK fell by three million in 2013; and if he will make a statement. [202781] Region ONS figures for 2011 (direct in £ billion) Mrs Grant: The number of trips taken in GB in 2013 Scotland 5.0 was the third highest in the eight years that the current Wales 2.3 survey has been running and well above pre-recession Northern Ireland 0.3 averages, with spending second only to 2012. We do London 13.1 expect to see a natural increase in people booking Rest of England - holidays abroad as the economy improves but people North East 1.1 are continuing to choose Britain for their holiday. Through North West 5.1 its Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign, VisitEngland Yorkshire and the Humber 2.6 continues to promote England as a place for all residents East Midlands 2.3 of Britain to enjoy, and Visit Scotland and Visit Wales West Midlands 2.5 are also actively promoting their offer. The GB Tourism East of England 3.4 Survey also noted the record number of inbound tourists South East 6.6 in 2013 reaching nearly 33 million. South West 4.4 Universal Credit Further economic analysis by Deloitte, commissioned by VisitBritain, suggests that if indirect economic effects are also included, GVA is forecast to be as high as Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, £127 billion (9% of the UK economy) in 2013. Media and Sport if he will estimate the cost to the In terms of supporting small, local hospitality businesses, public purse of extending entitlement to free (a) swimming since April 2013 community venues have not had to and (b) other leisure services to all claimants of universal apply to the local council for an entertainment license credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out. for events such as dance displays and concerts. Previously, [202669] such licenses currently cost, on average, more than £200 for new applications or needed at least 10 days’ Mrs Grant: No costing has been estimated. notice for Temporary Event Notices. At the 2014 Budget, the tax on a typical pint of beer was cut by 1p, the duty Visits Abroad on ordinary cider was frozen this year, and the duty escalator for wine was ended. Duty on spirits was also Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, frozen for 2014-15. Media and Sport what future foreign visits the Minister Furthermore, thematic marketing campaigns focusing for Sport, Tourism and Equalities has planned in relation on what England is most loved for including Heritage, to her departmental duties; and if he will make a Coast, Countryside and Culture, as well as Sport and statement. [202720] 685W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 686W

Mrs Grant: A number of visits have been proposed In addition, in 2013-14 every local authority and by other Government Departments but I currently have Valuation Joint Board in England, Wales and Scotland no plans for any further foreign visits at this time. received a share of £3,984,068 funding to support the costs of activities to maximise electoral registration. Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the cost was of the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities’ recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement; [202721] TREASURY (2) if he will publish the official appointments which Banks: Pay took place during the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities’ recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement; [202722] Mr Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the (a) (3) how many foreign visits the Minister for Sport, Prudential Regulation Authority and (b) Financial Tourism and Equalities has made arising from her Conduct Authority about reports of UK banks paying departmental roles; and if he will make a statement; allowances to employees in order to avoid the EU’s [202723] bonus cap; and what steps he plans to take to reduce (4) what the cost is of all foreign visits undertaken by such practices. [202634] the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities as part of her official duties to date. [202727] Andrea Leadsom: The UK is at the forefront of Mrs Grant: Details of Ministers’ visits overseas are global efforts to tackle excessive pay in the financial published quarterly and can be found at: sector and ensure that pay is aligned with performance, with a tough Remuneration Code that requires deferral https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and- hospitality of at least 60% of bonuses of senior bankers and limits the amounts that can be paid in cash. Bonuses are down The latest data available at this time are: significantly since their peak under the last Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings- and are now largely deferred and paid in shares. and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013 In contrast, the EU’s bonus cap is a poorly thought through measure that undermines rather than reinforces our efforts by pushing up fixed pay. It was introduced DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER without any proper impact assessment and has issues around its compatibility with the EU treaty; for these Electoral Register reasons we are challenging it in the European Court of Justice. However, pending the outcome, the Government Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is fully implementing the cap in the UK, and the Prudential additional central government funding is available to Regulation Authority is responsible for ensuring that electoral registration officers for the purpose of the banks comply with these rules. electoral registration in each of the last 10 years; and which local authorities were successful in bidding for Business: Government Assistance such funding. [202603] Greg Clark: The following additional amounts were Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the available for the purpose of electoral registration in the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to support last 10 years: businesses with five or fewer staff. [202335]

£ Mr Gauke: The Government’s long-term economic plan is backing small businesses as they set up and 2007-08 934,741 grow. As part of this plan we are cutting taxes and 2008-09 544,391 reducing red tape to help businesses. In particular, the 2009-10 427,190 employment allowance was introduced in April 2014, 2010-11 54,708 and allows businesses and charities throughout the UK 2011-12 1— to deduct up to £2,000 off their employer national 2012-13 1— insurance contributions (NICs) bill each year. Over 2013-14 4,857,018 60% of the total benefit of the policy is expected to go 2014-15 29,992,993 to businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and a 1 No additional funding. business employing three people on the median full-time In the financial years 2007-08 to 2010-11, local authorities private sector wage of £25,800 in 2014-15 will see their were able to bid for funding from the Participation typical NICs bill cut by over 25%. Fund, which was abolished due to lack of demand. A In addition, autumn statement 2013 announced the table listing those local authorities which received money extension of the small business rate relief until April from this fund has been placed in the Library of the 2015, taking 350,000 small businesses out of business House. rates. The Government has provided funding in 2013-14 The British Business Bank was launched in October and 2014-15, in addition to the Revenue Support Grant, 2013 to make finance markets work better for small for every local authority and Valuation Joint Board in firms, allowing them to prosper, grow and support the England, Wales and Scotland for the net additional cost UK economy. Over the next five years, the Bank aims to of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration unlock up to £10 billion of financing for viable smaller (IER). businesses. Business Bank programmes facilitated a total 687W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 688W of £782 million of new lending and investment in the has already strengthened the new regime by giving the fiscal year 2013-14, to over 30,000 businesses. This FCA the ability to impose unlimited fines for breaches represents more than a doubling of activity on the of regulatory requirements that take place after 1 April previous year. The Business Bank also supported £100 2014. million of new venture capital investment in 2013-14. Startup Loans is a £322 million scheme to help individuals Financial Markets: Regulation to access finance and support to start a business. Over 18,000 loans totalling more than £90 million have been made since the launch in April 2012. Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary These measures are all part of our economic plan of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the that is building a stronger, more competitive economy. regulation of the practice of dark pool trading by high frequency bank traders. [202699] Financial Conduct Authority Andrea Leadsom: Treasury Ministers regularly meet Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with Ministers in other Departments as part of normal (1) if he will review the scope of the consumer credit Government business. As was the case with previous regulatory powers of the Financial Conduct Authority; Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to [202725] provide details of all such meetings and discussions. (2) if he will bring forward legislative proposals to Dark pool trading is subject to regulation under the amend the statutory powers of the Financial Conduct markets in financial instruments directive (2004/39/EC) Authority (FCA) to permit the FCA to investigate (MiFID). The new MiFIR Regulation (600/2014/EU) alleged illegal actions undertaken before its creation; recently agreed as part of the “MiFID 2” negotiations [202688] will impose significant limits on dark pool trading in (3) which powers and responsibilities the Financial the EU. Conduct Authority has not inherited from the Office of Fair Trading; and which financial regulatory body has Performance Appraisal inherited each such power and responsibility; [202724] (4) what requirement will be placed on Wonga to Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the track down the address of each customer due financial Exchequer what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all compensation for unfair and misleading debt collection other staff employed by his Department received each practices. [202726] level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14. [202064] Andrea Leadsom: The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market. Andrea Leadsom: The 2013-14 appraisal data are not The transfer of regulatory responsibility for consumer available yet. credit from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) took effect in April. Tax Avoidance The FCA has stronger powers and is far better equipped to protect consumers than the OFT. Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Wonga has voluntarily agreed to pay compensation if he will take steps to ensure that proposed accelerated totalling more than £2.6 million to around 45,000 customers payment notices are not applied retrospectively. [201423] in relation to unfair debt collection practices between 2008 and 2010. The requirement agreed by Wonga is available at: Mr Gauke: The majority of people pay the tax they owe but there is a minority who don’t. As part of the http://www.fca.org.uk/your-fca/documents/requirement- Government’s long-term economic plan, we are cracking notices/wonga-group-limited-vreq down on tax avoidance. Had Wonga not agreed, the FCA could have used its powers to impose requirements. Wonga will appoint a Legislation currently before Parliament on accelerated skilled person (as specified under section 166 of the payments will enable HMRC to issue notices seeking Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) to ensure upfront payment of disputed tax in certain existing and that affected customers receive appropriate compensation. future avoidance cases. More generally, the Government has ensured that the The legislation is not retrospective. It does not create FCA has inherited the OFT’s powers (both criminal any new tax liability; it simply alters where the tax sits and regulatory) in relation to misconduct which occurred while the liability is being disputed, and puts those who before 1 April 2014, as well as considerably strengthening try to avoid tax on the same footing as the vast majority the FCA’s powers in relation to misconduct which occurs who pay their tax upfront under PAYE. under the new regulatory regime. The taxpayer can continue to dispute the case and The FCA has the same powers as the OFT had to will be paid with interest should they win. investigate and prosecute offences under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. UK Membership of EU: Northern Ireland The FCA has also inherited the OFT’s power to fine, although the OFT’s power to fine under the Consumer Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Credit Act was limited to fining a firm for breaches of a Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the requirement imposed by the OFT (and the maximum economic benefit to Northern Ireland of the UK’s penalty in this regard was £50,000). The Government membership of the EU. [203194] 689W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 690W

Nicky Morgan: The Government has made no assessment The Department published numbers of casualties at of the economic benefit to Northern Ireland of the non-fire incidents for the first time in the 2010-11 UK’s membership of the EU. publication of Fire Statistics Great Britain. This was discontinued following a 2012 readership survey which Welfare Tax Credits: Self-employed did not identify any need for them on a regular basis. Statistics on incidents attended Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-employed people claimed The following table provides figures for incidents (a) child tax credits and (b) working tax credits in with one or more casualties attended by fire and rescue each of the last 10 years. [202509] authorities in Great Britain, based on the Fire and Rescue Incident Recording System. Mr Gauke: The following table is based on finalised tax credits administrative data for each financial year. 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 The latest data available are 2012-13. Fire incidents with one or more 8,881 8,167 7,464 Number of families in receipt of tax credits containing at least one member casualties identified as self-employed Road traffic collision with one or 16,627 16,375 16,820 Thousand more casualties Families benefitting from Families benefitting Medical incidents 5,278 6,099 5,919 Tax year both WTC and CTC from WTC only Other non-fire incident with one 6,300 6,146 6,270 or more casualties 2007-08 740 80 Total 37,086 36,787 36,473 2008-09 760 100 2009-10 780 130 2010-11 800 150 2011-12 750 160 Statistical calculation of response times 2012-13 600 170 The difference in the primary fire numbers published is due to a small number of incidents being excluded Data from earlier years is available only at from the calculation of average response times to ensure disproportionate cost. the data is as representative and consistent over time as The decrease in the number of self-employed households possible. These are Official Statistics publications and, in 2012-13 can largely be explained by the removal of as such, the Department’s Head of Profession for Statistics the “second income threshold” of tax credits in April has sole responsibility for decisions on the methodology 2012. This policy change removed a large number of for these statistics and how they are presented. higher income households from the whole tax credits The excluded incidents are those for which response population. time may be less critical, such as fires in abandoned In general, there is and has been a long-term trend of vehicles or derelict property, and exceptional incidents growth in the number of self-employed people. which would otherwise skew averages and hinder analysis of trends. The exclusions are in line with long-established statistical practice; details on the exclusions are set out COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT on p.16 of the Fire Incident Response Times 2012-13, published in August 2013: Fire Services www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-incidents-response- times-england-2012-to-2013 Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) with reference to paragraph 1.20 of the Fire Statistics Great Britain Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for 2012-13; what the reasons are for the difference in the Communities and Local Government (1) with reference number of primary fires in England attended by the to the difference in the record of the number of primary Fire and Rescue Service reported in each table and fires in England attended by the Fire and Rescue Service table 1a of the appendices to the Fire Incidents in paragraph 1.20 of the Fire Statistics Great Britain Response Times, England 2012-13; [200566] 2012-13 and in table 1a of the appendices to the Fire Incidents Response Times, England 2012-13, what (2) for what reasons his Department no longer publishes assessment he has made of whether average response statistics for non-fire incidents with casualties attended times for 2012-13 have been wrongly calculated; [201227] by the Fire and Rescue Service in Great Britain; [200567] (3) how many non-fire incidents with casualties were (2) with reference to paragraph 1.20 of the Fire attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in Great Britain Statistics Great Britain 2012-13, what the reasons are in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [200568] for the difference in the number of primary fires in England attended by the Fire and Rescue Service reported Brandon Lewis [holding answer 17 June 2014]: The in each table and table 1a of the appendices to the Fire information is as follows: Incidents Response Times, England 2012-13; [201259] Collection of statistics (3) how many non-fire incidents with casualties were My Department’s Fire Statistics Monitor publication attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in Great Britain continues to provide statistics on numbers of non-fire in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14; [201260] incidents. These are updated twice a year and data for (4) for what reasons his Department no longer each fire and rescue authority in England can be found publishes statistics for non-fire incidents with casualties in spreadsheet workbook 7 at: attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in Great www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics-monitor Britain. [201261] 691W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 692W

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer they will be eligible for an ill-health pension. Where a today to PQs 200566, 200567 and 200568. firefighter is not permanently incapacitated, fire and rescue authorities will support a firefighter in regaining Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State their fitness. An independent report found that the vast for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will majority of firefighters who lose their fitness will regain publish the research on the effect of age on aerobic it following remedial training. capacity used by the Government in developing The New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006 provides proposals regarding firefighters’ pensions; [203129] fire and rescue authorities with the discretion to pay an (2) what research his Department has undertaken unreduced pension to a firefighter having regard to the into the aerobic capacity required by the occupation costs of the case and the economical, efficient and fitness standards used by fire services that guarantees effective management of their functions; the draft that firefighters are safe and effective in their ability to Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 regulations contain complete necessary roles within their occupation. a similar provision. In early June we made an offer to [203128] the Fire Brigades Union to work with the employers to develop a common approach to the use of this discretion. Brandon Lewis: The Government commissioned report The union rejected that offer and announced further “Normal Pension Age for Firefighters” found that there strike action. Further details can be found in my letter was no reason why every firefighter who stayed physically of 5 June to the Chairmen of Fire and Rescue Authorities fit could not remain operational until age 60. It also at: found that where firefighters do lose their fitness, the https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ vast majority are able to regain their fitness levels attachment_data/file/318086/ following a period of extra training. The report can be Letter_from_Brandon_Lewis_on_strike_action_5_June_2014_2.pdf found at I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. http://www.clg.heywood.co.uk/node/658 Housing: Planning Permission There is no single fitness standard in fire and rescue authorities and Dr Williams’ assessment was based on current practices among fire and rescue authorities. Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a local Fitness regimes are a matter for local fire authorities planning authority which rejects a housing development as employers and no direct changes to this are being application which is subsequently approved on appeal made with the 2015 scheme, which has the same pension by the Planning Inspectorate are still eligible for the age of 60 years as the firefighters pension scheme New Homes Bonus. [202127] introduced in 2006. Kris Hopkins: Yes. Fire Services: Industrial Disputes Tree Preservation Orders Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for will investigate the adequacy of the London Fire Brigade Communities and Local Government what guidance and other fire and rescue services’ contingency arrangements his Department has given to local authorities on dealing for strikes. [203131] with trees that are subject to a preservation order. [202789] Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for West Ham (Lyn Brown) on 30 Nick Boles: In March we issued new web-based planning June 2014, Official Report, columns 409-10W. guidance on the Tree Preservation Order system. It is available at Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/ for Communities and Local Government what steps he guidance/tree-preservation-orders/ is taking to ensure that fire and rescue services are providing adequate training to resilience crews to Wind Power: Planning Permission maintain the safety of the public in strikes and on similar occasions. [203132] Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will amend Brandon Lewis: The responsibility for training resilience paragraph 98 of the National Planning Policy Framework crews for industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union, to require applicants for onshore wind energy developments is entirely a matter for individual fire and rescue authorities. to demonstrate an overall national need for renewable energy. [202034] Fire Services: Pensions Kris Hopkins: Inappropriately sited wind turbines Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State can cause significant harm to the local environment. for Communities and Local Government what his policy Hence, last year, we changed planning guidance to is on the granting of full pensions to firefighters over 55 strengthen the protection of landscape and heritage in years old who are forced to retire due to naturally relation to onshore wind. declining fitness levels. [203130] Looking forward, we are keeping planning policy on renewable energy under review and will consider whether Brandon Lewis: If a firefighter is permanently any further steps are appropriate in the light of this incapacitated so as to be unable to undertake their role monitoring. We are open to representations. 693W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 694W

TRANSPORT each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such Energy consumption has been in each such month. [202709]

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport Transport what estimate he has made of his Department’s monthly gas and electricity consumption and costs consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in since June 2010 are shown in the following tables.

Gas April May June July August September

2010-11 Cost (£’s) — — 89,323 53,262 64,819 69,903 Consumption (kWh) — — 2,765,864 2,051,614 2,314,278 2,948,351

2011-12 Cost (£’s) 182,387 1,453 102,292 113,619 102,036 106,261 Consumption (kWh) 2,507,105 2,675,871 2,501,228 2,508,355 2,468,495 2,707,117

2012-13 Cost (£’s) 136,866 24,024 173,305 103,036 91,674 102,906 Consumption (kWh) 3,840,258 1,864,276 2,977,030 2,311,261 2,366,968 3,322,920

2013-14 Cost (£’s) 268,289 107,343 40,060 91,336 112,761 65,421 Consumption (kWh) 6,107,608 3,216,144 2,219,608 1,976,303 2,640,505 2,075,815

2014-15 Cost(£’s)86,94850,789———— Consumption (kWh) 2,052,878 937,543 ————

October November December January February March

2010-11 Cost (£’s) 84,942 91,092 145,855 118,336 85,990 153,098 Consumption (kWh) 3,852,895 4,606,507 6,537,652 5,452,163 4,581,999 3,055,751

2011-12 Cost (£’s) 118,008 129,633 157,842 110,037 119,791 118,720 Consumption (kWh) 3,589,633 4,103,580 3,027,405 3,628,299 3,639,023 2,798,017

2012-13 Cost (£’s) 145,864 168,852 187,835 159,323 220,423 140,077 Consumption (kWh) 4,162,324 4,690,591 5,142,555 4,418,229 6,515,578 3,550,260

2013-14 Cost (£’s) 163,545 120,051 122,236 139,816 32,457 74,645 Consumption (kWh) 2,157,467 2,862,344 3,369,815 3,758,750 2,985,151 2,474,352

2014-15 Cost(£’s)—————— Consumption (kWh) ——————

Electricity April May June July August September

2010-11 Cost (£’s) — — 2,994,557 1,676,805 1,858,046 1,914,563 Consumption (kWh) — — 17,056,533 18,664,750 19,542,699 20,704,940

2011-12 Cost (£’s) 796,309 3,095,642 2,989,463 1,807,842 2,026,248 1,819,784 Consumption (kWh) 18,956,056 17,401,467 16,419,074 17,153,613 18,398,798 19,736,749 695W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 696W

Electricity April May June July August September

2012-13 Cost (£’s) 1,011,482 2,407,758 3,339,366 1,863,036 1,996,870 2,086,709 Consumption (kWh) 18,387,334 17,102,070 14,919,124 16,023,542 17,267,602 17,989,330

2013-14 Cost (£’s) 2,531,236 2,087,774 2,085,858 2,431,222 2,087,680 1,156,474 Consumption (kWh) 17,524,269 16,207,274 14,738,569 15,999,407 16,809,844 18,325,509

2014-15 Cost (£’s) 2,730,198 2,118,192 — — — — Consumption (kWh) 21,728,760 16,346,703 — — — —

October November December January February March

2010-11 Cost (£’s) 1,976,386 2,267,110 843,061 4,001,327 2,061,582 1,795,554 Consumption (kWh) 23,789,961 24,754,506 26,495,560 27,138,969 24,434,103 24,948,784

2011-12 Cost (£’s) 2,250,879 1,195,093 3,766,019 3,313,098 2,990,769 2,732,490 Consumption (kWh) 22,305,111 23,608,509 25,410,365 26,928,937 23,624,584 23,572,285

2012-13 Cost (£’s) 2,507,158 2,540,182 2,897,649 2,970,549 2,900,860 2,677,804 Consumption (kWh) 21,226,595 22,252,859 23,767,582 25,623,328 22,315,559 22,523,105

2013-14 Cost (£’s) 4,199,082 2,957,722 3,135,618 3,515,159 3,261,438 2,826,493 Consumption (kWh) 21,618,161 22,544,190 23,936,928 25,510,055 22,105,003 22,260,326

2014-15 Cost(£’s)—————— Consumption (kWh) ——————

First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the Transport whether the franchise specifications for rail match between service levels and passenger demand on passenger services on the (a) TransPennine and (b) each section of the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern lines contained in his Department’s consultation Northern Rail franchises. [202320] document published on 9 June 2014 will lead to a reduction in services for passengers in the North East. Stephen Hammond: Between 2002 and 2012 rail demand [202433] in the North of England grew by a total of 66% and demand is expected to continue to grow. The Department for Transport is currently preparing its own forecasts of Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the passenger demand for the next franchises to inform the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have specification. not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being conducted, which will inform these specifications. The Northern and TransPennine Express franchises The consultation can be found at: consultation document included information from the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for the period https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- up to March 2019. This set out the number of passengers northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises to be accommodated on services into Leeds and Manchester No decisions on services will be made until the on a weekday during the morning peak period, as set consultation process has finished. out in the table:

Table 2.2 Number of passengers to be accommodated into Leeds and Manchester

Peak three hours High-peak hour

Forecast demand in 2013-14 Extra demand to be met by 2018-19 Forecast demand in 2013-14 Extra demand to be met by 2018-19

Leeds 25,400 5,100 13,000 2,800 697W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 698W

Table 2.2 Number of passengers to be accommodated into Leeds and Manchester Peak three hours High-peak hour Forecast demand in 2013-14 Extra demand to be met by 2018-19 Forecast demand in 2013-14 Extra demand to be met by 2018-19

Manchester 28,100 6,200 13,600 2,600 Source: HLOS (2012)

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for and Northern to look at improving facilities at the Transport what recent assessment he has made of the stations on this line, working to develop schemes with value for money of current levels of service on each other local stakeholders. section of the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Government support and funding for station Rail franchises. [202321] modernisation and improvements are available through various schemes including Access for All and the National Stephen Hammond: At a Direct Award or franchise Station Improvement Programme. Re-let we carry out value for money assessments (in order to calculate Benefit-Cost Ratios) of changes to service levels but we do not undertake this assessment Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for of the existing base service levels where they carry Transport what discussions he has had with Network forward into the new Agreement. Rail on the introduction of a passing loop on the South Fylde Line. [202445] However, for any large procurement exercise such as a Direct Award or Franchise Re-let, we use externally produced comparators that cover the whole of the Stephen Hammond: I have had no discussions with franchise to allow us to evaluate the price of any bid Network Rail on this subject. Network Rail is currently that we receive. undertaking a long-term planning process in consultation with industry, local and other stakeholders to identify Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for priorities for future development of the rail network Transport whether the franchise specifications for rail following the 2014-19 Control Period. passenger services on the (a) TransPennine and (b) Northern lines contained in his Department’s consultation document published on 9 June 2014 will increase the Rescue Services: Liverpool total number of daily (i) peak and (ii) off-peak services on these routes. [202434] Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the Centre at Liverpool was staffed at below risk-assessed Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have levels in (a) April 2014 and (b) May 2014. [202598] not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being conducted, which will inform these specifications. The consultation can be found at: Stephen Hammond: Liverpool Maritime Rescue https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises assessed levels during: No decisions on services will be made until the consultation (a) April 2014—30 occasions out of 60 shifts process has finished. (b) May 2014—six occasions out of 62 shifts Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Members: Correspondence Majesty’s Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport each MRCC to be connected to at least one other when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a MRCC which is available to provide mutual support. reply to his letter of 29 May 2014 on behalf of a constituent. [203034] Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Group Stephen Hammond: The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for and Whitby (Mr Goodwill), replied to the letter on Transport what monetary thresholds were applied to 1 July 2014. the cost-per-quality adjusted life year quoted in the evidence submitted as part of his Department’s work Railways: North West with the Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008. [202427] Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Stephen Hammond: As suggested by the evidence Northern Rail on modernising stations on the South submitted as part of the Department’s work with the Fylde line. [202376] Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008, the Department for Transport Stephen Hammond: As owner and manager of the does not use cost per quality adjusted life year in its stations on the South Fylde line, it is for Network Rail analysis. 699W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 700W

HEALTH NHS England’s Neonatal Service specification requires that all commissioned providers of neonatal services Asthma provide appropriate family facilities, which includes private and comfortable breastfeeding and expressing facilities. Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that national guidelines The Department has sponsored a DVD ‘From Bump on asthma care are implemented; and what steps his to Breast Feeding’ which is distributed free to pregnant Department is taking to improve the quality and availability women and includes material on breast feeding for pre-term babies. This is supported by NHS England. of available data on asthma care. [203122] Most trusts are working with agencies such as Bliss to Jane Ellison: NHS England is taking a number of improve this aspect of care and every year more units actions to improve the care and management of people are successfully gaining accreditation for having with asthma. implemented the baby friendly initiative. There is still It is supporting clinical commissioning groups to further progress to be made in this area. However, improve out of hospital treatment for those with asthma teams who have demonstrable success are working to by giving doctors more control over the commissioning disseminate their practices. of asthma services and improving information links A national neonatal Commissioning for Quality and between general practitioners and hospitals. The Information (CQUIN) to increase breastfeeding rates implementation of the National Institute of Health and in babies less than 33 weeks was agreed in 2012-13 and Care Excellence (NICE) asthma quality standard, which some units continue to work towards improving support sets out what good quality care looks like, will also raise as part of current CQUINs. To meet this, many units the standard of care people with asthma receive. have recruited specialist nurses to support mothers in The National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, the early stages following delivery and again later in the Professor Mike Morgan, is responsible for working transition to full breastfeeding and are able to demonstrate across all five domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework exemplar practices. Improvement projects focused on in NHS England in tackling asthma issues, and supporting mothers to provide breast milk for babies in Dr Jacqueline Cornish, the National Clinical Director neonatal units have seen statistically significant increases for children, young people and transition to adulthood, in breast feeding rates. NHS England does not have is working with the Strategic Clinical Networks for details of projects being implemented from individual maternity, neonates and children and young people, to trusts. improve clinical outcomes for children and young people with asthma. NHS England also continues to work with Chlamydia Asthma UK and professional groups in both primary and secondary care to improve outcomes for all those with asthma. It is also working to ensure that everyone Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for with a long-term condition is offered a personalised Health what steps he is taking to encourage postal tests care plan and an asthma action plan should form part and other alternative routes for Chlamydia screening; of that. how many postal tests for Chlamydia were used in each of the last five years; and how many providers of such In terms of data collection on asthma, the Healthcare services there are. [203156] Quality Improvement Partnership is considering with NHS England, a national clinical audit of asthma services across the country against NICE quality standards Jane Ellison: The current National Chlamydia Screening for asthma. Programme (NCSP) advice is that health service based screening may be supplemented by high quality internet- Breastfeeding based testing. This is highlighted in the NCSP Standards for Chlamydia Screening, Equity of Access Report and Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Guide on Involving YoungMen in Chlamydia Screening. Health what proportion of mothers in England are The Public Health England (PHE) sexual health facilitator breastfeeding their baby on discharge from neonatal team advocate this to local commissioners and providers. care. [203154] Internet testing is attractive to some population sections, especially men. Dr Poulter: This information is not collected centrally. Currently PHE does not collect information specifically on remote testing delivered through postal kits. Therefore Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the current number of such providers cannot be ascertained. Health what steps his Department is taking to promote PHE has applied to the Standardisation Committee for breastfeeding for mothers of babies in neonatal care. Care Information to introduce data collection on postal [203155] testing commissioned by local authorities. Dr Poulter: The Department recognises that breastfeeding The remote testing data for five years collected prior has huge health benefits for mother and baby and that to 2012 by the NCSP is shown in the following table: breast milk is even more important for the most vulnerable babies cared for in neonatal and special care baby units, Number of tests done through remote where it is essential to promote and support breastfeeding. testing In the last few years a number of local, regional and 2007 7,344 national initiatives to increase breast milk usage and 2008 38,144 improve breastfeeding support have been implemented, 2009 143,250 with an increasing focus on breastfeeding rates at discharge. 2010 141,361 701W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 702W

Patients with cystic fibrosis, who have died while actively waiting on the lung Number of tests done through remote transplant list (by year of death not year of registration) testing Financial Year Patients 2011 106,043 2013-14 19 Notes: 2012-13 19 1. Data includes Chlamydia tests carried out on people aged between 15 and 24 years. 2011-12 14 2. Remote testing data (which included kits sent via mail outs, kits requested 2010-11 19 over the telephone or online). 2009-10 27 3. Chlamydia activity data reported by PHE are based on primary care, community service and Genitounirary medicine clinic Chlamydia data. Source: 4. Data includes tests where sex is male, female, and unknown/unspecified. Data NHS Blood and Transplant includes all screening tests, diagnostic tests and tests on contacts. 5. Data includes Chlamydia tests among people accessing services located in East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust England who are also residents in England. 6. Data represents the number of tests reported, and not the number of people tested. Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for 7. Data presented are based on tests with confirmed positive and negative Health with reference to the speech by Simon Stevens, results only. Tests with equivocal, inhibitory and insufficient results have been excluded as most people with these results are retested. CEO, NHS England on 4 June 2014, if he will call in 8. The data were extracted on 13 August 2012. and review the decision taken by the East Kent Hospitals 9. Where an area of residence cannot be assigned, data are excluded. University Foundation Trust to transfer community services currently based at the Queen Victoria Memorial Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Hospital Herne Bay to the Estuary View Medical Practice Health what routes other than postal screening, GP in Whitstable. [203152] surgeries and sexual health clinics, are being encouraged for opportunistic Chlamydia screening. [203164] Jane Ellison: The reconfiguration of local health services is the responsibility of the local national health Jane Ellison: The National Chlamydia Screening service, led by clinicians, and should be in the best Programme (NCSP) recommends in its guidance that interests of patients. Any reconfiguration proposed has Chlamydia screening should be integrated within wider to ensure that it shows support from general practitioner sexual health provisions for young adults, and offered at commissioners, strengthened public and patient every opportunity (for example, consultations such as involvement, clarity on the clinical evidence base and emergency hormonal contraception and abortion referrals). consistency with current and prospective patient choice. National guidance on integrated care models has been East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation produced by the NCSP. Trust (EKHUFT) and NHS Canterbury and Coastal In addition to screening offered via postal test kits, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are leading plans general practitioner surgeries and genitourinary medicine to consolidate out-patient sites from 15 locations down clinics, commissioners are advised to ensure that screening to six, and conducted public consultation on plans is available in contraceptive health services, pharmacies between December 2013 and March 2014. We understand and where appropriate, through outreach programmes. EKHUFT’s board approved these proposals on 27 June The NCSP provides guidance on when and how to best 2014. deliver outreach programmes with the aim of ensuring These changes do not affect the future of any community services are based on need, are good value for money hospitals in Kent. NHS England confirms the NHS and are sustainable. Canterbury and Coastal CCG Governing Body met on 2 July 2014 and approved EKHUFT’s move to implement Commissioning Support Units new ways of working in an out-patient setting, including the reduction of specialist acute out-patient clinics from Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for 15 sites down to six sites, and the choice of Estuary Health how much income commissioning support units View Medical Centre as the centralised site for specialist earned from clinical commissioning groups in 2013-14; acute out-patient services on the north Kent coast. and what proportion of that income related to support Energy for clinical commissioning groups on putting NHS services out to tender. [203163] Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of his Department’s Jane Ellison: During 2013-14 commissioning support consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in units in England earned £602.1 million from clinical each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such commissioning groups (CCGs). We do not collect consumption has been in each such month. [202706] information centrally on what proportion of income is used in relation to CCGs tendering activity. Dr Poulter: The Department’s consumption in kWh of gas and electricity in each month since June 2010 are Cystic Fibrosis detailed in the following tables. Gas consumption Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for kWh Health how many cystic fibrosis sufferers have died 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 while being on the waiting list for a lung transplant in April — 383,308 375,498 410,643 300,833 each of the last five years. [203030] May — 334,299 291,491 268,638 231,365 June 214,194 342,759 135,620 171,941 — Jane Ellison: The information requested is in the July 184,049 238,429 52,692 135,238 — following table: 703W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 704W

Gas consumption General Practitioners kWh 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for August 270,592 179,116 96,602 144,629 — Health what estimate he has made of the effect of September 275,325 172,324 82,137 162,901 — projected population growth on the demand for GP October 404,226 191,563 249,232 187,581 — services over the next 10 years. [203089] November 549,699 315,677 365,295 378,302 — December 814,163 448,970 430,231 500,407 — January 644,972 497,774 537,957 504,784 — Dr Poulter: Office for National Statistics estimates February 554,519 549,609 521,341 460,338 — suggest that by 2024, more than 10% of the United March 623,455 475,765 542,183 399,659 — Kingdom population will be aged 75 or over. Our recent publication ‘Transforming Primary Care’, sets out our Electricity Consumption vision for more proactive, personalised, joined up care, kWh particularly for older people. From the end of June 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2014, all people aged 75 and over will have a named April — 775,333 727,906 743,420 734,079 general practitioner (GP) with overall responsibility for May — 828,597 817,660 737,329 743,728 and oversight of their care. June 1,058,570 879,532 758,422 708,423 — Additionally, because of advances in medicine, people July 1,119,452 861,447 828,709 1,011,360 — of all ages are living with complex health needs. Starting August 1,007,127 848,332 827,468 834,372 — in September 2014, over 800,000 people will benefit September 950,584 845,520 740,170 725,554 — from a Proactive Care Programme, which will provide October 915,324 824,037 813,384 729,868 — personalised joined-up care and support tailored to November 928,702 809,542 735,035 712,812 — their needs. December 949,551 812,427 732,011 709,999 — To ensure that the workforce is capable of supporting January 920,671 842,769 811,067 779,265 — these changes, we are working closely with Health Education February 814,015 820,963 727,292 689,548 — England, NHS England and the professions to improve March 895,910 820,483 746,071 738,869 — recruitment, retention and return to practice, both for GPs and for other key parts of the local workforce such Gas and electricity costs as community nurses. We are planning to make available The Department’s previous way of processing energy around 10,000 additional primary and community health bills, makes it difficult to provide meaningful and relevant and care professionals by 2020. monthly costs for earlier years but the annual expenditure for 2009-12 is as follows: Knee Replacements £ Gas Electricity Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009-10 160,572 1,253,708 Health what the current waiting times are for NHS 2010-11 117,690 862,052 knee replacement operation in England, by region. 2011-12 139,343 1,145,671 [202777] The following table outlines the monthly costs of gas and electricity consumption in the Department’s buildings Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held from April 2012-13 to March 2013-14. centrally. Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times are collected separately for 18 high volume treatment £ functions (divisions of clinical work based on main Gas Electricity specialty), including trauma and orthopaedics, but not 2012-13 2013-14 2012-13 2013-14 for individual procedures such as knee replacements.

April 18,380 13,986 85,855 92,087 May 10,562 9,197 95,095 89,211 Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for June 6,290 6,368 88,712 85,445 Health what the cost was of NHS knee replacement July 8,236 5,205 96,871 121,466 operations and subsequent revisions in England in the August 5,399 5,480 94,554 99,521 last three years. [202779] September 6,193 6,105 84,633 87,487 October 12,764 7,748 86,575 87,917 Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held November 15,734 13,337 82,322 86,119 centrally. December 17,416 16,644 80,016 86,529 January 18,246 17,817 90,733 90,179 Such information as is available is from reference February 19,580 15,973 77,247 82,419 costs, which are the average cost to national health March 20,512 14,369 63,457 65,760 service trusts and NHS foundation trusts of providing defined services in a given financial year to NHS patients. These figures relate to buildings occupied by departmental Reference costs for acute care are collected by Healthcare staff, where the Department is directly responsible for Resource Groups (HRGs), which are standard groupings payment of gas and electric bills and can provide monthly of clinically similar treatments that consume common consumption figures. This covers Richmond House, levels of healthcare resource. The HRGs in the attached Skipton House, Wellington House, Premier House and table therefore include the costs of other knee procedures Premier Buildings (vacated in November 2012). in addition to knee replacements. 705W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 706W

Estimated cost of knee procedures to NHS providers in England by Healthcare Resource Group, 2010-11 to 2012-13, £ million The surface Only one of two joints Code Healthcare Resource Group 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 bone in the within the Full knee knee joint is knee joint HB21A Major Knee Procedures for Non- 32 32 39 Region replacement replaced are replaced Trauma, Category 2, with Major CC 2010-11 North East 4,817 11 144 HB21B Major Knee Procedures for Non- 25 69 79 North West 9,213 42 325 Trauma, Category 2, with CC HB21C Major Knee Procedures for Non- 314 266 237 Yorkshire and the 7,686 68 381 Trauma, Category 2, without CC Humber HB22B Major Knee Procedures for Non- 81215 East Midlands 5,947 32 191 Trauma, Category 1, with CC West Midlands 8,568 96 490 HB22C Major Knee Procedures for Non- 57 58 61 Trauma, Category 1, without CC East of England 7,697 41 298 HB23B Intermediate Knee Procedures for 12 19 22 London 6,624 84 509 Non-Trauma, with CC South East Coast 6,408 74 386 HB23C Intermediate Knee Procedures for 109 94 89 Non-Trauma, without CC South Central 4,598 121 568 HB24B Minor Knee Procedures for Non- 16 19 19 South West 8,433 162 861 Trauma, Category 2, with CC England total 69,991 731 4,153 HB24C Minor Knee Procedures for Non- 38 28 24 Trauma, Category 2, without CC Total costs 613 598 587 2011-12 North East 5,218 17 149 Notes: North West 9,607 25 436 1. These total costs are derived from the average unit costs submitted for activity that occurred in the following settings: ordinary elective, day case elective, Yorkshire and the 8,147 50 522 non-elective, regular day or night attendances, and outpatients. Humber 2. Only HRGs for non-trauma have been included in the table. HRGs for East Midlands 6,378 36 258 trauma and malignancy have not been included. 3. The cost of subsequent knee revisions has not been estimated. HRGs that West Midlands 8,799 29 562 cover orthopaedic reconstruction also include other body area procedures, East of England 7,122 25 279 some primary (ie non-revision) procedures, and trauma and non-trauma activity. 4. The following HRGs include costs relating to subsequent revisions in 2010-11 London 7,282 28 605 and 2011-12, and have not been included in the table: South East Coast 7,046 53 468 HR04B-Reconstruction Procedures Category 3, with CC HR04C-Reconstruction Procedures Category 3, without CC South Central 4,590 79 674 HR05Z-Reconstruction Procedures Category 2 HR06A-Reconstruction Procedures Category 1, 19 years and over South West 8,976 51 912 HR06B-Reconstruction Procedures Category 1, 18 years and under England total 73,136† 393 4,865 5. The following HRGs include costs relating to subsequent revisions in 2012-13, and have not been included in the table: HR07A-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 43 or less, with Diagnosis Score 22 or less 2012-13 North East 5,031 8 134 HR07B-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 43 or less, with North West 9,822 18 350 Diagnosis Score 23-60 HR07C-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 43 or less, with Yorkshire and the 8,211 25 678 Diagnosis Score 61 or more Humber HR08A-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 44-65, with Diagnosis East Midlands 6,246 7 252 Score 22 or less West Midlands 8,680 8 593 HR08B-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 44-65, with Diagnosis Score 23-60 East of England 7,671 12 319 HR08C-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 44-65, with Diagnosis Score 61 or more London 7,112 38 673 HR09A-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 66 or more, with South East Coast 6,766 20 484 Diagnosis Score 22 or less HR09B-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 66 or more, with South Central 4,414 35 836 Diagnosis Score 23-60 HR09C-Orthopaedic Reconstruction with Intervention Score 66 or more, with South West 8,720 32 935 Diagnosis Score 61 or more England total 172,676 203 15,256 6. Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding. Source: 1 Providers that are not based in England have been removed, and therefore the Reference costs, Department of Health national totals may not be equal to the sum of the regional totals. The following table shows how many knee replacement revisions were carried out by the national health service Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for in England in the last three years. Information relating Health (1) how many NHS knee replacement operations to how long the average time interval was between total were carried out in England, by region, in the last three knee replacement and subsequent revision procedures is years; [202780] not held centrally. (2) how many knee replacement revisions were carried Full knee Only one bone in the out by the NHS in England in the last three years; and Region replacement knee joint is replaced how long the average time interval was between total knee replacement and subsequent revision procedures. 2010-11 North East 456 * [202778] North West 825 * Yorkshire and the 759 * Humber East Midlands 551 * Jane Ellison: The table below shows how many knee replacement operations were carried out in England, by West Midlands 751 * region, in the last three years. East of England 733 * 707W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 708W

CTAG has also recommended that NHSBT review Full knee Only one bone in the Region replacement knee joint is replaced the consequences of introducing two levels of priority for listing for lung transplants—urgent and routine; London 738 * and suggest a national allocation scheme for urgent South East Coast 673 * listed patients, and zonal allocation for routine listed South Central 670 * patients. South West 868 7 Any change would need to be validated by NHSBT, England Total 7,024 25 to review the criteria for urgent listing and the statistical modelling of the potential impact of such a system. NHSBT will continue to work closely with the Cystic 2011-12 North East 422 * Fibrosis Trust to improve outcomes for patients requiring North West 704 * lung transplants. Yorkshire and the 751 * Humber Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for East Midlands 547 * Health what proportion of donated lungs are West Midlands 728 * successfully transplanted. [203032] East of England 612 * London 747 * Jane Ellison: The information requested is in the following table: South East Coast 613 * Proportion of donated lungs successfully transplanted over the last five financial South Central 576 * years, 2009-14 South West 839 * Percentage England Total 6,539 14 2013-14 23 2012-13 22 2012-13 North East 396 * 2011-12 23 North West 759 * 2010-11 21 Yorkshire and the 677 * 2009-10 18 Humber Source: East Midlands 572 * NHS Blood and Transplant West Midlands 713 * NHS Blood and Transplant works closely with clinicians to ensure donated organs are used for transplantation East of England 596 * wherever appropriate. London 768 * It is the responsibility of the surgeon to decide whether South East Coast 584 * to accept the donor organs for use in transplantation. South Central 545 * Lungs not accepted for transplant are rejected both South West 915 8 before retrieval and at retrieval, or occasionally at allocation. England Total 6,525 18 The surgeon will base the decision on the characteristics of both the donor and the potential recipient. Donor Notes: 1. Finished Consultant Episode (FCE): Both tables show FCEs. An FCE is a factors include past and present medical, social, clinical continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one and laboratory data as well as a thorough examination healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. The of the organs before, during and after retrieval. figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person. 2. The data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on one or more occasion. NHS Foundation Trusts: Public Appointments 3. To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with “*” (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify figures from the total, additional figures have been replaced with ″*”. Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 16 December Lung Diseases: Transplant Surgery 2013, Official Report, column 524W, on NHS: public appointments, where the data showing the gender of Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for people appointed to the boards of NHS foundation Health what assessment he has made of the performance trusts is held. [203037] of the lung transplant allocation system; and what steps he is taking to ensure that as many lung transplants as Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally. possible are made available to cystic fibrosis sufferers. Information on the constitution of individual national [203031] health service foundation trust boards is available in the annual report of each foundation trust. Jane Ellison: Donated lungs are currently allocated to the designated cardiothoracic transplant centres on a NHS: Competition zonal basis. However, the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group (CTAG) has recently reviewed the allocation Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for policy and has recommended that the size of the allocation Health how many requests for advice on competition zones be adjusted to help ensure equity of access. NHS related issues Monitor received from each (a) NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has therefore confirmed trust and (b) foundation trust in 2013-14. [202999] that, for cardiothoracic organs, the zones will be reviewed in August 2014 to coincide with changes in liver allocation Jane Ellison: Monitor receives a variety of requests zones, and from August 2015 heart and lung zones will for support from stakeholders including national health be disaggregated and the zones reviewed separately. service trusts and foundation trusts. These include requests 709W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 710W for advice and support on issues including commissioning, (2) how much the NHS Trust Development Authority the development of integrated care models and service spent in 2013-14 on the enforcement of the licence reconfiguration. It is not possible to determine which of conditions as set out on page three of the Partnership these requests are ‘competition related’ as they represent Agreement with Monitor; and how much the NHS a wide variety of issues and scenarios. In 2013-14, Trust Development Authority plans to spend in this Monitor’s Co-operation and Competition Directorate area in 2014-15. [203145] had 12 general requests for advice from NHS trusts and 23 general requests for advice from NHS foundation Jane Ellison: As part of its oversight and escalation trusts. process, the NHS Trust Development Authority asks NHS trusts to self-certify compliance with the licence Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for conditions relating to choice and competition. Therefore, Health (1) how much Monitor (a) spent in 2013-14 the NHS Trust Development Authority has not incurred and (b) plans to spend in 2014-15 on the enforcement related expenditure in 2013-14 and does not plan any of the NHS Provider Licence; [203014] expenditure in 2014-15 over and above the costs of the teams that manage the oversight and escalation process (2) how much Monitor (a) spent in 2013-14 and (b) more generally. plans to spend in 2014-15 on the enforcement of the licence conditions relating to choice and competition as There were no instances requiring the enforcement of set out in section 3 of the NHS Provider Licence licence conditions set out on page three of the Partnership Agreement with Monitor in 2013-14 and there has been Standard Conditions. [202997] no expenditure. The NHS Trust Development Authority is not planning any spend in this area in 2014-15. Jane Ellison: The information requested is not available. The cost of specific enforcement activity is not disaggregated Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for in Monitor’s internal reporting systems. Health how much the NHS Trust Development Authority spent in 2013-14 to support NHS trusts in relation to Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the competition aspects of mergers and acquisitions; Health how much Monitor spent in 2013-14 on supporting which trusts required such support; how much the NHS NHS trusts in relation to the competition aspects of Trust Development Authority plans to spend in this mergers and acquisitions; how much Monitor intends area in 2014-15; and if he will publish a list of those to so spend in 2014-15; which trusts have received such trusts requiring such support. [203146] support to date; and which trusts he anticipates will require such support in 2014-15. [203039] Jane Ellison: While the NHS Trust Development Authority contributes to costs of mergers and acquisitions, it is not able to disaggregate the spend into different Jane Ellison: The information requested is not available. components. Information in relation to the specific Such expenditure is not disaggregated in Monitor’s competition aspects of this spend is therefore not available. internal report systems. The NHS Trust Development Authority does not Monitor provides informal advice to organisations record requests for support from trusts. All such requests considering mergers on a confidential basis and Monitor are directed to Monitor or the Competition and Markets is therefore unable to provide a list of trusts that have Authority for advice, as the expert bodies on mergers received support. However I can state that in 2013-14 and acquisitions. Monitor provided advice relating to mergers to 21 trusts. Monitor’s statutory advice to the Competition and Pharmacy Markets Authority on merger transactions is published on its website: Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to be able to introduce the www.gov.uk/government/organisations/monitor sharing of patient data with community pharmacists in It is not possible for Monitor to predict how many support of patient safety in England. [203009] trusts will require such support in future. Dr Poulter: Local solutions are presently being developed. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for In addition, NHS England has commissioned the Health Health how many requests for advice on competition- and Social Care Information Centre to deliver a “proof related issues the NHS Trust Development Authority of concept” project in order to enable 80-100 community received from each NHS trusts in 2013-14. [203114] pharmacies, across 2 or 3 geographical areas, to access the Summary Care Record (SCR). Subject to the proof of concept, the SCR should provide a platform which Jane Ellison: This information is not collected by the will enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to NHS Trust Development Authority. view prescribed medicines, allergies and adverse reactions for patients who go to their pharmacy for urgent or Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for unscheduled care. Health (1) how much the NHS Trust Development The project aims to: Authority spent in 2013-14 on the enforcement of the determine if SCR viewing can be safely implemented in community licence conditions relating to choice and competition as pharmacies and will add value to existing practice and patients’ set out in section 3 of the NHS Provider Licence experience by improving quality, safety and continuity of care; Standards Conditions; and how much the NHS Trust identify the optimum model for implementation should the Development Authority expects to spend in this area in proof of concept conclude that SCR access provides added 2014-15; [203115] value; and 711W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 712W

assess whether providing community pharmacies with access The results of the latest national Cancer Patient to the SCR has the potential to relieve the increasing demands Experience Survey (CPES) from 2013 show that, while on the wider health care system. variations between trusts still exist, the overall range of It is planned that the first pharmacies will go live variation for many indicators has narrowed. For example, towards the end of 2014, with the project due to provide in 2010 the proportion of patients saying that they had its findings and recommendations early in 2015. Further been given the name of a clinical nurse specialist ranged plans will be developed based on those findings and will from 92% in the highest performing trust to 59% in the be published in due course. poorest performing trust (33 points); by 2013 this had reduced to 97% to 76% (21 points). Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS Improving Quality (NHS IQ) will be doing a Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the expertise suite of work across all surveys to understand what the of community pharmacists is fully utilised to reduce the barriers are to implementing change and to showcase burden on general practice. [203013] best practice where real improvements can be demonstrated. Norman Lamb: Pharmacy already plays a vital role in NHS England is working with NHS IQ to develop supporting the health of people in their local communities, better ways of using the CPES data within the NHS in providing high quality care and support, improving order to maximise the impact of the survey, to be able people’s health and reducing health inequalities. As we to work with successful and struggling organisations to move to more integrated care, there is real potential for spread best practice for example. pharmacists and their teams to play an even greater role in the future, particularly in keeping people healthy, Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for supporting those with long-term conditions and helping Health if he will include prostate cancer in the next Be make sure patients and the national health service get Clear on Cancer awareness campaign; and if he will the best use from medicines. make a statement. [202569] The Department and NHS England’s publication Transforming Primary Care—Safe, proactive, personalised Jane Ellison: Be Clear on Cancer campaigns are care for those who need it most, sets out plans for more tested at a local and regional level, before a decision is proactive, personalised and joined up care, part of taken on whether to run them nationally throughout which is harnessing the potential of pharmacists. This England. recognises the vital role that pharmacists have in optimising medicines use, helping to prevent avoidable hospital Public Health England is actively considering potential admissions and supporting people to manage their own local pilot activity specifically targeting prostate cancer care. A copy has already been placed in the Library. within Black African-Caribbean men, due to their significantly increased risk of developing prostate cancer. NHS England’s public consultation, Improving care through community pharmacy–a call to action, has provided an important opportunity to explore the contribution Universal Credit community pharmacists and their teams can make. This will inform a strategic framework for commissioning wider primary care services in the autumn, including Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health consideration of fully utilising the expertise of community if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of pharmacists in reducing burdens on other health services, extending entitlement to (a) free prescriptions, (b) free such as general practice. A copy of the consultation eye tests and (c) free dental care to all claimants of document is at: universal credit once universal credit has been fully www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/calltoaction/ rolled out. [202672] pharm-cta/ Jane Ellison: The cost to the public purse of extending Prostate Cancer entitlement to free prescriptions, eye tests and dental care to all claimants of universal credit once universal Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for credit has been fully rolled out will depend on the Health what steps he is taking to ensure the same number of claimants at that time. This number will standard of care across the country for those diagnosed depend on a range of factors. The Government intends with prostate cancer. [202568] that broadly the same number of individuals will be passported via universal credit as are currently passported. Jane Ellison: To help reduce regional variations, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is increasingly incorporating information from accreditation and peer Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation review programmes into its assessments of national Trust health service trusts’ services, including the National Cancer Peer Review Programme. The CQC also intends to use data from the national clinical audit which is Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health being developed for prostate cancer. In addition, national what recent discussions he has had on the financial statistics on waiting times experienced by patients with position of Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation suspected and diagnosed cancers continue to be collected, Trust; and if he will make a statement. [203006] monitored and published in order to improve equity of access to cancer services and to contribute to an Jane Ellison: No ministerial discussions have taken improvement in survival rates. place on this matter in the last six months. 713W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 714W

NORTHERN IRELAND the conclusions of those discussions will be made available to (a) hon. Members with EROs who failed Standard Work Experience Three, (b) the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee and (c) councillors within failed local Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for authorities; and if he will place in the Library the Northern Ireland what her Department’s policy is on conclusions of those discussions. [202757] work experience placements; and how many such placement requests have been accepted in each year since 2010. Mr Streeter: The Commission informs me that it has [203158] reported on ERO performance against Standard 3 for each year since 2008. Mrs Villiers: There have been no work experience To support EROs in preparing for and delivering the placements in my Department since 2010. transition to individual electoral registration (IER) the Commission has developed a new performance standards ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE framework, which it will use to monitor the performance of EROs against throughout the transition to individual Electoral Register electoral registration. The Commission will continue to Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South carefully monitor and work closely with EROs and will West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on consider a range of options to ensure EROs are carrying the Electoral Commission, how many of the six million out their duties in full. people identified as missing on the electoral register by Discussions between the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commission in 2011 have been registered the Cabinet Office take place regularly on a range of to vote in each year since 2011. [201256] subjects. Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me The Commission made clear in its June report that it that its last GB wide study into the completeness of would use its statutory powers to make a recommendation electoral registers was completed in 2011. This type to the Secretary of State to require specific EROs to do of research does not specifically identify unregistered door-to-door canvassing if this did not happen during individuals but provides an assessment of the overall the introduction of IER, which began on 10 June in accuracy and completeness of the registers. The England and Wales. Commission’s next study is being published in July and No specific date for conclusion has been set as it will this will update the picture on levels of completeness in depend on the circumstances in each area, but the 2014. Commission will continue to keep this under active review. Should the Commission make a recommendation Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West for such a direction, it will write to the relevant hon. Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Members and local council leaders. We will also write to Electoral Commission, what the target was for each the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee voter registration drive of the last five years of the and ask for this correspondence to be placed in the number of electors they hoped to register; how much House Library. was allocated for each campaign; and how much the Electoral Commission planned to spend on each registration Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West drive. [202748] Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me Electoral Commission, on which dates the Electoral that the information requested for the years 2010 to Commission will report to (a) Parliament and (b) 2013 was provided to the hon. Member in response to individualhon.Membersontheprogressontheimplementation his PQs 189416 (6 March 2014, Official Report, column of individual electoral registration. [202759] 892W) and 185198 (3 February 2014, Official Report, column 61W). Mr Streeter: The Commission informs me that it will report to both Parliament and individual Members at In addition, for 2014, the Commission ran a registration appropriate points, and in line with its statutory duties campaign for the local and European Parliamentary throughout the implementation of individual electoral Elections which were held on 22 May. The campaign registration. budget was £2,800,000 and there was a target of 150,000 registration form downloads. 207,000 downloads were The Commission intends to publish updates on progress achieved during the campaign. at three key points in the transition, as laid out in its March report. This is available on the Commission’s Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South website here: West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/ the Electoral Commission, (1) how many times an 166511/Readiness-for-the-transition-to-IER-Progress-Report- electoral registration officer (ERO) has to fail Standard March-2014.pdf Three before the Electoral Commission will refer the ERO to the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office for Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West the purpose of improving the performance of the ERO; Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the [202756] Electoral Commission, on what specific date the Electoral (2) on what date the discussions between the Electoral Commission plans to publish its estimate of the number Commission and the Cabinet Office on sanctions against of people missing off the electoral register. [202762] electoral registration officers (EROs) who refuse to conduct door-to-door canvassing as per Standard Three Mr Streeter: The Commission informs me that it will began; when those discussions will conclude; whether publish this report shortly. 715W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 716W

CABINET OFFICE staff below the senior civil service (SCS), this is for individual Departments to manage. For the centrally- Average Earnings: Warrington managed SCS, pay proposals have regard to the impact on women. Helen Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet More widely, the Government is concerned that a Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has long-standing majority of women in the overall civil made of the gross weekly earnings of (a) men, (b) service, does not translate into a similar proportion in women and (c) all people employed (i) full-time and the SCS. I have commissioned work to address this (ii) part-time in Warrington North constituency. issue. [203040] Government Departments: Procurement Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Mr Crausby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet asked the authority to reply. Office what Government spending was in reform of the Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2014: process of procurement and across central Government As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I in each year since May 2010. [202636] have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office has been working with Statistics Authority has made of the gross weekly earnings of (a) central Government Departments to implement a men, (b) women and (c) all people employed (i) full-time and (ii) demanding Commercial Reform agenda which is aimed part-time in Warrington North constituency (203040). at leveraging the Crown’s buying power, deriving better The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried value for money and savings for the taxpayer to support out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of deficit reduction and growth. This work has been carried earnings information in the United Kingdom. Weekly levels of out across Departments and costs are not held centrally. earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period As a result of our work to date, we have made the way were not affected by absence. Figures relate to employee jobs, we buy goods and services in central Government quicker, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self- more competitive, more transparent, better value and employed. Additional sources of income such as benefit payments, far simpler than before. This has saved the taxpayer rental income and pensions are not covered in ASHE. £2.9 billion in 2010-11, with a further £3.0 billion in The following table shows estimates of median gross weekly 2011-12, £3.8 billion in 2012-13 and £5.4 billion in earnings for male, female and all employees working full-time and 2013-14. These savings are all calculated against a 2009-10 part-time in Warrington North constituency in April 2013, the latest period for which results are available. baseline and include both recurring and non-recurring items. Median gross weekly earnings (£) for employees1 in Warrington North constituency in April 2013 All of this could have been started before the 2010 Full-time employees Part-time employees General Election. However in May 2010 there was no effective central oversight of procurement, commercial All *491.6 **166.1 skills were lacking and Government did not even know Male *522.3 x who its strategic suppliers were, let alone how much was Female **425.2 **169.0 being spent with them. 1 Employee jobs are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed. Figures relate to employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. ASHE is based on a 1% sample of jobs taken from HM Revenue and Customs’ Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. Consequently, individuals with more than one job may appear in the sample more than once. WOMEN AND EQUALITIES Guide to quality: The coefficient of variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- Marriage Certificates twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: Dr Huppert: To ask the Ministers for Women and CV >5% and<= 10% Equalities what progress she has made on modernising CV > 10% and <= 20% marriage certificates. [904639] x = Unreliable CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Sajid Javid: I have discussed modernising marriage Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics certificates with the Home Secretary and we are currently Trusted Statistics—Understanding the UK considering a range of options. The content of marriage registers has not changed since civil marriage was introduced Civil Servants: Equal Pay in 1837, so it is right that we look at whether it still meets our needs. Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to ensure gender equality in civil service salaries. [904642] HOME DEPARTMENT Mr Maude: The median gender pay gap for full-time civil servants has narrowed since 2010 but we must Cheshire Constabulary continue to press to narrow the gap further, including by reminding Departments of their clear legal obligations Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the on equal pay and conducting equal pay audits. Salaries Home Department how much funding has been for new appointments must be justified on the basis of allocated to Cheshire Police in (a) cash and (b) real the skills and experience necessary to do the job. For terms in each year since 2005. [203002] 717W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 718W

Karen Bradley: The table shows the amount of core Home Office. All third-party service providers, whether Government revenue funding provided by the Home they are employers, education establishments or test Office to the Cheshire Police Authority (from November providers, must take their obligations seriously or face 2012, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire) the removal of their licence to work with us. since 2005-2006. Due to changes in police revenue funding over this Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the time period (which includes a change in the way pensions Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 are funded), it is difficult to compare spending power June 2014, Official Report, column 206, on student between years. visas, on what date her Department first became aware of the systematic cheating taking place in the tests of Total HO funding (£ million) the Educational Testing Service. [202332] Cash1 Real (2012-13 prices)2

2005-06 77.0 91.6 James Brokenshire: Since the last election, the 2006-07 72.7 84.2 Government has taken action to reduce and control 2007-08 74.1 83.7 immigration and to crack down on the abuse of the 2008-09 75.8 83.2 system which the previous Government failed to address. 2009-10 77.6 82.9 We have kept the main immigration routes to Britain 2010-11 77.7 81.0 under review and remain vigilant against abuse of the 2011-12 74.4 75.7 student visa system. Around 750 education sponsors 2012-13 69.1 69.1 have been removed from the register of those entitled to 2013-143 117.5 115.2 bring overseas students to the UK. We now know that 2014-154 112.6 108.1 almost 400 of these were linked to the sponsorship of 1 Figures include specific grants that have since been rolled into Police Main people who obtained invalid ETS certificates. Abuse of Grant (including Rule 2 Grant, the Neighbourhood Policing Fund and, from 2013-14, the Community Safety Fund) in order to provide consistency over the the student visa route has been the subject of various time period. lines of inquiry for some time, but Immigration Enforcement 2 Real figures are calculated using the latest GDP deflators. These are updated officers, together with officials from UK Visas and and published regularly by Her Majesty’s Treasury and therefore can change the way that the real figures in the table are represented. Immigration and with the support of the National 3, 4 From 2013-14 formula grant funding which in previous years had been paid Crime Agency, began conducting a detailed and wide- by the Department for Communities and Local Government was transferred to the Home Office to pay to PCCs. This amounted to £49 million in 2013-14 and ranging investigation into actions by organised criminals £46.7 million in 2014-15. to falsify English language tests provided by ETS at the Notes : start of February. 1. From 2014-15, the Home Office is also paying out Council Tax Freeze Grant (including funding relating to the 2011-12 scheme paid to Cheshire) and Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) funding to PCCs in England. This amount was previously paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government Entry Clearances: Overseas Students (DCLG). This will total £7.67 million for Cheshire in 2014-15 and is excluded from the table to assist comparison with previous years. 2. In addition, the police in England also receive central Government grant from other sources including the DCLG. They also receive funding from the Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the police precept component of council tax and a small amount of income from charging for additional services. Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 206, on student visas, Domestic Violence: Preston how many students wrongly awarded language certificates (a) remain in the UK, (b) have an address known to Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the her Department and (c) have been deported. [202331] Home Department how many call-outs police in Preston attended in response to domestic violence in 2013. James Brokenshire: As I stated on 24 June in my [202486] statement to Parliament, the Home Office will provide regular updates to the House on progress with work to Norman Baker: The requested data are not collected remove these students and on further information we centrally by the Home Office. Data are available on the receive from ETS. number of domestic abuse incidents that come to the attention of the police but these are only held at police force area level. Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 June 2014, Educational Testing Service Official Report, column 209W, on student visas, what the projected cost in 2014-15 is of the student dedicated Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the helpline; how many staff will be employed on that Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 helpline; and what estimate she has made of the number June 2014, Official Report, column 206, on student of calls that helpline will receive. [202487] visas, what due diligence tests her Department undertook on the Educational Testing Service prior to awarding the company a contract for delivering language tests for James Brokenshire: The number of calls the student helpline will receive will be dependent on the demand visa applications. [202330] from individual students. James Brokenshire: The licence with Secure English 10 members of staff can currently be deployed on the Language Testing providers is clear that providers must student helpline, depending on the demand, and additional put measures in place to combat abuse and any concerns trained staff are ready for redeployment should the regarding fraud or abuse should be reported to the volume of calls increase. 719W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 720W

Human Trafficking: Children Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for with the Immigration and Passport Service on (a) the the Home Department if she will bring forward service’s ability to meet the three-week timescale for legislative proposals to establish a statutory system of processing an application for a child passport and (b) guardianship to support victims of child trafficking. possible extension of that timescale. [199081] [202632] James Brokenshire: Expected service standards for Karen Bradley: The Modern Slavery Bill, published processing passports are given at: on 10 June 2014, includes an enabling clause which www.gov.uk provides a statutory basis for child trafficking advocates and their functions including the circumstances and The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my conditions under which a person may act as an advocate. right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), explained in the House on 12 June a set of measures to The clause provides the Secretary of State with a deal with the high level of passport demand has been power to make arrangements so that specialist child put in place. I refer the hon. Member to the statement of trafficking advocates are available to support and represent 12 June 2014, Official Report, columns 693-94. children who there is reason to believe may be victims of trafficking. It also allows for requirements on public authorities to co-operate with and provide information Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the to these advocates. Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of passport applications submitted in each Trials of the child trafficking advocates scheme will month since June 2010; and how many such applications commence in summer 2014. The trials will be independently were processed within three weeks of receipt. [199624] evaluated both at six months and on completion. A report on the findings will be laid before Parliament. James Brokenshire: The following table gives the requested Passports information.

Number of straightforward Number processed within Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Month applications three weeks Home Department (1) what the target time is for dealing with passport applications; [198915] January 2013 315,467 315,424 February 2013 368,035 368,003 (2) what proportion of passport applications have March 2013 343,103 343,097 been dealt with within the target timescale in each of April 2013 384,487 384,477 the last 12 months. [198919] May 2013 420,209 420,204 June 2013 421,757 421,755 James Brokenshire: Expected service standards for July 2013 388,781 388,770 passport applications are given at August 2013 285,055 285,050 www.gov.uk September 2013 231,979 231,971 Information in respect of the Member’s constituency October 2013 207,083 207,079 is not available and the cost of collating it would be November 2013 179,323 179,312 disproportionate. December 2013 115,461 115,448 The following table shows the proportions of UK January 2014 274,120 274,097 passport applications in each of the last 12 months February 2014 360,087 359,997 which have been processed within the published service March 2014 406,736 406,517 standards. April 2014 416,591 414,882 May 2014 376,403 347,256 Percentage non- Percentage straight straightforward forward applications applications processed Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the processed within the within the published time published time scales scales Home Department what her Department’s definition of straightforward is in relation to passport 2013 applications. [200157] June 100 97.8 July 100 96.9 James Brokenshire: A straightforward application is August 100 96.4 one where all the required information, including supporting September 100 96.0 documentation, is provided, the application is signed, October 100 95.9 and no further inquiries are required in order to progress November 99.99 96.5 the application. December 99.99 96.3

2014 Passports: Kilmarnock January 99.99 96.8 February 99.98 98.1 Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the March 99.95 96.8 Home Department how many applications for passports April 98.59 99.6 have been made by residents in Kilmarnock and Loudoun May 92.26 93.9 in each of the last 12 months. [198916] 721W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 722W

James Brokenshire: Expected service standards for Stalking passport applications are given at: www.gov.uk Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Information in respect of the Member’s constituency Home Department how many people in each police is not available and the cost of collating it would be force area have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted disproportionate. The table below shows the proportions for cyber-stalking to date. [203001] of UK passport applications in each of the last 12 months which have been processed within the published Karen Bradley: The information requested cannot be service standards. provided as cyber-stalking is not defined as a specific crime on the statute book. Percentage Surveillance Straightforward applications Non-straightforward processed within the published applications processed within timescales the published timescales Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to amend the 2013 Interception of Communications Code of Practice to June 100 97.8 include provisions for identifying and reporting July 100 96.9 interception errors. [201670] August 100 96.4 September 100 96.0 James Brokenshire: We will respond to the Interception October 100 95.9 of Communications Commissioner’s report in due course. November 99.99 96.5 December 99.99 96.3 Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to improve 2014 the quality of statistics held by government agencies relating to data communication interceptions. [201768] January 99.99 96.8 February 99.98 98.1 James Brokenshire: The Interception Commissioner March 99.95 96.8 publishes information on communications data (CD) April 98.59 99.6 and interception warrants. His 2013 report published in May 92.26 93.9 April set out for the first time a detailed breakdown by public authority of the number of CD authorisations Rape and notices issued. We are considering the Commissioner’s recommendations and will respond in due course. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Surveillance: Appeals Home Department what steps she is taking to encourage more rape victims to report that crime to the Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the police and to ensure that they are treated appropriately Home Department when she plans to bring section when they do so. [202402] 67(9) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 into force. [202493] Norman Baker: Rape and sexual violence are devastating and unacceptable crimes. The coalition Government’s James Brokenshire: We have no plans to bring section continued approach to tackling such violence and abuse 67 (9) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act is set out in our Violence against Women and Girls 2000 into force as provisions to which it relates in Action Plan, updated in March 2014. Supporting victims sections 65(c) and (d) of RIPA are themselves not in is at the heart of this approach, which includes giving force. victims more confidence to report crimes, and it is encouraging that police recorded crime figures show more victims are having the confidence to come forward. DEFENCE We want every report of rape to be treated seriously Armed Forces: Training from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and every prosecution Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for to be conducted thoroughly and professionally. Defence if he will place a copy of 2014DIN07-082 on We have ring-fenced funding for 87 independent sexual 2014/2015 Defence Cyber Practitioner Courses in the violence advisers to provide appropriate and independent Library. [200739] support for victims. Mr Francois: I have placed a redacted copy of the We have supported the publication of data on rape Defence Information Notice 2014DIN07-082 in the for every police force in the country as a basis for Library of the House. improving recording and investigations of rape and to ensure that guidance on investigating and prosecuting Energy rape is implemented in every police force area. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is inspecting Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the recording of rape as part of a wider crime recording Defence what estimate he has made of his Department’s audit, and the police and Crown Prosecution Service consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in have published a joint action plan to improve how these each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such cases are handled within the criminal justice system. consumption has been in each such month. [202702] 723W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 724W

Dr Murrison: The table shows the breakdown of Expenditure also includes standing charges as well as consumption and expenditure relating to gas and electricity costs of pure consumption. for each month since June 2010. Figures are not yet available for the first quarter of financial year 2014-15 The expenditure data represents physical payments in addition to the accrued expenditure posted to the Ministry of Defence accounts each month.

Consumption profiled by month (KWh) Expenditure profiled by month (£) (a) Gas (b) Electricity (a) Gas (b) Electricity

April 2010 220,858,128 129,901,857 2,444,926 6,790,475 May 2010 164,775,053 86,700,211 2,213,132 16,751,076 June 2010 95,787,907 104,218,404 8,537,291 10,081,041 July 2010 73,950,249 109,711,397 4,472,213 16,594,012 August 2010 79,657,819 98,280,034 2,408,066 13,312,634 September 2010 95,043,441 110,750,612 6,788,549 15,271,722 October 2010 179,416,209 122,478,894 4,255,702 12,688,132 November 2010 332,031,657 134,504,094 7,032,081 20,373,422 December 2010 389,107,353 145,044,702 10,887,374 13,390,497 January 2011 337,242,916 146,380,835 9,265,512 17,653,989 February 2011 298,282,550 145,935,458 15,552,720 17,602,546 March 2011 215,398,713 150,389,236 18,665,001 23,855,343 April 2011 174,257,770 124,679,807 6,747,484 5,508,966 May 2011 130,008,044 83,214,865 10,753,516 15,732,466 June 2011 75,576,965 100,028,828 -1,894,053 8,710,276 July 2011 58,346,984 105,301,003 195,351 15,144,816 August 2011 62,850,274 94,329,180 5,757,534 17,116,742 September 2011 74,989,580 106,298,441 5,964,535 16,803,102 October 2011 141,559,963 117,555,246 9,068,629 16,886,451 November 2011 261,974,040 129,097,034 11,144,607 17,037,146 December 2011 307,006,947 139,213,910 10,145,321 14,657,293 January 2012 266,085,740 140,496,331 8,975,452 21,271,344 February 2012 235,345,887 140,068,857 12,544,421 20,317,807 March 2012 169,950,274 144,343,593 13,365,905 22,673,632 April 2012 155,275,264 129,636,842 -4,376,500 -7,425,061 May 2012 115,845,815 86,523,333 11,751,610 9,240,506 June 2012 67,344,103 104,005,787 24,086,408 31,517,521 July 2012 51,991,043 109,487,573 7,159,533 21,746,099 August 2012 56,003,775 98,079,531 5,502,409 20,153,798 September 2012 66,820,704 110,524,668 8,171,910 30,692,661 October 2012 126,139,344 122,229,023 4,051,582 2,740,964 November 2012 233,436,296 134,229,691 13,854,421 22,356,128 December 2012 273,563,611 144,748,794 3,772,567 17,644,304 January 2013 237,100,094 146,082,202 20,293,334 20,142,302 February 2013 209,708,840 145,637,733 15,206,442 18,858,516 March 2013 151,436,999 150,082,425 12,578,544 21,191,006 April 2013 175,435,384 121,119,864 13,097,470 13,392,638 May 2013 130,886,623 80,838,858 1,056,802 20,339,134 June 2013 76,087,706 97,172,737 13,337,243 17,735,824 July 2013 58,741,286 102,294,377 2,720,868 17,888,759 August 2013 63,275,009 91,635,829 4,338,368 18,888,313 September 2013 75,496,351 103,263,335 3,452,508 13,129,583 October 2013 142,516,609 114,198,729 6,257,282 18,798,135 November 2013 263,744,431 125,410,968 4,560,538 19,714,441 December 2013 309,081,665 135,238,980 23,383,641 18,935,323 January 2014 267,883,917 136,484,784 17,636,991 21,950,106 February 2014 236,936,327 136,069,516 14,364,851 18,888,772 March 2014 171,098,779 140,222,197 12,475,969 22,253,881

HMS Severn and whether HMS Severn was assigned to the Fleet Ready Escort role at that time. [202834]

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Russian Navy ships HMS Severn Mr Francois: Two Russian Federation Navy ships intercepted in the English Channel on 25 June 2014; transited the English Channel on 25 June 2014. These 725W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 726W were the Ropucha Class Landing Ships Olengorsky RAF Menwith Hill Gornyak and Georgiy Pobedonosets. As the hon. Member will be aware from my letter to Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for him of 27 January 2014, Official Report, columns 414-15W, Defence what arrangements his Department has made there are usually a number of Royal Navy units available with the US administration on control of the base at in UK waters at any one time and, if it is appropriate, NSA Menwith Hill. [202447] one of those units could be reprioritised to undertake a required task. In this case, HMS Severn was better Mr Francois: RAF Menwith Hill is made available to placed to respond, and it made the most operational the United States under the terms of the NATO Status sense to utilise her. At the same time the Fleet Ready of Forces Agreement. The Ministry of Defence retains Escort remained available at high readiness. ownership of the base and operations are carried out with the full knowledge and consent of the UK Minesweepers Government. Submarines Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Shallow Water Influence Minesweeping Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for System was purchased; on what vessels it operated Defence what the cost is of the Weapon Handling and from; whether it is still operational; and what the total Launch System and Submerged Signal Ejector support cost of the system has been. [202361] contract. [202362]

Mr Dunne: The Shallow Water Influence Minesweeping Mr Dunne: The Weapon Handling and Launch System System was purchased as an urgent operational requirement support contract, which includes Submerged Signal in financial year 2002-03 to be operated remotely from Ejector support, has an agreed fixed price of £22 million Mine Countermeasures Vessels in the Gulf for 12 months, to provide defined technical and logistic support until at a cost of approximately £3.5 million. It has been 31 March 2019. The contract also allows for further non-operational since 2004. tasking of the support contractor by the Ministry of Defence and the purchase of consumable spares when Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for required at an additional cost. Defence how much was spent on the Unmanned Sea Vehicle-based Mine Countermeasures Hydrographic Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Programme Sweep Demonstrator project. [202367] Defence whether the Weapon Handling and Launch support contract includes an obligation on the contractor Mr Dunne: The Mine Countermeasures Hydrographic to provide waterfront support in the loading and unloading Programme’s sweep demonstrator project is in its pre- of (a) conventional and (b) nuclear weapons in (i) the contract award stage; spending to date has been on UK and (ii) abroad. [202363] technical preparation activities at a cost of approximately £40,000. Mr Dunne: The Weapon Handling and Launch System (WHLS) support contract provides technical and logistic support for all WHLS equipment on Royal Navy Nuclear Weapons submarines and at Royal Navy training establishments, including Weapon Embarkation Equipment (WEE). Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence The actual use of WEE to load and unload conventional if he will publish the titles of all reports covering the weapons in the UK and abroad is covered by separate effects of the use of a UK nuclear weapon produced by commercial arrangements. The WHLS support contract (a) his Department and (b) the Atomic Weapons is not used for any aspect of nuclear weapons. Establishment and its predecessor body for his Department in the last 30 years. [202696]

Mr Dunne: The information is not held centrally and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Energy RAF Lossiemouth Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State made of her Department’s consumption in kWh of (a) for Defence what the cost has been of transfer of all gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; Typhoon Force mission-specific equipment and related and what the cost of such consumption has been in removable fittings and fixtures from RAF Leuchars to each such month. [202708] RAF Lossiemouth; and what estimate has been made of the total cost of the transfer. [202099] Mr Duncan: DFID has UK Headquarter offices in Whitehall, London and East Kilbride, Glasgow. The Mr Francois: The principal transfer of Typhoon Force weblink below sets out our actual gas and electricity mission-specific equipment has been accomplished as monthly consumption in each office since June 2010: part of an agreed change to an existing contract, at an https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department- additional cost of some £2.5 million. for-international-development/about/our-energy-use 727W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 728W

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate Bovine Tuberculosis his Department has made of the average length of time taken by the Marine Management Organisation to Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for approve a marine dredging application using the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which policies of outline marine licensing system since 2009. [202816] other countries he has assessed with regards to the gassing of badgers. [202631] George Eustice: The online marine licensing system came into force on 6 April 2011 following the formation George Eustice: Carbon monoxide gas has been used of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in successfully in the United States and Australia to control 2010. From the start of the licensing system the estimated a range of species including burrowing rodents, rabbits average time taken by the MMO to approve marine and larger mammals such as coyotes and foxes. dredging applications are as follows: Aggregate dredging Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) with reference Average length of time to licence a 15 year aggregate to the answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion application is estimated at 300 hours (200 hours during of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 20W, on application and 100 hours of pre-application advice). bovine tuberculosis, whether his Department has since Non-aggregate dredging commissioned any research about the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of gassing badgers; [202742] Description of activity Average MMO hours per case (2) if he will make an assessment of the potential Simple navigational dredging 3.5 suffering felt by badgers through gaseous methods of Routine navigational dredging 9 slaughter. [202630] Routine capital dredging 7.4 Complex navigational dredging 13.35 George Eustice: In August 2013, we commissioned Complex capital dredging 11.88 new research into alternative methods of culling badgers. The first step involved reviewing and updating the ’Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness Fishing Gear and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control’ published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Following research carried out as a result of Lord people have been prosecuted for setting intertidal nets Zuckerman’s review in the 1980s, we would not support in England in each of the last three years. [202560] the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives. George Eustice: Prosecutions for setting intertidal nets in England are undertaken, for the most part, by In October and November 2013 we carried out initial the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in (IFCAs). The 10 IFCAs manage sea fisheries resources an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not to six nautical miles around the English coast. involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals. In 2011, North Eastern IFCA made one prosecution relating Further research is now planned into the use of to intertidal nets and Cornwall IFCA had one case where a carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of prosecution was commenced alongside another, potentially more humane culling. serious, non-fisheries offence. In 2012 there were no prosecutions. Dredging In 2013, North Eastern IFCA made two prosecutions. To date in 2014, there are two cases under investigation by John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Cornwall IFCA, one case under investigation by North Eastern Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate IFCA, and three pending cases with Southern IFCA. These cases his Department has made of the number of marine will not necessarily result in a prosecution in a court. dredging applications that will be dealt with by the In all of these years there will be cases where warnings Marine Management Organisation using the online or cautions were issued or seizures were made instead of marine licensing system in 2014-15. [202815] formal prosecutions. George Eustice: Since the beginning of 2014-15 the Environment Agency records indicate that 12 people Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has dealt have been prosecuted in the past three years for setting with five 15 year marine licences for aggregate dredging. an intertidal net which targeted or caught salmon or sea For non-aggregate dredging DEFRA’s Impact trout for which they did not have an Environment Assessment on exemptions and navigational dredging Agency licence to do so in England. predicted 872 applications ranging from simple, routine The River Tweed Commission (RTC) has its own and complex applications for 2014-15 (Ref: IA No legislation to control netting both in England and in DEFRA 1118—The Marine Licensing (Exempted Scotland which is included in The Scotland Act 1998 Activities) (Amendment) Order 2013). The actual annual (River Tweed) Order 2006. In England, the RTC took number of applications being received so far is currently seven prosecutions relating to intertidal nets in 2011, running at between 10% and 20% of the forecast. five prosecutions in 2012, and five prosecutions in 2013. 729W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 730W

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Financial year Spend on public forest estate (£) Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inshore fisheries and conservation authorities in England have 2011-12 4,132,597 bylaws to prohibit the setting of intertidal nets; and 2012-13 3,730,628 how many land-based officers in each authority police 2013-14 3,831,024 and enforce those bylaws. [202817]

George Eustice: Most Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Authorities (IFCAs) in England have byelaws which Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much affect net fishing activities in the intertidal zone. These Government spending there was on public forest estate byelaws vary between IFCAs, with each authority in each year since 2008-09. [202853] prescribing certain net specifications, geographic areas, time restrictions and other limitations. Details of each Dan Rogerson: Government spending on the public IFCA’s byelaws can be found on their respective websites. forest estate since 2008-09 has been as follows: The IFCAs with byelaws relating to intertidal nets are: Financial year £ million Cornwall IFCA 2008-09 18.7 Devon and Severn IFCA 2009-10 14.3 Eastern IFCA 2010-11 7.9 Kent and Essex IFCA 2011-12 14.6 2012-13 26.1 North Eastern IFCA 2013-14 19.9 North West IFCA Northumberland IFCA Southern IFCA Forests: Yorkshire and Humberside Sussex IFCA Isles of Scilly IFCA is the only authority not to have any byelaws relating to intertidal nets, as this is not a Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for fishing activity that takes place in the Isles of Scilly. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of Forestry Commission public forest estate Most IFCAs have enforcement officers based both there was in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year on land and at sea. These officers enforce all byelaws, since 2008-09; and what the make-up of such forest not specifically those concerning intertidal nets. The was. [202852] latest figures held by DEFRA are: Cornwall IFCA—12 officers Dan Rogerson: The latest figures for area of the Devon and Severn IFCA—eight officers Forestry Commission public forest estate in the Yorkshire Eastern IFCA—10 officers, three land based and Humber region are set out in the table. The data is Kent and Essex IFCA—two land based officers, six sea based organised to show area of coniferous woodland and officers broadleaved woodland. Land on the public forest estate North Eastern IFCA—six officers, two dedicated land based which does not fall into either of these two categories is North West IFCA—eight mostly land based officers shown as ‘other’; this includes open habitats and land Northumberland IFCA—eight officers and one part time waiting to be restocked after felling. Southern IFCA—10 officers 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Sussex IFCA—four officers Broadleaved 2,488 2,594 2,680 2,704 2,749 2,782 Forests Conifer 15,015 14,726 14,446 14,285 14,030 13,923 Other 4,267 4,362 4,244 4,259 4,469 4,545 Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for 23,779 23,693 23,382 23,260 23,261 23,264 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on biodiversity on the public forest estate in each year since 2004-05. [202849] Natural England Dan Rogerson: While all sustainable forest management on the public forest estate can benefit biodiversity, the Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for following table shows the money spent by the Forestry Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess Commission specifically for the benefit of biodiversity: the level of public confidence in Natural England’s appeals process. [203038] Financial year Spend on public forest estate (£) George Eustice: Natural England is the determining 2004-05 2,719,442 body only for appeals relating to breaches of agri- 2005-06 3,673,847 environment agreements. The process for this includes 2006-07 4,785,114 provision for matters to be referred to an independent 2007-08 3,871,339 person or body, nominated by Natural England, for 2008-09 4,456,223 further consideration. There are no plans at present to 2009-10 4,787,026 make an assessment of the level of public confidence in 2010-11 5,196,665 this process. 731W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 732W

Recycling: York Any UK post with a significant human rights element to its work already has an existing human rights focal Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for point which would include responsibility for engaging Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion with local HRDs. We also work locally with EU and of waste collected in City of York has been recycled in other colleagues to support HRDs, in line with the EU each year since 2008-09; and what funding his Department Guidelines on HRDs and recently updated internal provided to City of York local authority to increase guidance, by speaking out publicly in support of their recycling rates in each of those years. [202848] work, providing funding, raising specific instances of abuse or detention with governments; and working to Dan Rogerson: The proportion of household waste promote a more conducive atmosphere for their activities. collected in City of York which was recycled for the five Burma years since 2008-09 is presented in the following table: Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Percentage (Rounded) and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment 2008-09 45 of the implications for his policy towards Burma of the 2009-10 43 recently published brief by the Chin Human Rights 2010-11 45 Organisation entitled The state of freedom of religion 2011-12 46 or belief for Chin in Burma, 2013. [202954] 2012-13 46 Mr Swire: We are aware of the Chin Human Rights The proportion of all waste collected by City of York Organisation and their report on freedom of religion council (household and non-household) which was recycled and belief in Chin State. We are currently implementing for the five years since 2008-09 is as follows: some of the recommendations that the report makes to the international community, including regularly raising Percentage (Rounded) the importance of Freedom of Religion and Belief in discussions with the Burmese Government. 2008-09 44 During my visit to Burma in January, I raised the full 2009-10 42 range of our human rights concerns with senior members 2010-11 44 of the Burmese Government and called for religious 2011-12 46 tolerance and interfaith dialogue in a speech in Rangoon. 2012-13 45 Freedom of Religion and Belief was also discussed These statistics are taken from data submitted by the during the first EU/Burma Human Rights Dialogue in council. May 2014. Local authorities receive revenue support grant and Our ambassador and embassy officials meet regularly council tax to fund waste collection and disposal. These with representatives of all faith communities, both in funds are not ring-fenced. We have no record of funding Rangoon and in the wider country, including in Chin to York City council specifically to increase recycling State. The UK has provided funding for interfaith dialogue rates over this period. to help build trust between communities—for example a project promoting peace building among youths from different faith groups.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences made of the potential consequences of the proposed religious conversion bill in Burma and the situation for religious minorities in that country. [203060] Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assign a Mr Swire: We have voiced our strong concerns over focal point in all UK missions for human rights defenders, proposed legislation on inter-faith marriage and religious including women human rights defenders, to consult on conversion to members of the Burmese Government and implement support and protection measures following and parliamentarians. If enacted, these laws would the Ending Sexual Violence Initiative. [203090] harm religious tolerance and respect for diversity in Burma, and contravene international standards and Mr Lidington: Human rights defenders (HRDs), treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of including women HRDs, play a critical role in the fight Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which against sexual violence in conflict through advocacy, Burma is a signatory. During my visit to Burma in documenting and reporting, providing support to survivors, January, I delivered a speech which called for greater and holding governments to account. In recognition of religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, and we continue the importance of their work, we supported the to make clear that respect for freedom of religion and participation of a large number of HRDs at the Global belief must be guaranteed. Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and have consulted them throughout the development of the China Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). We will continue to do so as we take forward the outcomes of Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Summit through our missions across the globe, both Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions in conflict and post-conflict countries and with our he has had with his Chinese counterparts on animal other PSVI partners. welfare issues in China. [203183] 733W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 734W

Mr Swire: We have not made recent specific Electricity and gas consumption by KW per month—Foreign and representations on animal welfare issues in China. However Commonwealth Office UK Estate, July 2010 to June 2014 the UK is a leading supporter of co-ordinated international Electricity Gas efforts to protect animal welfare. We hosted a high level July 2,099,055 44,175 conference on the illegal wildlife trade in London in August 2,097,060 39,228 February 2014, and over 40 countries, including China, September 2,075,267 25,309 participated. Chinese authorities have since passed a October 2,177,408 6,705 new law making the consumption of rare wild animals an offence, punishable by 10 years in prison. November 2,190,995 22,410 December 2,204,043 34,374

Democratic Republic of Congo 2012 January 2,259,701 193,230 Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for February 2,186,008 80,085 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions March 2,226,201 159,388 he has held with President Kabila of the Democratic April 2,055,466 92,296 Republic of Congo on a peaceful transition to a new May 2,047,530 118,335 presidency in 2016. [203059] June 2,163,504 75,539 Mark Simmonds: Parliamentary and presidential elections July 2,273,546 47,921 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represent an August 2,157,903 31,924 important opportunity for DRC to demonstrate democratic September 2,089,309 9,567 progress; this includes the transition to a new presidency October 2,235,567 16,521 in 2016. To that end, we continue to encourage the November 2,178,773 69,986 Government of DRC to ensure that a full electoral December 2,150,737 97,894 timetable is produced; that the Congolese constitution is respected; and the presidential elections are held by 2013 the end of 2016. This was most recently discussed in January 2,219,919 141,837 Kinshasa by FCO officials in early June. We will continue February 2,173,167 142,719 to work closely with the DRC Government, the UN March 2,167,010 123,445 and our international partners as the electoral timetable April 2,053,247 185,216 develops. May 2,072,429 105,223 Energy June 1,991,685 90,964 July 2,139,866 53,407 August 2,096,558 35,526 Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for September 2,052,642 6,603 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he October 2,182,115 14,621 has made of his Department’s consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June November 2,129,516 92,749 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been December 2,155,447 50,016 in each such month. [202705] 2014 Mr Lidington: The following table shows the monthly January 2,224,115 164,149 consumption and the annual cost of electricity and gas February 1,946,735 46,998 for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s UK estate. March 2,122,869 97,343 To provide a breakdown of monthly utility costs from April 2,021,445 57,865 June 2010 would incur a disproportionate cost. May 2,049,478 86,495 Electricity and gas consumption by KW per month—Foreign and June 1,347,328 86,244 Commonwealth Office UK Estate, July 2010 to June 2014 Electricity Gas

2010 European Union July 2,274,414 26,264 August 2,239,777 27,272 Sir William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for September 2,146,889 55,821 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the initiative of October 2,248,164 43,425 which member states the wording of the draft November 2,193,869 80,993 Conclusions of the EU Presidency at the European December 2,303,529 115,504 Council meeting on 26-27 June 2014 relating to the role of national parliaments in the EU was reduced in scope 2011 and significance in the final version. [203162] January 2,334,956 99,379 February 2,118,927 83,974 Mr Lidington: We welcome the reference in the June March 2,368,763 136,207 European Council Conclusions to the closer involvement April 2,056,035 99,346 of national parliaments in EU decision-making. We May 2,166,479 60,836 will continue to push for a strong voice for national June 2,077,487 28,003 parliaments within the EU, but Her Majesty’s Government is not able to disclose the detail of negotiations. 735W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 736W

Palestinians wind variability specifically, due to complex inter- dependencies of the power system operational parameters. Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for However, the need for reserve generation to manage Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment intermittent supply and demand of electricity does not his Department has made of the adherence of Hamas change the fact that any electricity generated by onshore to the Quartet Principles. [R] [202978] wind-which in the first quarter of 2014 accounted for around 7% of all electricity generated in the UK-has a Hugh Robertson: The UK does not talk to Hamas. It carbon footprint of just 8 and 20g CO2eq/kWh. Reserve remains the Government’s position that Hamas must generation displaces the output of existing generating adhere to the Quartet Principles, by renouncing violence, stations to maintain the balance of supply and demand, recognising Israel, and accepting previously signed so there is no net increase of power on the system at any agreements. To date, 2 July 2014, they have not. one time; therefore the only additional emissions from reserve associated with wind power is through the South Pacific inefficiency of running separate generating stations at part load rather than fewer stations at full-load, which Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for is relatively insignificant compared to the carbon savings Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment made. he has made of (a) the value of the Senior Pacific 1 Coal and Gas emissions factors from table DUKES 5C, available Police Leadership Program; and (b) the effect of the at: level of investment in the program by his Department. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter- [202871] 5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

Mr Swire: The aim of the Senior Pacific Police Leadership Programme (SPPL), which ran in 2013, was to improve Climate Change: Conferences leadership skills, promote ethical policing practices and reinforce the rights of women in the Pacific. The programme Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for was run in partnership with Australia and New Zealand Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to and was well received by the students and their respective ensure the Government is represented at the highest Governments. level at the upcoming UN Conference on Climate 21 senior police officers from 15 Pacific island countries Change in Lima. [203088] took part--and it was designed to complement larger scale assistance being provided by our allies in the Gregory Barker: Details on the UK delegation to the region. 20th United Nations Annual Framework Convention The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spent on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties £23,000 on the SPPL programme. We believe that the (COP) in Lima are yet to be confirmed, but the delegation SPPL programme has had a positive impact, and helped will include Ministers and senior officials from the improve police leadership in the countries which Government. The full list of participants in the conference participated. Feedback from our partners in those countries, will be published on the UNFCCC website when the and from our New Zealand partners who hosted the COP has concluded, and this will include details of the programme, suggests that the SPPL programme provided UK delegation. a quality of training that would not otherwise be available in the region. Electricity Generation

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assumptions underly Carbon Emissions the change set out in his Department’s Impact Assessment for the Capacity Mechanism of June 2014 on the forecast Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy capacity price moves from £18/mWh in 2021 to £36.mWh and Climate Change with reference to the answer for 4 in 2022. [203113] March 2014, Official Report, column 765W, on carbon emissions, to which other technologies that Answer Michael Fallon: The June 2014 Capacity Market Impact refers to; and whether this would still be the case if the Assessment estimates the clearing price will be £18/kW carbon footprint of backup technologies was factored for 2021 and £36/kW for 2022. Please note that the in. [202392] estimated clearing prices are sensitive to small changes in assumptions. Gregory Barker: Onshore wind power has a very With the modeling, we have not undertaken work to small carbon footprint range relative to other energy isolate the impact of a change in a specific assumption generation technologies, including coal and gas-fired to a change in clearing prices. However, we have undertaken generation, which, in 2012, emitted, on average, 895 sensitivity analysis in the Impact Assessment, as seen g/kWh and 415 g/kWh respectively (not allowing for on page 28. Annex G of the June 2014 Capacity Market emissions incurred during the manufacture, construction Impact Assessment outlines the modeling approach and decommissioning phases)1. and assumptions. Please see the following link: The Department does not estimate the gas turbine https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ energy contribution (and therefore related CO2 emissions) attachment_data/file/324430/Final_Capacity_Market_ associated with the reserve generation needed to manage Impact_Assessment.pdf 737W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 738W

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Green Deal Scheme Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Impact Assessment for the Capacity Market, IA No: DECC0151, Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for what the reasons are for the change between October Energy and Climate Change which local authorities 2013 and June 2014 in his Department’s appraisal of have received funding under the Green Deal the carbon cost of the capacity market. [203147] Communities programme. [203290]

Michael Fallon: The June 2014 Capacity Market Impact Gregory Barker: Full details are at: Assessment included updated assumptions (such as the www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-local-authorities- latest peak demand assumptions). In addition a number to-keep-homes-warm-and-lower-energy-bills?jhbjkb of modelling changes were made between the October 2013 Capacity Market Impact Assessment and the June Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for 2014 Capacity Market Impact Assessment. The reason Energy and Climate Change how much funding has for these changes was to better estimate the impact of been allocated under the Green Deal Communities the Capacity Market. These modelling changes are programme to date. [203291] outlined in the June 2014 Capacity Market Impact Assessment. Please find the following link: Gregory Barker: The Green Deal Communities fund https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ of £88.3 million has been fully allocated to 24 successful attachment_data/file/324430/ local authorities. Final_Capacity_Market_Impact_Assessment.pdf Full details are at: Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-local-authorities- Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has to-keep-homes-warm-and-lower-energy-bills?jhbjkb made of the Net Present Value to 2030 of the Capacity Market in a scenario in which the Value of Loss of Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Load is taken at £10,000/MWh. [203148] and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated under the pioneer places programme. Michael Fallon: The estimated net present value to [203296] 2030 of the Capacity Market in a scenario in which the Value of Lost Load is £10,000/MWh is £31 million. Gregory Barker: Pioneer Places completed in June 2013. £10 million was allocated to local authorities Energy under the Pioneer Places programme. Details with outcomes are at: Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy- Energy and Climate Change (1) which local authorities company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain- have received funding under the Core Cities Energy quarterly-report-to-march-2014 Efficiency programme; [203292] Natural Gas: Prices (2) which local authorities have received funding under the pioneer places programme. [203293] Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Gregory Barker: Full details are published at: and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that the recent reductions in wholesale gas prices available www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy- [202635] company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great- to energy companies are benefiting consumers. britain-quarterly-report-to-march-2014 Michael Fallon: In a competitive market, pricing decisions Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for are a commercial matter for companies. Energy and Climate Change how much funding has Consumers can put pressure on companies to reduce been allocated under the core cities energy efficiency prices by switching to the best deal for them-Ofgem’s programme. [203294] Retail Market Reforms to deliver a simpler, clear market combined with Government’s push to significantly reduce Gregory Barker: £10.8 million was allocated to the switching times and require suppliers to share consumer core cities programme which concluded in June 2013. data with trusted third parties, should make this easier to do. Energy: Prices The Government supported Ofgem’s recent letter to the largest suppliers, challenging them to explain to Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for consumers the impact of falling wholesale prices on Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he their retail prices. Evidence that large suppliers raise has had with energy companies on retail and wholesale prices more quickly when costs increase than they reduce energy prices. [203118] prices when costs fall was one of the issues underpinning Ofgem’s recent referral of the energy markets to the Michael Fallon: DECC Ministers and officials regularly Competition and Markets Authority. have discussions with energy companies about a range of market issues. Private Rented Housing: Energy In a competitive market, pricing decisions are a commercial matter for companies. Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State Consumers can put pressure on companies to reduce for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his prices by switching to the best deal for them. Department has made of the number of landlords who 739W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 740W have upgraded the energy efficiency of their properties Additionally, Ofgem’s Annual Reports for the first to EPC rating E or higher in line with the Energy Act three years of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme can be found 2011 since the implementation of that Act. [203362] on the Ofgem FIT website: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed- Gregory Barker: No estimate has been made of the tariff-fit-scheme number of landlords acting as a direct result of the These provide evidence for the extent to which FITs has provisions within the Energy Act 2011. encouraged small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation. We are planning a further review of FITs in 2015. Renewable Energy Solar Power Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 1249, on future public subsidies to onshore solar energy low-carbon electricity projects, (1) if he will place in the projects; and if he will make a statement. [202360] Library a copy of the Bloomberg analysis; [203377] (2) what the evidential basis is for the statement of Gregory Barker: The UK has seen a remarkable the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change transformation in solar PV deployment under the coalition that investment in low-carbon electricity projects has Government; we now have over 3GW of installed capacity. doubled during the current Parliament; [203376] The measures that we set out in our Solar Strategy will ensure that solar PV continues to be a vital part of the Gregory Barker: In the answer I gave to the right hon. UK’s renewable energy mix for many years to come. Member on 12 May 2014, Official Report, columns Alongside those measures, we are consulting on proposals 344-45W, I confirmed that a copy of the Bloomberg to change the small-scale feed-in tariff scheme to enable New Energy Finance analysis of new investment in UK more communities to benefit from ownership of renewable renewable electricity was placed in the Libraries of both electricity generation, as well as proposals to encourage Houses. This analysis shows that average annual investment more deployment of solar PV on buildings. in renewables has more than doubled in this Parliament, compared with the previous one. When rounded, the We are also consulting on changes to the renewables figures also show a 20% increase in renewable electricity obligation in relation to support for large-scale solar between 2012 and 2013. projects, and are working closely with industry to ensure that transition to the new contracts for difference mechanism supports the on-going development of the solar sector Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for in the UK. Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 1258, on energy Universal Credit security, what the evidential basis is for his statement that the rate of investment in renewables is increasing. Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy [203380] and Climate Change if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to WaterSure to Michael Fallon: In the answer I gave to the right hon. all claimants of universal credit once universal credit Member on 12 May 2014, Official Report, column has been fully rolled out. [202671] 344-5W, I confirmed that a copy of the Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis of new investment in UK Dan Rogerson: I have been asked to reply on behalf renewable electricity was placed in the Libraries of both of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Houses. This shows that the investment rate is going up, Affairs. with average annual investment in renewables more The WaterSure tariff lowers the bills of low-income, than doubling in this Parliament, compared with the metered customers that have unavoidably high water previous one. use. WaterSure is provided by all water companies in England to qualifying customers and caps their water Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs bills at the average for their region. WaterSure customers will continue to benefit from the scheme when their Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State qualifying benefit or tax credit is replaced by universal for Energy and Climate Change what assessment and credit. The WaterSure tariff is funded through cross evaluation of the effectiveness of the feed-in tariff subsidy between water customers; there is no cost to the scheme have been completed and published during the public purse. period of its implementation. [202985]

Gregory Barker: DECC conducted a Comprehensive BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Review of the FITs scheme in 2011-12, which assessed the effectiveness of the scheme and introduced measures Conditions of Employment to improve value for money and reduce tariffs in light of falling costs. The relevant documents are available on Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the gov.uk website: Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/increasing-the-use- made of the potential effect of the Flexible Working of-low-carbon-technologies/supporting-pages/feed-in-tariffs- Regulations 2014 on workers with zero hours contracts. scheme [203174] 741W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 742W

Jo Swinson: Under the new regulations, which were Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for brought into force on the 30 June, all employees with 26 Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his continuous weeks of service have the right to request Department has made of the complaints received by flexible working from their employer. Individuals on the European Consumer Centres’ Network against zero hours contracts, and who are employees, can request UK-registered companies involved in the copying of a change in their contracts which could also include a artistic design articles as a result of the time taken to request to move to a fixed hours contract. implement section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Individuals on zero hours contracts may be employees Reform Act 2013. [202993] or workers, depending on the contract agreed between them and their employer. The Government does not Mr Willetts: The European Consumer Centre Network keep records on the proportion of individual zero hours is primarily involved in cross-border consumer disputes contracts workers on either employee or worker contracts. with traders. The Government does not intervene in such complaints. Nor has it received any information While individuals on zero hour contracts, and who from the Network in relation to complaints against are not employees, do not have a statutory right to UK-registered companies involved in the copying of request flexible working, they can make an informal artistic design articles. Accordingly, the Government request to their employer to vary their hours or their has made no assessment of such complaints. working pattern. An employer can also choose to offer contractual rights that are more generous than those Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for provided for in statute. Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department’s planned timeline is for the implementation of section Copyright: Arts 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013; and if he will make a statement. [202994] Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Mr Willetts: The Government plans to publish its Department has made of the legal proceedings recently Impact Assessment and consultation document on the instituted in other EU member states against timing of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, UK-registered companies involved in the copying of Designs and Patents Act 1988 (i.e. the implementation design articles derived from artistic work. [202995] of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (“ERRA”)) later this year. Mr Willetts: The UK Government does not comment Once the consultation process has concluded, the on ongoing legal proceedings. Any company, regardless Government intends to introduce the secondary legislation of where it is registered, should act in accordance with to implement section 74 of the ERRA before the end of the laws of the relevant EU member state. this Parliament.

Disabled Students’ Allowances Higher Education: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people had on proposed changes to the disabled students’ from (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, allowance. [904635] (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber (i) applied for and (ii) started a degree course in each Mr Willetts: The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group year since 2009-10. [202646] on Disability, which I attend, has discussed the proposed changes to the disabled students allowance (DSA). The Mr Willetts: The latest available information on changes should improve the effectiveness of the scheme, applicants is shown in Table 1. Comparable figures for and ensure that there is a proper balance between the North Yorkshire are not held centrally. responsibility of Higher Education Institutions to make Table 1: UCAS applicants to full-time undergraduate courses from Harrogate reasonable adjustments and a central scheme, the DSA, and Knaresborough constituency, and Yorkshire and the Humber that provides funding direct to students. The purpose of Year of entry: these allowances is not fundamentally changing. Area of domicile 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Harrogate and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 Knaresborough Aged under 211 810 820 835 775 810 Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for 21 and over1 225 185 200 170 210 Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to All ages 1,035 1,005 1,035 945 1,020 implement section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 before the end of the current Yorkshire and the parliamentary session; and if he will make a statement. Humber [202992] All ages 42,475 44,850 45,070 42,110 43,050 1 This analysis uses country specific age definitions that align with the cut off points for school and college cohorts within the different administrations of Mr Willetts: The Government intends to implement the UK. For England, ages are defined on 31 August. Defining ages in this section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform way matches the assignment of children to school cohorts. Act 2013, with appropriate transitional provisions, before Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. the end of the current parliamentary session, following Source: public consultation on those transitional provisions. UCAS 743W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 744W

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects Space Technology: Northern Ireland and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The number of young (under 21) Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for entrants to UK HEIs who were domiciled in Harrogate Business, Innovation and Skills what work the National and Knaresborough constituency, North Yorkshire, and Space Agency is doing to support the development of a the Yorkshire and the Humber region prior to starting regional space small and medium-sized enterprise sector their course is shown in Table 2. HESA figures for in Northern Ireland; and what steps his Department 2013/14 will be available in January 2015. There are has taken to support space-related events and conferences differences in the coverage of UCAS and HESA: the for decision-makers, the public, industry or academia in UCAS figures cover applicants to higher education Northern Ireland. [202605] institutions (HEIs), further education colleges (FECs), and alternative providers (APs) of HE in the UK; the Mr Willetts: The UK Space Agency recognises the HESA figures cover HEIs only, plus the university of strengths and interest of the Northern Ireland space Buckinghamshire. Not all applicants apply via UCAS: sector. The Agency has recently established a small some apply directly to institutions. In addition, some team to focus on supporting the development of a applicants who obtain a place via UCAS opt to defer vibrant regional small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entry until the following year. community across the UK. It is already engaged with Table 2: Young1 entrants2 domiciled3 in Harrogate and Knaresborough the Northern Ireland space office and will work with constituency 4, North Yorkshire local authority and Yorkshire and Humber them to help them to understand the potential value of Government office region UK higher education institutions. Academic years the space sector to the Northern Ireland economy, both 2009/10 to 2012/13 in the traditional upstream and in downstream “space- Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 enabled markets”. Areas of focus for regional engagement Harrogate and 580 655 700 600 include aligning locally provided business support and Knaresborough the potential for further space business incubators. The North Yorkshire 3,670 3,605 3,845 3,015 team are working closely with colleagues in the Satellite Yorkshire and Humber 24,880 24,705 26,340 22,350 Applications Catapult who are also engaging with local 1 Young refers to students aged under 21 on 31 August in the reporting year. enterprise partnerships and the devolved Administrations 2 Entrants refers to students in their first year of study. 3 Domicile refers to a students’ home or permanent address prior to starting and have a significant role to play in supporting SMEs their course. in the space sector. As set out in the Northern Ireland 4 Parliamentary constituency boundaries were revised from the 6 May 2010 Economic Pact, the agency is considering the case for a UK general election. Source: new satellite propulsion test facility near Belfast. The HESA Student Record agency is also in receipt of Northern Ireland’s letter of Manufacturing Industries: Northern Ireland intent to host the UK Space Conference 2017 and due consideration will be given to holding the conference in Belfast in due course. Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many delegates from manufacturers based in Northern Ireland were invited to the BIS Manufacturing Summit 2014 held on JUSTICE 19 June 2014. [202561] Islam: Marriage

Michael Fallon: Information on the regional location Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for of Manufacturing Summit delegates was not requested Justice what steps he is taking to encourage mosques to as part of the registration process. However, from the register with the General Registry Office to perform limited data available we have identified one Northern civil marriages and partnerships. [201462] Ireland-based manufacturing company which was invited to the Manufacturing Summit. This particular company Simon Hughes: A small working group of internal decided not to send a representative. and external stakeholders was established by the For future summits we will be looking at ways to create Ministry of Justice in 2012 to consider the reasons why a more diverse mix of CEO-level participants from so few mosques are registered for the purpose of across manufacturing industry. Proactive suggestions conducting marriages, and explore what more might be from Hon Members would be welcome as part of done by Government and others to raise awareness of this process. registration and its benefits. The group is also exploring how community-led approaches could raise awareness New Businesses: Northern Ireland of marriages which are not recognised by the state and the potential legal consequences. Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for The General Register Office is content to work with Business, Innovation and Skills how many applicants interested parties to see what might be done in the area for the Start-Up Loans Scheme have been received of communications and guidance within the existing from Northern Ireland; and what value of such loans legal framework. The group is also raising awareness of have been provided for new businesses in Northern religious marriages not recognised by the state and the Ireland since the scheme was launched. [202565] potential legal consequences. Matthew Hancock: To date there have been 913 Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for applications for Start-Up Loans in Northern Ireland Justice what steps he has taken to raise awareness including applications that have been withdrawn, declined among Muslim couples that Islamic marriages without or still in progress. Of these applications, 120 loans with a legal component are not recognised in England and a value of £562,110 have been drawn down to date. Wales. [201474] 745W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 746W

Simon Hughes: A small working group of internal Reason for return to closed Grand and external stakeholders was established by the MOJ prison 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 total in 2012 to consider why so few mosques are registered for the purpose of conducting marriages. The working Breach of Licence Conditions 30 33 56 120 group has been exploring what more could be done in Drink/Drugs 139 171 256 568 communications and guidance within the existing legal FNP - - 3 3 framework. The group is also examining how Healthcare issues - - 5 5 community led approaches could raise awareness of New charges/offences - - 2 2 religious marriages which are not recognised by the Non compliance - 1 28 29 state and the potential legal consequences. Other 135 235 298 668 Prisoner request - - 2 2 Life Imprisonment Psychology concerns/issues - - 6 6 Serious breach of prison rules - 1 21 22 Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Grand total 469 698 921 2,087 how many life sentence prisoners were moved into open prisons in each month between January 2010 and December The main purpose of open conditions is to test prisoners 2013. [200046] in conditions more similar to those that they will face in the community. Time spent in open prisons affords Jeremy Wright: Data held centrally on prisoners prisoners the opportunity to find work, re-establish transferred to open prisons does not distinguish between family ties, reintegrate into the community and ensure different types of indeterminate sentenced prisoner. housing needs are met. For many prisoners who have Indeterminate sentences include those serving mandatory, spent a considerable amount of time in custody; these discretionary and automatic life sentences and those can assist in their successful reintegration in the community serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. and protecting the public. Identifying which prisoners were serving life sentences We make no apologies for taking a firm approach in would require a manual trawl of records, which would returning prisoners to closed conditions wherever we incur disproportionate cost. need to do so. Open Prisons The number of temporary release failures remains very low; less that one failure in every 1,000 releases and about five in every 100,000 releases involving alleged Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for offending, but we take each and every incident seriously. Justice how many prisoners in open prisons were The Government has already ordered immediate changes returned to closed prisons in each of the last three to tighten up the system as a matter of urgency. With years by (a) reason for their return and (b) type of immediate effect, prisoners will no longer be transferred offence originally committed. [199720] to open conditions if they have previously absconded from open prisons; or if they have failed to return or Jeremy Wright: We do not centrally hold data on the reoffended whilst released on temporary licence. individual reasons for determinate sentence prisoner transfers, including transfers following re-categorisation and when prisoners have been returned to closed conditions Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice from open prisons. Where this is available, the information pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it column 458W,on open prisons, what data his Department would involve a manual trawl through the records of holds on the number of (a) prisoners in an open prison every prisoner to identify if they have ever been held in who previously breached a licence condition while released open conditions and subsequently returned to closed on temporary licence and (b) prisoners in open prisons conditions. who have previously absconded or escaped from prison on the latest date for which figures are available. However, the information, in part, is centrally available [202556] in respect of indeterminate sentence prisoners. Table 1 provides the number of indeterminate sentence Jeremy Wright: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I prisoners who have been returned from open conditions gave on 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 458W, on to closed conditions and where the transfer occurred open prisons. between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2014, grouped by year and by reason for transfer. The data has been My officials are currently working to provide the drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with information requested. I will write to you in due course. any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Prison Sentences We are unable to provide a breakdown of this information by index offence as this information is not Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for held centrally; to obtain it would require a manual trawl Justice what the average length of sentence was for (a) through every case and this would incur disproportionate the total prison population and (b) foreign national cost. prisoners, by type of offence, in 2012. [202783]

Reason for return to closed Grand prison 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 total Jeremy Wright: Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for our independent courts, taking account of Abscond 117 161 170 448 all the circumstances of each case. The sentencing legislation Antisocial Behaviour 48 96 74 218 and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. 747W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 748W

Crime continues to fall, but since 2010 those who Organisation Number of OSGs commit a serious offence are more likely to go to prison and for longer. In 2013, the average custodial sentence HM Prison Swansea 2 length was 15.5 months across all indictable offences, HM Prison YOI Thorn Cross 2 which is the highest in more than a decade. HMP Buckley Hall 2 The average length of sentence for (a) the total HMP East Sutton Park 2 prison population and (b) foreign national prisoners, HMP Manchester 2 by type of offence, in 2012 is shown in the table. HMP Woodhill Milton Keynes 2 HMP YOI Portland 2 Average sentence length in months for foreign national prisoners and all prisoners Immigration Removal Centre Haslar 2 by offence group, as on 30th June 2012, England and Wales HMP Buckley Hall 3 Offence group Foreign nationals All prisoners HMP Dover 3 Violence against the person 66.3 52.3 HMP Holloway 3 Sexual offences 88.4 86.5 HM Prison Cookham Wood 3 Burglary 27.1 37.5 HMP & YOI Foston Hall 3 Robbery 58.8 61.5 HMP Exeter 4 Fraud and forgery 28.2 37.9 HMP Lewes 4 Theft and handling 15.5 20.2 HM YOI Werrington 4 Motoring 10.2 16.1 HM Prison Pentonville 4 Drug offences 73.1 66.9 HM Prison and YOI Low Newton 4 Other offences 38.6 36.4 HM Prison Featherstone 4 Offence not recorded 48.9 51.5 HM Prison Holme House 4 All offences 56.3 53.2 HM Prison Risley 4 Notes: HM Prison Hindley 5 1. These figures include determinate sentenced prisoners only, and represent a HM Prison Sudbury 5 point-in-time average of sentence lengths on 30 June 2012. 2. The ’all prisoners’ figures are inclusive of foreign national prisoners. HMP Swaleside 6 Data Sources and Quality: HM Prison Coldingley 6 These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with HM Prison Eastwood Park 6 any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. HM Prison Ford 6 HM Prison Pentonville 6 Prison Service HMP Bure 6 HMP Hull 6 Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice HMP Huntercombe 6 how many agency staff were used at each prison HMP YOI Onley 6 establishment in England and Wales on 9 June 2014 to HM YOI Wetherby 6 carry out operational support grade functions. [202081] HM Prison Ranby 7 HM Prison Hollesley Bay 7 Jeremy Wright: In responding to this question, we HM Prison Liverpool 7 have utilised data provided by our contracted supplier HMP Erlestoke 8 of temporary operational staff. HMP Guys Marsh 8 Operational support grades cover a variety of roles HM Prison Lincoln 9 within the prison including gate, visits, censors and HM Prison Morton Hall 9 reception, they are also flexibly deployed to provide a HM YOI Aylesbury 9 range of other support services within operational areas. HM Bullingdon Prison 9 We look to fill vacancies from within the Department HMP Chelmsford 9 and wider civil service before looking externally. The HMP Norwich 10 total number of agency staff in the position of operational HM Prison Hewell Grange 10 support grade as of 9 June 2014 was 842. This figure HM YOI Stoke Heath 10 can fluctuate throughout the year in line with establishment HMP Grendon & Springhill 10 requirements. For a full breakdown of this number by HMP Leeds 10 establishment, please see the following table. HMP Lindholme 10 HMP Moorland 10 Organisation Number of OSGs HMP Stafford 10 HM YOI Glen Parva 10 HMP Haverigg 1 HM Prison Leicester 11 HM Prison Long Lartin 1 HM Prison Wymott 11 HMP Albany 1 HMP & YOI Isis 11 HM YOI Wetherby 1 HMP Bedford 11 HMP Downview 1 HMP Highdown 11 HMP Durham 1 HMP Maidstone 2 HMP Elmley 12 HMP Nottingham 2 HM Prison and YOI New Hall 12 HMP Send 2 HMP Wealstun 12 HM Prison Gartree 2 HM YOI Swinfen Hall 12 HM Prison Dartmoor 2 HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs 13 HM Prison Garth 2 HM YOI Brinsford 13 HM Prison Nottingham 2 HMP Preston 13 749W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 750W

a breakdown of these costs by prison category and Organisation Number of OSGs individual prison within each category, and separately HMP Wandsworth 14 by prisoner gender. HM Prison Belmarsh 14 The most recently published figures are for financial HMP Cardiff 14 year 2012-13 which give an average annual Overall cost HMP Standford Hill 15 per place of £36,808 and average annual Overall cost HMP Highpoint South 17 per prisoner of £34,766. An average annual cost per HM Prison Garth 17 male prisoner of £34,306 and £44,746 per female prisoner, HM YOI Warren Hill 17 based on Overall resource costs, is also published. HMP IOW 18 The information for financial year 2012-13 is available HMP Humber 19 in the Cost per Place and Prisoner and Supplementary HMP Feltham 20 Information files on the Department’s website at: HMP Rochester 21 HMP The Verne 21 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-and- HM Prison Leyhill 22 probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201213 HMP Bristol 22 Figures for 2013-14 will be published alongside the HMP Winchester 23 Management Information Addendums to the NOMS HM Prison Littlehey 24 Annual Report and Accounts in October 2014. HMP Wayland 25 Continuing to reduce prison unit costs is one of the HM Prison Stocken 26 key targets for the Department. Between 2009-10 and HMP The Mount 26 2012-13 prison unit costs (based on Overall prison Total 842 costs) have reduced in real terms by 16% per place and 13% per prisoner. Prisoners’ Release Probation Trusts: Staff Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many indeterminate sentence prisoners have been considered and (a) approved and (b) rejected for Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice release on temporary licence; and how many of these how many safety officers are employed by probation had received approval from him for transfer to open trusts to help (a) female and (b) male victims of conditions. [202825] domestic violence. [202792]

Jeremy Wright: Data on temporary release applications Jeremy Wright: The information requested is not and the outcomes of such applications is not collected available as it was not collected centrally from the centrally and could not be provided except at probation trusts. Probation trusts ceased to provide disproportionate cost. Data on releases on temporary probation services from midnight on 31 May 2014. licence are published at the following links: National Probation Service (NPS) and Community https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender- Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) commenced operations management-statistics-quarterly-october-december-2013-and- on 1 June 2014. annual Information on staffing levels at Probation Trust and level was published in the Quarterly Probation Service https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistical- Workforce Information reports. The link to the reports notice-releases-on-temporary-licence-2012 on gov.uk is provided as follows: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/probation-service- Prisoners: Per Capita Costs workforce-quarterly-reports

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average cost per (a) prison place Recovery of Costs and (b) prisoner in each category of prison was in the latest period for which figures are available; [202786] John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (2) what the average cost was of each (a) prison who is responsible for paying defendant costs orders; place and (b) prisoner in the case of (i) male and (ii) and which organisation receives payment if costs are female prisoners in the latest period for which figures awarded for a successful prosecution of a breach. are available; [202796] [202520] (3) what the average cost was of each (a) prison place and (b) prisoner in each prison in England and Mr Vara: Defendant Costs Orders are awarded to a Wales in the latest period for which figures are available. defendant when a prosecution is unsuccessful and the [202798] defendant is acquitted. The expenditure is called ‘Central Funds’ and are payable at legal aid rates. Central funds Jeremy Wright: The Department routinely publishes fall under the financial responsibility of the Legal Aid average costs per prisoner and prison place, based on Agency but are operationally administered by HM Courts actual net resource expenditure for each private and and Tribunals Service. public sector prison and in summary form for the whole If costs are awarded in a successful prosecution of a of the prison estate in England and Wales on an annual breach of a Defendant Costs Order, then whoever the basis after the end of each financial year. This includes prosecutor is will be entitled to receive the costs. 751W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 752W

Secure Colleges Steve Webb: Child Support Agency cases with suspended debt will be investigated if the Agency is made aware of Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice any changes of circumstance that would warrant the (1) whether his policy of an early bed time for young suspended debt being collected. offenders will apply in secure colleges; [203150] Under the new Child Maintenance Service all cases (2) whether the time set for an early bed time for will be subject to an annual review. If the paying parent offenders in the youth estate will be the same for all age is working, the case will be reassessed and, if appropriate, groups. [203151] any suspended debt reinstated.

Jeremy Wright: We are committed to reforming the Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work youth secure estate. That includes improving the existing and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, regime, within existing establishments, alongside our Official Report, columns 171-2W, on children: plans for secure colleges. Introducing a latest bedtime of maintenance, how much of the amount is written off in 10.30 pm in public young offenders institutions is a child maintenance arrears since November 2012; how sensible measure to ensure young people have a routine much is attributable to (a) a request from the parent that will enable them to engage effectively in the regime. with care to write off the arrears, (b) the death of a In due course we will be discussing with potential non-resident parent, (c) the death of a parent with operators of secure colleges their proposals for structuring care, (d) an interim maintenance assessment between regimes that will maximise engagement. 1993 and 1995 and (e) a debt where the non-resident Secure training centres and secure children’s homes parent had been told that no further action would ever have bedtimes of around 9 pm to 10 pm depending on be taken. [202917] the age and behaviour of the young person in question, and whether or not it is a school day. Steve Webb: The amounts written off since November 2012 in the circumstances requested are as follows:

£ WORK AND PENSIONS Year to March Year to March Reason 2013 2014

Children: Maintenance Parent with care request 365,269 9,922,726 Non-resident parent death 683,378 4,617,325 Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Parent with care death 8,121 24,240 Work and Pensions what average amount of child Interim maintenance assessments 1993 35,796 126,340 maintenance arrears is owed to parents with care. to 1995 [202867] NRP advised debt will not be pursued 11,648 355,956 Total 1,104,212 15,046,587 Note: Steve Webb: As at March 2014, the average amount The total does not equal that quoted in response to PQ/14/201287 because there of child maintenance arrears owed to parents with care are amounts recorded under categories which are not included in this response. is £2,1461. 1 Arrears amounts are calculated on cases with a positive outstanding arrears value, against the 1993 and 2003 statutory maintenance Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for schemes only, including cases managed off system. Work and Pensions with reference the answer of 27 June The average amount of arrears owed to parents with care is 2012, Official Report, column 296, on children: maintenance, calculated using the proportion of total arrears owed to parents what proportion of Child Support Agency arrears cases with care and the proportion of cases where arrears are owed to include arrears that have been suspended; and what parents with care, on the CSCS and CS2 computer systems only. steps have since been taken to establish the proportion of cases where arrears have been (a) temporarily and Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) permanently suspended. [202921] Work and Pensions how many child support agency arrears cases are cases where there is no ongoing Steve Webb: As of March 2014 approximately 48% of liability. [202868] Child Support Agency cases with arrears contained an amount of suspended arrears. Steve Webb: At March 2014 there were 532,500 Child Support Agency cases which had arrears with no ongoing Analysis of a sample of the caseload at November liability. 2013 identified that approximately 14% of suspended Note: arrears on the CS2 computer system were permanently suspended, leaving 86% temporarily suspended. This includes cases administered on the 1993 and 2003 schemes only. It is not possible to produce the proportion of cases temporarily or permanently suspended on the CSCS Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for computer system because the information is not readily Work and Pensions what steps the Child Support Agency available and has not previously been published as has in place to review decisions taken to temporarily official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible suspend action to recover child maintenance arrears to produce the statistics requested within the and to establish whether the circumstances which led to disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in the temporary suspension of recovery action have changed. an official statistics release in accordance with the Code [202870] of Practice for Official Statistics. 753W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 754W

Notes: The ILF has undertaken a dedicated programme of Management information on suspended debt is not available for engagement with local authorities and the devolved off system cases, therefore the proportion of cases with arrears Administrations; and continues to engage directly with that contain suspended arrears has been calculated using CS2 and all of those authorities who will be involved in the CSCS cases only. transfer of user care and support in 2015. This includes a commitment to the codes of practice agreed between the ILF and English local authorities, and between the Food Banks ILF and the devolved Administrations. Specific proposals for distributing the funding transferred Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work to them in respect of former users of the independent and Pensions (1) with reference to the statement of the living fund living in Scotland and Wales are a matter for Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, the Scottish and Welsh Governments. giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee on 26 June 2014, that ’I want an Refineries analysis of the use of foodbanks that everybody can subscribe to’, whether his Department (a) is producing, John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) has commissioned or (c) plans to commission any Work and Pensions (1) what steps his Department has new research into the use of foodbanks; [202810] taken to ensure that former oil refineries being converted (2) what assessment he has made of the implications to bulk storage and distribution terminals meet post- for his policies of the statement by the Parliamentary Buncefield health and safety requirements; [202807] Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, giving evidence (2) what deadline has been set by his Department for to the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee former oil refineries being converted to bulk storage on 26 June 2014, that ’there isn’t any doubt that there and distribution terminals to make the necessary upgrades are some people who’ve gone to foodbanks because to meet post-Buncefield standards; and how rigorously they have been subject, for example, to sanctions or such standards are being enforced by the Environment delays in receiving benefits’. [202812] Agency. [202808]

Esther McVey: The evidence the Under-Secretary of Mike Penning: The COMAH Competent Authority State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member (CA), comprising HSE and the environment agencies, is for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David responsible for ensuring that oil refineries and fuel Mundell) provided to the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare storage and distribution terminals meet new safety and Reform Committee on the 26 June 2014 highlighted the environmental standards introduced in 2009 following underlying complexity to the use of foodbanks. the Buncefield fire and explosion. The standards were developed jointly by industry and the CA and published The Government has already commissioned a report by the Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG). on food security by Warwick university, which was published in February 2014. The Government has no Refineries were required to produce risk-based action immediate plans to produce or commission further plans to implement the PSLG safety standards at their research, but will keep this under review. existing fuel storage facilities. HSE led the assessment of these plans during 2011 and has been inspecting sites Benefit clearance times are steadily improving with to ensure the planned improvements are made. The 92% of benefits being processed on time (within 16 timings of upgrades to containment standards at refineries’ days) nationally which is 6 percentage points higher existing fuel storage facilities is based on risk and will than in 2009-10. vary for each site. Agreed improvements are embedded We have in place a robust system of safeguards that in environment inspection plans for each site and followed seek to ensure sanctions are only applied to those up to ensure measures are implemented on time. claimants who wilfully fail to meet their requirements. The CA is working with refineries undergoing conversion It remains the case that the vast majority of claimants to fuel storage and distribution terminals to ensure the do comply and are not sanctioned—each month only PSLG standards are applied in full to their new facilities. around 5% of JSA claimants are sanctioned and fewer than 1% of ESA claimants. Reduced payments are Scotland made where necessary to prevent hardship. Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which official welfare-related engagements Independent Living Fund (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have attended in Scotland since May 2010. [202811] Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Esther McVey: All visits to Scotland by this Department’s and Pensions what guidance his Department plans to Ministers are welfare related engagements. The following give the devolved Administrations and local authorities gives details of those visits. before 2015 on meeting the care and support needs of people currently using the independent living fund. Secretary of State [203112] The Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith September 2010—delivered a speech and attended meetings in Mike Penning: My Department is committed to working Edinburgh closely with the ILF and other Government Departments February 2011—attended a meeting in Glasgow and conducted to support the work required to enable an effective site visits in Motherwell transfer for ILF users by 30 June 2015. April 2011—conducted site visits in Edinburgh 755W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 756W

May 2011—delivered a speech and conducted a site visit in Steve Webb: The information requested is not held. Irvine September 2011—delivered a speech in Edinburgh UK Statistical Authority September 2011—conducted a site visit in Leith and meetings in Edinburgh Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for March 2012—conducted a site visit and attended meetings in Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to Edinburgh reduce the number of rebukes his Department receives March 2012—delivered a speech and conducted site visits in from the UK Statistical Authority. [203119] Dundee September 2012—conducted site visits and delivered a speech Esther McVey: Since May 2010 the DWP has led the in Glasgow way in openness and transparency of statistical release March 2013 delivered a speech and attended meetings in by publishing over 770 releases and datasets. Edinburgh Great care is taken to get things right, and in this time Minister for Employment the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) has only written The Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling directly to DWP Ministers on two occasions about April 2011—conducted a site visit and attended meetings in issues raised with it about DWP statistics. The Department Edinburgh has responded to these points and taken on board the January 2012—conducted site visits in Clydebank and UKSA suggestions. Cumbernauld and attended meetings in Edinburgh DWP statistical releases are produced and published Mark Hoban MP separately to and independently from other departmental March 2013—conducted a site visit and attended meetings in comment or publications. Glasgow Great care is taken by DWP statisticians to ensure the Minister for Welfare Reform statistical releases are easy to read and understand, and Lord Freud are balanced and impartial. November 2010—delivered a speech and attended meetings in Edinburgh Unemployment: Young People July 2012—delivered a speech and attended meetings in Edinburgh November 2012—attended meetings in Edinburgh Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for March 2013—delivered a speech in St Andrews Work and Pensions what plans Jobcentre Plus has to work with the organisation Movement to Work. June 2013—delivered a speech and attended meetings in Glasgow and Edinburgh [203127] November 2013—conducted a site visit to Inverness Esther McVey: Jobcentre Plus has been giving practical Minister for Disabled People support to the employer-led Movement to Work initiative The Rt. Hon. Maria Miller and continues to do so. It offers advice to employers September 2011—attended meetings in Fife who have Movement to Work opportunities to fill. March 2012—attended meetings in Edinburgh Coaches in Jobcentres are able to refer young people to The Rt. Hon. Esther McVey these opportunities where appropriate. October 2012—conducted site visits in Edinburgh In addition the Department for Work and Pensions has been supporting the initiative centrally. Most recently February 2013—conducted site visits in Dundee Movement to Work organised an event in June to The Rt. Hon. Mike Penning encourage more employers to join. As an employer the March 2014—hosted an event in Glasgow civil service is contributing 6,000 work experience Minister for Pensions opportunities to the Movement and my Department is Steve Webb MP offering 3,000 of them. Sept 2010—attended a conference in Gleneagles Universal Credit March 2011—delivered key note speech in Edinburgh; and provider visit September 2011—attended a conference in Gleneagles Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public April 2012—conducted a site visit in Dundee and attended a meeting in Edinburgh, meeting Deputy First Minister purse of extending entitlement to cold weather payments to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit September 2012—attended a conference in Gleneagles has been fully rolled out. [202678] September 2013—attended a conference in Gleneagles March 2014—delivered key note speech in Edinburgh; provider Steve Webb: Under existing universal credit eligibility visit; roundtable event criteria, it is estimated that cold weather payments will cost an additional £8 million per annum once universal Television: Licensing credit has been fully rolled out. Were entitlement to cold weather payments extended Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit and Pensions how many households with a person aged has been fully rolled out the additional cost would be 75 or over in (a) York Central constituency and (b) around £320 million per annum. It is not our intention York Unitary Authority area were eligible for a free to provide this level of support to everyone on universal television licence in the last year for which data is credit. This would not be affordable and would divert available. [202931] resources from areas that most need it. 757W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 758W

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Mr Timpson: Through its Children’s Social Care and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public Innovation Programme, the Government is supporting purse of extending entitlement to funeral payments to local authorities to take new approaches to maximise all claimants of universal credit once universal credit the capacity and skills brought to bear in improving has been fully rolled out. [202679] services for the most vulnerable children. Part of that work involves giving local authorities greater freedom Steve Webb: The additional cost of extending entitlement to test new delivery models and harness external ideas to funeral payments to all universal credit claimants and expertise by allowing them to delegate children’s who satisfy all the relevant criteria once universal credit social care functions to external providers. is fully rolled out would be around £1.5 million per In November 2013 we gave all local authorities the annum. power to operate in this manner. So far five providers have registered with Ofsted as performing these functions Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work on behalf of local authorities. and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with representatives from charitable and youth organisations Local authorities also make widespread use of on the effect of the new flat-rate housing cost contribution contractors in the provision of children’s services such as residential care and foster care. on unemployed young people. [203117] The Government does not collect data on local authority Steve Webb: None. spend on external contracts.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education: Yorkshire and the Humber Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect of universal credit on the Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in state education in (a) self-employed. [203120] York local authority area and (b) Yorkshire and the Esther McVey: There have been no recent meetings Humber region achieved (i) Level 2 or above in key with Ministers but there have been extensive discussions stage 1 SATS, (ii) Level 4 or above in key stage 2 English between DWP officials and officials at the Department and mathematics tests and (iii) five or more GCSE for Business, Innovation and Skills while designing the grades A*-C in 1997-98 and in each year since. [202877] approach to supporting those who are self-employed in universal credit. Mr Laws: Information on the performance of children in York local authority and the Yorkshire and Humber region is published in the key stage 11, key stage 22 and GCSE and equivalent3 statistical first releases for each EDUCATION year. This information is held across a number of spreadsheets which can be downloaded from gov.uk4 5 Academies: Land and the National Archives . 1 Note: Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening- Education (1) how many (a) leaseholds and (b) check-and-national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-1-in- freeholds have been transferred to academy trusts from england-2013 2 local authorities since 2010; [202861] Note: (2) what value of land has been transferred from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national- local authorities into the leasehold or freehold curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2012-to-2013 3 ownership of academy trusts since 2010. [202869] Note: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and- Mr Timpson: I refer the right hon. Member to the equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised reply given on 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 4 Note: 75W, to the hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex https://www.gov.uk/government/publications Cunningham). 5 Note: Children: Day Care http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/webarchive/

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Education (1) how much local authorities have spent on external contractors employed to deliver childcare Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for services, excluding fostering and adoption in (a) 2014 Education what estimate he has made of his Department’s to date and (b) each of the last three years; [202587] consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in (2) whether his Department has contributed funds to each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such assist local authorities in the payment of external consumption has been in each such month. [202703] contractors to deliver childcare services excluding fostering and adoption; [202589] Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has (3) how many local authorities in England use external cut its annual energy bill by £1.4 million since 2009-10 contractors to assist with the delivery of childcare services through reduced energy consumption, and has reduced excluding fostering and adoption. [202593] its greenhouse gas emissions by 38% in the same period. 759W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 760W

Emission reductions from energy use have largely Electricity Electricity been achieved through low and no cost energy efficiency kWh cost (£) Gas kWh Gas cost (£) measures, estate rationalisation (by using space more efficiently and co-locating with other organisations), February 946,677 138,250 529,496 12,458 and by operating our remaining buildings even more March 934,054 133,878 302,627 44,219 efficiently. April 864,231 17,558 190,423 18,783 May 899,711 226,815 251,680 23,591 The Department’s monthly gas and electricity 1 Gaps in financial data are due to delayed billing cycles and inaccurate consumption and associated costs since June 2010 are consumption estimates made by the supplier. set out in the following table. The core Department’s electricity is purchased via Electricity Electricity the Crown Commercial Service energy framework from kWh cost (£) Gas kWh Gas cost (£) renewable sources, and is therefore, exempt from the climate change levy. 2010 June 1,164,652 85,441 133,998 8,879 July 1,158,378 129,719 64,158 9,054 Internet: Bullying August 1,019,308 120,186 17,736 9,137 September 1,009,662 25,431 61,799 1,789 October 972,048 81,233 168,543 1— Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for November 955,120 73,194 341,850 3,150 Education what steps he is taking to tackle cyber- December 917,993 72,450 1,368,357 1,318 bullying; and what resources his Department provides to charities which address this issue. [904621]

2011 Mr Timpson: The Government believes that internet January 924,050 68,914 502,246 8,286 providers, schools and parents all have a role to play in February 892,663 148,902 528,895 5,817 keeping children and young people safe online. March 923,772 87,202 492,273 32,115 April 1,017,920 83,562 176,334 14,114 All schools must have a behaviour policy which includes May 1,091,733 56,831 157,050 8,133 measures to prevent all forms of bullying, including June 1,149,462 139,208 97,030 11,247 cyberbullying. The ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ July 1,128,281 93,764 56,856 6,460 guidance outlines the importance of tackling cyberbullying, August 1,126,637 125,550 69,121 1,501 which can be found online at: September 1,117,836 101,759 96,013 749 http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/schools-the-wider- October 1,124,928 175,773 166,233 6,537 sector/cyberbullying.aspx November 1,117,066 120,616 541,299 3,603 Schools have the flexibility to develop their own December 1,056,743 1— 422,178 15,183 measures to prevent and tackle bullying, but are held to account by Ofsted. 2012 The Government recognises that educating young January 1,115,270 231,972 504,487 6,691 people about online safety is key to tackling cyberbullying. February 1,064,718 119,303 547,419 16,000 As part of changes to the new computing programmes March 1,145,769 116,169 402,004 55,082 of study which will be taught from September 2014, April 1,045,229 145,955 369,636 14,405 e-safety will be taught at all four key stages. This will May 1,141,570 26,511 253,486 1— empower young people to tackle cyberbullying through June 1,020,091 102,484 107,956 17,461 responsible, respectful and secure use of technology, as July 1,095,095 314,717 52,479 31,834 well as ensuring that pupils understand age-appropriate August 1,111,575 161,023 21,057 10,461 ways of reporting any concerns they may have about September 1,030,509 246,659 107,429 7,395 what they see or encounter online. October 1,115,679 122,926 402,196 6,622 The new curriculum also offers opportunities to tackle November 1,077,060 188,350 459,877 42,443 the underlying causes of bullying; for example the new December 1,028,372 7,344 562,851 1— citizenship programme of study sets out a requirement for pupils to be taught about the diverse national, 2013 regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United January 1,121,535 150,753 695,526 42,660 Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and February 996,349 252,524 662,816 40,218 understanding. March 1,064,972 194,770 622,653 42,909 The Department for Education is providing £4 million April 1,038,319 64,507 480,835 61,685 of funding over two years from 2013 to four anti-bullying May 1,025,212 13,813 355,353 4,905 organisations: Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape June 986,704 267,484 125,280 37,910 and the National Children’s Bureau consortium. While July 1,152,464 129,589 63,823 7,838 this funding has been awarded to specific projects to August 1,075,626 162,988 52,313 5,566 reduce bullying in general this can, and does, include September 1,026,536 126,590 91,021 22,527 work to tackle cyberbullying. October 1,039,324 265,576 326,262 6,066 The Department has produced case studies showing November 1,003,941 148,285 336,372 7,520 good practice in how to manage behaviour and bullying. December 1,024,778 13,976 374,204 16,265 These include a case study about how a school deals with cyber-bullying. Also through funding provided by 2014 the Department the Anti-Bullying Alliance has produced January 1,046,875 241,727 536,348 38,947 specific advice on cyberbullying for children and young 761W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 762W people with special educational needs and or disabilities. Mr Laws: The skills tests for prospective teachers We provide a link to this in our own advice on preventing were developed under a contract let by the Training and and tackling bullying. Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to Pearson Government Ministers have regular meetings with VUE in 2009. The Teaching Agency took over responsibility internet providers, social media platforms and search for oversight of contract management in 2012 when the engines on matters related to internet safety, including TDA was abolished. Since November 2013, responsibility cyber-bullying. Ministers from the Department for has rested with the Standards and Testing Agency, an Education, Home Office and the Department for Culture, executive agency of the Department for Education. Media and Sport also co-chair the UK Council for Pupils: Bullying Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) which brings together a range of experts across Government, law enforcement, Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for industry, academia and charities to consider the best Education if he will make it his policy to record cases ways to minimise the risk of harm to children when of bullying as reported by victims in schools by counts online. of cyber-bullying and similar sub-categories. [202637] In July 2013 the Prime Minister announced measures to support parents to install free and easy to use internet Elizabeth Truss: There is no legal requirement on filters which can block access to harmful websites. The schools to record and report incidents of bullying and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have now rolled out we have no plans to introduce one. Schools are free to easy to use filtering to all new customers and will develop their own approaches to monitoring bullying confirm that, by the end of 2014, 95% of all homes with and exercise their own judgment as to what will work an existing internet connection will be required to choose best for their pupils. For some schools, this will involve whether to switch on a whole home family friendly formal recording of incidents so that they can monitor internet filter. The filters are constantly being refined bullying and identify where it is recurring between the and updated by the ISPs to keep families as safe as same pupils. Alternatively, some schools may prefer to possible in the fast changing digital world. The ISPs take a different approach, such as surveying their pupils have also announced a new £25 million internet safety anonymously to identify trends in bullying, including campaign over three years that will reach out to millions how safe young people feel at school. of parents on how best to protect their children and Schools are held clearly to account by Ofsted for make good use of filters. pupil behaviour and safety which includes how they tackle bullying. Inspectors consider the types, rates and Pearson VUE patterns of bullying and the effectiveness of the school’s actions to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State harassment, including cyber-bullying. for Education if he will make an assessment of the Teachers performance of Pearson VUE in delivering skills tests for prospective teachers on behalf of his Department. Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for [202961] Education what assessment he has made of retention rates of qualified teachers. [203007] Mr Laws: As the current contractor delivering the skills test for prospective teachers, Pearson VUE reports Mr Laws: The Department for Education will publish weekly to officials on day-to-day delivery against agreed statistics on teacher retention in late July as additional service levels. Pearson VUE is also appropriately engaged tables to the Statistical First Release “School Workforce in handover of the service to the new contractor. in England, November 2013”, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school- Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State workforce-in-england-november-2013 for Education what Pearson VUE’s process is for appealing test results and complaints procedure. [202963] Teachers: Qualifications

Mr Laws: Pearson VUE operates a skills test helpline Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for through which candidates’ queries and complaints are Education what assessment he has made of the number managed. There is no appeals process against test results. of children who are taught by unqualified teachers. If a candidate considers that there was a technical or [203012] administrative error with the delivery of the test or marking, they are able to raise this either at the test Mr Laws: The information requested is not collected centre at the time of the test or subsequently via the by the Department. skills test helpline. Teachers: Recruitment All such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by Pearson VUE. Where appropriate, Pearson Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for VUE escalates appeals to the Standards and Testing Education how many trainee (a) English, (b) mathematics, Agency to make the final determination. (c) all sciences, (d) general science, (e) biology, (f) chemistry, (g) physics, (h) ICT, (i) design and technology, Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State (j) modern languages, (k) geography, (l) history, (m) for Education which office in his Department or its art and design, (n) music, (o) physical education, (p) arm’s length bodies has responsibility for the oversight religious education, (q) business studies, (r) citizenship, of outsourcing QTS numeracy and skills tests to Pearson (s) 14 to 19 diploma subjects, (t) other subjects, (u) VUE. [202964] secondary and (v) primary school teachers were recruited 763W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 764W through (i) Teach First, (ii) School Direct (salary), (iii) The ITT Census contains data on recruitment to School Direct (fee), (iv) other EBITT, (v) HEI-led and courses and routes. (vi) in total in (a) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13; and what Supply targets are included in ITT Census publications, proportion of his Department’s supply targets the number but are only generated at overall subject level and do recruited in each category represents. [203084] not include Teach First numbers for the years in question. Mr Laws: The data held by the Department on initial The ITT Census for 2010-11 and 2011-12 is published teacher training (ITT) recruitment are contained within online: the ITT Census. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher- The ITT Census contains data on recruitment to training#performance-data courses and routes, but does not include Teach First Teach First recruitment was as follows: (TF) for 2012-13. Supply targets are included in the ITT Census 2010/11 2011/12 publications, but are only generated at overall subject English 161 199 level and do not include TF numbers for the years in Maths 129 175 question. Sciences 84 129 The ITT Census for 2011-12 and 2012-13 is published ICT 12 20 online: D&T 3 10 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher- ML 36 45 training#performance-data Geography 20 14 Teach First recruitment for 2011-12 and 2012-13 was History 22 30 as follows: Art and Design 3 Music 7 15 2011/12 2012/13 RE 14 19 English 199 226 Business Studies 23 22 Maths 175 191 Citizenship 27 9 Sciences 129 193 ICT 20 18 Secondary 541 687 D&T 10 5 ML 45 77 Primary 19 85 Geography 14 26 History 30 40 Total 560 772 Music 15 13 RE 19 15 Only those subjects shown above were included in the Business Studies 22 13 Teach First programme. Citizenship 9 6

Secondary 687 823 Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many trainee (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) all sciences, (d) general science, (e) biology, (f) Primary 85 174 chemistry, (g) physics, (h) ICT, (i) design and technology, (j) modern languages, (k) geography, (l) history, (m) Total 772 997 art and design, (n) music, (o) physical education, (p) religious education, (q) business studies, (r) citizenship, Only those subjects shown above were included in the (s) 14 to 19 diploma subjects, (t) other subjects, (u) Teach First programme. secondary and (v) primary school teachers were recruited through (i) Teach First, (ii) EBITT, (iii) HEI-led and Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for (iv) in total in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; and what Education how many trainee (a) English, (b) mathematics, proportion of his Department’s supply targets the number (c) all sciences, (d) general science, (e) biology, (f) recruited was in each category in each year represents. chemistry, (g) physics, (h) ICT, (i) design and technology, [203086] (j) modern languages, (k) geography, (l) history, (m) art and design, (n) music, (o) physical education, (p) religious education, (q) business studies, (r) citizenship, Mr Laws: The data held by the Department on initial (s) 14 to 19 diploma subjects, (t) other subjects, (u) teacher training (ITT) recruitment is contained within secondary and (v) primary school teachers were recruited the ITT Census. through (i) Teach First, (ii) EBITT, (iii) HEI-led and The ITT Census contains data on recruitment to (iv) in total in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and what courses and routes. proportion of his Department’s supply targets the number Supply targets are included in ITT Census publications, recruited in each category in each year represents. but are only generated at overall subject level and do [203085] not include Teach First numbers for the years in question. Mr Laws: The data held by the Department on initial The ITT Census for 2010-11 is published online: teacher training (ITT) recruitment are contained within https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher- the ITT Census. training#performance-data 765W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 766W

The data for 2009-10 recruitment is published in: School Direct places 2012-13 ‘Additional tables 2: SFR06/2011’: Number https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school- Primary Primary (all specialisms) 121 workforce-in-england-november-2010-provisional

These data do not contain supply target figures. Priority secondary Chemistry 87 Teach First recruitment was as follows: Mathematics 151 Modern languages 87 2009/10 2010/11 Physics 82 English 119 161 Maths 90 129 Non-priority Art and design 9 Sciences 103 84 secondary ICT 15 12 Biology 15 D&T 7 3 Dance 1 ML 25 36 Drama 8 Geography 17 20 Economics 2 History 20 22 Art & Design 7 3 English 93 Music 7 7 Geography 10 RE 12 14 History 29 Business Studies 10 23 Music 10 Citizenship 26 27 Physical education 25 Secondary 458 541 Primary 27 19 Religious education 10 Applied business 1 Total 485 560 Applied ICT 1 Business studies 3 Only those subjects listed above were included in the Design and technology 11 Teach First programme. General or combined science 3 Teachers: Retirement Health and social care 2 ICT 7 Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Psychology 3 Education what the average retirement age was for Social sciences (except economics) 1 teachers in each of the last five years for which figures Total secondary 651 are available. [202996]

Grand total 772 Mr Laws: The average age at which teachers in publicly- funded schools in England drew their retirement benefits in every year between 2008-09 and 2012-13 was 59. Universal Credit Teachers: Training Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the cost to the public Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for purse of extending entitlement to school clothing Education how many teacher training places were allocated grants via (a) vouchers and (b) cash or cheque to all in (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) all sciences, (d) claimants of universal credit once universal credit has general science, (e) biology, (f) chemistry, (g) physics, been fully rolled out. [202668] (h) ICT, (i) design and technology, (j) modern languages, (k) geography, (l) history, (m) art and design, (n) music, (o) physical education, (p) religious education, Mr Laws: There is no national school clothing grant (q) business studies, (r) citizenship, (s) 14 to 19 diploma operating currently in England. subjects, (t) other subjects and in all (u) secondary and Individual local authorities and academies may choose (v) primary schools across all initial teacher training to provide school clothing grants or to help with the pathways in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and cost of school clothing in cases of financial hardship. In (iv) 2012-13. [203087] such cases, it is for the local authority or academy concerned to decide the criteria upon which pupils are Mr Laws: The Department did not allocate places entitled to this support. Local authorities and academies directly to primary or secondary schools in 2009-10, which choose to run such schemes must do so from 2010-11 and 2011-12. Places were allocated to accredited within their existing delegated budgets. initial teacher training (ITT) providers and it is their responsibility to arrange school placements. Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for For 2012-13, School Direct allocations were assigned Education if he will estimate the cost to the public to lead schools. This was published alongside all other purse of extending entitlement to free early education ITT allocations by the Training and Development Agency. to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit School Direct places are as follows. has been fully rolled out. [202676] 767W Written Answers3 JULY 2014 Written Answers 768W

Elizabeth Truss: Government-funded early education the next Parliament, and spending decisions for that for three- and four-year-olds is already a universal period have not been taken. This means it is, therefore entitlement, so there would be no cost of extending the not possible to estimate the potential cost on early entitlement. Universal credit will be fully rolled out in learning for two-year-olds. 7MC Ministerial Corrections3 JULY 2014 Ministerial Corrections 8MC

Greg Clark: Both the paper forms and the new online Ministerial Correction registration channel to be used under individual electoral registration have been designed to meet a wide range of Thursday 3 July 2014 accessibility needs. The Government has no current plans to commission such research, but the Electoral Commission is currently aiming to publish its assessment of registration rates under individual electoral registration in July 2016. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER The correct answer should have been: Greg Clark: In the 2010 spending review, the Government Electoral Register ended ring-fencing of all main revenue grants from 2011-12. The removal of ring-fencing from local government grants Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he has given councils the freedom over the money they will consider the merits of ring-fencing funds allocated receive and allows them to work with their residents to by his Office to local government for the purpose of decide how best to make their spending decisions. voter registration. [197793] As part of the preparation for the transition to individual [Official Report, 12 May 2014, Vol. 580, c. 359W.] electoral registration (IER), the Government has paid Letter of correction from Greg Clark: grants to EROs and in advance of this sought a signed declaration from all Section 151 officers in local authorities An error has been identified in the written answer in England and Wales, and electoral registration officers given to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris in Scotland, agreeing that they would not reduce the level Ruane) on 12 May 2014. of funding to electoral registration over the transition to The full answer given was as follows: IER.

ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 3 July 2014

Col. No. Col. No. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 1057 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued Broadband ...... 1063 Tourism Industry ...... 1060 Broadband: Wales...... 1065 FIFA: Corruption ...... 1062 First World War Centenary...... 1064 WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 1072 Mobile Telephone Coverage...... 1062 Female Entrepreneurs ...... 1076 National Lottery Funding...... 1057 Gender Pay Gap ...... 1073 Regional Museums and Galleries...... 1065 Global Economy...... 1075 Superfast Broadband ...... 1058 Marriage Certificates ...... 1078 Topical Questions ...... 1066 Participation in Sport...... 1077 Tour de France...... 1066 Rights of Women and Girls ...... 1072 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 3 July 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 61WS NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 64WS Plutonium Management ...... 61WS Northern Ireland Economic Pact ...... 64WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 62WS Daniel Morgan ...... 62WS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 62WS TRANSPORT ...... 65WS Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Crossrail...... 65WS Overseas...... 62WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 3 July 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 740W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued Conditions of Employment...... 740W Visits Abroad ...... 684W Copyright: Arts...... 741W Disabled Students’ Allowances ...... 741W Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 ...... 741W DEFENCE...... 722W Higher Education: Yorkshire and the Humber...... 742W Armed Forces: Training ...... 722W Manufacturing Industries: Northern Ireland ...... 743W Energy...... 722W New Businesses: Northern Ireland ...... 743W HMS Severn...... 723W Space Technology: Northern Ireland ...... 744W Minesweepers...... 725W Nuclear Weapons...... 725W CABINET OFFICE...... 715W RAF Lossiemouth ...... 725W Average Earnings: Warrington...... 715W RAF Menwith Hill ...... 726W Civil Servants: Equal Pay...... 715W Submarines ...... 726W Government Departments: Procurement ...... 716W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 685W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 689W Electoral Register...... 685W Fire Services...... 689W Fire Services: Industrial Disputes...... 691W Fire Services: Pensions ...... 691W EDUCATION...... 757W Housing: Planning Permission ...... 692W Academies: Land ...... 757W Tree Preservation Orders...... 692W Children: Day Care ...... 757W Wind Power: Planning Permission ...... 692W Education: Yorkshire and the Humber...... 758W Energy...... 758W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 682W Internet: Bullying...... 760W Broadband ...... 682W Pearson VUE ...... 761W Broadband: South West ...... 682W Pupils: Bullying...... 762W Culture: Finance ...... 682W Teachers...... 762W Direct Selling ...... 682W Teachers: Qualifications...... 762W EU Education, Youth and Culture Council ...... 682W Teachers: Recruitment ...... 762W Tour de France...... 683W Teachers: Retirement...... 765W Tourism...... 683W Teachers: Training...... 765W Universal Credit...... 684W Universal Credit...... 766W Col. No. Col. No. ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 713W HOME DEPARTMENT—continued Electoral Register...... 713W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 718W Human Trafficking: Children...... 719W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 735W Passports...... 719W Carbon Emissions...... 735W Passports: Kilmarnock...... 720W Climate Change: Conferences ...... 736W Rape...... 721W Electricity Generation...... 736W Stalking...... 722W Energy...... 737W Surveillance...... 722W Energy: Prices ...... 737W Surveillance: Appeals ...... 722W Green Deal Scheme...... 738W Natural Gas: Prices...... 738W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 726W Private Rented Housing: Energy ...... 738W Energy...... 726W Renewable Energy...... 739W JUSTICE...... 744W Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs...... 739W Islam: Marriage ...... 744W Solar Power...... 740W Life Imprisonment...... 745W Universal Credit...... 740W Open Prisons...... 745W Prison Sentences ...... 746W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Prison Service ...... 747W AFFAIRS...... 727W Prisoners: Per Capita Costs...... 749W Bovine Tuberculosis ...... 727W Prisoners’ Release...... 749W Dredging...... 727W Probation Trusts: Staff ...... 750W Fishing Gear ...... 728W Recovery of Costs...... 750W Forests ...... 729W Secure Colleges ...... 751W Forests: Yorkshire and Humberside ...... 730W Natural England ...... 730W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 713W Recycling: York...... 731W Work Experience...... 713W

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 731W SCOTLAND...... 681W Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences ...... 731W Universal Credit...... 681W Burma...... 732W TRANSPORT ...... 693W China ...... 732W Energy...... 693W Democratic Republic of Congo ...... 733W First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail...... 695W Energy...... 733W First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail...... 696W European Union ...... 734W Members: Correspondence ...... 697W Palestinians ...... 735W Railways: North West ...... 697W South Pacific...... 735W Rescue Services: Liverpool...... 698W Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental HEALTH...... 699W Group ...... 698W Asthma ...... 699W Breastfeeding ...... 699W TREASURY ...... 686W Chlamydia...... 700W Banks: Pay ...... 686W Commissioning Support Units...... 701W Business: Government Assistance ...... 686W Cystic Fibrosis ...... 701W Financial Conduct Authority...... 687W East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Financial Markets: Regulation...... 688W Trust ...... 702W Performance Appraisal ...... 688W Energy...... 702W Tax Avoidance ...... 688W General Practitioners ...... 704W UK Membership of EU: Northern Ireland...... 688W Knee Replacements...... 704W Welfare Tax Credits: Self-employed...... 689W Lung Diseases: Transplant Surgery ...... 707W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 716W NHS: Competition...... 708W Marriage Certificates ...... 716W NHS Foundation Trusts: Public Appointments ..... 708W Pharmacy...... 710W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 751W Prostate Cancer...... 711W Children: Maintenance ...... 751W Universal Credit...... 712W Food Banks...... 753W Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Independent Living Fund ...... 753W Foundation Trust...... 712W Refineries ...... 754W Scotland...... 754W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 716W Television: Licensing ...... 755W Cheshire Constabulary...... 716W UK Statistical Authority...... 756W Domestic Violence: Preston ...... 717W Unemployment: Young People...... 756W Educational Testing Service ...... 717W Universal Credit...... 756W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Thursday 3 July 2014

Col. No. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 7MC Electoral Register...... 7MC Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Thursday 10 July 2014

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Members may obtain excerpts of their Speeches from the Official Report (within one month from the date of publication), on application to the Stationery Office, c/o the Editor of the Official Report, House of Commons, from whom the terms and conditions of reprinting may be ascertained. Application forms are available at the Vote Office.

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CONTENTS

Thursday 3 July 2014

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 1057] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Women and Equalities

Business of the House [Col. 1079] Statement—(Mr Lansley)

Select Committee Statements [Col. 1095] Food Security—(Miss McIntosh) Gibraltar—(Sir Richard Ottaway)

Backbench Business Protecting Children in Conflict [Col. 1105] Motion—(Fiona O’Donnell)—agreed to Social Mobility/Child Poverty Strategy [Col. 1138] Motion—(Hazel Blears)—agreed to

Data Transparency (Banking) [Col. 1179] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall North and West Africa (UK Response) [Col. 313WH] Local Government Procurement [Col. 333WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 61WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 681W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 7MC]