Monday Volume 503 11 January 2010 No. 21

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday 11 January 2010

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 391 11 JANUARY 2010 392

but what the EU can do and is doing should be House of Commons complementary to NATO. After all, most of its members are also members of NATO. I was at fleet command in Monday 11 January 2010 Northwood only a few days ago, where the EU is working well with NATO on anti-piracy and making a real contribution. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Nick Harvey (North Devon) (LD): Although the PRAYERS transatlantic relationship will obviously remain our most important alliance, does the Secretary of State agree that in the 21st century the Americans will increasingly [MR.SPEAKER in the Chair] look towards the Pacific and less towards the Atlantic? Will the Green Paper offer an opportunity to reappraise the military relationship with some of our key European partners and move it on to a scale that we have not seen Oral Answers to Questions in the past?

Mr. Ainsworth: Our bilateral relationship with the DEFENCE United States is, as the hon. Gentleman said, the most important security and defence relationship that we have and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. The Secretary of State was asked— However, no serious people in the US expect us to do National Security anything other than build good working relationships with our European neighbours and the European Union. They see that as a positive thing, so there is no competition 1. Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab): Whether his in that regard, as some people appear to think there is Department’s forthcoming Green Paper will include an or should be. assessment of the contribution to national security of the UK’s EU and transatlantic relationships. [309564] Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): Given the The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): state of the defence budget, the fact that we are fighting Effective international partnerships are crucial to our a war and the possible danger of duplication by investing security as a nation and we will benefit from strengthening sums of money in European alternatives to NATO multilateral and bilateral co-operation. We expect to defence structures, what possible justification can there build further on both our European Union and transatlantic be for spending any significant sums at all on the relationships. Those who think that it is a choice duplicatory European defence capability? misunderstand where our interests lie. The EU, NATO and our bilateral relationships are complementary one Mr. Ainsworth: The hon. Gentleman would have to to another. The Green Paper will address that issue. explain exactly where we have done that and where there has not been effect from European Union involvement Chris Ruane: The world faces threats from global in the operations that it has undertaken. As I said, I terrorism, global warming and global poverty. Those recently visited fleet command, where we have run international issues require international solutions. Does Operation Atalanta without any structures and without my right hon. Friend agree that the UK’s defence is best building any unnecessary bureaucracy. We have got that served by strong alliances with mainstream parties in operation up and running in pretty short order, under a Europe, not with those on the lunatic fringe? European flag and co-operating with NATO. Why is his party so totally opposed to such effective operations? Mr. Ainsworth: Totally. Those who believe that the EU has no effective role to play in our security, of whom there appear to be some in the House, really miss Force Levels (Afghanistan) the point. As I said, the EU is complementary to our other alliances and relationships and can play a very 2. Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab): What significant part in our security. We should welcome that recent discussions he has had on the contributions of and build those relationships. NATO and other allies to force levels in Afghanistan. [309565] Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): Although I agree with the burden of what the Secretary of State says, it is nevertheless true that because of the European 8. Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Union’s poverty of ambition and its disorganisation, it What recent discussions he has had with his NATO needs to be directed towards the military operations for counterparts on their contributions to coalition forces which it is equipped and in which it is able to take part. in Afghanistan. [309572] Does he agree that stabilisation operations are ideal for the EU, but that we need to look to NATO for the The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): serious war-fighting operations? We continue to press our international security assistance force allies to share more of the burden in Afghanistan. Mr. Ainsworth: I agree with much of what the hon. We will encourage a focus on what they can realistically Gentleman says, but not exclusively. The EU can play a deliver, including military and non-military assets and role. We should not build concrete alternative structures, other contributions. 393 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 394

Rosie Cooper: Will the Secretary of State indicate in a possible to make a contribution. Many have seized it, little more detail how the London conference could be and although it is not often in the form of force capability used to ensure greater military and political burden that can do the job in Helmand province, those matters sharing across the alliance? are and will continue to be discussed in NATO.

Mr. Ainsworth: There has already been a significant Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring) (Con): Our armed forces response to General McChrystal’s requests for additional value political consensus on Afghanistan when possible, forces for Afghanistan, and we are getting pretty close so let me begin the new year on that basis. Counter- to the number that he asked for. Of course, we will try insurgency is about protecting the population. It requires to address burden sharing even more to ascertain how a better force-to-population ratio than we currently people can co-operate and help one another and the have in Helmand province—that is why the expected contribution that they are capable of making. As I have uplift of American and Afghan troops is welcome. said in the House previously, not all our partners can Britain is currently responsible for two thirds of the make the contributions that others can, but there are population in Helmand, with only one third of coalition things that they can and should do to help. There will be troop strength. Does the Secretary of State agree that other issues to address at the NATO conference, such as that has to change? Would it not be sensible to have a trying to get a framework for transition and maintaining better equalisation of troop densities as the number of momentum and progress in Afghanistan, but burden US troops in Helmand increases? sharing will be an important part of the discussions. Andrew Gwynne: For those NATO countries that Mr. Ainsworth: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his either do not contribute troops or do so with restrictive question and I welcome and agree with his comments. caveats, what other forms of assistance are being requested, As Major-General Nick Carter, who commands the such as police training, money and development whole of Regional Command South in Afghanistan, professionals? What are those countries pledging? has said, he has already had an additional 20,000 troops. He will receive another 21,000 troops and it would be Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Not a lot. strange indeed if he were not considering how to balance the force in areas in the south. That is primarily a Mr. Ainsworth: I heard, “Not a lot” from a sedentary military decision. No decisions have been made yet, but position. We are approaching the figure of 40,000 additional it is appropriate that he looks at the matter. troops that General McChrystal requested. The Americans have overwhelmingly provided them and we have made Dr. Fox: Further to that, does the Secretary of State a substantial contribution, but so have other partners—it agree that there needs to be a rebalance between UK is wrong to deny that. The countries to which my hon. and US areas of responsibility, even if that might mean Friend refers are providing all the things that he mentioned, concentrating Task Force Helmand’s assets into a smaller such as money—sometimes nations have the ability to geographical area in central Helmand? Does he agree make a military contribution in Afghanistan but cannot that that should be interpreted not in any way as a finance it, so bringing different partners together to try downgrading of the UK effort, but as representing a to help finance things that others are prepared to do is better match between resources and commitments? It is another aspect of burden sharing that we are encouraging essential that the UK play a full role in Afghanistan, and getting into in detail with some of our allies. including a full military role, but one that is proportionate to our force strength and configuration. Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Does the Secretary of State agree that it has taken considerable courage for an Arab country such as the United Arab Emirates to Mr. Ainsworth: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. We play the role that it plays in Afghanistan? What moves is have 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, the overwhelming he making to encourage other Muslim countries to take majority of whom are in Helmand province, and it is part in Afghanistan? right, as he says, that we currently have a responsibility for the majority of the population in Helmand province. Mr. Ainsworth: We welcome all contributions and I With the kind of inflows of troops that General McChrystal agree that it is a brave but appropriate decision to will have, and that Major-General Carter will have in support our operations in Afghanistan. If we can get the south, the latter is going to have to look at force Muslim countries involved in the Afghan operations, densities to try to make sure that he is properly using that will be a real boon, so we will do anything and those troops where they are needed. If that means that everything we can to widen the coalition as well as there is a concentration of British effort in part of our seeking appropriate support from those who are already current area of operations and some handing-on to part of it. American forces, we should look at that. Major-General Carter is looking at that, and I would encourage him to Mr. David Crausby (Bolton, North-East) (Lab): Is it do so. I know that he has talked to the hon. Gentleman not becoming increasingly obvious that some NATO about that, and he has certainly talked to me about it alliance members, particularly in mainland Europe, will as well. not risk the lives of their soldiers for anything but their national defence? At what point should we as a nation Military Objectives (Helmand) start to reassess the principles of article 5? Mr. Ainsworth: There are some of our allies who take 3. Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex) (Con): What a different view of what they can contribute and what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts they ought properly to contribute to those operations. on military objectives in Helmand province; and if he We have tried to give them as many opportunities as will make a statement. [309566] 395 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 396

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove) (LD): When my I regularly discuss the mission in Afghanistan with my constituent Marine Corporal Danny Winter died in NATO counterparts. Afghanistan is an international action, he was the first casualty from Stockport for security assistance force mission and all the objectives 30 years. That has much increased local concern about in Helmand province are directly related to the objectives whether we have the right equipment in the right place laid out in the NATO comprehensive political-military and at the right time. Will the Minister say clearly to the plan. House when he believes that we shall have good force protection equipment in place and avoid the casualties Mr. Jenkin: Is it not the case that our superb military and the terrible injuries that are now occurring? forces have regularly achieved their military objectives, but that that has regularly proved unsustainable because Mr. Davies: We are all bitterly sorry about the death of the political vacuum at the top? Is not the most of the hon. Gentleman’s constituent, and about that of important task of the London conference to frame a every other man and woman who has fallen for the political settlement with which our military objectives country in the difficult conflict in Afghanistan. However, will need to be aligned? Otherwise, we are wasting our my answer to him and to the House is clear: we provide, effort in Afghanistan. and will continue to provide, the very best equipment that we can—the very best armour, the very best weapons, Mr. Ainsworth: A good political arrangement, an the very best communications equipment, the very best effective Afghan Government and good governance in vehicles, the very best helicopters and the very best of the local provinces are absolutely vital to progress in everything else. We regard that as a sacred task. Helmand, and everyone in the military understands that they alone cannot make progress in this area and Mr. David S. Borrow (South Ribble) (Lab): Does my that they need the political structures and development hon. Friend agree that although we can design body to come in behind. It is true that the London conference armour that gives more protection, there is a risk that it must address those issues, as it must address reintegration will be heavier and more difficult to move about in? where that is possible, because the insurgency has many There is a tension between the amount of protection different aspects to it. We must also address transition that can be given and the mobility of our soldiers in the to effective Afghan control and have some mechanism field. If we are not careful, there is a danger that some in order to deliver that. soldiers will not wear all their body armour in order to get more mobility. Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney, North and Stoke Newington) (Lab): Will the Secretary of State explain Mr. Davies: My hon. Friend, who is an expert in this to the House how it helps any conceivable military field and a distinguished member of the Select Committee objectives to be propping up a discredited Karzai regime on Defence, has got it absolutely right. There are always which, at the very highest level, is deeply involved in the trade-offs in such matters. Quite simply, no human drugs trade? being could carry the weight that would be required to provide ballistic protection all over the body. That is a Mr. Ainsworth: I do not think that anybody has tried physical impossibility, and we will just have to face it. to suggest that the Afghan Government are perfect or There are already trade-offs made, in circumstances that the elections that we had recently were perfect, but where troops are carrying electronic counter-measures my hon. Friend almost suggests that some alternative to and communications equipment. They might be carrying the current Afghan Government is there and available 60 kg or even 70 kg each, often in appalling weather to us. There are people in the House—a minority—who conditions, with temperatures in the 40s, and so on. sometimes suggest that there is support for the Taliban There are genuine limits, and we are looking all the time among the Afghan people, but there is not. We must at how we can provide the essential equipment as lightly work with and improve the Government structures in as possible, consistent with the best possible outcomes. Afghanistan. That is how to deliver a better Afghanistan, and thereby more security for us back here in the Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con): I am grateful United Kingdom. to the veterans Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member for North Durham Body Armour (Afghanistan) (Mr. Jones), for our meeting before Christmas to discuss body armour. I know that he appreciates—presumably 4. Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove) (LD): What his most his colleague does as well—the capabilities and limitations recent assessment is of the adequacy of provision of of body armour. The United States increasingly relies body armour to UK front-line forces serving in on aerial reconnaissance to detect improvised explosive Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [309567] devices, which, despite personal protective kit, kill more soldiers than anything else in Afghanistan. Is the different The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence approach to force protection down to the Minister’s (Mr. Quentin Davies): The Osprey armour, which we failure to get the US to share technology or the withholding began to issue to our troops in 2006, is second to none of funds for equipment, which was discussed over the in the world. We are now in the process of issuing a new weekend in connection with the then Defence Secretary, version that is more comfortable but equally protected— Chancellor and Prime Minister? Osprey Assault—together with the mark 7 helmet, to all those who are liable to deploy outside the wire in Mr. Davies: The suggestion of a lack of co-operation Afghanistan. That is another example of the concept of with our American allies, like the suggestion of the a continuous pipeline of improvement in the equipment withholding of funds, is utter rubbish, complete nonsense, provided to our forces in Afghanistan in operation. totally libellous and without the slightest foundation in 397 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 398 fact. I hope that the hon. Gentleman takes those words Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North) (Lab): Since on board. In fact, we have very close co-operation with there must be very few people who really believe that an the United States on counter-IED measures and force outright military victory in Afghanistan is possible, is it protection. Indeed, we use the same methods, based on not absolutely essential to put much more emphasis on various air vehicles, which have been very successful a political solution, which must involve a good number and which I have seen for myself in real time in theatre. of those who are, sadly, fighting the coalition forces? Simply to work on the assumption that military victory Conflict Resolution (Afghanistan) will be achieved in another four or five years is not to live in the real world.

5. Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): What Mr. Ainsworth: Equally, that is a caricature of what recent discussions he has had with Pashtun people actually believe. Nobody believes that a purely representatives on conflict resolution in Afghanistan. military outcome is going to deliver victory in Afghanistan. [309569] Mr. Winnick: Ah! The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): As the Secretary of State for Defence, I regularly visit Mr. Ainsworth: I do not know why my hon. Friend is Afghanistan. During those visits, I take every opportunity so surprised at that. I have said that reintegration is a to engage with the members of the Afghan Government, necessary part of the process. We want to see the in their role as the elected representatives of the Afghan Afghan Government holding a hand out to all those people, and to discuss issues that are important to us who are reconcilable and whom they can bring back all, conflict resolution being one of them. into the fold—of course we do.

Harry Cohen: The allies did virtually everything wrong Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): Does in Iraq, but at least they ended up siding with the the Secretary of State agree that the Afghan Taliban majority of the population, the Shi’as. In Afghanistan, have no ambitions beyond Afghanistan and the Pashtun we have alienated the majority of the population, the tribal areas of Pakistan, while, by contrast, Osama bin Pashtuns, who have a long history of fighting whoever Laden is the protagonist of an international caliphate? they perceive as occupiers. Does it not make military Instead of lumping them together, would it not therefore sense to enter into serious negotiations with Pashtun be wiser to try to separate them by offering the Taliban leaders and to bring them to power? an early withdrawal of foreign troops in exchange for their permanently excluding al-Qaeda, with which the Taliban have always had an uneasy alliance? Mr. Ainsworth: Reintegration is an important part of any counter-insurgency operation. We are more than Mr. Ainsworth: As I have said, elements of the Afghan happy to get involved in the reintegration of all parts of Taliban are precisely as the hon. Gentleman describes. the insurgency that are prepared to revert to peaceful But let us not forget that they are still led by Mullah means. We need to provide methods to allow them to do Omar, who ran Afghanistan. In that capacity, he welcomed that, but the process surely needs to be led by the al-Qaeda into his country and was an arch ally of Afghan Government, not by us as the international Osama bin Laden. Surely the hon. Gentleman accepts support force in Afghanistan. Of course we want to see that, if we were to pull our troops out of Afghanistan in the reintegration of those parts of the Pashtun population a precipitate way, the likelihood that Mullah Omar who feel alienated but who are not irreconcilable. Indeed, would again control large parts of Afghanistan, if not the title of Taliban applies to irreconcilable international the entire country, would be pretty high—as is the jihadists on the one hand and to poor disgruntled likelihood that he would do again as he did in the past, farmers on the other, so there is a good opportunity for bringing a threat back to us in the United Kingdom. that to happen. Chinook Crash (Mull of Kintyre) Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): Given the very small number of Pashtun speakers in Her Majesty’s armed 6. Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk) (Con): forces serving on the front line in Afghanistan, and the If he will meet representatives of the families of personnel small number of Pashtun speakers in the Foreign Office killed in the Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crash and the Department for International Development, to discuss identified computer software failings. [309570] will the Secretary of State please explain how the British Government communicate with local communities in The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Bill Rammell): Afghanistan? Do they use local interpreters or is there a First, may I offer my sincere condolences to the families growing body of civil servants being trained to speak of those who lost their lives in the Mull of Kintyre Pashtun? Chinook helicopter crash? I will meet representatives of the families of those who were tragically killed in 1994, Mr. Ainsworth: We use local interpreters, but we also to explain why there is no new evidence to lead the seek to use the local government arrangements in Ministry of Defence to revisit the board of inquiry’s Afghanistan. The hon. Gentleman will have heard me findings. describe the excellent relationship that we have with Governor Mangal in Helmand province, where most of Mr. Bellingham: As the Minister knows, I represent our forces are. He is right, however, to suggest that we the family of one of the deceased pilots, Flight Lieutenant need to look seriously at how many Pashtun speakers Jonathan Tapper. Obviously, the family are still very we have, and to seek to develop that capability. distressed indeed about the finding of gross professional 399 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 400 negligence against their brave son. Will the Minister further seventh C-17 in December 2009. As the House confirm that, since the crash, there has been a change in knows, we are also on contract for the delivery of the rules governing the attribution of blame, so that 25 A400Ms. That project has run into well documented deceased pilots cannot now be found guilty of gross difficulties, and we are in the process of re-examination negligence? Surely it is only fair and just that the two with partner nations and the firm of possible ways Chinook pilots who were killed—Flight Lieutenants forward. Cook and Tapper—should benefit from that change of rule. Mr. Hoyle: Of course there is a great demand for the A400M across the world. It is a much-needed aircraft, Bill Rammell: I reiterate that I am willing to meet but we also need deep maintenance of that heavy lift representatives of the family. The change in the rules capability, which ought to take place at either Warton governing inquiries was brought about by this Government or Woodford. Will the Minister look to ensure that the in July 1997, but it was made abundantly clear at that tanker programme and all the heavy lift can have deep stage that that would not be retrospective and that it maintenance that is done in the north-west? would not affect previous rulings.

Mr. James Arbuthnot (North-East Hampshire) (Con): Mr. Davies: If and when we have sorted out the As both pilots were found grossly negligent, how does problems of the A400M—and we have official and the Minister know with absolutely no doubt whatever ministerial meetings on that subject later this week—we that both pilots agreed with the route and the course of will need to focus on the support arrangements, and at action being taken? that point I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend says. Bill Rammell: Let me make it clear to the right hon. Gentleman, who I know has taken a detailed interest in Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife) (LD): this matter, that in all the publicity surrounding this Considerable concerns exist about the looming capability case—and certainly that produced by the BBC in recent gap between the end of the C-130Ks and the arrival of weeks—there has never been any evidence of technical the much delayed A400M. Will one additional C-17 failure. The clear reality of the situation, demonstrated really plug that capability gap? by a clear and diligent analysis, was that the pilots flew their aircraft at low level and high speed towards rising ground and in poor weather, which was contrary to the Mr. Davies: The answer to that question is no it will flight safety instructions. It is for that reason that the not entirely, but we are taking other measures, including board of inquiry reached the conclusion it did. improving infrastructure at Brize Norton, increasing contractor support, which will give us greater availability Mr. Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con): Surely the of the C-130Js, building a new hangar and so forth. I fact that the board of inquiry itself did not entirely rule am advised that the measures we are taking will, in out the possibility of some kind of technical failure, combination, maintain the existing air bridge capability. together with public unease at the verdict of gross negligence on pilots and the number of calls for a Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring) (Con): Helicopters in review from all sides of the House, militates in favour of Afghanistan provide an essential capability due to the having such a review. If this Government will not hold unforgiving terrain and the dual threat from IEDs and such a review, let me tell the Minister that an incoming mines to our troops. However, in 2004, the current Conservative Government will. Prime Minister as Chancellor cut the helicopter budget by £1.4 billion. Over the weekend, it was suggested in Bill Rammell: I remind the hon. Gentleman that it leaked letters that that cut was against the direct advice was the previous Conservative Government who accepted of the then Secretary of State. Will the Minister confirm the board of inquiry’s findings in the first instance. This that those letters exist, and will he release them to the is a very sensitive issue and I fully understand the public to save us the trouble of submitting a freedom of concerns of all the families that have lost their loved information request in order to get to the bottom of a ones, but I do not think that we should play politics matter that has hugely impacted on the safety of our with this issue. The substance of the case is that absolutely forces? no evidence of a technical failure has been produced that would lead to a different conclusion from that of the board of inquiry. Mr. Davies: First, I was not around in 2004—[Laughter.] I was about to say “in my present capacity”, and I have Heavy Lift Capability certainly not seen any letter of the kind to which the hon. Gentleman has referred. 7. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab): What progress Secondly, of course helicopters are vital to operations has been made on developing a heavy lift capability; in Afghanistan. I remind the House that we have doubled and if he will make a statement. [309571] the number of helicopters there since 2006, and that we are in the process of increasing helicopter numbers The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence substantially. This summer there will be 50 per cent. (Mr. Quentin Davies): Since the last strategic defence more helicopters in theatre than there were in the summer review, which identified the requirement for strategic of 2009. That is a remarkable achievement. If Opposition lift, we have made a lot of progress on this front. Front Benchers were not so utterly churlish and inclined Six C-17s are currently in service together with the merely to play party politics with important issues such 24 C-130Js and 14 C-130Ks. We signed a contract for a as this, they would acknowledge those dramatic facts. 401 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 402

Armed Forces Accommodation RAF Regiment

10. Mr. Robert Syms (Poole) (Con): What recent 11. Mr. Shailesh Vara (North-West Cambridgeshire) progress he has made in improving the standard of (Con): What plans he has for the future strength of the accommodation for the armed forces. [309574] RAF Regiment. [309575]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Bill Rammell): 14. Natascha Engel (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): The RAF Regiment establishment is currently 2,220 What recent steps he has taken to improve the standard personnel, which includes the additional Force Protection of accommodation provided for members of the armed Wing Headquarters and RAF Regiment Field Squadron forces. [309578] formed in April 2008. In July 2009, we announced our intention to increase that by providing an additional The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Force Protection Wing Headquarters and RAF Field (Mr. Kevan Jones): To make good a legacy of Squadron. That currently remains our intention, but underinvestment, the Department has significantly increased given the acute cost pressures facing the Department spending on living accommodation in recent years. and given that operations in Afghanistan are rightly our That has resulted in the delivery of 38,000 new or main effort, all such measures remain under review. improved single living bed spaces, and it is planned that a further 19,000 will be provided by 2013. Moreover, Mr. Vara: I am grateful for that information, but will 14,000 service family homes have been upgraded. All the Minister provide a more specific response in the occupied houses in the United Kingdom will be of the form of an update on the recruitment of personnel for highest standard by 2020. Homes in condition 1 and the post created by the establishment of the additional 2 meet or exceed the Government decent homes standard. RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters as well as No families are expected to live in service family the RAF Regiment Field Squadron? accommodation of the lowest standard except as a result of personal choice. Bill Rammell: The RAF Regiment currently has sufficient personnel to man its establishment fully and to meet the Mr. Syms: Has not progress been far too slow, and expanded requirement due to its new units. The training should the Government not redouble their efforts to of personnel for these new units is currently under way. improve accommodation for our brave soldiers, sailors and marines, particularly in units such as Royal Marines Nuclear Deterrent Poole? 12. Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): What recent Mr. Jones: I will take no lessons from the Conservatives, progress has been made on procurement of the next who sold off armed forces housing and created some of generation of the nuclear deterrent; and if he will make the problems, such as lack of investment, that we are a statement. [309576] trying to rectify now. Eighty properties at Royal Marines Poole are in the current central heating replacement The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence programme, and 56 more will be included this year. (Mr. Quentin Davies): This is an incredibly important That demonstrates that we are investing in Royal Marines decision and we need to get it right. We have come up Poole. Of the 178 properties there, 82 are in the highest- with one or two possible new technical options for the standard condition, although the charge is in the lowest- design of the successor class submarine, and we will standard category to take account of, for instance, their need a few more months to evaluate those fully before proximity to noise from helicopters. The daily charge we take a decision. is £2.38. Tony Baldry: When will the Minister be able to tell Natascha Engel: While the upgrades are more than the House whether it is possible to have continuous welcome, people such as my constituent Andy Hibberd, at-sea patrols with three submarines rather than four? a recent ex-serviceman, have direct experience of seriously When will the National Security Committee report sub-standard accommodation. What can my hon. Friend back to the Prime Minister? Is not the whole timetable do and say to reassure my constituent that much more is for replacing our strategic nuclear deterrent now getting being done to ensure that every single serviceman—and, extremely tight? more to the point, the family of every single serviceman— has a decent home in which to live? Mr. Speaker: Order. That is three questions, but one short answer will suffice. Mr. Jones: Our record speaks for itself, in marked contrast to that of the Conservative Government. We Mr. Davies: The answer is that we are very focused on are investing real money in improving both family and achieving the 2024 deadline. We take the issue of the single living accommodation. Between 90 and 95 per successor class submarine extremely seriously. The 2006 cent. of family accommodation is in the top two grades, White Paper stated that if it is possible to deliver 1 and 2, both of which meet or exceed the Government’s credible and continuous at-sea deterrence with three criteria for decent homes. We are committed to investment. boats, we will, of course, want to do that. My right hon. This year I secured an additional £50 million from the Friend the Prime Minister repeated that recently, and he Treasury, which is making a real difference in improving has instructed that a study of that subject should be both single and family accommodation. undertaken. That study will report to him very shortly. 403 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 404

Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): Does the Mr. Jones: This morning, the Minister of State, Minister not agree that we would be much better employed Department of Health, my right hon. and learned by awaiting the outcome of the nuclear non-proliferation Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O’Brien) treaty review, and making a real contribution towards and I announced initiatives on giving a lifetime guarantee global disarmament by cancelling the replacement of to the severely injured in respect of the transition into Trident and spending the money on something more the health service and support for life. In respect of the socially useful and less divisive, not another weapon of individuals to whom the hon. Gentleman refers, I am mass destruction? currently engaged in a piece of work and an announcement will be made in February. Mr. Davies: So long as the world remains as dangerous a place as it is, with some very difficult and dubious Afghan National Army people developing, or threatening to develop, their own nuclear capability or weapons of mass destruction, this 15. Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) (Con): country will need to continue to have an independent What the UK’s financial commitment to the Afghan nuclear deterrent. The fact is that we have said—we national army is in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and if have committed to this in the NPT—that in the context he will make a statement. [309579] of general and complete disarmament, we would close down our own nuclear deterrent capability. The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Bill Rammell): The UK does not provide direct financial support to the Veteran Support Afghan national army but does deliver assistance in other forms, including the provision of training through 13. Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab): What the “NATO Training Mission—Afghanistan”, in Kabul, arrangements his Department has put in place to assist and through a number of operational mentoring and veterans injured in service to access the services of liaison teams in Helmand province. Jobcentre Plus employment advisers when the veteran is in receipt of a veteran’s pension provided by the Sir Nicholas Winterton: I am grateful to the Minister Veterans Agency; and if he will make a statement. for that reply, but does he not agree that unless an army [309577] is well paid, it does not get good soldiers? It is clearly crucial that the Government of Afghanistan have a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence good army, and if we do not help to fund that army, (Mr. Kevan Jones): The veterans welfare service is available either now or in the immediate future, who is going to through the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency to be responsible for that if that Government cannot provide all veterans and their families. For those leaving the the money? service as a result of serious injury or illness, locally based welfare managers, working closely with service Bill Rammell: I take it that that was another uncosted charities, provide practical advice and assistance and spending pledge from the Conservatives. I should say will act as gateways for the services provided by other directly to the hon. Gentleman that there has been an Government Departments, including Jobcentre Plus and improvement in pay in the Afghan national army and the Benefits Agency. the issue remains under review, but that is not just a responsibility for this country; it is a responsibility for Jane Kennedy: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. the whole of the international coalition and the Afghan Will he look again at the case of Mr. William Harvey? Government. After 17 years of distinguished service in the British Army, during which he was injured on three occasions, Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): Amazingly, a in Bosnia and in Northern Ireland, he has been in significant percentage of the officers in the Afghan receipt of Veterans Agency support as compensation national army are illiterate. How much is to be spent on for his injuries, but he is therefore unable to receive the education of that army in the forthcoming period? jobseeker’s allowance. The jobseeker’s allowance rules appear to bar him from receiving the support of jobseekers’ Bill Rammell: My hon. Friend’s comment underlines advisers in gaining new employment. This policy muddle the lack of development in Afghanistan—that is a should be addressed. reality that we face. On education, the key priority that we have set out is to work alongside the Afghan forces Mr. Jones: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for to train, mentor and develop them. In addition, this raising that issue, and a similar case was raised when I country is committed to providing £500 million in met veterans the other day. I am working on this, development aid assistance over the coming four years alongside other issues concerning overlapping policies, to try to improve these conditions and the lot of the with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions, people in Afghanistan. and we will make an announcement in February. Topical Questions Patrick Mercer (Newark) (Con): The Minister will no doubt be aware that in the Army, and in particular in T1. [309589] Joan Ryan (Enfield, North) (Lab): If the combat units, battalions and regiments are rapidly he will make a statement on his departmental filling up with lesser-injured men and women who are responsibilities. nevertheless not capable of deploying on operations. What are we going to do with these people? There must The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): be fresh thinking on this, and I wonder what the Minister My Department’s responsibilities are to ensure that our has in mind. country is properly defended, now and in the future, 405 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 406 and that our service personnel have the right equipment The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Bill Rammell): and training to allow them to succeed in military tasks This is a significantly acute challenge. The Royal Navy in which they are engaging, either at home or abroad. is doing an immense amount, but, as the hon. Gentleman rightly identifies, it is the source of piracy that needs to Joan Ryan: Given that the British public expect that a be tackled. That requires a comprehensive approach, decent level of compensation will be guaranteed for including significant investment and governance action service personnel who suffer injury, disability or loss of in Somalia. limb while on service, may I ask my right hon. Friend to take this opportunity to update us on the armed forces T3. [309592] Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes) (Lab): Given compensation scheme review that this Government initiated the importance of the aircraft carrier project to future last year? national security and to jobs in my constituency, in central Scotland and in other parts of the UK, how Mr. Ainsworth: It was this Government who introduced safe is the carrier project investment with this the armed forces compensation scheme in 2005. Prior to Government? that nobody received any kind of lump sum payment and people depended on a pension when injured in the Mr. Quentin Davies: The project is 100 per cent. service of the nation. We introduced the scheme and safe in our hands. We are 100 per cent. committed to then in 2008 we doubled the level of up-front compensation going through with the project to build these two vital for the most seriously injured personnel. We are in the 60,000 tonne carriers for the future defence of the middle of a review, which is being conducted on our nation. My hon. Friend will not get the same kind of behalf by Admiral the Lord Boyce. Various aspects of ambiguous response on this matter, sadly, from the the compensation scheme are being examined and we Opposition. hope that he will report in the near future. Susan Kramer (Richmond Park) (LD): Over the T7. [309597] Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch Christmas holidays, I met serving military and their and Strathspey) (LD): Yesterday’s Sunday Herald families in my constituency and they mentioned a whole reported that the initial gate decision on Trident has range of welfare issues, from warm jackets being inadequate been delayed—yet again—perhaps until after the in Afghanistan to the lack of housing repairs. Will the general election. Will the Minister announce when he Minister name an official in his office to whom we can intends to take that decision or, preferably, that he is go with these kinds of problems? Most could be resolved abandoning plans for the like-for-like replacement of with a decent dose of common sense. this outdated, unnecessary and very expensive weapons system? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Kevan Jones): It seems to me that the hon. Lady is The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence covering an array of issues. If she is concerned about (Mr. Quentin Davies): We are certainly not going to welfare or housing, will she please contact my private announce that we are abandoning that project, for the office? Hon. Members on both sides of the House know important reasons that I set out in response to an earlier that I take complaints very seriously. question. As I said in that response, as soon as we have gone through all the various technical options—one or T4. [309594] Hazel Blears (Salford) (Lab): The 2nd two have arisen recently and we have to examine them Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in which seriously and profoundly—we will come to a decision many brave Salford lads serve, has recently come home about the right technical solution for the design of the after a distinguished and courageous tour of Afghanistan. successor class submarine. We will then go through Like all our troops, in the years to come they will need what we call “initial gate” and we will make an the highest standards of care and support. On that announcement to the House at that time, and that is a basis, will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State matter of a few months away. seriously consider supporting the excellent manifesto issued by the Royal British Legion on behalf of our T2. [309591] Mr. Jim Cunningham (Coventry, South) troops? (Lab): Can the Secretary of State bring us up to date on the defence advisory forum’s review of the future for Bill Rammell: Like my right hon. Friend, I support modern warfare? the excellent work done by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Musa Qala and Sangin valley. I know that Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The defence advisory forum has she has been a strong advocate of the work that they been of great assistance in the preparation of the Green have been undertaking. I also agree that the manifesto Paper. Not only have we allowed and encouraged various of the Royal British Legion is a substantial document experts to give us the benefit of their views as we have that contains many significant and positive ideas, a been drawing up the paper, but we have also managed to number of which are already being implemented, and I encourage the other two political parties to participate—we endorse it. tried to ensure that the Green Paper has a broad political base for the propositions that it makes. Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): Ahead of the Afghanistan conference later this month, will the Secretary T8. [309598] Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): of State pay tribute to our Commonwealth cousins the Although the Royal Navy and our allies can tackle Canadians, who have lost 137 armed forces personnel pirates off the horn of Africa, they cannot tackle the and had 400 injured, many of them seriously? Indeed, sources of piracy. What more needs to be done by the will he comment on supporting those of us who want to international community to tackle piracy at source? see that courage and commitment given beyond 2011? 407 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 408

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I thank the hon. Gentleman for Mr. Speaker: Order. One question will do, and we his comments and I am sure that the Canadian armed certainly want one answer. forces will too. They have provided a very capable high-end fighting capability in Afghanistan, which has Mr. Ainsworth: I did not see the article. I think that been much appreciated by all those who have worked we have made considerable progress in our relationship alongside them. We encourage and hope that the Canadians with Pakistan, which has begun to see the insurgency will continue to make a contribution in Afghanistan. and terrorism as a big part of the existential threat to They have been real allies in every sense of the word. Pakistan. We want it to continue in that direction, and so good relations with India have a vital part to play if T6. [309596] Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): we are to achieve that. Does the Secretary of State recall the very skilful operation in September 2008, which saw considerable Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): One injured loss of life, in which British soldiers took a turbine to serviceman recently said to me that his fear for other the Kajaki dam? Why is it that that turbine has not injured servicemen in receipt of lump-sum compensation functioned since its delivery? Can we be told why not? packages was that they got no financial advice on how Is it still in kit form? What is the problem, because it to manage that money. For some of them, it is a large cost us dearly? sum of the sort that they have never had before. Will the Minister consider that issue to make sure that they get Mr. Ainsworth: There is a project to increase the the proper financial advice? electric supply to the whole of Afghanistan and the turbine at Kajaki is an important part of that. It is not Mr. Kevan Jones: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. all that we have relied on, and there have been local This issue has also been raised with me and is part of generation schemes, too. Of course it took a great deal Lord Boyce’s review. of effort to get that turbine up to Kajaki; it was a tremendous achievement to get it there. Although we Paul Flynn (Newport, West) (Lab): Can the Secretary have not made the kind of progress that we would have of State describe any possible future situation in which wanted to make within the time scales that we would this country will use its nuclear weapons independently? have wanted to meet in order to get the benefit of that achievement, the Kajaki dam none the less delivers Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Our independent nuclear deterrent electricity, and we are hopeful that we can increase the exists to provide us with a response to the kind of amount of electricity that it provides. blackmail that we could potentially face from other states that are armed with nuclear weapons. I therefore Several hon. Members rose— believe that while such threats exist we need to continue to possess a nuclear deterrent. Mr. Speaker: Order. I want several more colleagues to get in, but I need very short questions and very short Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): Major-General Andrew answers. Mackay, the commander of British forces in Helmand, recently reported that the UK had “consistently failed” Mr. Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby) (Con): to understand the motivations of local Afghans, and Do Ministers share the concerns that have been expressed called for a fresh “hearts and minds” strategy focusing to me by servicemen who have recently returned from on the local culture. When will we see that new strategy? Afghanistan that, although they welcome the arrival of new equipment, in many cases the first time that they Mr. Ainsworth: There is not going to be a new strategy. get an opportunity to use it is in theatre because it is not We have a strategy, which is a comprehensive and yet available for training outside Afghanistan? political strategy as well as a military strategy. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that our understanding of the Mr. Ainsworth: That is not true. People have equipment reasons behind the insurgency, and of local culture, available during pre-deployment training for their operations needs to be strengthened. In any conflict, we need to in Afghanistan. The hon. Gentleman will remember learn those lessons as quickly as possible and get to a that just before Christmas we announced a diversion of level of skill and understanding as soon as we can. We resources from other programmes to ensure that the are not perfect at that, as the Afghan and Iraq operations equipment that people are expected to fight in will be have proved. That is one of the issues that we need to available to them far earlier. That diversion was opposed address in a future strategic defence review. by many Opposition Members at the time, but I see from the newspapers that they are now prepared to cut Mrs. Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): In The Times the defence budget, albeit that they will protect the today, Robin Greenwood of Christian Aid writes: mission in Afghanistan. “senior military officers complain that aid workers spend too much time and money empowering Afghan women.” Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Has the That refers to a quote from an article last week by Secretary of State seen the report in The Times of India reporters from The Times. Is that an accurate view of about a secret conclave of the Indian general staff in Britain’s senior military personnel? Simla last month in which a planned military attack on Pakistan was discussed openly? Is it really helpful for a Mr. Ainsworth: Our military personnel working in Commonwealth partner and nuclear power to talk about Helmand province—I have seen them working alongside attacking Pakistan at this stage? Will he write to ask his their civilian counterparts—recognise completely the Indian opposite number to stop beating the drums of absolutely essential role that civilians play, and the need war? to empower Afghan institutions. We can do things on 409 Oral Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 410 our own without any involvement from the Afghan Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): In my constituency authorities, but they will not be lasting, and they will returning veterans and their families are made homeless. fall apart as soon as we let them go. That is no way to treat them. Will the Minister take steps to force recalcitrant councils to give housing priority David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): Given the shortage to our returning heroes and their families? of helicopters in Afghanistan, when are the remaining Merlin helicopters in Iraq going to be moved into Mr. Kevan Jones: The housing priority is already in theatre? place, but I shall roll out the welfare pathway, which was launched in Kent in November. That is about Mr. Quentin Davies: We have already begun to deploy councils working together with other agencies, the Ministry them. The first Merlin arrived before Christmas, and of Defence and service charities to bring together maximum Merlins are in the process of being deployed there. Over help for veterans, service personnel and their families. the next few months, we will deploy not only more There is now one phone number for anyone who needs Merlins, but more Chinooks and the re-engined Lynxes, help; it is 08000 223366. which can fly 365 days a year. As I said earlier, between July last year and July this year, there is to be a 50 per Alistair Burt (North-East Bedfordshire) (Con): I, too, cent. increase in the number of helicopters in Afghanistan, have a constituent who was tragically bereaved by the and an even greater increase in available flying hours. Chinook accident. Will the Minister indicate whether there are any circumstances in which he might reopen David Cairns (Inverclyde) (Lab): The Under-Secretary the matter and review a decision that is increasingly of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for challenged and that looks more and more unhappy? North Durham (Mr. Jones), will be aware that a review is under way of the future of Navy buildings in Greenock. Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence has always Given that the review is four months old, and given that made it clear that if new evidence is brought forward the issue is extremely important to the people who work that directly focuses on the issues and provides evidence there, will he provide an update on that review? If not, of technical failure, we would reopen the investigation. will he agree to meet me to discuss the matter? No such new evidence has been forthcoming. Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) Mr. Kevan Jones: The review is ongoing, and I am (LD): Will Ministers learn the lesson from the tragic happy to meet my hon. Friend. death last year of Andrew Watson, my constituent, who, having served in Iraq, had continuing mental Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): I refer the health problems, and will they make sure that when Secretary of State to the typically excellent question servicemen and women return, they always have 24-hour- asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth and a-day access to mental health services that understand Horncastle (Sir Peter Tapsell). What evidence is there their past and their difficulties? that any of the Taliban whom we have killed in Helmand had anything to do with bomb plots against this country? Mr. Kevan Jones: They already do, in terms of decompression at Camp Bloodhound in Cyprus, but I Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There is no doubt that the centre am pleased that today, my counterpart, the Minister of of al-Qaeda’s power remains in the area between State, Department of Health, my right hon. and learned Afghanistan and Pakistan. It may well currently reside Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O’Brien) on the Pakistan side of that border, but if our troops and I signed a memorandum of understanding with were not on the Afghan side of the border, the threat Combat Stress, concentrating not just on veterans but would be bound to return, in my opinion, and a return on their expertise, and on how we can ensure that the of the direct threat to this country would result from lessons from the six mental health pilots are included in that. mainstream services in the NHS. 411 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 412 Public Services) Severe Weather (Transport and Public Agency has played a key role in providing mutual aid of Services) additional salt and gritters to local highway authorities and key organisations, such as Felixstowe port. We continue to take all possible steps to maximise the 3.34 pm production of salt from our principal suppliers. On The Minister of State, Department for Transport 29 December, the Highways Agency placed an order for (Mr. Sadiq Khan): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I shall significant additional salt imports, which are due to repeat a statement that my right hon. and noble Friend start arriving later this month. the Secretary of State for Transport made about the The energy sector is experiencing high demand due to severe weather, transport networks and public services. the extreme conditions. The system has been responding With leave, I will make a statement on the recent generally well at a time of record demand. However, prolonged severe weather that we are currently experiencing ongoing supply issues in Norway have caused National and on the steps being taken to support our public Grid to issue a gas balancing alert today, as well as on services. The current cold weather began in mid-December Saturday, when the problems arose. The gas balancing and is the most prolonged spell of freezing conditions alert is a tool that National Grid uses to make sure that across the UK since December 1981. The Met Office there is enough gas on tap and there is no shortage of forecasts that the current very cold conditions are likely supply for domestic customers. to continue across most of the country for some days The Department for Work and Pensions is helping longer. citizens in two ways this winter: with winter fuel These extreme conditions continue to affect our transport payments—first introduced in 1997, and now standing and energy networks, as well as public services, including at £250 for pensioner households, rising to £400 for the schools and hospitals. I would like to thank the many over-80s—and cold weather payments of £25 for those hundreds of thousands of people working tirelessly in receipt of pension credit, where there are sub-zero across the country to keep Britain moving in these temperatures over the course of seven consecutive days. extreme conditions. Cold weather payments were last year increased to Over the past weeks, we have seen many tremendous £25 from £8.50 per week. These payments are automatic. examples of Britain’s community spirit in action, with Everyone in Great Britain who is entitled will get them people lending vehicles, digging clear paths to allow and should not worry about turning up their heating. ambulances and police vehicles through and visiting During times of increased demand, we all need to neighbours in need. We will do all that we can to think responsibly about whether our health issues are a support and encourage people helping out in their genuine priority and use NHS resources responsibly. communities. Medical advice is available by phone through NHS Our key priority is to keep open the core transport Direct. networks, national and local. All main transport networks There are no reports of major problems with food are operational, even though with reduced services in supplies reaching retailers. Because the UK has a diverse some areas. The vast majority of the motorways and supply of food from domestic and international suppliers, major trunk roads remain open. Network Rail and the we are not reliant on just one source of food, which train operating companies advise that the major rail helps maintain stability of supply as well as helping routes are open, subject to delays and cancellations. The keep prices stable. Last week we relaxed the enforcement position is similar for air travellers. Eurostar is running of drivers’ hours regulations to ensure that the essential a reduced service. Our advice remains that people should deliveries of rock salt and animal feed could be made. check routes before they travel, and I thank all travellers Over the weekend, we further relaxed the enforcement for their forbearance at this time. of the regulations to allow the delivery of fuel oil to To keep our roads open, much of our attention has remote areas of Scotland and of de-icer to airports, and been on ensuring that ploughs and gritters have got out to allow bulk milk tankers to continue making their to where they are needed most. The Highways Agency deliveries. has had its fleet of 500 salt spreaders and snow ploughs Schools are making every effort to reopen after last out in force throughout this period, as have local authorities. week’s closures, and this week there has been a significant Last week, we opened Salt Cell—a collaborative task improvement. The Department for Children, Schools force involving central Government, the Local Government and Families reports that virtually all exam centres are Association, the Met Office, the devolved Administrations able to run their exams as scheduled, or have found and Transport for London. The group advises salt alternative locations at which to hold them. suppliers on how best to distribute salt. I know that the House will wish to join me in thanking Last Friday, I directed the Highways Agency to manage the hundreds of thousands of people across the transport its use of salt in response to forecasts of prolonged bad industries, the NHS, the education system, the armed weather, by reducing its daily use of salt by at least forces, local authorities and other public services for 25 per cent. It has achieved that by taking measures helping all our communities come through this severe such as not directly spreading salt on the hard shoulder weather. However, the forecasts are for a further period of motorways. of snow and sub-zero overnight temperatures and we For local roads, the Local Government Association must take further steps to keep Britain moving. and the Mayor of London have agreed to reduce daily In July last year, the UK Roads Liaison Group use by at least 25 per cent. also, recognising the importance published a report into the lessons learned from the of mutual support to keep Britain moving safely. Local severe weather experienced in February 2009. authorities are taking their own decisions on the Recommendations that were made to central Government prioritisation of supplies in their localities. The Highways were adopted immediately and in full. There were 413 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 414 Public Services) Public Services) [Mr. Sadiq Khan] back for UK use? Why is Salt Cell not meeting today, given the urgency of the situation? What estimate has recommendations to local authorities as well, on which the Minister made of the cost of repairing the damage individual authorities were expected to act. The key to the roads caused by the freezing conditions? Does he recommendation was that local highway authorities agree that it is wholly contrary to common sense if should keep at least six days of salt stocks, and that over people feel at risk of negligence claims when they clear and above this the Highways Agency should hold an paths and pavements? Is that not penalising the sort of additional strategic supply to underpin national resilience. socially responsible behaviour that all parties should To this end, the Highways Agency came into this winter encourage? Is he aware that anxiety about liability was period with a 13-day supply of salt, subject of course to one reason why many schools stayed shut? replenishment. The Government accused us of scaremongering about The report also made recommendations for my gas supplies, but if everything is fine with energy supplies Department to convene a Salt Cell task force to prioritise why did National Grid issue its fourth alert in two supplies in the event of extreme conditions. This we weeks today? The Local Government Association, in its have done. Salt Cell has enabled us to prioritise salt July report, “Weathering the Storm: Dealing with Adverse distribution to where it is most needed, and I am Winter Weather Conditions in the UK”, concluded grateful for the co-operation of the Local Government with the key lesson that should have been learned from Association, the Mayor of London and the devolved last February’s weather crisis and low salt supplies. It Administrations. Salt Cell next meets tomorrow morning. stated: Given the prolongation of the very cold weather, “Effectively, the country is almost completely reliant on two further measures are likely to be required over the next main suppliers operating deliveries on a ‘just in time’ basis.” 48 hours to keep networks open. These are likely to Will the Minister acknowledge that the Government’s include further steps to conserve salt, to ensure that the failure to heed that warning meant that many councils Highways Agency and local authorities can manage found it almost impossible to obtain resupplies as the during the continuing severe weather. The Local cold snap progressed? Will he accept that the scarcity of Government Association and the Government are in salt supplies has undermined councils’ ability to grit constant contact and we will continue to take the necessary and clear side roads and pavements? Will he acknowledge operational decisions to keep networks open as far as the extent of the concern about slippery pavements—shown possible. We are experiencing the most severe weather particularly by the elderly, many of whom have felt conditions for 29 years, in common with much of northern reluctant to leave their homes for the past few weeks? Europe. We need to continue pulling together for the The Secretary of State’s requests for councils to reduce common good, as we have done over the past weeks. their daily use of salt by 25 per cent. was an admission Mrs. Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): I of failure by the Government. They made inadequate thank the Minister for advance notice of his statement. preparations for the cold weather; they sat on the LGA’s report on the issue until two days before the snow Like the Minister, I pay tribute to all the councils, started to fall; and they failed to learn the lessons of council workers, salt producers, the armed forces, the February 2009, leaving our road network far more police and others who are working so hard to try and vulnerable to disruption than it should have been—to keep the country moving during the present crisis. We the detriment of families and businesses throughout the should remember that many communities have had country, already struggling with the impact of one of three solid weeks of this, without the brief respite over the longest and deepest recessions in modern history. Christmas that much of the south-east enjoyed. Everyone accepts that a degree of disruption is inevitable Mr. Khan: May I say how disappointed I was by the with such extreme weather, but the Government have mean-spiritedness with which the hon. Lady asked the important questions to answer about the adequacy of vast majority of her questions? Before I take each point the preparations that they made for the weather episode. that she raised in turn, may I repeat my tribute to local It is not acceptable for the Government just to pass the authorities of whichever party throughout the country? buck to local authorities. Will the Government accept I appreciate some people’s nervousness at the fact that a their share of responsibility for the current shortage of number of local authorities are Conservative-run, but I gritting salt, particularly in the light of the fact that the am not going to point the finger at them and blame Government’s Salt Cell now controls allocations of salt them for the problems that they have had. We have to across the country? understand this point: either we are a nanny state, What are the local salt stocks now held in the UK, telling local authorities what to do and controlling how and how long will they last? Which areas in need have much salt they order; or we trust locally elected councillors the lowest stocks? Does the Minister have any estimate to order the right amount of salt based on the advice of the proportion of roads and pavements that have not that experts gave in July. been gritted or cleared? Have our armed services got all It is worth reminding ourselves of the history of the the salt that they need? Should the NHS be included in issue. After February’s severe weather, the then Secretary the Salt Cell to help ensure that hospitals and emergency of State for Transport asked not only for a review but services have access to all the salt that they need? Why for experts to report on the matter, and they did so in did it take until last week to relax drivers’ hours, when July. Of the many recommendations that were made, these problems have been ongoing for nearly a month? four applied to my Department and all were dealt with The media have reported a recent diversion of exported immediately and in full. A number of recommendations salt to use in this country. What other exports have applied to local authorities. I appreciate the difficulties taken place since the cold weather episode began, and that we have with some authorities that are Conservative- why were steps not taken more quickly to divert exports run, but I am not going to point the finger at them. 415 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 416 Public Services) Public Services) I must say, however, that the idea that we state-produce I hope that he accepts that the Government have an salt and tell local authorities where to get it from is ultimate responsibility to ensure that the national absurd. These are commercial decisions that local authorities infrastructure is kept operational and intact. With that take. in mind, will he reflect on the suggestion that local The hon. Lady referred to the decision to reduce the authorities should have had six days’ supply of salt and amount of salt that we distribute on our roads—the consider whether that is adequate given the experience motorways and trunk roads—by at least 25 per cent. that we have had, and given that, as regards the order We took that decision for the roads that we control, and that was put in on 29 December, it will take some time the Local Government Association and the Mayor of for overseas stocks to arrive, which means that if the London agreed to those levels. We could not force them weather deteriorates—it may not—we could run out to go down to those levels; they showed that they of salt? understand the challenges that we face, and they agreed Some local authorities have done extremely well, but to reduce the amount to those levels because they some appear to be using the lack of salt as an excuse to actually run things and know when a common-sense cut back on gritting, perhaps unnecessarily. Will the decision needs to be taken. They did not oppose it for Minister consider whether that is appropriate and examine opposition’s sake. these procedures to ensure that people across the country Over this period we have had constructive dialogue have the best transport infrastructure that they possibly with all key stakeholders, including Government offices, can in the circumstances that apply? the regional resilience centres and others. It is not Will the Minister confirm that the Highways Agency true—indeed, it is misleading—to say that the first has been asking local authorities whether they can help decision to relax EU hours was taken last week and this with its supplies? For example, Stockport borough council weekend; it was taken before Christmas and extended has been asked if it can help the agency by providing last week and over the weekend. extra stocks. In relation to Salt Cell’s meetings, again I should say Does the Minister recognise that significant long-term that one benefit of running things is that one gets some costs will arise for local highways authorities as a result experience, and one thing that we have to do before we of the damage to the road network that will undoubtedly hold such meetings is to get the information in. Today is be caused by the use of salt and grit? There will be a big therefore important, because, before a decision is taken repair bill at the end of this—will he factor that into the about where salt goes over the next period, we are local government settlement for councils? actually speaking to local authorities and finding out Notwithstanding the wish that the Minister and I how much salt they have, and finding out from salt share for devolution to local councils, does he recognise suppliers where the salt went during the previous period. that some councils, including my own, have taken the The hon. Lady was right, however, to express concern view that it is inappropriate to treat any pavements at all about scaremongering in relation to potential litigation and have concentrated all their salting and gritting on and about the prosecution of people showing common the roads? Is not that unfair on pedestrians, particularly sense and a generosity of spirit in clearing their pathways. those who are elderly and infirm, and may, for example, I would say, however, that the situation is not helped have to get off a bus on to an ice sheet next to the when certain newspapers carry front-page stories causing bus stop? alarm and distress among some of the elderly people Will the Minister examine the cost to the economy of she and I are concerned about. this episode, which is running into billions? Will he On the LGA report of July-August, the fact that it consider whether higher levels of grit and salt maintained could prepare a report after the report by the UK by local councils would do more to minimise the damage Roads Liaison Group shows that it understood the to the economy, as well as the cost to the NHS arising challenges that it faced. I would say in its defence that from people being in hospital unnecessarily as a this is the most severe and prolonged period of bad consequence of falls? weather in 29 years. I am sure that local government On legality, does the Minister accept that, unfortunately, would be criticised if it had bought equipment and salt some people, including those in schools, are genuinely that sat idle for 10, 15, 20 or 30 years, especially when it concerned about possible liability issues? In my view, has been asked to make stringent—some would say many schools should have opened much sooner but savage—cuts over this period. We continue to work have not done so because of fears of liability. What constructively with all key stakeholders, whether they sense does it make for children to be turning up at be local government, the Mayor of London, the devolved school, having trudged their way through ice and snow Administrations, or salt suppliers working in the private to get there, only to be told that they have to stay sector. indoors and cannot go out in the playground to play I hope that the Opposition have seen the generosity because schools are worried about being sued if the of the British public over the recent period; I would children fall over there? expect that generosity to spread to politicians as well. Finally, will the Minister ensure that there is a review of this whole episode and report back to Parliament in Norman Baker (Lewes) (LD): May I, too, pass on my due course on the lessons to be learned? thanks to the staff of the Highways Agency and local councils, and indeed the railway industry, for what they Mr. Khan: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments have been doing to try to keep our infrastructure going? and questions. He is right to refer to the issue of six I accept that, as the Minister says, much of what days’ supply of salt. I draw his attention to the UKRLG takes place is a matter for devolved local council work, report, which is a very full report that touches on many or for private companies such as the salt companies, but of the issues raised. In chapter 8, under the heading 417 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 418 Public Services) Public Services) [Mr. Khan] being taken by head teachers on a horses-for-courses basis. As I am sure the hon. Gentleman is, I am pleased “Winter Service Resilience”, it recommended six days’ that so many examination centres are open today, so worth of salt as an adequate amount. In the group’s that the many students who have revised for long periods mind must have been the fact that, in February 2009, we can take their exams. had the worst weather in 18 years. We now have the worst weather in 29 years, and I suspect that once we Several hon. Members rose— reach the end of this prolonged period of bad weather and consider our options for reviews and so on, we will Mr. Speaker: Order. Some 21 hon. and right hon. need to make a cost-benefit analysis of whether, given Members are seeking to catch my eye, so as ever short that we have had prolonged bad weather in two consecutive questions and short answers will be required if I am to years, it makes more sense to save enough salt for a have any chance of accommodating everybody. I call longer period. That analysis would include, for example, Mr. Martin Salter. [Laughter.] investment in salt barns, because one of the big challenges for local authorities and the Highways Agency is the Martin Salter (Reading, West) (Lab): True grit, amount of storage space that they have for salt. Local Mr. Speaker. I think the heckling needs to be short authorities have asked themselves whether it is worth as well. their spending money on salt barns given that they use salt so infrequently. That is for experts to consider, not Does the Minister agree that one of the most important for me on the Floor of the House, but it is an important priorities must be to reopen the schools, to avoid damaging question. children’s education but also to allow other vital public sector workers such as ambulance drivers—and dare I The hon. Gentleman raised an important point about say?—gritter lorry drivers, NHS staff, firefighters and diversifying suppliers in the chain. Salt is a geological Highways Agency staff to get to work themselves? Will issue and I cannot invent salt in the mines of England he commend the approach of Mr. Charlie Clare, head overnight, but as part of the contractual terms with teacher of Geoffrey Field junior school in my constituency, suppliers, even domestic suppliers can be asked to have who got together the staff, some private contractors and some foreign imports in their supply chain. The Highways some parents to clear the snow and ice themselves this Agency does that to ensure that it protects our supply weekend, so that his school could open today? Teachers chain of salt. cannot be immune from the challenges faced in cold The hon. Gentleman made an important point about weather. Other public sector workers have to deal mutual aid. We can provide central aid to local authorities, with them. but there are also many really good examples of local authorities helping others that have less salt, for obvious Mr. Khan: As ever, I cannot disagree with anything reasons, by giving them salt. That is an example of the that my hon. Friend has said, and I commend and generosity of spirit that I mentioned, and we need more endorse his points. It is worth bearing in mind that of it. every day a school is closed, not only is children’s The hon. Gentleman referred also to the damage to education disrupted but the knock-on effect means that local authority highways caused by grit and salt, which the impact on their carers is phenomenal. is one issue that will need to be considered in a cost-benefit analysis of the general pattern of bad weather. He will Mr. Stephen O’Brien (Eddisbury) (Con): I ask you, be aware from the urgent question last week and my Mr. Speaker, and the whole House to join me in response to it that I cannot give advice centrally about congratulating the work force at Winsford rock salt which pavements should be gritted and which should mine on their continuous, 24/7 working, be they down not, and Salt Cell, the Government and extreme bad the mine, in the office, the order takers or the management. weather cannot be used as an excuse for a local authority I hope that the Minister will take it as a positive and not discharging its responsibility as it should. A local constructive comment that he should look carefully authority needs to consider the fact that as a matter of now at avoiding delays in the operation of Salt Cell so common sense, a pathway that leads to a general that the producers quickly get news of what is required practitioner’s practice, for example, is probably more in where so that they can then get on with supplying need of gritting than a road that very few people drive without further delay. We should also ensure that we down. Once again, it is for local authorities to take learn the lessons of how to resupply in the autumn that decision. rather than waiting for the winter. The hon. Gentleman’s final point was the very important one of liability, which was also raised by the hon. Mr. Khan: I hear the hon. Gentleman’s point and will Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers). There are ensure that such delays do not happen. The Under-Secretary concerns about people being risk-averse or using the of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for weather as an excuse not to do things that they should. I Gillingham (Paul Clark), reminded me that he visited was pleased to see the comments of the president of the the salt mine and was very impressed by the work of the Association of British Insurers in the press today and hon. Gentleman’s constituents. yesterday, which will have given some comfort to schools and local authorities concerned about being defendants Mr. Richard Caborn (Sheffield, Central) (Lab): May I in a future civil litigation or prosecution if they open up also put on record my congratulations on the sterling the schools. As far as individual schools are concerned, work of Sheffield city council, which has done a fantastic most decisions whether to open or close are taken by job? That is in contrast with the Liberal leader of the head teachers. Some local authorities are giving out council, who went on BBC radio on the evening of advice and being prescriptive, but other decisions are Friday 8 January to say that we would have a weekend 419 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 420 Public Services) Public Services) of despair in the city because we had no salt and there been hard hit. Has my friend given any thought to was no telephone number to ring because people were transferring responsibility to lower-tier authorities in not working over the weekend. While he was appearing two-tier areas such as Lancashire? Many people want on the news, 280 tonnes of salt were being delivered to local control of gritting. Sheffield city council, and another 300 tonnes have subsequently been delivered. Will my right hon. Friend Mr. Khan: We have not looked at devolving gritting contact the city council to ensure that it has the right even further. One of the lessons that may be learned information so that the council leader cannot scaremonger from the experience of the past two or three weeks is in Sheffield? whether there is sense in economies of scale, or in going the other way in some cases. The key point is that those Mr. Khan: As ever, my right hon. Friend has highlighted who know their communities best know the places that some of the options that people have taken during this are in most need of gritting. Local communities’information difficult time—we can either come together and get can be of huge benefit and a great boon. through the difficult time, or make picky, silly points, which are factually incorrect, and use the conditions as Gregory Barker (Bexhill and Battle) (Con): May I an excuse to score cheap, party political points. commend the efforts of local council workers and emergency service workers in Bexhill and Battle? I cannot Anne Main (St. Albans) (Con): My constituents are say the same of the management of Southeastern trains. almost on their knees because of the lack of trains due The train service south of Tunbridge Wells to Hastings to First Capital Connect. Last Thursday, not a single has been patchy in the past few days, and it is totally train stopped in St. Albans—because, I gather, the unacceptable that station platforms were not cleared. trains were washed on Wednesday evening and therefore Not a flake of snow was shifted from the platforms of froze. What can be done to get a better service for my Battle station from Monday till yesterday, making it constituents, who are in despair about the lack of train extremely dangerous for the travelling public. That is services from St. Albans to St. Pancras? simply not acceptable.

Mr. Khan: The example beggars belief. May I look Mr. Khan: Once again, I will look into the hon. into the specific reason for disruption on that day? Gentleman’s example. He makes a very important point Network Rail and the train operating companies have and I will look into it. told us that the lines are open. For obvious reasons, there are reduced services and some delays. The hon. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): When I was a lad, Lady’s example looks like incompetence rather than a schools did not shut because of the snow. Before the delay caused by severe weather. day is out, will the Minister nail the urban myth that people who clear the snow on the pavement outside Natascha Engel (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): The their houses or businesses are somehow likely to be held Minister spoke about prioritising salt and grit and legally liable? Will the Government please nail that putting gritters where they are needed most. May I put urban myth, because it used to be that an uncleared in a bid for rural, remote areas such as North-East pavement was the exception, but now the cleared pavement Derbyshire, where it is still snowing, and ask him to put is the exception? them at the top of his priority list? Mr. Khan: Those were the days! Somebody will probably Mr. Khan: We know that some of the roads and come up with an example of someone being prosecuted railway lines in the trans-Pennine area are experiencing or sued, but the hon. Gentleman is right: the message particular difficulties. I will look into the specific issue that is sent to the good citizen or somebody who wants that my hon. Friend raises, but we also know that roads to discharge their civic duty is perverse. At a time when are lifelines for rural parts of the country, especially for schools are closed, we want young people to be doing older people who are cut off from other members of the something constructive. If a school is closed, people community and cannot be given simple things such as expect their young son or daughter to be outside helping hot meals and for whom supply is a source of concern. I a neighbour—perhaps someone who does not have emphasise that I will consider my hon. Friend’s specific children—to clear their pathways, and not to be frightened point. of being sued or prosecuted.

Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): Should not Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): What schools that have to close for snow find alternative days would the Minister say to Conservative-controlled during the year when they can replace the missing Northamptonshire county council, which was well prepared education? for the severe weather, but suddenly found that because Salt Cell was activated, supplies it was due to receive Mr. Khan: The right hon. Gentleman makes an important were sent elsewhere in the country? point about hours and days lost as a result of school closures. I understand that the Department for Children, Mr. Khan: When we talk about generosity of spirit, Schools and Families gives guidance about the closure we hope it applies to local authorities as well as to caused by extreme weather in which one of the issues is politicians and members of our community. Salt Cell is making up lost time. about advising salt suppliers which parts of the country need salt most. If a local authority has adequate supplies Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): There is concern of salt and another does not because of the prolonged in Lancashire that the county council has neglected east bad weather, it is not going against the spirit of what we Lancashire, where there are many hills, and which has are talking about to allow the latter to receive the salt 421 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 422 Public Services) Public Services) [Mr. Khan] about local authorities that point the finger—most of them, I am afraid, happen to be Conservative authorities, that it needs. That was agreed by the Local Government as he will be aware—and that are prayed in aid by Association, the devolved Administrations, the Mayor ill-briefed spokespeople for Her Majesty’s Opposition, of London and all the key stakeholders, as my right whether for the Department for Communities and Local hon. Friend the Secretary of State has reminded people, Government or the Department for Transport. and it was recommended by the UK Roads Liaison Group. David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): Can the Minister assure me that the Highways Agency, which he controls, Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): I will properly prioritise parts of our national roads? For pay tribute to all those who have made sterling efforts to example, the A5 at Hinckley next to my constituency is try to keep my constituents moving, but what lessons extremely dangerous on the Sketchley bends, but other have been learned about the export of British salt and stretches, further down, are not. Will he ensure proper grit at a time when many local authorities, including my prioritisation? own, have not had the orders that they had placed fulfilled? May I gently say to the Minister that perhaps a Mr. Khan: I undertake to get back in touch with the good watchword for the future would be this: British hon. Gentleman about the example that he raises. One grit for British roads? of the key things that we need to do is ensure that the roads for which either the Highways Agency or the Mr. Khan: One’s principles and values are challenged highways authorities, of which there are more than 150, at difficult times. Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that are statutorily responsible are covered. we outlaw private companies from exporting to other parts of this planet for a profit? If so, I am happy to Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): De-icer deliveries look into it—[Laughter.] However, I suggest that it is are vital to airports, as are deliveries of heating oil to more sensible for local authorities to look at the market homes and businesses throughout the north of Scotland to see where salt is available and to learn from the and elsewhere. Driving restrictions have been relaxed, experience of extreme bad weather. Some local authorities which I very much welcome, but the deadline for some get salt from overseas, as does the Highways Agency of those restrictions is coming up. Will the Government itself. review those restrictions, with a view to allowing those vital deliveries to continue? Anne Milton (Guildford) (Con): We are still waiting for an answer to the question whether local authorities will have any additional funds made available to them Mr. Khan: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. to repair the damage to pavements and roads, but I am The latest relaxation for de-icer products to airports more interested in knowing what assessment the was issued at 4 pm on Friday 8 January, and we know Department has made of the risk of flooding after the that it will run out imminently. We keep such matters snow melts. under review and we have ensured that we relax EU directives whenever that is required. We shall of course Mr. Khan: The second part of the hon. Lady’s question take on board the various needs of the drivers, as well as is very important. As the snow melts, there is a real the needs of the wider community. concern about flooding—that is one issue that is being looked into. On her first point, if she is suggesting Mrs. Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (Con): Last week I additional expenditure for additional funding for local received a clear assurance at Prime Minister’s questions authorities over and above the Bellwin funding and that there would be sufficient salt supplies to meet the other sources, I am sure her hon. Friend the shadow needs of local authorities, yet today most of the pavements Chancellor will be interested to hear of it, as indeed will and residential roads in my constituency are still treacherous we, because it will add to the £34 billion black hole in and, in some places, impassable. What went wrong the Conservatives’ spending plans. between last Wednesday and today, meaning that Hampshire county council has still not received the salt Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): There deliveries that it needs? are some village schools in my constituency, such as Horsington and Berkley schools, that cannot open, Mr. Khan: I am not sure whether the hon. Lady is despite the best efforts of the staff, because the county suggesting that all the pavements in her constituency council has not cleared the roads to them. The vice-chair and her county should be gritted. As I have said a of the Berkley governors was told on Friday by the number of times this afternoon, and as has been said by county council: “As of this morning, the control of grit others too, Salt Cell advises salt suppliers on which and salt has been taken over by central Government parts of the country need the salt the most. It is for local and therefore, even if we wanted to, we would not be authorities to decide how that salt is used. able to authorise the clearing of the road to the school.” Is the Minister happy that the Government are now the Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): On Saturday I excuse for Somerset county council? congratulated a couple of gritters who had visited Cow Ark near Clitheroe, a hamlet that had been isolated Mr. Khan: As has been my experience over the past since before Christmas. We know that the gritters cannot four and a half years, the hon. Gentleman makes a do every village straight away, but I understand that in good point. Over the past few days and weeks, we have the past the network of farmers was used to clear the seen examples of local authorities and others using roads. However, we are now told that they need NVQs central Government as an excuse for their inability to in health and safety. Is that correct? If so, as the run services in their communities. We need to be vigilant Minister has relaxed some rules, can he now make 423 Severe Weather (Transport and 11 JANUARY 2010 Severe Weather (Transport and 424 Public Services) Public Services) absolutely certain that local authorities can ask farmers relaxation of the working hours rules in the days to to get out there with the equipment that they know how come, to ensure that the backlog can be cleared? to use and clear those roads? Mr. Khan: I have heard the hon. Gentleman’s request, Mr. Khan: I have referred all afternoon to the importance and I have read the three texts that he sent me this of common sense and generosity of spirit. What the morning. I will ensure that, when the relaxation of the hon. Gentleman describes is news to me. I shall get back rules expires tonight, we make the right decision, to to him on the points that he has made, because it seems ensure that his constituents, and those in the wider that people who can help to clear pathways, and who community, get the service that they need. want to use their common sense and demonstrate their generosity of spirit, are being deprived of the opportunity Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): You will be astounded to do so. That should not be the case. to learn, Mr. Speaker, that my local council gritted the access to the local Conservative club but totally refused Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): In that to grit the access to a doctor’s surgery, which is long and spirit, let me tell the Minister of the excellent work done dangerous for elderly and frail people. It is still refusing by the work force of West Sussex county council, Mid to do so. How can we get some common sense in how Sussex district council and the town councils in Mid-Sussex, local councillors prioritise using their grit? and of the heroic efforts of many other snow heroes, who used their common sense and tried to keep the Mr. Khan: Some of us believe that access to a doctor’s place going. Does he agree that the lessons learned from surgery is more of a priority than access to the Conservative the past few days will be extremely important for the club. I am disappointed that there is not agreement on future? Will he take the trouble to get examples of best that across the Chamber. practice from councils all over the country, so that the guidance issued is truly useful? Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab): My constituents want to know who audits the lack of performance by Mr. Khan: I cannot disagree with anything the hon. local authorities, many of which have a considerable Gentleman has said. I shall merely add that one reason number of executives who earn more than the Prime why the UKRLG was asked to produce its review Minister. That obviously does not include the Health following the February experience—the worst weather and Safety Executive, because I reported Lancashire for 18 years—was so that we could learn the lessons county council to the HSE last year for its blanket from it. We are now experiencing the worst weather for non-gritting of side roads and pavements. This year, the 29 years. We have a habit in this country of criticising Conservative leader of Lancashire county council has ourselves and what we do when times are bad. However, berated me for wanting all the bus routes gritted. In when we compare what is happening here with the fact, he proudly told local radio listeners that he would experience in northern Europe, where the weather is not do that. My question to the Minister is: is this what equally bad, we find that we have coped a lot better we have got to look forward to? than France, Germany and elsewhere. The examples that the hon. Gentleman gave demonstrate the generosity Mr. Khan: I pay tribute to the Local Government of spirit and common sense of the people in Sussex and Association for the leadership that it is trying to provide in other parts of the country. in giving the right guidance to local authorities. Unfortunately, however, it cannot make local authorities Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and do the right thing. My hon. Friend has given examples Strathspey) (LD): I am grateful to the Minister for his from her community of the council not providing the efforts over the weekend to ensure that the working service it needs to provide. Councils such as hers are hours rules for drivers delivering heating oil to households using central Government or Salt Cell as an excuse for across the highlands were relaxed. I understand that not providing the right level of service. They should be that relaxation will expire at midnight tonight, but there prioritising roads that buses use, because that would is still a significant backlog of heating oil deliveries. allow people to catch buses and thus leave their homes. This will particularly affect needy families in rural areas, She and I need to ensure that we highlight the parts of where it would be a disaster if energy supplies were to the country in which councils have not provided the run short. Will he look urgently into continuing the service that they should have done. 425 11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 426

Children, Schools and Families Bill Mr. Ken Purchase (Wolverhampton, North-East) (Lab/ Co-op): And he was opposed to academies. [Relevant documents: The First Report of the Children, Schools and Families Committee, School Accountability, Ed Balls: My hon. Friend says from a sedentary HC 88-I, and the Second Report of the Committee, The position that David Taylor was opposed to academies, Review of Elective Home Education, HC 39-I.] which is quite right, but he was also deeply committed Second Reading to investing in and reforming our school system in order to deliver for all children, which was a regular part of his contribution. 4.18 pm To ensure that every young person can develop all The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and the skills they need and that employers want, we have Families (Ed Balls): I beg to move, That the Bill be now already introduced historic legislation to raise the education read a Second time. and training age to 18, to fund fully our school leavers’ guarantee, to expand apprenticeships and to introduce The Children, Schools and Families Bill is vital to diplomas. Through this Bill, we are now legislating to meet what I believe is our moral imperative to help implement Sir Jim Rose’s review of the primary curriculum every child and young person to make the most of their from September next year so that teachers have more talents and to ensure that no barrier is allowed to hold space and flexibility to decide what to teach while them back. But, as well as that moral imperative, we retaining a strong focus on basic literacy, numeracy and face an economic imperative to ensure that all our information communications technology. We will also young people get the skills that they need and that put PSHE—personal, social and health education, including businesses are demanding, so that our country can sex and relationship education and financial education—on thrive and succeed in the 21st century global economy. a statutory footing for the first time and guarantee for As we debate the Bill today, 750 education experts the first time that all young people receive at least one and more than 70 Education Ministers representing year of sex and relationship education. 1 billion children in 80 countries around the world are meeting here in London on the other side of Parliament Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): I square, at the learning and technology world forum—the speak as a governor of a Church of England primary largest education and technology event of its kind in the school in my constituency, which has always taken world. They are here both because the UK is a world tremendous care to involve parents in the sex and leader in technology for education and because our relationship education taught to their children in the Government and every Government around the world school. What assurances can the Secretary of State give face these twin moral and economic imperatives. me that in future the ethos and culture of the school and the wishes of those parents will be respected, as I As a result of our sustained record of investment and can tell him that there is worry across the House about reform over the past 12 years, we have gone from below this issue? average to well above average in the world, but our ambition is to get to a world-class education system, in Ed Balls: I can give him an absolute assurance on which every child, and not just some, gets all the help that. I consulted in detail both the Catholic Education and support they need to make good progress, and Service and Church of England education leaders as every parent, and not just some, has the choice of a well as more widely before coming forward with this good local school. That is why the Bill sets out the next proposal. The decision to make sex and relationship steps that we will take to achieve our ambition by education statutory is, I think, supported by all political providing a guaranteed route to a good qualification for parties, but it is essential that it is taught in line with the every young person, a promise of guaranteed extra ethos, including the faith, of the school. That is clear in catch-up support for every child who falls behind, more the legislation: it is clear that parents as well as school power for parents, a boost to the status of the teaching governors will have a say in how the subject is taught, profession and further backing for local leaders to while there is also a parental opt-out, which will apply ensure that every school is a good school with stronger to pupils until they are 15. I can thus give the hon. back-stop powers for the Government to step in as a Gentleman the complete assurance that the school will last resort if schools are not being turned round. be in charge of how to teach SRE, but the fact of Those measures are essential for a strong economy teaching it will be in law and guaranteed to all children. and a fair society. They are now possible only because Several hon. Members rose— of our sustained investment and reform over the last decade and they are also all actively opposed by the Ed Balls: I will take another intervention. Opposition parties, particularly by the Conservative Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): The Secretary of State party, which is proposing instead a costly and unfair seems to have the impression—he is certainly trying free-market free-for-all that will be paid for only by to give the impression—that everyone is in favour of huge cuts to existing schools. making this a compulsory part of the national curriculum, Before I move on to the details of those measures, I but he knows that in September the Qualifications and am sure that the whole House will want to join me in Curriculum Development Agency published details of paying tribute to my hon. Friend the former Member responses to the consultation it carried out, showing for North-West Leicestershire who sadly died on Boxing that of 6,433 responses, only 32 per cent. agreed with day and whose hugely well attended funeral took place the proposal to make PSE a statutory part of the on Saturday. He was a strong campaigner on behalf of national curriculum. The right hon. Gentleman is children in this country and regularly made significant still going ahead, despite the fact that on the basis of contributions to our education debates. He will be information from his own agency, most people are sorely missed in this House. actually against it. 427 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 428

Ed Balls: I shall not fall into the trap of assuming hon. Friend’s support for our Bill. It would be very nice that if those on the Opposition Front Bench support a to have a cross-party consensus in favour of it, but policy the hon. Gentleman will support it, or vice versa. unfortunately it seems that although guaranteeing one- The fact that the hon. Gentleman does not support this to-one catch-up tuition for children who fall behind is a policy and Opposition Front Benchers—I believe—do priority for our party, it is not a priority for the Opposition support it is probably fairly true to form. parties. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that there was an organised campaign as part of the consultation, but we Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con): also commissioned opinion polls, in both qualitative Will the Secretary of State give way? and quantitative terms. We published the findings at the time, and they showed overwhelming support from Ed Balls: I will take one more intervention, but then I parents for making this statutory. I think that if the must move on. hon. Gentleman talks to parents and teachers, including head teachers, he will find a widespread consensus Daniel Kawczynski: The biggest problem is the huge that—consistent with a school’s ability to make its own difference in funding across the United Kingdom. The decisions about method, content and the parental opt- average Shropshire child receives about £3,300 per annum out—this is the right thing to do, it is probably overdue, for his or her education, whereas in other parts of the and it will help us to reduce the incidence of teenage country the figure can be as high as £9,000, £10,0000 or pregnancies and encourage a culture of mutual respect £11,000. What is there in the Bill to redress that huge among our young people. difference in funding levels?

Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab): May Ed Balls: As the hon. Gentleman will know, we are I urge my right hon. Friend to avoid another trap? Will currently conducting a review of the schools funding he ensure that discussion of the teaching of social and formula, and I hope that the subsequent report will emotional behaviour, which is fundamental to all learning enable us to make some progress in making the system at primary and secondary level, is not narrowed to one fairer. Let me also point out that it is the hon. Gentleman’s tiny sliver of the argument about personal health and party, not our party, that is proposing a cut in the social education, and that the Government’s life skills schools budget in 2010-11, which will only lead to package, which is widely supported throughout the greater unfairness. House, is seen in perspective? It seems that one or two I know that people in Shropshire, which contains the of our more exuberant colleagues want to discuss only hon. Gentleman’s constituency, are waiting for Building one tiny aspect of that broad package. Schools for the Future to produce school building plans in wave 7. As the Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget Ed Balls: I agree with my hon. Friend, and wish him a report, we shall be proceeding with wave 7 in the very happy birthday. The fact that the hon. Member for coming months. It is the hon. Gentleman’s party that Shipley (Philip Davies) almost certainly calls such classes has promised to cut £4.5 billion from the school building “happy classes”, and opposes them, contrasts starkly programme, which in his constituency would put with what I believe to be the general view—that this is a 22 potential new building projects at risk. That is something very important part of our school system. Through sex about which he may wish to speak to his party’s Front and relationships education, through financial education Benchers before raising the issue of schools funding and, more widely, through SEAL—social and emotional with me in future. aspects of learning—we are teaching our children in primary and secondary schools resilience, character, Michael Gove (Surrey Heath) (Con): The Secretary of respect and the ability to make their way in the world State says that the schools budget will increase if the with pride and confidence. I think that schools that Labour Government are re-elected. For the sake of provide such teaching consider it to be an important clarity, will he explain precisely what that means in the part of the curriculum, and it must not be narrowed in context of the overall DCSF budget? Does it mean only the way described by my hon. Friend. the dedicated schools grant, or does it also include the school standards grant and school development grant? Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): I do not Does it, perhaps, include the standards fund, too, and think that, in the 12 years of the current Government, it all the Partnerships for Schools school capital spending? has given me so much pleasure to vote for a Second Does it include the Training and Development Agency Reading as it will give me to vote confidently with the for Schools budget for teachers, and the National College Government tonight—in contrast to the Conservatives, for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services budget? whose views on education are striking terror into the Will the Secretary of State make it clear which budget heart of every teacher and parent, especially in the lines will receive an increase, and by how much? poorer parts of Britain. During the Bill’s Committee stage, will my right hon. Ed Balls: I am happy to do so, because this was all set Friend look particularly at clause 26, on home teaching? out at the time of the pre-Budget report. In 2010-11, There are genuine concerns about that, and my constituent our schools budget will rise as set out in the spending Mr. Mike Dalby has written to me about it. Will my review, plus we will provide the additional money for right hon. Friend be prepared to consider the clause the September guarantee for school leavers—we will flexibly so that we can get it absolutely right? provide that, but the hon. Gentleman, despite 12 chances to match that school leavers guarantee, will not do so. Ed Balls: It is important that we discuss the details of In 2011-12 and 2012-13, the schools budget will rise the home education provisions, and I shall say something by 0.7 per cent. a year in real terms; that means all the about them in a moment. It is great to have my right money, including for one-to-one tuition, that goes directly 429 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 430

[Ed Balls] Mr. Allen: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Many Back Benchers wish to speak in this debate. to schools. The combination of that and efficiency Given that Front Benchers will get a lot of time to make savings mean that we can meet the guarantees we set their points—even if they wish to make the same point out in this Bill. five times—is it possible to take time off Front-Benchers’ speeches if they constantly interrupt at the expense of Michael Gove: Does that include money for the training Back-Bench time? and development of new teachers? Does it also include money for the training of head teachers, and does it Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): I am sure the specifically include capital funding for new schools? hon. Gentleman realises that I am not in a position to rule on that matter at this point in time, but I hope that Ed Balls: The hon. Gentleman knows that it does not contributors from both Front Benches will confine their include capital funding for schools, because the PBR set remarks to the Bill before the House, and also be very out a settlement of the current budget, and the current aware that a lot of Back Benchers wish to speak and budget does not, by definition, include capital. He will they should be given every opportunity to do so. also know, however, that the Chancellor announced that we will go forward with a further wave—wave 7 Ed Balls: The fact is that a world-class education —of Building Schools for the Future bids in the spring; system depends on guaranteeing excellence for all, not the hon. Gentleman’s party is committed to a £4.5 billion just for some. What we have set out in this Bill are new cut, but we are committed to continuing with the BSF pupil guarantees. We have set out clear entitlements to a programme. I also just said that all the budgets that go broad and balanced curriculum for every pupil and to a directly to schools have been guaranteed a 0.7 per cent. place in education or training for all 16 and 17-year-olds rise. That includes one-to-one tuition, but, at this stage, who want one, and a route to high quality qualifications it does not include money going to non-departmental irrespective of whether someone’s strengths are practical, public bodies. This was all set out at the time of the academic or both, with standards guaranteed by our PBR, so the hon. Gentleman has had the chance to ask new, independent standards regulator, Ofqual. me questions about it in the past—

Michael Gove: Will the Secretary of State give way? Liz Blackman (Erewash) (Lab): Can my right hon. Friend assure me that data will be collected on all Ed Balls: No; if I may be allowed to do so, I shall children on the autistic spectrum by every local authority finish my points before the hon. Gentleman stands up so that service delivery and strategic planning become again. much more effective? I am raising the schools budget in 2011-12 and 2012-13, with the agreement of the Chancellor. The hon. Gentleman Ed Balls: I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. proposes to cut the schools budget in 2010-11, however; As she knows, the schools census collects data on children the reason for that is that the shadow Chancellor has with statements and on school action plus and they told him he has got to do so. Despite regular attempts in show that as of January 2009 there were 51,200 pupils the House to wriggle out of this, the fact is that, unlike on the autistic spectrum. In addition, the Special the Conservatives’ health budget, under the hon. Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008, which came Gentleman’s watch the education budget is set to be cut. into effect in January, is giving us more information about the characteristics of those pupils, their attainment Michael Gove: Can the Secretary of State confirm and the progress that they make. We first published that spending on initial teacher training in schools will those statistics in October, they include children on the increase, and spending on—[Interruption.] No,itisthe autistic spectrum and we will continue to ensure that we Secretary of State who is wriggling. Can he also confirm prioritise those children, as we showed in the Lamb that spending on head teacher training will increase— review. I should say to my hon. Friend that the leadership spending, for example, on ensuring that heads who that she has shown on these matters has been hugely become national leaders of education can do their important in raising opportunity and standards for job—or will that be cut? children in our country who have a special education need. Ed Balls: I have just answered those questions. The The fact is that 100,000 more children are now leaving problem with the hon. Gentleman is that, like the primary school secure in English and 100,000 more are Leader of the Opposition, he writes his speeches and secure in maths compared with 1997. However, a world-class questions in advance, which means he never listens to education system demands that no child’s progress is the answers. What I said was that all the money that allowed to stall or be held back. We know that many goes directly to schools is rising in real terms. The children, at certain points of their school life, benefit money that is going to agencies has not at this point from short bursts of tailored, individual support alongside been settled. So the money that is going to the TDA has effective class teaching. Personal tuition must not just not been settled—that is absolutely clear—but the money be the preserve of those who can afford it, so our pupil going to schools will rise this year, next year and the guarantee will entitle any child who falls behind in year after if this Government are re-elected, whereas it reading or writing or maths during primary school—in will be cut from next April if the hon. Gentleman’s key stage 1 or in key stage 2—and any young person party is elected. who starts secondary school behind expectations to catch-up support, with all looked-after children also Michael Gove: Will the Secretary of State give way automatically receiving one-to-one tuition so that they again? develop the basic skills they need. These guarantees of 431 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 432 one-to-one catch-up support can be delivered only by If we are willing to put the investment in, we can see all the rising real-terms budgets for the schools system set children make progress. If we are not willing to make out in the pre-Budget report. the investment—we heard earlier that the Opposition will cut spending in 2010-11—some children will still Mr. Purchase: This is at the heart of the Bill; the most make progress, but not all children will. That is the important reform that the Secretary of State is introducing difference. is the possibility of one-to-one tuition, catch-up support We will also be legislating in our Bill to introduce a and so on. What guarantees can he give us that middle-class new school report card that will specifically report on parents will not “snaffle”—I use that term for want of a provision for pupils with special educational needs alongside better word—all those resources because they have the attainment, satisfaction and discipline. We will extend loudest voices and the best understanding and will the inspection remit of Ofsted to include provision for demand that tuition for their children, perhaps at the pupils with special educational needs and we will provide expense of children who have less articulate parents and parents of children with special educational needs with who probably need that tuition even more? a new right to appeal if their child’s statement is not amended at annual review. Of those children who do Ed Balls: The guarantees are in the Bill; we will set not get to level 4 now—100,000 fewer than in 1997—two out in law for the very first time such guarantees to thirds have a special educational need, which is twice pupils and to parents. Any child who is not making the level of the whole population. In my view, putting progress at key stage 1 will be entitled to extra support, the needs of children with special needs at the centre of and the school will have to write a letter to the parent our education system is not peripheral but the only way setting out what it will do. Any child who is not making to keep raising standards in our schools. progress in key stage 2 will be guaranteed one-to-one tuition, and we will be offering 300,000 places for maths Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab): and for literacy from next April to deliver that one-to-one Echoing the point made by my hon. Friend the Member guarantee. Thirdly, any child who does the key stage 2 for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase), there tests at the age of 11 and does not get to level 4 will is a problem in many areas of the country, including automatically receive one-to-one tuition in year 7—in Wolverhampton, as children with special educational the first year of secondary school—and do a test at the needs wait months to get statemented. My right hon. end of that year. The results will not be made public, Friend the Secretary of State is absolutely right to talk but they will be reported to parents, so that they know about such needs being central and about the inspection whether their child is catching up. Thus, this does not and so on, which will consider what is happening to depend upon the parent asking for the support; the those children who have been statemented. However, support is guaranteed to the child on the basis of the what is he doing to try to speed up the statementing teacher’s assessment. This is what has been available for process to begin with? children in private schools for many years. For the first time, because of our investment and our reform, we will Ed Balls: Just before Christmas, Brian Lamb’s review guarantee the same individual attention and catch-up considered the detail of all those issues. To strengthen support to parents—of whatever class and of whatever the inspection is very important, as is giving parents the income—in our state school system. The only test is right to appeal, but the fact is that there is great variability whether a child has fallen behind and needs extra around the country. In some parts of the country, help—if they have, they will get it. things are done in a speedy and timely way, but the needs of children and their parents are not always being Mr. David Laws (Yeovil) (LD): The Secretary of State put first. We need to shine the spotlight of scrutiny on has just said that these are guarantees that can be relied to children with special educational needs and to ensure upon and he also promised one-to-one tuition. Does he that they get the extra support that they need. We will agree that what is being promised is not one-to-one train 4,000 more dyslexia-trained teachers in the coming tuition, because it is to be provided either one to one or year to ensure that the needs of a child with dyslexia are in small groups? spotted early and that they get the extra help so that they can make progress. Those 4,000 extra dyslexia-trained Ed Balls: It partly depends on the judgment of the teachers cannot be trained if the budget is to be cut in teachers. I would have thought that the hon. Gentleman 2010-11, which is what the Opposition propose. would be willing to join me in wanting to back the professional judgment of teachers and head teachers. Mr. Robert Goodwill (Scarborough and Whitby) (Con): At key stage 2, for years 3, 4, 5 and 6, a child who is not The Secretary of State is aware of the battle that many making progress is guaranteed one-to-one tuition. At parents have to go through to get their children key stage 1, they are guaranteed extra support, which statemented—a battle that middle-class articulate parents could mean one-to-one tuition, small-group tuition or often succeed in. Does he agree that one of the biggest moving at a different pace through key stage 1 problems is that when people move around the country —[Interruption.] If the hon. Gentleman will let me they have to commence that battle again? That is particularly make the point rather than shouting at me, I shall try to a problem for those in armed services who will be answer him. moved from Catterick to Cheltenham to Colchester to At key stage 1, there will be one-to-one or small wherever else, which means that they are perpetually group tuition, or what the teacher decides, and in year 7, engaged in this fight. too, there will be one-to-one or small group tuition depending on what is needed. The test is whether the Ed Balls: That is an important point. Children who support means that the child makes progress and the move around the country are always potentially more cost is that it has to be paid for in order to be delivered. vulnerable and that is why I think that the ContactPoint 433 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 434

[Ed Balls] and it has tended to be the parents who shouted the loudest who have received support. Many parents have database will be very helpful in ensuring that those felt deeply frustrated that they could not get support children do not fall through the cracks. For children in without banging on the door and making a great fuss. armed forces families who move a great deal, this is a That is fundamentally unfair, because it is not right that particular issue. We have now opened the new Wellington those who shout the loudest should get the support, or academy in Wellington, which I hope will become a that one should have to shout loud to get support. If the centre of excellence not just in that part of the south-west Lamb review is properly implemented and properly but across the country for meeting the needs of the resourced, it could make a massive difference to children children of armed forces personnel families—especially, with SEN. I hope that the Select Committee will pay in that case, non-commissioned officers’ families and close attention to how we implement it, because its forces families. I hope that that will be one issue in impetus to progress has been very important in this which the academy will become expert. The hon. matter. Gentleman’s point is well taken and was highlighted by the Lamb review. Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend consider accepting a new clause in the Bill to Mr. Jim Cunningham (Coventry, South) (Lab): Will limit the defence of reasonable punishment, as it exists my right hon. Friend come on to an issue on which in section 58 of the Children Act 2004, to those with many hon. Members have been lobbying? I am sure that parental responsibility? It should not extend to he is well aware of the issues to do with education at teachers in madrassahs or in other religious schools. I home and allegations have been made that the Select mention that at this point because the children who are Committee’s report has not been taken seriously. Will being ill-treated in such schools are often those with he deal with those issues? special needs.

Ed Balls: I will deal with those issues in a moment. Ed Balls: I hear my hon. Friend’s point, and I know Before I do, let me address the issue of guarantees, that she has expertise in this matter. We have dealt with which are clear and are laid out for pupils and parents. some particular cases in the past year or two. The In the vast majority of cases, the guarantees, which we important point to make is that there is not one rule for have published details about today, are a summary of a child in a madrassah and another for a child in a provisions under the existing legislation. In a small school or in any other circumstance. The use of physical number of cases—in relation to one-to-one tuition, a punishment against any child is wrong; it is outside the choice of sciences, strength in home-school agreements law and is not fair to children. I do not think that we and the entitlement to online reporting to parents—the should tolerate any use of physical punishment in any guarantees are new and are being set out in legislation. school or learning setting in which trusted adults are We would expect the vast majority of head teachers and supposed to be looking after children, not abusing teachers to be delivering the guarantees already. If them. issues arise, in the vast majority of cases they will be On home education, I know that this issue will be sorted out by schools, but in a small minority of cases, debated in detail in Committee. The vast majority of as a last resort, there will be a right of redress through home educating parents provide a good education for the local government ombudsman. There will also be a their children, and I am fully committed to the principle right of redress for pupils in academies through the that parents who choose to home educate should be Young People’s Learning Agency. able to do so. It is parents, rather than the state, who are in charge of taking the ultimate decision on how their Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op) rose— children are educated. We think that about 70,000 children Ed Balls: I was going to discuss home education, but are being home educated—often for a variety of reasons I am happy to give way to my hon. Friend. and often to a very high standard by committed parents. Our responsibility is to ensure that not just a large Mr. Sheerman: Before the Secretary of State moves majority, but all of the children who are being home on from special educational needs, may I congratulate educated are safe and are learning properly. It was him on that part of the Bill? He will remember that the because of concerns that had been raised that I asked Select Committee’s report on SEN led to the Lamb Mr. Graham Badman to do his review, which reported report, and we are pleased with all that is happening in in the summer. Following consultation, the Bill makes that regard. Does he remember that it was the patchwork some changes to his recommendations, but accepts the nature of delivery on SEN that was at the heart of the general core principles of his review. The first is that, as problem and the injustice that parents felt? a matter of principle, parents should be allowed to home educate. The second is that they need more support, Ed Balls: My hon. Friend makes a good point. The financial and otherwise, to be able to do so. That may Select Committee’s reports of the past two, three or mean catch-up, one-to-one tuition for children who four years on these matters have been very important. need it, or support regarding the cost of exam fees. He will know that, as part of the Lamb work, we are It is important that we make sure that we know that considering whether arm’s length statementing from all children are safe and are being properly educated. local authorities will be a good idea. However, I must That is why the Bill introduces a new registration scheme say that the Lamb review was more concerned about for home educators, with a duty on local authorities to information flows to parents and the quality of advice identify all home-educated children and to ensure that than about independence, and we are now testing out they are receiving a suitable education. That is vital to that issue. I think that there is a broader point to make: make sure that all home-educated children are safe and children with SEN have tended to be on the periphery, are making progress. It is wrong to see that as an attack 435 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 436 on home education, and those people who try to represent Ed Balls: I hear the point that the hon. Gentleman it as an attack on home education in principle are makes, but with respect, I do not agree at all. The wrong. On that basis, I have to say that I agree with the Badman report sets out the range of reasons why children vast majority of the recommendations and sentiments might be home educated. In some cases, that is because set out in the Children, Schools and Families Committee it is the philosophical view of the parents that they do report on home education. not want their children to be educated in a school, in a class with other children. Often, children are home Mr. Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): educated because of problems that have arisen due to a Should not help be offered, not forced on families? If temporary lack of places, or for reasons to do with the Secretary of State is so enthusiastic about the Select bullying or a special educational need, which means Committee’s report, why not adopt a voluntary scheme? that things have broken down. There is a wide range of Why not increase support for families, without alienating provision. We should not have a one-size-fits-all policy; and antagonising the entire home education community, I completely agree. among whom he will find precious few people who The only obligation in the Bill—it does not say what support the draconian proposals in the Bill? home-educated children are to learn, or set out detailed content—is to make sure that children are safe and are Ed Balls: I do think that we should offer support, learning. That is what the Badman report recommends rather than impose it. In our response to the Badman and what the Bill does. If the hon. Gentleman looks at report, we will offer extensive support to home-educating the detail, and does not listen to the hyperbolic comments parents, which they can choose to take up. made by some Members present—that is opposed to Let me quote the Select Committee: the sensibleness of most of the views in the Select Committee report—he will see that the diversity of the “In our view it is unacceptable that local authorities do not know accurately how many children of school age in their area home education community is being properly respected. are in school, are being home educated or are otherwise not in school.” Mr. David Chaytor (Bury, North) (Lab): Is not the I completely agree with that, but it is not possible for point that we have had a voluntary scheme for years local authorities to know that information unless they and years? Anyone has been able to register and make know where all the children are and whether they are themselves known to their local authority if they want being home educated. I also agree with the Select Committee to, but the majority have not. For those who argue for when it says: the importance of voluntary scheme, we have had one, “We believe that registration would encourage local authorities but it has not worked. That is why we are in such a mess and home educators to recognise that it is to their mutual advantage now: we have no idea about the quality of education of to have a clear record of children who are being…educated.” thousands of children. The Select Committee also says: “the wider evidence that we received illustrated the potential Ed Balls: These would be interesting debates for value of the requirement for annual meetings between home the Committee, and it would be dangerous to allow the educating families and local authority officers for the purpose of Select Committee to repeat its internal debates on the supporting home education provision. We believe that local authorities Floor of the House at this point. But the fact is that a need a guaranteed means of engaging with these families.” voluntary registration system only takes us so far; it It is vital that people in local authorities are properly does not deliver the conclusion of the Select Committee’s trained. The Bill makes it clear that there is no right for report: local authorities should know where those children a local authority to see the child of a home-educating are. In the vast majority of cases, home-educating parents family on their own, without the parents there. There is will want to co-operate fully—this will be very light no such right in the Bill. touch indeed—but in the small minority of cases where I say to the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness things go wrong, there is a balance to be struck between (Mr. Stuart), who is a member of the Select Committee, the rights of the parent and the rights of the child, and that it is not possible for local authorities to know we must ensure as a society that children are safe and where the children are, and that they are safe and are learning. We should not have one rule for children in learning, if they do not know how many there are, and schools, where we have a duty to ensure that they are which homes they are in. We cannot know that without safe and are learning, and another rule for children who a registration scheme. are home-educated, which is that if their parents do not want to tell, no one is obliged to find out; that would Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) not be the right approach. (Con): Does the Secretary of State not understand that the hyper-mobility and hyper-diversity in many of our Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Would not some of the cities means that it is very difficult to have a register of problems with non-registration be helped by the rolling the exact number of children at any one time? To go out of ContactPoint across the country in September? back to his previous point, he made it absolutely clear When the Secretary of State talks about registration, he that home educators—he believes that there are 70,000 also talks about the safety of the child. Would he like to of them, but I think that there are actually rather more define the difference? If such registration happens, should than that—provide education at home for a variety of it not be about the education of the child? Is that not reasons. Does he not see that the Badman report effectively where the real problem lies? People fear local authority takes a one-size-fits-all approach, which is directly opposed bureaucrats, many of whom they would not want to to the fact that there is a whole variety of different look after their children, coming into their homes and reasons why home educators keep their children at telling them what to do about something they know home and educate them there? nothing about. 437 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 438

Ed Balls: I understand my hon. Friend’s point. It is It is important—this will be extensively discussed in really important to get that right in training and guidance. Committee—that the Bill continues the process of A local authority currently, before the Bill becomes an improving confidence in family courts by opening up Act, has a right in law to see a child if it fears that there proceedings in a careful and staged way, with a clear is a child well-being, safety or child protection issue. sunset clause and review before we potentially move to That right already exists, including for home-educated any further opening up beyond the first stage provisions children. The issue is whether they are being educated in the Bill, while ensuring that vulnerable children are and whether they are learning. There is no right in the safeguarded. Bill for a local authority to go in, demand a visit and see children on their own. The vast majority of parents Mr. Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): would be happy to let that happen, but if they choose The Secretary of State spoke earlier about the NSPCC’s not to do so, that is a choice for them. The local support for his plans for home education. Does he authority then has an obligation to ensure that those accept that the NSPCC has reservations about his plans children are safe and are learning, and consequences for opening up the family courts, and that he ought to will then follow from that. But the right to go in and listen to it on that point as well? demand a meeting will not exist for education purposes under the Bill. Ed Balls: Again, it is not possible for us all to agree at all times with every stakeholder who has a view on these Mr. Sheerman rose— matters. The NSPCC, the National Children’s Bureau and others have concerns about opening up the family Ed Balls: I will give way to my hon. Friend, with your courts and have made those concerns clear. On the permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker. He has made one other hand, many people think opening up the family intervention already, but he is the Chairman of the courts is important for our democracy and for the Select Committee and his Committee’s views have been stability and fairness of the courts’ proceedings. We are extensively debated. trying to strike a balance. That is why we will not move further without a clear sunset clause and review provisions. Mr. Sheerman: I am grateful for all the publicity of I hope the issues will be extensively debated in Committee. the Select Committee’s report. Does my right hon. These are Ministry of Justice clauses and it is the expert Friend agree that one problem that the Select Committee in these matters, although we have discussed them in found when we discussed this in great depth—it will be detail because we have a joint responsibility for family discussed seriously again in Committee—is that the policy. We are taking matters forward in a steady and Government propose to have a compulsory register sequenced way, mindful at all times not to put children, with no penalties? We thought, “Why not try it for two particularly vulnerable children, in positions where their years on a voluntary basis? If that does not work, we welfare might be undermined. I think we are getting the move to a system even with penalties.” balance right, but it is a topic that we will discuss in Committee. Given the hon. Gentleman’s knowledge on Ed Balls: I understand my hon. Friend’s point, although these matters and commitment to child welfare, perhaps adding penalties would further inflame the minority of he will be on the Committee and be able to participate home educators who do not like the current provisions in those debates. in the Bill. I do not want to air further the debates about voluntary or compulsory systems; we should discuss John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD) rose— them in Committee. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Ed Balls: I will give way one more time. to Children said in its briefing for today’s debate: “We support the recommendations in Clause 26 and Schedule 1 John Hemming: I thank the Secretary of State for of the Bill to establish a registration scheme for children who are giving way on this point about accountability and educated at home in England. However, it is important that transparency in the family courts. I congratulate the workers who undertake home visits receive specialist training to Government on upsetting those on both sides of the identify possible signs of child abuse or neglect.” debate—the Newspaper Society, by trying to gag people, The NSPCC is right: we need specialist training, but it and the NSPCC with their other proposals. Will the is right to have a registration scheme. With your permission, right hon. Gentleman review the detailed proposals in Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will move on and we can debate the light of all the representations being made? It is those things further in Committee. clear that there is little support for the details of the Government’s proposals. The basis of a world-class education system is also a world-class work force. We now have more than 40,000 more teachers than in 1997, supported by more than Ed Balls: Upsetting those on both sides of an argument 180,000 more teaching assistants. The Bill builds on our is often the best way to get to the right outcome. I hear commitment to a masters-level profession by introducing the hon. Gentleman’s point. This is a Second Reading a new licence to practise similar to other high-status debate. The purpose of the Committee is to allow such professionals, such as doctors and lawyers. scrutiny of the provisions, and I am sure the scrutiny will be robust and thorough, as always. Hopefully, it We also want to ensure that head teachers and teachers will not involve an all-night sitting this time, as on our have the powers and the support that they need to Bill in the previous Session, and we will be able to move tackle bad behaviour. forward consensually. That is why the Bill will also strengthen home-school agreements, so that pupils, parents and schools all fulfil Mr. Graham Stuart: Will the Secretary of State give their responsibilities. way? 439 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 440

Ed Balls: No, I will not. at which I have accelerated the academies programme, A world-class education system is only now within the Bill represents an important but sensible piece of our grasp because of the progress that we have made in deregulation. school improvement. In 1997, more than half of our schools—over 1,600—were not getting to the basic Mr. Purchase: On the point about the ability to run benchmark of 30 per cent. of pupils achieving five good chains of schools, which the Secretary of State has been GCSEs, including English and maths. That has come promoting, I must note that one such chain has been down not just to one in two schools, but to one in debarred from taking on any more schools. Does he 12 schools—from 1,600 schools to just 270. Because of therefore accept that there ought at least to be a default the work that we are doing with schools and local position whereby local authorities can take over an authorities around the country, in our national challenge entire chain and re-establish a proper educational approach and academies programme, our aim is to get that number to such schools? Does he not think that, even at this down to zero by 2011. point, it would be wise to give local authorities the same freedom as universities and other colleges to run an The Bill takes further steps that will help us to back education policy for the schools in their district? school leadership and school improvement, by making the process of establishing an academy easier, by reducing Ed Balls: I understand my hon. Friend’s point, but I bureaucracy so that, like colleges, universities and voluntary do not fully agree, because the 2006 Act, which I aided schools, all academies are guaranteed charitable support and am implementing, was a good piece of status, and by strengthening collaboration between schools legislation that split the commissioning role of the local by updating the role of school improvement partners authority from the providing role of schools. More than and through new accredited education providers, which 50 universities now sponsor academies, and through will include academies, state schools, universities and our academies, through the accreditation of our best FE colleges as well. We are consulting on those provisions. schools and through our universities, we are trying to establish in the state school system good providers who Tom Levitt (High Peak) (Lab): I am grateful to my can take on wider responsibilities. The local authority’s right hon. Friend for giving way. I am not opposed to responsibility is to ensure that when there is a problem, any school having charitable status, whether it be it brings in outside support to make such action happen. independent, state, academy or whatever—the recent debate about public benefit and charities has been We do two different things in the Bill: first, we give helpful in that respect—but why is he bringing back the local authorities the duty to survey parents’ views on status of exempt charities for academies, especially as local schools to see whether there is dissatisfaction and, the Charities Act 2006 effectively brought that status to if there is, to take action; and, secondly, we give local an end? authorities a duty to act if they are concerned about a school, by issuing a warning notice to a school, with the Ed Balls: The reason why is that we now have a large Secretary of State having the power to direct a local number of academies, with the figure heading towards authority to consider that point if it does not take its 400, and the separate and independent regulation of responsibilities seriously. each academy would be bureaucratic for academy sponsors, for accredited schools groups and for the school system. Mr. Chaytor: Before the Secretary of State leaves Some 7,000 voluntary aided faith schools are exempt parental satisfaction surveys, I must note that the Bill from the 2006 Act, and so are many further education describes how their results will have to demonstrate providers and universities. It is clear to me that a school, “material parental dissatisfaction”. Will he give us an funded by the taxpayer to provide free education to example of that? What threshold will have to be passed pupils, is charitable in its purposes, and such institutions before a local authority is required to produce a survey will be regulated by the YoungPeople’s Learning Agency— response plan ? something that the Minister with responsibility for the third sector, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ed Balls: We should discuss in Committee and Basildon (Angela E. Smith), is proposing if the Bill is subsequently the details of how we operate the measure. enacted. An example might be too much homogeneity in a local area, or too much diversity and an insufficient number I know that there are concerns within the Charity of good local schools. The important thing is to ensure Commission about the measure’s wider ramifications, that local authorities listen to the views of parents and but, seen as an education policy, this legislation represents see what is being done to raise standards. That is what a sensible piece of deregulation and a reduction in most local authorities do already, and it is a way of bureaucracy. It will make the system much simpler and ensuring that we are clearly aware of what is going on more streamlined, without every school having to go with children and their learning. through a separate check when the issue is absolutely clear. Rob Marris: In response to my hon. Friend the Member In law, it is also clear that the academy sponsor has to for High Peak (Tom Levitt), the Secretary of State said, be charitable in its standing. So, the academy sponsor in terms, that it did not make sense to have academies will have to be charitable, and the purpose will have to applying school by school, and therefore there would be be free education for children. Such institutions are an exemption on the public benefit for charitable status. clearly charities, and it is much more sensible to undertake Why, therefore, is it the Government’s position to have the process in a streamlined, class-based way, as we do academies negotiating, school by school, terms and with foundation schools, rather than school by school. conditions for their staff rather than going on national The school-by-school approach was fine when we had agreements? If we want a national system for charitable 20 or 30 academies, but—the hon. Member for Surrey status, which I understand, why do we not have a Heath (Michael Gove) will not like this—given the pace national system for pay and conditions in academies? 441 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 442

Ed Balls: Because some academies are innovating in There is also—we have not heard it yet, but I am sure the way that they organise the school term and the that we will in the speech by the hon. Member for school day, and how they provide their provision. All Surrey Heath—a continuing scepticism about whether the information that I have shows that academies are the rise in standards that we have seen over the past more than delivering on the national agreement on 10 years is real or is due to the dumbing down of our terms and conditions of staff. I have said regularly that exams. I say regularly in this House that the introduction if there were clear evidence that they were not doing so, of Ofqual, our independent standards regulator, is a I would be willing to look at it, but so far none has been very important protection against dumbing down and provided to me. Those flexibilities on the curriculum easier exams, but time after time those claims are refuted— and on terms and conditions have been an important although, as we saw in the Queen’s Speech debate on the part of the success of the academies movement, and subject, when I asked the hon. Gentleman a few exam there is widespread support for them. questions on maths and science, he turned out not to know the answers. That is partly because the questions Mr. Sheerman: Will the Secretary of State give way? were quite hard. The question is, though, has he done any revision? Should we allow him to do a retake? Very Ed Balls: Once more. briefly, I have two quick exam questions for him. First, two whole numbers are each between 50 and 70. They Mr. Sheerman: It is an important point; the Secretary multiply— of State will know that Back Benchers can intervene as many times as they like if he is gracious enough to give Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. The Secretary of State way. A very important part of the Bill deals with the has been speaking for nearly an hour. I appreciate that licence to practise as a teacher. Having listened intently he has taken a number of interventions, and this is a to his speech, I do not think that he covered that in any debate after all, but I am not sure that what he is now detail. Was that on purpose, or has he missed it by asking is very relevant to the Bill before us. mistake? Ed Balls: It is relevant to the debate about whether Ed Balls: I said a moment ago that we would legislate standards are rising or falling, but I am happy to return for a licence to practise that would give teachers the to the matter at another time. I have been waiting for same professional standing that there is for doctors and the hon. Gentleman to call an Opposition day debate lawyers. We are discussing with teachers and head teachers on education for the past two years, and since the first the details of how that will operate, and the Bill provides three months, when we had two, we have not had a a framework power to introduce it. It is essential to single one. It is frustrating that I almost never get a ensure not only that we match professional development chance to ask him any of these questions in the House. and support for teachers with a light-touch way of I conclude by considering statements that have been operating it for the vast majority, but that we are clear made about education visions in recent years. There is a that where there is underperformance there is an obligation debate about whether we should drive school standards on the school to ensure that bad teaching is addressed. up and tackle underperforming schools by stepping in We are starting to introduce the licence to practise in with extra support and extra powers in the national September with newly qualified teachers and returning challenge programme, as we are, or whether we should teachers who have been out of the profession for some stand back and have what is called the Swedish model. time. Our aim, over time, is for it to apply to all That allows a more market-based approach, and the qualified teachers. Some people have expressed Opposition advocate it. It is important that we debate concerns—on one side of the argument, that it will be those different approaches in considering the Bill. too heavy-handed and therefore make life difficult for teachers, and on the other that it will be too light touch We were told two years ago that, according to the and will not ensure that there is sufficient action in the shadow Secretary of State: small minority of cases where teaching is substandard. “If we had Swedish-style reforms there is every reason to We need to get the balance right. We will have to discuss believe that we would have up to 3,000 new schools”. that in detail, and the views of the Children, Schools Two weeks later he went further, saying that up to 5,000 and Families Committee would be very welcome. new private schools would be funded by the taxpayer There is an alternative vision, some of which we under his plans. However, last June The Sunday Times heard about earlier in the regular interventions by the reported that senior Opposition figures thought the shadow schools spokesman, and which stretches across policy was unworkable and that the shadow Secretary several different areas of the Bill. On catch-up support, of State’s claim of 3,000 new schools was “totally there is a refusal to match our guarantees to primary unrealistic”. In fact, in the—[Interruption.] school and year 7 pupils. On qualifications and the curriculum, there is a commitment to scrapping the Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. I am sure that the Secretary national curriculum. On teachers and head teachers, of State can reassure the House about where the building there is a promise to end key stage 2 tests and to break of schools appears in the Bill. promises on pay and conditions. On school improvements, there is a policy of removing the role of local authorities Ed Balls: The point is that there are two different and expecting parents to have the time and know-how approaches to driving school improvement. We can do to set up their own schools or to get private sector firms it either through the mechanisms and powers set out in to come in to run schools and make profits while other the Bill or through a free market free-for-all, abolishing schools are allowed to wither or decline, and watching powers and, as we heard in the Queen’s Speech debate, as some young people are relegated to a second-class bringing in companies that are encouraged to be profit- education. making and drive the system in a different direction. 443 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 444

Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes) (Lab): I assume that the that other members of the Cabinet are not here to play Secretary of State is also interested in profit-making in the quiz that they most enjoy with the Secretary of State schools, but profit-making in terms of the “so what” and have the opportunity to say, “You are the weakest factor—the added value, dividends and benefits that link.” come to youngsters through their experience, and the After the events of last week, may I say what a added professional development of teachers. pleasure it is for all Conservative Members to see the Secretary of State still in his place? We are all delighted Ed Balls: My hon. Friend is completely right. That is that he has enjoyed a high profile in recent days and the difference. Do we have a market-based mechanism, look forward to his playing an even more prominent with some schools withering on the vine while others role in the campaign ahead—or should that be expand, or do we drive school improvement by the “campaigns”? As well as wanting him to play as a big a measures in the Bill? It contains clear guarantees to role as possible in the general election campaign, I parents and pupils, a decent licence to practise so that greatly hope that he will play as big a role as possible in professional standards are maintained, and more power any leadership campaigns that follow it. We assure him and independence for head teachers to drive up standards of our enthusiastic support. in their schools, backed by the active support of parents in home-school agreements. That is what we have set I suspect that the Bill, whether it is passed or not, will out in the Bill. end up being the Secretary of State’s monument. Balfour’s monument was the Education Act 1902, which established It will not be possible to deliver the guarantees and a universal system of local education provision. Rab reforms in the Bill unless the money is available to pay Butler’s monument was the Education Act 1944, which for them. I made it clear in response to interventions at established universal free secondary provision. Lord the beginning of my speech that with me, school spending Baker of Dorking’s monument was the Education Reform would rise this year, next year and the year after, but Act 1988, which gave effect to the principles of parental that with the Opposition, it would be cut next year, the choice, transparent assessment, diversity in the state after and the year after that. As the shadow Chancellor system and greater freedom for individual schools. As has made clear, their priority is not school spending or the Secretary of State’s monument, the Bill seeks to one-to-one catch-up support but an inheritance tax cut establish in law one of his highest priorities—a goal that for 3,000 of the richest millionaires. That is the choice. he pursues with restless zeal; indeed, it is his motivation Our vision in the Bill is a world-class education system for being in public office: drawing dividing lines. with excellence and opportunity for all, not just some. That is the choice, and that is what the Bill guarantees, Even before he was in the Cabinet, when he was a and I commend the Bill to the House. Back Bencher, doubtless leading the fight against any attempt on the Back Benches to organise against the Several hon. Members rose— incumbent leader, he told the New Statesman that he wanted to “get back” to dividing lines on education Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Before I call the next with the Conservatives. That was his highest priority—not hon. Member to speak, I remind the House that helping the poorest, raising standard or supporting Mr. Speaker has selected the amendment standing in professionals, but drawing a dividing line. I do not feel the name of the Liberal Democrats. personally affronted by that. The Secretary of State cannot meet anyone outside his immediate family without wanting to draw dividing lines between them. Perhaps 5.19 pm he is right and the rest of us—all of us—are wrong. Michael Gove (Surrey Heath) (Con): May I first Perhaps he is the Galileo of education policy—uniquely associate myself with the comments of the Secretary of and brilliantly insightful while all around him is mediaeval State about the former Member for North-West darkness and error. However, on the Bill, I am happy to Leicestershire? We all miss him from his accustomed be on the other side of the argument. The debate at the place on the back row of the Government green Benches. heart of the measure is, as the right hon. Gentleman He was a good, kind and generous man, a fantastic says, about how one drives up standards in schools. constituency Member of Parliament, a grammar school boy, who never lost the love of learning—I benefited Liz Blackman: It would be helpful to me and others if personally from his wise advice throughout my time in the hon. Gentleman got on with his argument and the House. He will be sorely missed and I should like, on started mentioning children. behalf of Conservative Members, to associate myself with every word that the Secretary of State said. We Michael Gove: My first comments paid tribute to a would like to send our best wishes to his widow and his Member of the House, now departed, who devoted his four lovely daughters. life to the cause of education. I want to draw a clear May I also associate myself with the Secretary of picture of the philosophical divide, which governs how State’s comments about the success of so many providers children will be educated, between the Secretary of of information technology in showcasing their wares in State and Conservative Members. our schools and, more broadly, in education in England, What is the answer when we consider how to improve Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales? I am delighted education? Is it more and more central prescription, that so many Ministers and individuals from abroad regulation, bureaucracy, avenues for litigation, compliance have come to admire what is happening, not only in costs, supervisory audits, paperwork and time spent ICT but more broadly in educational innovation. out of the classroom on administration? That is the I am sorry that we did not have an opportunity to see Government’s way under this Secretary of State. However, the Secretary of State play Magnus Magnusson again perhaps the answer is that it is better to trust professionals and demonstrate what a mastermind he is. What a pity more, to support more diversity and greater pluralism, 445 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 446

[Michael Gove] unlike at the moment, when those who have a third can move into teaching. We have also explicitly said that and to give parents more choice and schools more people should not be teaching in primary schools if freedom—in short, to move in the direction that was set they have anything less than a grade B pass at GCSE out in Tony Blair’s education White Paper of 2005 maths and English. Both measures would raise the bar rather than the White Paper of 2009. on entry to the teaching profession and ensure that those teaching in our schools are better qualified than Hilary Armstrong (North-West Durham) (Lab) rose— they are at the moment. Teachers in our schools now are better qualified than Michael Gove: Which of those approaches the right teachers in the past, and I take this opportunity to hon. Lady supports will be of great interest to me. underline, and pay tribute to, the quality of the teaching Hilary Armstrong: I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman profession. will come back to what will drive up standards in education, which is improving, beyond what we had Mr. Chaytor: Will the Secretary of State give way? ever thought possible, the quality of teaching. Will he commit to seeking to ensure, through other measures in Michael Gove: I think the hon. Gentleman is being a the Bill and some that he has suggested, that we attract little bit previous and premature—I am not actually the people from the top 10 per cent. of graduates in this Secretary of State—but I am delighted to give way. country to the teaching profession? Mr. Chaytor: I am very grateful to the shadow Secretary Michael Gove: I could not agree more with the right of State for giving way. If he believes in professional hon. Lady—I have often agreed with her arguments and autonomy, why does it remain his policy to tell teachers she makes an impeccable argument now. One point that exactly which method they should use to teach children I have consistently made in four of my five most recent to read? speeches is the pressing need to attract and retain more highly talented people in education. I believe that many Michael Gove: My approach is that there should be of the provisions in the Bill, because they bureaucratise no hiding place for schools that fail to teach children to the profession rather than trust professionals, will leave read properly. We all know that evidence points to the many highly gifted and talented people saying, “I do success of systematic synthetic phonics, and teachers not want to go into a profession where the Secretary of who wish to follow that method will be supported—I State tells me, to the most minute detail, how I should hope—by those on both sides of the House. However, if perform this task, because that robs me of the professional teachers wish to follow other routes, they should have autonomy that I have a right to expect as someone who the freedom to do so—they do so in Steiner and Montessori enjoys the top level of training,” to which the right hon. schools with some measure of success—but the crucial Lady alluded. thing is that we would introduce a test to ensure that I completely agree with the right hon. Lady. The every child who can is reading by an appropriate age. reports produced by McKinsey and others demonstrate that the single most important thing we could do to Lindsay Roy: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? improve the quality of education is improve teaching quality. The organisations that are most devoted to Michael Gove: I will not at the moment. improving teacher quality, such as Teach First, Teaching The one consistent complaint I hear when I talk to Leaders, and Future Leaders, are opposed to the teachers, heads, governors, academy sponsors, parents, bureaucratisation of our education system under the local authorities, and indeed anyone involved in approach of the current Secretary of State. education—it is voiced most loudly by the most successful— is this: “We face too much bureaucracy.” Therefore, I rose— Hilary Armstrong approach any attempt to pile additional bureaucracy on Michael Gove: I sense that the right hon. Lady is the educational system with scepticism. Why? I do so straining at the bit, so I am happy to allow her to because we know that systems work well when they are come in. built on trust. That is the principle for Cabinet government and the principle for success in any school, and it is also Hilary Armstrong: Those organisations are not opposed the principle that should animate our entire education to things such as licensing, because we have to know system. We know that trust depends on respecting that teachers in front of classes are actually doing what autonomy. We recognise that education depends crucially they should be doing. The reality is that simply saying, on great teachers and superb school leaders. We want a “We’re not going to have any concern over what is done culture in education where the craft of teaching is locally,” which is what the hon. Gentleman is doing, respected and the professional status of heads and would leave teaching to whoever wants to do it and take teachers is enhanced at every stage. That is why we the quality out. We have to improve the quality, not oppose many of the provisions in the Bill. reduce it. I know that the Secretary of State will say that, in opposing the Bill, we are opposing any help of any kind Michael Gove: The right hon. Lady is presumably for pupils falling behind, and that we are against all unaware of the fact that the Conservatives have consistently cultural and sporting activity—indeed, that we are for argued that we should raise the bar on entry to the deep and invincible ignorance, while he is for a new age teaching profession, and that we should restrict taxpayer of enlightenment and goodness. It does not matter funding of postgraduate certificates in education to much what we say or do, because the Secretary of State those who have at least a lower second-class degree, has his script written anyway. 447 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 448

The Secretary of State has argued that we are in the United Kingdom Parliament and he has a perfect favour of closing Sure Start centres, when we want right to question me, but my hon. Friend makes a valid more people to go to more of them. He has argued that point. As the provisions relate specifically to England, we would abolish key stage 2 tests, when we want more and in some respects also to Wales, it is appropriate that rigour and greater transparency. He has argued that we we should restrict our comments to those areas. I myself are against people staying on in education, when it is am a proud Scot, but I represent English constituents in our goal to raise participation beyond the current level. this United Kingdom Parliament. I am sure that between now and the election we will hear more of the same from the Secretary of State, with his characteristic machismo. However, given the Tom Levitt: I should tell the hon. Gentleman that transparently political nature of the Bill, you will forgive teaching today is an awful lot better than it was when I me, Mr. Deputy Speaker, if I decline to play the political was a teacher—and not only a teacher, but an officer in game, and instead insist on scrutinising what lies before the NUT, when our policy was: “The answer’s no. Now us and say that I am afraid that it does not pass muster. what’s the question?”We opposed the national curriculum and many of the things that his party introduced during Lindsay Roy: In what ways does the licence to practise the 1990s. So is the NUT right on everything? inhibit empowerment and autonomy among staff? Surely it encourages professionals to develop their skills to Michael Gove: I applaud the hon. Gentleman’s the full. contribution to improving our children’s education by retiring as a teacher, leaving the profession and coming Michael Gove: The hon. Gentleman will already be into this House. I hope that we will have an opportunity aware, as a distinguished head teacher who did a brilliant at the next election to allow him to spend more time job, that new performance management guidelines were devoting himself to improving education by whatever introduced before any discussion of the licence to teach. means he considers appropriate. [HON.MEMBERS: “He is Those guidelines are relatively recent and have met with standing down anyway.”] I pay tribute to the hon. the approval of all the professional teacher associations, Gentleman’s many years of distinguished public service most conspicuously the Association of School and College and look forward to collaborating with him in whatever Leaders, the trade union that speaks for head teachers role he takes on, in what I hope will be a long and happy such as him. The ASCL has pointed out that there is retirement. absolutely no need to inaugurate a licence to teach in order to usher in better continuous professional I want to look at the provisions in the Bill as they development. Indeed, the National Union of Teachers, affect schools and education, and explain our concerns. the union that represents the greatest number of teachers I want first to look at the pupil and parent guarantees. in our schools, has argued that the continuous professional The Government want to make it a legal obligation on development of its members is not helped in any way by schools to deliver a range of outcomes, which are spelt the licence to teach. Having listened to the professionals out in quite prescriptive detail in the schools White on that, I recognise that the hon. Gentleman has a Paper and subsequently revised today. They range from conflict of loyalty, as both a head teacher and a loyal a guarantee of small group tuition for those who have Back Bencher. However, if he is prepared to listen to not reached the accepted stage of literacy or numeracy fellow professionals, rather than to his colleagues who in year 7—the first year of secondary school—to a are temporarily in the Whips Office, he will see that guarantee of access to high-quality cultural activities none of them has any faith in the licence to teach as a for all pupils, with an aspiration, not a guarantee, that means of improving standards. that should reach five hours a week for all. Almost everything suggested in the guarantees is Lindsay Roy rose— desirable, and, in many cases, good schools are already delivering beyond what is to be demanded, as the Secretary Michael Gove: Have another go. of State acknowledged. However, some of the schools that are doing the most to drive up standards, especially Lindsay Roy: With due respect, the hon. Gentleman for those in need, have been able to do so by reducing indicated earlier that the licence to practise inhibited the degree of central prescription and bureaucracy to autonomy. which they have to pay heed, as the Secretary of State also acknowledged later in his speech. Those schools Michael Gove: I merely pointed out that the licence to have not raised standards through submitting to tighter practise seems to add no benefit. Indeed, the body that and tighter regulation; quite the opposite. will be responsible for policing it if the Bill passes into I am referring, of course, to academy schools. When law, the General Teaching Council, has pointed out they were established, they were set free from local exactly the same. bureaucratic control, and from the national curriculum, specifically so that they could attend to the needs of the Mr. Mark Field: I was interested to hear the most poorest. That is why we backed them so strongly, and recent exchange, but perhaps my hon. Friend could tell why we are now in the vanguard of the movement me precisely how many Glenrothes constituents the calling for an extension of the principles behind their hon. Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy) represents success. The former Minister for Schools and Learners, on educational matters. the right hon. Member for South Dorset (Jim Knight), has argued that academies need to respond innovatively Michael Gove: I think that that was an intervention to the huge challenges that they face. He argued that on me, but I recognise my hon. Friend’s point. The hon. they needed to be outside greater bureaucratic control, Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy) is a Member of because they needed increased flexibility to meet their 449 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 450

[Michael Gove] pupils are falling behind in year 7 but not when they are doing so in years 4, 5 or 6? There might well be an specific challenges. It is by operating outside bureaucratic answer to that question— control that they have raised standards more quickly than other schools— Mr. Laws: Let’s hear it!

Mr. Purchase indicated dissent. Michael Gove: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. So far, however, answers come there none. Michael Gove: The hon. Gentleman will probably be grateful to know that academies have been raising their Mr. Purchase: I really wanted to talk about academies, level of attainment at GCSE at twice the rate of other but if we ask that question, we find a great body of state schools. Some of the best academies in chains such education theory and practice that shows that, at an as the Harris group and ARK have been raising attainment older age, children respond better one-to-one and that, at an even greater rate. In that respect, I am delighted to at a younger age, they often respond better in small support Government policy, but I look forward to groups. That is the theory behind what the Secretary of hearing him attack it. State is saying.

Mr. Purchase: Of course we can use statistics in this Michael Gove: If the hon. Gentleman is right, that is way, but the truth is that those academies that have the exact opposite of what the Government are proposing. improved at a faster rate have been matched by the They are proposing one-to-one tuition for younger pupils other secondary schools in their boroughs. That shows between the ages of 7 and 11, and small group tuition that there is nothing particularly special about academies. for the older ones at 12 and 13. Now I would be very interested to hear any case that the Secretary of State or the Minister for Schools and Learners might make in Michael Gove: That is not entirely true. Committee, but no case has been made to explain that distinction. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Does the hon. Gentleman There is also a guarantee of five hours of high-quality feel that the removal of academies from the democratic PE and sport, but the guarantee on cultural activity process is a step forward or a step back? How is it that contains only an “aspiration” that there should be five parents have less say in the running of academies than hours of it. Once again, why that distinction? Why in the running of state schools? guarantee five hours of sport, but have only an aspiration for five hours of cultural activity? Michael Gove: I reject that view; I think that those parents have more say. They can vote with their feet, as Mr. Laws: The hon. Gentleman is being too generous. the Secretary of State pointed out in his Cass lecture The guarantee on sport is only for “access” to five last year. Parents have more control over their children’s hours, not a proper guarantee of five hours. education, and they have more choice, enabling their children to attend a school that more accurately reflects Michael Gove: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman their needs, as a result of academies increasing the for pointing out how loosely framed this guarantee is. diversity of their provision. Perhaps it was supposed to be iron-cast or cast iron, but Many of these academies—including Mossbourne it does not seem to be particularly robust. community academy and Burlington Danes—are able There is also a guarantee in the White Paper on to help students who are falling behind, precisely because out-of-school activities. Schools are supposed to guarantee they are free to depart from the national curriculum. a list of activities, which Both of those schools arrange intensive catch-up work—of “may include study support, play/recreation, sport, music clubs, the kind that the Secretary of State lauds—throughout arts and crafts and other special interest clubs, and business and year 7, but the only reason that they have been able to enterprise activities”. do so is that their heads and teachers have pioneered Which of those activities in that list have to be offered that approach outside the demands that had been placed for the guarantee to be delivered—all or just a proportion on them centrally. of them? What proportion? Is the list exclusive? Are Given that professionals have pioneered those there other after-school activities that, if offered, would innovations, why does the Secretary of State believe count towards the guarantee? Would the scouts count that more bureaucracy is always the answer? Is it really or the boys brigade? I mention them because they are right to prescribe everything in such minute, and sometimes not special-interest but generalist clubs. conflicting, detail from the centre? Why is it right, as the The reason I ask about prescription in such detail is hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) also asked, to insist that the Secretary of State decided to prescribe in such on one-to-one tuition at key stage 2, for those who are detail. These are not just vague aspirations that it would falling behind at primary level, but to accept that small good to have; they are not just expectations that he is group tuition is sufficient for those in the first year of laying down as a political hope that he will fund; they key stage 3 who are still falling behind at secondary are not even matters inspectable by Oftsted, which school? Why should not those pupils have an entitlement might lead a school into special measures if they are not to one-to-one tuition as well? When the Secretary of provided. They are legal guarantees—far stronger than State was asked about this earlier, he said that it was a any of the other obligations placed on schools. If a matter of professional judgment. Why is it his judgment school breaks this guarantee, it will presumably be that professionals should have that discretion when breaking the law. 451 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 452

We need precision, which is wholly absent from anything Let me ask the hon. Gentleman a specific question. the Secretary of State has provided, in order to ensure We will make a guarantee on one-to-one tuition at key that head teachers and people who work in schools and stage 2, and next September, we will guarantee every local authorities do not live in fear of litigation. If school leaver a school, college or apprenticeship place. schools do not provide all these services, they can be Will the hon. Gentleman match those guarantees? That taken to the local government ombudsman and if things is the nub of the issue. Can he guarantee that the are not resolved satisfactorily, they could end up in provision will be for all, or will it be just for the few? court. Is it really the best use of a head teacher’s time to seek to ensure that every single one of these guarantees Michael Gove: I look forward to hearing the right is met in the prescribed way that the Secretary of State hon. Gentleman spell out the source of the funding of lists, absolutely to the letter—or potentially end up in those guarantees in more detail than he has hitherto. court? That cannot be right. We still do not know how much he has secured as a In many ways, I could not admire some of these result of the polite and temperate negotiations in which guarantees more—the aspiration to ensure that every he indulged in during the prelude to the pre-Budget child who can studies triple science, for example—but report. We do not know the exact global sum for the should heads be in the dock if the school they run schools budget, and we do not know what precise part cannot supply the necessary tuition because the funds of it will increase. I should be delighted if he would be have not been supplied either by the local authority or kind enough to let me know those figures. Perhaps we the Secretary of State? Should they be held responsible could have a private meeting to discuss the issue. for that failure? Schools already face a formidable Ed Balls: The hon. Gentleman began his speech by bureaucratic burden under the current system of Ofsted saying that he wanted to get down to the truth of the inspection—a system that we would make more light issue. Now, once again, we have been confronted by touch. Failure can be fatal to the careers of heads, but scripted evasion. I am being absolutely clear: we will now we risk piling on another level of responsibility guarantee a school, college or apprenticeship place for backed up by legal sanctions. I do not believe that that every 16-year-old this September. The hon. Gentleman is fair. I am all in favour of sharper challenge, greater has a chance to say—in this House, in public—and transparency and better accountability, but I am not in confirm that he would guarantee the necessary funds. I favour of putting the fear of even more litigation into have guaranteed them; will he match that guarantee? the hearts of our teachers. Bob Russell: May I take the hon. Gentleman back to Michael Gove: The right hon. Gentleman has not transparency and academies? Will he look at a series of guaranteed anything of the kind. During the debate on parliamentary questions I put about the Academies the Loyal Address, we discovered that the places of Enterprise Trust, which strikes me as being a business? some 50,000 of those who were currently in sixth forms Does he agree that an organisation that is trying to or training places had not been funded by the right hon. pluck up all the schools in Essex, Twickenham, the Isle Gentleman. We discovered that in order to fund their of Wight and Suffolk, for example, is a business rather places in a number of colleges¸ he was insisting on than an educational institution, particularly when it is reducing the per-student cost. He claimed that there run from an office on an industrial estate next to would be economies of scale. Which is it to be—extra Hockley railway station? spending or economies of scale at college level? I should be really interested if the right hon. Gentleman Michael Gove: I know the hon. Gentleman is an would spell out exactly what he means by schools indefatigable campaigner when it comes to schooling in funding, and how it has increased. In a number of Essex, but I also know that the Academies Enterprise recent interviews, he has referred to overall increases in Trust is responsible for the Greensward school in Essex, education funding. When I asked him a couple of which is an outstanding school in every respect. I look questions earlier, he revealed, I think for the first time, forward to further debates with him in Committee that funding for the Training and Development Agency about the ramifications of the legislation and its effect for Schools and the National College for Leadership of on the Academies Enterprise Trust. All I would say now Schools and Children’s Services would now be cut, is that I know that the people responsible for Greensward which meant that education funding overall would be have done a fantastic job, and I suspect that they might cut. Perhaps he would like to reassure the people well do a fantastic job elsewhere. who run those organisations that their funding will not The heart of our division or the essence of our be cut. dividing line is that I do not know of a problem in Again, I should be interested to know the precise education to which the answer is ever more lawyers. I cash sum that will go to schools—exactly how much it am not aware of a single child who has been taught to is, in terms of billions and millions—by how much it read better, or to love learning, by the local government will increase, and which specific budget lines will increase ombudsman. Teachers make the difference, and they as a result. deserve better than the approach in this Bill. Ed Balls rose— Ed Balls: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Michael Gove: Delighted. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Before the Secretary of State attempts to intervene again, I remind the House, Ed Balls: I think we established during my speech and the Front Benches in particular, that this is not a that we want these to be guarantees for all pupils and all general debate on education or even the financing of parents, not just for some pupils in some schools. I can education. It is a debate specifically about the Second guarantee funding next year to pay for them, and the Reading of the Bill that is before us, and the clock is still hon. Gentleman cannot. ticking. 453 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 454

Michael Gove: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker—and declines to sign, they cannot be held to the obligations I am happy to give way to the Secretary of State. that they have not agreed to. Also, if parents know that they can decline to sign and can face no sanctions, why Ed Balls: This will be my last intervention, Mr. Deputy should they sign—and especially because everything Speaker. they are alleged to want is guaranteed by law anyway by To fund our guarantee for school leavers next September, the Secretary of State? the Chancellor allocated £650 million in the Budget and One of the Secretary of State’s other wheezes for a further £200 million in the pre-Budget report. That involving parents is to have parental surveys. I am very extra funding means that I can give the guarantee that is keen on surveys on education. There was one in The enshrined in the Bill. We have seen time and time again Sunday Telegraph this weekend that pointed out that that the hon. Gentleman cannot make that guarantee, David Cameron is trusted more than Gordon Brown by because he is not allowed to. He has been told by his some 12 percentage points to improve this country’s party’s shadow Chancellor, the hon. Member for Tatton education. (Mr. Osborne), that in 2010-11 the budget will not increase but will be cut. That is the difference between us. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will in future remember to use the correct Michael Gove: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman terminology for addressing Members of this House. for evading the question again. We do not know where that £650 million will come from. Given that, according Michael Gove: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Let to the Chancellor, the Department’s overall budget is to me therefore repeat that my right hon. Friend the Member be cut, and given that the budgets for the National for Witney (Mr. Cameron) is trusted by many more College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services parents to improve education than the Prime Minister is. and the TDA are to be cut, presumably the extra As I understand it, the survey the Secretary of State funding for the September guarantee will come from proposes is for the parents of children in year 5 to be other parts of the right hon. Gentleman’s own budget. asked whether they are happy with the provision of [Interruption.] “Wriggling” is the word that I would use secondary schools in their area. If a certain number of for what the right hon. Gentleman is doing. He is the parents—the required number is as yet unspecified, as person who spends his entire time boasting about—forgive the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) pointed me; advertising—his position on spending in a variety out—say they are unhappy, the local authority has to of newspaper interviews, and he is the person who produce a response, although no time scale is specified. explained in The Sunday Times that he would be funding If the local authority produces such a report addressing improvements in education by sacking 3,000 head teachers. the complaints of dissatisfied parents and then a number I should be interested to know whether he is still committed of parents—again the required number is unspecified— to that policy. Perhaps we shall find out in Committee. object, the local authority has to put its report to a I said earlier that we wanted to move away from a schools adjudicator. If the schools adjudicator finds culture in which bureaucracy runs what happens in our against the local authority, the local authority has to schools to one in which we trust professionals more. We come back with a new report—although, again, the know that one of the reasons why professionals need time scale is not specified—and so the process continues. more backing is the poor behaviour—the constant The local authority must ultimately implement plans, barracking and low-level conversation—[Laughter]—that unless it considers them to be unreasonable, in which they often face when attempting to bring enlightenment case I suspect the courts will once again be called in to to the laggardly. One of the proposed instruments is define exactly what is reasonable. home school agreements. We have long argued that they Let us imagine that a local authority goes through should be strengthened, and provisions in the Bill may this process and that that all happens within a year, and open the door to some improvement in this regard. I it then seeks to implement its plans only to find that the again have concerns, however. The Secretary of State next cohort of parents of children in year 5 takes a appears to want home school agreements to be drawn completely different view of education provision. What up as individualised contracts for every pupil in the happens then? Do we go through the same process all school, for them to be drawn up every year, and in some over again? Which group of parents is sovereign? Again, cases for individualised contracts to be drawn up differently all the Secretary of State is proposing is a hugely for each of the parents of a pupil and then redrawn bureaucratic process whose only certain beneficiary is every year. Is that not another potentially immense the legal profession. bureaucratic burden? The Association of School and College Leaders has pointed out that rewriting potentially Earlier, in response to remarks made by the right thousands of home school contracts every year will hon. Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong), once again take school leaders’ time away from teaching I mentioned my concerns about the licence to teach. and leading their institutions. There is a basic question that we all, particularly the Secretary of State, must answer: what value does this More than that, is not the whole point of a home add? Bureaucratic bodies very rarely resist the accretion school agreement to spell out what the school expects of of extra powers to themselves, but the body charged every parent and pupil? Is not the whole point to assert with administering this new obligation—the General a common ethos—a comprehensive spirit that is the Teaching Council—has signalled profound concern about mark of that school, and to which all pupils are expected the additional powers it has been asked to accept. It to subscribe? says that it would be a challenge to develop a system There is also the question of what happens if parents that has sufficient rigour to make a positive impact decline to sign the contract. I understand that under while remaining proportionate and not unduly burdensome. current law no parent can be forced to sign. If a parent It also points out that many teachers are sceptical about 455 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 456 the practical benefits that can be secured, and interpret Within the report card, there will be a variety of the initiative as another burden on them and their different ingredients, but what weight will be given to schools. The GTC specifically worries that any message each of them? In assessing the overall grade, what about trusting professionals would be difficult to weight will be given to the attainment tables, to value-added communicate when they see this as simply something and to contextual value-added? Given that the report additional layered on to the many existing mechanisms card is supposed also to measure such things as well-being to which they are subject. and parental satisfaction, what weight will be given to It is vital that we enhance the prestige of teaching them? What weight will be given to the quality of a and the esteem in which it is held, but I am not sure how school’s relationship with other schools in framing the that can be done simply through a process of bureaucratic overall grade? certification. The answer is to raise the bar for entry to The answer is not to have a bureaucrat assessing an the profession and to improve continuous professional overall grade on a basket of measures that they decide. development, but the Bill contains no measures to The answer is to retain and improve league tables, with achieve either of those aims, as both the professional a focus on academic attainment, and to ensure that, associations I mentioned earlier—the National Union using sophisticated technology that is increasingly available, of Teachers and the ASCL—have pointed out. parents have the opportunity to develop their own ways of comparing schools in lots of different fashions, all of Mr. Graham Stuart: Does my hon. Friend agree that which will allow them to find the education and school head teachers should better be able to monitor the that are right for them. teachers on their staff in order to support them and bring them up to standard, and, if necessary, to remove Still on the subject of finding the right school, one of from the profession those who are not of a sufficient the most controversial issues is home education, as we standard—an action that too rarely happens nowadays? know from earlier debate. Although I wish to discuss That is what we need, not the complex, bureaucratic this, I shall do so very briefly as it will certainly be and expensive system the Secretary of State proposes. debated at length in Committee. I am deeply concerned about the additional bureaucratic burden that will now Michael Gove: As ever, my hon. Friend makes his potentially be placed on thousands of our fellow citizens point succinctly and well, and I cannot improve on his whose only crime is to want to devote themselves as intervention. We should introduce the sorts of changes fully as possible to their children’s education. It is a he mentions. basic right of parents to be able to educate their children Along with improving the accountability of the in accordance with their own wishes, and to educate professionals, we should improve the accountability of them at home if they so wish. There may be many schools overall. That is why I am a supporter of reformed reasons why parents take that decision: they might be league tables, and why I am concerned about the Bill’s dissatisfied with local provision; their child might have proposals on the school report card. One of the great a specific educational need that they feel can be better things about league tables at their best is that they supported at home; or they might have philosophical shine a light on those schools—very often in disadvantaged objections to the style of education on offer at the local circumstances—that are dramatically exceeding state schools that are easily accessible. Each of these expectations, and the rest of us can learn from what decisions can sometimes be illuminating, in that they those superb schools are doing. We can look at those can tell us what is wrong with current provision—there schools that have challenging intakes and yet exceed the might be a lack of diversity, for instance. Ultimately national average and say, “In this particular institution, however, this is a basic human right that every parent there are leaders and teachers who are doing a superb should have, and I feel the Bill erodes that right, because, job, and we wish what they are doing to be more widely as I read it, it allows the state to terminate the right of a applied elsewhere.”Having that combination of professional family to educate a child at home if the education autonomy and accountability—rigorous, clear, transparent, offered is not deemed suitable according to regulations data-led accountability—is very important. that the Secretary of State writes. I fear that we may be moving away from a process that, although it has some flaws, provides a measure of Mr. Stuart: I wonder whether my hon. Friend is clarity, towards something that is at once both fuzzier aware that New Zealand introduced a similar licensing and more bureaucratic. The Government want their and monitoring system a number of years ago but last new school report card to supersede the attainment year gave it up on the grounds that it was a waste of league tables as the principal accountability measure, time and money. Have the Government learned nothing but it is unclear how these school report cards will from the foreign experience of this system? work. There is supposed to be an overall grade, but that grade may conflict with an Ofsted report measure. It is Michael Gove: It seems that the Government have unclear who will assess the grade a school is to be given. learned very little; indeed, I believe that the report on Will Ofsted be responsible for that, or the Department? which their recommendations are based was described If the Department is responsible, will there not be a by one member of the expert group called in to help us perverse incentive for it—no matter how incorruptible as one of the most rushed, flawed and populist exercises its Ministers—to ensure that every year more schools with which he had ever been involved. I know that the are seen to be succeeding? One of the problems with the Secretary of State bears no malice towards home education, report card introduced in New York is that the proportion so I hope that in Committee he and the Minister for of schools classified as good or excellent is now some Schools and Learners will do their best to address the 80 per cent. of the total. That is precisely because of many legitimate concerns. I do not know of any home that tendency to level-up purely in terms of how schools educating parent who supports these provisions. I, like are reported—not in terms of what they are actually almost every Member of this House, have been inundated achieving. by correspondence, telephone calls and e-mails from, 457 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 458

[Michael Gove] at the right time in the right way, they can lose the right to educate their own child. A draconian extension of and had private meetings with, home educating parents state power is potentially made possible by this Bill, who are deeply concerned about this legislation, because which is why all my hon. Friends will be working hard it undermines the right of a family who have broken no in Committee to ensure that we can find a consensus on laws and placed no child in danger to decide what is in this sensitive area, so that the rights of home educating the interests of their child. parents are respected and we do not fundamentally As the debate on home education has developed, I erode their liberties. have become particularly worried about the way in which various issues have been conflated; I am especially Mr. Laws: I share some of the concerns that the hon. worried about the conflation of safeguarding and child Gentleman has outlined. Is it his party’s position that protection with quality of education. I deeply regret the the existing regulation of home education should be left way statistics have been used to suggest somehow that unchanged, or does he foresee the need to make some children are intrinsically at greater risk if they are being changes? home educated; I believe I am right in saying that not a single home-educated child has had to be taken into Michael Gove: I do foresee the need to make some care as a result of a child protection plan, yet there are changes. I do not believe that the current system is those who have sedulously spread the myth that somehow perfect, but it is fundamentally important that we respect children are at greater risk through being home educated. the rights of home educators first and that we ensure that any change to legislation is conducted in accordance Mr. Mark Field: Does my hon. Friend also recognise with their wishes and interests—they have made it that there are often positive reasons for parents choosing crystal clear that the approach that has been taken so to educate their children at home? These decisions are far runs counter to those. not necessarily a reflection on the schools or the local education authority, so the notion that simply improving the LEA or the schools will dissipate the demand for Mr. Stuart: I wonder whether my hon. Friend finds it home education is entirely wrong. Some parents home bizarre, as I do, that this Bill, unlike any piece of educate for very positive reasons. legislation to deal with children going back to 1989, fails to make the interests of the child paramount in any consideration. Instead, the Bill considers any administrative Michael Gove: I entirely understand the point made failures on the part of parents as being an open and by my hon. Friend; he is right to say that a host of shut case for the revocation of home education, regardless reasons are involved, and it is not for us to second-guess of the interests of the child, and that is simply wrong. the decisions made by parents. Many of those who sacrifice not only earnings but time make a commitment of love towards their children in order to home educate Ed Balls indicated dissent. them, and that should be celebrated and applauded, not denigrated and undermined. Mr. Stuart: Instead of shaking his head, perhaps the One of my specific concerns is that this legislation Secretary of State could fix that. means the state will take it upon itself to regulate what may or may not be taught in the home. Proposed new Michael Gove: My hon. Friend makes a very good section 19C in schedule 1 provides that parents will have point. More broadly, I should point out that the Secretary to produce a report in accordance with regulations laid of State’s own children’s plan makes it clear that it is down by the Secretary of State explaining what they families that bring up children, not the state. The rights propose to include in the education programme for of families should be respected, and I am not convinced their child. They will then have to allow an inspector in that they are being respected by the proposals being at an appropriate point, and that inspector will have to introduced. be satisfied that the education being provided is suitable, There are parts of the Bill to which the Conservatives according to the regulations laid down by the Secretary have no objections. Such areas include the powers to of State. If that education is not considered suitable by intervene when youth offending teams fail and the that local authority employee, the right of that individual ability of school governing bodies to establish academies— to be home educated can be revoked. So this is not indeed, I thought that the Secretary of State made a about safeguarding or even about child protection; this superb case when outlining the importance of academies is about the Secretary of State being able to say that an becoming exempt charities. I also think it is right that individual home educating parent is not providing an schools should be able to use delegated funds to provide education that he deems appropriate and therefore they community facilities, and the proposals to improve should not have the right to educate that child at home. information sharing for local children’s safeguarding One of the other terrible things about this legislation boards seem sensible. We also share the Government’s is that proposed new section 19F in schedule 1 sets out aspirations to ensure that children have all the skills and that when the information provided by a parent to a knowledge that the best personal, social and health local authority changes and is found to be wrong, even education is supposed to impart, but we want to see if it was materially right when it was given—in other more about precisely what is proposed, but we differ words, the parent made efforts to ensure that the information from the Government in one respect—we believe that was correct but the local authority finds that it has the right of parents to withdraw their children should changed in some respect—the right to educate that not be eroded. We agree with Sir Alasdair Macdonald child at home can be revoked. Even though the parent is in that respect. [Interruption.] Exactly, we agree with not at fault and sought to provide the right information his recommendation in that respect. 459 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 460

There are other areas, such as the primary curriculum, are precisely the schools and local authorities that are about which we have profound concerns about the successfully reducing teenage pregnancy rates. We are direction the Government are taking, and we have daft in this place if we simply say, “Oh, we don’t like advertised those elsewhere. At its heart, our objection that. We’re frightened of that.” We must consider such to this legislation lies in our basic view that we should an approach and we must use the programmes that we regulate less, trust professionals more and build on the know work. We should use the experience that there is excellence and diversity already on display in the schools out there and spread the good practice much more system. Our philosophy for schools is simple: effectively around the country. “It is about schools feeling ownership of their own future, the Mr. Allen: First, may I commend my right hon. power and the responsibility that comes from being free to chart their own course, experiment, innovate, doing things differently: Friend for her fantastic work on this issue when she was the decision-makers in their own destiny not the recipients of a in the Cabinet Office? Does she accept that in order to pre-destined formula laid down by Government.” spread the good practice around and to ensure that the That was the case made by Tony Blair to the Specialist best policies are more broadly spread, we need something Schools and Academies Trust in 2006. It is a principled like a national policy assessment centre? Rather than vision that I entirely endorse, and I am sorry only that constantly re-inventing the wheel and trying to pick up the Secretary of State’s Bill departs from it so profoundly. pet projects, we should put forward a series of proven policies which have an evidence base. We can then help Several hon. Members rose— local authorities and others to achieve the right early interventions. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): Order. The pre-debate calculations carried out did not take Hilary Armstrong: I support that, as my hon. Friend account of the length of the two Front-Bench speeches knows, and I have suggested those ideas to the Department that we have heard, so there is pressure on the availability over a number of years. An embryo organisation exists of time for Back-Bench speeches. Originally, a 15-minute for that task, but I do not think that it yet has the power limit was imposed and I intend to follow that for the or authority effectively to implement such a process first speech to be made from the Labour Back Benches throughout local government. I would like to see that and by the first Conservative Back Bencher. I am sorry happen. to say that thereafter the limit will have to revert to My second point concerns partnerships with schools. 10 minutes if this debate is to be as inclusive as most I want to see more examples of the voluntary sector and people would wish it to be. I hope that that will be seen the outside world working in partnership with schools. as a reasonable decision in the circumstances. I call If PSHE is being considered as part of the curriculum, Hilary Armstrong. the teacher needs to be part of that but including the work of outside bodies, and making relationships with 6.8 pm them, is also critical. I want schools and academies to use their commissioning powers to work more effectively Hilary Armstrong (North-West Durham) (Lab): I with community organisations that have a good track trust that I shall take a fair deal less than the 15 minutes record so that they can be used to improve the educational allocated to me, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I found the exchanges opportunities of the children in the school. between the two Front Benchers fascinating, and I am I am sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that I am moving sorry that I shall not follow them in talking mainly from issue to issue without much of a common thread, about schools. but I want to pick out particular issues in the Bill. The I wish to discuss some of the Bill’s specific aspects, implementation of the youth crime action plan, a matter much of which I welcome, for example, the statutory on which the Front Benchers did not disagree, is very basis on which the Government propose to put personal, important. Last week, the Department produced an social and health education. Most of my remarks result evaluation of the work so far and it raised some important from my experience, gained both before I came to this questions and identified problems with what has been House and in this House, of the effects of social exclusion, done so far. When anything is implemented in a local in particular. area it is critical that the local community should know I cannot stress too strongly how we must help and what is going on—I hope that the Committee will bear support those children who do not get the support from that in mind. their families that the hon. Member for Surrey Heath I have seen the youth court operating in Washington, (Michael Gove) was talking about, or how we must and it is incredibly effective. I have also seen the community work with them so that they can take advantage of the court operating in Red Hook in Washington. The key opportunities that are available to them. The evidence thing is that although they set down non-custodial from many different reports that I saw when I was in the activity, the community knows and understands the Cabinet Office is that emotional well-being is critical to action that is being taken and therefore has confidence enabling the most vulnerable to learn, and so paying in it. We do not get all the stories along the lines of, attention to that is very important. There are some “This one was out painting a wall when they should superb programmes out there and we should be far have been inside,” and so on. The approach of those more centrally prescriptive when it comes to what we courts has been far more effective in tackling youth know works in PSHE. My hon. Friend the Member for crime than many of the things that we have done Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) knows the programmes elsewhere. about which I am talking. I spent much of my life before I came to this place For very young children, but also as the children get working with young people and trying to divert them older, learning to deal effectively with relationship from criminal behaviour, but it is critical that if they development and, yes, with sex education is critical. The have engaged in such behaviour we should try not only schools and local authorities that do that effectively to divert them from it in the future but to ensure that 461 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 462

[Hilary Armstrong] to be disregarded—and the child must be ordered back to school. I hope that the right hon. Lady will support there is a structure of punishment. There must be a me in seeking Government changes in that respect. structure whereby they know that they have done wrong and work out with somebody what to do about it. I Hilary Armstrong: The hon. Gentleman is trying very cannot understand people who see these two things as cleverly to get around something that we know is not being on opposite benches, as it were. They are part and there, and I shall not be dragged down his route. I could parcel of the same policy and we have to ensure that have a lot to say about home education, but I am that is how we proceed in the future. Far too often, the determined to stick to discussing what we are going to youth offending teams have mixed that up, which has do about the most vulnerable in our communities. been a problem in local areas. What the Government seek to do overall, in opening More than anything else, many of these young people up proceedings, is absolutely right, but I am concerned need some structure in their lives. They are growing up that in doing so we protect sensitive personal information. in families where they have no sense of right and wrong On my understanding of the Bill, such information and no sense of what is acceptable and what is not. An could be published unless the court specifically imposes important part of being an adolescent is testing boundaries, restrictions, but I suspect that any court that imposes but that means that there need to be boundaries that such restrictions will be subject to enormous criticism can be tested and that the adolescent needs to understand by some members of the press. We need to be clear that there are such boundaries. The way in which we about what we are licensing and what we are allowing, develop the youth offending programme is becoming and we must make absolutely sure that we consider the more and more important in this country because in interests of the child. Family proceedings usually involve many communities such offending drains the life and children when they are at their most vulnerable, and we ambition out of the community, meaning that people must make sure that we do not put them into more feel that there is no point in getting together to do danger from, for example, bullying or further abuse. I anything because of the level of antisocial behaviour approve of the principle, but I am concerned that, and so on. There are things that we can do that will frequently, because there is no disagreement about the encourage young people but also help them to set those principle, we do not pay enough attention to the level of boundaries much more effectively. We have to include detail. That might come back to hit us if we do not the local community in that, although we have been maintain the clear level of care needed for the most fearful of such an approach in this country, for reasons vulnerable children when they are part of family that I understand. If we are to change the experience of proceedings. young people, we need to involve the community in a There is much in the Bill that I welcome and much much more effective way. that I would like to talk more about, but I have tried to That brings me to the final point that I want to tackle concentrate on the issues that, for me, are part of how today, which is another issue about which there was no we support the most vulnerable in our society and division between the two Front-Bench spokesmen, although enable them to grow up to play a full part in it because there is a lot of anxiety about how it will be implemented, they have been able to meet their full potential. and it concerns the family proceedings. Everyone accepts that there should be more transparency and openness, 6.22 pm but the Bill also affects the level of reporting. In being Mr. David Laws (Yeovil) (LD): I beg to move an more open and transparent, we must maintain caution amendment, to leave out from “That” to the end of the about what is reported and how it is reported. I have Question and add: worked with far too many families and have been present “this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Children, at far too many cases in which there have been problems Schools and Families Bill because it adds hugely to the bureaucratic despite the Children Act 1989, which put the primacy of burdens on schools and colleges without improving real opportunities children at the forefront. I did not want to intervene on and educational standards for pupils and without genuinely this point earlier, but that primacy remains through all empowering parents; its proposals for the regulation of home legislation unless it is changed, so it does not need to be education introduce powers which are excessive and risk undermining restated in this Bill. The primacy of the interests of key freedoms for home educators; it fails to put in place a coherent system for delivering school improvement; its provisions children is critical but because of the irresponsible way on family proceedings have not been properly consulted on and in which some of our newspapers are prepared to report do not take account of existing reforms; and it does not include family proceedings, we must continue to exercise caution. much needed policies to introduce a Pupil Premium to support This House has established proceedings whereby Public the education of children from disadvantaged homes or to establish Bill Committees can talk to outside bodies before they a new Educational Standards Authority to restore confidence in consider legislation in detail. I hope that the Committee educational standards and to reduce the extent of destabilising political interference in English education.” will consider doing so, particularly as regards family proceedings. Although, in principle, many organisations It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for want such proceedings to be opened up and reported, North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong), and I agree they are very anxious about the detail. We should strongly with several of her points about the release of respect that. sensitive information in the family court. I hope that we will have the opportunity to consider that issue in some Mr. Graham Stuart: The primacy of the interests of detail in Committee. I appreciate that we are short of the child are not enshrined in the Bill, and I do not see time today, and I shall do my best to limit my comments how the Children Act 1989 could trump that. The Bill on the Bill, which covers many extremely important areas. says that if a parent has failed to register their child, the I should like to put on record the sadness of my party quality of the education provided to that child in the at the death of the former hon. Member for North-West home is to be disregarded—the interests of the child are Leicestershire, Mr. David Taylor. He was much respected 463 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 464 across the House and he will be fondly remembered not scale of the last education Act that we debated, or of only by Labour Members, but by Opposition Members, some of the larger Bills that we are used to dealing with and our thoughts are with his family at this time. in the House, but it deals with extraordinarily important Before I come to my substantive comments about the and sensitive issues, and the debate that we will need to Bill, I have a request for Ministers. Will one of them, have on some of those issues will be considerable, but when they respond to the debate, clarify a point that got we will be trying to do that in only two weeks. We need slightly mangled in the exchange between the Secretary to consider the range of issues that we will be trying to of State and the hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) resolve in those two weeks. We will be trying to debate regarding her question about reasonable punishment? major new proposals on home education that are extremely She asked about individuals who attend madrassahs controversial and difficult. As the right hon. Member and other such quasi-educational settings and whether for North-West Durham has said, we will be debating they should be covered by the existing restrictions on new and controversial plans to allow the release of corporal punishment. I thought that the Secretary of sensitive information from the family courts. Those State indicated that he was sympathetic to the hon. proposals are opposed by many outside bodies. We will Lady’s point, but that approach appears to contradict be debating controversial and important proposals on a both the existing legal position and a letter that Baroness new licensing arrangement for teachers. We will also be Morgan, a Minister in his Department, sent to a lobby discussing the introduction of a new school report card, group that is pressuring for a change in the law on this of new arrangements for school improvement partners, issue. The letter of 6 January to the Children Are of new pupil and parent guarantees and of new Unbeatable! Alliance said that some such educational arrangements for home-school agreements. Other issues and quasi-educational settings are currently exempt to be discussed include the whole future of the primary from the existing restrictions on physical punishment. school curriculum, which the Bill deals with in one Unless I got the wrong end of the stick, the Secretary of clause, the important issue of personal, social and State showed sympathy for the hon. Lady’s point, but health education, which has already stirred some debate his Department’s position appears to be that the existing in this place, and the powers of governing bodies. Those legislation will not be changed. are only some of the issues to be debated, and the It is obvious from the Liberal Democrat’s amendment Secretary of State and the usual channels have not that we have considerable concerns about the Bill, and allowed anything like enough time properly to scrutinise that we hope that the House will do the country a service those issues. He cannot be surprised if the Liberal either by not allowing it through the House before the Democrats indicate that we do not want many of those general election, or by making massive changes to the Bill. proposals to go through in a half-baked or half-scrutinised It is extraordinary that, on the day on which the Secretary way before the general election that we know the of State has effectively had to boast in the Financial Government are having to rush this Bill through before. Times that we are going to have the poorest education Let me make some brief comments about the parts of funding settlement since 1997, the Bill proposes to the Bill that we support and those that we will be spend about £1.1 billion, in net present value terms, on seeking to amend. additional bureaucracy. That money will not be available There are two small but important areas that we to front-line education to go to schools and parents and support unreservedly. The first is the new status for, and to assist pupils. This point relates to the additional access too, PSHE education, although we are not entirely money that will be spent on the bureaucracy surrounding convinced that the change goes far enough in some home-school agreements and the bureaucracy concerning areas. Secondly, we support, as I believe that the hon. pupil and parent guarantees, which even the Government Member for Surrey Heath did, the measures on special have been unable to cost in the cost-benefit analysis that educational needs; we think that they are beneficial comes with the Bill. It is also relates to the parental and helpful. surveys that the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael We share some of the concerns that the hon. Gentleman Gove) mentioned earlier, and to the cost of school expressed about bureaucracy in relation to the school improvement partners and home education and the report card and the licence to teach, although I do not additional regulation that will arise in that respect. It think that we would put them in as critical a way as he seems extraordinary, given that educational finance will did. We are more optimistic, or more open-minded, be so restrained in the coming years, that we will have to than him about the potential for those two matters to spend such a huge amount of money on additional lead to improvements, if the measures that the Government bureaucracy that seems, as the hon. Member for Surrey introduce address them in the right way. The current Heath said earlier, likely to follow in the tradition of mechanisms for school accountability are not particularly this Secretary of State who believes that he can improve effective, and they do not give us a very good measure the education system through central direction and of the performance of many schools, particularly those legislation. that do not have the most challenging catchments and As the Liberal Democrats mentioned in the Queen’s are therefore able to coast along in the league tables Speech debate, this is the 12th education Bill to come without their performance being looked at closely. from the Labour Government. It was published only one week after we approved the last education Act, and, Mr. Allen: The hon. Gentleman mentioned one proposal unbelievably, amends some of the measures in that Act. that seems to have pretty broad support—the extension That shows the extraordinary tendency of the Labour of PSHE to the national curriculum. It is wonderful Government and this Secretary of State to legislate and that all parties support that. Unfortunately, it appears often to replace legislation before it has even bedded down. that most people out there where it matters—on the We also have serious concerns about the amount of estates, in the towns, in the rural areas and in the time that will be available to debate the Bill. When one cities—have not got a clue what PSHE is. Will he join picks the Bill up, it does not look to be of the size and me in making a friendly plea to my right hon. Friend 465 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 466

[Mr. Allen] for North-West Durham mentioned, the release of sensitive information in the family court. We accept the Government’s the Secretary of State that we call it something that good intent in seeking to ensure high-quality home people understand? I would offer, with all modesty, the education for all children, and we recognise the evidence term “life skills”. Would the hon. Member for Yeovil that was given by the local authorities. Obviously, it is (Mr. Laws) support that, and would he at some point extremely controversial evidence, and it is very difficult support an amendment that brought that about, if the to get a reliable data set, but it is argued that 8 per cent. ministerial team did not quite find its way to accepting of home-educated children may not be receiving a good that idea? education, and that 20 per cent. may be receiving a poor education. We recognise, as I think all Opposition Members Mr. Laws: I agree that it is always helpful when we do, that local authorities already have a duty to ensure use language that people understand and that is accessible. that all children receive a suitable education. There is a problem not only with people not understanding what PSHE means, but with the quality of what currently Mr. Graham Stuart: I am following the hon. Gentleman’s passes for PSHE education. speech closely. Did he accept those figures? My The existing school accountability mechanisms are understanding is that they were as unsound as most of seriously deficient and the school report card has scope the others that we have suffered in the Badman review, for improving the way in which schools are assessed. and that the Department is planning to produce another However, as I said in the debate on the Gracious Speech, impact assessment because it has had to look again at there is a real risk that the Government will seek to put all its numbers. I do not believe that the numbers that too many different measures into the school report the hon. Gentleman mentioned are correct. card, that it will become a box-ticking exercise, and that as a consequence, as the hon. Member for Surrey Heath Mr. Laws: I accept that they are highly speculative. said, we will end up with schools simply ticking boxes None of us can possibly know what the right numbers and with an increasing number of schools appearing to are, but the hon. Gentleman, who is, I believe, a member reach the higher grade levels without any change or of the Children, Schools and Families Committee, signed improvement in performance in the areas that really up to a report that includes a lot of information about matter. If that is all that the school report card does, it the patchy quality of home education. Some parents will be a waste of time and a bureaucratic burden. and families did not see themselves as having a duty to We agree that it is quite wrong that the Department continue home education beyond key stage 2. He also for Children, Schools and Families should be the signed up to a report that said—the Secretary of State organisation that oversees and produces the report card; quoted this earlier: there are clearly risks inherent in that. It seems obvious “In our view it is unacceptable that local authorities do not to us that Ofsted or, arguably, local authorities should know accurately how many children of school age in their area be charged with that responsibility. are in school, are being home educated or are otherwise not in We are somewhat more positive than hon. Gentleman school.” about the potential of the licence to teach, but there is a We agree that there is a real issue, but the challenge great deal of confusion about what the licence to teach for the Government is to get the balance right, and we is meant to deliver. The Government first spun the idea, do not believe that they have done so. We agree with when the Bill was published, as a measure to get rid of many of the criticisms made in the Select Committee’s poor-performing teachers. The Secretary of State knows report, and we would like to suggest the potential for perfectly well what I mean by “spin”. In a lot of the consensus on a number of points, because on such recent documentation that has come from the Government, subjects, it is important to seek to come to a conclusion, the presentation has been all about CPD—that is, continuing if we can, before this Parliament ends. professional development; the hon. Member for The one area on which we do not agree with the Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) would have picked me Select Committee is on its conclusion that any scheme up on that if I had not been clear about what it was. The of notification or registration should be voluntary. It Government have to be clear about which of the two seems strange that the Committee can, in one sentence—the they seek to deliver. There is a real risk that the proposals sentence that the Secretary of State cited earlier—say could, if the Government are not careful, become another that it is unacceptable that local authorities do not expensive, bureaucratic burden. know accurately how many children of school age in The Government need to focus on the ability of the their area are in school, being home educated, or not in licensing process to deal with poorly performing teachers, school. It may be that that element of the Committee’s including in circumstances that are not dealt with under conclusions reflected a desire to gain a compromise the existing performance management regime, such as between individuals with very different views. I am not those that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. Head teachers a member of the Committee, so I do not know whether seek to take action against poorly performing teachers that is true, but that is certainly the impression given. by using existing mechanisms, but those teachers leave However, we have concerns about two issues. The before they have been put through the performance first is the nature of the registration process and whether review. They then simply turn up in other schools, the Government are in danger of presuming to be able where they are able to teach very poorly. That is a real to judge, at this stage, what a suitable education is, and issue. It raises difficult questions, but those questions of presuming to give individuals in local authorities the are worth exploring. power to take away people’s ability to home educate Our three greatest concerns about the Bill relate to when there is no clarity about what a suitable home three areas: home education, the pupil and parent education is. Under the Government’s proposals, individuals guarantees, and the matter that the right hon. Member will not only be required to notify local authorities, but 467 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 468 effectively be registering, and by registering, will be have found most provocative. We would like the process required to prove their ability to home educate and to focus on the quality of education, not on safeguarding. prove that they are delivering a suitable education. We would like the Government to reflect again on how I put it to the Secretary of State that the only way they can introduce a much lighter touch inspection that local authorities can reasonably do that job is by regime, where the actions taken by local authorities are having a set of very detailed criteria about what home proportionate to the perceived risk, rather than presuming education is. Necessarily, the concern of home educators that every home-educating household in the country is that if the Government or local authorities seek to do must be inspected in the ways set out in the Bill. that job without any agreement on what a suitable I hope that the Secretary of State is willing to take home education is, many individuals could suddenly those proposals seriously. Outside the Committee’s find themselves having to comply with exactly the type proceedings, we would be willing to take part in cross-party of rigid state education that they have tried to escape by talks with himself and the hon. Member for Surrey leaving formal schooling and going into home education. Heath if that is necessary to try to reach an agreement Secondly, it is very regrettable that education and on proposals that could command cross-party support. safeguarding have become so mixed up in the Badman The second area about which we have considerable report. An assumption that local authority inspectors concerns is the pupil and parent guarantees and, tied to should have to check whether all home educators meet that, the home-school agreements. I shall not rehearse safeguarding requirements is inappropriate. The scope all the objections, because they came out very effectively for local authorities is to consider whether a suitable from the exchanges, or lack of exchanges in some ways, education, however defined, is being given, not to assume between the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State. automatically that local authority inspectors should It was interesting that the Secretary of State failed to look at the safeguarding circumstances. The intrusiveness explain why the one-to-one tuition guarantee in primary in that part of the Bill is quite extraordinary. education is different from that in secondary schools. Under the Bill, a local authority must ascertain the There was no explanation of why the Government child’s wishes in relation to home education in all know better than head teachers and schools about circumstances. It must check on the child’s welfare in all whether tuition should be delivered one to one or in circumstances, automatically assuming therefore the duty small groups and why one model is right for primary to prove that there are no welfare concerns, rather than schools and another is right for secondary schools. simply picking up any that arise. In addition, a local The Association of School and College Leaders and authority must make at least one home visit and hold the TUC are right to criticise such measures and to say one meeting with the child each year. The cost-benefit that they could open the floodgates to increased litigation, analysis assumes that 100 per cent. of children will that they could involve a huge bureaucratic burden, and receive one in-year visit, with 50 per cent. receiving that the problem with pupil and parent guarantees in so additional monitoring. There is a description of the many areas is that they are not meaningful, not always statement of education, which has not yet been clarified deliverable and not rationally designed. Many hon. in its detail but must be produced. In other words, the Members would not object to some of the pupil and change in the regulation of home education is very parent guarantees if they were meaningful, sensible and significant and will mean that home education is regulated respected the fact that the Secretary of State does not as never before. know better than 23,500 schools across the country We would like to suggest a way to improve the how to run education. current regime, without perhaps creating some of the In our last debate, I gave a particularly striking problems of the disproportionate response that are example from the list of 38 pupil and parent guarantees involved in the Government’s proposals. First, we do that relates to pupil guarantee 5. I invite the Secretary not support the voluntary approach that the Select of State to respond in a way that he did not last time Committee advocates, but we suggest in the first instance and to tell me how on earth the local government that the Secretary of State ought to consider whether ombudsman is remotely supposed to police guarantee 5, the scheme could involve notification, rather than which says that registration. Notification would oblige everyone who is “every 11-14 year-old enjoys relevant and challenging learning in home educating to declare that information, without all subjects, and develops their personal, learning and thinking undertaking a registration process initially that proves skills so that they have strong foundations to make their 14-19 in some way the suitability of the education. choices.” Secondly, we suggest that a review over a longer time That is motherhood and apple pie, and we are not scale is needed, to consider what suitability means in supposed to know whether or not all schools are doing home education. It would be dangerous to give local that—presumably, they are not, as we are told in the authority officials the responsibility for making judgments White Paper: on suitability without any detailed guidance. I put it to “This will be phased in by September 2010.” the Secretary of State that we are simply not able to give I put it to the Secretary of State that it is not only that guidance, based on the debate so far and those that impossible to measure a supposed guarantee that is so we are likely to have in Committee. loosely defined, but impossible for the local government Thirdly, we obviously want more support for home ombudsman to police it, yet it is possible that a parent educators and more training for those local authority might want to refer a complaint under that guarantee to staff who must oversee such things, and we will debate the local government ombudsman. that in Committee. I should have thought that that was We have already debated guarantee 13, which relates an area of common ground. The Government would to one-to-one or small group tuition. It is totally unclear have a better chance of gaining a consensus if we why the arrangements for primary and secondary schools separated educational inspection from safeguarding. are different, why there should be one-to-one education That has been one of the things that home educators in one setting and education in small groups in another, 469 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 470

[Mr. Laws] need to devolve more power and freedom throughout the system, rather than accruing more power to the and why a certain number of sessions should be guaranteed, Secretary of State and introducing more bureaucracy. rather than focusing on the outputs. I should have The Bill is disappointing. We will do our best over the thought that that was one of the things that the Secretary next few weeks constructively to amend some of the key of State had learned during his time at the Treasury. parts of it, but at this stage we intend to vote against it On the parental guarantees—Nos. 5, 6 and 7—that and we hope that most of it will not get on to the statute relate to home-school agreements, it is unclear why the book. Government should make them compulsory for every school in the country. Why on earth do we need to make 6.51 pm home-school agreements compulsory, even in schools that do not regard them as beneficial? Why is it necessary Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): There is probably nothing to personalise them for each child, when that will add more important to our future as a prosperous country enormously to the bureaucratic costs, which must therefore than the need to ensure that every child has an excellent be regarded as unrealistic, as shown in the cost-benefit education. I feel very grateful for the education that I analysis associated with the Bill. had at my local country primary school, Lylehill in County Antrim, and my wonderful grammar school, The third area about which we have major concerns is Belfast Royal Academy. Despite a few people trying to that of family courts and access to sensitive information. close all the grammar schools in Northern Ireland, they That is, of course, a Home Office lead issue, but as we are still operating and doing extremely well. will have no one with Home Office responsibilities involved in the Bill, I should like to make some comments. On the country primary school, I realise that such a This is the one area on which we as an Opposition party Bill cannot include everything, but we should remember have so far received the greatest criticism from outside that in 2006 the Government launched the Learning bodies, not only children’s bodies such as Barnardo’s, Outside the Classroom manifesto, which aimed to give the NSPCC, the Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children every school student the opportunity to experience out- and the National Children’s Bureau, but the Bar Council, of-classroom learning in the natural environment, yet in Resolution—the much-respected family law group—and 2008 well over half of all school-aged children would the department of social policy at the university of never have had a visit to the countryside or an opportunity Oxford. to understand anything about the countryside. I feel All those representations have a common theme. particularly strongly about that because I am the chairman They accept the need to make family courts more of the Countryside Alliance and, more importantly, transparent, but they believe that the proposals are because of my inner-city schools. Using a great deal of rushed and lack sufficient consultation. They cannot charitable money and donations, we try to get all the understand why they are being pushed through at the primary schools in my constituency at least one visit to same time as other measures to pilot the improved the countryside. That makes such a difference to the transparency of court decisions are only just being children. I hope that can be considered. rolled out. All those groups believe that sensitive information There are many aspects of the Bill with which I agree, linked to individuals could be released and that such because some of them will help to ensure an excellent legislation could be against the interests of children and education, but I share some of the concerns expressed deter them from giving evidence in some cases. to me by head teachers that many of the proposals in Almost universally, those outside groups have proposed the Bill could have waited or are not necessary and will a number of solutions to the deficiencies that they see in add more bureaucracy to schools, particularly to the the Bill. They believe that any change should follow an heads. Much more time and money will be spent on independent evaluation of the April 2009 changes, which ticking more boxes to satisfy monitors about things that are only just being piloted. They believe that any changes do not necessarily need to be monitored or could have should be delayed so that there is time for consultation been monitored in a different way, especially where and consideration in relation to these new and controversial schools have good leadership. proposals, which seem to have been driven through only Previous speakers have commented on home-school to meet the needs of a number of lobby groups in the agreements. I cannot understand how all the effort, media. They also believe that if the proposals are to be work, time and money involved will improve by a single implemented, they need to take into account the delay iota the education of a child in primary school. and cost implications of going through each case in turn, and look at assessments about any reporting Kelvin Hopkins (Luton, North) (Lab) rose— restrictions that are necessary. Kate Hoey: I give way to my hon. Friend, although I We have three major concerns about the Bill, and we have only 10 minutes. hope that the Government will be willing to listen to them. If not, we hope that a large part of the Bill will Kelvin Hopkins: I thank my hon. Friend for giving not go through before the dissolution of Parliament. way. I shall not take too much of her time. As we know, The Bill could have concentrated on areas where we she is from Northern Ireland, which has a fine record might have found some consensus with the Government, for quality of education. Is there something about the in particular the need to reform the funding of young teaching methods employed in Northern Ireland that is people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the need to an advantage that we have missed in the rest of the introduce a pupil premium with real additional money, United Kingdom? Will she advise us on that? not money simply shifted around the system, the urgent need to restore credibility in relation to educational Kate Hoey: I think that what makes a good school is a standards, which has not happened so far in spite of the good head teacher being given as much freedom as earlier comments from the Secretary of State, and the possible to get on with doing a good job. That is why, if 471 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 472

I may say something positive about the Bill, I welcome area, I have a substantial number of home-educated the measures which, hopefully, will make it easier for children, for all sorts of reasons, as Members know. successful schools to sponsor new academies and new Although it is important that the local authority knows types of school. Some of the outstanding schools in my who those children are, that should not impose a straitjacket constituency want to do more and have a record of on home educators. changing lives in the area. We must make it easier for It is rather sad that we seem to have put the cart those, with the right leadership, to go ahead and do before the horse. I was pleased to hear what the Secretary greater things. of State said about educating and providing training for I have some aspirational primary schools in Vauxhall. local authority staff to give them a better understanding One, Durand primary school, has hugely important of home education, but I am not quite as trusting. I visions for future growth. I want to see the Government would like that education and training for local authority support such a school—for example, the Durand aim of staff to be in place before I allowed them to be let loose developing its own all-through academy, with boarding on home providers in my constituency. When the provision from the age of 13 to A-levels. The school and Department talked about registration, it said: the governing body want to move forward on that, and “Home Education registration involves more than just providing they have substantial funding in place. They know that a name and address. In particular, it will require home educating central Government are on their side and they have families to provide information about their approach to home already proved that they can deliver, having transformed education”. a failing primary school in a socially deprived area of That is very dangerous, because we are now saying that Stockwell into an outstanding provider, cutting class we actually want to interfere in how children are educated sizes, offering all sorts of organic food, providing subsidised at home. If we believe that families have first responsibility after-school clubs—doing everything that makes it an for such education, we have to allow them it. However, ideal primary school. that is totally separate from anything to do with The school does that because it has a visionary head safeguarding children in their homes, and that is why I and visionary teachers. They take a fairly sceptical view feel that ContactPoint, which will come on stream in of the local authority telling them what to do. They get September throughout the country, will give local authorities on with it. As a foundation school, it now wants to the information that they need. A good local authority, deliver an all-through academy which would offer free which works with such parents positively and is not of charge boarding to children in its catchment area. It seen as going in and telling them what to do, will then will not be a boarding school for the privileged few— be able to find ways of supporting home educating 40 per cent. of the children who attend Durand live in parents. They want to be supported, but they need overcrowded households, more than 50 per cent. receive support, not the regulation that is seen as coming in free school meals, and more than 95 per cent. come from above. from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Durand’s proposals and other proposals from primary Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD): and secondary schools would offer life-changing I agree with a lot of what the hon. Lady says, but I do opportunities for such children and create much-needed not see how ContactPoint will distinguish between all additional secondary places. We need a legislative those children who, for one reason or another, do not environment—I am not sure that it is in the Bill, but attend a mainstream school. Unless there is a notification parts of it may be—that will allow a school such as system, there will not be a category of home education, Durand to go forward and do what it does best, which is but there will be a lot of children who do not attend a creating excellence for children. mainstream school. There may be all sorts of reasons why: they may be children about whom we are really Michael Gove: Like the hon. Lady, I am a great admirer concerned—children below the radar. of Durand school and its head teacher, and I very much enjoyed the visit that she helped to facilitate. Unfortunately, Kate Hoey: Every home educator to whom I have the Bill will not be able to help Durand, which is a spoken in my constituency recognises that somebody, primary school. The Bill does not allow primary schools somewhere needs to know that children are being home to sponsor academies. Indeed, when I suggested that educated. They are not even against people from the primary schools themselves become academies, the Minister education department visiting and, with the right agreement, for Schools and Learners said that that idea would send learning how they educate, because there is no doubt a shiver down the spine of every parent. I presume that that a lot of home educators—probably 99.9 per cent. the hon. Lady, like me and like many other members of of them—are very good educators indeed. her party on the Back Benches, agrees that primary I am disappointed by the fact that we seem to be schools should be allowed to become academies. rushing through the legislation. The Badman report Kate Hoey: I personally agree with primary schools was rushed, too. I do not agree with every word of the being able to become academies. I am not saying that I very fine report by the Children, Schools and Families speak for my colleagues on the Back Benches. I probably Committee, but I agree with a lot of it. do not speak for some of them, but I would like to see that. I want to see a Bill—the present Bill may not Mr. Sheerman rose— contain such provision—that gives powers that make it easier for the vision of state schools such as Durand to Kate Hoey: No, I am not going to take an intervention. become a reality. Much of that involves making sure The Committee produced a good report, which that local authorities do not become a barrier to progress. recognised that the Badman report had not been handled A number of Members feel strongly about home in quite the same way as many other Government education, and I have listened keenly to the debate reports. We are rushing through this legislation, and we between those on the two Front Benches. For an inner-city need to stop and look again. I very much hope that, in 473 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 474

[Kate Hoey] one excludes all the poor children and all the children with special educational needs, and if it does not represent Committee, changes will be made proving that the the communities in which most of us live. That is the legislation represents soft-touch regulation. We have difficulty, and sometimes people in the independent heard a lot from Ministers about it being soft-touch, sector ought to have more humility in respect of what but I have said before— they claim for their schools. Mr. Allen: Light-touch. Robert Key: In responding to the distinguished Chairman of the Children, Schools and Families Committee, I Kate Hoey: Light-touch, soft-touch. should say only that that is why, ever since 1946, the In reality, what starts out as light-touch, particularly independent sector has endeavoured always to broaden when a local authority does not necessarily operate in its interest and intake and to provide more scholarships. the best possible way, can easily turn into something But what has been the response? All the scholarships more than that—something that becomes another burden that were available to poorer children have been restricted, and is about controlling and changing what home educating and since this Government came to power no scholarship parents do. I very much resent that, and I wish that it amounting to more than 50 per cent. of the fees did not happen. I hope that the Government will still has been allowed. That is a retrogressive policy, and I look and listen and, in Committee, change the legislation deplore it. to make it much more acceptable to all those home I fear that the Bill has missed the point. As Baroness educators who do a very fine job. Lady Walmsley pointed out in the other place, we have had more than 1,200 regulations since 1997, and they 7.3 pm have added up in words to more than the combined Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): The hon. Member for works of Shakespeare. That is not clever, and I agreed Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) is neither a light touch nor a soft so much with Lord Sacks, who, in the other place on touch; she is a very fine parliamentarian, and it is a 26 November 2009, reminded us that not everything privilege to follow her excellent speech. that matters can be measured; not everything that counts Every progressive civilisation has depended for its can be counted; and not everything that is valuable can success on the quality of the education of its citizens, be valued at a price. Of course, that is true. both male and female. I have observed, over almost As a veteran of the 1983 Select Committee on Education, 27 years as a Member, that the most important thing in Science and Arts and, I think, the only survivor of the politics is ideas, open minds and progress. That has Committee stage of the 1988 GERBIL, the great Education been the great tradition of western democracy since the Reform Bill, of the now distinguished peer, Lord Baker, age of enlightenment, but the greatest ideas are usually I can observe that the Bill before us is really not worth ruined by rules and regulations and the fine print that most of the paper on which it is written. Clause 23 follows them, and I am bound to conclude that the alone, on the licence to practice, would be enough to authors of this Bill could not see the wood for the trees. erode the morale and confidence of most of the teaching That is why I commend the intellectual approach of profession. my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael There is, however, an aspect of the Bill to which I Gove), and I pay tribute to all who have followed their want to refer, because I support it strongly. That aspect vocation to teach, just as I did when I left university. I is represented by clauses 10 to 14, on personal, social, faced my first class in a county secondary modern health and economic education. It is a clumsy phrase, school in Cornwall; I then went to Leeds grammar and I absolutely agree with the hon. Member for school, which was an education in several senses. In my Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) that, if we can think up first job as a qualified teacher, I went to Loretto school something snappier that means something to people, so in Scotland, and I am proud to be a Scottish-registered much the better. However, parents are responsible for teacher; and then I spent 14 years at Harrow school. In providing a moral dimension to the education of their all those schools, the quality of leadership and the children, and, in my ideal world, where marriage would scholarship of the teaching staff guaranteed the quality be the norm but stable relationships would be the best of education for all the pupils. That is still true, and that equivalent for everybody else, parents would take on is why my hon. Friend is right. The issue is about a that responsibility. partnership between parents and teachers, with the Such education would be not just about the biology state providing funding, unless we are talking about the of sex, but about the moral framework—about marriage, independent sector, which has such an important role stable relationships and all those virtuous things that to play. lead to stable communities and a stable society. We In my last few weeks as a Member, I do not mind cannot force parents to do it, however. Some parents do saying that it is no good being rude about schools such not want to; some do not think that they are very good as Eton and the people who go there. First, they do not at it; and some would rather that doctors or, indeed, choose to do so; their parents do; and secondly, those teachers did it instead. Someone must do it, however, schools are often the best in the world. All of us should and after more than 25 years as a Member one of my seek to elevate the quality of education throughout the regrets is that Parliament and successive Governments country to the best that can be achieved. It is foolish to have failed to encourage young people, over several deny that. generations, towards a more mature understanding at an earlier age of how to respect their bodies, friends and Mr. Sheerman: The hon. Gentleman has had a very communities. It is much better that teachers should do distinguished career, and we are great friends outside this than pornographers, drug-pushers, people-traffickers the House. However, it is very easy to run a successful or criminals, and that is why clauses 10 to 14 should be educational programme in the independent sector if supported. 475 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 476

The hon. Member for Nottingham, North said that with most—one will find that 80 per cent. of crime is people outside this place, on the estates and in schools still committed by people with alcohol-related intent. and communities, do not have a clue what this is all That is the bottom line, and we really must do something about. I think he is right. In fact, it is worse than that, about it. because most people inside this House do not have a Then we come to the whole question of the education clue what it is about either. Those of us who have been of our children and how we can best get it across. I here for a long time and have been talking to our make a plea that this Government, in their dying days, education authorities, social workers and hospitals— and the incoming Government carry on from where my accident and emergency departments, and so on—realise hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath started in the enormous challenge that young people face nowadays bearing in mind the intellectual approach to take towards that we did not face when we were their age. education. Before rushing into the thicket of undergrowth The whole question of sexually transmitted infections and muddle that is in the Bill, the House should bear is now the biggest public health issue in most of our in mind that British education is still the envy of the constituencies, and that is fuelled by access to alcohol world, that English is still the most important language and its low price: it all goes together. That is why I very in the world, and that it is our duty to future generations much welcome clause 11, particularly subsection (4), to uphold the primacy of ideas over regulation. It is our which defines, from paragraphs (a) to (g), exactly what duty, as a nation, to guard with pride the intellectual is meant by personal, social, health and economic education. endeavour of western Christendom and western civilisation, In terms of public health, we must be hard-nosed and and that depends on the quality of our education. realistic about the temptations faced by young people 7.15 pm on our streets in our constituencies on Friday and Saturday nights, with large volumes of alcohol, binge Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): It is a pleasure to drinking and irresponsibility all around. That can lead follow the hon. Member for Salisbury (Robert Key). I only to the A and E department of a hospital, where remember that when I was Public Health Minister there one will find, if one asks people quietly, that on a was much that we could agree on, as in his speech today, Saturday night they receive teenage girls who have had as regards young people and their health, opportunities between 20 and 30 units of alcohol over a period of and aspirations in life. four or five hours, and who are legless and likely to have I am pleased to speak in the debate on the Second engaged in sexual activity that has been dangerous for Reading of the Children, Schools and Families Bill. As them. In all this, do we not usually blame the girls? Is it an MP of 13 years, I have seen a lot of changes in my not those bad gals who cause all the trouble because constituency. Back in 1997, our aspiration was just to they are the ones who get pregnant and cause all the get indoor toilets in so many of our schools with teenage pregnancies? In fact, it is the young men who dilapidated buildings and terrible outside toilets that cause the trouble, not the girls, and it is time that we were not a joy for the pupils, the teachers or the cleaning addressed that. I hope that the Bill will lead to a huge staff. Since that time, we have seen the refurbishment of improvement in the quality of education of our young very many schools, with more than £100 million spent people that takes on board the importance of educating on new school buildings. We have three new secondary young men, just as much as young women, about their academies and four specialist schools. We have seen social responsibilities and relationships. improvements across Doncaster, although I would be the first to admit that there is still some way to go. In I mention in parenthesis a remarkable phenomenon 1998, 34 per cent. of our pupils got five A to C-grade that should be happening right across the country—the GCSEs. If one compares that with the proportion in emergence of street pastors. I helped to launch a street 2009—71 per cent.—there is no doubt that there have pastor scheme in Salisbury last autumn. These people been changes, not only through resources but reforms are not busybodies who wish to go about preaching to that have meant that the outcomes and prospects for young people—far from it. They want to be there many children in Don Valley and Doncaster are better quietly to help at critical moments at times of critical than they were some years ago. decisions when young people—it is usually young people, but not exclusively—have had a little more to drink The Bill tries to look further at how we get the right than they should and have to decide whether to stop or balance between rights and responsibilities, not only for how far to go. For those young people to find alongside schools and staff but for pupils and parents. I congratulate them experienced, trained people to whom they can my right hon. and hon. Friends on the Front Bench on talk is proving to be a great benefit, certainly in Salisbury seeking further to address these important issues. As and I believe elsewhere. a former member of the Education and Employment Committee, as it was then, I know only too well how I commend the report on alcohol published last week important leadership is in schools. Under the chairmanship by the Select Committee on Health, because that, too, of my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret recognises the significance of cheap alcohol. I have Hodge), we undertook an inquiry into the role of the come to the conclusion over all these years—Parliament head teacher in that context. To be honest, nothing has been discussing this for 26 years, to my certain changes—the head teacher’s role as leader of a school knowledge—that we have gone much too far in making was as important then as it was decades before, and it alcohol cheap and more widely available. We will not is as important today as it will be in future. More address this problem satisfactorily until we go for minimum support should be given to head teachers in tackling unit pricing, and we will have to start to restrict the underperforming teachers in their schools. If that is not number of outlets and police the whole thing much done, it does not serve the school, the pupils or their better. If one asks any police force, certainly mine in parents, and it certainly does not serve other teachers Salisbury—Salisbury, for goodness’ sake: that wonderful, who are having to cover for those who are not up to safe, beautiful city, which has so few problems compared the job. 477 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 478

[Caroline Flint] moment, as with all sorts of matters to do with rights and responsibilities, the question is what to do when the A lot has already been said—I will not repeat it—about responsibilities are not taken on and what sanctions pupil and parent guarantees and home school agreements. there are to make a parent engage. The vast majority of I think I understand why my right hon. and hon. parents do so, even those who are having difficulties Friends want to enshrine guarantees for pupils and and challenges with their children, but some refuse, and parents in our communities, which is a worthy aspiration. teachers often feel that there is not a lot they can do. However, I am concerned about how they will be enforced The new duty on local authorities requires them and understood by pupils and parents, and about exactly proactively to seek parents’ views on the range and what would trigger the point at which a parent might go quality of secondary school places in their area. I am to the local government ombudsman to tackle an issue interested in that, and I understand that it is focused on they are worried about. Alongside that, I am concerned the year 5 age group. Perhaps there is something to be about what this might mean in terms of the time taken said for asking parents of children in other year groups, and the number of cases that the ombudsman might who have already gone into secondary education, what have to take on. Over several years as an MP, I have had they think about the experience and the choice. to work on behalf of constituents with the local government I was concerned recently when I took up a case on ombudsman, and I know that they are not exactly behalf of a Catholic primary school in my constituency. underworked in relation to the number of cases that The local education authority was going to cease to they have to take up in a whole host of other areas. I provide funds for buses for the children from that hope that that will get further attention in Committee. school in Edlington, a deprived area by anyone’s measures, On home-school agreements, as a parent rather than to go to a local Catholic secondary school. I understand as an MP I have seen three children go through GCSEs, that there have also been cuts in bus services to other A-levels and degrees under a Labour Government, and schools. There are four specialist schools in my constituency, two are currently looking to do postgraduate qualifications and part of the role of specialist schools was to offer as well. Before that, I happened to have them attending children who excelled in a particular specialism the a school that was already providing home-school opportunity to go to them. If local authorities cut the agreements, which the Government of the time had not means of transport to them, what choice is there for enshrined in law. The agreements are important, as it is those children’s parents? That needs to be attended to. important for a parent when their child starts a school, whether primary or secondary, to have a baseline of I very much support the idea that schools should what is expected from them and their children. They consider supporting the wider community and be able should also know what they can expect from the school, to use their delegated budgets to invest in doing so. both in standards of education and in pastoral support, Given the amount of money that has gone into improving which is very important for children’s well-being. our schools and building new ones, it seems only right that we should see them in the context of the wider I am concerned about where home-school agreements community. There should be opportunities for other are going and how much more work might be needed to community organisations to benefit from a school’s personalise each one to meet the needs of every child. facilities, but also to help schools and work with them Hon. Members have outlined that concern in this debate. on the issue of families in the community. There are As a parent, I hope that when it comes to the educational other community organisations that can help the staff needs of my children, and those of my constituents and of schools provide better for their pupils. of every parent in the country, that personalised attention takes place through their form tutor in each year group. I would also like schools to have an opportunity to Parents engage in their child’s education in different have far more control over their finances in planning ways, such as through the parents’ meetings that they ahead. There have been headlines recently about the should have and the information that they receive about number of schools sitting on reserves. I shall not justify their child’s success or otherwise. That should be an ongoing or defend schools that sit on huge amounts of money process, and I am concerned that we may be trying to that could be better spent in their school community, mix that up with home-school agreements too much. but there are times when a school has to plan ahead for Another point that I wish to make about home-school its needs, for example when year groups are changing agreements was made to me by a head teacher in my and a large number of children are coming into the constituency recently. Clarity is needed about the school because of the number of births locally. That consequences for those parents who do not abide by will have an impact on spending in that school and the their responsibilities. In most schools, as the agreements number of staff it needs to employ. In one year, school stand, an overwhelming majority of parents fulfil what numbers might go up— is expected of them. A very small minority do not, and that could be to do with attendance at school, supporting Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. the improvement in their child’s behaviour and so on. Head teachers tell me they do not really know where 7.25 pm they should go and what they should do when that breaks down completely. The Bill mentions the courts and Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): I must parenting orders, but some of the head teachers to confess that I find the Bill, and particularly the provisions whom I have talked do not realise that they can already for the regulation of home schooling, deeply troubling. use parenting orders. We need to ensure that where they I am sure that many Members will raise the issue, so I already have powers, they know how to use them appropriately. shall endeavour to be brief. The matter needs attention, and a parenting order, Education is the gateway to a better world. Nothing parenting contract or acceptable behaviour contract— should be done to prevent children from flourishing whatever we want to call it—may be necessary. At the and learning in the environment best suited to them, in 479 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 480 school or out. As many Members on both sides of the gives the impression that parents are not to be trusted House have acknowledged, education is primarily a or have done something wrong. Indeed, the level at parent’s responsibility, not that of the Government. It is which the Government aim to monitor parent-child up to parents to select the form of education most relationships is tantamount to saying that a parent beneficial to their children. For a variety of reasons, the willing to spend time with their child is somehow in the schools system is not for everyone. Some just choose the wrong. home; others fear bullying or the increasing size of Such intrusiveness into parents’ lives is bad enough, schools and the associated problems, and some children but the detrimental effects on children’s education and are not allowed to thrive within the system. well-being are even more dangerous. The Government Although every child must receive an education, schools seriously need to reconsider the case for granting the are not the only way to deliver it. Obviously, such a gap new powers and requirements—not only the powers, can be filled by the work of parents through home but the Government’s perspective on the issue. I understand schooling their children. It is estimated that between the Government’s wish to achieve the best for everyone, 20,000 and 80,000 are currently home schooled. Though but their methods simply do not work. some may disagree, I argue that home educators understand Before attending to home education, the Government the responsibility placed on them. They understand must first deal with those already in the system who do that the responsibility for a child’s schooling falls on not achieve as they should. They should tackle those nobody but the parents. Unfortunately, in yet another who are absent from education partially or altogether. example of a Government obsessed with conformity, Too many bright futures have been sucked into the mire the independence that home educators currently enjoy of destructive social circumstances. The Bill is directed is to be placed under threat. The plans in clause 26 to at the wrong children in the wrong fashion. ensure that home educators conform with the requirements Indeed, no Bill has dealt successfully with those who of the national syllabus will stamp out the individuality have sex when under 16. Conception rates for those that many home educated children cherish. Is not the under 16 have increased from 7.8 to 8.3 per 1,000, which whole point of home schooling the provision of an is 8,200 pregnancies. Those children are far too young alternative channel for education? to become parents. Before Christmas I met a group of constituents, all Of course, I am aware that children’s well-being is home educators, who were concerned about the one of the Bill’s motivations. The Government are recommendations of the Badman report. I also met concerned that home schooling may be used as a cover some of their children, who were some of the most for child abuse or forced marriages. Certainly, that must articulate and erudite young people I have met. Most of be dealt with, but in a far more consultative manner. the parents spoke of having schedules for teaching, but Greater consideration must be given to the vast majority in keeping with educational flexibility so as to best fit a of home-schooled children who benefit immensely from child’s needs. One of them told me of her son spontaneously their parents’ dedicated work. developing a liking for Roman history. Because she retained responsibility for her son’s best interests, she A scheme of self-regulation, rather than imposed was able to take a trip to a Roman villa the next week. conformity, is the best way to balance children’s education Such a trip would have been impossible under the with children’s safety. One must not be sacrificed for the annual education plans that the Bill may well set in other, because education is the gateway to a better stone. If modern society has taught us anything, it is world. The longer we prevaricate on the most fundamental that we have to acknowledge everyone’s uniqueness. decisions and the longer we institute misguided legislation The Bill appears designed to move us in the opposite such as the Bill, the longer we deny the next generation direction. the greatest opportunity to realise their fullest potential. My other concern revolves around the level to which the Bill extends the state yet further into people’s lives. 7.33 pm One of its provisions is to allow local education authorities, Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): When when neither child nor parent objects, to interview I first examined the Bill, it made me consider how best home-schooled children on their own. The phrasing of to assess a measure on Second Reading. I have the that part of the Bill, particularly the use of the word advantage of chairing the Children, Schools and Families “may”, has been constructed far too loosely to be of Committee, and therefore the further advantage of reliable guidance. How can a measure confer a power considering, in the past two years, the three main pillars on a local authority without detailing the full criteria on which educational reform was founded 20 years ago. for fulfilling that responsibility? Furthermore, under My remarks today are in that context. the Bill, interviews will be conducted in We have considered testing and assessment and the “a place where education is provided to the child”. national curriculum and, last week, we published our From a civil liberties perspective, that paints a dangerous report on school accountability. The Bill is about all picture of approving authorities’ incursion into private those matters. The measure is a bit of curate’s egg. All homes. Governments should learn that legislation is best when What would be the consequences of a parent’s not it has been tested and piloted or, if not, given to people consenting at any stage to a child’s being interviewed on who genuinely know about the subject so that they can their own? Such interviews may place the child in a conduct an independent inquiry. Even better, if there is distressing environment. They also underline the time, is a pre-legislative inquiry by the Select Committee. contradictions at the heart of the Government’s approach. We have not conducted such an inquiry on the Bill. Pupils are not interviewed about teachers, so why should Let me comment quickly on some long overdue aspects, sons and daughters be interviewed about their mothers beginning with the special educational needs provisions. and fathers? Furthermore, interviewing children alone The Lamb inquiry was set up by the then Education 481 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 482

[Mr. Barry Sheerman] teach. We need high-quality people who are trained to do PSHE well if it is going to be taught to its full and Skills Committee, predecessor of our current extent. Committee. It made strong recommendations on special Mr. Allen: If we are going to have anything at all in educational needs and was a fine report—I think that the national curriculum, it must be the basics. Every one member of that Committee is still in the Chamber child should be entitled to them. Hitherto, we thought this evening. We made strong recommendations for that that meant maths and English, but actually, in giving special educational needs students a proper chance order to learn and come to an appreciation of any so that they are not faced with a patchwork of provision academic subject, people need those basic social and throughout the country, with provision depending on emotional capabilities. Without them, the rest of the where they happen to live. Some students and families curriculum is denied to people. That is why PSHE has were getting the right support while others got poor to be in the national curriculum—for areas such as support. mine and my hon. Friend’s, where many people cannot I note that the Bill does not contain something to access it. which we always thought we would go back—one never has time to revert to all the things that one discovers Mr. Sheerman: My hon. Friend may well have won when conducting an inquiry. It is the dreadful lack of me over. What I was trying to get at is that I would have capacity, support and opportunity for special educational liked a real, holistic change to the national curriculum, needs students when they get to 16. That is crucial. The so that the vital PSHE fits in well. ages of 16 to 18 are extremely difficult for special needs On the accountability framework, the Committee students, even when they have had a good deal, good published a report on accountability last week. We support, been statemented and got everything that they looked at the matter right through from governing should have. The ages of 16 to 18 are difficult, as are the bodies to Ofsted and the new school report card. We ages beyond. Perhaps the Select Committee will have found in favour of the school report card and rather time to revert to that. liked the school improvement strategies that it underpinned. I was more hesitant about the reform of the primary However, we also found that Governments only ever curriculum and about including Sir Jim Rose’s proposals introduce new forms of accountability, and never take and recommendations in legislation. Our report on the one away, and we are worried that there are now five national curriculum showed that we need a much more levels of accountability. The Government are well coherent approach. People ought to know where they intentioned and want to move away from the reliance are travelling, starting at the earliest stage, when a child on the publication of tables of the results of tests and is born, and continuing right through to the ages of 18 examinations, and the school report card will help, but I and 19. There should be a coherent national curriculum suspect that it will not be enough to strike the balance that joins up. At the moment, we have bits of curriculum that most people in our schools—heads and teachers— and great disjunctions in it. The most famous happens want. at the age of 11, but they happen even at 7, and then at Heads and teachers feel tremendous pressure from 16 and 18. A person setting out on the journey of life the different forms of accountability. In particular, they and education is not, even with best endeavours, offered are very worried about accountability through Ofsted. a curriculum that makes sense to both the child and The Committee found Ofsted to be over-large and the parent. overburdened—it has now extended into child protection— and we wonder whether the day and a half long inspection Jim Rose conducted an inquiry on the primary national is as good as it could be. Does a lighter-touch inspection, curriculum, and there was also the Cambridge inquiry, if it is too light, lead the Ofsted inspectors to rely much which the Government did not like as much, but neither more heavily on the statistics and test results that they inquiry was right. The results did not mesh with what read on the card before they go into the school to do an comes afterwards or with the important foundation assessment? The school is where the vital thing happens, stage, which the Select Committee supports wholeheartedly. but the quality of teaching in the classroom carries Bits of the curriculum for specific years are taken, an much less weight in the balance. inquiry is conducted and proposals are made, without seeing those bits as part of one offering. On the licence to practise, I take it that at last we have got to the stage—this seems to be the subtext—at which Most of us agree that putting personal, social, health we have a highly regarded work force with proper and economic education on the timetable is a good idea. qualifications and a five-year renewable licence. I believe I am not sure whether it should be in the national that that is probably the way to go, but we will not get curriculum; when we examined the national curriculum, there without offering high quality continuing professional we said it was overfull. We pointed out that academies development. Death by PowerPoint is not the way to had much more choice and flexibility and could choose deliver CPD. CPD must be high quality and delivered their priorities after the basic subjects had been included alongside that licence to practise. I suspect that part of in the national curriculum. We asked why, if that approach the Government’s agenda with the licence to practise was good enough for them, it was not good enough for will be to weed out teachers who are not up to the job, the rest of the schools. which I suppose is a very important aspect of it. The national curriculum is too full. Although I like Lastly, the Committee wrote a good report on home- the idea of everyone having decent PSHE education, educated children, and the matter has been much discussed simply placing it in a compulsory curriculum, which is in interventions. A very significant percentage of home- already full, without changing it and granting more educated children are wonderfully educated. I was very flexibility, is worrying. Ken Boston once told me that impressed by the parents and children I met, but I also the trouble with PSHE and things like it is that they believe that we must know where our children are. The are given to the gym teacher with the gammy knee to Committee came to a compromise view. As the Government 483 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 484 were offering a system with a compulsory register with justice to a very high standard indeed, and furthermore no fines, action, penalties or sanctions, we asked them that the vast majority of decisions being made in the whether they should try a voluntary system for two family courts were correct, but unfortunately, their years as an olive branch. We said that if that method reputation and that of their courts were coming under did not work, the Government should go for a compulsory pressure and being tarnished by adverse criticism by a system. small minority of litigants. That was a rattle through the issues. There are some Sir Mark Potter addressed the proposals for more good and some not-so-good provisions in the Bill, but openness and transparency in a letter at the time of the we could say that of all Bills. campaign. He said: “Not only would it enable the court’s reasoning to be understood; 7.45 pm it is likely to justify decisions in the eyes of the wider public. It will certainly ease the frustration felt by many judges that they cannot Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk) (Con): respond to criticism in the media based on one-sided accounts by It is always a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for aggrieved parents”. Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), who is an eminent Chairman That was the view of Sir Mark Potter; what he said at of the Select Committee. I listened with great interest to that time, which was echoed by many other family what he said. He contributes a huge amount to debates judges, was absolutely spot on. on education and to Second Reading debates on education Bills. We had a whole series of consultation papers from the then Department for Constitutional Affairs, now I declare an interest as a lawyer and I shall focus on the Ministry of Justice. We also had a number of other part 2 of the Bill, but I shall also say a few words about initiatives from the Government. The broad conclusion the main part of the Bill. We can of course wholeheartedly was that the obvious way to improve transparency and support some provisions in the Bill. For example, I openness was to allow the press and public into family support the improvement in, and widening of, the appeals courts, albeit subject to appropriate reporting restrictions system for children with special educational needs, and and, obviously, the ultimate discretion of the judge. We the idea that academies should be exempt charities. had a false start with the Government statement in However, what the Bill reveals most starkly is the 2007, when they said that they would not go as far as fundamental divide between the Government and the was originally suggested, which triggered the campaign Opposition when it comes to trusting the teaching by The Times. We then had the statement by the Secretary profession and professionals generally. of State for Justice, in December 2008, when he announced We trust professionals to get on with their jobs and to that the media would be allowed to attend family hearings, deliver high professional standards without the need for subject to the discretion of the judge and reporting extremely detailed, top-down prescription. Unfortunately, restrictions. He then announced that written judgments the Bill is far too prescriptive, the result being that it will would be piloted. mean more bureaucracy and litigation, a reinforcement I am slightly concerned about the two pilots—the of the risk-averse culture, and a stifling of professional first involves the magistrates courts in Leeds and the self-esteem. That very damaging approach flows through magistrates courts and county courts in Cardiff, the second and characterises so much of the Bill. The result is that the magistrates courts and county courts in Wolverhampton. the good parts of the Bill are overshadowed by top-down Anonymised judgments and reasons will be placed in micro-management. the public domain, which is something for which we The Government believe very firmly that Ministers have argued for some time. However, it is incredibly and Whitehall always know best. On the other hand, important to get the details correct and ensure a proper my hon. Friends on the Opposition Front Bench and I and comprehensive evaluation of the pilots. I am slightly take the view that the way to raise educational standards concerned that the Bill is moving too quickly and that is to reduce the target culture and bureaucracy and truly we should have a chance to conduct a proper evaluation trust the profession. of those pilots before moving to the next legislative My starting point on part 2 of the Bill is that the rules stage, with the provisions in the Bill. governing family proceedings must protect children’s As I have mentioned, I broadly support most of welfare. That is why a substantial element of privacy is part 2 of the Bill. However, I am concerned that many essential, but there is a big difference between privacy of the revisions are incredibly complex. I declared an and secrecy. Privacy means allowing reasonable access interest as a lawyer at the start of this brief contribution, and reporting while protecting the welfare and interests but I had to read the various clauses and the explanatory of children, as happens every day in the youth courts in notes, as well as talk to friends at the family Bar, to get a this country. Secrecy is a totally different matter, because handle on those revisions, which are very complex. I it means holding proceedings completely in camera. support what the Secretary of State said about the For a number of years, there has been growing concern phasing and the sunset review, but the scope and effect about the lack of transparency and openness in the of the revisions are, in places, most uncertain. Unfortunately, family courts. It is interesting that the campaign run by the simplicity, clarity and workability of the youth The Times in the summer of 2008 was welcomed not court model has not been followed or emulated in the only by the different fathers groups, which protested Bill. It is interesting to read what the Newspaper Society, vigorously, but by the legal profession, which had a big the Society of Editors, the Press Association, ITN and input. At the time, the president of the family division, the BBC said in their recent letter to MPs: Sir Mark Potter, and a number of eminent High Court “If journalists are not confident in the application of the rules, judges, said that the lack of openness and transparency they may be deterred from reporting the family courts at all and was damaging the reputation and image of the family the central objective of this entire project—greater public accountability courts. Those judges knew that they were dispensing and scrutiny—may be” 485 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 486

[Mr. Henry Bellingham] Many of those skills—the basic social and emotional capabilities—are not in place in constituencies such as put at risk. This is not an attempt to volunteer to serve mine. If they are not there, we have a choice: either we on the Committee, but there is certainly a great deal of can spend billions of pounds on remedial action when scope for making the provisions less complex and more things go wrong, complain about the problem, turn our easily understood. teachers into crowd control experts, put money into our I want to say a quick word about the default position courts and magistrates courts, and pay for people to contained in clause 32(2), which is that unless it is spend a lifetime on welfare benefits; or we can do specifically exempted by the Bill, any publication could something about the problem. The great thing that the be in contempt of court. Surely that is the wrong way Bill does is take another step towards having the capability round. Surely it would be better to reverse that default to help young people when they need it. judgment, so that there was a presumption in favour of PSHE, as it is called—we really have to do something all instances of such information being published, unless about; we should change the name to something that prohibited by the court. After all, that is exactly what means something to people on the ground, such as “life will apply to the publication of orders. I see no logic in skills”—is not, on its own, a magic bullet; it is part of a saying that the same should not apply to the publication package of early intervention measures. In Nottingham, of judgments. Perhaps the Minister could comment on we have been fortunate enough to put a number of that in his winding-up speech. those measures in place, but we need the rest of the On the anonymity provisions, obviously it is essential jigsaw. Those children need to know that they can that minors and certain other individuals should be access the great world of learning because they have subject to anonymity. However, my reading of the Bill is the skills and capabilities to do so—the skill to listen, that it extends anonymity to all parties involved or the skill to pay attention, the skill to be self-disciplined, referred to in proceedings, other than paid, professional the ability to reconcile arguments without violence, the expert witnesses. Surely automatic anonymity should be ability to aspire to learn, and the ability to want to get limited to the key parties, with the judge having the qualifications and go on and get a decent job. That is discretion to extend that more widely if need be. I very why the Bill is so important. much hope that the Minister will look into that issue and that it might be picked up in Committee. Perhaps Mr. Sheerman: Does my hon. Friend agree that the he could also talk to his colleagues in the Ministry of skills that he is describing demand a highly professional Justice about the pressure that the extra requirements delivery and highly trained members of staff? of the anonymity framework are likely to put on Her Majesty’s Courts Service. Will it require extra resources? Mr. Allen: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is What effect will that pressure have? why the first thing that we did in, effectively, our pilot—we The Government originally said that they would not are piloting the idea before the Government have introduced reverse Clayton v. Clayton. However, it is my understanding the legislation, through our 11-to-16 life skills programme, that the Bill will do just that. Could the Minister also which I was fortunate enough to be instrumental in comment on that in his winding-up speech? establishing, as chair of the local strategic partnership—was It is vital that the concerns of the many organisations to dedicate some £400,000, from a very small budget, involved, such as Resolution and the Law Society, are for basic training, so that the basic materials were in considered and dealt with. It is important that we place. That was so that the teachers were not, as someone should get part 2 right, because it is hugely significant. said earlier, teaching those basics after lessons in the We owe it to a vulnerable part of the community—the gymnasium or running stuff off the photocopier, but children who appear in the courts—to ensure that part 2 understood the aim and were trained and passionate is well crafted and has the support of as many people as about ensuring that all young people had those basics possible working in the courts. in place. In addition, leaving aside a bit of petty partisanship from all parts of the House, I would like to say a few 7.55 pm words of thanks—not in the normal way, perhaps—to Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab): It is the Front Benchers for the serious way in which they always a pleasure to follow my friend, the hon. Member have debated the issue and, except for a bit of fraying for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham). He delivers around the edges on sex and relationships education, his speeches like he plays his cricket, with a stout for the basic consensus on the fact that we need all our defence and the occasional flashing, brilliant shot, but kids to have those fundamental life skills in order to also with the tendency to take his eye off the ball on take advantage of education. I commend the way in occasions—a tendency that I shall avoid the temptation which all Front Benchers have done that. I should also to take advantage of this evening, because we are discussing like to add a little historical footnote to the debate, by such a serious issue, particularly for my constituents. mentioning the debt that we all owe to my right hon. I represent a constituency that sends the fewest number Friend the Member for South Dorset (Jim Knight) for of kids to college and university, has the highest teenage his work on this brief. He worked very hard to ensure pregnancy rate in western Europe, and has profound that it was going to be part of the Bill, and he deserves and severe problems of deprivation. That is why, for me, our commendation for that. the most important thing in the Bill is what I would call I say all this not because I am soft, non-partisan and the life skills part—the part dealing with teaching our not in favour of my own party’s viewpoint on various babies, children, primary children and secondary young issues, but because of one simple fact: if we ever break people the importance of some of the basics that most the intergenerational cycle of deprivation in this country, of us here learned at our mother and father’s knees. that achievement will not be the property of just one 487 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 488 party—the Labour party, the Conservative party, the Mr. Allen: That is why this issue is intergenerational, Liberal party or any of the minority parties. All will and why we must look at the new-born of today as the have to be signed up to the consensus on giving every parents of tomorrow, and help them to become the child the abilities that will enable that child to make the great parents of tomorrow who will, in turn, raise good best of him or herself. I think that we are quite close to kids. That is something that we all have to share. achieving that. My hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws)—I There was a period when the debate revolved around will call him my hon. Friend—talked about one-to-one one side saying that the other side wanted to hug tuition and when that approach should be taken. I am hoodies, and the other side retorting that their opponents not privy to the nuances of Government policy, but I wanted to put antisocial behaviour orders on embryos. know that if we are going to do one-to-one tuition, we However, the level of maturity in the debate over the should do it early, not late. We should not give one-to-one past two or three years has been to the great credit of tuition to the 16-year-old who is banged up in a secure Members in the House and to the spokespeople here unit; we should give it to the 16-month-old who could who have taken this issue much further than we thought otherwise become that child later on. We should get to we might have done. What is it that we have taken work early on one to one, if there is a choice. I think further? It is the process of early intervention, and the that the Government have got that right, although I laying down of the bedrock that will enable all kids to wish that we could extend the provision across the do well, as part of a complete raft of measures, rather whole age range. If a choice has to be made, however, it than just as a one-off. must be that one. I was talking to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth) (Lab): Does my hon. and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) about life skills before Friend realise that one of the biggest factors among we came into the Chamber—[HON.MEMBERS: “Surely parents is low expectations, bridled with the celebrity not!”] I have no secrets to tell. I hope that he will not culture in our society, which allows young people to mind my repeating that we are not just talking about sex think that they can get on in life by becoming a celebrity and relationship education, or about financial capability, rather than by determined hard work? or about the things that are in the current PHSE curriculum. I am talking about something much more fundamental— Mr. Allen: There are many things that flow from namely, the basic ability to interact, to have empathy having effective social and emotional capabilities. That with other people, and to sit and listen and learn. That will impact on teenage pregnancy, and it will impact is what I mean by social and emotional skills. I hope massively on aspiration. A young person who is rounded, that I went halfway towards convincing him that those self-confident and aware of their ability to interact with things make a much richer, more fundamental contribution others will make much more of themselves than a child to what we can all become. That, in turn, can make who is not, often through no fault of their own but English, maths and all the other academic subjects perhaps through ineffective parenting in the early years. much more accessible. A child who has those capabilities will aspire, seek I hope that I can blow the trumpet for my own city of employment, and have the desire to attain educational Nottingham. We started teaching life skills for 11 to qualifications, and will not get into trouble with the bad 16-year-olds a year before this legislation was introduced. lads or get involved in vandalism and antisocial behaviour. We started in six of the 14 secondary schools, and it is We must give those children that most precious, lifelong proving to be a great success. We did the training first, gift, to enable them to do the best for themselves. That as my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield is the absolute antithesis of the nanny state. The proposals (Mr. Sheerman) pointed out, and there are many lessons represent an important step towards achieving that, and that I hope we can learn from Nottingham. Perhaps my the Government are to be commended for introducing Front-Bench colleagues will come up and see how we them. are training, consulting the students, and allowing local I want briefly to respond to a point raised by my right variations so that we can hand-make the local curriculum. hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Yes, it is compulsory, but we must ensure that the Flint). She described the desperation of reaching the curriculum for a special school is different from one for end of the line with some parents, and the necessity of a pupil referral unit or for a conventional secondary imposing a parenting order. I hope that I am not school. All abilities need to be involved. All our agencies putting words into her mouth, but is it not a kind of are involved, we are piloting this effectively and we have failure to have reached that point? I do not want to effective evaluation in place. We think that the Government suggest that I am waving a magic wand, but we need to could learn from Nottingham, and we wish them well get to those kids and their parents earlier than that with these proposals. point of failure, because penalising them is not the way to make progress. If we can get to them much earlier, 8.8 pm they will be able to make their own way. Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) (PC): It Caroline Flint: I totally agree with my hon. Friend. I is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for was very proud to be involved in one of the trailblazer Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen), who made a thoughtful, Sure Start projects, but the fact is that we do not start thought-provoking and excellent speech. We can all with a level playing field. Some parents are out of agree with him, and I know that he has the best interests control in their approach to parenting, compared with of children and young people at heart. what we accept as the norm, and something has to be I should like to echo the remarks made earlier, and to done about that small minority who are working against send my condolences to the family of the late Member the school and the wider community. for North-West Leicestershire. He was an independent 489 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 490

[Mr. Elfyn Llwyd] and the 14-to-19 Welsh baccalaureate schemes for teenagers, and then have to make do with a criminal justice system and fearless parliamentarian, and he will be genuinely that does not adhere to the values we would like to see thought of with great affection across the House for reflected in it. many years to come. My party is not the only one saying it. The Howard A number of hon. Members have already mentioned League, a renowned think-tank, recently concluded in the Badman review, so I shall talk about it only briefly. its paper “Thinking beyond the prison bars”: It strikes a slightly discordant note, in that some of it “The current Whitehall-led option of imprisoning such a high has the taste of the nanny state about it. I was asked proportion of vulnerable children in unsafe circumstances cannot recently what plans the Welsh Assembly might have to be acceptable…Despite the limited effectiveness of the criminal use the new powers granted in the Bill. They will relate justice system as a lever to tackle youth crime, it seems somewhat to England only, and could be introduced by Measure perverse that the Assembly has access to the social welfare lever but not the criminal justice lever. If the Assembly had control of in Wales if the National Assembly believe that to be both levers then it would have the ability to move finances appropriate. My understanding is that there will be an between the two accordingly. Money currently spent on ineffective early debate on this issue in the Assembly, but I believe prisons could be transferred to bolster prevention and social that it will take a rather distinctive approach, in line welfare strategies”, with Welsh education policy. One of the first things that many of which we have heard about already. The league the Assembly did was to abolish standard assessment also drew attention to the fact that because of lack of tests—SATs—and it was quite right to do so. I believe provision, most Welsh children who find themselves in that there will be an in-depth consultation and that custody are held in England, far from their families. Badman will not be put into effect, at least in that This is not simply a matter of logistics, but of culture, manner, in Wales. language and other difficulties that come along with As hon. Members know, there has been a groundswell them. of concern about the Badman report. On 8 December, It is the responsibility of Governments to determine I presented to Parliament a petition on behalf of the exact policy, but Plaid Cymru would like an urgent my constituents, and on that very day no fewer than debate on the devolution of youth justice to Wales. A 16 other petitions were presented. At the moment, I think-piece entitled “Safer Communities”, which we believe that there are 43 petitions about the Badman published in 2008, argued that in the provision of youth report. This is a live issue of great concern to many of justice in Wales, we could learn from the example our constituents. of Finland. That country has a very small number of children in custody. Instead, there is a wide variety of Mr. Graham Stuart: I heartily congratulate the hon. psychiatric and care provision to deal with behavioural Gentleman on what he said about Wales not following problems at an early stage, which as we heard is crucial. the Government’s draconian measures after the Badman report. On one day alone, more than 120 petitions from A comparative analysis of young people in trouble in 120 different constituencies were presented in addition Wales and in Finland found that Finland had smaller to those presented on other days from all around the numbers of young offenders locked up. It accommodates country. very large numbers of children and young people in non-custodial residential centres of one type or another. Mr. Llwyd: That rather diminishes my 46, but it does Those include youth homes, children’s homes, and underline the great concern about the issue. I am sure interestingly, family-group homes. By far the largest that changes will be made to the current proposals in number—almost 4,000—are also assisted with psychiatric Committee—I sincerely hope so, as there is no grave problems and so forth. If England and Wales had the concern about the standard of home education: quite same number of psychiatric beds per head of population the reverse. I went to university with people who had as Finland, there would be approximately 40,000. In been home educated and they were probably the brightest Wales, there would be 2,220, but there are currently, in people I ever met. They are high flyers today and they fact, only 28. are probably home educating their own children in turn. It appears that concern about child and adolescent I see no need to wield a big stick in that area. mental health in Finland has eclipsed concerns about Welsh people, of course, have a great regard for the youth crime, and it would follow from this that behaviour liberation that education provides. I went to a university, that might be viewed as criminal in England and Wales Aberystwyth university college. It was built on public might well be dealt with in Finland first and foremost as subscription; the one in Bangor was built from the odd a form of disorder, or at least as something that should pennies and ha’pennies from the rather poor quarrymen be addressed outside the criminal justice system. in the local area. We know how important education is We would like to see greater use of reparation orders—in and how liberating it can be. other words, orders made in the civil courts that require I really believe that there are some good parts to the the perpetrator to repair the damage that their behaviour Bill, but there are also some rather strange parts. On the has caused—of child safety orders for children under youth justice provisions, I would advocate the transfer 10 years of age who have shown behavioural problems, of the relevant powers to Wales. The inclusion of youth of acceptable behaviour contracts and so forth. Provision justice within the education and young people’s portfolio for those orders is made in the Children Act 2001, at the Welsh Assembly seems to make sense. In the but little use is made of them because, I understand, jigsaw of society, there are a great number of interlocking social services departments are understaffed and often pieces, where decisions made in one field influence underfunded. outcomes in another. It does not make sense for a Welsh Those tools should be expanded to include both education system to introduce one set of values, evidenced mentoring of young people by older role models in the by the play-based foundation phase for young children community and conferencing to bring youths, their 491 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 492 families and relevant agencies together to discuss the different Labour investment when he visited Hammond young person’s problem behaviour in order to find the school. I am sure he will recall the extraordinary talent causes and try to fix them. The most important issue is of young people who had benefited from the specialist that the system should be child-centred and work for investment in dance and drama that had enabled state- the benefit of the community. It is very clear from the funded pupils to get into that elite school. All that high reoffending rate and the number of people who go investment has transformed the life chances of people from youth custody of one form or another to adult in my constituency, who are beginning to believe that custody that we must look at alternative means of they can do better than their predecessors. dealing with the problem. The hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy To conclude, in discussing the devolution of youth (Mr. Llwyd), who knows my constituency, will be aware justice to the Welsh Assembly, I have welcomed the that there were periods when we had massive unemployment acceptance that youth justice is included as part of among people in their mid-teens, partly owing to recessions society’s contract with young people rather than part of and technological change in the big manufacturing the adult criminal justice system. I have also offered areas back in the mid-1980s. The children of that generation suggestions about the route that might be taken by a are now starting to aspire towards something different, Welsh youth justice system if were we given the powers— and that is encouraging in itself. I view the Bill in the and, of course, the funding—to implement them. There context of what is happening now. The most important is a growing chorus of voices in Wales to devolve those of the guarantees mentioned in clause 1, to which no powers, which could be achieved. I hope that the Minister one has referred today, is the pupil ambition will pay some attention to this particular plea when he “for all pupils to go to schools where there is good behaviour, responds to the debate. strong discipline, order and safety”. That returns us to the heart of what was said by my 8.18 pm hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North, and it Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): I must be seen in the context of a two-way trade. Students am intrigued by the debate we have had so far, which I cannot attend a school at which they expect to enjoy have tried to place in the context of things that I have good behaviour around them unless they are part of it watched happen in my constituency since I was first themselves. We must work hard to ensure that a programme elected in 1992. One of the first things I looked at in of that kind is enshrined in legislation as soon as possible. respect of education in the area was the desperate need My second point relates to 21st-century schools. They to raise the ambitions of young people. That fits in with need investment, and I believe that unless the investment many of the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for programmes that I described earlier continue into the Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen). foreseeable future, it will not be possible for that part of It is critical for the House to focus on education and the Bill to be delivered either. We need continued state to ask whether the Bill enhances what is happening investment, together with the ambitions set out in the locally. I shall put the Bill in the context of developments Bill. Perhaps I can plug something to the Secretary of in my constituency that have brought positive benefits State. He visited a brilliant high school in my constituency for the life chances of my constituents, how that has in the week of the TUC conference last September, and spilled over into trends in the area and whether the Bill saw the marvellous work being done in a shambolic set improves the situation. of buildings in Neston. I hope that the Government will move that school further up the list in the Building The first major change was the development of a Schools for the Future programme. series of new primary schools. One of the best-managed private finance initiatives—I do not mind being bipartisan As we have heard, the Bill also deals with home about it; it was brilliantly managed—was led by what education. I too have received representations, and my was then Tory-controlled Cheshire county council, working petition on the subject was presented by the hon. Member in partnership with all the key customers including the for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart), for which I young people themselves. It made a difference: that am grateful. There have been some misapprehensions group of children felt that the school really did belong and misconceptions about the Bill. New section 19E in to them. The initiative, together with Sure Start, began schedule 1 makes it clear that there is no requirement to change the life chances of young people, and I have for children to attend sessions on their own with a seen it develop. representative of the local education authority. I would have objected strongly had there been any suggestion More recently, last September, we created a new that a child could be required to attend such a meeting. academy, the University academy. It is the result of a There is an absolute right of objection in the draft fantastic partnership between Chester university, the provision, and I consider that very important. local diocese and two secondary schools that have been merged. The close partnership with the university sector Mr. Graham Stuart: I do not think that that guarantee has resulted in new builds for both the academy and a is terribly absolute. Although a parent may object to the further education college. Even in the few months involved, inspector’s entering the home to speak to the child, he it has made a number of young people ask themselves a or she may then be deemed to have been unco-operative question about university: what is this mysterious place in terms of one of the visits that is required, in which to which very few have aspired? It has already made a event the right to educate the child at home may be difference, and I commend it. revoked. I would not be taken in by the superficial I am pleased to see that my hon. Friend the Minister appearance of the provision. for Schools and Learners has returned to the Chamber. When he visited the academy, he witnessed the leadership Andrew Miller: I am not a lawyer, but new section 19E that, after only a few months, is already starting to includes the words make a difference. He also witnessed the results of a “unless the child or a parent of the child objects”. 493 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 494

[Andrew Miller] There are also concerns that the safeguarding agenda has been over-emphasised compared with education. New section 19G states—and I should like to this Actually, the balance of words in the Badman report provision to be strengthened a little in Committee—that shows that that is probably not the case. Nevertheless, it the regulations “may”—I think the word ought to be was felt that part of the Badman report brief was to “should”—provide for the provision in new subsection (2)(b) look at safeguarding. If a Government have restrictive enabling an extension of the registration period to be measures in place and protect their own back, they can automatic in the event of an unwarranted draconian say, “But we did all of this to try to prevent such an action of the kind described by the hon. Gentleman. I event from happening.” There is a timidity in respect of think that it is possible to find solutions. just allowing people to get on with their own lives, because I am not aware of a huge problem. That is not Mr. Stuart: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? to say that one day there may not be a problem, but that will be an exception rather than the rule. We seem to be Andrew Miller: Very briefly. legislating for something that might happen in very Mr. Stuart: New section 19F(1)(e) states that a local exceptional circumstances. authority may revoke a registration Registration is key. It would be welcomed more if “by reason of a failure to co-operate with the authority in families were convinced that they would receive help arrangements made by them under section 19E”. and support. There is to be some money for home We need reassurance if we are to believe that parents educators, but it is unclear whether that will go towards will not be penalised. the cost of local education authority bureaucracy, or whether some of it will go towards helping home educators Andrew Miller: I have referred the hon. Gentleman to provide things, such as science equipment if that is what new section 19G, which concerns appeals. The regulations their children are interested in. The crux of the matter is should, in my view, provide for the registration to that many people feel that this is a licence to interfere continue automatically in the event of an appeal. and the whole move is representative of a societal Finally, I wish to say a few words about special attitude that seeks to quantify and standardise everything. educational needs. In the old county council structure Proposed new section 19E does not reassure, as proposed in Cheshire, a significant number of SEN appeals were new subsection (1)(a) allows LEAs to determine whether conducted at a very high level by volunteers. People the education is suitable. Many children are home educated with little or no means were reliant upon the voluntary because they were not thriving in the state system and sector to make representations on behalf of their child their parents made a positive decision to home educate. within the appeals mechanisms. At the opposite, more Indeed, the siblings of some of the children I met were wealthy, end of the county, however, people were represented perfectly happily in the state education system; their by highly qualified lawyers. That cannot be right. We parents had made a specific decision about one child, must have equality in the SEN appeals process. The not for reasons of dogma or because they thought they right of access for those children whose cases need knew best, but because that was what was best for that representation must be absolute, and there must also be particular child. It is important to bear that in mind. fairness in the quality of that representation. Whatever During the recess, I met a number of home-educated the detail of the steps that will be taken to strengthen children and I was struck by the breadth and variety of the process, I hope that my hon. Friend the Minister the learning experiences made available to them by will ensure that children of all backgrounds have both a committed parents. The concern is that some well-meaning right of access and the right to the same quality of local education authority officer with the bog-standard representation. training will insist on changes so that the national This is an important Bill that builds upon the building curriculum of the day is more closely adhered to at home. blocks to which I have referred, and I hope that when it The problem with the education system, which I have passes through Committee, it will emerge as a measure been following for many years, is that it suffers from that helps to build further upon those building blocks. fads. Such fads have included the literacy hour and the On that basis, I support the Bill. numeracy hour, which the Secretary of State does not seem to like very much because he is getting rid of them. 8.31 pm Over the years opinions have changed as to the best way to teach children to read, but the reality is that although Sandra Gidley (Romsey) (LD): I am unsure whether there may be an overall “best way”, some children learn my voice or my time will run out first, but I hope to in different ways. A good teacher will adapt to that, and concentrate on three issues: home education; personal, home educating parents are doing exactly the same, by social and health education; and family courts. adapting to what their children need. I hope that Schedule 1 to the Bill deals with the registration and reassurances can be given in Committee on this issue. monitoring of home-educated children, and it follows On personal, social and health education, I fully on from the Badman report, which gave rise to a significant support both what the hon. Member for Nottingham, number of concerns among home educators, who have North (Mr. Allen) said about needing to get rid of that done a fantastic job in lobbying parliamentarians. The term and talk instead about “life skills”, and the provisions right to interview children alone is a particular concern. in the Bill. I served on the Select Committee on Health The Government have listened, but it is clear from the in 2002, when it undertook an inquiry into sexual debate that there are still significant concerns. If in health. We had as witnesses a number of young people Committee we can provide more reassurance that there who were scathing about the sex education that they will not be a heavy-handed lever for local authorities to had received. They all made a number of interesting use if they are not happy with what is going on, that will observations, the first of which related to the “geography be welcomed by all. teacher” syndrome—I do not know why the geography 495 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 496 teacher is always picked out for approbation. Not all published in the press that meant that her daughter teachers are instinctively comfortable delivering this could be identified, going against everything that is part of the curriculum, even with training. There is supposed to be possible. My constituent challenged that nothing worse than being taught this subject or taught in court and the judge effectively said that because of about relationships by a teacher who is embarrassed, so her high-profile position, her daughter did not enjoy we need to have specialist teachers or good, high-quality the same protections as other children. We talk about training, with an opt-out if the teacher does not want to opportunities and protections for all, and there should deliver this subject. Bad PSHE is worse than no PSHE. not be any impact on the children just because their The second point made to us strongly by those children parents might be involved in something that we do not was that those in their peer group who were taken out of like. Apparently, section 97 did not apply because my classes were often those in the most need of information. constituent had put herself in the public domain by It was not that their parents wanted them to receive this protesting and courting publicity for her cause, so her education at home; it was that their parents did not children were not entitled to the same protection as want them to be educated about sex and relationships at others. Given that the media are totally irresponsible all. That is a problem, and we should consider—this and exist only to sell newspapers, they will publish and might sound like a slightly wacky idea—involving parents be damned. I think that we need to be very careful more in what is going on and running courses for them before giving them carte blanche to ruin children’s lives. so that they can follow up at home on some of the topics that are brought up in school. Some parents 8.41 pm would like to talk about this subject—some teenagers would want them to do so like they want a hole in the Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth) (Lab): It is a pleasure head, but such an approach would be helpful. to follow the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley), who made a well-presented contribution to the debate. The third point that was made to us dealt with Many of the speeches this evening have been well thought alcohol, peer pressure and self-respect. The hon. Member out and well presented. It is such a large subject that we for Salisbury (Robert Key) made the point well about might easily get distracted, but I hope that I do not the impact of alcohol and the fact that it leads to become too distracted, as I took large sections out of careless attitudes, and we have to address this part of my speech when the time limit went from 15 to 10 minutes. our education too. Let us compare our approach with what happens in This Bill is the latest step on the long path to improving Sweden, which has a programme of relationship-based education in our country and I shall support it tonight. education. We always talk about “sex and relationships”, It is a key element of that long path. Let me put it into but we should be talking about “relationships and sex context in my area. Like many others, I shall refer to education”. Sweden’s relationships education encourages Sure Start as one of the cornerstones in starting to people to talk about relationships in a way that covers recognise that children do not come with a works manual. friendships, bullying, respect for individuals and Parents start from scratch. Our society today is a more relationships with the opposite sex—as has been said, a flexible one, shall we say, in which people do not grow holistic approach is much the best one. The schools also up in the same street as their parents or grandparents. arranged, as part of the curriculum, a visit to the young There is no one to turn to, and knowing how to bring people’s sexual health clinic—we nearly put this in the up children and how to be a good parent becomes much report, but we decided that it would not pass the Daily more challenging. With Sure Start provision, we at least Mail test. We found that the clinics were not just places did one thing: we started to teach parents how to play that dished out condoms and contraceptive pills; they with their children, how to bring their children up and involved multidisciplinary teams. If their people found how to have expectations that their children will do that a young person was being promiscuous, they would better in life than they did. arrange for a psychologist to have a chat with that The theme of raising expectations is an important person, because they took the view that such behaviour one to me. Let me step forward a few years in talking was a sign of deeper problems. The evidence from places about educational provision in my town. We had six such as Sweden and the Netherlands shows that better secondary schools and a surplus secondary school was sex education leads to an increase in the age at which converted partly into an educational campus for special young people have their first sexual experience and to educational need provision and partly into a skills academy, fewer partners. Although I welcome the Government’s staffed by the local college, to take students aged 14-plus sense of direction, I hope that they will take specific one day a week. It now has 150 youngsters and is the account of some of the details. largest such academy in the country. They come from In the remaining few moments available to me, I wish the five remaining schools for one day a week. We have to talk briefly about the family courts. I welcome the to thank our Government for sending a cheque of move towards more openness, because we have probably £8.5 million to allow us to refurbish the school and all encountered constituency cases where we were not make it a jewel in the crown, as that would not have able to see the reports from the courts, where a parent been possible otherwise. The academy is raising expectations was accusing the judge of bias or a professional of not among our 14-year-old students as well as the qualifications doing a job properly and where it was difficult to obtain that they are achieving, and people are now realising transparency. Clearly, that is wrong and there needs to that vocational status is equal to academic status in be some accountability, but the new rules have been in education. To me, that is very rewarding. place for less than a year and this issue is extremely I also have to thank the Government for sending delicate, and so change has to be introduced gradually. £100 million for construction work to the remaining The media’s prime interest is in selling newspapers. I five schools as part of the Building Schools for the have a constituency example. My female constituent Future programme. One of the five schools will be an was involved with Fathers 4 Justice and details were academy, which I personally have no problem with, and 497 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 498

[Mr. Brian Jenkins] of the economic future, particularly in the next few years, which of those front-line services will be maintained? the sixth-form centre that we are going to build from If we introduce the one-to-one guarantee, will it be new, which will take all the sixth-form students from maintained in future? When we give schools the extra the remaining schools, will be built to accommodate funding and require them to give one-to-one teaching 960 students. Considering that our town has only to catch-up students, will we be diverting resources 660 sixth formers, Members might think that it has from other students, or will money be ring-fenced specifically been overbuilt, but what a brilliant advert it is—we now for catch-up students? It will be self-defeating to take have an academy that has to work to fill the surplus money from gifted children—from high flyers—to spend places. To do that, it has to encourage students to stop on catch-up students, because the high flyers are the on into the sixth form at 16-plus. That is a real challenge, ones who have given us our results in the past. They are but one that we will live up to in the next few years. the ones who have gone on to achieve and to give us our Despite all the money that has been sent to our town current world-leading positions in culture, art, IT and in the past few years, we still have a problem. The best games. We need to maintain that stream of high flyers. figures that I can work out show that only 23 per cent. We are to give children the opportunity to learn to of our 18-year-olds leave to go to university, whereas play a musical instrument. Will we make sure that that the national average is 46 per cent. So one of our goes further than the spoons or the triangle? Who will problems is low expectations and the fact that people do provide funding for music in this country? Music, as we not realise that education, qualifications and a secure know, has been a Cinderella in many of our schools. At future are within their grasp. Another problem is the present, parents have to provide funding to allow their fact that we have lower than average funding. One children to have music tuition. I would like to see much might think that Staffordshire is a lovely, leafy county more information on exactly how much funding will be and therefore deserves the same sort of funding as other provided for that. leafy counties, but my constituency is just outside With regard to teacher licensing, the General Teaching Birmingham, and many of my people have been part of Council, which was established under the Teaching and the overspill programme from Birmingham. My town Higher Education Act 1998, was intended to drive up has the same social make-up as Birmingham, which is standards, so what role will licensing play? How do we just a few miles down the road, but students in Birmingham see it taking over the role of being the driving force? receive much more funding than those in Staffordshire, Most teachers I know would welcome the chance to in Tamworth. I hope that the new review of spending in undertake professional development. The only reason education will put that anomaly right. Low expectations they do not undertake it is that their head teacher tells give us those low grades and low figures for university them that there is no money in the fund. The hon. entrance. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) said that the TUC did We have some excellent schools in my constituency. not back the measure, but the National Union of Teachers Manor primary school in Drayton Bassett has just said that it recorded results of 100 per cent. in its SATs. If one “could see nothing to welcome in the proposal without adequate takes added value into consideration, many other primary funding”. schools do very well, but the difficulty is that one must A comprehensive professional development strategy for take the added value into consideration. It is at the key all teachers, based on an individual funding entitlement point when children start primary school that one-to-one for each teacher, would be welcomed as a way forward. tuition would pay dividends. If we can get their expectations Perhaps the proposal has raised expectations within the up and get them into the main stream, we can raise still NUT. further the number of children who go on to our I have already said this, and I will say it time and secondary schools with the full SATs at level 4. again: the one thing that must be stamped on the Bill is Home education is a challenge that the Government “Expectations, expectations, expectations”. Without that, must face up to. I was not very keen on one aspect of some of our poorest children will continually fail. this issue. Some of this country’s home educators feel that there has been an attack on them and the way that 8.51 pm they provide education to children. I am sure that the Government will consider how the position has been Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) presented to them regarding home educators. One good (Con): I appreciate the opportunity to make a brief thing has come out of all this, however. In some local contribution to the debate. Given the time constraints, I authorities, there is no halfway and home educators are hope that you will forgive me, Mr. Deputy Speaker, if I either in the system or out of it, but it is about time that focus on the aspect of the Bill that is of particular we recognised that those people are taxpayers and that interest to me: home education. their children have rights. Their local authorities should Almost exactly one year ago, the Department for give them the right to use school libraries, to enter Children, Schools and Families launched an independent music classes and to use science laboratories if they review of home education by Graham Badman. Fearful wish to do so. I am sure that the Government will take that it represented another attempt by the Government that point on board. to intrude into their lives, two home educating parents The Bill will provide guarantees such as those on from my constituency, Tina Robbins and Helen White, extra and one-to-one teaching, but for those guarantees came to meet me in Parliament to see what could be to be met, relevant facilities must be in place. I know done. Home educators have long suspected that the that the money to make those facilities available has Government are uncomfortable with the idea of parents come into my community, but I want to know whether providing an education that cannot be monitored, tested those guarantees will be maintained. Given the uncertainty or accounted for. That applies, I suspect, to Governments 499 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 500 of all political colours, and of course to local education Act 2004 enshrined the Government’s Every Child Matters authorities. In many ways, the outcome of the report agenda in legislation. Home educators with whom I confirmed that suspicion. have engaged conclude only that either the Government I have to admit that in my initial meeting with my two have no faith in the previous reviews or the Badman constituents, I had misconceptions that a home education report was from the start a superficial exercise designed might produce an unsocialised, precocious child, unable to allay public concern—a bid somehow to make good to interact with his or her peers and shielded from all other failures with frenetic activity; or, worse still, that negative influences. However, the more I listened to the child welfare concerns were being used as a cover for a two mothers talk, the more I was impressed and excited Government obsessed with monitoring and targets to by the passion and enthusiasm that they displayed for interfere in a sphere over which they currently have little home education. Each parent was able to provide their influence. child with an individualised learning experience, tailored Home educators vigorously reject the attempts by the to that child’s ability and interests. Government to mix concerns about child welfare into Inspired by that dedication to individualised learning any review of home education, and I believe that they and that determination to fight Government impositions, are right. They believe that the Government’s concerns in a Westminster Hall debate last June I decided to in this regard are in line with the misguided understanding defend home educators against some of the most that a child is safe when seen once or twice by a local controversial recommendations in the Badman report— authority. I am not diminishing in any way some legitimate compulsory annual registration; annual home visits by concerns about child abuse and I have a great deal of local authority officers, which we have heard about; and sympathy with some of the problems faced by the a right for local authority officers to interview a child Government, particularly in other Departments, in away from their parents. preventing cases similar to the appalling ones that we have recently seen, but we must be clear: local authorities I must confess that I was absolutely overwhelmed by already have powers to get involved in a family when the reaction to the speech that I made that day. Not only there are concerns about abuse. did it receive extensive support from my constituents, many of whom I had no idea shared a passion for the The uncomfortable truth is that no amount of legislation subject, but I received countless letters and e-mails from will ever remove all risk. The task of the Government is home educators across the country. The important point to balance the rights of all individuals. Given that to stress is that home educators are a very diverse group home-educated children are not proven to be at any of individuals with no single voice. There has been a greater risk, it is inappropriate to throw away the liberty great lobby, but it should be stressed that we are talking of parents to choose how to educate, particularly when about individuals, to a large extent. So sacred is their it is equally possible for a child to go to school and be independence that for a long time they have chosen to abused when they return home or, indeed, for children remain under the radar. However, nationwide, in the in the care of the state to suffer abuse. past year, they have felt compelled for the very first time On top of all the concerns over the conflation of to stand up and demand that their voice be heard. education and welfare are fears about the implications The results are quite remarkable. As we know, the of monitoring home educators. Monitoring is not a Department has been flooded with correspondence. neutral activity and is likely to require tick boxes to Meetings have been set up with numerous MPs from ascertain whether a child is receiving a suitable education. every mainstream party. There has been a massive Although a seemingly harmless word, the definition of co-ordinated internet campaign, too. As Members know, “suitable” is worryingly subjective. that all resulted, only last December, in the biggest mass If a more formal monitoring system is implemented, petition ever seen in the House. it will come with severe practical and cost implications. A review of elective home education by the Children, Of course, for any monitoring to be worthwhile, staff Schools and Families Committee has also broadly assisted will have to be trained. If no extra funding is the cause. Released just before Christmas, the Committee’s forthcoming—a likely scenario in these difficult economic report rejected the idea of compulsory registration of times—budgets currently allocated to ensuring the welfare home-educated children and made clear the Committee’s of genuinely vulnerable children could be diverted to disappointment at the such things. That would be a real waste and, of course, “less than robust evidence base that the Badman Report and the a risk when the Government have already stated that Department have presented with regard to the relative safeguarding they are confident that the great majority of home risk to school and home educated children.” educators are doing a first-class job. The report went on strongly to discourage the notion That majority feels that the Government are incapable that local authority home education teams should be of trusting parents to do the best for their children. Yes, given a more overt safeguarding role and questioned the parents fail sometimes, but, let us be honest, so too do Department’s somewhat optimistic cost estimates for the Government. Without being able to prevent all more robust monitoring by local authorities. It concluded: cases where a child is abused or not provided with a “The way in which the Department has handled the Badman decent education—of course, such cases can happen report has been unfortunate—from the way in which it framed the just as often when the state is involved—it is for review, through to its drafting of legislation prior to publication Governments to assess risk and ask which areas warrant of the related consultation findings. We trust that the Department most attention. will learn from this episode”. Increased intervention makes little financial sense In the light of the outcry of home educators and the and has the potential to divert resources from truly criticisms of the review, I question how the Government vulnerable children. It also further infringes the rights can proceed with the plans in the Bill. Home education of parents to make what they believe are the right has been under constant scrutiny since the Children decisions for their children. Current legislation is perfectly 501 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 502

[Mr. Mark Field] Like previous speakers, I see the Bill as the next stage of much of the work that we have been doing in adequate but all too often poorly understood. Any government over recent years. I have seen huge Government must guard the sacred right of parents to improvements in my constituency and I can point to all educate their children, while vigorously tightening the sorts of facts and figures about the changes, for example, current system when it comes to child welfare. After in 11-year-olds reaching level 4 at key stage 2, going up that, the Government should look to their own ability from 64 per cent. to 82 per cent. in English, and from to fulfil the Every Child Matters objectives, rather than 68 per cent. to 88 per cent. in science, the increase in the continue to pursue those who put their faith, time and proportion of those getting five A* to Cs, and the fact passion into home education. I believe that these proposals that I no longer have any schools with fewer than 30 per should be firmly rejected. cent. achieving that. Obviously, we want to go further. I see the Bill as a further development of such achievements. 8.59 pm I recall that when I was campaigning in my first Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley) (Lab): This is my first election at the same time as David was, one of the chance in the Chamber to pay my tribute to my dear things that struck me most was going to Swanwick Hall friend and colleague, David Taylor. As fellow east midlands school in my constituency. The buildings in which we MPs with similar constituencies and both active in our expected pupils to learn stank of damp. That struck me union group, Unison, I know of his humanity, his even more than the buildings that were falling down. kindness, his ability to take the mickey, the way in which Parents came to see me with a picture of the toilet that he put forward ideas and campaigned, and his commitment had a roof that was open. A dead bird had fallen almost to public services and education. The subject of the Bill into the lap of their pupil. The transformation in school would have been close to his heart. buildings in my area, as well as the improvements that At his funeral on Saturday in the village of Heather we have seen in results, and the figures that I could give where he lived, I saw the primary school that he went to. to illustrate the increase in teaching staff and in non-teaching One of his local council colleagues told me how proud staff, have been extremely important. The proposals in David was to see the extension and the building work the Bill to provide guarantees are important and valuable. that had been done at that school under Labour, and I am pleased about the one-to-one teaching, which the pride that it gave him to know that he had helped has been spoken about, and the possibility of catch-up. push for that and to see it happen on his watch, so to As I have seen in a number of my schools, the practice speak. I spoke to a couple of head teachers at the of taking pupils out if they are not doing so well football pavilion where we met afterwards, who told me happens anywhere. It is not completely new, but the fact about all the support that David had given as a continuing that the Bill makes that a systematic entitlement is member of one of the school’s governing bodies, and valuable. However, I ask Ministers to ensure that in how he had managed to visit two thirds of his schools in doing so we look at the support that we need. As a just one term. fellow Unison MP, David, like me, was very concerned I talked to one of the heads about a neighbouring about the role of support staff in schools and the sports specialist school in Leicestershire, at which I valuable contribution that they make, and I am sure spoke when I went to one of those Sunday “Politics that they, along with teaching staff, will be an important Show” programmes last year. We talked about the part of the programme. Government pledge to provide pupils with sports and Notably, the White Paper had a specific chapter on arts opportunities in all schools. That is included in the work force development, where it clearly acknowledged very welcome guarantees in the Bill. David would have that strongly supported those. “the ability of the school system to support every child and young In that programme pupils at the school talked about person to achieve success depends most of all on the school the different ways in which sports and music could be workforce.” provided. It does not have to be traditional sports. It We will, in effect, need a “work force guarantee”, so could be anything from the oz boxing programme in my that teaching and non-teaching staff can continue to constituency set up by a couple of police with local develop and carry out the Bill’s guarantees, which I pupils, which won a Daily Mirror award, to dance to think will be absolutely invaluable. different forms of music, an activity in which it is easy The Bill’s ambition to get pupils engaged. We know how music and sports “for all pupils to go to schools where they are taught a broad, can feed back into educational attainment. I have seen balanced and flexible curriculum and where they acquire skills it at first hand through, for example, some of the ways learning and life” in which pupils in my constituency have got involved in will obviously be fleshed out. I note that the White sports development programmes. The value that they Paper fleshes it out by talking about providing vocational gained from that has fed back into their academic qualifications and training as well as academic training—in achievement. Providing guarantees that we will see such so far as one can make a clear distinction between the programmes is important and valuable. two. In my constituency, one thing of which I am most David would not have welcomed everything in the proud is the new post-16 Phoenix centre at Aldercar Bill. I am sure that in his inimitable style, he would community language college, which I took David Puttnam probably have made some caustic comments about to open. The centre, a £4.6 million facility funded by the academies, which as my hon. Friend the Member for Learning and Skills Council, provides a range of vocational Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase) pointed and academic qualifications. out, were not necessarily to David’s taste. I know that he I also visited Manthorpe Engineering, a world-class would have welcomed the continuing thrust towards engineering company in my constituency, and I have providing support and encouragement for every child, with me a picture of some of the 24 apprentices whom, no matter how disadvantaged, to reach their full potential. in consultation with a local school, it has taken on over 503 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 504 the past few years and trained up for engineering. It is The family courts touch the lives of the majority of important that the range of opportunities for pupils people in this country. One need only look at the does not disappear, but, looking at the Opposition’s example of adoption—one in four people knows someone policies, I am concerned, because I understand that the who has been involved in an adoption. That, in itself, Conservatives would abolish the new diplomas. That shows the importance of the family court system and of would be a huge mistake, because they provide another people’s confidence in it. The system is subject to too pathway for pupils. much delay and suffers from a lack of judges, and there I recently attended a workshop organised by the is a disconnect between the family court process and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and I talked public’s understanding of what that is. It is therefore to a number of girls and boys who have been taking essential that we address those issues when considering engineering diplomas. They were excited by the way in the transparency of these courts. Clients in family court which they had been able to get into engineering and proceedings used to ask me questions as simple as take up that opportunity. Indeed, the institution has “What is a courtroom like?”, “Is there a jury?”, “Can I been very positive about the implementation of advanced speak?”, “Will the social worker be there?”, and “How diplomas, and Russell group universities now recognise does the judge decide what to do?” If the people involved and accept them for 79 per cent. of their courses. That in the family court system do not understand these issues, development is highlighted by the Bill’s guarantee of a it is not surprising that the wider public have a dearth of broad range of choice, but it would be extremely understanding of the process. It is only right that they have disappointing if the Opposition came to power and those questions answered, as long as the privacy of the took away such choice. I certainly hope that we carry on parties and the protection of the child remain paramount. down that path, because it is extremely valuable. The Bill touches on that important issue. Accessibility of information must happen without compromising the The two other areas that I should like to mention natural course of justice. People’s experiences of family have been well covered by my hon. Friend the Member courts, as of criminal courts, vary widely, from satisfaction for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) and my right hon. with the depth of inquiry and the sensitivity of the Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint). proceedings to disbelief at the way they feel they have The provisions on community facilities and on life been treated through their involvement in the case. skills, as my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North put it, are invaluable parts of the Bill, and they Opening up the family court system will help people will be very important. to understand the judge’s reasons for coming to their decision, dispel some of the myths surrounding family Opposition Members say that the Bill is bureaucratic, court proceedings, and help to bring confidence back but a system has to have order. A free-market system, into the system. However, I make a plea to the Government which we would allegedly move to if we operated the that they should also be considering how we can prevent Swedish system, would mean only that we threw a pile cases from going into the family court system in the first more money into things; we would not have a proper, place, particularly the role that mediation and alternative organised programme. The programme and developments dispute resolution can play in bringing parties together in the Bill, however, are really positive. They will enable and ensuring that they do not go as far as having to us to move on to the next stage of improving education instruct solicitors and to spend their own money, in in my constituency and to build yet further on the some cases, or money from the public purse, in others, improvements that we have made in recent years. on trying to resolve issues that could have been resolved much earlier on. 9.9 pm One of my concerns about this aspect of the Bill is Mr. Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): that it builds in a two-stage process for reviewing In the short time that is left in this Second Reading the sensitive information that will become available to debate, I would like to concentrate on part 2 of the Bill, the public through the introduction of the media into on which my hon. Friend the Member for North-West the courtroom. Stage 1, which will apply for the first Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) spoke with great authority. I 18 months once the Bill becomes law, creates a slight declare an interest in that before taking my seat in this loosening of the reins in the reporting of proceedings, place I was a practising family law barrister for 10 years. particularly placement proceedings, but when we move Part 2 deals with the relaxation of the rules on to stage 2, that reporting goes much further and would reporting information relating to family proceedings. allow the Lord Chancellor, of his own volition, to relax Like most Members who spoke about this issue, I rules to the extent that sensitive personal information, support the principle of making the work of family as it is termed, can be published unless the court specifically courts more transparent and accountable to the wider imposes restrictions. That presumption should be public. That principle has developed over a period when re-examined to see whether it is the right way forward, the issue has been brought to the fore by a series of because the anonymity of some very vulnerable young high-profile miscarriages of justice, including the cases children is at stake. It is clear from some of the information of Sally Clark and Angela Cannings, involving professional that has been provided to us by those who are interested or expert witnesses whose evidence has been discredited—in in that aspect of the Bill that there is a real danger that those cases, the expert witness was Professor Sir Roy some children will become identifiable through other Meadow. The desire to open up the family courts is sensitive information that will become available to the therefore understandable. However, I agree with the public, such as psychiatric and health reports. When hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley), who is not pieced together, such information could form a picture in her place, that the fundamental shift that the Bill will of exactly who the child in question was. introduce should not be rushed into without proper The Government have not made a huge assessment consideration and consultation, because it concerns a of the impact that the proposed changes will have. The particularly delicate area. original changes were brought in only in April 2009, 505 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 506

[Mr. Edward Timpson] parents who decide to home educate their children. We believe that school is the best place for the vast majority of children to and as we have heard, there has been no independent receive education, therefore funding is devoted to maintaining the evaluation of their impact on children, courts and state system of schools from which those children benefit. There are currently no plans to change this.” reporting. We can say that there has been very little journalistic take-up of the opportunity to go into the That is quite a statement, which obviously reflects the courts and view the family law process. The danger is Department’s stance. That stance has affected the culture that journalists will end up going only to cases that have in the Department and in local authorities. I welcome a sensational element and that they believe will have the fact that the Government and Badman himself some public interest through their newspapers, as opposed identified the need to provide support, but before rushing to getting a true, broad picture of what goes on in the into legislating, one needs to work on the culture and family courts across the country. Rather than help to training. Indeed, I cannot understand why the support deal with the fear of the family court system that some that is to be introduced needs legislation. people have, the media may reinforce it through the Furthermore, when we had revised education guidelines selective reporting of what goes on. for local authorities—in 2007, dipping into 2008—the I am conscious that other Members wish to speak, so Government did not move far. They suggested a few I shall conclude by saying that although it is a welcome examples of additional support, such as using the library, move that we are looking to open up the family court but certainly nothing like supporting entry into system, there is a danger that if we go through the examinations. process set out in the Bill, we will move ahead too I welcome the U-turn on support, but the problem is quickly with a rather complex system that ends up not everything that comes with it. When we examine the helping the accountability of the family court system diverse nature of home education, we realise that a and people’s understanding of it but shrouding it in large group of competent parents wishes to pursue even greater mystery with selective reporting of what education for their children and is clearly capable of goes on. People need to understand what goes on in the doing that. Those parents probably removed their children family courts, but I am not sure that the Bill goes the from school because they wanted to escape the straitjacket right way about it. A more structured and cautious of the national curriculum. The greatest fear is that, approach of evaluating the evidence and returning to under the Government’s proposals, registration and all the matter at a later date would be a much more the strings attached mean that there is no control over constructive way of ensuring that we deal with this very the direction of home education. That is why I understand sensitive issue in the appropriate way. home educators’ concerns. It is a complex topic, which needs time. We should deal with it step by step, starting 9.17 pm with the important subjects of support and training. Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD): We should be wary of a registration scheme, which I want to make a very brief contribution on a few could represent the most heavy-handed approach and topics. On the first two, home education and personal, perhaps destroy some imaginative education. social and health education, it is interesting to note that I want briefly to consider PSHE education. I welcome the Government’s current stance represents a U-turn. the fact that it may be made statutory. I have proposed However, there are interesting contrasts in their approach that on several occasions when considering other Bills, to the two issues. and been defeated. The difference between that U-turn There are a number of reasons for home education, and the previous one is that once the Government and it clearly is not one homogenous entity, which decided to follow that route, they engaged in pilots and makes a heavy-handed and rushed approach to legislating a great deal of consultation. There is much to be seem singularly inappropriate. I have long been concerned commended in the proposals. I should have liked the about the lack of support for those home educators process to start many years ago, but I respect the fact who would like to access certain support, and I shall that it has happened. A great deal of engagement with briefly give a constituency example. I have a letter that the school, parents and the local community is important, states: as is high-quality provision. We are placing such high “This is the last straw. I have heard today that children who are expectations on the provisions that we must all show excluded from school will be given home tuition through computers great leadership. They have the power to deliver a great all financed by the government. Where is my Help? deal, but they could be just a damp squib if we are not I withdrew my son before he was excluded and we get no help careful. what so ever, not even the right to sit free GCSE’s.” It is important to dwell on the relationships provisions So it goes on. I wrote to the local authority and established because they are about empowering young people to that there was no help. That was in 2007. I also wrote to say no, whether to alcohol, following the gang or engaging the Government, because I was concerned about that in violence, as well as sex. I am therefore concerned mother, who had withdrawn her child from school for about the opt-out of sex and relationship education at the very best of reasons—to ensure that he could make 15, because some aspects are crucial to young people’s something of his life. I received a letter from the then development. We can usefully explore that in detail in Schools Minister, the right hon. Member for South Committee. Dorset (Jim Knight), stating: I want to consider clause 9, which deals with exceptional “We recognise that it is a fundamental right enshrined in law provision for ill or excluded children—I do not think that parents should be free to educate their children at home if they so wish. But when deciding to do so or not, parents are that anyone else has referred to it. I am all in favour of strongly encouraged to plan ahead and think carefully about the improving the education on offer to excluded children. costs associated with educating children at home. This is because It is one way of stopping the downward spiral of there are no funds directly available from the Government for exclusion, truancy and disillusionment with school. 507 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 508

However, it is important to get the education right for A small minority of parents elect to educate their children and young people who have long-term health children at home, for a variety of reasons—I will not go conditions. I am not sure what clause 9 offers them. into that, but various speakers have mentioned the There are parents in my constituency who say, “I’d get diverse nature of parents who home educate. Under more help with home tuition if my child was excluded the current legal framework, parents are trusted to do rather than ill.” That cannot be right. I recently had a the right thing by their child unless there is clear evidence constituency case of home tuition being needed for to the contrary. Of course, some home-educating parents someone in the sixth form. It was extremely complex. I do not do a good job of educating their child, but was told: overwhelmingly, what evidence we have suggests that “The Learning and Skills Council allocates funding to local that is a tiny minority, and nothing said by Ministers authorities for such cases but the matter rests with Connexions has done anything to dispel that view. To deal with that services in discussion with the school concerned on whether this tiny minority, the Secretary of State wants to set up a additional support is merited.” huge licensing bureaucracy with a long list of reasons There were months of discussions with different bodies, why home-educated children can be sent back to school, but the child was perhaps let down at the end of the whatever the opinion of the parents and the child. day. In that case, the young person had myalgic Because of this Bill, the cloud of suspicion will be encephalomyelitis. She needed to get a secure package extended to the many, not the few. to ensure that she could make a sound start to sixth-form As I understand it, the Government have three principal studies—probably a mix of school and home tuition—but motives for introducing the licensing inspection proposals: she failed to get it. first, the Department for Children, Schools and Families Finally, I echo some of the comments made by the says it has evidence from serious case reviews and other hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) and my hon. such things that under the guise of home education, Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws). Will the some children are at risk of suffering harm or being Minister give some clarification on whether there is a denied an education; secondly, Ministers point out that loophole in section 58 of the Children Act 2004 that they intend the measures to give the state the power to allows certain adults who do not have legal responsibility guarantee that every child receives a suitable education; to use physical punishment on a child in their care? and thirdly, Ministers say that to allow local authorities Whereas teachers for the most part are prohibited in to provide greater support and other services to home- law from using such sanctions, the prohibition may not educating families, they need a better idea of the numbers. extend to teachers providing under 12.5 hours’ education As we heard from the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset a week, such as those in Sunday schools or madrassahs. and North Poole (Annette Brooke), the Government That is important, and I would appreciate some clarification. made no effort before introducing such a major licensing system—this draconian set of powers—to support home- 9.26 pm educating families. Indeed, they wrote to her specifically Mr. Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): to say that absolutely no money was available for home- In the few minutes that I have, I shall address the subject educating families. On the Department for Children, of home education, as my hon. Friend the Member for Schools and Families website today, in the small print Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field) did in an on the page about the home access scheme, which is excellent speech. From the Front Bench, my hon. Friend designed to provide grants for parents to look after the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) spoke a their children, it says that home-educated children are lot of commons sense on the topic, as did the hon. specifically excluded. That is the history under this Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley), who addressed it Government, of which home-educating parents are well in the first half of her speech. aware. There has been lots of suspicion, but no support, and now Ministers tell us that their approach is all Under clause 26 and schedule 1, local authorities will about education, support and a more co-operative have a duty to run a licensing system—that is what it relationship between parents and local authorities. However, is—for all home-educating parents in their areas, complete I am afraid that none of the home-educating families with monitoring by local authority inspectors, who will out there feels the same. have to be hired and trained and sent out in order to have all their meetings. Local authorities may revoke a There has been a lot of concern about the fact that parent’s licence to educate their own child or refuse to the consultation on the Badman proposals was not give one if the inspectors do not think that that child is published before the Bill was published, despite the receiving a suitable and efficient education; if they deem Cabinet Office guidelines, to which the Department is a the families to be unco-operative—God forbid that any signatory, which say that Departments must ensure that family should be unco-operative when an inspector any consultation is meaningful and can properly influence from the local authority comes knocking on the door; decisions. I thank the Minister for Schools and Learners, or if the parents fail in any of the administrative with whom I had a meeting last week, for saying that he requirements imposed on them by the Bill. would do everything possible to ensure that as much It has always been the duty of parents, not the state, information as possible was provided, but the response to educate their children, and they may choose to do so to that consultation was published yesterday. That hardly through school or otherwise. That historic settlement helps to inform our deliberations too well today, except will be turned on its head by the Bill, which tears from for those who are particularly astute. parents and gives to the state the decision as to how a The numbers were 230 in favour, 4,497 against and child is to be educated. We have heard much about 106 unsure, yet Ministers keep making out that it is a guarantees in this debate, but for many parents, the minority of people who are opposed. It is not a minority. freedom to choose how their child is educated is the A system is being set up, supposedly for the benefit of ultimate guarantee. home-educated children and their families, to create, 509 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 510

[Mr. Graham Stuart] and rather heavy-handed Bill is to advocate putting nothing in its place. That is not the position of many according to Ministers, a co-operative atmosphere, yet Conservative Members. that system is being forced on to families, practically We want to focus instead on giving teachers the trust none of whom wants it. Ministers should ask themselves and freedom to do their jobs, rather than on producing whether they want to bring such help to families who and debating another education Bill from another Queen’s are so adamant that they do not want to receive it. Speech. Such legislation has been introduced nearly It is not that families do not want help or would not every year, but—notwithstanding my own education welcome access to the home access scheme, or to libraries under this Labour Government—less than half of all or other facilities—the points that the Badman report pupils currently leaving school achieve five or more makes on that have been fully supported by the Select GCSEs, including English and maths, at the top levels. Committee on Children, Schools and Families—but Will the Government accept that their policies have where is the guarantee of support in the Bill for home- failed, and that teachers and head teachers must now be educated families? The Bill is full of guarantees, but given the trust and the freedom that they need to anyone who searches through it for such guarantees will complete their jobs? They must not be given a bundle of find that there are none. There is no evidence of any bureaucratic burdens, which is what the Bill could provide additional money and no evidence that home-educating if it goes through in its current form. families will be treated fairly as taxpayers and citizens. I do not have an awful lot of time, but I want What is guaranteed is a large licensing scheme. What is to discuss four aspects of the provisions, from parts 1 also guaranteed is that the local authority will impose a and 3—the home-school agreements, the school report school attendance order on those who fail to put their cards, the charitable status of academies, and the primary child on the register, regardless—it specifically says this curriculum. I shall discuss each of them at top speed. in the legislation—of the quality of the education provided to that child. In other words, the administrative convenience I welcome the strengthening of the existing home-school of the local authority is to be put ahead of the interests agreements. The Government agree that the present of the child. That is what is in the Bill. HSAs involve a bureaucratic process with few real benefits. However, the Bill could undermine them, for two reasons. My hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath touched First, it seeks to personalise agreements rather than on this issue, but in connection with the Badman review, making them reflect common standards that are expected on which the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Anderson) of all pupils at a school. That could undermine the idea spoke last week, it is also worth mentioning that bad of common standards, and it could also create a mammoth data lead to bad decisions. That is what the legislation is administrative task for schools. based on. One member of the Badman review’s expert reference group described the review as Secondly, the Bill fails to give HSAs teeth by ignoring “slap dash, panic driven, and nakedly and naively populist”. their usefulness as a potential tool as an admission condition. The Secretary of State has said: That is the basis on which the Government have moved forward. “It would be wrong to make signing the Home School Agreement a condition of admission, as this could unfairly deny a child a As I mentioned in an intervention on the Secretary of school place.” State, New Zealand had a similar monitoring and licensing system. It ran the system for several years and found That is wrong-headed, however. Agreements should set that there was no problem with home-educating families. out common standards that are expected of all pupils, It therefore scrapped the scheme last year, saying that it and should define the expectation that parents support was a waste of time and money. Is it not time that their kids at school. What parent would refuse to sign a Ministers learnt from that experience and did likewise? simple agreement on such terms? A failure to sign could be, and should be, a ground for head teachers to say, “I don’t want such children in my school because it could 9.34 pm hinder everyone’s learning.” It might also have to be a ground, further down the line, for other agencies to Chloe Smith (Norwich, North) (Con): Youmust excuse become involved with the child and the parents. The Bill me, Mr. Speaker, for suffering from such a bad winter should create an opportunity to have a civilised condition cold that any compassionate teacher would seek to of admission in that regard. exclude me from their classroom for fear of infecting everybody else. I am therefore happy to have to keep my On school report cards, the Bill will get it wrong if it comments brief. I should start also by noting that I am, seeks to introduce a single grade for schools. There is no I suspect, the only Member of the House to have sat my such thing as a single card that meets the data needs of GCSEs and received all my subsequent education under all the interested parties. I also understand from one this Government—I may or may not be all the better for school in my constituency that there is not yet a united that, but there we are. I did that in a comprehensive view within the Government on how such data should school in rural Norfolk. I understand that I might even be calculated. We need to publish as much data as therefore have shared a local authority with the Secretary possible about a school, for two particularly good reasons of State in my early years. that were given to me by a vice-principal in my constituency. I want to assert that I believe passionately in education The first is that that would pull attention away from the as a means of encouraging aspiration and ambition. borderline data. The second is that it could help to This debate has been wide ranging and measured, but I attract and retain good staff by reflecting the breadth of hope that, during the wind-ups, the Government will what the school does. drop the rather sad refrain that we have heard before—not On the automatic charitable status for academies, the least during the Personal Care at Home Bill before vice-principal I just mentioned is vice-principal of Norfolk’s Christmas—that to oppose a hyper-active, headlong first academy, the Open academy, which is in Norwich, 511 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 512

North. Jumping out of the frying pan of any bureaucracy If an education Bill every year were not evidence associated with a local authority into the fire connected enough of a directionless and rudderless education with the Charity Commission would not be desirable, policy, the escalation of ever-grander promises from so the academy and I support this measure to simplify curriculum entitlements to pupil guarantees should be a procedures for these new schools. May I take this warning. After nearly 13 years of this Government and opportunity to praise the Open academy for its impressive billions of pounds of extra taxpayers’ money, we still achievement in doubling its benchmark GCSE results have a situation in which 40 per cent. of 11-year-olds last summer? are leaving primary school struggling with the basics of My fourth point is on the Rose review of the primary reading, writing and maths, and half of all children curriculum. In so far as these measures provide an qualifying for free school meals fail to achieve a single opportunity to teach children basic learning skills, I GCSE above grade D. It is all evidence that the Government welcome them, but they must, without doubt, be have failed to tackle the problems that lie at the root of supplemented by knowledge. This must be a question of underachievement in too many schools, which will not skills plus knowledge, and I believe that that is the view be resolved by passing yet another law saying that bad of many primary schools in my constituency, including schools should not be allowed or declaring that henceforth the Heartsease primary school, of which I must declare all pupils and parents will receive better guarantees. that I am due to become a governor very shortly. I now know that my hon. Friend the Member for In three of the four areas that I have just mentioned, Salisbury (Robert Key) was a teacher at the school that great opportunities have been missed. On home-school my father attended—Leeds grammar school—but not, agreements, instead of empowering schools, the Bill will I think, at the time of my late father. He is right to say force head teachers to tailor toothless agreements with that the pursuit of ideas lies at the heart of democratic each parent. The measure on report cards could have politics and that it requires a broad, liberal and high-quality provided parents with a great range of data that could education system. The hon. Member for Yeovil is right help them to make choices for them and their child. But to say that the proposed report card risks becoming a no, it seeks to condense information, turning sharpness box-ticking exercise. As my hon. Friend the Member for into fuzziness. As to the Rose review, yes, children need Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) pointed out, 84 per cent. skills for learning, but they also need knowledge. In all of the schools in New York are graded A and 13 per those cases, the measures are incredibly prescriptive cent. are graded B under a report-card system; in fact, towards children. The Bill fails to empower teaching only seven schools in New York were graded D or F last professionals and, given the stream of legislation coming year. out of the Department, it risks stifling both head teachers The hon. Member for Yeovil is also right to question, and teachers. as we do, the value of personalised home-school agreements—a point also well made by the right hon. 9.40 pm Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), who rightly Mr. Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) fears that the Government are mixing up the pastoral (Con): Well, here we are, Mr. Speaker, a new year and a care of pupils, an ongoing matter for a pupil’s personal new education Bill. It is now almost an annual event, tutor, with home-school agreements, which should be with nearly as many education Bills as finance Bills. We about the ethos of the whole school. have had the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, Just before Christmas, I visited a primary school in the Learning and Skills Act 2000, the Education Act 2002, London. I sat in on a remedial reading lesson for an the Education Act 2005, the Education and Inspections 11-year-old girl. The child was barely literate after seven Act 2006, the Education and Skills Act 2008, the years of primary education and despite three years of Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 twice-weekly, one-to-one tuition. She was being shown and now the Children, Schools and Families Bill in flashcards of simple words that she had rehearsed hundreds 2010. of times over the years. She managed to read the word It is not just the 50 clauses and four schedules of this “even”, so I asked the teacher if the child could read the Bill or the 270 clauses and 16 schedules of last year’s word with the first “e” covered up. The teacher covered Bill that are the problem; it is the scores of regulations up the “e” leaving the word “ven”. The child could not that each of these Bills spawns and the dozens of sets of read it. She did not know what the letter “v” sounded statutory guidance and programmes of study that local like, so she could not begin to sound out the word. authorities, governors, head teachers and teachers all Why is it that that little girl, who was meant to be able have to read, absorb and act upon that is the real to read the word “even”, could not read the word burden. “ven”? The answer is that she had not been properly It is becoming almost axiomatic that, legal skills are taught the sounds of the alphabet and how to blend as necessary as pedagogical skills to succeed in education them. She had been drilled in the “whole word recognition” these days. Legal skills and knowledge will become even method, which simply does not work for the least able more important if the Government succeed in putting children and works only inefficiently for other children. on to the statute book the pupil and parent guarantees That is not an isolated example. In last year’s SATs, in the opening clauses of this Bill, which is why the 9 per cent. of boys and 4 per cent. of girls failed to Association of School and College Leaders is right to register a grade in the key stage 2 English tests. That warn that these guarantees will means that they are starting secondary school completely “open the flood gates for increased litigation against schools”. illiterate. As the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) pointed out, How does the Bill propose to reform primary education? how is the local government ombudsman going to be By creating six “areas of learning” and, in each “area of able to enforce loosely defined guarantees about the learning”, a programme of study with 84 objectives quality of education? running from E1 to E24, from M1 to M29, and from 513 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 514

[Mr. Nick Gibb] This Bill will do nothing to tackle the deep-seated problems that are the cause of underachievement in too L1 to L31. The Government claim that that is a more many schools. It needs to be consigned to the wastepaper flexible arrangement, but what could be more prescriptive bin, and I urge Members in all parts of the House to and undermining of the professionalism of teachers help us to do just that. than to be faced with 84 detailed objectives that they all know will have to be incorporated into their lesson 9.49 pm plans on pain of criticism by Ofsted? For example, on a The Minister for Schools and Learners (Mr. Vernon particular day a teacher will write on the board “Objective: Coaker): First, may I thank everyone who has spoken in to recognise how authors of moving-image and multi-modal this debate, most of whom have made excellent texts use different combinations of words, images and contributions? sounds to create effect and make meaning”. That is At the beginning of the debate, the hon. Member for what happens. They will write the objectives on the Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) said we should not focus board, and that will be one of them on one particular too much on drawing political dividing lines, but we day if the Bill comes into effect. have just heard a classic example of that. Let me put to The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton simply cannot help itself. This proliferation of objectives— (Mr. Gibb) what he has just said, because I think he will this bureaucratic tick-box approach to education—bears regret it. He said that we have not seen improvements in the hallmarks of the QDCA, the Qualifications and our education system. Those words will ring around Curriculum Authority and the Government since they this country, in constituencies throughout the land. One were formed, and it is one of the key reasons why we of the major Opposition spokespersons has told the have not seen improvements in our education system House of Commons there have been no improvements despite the billions that have been spent. in our education system. As for home education, my hon. Friend the Member I must inform the hon. Gentleman that I have just for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner)—who has vast experience been to a reception in Downing street. It was attended in the field of education—expressed concern, shared by by the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and the many Members, about the dangerous increase in state head teachers of the 150 most improved schools in this intrusion into people’s homes. As he pointed out, clause 26 country. Those people are a credit to this country; they and schedule 1, if implemented, would stamp out the work hard, and they have delivered real progress. We individuality that home educators cherish. should start every debate by praising our head teachers, The hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) referred teachers and schools for the excellent work they have to the Government’s timidity about letting people get done and for raising standards in our country. on with their own lives. My hon. Friend the Member for [Interruption.] That is the context in which we should Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field), who has consider this matter. [Interruption.] I bet the Opposition conducted an effective campaign on the matter, referred Members who are shouting at me now do not go back to the passion of home educators, and asked how the to their constituencies and say to their schools that Government could proceed with the provisions given standards have fallen. the overwhelming opposition to them. That is a question The hon. Member for Surrey Heath talked about that Ministers need to answer. dividing lines. There is a very clear dividing line, in that In a powerful speech, my hon. Friend the Member the current Secretary of State and Government consider for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart), who chairs it important for the state not to intervene in every the all-party parliamentary group on home education, school, but to stand away from schools and to allow emphasised people’s fundamental freedom to educate them to pursue their own agendas and improvement their children. That presumption and that freedom are programmes. However, when there is underperformance undermined by the Bill. and underachievement and it is necessary for the state to be involved, they will not turn around to say that the Clause after clause of this Bill demonstrates Ministers’ state will not be involved. In those circumstances, the lack of understanding of the underlying causes of the state has a responsibility to involve itself, and involve problems in our education system. It proposes pupil itself it will. and parent guarantees that will land head teachers and governors in the courts; home-school agreements that Mr. MacShane: In 1997, no school in Rotherham had will become a bureaucratic nightmare for heads, with a been rebuilt for about 20 years, and there was rotting bespoke contract for each child that will be reviewed infrastructure. Almost all of them have now been rebuilt. and rewritten every year; a new curriculum for primary I am proud that the head teacher of Thornhill primary schools with hundreds of prescriptive objectives serving school is in the Gallery tonight. She will listen to the only to undermine teachers and kill the joy of education; scorn and contempt of the Conservative party for what and a new licence for teachers that is also designed to this Government have done. It should be ashamed of undermine their confidence. itself, because we have served the children of our nation, I am not sure that our education system can stand yet and it will not do so. another Bill that deluges schools with ever more prescription, and diverts schools from their core purpose Mr. Coaker: Yes, we have all seen improvements in of educating children. I am not sure that our schools or school buildings in Rotherham and other areas of the our teachers can continue with an education policy that country. is so lacking in focus, and so overtly political and The hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) raised a ideological. I am not sure that our country can continue point about people acting in loco parentis. Such people with an education policy that continues to fail so many fall into a number of categories, including the following: children from deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds. those employed in a capacity where a legal ban on 515 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 516 physical punishment applies, such as school teachers or stage. For key stage 2, we are talking about one-to-one child minders; people within, or close to, families, such tuition and for year 7 we are talking about one-to-one as step-parents, parents without parental responsibility and small group tuition, so our approach does include and babysitters; and people in educational or quasi- small group work in primary schools. educational settings. Where such people administer physical The new primary school curriculum is set out in the punishment resulting in actual bodily harm or constituting Bill, and it has been massively welcomed across the cruelty, they would be prosecuted and would not be able whole education sector. Notwithstanding what the hon. to rely in court on the defence of reasonable punishment. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton said, a I am not aware of any evidence that the law as it stands large number of primary school teachers, primary heads is not working as it should in this regard. and education professionals have generally welcomed A number of Members on both sides of the House the new primary school curriculum that we are introducing. raised the important topic of home education. We all I have taught personal, social and health education want to strike the right balance in respect of allowing and I believe that making PSHE compulsory is another parents their proper right to exercise their responsibility major step forward. I was astonished when the hon. for their children, and to educate at home should they Member for Surrey Heath informed us that the Conservative choose to do so. It is also right for us to balance that Front-Bench team opposes the Bill’s proposal to change against the need to ensure that we have the education from 19 to 15 the age up until which parents will have standards we want, including for children who are the right withdraw their children from such education. educated at home; and, in that context, issues in respect The Conservatives wish to keep the law as it stands, of safeguarding arise. whereby parents will have the right to withdraw their In dealing with some of the issues raised by a number children up until they are 19. They may think that of people, including the hon. Members for Isle of somebody who is 18 or 19 years of age can be told by Wight (Mr. Turner), for Cities of London and Westminster their mother or father that they cannot have sex and (Mr. Field), for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart), relationships education, but that is nonsensical, as people for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) and for Meirionnydd Nant will see when they consider the matter. Conwy (Mr. Llwyd), and my hon. Friends the Members May I also quickly mention report cards, which are for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) and for Vauxhall (Kate another—[Interruption.] Hoey), the fundamental right is that of the child not to be denied a suitable education. The local authority Mr. Speaker: Order. I apologise for interrupting the must consider the wishes and feelings of the child when hon. Gentleman, but there is far too much noise coming carrying out monitoring. In most cases, parents provide from both sides of the Chamber. The House will want a good education, but when that is not the case, the to listen to the Minister. state should intervene. The monitoring of home education Mr. Coaker: The reason I am being shouted at is will be done with a light touch and it will be proportionate, because the Conservatives’ own Front-Bench team cannot so parents who are doing a good job will not see much believe that they said 19. [Interruption.] They did say difference from the current arrangements. 19. One of the other factors to mention is school report The Bill focuses on education, not on safeguarding, cards, which are an important part of this debate, and I and safeguarding issues will be dealt with in the usual commend this Bill to the House. way. It is inconceivable that a local authority would Question put, That the amendment be made. revoke registration for a genuine mistake. The legislation The House divided: Ayes 211, Noes 288. says that registration “may” be revoked, and in such cases parents can appeal to an independent panel if the Division No. 31] [9.59 pm local authority behaved unreasonably. There is no right AYES to see children on their own but this is a factor that can Afriyie, Adam Brooke, Annette be taken into account if the authority decides to seek a Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Browne, Mr. Jeremy school attendance order, and there is no right of entry Alexander, Danny Bruce, rh Malcolm under these provisions. I hope that what I have said has Amess, Mr. David Burns, Mr. Simon answered some of the general points that people have Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Burrowes, Mr. David been making. Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Burstow, Mr. Paul A number of Labour colleagues, including my right Bacon, Mr. Richard Burt, Alistair hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Baldry, Tony Cable, Dr. Vincent Flint), my hon. Friends the Members for Nottingham, Barker, Gregory Campbell, rh Sir Menzies North (Mr. Allen), for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Baron, Mr. John Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Barrett, John Carswell, Mr. Douglas Miller), for Amber Valley (Judy Mallaber), and for Beith, rh Sir Alan Chope, Mr. Christopher Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins), my right hon. Friend the Bellingham, Mr. Henry Clappison, Mr. James Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong), Benyon, Mr. Richard Clark, Greg and my hon. Friends the Members for Huddersfield Beresford, Sir Paul Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey and for Vauxhall, made interesting contributions to this Binley, Mr. Brian Conway, Derek debate. Blunt, Mr. Crispin Corbyn, Jeremy The Bill sets out a number of real developments and Bone, Mr. Peter Cox, Mr. Geoffrey policy reforms. It sets out guarantees that will ensure Boswell, Mr. Tim Crabb, Mr. Stephen that young people who fall behind in primary school or Bottomley, Peter Davey, Mr. Edward who start secondary school not at the appropriate level Brady, Mr. Graham Davies, Mr. Dai will receive one-to-one tuition. Key stage 1 is primary Brake, Tom Davies, David T.C. education and if the hon. Member for Yeovil were to Brazier, Mr. Julian (Monmouth) read what we have said, he would find that we are Breed, Mr. Colin Davies, Philip talking about one-to-one and small group tuition at this Brokenshire, James Davis, rh David 517 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 518

Drew, Mr. David Luff, Peter Walker, Mr. Charles Williams, Mr. Roger Duddridge, James Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Wallace, Mr. Ben Wilshire, Mr. David Duncan, Alan Maclean, rh David Walter, Mr. Robert Wilson, Mr. Rob Dunne, Mr. Philip Main, Anne Waterson, Mr. Nigel Winterton, Ann Evans, Mr. Nigel Malins, Mr. Humfrey Watkinson, Angela Winterton, Sir Nicholas Evennett, Mr. David Maples, Mr. John Webb, Steve Wright, Jeremy Fabricant, Michael Maude, rh Mr. Francis Whittingdale, Mr. John Yeo, Mr. Tim Fallon, Mr. Michael May, rh Mrs. Theresa Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Young, rh Sir George Featherstone, Lynne McDonnell, John Wiggin, Bill Tellers for the Ayes: Field, Mr. Mark McIntosh, Miss Anne Willetts, Mr. David John Hemming and Foster, Mr. Don McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Williams, Mark Dan Rogerson Francois, Mr. Mark Mercer, Patrick Fraser, Christopher Miller, Mrs. Maria Gale, Mr. Roger Milton, Anne NOES Gauke, Mr. David Moore, Mr. Michael Abbott, Ms Diane Clwyd, rh Ann Gibb, Mr. Nick Moss, Mr. Malcolm Ainger, Nick Coaker, Mr. Vernon Gidley, Sandra Mulholland, Greg Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Coffey, Ann Goodman, Mr. Paul Murrison, Dr. Andrew Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Cohen, Harry Goodwill, Mr. Robert Neill, Robert Allen, Mr. Graham Connarty, Michael Gove, Michael Newmark, Mr. Brooks Anderson, Mr. David Cooper, Rosie Gray, Mr. James O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Anderson, Janet Cooper, rh Yvette Green, Damian Öpik, Lembit Armstrong, rh Hilary Cousins, Jim Greening, Justine Ottaway, Richard Atkins, Charlotte Crausby, Mr. David Grieve, Mr. Dominic Paice, Mr. James Austin, Mr. Ian Creagh, Mary Gummer, rh Mr. John Paterson, Mr. Owen Austin, John Cruddas, Jon Hague, rh Mr. William Pelling, Mr. Andrew Bailey, Mr. Adrian Cryer, Mrs. Ann Hammond, Mr. Philip Penrose, John Bain, Mr. William Cummings, John Hammond, Stephen Pickles, Mr. Eric Baird, Vera Cunningham, Mr. Jim Hancock, Mr. Mike Price, Adam Balls, rh Ed Cunningham, Tony Hands, Mr. Greg Prisk, Mr. Mark Banks, Gordon David, Mr. Wayne Harper, Mr. Mark Pritchard, Mark Barlow, Ms Celia Davidson, Mr. Ian Harvey, Nick Pugh, Dr. John Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Davies, Mr. Quentin Heald, Mr. Oliver Randall, Mr. John Battle, rh John Dean, Mrs. Janet Heath, Mr. David Redwood, rh Mr. John Bayley, Hugh Denham, rh Mr. John Heathcoat-Amory, rh Reid, Mr. Alan Beckett, rh Margaret Dismore, Mr. Andrew Mr. David Rennie, Willie Begg, Miss Anne Dobbin, Jim Hendry, Charles Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Benn, rh Hilary Dobson, rh Frank Hoban, Mr. Mark Robathan, Mr. Andrew Benton, Mr. Joe Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Robertson, Hugh Berry, Roger Doran, Mr. Frank Hollobone, Mr. Philip Robertson, Mr. Laurence Betts, Mr. Clive Dowd, Jim Holmes, Paul Rosindell, Andrew Blackman, Liz Eagle, Angela Horam, Mr. John Russell, Bob Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Eagle, Maria Howarth, David Sanders, Mr. Adrian Blears, rh Hazel Efford, Clive Howarth, Mr. Gerald Scott, Mr. Lee Blizzard, Mr. Bob Engel, Natascha Howell, John Selous, Andrew Blunkett, rh Mr. David Ennis, Jeff Hughes, Simon Shapps, Grant Borrow, Mr. David S. Farrelly, Paul Huhne, Chris Shepherd, Mr. Richard Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Fisher, Mark Hunter, Mark Simmonds, Mark Brennan, Kevin Flello, Mr. Robert Hurd, Mr. Nick Smith, Chloe Brown, Lyn Flint, rh Caroline Jack, rh Mr. Michael Soames, Mr. Nicholas Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Flynn, Paul Jackson, Mr. Stewart Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Brown, Mr. Russell Follett, Barbara Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Spink, Bob Browne, rh Des Foster, Mr. Michael Jones, Mr. David Spring, Mr. Richard Bryant, Chris (Worcester) Kawczynski, Daniel Stanley, rh Sir John Buck, Ms Karen Foster, Michael Jabez Keetch, Mr. Paul Steen, Mr. Anthony Burden, Richard (Hastings and Rye) Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Streeter, Mr. Gary Burgon, Colin Francis, Dr. Hywel Key, Robert Stuart, Mr. Graham Burnham, rh Andy Gapes, Mike Kirkbride, Miss Julie Stunell, Andrew Butler, Ms Dawn Gardiner, Barry Knight, rh Mr. Greg Swayne, Mr. Desmond Byrne, rh Mr. Liam George, rh Mr. Bruce Kramer, Susan Swinson, Jo Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Gilroy, Linda Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Syms, Mr. Robert Cairns, David Goodman, Helen Lamb, Norman Taylor, Matthew Campbell, Mr. Alan Griffith, Nia Lancaster, Mr. Mark Taylor, Dr. Richard Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Griffiths, Nigel Lansley, Mr. Andrew Thurso, John Caton, Mr. Martin Grogan, Mr. John Laws, Mr. David Timpson, Mr. Edward Cawsey, Mr. Ian Gwynne, Andrew Leigh, Mr. Edward Tredinnick, David Chapman, Ben Hain, rh Mr. Peter Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Turner, Mr. Andrew Chaytor, Mr. David Hall, Mr. Mike Lewis, Dr. Julian Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Clapham, Mr. Michael Hall, Patrick Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Vaizey, Mr. Edward Clark, Ms Katy Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Vara, Mr. Shailesh Clark, Paul Hanson, rh Mr. David Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Viggers, Sir Peter Clarke,rhMr.Tom Harman, rh Ms Harriet Loughton, Tim Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Clelland, Mr. David Harris, Mr. Tom 519 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 520

Havard, Mr. Dai Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Straw, rh Mr. Jack Watts, Mr. Dave Healey, rh John Meale, Mr. Alan Stringer, Graham Whitehead, Dr. Alan Henderson, Mr. Doug Merron, Gillian Stuart, Ms Gisela Wicks, rh Malcolm Hendrick, Mr. Mark Michael, rh Alun Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Williams, rh Mr. Alan Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Miliband, rh David Tami, Mark Williams, Mrs. Betty Heppell, Mr. John Miliband, rh Edward Taylor, Ms Dari Wills, rh Mr. Michael Heyes, David Miller, Andrew Thomas, Mr. Gareth Wilson, Phil Hill, rh Keith Mitchell, Mr. Austin Thornberry, Emily Winnick, Mr. David Hodge, rh Margaret Moffat, Anne Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Hood, Mr. Jim Moffatt, Laura Todd, Mr. Mark Woolas, Mr. Phil Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Mole, Chris Touhig, rh Mr. Don Wright, Mr. Anthony Hope, Phil Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Trickett, Jon Wright, Mr. Iain Hopkins, Kelvin Morden, Jessica Turner, Dr. Desmond Wright, Dr. Tony Howarth, rh Mr. George Morgan, Julie Twigg, Derek Wyatt, Derek Howells, rh Dr. Kim Morley, rh Mr. Elliot Walley, Joan Tellers for the Noes: Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Mudie, Mr. George Ward, Claire David Wright and Humble, Mrs. Joan Mullin, Mr. Chris Watson, Mr. Tom Mrs. Sharon Hodgson Hutton, rh Mr. John Munn, Meg Iddon, Dr. Brian Murphy, Mr. Denis Illsley, Mr. Eric Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Question accordingly negatived. Irranca-Davies, Huw Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), Jackson, Glenda Naysmith, Dr. Doug That the Bill be now read a Second time. James, Mrs. Siân C. O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Jenkins, Mr. Brian O’Hara, Mr. Edward The House divided: Ayes 287, Noes 206. Johnson, rh Alan Olner, Mr. Bill Division No. 32] [10.14 pm Johnson, Ms Diana R. Osborne, Sandra Jones, Helen Palmer, Dr. Nick AYES Jones, Mr. Kevan Pearson, Ian Jowell, rh Tessa Plaskitt, Mr. James Abbott, Ms Diane Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Pope, Mr. Greg Ainger, Nick Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Keeble, Ms Sally Pound, Stephen Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Cairns, David Keeley, Barbara Prentice, Bridget Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Campbell, Mr. Alan Keen, Alan Prentice, Mr. Gordon Allen, Mr. Graham Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Keen, Ann Primarolo, rh Dawn Anderson, Mr. David Caton, Mr. Martin Kemp, Mr. Fraser Prosser, Gwyn Anderson, Janet Cawsey, Mr. Ian Kidney, Mr. David Purchase, Mr. Ken Armstrong, rh Hilary Chapman, Ben Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Atkins, Charlotte Chaytor, Mr. David Knight, rh Jim Reed, Mr. Andy Austin, Mr. Ian Clapham, Mr. Michael Kumar, Dr. Ashok Reed, Mr. Jamie Austin, John Clark, Ms Katy Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Reid, rh John Bailey, Mr. Adrian Clark, Paul Lammy, rh Mr. David Riordan, Mrs. Linda Bain, Mr. William Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Laxton, Mr. Bob Robertson, John Baird, Vera Clelland, Mr. David Lepper, David Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Balls, rh Ed Clwyd, rh Ann Levitt, Tom Rooney, Mr. Terry Banks, Gordon Coaker, Mr. Vernon Lewis, Mr. Ivan Roy, Lindsay Barlow, Ms Celia Coffey, Ann Linton, Martin Ruane, Chris Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Cohen, Harry Lloyd, Tony Ruddock, Joan Battle, rh John Connarty, Michael Love, Mr. Andrew Russell, Christine Bayley, Hugh Cooper, Rosie Lucas, Ian Ryan, rh Joan Beckett, rh Margaret Cooper, rh Yvette Mackinlay, Andrew Salter, Martin Begg, Miss Anne Cousins, Jim MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Benn, rh Hilary Crausby, Mr. David Mactaggart, Fiona Seabeck, Alison Benton, Mr. Joe Creagh, Mary Malik, Mr. Shahid Sharma, Mr. Virendra Berry, Roger Cruddas, Jon Mallaber, Judy Shaw, Jonathan Betts, Mr. Clive Cryer, Mrs. Ann Mann, John Sheerman, Mr. Barry Blackman, Liz Cummings, John Marris, Rob Sheridan, Jim Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Cunningham, Mr. Jim Marsden, Mr. Gordon Simon, Mr. Siôn Blears, rh Hazel Cunningham, Tony Marshall-Andrews, Mr. Robert Simpson, Alan Blizzard, Mr. Bob David, Mr. Wayne Martlew, Mr. Eric Skinner, Mr. Dennis Blunkett, rh Mr. David Davidson, Mr. Ian McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Slaughter, Mr. Andy Borrow, Mr. David S. Davies, Mr. Quentin McCabe, Steve Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Dean, Mrs. Janet McCafferty, Chris Smith, Ms Angela C. Brennan, Kevin Denham, rh Mr. John McCarthy, Kerry (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Brown, Lyn Dismore, Mr. Andrew McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Dobbin, Jim McCartney, rh Mr. Ian Smith, Geraldine Brown, Mr. Russell Dobson, rh Frank McDonagh, Siobhain Smith, rh Jacqui Browne, rh Des Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Snelgrove, Anne Bryant, Chris Doran, Mr. Frank McFall, rh John Soulsby, Sir Peter Buck, Ms Karen Dowd, Jim McGovern, Mr. Jim Spellar, rh Mr. John Burden, Richard Eagle, Angela McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Burgon, Colin Eagle, Maria McIsaac, Shona Stewart, Ian Burnham, rh Andy Efford, Clive McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Butler, Ms Dawn Engel, Natascha 521 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 522

Ennis, Jeff Lewis, Mr. Ivan Ruane, Chris Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Farrelly, Paul Linton, Martin Ruddock, Joan Tami, Mark Fisher, Mark Lloyd, Tony Russell, Christine Taylor, Ms Dari Flello, Mr. Robert Love, Mr. Andrew Ryan, rh Joan Thomas, Mr. Gareth Flint, rh Caroline Lucas, Ian Salter, Martin Thornberry, Emily Flynn, Paul Mackinlay, Andrew Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Follett, Barbara MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Seabeck, Alison Todd, Mr. Mark Foster, Mr. Michael Mactaggart, Fiona Sharma, Mr. Virendra Touhig, rh Mr. Don (Worcester) Malik, Mr. Shahid Shaw, Jonathan Trickett, Jon Foster, Michael Jabez Mallaber, Judy Sheerman, Mr. Barry Turner, Dr. Desmond (Hastings and Rye) Mann, John Sheridan, Jim Twigg, Derek Francis, Dr. Hywel Marris, Rob Simon, Mr. Siôn Walley, Joan Gapes, Mike Marsden, Mr. Gordon Simpson, Alan Ward, Claire Gardiner, Barry Marshall-Andrews, Mr. Robert Skinner, Mr. Dennis Watson, Mr. Tom George, rh Mr. Bruce Martlew, Mr. Eric Slaughter, Mr. Andy Watts, Mr. Dave Gilroy, Linda McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Whitehead, Dr. Alan Goodman, Helen McCabe, Steve Smith, Ms Angela C. Wicks, rh Malcolm Griffith, Nia McCafferty, Chris (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Williams, rh Mr. Alan Griffiths, Nigel McCarthy, Kerry Smith, rh Angela E. Williams, Mrs. Betty Grogan, Mr. John McCarthy-Fry, Sarah (Basildon) Wills, rh Mr. Michael Gwynne, Andrew McCartney, rh Mr. Ian Smith, Geraldine Wilson, Phil Hain, rh Mr. Peter McDonagh, Siobhain Smith, rh Jacqui Winnick, Mr. David Hall, Mr. Mike McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Snelgrove, Anne Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Hall, Patrick McFall, rh John Soulsby, Sir Peter Woolas, Mr. Phil Hamilton, Mr. Fabian McGovern, Mr. Jim Spellar, rh Mr. John Wright, Mr. Anthony Hanson, rh Mr. David McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Wright, Mr. Iain Harman, rh Ms Harriet McIsaac, Shona Stewart, Ian Wright, Dr. Tony Harris, Mr. Tom McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Wyatt, Derek Havard, Mr. Dai Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Straw, rh Mr. Jack Tellers for the Ayes: Healey, rh John Meale, Mr. Alan Stringer, Graham David Wright and Henderson, Mr. Doug Merron, Gillian Stuart, Ms Gisela Mrs. Sharon Hodgson Hendrick, Mr. Mark Michael, rh Alun Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Miliband, rh David Heppell, Mr. John Miliband, rh Edward NOES Heyes, David Miller, Andrew Afriyie, Adam Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Hill, rh Keith Mitchell, Mr. Austin Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Conway, Derek Hodge, rh Margaret Moffat, Anne Alexander, Danny Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Hood, Mr. Jim Moffatt, Laura Amess, Mr. David Crabb, Mr. Stephen Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Mole, Chris Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Davey, Mr. Edward Hope, Phil Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Davies, Mr. Dai Hopkins, Kelvin Morden, Jessica Bacon, Mr. Richard Davies, David T.C. Howarth, rh Mr. George Morgan, Julie Baldry, Tony (Monmouth) Howells, rh Dr. Kim Morley, rh Mr. Elliot Barker, Gregory Davies, Philip Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Mudie, Mr. George Barrett, John Davis, rh David Humble, Mrs. Joan Mullin, Mr. Chris Beith, rh Sir Alan Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Hutton, rh Mr. John Munn, Meg Bellingham, Mr. Henry Duddridge, James Iddon, Dr. Brian Murphy, Mr. Denis Benyon, Mr. Richard Duncan, Alan Illsley, Mr. Eric Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Beresford, Sir Paul Evans, Mr. Nigel Irranca-Davies, Huw Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Binley, Mr. Brian Evennett, Mr. David Jackson, Glenda Naysmith, Dr. Doug Blunt, Mr. Crispin Fabricant, Michael James, Mrs. Siân C. O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Bone, Mr. Peter Fallon, Mr. Michael Jenkins, Mr. Brian O’Hara, Mr. Edward Boswell, Mr. Tim Featherstone, Lynne Johnson, rh Alan Osborne, Sandra Bottomley, Peter Field, Mr. Mark Johnson, Ms Diana R. Palmer, Dr. Nick Brady, Mr. Graham Foster, Mr. Don Jones, Helen Pearson, Ian Brake, Tom Francois, Mr. Mark Jones, Mr. Kevan Plaskitt, Mr. James Brazier, Mr. Julian Fraser, Christopher Jowell, rh Tessa Pope, Mr. Greg Breed, Mr. Colin Gale, Mr. Roger Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Pound, Stephen Brokenshire, James Gauke, Mr. David Keeble, Ms Sally Prentice, Bridget Brooke, Annette Gibb, Mr. Nick Keeley, Barbara Prentice, Mr. Gordon Browne, Mr. Jeremy Gidley, Sandra Keen, Alan Primarolo, rh Dawn Bruce, rh Malcolm Goodman, Mr. Paul Keen, Ann Prosser, Gwyn Burns, Mr. Simon Goodwill, Mr. Robert Kemp, Mr. Fraser Purchase, Mr. Ken Burrowes, Mr. David Gove, Michael Kidney, Mr. David Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Burstow, Mr. Paul Gray, Mr. James Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Reed, Mr. Andy Burt, Alistair Green, Damian Knight, rh Jim Reed, Mr. Jamie Cable, Dr. Vincent Greening, Justine Kumar, Dr. Ashok Reid, rh John Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Grieve, Mr. Dominic Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Riordan, Mrs. Linda Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Gummer, rh Mr. John Lammy, rh Mr. David Robertson, John Carswell, Mr. Douglas Hague, rh Mr. William Laxton, Mr. Bob Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Chope, Mr. Christopher Hammond, Mr. Philip Lepper, David Rooney, Mr. Terry Clappison, Mr. James Hammond, Stephen Levitt, Tom Roy, Lindsay Clark, Greg Hancock, Mr. Mike 523 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 524

Hands, Mr. Greg Penrose, John CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES BILL Harper, Mr. Mark Pickles, Mr. Eric (PROGRAMME) Heald, Mr. Oliver Prisk, Mr. Mark Heath, Mr. David Pritchard, Mark Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Heathcoat-Amory, rh Pugh, Dr. John Order No. 83A(7)), Mr. David Randall, Mr. John That the following provisions shall apply to the Children, Hemming, John Redwood, rh Mr. John Schools and Families Bill: Hendry, Charles Reid, Mr. Alan Committal Hoban, Mr. Mark Rennie, Willie 1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee. Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Proceedings in Public Bill Committee Hollobone, Mr. Philip Robathan, Mr. Andrew Holmes, Paul Robertson, Hugh 2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not Horam, Mr. John Robertson, Mr. Laurence previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday Howarth, David Rogerson, Dan 4 February 2010. Howarth, Mr. Gerald Rosindell, Andrew 3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on Howell, John Russell, Bob the first day on which it meets. Hughes, Simon Sanders, Mr. Adrian Consideration and Third Reading Huhne, Chris Scott, Mr. Lee 4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously Hunter, Mark Selous, Andrew concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the Hurd, Mr. Nick Shapps, Grant moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings Jack, rh Mr. Michael Shepherd, Mr. Richard are commenced. Jackson, Mr. Stewart Simmonds, Mark 5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Smith, Chloe previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment Jones, Mr. David Soames, Mr. Nicholas of interruption on that day. Kawczynski, Daniel Spelman, Mrs. Caroline 6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall Keetch, Mr. Paul Spink, Bob not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading. Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Spring, Mr. Richard Key, Robert Stanley, rh Sir John Other proceedings Kirkbride, Miss Julie Steen, Mr. Anthony 7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any Knight, rh Mr. Greg Streeter, Mr. Gary proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any Kramer, Susan Stuart, Mr. Graham further messages from the Lords) may be programmed.— Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Stunell, Andrew (Mr. Blizzard) Lamb, Norman Swayne, Mr. Desmond The House divided: Ayes 282, Noes 206. Lancaster, Mr. Mark Swinson, Jo Lansley, Mr. Andrew Syms, Mr. Robert Division No. 33] [10.26 pm Laws, Mr. David Taylor, Matthew Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Thurso, John AYES Lewis, Dr. Julian Timpson, Mr. Edward Abbott, Ms Diane Browne, rh Des Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Tredinnick, David Ainger, Nick Bryant, Chris Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Turner, Mr. Andrew Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Buck, Ms Karen Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Burden, Richard Loughton, Tim Vaizey, Mr. Edward Allen, Mr. Graham Burgon, Colin Luff, Peter Vara, Mr. Shailesh Anderson, Mr. David Burnham, rh Andy Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Viggers, Sir Peter Anderson, Janet Butler, Ms Dawn Maclean, rh David Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Atkins, Charlotte Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Main, Anne Walker, Mr. Charles Austin, Mr. Ian Caborn, rh Mr. Richard Malins, Mr. Humfrey Wallace, Mr. Ben Austin, John Cairns, David Maples, Mr. John Walter, Mr. Robert Bailey, Mr. Adrian Campbell, Mr. Alan Maude, rh Mr. Francis Waterson, Mr. Nigel Bain, Mr. William Campbell, Mr. Ronnie May, rh Mrs. Theresa Watkinson, Angela Baird, Vera Caton, Mr. Martin McIntosh, Miss Anne Webb, Steve Balls, rh Ed Cawsey, Mr. Ian McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Whittingdale, Mr. John Banks, Gordon Chapman, Ben Mercer, Patrick Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Chaytor, Mr. David Miller, Mrs. Maria Wiggin, Bill Battle, rh John Clapham, Mr. Michael Milton, Anne Willetts, Mr. David Bayley, Hugh Clark, Ms Katy Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Williams, Mark Beckett, rh Margaret Clark, Paul Moore, Mr. Michael Williams, Mr. Roger Begg, Miss Anne Clarke, rh Mr. Tom Moss, Mr. Malcolm Wilshire, Mr. David Benn, rh Hilary Clelland, Mr. David Mulholland, Greg Wilson, Mr. Rob Benton, Mr. Joe Clwyd, rh Ann Murrison, Dr. Andrew Winterton, Ann Berry, Roger Coaker, Mr. Vernon Neill, Robert Winterton, Sir Nicholas Betts, Mr. Clive Coffey, Ann Newmark, Mr. Brooks Wright, Jeremy Blackman, Liz Cohen, Harry O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Yeo, Mr. Tim Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Connarty, Michael Öpik, Lembit Young, rh Sir George Blears, rh Hazel Cooper, Rosie Ottaway, Richard Blizzard, Mr. Bob Cooper, rh Yvette Paice, Mr. James Tellers for the Noes: Blunkett, rh Mr. David Corbyn, Jeremy Paterson, Mr. Owen Mr. John Baron and Borrow, Mr. David S. Cousins, Jim Pelling, Mr. Andrew Mr. Philip Dunne Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Crausby, Mr. David Brennan, Kevin Creagh, Mary Question accordingly agreed to. Brown, Lyn Cruddas, Jon Bill read a Second time. Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Cryer, Mrs. Ann Brown, Mr. Russell Cummings, John 525 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 526

Cunningham, Mr. Jim Jowell, rh Tessa Prentice, Bridget Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Cunningham, Tony Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Prentice, Mr. Gordon Stewart, Ian David, Mr. Wayne Keeble, Ms Sally Primarolo, rh Dawn Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Davidson, Mr. Ian Keeley, Barbara Prosser, Gwyn Straw, rh Mr. Jack Davies, Mr. Quentin Keen, Alan Purchase, Mr. Ken Stringer, Graham Dean, Mrs. Janet Keen, Ann Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Stuart, Ms Gisela Denham, rh Mr. John Kemp, Mr. Fraser Reed, Mr. Andy Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Dismore, Mr. Andrew Kidney, Mr. David Reed, Mr. Jamie Tami, Mark Dobbin, Jim Knight, rh Jim Reid, rh John Taylor, Ms Dari Dobson, rh Frank Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Riordan, Mrs. Linda Thomas, Mr. Gareth Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Lammy, rh Mr. David Robertson, John Thornberry, Emily Doran, Mr. Frank Laxton, Mr. Bob Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Dowd, Jim Lepper, David Rooney, Mr. Terry Todd, Mr. Mark Drew, Mr. David Levitt, Tom Roy, Lindsay Touhig, rh Mr. Don Eagle, Angela Lewis, Mr. Ivan Ruane, Chris Trickett, Jon Eagle, Maria Linton, Martin Ruddock, Joan Turner, Dr. Desmond Efford, Clive Lloyd, Tony Russell, Christine Twigg, Derek Engel, Natascha Love, Mr. Andrew Ryan, rh Joan Walley, Joan Ennis, Jeff Lucas, Ian Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Ward, Claire Farrelly, Paul Mackinlay, Andrew Seabeck, Alison Watson, Mr. Tom Flello, Mr. Robert MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Sharma, Mr. Virendra Watts, Mr. Dave Flint, rh Caroline Mactaggart, Fiona Shaw, Jonathan Whitehead, Dr. Alan Flynn, Paul Malik, Mr. Shahid Sheerman, Mr. Barry Wicks, rh Malcolm Follett, Barbara Mallaber, Judy Sheridan, Jim Williams, rh Mr. Alan Foster, Mr. Michael Mann, John Simon, Mr. Siôn Williams, Mrs. Betty (Worcester) Marris, Rob Simpson, Alan Wills, rh Mr. Michael Foster, Michael Jabez Marsden, Mr. Gordon Skinner, Mr. Dennis Wilson, Phil (Hastings and Rye) Marshall-Andrews, Mr. Robert Slaughter, Mr. Andy Winnick, Mr. David Francis, Dr. Hywel Martlew, Mr. Eric Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Gapes, Mike McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Smith, Ms Angela C. Woolas, Mr. Phil Gardiner, Barry McCabe, Steve (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Wright, Mr. Anthony George, rh Mr. Bruce McCafferty, Chris Smith, rh Angela E. Wright, Mr. Iain Gilroy, Linda McCarthy, Kerry (Basildon) Wright, Dr. Tony Goodman, Helen McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Smith, Geraldine Wyatt, Derek Griffith, Nia McCartney, rh Mr. Ian Smith, rh Jacqui Griffiths, Nigel McDonnell, John Snelgrove, Anne Tellers for the Ayes: Grogan, Mr. John McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Soulsby, Sir Peter David Wright and Gwynne, Andrew McFall, rh John Spellar, rh Mr. John Mrs. Sharon Hodgson Hain, rh Mr. Peter McGovern, Mr. Jim Hall, Mr. Mike McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne NOES Hall, Patrick McIsaac, Shona Hamilton, Mr. Fabian McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Afriyie, Adam Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Hanson, rh Mr. David Meacher, rh Mr. Michael Ainsworth, Mr. Peter Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Harman, rh Ms Harriet Meale, Mr. Alan Alexander, Danny Carswell, Mr. Douglas Harris, Mr. Tom Merron, Gillian Amess, Mr. David Chope, Mr. Christopher Havard, Mr. Dai Michael, rh Alun Ancram, rh Mr. Michael Clappison, Mr. James Healey, rh John Miliband, rh David Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Clark, Greg Henderson, Mr. Doug Miliband, rh Edward Bacon, Mr. Richard Clifton-Brown, Mr. Geoffrey Hendrick, Mr. Mark Miller, Andrew Baldry, Tony Conway, Derek Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Mitchell, Mr. Austin Barker, Gregory Cox, Mr. Geoffrey Heppell, Mr. John Moffat, Anne Barrett, John Crabb, Mr. Stephen Heyes, David Moffatt, Laura Beith, rh Sir Alan Davey, Mr. Edward Hill, rh Keith Mole, Chris Bellingham, Mr. Henry Davies, Mr. Dai Hodge, rh Margaret Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Benyon, Mr. Richard Davies, David T.C. Hood, Mr. Jim Morden, Jessica Beresford, Sir Paul (Monmouth) Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey Morgan, Julie Blunt, Mr. Crispin Davies, Philip Hope, Phil Morley, rh Mr. Elliot Bone, Mr. Peter Davis, rh David Hopkins, Kelvin Mudie, Mr. George Boswell, Mr. Tim Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Howarth, rh Mr. George Mullin, Mr. Chris Bottomley, Peter Duddridge, James Howells, rh Dr. Kim Munn, Meg Brady, Mr. Graham Duncan, Alan Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Murphy, Mr. Denis Brake, Tom Evans, Mr. Nigel Humble, Mrs. Joan Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Brazier, Mr. Julian Evennett, Mr. David Hutton, rh Mr. John Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Breed, Mr. Colin Fabricant, Michael Iddon, Dr. Brian Naysmith, Dr. Doug Brokenshire, James Fallon, Mr. Michael Illsley, Mr. Eric O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Brooke, Annette Featherstone, Lynne Irranca-Davies, Huw O’Hara, Mr. Edward Browne, Mr. Jeremy Field, Mr. Mark James, Mrs. Siân C. Osborne, Sandra Bruce, rh Malcolm Foster, Mr. Don Jenkins, Mr. Brian Palmer, Dr. Nick Burns, Mr. Simon Francois, Mr. Mark Johnson, rh Alan Pearson, Ian Burrowes, Mr. David Fraser, Christopher Johnson, Ms Diana R. Plaskitt, Mr. James Burstow, Mr. Paul Gale, Mr. Roger Jones, Helen Pope, Mr. Greg Burt, Alistair Gauke, Mr. David Jones, Mr. Kevan Pound, Stephen Cable, Dr. Vincent Gibb, Mr. Nick 527 Children, Schools and Families Bill11 JANUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 528

Gidley, Sandra Maude, rh Mr. Francis Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Willetts, Mr. David Goodman, Mr. Paul May, rh Mrs. Theresa Vaizey, Mr. Edward Williams, Mark Goodwill, Mr. Robert McIntosh, Miss Anne Vara, Mr. Shailesh Williams, Mr. Roger Gove, Michael McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Viggers, Sir Peter Wilshire, Mr. David Gray, Mr. James Mercer, Patrick Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Wilson, Mr. Rob Green, Damian Miller, Mrs. Maria Walker, Mr. Charles Winterton, Ann Greening, Justine Milton, Anne Wallace, Mr. Ben Winterton, Sir Nicholas Grieve, Mr. Dominic Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Walter, Mr. Robert Wright, Jeremy Gummer, rh Mr. John Moore, Mr. Michael Waterson, Mr. Nigel Yeo, Mr. Tim Hague, rh Mr. William Moss, Mr. Malcolm Watkinson, Angela Young, rh Sir George Hammond, Mr. Philip Mulholland, Greg Webb, Steve Hammond, Stephen Murrison, Dr. Andrew Whittingdale, Mr. John Tellers for the Noes: Hancock, Mr. Mike Neill, Robert Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Mr. John Baron and Hands, Mr. Greg Newmark, Mr. Brooks Wiggin, Bill Mr. Philip Dunne Harper, Mr. Mark O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Harvey, Nick Öpik, Lembit Question accordingly agreed to. Heald, Mr. Oliver Ottaway, Richard Heath, Mr. David Paice, Mr. James CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES BILL Heathcoat-Amory, rh Paterson, Mr. Owen (MONEY) Mr. David Pelling, Mr. Andrew Hemming, John Penrose, John Queen’s recommendation signified. Hendry, Charles Pickles, Mr. Eric Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Hoban, Mr. Mark Prisk, Mr. Mark Order No. 52(1)(a)), Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Pritchard, Mark That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Children, Hollobone, Mr. Philip Pugh, Dr. John Schools and Families Bill, it is expedient to authorise— Holmes, Paul Randall, Mr. John (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of— Horam, Mr. John Redwood, rh Mr. John (a) any expenditure under the Act of a Minister of the Crown, and Howarth, David Reid, Mr. Alan (b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which Howarth, Mr. Gerald Rennie, Willie under any other enactment are payable out of money so provided, and Howell, John Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm (2) the payment into the Consolidated Fund of any increase Hughes, Simon Robathan, Mr. Andrew attributable to the Act in the sums payable into that Fund under Huhne, Chris Robertson, Hugh any other enactment.—(Mr. Blizzard.) Hunter, Mark Robertson, Mr. Laurence Question agreed to. Hurd, Mr. Nick Rogerson, Dan Jack, rh Mr. Michael Rosindell, Andrew Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con): On a point Jackson, Mr. Stewart Russell, Bob of order, Mr. Speaker. At defence questions today, the Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Sanders, Mr. Adrian Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member Jones, Mr. David Scott, Mr. Lee for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies), to whom I Keetch, Mr. Paul Selous, Andrew have given notice of the point of order, asserted that my Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Shapps, Grant oral supplementary question on body armour was libellous. Key, Robert Shepherd, Mr. Richard Clearly, it could not have been. The Under-Secretary Kirkbride, Miss Julie Simmonds, Mark Knight, rh Mr. Greg Smith, Chloe was given an opportunity at five o’clock this afternoon Kramer, Susan Soames, Mr. Nicholas to clarify his remarks, but he has not done so. I seek Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Spelman, Mrs. Caroline your advice on chapter 18 of “Erskine May”, page 441, Lamb, Norman Spink, Bob which proscribes what it calls “Charges of uttering a Lancaster, Mr. Mark Spring, Mr. Richard deliberate falsehood”, an error that, however unwittingly, Lansley, Mr. Andrew Stanley, rh Sir John the Under-Secretary appears to have made in his somewhat Laws, Mr. David Steen, Mr. Anthony eccentric performance from the Dispatch Box today. Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Streeter, Mr. Gary Lewis, Dr. Julian Stuart, Mr. Graham Mr. Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Stunell, Andrew his point of order and, in particular, for his courtesy in Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Swayne, Mr. Desmond giving me advance notice of it. Robust exchanges frequently Llwyd, Mr. Elfyn Swinson, Jo take place in the House, and this afternoon’s exchange, Loughton, Tim Syms, Mr. Robert to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention, is Luff, Peter Taylor, Matthew certainly a prime example of that. I know that he, as an Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Taylor, Dr. Richard experienced Member, would not want me to interfere in Maclean, rh David Thurso, John such a robust debate. What I can safely say is that it is Main, Anne Timpson, Mr. Edward correct to observe that statements made in the House Malins, Mr. Humfrey Tredinnick, David are protected by parliamentary privilege. Maples, Mr. John Turner, Mr. Andrew 529 11 JANUARY 2010 Media Images (Women and Girls) 530

Media Images (Women and Girls) Why does all this matter? It matters because the Motion made , and Question proposed, That this House images we see have an effect on how people feel about do now adjourn.—(Mr. Blizzard.) and behave towards their bodies. That can be extremely serious. In November last year, a report entitled “The 10.40 pm Impact of Media Images on Body Image and Behaviours: Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): I am delighted A Summary of the Scientific Evidence” was written and to have secured a debate on the effect of media images signed by 45 leading academics, doctors and clinical on the body image of women and girls—a topic that has psychologists from the UK, USA, Australia, Brazil, sparked a great deal of discussion in the past year, both Spain and Ireland. The report is available on the Real in the media and among the public. Women campaign website, realwomen.org.uk. I will Nowadays we cannot escape media images of impossibly summarise its findings, but I encourage the Minister to beautiful people, whether on magazine covers, billboards read it in full. It states that or in newspapers. There is increasing pressure on people— “the experience of negative thoughts and feelings about one’s especially women and girls, but increasingly men and body and appearance is a powerful (in fact, the most potent) and boys—to make themselves as beautiful as possible. consistent precursor of a whole range of unhealthy body-related Beauty itself seems no longer to be in the eye of the behaviours.” beholder. Instead of a wide range of body shapes and Those include unhealthy dieting regimes and problematic sizes being presented, we are fed a restricted diet of one eating behaviours such as starving, bingeing and purging; narrow ideal of beauty.The cult of ultra-thin is worshipped clinical eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia; by those aspiring to look like the skinny models on the cosmetic surgery; extreme exercising; and in boys and catwalks or the teeny-tiny celebrities in the magazines. men, unhealthy muscle-enhancing behaviours, such as Those in the public eye who commit the ultimate sin of taking steroids or other supplements. Such images are eating and being a normal size are named and shamed, also linked to depression, anxiety, sexual dissatisfaction with articles and photos documenting their fall from and low self-esteem. grace. Some people say that that has always been the case, but Marilyn Monroe would be called fat by today’s The evidence also tells us that idealised media images standards, and even the fit and slender Cindy Crawford have a detrimental effect on the clear majority of women would look large in comparison with her size zero and adolescent girls. There have been fewer studies counterparts. carried out on men, but meta-analyses show that The skinny ideal is reinforced by the media. If we go “exposure to the muscular male ideal is also linked to greater into a newsagent’s today, particularly in January, the body dissatisfaction”. magazine headlines scream out the obsession with thinness: Hospital admissions for bulimia and anorexia among “My fight for a new body”; “Diet special: how we got girls under 18 leapt by 47 per cent. last year according our amazing bikini bodies” or, especially worrying, to House of Commons figures. Media images are not “Diet or die!” All those are headlines in magazines that the only factor responsible for that list of health problems, are currently on sale. but they are a significant risk factor. Increasingly, the images that we see are not even real, as modern technology makes it easier than ever to The problem starts at an early age. One study of girls manipulate pictures digitally. Retouching is widespread aged from five to seven found that girls had less body in the modern media. Sometimes that is done to remove esteem and a greater desire for a thinner body after the odd spot or blemish, to smooth skin or add shine to exposure to images of thin Barbie dolls, compared with hair, but, in many cases, the whole shape of people’s girls exposed to images of dolls with a healthy body bodies has been altered—waists cinched in, breasts size. People are not necessarily fully aware of the extent enlarged, legs lengthened or muscles pumped up. A to which images are digitally altered. In a poll by Dove recent Ralph Lauren advert showed a model who had last October, 42 per cent. of more than 1,000 women been retouched to the extent that her waist was smaller said that they could not tell when an image had been than her head. airbrushed or digitally enhanced. Indeed, it seems that some politicians are not immune As I mentioned, Dove has used normal women as to that vanity.The Minister may have seen the Conservative models in its adverts for the last five years as part of its party’s new billboard featuring a picture of the Leader successful campaign for real beauty, which in itself of the Opposition looking more than a little airbrushed. proves that products can sell without the adverts having I know that he wanted to present the new face of the to conform to the super-skinny beauty ideal. We need to Conservative party, but had not realised that he meant change the culture that says that in our society only thin it literally. is beautiful, and nothing less than perfection will do. There is no magic wand we can wave to create that Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I can change overnight, but the Liberal Democrats’ real women give my electorate an undertaking that I do not change campaign is calling for a few simple steps to start the the photographs on my leaflets. Could one way of process: we are seeking to make images used in advertising tackling the problem be to encourage people locally, more honest and to equip people to respond to them in much as my local newspaper, the Croydon Advertiser, a healthy and appropriate way. Firstly, we propose that has done? It ran a competition about beauty and lifestyle, in adverts aimed at adults, advertisers should be honest based on real people, thus grabbing back the issue for about the extent of digital retouching they have employed. local people. Secondly, in adverts aimed at children, people should be Jo Swinson: The hon. Gentleman makes an excellent presented realistically, as they actually look, without point. Nationally, Dove’s campaign for real beauty is digital retouching. Finally, the national curriculum should another example of celebrating the diversity of beauty ensure that children receive education about media in everyday life. literacy and body image issues. 531 Media Images (Women and Girls)11 JANUARY 2010 Media Images (Women and Girls) 532

The Advertising Standards Authority already has Because children are more vulnerable, we already codes of conduct that regulate what can and cannot be have guidelines that apply only to adverts aimed at put in adverts, and we are all used to seeing disclaimers them. For instance, clause 7.2 of the Broadcast Committee on adverts to comply with those rules. For example, of Advertising Practice’s television advertising code L’Oreal has been made to state on its shampoo adverts rules that that Cheryl Cole is actually wearing hair extensions, “Advertisements must avoid anything likely to encourage poor and admit that Eva Longoria is wearing false lashes in nutritional habits or an unhealthy lifestyle in children.” its mascara adverts. However, the ASA acts only in The evidence that I have outlined strongly suggests that response to complaints about specific adverts. airbrushing in advertising does just that. I hope the The Minister may be aware that in response to almost Minister will state in his response whether he agrees 1,000 complaints received as part of the Real Women that the ASA should bring advertising companies together campaign, the ASA recently banned an advert for Olay to form an agreement that images of people should not Definity anti-wrinkle products featuring Twiggy. It upheld be digitally altered in adverts aimed at children. When the complaint that the advert was misleading because the Liberal Democrats launched their proposals on viewers were led to believe that Twiggy’s appearance airbrushing back in August, the Minister for Women was achieved using the product and not through digital and Equality, the right hon. and learned Member for alteration. However, it rejected the claim that the advert Camberwell and Peckham (Ms Harman), was quoted breached the requirement that as saying: “All marketing communications should be prepared with a “We are happy to back this campaign”. sense of responsibility to consumers and to society.” I hope that the Minister’s Department agrees. Its report stated that Of course, we cannot protect children from such “in the context of an ad that featured a mature model likely to images for ever, which is why we must also empower appeal to women of an older age group, the image was unlikely to them to develop the resilience that they need to be able have a negative impact on perceptions of body image among the to think critically about media messages. The 45 experts target audience and was not socially irresponsible”. to whom I have referred agreed in their summary of It appears not to have considered the scientific evidence, evidence that which shows that although young people may be especially “training in media literacy (to increase critical awareness of at risk, media images also cause body dissatisfaction ‘perfected’ media models and the harm they can do) reduces the and unhealthy behaviours in adult women. immediate negative effects of exposure, and more systematic, Rather than a piecemeal, advert-by-advert approach, intensive interventions over days or weeks can significantly reduce we need all adverts to be up front about the perfected one important risk factor: internalisation of the slender ideal.” images they portray. Bringing honesty about retouching Some 50,000 people signed to a “Body confidence” into advertising is not rocket science. The ASA should petition on the No. 10 website last autumn calling for work with the advertising industry to come up with a the school curriculum to include lessons to help to deal suitable labelling system, perhaps one that is similar to with body image issues. They were backed by Gok Wan, the traffic light system on food packaging, and amend whose “How to Look Good Naked” TV series has been the advertising codes to require adverts to display the a breath of fresh air in giving women of all shapes and retouching icon showing the level of retouching used in sizes more body confidence. that ad. That would help consumers to distinguish In December, the Department for Children, Schools between minor retouching, such as removing the odd and Families published an independent report by Professor blemish, and the extensive digital surgery that is increasingly David Buckingham entitled “The Impact of the common in adverts. As with the traffic light scheme, Commercial World on Children’s Wellbeing”. It concluded that might also change the behaviour of advertisers, that the Department should set up a panel to look at who may be reluctant to airbrush so heavily if consumers how media literacy can be incorporated into the national know the extent of it. curriculum. I was glad to hear that the Secretary of There is clear public support for a change to the State for Children, Schools and Families agreed with advertising codes. A ComRes poll in October for the that conclusion. I wonder whether the Minister could YoungMen’s Christian Association, whose healthy bodies give us an update today on what progress has been campaign is highlighting current concerns about body made on that so far. image, found that The steps that I have outlined are only a start. They “77% of people believe that airbrushed photographs should carry need to precipitate many more wide-reaching changes. a health warning”. It is not only advertisers who are at fault. The trend towards using increasingly skinny models is worrying. The Dove poll I mentioned earlier found that 96 per Frankly, it is about time that the recommendation of cent. of women would like advertisers to be honest the model health inquiry was implemented—for instance, about the extent to which they airbrush or digitally at London fashion week next month—for models to retouch pictures and adverts. have a health certificate, signed off by an eating disorder Children are especially vulnerable to body image specialist, in order to protect their health and well-being, pressure. The YMCA poll found that 88 per cent. of as well as that of their audience. Fashion designers have people believed children to be under more pressure a role to play too. The sample sizes of their clothes are about their physical appearance than they were 20 years so small that the editor of Vogue magazine recently ago. That is backed up by research by Girlguiding UK. admitted to retouching to make models look bigger, as Shockingly, its focus groups heard that girls as young as the only models who fit into them look so unhealthy. seven equated being attractive with being happy. Research that it conducted in July among young women found Mr. Pelling: I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Lady, that 50 per cent. of 16 to 21-year-olds would consider who is trying to get in as much as possible. Her party having surgery to change the way they look. colleague on the London assembly, Dee Doocey, has 533 Media Images (Women and Girls)11 JANUARY 2010 Media Images (Women and Girls) 534

[Mr. Pelling] bodies to conduct themselves responsibly and to work towards promoting healthy body images, particularly been campaigning on London fashion week. Does the where children are concerned. hon. Lady think it is time that the Mayor put his foot Notwithstanding the title of this evening’s debate, it down and decided that size zero models are not acceptable is worth noting that, although it is often assumed that it at London fashion week? is women who suffer from extreme dissatisfaction with their body image, there is much medical evidence that Jo Swinson: The hon. Gentleman rightly raises the men are almost equally as likely to be unhappy with the excellent piece of work that my colleague Dee Doocey way they look. In fact, estimates suggest that there are has been doing on the issue, which has involved looking three times as many men suffering from body dysmorphic at the evidence and coming up with a set of proposals. disorder now as there were 25 years ago. The answer is probably not as simple as a crude body mass index measure, because some models are naturally There are controls in place that aim to strike a very slender girls. However, that is why we need a proper balance between freedom of expression, which we must system, whereby the model goes to a doctor and gets a not neglect, and the protection of the public, and they certificate. That would be a sensible way to proceed. It should be proportionate to the potential harm that would be helpful if the Mayor could implement that. might be caused. A number of consultations and reports Indeed, London fashion week takes place next month, touching on this issue have recently been published or so there might even be time for him to do so. are currently in progress, notably as part of the cross- government violence against women and girls consultation, The media also must take some responsibility, for and we look forward to the findings of those reports. choosing to show such a narrow range of body shapes and ages. Curvy women and older women are too often The hon. Lady mentioned the Buckingham review on airbrushed away, as if they did not exist, whether on the impact of the commercial world on children’s well-being. entertainment programmes, reading the news, or in the This recognised the concerns being raised about body fashion and beauty pages of magazines. The models image, but it also concluded that evidence of the effects and celebrities depicted in such media images are often was “mixed and inconclusive”. I do not think that I under considerable pressure to change their bodies through have seen the other survey that the hon. Lady mentioned, surgery or extreme dieting. In an interview with Sky although one does slightly lose track of which survey is News in December, Martine McCutcheon responded to which. I will seek it out, however. We need more information the news about the Twiggy Olay advert by saying: in order to build a better case. “There was part of me that thought, you know what, maybe I The impact of the media in this regard is widely shouldn’t be airbrushed, maybe I should be the real woman. But recognised by the Government, by media regulators, by the thing is that then the other women don’t join in, and you look broadcasters and by the press. I will come back to that a really awful compared to all the airbrushed women. So it gets to little later. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the point where you just think, well, if you can’t beat them, join the individual advertisers, broadcasters and publishers, them.” working within the law and the guidelines, to promote Most women look at Martine or Twiggy and see and distribute their material responsibly. That includes examples of strong and beautiful women, yet even they the kind of issues that the hon. Lady has raised. She are deemed not perfect enough just as they are. In fact, focused mainly on advertising, and it is in that area that polls show that women and men want to see more the issue is most obvious and visible. realistic models. This week’s Grazia magazine features a The regulation of broadcast advertising—although picture of Sadie Frost, naked, un-airbrushed, and beautiful not print advertising—is controlled under the Broadcast exactly as she is. She says: Committee of Advertising Practice code, through a “I love my body because it works, it’s given birth to four co-regulatory partnership between Ofcom and the children, it’s healthy and, like everyone’s, has been through tough Advertising Standards Authority. The BCAP rules aim times. You don’t have to have that ‘perfect’ body, because that to ensure that advertisements do not mislead or cause perfect body doesn’t really exist. Be happy and healthy in your own skin.” harm or serious or widespread offence and include specific regulations about the portrayal of children. Wise words indeed. Media images are creating pressure Similar rules exist in the non-broadcast advertising that prevent too many women and girls from being sphere, strictly controlled through industry self-regulation, happy and healthy in their own skin, sometimes with this time solely under the Advertising Standards Authority. disastrous consequences. The steps that I have outlined today would be moves in the right direction to tackle The ASA advertising codes do not contain specific this problem, and I look forward to hearing the rules relating to the portrayal of body image in adverts, Government’s response. but the principles that underpin the approach mean that the ASA can take action against advertisers that portray the body image in an unhealthy or irresponsible manner, 10.56 pm under clauses relating to harm or offence, for example. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, We expect the new advertising codes across all the Media and Sport (Mr. Siôn Simon): I thank the hon. media to contain new rules relating to social responsibility Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) for that would allow the ASA to take action. bringing this issue to the House’s attention, and for making these arguments in public. I am sympathetic to Jo Swinson: It is interesting to hear the Minister the points that she has made; I think that there is an speak about the new rules. Do I take it from what he issue here that we should be talking about. This subject says that he thinks the existing rules are not adequate, cuts across many different sectors, from the broadcast which is why the new rules will, as he hopes, subsequently and print media to advertising and fashion. In each of enable action to be taken? As I pointed out, the evidence those sectors, mechanisms exist to enable the responsible shows that the ASA tends to take action about adverts 535 Media Images (Women and Girls)11 JANUARY 2010 Media Images (Women and Girls) 536 that can be proved to be misleading, but it does not have that the existing structures, especially the regulation of a strong track record of dealing with adverts in terms of new media, are sufficient to protect the public. socially irresponsible images and the harm they can do. I am sure the hon. Lady is aware that the advertising regulators are currently finalising their latest code review. Mr. Simon: My sense is that the codes as they are The revised codes are expected to come into force later already give the powers to the bodies in question to deal this year, and we expect any revisions to the existing with those issues. What needs to happen is for the code to ensure that it remains appropriate and addresses bodies in question to be persuaded through evidence any major concerns. Ultimately, however, it is the and argument. This is not a new debate, but we are Advertising Standards Authority that needs to regulate. relatively early in the stage of what can consistently be I do not believe that the Government should intervene argued in the public arena. The bodies have the powers; directly in specific issues. they need to see more evidence and more argument. Mr. Pelling: I do not want to be called to order, but do not politics lie at the heart of the problem? Ministers Jo Swinson: I appreciate the Minister’s generosity in will constantly refer issues to quangos, but it is the giving way. Given that the bodies can currently act and House and the Government that should take the view exercise their powers only where there has been a specific that young women are suffering. Surely we cannot say complaint, does the Minister believe that the balance is that that is a matter for the Advertising Standards right? Should members of the public have to spot that Authority. an advert has been airbrushed? Let us face it, if airbrushers are doing their job properly, people might not be able to Mr. Simon: The overarching principle that the media spot it or tell that it has happened. Does not the should not cause harm is certainly a matter for the Minister think that a more proactive approach such as Government, but the delicate business of balancing the labelling scheme that I outlined earlier to give freedom of expression against potential harm and defending consumers information would be a better way of tackling the freedom of the press on a case-by-case basis is not the problem than expecting individual members of the the Government’s job. It is not for Ministers to determine public to complain about specific adverts that have what should be in the newspapers or on television in gone too far? this country. Part of our democracy rests on the complete separation of everyone in the House from such decisions. The job of the House is to set up independent, accountable, Mr. Simon: I understand the hon. Lady’s point, but I credible regulators to make those decisions on the nation’s think her argument against complaints goes a bit far, as behalf. that is generally how regulation and law work. It is not the case that when people do not complain, the system Let me briefly say something about broadcasting. is not working. If the intent of the enforcement of the Under the Communications Act 2003, Parliament has codes is right, the outcomes should follow, too. We do placed a duty on Ofcom. The Ofcom code, which not measure success by the number of complaints—that implements the standards requirements set out in the is what I am saying. Act, includes rules to protect the general public from harmful and offensive material. It prohibits discriminatory treatment or language on grounds of, among other Mr. Pelling: Putting to one side the application of issues, gender, and it places a duty on Ofcom to review complaints against specific advertisements, does not the and revise the standards for the content of broadcast Government take seriously the evidence of young women— programmes in order to secure the standards objectives either at the Priory or within the NHS—who are bulimic set out in the Communications Act. That extensive and are quite clearly suffering as a result not only of framework allows Ofcom to address any issue of concern that illness, but of the impact of the false image that in relation to the content of broadcast programming. advertisers have put out about the merits of being an As I have said, it is for Ofcom to make the individual entirely thin, skinny and bony woman? judgments. Similar arrangements apply to the press, whose content Mr. Simon: I am sympathetic to the hon. Gentleman’s is the responsibility of individual publications regulated and the hon. Lady’s arguments, but it is clear to me, by the Press Complaints Commission. The freedom of having looked at the evidence, that it is not clear. The the press is important in this country. Buckingham review itself specifically concluded that the evidence was “mixed and inconclusive”, as I said. Jo Swinson: I know that time is short, but may I ask The hon. Gentleman needs to help to make the case and the Minister whether he personally thinks that the way find the evidence. If there is conclusive evidence that in which women, and men, are portrayed in the media particular behaviour by the media leads to particular represents a diverse enough range of different healthy dysfunction not just in young people and not just in and beautiful bodies? If not, what does he think should women but in people in general, all media regulators be done? will need to take account of that and to act in whatever Mr. Simon: I am happy to tell the hon. Lady that my way deals with it appropriately. Currently, there is no personal and instinctive view—although I cannot find such clear evidence. scientific evidence, or sufficient reviewed evidence, to As with other areas of advertising, we will continue support it—is that the media presentation of body image to ensure that all possible impacts of advertising and must have a widespread effect, and that it is probably any weaknesses in regulation are fully examined. If something that we have not looked into very carefully— there is evidence of harm, regulators will need to act 11.10 pm and to justify their actions. We will continue to monitor House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order the effectiveness of the regulatory regimes to ensure No. 9(7)).

15WS Written Ministerial Statements11 JANUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 16WS

I can announce today that this undertaking will be Written Ministerial extended to all veterans who have lost a limb while serving, where clinically appropriate. Statements The Department will ensure also that a responsible director within strategic health authorities, together Monday 11 January 2010 with primary care trust champions for the armed forces, are identified to advocate for them and to ensure that their needs are fully reflected in commissioning plans HEALTH and service provision. Medical Care (Veterans) The Department will be working also with the Ministry of Defence to ensure an improved transfer of medical records to the NHS on retirement from the armed The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike forces. This will facilitate GP awareness of the veteran O’Brien): The Government are committed to ensuring status of new patients to ensure veterans receive their that those who are seriously injured or who develop entitlement to priority treatment for any injuries or mental health problems while in the service of their illness attributable to their time serving in the armed country will receive the best possible care from the forces. National Health Service for the rest of their lives. Finally, the Department is working with the military The Department is announcing today a package of to develop clearer and easier routes into accredited measures to support service personnel who have received NHS jobs to provide employment opportunities for serious injuries while on active service. I have worked those leaving the armed forces. closely with the Minister for veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham, (Mr. Jones), to put in place new arrangements with the Ministry of Defence for life care planning, together with a guarantee that all those seriously injured will receive an early and HOME DEPARTMENT comprehensive assessment of their long term needs. It is intended that those needing continuing healthcare will receive high quality care for life based on a regular Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre review of their needs overseen by an NHS case manager. As committed in New Horizons–a cross-government vision for mental health, the Department is responding The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the also to concerns expressed about the impact of recent Home Department (Mr. Alan Campbell): Further to my and current deployments on the mental health of those written answer, 16 December 2009, Official Report, in and those leaving the armed forces. The community column 1392w, the Home Office is publishing today mental health services currently being piloted in six “Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: The mental health trusts are expected to continue their work Way Forward” as Command Paper 7785, which sets out beyond the end of the pilot period. The findings from the Government’s proposals for the creation of the the evaluation of these pilots will allow other mental Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) health services to gear their services towards meeting as a non-departmental public body. Copies will be the needs of veterans. We expect that all mental health placed in the Vote Office. services will make special provision for veterans during The Government set up CEOP in 2006 with the remit 2011-12. of protecting children online and to help tackle child In addition, we are providing grant funding for Combat sexual offenders. This was seen as a new area of threat Stress to work directly with mental health trusts to to children, and the centre was created to ensure that ensure that the services they provide are accessible to there was a law enforcement unit capable of responding and appropriate for military veterans. The two Departments to these threats. CEOP is currently affiliated to SOCA have signed today a tripartite agreement to facilitate the and, as such, has had operational independence. work that Combat Stress will be doing in partnership Since its inception, CEOP has been a remarkable with the Government. The Department will be extending success. It has rescued over 500 children, and has led to also its third sector strategic partner programme with the arrest of a significant number of people seeking to the third sector to include the involvement of charities harm them. It has also developed the leading UK child representing those in the armed forces, their families internet safety website, “Think U Know”, complemented and veterans. by a comprehensive education programme in schools. The major improvements in trauma care made in Having considered the work of the centre, and the recent years by Defence Medical Services and the excellent ongoing online and offline threats to children, we believe work of the emergency teams in Afghanistan means that the centre should now become an NDPB. This will that people are now surviving injuries which would have allow CEOP to develop further its work to protect taken their lives in former times. Previously, the Department children including tackling the issue of missing children, has undertaken to ensure that recent service leavers who and to be able to have the powers to ensure that it is able have lost a limb while serving will–where clinically to continue to protect children. appropriate–be entitled to receive from the NHS an The Government are publishing these proposals today, equivalent standard of prosthetic limb to those provided and will bring forward the necessary legislation in the by Defence Medical Services. next Parliament.

9P Petitions11 JANUARY 2010 Petitions 10P

Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly Petitions implemented, learning from current best practice, in all local authorities in England. Monday 11 January 2010 And the Petitioners remain, etc. [P000701] PRESENTED PETITIONS Badman Report (Stockport) Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor The Petition of persons resident in the Stockport parliamentary constituency, and others, Badman Report (Coventry South) Declares that they are concerned about the The Petition of residents of the Coventry South recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests parliamentary constituency, closer monitoring of home educators, including a compulsory annual registration scheme and right of Declares that they are concerned about the access to people’s homes for local authority officials; recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests further declares that the Petitioners believe the closer monitoring of home educators, including a recommendations are based on a review that was extremely compulsory annual registration scheme and right of rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, access to people’s homes for local authority officials; failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently further declares that the Petitioners believe the robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing recommendations are based on a review that was extremely legislative framework. rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, The Petitioners therefore request that the House of failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to legislative framework. withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for The Petitioners therefore request that the House of tighter registration and monitoring of children educated Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, at home in the absence of a thorough independent Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to inquiry into the condition and future of elective home withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for education in England; but instead to take the steps tighter registration and monitoring of children educated necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home at home in the absence of a thorough independent Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly inquiry into the condition and future of elective home implemented, learning from current best practice, in all education in England; but instead to take the steps local authorities in England. necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home And the Petitioners remain, etc. Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly implemented, learning from current best practice, in all [P000698] local authorities in England. And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Jim OBSERVATIONS Cunningham .] [P000697] TRANSPORT Badman Report (Newcastle upon Tyne North) The Petition of persons resident in the Newcastle upon Freedom Pass Tyne North parliamentary constituency, The Petition of residents of Sutton, Cheam, Worcester Declares that they are concerned about the Park and others, recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests Declares that the decision of the Secretary of State closer monitoring of home educators, including a for Transport to cut the financial support for concessionary compulsory annual registration scheme and right of travel for older and disabled people in London is unfair access to people’s homes for local authority officials; to the 1.2 million people who use the Freedom Pass. further declares that the Petitioners believe the Further declares that London Councils currently contribute recommendations are based on a review that was extremely a third of the cost compared to the parts of the country rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, where concessionary travel is fully funded by the failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently Government and that the cut in the grant would result robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing in London Councils covering half of the cost of the legislative framework. scheme. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to drop the plans to cut the funding for the Freedom Pass withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for for elderly and disabled people. tighter registration and monitoring of children educated at home in the absence of a thorough independent And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Paul inquiry into the condition and future of elective home Burstow, Official Report, 9 December 2009; Vol. 502, education in England; but instead to take the steps c. 469 .] necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home [P000625] 11P Petitions11 JANUARY 2010 Petitions 12P

Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: reports that some authorities are experiencing shortfalls The current statutory minimum bus concession provides in funding from the current distribution. free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England to older The consultation, Local Authority special grant funding and eligible disabled people in England. in 2010-11 for the national bus concession in England The Freedom Pass scheme is operated by London closed on 30 December. The consultation proposed a Councils on behalf of all 33 London Boroughs and is redistribution of the special grant allocations based on the largest and most generous concessionary travel scheme actual outturn data following the first full year of the in the country. Some of the scheme’s characteristics are new concession. This is the fairest way of objectively at the discretion of the London Boroughs and London assessing the impact on all authorities across the country. Councils is able to change these providing there is The only increase in costs London faced as a result of unanimous agreement amongst the boroughs and the the improved England-wide concession was for the cost changes do not contravene the statutory minimum required of non-London residents now travelling free on the by legislation. However, as a minimum, the scheme in London bus network. London’s precise need for additional London must provide free travel on the London local grant was not knowable in advance but it was expected transport network between 9.30 am and midnight and that a sizeable grant would be necessary to meet the cost the period from midnight to 4.30 am on weekdays, and of concessionary passengers from the surrounding counties at any time at weekends and on Bank Holidays. now travelling for free on the extensive London Bus The bulk of the funding for concessionary travel is Network. It is clear that there have been far fewer of provided to local authorities, including those in London, these trips than was anticipated. via the overall local government formula grant system Although the new distribution, if taken forward following administered by the Department for Communities and the consultation, will reduce London’s grant for the Local Government (CLG). Since April 2008 the coming year, there will not be a retrospective adjustment Department for Transport has also been providing special of allocations already made for 2008-09 and 2009-10 to grant funding to local authorities solely to meet the recoup surplus grant funding received in those years. additional cost of the extended concession introduced Therefore authorities that see a reduction in their grant at that time, which provides free off-peak local bus as a result of the revised distribution in 2010-11 will travel to older and disabled people throughout England. have already benefited from two years of receiving more Special grant funding was £212 million in 2008-09, funding than was required. has increased to £217 million this year, and will rise London boroughs would still be left with significantly further to £223 million in 2010-11. This brings total more funding than the actual burden the concession has spending on concessionary travel to around £1 billion a imposed–around £30 million of grant against a likely year. The grant has been distributed on a formula basis cost in 2010-11 of around £10 million. since its introduction in 2008. The formula used was London Councils’ own documents confirm that the devised in advance of the introduction of the new actual cost impact of the new concession on London concession and was designed to direct money towards was only around £5 million in 2008-09 compared to a those authority areas likely to see the biggest increase in grant of £55 million. It is likely that the level of grant costs as a result of the move to all-England travel: will outweigh the costs of the concession by a similar tourist areas, regional hubs, shopping centres. amount (around £50m) in 2009-10. There is no evidence that the totality of the grant is Following the consultation, if it is decided to proceed insufficient but there is evidence that some authorities, with a revised grant distribution for 2010-11, it will be including London, may have received significantly more the subject of a new Special Grant Report setting out than required to meet the extra cost imposed by the the revised allocations. The distribution that is debated change in the statutory minimum bus concession. in Parliament will take into account responses received We have been considering whether there is a need to to the consultation and therefore may differ to the one reopen the grant distribution for 2010-11 in the light of proposed in the consultation paper. 637W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 638W

Secondly under the Special Bonus Scheme of the Written Answers to Scottish Executive and the Reward and Recognition Scheme of the MoJ, the Office may directly authorise Questions non-consolidated performance payments (or in the case of the MoJ scheme, small and instantaneous awards, e.g. vouchers) in recognition of special effort, achievement Monday 11 January 2010 and commitment. The following table shows the number and cost of non-pensionable payments made under these schemes:

SCOTLAND Total cost Total of Financial number of payments Percentage Percentage year payments (£) work force pay bill Departmental Billing 2004-05 3 1,400 5 0.06 Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for 2005-06 8 3,750 17 0.19 Scotland how many and what proportion of invoices 2006-07 17 4,750 32 0.25 submitted to his Department have been paid within 2007-08 6 2,150 11 0.09 10 days in each month since October 2008; and if he 2008-09 8 2,900 14 0.12 will make a statement. [307967] The largest single payment under these schemes was Ann McKechin: The following table shows the volume £750. of invoices received by the Scotland Office and the Members of the senior civil service in the Scotland percentage of invoices paid within 10 days. Figures Office are seconded from the Scottish Executive and the prior to November 2008 are not available. Ministry of Justice, their non-consolidated performance payments are assessed under a framework set by the Percentage paid Month Volume within 10 days Cabinet Office. The Office does not hold central information on such payments. 2008 November 218 89.4 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for December 220 96.8 Scotland how much funding his Department has allocated for (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses for 2009 its staff in 2009-10. [307025] January 190 100 February 211 99.5 Ann McKechin: The salary budget of the Scotland March 306 99.7 Office for 2009-10 is £2,847,000, of which non-consolidated April 211 99.1 performance payments represent an estimated 0.01 per cent. May 220 98.6 June 289 97.9 The non-consolidated performance payments are an July 255 100 integral element of the reward package for staff, have to August 164 98.8 be re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill September 229 98.7 costs (e.g. pensions). The Scotland Office believe that October 252 100 performance payments help drive high performance in the office. November 253 100

Departmental Pay Hotels

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department received bonus payments how many hotel room nights were booked by officials in each of the last five years for which information is in his Department in each year since 2007; and how available; what proportion of his Department’s workforce much his Department spent on the fees of third party they represented in each year; what the total amount of agents in booking hotel accommodation in each of bonuses paid was in each year; what the largest single those years. [309060] payment was; and if he will make a statement. [300378]

Ann McKechin: All staff in the Scotland Office are on Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not separately secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry record the number of hotel rooms booked by officials of Justice. Staff may be eligible for non-consolidated and does not directly pay any fees to third party agents performance payments in different ways. Firstly, through in booking such hotel accommodation. end of year performance payments under their parent All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance bodies’ performance management arrangements. The with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel Scotland Office does not itself make the end of year by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code. awards and does not hold information centrally on end All expenditure has be incurred in accordance with the of year non-consolidated performance payments made principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury to its secondees. handbook on Regularity and Propriety. 639W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 640W

NORTHERN IRELAND Departmental Official Hospitality Clergy: Misconduct Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent Northern Ireland what response he has made to the on (a) alcohol and (b) entertainment in the last 12 submission by Joe Rice, a solicitor acting on behalf of months. [305533] persons who when children were victims of abuse in Church and state institutions in Northern Ireland Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) requesting that an inquiry be held on the same lines as records expenditure for alcohol and entertainment under that recently conducted in the Irish Republic; and if he the description of either hospitality or catering. will make a statement. [308062] The NIO, including its arm’s length bodies but excluding Paul Goggins: Officials replied to Mr. Rice explaining its agencies and executive NDPBs, spent £189,855 on that the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Social official hospitality and catering in 2008-09. Services and Public Safety had written to me about the This includes receptions and events held at Hillsborough implications for Northern Ireland of the Ryan Commission Castle. These events were attended by 15,287 cross- report and that I was currently considering the letter community representatives from the police and their and would reply to the Minister in due course. families, armed forces, business, charity, voluntary and I have now done so. criminal justice sectors across Northern Ireland. All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with Departmental Fines the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NDPBs) have to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern and NDPBs have recovered in administrative penalties Ireland what remuneration, including all categories of in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. pay and allowances, has been paid to (a) the Chairman [309259] and (b) members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each year since its inception. Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office, its agencies [308991] and non-departmental public bodies do not have the power to impose administrative penalties. Mr. Woodward: The Chief Commissioner and Departmental Internet Commissioners of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have been paid as follows: Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for 1999-2000 Northern Ireland how much has been spent on (a) £ strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting (d) (e) Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 55,000 and infrastructure, content provision and testing Commissioner) and evaluation for his Department’s website in each of Professor Christine Bell 8,000 the last three years; and what budget has been allocated Mrs. Margaret Ann Dinsmore 8,000 for each such activity in 2009-10. [310214] Mr. Tom Donnelly 8,000 Paul Goggins: A review of my Department’s website Reverend Harold Good 8,000 was conducted during the 2006-07 financial year to Professor Tom Hadden 8,000 optimise the site and improve performance and download Ms Angela Hegarty 8,000 speeds. This review cost £15,677. In the next two financial Ms Patricia Kelly 8,000 years, the Department spent £4,308 and £4,227 respectively Dr. Inez McCormack 8,000 on hosting and infrastructure. No other costs were Mr. Frank McGuinness 8,000 incurred. The total budget allocated for the next financial 2000-01 year is £5,000. £

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 57,475 Northern Ireland which websites his Department’s staff Commissioner) are blocked from accessing from departmental Professor Christine Bell 8,000 networked computers. [310245] Mrs. Margaret Ann Dinsmore 8,000 Mr. Tom Donnelly 8,000 Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Reverend Harold Good 8,000 runs software to block all categories of websites which Professor Tom Hadden 8,000 do not conform with the NIO Internet Acceptable Ms Angela Hegarty 6,000 Usage Policy or would be considered a network security Ms Patricia Kelly 8,000 risk. It is not possible to produce a list of the websites as Dr. Inez McCormack 8,000 they run into millions globally and come and go every Mr. Frank McGuinness 8,000 day. 641W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 642W

2001-02 2005-06 £ £

Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 60,128 Mr. Jonathan Bell 5,833 Commissioner) Mr. Thomas Duncan 5,833 Professor Christine Bell 8,000 Lady Christine Eames 10,000 Mrs. Margaret Ann Dinsmore 8,000 Professor Colin Harvey 6,039 Mr. Tom Donnelly 8,000 Mr. Alan Henry 5,833 Reverend Harold Good 8,000 Ms Ann Hope 5,833 Professor Tom Hadden 8,000 Mr Eamonn O’Neill 5,833 Ms Patricia Kelly 8,000 Ms Geraldine Rice 5,833 Dr. Inez McCormack 8,000 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 10,000 Mr. Frank McGuinness 8,000 2006-07 Lady Christine Eames 2,667 £ Dr. Christopher McGimpsey 2,667 Professor Monica McWilliams (Chief 61,461 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 2,667 Commissioner) Mr. Patrick Yu 2,667 Mr. Jonathan Bell 10,000 2002-03 Mr. Thomas Duncan 10,000 £ Lady Christine Eames OBE 10,000 Professor Colin Harvey 10,350 Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 60,000 Mr. Alan Henry 10,000 Commissioner) Ms Ann Hope 10,000 Professor Christine Bell 4,397 Mr. Eamonn O’Neill 10,000 Mrs. Margaret Ann Dinsmore 10,000 Ms Geraldine Rice MBE 10,000 Mr. Tom Donnelly 10,000 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 10,000 Lady Christine Eames 10,000 Reverend Harold Good 10,000 2007-08 Professor Tom Hadden 10,000 £ Ms Patricia Kelly 10,000 Professor Monica McWilliams (Chief 66,894 Dr. Inez McCormack 4,397 Commissioner) Dr. Christopher McGimpsey 10,000 Mr. Jonathan Bell 10,000 Mr. Frank McGuinness 10,000 Mr. Thomas Duncan 10,000 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 10,000 Lady Christine Eames OBE 6,667 Mr. Patrick Yu 10,000 Professor Colin Harvey 9,333 2003-04 Mr. Alan Henry OBE 10,000 £ Ms Ann Hope 10,000 Mr. Colm Larkin 3,333 Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 70,454 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 6,667 Commissioner) Mr. Eamonn O’Neill 10,000 Margaret Ann Dinsmore 10,000 Ms Geraldine Rice MBE 10,000 Mr. Tom Donnelly 10,000 Lady Daphne Trimble 3,333 Lady Christine Eames 10,000 Reverend Harold Good 9,167 2008-00 Professor Tom Hadden 10,000 £ Ms Patricia Kelly 10,000 Professor Monica McWilliams (Chief 72,021 Dr. Christopher McGimpsey 5,872 Commissioner) Mr. Frank McGuinness 9,167 Mr. Jonathan Bell 10,000 Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 10,000 Mr. Thomas Duncan 10,000 Mr. Patrick Yu 2,654 Professor Colin Harvey 10,000 2004-05 Mr. Alan Henry OBE 10,000 £ Ms Ann Hope 10,000 Mr. Colm Larkin 10,000 Professor Brice Dickson (Chief 63,426 Mr. Eamonn O’Neill 10,000 Commissioner) Ms Geraldine Rice MBE 10,000 Margaret Ann Dinsmore 9,167 Lady Daphne Trimble 10,000 Mr. Tom Donnelly 9,167 Lady Christine Eames 10,000 Professor Tom Hadden 9,167 Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Ms Patricia Kelly 2,500 Northern Ireland how many days the Chairman of the Mr. Kevin McLaughlin 10,000 Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 2005-06 (NIHRC) worked for the NIHRC in 2009. [308992] £ Mr. Woodward: The position of Chief Commissioner Professor Monica McWilliams (Chief 36,154 Commissioner) of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a full-time post. 643W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 644W

PRIME MINISTER Olympic Games 2012 Domestic Visits: Wales Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether there are plans to mark the previous Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) Olympic Games held in London during the London date, (b) destination and (c) purpose was of each visit 2012 Olympics. [308475] to Wales made by the Prime Minister in each year since May 2005. [310275] Tessa Jowell: The Cultural Olympiad is recognising The Prime Minister: For my predecessor, I refer the the legacy of previous Olympics held in the UK through hon. Member to the answer given on 2 May 2006, the annual Open Weekend celebrations which mark the Official Report, column 1385W and the answer of 25 July countdown to London 2012, and the Inspire programme 2007, Official Report, columns 1112-14W. which recognises non-commercial projects genuinely inspired by 2012. For my visits as Prime Minister I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statements of 22 July For example, the venues of the 1908 and 1948 London 2008, Official Report, columns 134-04WS and 16 July Olympic games have been celebrated through various 2009, Official Report, column 76WS. A list of my UK Open Weekend projects including walking tours of the visits for 2009-10 will be published in the usual way. sites of the three London Olympic stadia. In the West Midlands, the ‘Museums Keep Moving’Cultural Olympiad London Summit on Yemen Inspire Mark exhibition explores the history and philosophy of the Much Wenlock Olympic games and its role in Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Prime Minister whether he inspiring Baron Pierre de Coubertin in founding the has had discussions with President Obama on modern Olympics. organisation of the London summit on Yemen. A number of sporting events were hosted at Stoke [309636] Mandeville Stadium as part of the Open Weekend celebrations, recognising Stoke Mandeville’s status as The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the the birthplace of the Paralympic games. press notice issued by my Office on 3 January 2010. A London 2012 and The Royal Mint produced a limited copy is available on the No. 10 website: edition IVth Olympiad London Anniversary http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page21956 commemorative £2 coin in 2008 to mark the centenary Political Broadcasting of the 1908 London Olympic games.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister if he will Olympic Games 2012: Finance make it his policy to hold a televised debate with the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition in his official Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the capacity as Prime Minister. [308785] Olympics what her most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of hosting the London 2012 (a) The Prime Minister: I have accepted in principle the Olympic and (b) Paralympic Games. [308479] proposal for televised debates between party leaders. Public Consultation Tessa Jowell: The public sector funding provision of £9.325 billion for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games that I announced in March 2007 remains unchanged Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister what and includes a £66 million contribution towards hosting citizens’ juries or summits he has attended since June the Paralympic games. The Olympic and Paralymic 2007; and what the (a) date and (b) subject was of games are being hosted by the London Organising each such event. [309923] Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The Prime Minister: I regularly attend meetings with members of the public to hear their views on a wide Detailed financial information is given in the Government variety of subjects. Olympic Executive’s regular quarterly economic reports, including the anticipated final cost of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s programme, the most recent of which was published in November 2009. OLYMPICS The next financial update will be included in the London 2012 annual report which will be published in Electric Vehicles February 2010. These reports do not include LOCOG’s anticipated final costs as LOGOG is a private company Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the funded almost entirely by private sources. Olympics whether she plans to allocate funds for the installation of electric car charging points in the Olympic Games 2012: Hotels construction site of the Olympic village. [308481]

Tessa Jowell: The Athletes’ Village plans and budget Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the include electric car charging points which will remain Olympics whether she plans to seek to increase the after the games as part of London 2012’s sustainable availability of hotel accommodation in London for legacy. the duration of the London 2012 Olympics. [308482] 645W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 646W

Tessa Jowell: “Winning: a tourism strategy for 2012 Further to the creation of new employment opportunities, and beyond”, published in September 2007 by the the London Development Agency and its partners, Department for Culture, Media and Sport in conjunction including Jobcentre Plus, aim to use the Games to with VisitBritain and VisitLondon, identified the challenges reduce unemployment across the capital by 70,000 by to be met in order to maximise the economic benefits 2012 through programmes such as Personal Best and for the tourism industry from the London 2012 games. the Employer Accord. By September 2009 it had achieved Key strategic aims are to increase the number of UK 14,000 against this target. hotels accredited for quality; and to improve industry awareness of the needs of travellers with disabilities. Olympic Games 2012: North West Currently, London has around 100,000 serviced accommodation rooms and recent research by VisitLondon Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the estimates some 12,400 new rooms will open in London Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure the North by 2012, with another potential 9,500 to be confirmed. West region obtains a legacy from the London 2012 VisitLondon will work with London’s hotel operators Olympics. [309388] to ensure new developments and upgraded hotels provide accessible accommodation. Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games established the Nations and Regions Olympic Games 2012: Job Creation Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy for London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the Nations and Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the English regions to maximise the sporting, commercial, Olympics how many new jobs had been created as a cultural and other benefits of the 2012 Games. consequence of the hosting of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the latest date for Business in Leeds has already benefited from the which figures are available; and how many such new contract opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games. jobs she expects to be created in each of the next three Yorkshire and Humber region has won more than 119 years. [308477] London 2012 business contracts, 21 companies are based in Leeds. Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) As part of the programme to maximise the sporting publishes data on the construction contractor workforce opportunities for the regions Yorkshire has a total of 49 each quarter on the London 2012 website. The latest Pre Games Training Camps including John Charles figures as at the end of September 2009, showed that Centre for Sport. The Dutch swimming team have 7,270 people were working on the Olympic Site, of signed a Memorandum of Understanding to use Leeds which 2,428 were working on the Village. Of those for their training for London 2012. working on the Park, 21 per cent. were people from the The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad project which five Olympic host boroughs. The ODA expects construction includes The Artists Taking the Lead announced ‘Leeds on the Park and Village to have created work for 30,000 Canvas’ as a winner. This is a ‘first time ever’ citywide people by 2012, with the number of workers on site is collaboration between artists and arts organisations expected to peak at 11,000 during 2010. and will continue beyond 2012 leaving a cultural legacy for Leeds. The employment legacy is not limited to those working on the Olympic site. Companies across the UK are Also many schools in Leeds are participating in Get winning Games related work, creating employment. Set, the official London 2012 education programme for The investment in major public projects, like the schools across the UK. To date, Leeds has 88 schools London 2012 Games, is also supporting the construction registered. industry. The ODA currently employs 222 people. This figure Olympic Games 2012: Transport is forecasted to reduce as projects are completed. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the LOCOG estimates that a contracted workforce of Olympics whether she has plans to increase the 100,000 people will be needed to stage the Games. It is frequency of (a) rail and (b) bus services between also expected that new opportunities will be created in London and the other Olympic sites in 2012. [308473] sectors such as tourism, leisure, hospitality—6,700 new opportunities are expected to be created in retail, hotels Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and restaurants—and in sport and media because of is working in partnership with TfL, rail operators, our hosting of the Games. London buses and other bus operating companies serving LOCOG currently employs approximately 500 people. venues outside of the Olympic Park to provide an This number is forecasted to rise to 1,000 people by enhanced level of service during the games. December 2010, and to 1,700 by December 2011. The This work is being informed by ODA’s ongoing demand number of people employed by LOCOG during Games forecasting into rail and bus requirements and feedback time is expected to reach 6,000 including temporary from stakeholders on the second edition of ODA’s Games-time roles. Olympic Transport Plan which was issued for consultation After the Games, up to 10,000 new permanent jobs in December 2009. The consultation closes on 19 March are expected to be created on the Park, and more and is on ODA’s website at: created in the wider Lower Lea valley as a result of the http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/transport/ regeneration in the area. transport-plan.php 647W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 648W

Olympic Games in 2012: Northern Ireland Olympic Games: Canada

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Olympics for Olympics what recent discussions she has had with the how many days (a) she and (b) officials of her Office First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the expect to attend the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Northern Ireland Executive on the contribution of Vancouver in February in the course of their official Northern Ireland to the hosting of the London 2012 duties; and what estimate she has made of the cost to Olympics. [308470] the public purse in each such case. [308979]

Tessa Jowell: UK nations and regions are realising Tessa Jowell: Details of ministerial travel costing over the opportunities and benefits from the sporting, £500 are published annually and include the cost, destination commercial, and cultural programmes offered by the and purpose of the trip. It also provides information on 2012 games. Government officials, and the Nations and the number of officials who accompany Ministers. The Regions Group (NRG), which includes representation most recent list was published in July 2009 and the from each of the nations and English regions, are in details of attendance at the Vancouver 2010 winter regular contact with officials in Northern Ireland. Olympic games will be included in the 2010 return. In addition, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Assembly, who has the responsibility for sport, is a member of the Sporting Legacy Board which is chaired by the Minister for Sport in DCMS, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT and brings together sports leaders from across the UK. Departmental Advertising Olympic Games in 2012: Scotland Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Culture, Media and Sport how much he expects his Olympics what recent discussions she has had with Department to spend on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) the First Minister of the Scottish Executive on the print and (d) online advertising in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) contribution of Scotland to the hosting of the London 2010-11. [310216] 2012 Olympic Games. [308471] Mr. Simon: For 2009-10 the overall budget allocated Tessa Jowell: I met with Shona Robinson, Minister for advertising spend which can be identified from the for Public Health in Scotland to discuss London 2012 Department’s accounting system is £180,000. Individual and the legacy opportunities for Scotland. allocations for television, radio, print and online advertising are not held on the Department’s accounting system. UK nations and regions are realising the opportunities and benefits from the sporting, commercial, and cultural The business planning process is ongoing and the programmes offered by the 2012 Games. Government advertising allocations for 2010-11 have not been agreed officials, and the Nations and Regions Group (NRG), yet. which includes representation from each of the nations and English regions, are in regular contact with officials Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for in Scotland. Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on (a) print, (b) online, (c) television and In addition, the Minister for Health and Sport, Scottish (d) radio advertising in each of the last five years; how Executive, is a member of the Sporting Legacy Board much has been spent on advertising in 2009-10 to date; which is chaired by the Minister for Sport in DCMS, and what percentage of advertising expenditure in and brings together sports leaders from across the UK. each year was managed by the Central Office of Information. [309902] Olympic Games in 2012: Wales Mr. Simon: The expenditure on advertising recorded Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the on the Department’s accounting system is not analysed Olympics what recent discussions she has had with the by the categories requested. The table sets out identifiable First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government on costs of recruitment advertising, which are predominantly the contribution of Wales to the hosting of the print advertising. Olympic Games in 2012. [308469] Financial year Amount (£)

Tessa Jowell: UK nations and regions are realising 2009-10 5,380 the opportunities and benefits from the sporting, 2008-09 17,940 commercial, and cultural programmes offered by the 2007-08 36,150 2012 games. Government officials, and the Nations and 2006-07 38,390 Regions Group (NRG), which includes representation 2005-06 105,450 from each of the nations and English regions, are in regular contact with officials in Wales. 2004-05 34,930 The Minister for Heritage in the Welsh Assembly, Expenditure incurred through the Central Office of who has the responsibility for sport, is a member of the Information (COI) relates to a range of activities, including Sporting Legacy Board which is chaired by the Minister advertising. To identify the advertising expense element for Sport in DCMS, and brings together sports leaders would require an analysis of all COI invoices. This from across the UK. would incur disproportionate cost. 649W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 650W

Departmental Allowances Information relating to other expenses are allocated to individual policy areas and not centrally recorded Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, against Ministers or officials. It is therefore not readily Media and Sport how much was claimed in (a) travel available and can be provided only at disproportionate and (b) other expenses by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials cost. in his Department in each of the last five years. [309741] Departmental Domestic Visits

Mr. Simon: All travel by ministers and civil servants is Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for undertaken in accordance with the ‘Ministerial Code’ Culture, Media and Sport how many planned visits by and the ‘Civil Service Management Code’ respectively, Ministers in his Department within the UK were and other expenses are claimed in accordance with the cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in principles set out in ‘Managing Public Money’. the last 12 months; and what the planned venue or For the financial years 2006-07 to 2008-09 the table venues were for each such visit. [309881] sets out the travel and associated expenses claimed through travel and subsistence expense forms. The use Mr. Simon: This information is not readily available of taxis is not analysed by Ministers and officials. and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost. Information relating to prior years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In addition to these costs, Departmental Manpower other travel and expense costs will have been incurred through centrally managed contracts, rather than individual expense claims. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff of each £ grade work for his Department at each location on Financial year 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 services which it has contracted out; who the contractors and services are provided in each case; what the length Ministers’ 0 570 950 of each contract is; and which union recognition agreements travel claims are in place with each contractor. [301599] Officials’ travel 72,670 73,210 103,740 claims Mr. Simon [holding answer 24 November 2009]: The Taxi 3,590 4,360 5,290 information requested is provided in the table.

Union recognition Service/contract Service received at DCMS staff Contractor name Contract length agreement

Facilities Cockspur Street 1 grade 7and 1 grade MITIE Contract expires No union agreement management (CS) and Tottenham HEO/SEO (staff 31 January 2010 in place Court Road (TCR) based at CS)

Catering—staff Cockspur Street 1 grade HEO/SEO Baxter Storey Contract expired No union agreement restaurant (CS) (staff based at CS) 23 December 2009 in place

Mailroom Cockspur Street and 1 grade HEO/SEO Pitney Bowes Contract expires No union agreement TCR (staff based at CS) 31 January 2010 in place

Payroll Cockspur Street and 1 grade HEO/SEO LogicaCMG Contract expires No union agreement TCR and 1 grade EO 31/03/2013 in place (staff based at CS)

Ruth Mackenzie for Special Advisers, are exempt from some of its requirements and are directly appointed by Ministers. Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the job specification is of his Department’s expert adviser Ruth Mackenzie; what the difference is between a special adviser and an Visits Abroad: Olympic Games expert adviser in his Department; and on what contractual terms Ruth Mackenzie is employed. [308798] Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) Ministers and Mr. Simon: Ruth Mackenzie’s role is to provide expert (b) officials from his Department are planning to advice on cultural and broadcasting issues. She is on attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February secondment from the Manchester International Festival. 2010 in an official capacity; and at what cost. [310257] She was appointed by the Department, with the agreement of the Civil Service Commissioners. She is subject to the Mr. Simon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I full requirements of the Civil Service Code—unlike gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate special advisers who, as set out in the Code of Conduct Hoey) on 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 44W. 651W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 652W

WORK AND PENSIONS Cold Weather Payments: Milton Keynes

Attendance Allowance: Leeds Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions cold John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work weather payments have been triggered in MK post and Pensions (1) how many people in the Leeds city codes since October 2009. [310220] area claimed attendance allowance in each of the last five years; [306575] Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. Up until (2) how many people in Leeds West constituency 7 January 2010 post code MK has triggered twice. claimed attendance allowance in each of the last five years. [306576] Council Tax Benefits

Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work table. and Pensions (1) what discussions her Department has Attendance allowance—cases in payment in Leeds local authority area had with local authorities on proposals to rename and Leeds West parliamentary constituency council tax benefit as council tax rebate; [308712] As at May each year (2) what work her Department has undertaken to 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 assess the merits of renaming council tax benefit as Leeds local 14,090 14,360 14,510 14,740 15,130 council tax rebate; and if she will make a statement; authority area [308713] Leeds West 1,550 1,590 1,630 1,640 1,690 (3) when she expects the renaming of council tax parliamentary benefit as council tax rebate to take place; and if she constituency will make a statement. [308750] Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and Helen Goodman: We are committed to making this exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been change at the earliest opportunity. This change does suspended, for example if they are in hospital. have significant operational and delivery implications Source: for local authorities. There will need to be numerous DWP Information Directorate; Work and Pensions Longitudinal changes to their computer systems and to those used by Study Jobcentre Plus and Pension, Disability and Carers Service. Cold Weather Payments Before we can be clear about the timetable for introducing the change we need to do further work to assess the full costs and the practical implications, including the impact Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for it will have on take-up by conducting further research. Work and Pensions how many times cold weather We have been and will continue to work closely with payments have been triggered in post code (a) FK10 local authorities and their IT suppliers to assess the and (b) PH1 since October 2009. [309655] impact and costs of these changes and the fit with other initiatives the Department and local authorities have to Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment scheme deliver, so that renaming can be introduced at the runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. Between earliest opportunity. 1 November 2009 and 6 January 2010 cold weather payments were triggered three times each in post code Departmental Training areas FK10 and PH1. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for and Pensions how many overseas training courses were Work and Pensions how long on average elapsed between attended by her Department’s civil servants in the latest the occurrence of weather conditions triggering cold period for which figures are available; how many civil weather payments and such payments being made in servants attended each course; and what the total cost 2008-09. [309743] to the public purse was of each course. [305891]

Helen Goodman: The payment of cold weather payments Angela Eagle: The Department does not hold records is a fully automated process. Once a cold weather payment on the information requested centrally; individual business is triggered, it takes three working days to make a units retain records locally and as such this information payment into a customer’s account. For the very small could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. number of claims that are maintained clerically, it takes slightly longer to make a payment, but average times are Employment and Support Allowance not recorded. Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of Work and Pensions what account is taken of wind chill individuals undergoing a work capability assessment factors in the triggering of cold weather payments. following an application for employment and support [309744] allowance (ESA) have been found to be (a) ineligible for ESA, (b) eligible for work-related ESA and (c) Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment scheme eligible for support group ESA in each quarter since does not take account of wind chill factors. the inception of that allowance; and how many and 653W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 654W what proportion of applicants for incapacity benefit The published data summarise work capability were found to be ineligible as a result of undergoing the assessment results for employment support allowance personal capability assessment in the latest year for claims in Great Britain up to the end of February 2009. which figures are available. [300388] Information on the results of the personal capability assessment is not available. Jonathan Shaw: Such information as is available is The available data, however, are based on recorded published in ‘Employment Support Allowance: Work advice from Atos, rather than the Decision Maker’s Capability Assessment statistical release (October 2009)’, final determination. The final outcomes of cases may a copy of which has been placed in the Library. change. This will be further compounded by reconsiderations following additional medical evidence The publication is also available online at: and the outcomes of appeals. http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca.asp The available information is in the tables.

Monthly employment and support allowance on-flows by claim start and result of medical assessment 2008 2009 October November December January February Total

Support Group 600 2,400 2,200 2,600 2,200 10,000 Work related activity group 1,000 4,800 4,500 6,000 5,300 21,600 Fit for work 3,300 16,000 13,800 18,600 17,100 68,800 Claim closed before assessment complete 3,500 17,700 15,900 19,800 17,600 74,500 Assessment still in progress 600 3,000 3,300 5,500 6,500 19,000 Total 9,100 43,900 39,600 52,500 48,700 193,800 1. Figures are round to the nearest 100. 2. Around 3 per cent. of assessments are made clerically. These figures are not included in this table. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefits data and Atos Healthcare medical assessment data Monthly employment and support allowance on-flows by claim start and result of medical assessment expressed as percentages 2008 2009 October November December January February Overall

Support group 766545 Work related activity group 11 11 11 11 11 11 Fit for work 37 37 35 36 35 36 Claim closed before assessment complete 39 40 40 38 36 38 Assessment still in progress 6 7 8 11 13 10

The data presented combine three main data sources: 36 per cent. were assessed as being fit for work. benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and The remaining 48 per cent. either left employment Pensions covering new employment and support allowance claims and support allowance before completing assessment or between October 2008 to February 2009; assessment is still in progress. medical assessment data sourced from Atos Healthcare covering assessments completed between October 2008 and August Housing Benefit: East of England 2009; and appeals data sourced from Tribunals Service covering appeals Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for heard up to July 2009. Work and Pensions how many rapid reclaims of The tables present assessment results by breaking housing benefit took more than 10 days to process (a) down cohorts of employment and support allowance nationally and (b) in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire benefit claims. This is presented for claim starts to Jobcentre Plus district in the most recent 12 month February 2009. Beyond this date the results are not period for which figures are available; what the target reliable as many claims are still within the process. time is for processing such reclaims; and if she will National Statistics on employment and support allowance make a statement. [308322] on-flows and caseload are published on the Department for Work and Pensions Tabulation Tool. Latest data Helen Goodman [holding answer 6 January 2010]: available show there were 195,500 new employment and The requested information is not available. support allowance claims between 27 October 2008 and 28 February 2009. Incapacity Benefit: Bedfordshire Note that rounding and exclusion of clerical claims means the figures in the first table won’t match the Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Tabulation Tool figures exactly. Work and Pensions how many (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance claimants 52 per cent. of these employment and support allowance there were in South West Bedfordshire constituency on claims were assessed resulting in the following outcomes: the latest date for which figures are available. [310107] 5 per cent. were assessed as suitable for the support group; 11 per cent. were assessed as suitable for the work related Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the activity group; and table. 655W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 656W

Number of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance scale which will be generated by funds under management claimants in South West Bedfordshire—May 2009 in personal accounts; [305964] Employment and Incapacity benefit support allowance (2) what estimate she has made of the monetary value of the funds likely to be managed through the South West 2,530 410 proposed personal accounts scheme. [305965] Bedfordshire Notes: 1. Caseload has been rounded to the nearest 10. Angela Eagle: The Department has not commissioned 2. Data published at: or undertaken such research. www.nomisweb.co.uk However, the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority’s (incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance) and http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp engagement with stakeholders during their consultation (employment and support allowance). (‘Building Personal Accounts: Designing an Investment 3. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit Approach’, published on 7 May 2009), confirmed the and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new scheme will benefit from economies of scale when investing claims from 27 October 2008. future members’ contributions. Responses to the Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate 100 per consultation are summarised in, ‘Building Personal cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. Accounts: Designing an Investment Approach’. Key findings of the public consultation published November Industrial Diseases: Compensation 2009. The ‘Impact Assessment for the Pensions Bill’ (2007), Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work published on the 24 April 2008 estimated there might be and Pensions how many former miners have submitted funds around £100 to 300 billion under management in claims for industrial injuries benefit for osteoarthritis the scheme by 2050, in 2007-08 earnings terms. of the knee to date; how many such claims have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected; and how many appeals against the rejection of a claim have been made. State Retirement Pensions [307553] Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jonathan Shaw: Since the addition of osteoarthritis and Pensions if she will estimate the effect on the level of the knee to the list of prescribed industrial diseases on of poverty among pensioners of paying all people 13 July 2009, 30,262 claims have been received. reaching the state pension age in 2012-13 the full basic 10,396 have been processed, of which, 3,837 have state pension in each of the subsequent three years. received an award of, or an increase of, industrial injuries [308530] disablement benefit. The total number of all appeals received is 1,330. Angela Eagle [holding answer 6 January 2010]: The This information is based on an informal count by Department does not publish projections of pensioner the Jobcentre Plus offices dealing with industrial injuries poverty levels and therefore we are unable to answer the disablement benefit. We are looking into arrangements question. to publish this information as official statistics. Pensioner poverty is complex and dependent on a number of factors. Therefore projections would need to Local Housing Allowance rely on many assumptions and as such would be subject to a significant degree of uncertainty. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Any current projection of the number of pensioners for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer to in poverty would be subject to uncertainties around the hon. Member for Meriden of 15 June 2009, Official future income growth, changes in the income distribution Report, column 48W, on local housing allowance, if and individual changes in behaviour in response to she will undertake research into whether landlords policy changes. The Government therefore do not publish discriminate against potential tenants who are on local forward projections. housing allowance on the grounds that the benefit is The proportion of pensioners in low income in the not paid directly to the landlord. [309380] UK has fallen substantially over the last 10 years. There are 900,000 fewer pensioners in relative poverty in 2007-08 Helen Goodman: The Department has committed to than in 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of completing a review of the LHA scheme over a two-year contemporary median income after housing costs are period from the commencement of its roll-out in April taken into account). A complete set of statistics can be 2008. The aim of the review is to monitor the impact of found in the ‘Households Below Average Income 2007-08’ the LHA at a national level, against the original LHA publication, found at: policy objectives. http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai.asp The review will include an in-depth focus group study of landlords, concerning their attitudes and experiences of the LHA, including direct payments. Unemployment: Leeds

Personal Accounts John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps she has taken to reduce levels Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work of unemployment in Leeds West constituency amongst and Pensions (1) what research her Department has (a) disabled people since 2001; and if she will make a commissioned and (b) undertaken on the economies of statement. [306952] 657W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 658W

Jonathan Shaw: A number of steps have been taken about losing their job because of their disability. They to reduce levels of unemployment among disabled people are supported by work psychologists and various external since 2001. disability specialists. In July 2001 the new deal for disabled people was launched. This is a programme of advice and practical Waste Disposal: Safety support, which helps people move from disability and health-related benefits into paid employment. The Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work programme is delivered through a network of ’job and Pensions with reference to the answer of 21 July brokers’ offering different services, which can be tailored 2009, Official Report, column 1337W,on waste disposal: to a customer’s individual needs. safety, if she will request the Health and Safety Executive December 2007 saw the introduction of Pathways to to undertake research on the safety of household refuse Work in the West Yorkshire district, which includes the containers in relation to deliberate fires. [308547] Leeds, West constituency.This programme helps claimants of incapacity benefits or employment and support allowance Jonathan Shaw: The Health and Safety Executive get work by offering individual support and access to a (HSE) has no plans to assess the safety of household wide range of help, including work-focused interviews. refuse containers (including “wheelie bins”) in relation to deliberate fires. I do not intend to request them to do ″ The public consultation Helping People Achieve so as such incidents arise from criminal acts of arson, their Full Potential: Improving Specialist Disability which is a matter for the police, and not HSE, whose ″ Employment Services was launched on 3 December remit is restricted to the health, safety and welfare of 2007 to help shape the future of specialist disability persons at work and others who may be affected by employment provision. The new programme, Work Choice, work activities. HSE is therefore involved in issues such which replaces existing specialist disability employment as the safe lifting of wheelie bins on to refuse lorries, to programmes, will be introduced in October 2010. which European standards apply, but the deliberate Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity setting of fires in household refuse containers is outside benefits for new customers nationally on 27 October any intended normal use and design criteria. Such 2008. Employment and support allowance has a greater arson attacks are tackled by the fire and rescue services work-focus than its predecessors. It also has a more and are investigated by the police under the Criminal modern and robust medical assessment, which helps to Damage Act 1971. identify the help that people need to ensure they can fulfil their potential. Winter Fuel Payments: Tamworth Access to Work is a specialist disability programme Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work that helps disabled people overcome work-related obstacles. and Pensions how many pensioners in Tamworth It is flexible, easy to access and shows high levels of constituency are in receipt of winter fuel allowance; satisfaction from disabled people and their employers. and how much her Department paid to such pensioners The Access to Work base budget has been increased in winter fuel allowance in 2009. [309675] from £15 million in 1994-95 to £81 million in 2009-10 and will continue to grow to £138 million by 2013-14. Angela Eagle: For winter 2008-09, 18,590 older people We are also working to improve the programme to received a winter fuel payment in Tamworth constituency ensure it helps people with mental health conditions at a cost of around £3.9 million. more effectively. Notes: The refreshed jobseeker’s allowance regime and flexible 1. Payment figures rounded to the nearest 10. new deal will go live in Leeds in April 2010. This is 2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned designed to offer personalised and more intensive support by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. to customers, including those with disabilities, to help 3. Expenditure rounded to the nearest £0.1 million. overcome barriers to work. More generally, all jobseekers have full access to Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jobcentre Plus vacancy services to enhance their and Pensions what estimate she has made of the employment opportunities. We recognise that some disabled number of households in Tamworth constituency who customers may have a more limited availability and will receive the (a) £250 and (b) £400 winter fuel scope to find and carry out certain types of work. payment in 2009-10. [309676] Therefore, at the start of their claim customers are asked to tell their adviser about any disabilities that Angela Eagle: For winter 2008-09, 10,920 households might have such an impact, and can restrict their work received a £250 winter fuel payment and 2,530 households search activity and availability for work if those restrictions received a £400 payment in Tamworth constituency. are reasonable, given their condition. Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. Customers with a disability can volunteer to be fast- tracked to the six month stage of jobseeker’s allowance, 2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. subject to the Jobcentre Plus personal advisers agreement. This allows disabled people to access additional intensive Work Capability Assessment support earlier in their claim. Disability employment advisers are available to provide Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work specialist support to people facing employment barriers and Pensions what average time is taken for Atos Healthcare because of a disability. They can advise customers to deliver to the business user of the medical services about a range of specialised support available, and contract a report following a work capability assessment; provide advice on job retention if a person is concerned and if she will make a statement. [307181] 659W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 660W

Jonathan Shaw: Atos Healthcare Medical Services Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, are contracted to deliver new claims for employment Department for Transport if he will assess the support allowance requiring a work capability assessments compatibility with child protection legislation of the to the business user in an actual average clearance time operation of full body scanners in UK airports; and if (AACT) of 35.0 working days. In November 2009, Atos he will make a statement. [309952] Healthcare achieved an AACT of 33.5 working days. Paul Clark: The introduction of the scanners is a necessary additional measure in response to the heightened threat to the travelling public. Their application to TRANSPORT passengers including children, with the proposed safeguards as to their use, is a proportionate response to the Aviation: Security heightened threat. The use of body scanners is compatible with the Protection of Children Act 1978. The use of Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister of State, scanners will be subject to a code of practice which is Department for Transport whether all border guards being developed by the Department for Transport and who will operate the new full-body scanners at airport operators. Heathrow airport have been subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check. [309605] Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what funding his Paul Clark: All airport security staff who will operate Department plans to make available to UK airports for the new full-body scanners have been subject to a Criminal the installation of full body scanners. [309953] Records Bureau check. Paul Clark: The funding of body scanners will be a Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, matter for airport operators. Department for Transport when he expects the review of aviation security announced in December 2009 to Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, report. [309429] Department for Transport when he plans to issue guidance on operating the full body scanners proposed Paul Clark: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to be installed at UK airports. [309954] made a statement to the House announcing the initial outcome of the review of aviation security on Tuesday 5 January 2010, Official Report, columns 28-41. Paul Clark: The code of practice is under urgent development and will be finalised as soon as possible. Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made an Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, assessment of the implications of the provisions of Department for Transport whether the body scanners child protection legislation for the use of full-body to be deployed at airports will use passive millimetre scanners at Heathrow Airport. [309634] wave technology. [310145]

Paul Clark: The introduction of the scanners is a Paul Clark: No. The body scanners to be deployed at necessary additional measure in response to the heightened UK airports will use either active millimetre wave or threat to the travelling public. Their application to backscatter technology. passengers including children, with the proposed safeguards as to their use, is a proportionate response to the Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, heightened threat. The use of body scanners is compatible Department for Transport whether individuals who with the Protection of Children Act 1978. The use of wish not to use body scanners at airports will be able to scanners will be subject to a code of practice which is opt for a manual pat down search. [310146] being developed by the Department for Transport and airport operators. Paul Clark: No. Individuals who are asked to use the Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, body scanner but decline to do so will not be permitted Department for Transport what date he has set for to fly. equipping of all UK international airports with full body scanners. [309950] Aviation: Snow and Ice

Paul Clark: We have not set such a date. However, we Danny Alexander: To ask the Minister of State, are discussing urgently with the airport industry the Department for Transport (1) what steps he has taken widespread roll-out of scanners at UK airports as soon to ensure an adequate supply of airport and aircraft as practicable. de-icing fluid during the current cold weather; [309730] Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, (2) what monitoring his Department undertakes of Department for Transport when the first full body the availability of aircraft and airport de-icing fluid; scanner in a UK airport is scheduled to start operation. [309801] [309951] (3) what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk to transport (a) within and (b) departing from Paul Clark: The first scanner is expected to be operational the UK of shortages in the availability of airport and at Heathrow airport within about three weeks. aircraft de-icing fluid. [309802] 661W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 662W

Paul Clark: Sourcing of sufficient quantities of airport This is a matter for the train operator, East Midlands surface and airframe de-icer compounds are commercial Trains, which provides services to and from Corby. East matters for privately-owned airport operators and airlines, Midlands Trains can be contacted at the following with the relevant suppliers. The Department for Transport address: and the Civil Aviation Authority have, however, been in Mr. Tim Shoveller contact with airport operators and airlines throughout Managing Director the period of severe weather to monitor the operation East Midlands Trains of the supply chain. The Department has also agreed to 1 Prospect Place a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement Millennium Way of EU drivers’ hours and working-time rules, up to the end of Monday 11 January, for those hauliers involved Pride Park in the distribution of de-icer products direct to airports. Derby DE24 8HG Buses: Concessions Departmental Legislation Chris Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what criminal offences have Department for Transport how many (a) over-60 year been (a) created and (b) abolished by secondary olds and (b) disabled people resident in Tamworth legislation sponsored by his Department since 1 May constituency made use of free off-peak bus travel in the 2008. [307794] latest period for which figures are available. [309656] Chris Mole: A table setting out the title of each piece Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport is not of secondary legislation creating an offence within the responsible for issuing passes and so does not maintain scope of the question, the number of offences created records of how many passes individual authorities have by that piece of legislation and a general description of issued. the offences is listed as follows. Tamworth is part of the Staffordshire county More detail about the offences created and information concessionary travel scheme. The last information held about offences that have been abolished (other than in by the Department was that as of 17 April 2009, the respect of the revocation of the Air Navigation Order Staffordshire county scheme had issued 125,787 of the 2005 (see as follows)) could be provided only at new smartcard concessionary passes. This includes passes disproportionate cost. issued to disabled people as well as those aged 60 and Offences contained in the Air Navigation Order 2005 over as the Department does not have a breakdown of were abolished when that Order was replaced by the Air figures. Navigation Order 2009 (see the entry for the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2009 in the table). Corby Station While all reasonable efforts have been made by the Department to ascertain what offences have been created Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, by secondary legislation since 1 May 2008, it is impossible Department for Transport how many passengers (a) to guarantee that every new offence has been noted in boarded and (b) alighted from trains at Corby railway the enclosed table without incurring disproportionate station on each day since 8 September 2009. [309632] cost in terms of officials’ time. For example: where an instrument extends an existing provision to cover a new Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not situation it might not be apparent that an offence was hold the requested information on passengers using involved without further research and this would require Corby railway station. a significant amount of time.

Title of the secondary legislation Number of offences created General description of offences

The London Gateway Port Harbour 6 Obstructing works/officers Empowerment Order 2008 The Cross-border Railway Services (Working 7 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations Time) Regulations 2008 The Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard 3 Obstructing works/disclosing confidential information Improvement Order 2008 The Air Navigation (Environmental Standards For 2 Contravening any provision of the Order (in two groups, divided Non-EASA Aircraft) Order 2008 according to penalty) The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air 47 Contravention of various provisions of the Regulations by various Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 people The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution 49 Contravention of various provisions of the Regulations by various by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations people 2008 The Operation of Air Services in the Community 9 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations Regulations 2009 The Street Works (Charges for Unreasonably 1 Failing to give any notice required by the Regulations. Prolonged Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations 2009 The Road Safety (Immobilisation, Removal and 5 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 2009 The Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2009 9 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations 663W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 664W

Title of the secondary legislation Number of offences created General description of offences

The Nottingham Express Transit System Order 9 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Order 2009 The Air Navigation (Single European Sky) 25 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Order (Penalties) Order 2009 The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2009 10 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Air Navigation Order 2005 (The 2005 Order and the 2009 Amendment Order were revoked by the Air Navigation Order 2009) The Motor Cycles Etc. (Replacement of Catalytic 4 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations Converters) Regulations 2009 The Motor Vehicles (Replacement of Catalytic 7 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations Converters and Pollution Control Devices) Regulations 2009 The Port Security Regulations 2009 14 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Regulations The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) 1 Making of false statements etc under or for the purposes of the (Amendment) Order 2009 Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 2005 The Penzance Harbour Revision Order 2009 4 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Order The London Underground (Victoria Station 3 Obstructing works/disclosing confidential information Upgrade) Order 2009 The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) 15 Contravention of various provisions of the Regulations by various Regulations 2009 people The Air Navigation Order 2009 9 Failing to comply with various provisions of the Order The Merchant Shipping (Implementation of Ship- 4 Contravention of various provisions of other Regulations Source Pollution Directive) Regulations 2009

Departmental Training incidents where the motorist has incurred some form of liability. It is recognised that motorists have an obligation Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, to comply with road traffic and other regulations when Department for Transport how much (a) his using a vehicle and to act responsibly and with consideration Department and (b) its agencies spent on away days in for other road users, pedestrians and landowners in the last 12 months; and what the (i) subject and (ii) doing so. location of each away day was. [308674] Any private car parking company seeking information about the keeper of a specific vehicle must be a member Chris Mole: The Department for Transport can only of a DVLA Accredited Trade Association and conform provide the cost, subject and location of away days for to its code of practice. DVLA provides vehicle data, the last 12 months by incurring disproportionate costs. containing no personal details, to commercial customers for statistical use and to provide vehicle check services Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Databases to consumers when purchasing a second-hand vehicle or parts for their current vehicle. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions the Driver and Information is also supplied to assist in safety recalls Vehicle Licensing Agency database was accessed by (a) from time to time. police forces, (b) other public agencies and (c) private All disclosures of information are made in accordance companies in each of the last five financial years; and with the requirements of the Data Protection and Human what estimate he has made of the number of such Rights Acts. Requests for information are subject to requests which will be made in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) audit to ensure they respect agreements and legislation. 2010-11. [309720] Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Paul Clark: The information requested is not held in Department for Transport which (a) police forces, (b) the format requested. other public agencies and (c) private companies are permitted access to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department Agency database to obtain (i) details of vehicle for Transport what his policy is on allowing private registration numbers, (ii) names of licence holders and companies access to information on the Driver and (iii) private addresses of licence holders. [309723] Vehicle Licensing Agency database for commercial purposes. [309722] Paul Clark: No organisation has direct access into Paul Clark: Information held on the ‘driver’ record the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records. may only be disclosed to private companies for commercial Information from both the driver and vehicle record purposes with the explicit consent of the individual and is provided daily to the National Police Improvement when there is a demonstrable need to confirm an entitlement Agency for inclusion on the Police National Computer to drive. For example, when hiring a vehicle or driving system for use by all police forces. All other requests for as a condition of employment. information are considered on a case-by-case basis. Information held on the ‘vehicle’ record may be disclosed Private addresses of driving licence holders may be under provisions of the Road Vehicles (Registration provided to public agencies with the consent of the and Licensing) Regulations 2002. This provides for the individual or if they have a statutory right to it e.g. HM release of information to those who can demonstrate Revenue and Customs, the Child Support Agency and “reasonable cause” to require it, such as an issue around the Department for Work and Pensions. These requests the vehicle and its use. Disclosure generally results from generally relate to law enforcement activities. 665W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 666W

DVLA does not provide the name or address details East Midlands Trains of licence holders to any private companies, only details 1 Prospect Place relating to their driving entitlement and endorsements. Millennium Way Employers, recruitment agencies and private companies, Pride Park such as car hire companies, may make a request for Derby details of a driver record if they have the consent of the individual and provide their name, address and date DE24 8HG of birth. Vehicle registration numbers need to be provided to M6 the DVLA in order for a search of the vehicle record to be made. Therefore, DVLA does not disclose details of Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department vehicle registration numbers from the vehicle record. for Transport (1) if he will require the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to meet residents in Walsall Eurostar North constituency who are adversely affected by the M6 motorway work on the site of the work, as requested Mr. Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department by the hon. Member for Walsall North; [309731] for Transport what proposals are under consideration (2) for what reasons the Chief Executive of the for the provision of alternative services to Eurostar Highways Agency did not agree to meet residents on using the Channel Tunnel rail link; when such services the site within the Walsall North constituency who are could be operational; and if he will make a statement. adversely affected by the M6 motorway work; and if he [310108] will make a statement; [309732] (3) if he will ensure that the Chief Executive or Chris Mole: As of January this year, new European Deputy Chief Executive of the Highways Agency regulations allow train companies to operate international meets residents on sites where work authorised by the services across Europe on an open access basis. agency is taking place when requested to do so by hon. The Government welcome this. We want to see new Members. [309733] services and competition on Highspeed1. It is for individual companies to come forward to Chris Mole: The Chief Executive of the Highways introduce services. Agency has offered to meet the hon. Member and representatives of local residents at the Agency’s offices, Hotels or at the construction site offices, where he believes a constructive discussion can be held to agree what, if Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department any, further action by the Highways Agency’s contractor for Transport how many hotel room nights were is needed to mitigate the disturbance to residents. booked by officials in (a) his Department and (b) its The Chief Executive has personally investigated agencies in each year since 2007; and how much (i) his complaints by the hon. Member’s constituents and Department and (ii) its agencies spent on the fees of ensured that any shortcomings were rectified. This includes third party agents in booking hotel accommodation in asking the contractor’s main board director to ensure each of those years. [309055] that he delivers a plan for improving neighbour relations. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not The Chief Executive has assured me on several occasions record numbers of hotel room nights centrally, and the that he is willing to meet with any Member of this information can be provided only at disproportionate house to discuss particular matters affecting constituents, cost. No fees have been paid to third party booking and has done this with several hon. Members in the agents in the period since 2007. past. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury for Transport what discussions (a) Ministers in his handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Department and (b) officials in the Secretary of State’s Kettering Station private office have had with the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency on the adverse effects on residents of work carried out on the M6 motorway in Walsall North Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department constituency; and if he will make a statement. [310071] for Transport how many passengers travelling (a) north and (b) south on the Midland mainline (i) boarded and Chris Mole: The Secretary of State for Transport and (ii) alighted from trains at Kettering station on each day I have regular meetings with the Chief Executive of the since 8 September 2009. [309633] Highways Agency to discuss all aspects of the Agency’s business, including the concerns of residents affected by Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not the scheme being carried out on the M6 motorway in hold the requested information on passengers using the Walsall, North constituency. Kettering railway station. This is matter for the train operator, East Midlands Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department Trains, which provides services to and from Kettering. for Transport (1) for what reasons residents in Walsall East Midlands Trains can be contacted at the following North constituency likely to be adversely affected by address: current work authorised by the Highways Agency on Mr Tim Shoveller the M6 motorway were not directly informed of the Managing Director work planned by the Agency; and if he will instruct the 667W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 668W

Highways Agency directly to notify those likely to be Chris Mole: The Strategic Road Network in England adversely affected by its planned work in all areas in is made up of the national motorway and All Purpose addition to its practice of placing advertisements in the Trunk Road (APTR) network. It has (a) 1,056 junction press; [310072] to junction motorway links; and (b) 939 major dual (2) if he will ensure that when work is authorised by carriageway junction to junction links on APTR. There the Highways Agency that is likely to adversely affect are also 464 major single carriageway junction to junction residents hon. Members representing the constituency APTR links. or constituencies concerned are notified. [310078] Each link is for a single direction only, and for APTRs there may be additional minor junctions within Chris Mole: The Highways Agency has established links. procedures in place for notifying any local residents or businesses likely to be affected by planned works, as well as placing advertisements in the local press. These can include letter drops, locally held exhibitions and press-releases prior to the commencement of works. In Public and Commercial Services Union addition, hon. Members, within whose constituencies work is due to take place are given advance warning of the start of works. Local councillors are also routinely John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, advised. Department for Transport what the staff-in-post figure is for those grades of staff in relation to which the In schemes where work takes place entirely within the Public and Commercial Services Union is recognised in existing highway boundary, as is the case with the (a) the Highways Agency, (b) the Maritime and current M6 motorway works in the Walsall, North Coastguards Agency and (c) the Vehicle Certification constituency, there is no obligation upon the Highways Agency. [306511] Agency to give such additional publicity. However, in view of the close proximity of residents in this case, arrangements were made within the contract for a site- Chris Mole [holding answer 14 December 2009]: The liaison officer to be appointed to regularly communicate following tables provide the staff in post figures for with local residents about the progress of the scheme. those grades of staff for which the Highways Agency, In addition, following representations made by residents’ the Maritime and Coastguards Agency and the Vehicle groups, regarding works on the M6 in the Walsall, Certification Agency recognises the Public and Commercial North constituency further measures have been put in Services Union: place to keep residents informed. These include regular Highways Agency newsletters and visits by the site-liaison officer to affected Grade Staff in post residents. AA 1— With regard to the notification of Members whose AO 243 constituency is adversely affected by major work, it is EO 403 the Highways Agency’s standing practice to give such HEO 586 notification. In the case of this project, my hon. Friend was included in the original notification to MPs and SEO 460 MEPs, sent on 10 September 2008, prior to the Grade 7 251 commencement of the works. Grade 6 77 1 Departmental policy is to suppress figures where there are fewer Motor Vehicles: Safety than five individuals on grounds of confidentiality. Maritime and Coastguard Agency Tim Farron: To ask the Minister of State, Grade Staff in post Department for Transport what regulations govern requirements about the location of lights on vehicles to AA 148 demonstrate the dimensions of the vehicle. [310124] AO 410 EO 253 Paul Clark: The location of lights, including those to HEO 137 indicate the dimensions of vehicles, is set out in the SEO 171 Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989. Grade 7 95 In general vehicles must have front and rear position Grade 6 18 lights fitted within 400 mm of the edge of the vehicle. (For trailers, however, only those above a certain width Vehicle Certification Agency are required to have front position lamps.) Larger vehicles Grade Staff in post must also be fitted with end outline marker lamps, and AA 6 side marker lamps to indicate their width, length and height. AO 34 EO 29 Motorways HEO 1— SEO 9 1 Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Grade 7 — 1 Department for Transport how many motorway Grade 6 — inter-junction links there are on (a) motorways and 1 Departmental policy is to suppress figures where there are fewer than five individuals on grounds of confidentiality. (b) dual carriageways in England. [308458] 669W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 670W

Railways Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not hold data on public spending in this level of detail. Robert Key: To ask the Minister of State, Department However, table A9 of the Department’s Annual Report for Transport for what reasons rail franchises specify and Accounts sets out details of expenditure on the required revenue protection systems. [310057] railways by region. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House and on the Department’s Chris Mole: Some franchise specifications have included website at: requirements to install ticket gates at specific stations. www.dft.gov.uk These requirements are based upon detailed business Road Salting and Gritting case analysis and expected revenue increases. In some cases these are specified within the contract because Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, they have a pay-back period longer than the franchise Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of term. Such schemes increase the value of the franchise 10 December 2009, Official Report, column 544W, on in future years, reducing the long term cost of the road salting and gritting, when he plans to publish his railway to the taxpayer. Department’s response to the report of the UK Roads Bidders are also required to detail their wider revenue Liaison Group on the preparedness of highway protection strategies as part of their bids. authorities for extreme weather events. [309450] Bidders have proposed gating schemes as part of their own revenue protection strategies and where these Mr. Khan: A written statement was made to Parliament are offered the Department for Transport seeks to on 15 December 2009, Official Report, columns 122-24WS contractualise this commitment. outlining the Department for Transport’s response to the report of the UK Road Liaison Group on highway Railways: Concessions authorities’ preparedness for extreme weather events. This was also published on the Department for Transport’s Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Minister of State, website at: Department for Transport what mechanisms are in http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/ place to prevent the loss of concessionary travel uk-roads facilities for former employees of a rail business which becomes insolvent; and who the guarantor of last Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, resort is in such cases. [309447] Department for Transport what discussions he has had with the (a) Highways Agency and (b) Salt Union on Chris Mole: The Association of Train Operating the distribution of salt to the Highways Agency and Companies (’ATOC’) Rail Staff Travel Scheme includes local authorities since 9 February 2009. [309539] provisions which enable employees who have been made Mr. Khan [holding answer 7 January 2010]: The redundant as the result of an insolvent event to continue information requested is as follows: to receive leisure travel services. (a) Both during February 2009 and immediately While the Secretary of State approves any proposed following the winter season, a number of discussions changes to the rail staff travel scheme, it is ATOC that were held between the Department for Transport and operates the Scheme. ATOC may be contacted at: the Highways Agency to discuss issues arising from the 3rd Floor winter and to contribute to the related Transport Select 40 Bernard Street Committee (TSC) hearing and other related events requiring London WC1N 1BY briefing information. Following the TSC hearing, the Telephone: 020 7841 8000 UK Roads Liaison Group led a review into the severe weather of February 2009, comprising input from the Railways: Exhaust Emissions Highways Agency, salt suppliers and the Department for Transport, as well as local authority representation. Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department Discussions between the Department for Transport and for Transport what meetings his Department has had Highways Agency were held in both carrying out the with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on review and compiling the subsequent report. Department policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the for Transport Ministers have also had a number of rail network. [309762] discussions with the Highways Agency to discuss winter resilience, including the distribution of salt. Chris Mole: The Department for Transport works (b) Department for Transport officials have also had closely with the Department of Energy and Climate a number of discussions with Salt Union and others on Change on a wide range of issues relating to carbon similar issues. emissions from transport modes, including rail. Consequently, officials from the two Departments are Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department in regular contact and meet on a frequent basis to for Transport what agreements are in place between the discuss these and other issues. Highways Agency and local authorities for the provision of assistance to authorities which require additional Railways: West Yorkshire salt stocks during extreme weather conditions. [309540]

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department Mr. Khan [holding answer 7 January 2010]: During for Transport how much his Department has spent on periods of severe weather, requests for additional salt rail transport in West Yorkshire since 2005; and if he stocks from another highway authority (commonly known will make a statement. [306997] as mutual aid) are considered on an individual basis. 671W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 672W

Consideration is given to the criticality of salt stock Standards for reinstatements are set out in the statutory levels of both the requesting and potential providing Specification for Reinstatement of Openings in the authority together with the current weather being Highway Code of Practice. The Department for Transport experienced. Where possible the Highways Agency will intends to publish revised and updated guidance in provide mutual aid assistance to other authorities, where April this year. this will not impact on the agency’s treatment of its network. Taxis: Licensing

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer Department for Transport (1) what plans he has to of 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 859W, on reduce the number of unlicensed minicab drivers; roads: snow and ice, how many snow ploughs the [309439] Highways Agency has bought since February 2009; and how many it intends to buy in the next 12 months. (2) what estimate has been made of the number of [309541] unlicensed minicab drivers operating in each of the last four years. [309440] Mr. Khan [holding answer 7 January 2010]: Since February 2009, the Highways Agency has purchased a Mr. Khan: In order to offer a private hire vehicle total of 188 salt spreaders, all with snow plough (PHV) service lawfully in England (outside London), attachments, with a further 90 due to be purchased in the operator, the driver and the vehicle must be licensed the next 12 months. This will complete the winter fleet by the relevant local authority under the Local Government replacement. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. It is a matter for local licensing authorities to ensure vehicles are licensed Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Minister of State, in the correct manner, to make assessments of the Department for Transport what progress has been extent of illegal operation in their area and take appropriate made in implementing the proposals of the UK Roads enforcement action where necessary. We do not keep a Liaison Group in relation to severe winter weather; and central record of any such assessments. The Department if he will make a statement. [309800] for Transport issues guidance to local authorities in this respect. Mr. Khan: Local roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities. Strategic roads are managed by the Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock Highways Agency. The UK Road Liaison Group (UKRLG) report contains Mr. Timpson: To ask the Minister of State, 19 recommendations. Most of the recommendations Department for Transport when his Department plans are addressed to local highway authorities and salt to announce the successful bidder for the Thameslink suppliers. It will be for these organisations to decide rolling stock contract. [310060] how best to adopt the recommendations. Four recommendations were specifically addressed to Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is currently this Department and the Highways Agency. My written planning to award the Thameslink order around autumn statement of 15 December 2009, Official Report, columns of this year. 122-24WS advised what action had been taken by this Department and the Highways Agency consistent with Traffic Lights those recommendations. These recommendations have been adopted. Tim Farron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made Roads: Repairs and Maintenance of the cost of replacing all traffic lights with incandescent bulbs with light emitting diodes. [310143] Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to Mr. Khan: Procurement of traffic lights is a matter ensure that local highway authorities are fully for individual highways authorities. The Department compensated by utility companies for the additional for Transport has made no estimate of the cost of maintenance costs incurred as a result of activities by replacing all tungsten halogen traffic lights with light emitting diodes. those companies. [309724] Light emitting diode (LED) traffic lights can offer Mr. Khan: Companies carrying out works in the significant energy savings and we are keen for highway street have a legal duty to reinstate roads to the condition authorities to take advantage of their potential. The they were in before works began. Compliance with this supply industry and UK highway authorities are working duty will minimise any need for additional maintenance to address the remaining technical and economic issues, by the highway authority. and so achieve greater adoption of such lights. Highway authorities are responsible for enforcing this duty. They may inspect reinstatements, and if they Transport find them to be inadequate, they have powers to require the undertaker to carry out the reinstatement again to Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, the correct standard. If undertakers fail to comply, the Department for Transport what target he has set for authority may carry out the necessary works and recover the construction of miles of new (a) road and (b) rail the costs reasonably incurred by them doing so. by 2015. [305618] 673W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 674W

Chris Mole [holding answer 10 December 2009]: The Following the debate therefore, the Presidency issued Conclusions Department for Transport has neither targets for the to be used to provide a steer to the Commission on priorities for construction of specific distances of road and rail. the next EU Transport White Paper, which is due in 2010. The Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission Transport: EC Action to negotiate an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), providing a general framework for enhanced Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, cooperation, with priority given to aviation safety issues in the first instance. We welcome this development. The Presidency Department for Transport what the outcome was of made clear that the Decision does not affect relations between the December EU Transport Council, with particular individual Member States and ICAO, nor does it affect the reference to the discussions on intelligent transport arrangements for preparing Community positions for meetings of systems; and if he will make a statement. [309627] the ICAO Council. There was a Progress Report from the Commission on the Mr. Khan: The December Transport Council took negotiation of a second stage air transport agreement with the place during the recess. I therefore reported on the US. I joined some others in suggesting that the next Transport outcome of the Council, including the outcome of Council should review progress and consider any new US proposals, discussions on intelligent transport systems, in a letter particularly on the key issue of investment reform. The Council took note of the state of play, confirmed the importance of to the Hon. Chairman of the European Scrutiny reaching a deal in 2010, and noted signs of progress in some Committee. The text of that letter is as follows: areas, but stressed the need for significant progress in other areas “I attended the second Transport Council of the Swedish (including investment reform and the environment). Presidency, in Brussels on 17 December. Under AOB, the Commission informed the Council that the The Council reached a Political Agreement on a Regulation on outcome of the Galileo procurement process would be announced the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport. The Regulation in a few months time.” aims to make bus and coach transport more attractive, particularly to disabled people and people with reduced mobility; and to West Coast Railway Line: Finance create a level playing field across Europe, both between operators and different modes of transport. I was one of several Ministers to maintain reservations on the scope, asking for the Regulation Mr. Timpson: To ask the Minister of State, to apply only to long-distance national and international services. Department for Transport (1) how much has been Some other Member States argued strongly for widening the spent on West Coast Main Line stations in 2009-10 to scope. The Presidency offered a compromise of removing the date; [310056] compensation and assistance provisions from the application to urban, suburban and regional services. This means that the only (2) what funds remain to be spent on West Coast provisions from which Member States would not be able to Main Line stations in 2009-10. [310064] exempt such services would be those requiring that ticket prices and conditions must be offered without any discrimination based Chris Mole: This information is not collated at route on nationality or the place of establishment of the carrier, and level by the Department for Transport. Network Rail is that there must be no discrimination on grounds of disability or the custodian of the railway infrastructure, including reduced mobility with regard to booking a journey or boarding a stations. The Department for Transport defined the vehicle. This compromise was acceptable to all, and on this basis I strategy and outputs required from the upgrade of the accepted the text of the Political Agreement. West Coast Main Line, while funding for the works was The Council agreed a General Approach on the proposal for provided by Network Rail. The hon. Member should, an amending Regulation on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation therefore, contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the programmes. The text of the General Approach was acceptable to following address for a response to his question: the UK. Iain Coucher There was a Progress Report on a Directive on the deployment Chief Executive of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). I joined some other Network Rail Ministers in opposing mandatory deployment. We only support Kings Place the further deployment of ITS where there is a sound business 90 York Way case for doing so in pursuit of our transport goals. I expressed the UK view that such decisions should be for Member States, and London, N1 9AG. my understanding that nothing in this Directive prejudices that right. We will continue to regard this as critical in discussions on any future proposals. The Presidency hoped that the Directive could be adopted as soon as possible during the New Year and ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS that agreement will be reached with the European Parliament. Animal Welfare There was also a Progress report on a proposed Directive on aviation security charges. The UK will continue to work towards Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for achieving a fair and proportionate outcome that balances the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment interests of passengers and airports. he has made of the merits of implementing the European The Council reached a General Approach on a Directive on Commission’s proposal for a voluntary community animal reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from welfare label for the purposes of standardising labelling EU ports. The Directive seeks to facilitate maritime transport by of food with animal welfare information. [308292] simplifying administrative procedures for ships travelling between EU ports by the introduction of streamlined electronic reporting. Jim Fitzpatrick: The EC has outlined a number of I stated that the UK still has some concerns relating to the consistency of the Directive with our e-Borders system. We will options for animal welfare labelling in a recently published seek to see these resolved at a later stage of the negotiating report ‘Options for animal welfare labelling and the process. establishment of a European network of Reference The Council was unable to agree to the draft Conclusions on Centres for the protection and welfare of animals’. Our the Commission’s Communication “Asustainable future for transport: approach to welfare labelling will be guided by general Towards an integrated, technology-led and user friendly system”. principles which we are developing with the EC. 675W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 676W

Animal Welfare: Circuses Departmental Art Works

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much answer to the hon. Member for Hereford of 7 December his Department spent on art works in the last 12 2009, Official Report, columns 6-7W,on animal welfare: months. [306444] circuses, what source was referred to in the Answer as the findings of the first element; when those findings Dan Norris: From information held centrally, the were discussed with (a) animal welfare representatives core-Department had no expenditure on artworks in and (b) industry organisations; and which organisations the last 12 months. As a general rule, all works of art participated in those discussions. [309415] displayed are from the Government Art Collection (GAC), which publishes an annual list of acquisitions. The most Jim Fitzpatrick: The source referred to in the answer recent details of acquisition made by the GAC were of 7 December, the first element of the Circus Feasibility published on 5 October 2009 and are available on the Study, was the report and recommendations of the two GAC website: zoo licensing inspectors who visited two circuses while http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/information/publications.asp travelling, and one at their winter quarters. Departmental Assets The wider findings of the circus feasibility study were discussed on 26 October with animal welfare organisations, including representatives from the RSPCA, Animal Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defenders International, Captive Animals Protection Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assets of Society and the Born Free Foundation. A similar meeting his Department are planned to be sold in each year took place with representatives from the circus industry, from 2009-10 to 2013-14; what the (a) description and including Performing Animal Welfare Standards (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected International, Circus Mondao, Bobby Roberts Super revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a Circus and the Great British Circus on 22 October. statement. [300200] Dan Norris: The Government have stated their intention Biodiversity to realise £16 billion in asset disposals over the period 2011-14 and they published further details of opportunities Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for to commercialise business assets in the Operational Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent Efficiency Programme: Asset Prospectus on 7 December assessment he has made of the effectiveness of 2009. This presented different options for ownership on implementation in the UK of the Biodiversity Action a number of public sectors assets. British Waterways Plan. [309700] and the Public Forest Estate in England were the two DEFRA assets included in the prospectus—the Huw Irranca-Davies: We measure the effectiveness of Government do not currently have plans to sell either implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan asset. through the UK Biodiversity Indicators. This was reported The Department has approximately £6.9 million (book in the National Statistics publication ‘Biodiversity Indicators value £10.2 million) of surplus properties for disposal in Your Pocket 2007’, which was updated most recently this year arising from the sale of land, residential and in April 2009. office premises. Anticipated disposals from land and Overall, 23 (72 per cent.) of the 32 measures that laboratory premises are expected to realise £9 million in comprise the UK Biodiversity Indicators are ‘improving’ 2010-11 (book value £8 million) and £2 million in or show ‘little or no overall change’ since the year 2000. 2011-12 (book value £10 million). There are currently In particular, 89 per cent. of Sites of Special Scientific no identified disposals for years beyond 2011-12. Interest are in favourable or recovering condition, agri- environment schemes are leading to significant Departmental Billing improvements, and people are spending a lot more time volunteering on biodiversity conservation projects. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and Christmas Trees what proportion of invoices submitted to his Department have been paid within 10 days in each month since October 2008; and if he will make a statement. [307960] Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Dan Norris: The following table shows the percentage Department has budgeted for Christmas trees in 2009. of invoices paid within 10 days by the core-Department [305718] and, the volume of invoices received where the data are available. Dan Norris [holding answer 10 December 2009]: The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 10 day performance has no specific Christmas tree budget in 2009. Provision Month Invoice volume (percentage) is included within the fixed cost of providing grounds maintenance services to the Department delivered by November 2008 n/a 33.5 the workplace support contract. December 2008 n/a 77.1 January 2009 n/a 99.8 Within this contract the total expenditure on (decorated) February 2009 n/a 99.8 Christmas trees for 2009 is £1,129.00. 677W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 678W

be had. Where appropriate we send delegates to other 10 day performance Month Invoice volume (percentage) organisations’ conferences whose work is relevant to our own. March 2009 n/a 99.4 Statistics on conferences are not collated centrally April 2009 n/a 99.7 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. May 2009 3,091 99.9 June 2009 2,799 99.8 Departmental Correspondence July 2009 3,141 99.8 August 2009 2,439 100 Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for September 2009 2,442 99.7 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will October 2009 2,956 100 reply to the letter from Derf Paton of Ramley Road, November 2009 2,070 99.95 Lymington on Wightlink and the Lymington River, dated 8 November 2009. [309956] Departmental Buildings Huw Irranca-Davies: I have no record of a letter from Mr. Paton dated 8 November. I replied to Mr. Paton’s Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for latest letter dated 19 November on 14 December, however. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to Departmental Information Officers offices allocated to Ministers in his Department’s buildings in the last 12 months. [305686] Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Dan Norris: The Department has spent nothing in full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by the last 12 months on refurbishment works in respect of and (b) work for his Department. [303598] offices allocated to Ministers. Dan Norris: In April 2009 the Department for Departmental Conferences Environment Food and Rural Affairs employed 16.5 full-time equivalent press officers, and two full-time Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State equivalent press officers worked for the Department on for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost temporary contracts. to his Department was of holding the Waste and Resources Action Programme exhibition in the Palace Departmental Internet of Westminster in November 2009. [308353] David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Dan Norris: The exhibition space in the Upper Waiting Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what redesigns Hall in Parliament is provided free of charge for one of websites operated by (a) his Department and (b) its week to not-for-profit organisations that wish to inform agencies have taken place since 27 June 2007; and what parliamentarians of their work. Such organisations must the (i) cost to the public purse and (ii) date of be supported by their local Member of Parliament, who completion of each such redesign was. [306163] applies for the space on their behalf. Government-funded organisations such as the Waste and Resources Action Dan Norris: The DEFRA website has undergone a Programme (WRAP) must also gain the approval of single redesign since the creation of the Department in their sponsoring Department. 2001. This went live on 17 September 2009 and external The cost of designing and constructing the exhibition costs for this (for audience research, web structure stand and display materials used by WRAP in Parliament analysis, design and accessibility auditing) totalled £181,378. was £8,200. These will be used at future exhibitions and It is not possible to separate out the internal staff costs events, with almost all elements of the stand and its for this work. display materials being reusable. In line with WRAP’s The FERA website design was completed in 31 March remit to promote resource efficiency, the stand is made 2009. The cost of external website design company from cardboard containing 75 per cent. recycled content, work was £11,643.75. Of this cost, approximately £2,250 and is fully recyclable at the end of its life, unlike would come under the heading of ‘Strategy and planning’, traditional exhibition stands. the remainder would come under the heading ‘Design The exhibition, designed to demonstrate how resource and build’. The website is hosted on Fera’s own IT efficiency could benefit businesses across the UK, generated infrastructure and it is not possible to disaggregate the considerable interest among hon. Members and their costs associated with hosting the website. ‘Content provision’ staff. and ‘Testing and evaluation’ were all carried out in house. It is not possible to separate out the internal staff Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State costs for this work. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much The redesign of the CEFAS website has cost £25,500. was spent by his Department and its agencies on This work is still ongoing with a planned launch date of conferences they organised which were subsequently the end of January 2010. cancelled in each of the last three years; and what the The Marine and Fisheries Agency website did have a title was of each such conference. [308826] redesign to apply the then-DEFRA design templates. This went live on 1 December 2007 and this design is Dan Norris: The Department and its agencies run still live today. There were no specific “redesign costs” conferences on specific issues where will feel benefit will for this. 679W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 680W

The RPA Website has not been redesigned during Departmental Scientists this period. The Cattle Tracing System Online transactional website, which enables farmers to submit cattle birth Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for and movement data directly to RPA’s central tracing Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) system was completely rebuilt during 2008 and 2009 on scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific new hardware and software. This has provided enhanced posts there are in his Department. [301925] functionality and improved security through the Government Gateway at a total project cost of £3,959,270. Dan Norris: The Department for Environment, Food The vast majority of the cost was on developing and and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has a chief scientific adviser, testing hardware and software to support the interactive Professor Robert Watson. DEFRA does not hold data transactional services to customers and the spend on on the number of scientific posts it has in the department web design, which cannot be separated from the total and these data could be collated only at disproportionate spend, was a small proportion of the overall cost. cost. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency website was Departmental Security redesigned during 2007-08 to improve its template design, navigation and accessibility. The new site went live on 29 April 2008 and external costs totalled £9,394.13. Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Other DEFRA agencies have not carried out redesigns security passes his Department has issued to of their websites during this period. contractors providing consultancy services in the last 12 months. [303947] Departmental Legislation Dan Norris: All contractors providing consultancy or Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for other services who require access to a DEFRA building Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criminal are issued with appropriate security passes, subject to offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by security clearance procedures. When access is no longer secondary legislation sponsored by his Department required, the passes are withdrawn. Disaggregating the since 1 May 2008. [307800] number of security passes issued to contractors providing consultancy services in the last 12 months would incur Dan Norris: The Department has made over 130 disproportionate costs. statutory instruments since 1 May 2008. These instruments Departmental Sick Leave would need to be assessed manually to establish the number of offences they contain. I consider therefore Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State that the information requested could be provided only for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many at disproportionate cost. days sickness absence were taken by staff in his Department and its agencies in each of the last 12 Departmental Official Hospitality months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of such absence. [305550] Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Dan Norris: DEFRA manages sickness absences in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on (i) line with its sickness absence policy.This includes facilitating alcohol and (ii) entertainment in the last 12 months. timely employee access to occupational health advice, [305538] medical or wellbeing interventions. Long-term sick employees are encouraged to return to work on a programme of recuperative duties where appropriate. Dan Norris: The core-Department’s financial system All individuals returning to work from sickness absence does not have expenditure categories for alcohol and will have a “welcome back” meeting with their manager. entertainment. All expenditure has to be incurred in This is to discuss their reasons for absence and, where accordance with the principles of Managing Public necessary, work-related issues connected with their absence Money and the HM Treasury handbook on Regularity including provision of workplace adjustments. and Propriety. The number of days of sickness absence taken by staff in DEFRA and its agencies in each of the last 12 Departmental Procurement months could be calculated only by incurring disproportionate cost. However, the total number of Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State working days lost due to sickness in the year to 30 for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether September 2009 (the latest available figure) in DEFRA there has been any nugatory cost to (a) his and its agencies was 80,900, an average of 8.1 days per Department and (b) its agencies arising from tendered employee. The estimated cost of sickness absence in procurement in circumstances where the tender process 2008-09 was £9.6 million. has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in There is no agreed method of calculating the cost of the last five years. [303712] sickness absences in the civil service. DEFRA has calculated the annual cost by multiplying the number of working Dan Norris: Any such nugatory cost incurred by the days lost due to sickness in each grade by the average Department and its agencies is not information held salary for that grade. No account has been taken of centrally and, if extant, could be provided only at staff on long-term sick who are on reduced or no pay, disproportionate cost. which would reduce the total. 681W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 682W

Departmental Training by an explanatory memorandum setting out any factors affecting their performance. This will be taken forward Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State as soon as possible. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on away Domestic Waste: Recycling days in the last 12 months; and what the (i) subject and (ii) location of each away day was. [306757] Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent Dan Norris: This information is not held centrally (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations and the information could be provided only at he has received from (i) his EU counterparts and (ii) disproportionate cost. representatives of the European Commission on reward All public expenditure has to be incurred in accordance schemes for people recycling waste; and if he will make with the principles of Managing Public Money and the a statement; [308162] Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety. Subject (2) what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) to those principles business areas have discretion whether plans to take to develop a framework to reward people or not to hold away days having regard to the evaluation for recycling waste; what recent representations he has of alternative options and, value for money considerations. received on this matter; and if he will make a Departmental Written Questions statement; [308225] (3) what recent reports he has received of the John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for effectiveness of schemes operating in other EU Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many countries to reward people for recycling waste; and if questions tabled for answer on a named day his he will make a statement. [308226] Department received in each of the last 12 months; and to how many such questions his Department provided Dan Norris: Schemes which reward people for recycling a substantive answer on the day named. [305375] more and minimising waste are provided for by powers introduced in the Climate Change Act. The Act Dan Norris: DEFRA received 551 questions for answer allows up to five local authorities in England to pilot on a named day between 1 January 2009 and 31 December waste incentive schemes to encourage household waste 2009. Of those, 319 received an answer on the named minimisation and recycling, which will have real day. environmental benefits. Reward-only and voucher-based Central guidance on answering Parliamentary Questions schemes are included within the scope of the powers. It is now available in the “Guide to Parliamentary Work”, is up to local authorities to make a proposal to the at: Secretary of State for permission to run a pilot, in line http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk- with local needs. None have yet done so. I have not had guide.aspx any discussions with or received any representations or In the response to the Procedure Committee Report on reports from EU counterparts or representatives from written parliamentary questions, the Government accepted the EU Commission on reward schemes for recycling the Committee’s recommendation that departments be waste. required to provide the Procedure Committee with sessional Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions, accompanied by an explanatory memorandum setting out any factors Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State affecting their performance. This will be taken forward for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference as soon as possible. to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 26 October 2009, Official Report, column 47W, on Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for domestic waste: waste disposal, what the piece of research Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and on landfill bans is which has been published; what the what percentage of Parliamentary Questions tabled for (a) timetable, (b) reference number, (c) commissioned written answer by his Department on a named day in institution, (d) terms of reference and (e) title is of the session 2008-09 received a substantive answer on that other piece of research; and what the timetable is for the day. [307541] consultation referred to. [308370]

Dan Norris: DEFRA received 545 questions for answer Dan Norris: The first piece of research entitled “Landfill on a named day in session 2008-09. Of those, 282 or bans and restrictions in the EU and US” was prepared 51.7 per cent. received an answer on the named day. by Green Alliance and published on the DEFRA website Central guidance on answering parliamentary questions in September 2009 (reference number WR1202). is now available in the “Guide to Parliamentary Work”, The second piece of research has been jointly at: commissioned by DEFRA and the devolved http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk- Administrations through the Waste and Resources Action guide.aspx Programme. The research investigates the environmental, In the response to the Procedure Committee Report on economic and practical impact of landfill bans. The written parliamentary questions, the Government accepted report is expected to be published early in 2010. the Committee’s recommendation that Departments be As previously announced, it is our intention to consult required to provide the Procedure Committee with sessional publicly on the case for introducing further restrictions statistics in a standard format on the time taken to on the landfilling of certain wastes. The consultation respond to written parliamentary questions, accompanied will be launched early in 2010. 683W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 684W

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Drivers must observe all legal requirements with regard Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to to reporting accidents. All incidents and accidents (including the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 May near misses) that occur on an official journey must be 2009, Official Report, column 1282W, on domestic reported to the departmental health and safety unit waste: waste disposal, whether the WR1205 research (DHSU). Accidents or incidents involving a pool or report has been provided to his Department. [308807] Private Use Scheme car must also be reported to core- DEFRA’s travel liaison unit and the contracted supplier Dan Norris: WR1205 is a project that has not yet for accidents and breakdowns. begun. Research report WR1204, referenced in the answer Managers must ensure reporting of all accidents, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 19 injuries or near misses, monitor the effectiveness of May 2009, Official Report, column 1282W, has been preventative measures by investigating accidents and completed and is available from DEFRA’s website at: near misses, carry out initial investigations, and review www.defra.gov.uk local risk assessments, following accidents, incidents and near misses, keep appropriate records of documentation using the search term WR1204. checks, and request copies of vehicle check lists from individual drivers at regular intervals. The DHSU monitor accident/incident reports to identify Driving trends, advise managers where requested and investigate accidents and incidents if so requested, arrange training Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for as necessary, keep a central log of completed risk Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms assessments and regularly audit completed risk assessments. are in place to ensure that staff who drive (a) a vehicle for which (i) his Department and (ii) one of its Executive agencies is responsible have valid driving licences and Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal (b) their own vehicles in the course of their official duties for (A) his Department and (B) one of its Executive Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for agencies have valid driving licences and insurance; what Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent guidance is issued to those staff in respect of road assessment he has made of the effects of zero safety while carrying out official duties; what steps are exemption fees and small scale activities relating to taken to monitor compliance with that guidance; what environmental permit exemptions and the Waste requirements there are on such staff to report to their Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if line managers accidents in which they are involved he will make a statement. [307989] while driving in the course of their official duties; and whether such reports are investigated. [302175] Dan Norris: We have just completed a fundamental review of exemptions from the need for an environmental Dan Norris: The core-Department’s Driving Policy permit for waste operations. Revised regulations will and Guidance applies to all driving and travel by staff come into force on 6 April 2010. One of the aspects of on official DEFRA business. It covers the Marine Fisheries the review was funding the recovery of the Environment Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate also. Agency’s costs of registering exempt waste operations Other DEFRA departmental bodies should have their and carrying out appropriate periodic inspection. Currently, own equivalent arrangements in place in line with DEFRA’S some exemptions from permitting are subject to annual Safety Policy signed off by the permanent secretary. registration fees, while the majority are not. We consulted Individual employees must follow all procedures and on proposals to introduce a £50 fee for the registration guidance extant to keep them safe and healthy while of most exemptions. The majority of those who responded driving and travelling on DEFRA business. They must to this consultation were against the introduction of have: fees. (i) a full valid UK driving licence for a properly taxed vehicle The Government concluded that in the current economic and appropriate motor insurance; climate, imposing charges may discourage the take-up (ii) obtained a driving permit from the relevant official vehicle of small-scale waste recycling and recovery operations manager if using a DEFRA owned vehicle or, hiring a car from a and have a disproportionate impact on small businesses. car hire company; The Government therefore decided not to prescribe (iii) submit their driving licence, insurance, MOT documents charges for the registration of exempt waste operations and proof of vehicle tax details to their manager on request or to provide the Environment Agency with powers to annually as part of the risk assessment process applicable to introduce charges under its scheme of charging, agreed driving on official business. Managers are responsible for ensuring each year with the Secretary of State. compliance with this risk assessment requirement; and The exception to this is the exemption for the treatment (iv) report motoring convictions, offences, accidents and incidents. of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Senior managers must, in accordance with the DEFRA which is already subject to a registration fee to recover Safety Policy, ensure compliance with this policy in the costs of the mandatory annual inspection required areas within their span of control. This includes provision under the WEEE Directive, 2002/96/EC. Under the of budget for appropriate training where identified and revised regulations, the level of the registration fee for nominating a named person or persons to co-ordinate the WEEE exemption for the new three-year registration risk assessments for driving and travel activities within their period will be in line with the current charges for annual control. They are required to ensure the safe and efficient registration and will be set out in the scheme of charges operation of vehicles used on official business. for 2010. 685W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 686W

Fly Tipping to play a more active role. The Government are doing this through their ongoing work with WRAP to cut Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for significantly the amount of food wasted in the supply Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of chain and in the home. This requires a twin-track waste he estimates was illegally fly-tipped in each year approach—working closely with retailers and from 2004 to date, broken down by (a) the nature of manufacturers, and also directly with householders. this waste and (b) local authority area. [310140] DEFRA funds WRAP to deliver the Love Food Hate Waste campaign which is aimed at helping consumers Dan Norris: DEFRA does not hold the information more effectively manage their shopping and food storage requested. While instances of fly-tipping are recorded, and usage to help cut down on food waste and save volumes are not. money, through providing a number of pieces of advice and information via various media. Food The Government are also collaborating with WRAP and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on a project Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for which will help prevent consumer food waste through Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he the application and increased understanding of date has made of the (a) monetary value and (b) volume of labelling (use by, best before, sell by, display until etc.), imports of (i) wheat, (ii) barley, (iii) fresh vegetables, and food storage and use guidance. (iv) potatoes, (v) fresh fruit, (vi) beef and veal, (vii) The Courtauld Commitment between Government pork, (viii) bacon and ham, (ix) mutton and lamb, (x) (represented by WRAP) and the grocery sector also poultry meat, (xi) eggs and (xii) liquid milk from each includes a target to reduce household food waste by country of dispatch in each year since 1997. [308080] 155,000 tonnes over a three-year period (ending in March 2010), which places an onus on the industry to Jim Fitzpatrick: A copy of the information requested implement means of helping consumers to reduce waste— will be placed in the House Library. such as clearer and more informative storage and usage guidance and new ranges of product sizes more in line Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for with contemporary consumer demand. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he Charitable organisations are also working to minimise has made of the (a) monetary value and (b) volume of food waste by providing the food industry, including exports of (i) wheat, (ii) barley, (iii) fresh vegetables, supermarkets and restaurants, with an outlet for good (iv) potatoes, (v) fresh fruit, (vi) beef and veal, (vii) quality surplus food by redistributing it to vulnerable pork, (viii) bacon and ham, (ix) mutton and lamb, (x) people in the community. poultry meat, (xi) eggs and (xii) liquid milk to each country of destination in each year since 1997. [308081] Geographical Information Systems Jim Fitzpatrick: A copy of the information requested will be placed in the House Library. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 May his Department has made of the reasons for food 2009, Official Report, column 1284W, on geographical wastage; what his estimate is of the amount and proportion information systems, whether the definition of of food which was wasted in the latest period for which cadastral parcels has been finalised for the purposes of information is available; and what steps his Department implementation of the INSPIRE Directive. [308741] is taking to reduce such waste. [309493] Dan Norris: The draft INSPIRE Implementing Rule Dan Norris: The Waste and Resources Action for Annex I Data Specifications (including Cadastral Programme (WRAP) published the findings of new Parcels) was unanimously passed by the INSPIRE research into the quantity of household food and drink Comitology Committee on 14 December 2009. This waste in November 2009 which revealed that 8.3 million document will be published in the Official Journal of tonnes of food and drink are thrown away by households the European Union later in 2010 as a Regulation. each year, most of which (5.3 million tonnes) could have been consumed. This avoidable food and drink The Implementing Rule does not further define the waste is worth £12 billion, on average costing around scope beyond the INSPIRE Directive statement as “Areas £480 for every household a year, increasing to £680 a defined by cadastral registers or equivalent.”The INSPIRE year for households with children. Feature Concept Dictionary extends that definition and In the study, three reasons for avoidable food waste this is also developed in the INSPIRE Cadastral Parcels were identified; cooked, prepared or served too much; Data Specification Guidelines at: not used in time and other. Just over half of avoidable http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm/pageid/2 food and drink waste is classified as ’not used in time’, From this it can be inferred, that the minimum with a value of approximately £250 per household per requirement for the United Kingdom, is the legal property year, and a further 40 per cent. falling into the category land parcel data, recorded as vector data, by the Land of ’cooked, prepared or served too much’. Registries in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Much of the food and drink that is wasted is unnecessary Ireland. That data are dependent on Ordnance Survey and can usually be avoided, and we are now focusing on data in Great Britain and Land and Property Services how to change people’s behaviour, and incentivise retailers data in Northern Ireland. 687W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 688W

Immobilisation of Vehicles 2009, Official Report, columns 1138-9W, on the Waste and Resources Action Programme, what (a) services Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for and (b) publications the Association of Cities and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Department and its predecessor have paid in vehicle Management has provided to the programme. [308806] clamping charges incurred on (a) privately-owned and (b) publicly-owned land in each of the last 10 years; Dan Norris: Membership of the Association of Cities and if he will make a statement. [302745] and Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+) network gives access to research Dan Norris: This information is not held centrally reports, conference proceedings, newsletters and gives and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. discounts for attendance at conferences. It also allows The Department would expect clamping charges and effective sharing of information between approximately any other motoring fines to be paid by the individual(s) 100 local and regional authorities that have a shared who incurred them. interest in waste management and resource recovery. It Poultry: Animal Welfare also facilitates joint participation in research projects, allowing costs to be spread and reducing duplication of Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for effort. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans Waste and Resources Action Programme: Finance to introduce a ban on the trimming of the beaks of laying hens in England from January 2011. [309414] Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have accepted advice for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference from the Farm Animal Welfare Council, an independent to the written ministerial statement of 24 November advisory body, that a complete ban on beak trimming 2009, Official Report, columns 48-9WS, on departmental of laying hens should not be introduced from 1 January expenditure limit (2009-10), for what reason the funding 2011 (as is currently in legislation), but should be deferred for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) until it can be demonstrated reliably under commercial is being transferred to the Department for Energy and conditions that laying hens can be managed without Climate Change; and which department is now the beak trimming, without a greater risk to their welfare sponsoring department for WRAP. [308372] than that caused by beak trimming itself. The Government will shortly issue a consultation on Dan Norris: In Budget 2009, the Chancellor announced proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted that he was making available £10 million to support the Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 (as amended) development of anaerobic digestion and in-vessel to remove the total ban on beak trimming, to allow for composting projects in 2009-2010. Some £8.4 million of routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for this funding was allocated to DEFRA with the remainder laying to be done using the infra-red technique only. going to the devolved administrations. DEFRA and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) decided Tuna: Conservation that the timescales associated with the planning and construction of new anaerobic digestion and in-vessel Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for composting projects precluded DEFRA from fully utilising Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his the Budget 2009 funding in the current financial year. Department’s negotiating position is on the proposal Therefore DEFRA, HM Treasury and DECC agreed to include Atlantic bluefin tuna (thunnus thynnus) on that £4.4 million of this allocation should be transferred Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade to the latter to allow it to accelerate the implementation in Endangered Species. [309678] of the Anaerobic Digestion Demonstration Programme in 2009-2010. This programme is delivered by WRAP Huw Irranca-Davies: The UK has publicly supported on behalf of DEFRA, but is funded by DECC’s the need for improved protection of Atlantic bluefin Environmental Transformation Fund. In recognition of tune. The UK and other EU member states are currently this arrangement, DECC will be making a reciprocal considering the positive outcomes of the International transfer of £4.4 million to DEFRA in 2010-2011. Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) annual meeting in November 2009. We are WRAP is mainly funded by DEFRA with subsidiary looking to see whether the measures agreed at the funding from DECC and the devolved administrations. meeting provide sufficient reassurance that the regional Therefore DEFRA remains the sponsoring department fisheries management organisation can, and will, take for WRAP. the necessary steps to turn around the dramatic decline Water Charges in the species population. Consequently, we have not yet ruled out the need for a convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) Appendix I listing, Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for and it certainly remains an option under consideration Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent in the run up to the CITES Conference of Parties estimate he has made of the likely change to customer meeting in March this year. bills following the transfer of private sewers and drains to water company ownership; and if he will make a Waste and Resources Action Programme statement. [308078]

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Huw Irranca-Davies: The Impact Assessment that Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to accompanied my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 18 May State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ 689W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 690W announcement on 15 December 2008 estimated the Mr. Woolas: The Home Department has invested increase in sewerage customers’ bills to be between £4 significantly in its people, with the creation of a professional and £12 per year, which is around 7.5p to 23p a week. Shared Service Centre and Procurement Centre of The Impact assessment is available on DEFRA’s website. Excellence complemented by the creation of new processes and upgraded Procure to Pay systems. The Department has been putting a firm focus on paying its suppliers on time when it is in receipt of a HOME DEPARTMENT compliant invoice. It has been working closely with colleagues in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills reporting on both our legislative obligations Departmental Billing of 30 days as well as the 10 day PM’s commitment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for correctly Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the presented compliant invoices. Home Department how many and what proportion of The Home Office performance for paying all invoices invoices submitted to his Department have been paid within 30 days and paying SME compliant invoices within 10 days in each month since October 2008; and within 10 days for the period October 2008 to November if he will make a statement. [307956] 2009 is shown in the following table:

Table 1: The Home Office performance of paying total number of invoices within 30 days and SME compliant invoices within 10 days for the period October 2008 to November 2009 Home Office Total number of all Percentage of total number of Number of SMEs’ compliant SMEs, percentage of compliant Month invoices paid all invoices paid within 30 days invoices paid within 10 days invoices paid with 10 days

October 2008 7,122 83 1— 1— November 2008 5,336 79 1— 1— December 2008 5,934 91 1— 1— January 2009 3,975 83 1— 1— February 2009 6,185 94 649 100 March 2009 8,622 93 770 10O April 2009 3,929 84 927 100 May 2009 3,749 87 667 98 June 2009 4,112 89 880 99 July 2009 3,840 92 789 99 August 2009 3,601 90 734 99 September 2009 3,517 90 871 99 October 2009 4,465 91 1,159 100 November 2009 4,949 91 1,208 100 1 Not recorded prior to PM’s announcement to pay all SMEs within 10 days.

The Criminal Records Bureau’s (CRB) started to disproportionate cost. CRBs performance of paying record performance of paying invoices in April 2009 invoices within 10 days for the period April 2009 to and to provide information before this date would incur November 2009 is shown in the following table.

Table 2: CRB performance of paying SME invoices within 10 days for the period April 2009 to November 2009 Number of SME invoices paid within SME percentage of invoices paid within Month Total number of all invoices 10 days 10 days

April 2009 285 115 40.00 May 2009 234 135 25.93 June 2009 256 140 36.43 July 2009 414 160 57.50 August 2009 450 92 34.78 September 2009 474 173 33.53 October 2009 235 112 61.61 November 2009 323 193 72.54

Departmental Energy on a building by building level twice a year. The most recent data for the Home Office, published on 31 July Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 2009, which includes DEC ratings up to and including Department what the energy efficiency rating is of each 28 February 2009 can be seen via this link: of his Department’s buildings in London. [307419] http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Feb09.xls Data to October 2008 can be seen via this link: Mr. Woolas [holding answer 15 December 2009]: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Oct08.xls Display Energy Certificates (DEC) were introduced in Data to 30 September 2009 can be seen via this link: 2008. OGC publish central Government Departments’ http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Data_ Display Energy Certificate (DEC) operational ratings Sept09.xls 691W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 692W

Departmental Lost Property Mr. Woolas: The Home Office accounting system does not separately identify expenditure on staff away Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the days. To provide the requested detail would incur Home Department how many (a) laptop computers, disproportionate cost. (b) desktop computers and (c) memory sticks his Departmental Training Department and its agencies have recorded as (i) stolen and (ii) lost in each of the last 10 years and how many of each were (A) stolen and (B) lost from its offices in Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in each such year. [306905] the Home Department what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) cost was of each of the last four away days Mr. Woolas [holding answer 14 December 2009]: The attended by a Minister in his Department; and which Home Office group only holds the information requested Minister attended on each occasion. [305463] from 2005 onwards. The following table sets out the IT equipment that was recorded as lost (or missing) and Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I stolen: given on 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 1110W. Home Office Ministers were also in attendance Laptops Desk top Memory sticks at the away days held by the Home Office Board. computers Lost Stolen Lost Stolen Lost Stolen Departmental Written Questions

2005 3 11 0 12 0 0 Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2006 4 10 0 0 0 0 Home Department how many and what percentage of 2007 3 12 0 0 2 1 Parliamentary Questions tabled for written Answer by 2008 3 26 0 2 5 0 his Department on a named day in session 2008-09 received a substantive Answer on that day. [307547] None of the equipment identified in the question by the hon. Member was reported stolen or lost from any Mr. Hanson: 842 parliamentary questions for named Home Office building in Scotland. day response were tabled to the Home Office during the 2008-09 parliamentary session. 129 (15 per cent.) of Departmental Public Expenditure these questions received a substantive answer on the day named. Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Central guidance on answering parliamentary questions Home Department with reference to the answer of is now available in the ‘Guide to Parliamentary Work’, 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 522W, on at: departmental expenditure, on what dates conference http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk- facilities at City Inn were hired by his Department; and guide.aspx for what reason rooms in his Department’s building in In the response to the Procedure Committee Report on Marsham Street were not used in each case. [308283] Written Parliamentary questions, the Government accepted the Committee’s recommendation that Departments be Mr. Woolas: The previous answer given on 12 October required to provide the Procedure Committee with sessional 2009, Official Report, column 522W, stated, in error, statistics in a standard format on the time taken to that rooms were hired on four occasions. respond to written parliamentary questions, accompanied The Department has made payments totalling £4,449 by an explanatory memorandum setting out any factors to City Inn, Westminster for the hire of conference affecting their performance. This will be taken forward facilities on three occasions: 2 April 2008; 8 April 2008; as soon as possible. and 8 September 2008. Deportation At the time of two of these meetings, the meeting rooms and conference facilities in Marsham Street were Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the already booked. Conference facilities were not suitable Home Department how many people were (a) subject at Marsham Street for the third meeting because of the to deportation proceedings and (b) deported on national large number of conference delegates. security grounds in each year since 2001. [307732] All Home Office expenditure conforms to the principles of regularity, propriety and value for money, and any Mr. Woolas: The UK Border Agency is committed to other guidance as applicable contained within Managing ensuring that we remove those foreign nationals who Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity pose a risk of harm to our society. In 2007, we removed and Propriety. or deported 4,200 foreign national prisoners who met our criteria for deportation. We continued to build Departmental Training upon this success in 2008, when we removed or deported 5,395. In the first half to 2009, the agency removed 2,5601 foreign criminals. Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) away days and Figures are unavailable prior to 2007, and could be (b) conferences that took place outside his obtained through the examination of individual records Department’s building attended by civil servants in his only at a disproportionate cost. Department there have been since 2005; and what the Comprehensive details of the numbers of cases where cost was of each. [307524] a notice of intention to deport on grounds of national 693W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 694W security are not available for the period 2001-04. However, or any immigration category to the UK. The longest nine people have been deported on grounds of national time it has taken to process an application is 13 months security since 2005, three in 2006, six in 2007 and zero in from the time when the UNHCR submitted the application 2008. to the date on which the UK Border Agency issued the 1 These figures are based on provisional MI information. decision after interview. The average time is five months. Employment Tribunals Service Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the has taken to expedite the asylum process for those Iraqi Home Department how many industrial tribunals locally employed civilians who are awaiting a decision relating to his Department have been held in each of on an asylum application; and if he will make a the last five years; and what the total cost was of such statement. [307854] tribunals in each such year. [309942] Mr. Woolas: Several steps have been taken to streamline Mr. Woolas: The number of times the Home Office, the decision making process for former locally engaged including the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Identity staff who are being considered for resettlement to the and Passport Service (IPS) and Criminal Records Bureau UK. The UK Border Agency has reduced the timeframe (CRB), have been taken to a full employment tribunal from registration with UNHCR to interview with UK hearing in each of the last five years is as follows: Border Agency staff from four months to less than two 2004-05 months. We have also reduced the timeframe between interview date and the decision being made from three Neither Home Office HQ nor UKBA hold this information months to one and a half months, where no further centrally, which could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. investigation is required. Neither IPS nor CRB were taken to a full employment tribunal. We have also responded positively to requests to undertake additional selection missions by staging three 2005-06 interviewing missions previously unplanned. This has There were fewer than five full employment tribunal hearings. ensured that regular numbers of locally engaged staff Further information is therefore withheld on confidentiality grounds. have been interviewed every quarter during the year and 2006-07 had their decisions made in a timely fashion. There were 10 full employment tribunal hearings. The UK Border Agency is unable to process an 2007-08 application until former locally engaged civilians are There were seven full employment tribunal hearings. outside of Iraq and have been assessed by the UNHCR. 2008-09 Some have delayed their travel because they wished to complete medical treatment or studies in Iraq which is There were 11 full employment tribunal hearings. outside of our control. An application is only activated The Home Office does not maintain a central record once UNHCR submits their application to the UK of costs incurred in contesting employment tribunals Border Agency. (formerly industrial tribunals). The information required could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. Time frames for decision making are communicated to locally engaged staff at the time of their interview Entry Clearances and at regular intervals through meetings with the LE staff manager based in Amman. Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Entry Clearances: Overseas Students Home Department what the longest time taken to process an asylum application from a former Iraqi Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the locally employed civilian awaiting an asylum decision Home Department how many entry visas for students has been since the inception of the Locally Employed attending colleges which were subsequently closed on Staff Assistance Scheme. [307853] the intervention of the UK Border Agency were issued in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and how many such visas Mr. Woolas: Former locally engaged civilians in Iraq were issued between 1 January and 31 October 2009. who meet the criteria as set out in the Foreign Secretary’s [301232] statement of 30 October 2007 can request assistance in the form of resettlement to the UK. Their applications Mr. Woolas: Since the introduction of PBS Tier 4 on are considered to be activated at the point that the UK 31 March 2009, UKBA has the authority to suspend or Border Agency is referred their resettlement application revoke the licence of a college. Of the 1,800 colleges by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. currently licensed, 14 had their licences revoked between Before this time, they will have submitted an application 1 April and 31 October this year. The number of visas form for assistance under the Locally Engaged Staff issued to students attending these colleges in 2007, 2008 Assistance Scheme, but not an application for resettlement and 2009 is shown in the following table:

College 2007 2008 2009 Grand total

Bells College 37 48 175 260 Brookes College 1 — — 1 Concept Care College 18 88 97 203 Holborn School of Finance and Management —538 695W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 696W

College 2007 2008 2009 Grand total

London Academy for Higher Education 62 82 58 202 London College of Science and Technology 81 16 52 149 London College Wimbledon 112 137 292 541 London Reading College 225 340 456 1,021 London School of Language t/a Great Chapel College 181 207 61 449 Middlesex College 197 152 183 532 St Martin’s Business School 22 37 5 64 The Muslim college 3 8 1 12 Waterloo School of English 68 43 60 171 Grand Total 1,007 1,163 1,443 3,613

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the implemented or developed under another recommendation. Home Department how many students have been (a) These recommendations are listed in table 1. served with enforcement notices and (b) deported Work is in progress to deliver a further 27 since the implementation of Tier 4 of the points-based recommendations which have been partially implemented. immigration system. [301658] The recommendations that we assess to be in this category are listed in table 2. Recommendation three in the Mr. Woolas [holding answer 25 November 2009]: Tier interim report was considered as part of the Green 4 of the points based system was implemented on 31 Paper, but has not been progressed. March 2009, replacing the previous arrangements for Work is being taken forward in conjunction with the overseas students to come and study in the UK. National Policing Improvement Agency and Jan Berry, Between 31 March 2009 and 14 December 2009 2101 the independent Reducing Bureaucracy Advocate, to former students, which would include people who were address the areas where progress has been relatively students under the arrangements which applied before slow. This forms part of the wider approach to reducing the implementation of Tier 4, have been served with bureaucracy and freeing up officers to deliver for the enforcement form IS 151A of which 1,811 have been public. removed from the UK. Tables 1 and 2 have been placed in the Library. These figures are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management Hotels information. They are therefore provisional and subject to change. Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the hotel accommodation for (a) Ministers, (b) special Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 November advisers and (c) civil servants in each of the last five 2009, Official Report, column 481W,on entry clearances: years. [305671] overseas students, how many and what percentage of administrative reviews have been completed within 28 days. Mr. Woolas: Information relating to Home Office [307730] Ministers hotel expenditure can be accessed by visiting webpage: Mr. Woolas [holding answer 15 December 2009]: As I http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ advised the hon. Member in my answer of 30 November ministers/travel_gifts.aspx 2009, Official Report, column 481W, we do not record information on the duration of the administrative review We are unable to collate information relating to expenses process. incurred by civil servants and special advisers due to disproportionate costs. Flanagan Review of Policing Human Trafficking: Children

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the recommendations Home Department how many children have been of the Flanagan Review of Policing have (a) been referred to the human trafficking national referral implemented (i) in full and (ii) in part and (b) not been mechanism by local authorities in (a) Scotland, (b) implemented; on which date each such recommendation England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales since 1 was implemented; and if he will make a statement. April 2009. [309626] [303907] Mr. Woolas: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 December Mr. Hanson: Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Independent Review 2009, the number of potential victims under 18 years of of Policing in England and Wales was published in two age referred into the National Referral mechanism by stages: his interim report in September 2007 containing local authorities totals 57. This is composed of six from 26 recommendations; and his full report in February local authorities in Scotland, 47 from local authorities 2008 containing a further 33 recommendations. in England and four from local authorities in Wales. 31 of the recommendations across both reports have There have not been any referrals during this period been noted as closed, indicating they have either been from local authorities in Northern Ireland. 697W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 698W

Immigrants: Detainees Mr. Woolas [holding answer 14 December 2009]: A reply to this letter was sent on 15 December 2009. Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what gender-sensitive policies and Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for procedures his Department implements in respect of the Home Department when he plans to reply to the women held at immigration removal centres. [307422] letter of 5 November 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A. Ahmad. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 15 December 2010]: The [309152] Detention Centre Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/238), which regulate the operation of immigration removal centres, Alan Johnson: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on make specific reference to the conditions for searching 22 December 2009. of women and their entitlement to be examined by a medical practitioner of the same gender. Northamptonshire Police: Manpower The UK Border Agency has a specific operation standard for women which sets out minimum auditable Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the requirements for the provision of a safe and secure Home Department how many (a) police officers, (b) environment that meets their needs. This includes the police community support officers and (c) civilian staff provision of separate sleeping and dining accommodation there were in Northamptonshire Constabulary in (i) for those centres where they can mix, equality of access 1997 and (ii) 2008. [308706] to all activities within the centres, provision of activities appropriate to their needs and interests such as single-sex Mr. Hanson: There were 1,177 police officers in gym sessions, and seeking their views when arranging Northamptonshire constabulary as at 31 March 1997 activities. and 1,264 police officers as at 31 March 2008. Intercept as Evidence Review Police community support officers were not introduced until 2002-03. There were 12 police community support Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the officers in Northamptonshire constabulary as at 31 March Home Department what the cost to the public purse has 2003 and 159 as at 31 March 2008. been of (a) staging mock trials to test the viability of There were 554 civilian staff in Northamptonshire intercept evidence in court and (b) other costs incurred constabulary as at 31 March 1997 and 979 civilian staff in reviewing the use of intercept evidence since the as at 31 March 2008. commissioning of the Chilcot Review. [308844] This and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Alan Johnson [holding answer 6 January 2010]: The Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at: information is as follows: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html (A) The cost of the ‘model test’ phase of the IaE work programme which consisted of the trial simulation and live testing and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited of interception processes is estimated at around £1.2 million. in the Library of the House. (B) As set out in ‘Intercept as Evidence, A Report (Cm7660)’ published under cover of my written ministerial statement of 10 Police December 2009, Official Report, column 31WS, the total cost of the work programme across all agencies and Departments involved Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the since March 2008 is estimated at around £2.5 million. Home Department what evaluation his Department The costs of the original Privy Council review (Cm7324) has made of the effects of the joint Home Office/ were set out in that report as £0.1 million. Department for Transport/Association of Chief Police Macfarlan Smith Officers strategy on roads policing published in January 2005; and if he will make a statement. [309529]

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Hanson: We have not conducted a specific formal Home Department with reference to the answers of 10 review of the strategy statement but Implementation of December 2007, Official Report, columns 213-15W and the Strategy forms a specific part of the National 29 January 2008, Official Report, column 211W on Community Safety Plan. We liaise regularly with the Macfarlan Smith, when the work which commenced on Department for Transport and ACPO on developments 5 October 2006 will be completed; when the data within the context of the strategy. collection and assessment will be completed; and when it is intended for the study to be published. [300337] Police: Bureaucracy Mr. Hanson: The study that commenced on 5 October 2006 was completed in March 2008. A copy will be Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the placed in the House of Commons Library. Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the number of forms police officers are required to Members: Correspondence complete in respect of each prosecution; what recent discussions he has had with the Police Federation on Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for that matter; and if he will make a statement. [303906] the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire Mr. Hanson: The Policing Green Paper, published in of 7 October 2009 concerning South African nationals, July 2008, committed the Government to cut red tape reference: PM/OP/Gibbs. [307114] and improve police processes to free officers up to deal 699W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 700W with the issues that matter to the public. This has been The UK Government are clear that any form of built upon by the Policing White Paper, published on violent extremism is unacceptable. The Government 2 December 2009. deplore all attacks, whatever their motivation which are To date we have made the following progress: engineered by any extremist group. A key element of On 1 January 2009 changes to PACE Code A came into effect CONTEST, the Government’s strategy for countering which removed the requirement for police officers to complete the international terrorism, is “Prevent”—that is to stop Stop and Account form, whilst retaining the recording of the people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism. ethnicity of those stopped for monitoring reasons. To do this we need to prevent people supporting violent We are also legislating in the Crime and Security Bill currently extremism and the ideology that fuels terrorism. Part of before Parliament to remove the paperwork associated with Stop our Prevent work is to challenge those who support and Search. violence. But we also want to actively promote the Action on forms is part of a wider approach to shared values (including democracy and the rule of law) bureaucracy reduction, focusing on the simplification on which our society and the cohesion of our communities of policing processes and more effective management of depend. We aim to do this by working in partnership risk. Jan Berry has been appointed as the independent with communities to challenge the ideology of violent Reducing Bureaucracy Advocate to challenge Government extremism and disrupt those who promote it. The and the police service to make further progress on these Government aim to empower all communities to reject issues, supported by a practitioner group of police violent extremism. We are also working with police officers and staff. Her full report, Reducing Bureaucracy forces, local authorities, schools and universities, and in Policing, was published on 2 December 2009. local communities to protect vulnerable individuals from radicalisation. As set out in the White Paper, we will also work with police stakeholders to encourage forces themselves to take responsibility for reducing bureaucracy. This includes Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioners Group reducing the amount and size of forms that officers and staff need to fill in. Jan Berry will be asked to report on Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the this in her final report in summer 2010. Home Department how many times the Reducing Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with Bureaucracy Practitioners Group has met since the Police Federation and other staff associations at December 2008; and at how many of those meetings which bureaucracy is discussed along with other policing were (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his issues. Department present. [308955]

Police: Olympic Games 2012 Mr. Hanson: The Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioners Group (RBPG) has met seven times since it was established in December 2008 by Jan Berry, the independent advocate Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for for reducing bureaucracy in policing. The RBPG consists the Home Department what recent discussions he has of front line officers and staff, but Home Office officials had with the Minister for the Olympics on the policing have accepted an invitation to attend six out of the of the London 2012 Olympics. [308472] seven meetings to date. Mr. Hanson [holding answer 5 January 2010]: Security planning for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the games is discussed at regular meetings of the Cabinet Home Department what progress has been made Sub-Committee on National Security, International developing a website for the Reducing Bureaucracy Relations and Development (Protective Security and Practitioners Group; and if he will make a statement. Resilience ((NSID) PSR) which my right hon. Friend [308956] the Home Secretary chairs and which the right hon. Member the Minister for the Olympics (Tessa Jowell) Mr. Hanson: The website: attends. The Minister for the Olympics has also had www.reducingbureaucracyinpolicing.co.uk several recent discussions with Admiral the Lord West has been developed and is now available to view. of Spithead, the responsible Minister for Olympic security, about policing and related security issues around the Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the games. Home Department what proposals the Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioners Group have made; which of Radicalism those have been adopted; and if he will make a statement. [308957] Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had Mr. Hanson: The Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioners with (a) the Council of Europe and (b) the Group (RBPG) is made up of frontline officers and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on staff, and was established as an advisory and consultative measures to tackle extremism; and if he will make a group by Jan Berry the independent advocate for reducing statement. [301465] bureaucracy in policing. Jan Berry regularly draws on their expertise to inform Mr. Hanson: The UK is an active, founding member her work, and sub-groups are looking at specific issues of the Council of Europe, which is a standard setter on such as constructing minimum data sets for crime recording democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We are and for the recording of missing persons, and comparing fully engaged in Council of Europe work on the fight force risk assessments in relation to domestic violence against extremism and terrorism. incidents. 701W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 702W

The RBPG’s work contributed significantly to Jan Alan Johnson [holding answer 6 January 2010]: I Berry’s recent report—“Reducing Bureaucracy in Policing” understand from the Metropolitan Police Service that a published on 2 December 2009. very small number of individuals were contacted in the categories listed, and that no additional individuals Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 have been contacted since Assistant Commissioner Yates’ statements in July last year. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State The MPS is committed to respecting and protecting for the Home Department how many complaints the the privacy of those who may have been subject to Investigatory Powers Tribunal has (a) considered and illegal interception of their communications, but is actively (b) upheld on the misuse of powers under the considering against that background what information Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [308734] might be released which would not permit the possible identification of individuals. Mr. Hanson: Information on the number of complaints made and upheld is given in the published annual Terrorism: Stop and Search reports of the Interception of Communications Commissioner and the Intelligence Services Commissioner. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State They are summarised as follows: for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police forces on use of powers under Applications Investigations anti-terrorism legislation to stop and search people received concluded taking photographs. [308735] 2 October to 31 December 2001 102 71 1 January to 31 December 2002 130 194 Mr. Hanson: Guidance has been provided to the 1 January to 31 December 2003 109 100 police on a number of occasions regarding the use of 1 January to 31 December 2004 90 115 counter terrorism stop and search powers in relation to 1 January to 31 December 2005 80 93 taking photographs. These have included the National 1 January to 31 December 2006 86 81 Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) guidance on stop 1 January to 31 December 2007 66 83 and search which was revised and reissued to all forces 1 January to 31 December 2008 136 70 in November 2008. It explains the background and purpose of stop and search powers, the different The reports show that since 2001 the Investigatory circumstances in which they might be used, including Powers Tribunal made determinations in favour of circumstances where photography may be involved. complainants in 2005 and 2008. The former related to In August 2009 the Home Office published a national two complainants who lodged a joint complaint; the circular clarifying the use of counterterrorism legislation latter related to two separate complainants. Copies of in regards to photography in public places. The Circular the Commissioners’ reports are in the House Library. (012/2009) can be found on the Home Office website. I also wrote to all chief constables whose forces had Right of Search standing section 44 authorisations. This letter reiterated how the powers should be used and was accompanied Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the by a copy of the national circular. Home Department (1) how many (a) bodies and (b) The Metropolitan police also issued their own local officials are authorised to carry out inspections and guidance on counterterrorism legislation with regard to investigations of private houses and premises without a photography in public places in August 2009. The guidance search warrant; [308577] was published on the public Metropolitan police website. (2) what timetable has been set for the publication of And on 15December 2009 John Yates, Assistant the report by Lord West on powers of entry; and how Commissioner of the Metropolitan police, issued further many representations that review has received. [308693] guidance to all Metropolitan police officers on the use of stop and search powers in relation to people taking Mr. Hanson: The list of statutory powers of entry to photographs. dwellings and premises can be found at: http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers- Travel: Personal Records pace-codes/powers-of-entry-review/ A record is not held centrally on the number of Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the officials authorised to gain entry for enforcement purposes. Home Department whether airlines are required under The outcome of the review of entry powers will be the e-Borders scheme to provide credit card or bank published in March 2010. details of passengers; and what categories of information airlines have provided to date. [307871] Telephone Tapping Alan Johnson: [holding answer 6 January 2010]: Carriers Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the can be required to provide reservation data, known as Home Department how many people in each of the Other Passenger Information (OPI) to the e-Borders four national security categories have been informed by system, but only if it is collected in the normal course of the Metropolitan Police that their voicemails had been their business. This may include details of method of illegally tapped on behalf of media organisations as a payment, including credit card information. result of the investigation leading to the conviction of There are 53 pieces of information that may have Mr. Glenn Mulcaire and Mr. Clive Goodman in 2007. been provided by carriers to date. These are outlined in [307874] Schedule 1 to the Immigration and Police (Passenger, 703W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 704W

Crew and Service Information) Order 2008, which can Departmental Training be found at the following weblink: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080005_en_2 Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for A copy is available in the House Library. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) cost was of each of the last four Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the away days attended by a Minister in his Department; Home Department if he will publish the list of Other and which Minister attended on each occasion. Passenger Information required by the e-Borders [305465] programme. [307875] Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Alan Johnson [holding answer 6 January 2010]: Full ministerial team meet in a formal capacity twice a year details of the information to be collected have been to discuss strategic issues with senior officials and advisers. outlined in Schedule 1 to The Immigration and Police These meetings are usually held away from the office (Passenger, Crew and Service Information) Order 2008 and take a full working day. Details of the last four which came into effect on 1 March 2008. away days attended by FCO Ministers are as follows: This information can be found on the following weblink: 17 September 2009 at 1 Carlton Gardens - attended by 28 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080005_en_2 people including the right hon. David Miliband, my hon. Friend Ivan Lewis and my noble Friend Baroness Glenys Kinnock. The A copy is available in the House Library. total cost of the away day was £591. 5 January 2009 at Chevening Estate - attended by 45 people UK Border Agency including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, the hon. Caroline Flint, my hon. Friend Bill Rammell and my hon. Friend Gillian Merron. The total cost of Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for the the away day was £1,797. Home Department in which countries the UK Border 30 October 2008 at 1 Carlton Gardens - attended by 23 people Agency has offices (a) co-located and (b) not including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord co-located with the British Embassy, Consulate or Malloch-Brown, the hon. Caroline Flint, my hon. Friend Bill High Commission. [307113] Rammell and my hon. Friend Gillian Merron. The total cost of the away day was £540. Mr. Woolas: All the UK Border Agency’s overseas 30-31 March 2008 at Chevening Estate - attended by 28 people offices are based in British diplomatic missions, except including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord for the UK visa section, which is in the UKBA’s estate Malloch-Brown, the hon. Kim Howells, the right hon. Jim Murphy in Croydon. The agency’s commercial partners also run and my hon. Friend Meg Munn. The total cost of the away day visa application centres for the agency in 110 locations. was £5,024. This event was held over two days (Sunday and Monday) and includes accommodation and other associated These are not co-located with the diplomatic missions costs.

Vetting Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) date, Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the (b) location and (c) cost was of each of the last four Home Department if he will issue guidance to police away days held by his Department’s Board. [305467] forces to take account of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the right to make representations about Chris Bryant: The Board of the Foreign and information held on individuals and disclosed by a Commonwealth Office meets in formal session once a Criminal Records Bureau check; and if he will make a month to discuss the delivery of the policies and services statement. [307270] decided upon by Ministers. Executive Members of the Board also meet regularly between formal Board meetings Mr. Hanson: Guidance will be issued by the Home to discuss the day-to-day operations of the Department. Office in consultation with the Association of Chief On occasion, the Board meets for longer—typically Police Officers (ACPO) to take account of the judgment half-day—sessions away from the office to discuss longer- of the Supreme Court as it related to those cases where term strategic issues and the Board’s objectives. The last a right of representation may be appropriate. four such occasions were as follows: Date: 11 March 2008 Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Cost: £870 (security charge and catering) Date: 3 October 2008 Departmental Pay Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London Cost: £665 (security charge and catering) Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Date: 6 March 2009 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in Cost: £314 (catering) his Department in 2008-09. [306903] Date: 10 June 2009 Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I Location: Chevening House, Kent gave on 7 January 2010, Official Report, column 566W. Cost: £1,367 (facility fee and catering) 705W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 706W

Government Hospitality: Wines Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any reports or representations Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for from UK companies regarding the purchase of goods Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the from Western Sahara or the legalities of such purchases. answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column The UK continues to maintain its position that Morocco, 197W, on Government hospitality: wines, at which as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, events wine from the Government wine cellar was is obliged under international law to ensure that economic served in the last 12 months. [310204] activities under administration—including the extraction and exportation of phosphates—do not adversely affect Chris Bryant: Government hospitality manages over the interests of the people in Western Sahara. This is 200 events annually for all departments across government. also the opinion of the EU Legal Service when considering Wine is not served at all functions. Alcohol is generally the legality of the 2006 EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement offered at receptions, lunches and dinners except where before it was finalised. dietary and religious considerations would make it inappropriate. It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the events at which wines or alcohol were served throughout WALES 2009 without incurring disproportionate costs. Departmental Advertising Iran: Baha’i Faith Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of his Department’s Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent expenditure on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) print and representations he has made to the Government of (d) online advertising in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. Iran on the seven person informal leadership group of the Baha’i community in Iran; and if he will make a [309934] statement; [310282] Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has no expenditure planned (2) whether he has requested the Iranian authorities for advertising in either financial year. to guarantee the safety of the accused informal Baha’i leadership in Iran and for any trial to be held in public; Departmental Surveys and if he will make a statement. [310283]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Alongside our EU partners we have Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for made clear to the Iranian authorities our concerns at Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the the charges of ’espionage’ and ″corruption on earth″ results of his Department’s most recent staff survey; levelled against the seven Baha’i leaders imprisoned for which organisation carried out the survey; and what over a year without trial, most recently through the EU the cost of the survey was. [310234] presidency, which summoned the Iranian Ambassador on 10 July 2009. In recent days we have learnt that their Mr. Hain: The Wales Office people survey was delivered trial has been scheduled for 12 January 2010. We have as part of the Ministry of Justice people survey, and as already spoken to EU Partners who share our belief such its costs was borne by, and not split out from, that we should collectively make clear to Iran in advance those of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice’s of that date that they have international obligations to share of ORC International’s costs for providing the ensure that, if it goes ahead, it is a fair trial. 2009 survey was £192,000. By procuring a single supplier We have been active in using multilateral fora to call for staff surveys in 2009-10 the civil service has saved 35 for the Iranian authorities to respect the rights of Baha’is per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09. and other religious and ethnic minorities. On 18 December The results are expected to be received next month and 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution we will put a copy in the Library in due course. on human rights in Iran for the seventh consecutive year. The Resolution condemns ’attacks on Baha’is and Domestic Visits their faith in state-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the state to identify, monitor and arbitrarily Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales detain Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i faith what the (a) date, (b) destination and (c) purpose was from attending university and from sustaining themselves of each official visit in Wales made by (i) the Secretary economically’. of State and (ii) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of We will continue to urge Iran to respect the right to State in each of the last two years. [310277] freedom of religion and belief as described in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to Mr. Hain: Since my re-appointment in June 2009, which Iran is a state party. both my hon. Friend and I have always undertaken a busy programme of meetings, visits and functions with Morocco: Exports a wide range of organisations in Wales. It would require a disproportionate cost to identify and list all of the Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign visits we have made, and those of my predecessor my and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), received of the purchase by UK companies of goods but specific examples of visits are referred to in previous from Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. [309543] Wales Office Annual Reports. 707W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 708W

Employment Tribunals Service Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues and Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on all issues affecting the Welsh economy including Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for small businesses. Wales how many industrial tribunals his Department has been party to in each of the last five years; and The Welsh Assembly Government is actively engaged what the cost to his Department of such tribunals was in promoting small business and self-employment options in each year. [310207] with young people, including graduates. In addition, under the Jobcentre Plus Six Month Mr. Hain: As my Department has been party to less Offer, there are two elements of help on offer to people than five employment tribunals during the period specified who want to move into self-employment or start a I am unable to release the additional information you business. The first provides financial support during the seek for reasons of confidentiality. early weeks of trading through the self-employment credit paid of £50 a week for up to 16 weeks and the Building Britain’s Recovery White Paper brings forward Legislation entitlement to this credit to three months. The second was a provision of additional funds to Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Flexible Support for Business in Wales so that it can what the (a) title and (b) purpose is of each proposed provide intensive self-employment and business start-up legislative consent order scheduled for introduction in support for those who need it both before they leave the present Parliament which his Department has benefits and into the first weeks of trading. discussed with the Welsh Assembly Government. [310276] Second Homes: Council Tax

Mr. Hain: The following table lists the proposed Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State legislative competence orders that my Department has for Wales with reference to the National Assembly for discussed with the Welsh Assembly Government and Wales (Legislative Competence) (Housing and Local which are yet to be presented to Parliament or the Government) Order 2010, and paragraph 43 of the National Assembly for Wales for approval. I have presented Explanatory Memorandum, whether an impact all the proposed orders to Parliament for pre-legislative assessment has been prepared on the proposals to scrutiny. allow higher council tax on second homes and holiday homes in Wales. [309379] Enabling the National Assembly to Title of proposed LCO legislate on: Mr. David: A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as it confers legislative National Assembly for Wales Automatic fire suppression systems (Legislative Competence) in residential premises. competence on the National Assembly for Wales and so (Housing) Order 2009 has no impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies. National Assembly for Wales Functions of local authorities in The Welsh Assembly Government would prepare a (Legislative Competence) the support, improvement and Regulatory Impact Assessment when bringing forward (Culture and Other Fields) promotion of specified areas of any proposed Assembly Measures as a result of the Order 2009 culture and sport and recreational legislative competence this instrument confers. activities. National Assembly for Wales Community councils, public (Legislative Competence) information relating to local Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State (Local Government) Order government, members’ salaries, for Wales what representations his Department has 2009 allowances and pensions and received on the effects of the National Assembly for councillor recruitment and Wales (Legislative Competence) (Housing and Local retention. Government) Order 2010 on council tax on second National Assembly for Wales Social housing, meeting the homes and holiday homes in Wales. [309394] (Legislative Competence) housing needs of vulnerable people (Housing and Local and council tax payable in respect Government) Order 2010 of second homes. Mr. David: None. National Assembly for Wales Conduct and governance of local (Legislative Competence) authority maintained schools, (Education) Order 2010 collaboration between those responsible for local authority COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT maintained schools and the establishment of bodies by them. Employment Tribunals Service National Assembly for Wales Concessionary travel and the (Legislative Competence) regulation of vehicles used for (Transport) Order 2010 learner transport. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many New Businesses industrial tribunals his Department has been party to in each of the last five years; and what the cost to his Department of such tribunals was in each such year. Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales [310205] what recent discussions he has had with (a) Ministerial colleagues and (b) Welsh Assembly government Barbara Follett: It would not be possible to provide ministers on policy to promote small business start-up this information without incurring a disproportionate schemes among young people in Wales. [308155] cost. 709W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 710W

Housing National Policy Statements: Transport

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Communities and Local Government when he expects Department has made a recent estimate of the mean to publish the National Policy Statement on transport age of a first-time buyer of a domestic property. infrastructure. [309796] [308597] Mr. Khan: I have been asked to reply. Mr. Ian Austin: No. We expect to publish for consultation a draft National Policy Statement for national networks (strategic roads Mortgages and railways, including strategic rail freight interchanges) early this year, and a draft National Policy Statement for airports in 2011. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Regeneration: Radlett Department’s policy is on the implementation of the proposals of the European Commission on harmonising Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for rules governing access to mortgages; and what assessment Communities and Local Government when he expects has been made of the implications for his Department’s to announce his decision on the development site at policies of the Commission’s proposed further changes Radlett. [309797] to the European Capital Requirements Directive. [308598] Mr. Malik: The Secretary of State’s decision on this planning appeal is expected by 23 June 2010. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply. The European Commission published a White Paper Social Rented Housing: Equality on European mortgage markets at the end of 2007. This document is available on the Commission’s website, at: Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/finservices-retail/home- Communities and Local Government what guidance loans/integration_en.htm his Department provides to registered social landlords The Commission has since undertaken work to improve on equalities audits. [308773] the evidence base on EU mortgage markets, which HM Treasury has supported and encouraged, including work Mr. Ian Austin: None. to renew this evidence base following the financial crisis. HM Treasury will continue to engage with the European Commission to help ensure that any response at the EU level is effective and proportionate. CABINET OFFICE The European Commission published a consultation Central Office of Information: Expenditure under ‘Further possible changes to the Capital requirements Directive’ with a closing date of 4 September 2009. Due to developments internationally, including a G20 consensus Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet agreement on bank capital reform, it is now expected Office how much has been spent by the Central Office that the European Commission will reissue its consultation of Information on advertising in 2009-10. [309868] in late summer or the autumn of 2010. This will have a broader scope to match the Bank for International Angela E. Smith: I have asked the chief executive of Settlements’ consultation ‘Strengthening the resilience the Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. of the banking sector’, while retaining the measures on Member. moving towards a single rulebook for bank capital in Letter from Mark Lund, dated 7 January 2010 the EU. In the interim period, HM Treasury will continue As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information to pursue the objectives outlined in its paper ‘Reforming (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Financial Markets’, both within the EU and internationally. Question on COI advertising spend in 2009/10 (309868). COI advertising spend for 2009/10 will be published in our Multiple Occupation: Licensing annual report and accounts when the figures have been fully audited and approved.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Charity Commission: Internet Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 29 October 2009, Official Report, column David T.C. Davies: To ask the Minister for the 472W, on licensing: multiple occupation, on what date Cabinet Office what redesigns of websites operated by the report by the Building Research Establishment on the Charity Commission for England and Wales have the effectiveness of the new licensing regime for houses been carried out since 27 June 2007; and what the (a) in multiple occupation will be published; and what the cost to the public purse and (b) date of completion of reasons are for the time taken to publish the report. each such redesign was. [306193] [310210] Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls Mr. Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I I gave him on 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 381W. have asked the Commission to reply. 711W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 712W

Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 9 December 2009: Office Management Units have delegated responsibility As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been for spend against their learning and development budgets. asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on The individual management units decide on appropriate redesigns of websites operated by the Charity Commission for England learning opportunities to enable their staff to acquire and Wales since 27 June 2007; and what the (a) cost to the public purse the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to deliver and (b) date of completion of each such redesign was (306193). departmental objectives. This might involve attendance We have not redesigned our website in the period in question. on an internal or external training course as well as a However, in the interests of transparency, the last redesign of our one or more of the following: website took place in 2006/07 at a cost of just over £49,000 and was launched formally in July 2007. job shadowing In addition, a major redesign of our website is currently one to one coaching underway, due for completion and launch in February 2010. We mentoring have budgeted £75,000 for this project. E-Learning I hope this information is helpful. personal study. Civil Service: Internet Information on attendance and cost at courses or conferences is not held centrally and could be obtained Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet only at disproportionate cost. Office what guidance is provided to civil servants on Employment their involvement in online social media. [309848] Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Angela E. Smith: The Civil Service Code applies to Cabinet Office how many people were employed (a) in participation online as a civil servant or when discussing total and (b) in local government in the UK at the government business. Specific guidance for online latest date for which information is available. [309395] participation is available to all civil servants at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/participation- Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls online.aspx within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. Copies of the Civil Service Code and the guidance is I have asked the authority to reply. also available in the Library of the House. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: Departmental Conferences As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning, how many people were employed (a) in total and (b) Mr. Baron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in local government in the UK. at the latest date for which (1) which conferences held overseas have been attended information is available. (309395) by civil servants based in her Department in the last Estimates of total employment for the UK are derived from three years; and what the cost to the public purse was the Labour Force Survey. Data for the survey is collected on a of such attendance at each conference; [305871] monthly basis; the latest date for which information is available is (2) how many overseas training courses were September 2009. It is important to acknowledge, as with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are attended by her Department’s civil servants in the latest subject to a margin of uncertainty. period for which figures are available; how many civil Estimates of employment for local government in the UK are servants attended each course; and what the total cost collected as part of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment to the public purse was of each course. [305900] Survey (QPSKS). Data for the survey is collected on a quarterly basis; the latest date for which information is available is September Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office has not organised 2009. any overseas training centrally for staff. All Cabinet The requested estimates are attached at Annex A.

Annex A: Total and local government employment, seasonally adjusted, United Kingdom Thousand Local government1, 2, 3 Total employment4, 5

All in employment (September 2009) 2,923 28,926 1 Estimates derived from public sector organisations. 2 Estimates for Northern Ireland included in the UK total ate sourced from the Quarterly Employment Survey and are based on jobs rather than employees. 3 Police (England and Wales) based on projections. 4 LFS data for September refer to August to October. 5 Labour Force Survey employment; all aged 16 and over; seasonally adjusted. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) Labour Force Survey and returns from public sector organisations.

Offenders Angela E. Smith: It is Cabinet Office policy not to provide information which risks identifying individual members of staff. Chris Huhne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Official Residences Office how many employees of her Department have been convicted of a criminal offence of each type in Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet each year since 1997. [308506] Office which Minister occupied each ministerial residence in each of the last three years. [309955] 713W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 714W

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010: given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 October 2007, Official Report, column 1135W and my As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question right hon. Friend, the Member for Doncaster, North asking what the most recent estimate is of the (a) mean and (b) (Edward Miliband) on 27 November 2007, Official median gross annual pay by place of (i) residence and (ii) work for Report, column 352W.My right hon. Friend Lord Malloch- people in areas classified as (A) major urban, (B) large urban, (C) Brown vacated the flat in Admiralty House in July other urban, (D) significant rural, (E) rural -50 and (F) rural -80. 2009. (309499) Personal Income The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet earnings information in the United Kingdom. Annual levels of Office what her most recent estimate is of the (a) mean earnings are estimated from the ASHE, and are provided for and (b) median gross annual pay by place of (i) employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job residence and (ii) work for people in areas classified as for more than a year. The required area classification based on the (A) major urban, (B) large urban, (C) other urban, (D) Rural/Urban Local Authority classification is only available for significant rural, (E) rural -50 and (F) rural -80. England. [309499] I attach a table showing the mean and median gross annual earnings for full-time employees by (i) place of residence and (ii) Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls place of work in (A) major urban, (B) large urban, (C) other within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. urban, (D) significant rural, (E) rural -50 and (F) rural -80 for I have asked the authority to reply. England in April 2009.

Gross annual earnings for full-time employee jobs1: England 2009 By place of residence By place of work Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage Mean (£) CV Mean (£) CV Mean (£) CV Mean (£) CV

Major Urban 35,400 2.1 27,300 0.9 37,600 1.8 28,600 0.8 Large Urban 29,000 1.1 24,700 1.3 29,900 1.3 25,100 1.3 Other Urban 29,800 1.1 25,200 1.4 30,800 1.0 25,700 1.3 Significant Rural 33,500 1.4 26,700 1.4 30,200 1.4 25,100 1.3 Rural-50 32,700 1.2 26,200 1.4 28,700 1.2 24,100 1.5 Rural-80 32,400 2.1 25,600 1.6 27,400 1.2 23,300 1.7 1 Full-time employees on adult rates who have been in the same job for more than one year. As at April 2009. 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 +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY £68,124.90 (including VAT) in the last two financial years. The amount during both years are set out in the Equality following table.

£ Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the (a) Equality and Human Rights 2007-08 0 Commission and (b) Government Equalities Office 2008-09 68,124.90 has provided guidance to local authorities on the appointment of diversity officers. [308677] Equality and Human Rights Commission: Title Indexing

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Commission and Government Equalities Office have Equality with reference to the answer of 11 November not issued specific guidance to local authorities on 2009, Official Report, column 378W,on dignity at work, hiring diversity officers. when the Equality and Human Rights Commission will finalise its Dignity at Work policy; and what the reasons Equality and Human Rights Commission: Public are for the time taken to finalise it. [308650] Relations Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission plans to implement its Dignity at Work John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and policy in January 2010. The Commission has had an Equality how much money the Equality and Human interim policy in place since October 2008. This policy Rights Commission has paid to OH Communications was drafted in full consultation with the recognised in each of the last two financial years. [308245] unions. Along with other employment policies, the Commission’s Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Dignity at Work policy has been reviewed and revised. Commission has paid OH Communications a total of In order to undertake this exercise the Commission has: 715W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 716W

Consulted with the unions; Official Report, column 503W, on the Equality and Worked with the Staff Groups; Human Rights Commission: manpower, what full-time Undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment; equivalent vacant posts there are in the Equality and Agreed a communication strategy; Human Rights Commission; and what the (a) job title Sought Senior Management Team and Union Branch approval; and (b) salary range of each vacancy is. [308445] Identified appropriate training which will be given to employees of the Commission to coincide with the launch. Equality and Human Rights Commission: Vacancies Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently recruiting to the vacancies Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and listed in the following tables. Equality with reference to the answer of 18 June 2009,

Interim vacancies as at week commencing 14 December 2009 Interim day rates to be confirmed subject to Full-time Directorate Vacancy—job title Comments Level appointment (£) equivalent

Communications Internal communications Paid at an appropriate daily/hourly rate 2c75— co-ordinator commensurate with the skills and experience that the appropriate individual will bring to the role. Head of procurement 5 c700 — Records manager 3 c150 — Finance Assistant management 3 c150 2 accountant (AP role) x 2 Legal Business manager 4 C170 0.5 Strategy Group director (GD) for GD To be confirmed — regulation

Permanent/fixed term contract vacancies as at week commencing 14 December 2009 Salary start rate Full-time Directorate Vacancy—job title Comments Level p.a. (£) equivalent

Commissioners Office Chief executive officer — — To be confirmed — Communications Campaigns and marketing Maternity cover 3 26,815.80 — officer Team leader — 3 26,815.80 0.61 Corporate Management Senior professional Maternity cover 5 43,680.00 — Scotland Senior professional — 5 43,680.00 — Policy officer Maternity cover 3 26,815.80 — Caseworker Secondment opportunity until September 3 £26,815.80 — 2010 Strategy Policy manager-European and — 4 34,224.75 — International Research manager Maternity cover 4 34,224.75 — Policy manager-criminal Secondment opportunity till 31 March 4 34,224.75 — injustice 2010

Other recruitment activity as at week commencing 14 December 2009 Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Day Commission currently have 79.6 full-time equivalent Vacancy-job title Comments rate (£) interim employees and four full-time equivalent employees Disability These are fee based roles requiring 250 on fixed term contracts who are not permanent employees. Committee a commitment of between 10-15 In addition the Commission have three full-time equivalent Members x 2 days per year. These are not roles secondees working at the Commission who are not included as part of the over all permanent employees. establishment. Audit and Risk Committee Equality: EU Law Members x2 Scotland Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women Committee Member and Equality if she will place in the Library a copy of the reasoned opinion of the European Commission on Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and the compliance of the UK’s equality legislation with Equality with reference to the answer of 18 June 2009, the EU Equal Treatment Directive. [309426] Official Report, column 503W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: manpower, how many Maria Eagle: The understanding between the European full-time equivalent (a) consultants and (b) temporary Commission and member states is that infraction staff employed by the Commission are not permanent correspondence remains confidential. The Commission staff. [308446] publishes the fact that a Reasoned Opinion has been 717W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 718W sent, but not the letter itself. The Government will CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES therefore not be placing a copy of this Reasoned Opinion in the Library. Child Care Vouchers: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for EU Anti-Discrimination Legislation Children, Schools and Families what information his Department holds on the number of childcare providers in (a) Leeds West constituency and (b) West Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Yorkshire who take part in the childcare voucher Equality what recent discussions she has had with the scheme. [306623] European Commission on UK compliance with EU anti-discrimination legislation; and if she will make a Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply. statement. [308222] I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland Maria Eagle: The European Commission sent two (Dr. Kumar) on 2 December 2009, Official Report, reasoned opinions to the UK Government on 20 November column 806W. 2009 which questioned the compliance of our domestic Employers and employees are not required to report legislation with two European Directives in certain respects. the provision of tax exempt child care vouchers. We are studying these reasoned opinions carefully and Accordingly, the specific information that has been will reply to the Commission towards the end of January. asked for is not available. Children: Day Care Gender Pay Difference Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women and Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Equality what recent assessment she has made of the Department has made of the effect of withdrawing the gender pay difference in Hampshire. [309190] tax exemption for employer supported childcare on the amount of money claimed for the childcare element of working tax credit. [301763] Maria Eagle: The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2009 showed that the gender pay gap, comparing Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply. the median hourly earnings of all men and women, was: 28.6 per cent. for Hampshire; 26.6 per cent. for the The Government are not withdrawing the tax exemptions South East; and 22.0 per cent. for the UK as a whole. for employer supported child care. On 4 December 2009, the Prime Minister announced Government’s policy For full-time employees, the pay gap for Hampshire is in relation to employer supported child care. This is set 22.7 per cent. For part-time employees, the pay gap is out in the answer given to the right hon. Member for 17.9 per cent., i.e. male part-time employees are paid Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 14 December 2009, less than female part-time employees. Official Report, column 846W. The overall national pay gap has fallen from 27.5 per This reform will have no impact on take-up of the cent. in 1997 to 22.0 per cent. in 2009, but more progress child care element of the working tax credit. is needed and the Equality Bill includes tough measures to improve gender pay transparency. Class Sizes: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Homosexuality: Human Rights Children, Schools and Families what the average class size in schools in Leeds North West constituency was in Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and (a) 1997 and (b) 2009. [309387] Equality what recent steps the Government Equalities Office has taken in respect of the human rights of gay Mr. Coaker: The average class size of maintained primary schools in Leeds North West was 26.9 in 1997 and lesbian people. [302340] and 27.5 in 2009; the figures for state funded secondary1 schools were 20.6 and 20.3 respectively. Maria Eagle: The UK Government have taken great 1 Includes middle schools as deemed, CTCs and academies. strides forward to ensure equality for gay and lesbian people in all areas, including all aspects of human Departmental Internet rights. The human rights of everyone in the UK are afforded David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for protection under the Human Rights Act 1998, which Children, Schools and Families what redesigns of websites incorporates into UK law the European Convention on operated by his Department there have been since 27 Human Rights. We have alongside that protection brought June 2007; and what the (a) cost to the public purse forward specific measures to protect and promote the and (b) date of completion of each such redesign was. rights of gay and lesbian people, for example through [306169] legislation prohibiting discrimination because of sexual orientation in the workplace and in services and public Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, functions, which provides a private law cause of action Schools and Families (DCSF) was established on 28 for individuals experiencing discrimination. June 2007. The corporate website homepage and page 719W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 720W header (www.dcsf.gov.uk) was updated to reflect the Mr. Iain Wright: This is a matter for the Learning and new Department at no additional cost. Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education A refresh of the corporate website homepage was maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for completed in August 2008, at a cost of £2,111. A Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell, further redesign was completed in May 2009 at a cost of the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to my hon. £5278. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries. The migration of all content from three individual sites (Local Authorities, Sure Start and Every Child Entry to Employment Programme Matters) into the current ECM service— www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for was completed in May 2009. This involved a complete Children, Schools and Families what his plans are for redesign of the content and the development of a new the future of the e2e programme; and if he will make a part of the corporate site at a cost of £265,038 (including statement. [307325] VAT). Mr. Coaker: Entry to Employment (E2E) as a distinct Departmental Manpower programme will finish this academic year, with provision from September 2010 being delivered as Foundation Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Learning, the national route for young people who are Children, Schools and Families how many Children at entry level and Level 1. Foundation Learning is one and Learners Strategic Advisers posts there are in his of the four pathways that comprise the broad and Department; when each such post was created; and engaging learning offer at the heart of our 14-19 reforms. what (a) salary and (b) job description associated As emphasised in the delivery plan for the Raising of with each is. [303652] the Participation Age published on 15 December 2009, Foundation Learning enables flexible and inclusive Mr. Coaker [holding answer 2 December 2009]: Children recognition of learning achievements and emphasises and Learners Strategic Advisers (CLSAs) will not be personalised planning for progression—to Level 2 employed by the Department. They will be part of a (Diplomas, Apprenticeships, GCSEs) wherever possible. new integrated advisory service based in Government Offices from April 2010. Following a competitive dialogue Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, process, the preferred bidder for the contract to deliver Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the the service is Together for Children and Learners, a cost to his Department of the January Guarantee of partnership led by SERCO. CLSAs will provide a single Entry to Employment places for those not in education, strategic interface between local authorities, Children’s employment or training in 2009-10. [309728] Trusts and the Department. They will replace the existing Children’s Services Advisers and take on part of the Mr. Iain Wright: We are determined to ensure that role of the National Strategies Senior Regional Directors every young person who is not in education, employment to agree local priorities and improvement support across or training (NEET) is given an opportunity to engage in all outcomes for children and young people. There will learning so that they can develop the skills they need to be around 32 CLSAs with salaries between £75,000 to enter sustainable employment. Building on the success £95,000. of our September Guarantee, the January Guarantee will ensure that all 16 and 17-year-olds who are NEET Departmental Sick Leave in January 2010 have the offer of an Entry to Employment place. Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for A funding package of £40 million is being made Children, Schools and Families how many working available by the Department to deliver the January days were lost due to illness of employees within his Guarantee. This includes funding for 10,000 additional Department in each of the last three years; and how Entry to Employment places, education maintenance many of these were attributed to stress in each year. allowance for those additional young people who are [310230] eligible, and for local Connexions services to support young people to reengage. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department was set up as part of the machinery of government changes on 28 Free School Meals June 2007, so figures only apply from 1 July. Sickness absence data, including the average number of days lost Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for and reasons for absence, is published on the Department’s Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has website: made of the cost to his Department of widening access http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/ to free school meals for children of low-income parents in 2009-10. [309727] Education Maintenance Allowance: Yorkshire and the Humber Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department of John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (DH) have jointly allocated £10 million in 2009-10 Children, Schools and Families how many students in to fund three free school meal pilots, £5 million from post-16 education in (a) Leeds West constituency and the DCSF and £5 million from the DH. Participating (b) West Yorkshire are in receipt of education local authorities and primary care trusts are contributing maintenance allowance. [306605] the same in matched funding. 721W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 722W

The aim of the pilot is to gather some robust evidence eligible for free school meals in each secondary school on the health and educational benefits of extending in the (A) Newcastle upon Tyne, (B) county of access to free school meals. Durham and Newham are Northumberland and (C) boroughs of North Tyneside piloting universal free school meals for all primary and Gateshead in each year from 2003 to 2009. pupils. Wolverhampton is piloting extended eligibility [302536] to primary and secondary pupils whose parents are on working tax credit and have an income up to £16,040. Mr. Coaker: School-level figures for 2009 will become available in January 2010. GCSE: North East The tables provide 2005 to 2008 data on the consistent basis of pupils at the end of key stage 4. Data for the Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for period 2003 to 2008 on a consistent basis can be produced Children, Schools and Families what percentage of only at disproportionate cost. students (a) achieved (i) no GCSEs, (ii) five GCSEs at The table contains figures for each maintained grade A* to C, (iii) English GCSE at grade A* to C, mainstream secondary school in each of the local authorities (iv) mathematics GCSE at grade A* to C and (b) were covering the areas requested.

Percentages of pupils at the end of key stage 4 Achieving 5 or more GCSEs at Achieving no GCSEs at grade Achieving GCSE English A*-C grade A*-C or equivalent A*-G or equivalent Local authority School name 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008

Newcastle Gosforth High School 58 65 73 76 212168646970 upon Tyne Walbottle Campus 37485062742143444557 Technology College Walker Technology College 61 58 45 45 4 6 7 10 39 42 41 60 Benfield School 37 46 55 64 5 7 13 7 36 34 31 37 Kenton School 70 70 81 85 375551435148 Heaton Manor School 63 63 64 67 341259596255 West Gate Community 22445056811121214141518 College All Saints College 40 32 48 43 16 10 5 9 11 28 28 37 St. Mary’s Catholic 49 50 60 85 5 12 2 1 47 50 54 57 Comprehensive School St Cuthbert’s High School 64 69 77 78 351460586862 Sacred Heart High School 78 72 80 83 200066687477

Northumberland Haydon Bridge Community 66636669223268696657 High School and Sports College Prudhoe Community High 62757374110157625964 School Ashington Community High 42434254446444515051 School Queen Elizabeth High School 74 73 78 84 011177727379 Cramlington Learning Village 76 83 82 84 221165786878 Ponteland Community High 76777085000080777070 School Hirst High School 44 45 28 46 11 7 7 10 37 32 29 41 Bedlingtonshire Community 43445253132253555447 High School Berwick Community High 63697385201051505068 School The Duchess’s Community 60626168122269645562 High School Coquet High School 49 45 45 59 312143575044 Blyth Community College 32 38 37 54 965539383945 The King Edward VI School 77 80 80 87 100070767787 St Benet Biscop Catholic 62717171111159656363 Voluntary Aided High School Astley Community High 58576481221165545158 School

North Marden High School—A 72707781112368727074 Tyneside Specialist maths, Science and Media Arts College 723W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 724W

Percentages of pupils at the end of key stage 4 Achieving 5 or more GCSEs at Achieving no GCSEs at grade Achieving GCSE English A*-C grade A*-C or equivalent A*-G or equivalent Local authority School name 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008

Norham Community 28393741121129393939 Technology College Whitley Bay High School 73 82 77 83 000077827581 George Stephenson 44486966243461617270 Community High School Burnside Business and 48595872001254635365 Enterprise College Churchill Community College 35 55 47 61 12 8 2 3 26 31 30 41 Monkseaton Community 47534956334150445161 High School John Spence Community 54667678210041637069 High School Longbenton Community 72677361643453616660 College Seaton Burn College, A 47664546431354695553 Specialist Business and Enterprise School St. Thomas More Roman 75788283010080808877 Catholic High School Aided

Gateshead Lord Lawson of Beamish 78787978132259595349 Community School Whickham School 78 84 87 85 211265647267 Ryton Comprehensive School 59 62 72 73 200159635760 Heworth Grange 43455268323134425358 Comprehensive School Hookergate School 39 52 42 70 761036474554 Kingsmeadow Community 57606042875640413531 Comprehensive School Thomas Hepburn Community 46 44 50 53 17 7 5 7 32 39 38 46 Comprehensive School Joseph Swan School 58 70 77 74 884537505156 Cardinal Hume Catholic 71788597361152557577 School St Thomas More Catholic 1001009999000186807884 School Emmanuel College 96 99 97 98 000192969595

Achieving GCSE maths A*-C Known to be eligible for free school meals Local authority School name 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008

Newcastle upon Tyne Gosforth High School 64 70 72 69 10 9 9 9 Walbottle Campus Technology College 30 35 29 39 10 12 13 12 Walker Technology College 21 24 26 32 35 35 34 35 Benfield School 34 38 40 35 30 31 27 27 Kenton School 36 29 45 48 28 22 20 18 Heaton Manor School 54 53 55 49 13 13 12 13 West Gate Community College 19 20 22 21 53 48 43 36 All Saints College 22 21 25 23 44 36 42 44 St. Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive 35 41 46 58 15 16 19 15 School St. Cuthbert’s High School 53 67 72 61 15 11 10 9 Sacred Heart High School 54 53 68 67 16 14 16 14

Northumberland Haydon Bridge Community High School 495858456556 and Sports College Prudhoe Community High School 66 71 72 57 7665 Ashington Community High School 37 43 48 44 13 12 12 12 Queen Elizabeth High School 65 65 67 78 3333 Cramlington Learning Village 57 66 62 69 9878 725W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 726W

Achieving GCSE maths A*-C Known to be eligible for free school meals Local authority School name 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008

Ponteland Community High School 68 72 68 63 2122 Hirst High School 29 28 33 37 26 23 21 23 Bedlingtonshire Community High School 44 45 50 48 11 12 11 15 Berwick Community High School 42 38 44 61 9 11 10 8 The Duchess’s Community High School 60 63 56 61 6564 Coquet High School 47 61 59 54 13 12 10 11 Blyth Community College 34 33 31 41 22 20 19 19 The King Edward VI School 68 74 74 78 4334 St. Benet Biscop Catholic Voluntary 636462577777 Aided High School Astley Community High School 56 59 59 68 9787

North Tyneside Marden High School—A Specialist maths, 656571814565 Science and Media Arts College Norham Community Technology College 32 45 34 38 25 23 25 23 Whitley Bay High School 67 71 64 67 4333 George Stephenson Community High 36 38 44 38 12 12 11 7 School Burnside Business and Enterprise College 46 59 53 65 14 14 13 13 Churchill Community College 27 34 38 43 25 21 22 18 Monkseaton Community High School 38 48 49 57 12 11 10 7 John Spence Community High School 53 67 64 65 16 12 14 13 Longbenton Community College 60 61 57 63 16 14 15 13 Seaton Burn College, A Specialist 38 40 43 38 15 13 12 13 Business and Enterprise School St. Thomas More Roman Catholic High 797374777778 School Aided

Gateshead Lord Lawson of Beamish Community 54 56 48 44 9 10 11 11 School Whickham School 53 52 58 52 8888 Ryton Comprehensive School 57 52 60 56 8889 Heworth Grange Comprehensive School 50 47 49 59 22 19 19 19 Hookergate School 37 42 39 60 20 17 16 18 Kingsmeadow Community 20 30 29 25 29 34 35 33 Comprehensive School Thomas Hepburn Community 15 36 40 42 40 40 38 37 Comprehensive School Joseph Swan School 44 42 37 49 21 20 21 24 Cardinal Hume Catholic School 40 43 60 45 29 27 28 27 St Thomas More Catholic School 74 74 73 80 6765 Emmanuel College 84 89 93 86 5666

Leeds Mr. Coaker [holding answer 6 January 2010]: The remit of the independent adjudicator is to consider John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Ofsted’s handling of complaints from service providers Children, Schools and Families how much capital and users about its inspection and regulatory activity. expenditure his Department has incurred in Leeds West The adjudicator can make recommendations in respect constituency in the last three years. [306943] of Ofsted’s handling of complaints. Primary Education Mr. Coaker: As expenditure is prioritised locally, no central records are maintained for expenditure at Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for constituency level. Children, Schools and Families how many children attended (a) two, (b) three, (c) four, (d) five and (e) Ofsted: Complaints 10 primary schools in the most recent year for which figures are available. [307264] Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the remit is of the Mr. Coaker: The available information, based on independent adjudicator in respect of the Ofsted pupil registrations at primary schools in 2007/08, is complaints system. [309206] shown in the table. 727W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 728W

Primary schools1, number of pupils registered at a number of different local authorities to join up funding streams in support primary schools2, 3, England, 2007/08 of a long term strategic approach to capital investment Total number of (different) across the primary school estate, which will include 1 2, 3 primary school registrations Number of pupils providing sufficient permanent school places where they 1 3,184,050 are wanted. Our expectation, therefore, is that all investment 2 106,190 in primary schools should support the strategic objectives 3 4,680 outlined in each authority’s primary strategy for change. 4 300 Decisions about investment priorities and how these 540should be funded are rightly matters for local determination. 10 0 On 30 November 2009, the Department confirmed 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. funding of up to £300 million to support the provision 2 Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who were of additional primary places in authorities experiencing aged between five and 15 as at 31 August 2007, excluding boarders. exceptional growth in the number of primary pupils. 3 Includes sole and dually registered pupils. Pupils may register at a This is on top of more than £1.2 billion already available particular school but decide to attend a different school, and it is possible for this to lead to two registrations being reported. to local authorities collectively from 2008 until 2011 to Note: help them provide permanent new places in areas of Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. population growth. Source: School Census. Pupils Exclusions: Disadvantaged Primary Education: Capital Investment Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Children, Schools and Families how many and what Schools and Families whether local authorities with proportion of white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for projected rises in pupil numbers are able to use funding free school meals were given (i) permanent and (ii) from the Primary Capital Programme to build new fixed-period exclusions in each of the last five years. schools; and if he will make a statement. [308177] [309718]

Mr. Coaker: There is nothing to prevent local authorities Mr. Coaker: Information for 2007/08 is shown in the from using the funding delivered for the Primary Capital table. programme to provide new primary school places where To provide information for further years would incur there is need. The Primary Capital programme challenges disproportionate cost.

Primary, secondary and special schools.1,2,3 Number and percentage of pupil enrolments receiving one or more fixed period exclusions or a permanent exclusion by pupil characteristics,4 England, 2007/08 (Estimates)5 Permanent exclusion5 One or more fixed period exclusions Number of pupil enrolments eligible for Number of pupil enrolments free school meals whose Percentage of applicable eligible for free school meals Percentage of applicable ethnicity is white6,7 school population8 whose ethnicity is white6,7 school population8

Boys 1,730 0.49 31,450 8.87 Girls 510 0.15 12,490 3.68 Total 2,230 0.32 43,930 6.33 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. 4 Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than one school or changed schools during the year. 5 Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. 6 Includes only pupils of compulsory school age and above. Free school meal eligibility as at the time of the January 2008 School Census. 7 Includes pupils of white British ethnicity only. 8 The number of pupil enrolments who received exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) by those pupils eligible for free school meals and of white British ethnic origin, in January 2008. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census

Pupils: Disadvantaged Schools

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which (a) primary and Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, (b) secondary schools in each local authority area he Schools and Families how many and what proportion has visited since his appointment; and on what date of children in each school were entitled to free school each such visit took place. [305352] meals on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [309511] Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 8 December 2009]: The following table shows the (a) primary and (b) secondary schools that the Secretary of State has Ms Diana R. Johnson: The information requested has visited since his appointment, their local authority area, been placed in the House Libraries. and the date the visit took place. 729W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 730W

Date Local authority

Primary schools Seagrave Primary School 6 July 2007 Nottingham Scawsby Rosedale Primary School 13 July 2007 Doncaster Scawthorpe Castle Hills Primary School 13 July 2007 Doncaster Woodberry Down Community Primary School 7 September 2007 Hackney St. John the Baptist Catholic 28 September 2007 Wakefield Morley Newlands Primary Schools 12 October 2007 Leeds Scawsby Rosedale Primary School 19 October 2007 Doncaster East Ardsley Primary School 19 October 2007 Leeds Millbank Primary School 20 November 2007 Westminster Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 23 November 2007 Wakefield Cardwell Primary School 10 December 2007 Greenwich Normanton Altofts Junior School 14 December 2007 Wakefield Laycock Primary School 19 December 2007 Islington Deans Primary Schools 21 January 2008 Salford Westfield Community School 21 January 2008 Wigan Green Dragon Primary School 23 January 2008 Hounslow Joseph Lancaster Primary School 6 March 2008 Southwark Argyle School 14 March 2008 Camden Wyvil Primary School 20 March 2008 Lambeth Normanton Common Primary School 4 April 2008 Wakefield Wentworth Primary School 24 April 2009 Kent Normanton Junior School 23 May 2008 Wakefield Chesterton Primary School 17 June 2008 Wandsworth Suffield Park Infant and Nursery School 20 June 2008 Norfolk St. Matthew’s School 1 July 2008 Westminster Churchill Garden Community Primary School 8 July 2008 Westminster Cobblers Lane Primary School 11 July 2008 Wakefield Stanley St. Peter’s CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 11 July 2008 Wakefield Normanton Common Primary School 12 September 2008 Wakefield Chingford Hall Community Primary School 15 October 2008 Waltham Forest Hillcrest Community Primary School 24 October 2008 Leeds Eastwood Primary School 24 October 2008 Leeds John Perryn Primary School 7 November 2008 Ealing Rooks Nest Junior, Infant and Nursery 14 November 2008 Wakefield Horbury Primary School 5 December 2008 Wakefield Torriano School 8 December 2008 Camden Bawburgh School 19 December 2008 Norfolk Eastward Community Primary School 7 January 2009 Bury Drove Primary School 9 February 2009 Swindon Hardwick Primary School 6 March 2009 Derby Bordesley Green Primary School 13 March 2009 Birmingham Victoria Dock School 20 March 2009 Kingston Upon Hull, City of Collis Primary School 20 April 2009 Richmond Upon Thames Brockholes Wood County Primary School 23 April 2009 Lancashire Oliver Goldsmith Primary School 30 April 2009 Southwark Lyndhurst Community Primary School 22 June 2009 Southwark Portway Primary School 3 September 2009 Newham Colebourne Primary School 7 September 2009 Birmingham Tyssen Community Primary School 9 September 2009 Hackney Newton Primary School 16 September 2009 Cheshire West and Chester Hillcrest Community Primary School 9 October 2009 Leeds Loughborough Primary School 15 October 2009 Lambeth Thornhill Primary School 20 October 2009 Islington Crossdale Drive Primary School 20 November 2009 Nottinghamshire Shirley Junior School 23 November 2009 Southampton Catton Grove Primary School 24 November 2009 Norfolk

Secondary schools Preston Manor High School 10 July 2007 Brent Banbury School 16 July 2007 Oxfordshire Morpeth School 18 July 2007 Tower Hamlets Sydney Smith School 27 July 2007 Kingston Upon Hull - City of Stockwell Park High School 13 September 2007 Lambeth 731W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 732W

Date Local authority

Stoke Newington School 20 September 2007 Hackney The King’s School Specialising in Mathematics and Computing 28 September 2007 Wakefield Barking Abbey School 9 October 2007 Barking and Dagenham St. Augustine’s CofE High School 16 October 2007 Westminster New Brompton College 30 October 2007 Medway The Skinners’ Company’s School for Girls (Voluntary Aided) 7 November 2007 Hackney Woodkirk High Specialist Science School 9 November 2007 Leeds Bitterne Park School 14 November 2007 Southampton All Saints Church of England School 29 November 2007 Dorset Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Secondary School 5 December 2007 Southwark Garforth Community College 14 December 2007 Leeds Reddish Vale Technology College 21 January 2008 Stockport Brighton College 07 March 2008 Brighton and Hove Castleford High School Technology and Sports College 4 April 2008 Wakefield Aylesford School 30 April 2008 Kent The Malling School 30 April 2008 Kent Holmesdale Technology College 30 April 2008 Kent Kings School 9 May 2008 Wakefield Kingsbury High School 9 June 2008 Brent Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School 12 June 2008 Gateshead Thornaby Community School 12 June 2008 Stockton-on-Tees Blakeston School - A Community Sports College 12 June 2008 Stockton-on-Tees Kelmscott School 16 June 2008 Waltham Forest Graveney School 16 June 2008 Wandsworth Aston Manor School 19 June 2008 Birmingham Lordswood Girls’ School and The Sixth Form Centre, Harborne A 19 June 2008 Birmingham Specialist Media Arts College Yavneh College Voluntary Aided 20 June 2008 Hertfordshire Whitefield School 26 June 2008 Barnet The Hayfield School 27 June 2008 Doncaster The Freeston Business and Enterprise College, Voluntary Controlled 27 June 2008 Wakefield Thomas Tallis School 1 July 2008 Greenwich Kirk Hallam Community Technology College 4 July 2008 Derbyshire Bennerley Business and Enterprise College 4 July 2008 Derbyshire Bramcote Hills Sport and Community College 4 July 2008 Nottinghamshire Ashfield Comprehensive School 4 July 2008 Nottinghamshire Durham Johnston Comprehensive School 18 July 2008 Durham Aston Manor School 8 September 2008 Birmingham Kelmscott School 10 September 2008 Waltham Forest Highlands School 15 September 2008 Enfield Featherstone Technology College 26 September 2008 Wakefield Sir James Smith’s Community School 2 October 2008 Cornwall Lipson Community College 2 October 2008 Plymouth Tamarside Community College 2 October 2008 Plymouth Hatch End High School 8 October 2008 Harrow The Cathedral School (Voluntary Controlled) 10 October 2008 Wakefield The Bankfield School 23 October 2008 Halton Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School (Voluntary Aided) 23 October 2008 Warrington Cheney School 3 November 2008 Oxfordshire Banbury School 3 November 2008 Oxfordshire Greenhead High School 7 November 2008 Bradford Pudsey Grangefield School 14 November 2008 Leeds The Freeston Business and Enterprise College, Voluntary Controlled 14 November 2008 Wakefield Notre Dame High School (Voluntary Aided) 19 December 2008 Norfolk Broad Oak Sports College 7 January 2009 Bury Morley High School 8 January 2009 Leeds Perry Beeches School 5 February 2009 Birmingham Ossett School 6 February 2009 Wakefield Beechwood School 9 February 2009 Slough Churchfields School 9 February 2009 Swindon Sutherland Business and Enterprise College 11 February 2009 Telford and Wrekin Manor Church of England Voluntary Aided School, York 4 March 2009 York Boston Spa School 6 March 2009 Leeds Vermuyden School 20 March 2009 East Riding of Yorkshire Portchester School 15 April 2009 Bournemouth 733W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 734W

Date Local authority

East Barnet School 20 April 2009 Barnet Southlands High School 23 April 2009 Lancashire Harrop Fold School 23 April 2009 Salford Thrybergh School and Sports College 1 May 2009 Rotherham Holyhead School 11 May 2009 Birmingham Rodillian School 19 June 2009 Leeds Fulham Cross Girls’ School and Language College 30 June 2009 Hammersmith and Fulham Langdon School 2 July 2009 Newham Newall Green High School 9 July 2009 Manchester Horbury School 10 July 2009 Wakefield Acland Burghley 16 July 2009 Camden Sidney Stringer School 20 July 2009 Coventry Twyford CE High School (Voluntary Aided) 10 September 2009 Ealing The Hathershaw College of Technology and Sport 11 September 2009 Oldham Cowley Language College 16 September 2009 St. Helens Neston High School 16 September 2009 Cheshire West and Chester Malton School 2 October 2009 North Yorkshire Cockermouth School 23 October 2009 Cumbria Southfield Technology College 23 October 2009 Cumbria Wakefield City High School 13 November 2009 Wakefield Upper Shirley High School 23 November 2009 Southampton

Academies (including all-through education establishments) West London Academy 13 July 2007 Ealing Outwood Grange College of Technology 20 July 2009 Wakefield Bristol Brunel Academy 6 September 2007 City of Bristol City of London Academy 31 October 2007 Southwark Francis Combe Academy 29 February 2008 Hertfordshire George Salter Collegiate Academy 29 February 2008 Sandwell The Petchey Academy 14 May 2008 Hackney Haberdashers’ Askes’s Knights Academy 10 June 2008 Lewisham Unity City Academy 18 July 2008 Middlesbrough The Bridge Academy 10 September 2008 Hammersmith and Fulham City of London Academy - Islington 10 September 2008 Islington Globe Academy 10 September 2008 Southwark Evelyn Grace Academy 10 September 2009 Lambeth New Rickstones Academy 10 September 2009 Essex Bristol Metropolitan Academy 1 October 2008 City of Bristol Oasis Academy MediaCityUK 23 October 2008 Salford Burlington Danes Academy 19 November 2008 Hammersmith and Fulham City of London Academy 17 March 2009 Southwark The City Academy 7 September 2009 Hackney Parkwood Academy 7 September 2009 Sheffield South Leeds Academy 7 September 2009 Leeds

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance £149 million and 32 exemplar projects—20 new build and 12 refurbishment—have already been completed. Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, The programme commits to renewing at least half of all Schools and Families (1) how many schools have been primary schools by 2022-23, and national output refurbished through the Primary Capital Programme; assumptions are that 5 per cent. of schools in the worst how many of them were found to have asbestos in the condition will be rebuilt or taken out of commission course of the refurbishment; and how many had that and 45 per cent. refurbished. asbestos removed; [309983] Responsibility for prioritisation and procurement of (2) how much has been spent on refurbishing schools specific projects rests with individual local authorities through the Primary Capital Programme; how much and information on those that involve asbestos removal has been spent dealing with asbestos during such will not be held centrally. Information on spend is not refurbishments; and if he will make a statement. yet available and the Department does not collect data [309984] on spend in relation to the removal of asbestos.

Mr. Coaker: The Primary Capital Programme was Teachers: Training rolled out to all local authorities from April 2009, supported by funding allocations of £755 million in Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009-10 and £893 million in 2010-11. In 2008-09, 23 Children, Schools and Families how many entrants regional “pathfinder” authorities received funding of there were to (a) primary school and (b) secondary 735W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 736W school teaching through (i) Graduate Teacher Programme, Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the oral (ii) a Postgraduate Certificate of Education, (iii) TeachFirst statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary and (iv) a Bachelor of Education degree in the last year of State on 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 42, for which figures are available. [307327] for the Government’s assessment of the Copenhagen Conference. Mr. Coaker: The available information is given in the At home, the UK’s Low Carbon Transition Plan table and shows the number of trainees gaining qualified provides a long-term vision to make the UK a low teacher status (QTS) by the requested routes and phase carbon economy while maximising economic opportunities, of training. maintaining secure energy supplies and protecting the Numbers of undergraduate QTS completers are not most vulnerable in society. No changes are envisaged held separately for BEds, BAs or BScs with QTS. following the immediate outcomes of the Copenhagen Teachers gaining QTS by route and phase of training, 2007/08, conference. England Departmental Conferences ITT course type Primary Secondary Total Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State Graduate Teacher 1,620 3,210 4,820 for Energy and Climate Change how much was spent Programme by his Department on conferences they organised Postgraduate 7,920 12,340 20,260 which were subsequently cancelled in each of the last Teach First Programme 0 270 270 three years; and what the title was of each such Undergraduate (BA or 5,340 870 6,210 conference. [308825] BSc with QTS, or BEd) Notes: Joan Ruddock: For the duration of DECC’s existence 1. Excludes cases where QTS was granted primarily as a result of (approximately one year) there has been nil spend on assessment-based training. 2. Figures for secondary also include those for key stage 2-3. conferences cancelled. 3. Other routes to QTS not presented here include: Overseas Trained Departmental Information and Communications Teacher programme; and the Registered Teacher programme. 4. The recruitment figures for Teach First are starters at the Teach Technology First summer institute. This is the most comparable indicator to ‘entrants’ via other ITT routes. Teach First is mainly secondary but Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for there is a pilot of 30 primary places spread across 2008/09 and 2009/ 10. Energy and Climate Change on what pay band his 5. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Department’s chief information officer (CIO) is employed; Source: whether the CIO is employed on a fixed-term or permanent TDA’s Performance Profiles. contract; and what the size is of the budget for which the CIO is responsible in the period 2009-10. [307567]

Joan Ruddock: The Department’s chief information ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE officer is an SCS Pay Band 1. The post is currently filled Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency by a permanent civil servant on loan to DECC. The Scheme CIO’s delegated budget for 2009-10 is £10.961 million. Departmental Sick Leave Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what methodology will be used to Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State determine the cost to local authorities which do not for Energy and Climate Change how many days sickness reduce their emissions below their baseline of the absence have been taken by staff in his Department in purchase of carbon allowances under the Carbon each month of 2009-10; and at what cost. [308573] Reduction Commitment (CRC); and what he expects the average expenditure of a local authority on such allowances to be in the first year of the implementation Joan Ruddock: The Department encourages a culture where good attendance is expected and valued. However, of the CRC. [308698] it recognises from time to time absences for medical Joan Ruddock: Any costs (or financial benefits) attributed reasons may be unavoidable. The Department aims to to local authorities or other CRC participants will be treat its staff who are ill with sympathy and fairness and based on a participant’s relative placing in the CRC where possible provide them with support which will league table. The expenditure of a local authority or enable them to recover their health and return to work. other CRC participant on the purchase of carbon The number of days of sickness absence taken by allowances cannot be forecast as it will depend on a staff in DECC in each of the last 12 months could be range of factors including participants’ planned energy calculated only by incurring disproportionate cost. However, efficiency improvements and their approach to risk the total number of working days lost due to sickness in management. the year to 30 September 2009 (the latest available Climate Change: International Cooperation figure) is 2,521, an average of 2.6 days per employee. The Department does not routinely calculate the Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for number of staff who have received sick pay. As this Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has would involve manually investigating employee sickness made of the effects of the outcomes of the Copenhagen records and pay details on an individual basis, the cost climate change conference on his Department’s policies. of doing this would be disproportionate to the benefit [309315] to be derived. 737W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 738W

Departmental Training subsidies or awards to the University of East Anglia in each financial year since 1998; and how much was Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for assigned to the University’s Climatic Research Unit in Energy and Climate Change how many sessions of each such year. [310258] media training were organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years. [309911] Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply. The following table shows the total value of awards Joan Ruddock: Ministers have not received any media made by the Natural Environment Research Council training since the creation of the Department in October (NERC) to the university of East Anglia (UEA) in each 2008. year from 1998 to 2009. It also includes the value of any of these awards categorised as climate or climate-related. Energy: Housing Figures for awards specifically to the Climatic Research Unit are not available. NERC believes, however, that Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy grants made to Climatic Research Unit researchers and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of comprise a minor fraction of the climate and climate-related the unit cost of (a) subsidising and (b) funding the investment at UEA shown in the table. provision of (i) energy-efficient light bulbs and (ii) insulation for a home. [308700] £ Value of awards Climate or climate- Joan Ruddock: The main route by which insulation related and energy efficient light bulbs are promoted to households 1998 948,384.94 62,882.10 is through the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. This 1999 11,287,324.06 402,827.36 is an obligation on energy suppliers to meet household 2000 1,941,181.48 323,862.26 carbon emission saving targets. The suppliers unit cost of purchase and the level of subsidy they employ is 2001 1,748,299.40 49,126.90 commercial in confidence. Government estimates for 2002 2,863,353.23 496,085.72 the total unit cost of compact fluorescent lights (including 2003 2,962,350.43 380,176.50 administrative costs) is around £1.41, and for cavity 2004 4,799,174.17 535,019.81 wall insulation is around £455. There are a number of 2005 1,221,937.41 154,244.23 variables which impact the estimates for the level of 2006 5,629,314.61 1,437,330.11 subsidy suppliers employ, including whether the household 2007 4,274,160.15 1,002,880.45 is a priority group or non priority group customer and 2008 3,493,268.34 292,047.28 whether it is in social housing. For example, for cavity 2009 1,713,297.00 66,303.42 wall insulation in non social housing, estimates for Total 42,882,045.22 5,202,786.14 energy supplier subsidy is on average just under 100 per cent. for priority group households and just over 50 per Tidal Power cent. for non priority group households. Hotels Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of Seagen’s tidal stream Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy project technology located in Strangford Lough and its and Climate Change how many hotel room nights were possible application in other waters of the United booked by officials in (a) his Department and (b) its Kingdom, with particular reference to the River agencies in each year since its inception; and how much Thames; and if he will make a statement. [309662] (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on the fees of third party agents in booking hotel accommodation Mr. Kidney: Funding bodies such as Technology Strategy in each of those years. [309053] Board and Carbon Trust who have provided funding to the Seagen project have made assessments of the technology, Joan Ruddock: Since its inception on 3 October 2008 which is the most advanced tidal stream technology. and from information held centrally, the number of hotel room nights booked by officials in my Department It is for developers to determine where the most by November 2009 totalled 1,006. Additionally some suitable locations are to deploy their devices. The UK officials booked accommodation using their Government tidal stream resource has been mapped by a project procurement cards (GPCs) and to provide details of team led by APB Marine Environmental Research and each transaction would entail disproportionate cost. this can be viewed at Hotel accommodation is provided through a cross- http://www.renewables-atlas.info/ Government hotel booking agent contract awarded by Buying Solutions. Records of fees paid are not centrally recorded and to provide this information would entail disproportionate cost. DEFENCE Natural Environment Research Council: University of Equipment and Vehicles: Afghanistan East Anglia 16. Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether new equipment and vehicles being Energy and Climate Change how much the Natural introduced for use in Afghanistan are available for Environment Research Council has provided in grants, pre-deployment training. [309580] 739W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 740W

Mr. Quentin Davies: There is always a difficult balance At the end of 2009, we and the United States marines to strike when we provide new equipment and vehicles provide security for over 50 per cent. of the Helmand for operations in Afghanistan. We want to allow our population, which is set to increase in 2010. deployed forces to take advantage of the latest equipment as soon as possible. On the other hand, they must be Veteran Support thoroughly trained on the equipment they use before they face the enemy. 21. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for We endeavour to deploy complete equipment capability, Defence what recent assessment he has made of the which is a combination of trained manpower and adequacy of support provided by his Department to sustainable equipment. To do this, often the first delivery service personnel leaving the armed forces; and if he of a new items of equipment is required for training to will make a statement. [309587] ensure the best effect is achieved from the new capability once deployed. That said, there can be occasions, Mr. Kevan Jones: Although the great majority of particularly with less complex equipments, when it makes service personnel make a successful transition from the sense to strike a different balance and train in theatre. armed forces to civilian life, the Ministry of Defence recognises that it can be a daunting experience. Therefore, Skill Force my Department remains committed to supporting service leavers in making this important step. I am satisfied that the existing resettlement arrangements 18. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for offered to service leavers by my Department remain Defence whether his Department has provided support robust and effective. However, resettlement arrangements to Skillforce to place former service training personnel are kept under constant review, to ensure that the needs in employment in secondary schools in Nottingham. of service leavers are met. [309583] The last major assessment of my Department’s Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has been a resettlement provision was undertaken in 2007 by the firm supporter of Skill Force since the idea of using National Audit Office. retired service personnel to re-motivate young people The NAO commended the assistance offered to service was first suggested and inspired its creation in 2000. leavers in helping them transition to civilian life, and Skill Force has received a grant of £30,000 from the found that 94 per cent. of service personnel who were Ministry of Defence towards a Two YearPilot Internship seeking work using the Career Transition Partnership Programme for personnel recovering from physical and services were in employment within six months of leaving psychological injuries and illness as part of their the armed forces. rehabilitation pathway and a lieutenant-colonel is currently UK-US Defence Cooperation Treaty seconded full time to manage the programme. No interns have yet been placed in the Nottinghamshire 22. Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for area. This is because locations for interns reflect their Defence what recent discussions he has had with his personal preferences. US counterpart on the ratification of the UK-US defence co-operation treaty. [309588] Southern Afghanistan Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I speak to Secretary Gates regularly, 19. Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for and the UK-US Defence Trade Cooperation treaty is a Defence what assessment has been made of the frequent subject of discussion. My Cabinet colleagues, implications for UK forces in southern Afghanistan of other Ministers and senior officials also raise the treaty the recent US decision on troop numbers. [309584] regularly with their counterparts, and we look forward to early ratification. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We welcome the US announcement that it will deploy additional forces to Southern Afghanistan. Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region These additional troops will have a positive impact in increasing ISAF capacity to conduct security operations Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in the south and to train and partner the Afghan what recent assessment he has made of the security National Security Forces. threat posed by the Taliban in the Afghanistan- We continue to work closely with our American Pakistan border region. [309573] counterparts and ISAF commanders to determine the best allocation of tasks in Southern Afghanistan. Mr. Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security threat posed by the Taliban in the Security Situation: Afghanistan Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. [309581]

20. Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Bill Rammell: The threat posed by the Taliban remains Defence what his most recent assessment is of the serious. On both sides of the border efforts to bring security situation in Afghanistan. [309586] stability and operations to constrict the Insurgents’ ability to operate continue. Bill Rammell: We recognise that the security situation This approach was set out by the Prime Minister in in Afghanistan remains serious, however, in the past our April 2009 policy document “Afghanistan-Pakistan: year much has been achieved. The Way Forward”. 741W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 742W

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations and periodic visits to front line command operational units to seek user feedback on equipment. There have Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for been no defect reports or concerns relating to the Defence what recent assessment he has made of the performance of in-service items. A trial was recently security situation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border carried out to compare the in-service waterproof clothing region. [309582] with two commercially available products, from two suppliers, in which the in-service waterproof clothing Bill Rammell: The threat posed by the Taleban remains performed extremely well. serious. On both sides of the border efforts to bring stability and operations to constrict the insurgents’ Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for ability to operate continue. Defence if he will introduce the taped seam clothing specification developed for waterproof clothing as part This approach was set out by the Prime Minister in of his Department’s Personal Equipment and our April 2009 Policy Document ‘Afghanistan-Pakistan: Common Operational Clothing programme. [309645] The Way Forward’. Mr. Quentin Davies: The Personal Equipment and Air Force: Military Bases Common Operational Clothing Programme is an ongoing project, and no decisions about whether to change the Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence specification of waterproof clothing have yet been made. pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2009, Official Report, column 90W, on the Royal Air Force: military Colombia: Military Aid bases, what provision of the Data Protection Act 1999 governs the withholding of the name of each base Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for commander requested in the question; and if he will Defence how many UK service personnel are assigned make a statement. [309128] to duties in Colombia. [309568]

Bill Rammell: In accordance with the Data Protection Bill Rammell: There are currently two military personnel Act 1998 the names of the RAF commanders are assigned to diplomatic duties and attached to the British classed as personal data. Section 1(1) of the Act defines embassy in Bogota. In addition, there are a small number ’personal data’ as information which relate to a living of personnel conducting counter narcotics capacity building individual, who can be identified from the data. The activities. First Data Principle requires that personal data have to Military Aircraft: Helicopters be processed fairly and lawfully and to allow disclosure has to meet one of the conditions contained in Schedule Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for 2. One of the conditions is the consent of the person. In Defence what his policy is on the future of cases where the individual’s personal details have already manufacturing of Chinook helicopters in the UK; and been made public they would had to have provided if he will make a statement. [309481] consent, which would fulfil the first condition contained at Schedule 2 of the Act. Mr. Quentin Davies: The intent to purchase 22 new The names of the Station Commanders for RAF Chinook helicopters was announced on 15 December Wyton, RAF Digby and RAF St. Mawgan were incorrectly 2009, Official Report, columns 99-100WS. The place of omitted from the reply given on 7 December 2009, final assembly of these helicopters will be decided later Official Report, column 90W due to an administrative this year, and will be based on ensuring that the aircraft error. Their names are shown as follows: are delivered at the rate and quality required and in the most cost-effective manner. Through Life support of Base Position Name/Rank our Chinook fleet will continue to be carried out in the UK with our industrial partners. RAF Wyton Station Commander Group Captain Smith Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for RAF Brampton Defence when the first Chinook reverted from HC3 to RAF Henlow HC2 will be deployed to Afghanistan. [308612] Mr. Quentin Davies: The first of eight Chinook HC3 RAF Digby Station Commander Group Captain Bailey aircraft, reverted to HC2 Support Helicopter standard, was delivered for training purposes in November 2009, and is therefore already fulfilling tasking commitments RAF St. Mawgan Station Commander Wing Commander Loader as part of the wider Chinook fleet. A second Chinook is scheduled for delivery shortly, when it will also be available for training purposes. The remaining six aircraft Armed Forces: Uniforms will be delivered during the course of 2010 and delivery is expected to be complete by the end of the year. This Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for will allow us to deploy more Chinooks to Afghanistan Defence what recent assessment he has made of the in the course of 2010. effectiveness of waterproof clothing issued to members of the armed services. [309644] Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many combat-ready helicopters are Mr. Quentin Davies: Performance of in-service items stationed at the British Sovereign Base Area of (a) is assessed in two ways: defect reports from the users Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia. [309084] 743W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 744W

Bill Rammell: There are no combat-ready helicopters Mr. Michael Foster: The information requested is not stationed at the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri or held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to Dhekelia. provide. Radioactive Materials: Transport Overseas Aid: Uganda

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for whether the high security vehicles for the transfer of International Development if he will make provision of special nuclear materials are still in service. [308189] aid by his Department to Uganda conditional on a removal of anti-homosexual legislation and ending of Bill Rammell: In support of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, public statements of anti-gay prejudice by Ugandan High Security Vehicles are used to transport special government ministers. [308142] nuclear material between the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield and the Royal Naval Armament Mr. Thomas: Aid provided by the Department for Depot Coulport. These vehicles are planned to remain International Development (DFID) to Uganda is in service until they are replaced by the Truck Cargo conditional on progress in reducing poverty, strengthening Heavy Duty Mk 3. As I told the hon. Member in the financial management and respecting human rights and answer I gave on 10 November 2009, Official Report, international obligations. Recent assessments of human column 237W, these are planned to be brought into rights in Uganda indicate mixed progress. The UK service by the end of 2010. Government, alongside the EU, US, French, Canadian Yemen: Military Aid and Swedish Governments, has lobbied intensely against the introduction of new anti-homosexual legislation in Uganda. We are monitoring this situation closely. DFID Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for will continue to take the human rights situation into Defence how many UK armed forces personnel are account when making decisions on funding to Uganda. based in Yemen; and what their role is. [309637] St. Helena: Airports Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will deploy UK armed forces personnel Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for to Yemen. [309739] International Development what recent progress has Mr. Bob Ainsworth: As my right hon. Friend the been made on deciding upon air access options for St Foreign Secretary told the House on 5 January 2010, Helena. [309106] Official Report, column 21, we are pursuing a cross- governmental strategy in Yemen based on addressing Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the the causes of conflict, support for political structures, statement the Secretary of State for International building Yemeni capacity to tackle security, and helping Development made on 15 December 2009, Official Report, the Yemeni Government to deliver the functions of columns 114-15WS on St. Helena. the state. Tony Blair The Ministry of Defence is fully engaged in this strategy, and there are currently two UK military personnel Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for in the Defence Section of the UK embassy in Yemen, International Development how many officials of his whose role is to advise the ambassador on defence issues. Department are presently seconded to support Tony Our relationship with Yemen, as with many other Blair in his role as Middle East peace envoy; what countries, also includes work on counter-terrorism. At procedure is in place for those officials to report the invitation of the Government of Yemen we are formally to their home Department; and whether they providing a training and mentoring programme for the remain subject to the Civil Service code. [309247] Yemen Coast Guard and we are also offering training to the Counter Terrorist police unit. It is not the practice Mr. Michael Foster: At present the Department for of the Government to make public the details of such International Development (DFID) has one person assistance to individual countries as this would, or seconded to the Office of the Quartet Representative would be likely to, prejudice international relations. (OQR). This secondee is tasked on a day-to-day basis We will continue to offer support to the Government by the Head of the OQR, but reports formally to the of Yemen and will consider any further requests for Head of DFID’s office in Jerusalem. As the secondee training assistance. continues to be a UK civil servant, they is still subject to the Civil Service code.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Hotels International Development on what date (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department last met Tony Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Blair in his capacity as Middle East peace envoy. International Development how many hotel room [309249] nights were booked by officials in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each year since 2007; and how Mr. Michael Foster: Tony Blair was appointed the much (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on Representative of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet the fees of third party agents in booking hotel (the United Nations, Russian Federation, United States, accommodation in each of those years. [309059] and European Union) in June 2007. There have been no 745W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 746W formal meetings between Tony Blair and the Secretary US$24.8 million) and the final year of our institutional of State for International Development, or other Ministers strengthening programme with WFP (£2.8 million in the Department of International Development, since equivalent to US$5.0 million). he was appointed to this role. Staff from the Department for International Development’s office in Jerusalem are in regular contact HEALTH with the Office of the Quartet Representative, which is also based in Jerusalem. Alcoholism: Health Services

World Food Programme Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions there were for 16 Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for to 24 years olds in (a) Northamptonshire, (b) the East International Development whether his Department’s Midlands and (c) England in each of the last three assessment of the benefits of the World Food Programme years. [308647] has changed in the last three years. [309793] Gillian Merron: The number of 16 to 24-year-olds Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International admitted to hospital with an alcohol-related diagnosis Development (DFID) delivers more humanitarian in Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England assistance through the World Food Programme (WFP) for the last three years is given in the table. The Department than through any other agency. does not collect data on the number of alcohol-related The UK Government continue to recognise the vital hospital admissions in Wales. role of the WFP in responding to emergencies around Data on alcohol-related admissions in Wales was the world, saving millions of lives. The WFP plays an published by the Welsh Assembly Government in their important role in emergency logistics, preparedness and annual publication Substance Misuse in Wales. However, disaster risk management and in fragile and post-conflict it is important to note that the methodology used to situations is often uniquely placed to help deliver effective produce this data differs from that used for England transitions to stability. and so the two sets of data are not comparable. WFP is also increasingly working to enhance long-term Number of hospital admissions of patients aged 16 to 24-year-olds with an food security. Examples include programmes to improve alcohol-related diagnosis, 2006-07 to 2008-09 nutrition and using their local purchasing power to 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 create markets for smallholder farmers. However the Northamptonshire 535 626 679 evidence base for the effectiveness of some interventions, East Midlands 3,396 4,488 4,518 especially in more stable development contexts, requires England 46,852 49,287 49,315 strengthening. Activity: Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for commissioned activity in the independent sector. International Development for what reason the UK Alcohol-related admissions: The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed contribution to the World Food Programme has been by the North West Public Health Observatory. reduced in real terms since 2008; on what projects or Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). programmes expenditure has been reduced as a Data quality: consequence; and if he will make a statement. [309795] Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned Mr. Michael Foster: UK direct contributions to WFP by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care in 2008 and 2009 were £89.9 million (equivalent to liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete US$169 million) and £81.7 million (equivalent to US$127.6 and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, million) respectively.These are the two highest contributions some shortcomings remain. in the period 2004-09. Our ranking among WFP’s donors Assessing growth through time: was similar (seventh in 2008 and eighth in 2009) and HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted our share of WFP’s total income (in US$ terms) was by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be almost the same (3.3 per cent. in 2008 and 3.2 per cent. borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for in 2009). In both years we contributed more to WFP later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. than to any other humanitarian agency or fund. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time Our contributions to WFP take into account the series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This different ways in which we can help protect the most may account for any reductions in activity over time. vulnerable. The main reason we contributed less to Assignment of episodes to years: WFP in some countries in 2009 is that while the food Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient’s hospital stay. price crisis of 2008 required an exceptional food assistance Source: response, the persisting problems of food insecurity Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and required a broader range of actions—not all involving Social Care WFP.For example in Bangladesh we are tackling chronic Babies: Screening food insecurity through our social protection, livelihoods and health/nutrition interventions. In Kenya we are Mr. Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health supporting NGOs who are specifically working on child what steps he plans to take to implement the malnutrition. recommendations of the NHS Human Tissue Authority Our 2008 funding was also boosted by the response Research Project entitled “Routine examination of the to Cyclone Nargis (£12.6 million equivalent to newborn: the EMREN study”. [308273] 747W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 748W

Ann Keen: Recommendations from research funded Gillian Merron: The information is not available in by the Health Technology Assessment Programme “Routine the format requested. Data is not held nationally on examination of the newborn: the EMREN study” (2004) children who have been diagnosed as clinically overweight. have been taken forward through: Children Trend table 4 in the “Health Survey for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical England—2008: trend tables” contains the percentage guideline “Intrapartum care: care of healthy women and their of children aged 2-10 and 11-16 in England who are babies during childbirth” (2007) which can be viewed at: overweight in each year between 1997 and 2008. This www.nice.org.uk/CG55 publication has been placed in the Library. the Royal College of Midwives’ practice guideline: “Evidence-based Further information on the proportion of children guidelines for midwifery-led care in labour” (2008) which can who are overweight in England is collected through the be viewed at: National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). Table www.rcm.org.uk/college/standards-and-practice/practice- A in the NCMP main report shows the prevalence of guidelines/ overweight children aged 4-5 years and 10-11 years in “Standards for Maternity Care”(2008) which include examination Milton Keynes PCT for 2006-09. Copies of the publications of the newborn, jointly developed by The Royal Colleges of: Midwives, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Anaesthetists, and have been placed in the Library. Paediatrics and Child Health. The document can be viewed at: www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/uploaded-files/ Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health WPRMaternityStandards2008.pdf (1) how many children under the age of 16 years old in (a) Leicester and (b) England were classified as (i) Carers overweight and (ii) obese at the latest date for which information is available; [308742] Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (2) how many children under the age of 16 years old what estimate has been made of the number of people diagnosed as diabetic were overweight or obese in each who have left full-time employment in the last three of the last five years. [308745] years to become a carer. [308149] Gillian Merron: The data are not available in the Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally. requested format. Carers: Tamworth Data showing the number of children in England who are overweight and obese have been published in the Health Survey for England—2008: trend tables. In Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the Population Number Estimate Tables, Table 6 contains how many people resident in Tamworth constituency the numbers of children aged two to 15-years-old who and aged over 60 were registered as carers in each year are overweight and obese. This table is available from since 2007. [309444] the following link: www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and- Phil Hope: Carers may register with a range of lifestyles-related-surveys/health-survey-for-england/health- organisations for different purposes—there is no single survey-for-england-2008-trend-tables register as such. A copy of the full report is available on the Information The NHS Information Centre for health and social Centre website at: care does not collect the number of registered carers. www.ic.nhs.uk The number of carers aged 65 and over offered an Data on the number of children under 16 with diabetes assessment or review by Staffordshire county council who are overweight or obese are not collected centrally. was 1,130 in 2007-08 and 1,260 in 2008-09 (provisional). Data at constituency level are not centrally available. Continuing Care

Children: Obesity Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients qualified for continuing Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for healthcare in each primary care trust area in each of Health what percentage of children between (a) five the last three years. [309312] and 10 and (b) 11 and 16 years old have been diagnosed as clinically overweight in (i) England and Phil Hope: The requested information is provided in (ii) Milton Keynes in each year since 1997. [308086] the following table.

Number receiving NHS continuing healthcare 2007-08 to 2009-10. Quarter Organisation code Organisation name 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

England 24,952 37,920 44,924

5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 126 518 561 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 96 285 309 5A9 Barnet PCT 242 363 431 5JE Barnsley PCT 51 70 176 5ET Bassetlaw PCT 17 38 58 749W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 750W

Number receiving NHS continuing healthcare 2007-08 to 2009-10. Quarter Organisation code Organisation name 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 158 234 213 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 172 151 226 5QG Berkshire East PCT 71 535 265 5QF Berkshire West PCT 268 186 193 TAK Bexley Care Trust 127 155 122 5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 147 220 258 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 49 46 65 5HP Blackpool PCT 55 230 64 5HQ Bolton PCT 119 175 277 5QN Bournemouth and Poole PCT 146 418 670 5NY Bradford and Airedale PCT 166 328 683 5K5 Brent PCT 583 344 510 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 156 154 176 5QJ Bristol PCT 86 295 366 5A7 Bromley PCT 168 173 219 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 0 375 421 5JX Bury PCT 22 42 79 5J6 Calderdale PCT 77 179 254 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 174 387 401 5K7 Camden PCT 166 115 181 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 100 293 402 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 206 288 305 5C3 City and Hackney PCT 175 218 143 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 541 684 718 5ND County Durham PCT 517 575 560 5MD Coventry PCT 836 449 331 5K9 Croydon PCT 215 311 325 5NE Cumbria PCT 140 142 240 5J9 Darlington PCT 63 120 173 5N7 Derby City PCT 152 248 332 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 218 816 848 5QQ Devon PCT 227 989 757 5N5 Doncaster PCT 153 410 306 5QM Dorset PCT 42 539 579 5PE Dudley PCT 277 214 322 5HX Ealing PCT 77 85 208 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 285 211 244 5NH East Lancashire PCT 116 190 144 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 35 86 177 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 181 181 254 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 329 406 304 5C1 Enfield PCT 168 239 223 5KF Gateshead PCT 116 93 121 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 61 280 465 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 43 86 103 5A8 Greenwich PCT 135 147 155 5NM Halton and St Helens PCT 100 326 672 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 94 200 135 5QC Hampshire PCT 1,076 1,940 1,685 5C9 Haringey PCT 185 238 285 5K6 Harrow PCT 306 320 246 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 152 125 112 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 56 155 89 5A4 Havering PCT 316 318 262 5MX Heart of Birmingham PCT 61 57 101 5CN Herefordshire PCT 52 218 267 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 82 139 104 5AT Hillingdon PCT 290 376 281 5HY Hounslow PCT 294 292 181 5NX Hull PCT 168 65 190 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 57 253 214 5K8 Islington PCT 127 95 103 751W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 752W

Number receiving NHS continuing healthcare 2007-08 to 2009-10. Quarter Organisation code Organisation name 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 140 205 200 5A5 Kingston PCT 71 83 111 5N2 Kirklees PCT 125 299 413 5J4 Knowsley PCT 56 148 183 5LD Lambeth PCT 120 176 174 5N1 Leeds PCT 520 784 774 5PC Leicester City PCT 103 162 213 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 187 312 426 5LF Lewisham PCT 113 145 206 5N9 Lincolnshire PCT 431 239 625 5NL Liverpool PCT 225 285 639 5GC Luton PCT 130 125 96 5NT Manchester PCT 128 219 354 5L3 Med way PCT 117 99 139 5PX Mid Essex PCT 273 201 184 5KM Middlesbrough PCT 88 148 118 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 63 65 81 5D7 Newcastle PCT 66 106 99 5C5 Newham PCT 55 223 149 5PQ Norfolk PCT 233 339 416 5PW North East Essex PCT 56 93 83 TAN North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus n/a 132 192 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 99 n/a n/a 5NF North Lancashire PCT 246 330 491 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 60 143 238 5M8 North Somerset PCT 34 129 218 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 121 146 202 5E1 North Tees PCT 96 221 308 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 102 170 152 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 245 386 757 5PD Northamptonshire PCT 397 476 783 TAC Northumberland Care Trust 213 216 277 5EM Nottingham City PCT 87 172 205 5N8 Nottinghamshire County PCT 212 433 659 5J5 Oldham PCT 122 244 282 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 145 441 563 5PN Peterborough PCT 123 66 124 5F1 Plymouth PCT 100 398 649 5FE Portsmouth City PCT 190 222 341 5NA Red bridge PCT 138 179 161 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 58 65 72 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 104 105 95 5H8 Rotherham PCT 82 164 71 5F5 Salford PCT 35 242 208 5PF Sandwell PCT 333 92 131 5NJ Sefton PCT 131 174 168 5N4 Sheffield PCT 99 414 670 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 80 280 580 TAM Solihull Care Trust 125 149 178 5QL Somerset PCT 120 254 452 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 76 115 209 5P1 South East Essex PCT 111 38 114 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 77 135 189 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 195 310 535 5KG South Tyneside PCT 156 89 96 5PY South West Essex PCT 67 49 43 5L1 Southampton City PCT 275 232 236 5LE Southwark PCT 119 151 128 5F7 Stockport PCT 82 192 339 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 133 141 168 5PT Suffolk PCT 49 190 299 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 203 257 275 753W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 754W

Number receiving NHS continuing healthcare 2007-08 to 2009-10. Quarter Organisation code Organisation name 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

5P5 Surrey PCT 388 641 739 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 187 216 251 5K3 Swindon PCT 54 73 156 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 103 195 200 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 180 221 324 TAL Torbay Care Trust 130 154 146 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 74 71 114 5NR Trafford PCT 56 60 90 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 159 190 235 5M3 Walsall PCT 47 272 345 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 109 131 183 5LG Wandsworth PCT 59 94 111 5J2 Warrington PCT 105 113 215 5PM Warwickshire PCT 311 659 881 5PV West Essex PCT 90 93 113 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 290 283 315 5P9 West Kent PCT 305 225 372 5P6 West Sussex PCT 365 592 207 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 93 135 152 5LC Westminster PCT 239 186 5 5QK Wiltshire PCT 135 315 453 5NK Wirral PCT 70 143 288 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 127 265 258 5PL Worcestershire PCT 270 362 384

Departmental Domestic Visits Gillian Merron: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research is supporting research relating to Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for diabetes in children and associated risk factors such as Health how many planned visits by Ministers in his obesity through the University College London Hospitals Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 biomedical research centre, and through its programme hours of the visit taking place in the last 12 months; grants for applied research and research for patient and what the planned venue or venues were for each benefit funding schemes. such visit. [309876] The Yorkshire register of diabetes in children and young people is funded by the Department’s policy Phil Hope: The information requested is not held research programme. Its aim is to describe the epidemiology centrally. of diabetes, investigate the molecular and environmental causes of the disease, and facilitate health services research. Diabetes: Young People Evaluation of the evidence base linking diet to chronic diabetes has informed Government policy on obesity as Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health set out in the strategy document, ‘Healthy Weight, how many children under the age of 16 years old are Healthy Lives,’and promoted via social marketing campaign being treated for diabetes in (a) England, (b) Leicester Change4Life. and (c) the East Midlands. [308737] The Department continues to monitor emerging research Ann Keen: Sufficient data to answer the question are findings in this area. not collected routinely. Participation in the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) is not mandatory. The NDA Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health does not have one hundred per cent. coverage or how much funding has been allocated for the prevention participation and therefore cannot provide the information of diabetes in children in the next 12 months. [308746] required. Gillian Merron: There are currently no evidence-based Data, from ‘Growing Up with Diabetes: Children interventions that can prevent onset of type 1 diabetes. and Young People with Diabetes in England’, reported Therefore, there is no specific funding allocated in the that in February 2009 there were 16,219 children under next 12 months for the prevention of type 1 diabetes in the age of 16 in England with diabetes and 950 children children. under the age of 16 in the East Midlands strategic health authority (SHA) with diabetes. Data are available at Type 2 diabetes is much rarer in children than type 1, SHA level only, not for individual primary care trusts. and there is a strong evidence base closely linking type 2 diabetes with obesity and inactivity. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health The Government are helping to prevent type 2 diabetes what research his Department has (a) commissioned in children through cross-government strategies like and (b) evaluated on the link between diet and ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives’ which has an aim to diabetes in children. [308743] reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children, 755W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 756W and schemes such as the £75 million Change4Life social General Practitioners: Musculoskeletal Disorders marketing programme, which helps individuals and families to make changes for a healthier lifestyle. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health We are investing in research into all areas of diabetes. what steps his Department is taking to enhance The Department and the Medical Research Council training for general practitioners in musculoskeletal jointly are currently investing around £51 million into medicine with a view to reducing the length of time diabetes related research. taken in referral, diagnosis and treatment. [309067]

Dieticians: Manpower Ann Keen: The content of curriculum and quality and standard of training for medical students and general practitioners is not the responsibility of the Department Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health but the responsibility of the appropriate professional how many vacancies there were for dieticians in the regulatory body. national health service on average in each of the last However, the Department is committed to working five years. [310466] with the professional regulatory bodies, Royal Colleges and others to promote high standards of education and Ann Keen: Dieticians are not separately identified in training to ensure that students and doctors are equipped the NHS Workforce Census. Dieticians are, however, with the up to date knowledge, skills and attitudes included within the category of dietetics. The following essential for professional practice. table outlines the three-month vacancy numbers, for the period March 2005 to March 2009, and total vacancy Health Services: Armed Forces numbers, for the period March 2008 to March 2009, for the dietetics specialty. Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Dietetic vacancy numbers Health what recent assessment he has made of progress Three-month vacancies1 towards implementing the commitments made in the document The nation’s commitment: cross-government March each year support to our armed forces, their families and 2005 87 veterans. [309491] 2006 38 2007 30 Mr. Mike O’Brien: The first annual report of the 2008 12 External Reference Group on progress in meeting the 2009 28 commitments contained in the Command Paper, “The 1 Three-month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March which trusts Nation’s Commitment: Cross-Government support to are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more. our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans” was published on 19 November 2009. All of the health Doctors: Working Hours commitments for which the Department has responsibility have been delivered or, in the case of longer term Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for commitments, on course for delivery. Health how much PA Consulting is being paid to assist Copies of the report have already been placed in the Sir John Temple with his review of medical training Library. under European Working Time Regulations. [309649] Home Care Services Ann Keen: Professor Sir John Temple’s review is Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health looking into the impact of the European Working Time what his policy is on the creation of independent provider Directive on the quality of postgraduate training for arms for community care. [309438] doctors, dentists, pharmacists and healthcare scientists. The review follows concerns raised by some professional Mr. Mike O’Brien: ‘NHS Next Stage Review: Our groups, trainees and trainers and it was important to Vision for Primary and Community Care’, (Department undertake an independent and objective assessment. of Health July 2008) made a commitment to support Sir John is the review’s independent chair and is the national health service in making local decisions on carrying out the work on behalf of Medical Education the governance and organisational models that best England. He is being supported by PA Consulting and underpin the development of flexible, responsive community their work on this complex project will include a wide services. ‘Enabling New Patterns of Provision’(Department range of evidence gathering activities with a large number of Health, January 2009) set out best practice guidance of professional stakeholders. The contract is worth for primary care trusts (PCTs) to support them to make £297,000. decisions on the most appropriate organisational form or forms for delivery of their directly provided community services. This followed a requirement in the ‘Operating Drugs: Young Offender Institutions Framework 2008-09’ that they must have moved into a contractual relationship with the community provider Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for function and achieve business readiness by April 2009. Health how many and what proportion of inmates of The ‘Operating Framework 2010-11’ (Department of young offenders’ institutions were treated for drug Health, 16 December 2009) sets out that by March 2010 addiction in each of the last three years. [310068] PCTs must have agreed with strategic health authorities proposals for the future organisational structure of all Phil Hope: The information requested is not available. current PCT-provided community services. 757W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 758W

‘NHS Next Stage Review: Our Vision for Primary wait for admitted patients was 3.8 weeks, and for non-admitted and Community Care’, ‘Enabling New Patterns of patients 5.6 weeks. Referral to treatment data is not collected to Provision’ and ‘Operating Framework 2010-11’ have the level of specific treatments. already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department’s website at: Hotels www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/index.htm Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Mr. Stephen O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State how many hotel room nights were booked by officials for Health for what reasons the Green Paper on Shaping in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each year the Future of Care Together did not refer to the since 2007; and how much (i) his Department and (ii) Government’s policy on there being no cash losers its agencies spent on the fees of third party agents in among existing benefit recipients after the implementation booking hotel accommodation in each of those years. of a National Care Service. [310098] [309054]

Phil Hope: The Green Paper, ‘Shaping the Future of Phil Hope: Hotel bookings by civil servants are Care and Support Together’, made clear that if we undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code reform disability benefits as part of the National Care and the Civil Service Management Code respectively, Service, anyone receiving an affected benefit at the time and all expenditure has to be incurred in accordance of reform would continue to receive the equivalent level with the principles of Managing Public Money and the of support and protection. Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. The majority of hotel bookings are made through Hospital Beds: Dorset our hotel contract although some are booked directly. Information on the number of hotel rooms nights booked Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health through our hotel contract is shown as follows. what plans there are for (a) the number of bed spaces Medicines and in Bournemouth hospital and (b) the future of healthcare Christchurch hospital. [309611] products Purchasing and regulatory Mr. Mike O’Brien: The information requested is a Department supply agency authority matter for The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch April 2007 to 13,205 1,801 2,500 Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to March 2008 Sheila Collins, Chair of Royal Bournemouth and April 2008 to 16,723 1,969 2,891 Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, informing March 2009 April 2009 to 12,151 1,161 2,164 her of the hon. Member’s enquiry. She will reply shortly November 2009 and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library. No fees are paid by the Department or its agencies Hospitals: Waiting Lists for bookings made through its hotel booking contract.

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Leeds General Infirmary: Manpower what the average waiting time was between general practitioner referral and treatment in respect of (a) Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for breast cancer, (b) hip replacements, (c) cataracts and Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were (d) endoscopy in the latest period for which figures are employed at Leeds General Infirmary in (i) 1997 and available. [308494] (ii) 2009. [309391]

Mr. Mike O’Brien: The available information on average Ann Keen: The information is not available in the waiting times is as follows: format requested. The following table shows the national The cancer waiting time standard of a maximum wait of health service staff in each specified group at the Leeds 62 days from urgent referral for suspected cancer to first treatment Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each for breast cancer was introduced for all patients from 2002. The year. latest data (July to September 2009) show that 97.3 per cent. of providers delivered treatment for breast cancer within 62 days of Headcount referral. Statistics on average waiting times between urgent referral and treatment for breast cancer are not collected centrally; 1997 2008 Latest data (October 2009) for trauma and orthopaedics show Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust — — that the median referral to treatment waiting time for admitted Medical and dental staff 1,298 1,768 patients was 11.4 weeks, and for non-admitted patients 4.8 weeks. Qualified nursing, midwifery and health 4,390 4,498 Referral to treatment data is not collected to the level of specific visiting staff treatments; Notes: Latest data (October 2009) for ophthalmology show that the 1. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was formed in 1998 from a complete median referral to treatment waiting time for admitted patients merger of St. James’ and Seacroft University Hospital and United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. was 9.7 weeks, and for non-admitted patients 5 weeks. Referral to 2. Figures for 1997 are an aggregate of these two predecessor organisations. treatment data is not collected to the level of specific treatments; 3. 2009 figures are not yet available. and Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Where endoscopies are used for treatment, they are included in Workforce Census. the gastroenterology treatment function. Latest data (October 2009) The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental for gastroenterology show that the median referral to treatment Workforce Census. 759W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 760W

Liver Diseases: Health Services NHS: Standards

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable has been set for the development Health what the reasons are for the time taken by the of the National Liver Strategy; and when the final National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to strategy will be completed. [309652] recommend new indicators to be considered in the Quality and Outcomes Framework. [310127] Ann Keen: Our intention is to publish a national strategy for consultation by the autumn of 2011. Mr. Mike O’Brien: The new independent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for process involves the suggestion of topics by stakeholders Health what plans his Department has to consult (a) and collation of information about potential new indicators patient groups, (b) the public and (c) healthcare reviewed by its independent Primary Care QOF Advisory professionals in the development of the National Liver Committee. Potential topics are prioritised by the committee Strategy. [309653] for further development and go through a period of piloting in a number of general practitioner practices Ann Keen: The Department will work closely with the across the United Kingdom. They are then subject to a national health service, public and patient groups on period of consultation with stakeholders before final the development of the National Liver Strategy, and publication on the NICE menu for QOF.NHS Employers will undertake a consultation on the draft strategy (on behalf of the Department) and the British Medical before it is finalised. Association will then negotiate on which of the published indicators will be applied nationally and what the value NHS: Data Protection of these indicators should be. Full details of the new process can be found in the published document called Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health “Developing clinical and health improvement indicators how many members of NHS staff have been for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)—Interim disciplined for inappropriate use of information on (a) process guide”. A copy has already been placed in the an NHS database and (b) medical records in each of Library. the last 10 years. [310121] NHS: Training Mr. Mike O’Brien: The information requested is not held centrally. Legal responsibility for the secure handling and management of patient information rests with Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for individual national health service organisations. It is Health how much has been spent establishing the NHS therefore a matter for NHS organisations to take the Graduate Management Scheme for Communications; appropriate action where patient information has been how many places will be available on this scheme in inappropriately accessed by their staff. each of the next three years; and what the (a) wage costs and (b) other running costs of this scheme will be NHS: Motor Vehicles in each of those years. [309486]

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Ann Keen: The total cost spent on establishing and Health what the cost to his Department has been of running the Pilot NHS Graduate Management Scheme repairing NHS vehicles that have been filled with the for Communications is £1.2 million. This pilot scheme wrong type of fuel in each of the last five years. is just one stream of the larger graduate programme. [309617] The other established schemes are: General, Human Resources, Finance and Informatics. Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Department does not collect There are 12 trainees on the Pilot NHS Graduate the information requested. Funding of repairs to vehicles Management Scheme for Communications who are each is a matter for the local national health service. paid a starting salary of £21,733. The total cost (wage and running costs) for each trainee is £100,000 for the NHS: Non-Profit Making Associations two years of the scheme. This is the same cost per trainee as for the other Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health established graduate management schemes. The pilot whether NHS staff transferred to a social enterprise communications scheme is the smallest of the schemes. will remain in the NHS pension scheme; and if he will The pilot communications scheme runs for two years— make a statement. [309887] October 2009 to September 2011, although it is funded over three financial years to cover this period (October Ann Keen: Where primary care trusts and staff set up 2009 to March 2010, April 2010 to March 2011, April social enterprises constituted as charities, community 2011 to September 2011—see the following table for full interest companies, or industrial and provident societies details.) to deliver services, then staff transferring under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) The Department’s Communications Directorate and Regulations can continue to benefit from the NHS Directors of Communications for six strategic health Pension Scheme while they continue to work on national authorities jointly fund this pilot scheme. The NHS health service funded services. This is afforded by the Institute for Innovation and Improvement manage the provision of a direction under section 7(2) of the scheme. Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967. The breakdown of costs are: 761W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 762W

Workforce planning, including training, in the national £ health service is managed and led at a local level by the Wage costs (including on strategic health authorities taking into account the national costs such as policy direction. national Local NHS organisations are best placed to determine insurance and the levels of service and resource required to meet the travel costs) Running costs Total health needs of the local population. October 2009- 168,000 182,000 350,000 Clinical radiology, England at 30 September 2008 March 2010 Number (headcount) April 2010- 343,000 257,000 600,000 March 2011 England 3,284 April 2011- 168,000 82,000 250,000 North East 168 September North West 485 2011 Yorkshire and The Humber 350 Total 679,000 521,000 1,200,000 East Midlands 234 Patients: Transport West Midlands 249 East of England 280 Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health London 470 what recent estimate he has made of the number of South East Coast 164 voluntary drivers for NHS health services. [309695] South Central 270 South West 344 Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Department does not collect information on the number of voluntary car drivers for national health service services. The NHS locally is TREASURY responsible for managing voluntary driver schemes. Air Passenger Duty Pharmacy: Regulation Mark Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for whether his Department (a) made projections of the Health for what reasons the Council for Healthcare number of passengers departing the UK for all seat Regulatory Excellence is consulting on future General types which take account of the rise in air passenger Pharmaceutical Council standards; and what recent duty on 1 November 2009 and (b) has made any such assessment has been made of the adequacy of the projections in respect of 1 November 2010. [309758] existing standards. [309449] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In March 2009 HMRC published Mr. Mike O’Brien: As the General Pharmaceutical an impact assessment of the reformed APD on its Council will be independent of Government, it was not website at: thought it appropriate for the Department to consult http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/apd-reform-ia.pdf on these standards on their behalf. A copy was deposited in the Library of the House. The General Pharmaceutical Council will be a new body with new powers so there are no comparable Mark Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the statutory standards in existence for pharmacy. However, Exchequer what factors were taken into account in where there are existing standards that cover the same determining which flight seat types would be liable for geographical remit as the new regulator, that is Great (a) the higher and (b) standard air passenger duty. Britain, they have been used as a starting point for [309760] development. In particular, the most recent Royal Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Determining air passenger duty Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain education (APD) liability by reference to whether carriage on a standards have been incorporated where possible. plane is in the lowest class of travel (in which the Radiography: Manpower majority of passengers travel) or any other class, is a simple and transparent system which minimises administrative burdens and compliance costs. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many interventional radiologists work in each Banks: Iceland strategic health authority area; and whether his Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Department has a target for the preferred number of Exchequer what discussions he has had with his interventional radiologists per head of population in Icelandic counterpart since 5 January 2010 on the NHS. [309977] compensation to UK investors in Icelandic banks who have lost their investments. [309998] Ann Keen: Interventional radiologists (IR) are captured within the clinical radiology specialty in the NHS Workforce Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers and officials Census. IR are not separately identifiable within these have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of figures as shown in the following table. organisations in the public and private sectors as part of There is currently no specific target, however, IR has the process of policy development and delivery. As was been identified as a key priority for medical workforce the case with previous Administrations, it is not the planning and plans are in place for it to become a Government’s practice to provide details of all such recognised sub-specialty. meetings and discussions. 763W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 764W

Child Benefit Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Neither the Treasury, nor any of its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer any powers to impose administrative penalties. how many child benefit applications are being processed for (a) UK nationals, (b) non-UK EEA Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks nationals, (c) A8 EEA nationals, (d) A2 EEA nationals and (e) non-European nationals. [308206] Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs are taking to Mr. Timms: All claims for child benefit are checked prevent alcohol duty fraud in the supply chain. to establish whether further inquiries are required before [309533] being entered into the child benefit computer system. Where no further inquiries are required, claims are Sarah McCarthy-Fry [holding answer 7 January 2010]: then processed. The Chancellor announced at Budget 2009 the revised In some cases further inquiries are necessary before ‘tackling alcohol fraud’ strategy which has three principal entitlement is decided. themes: Strengthening our operational responses; For non-European nationals when a claimant is subject to immigration control, this can involve enquiries being Reducing opportunities for fraud; made with the claimant and the Home Office to determine Closing off illicit supply chains. the claimant’s status. HMRC is making good progress on all three strands For all other claimants, when European Community of this strategy. The regulatory framework is being regulations are involved, this can involve inquiries being strengthened to reduce opportunities for fraud; the new made with the customer and other European economic operational model for HMRC to respond to fraud area member states. using new approaches and the full range of HMRC’s powers is on track to be implemented from April 2010; and HMRC is working with the large brewers and Child Benefit: Overpayments wholesale buying groups on developing practical measures to close off illicit supply chains by restricting the availability John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer of illicit alcohol to fraudsters. what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number and (b) the amount of child benefit overpayments Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer caused by the failure of a claimant to notify the Child what investigations HM Revenue and Customs are Benefit Office of a change of circumstances in (i) 2005-06, conducting into illicit alcohol supply chains. [309535] (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09. [308185] Sarah McCarthy-Fry [holding answer 7 January 2010]: Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, Investigations HM Revenue and Customs are conducting as HM Revenue and Customs’ systems do not capture into illicit alcohol supply chains are a confidential matter. the reasons for child benefit overpayments. The results of investigations into alcohol fraud are published annually in HMRC’s Departmental Autumn Departmental Buildings Performance Report copies of which are available on HMRC’s internet site. Mr. Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what works and refurbishments to offices allocated to Financial Services: Advisory Services Ministers in his Department’s buildings that are included in the annual unitary payment have taken Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer place since 27 June 2007. [309114] for what reasons the Financial Services Authority has required independent financial advisers to requalify; Sarah McCarthy-Fry: No major works or refurbishments and whether it sought legal advice prior to its decision have been undertaken in ministerial offices since 27 June on that matter. [309979] 2007. During that period, only minimal redecoration works and minor office moves have been carried out Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Financial Services Authority within the PFI lifecycle fund and met from the annual has published several consultations detailing and explaining unitary payment made to the PFI provider. its proposals for reform of distribution of financial products. These are available on its website. I also refer Departmental Fines the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 October 2009, Official Report, column 1285W. Mr. Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers (a) his Department and (b) each of its Financial Services: Regulation agencies and its non-departmental public body has to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory Mr. Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Department and (ii) each of its agencies and its appropriateness of the legislative power used by the non-departmental public bodies has recovered in Financial Services Authority in requiring independent administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years for financial advisers to re-qualify; and if he will make a which figures are available. [309292] statement. [308602] 765W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 766W

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the benefit subsidy purposes. In making this determination, answer I gave on 5 November 2009, Official Report, the presence or lack of planning permission is not taken column 1096W. into account. The amount of any award for housing Holiday Accommodation benefit will rest with the local authority. Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the whether the Valuation Office Agency plans to take Exchequer how many furnished holiday lettings owned steps to increase the proportion of dwellings with (a) by (a) UK residents and (b) residents of other EU dwelling house code and (b) value significant codes member states there are in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) assigned to them. [308682] England. [309497] Ian Pearson: Dwelling house codes and value significant Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, codes are routinely updated in the course of the VOA as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) administrative undertaking its statutory duty to maintain the current systems do not capture information on the number or valuation lists of approximately 24 million dwellings in location of furnished holiday lettings. Non-UK residents England and Wales. The VOA will always look to are not eligible to claim tax relief under the furnished ensure that its codes are as up to date and as accurate as holiday lettings rules. possible in order to support its statutory functions. Housing: Solihull Imports: Israel

Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for pursuant to the answers of 10 December 2009, Official Meriden of 16 September 2009, Official Report, column Report, column 583W, on imports: Israel, whether HM 2212W, on housing: valuation, how many properties in Revenue and Customs has requested from supermarkets Solihull local authority area there are with each code the information from their tracking system on the origin for (a) type, (b) room number, (c) bedroom, (d) of imports when the supermarket is not the importer. bathroom, (e) floors, (f) floor level, (g) parking, (h) [309037] garaging, (i) conservatory type, (j) age, (k) outbuilding and (l) modernisation. [308764] Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not requested any information from supermarkets’ tracking Ian Pearson: The number of properties with each systems. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her of individual dwelling house code and each value significant 10 December 2009, Official Report, column 583W.HMRC code, for all local authority areas in England, have been only has access to systems and records which relate placed in the Library of the House directly to the customs declaration and to the person Housing: Valuation shown as the importer/consignee on it. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the pursuant to the answers of 10 December 2009, Official Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Report, column 583W, on imports: Israel, what Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 10 November documentation provided in such cases is provided by 2009, Official Report, column 209W, on council tax: (a) producers, importers or Israeli authorities and (b) valuation, how reputational issues that affect open market organisations independent of producers, importers or value are recorded by the Valuation Office Agency. Israeli authorities [309038] [308369] Mr. Timms: The documentation consists of original Ian Pearson: Where a reputational issue that might be commercial documents accompanying any customs import value significant comes to the attention of the Valuation declaration: the sales invoice and delivery note/consignment Office Agency (VOA) it can be recorded on the VOA’s note/packing list issued by the exporter and showing database by using a ‘WK’ value significant code and/or the UK importer/consignee, which in the case of fresh it might be noted on a VOA domestic survey record. produce is normally an intermediate company, rather than a UK supermarket; plant health documentation Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the (where required); and where a preferential rate of duty Exchequer with reference to the answer of 26 October is being claimed, either a proof of preferential origin 2009, Official Report, column 74W,on housing: valuation, showing the place of production and zip code on the whether the Valuation Office Agency takes into account invoice or on a Form EUR1 issued by the exporter and the presence of lack of planning permission when stamped by the Israeli authorities. calculating local housing allowance for a dwelling which is a caravan. [308371] Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official Ian Pearson: The local housing allowance (LHA) was Report, column 579W, on agricultural products: Israel, introduced on 7 April 2008 and is applicable to new what (a) the importer, (b) the nature of the produce, applicants for housing benefit or to claimants moving (c) the name of the settlement in which the consignment property and having a break in claim. However, there originated and (d) the person or organisation responsible are exemptions to the LHA and these include caravans. for misidentification was in the case of each of the six Any application to the local authority for housing consignments wrongly claiming Israeli preferential origin; benefit where the accommodation is a caravan will be what sanctions were imposed by HM Revenue and subject to a referral to the rent officer for the rent officer Customs in respect of each consignment; and against to make a determination of a reasonable rent for housing whom. [309039] 767W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 768W

Mr. Timms: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, Mr. Timms: The information requested could be obtained HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cannot disclose only at a disproportionate cost, as HM Revenue and the names of specific importers/exporters. The information Customs would have to obtain and examine the documents, requested in relation to the name of the settlement is most of which will be held by the importer, in respect of not available because no place of production was shown the 996 customs declarations concerned. on the proof of origin and HMRC had firm doubts about the origin of the goods. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer The identified products were three consignments of pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official wine, two consignments of snacks/soft drinks and one Report, column 580W, on cosmetics: Israel, what steps consignment of chocolates. HMRC refused preferential HM Revenue and Customs takes in such cases to tariff treatment and the UK importer was required to ensure the place of production and not the business pay the full rate of customs duty on the consignments head office is given as place of origin. [309043] concerned. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) provide specific guidance to importers, which is available Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at: pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/ Report, column 579W, on agricultural products: Israel, downloadFile?contentlD=HMCE_PROD1_028744 who (a) the importer, (b) the stated place of origin, (c) the actual place of origin and (d) the person or In cases where there is any doubt as to the actual organisation responsible for mislabelling was in place of production, the claim to preference will be relation to the two labelling irregularities for herbs; verified with the issuing authority in Israel. what sanctions were imposed by HM Revenue and HMRC has also asked the European Commission to Customs in each case; and against whom. [309040] ensure that in its routine monitoring of the operation of the Technical Arrangement it checks that the Israeli authorities are including the actual place of production, Mr. Timms: For reasons of commercial confidentiality rather than a Head Office, on the proof of origin. HM Revenue and Customs cannot release the names of specific importers and exporters. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer The accompanying proofs of preferential origin showed pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official that the produce had been produced in one case in 19 Report, column 580W, on cosmetics: Israel, how many different locations including Avital, Nir Moshe, Rewaya consignments of produce was imported into the UK and Yavne-EI, which had not been included in the lists originated in Mizpe Shalem in each of the last three of settlements and accompanying zip codes circulated years; and what the nature of the produce was. [309044] by the European Commission. The place of production shown on outer packaging/ Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, cartons was the Jordan Valley. as the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories do not have separate country codes. The goods were released from customs control upon provision of financial security for the full rate of customs Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer duty payable. Inquiries are under way with the Israeli pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official authorities to establish the true place of origin. Report, column 579W, on agricultural products: Israel, what steps HM Revenue and Customs takes when it Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer detects mislabelling to share that information with the pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official equivalent authorities in other EU member states. Report, column 579W, on agricultural products: Israel, [309045] what additional checks HM Revenue and Customs has subsequently required of produce (a) from the same Mr. Timms: Any irregularities detected as a result of importer, (b) from the same producer and (c) from the the application of the EU—Israel Technical Arrangement same place of origin as the misidentified and are reported directly to the European Commission. The mislabelled goods referred to in the answer. [309041] Commission is co-ordinating community-wide action in ensuring that only those products which are entitled Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs can confirm to Israeli preference receive such benefit, and it disseminates that once a duty demand is issued, it is their normal information about the action being taken and the results policy to examine further customs entries for the parties of those actions to all member states. involved and to issue additional demands if necessary. They will also target any importer known to have Income Tax: Pensioners production facilities in the Occupied Territories. Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number and percentage pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official of (a) pensioners and (b) pensioner households that Report, column 580W, on cosmetics: Israel, how many have paid income tax in each year since 1997. [309351] of the consignments referred to in the answer came from each post code of place of origin; and for how Mr. Timms: Estimates for the number of pensioner many of these consignments HM Revenue and taxpayers are shown in table 2.1 “Number of individual Customs was informed that the business’s head office income taxpayers”, available at: address was the place of origin. [309042] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/menu.htm 769W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 770W

The information is based on the Survey of Personal religious worship, exempt from business rates. This Incomes of which 2006-07 is the latest available, and exemption usually extends to where they are hired out projected in line with Budget 2009 assumptions. for social events. The estimated percentage of pensioners who are taxpayers can be calculated by using table 2.1 “Number Non-Domestic Rates: Ports of individual income taxpayers” and the latest population estimates and projections published on the Office for Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer National Statistics website at: for what reason the Valuation Office Agency (a) has http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/ removed all waterfront hereditaments in ports in Hull NPP2008/wUK085y.xls from the new business rates rating assessment regime Estimates for the number of pensioner households and restored them to the competent harbour that paid income tax since 1997 is not available. However, authorities assessment regime and (b) has not taken a an estimated 3.6 million (56 per cent.) households headed similar approach in other ports. [308639] by a person of state pension age will pay income tax in 2009-10. This estimate excludes pensioners who live in Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer households not headed by a person of state pension given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) age, or in households with other family units. on 12 November 2009, Official Report, column 877W. This estimate has been calculated using HM Treasury’s The reason that some separately assessed property tax and benefit micro-simulation model using Family within the port of Hull has been merged with the Resources Survey 2007-08 data uprated to 2009-10 levels assessment for the statutory port is that new information of prices and earnings. has been provided and there has been agreement of the facts between the parties. This reflects the success of the Inheritance Tax: Housing “fast-track” appeals process applied by the Valuation Office Agency to cases involving a significant and Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer unexpected backdated liability.Where ratepayers co-operate what the gross increase in cash terms in revenue from and provide the information requested, the agency has inheritance tax was consequent on the adjustment of been able to review the rating lists and make amendments inheritance tax valuations following a challenge by the to reflect new information that has a material affect on Valuation Office Agency in the latest year for which the assessment. figures are available. [308684] The same approach has been applied at other ports. Where changes have not been made and properties Mr. Timms: The gross increase in cash terms in continue to be separately assessed for business rates this revenue from inheritance tax as a result of challenges by is either because the facts do not support the case for the Valuation Office Agency for 2008-09 amounts to change or the parties have not agreed the facts that may approximately £96 million. still prove material.

National Insurance Contributions: Local Government Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the appeals against decisions relating to Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the the new business rates arrangements for ports Exchequer what estimate has been made of the cost of businesses (a) have and (b) have not resulted in a the proposed increases to national insurance reduction in rateable values. [308805] contributions for employers to local government employers in 2010-11. [308352] Ian Pearson: Following the review of ports by the Valuation Office Agency—which was undertaken to Mr. Timms: There are no proposed increases to employer ensure that all individual business properties within and National Insurance contributions in 2010-11. Employer outside ports are rated fairly to ensure that the burden contributions are set to increase by 1 per cent. to of contributions to funding local government is shared 13.8 per cent. in 2011-12. fairly among businesses around the country—a total of Information on the cost of the proposed change to 232 appeals on properties within ports in England had local Government employers is not readily available. been settled at 16 December 2009. Of these, 70 were resolved by a reduction in rateable value and 162 were resolved without a reduction in rateable value. Non-Domestic Rates: Church Halls Offenders Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency undertakes valuations of church halls hired out for social events Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the unconnected with religious worship; and whether Exchequer how many employees of his Department premises thus used are liable for business rates. [308635] and its agencies have been convicted of a criminal offence of each type in each year since 1997. [308520] Ian Pearson: As stated in the Local Government Finance Act 1988, if Church halls, chapel halls and Sarah McCarthy-Fry: It is the policy of HM Treasury similar buildings are used in connection with a place of and OGC not to release data concerning fewer than five public religious worship and for the purposes of the staff where to do so could lead to the identification of organisation responsible for the conduct of public religious protected personal information about individual members worship, they are, like the church or place of public of staff. Since 1999,1 can confirm that the information 771W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 772W requested relates to fewer than five cases. Information front-line service delivery and jobs in the coming years. for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate A modest proportion of the revenue raised from the cost. increase in national insurance contributions announced Under the Data Protection Act DMO would not at PBR to help protect front-line public services will record this information. Any supporting documentation come from public sector employers. The PBR identified is destroyed after six months due to the Data Protection almost £17 billion of efficiency savings gained from Act. Smarter Government and the Public Value Programme that will enable improvements in public services to be Peers: Domicile sustained. Public Sector Relocation Independent Review Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information HM Revenue and Customs holds on the number of members of the House of Lords who Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the are non-domiciled for tax purposes; and if he will make Exchequer with reference to the answer of 20 October 2009, Official Report, column 1401W, on public sector a statement. [307060] relocation: independent review, if he will place in the Mr. Timms: If an individual completes a Self Assessment Library a copy of the database for council tax Tax Return, they need only tell HM Revenue and revaluation modelling that was provided to the Lyons Customs (HMRC) their domicile status should they Inquiry into local government finance redacting have foreign income and/or gains and want to claim the sensitive personal data. [308285] remittance basis of taxation. It is for the individual to decide whether they want to claim the remittance basis. Ian Pearson: No single database for council tax revaluation modelling exists. A number of datasets were Therefore, individual tax returns for individual Members provided to the Lyons review team during the period of of the House of Lords will show whether or not they their review. These datasets contain property attribute have claimed the remittance basis of taxation based on and sales data at individual property level, which, for a non-domiciled status. the protection of individual taxpayers, cannot be released HMRC does not collate or aggregate this information into the public domain. for Members of the Lords as a group, as the Members’ records are dealt with by several different operational Revenue and Customs units. John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Pre-Budget Report 2009 what the average cost to a customer was of (a) a call to the Tax Credits Helpline, (b) a call to the Child Benefit Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Helpline and (c) a personal visit to an HM Revenue pursuant to the statement of 9 December 2009, Official and Customs enquiry centre in the latest period for Report, columns 359-71, on the pre-Budget report, which figures are available. [308193] when he intends to implement each of the initiatives announced; what the estimated cost of each such Mr. Timms: The information is not available. Calls initiative is; and if he will make a statement. [308275] are charged to the customer based on the tariff arrangements they have with their service provider, the Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the 2009 device they use to call and the location from which they pre-Budget report (Cm 7747) for detailed information call. The cost to the customer of visiting an enquiry on all of the initiatives announced, and their estimated centre is dependent on several factors including their Exchequer cost. personal travel costs, which the Department does not have access to. Public Expenditure Revenue and Customs: Cost-effectiveness Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the pre-Budget report of 9 Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the December 2009, Official Report, columns 359-71, what Exchequer how many Office of Government effect the (a) cap on public sector pay and (b) increase Commerce Gateway Reviews HM Revenue and in national insurance contributions will have on Customs has performed since 2006; what the title of expenditure on (i) the national health service, (ii) the each such review is; and at which gate each such review police force and (iii) schools. [307624] is. [308082]

Mr. Byrne: In the pre-Budget report 2009 the Mr. Timms: The following table gives details of the 71 Government once again recognised that public sector OGC Gateway reviews undertaken or planned for HM workers are at the heart of delivering world-class public Revenue and Customs programmes and projects for the services and supporting long-term economic growth, four years 2006-07 to 2009-10. It includes the title of prosperity and fairness and highlighted that, following each programme or project and the specific Gateway substantial investment in public sector pay since 1997, review number. pay restraint will be important to support front-line delivery while ensuring sustainable public finances over Programme/project title Gate No.1 the medium term. 2006-07 The 1 per cent. pay cap will generate £3.4 billion of Estates and Support Services 0 departmental savings by 2012-13, helping to protect Transformation Programme 773W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 774W

Programme/project title Gate No.1 Programme/project title Gate No.1

ASPIRE (‘Acquiring Strategic IT 5 Quantum (delivery of IT services) 0 Partners for the Inland Revenue’) Programme Processing Pacesetter Programme 0 Compliance and Enforcement Caseflow 4 Replacement Radio Project 2 Project STRIDE (IT equipment refresh project) 4a Health in Pregnancy Grant Project 4 New Tax Credits 5 Data Security Programme 0 Estates Consolidation Programme 0 Carter (online services) VAT Project 3 Efficiency Programme 0b Carter (online services) Corporation Tax 3 Project HMRC Banking Change Project 2 Total reviews (2008-09)—26 Pensions Simplification 4 Construction Industry Scheme Reform 4 Project 2009-10 Customs Handling of Import and 2 New Penalties Project (1) 4 Export Freight (‘CHIEF’) replacement project Business.Gov Programme 0a Total reviews (2006-07)—12 Compliance and Enforcement 0a Programme Better Data for CT Project 5 2007-08 Government Banking Change Project 4a Modernising Stamp Duty 5 Excise Movement and Control System 3 Carter (online services) Programme 0 EU VAT Refunds Project 2 Estates Transformation Programme 0a Estates Consolidation Programme 0b Estates Consolidation Programme 0a EU VAT Refunds Project 3 Processing Pacesetter Programme 0a New Penalties Project (2) 1 Enterprise Infrastructure Foundation 0 Customs Service Transformation 0a Programme Programme Customs Service Transformation 0 Government Banking Programme 0a Programme Saving Gateway Project (planned) 2 Government Banking Programme 0 Carter (online services) Corporation Tax 4 Health in Pregnancy Grant Project 1 Project Carter (online services) VAT Project 4 Government Banking Procurement 3 Project Validating Household Income for 4 Student Loans Company Project New Penalties Project (1) 2 (planned) National Direct Debits 2 Government Banking Transition Project 4a Total reviews (2007-08)—12 (planned) Saving Gateway Project (planned) 3 2008-09 New Penalties Project (2) (planned) 3 Filing, Payment and Interest Programme 0 Compliance and Enforcement 0 (planned) Programme Compliance and Enforcement Caseflow 4a Excise Movement and Control System 0 Project Consolidation of Inward Cheques and 4 Total reviews (2009-10)—21 Forms Total reviews (all years)—71 Health in Pregnancy Grant Project 2/3 1 Gateway review stages are: 0 (‘Strategic Assessment’—programmes Carter (online services) Programme 0a only); 1 (‘Business Justification’); 2 (‘Delivery Strategy’); Aviation Duty Project 1/2 3 (‘Investment Decision’); 4 (‘Readiness for Service’ and ‘Operations National Direct Debits Project 4 Review and Benefits Realisation’). Gate numbers with an ‘a’ or ‘b’ Carter (online services) Corporation Tax 1/2 suffix represent repeat reviews at that level. Project Carter (online services) VAT Project 1/2 Revenue and Customs: Data Business.Gov Programme 0 Tax Credits Transformation Programme 0 Customs Handling of Import and 3 Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Export Freight (‘CHIEF’) replacement Exchequer for how long HM Revenue and Customs project retains (a) copies of and (b) data contained in tax MPPC3 (PAYE modernisation) 0 returns; and if he will make a statement. [308134] Programme New Penalties Project (1) 3 Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs has recently Savings Gateway Project 1 modified its retention policy and is working towards a Compliance and Enforcement Caseflow 2 position where it will normally retain tax returns and Project the data they contain plus related correspondence for Government Banking Change Project 4 six years in addition to the current year. Information World Class Programme 0 will be retained for longer periods where necessary, for Estates Transformation Programme 0b example where there is a continuing investigation into Data Centre Sub-Programme 0 possible fraudulent or criminal activity. 775W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 776W

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland Mr. Timms: The information requested on the community background of HM Revenue and Customs Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the in post as of 1 December 2009 is provided in the Exchequer what proportion of the staff at each grade following table. in HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland is from each religious background. [309177]

Protestant Roman Catholic Non-determined Percentage of Percentage of Percentage of Grade Number grade Number grade Number grade

SCS,1 Grade 6, Grade 7, Band T 36 52.2 23 33.3 10 14.5 Senior Officer 39 45.4 40 46.5 7 8.1 Higher Officer 128 50.4 108 42.5 18 7.1 Officer 229 38.8 327 55.3 35 5.9 Assistant Officer 373 39.5 496 52.5 75 7.9 Admin Assistant 80 42.6 90 47.9 18 7.7 Total 885 41.5 1,084 50.8 163 7.7 1 HMRC’s policy is to not release figures on diversity or community background where there is any risk of individuals being identified. There are very small numbers in four of the grades above and therefore the figures for these four grades have been amalgamated in line with this policy.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the No central records exist for applications made in the Exchequer (1) how many complaints of harassment former HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue based on a person’s (a) race, (b) gender and (c) prior to their merger in 2005; collating this information religion were made against officers of HM Revenue could be done only at disproportionate cost. and Customs in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; [309179] Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services (2) how many officers of HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland have been the subject of more than John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer one complaint of harassment on the grounds of how many callbacks were offered to callers to (a) the religion in the last five years. [309181] Tax Credits public helpline, (b) the Tax Credits intermediaries helpline, (c) the MPs Tax Credits helpline, Mr. Timms: Based on centrally held records, no (d) the Child Benefit public helpline and (e) all other complaints of harassment against officers of HM Revenue HM Revenue and Customs helplines in (i) 2005-06, (ii) and Customs in Northern Ireland have been made 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09. [308197] based on a person’s race, gender or religion made since January 2007. Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, Information for earlier periods is not held centrally, as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) systems do not and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. capture the number of callbacks offered. Revenue and Customs: Surveillance HMRC will shortly begin a six-month review of its numbering strategy, including the feasibility of offering callbacks to customers more readily. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many authorisations under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 have been John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (a) made and (b) refused by the authorising officer in (1) what steps the Tax Credits Helpline is taking to HM Revenue and Customs in each year since the Act ensure compliance with item 9 of the HM Revenue and Customs charter, on mobile telephone users; [308198] came into force. [308346] (2) what steps the Child Benefit Helpline is taking to Mr. Timms: The information requested is provided in ensure compliance with item 9 of the HM Revenue and the following table since the formation of HM Revenue Customs charter, on mobile telephone users. [308199] and Customs’ (HMRC) in April 2005. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are Applications under the Regulation of Investigatory committed to keeping the costs of dealing with them as Powers Act 2000 low as possible while improving the service they provide Made Refused to their customers. In recent months, HMRC Contact 2005 6480 109 Centre have introduced a range of automated advisory messages to its helplines, which mean that many customers 2006 3201 105 have their query answered quickly without having to 2007 3828 85 wait to speak to an advisor. 2008 5364 83 2009 5633 141 HMRC Contact Centres will shortly begin an in depth review of its numbering strategy for a period of The statistics include applications made for assigned six months looking at what can be done in both the matters such as drug and arms smuggling that have now short and long term. This review will include the feasibility been transferred to either the Serious and Organised of offering call backs to customers telephoning from Crime Agency or the UK Borders Agency. mobile phones. HMRC Contact Centres recognise that 777W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 778W this will not be straightforward as it will need to balance John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the Department and the likely impact on what the average length of calls made to (a) the Tax service levels against the costs to the customer. Credits public helpline, (b) the Tax Credits intermediaries helpline, (c) the MPs Tax Credits helpline, (d) the John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Child Benefit public helpline and (e) all other HM how many times a caller had to wait on hold before Revenue and Customs helplines was in (i) 2005-06, (ii) speaking to an operator on (a) the Tax Credits public 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09. [308203] helpline, (b) the Tax Credits intermediaries helpline, (c) the MPs Tax Credits helpline, (d) the Child Benefit public helpline and (e) all other HM Revenue and Customs helplines in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) Mr. Timms: The information requested, as far is it is 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09. [308202] available, is provided in the following table. Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, as HM Revenue and Customs’ systems are unable to track the progress of an individual caller through their telephone call.

HMRC average call handling times shown in minutes and seconds (a) Tax credits (b) Intermediaries (c) MP hotline (d) Child benefit (e) All other helplines

2005-06 06:12 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2006-07 05:26 n/a 05:39 03:56 05:30 2007-08 05:47 06:31 n/a 04:03 05:25 2008-09 06:34 05:50 05:33 05:21 05:37 n/a = Not available. Note: HMRC Contact Centres take the average call handling time to be the time spent by the customer on the phone together with any additional time taken by the adviser after the call to complete any tasks.

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Tax credit helpline Average in seconds how many calls were made from a (a) landline telephone and (b) mobile telephone to (i) the tax July 2006 21 credits public helpline, (ii) the tax credits intermediaries July 2007 19 helpline, (iii) the MPs tax credits helpline, (iv) the child July 2008 25 benefit public helpline and (v) all other HM Revenue July 2009 21 and Customs helplines in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) n/a = Not available 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09. [308204] For the purposes of this question, HM Revenue and Customs has interpreted the average length of time Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, individual callers were “kept on hold” as the time as HM Revenue and Customs’ systems do not capture customers are on “hold” during a discussion with an this information. adviser.

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what average length of time individual callers to (a) what proportion of callers to the tax credits helpline the tax credit helpline and (b) the child benefit helpline who rang to say they were returning to work after more were kept on hold in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) than 20 weeks in receipt of incapacity benefit or 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09; and for what average length employment support allowance or statutory sick pay of time callers to the tax credit helpline were kept on and who were not returning to work full-time were hold in the month before the deadline for renewal of informed abut the disability element of tax credits in credits in each of those years. [308208] (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09. [308210] Mr. Timms: The available information is presented in the following tables. Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available as HM Revenue and Customs’ systems do not capture Average in seconds this information. Child benefit helpline Tax credit helpline

2005-06 n/a n/a John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2006-07 15 20 with reference to the answer of 11 June 2009, Official 2007-08 15 23 Report, column 983W, on welfare tax credits: telephone 2008-09 14 29 services, what recent steps his Department has taken to 2009-10 (April to 13 23 review its numbering strategy; and what such steps it November) plans to take in the next 12 months. [308316] n/a = Not available Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs is committed Tax credit helpline Average in seconds to keeping the customer costs of dealing with the August 2005 n/a Department as low as possible. It regularly reviews how 779W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 780W it can improve its services to achieve this objective. It Mr. Timms: “Protecting Tax Revenues 2009”, published has in recent months, for example, introduced a range alongside the 2009 pre-Budget report and available at: of automated advisory messages on its tax credits and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2009/protect-tax-revenue- child benefit helplines which mean that many customers 5450.pdf have their query answered at lower cost, since they no provides an illustrative breakdown of the tax gap in longer have to wait to speak to an advisor. The Department 2007-08 by behaviour. Figures for 2008-09 are not available. will be reviewing its numbering strategy early in the new year. Taxation: Empty Property

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Keetch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings Ministers and officials in his Department what assessment has been made of the merits of have had regarding the cost of calling HM Revenue and reducing taxes on landlords of empty premises to Customs helplines from mobile telephones; what the encourage more tenants to rent those premises; and if outcome of those meetings was; and whether he plans he will make a statement. [308147] to hold any such meetings in the next six months. [309792] Ian Pearson: The Government believe that the reform of empty property relief in April 2008, in response to Mr. Timms: Departmental officials have meetings recommendations in the Lyons Inquiry and Barker with a wide variety of organisations in the public and Review of Land Use Planning, is the right decision for private sectors as part of the process of policy development the long term. and delivery.As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of Taxation: Gaming Machines all such meetings. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will shortly begin a review of its telephone numbering Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the strategy including examining the feasibility of offering Exchequer (1) what representations he has received on call backs to customers telephoning from mobile phones. the taxation of category B3A gaming machines in the HMRC will consult with interested parties and stakeholders last 12 months; [309854] as part of this review. (2) whether he has had recent meetings with HM Tax Avoidance Revenue and Customs on the taxation of category B3A gaming machines. [309856]

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers and officials Exchequer what investigations HM Revenue and Customs meet with, and receive representations from, a wide has carried out in the last 12 months into those companies range of organisations and individuals in the public and which have relocated their headquarters overseas to private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. minimise their tax burden; and if he will make a statement. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not [308374] the Government’s practice to provide details of all such representations. Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs may investigate where there is doubt as to whether a purported relocation Taxation: Nottingham is genuine. No details are available centrally as to the number of cases of this type that have been investigated Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer and such details could be collated only at disproportionate what estimate he has made of the number of people in lost. Nottingham North constituency the amount of whose tax obligations has been reduced in 2009-10. [308498] Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available the Exchequer of tax avoidance through employee at parliamentary constituency level due to small survey benefit trusts in the latest period for which figures are sample sizes at this level of geography. In addition, the available. [308970] information available is based on 2006-07 survey data which would not be reliable for this purpose. Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available, Available information on incomes by parliamentary as HM Revenue and Customs does not record the constituency based on the latest available Survey of amounts contributed to employee benefit trusts. Personal Incomes (2006-07) can be found in Table 3.15 “Protecting Tax Revenues 2009”, published alongside “Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency”available the 2009 pre-Budget report and available at: at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2009/protect-tax-revenue- http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu.htm 5450.pdf provides an illustrative breakdown of the tax gap in Transfer Pricing 2007-08 by behaviour. Figures for 2008-09 are not available. Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Tax Evasion Exchequer how much tax revenue was collected by HM Revenue and Customs through investigations into Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the transfer pricing in each year since 2003. [307352] Exchequer what estimate he has made of the monetary value of tax evaded in 2008-09; and if he will make a Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer statement. [308375] given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, 781W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 782W

Central (Jim Cousins) on 10 November 2008, Official Valuation Office: Local Government Report, column 938W. The yield for transfer pricing inquires on large business for 2007-08 and 2008-09 was Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the £494 million and £1,564 million respectively. The yield Exchequer by what mechanism data from building from smaller businesses for the same periods was £25 commencement and building control notices are sent to million and £31 million respectively. the Valuation Office Agency by local authorities. [308345] Valuation Office Ian Pearson: Not all local authorities provide building Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the control notices. Those that do provide building control Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. commencement lists and/or building control completion Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 30 June 2009, notices in hardcopy or via e-mail. Official Report, column 210W, on the Valuation Office, for what reasons the minutes of the (a) electronic Valuation Office: Pay capture of hard copy records project board and (b) installation of a geographical information system Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the project board are commercially sensitive. [308489] Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 30 June 2009, Ian Pearson: The minutes contain information relating Official Report, column 210W, on the Valuation Office to contract costs which are commercially sensitive and Agency: pay, for what specific examples of commendable cannot therefore be published. performance recognition vouchers have been awarded in the last 12 months. [308348] Valuation Office: Freedom of Information Ian Pearson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer cost. what timetable has been set for the Valuation Office Agency to make a substantive response to the internal Valuation Office: Rightmove review of Freedom of Information request 11335561.1/ CEO, submitted to the Valuation Office Agency in Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the November 2007. [308685] Exchequer what the timetable is for the awarding of HM Revenue and Customs with contract notice Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency’s internal reference 2009/S 200-288191 on providing residential review has been completed. The substantive response property data for the Valuation Office Agency; what was issued on 17 December 2009. estimate he has made of the monetary value of the contract to HM Revenue and Customs over its lifetime; Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems and whether this contract replaces the existing contract held by Rightmove.co.uk. [308417] Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency’s new geographic Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer information system will be linked to its electronic what plans the Valuation Office Agency has for the document and records management database. [308683] future of its licence with Rightmove.co.uk in relation to council tax valuations. [308689] Ian Pearson: There are no current plans to link the Ian Pearson: Any contract(s) awarded in accordance VOA’s geographic information system to its electronic with this notice will replace the now expired Rightmove document and records management system. contract. The estimated value of the contract(s) is between £1 million and £2 million, as shown in the notice. Any Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer contract is likely to be awarded in March 2010, and on what dates the Valuation Office Agency’s commence in June 2010. Geographical Information System Project Board has met since its establishment. [308688] Valuation Office: Training Ian Pearson: The dates of the Valuation Office Agency’s Geographical Information System Project Board were Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the provided on 22 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1049- Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. 50W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman). Member for Meriden of 15 June 2009, Official Report, column 55W, on the Valuation Office Agency: training, Since then the Project Board has met on the following from which division of the Valuation Office Agency the dates: staff came who attended the training on (a) 22 April 2009 assertiveness by the Impact Factory, (b) staff 16 June 2009 inspection techniques by the National School of 28 July 2009 Government and (c) the greenhouse and reporting on health and safety risks in homes by Contract Property 10 September 2009 Training Limited; and if he will place in the Library a 13 October 2009 copy of each document provided to staff who attended 17 November 2009 each training course. [308349] 783W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 784W

Ian Pearson: The attendees on the three training Mr. Timms: Award notices are issued at the following courses were as follows: points in the tax credits cycle: (a) a member of staff from the London North Group. An initial award notice, following a successful claim. (b) a member of the Finance Team. An amended award notice when a claimant notifies HM Revenue (c) a member of the National Assets and Building Surveyors’ and Customs (HMRC) of a change of circumstances or income Team. during a year. The copyright for the training materials is owned by A finalised award notice following the completion of the the organisations that provided the training therefore renewal process. the Valuation Office Agency is unable to provide copies Where payments are continuing following a finalised award for of the documents supplied to members of staff who one year, an award notice is issued to advise of the provisional attended these courses. payments HMRC will be making for the subsequent year. Each adult involved in a tax credits claim received an VAT: Local Government average of between two and three award notices in each of the specified income tax years. This average is derived Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by dividing the total number of award notices issued how much HM Revenue and Customs paid in refunds each year by a snapshot of the number of adult claimants of value added tax to each local authority in (a) as in April 2006; April 2007; April 2008 and April 2009. 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; and for what reasons such For information on the number of tax credits award refunds were made. [308687] notices issued in 2005-06 and 2006-07 I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mr. Timms: Section 18 of the Commissioners for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Revenue and Customs Act 2005 prevents HM Revenue Alexander) on 2 April 2008, Official Report, column and Customs from disclosing information relating to 973W. A total of around 29.9 million award notices the tax affairs of individual taxpayers; this includes were issued in 2007-08 and around 33.2 million award public bodies. notices were issued in 2008-09. Welfare Tax Credits Information on the highest number of tax credits award notices sent to a unique claimant is only available at disproportionate cost. John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken into the number of tax credits claimants who do not renew their claim or John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer subsequently reclaim and who would still be entitled to how many tax credit applications are being processed receive tax credits; and if he will make a statement. for (a) UK nationals, (b) non-UK EEA nationals, (c) [308183] A8 EEA nationals, (d) A2 EEA nationals and (e) non-European nationals. [308205] Mr. Timms: If a family does not renew their tax credit award, by confirming or updating their circumstances, Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) use it is not possible to determine whether they are still rapid data capture (RDC) techniques for scanning tax entitled. Therefore reliable estimates of the number of credits claims electronically and capturing the details claimants who would still be entitled to receive tax supplied on the claim on the tax credits computer credits are not available. system. Further information about RDC is published HM Revenue and Customs has published research on the HMRC website at: which explores claimants’ understanding of the tax www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ntcmanual/rdc/ntc1101100.htm credits renewal process. The report is available at: All claims are subject to a range of automated checks. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report-52-final.pdf Tax credits entitlement is calculated automatically if all checks are passed. HMRC often need to make more John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer detailed inquiries into incomplete claims or those that how many requests have been made to expedite fail risk checks. HMRC may be unable to process and individuals’ tax credits claims (a) by (i) local pay those claims within the usual target times. authorities, (ii) voluntary agencies, (iii) Jobcentre Plus HMRC also seek additional information from claimants offices, (iv) hospitals, (v) hon. Members, (vi) local from other EEA member states, A2 and A8 nationals to councillors and (vii) claimants and (b) in total in (A) verify that eligibility criteria for tax credits are met. 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09. [308190] John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available what the average length of time was between the receipt as HM Revenue and Customs’ systems do not capture of an application to his Department for tax credit and the number of requests to expedite individuals’ tax the issue of a receipt for the application in (a) 2005-06, credits claims. (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09; and what the average length of time was in respect of applicants John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the (i) upper and (ii) lower quartiles in each such what the (a) average and (b) highest number of tax year. [309789] credits award notices sent to a unique claimant was in the course of (i) one year and (ii) one month in (A) Mr. Timms: The information is not available, as HM 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09. Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not issue receipts [308194] for tax credits claims. 785W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 786W

For information about HMRC targets and performance Mr. Wills: Jersey and Guernsey are self-governing outturn in relation to tax credits in 2008-09 and earlier dependencies of the Crown and have their own directly years, I refer the right hon. Member to my recent elected legislative assemblies, administrative, fiscal and answer to him on 5 January 2010, Official Report, legal systems. The Ministry of Justice does not keep column 179W. information on the amount of electricity consumed in In 2009-10 HMRC aims to clear 60 per cent. of new the Crown Dependencies or the sources from which it claims in 15 calendar days. was produced.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments Criminal Proceedings: Autism

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of (a) the which Minister in his Department is responsible for number and (b) the amount of tax credits overpayments policy to implement proposals in the autism strategy caused by the failure of a claimant to notify the Tax on improving the accessibility of the criminal justice Credits Office of a change of circumstances in (i) 2005-06, system; and if he will make a statement. [308724] (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09. [308186] Claire Ward: The Ministry of Justice will support the Mr. Timms: The information is not available, as HM implementation of the planned autism strategy, currently Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) systems do not record being developed by the Department of Health, in the why an overpayment has been made. context of the Health and Criminal Justice Delivery Plan. This plan was published on 17 November 2009, However, information on the number of families with and sets out cross departmental action to improve access tax credits awards, including information on overpayments to health services by offenders and to support staff in at UK level can be found in the HMRC publications, prisons, probation and the police through training. The “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Delivery Plan is available at: Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments”, available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/ Publications/PublicationspolicyAndGuidance/DH_108606 www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly- stats.htm Crown Dependencies: National Income

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the gross domestic product per capita is JUSTICE for each of the British Crown Dependencies. [309095]

Bail Accommodation and Support Service Mr. Wills: Information on the gross domestic product and the population sizes of the Crown Dependencies is David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for publicly available on their respective Government websites: Justice (1) what plans he has to review the bail Jersey (it should be noted that Jersey measures gross accommodation contract with ClearSprings; [308171] value added, not gross domestic product): (2) how many complaints have been received about http://www.gov.je/ChiefMinister/International+Relations/ ClearSprings from (a) the public, (b) probation Profile+of+Jersey.htm services and (c) local authorities since June 2007. Guernsey: [308172] http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/about-guernsey/economy/ Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend, the then Minister Isle of Man: of State for Justice (David Hanson), made a written http://www.gov.im/treasury/economic/data/income.xml statement to the House on 13 May 2009, Official Report, column 54WS, announcing that the Government intend Crown Dependencies: Prisons to re-tender the contract for Bail Accommodation and Support Service (BASS) on the expiry of the current Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for contract on 17 June 2010. A new contract is scheduled Justice how many offenders currently being held in to be awarded at the beginning of February 2010. prisons in each of the Crown Dependencies are serving I am unable to provide information about the number sentences for drug-related offences. [309085] of complaints about ClearSprings as this could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Mr. Wills: Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are Justice has received a substantial volume of correspondence not part of the UK, they are self-governing dependencies about the BASS and it would require checking each of the Crown and have their own directly elected legislative item of correspondence separately at both local and assemblies, administrative, fiscal and legal systems. national level to determine whether it was a complaint. The prisons in the Crown Dependencies are the responsibility of the Crown Dependency Governments Channel Islands: Electricity and not of the Ministry of Justice. Accordingly the Ministry of Justice does not hold the information sought. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice from what energy sources (a) Jersey and (b) Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Guernsey’s electricity demands were met in (i) 2008 Justice whether he has plans to expand prison capacity and (ii) 2009. [309103] in the Crown Dependencies. [309086] 787W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 788W

Mr. Wills: Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are not providing these facilities would be denying those not part of the UK, they are self-governing dependencies debtors a very convenient way to pay their debt. of the Crown and have their own directly elected legislative All courts who have introduced credit and debit card assemblies, administrative, fiscal and legal systems. facilities have found them to be extremely useful, allowing Prisons and prison capacity in the Crown Dependencies them to operate more efficiently. There is high demand are the responsibility of the Crown Dependency from other courts, based on customer feedback, to Governments and not of the Ministry of Justice. introduce the facilities on a wider basis.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Justice what assistance his Department has provided to with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts serving Meriden of 15 July 2009, Official Report, column prison sentences in each of the Crown Dependencies in 435W, on debt collection, what the timetable is for the last 10 years. [309087] completion of the evaluation of the scheme of taking debt payments by debit and credit card. [308420] Mr. Wills: This Department has provided no assistance to rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts serving Bridget Prentice: The national roll out of credit and prison sentences in the Crown Dependencies during the debit card facilities is currently under consideration. last 10 years. Prisons in the Crown Dependencies are The timetable for the introduction of these facilities has the responsibility of the relevant Island administrations, not yet been finalised. not the Ministry of Justice. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Dartmoor Prison: Ex-servicemen for Justice with reference to the answer of 15 July 2009, Official Report, column 435W, on debt collection, if he Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice will place in the Library a copy of the evaluation report what the outcome was of the 2007 scoping study of the by HM Courts Service on accepting credit card number of armed forces veterans who were serving a payments. [308528] sentence in HMP Dartmoor. [308607] Bridget Prentice: The national roll out of credit and Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) had no debit card facilities is currently under consideration. oversight of this research at the time it was conducted The timetable for the introduction of these facilities has and have no records of the outcomes of this research. not yet been finalised. The evaluation report will be From our communication with the Ministry of Defence published during the spring. (MOD) it appears that the research was conducted by a worker in HMP Dartmoor but on an ad-hoc basis and Departmental Publicity with no official or central oversight by either MOJ or MOD. Preliminary results which found that 32 of the Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State 191 prisoners (16.75 per cent.) were veterans, were for Justice how much his Department has spent on (a) presented at a meeting of the Veterans Prison In-Reach Ministerial photoshoots and (b) production of videos Working Group (VPIR), a group sponsored by the in which Ministers appear in the last three years for MOD. It is likely that the result was skewed because the which figures are available. [305521] wings were largely comprised of older prisoners which meant that they were more likely than other prisoners Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) have used to have served in the armed forces at some time (including external photographers on three occasions between its under national service). launch in May 2007 and August 2009, at a total cost of £2,197.04. These were for use as corporate images following Debt Collection reshuffles or machinery of Government changes, and portraits were taken of senior MOJ officials as well as Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice the ministerial team. Since August 2009, the Ministry of with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Justice has had the capability to provide corporate Meriden of 15 July 2009, Official Report, column photography in-house at no cost. 435W, on debt collection, what representations (a) his MOJ Communications Directorate has in-house video Department and (b) HM Courts Service have received recording facilities and uses these, at no cost, when on collecting debts through credit card payment. filming ministers for both internal purposes and for the [308419] Ministry’s YouTube channel. Information on the filming of our ministers for other purposes is not held centrally, Bridget Prentice: In considering the extension of credit and to obtain that information would incur disproportionate and debit card facilities to remaining regions within cost. HMCS the opinions of various groups within the debt industry (eg the Citizens Advice Bureau) were sought. Driving Offences: Disqualification Those consulted expressed some concern that accepting credit card payments for a debt, particularly one which Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for may have arisen from a consumer credit debt, may Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of exacerbate a debtor’s difficulties. However, it was widely making driving whilst disqualified an offence triable recognised that the introduction of credit and debit either-way. [308214] card facilities would be welcomed among the large majority of responsible court users where a debt has Claire Ward: We have not considered making the arisen from a genuine dispute for a small claim and that offence of driving while disqualified triable either way. 789W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 790W

Driving Under Influence: Gloucestershire under the influence of drink or drugs and failing to provide a specimen. The table shows the number of Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice offenders with previous convictions for any of these how many and what proportion of drivers convicted of offences. Figures for 1999 are not available. offences of driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Gloucestershire were (a) first-time These figures have been drawn from the police’s offenders and (b) had two or more convictions in each administrative IT system, the police national computer year since 1999. [309137] (PNC), which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Claire Ward: The figures requested are in the following The figures are provisional and subject to change as table and cover a range of offences related to driving more information is recorded by the police.

Number of drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Gloucestershire, 2000-08 Number of drivers Number of drivers convicted for the first Number of drivers with convicted of driving time of driving under at least one previous Percentage of drivers Percentage of drivers under the influence of the influence of conviction for this convicted for the first with at least one alcohol/drugs alcohol/drugs offence time previous conviction

2000 793 652 141 82.2 17.8 2001 862 712 150 82.6 17.4 2002 927 722 205 77.9 22.1 2003 897 720 177 80.3 19.7 2004 939 718 221 76.5 23.5 2005 816 633 183 77.6 22.4 2006 831 634 197 763 23.7 2007 828 624 204 75.4 24.6 2008 797 615 182 77.2 22.8 1 The data includes a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act. They can be found in sections 4(1), 5(1) (a), 7(6), 4(2), 5(1) (b), 6(4) and 7A as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002 and the Transport and Works Act 2002.

Elections no formal guidance document available to prisons or to prisoners on the treatment of prisoners with gender Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice dysphoria, the draft guidance is available and policy if he will undertake an impact assessment in respect of leads within the Ministry of Justice are in a position to the implementation of proposals to conduct the give advice and support when necessary. counting of all votes in the general election on the day after polling. [308327] Housing: Valuation

Mr. Wills: The decision as to the timing of the count Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State at an election is for the relevant returning officer. Under for Justice how many properties in England had a section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums capital value of over £2 million according to records Act 2000, the Electoral Commission is required to held by the Land Registry on the latest date for which produce a report on the administration of each general information is available. [308732] election in the UK. The Government will study the commission’s report carefully and respond to any issues Mr. Wills: Land Registry does not hold records of that emerge. The Government have no plans to undertake the total number of properties (commercial and/or any separate assessment in respect of the conduct of residential) in England with a current capital value of counts at the next UK parliamentary general election. over £2 million. Gender Identity Disorder: Prisoners However, Land Registry holds price paid data for the total number of registered residential properties which Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice have been sold at full value during defined periods. This pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2009, Official question has been answered using the data available, Report, columns 283-4W, on gender identity disorder: providing details of the total number of registered prisoners, if he will review the non-health aspects of the residential properties sold at full value of over £2 million draft Prison Service Order on gender dysphoria; and for the latest available quarter and the total for the year what guidance is available to prisons and to prisoners 2009. on the treatment of prisoners with gender dysphoria. The figure for October to December 2009 is 251 and [307618] the total in the year January 2009 to December 2009, is Maria Eagle: As indicated in my hon. Friend, the 832. This last figure includes in its total one property Minister of State for Health’s (Phil Hope) answer on that was sold twice during 2009. 8 December 2009, Official Report, columns 283-84W, Full value reflects registered residential property on receipt of further advice from colleagues in Offender transactions where the full price has been paid. The Health, Ministry of Justice officials will be able to figures exclude a number of transactions including Right finalise the guidance on the non-health issues within the to Buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a draft Prison Service Order (PSO) which impacts on the gift and properties sold under a Compulsory Purchase operational aspects of the PSO. While there is currently or Court Order. Not all property in England is registered. 791W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 792W

Isle of Man: Health Services Elections Bill, what his plans are for the timetable for the commencement of each provision of the Political Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Parties and Elections Act 2009 to be commenced by Justice what plans he has for the termination of the Isle order. [308314] of Man-United Kingdom Reciprocal Health Agreement. [309097] Mr. Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement that the Justice Secretary issued Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice has no such plans, on 24 November 2009, Official Report, columns 67-68WS. since reciprocal health agreements are the responsibility Prisoners Release of the Department of Health, not the Ministry of Justice. I understand however that Department of Health Ministers have given notice of their intention to terminate Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice the agreement with the Isle of Man with effect from with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Official Report, 1 April 2010. Harborough of 11 November 2009, columns 487-88W, on prisoners’ release, how many of Legal Aid the 192 prisoners released in error since 2005 remain at large; for how long they have been at large; what estimate Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for he has made of the number of reoffences they have Justice how much and what proportion of the legal aid committed after release; and of what nature. [301007] budget has been spent on fraud cases in the last five years. [309630] Maria Eagle: Prison establishments are required to report known releases in error to the intelligence and Bridget Prentice: The information requested is not operations unit in National Offender Management Service available in the time required. I will write to the hon. headquarters. However, the incident reporting system Member for North-West Norfolk once the information does not hold records of these events in a format which becomes available. can be interrogated electronically to obtain the specific information requested. Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 Since my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 11 November was compiled, Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice some additional cases have been identified and the total with reference to the answer of 21 July 2009, Official number of releases in error now reported, and the Report, column 1388W, on the Political Parties and outcomes, is as follows:

Total releases in error Number of these who Number of these who Number for whom there is no reported to the incident have subsequently been have since appeared in record of subsequent contact reporting system back in custody court with the criminal justice system

2005 43 34 8 1 2006 48 40 4 14 2007 35 31 3 1 2008 58 49 5 4 2009 (to 30 September) 35 28 4 3 Total 219 182 23 113 1 Includes one former prisoner known to be deceased.

Not all prisoners released in error will be unlawfully and (b) the subject of (i) a court order and (ii) a parole at large. For example, they may be released on a valid licence. [308605] licence or have been unconvicted prisoners whose cases have now been concluded without a custodial sentence. Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence’s Defence As the table shows, there are only 12 surviving ex-prisoners Analytical Services and Advice has undertaken an exercise who have not been back into the criminal justice system to match Ministry of Justice data on prisoners in England since their release in error. Further inquiries are being and Wales with the MOD database of service leavers to made to ensure all appropriate action is being taken to establish the number of armed forces veterans in custody. locate them. The analysis indicates that almost 3 per cent. of the Most prisoners released in error are returned to custody prison population in England and Wales were former quickly. While we are aware of one case in which a armed forces personnel. prisoner released in error committed a serious offence Data for those supervised by the probation service in 2005, there is otherwise no indication from the available are not available. We are exploring the feasibility and information of any significant level of offending by cost of extending the data matching to encompass this prisoners who should have been in custody at the time. group of offenders.

Prisoners: Ex-servicemen Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to identify armed forces veterans who Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice are the subject of (a) a court report or (b) admission how many armed forces veterans are (a) serving a to custody; and whether he plans advice and support custodial sentence in a prison in England and Wales packages for such veterans. [308606] 793W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 794W

Maria Eagle: Offenders who are the subject of a that this assistance would require significant funding. pre-sentence report and prisoners being inducted into The responsibility remains with the individual both to custody are routinely asked for details of their employment register to vote, and to vote. history. Prison assessment procedures are being revised to include more specific questions to identify offenders Prisons: Drugs who have served in the armed forces. A guide for prison officers working with veterans has Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for been developed. This will allow them to provide advice Justice what assessment he has made of any overlap and support as part of their existing offender management between the work of probation officers and the work of work. This material has been informed by some of the drug intervention programme teams. [308217] existing good practice that has already been developed in a number of prisons where officers are assuming the Maria Eagle: There is no overlap between the work of role of Veterans in Custody Support Officer, to assist probation officers and the Drug Intervention Programme veterans with gaining access to the support and specialist (DIP). help they need. The pack will be distributed to prisons Criminal Justice Integrated Teams (CJITs), which between January and March 2010, accompanied by implement DP in the community, manage offenders training for staff and ongoing support for them in its who misuse specified class A drugs (ie heroin or crack implementation. cocaine) either pre-sentence or after they are released Work is in progress to prepare instructions and guidance from prison without statutory supervision. for probation staff supervising ex-service personnel in Offenders with drug misuse problems who are sentenced the community. Probation staff will be invited to attend to a community order with drug rehabilitation requirements the training and networking events that are scheduled (DRRs) or who are released from prison on licence are for prison staff between January and March 2010. managed by probation staff. The Ministry of Defence’s Defence Analytical Services Where an offender who misuses specified class A and Advice has undertaken an exercise to match Ministry drugs is sentenced to a community order without DRRs, of Justice data on prisoners in England and Wales with probation staff work in partnership with CJITs to address the MOD database of service leavers to establish the their drug misuse needs. numbers of armed forces veterans in custody. The analysis indicates that almost 3 per cent. of the prison population Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for in England and Wales were former armed forces personnel. Justice how many staff are employed as part of the Interventions and Substance Misuse Group within the Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice National Offender Management System; and how what studies his Department has conducted since 2000 many were so employed in June 2008. [308219] into the number of armed forces veterans serving a custodial sentence; and what the outcome of each such Maria Eagle: The following table shows the number study was. [308613] of staff in post and what this equates to in terms of full-time equivalents for the two months specified. Maria Eagle: Three nationally representative surveys Interventions and Substance Misuse Group staffing of 2,000 sentenced prisoners near release were conducted June 2008 December 2009 by the Home Office in 2001, 2003 and 2004. They were asked about their previous employment in the armed Staff in post 143 158 forces. The results showed the proportion of prisoners Full-time equivalents 137.46 146.71 who had previously served in the armed forces in those years were 6 per cent., 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for respectively. Justice what (a) assessment has been made of the merits and (b) estimate has been made of the costs per Prisoners: Voting Rights prisoner of places in dedicated drug treatment prisons. [308220] Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures the Prison Service has in place to Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management enable foreign nationals in UK prisons to vote by post Service has a comprehensive drug treatment framework, in overseas elections where they have such a right. based on the National Treatment Agency’s revised models [308287] of care, to address the different needs of drug-misusers in prison. The interventions available are designed to Maria Eagle: Foreign nationals, including EU citizens, meet the needs of low, moderate and severe drug misusers, who are eligible to vote in their home state according to irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. Core elements of that country’s domestic law, will be given such reasonable the framework are available in all adult prisons across assistance by the National Offender Management Service England and Wales. Higher intensity services are available as is practicable to enable them to exercise their right to in selected sites according to the drug treatment needs vote while in prison, which would principally concern of offenders. the appropriate handling of postal votes. Currently, any Given the large numbers entering prisons with a such assistance would be handled at local level and, history of drug misuse and the range of problems that therefore, figures for the number of foreign national they face, we have not considered it appropriate formally prisoners requesting assistance is not held centrally. to assess the merits of dedicated drug treatment prisons. However, NOMS are not aware of significant numbers However, where prisoners are assessed as suitable for of individuals requesting assistance and it is not anticipated high intensity drug interventions such as therapeutic 795W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 796W communities or the 12-step programme every effort is (3) how many incidents of sexual assault have taken made to move them to an establishment offering that place in prisons in each year since 2000. [308961] programme. As no formal assessment has taken place, we have not Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management estimated the cost of places in dedicated drug treatment Service (NOMS) does not capture data specifically prisons. However, average costs in 2008-09 indicate that concerning rape in prison. Rather, numbers of all types the additional cost of places on prison-based accredited of sexual assault incidents are recorded and these are drug treatment programmes (eg 12-Step, Therapeutic provided in Table 2. Communities) can range from £1,200 to £7,200. Variations NOMS has, for many years, recorded serious assaults in cost are dependent upon the mix of staff delivering using a bespoke definition and does not currently have the programme and its length/intensity. the ability to capture data using Home Office counting rules definitions, such as grievous bodily harm. NOMS Prisons: Food defines a serious assault as any of the following: It is a sexual assault. Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice It results in detention in outside hospital as an in-patient. what estimate he has made of the average cost of providing a meal to a prisoner in the latest period for It requires medical treatment for concussion or internal injuries. which figures are available. [308976] The injury is a fracture, scald or burn, stabbing, crushing, extensive or multiple bruising, black eye, broken nose, lost or broken tooth, cuts requiring suturing, bites or temporary or Maria Eagle: The full cost of providing meals includes permanent blindness. a number of elements including staff and prisoner labour, food, training (staff and prisoner), kitchen and When an assault results in one of these types of servery facilities, utilities and other overheads, including injuries it is classified as serious even if the actual management overheads, and it is not possible to fully damage was superficial. identify these costs—some of which are shared resources Numbers of serious assaults recorded by NOMS for across individual prisons and between prisons. the years in question are given in Table 1. It is, however, possible to separately identify the cost Table 1 of food. For 2008-09, the last full financial year for Recorded incidents of serious which figures are available, the average public sector assault in prisons in England and Proportion of all assaults Prison Service daily food cost per prisoner in England Wales (percentage) and Wales was £2.31. 20001 794 8 The average food cost per meal per prisoner is based 20011 796 7 on the understanding that breakfast, lunch and dinner 2002 956 8 account for approximately 20 per cent., 40 per cent. and 2003 1,159 10 40 per cent. of the daily food cost. Using these figures, 2004 1,220 10 the average cost per meal per prisoner was: breakfast 2005 1,371 10 46.2p; lunch 92.4p; and, dinner 92.4p. But these percentages 2006 1,404 9 will vary from one establishment to another and are 2007 1,482 10 illustrative only. 2008 1,481 9 1Due to improved recording over the years, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not Prisons: Inspections directly comparable with those from later years. Numbers may differ slightly from previously published figures. Note: David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. Justice how many prison governors have reported Data on sexual assaults and other incidents in prison moving prisoners immediately prior to an inspection in is obtained through the National Offender Management the last 12 months. [308170] Service’s Incident Reporting System. Numbers of sexual assault incidents for the years in question are given in Maria Eagle: Governors are not required to report Table 2. The figures include proven and unproven allegations transferring prisoners to other establishments as transfers and are subject to change because some allegations are are a regular and frequent occurrence. removed or reclassified following investigation. On 20 October 2009, the Secretary of State for Justice, Table 2 made a statement to the House of Commons asking Recorded incidents of sexual assault in prisons in Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons to work with England and Wales the Ministry of Justice director of analytical services to 20001 115 investigate whether any temporary transfer of prisoners 20011 101 had occurred before an inspection by Her Majesty’s 2002 143 Chief Inspector of Prisons. The results of this investigation 2003 131 will be made available in due course. 2004 144 Prisons: Rape 2005 139 2006 148 2007 135 Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 2008 119 (1) how many rapes were reported in each prison in 1Due to improved recording over the years, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not England and Wales in each year since 2000; [308958] directly comparable with those from later years. Numbers may differ slightly from previously published figures. (2) how many incidents of grievous bodily harm have Note: taken place in prisons in each year since 2000; [308960] The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. 797W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 798W

Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every The National Offender Management Service does public sector prison to have in place a local violence not, though, record detailed information relating to reduction strategy. From mid-2007 this policy has been charges or convictions for criminal offences in the form applied to both the public sector and contracted estate. requested. The strategy requires each prison to undertake regular From April 2009 convictions under the Act have been analysis of the problem areas, consider solutions and included in the Home Office Counting Rules, which provide an action plan to improve personal safety and provide a national standard for the recording and counting reduce violence. A whole prison approach is encouraged, of notifiable offences recorded by police forces in England engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging and Wales (known as “recorded crime”). Statistics will unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal be published in next year’s Annual Crime Statistics safety. This includes environmental and physical measures, Bulletin due to be published July 2010, and will provide as well as alternative ways of managing behaviour. a more accurate picture of the use of the Act. 1The data contained in the above table was extracted from the Prisons: Religion central Discipline Database and the Personnel Management Database, both of which are subject to the normal inaccuracies associated Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with any large scale reporting system. Any cases which are still what criteria the Prison Service uses to determine ongoing, or subject to internal appeal, have not been included. whether to recognise a religion for the purposes of Remand in Custody facilitating religious ministry in prison. [308703]

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service does not have specified Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice criteria for determining whether to recognise a religion how many people in each age group who were for the purposes of facilitating religious ministry in remanded in custody in each year since 1997 were not prisons. Cases would be considered on their merits convicted of the offence for which they were remanded taking into account security, good order and discipline in custody; and how much time was spent on remand as well as the needs and rights of the individual prisoner. by such people. [308778] All prisons have chaplaincy teams to enable and facilitate religious and pastoral support to prisoners. Maria Eagle: Information collected by the Ministry of Justice and held centrally on the court proceedings Prisons: Smuggling database only records details of the final outcome of court proceedings, e.g. following conviction or acquittal. Therefore it is not possible to provide information on David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the original offence for which a defendant was proceeded Justice how many prison staff were charged with against. disciplinary or criminal offences involving (a) importation of drugs, (b) importation of mobile Review of the 30-year Rule telephones and (c) importation of other contraband to a prison in the most recent year for which figures are Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for available. [308169] Justice when he plans to publish the Government’s response to the Review of the 30 Year Rule submitted Maria Eagle: According to centrally held records1 in to his Department in January 2009. [309949] the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), 10 staff were subject to formal disciplinary action for Mr. Wills: The Government are finalising their response the conveying of prohibited items into prisons in the to the review of the 30-year rule and this will be period 1 December 2008 through 30 November 2009. A published in due course. breakdown of these cases is provided in the following table: Secure Training Centres: Restraint Techniques NOMS staff disciplined for conveying prohibited items into prisons Description Number of staff disciplined Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if Drugs 2 he will place in the Library an unredacted copy of the Mobile phones 3 physical control in care restraint manual used in secure [308382] Other contraband 5 training centres. Total 10 Maria Eagle: A copy of the redacted manual has Tackling the supply of drugs and mobile phones into been placed in the House Library. The redaction is prisons is a high priority for NOMS. Since David Blakey’s necessary in order to remove sensitive security information, report, “Disrupting the Supply of Illicit Drugs into misuse of which could lead to injury to a young person Prisons”, was published in July 2008 good progress has in custody, to a member of staff, or to a member of the been made in implementing Blakey’s recommendations. public attempting one of the holds or on whom a hold We have also strengthened the law, through the Offender was attempted. Management Act 2007 (implemented in April 2008), which makes it a criminal offence with a punishment of Young Offenders: Reoffenders up to ten years’ imprisonment for the conveyance of drugs, mobile phones or other prohibited items into a Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for prison. There is also a range of offences used to prosecute Justice what data his Department collects on youth staff in these circumstances, including misconduct in re-offending at middle layer super output area level; public office and possession with intent to supply. and where such data are published. [309516] 799W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 800W

Claire Ward: The published National Statistics on (a) Secure children’s homes Time in room (hours) juvenile reoffending in England and Wales are not broken down by area. As part of the National Indicator East Moor 11.1 Set, NI19—Juvenile Reoffending provides these data at Hillside 9.5 the local level, but data are only available at the Youth Kyloe 11.5 Offender Team level. Youth Offender Team areas are Lincolnshire 11.0 not coterminous with local authorities in all cases—tables Red Bank 10.3 including this information have been placed in the Swanwick Lodge 11.0 Libraries of the House. Vinney Green 10.2 Breaking the data down to smaller areas would be likely to result in figures which were too small to be (b) Secure training centres Time in room (hours) meaningful. Oakhill 10.0 Juvenile reoffending data at the YouthOffender Team Medway 10.4 level is available for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008. Rainsbrook 10.0 For 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 data are based on a Hassockfield 10.1 cohort of offenders that received a pre-court disposal (reprimand or final warning) or a first-tier or community (c) Young offender institutions Time in room (hours) penalty or were released from custody between October and December of that year. Data on this previous Ashfield 13.9 measure for the 2002-2005 cohorts were reported in Brinsford 15.6 early 2004-2007 respectively. After 2007 the basis of the Castington 15.2 measure changed to offenders that received a pre-court Cookham Wood 15.2 disposal (reprimand or final warning) or a first-tier or Downview 14.2 community penalty or were released from custody between Eastwood Park 11.8 January and March. Data on this new basis are available Feltham 16.0 for the 2005 and 2008 cohorts—the former submitted Foston Hall 12.0 retrospectively in September 2008, and the latter returned Hindley 15.4 in July 2009. Huntercombe 15.6 New Hall 12.8 The local juvenile reoffending measure differs from Parc 15.2 the published national statistics on juvenile reoffending. Stoke Heath 16.3 The primary difference is that the data source is Warren Hill 15.1 administrative data held by youth offending teams, Werrington 15.3 whereas the national statistics are produced using the Wetherby 15.5 police national computer. There are therefore differences Wetherby (Keppel Unit) 13.9 in the offences which count towards reoffending. In addition to this, local juvenile reoffending data is based on a one year follow up period with a further three months allowed for any cautions or convictions to occur, whereas the national statistics allow a six month BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS period for cautions or convictions. Apprentices Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Youth Custody Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices there were in the (a) construction, Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) administration and human resources, (c) agricultural Justice how many hours each day young offenders and land based services, (d) broadcast film and media, spent locked in a cell at each (a) secure children’s (e) chemical, oil and nuclear energy, (f) customer home, (b) secure training centre and (c) young service and retail, (g) energy and utilities, (h) electrical offender institution on average in the latest period for and engineering, (i) financial services, (j) food and which figures are available. [308820] drink, (k) hair and beauty, (l) logistics, (m) hospitality and travel, (n) marine, (o) property, (p) public services, Maria Eagle: The following tables provide the average (q) sports and fitness and (r) chemical, oil and nuclear number of hours per day which young people in custody sector in each region in the latest period for which spent in their rooms during September 2009. figures are available. [303308] The data have been supplied by the Youth Justice Kevin Brennan: Information is not available to identify Board and have been drawn from administrative IT the total number of apprentices by sector as listed systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, above. are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing Table 1 as follows shows apprenticeship starts for and may be subject to change over time. 2007/08 and 2008/09 (based on provisional data) by sector subject area. (a) Secure children’s homes Time in room (hours) Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by sector subject area Aldine House 10.5 Sector subject area 2007/08 2008/091 Atkinson Unit 10.1 Aycliffe 11.0 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal 4,500 5,100 Care Barton Moss 10.9 Arts, Media and Publishing 100 200 Clayfields 11.3 Business, Administration and Law 50,700 62,700 801W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 802W

Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by sector subject area Table 1: Apprenticeship withdrawals by quarter Number Sector subject area 2007/08 2008/091 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 Construction, Planning and the Built 27,800 27,900 Total 120,100 90,900 78,000 61,100 62,300 Environment Notes: Education and Training 300 1,200 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred, and therefore may not sum to totals. 2. Quarter 1: 1 August to 31 October Quarter 2: 1 November to 31 Engineering and Manufacturing 43,100 36,000 January Technologies Quarter 3: 1 February to 30 April Quarter 4: 1 May to 31 July. 3. Figures for 2003/04 are not directly comparable Health, Public Services and Care 31,100 34,200 to later years due to a change in the variable used to record the status of the Information and Communication 8,000 8,700 learner. 4. Withdrawals include both those learners that left the course prior to Technology the end date, and those learners that attended the full duration of the course but did not achieve a qualification. Source: WBL ILR. 2 2 Languages, Literature and Culture — — Apprentices: Marketing Leisure, Travel and Tourism 6,300 11,100 Preparation for Life and Work 2— 2— Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Retail and Commercial Enterprise 49,300 46,800 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent from the public purse on the (a) 2 2 Science and Mathematics — — creation and (b) screening of television advertisements Unknown 3,500 2— for apprenticeships in each of the last three years. Grand Total 224,800 234,000 [307780]

1 Provisional. 2 Indicates a base value of less than fifty. Kevin Brennan: There has been one television advertising Notes: campaign for apprenticeships in England in the last 1. The following data sources have been used; Work-based learning (WBL)— three years. The campaign in February and March 2009 2007/08 and earlier years (W13 final), 2008/09 (E12 07/08/09). 2. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred. cost £361,154 to create and £2,764,557 to screen. 3. Unlike participation figures, figures are comparable between 2008/09 and earlier years as demand led funding does not affect starts. Apprentices: Nottingham 4. Apprenticeship starts for 2008/09 are provisional. Starts will rise by approximately 2-3 per cent.. This revised information will be shown in the December 2009 SFR, and the accompanying supplementary tables. Mr. Allen: To ask the Minister of State, Department 5. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during for Business, Innovation and Skills how many the year. Learners starting more than one framework will appear more than once. apprenticeship starts there were in Nottingham North 6. Higher level apprenticeships are included with advanced apprenticeships. constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2008-09. [309018] Programme-led apprenticeships recorded in WBL ILR returns are included in the above figures. Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of More detailed data are also available by apprenticeship apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical sector framework code and by region. This was published first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on in supplementary tables S6.1 and S6.2 of the Statistical 17 December: First Release published in October. This information http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09 can be found here: Supplementary table 6.1 shows apprenticeship starts by http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfroct09/ region, local authority and parliamentary constituency sfr_oct_2009_table_6.htm from 2003/04, the earliest year for which we have comparable data. Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Apprentices: Preston Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people withdrew from apprenticeship schemes before completing them in each quarter of the last five Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, years. [304161] Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many modern apprenticeships have been started in Preston since 1997. [308655] Kevin Brennan: The number of people starting and successfully completing an apprenticeship is at a record Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of level, with 127,000 (provisional) completing in 2008/09 apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical compared to 112,000 in 2007/08. Completion rates reached first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 an all time high of 64 per cent. in 2007/08 compared to December: 37 per cent. in 2004/05. Table 1 shows the number of people that left an apprenticeship programme without http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09 achieving, by quarter, for 2003/04 to 2007/08, the latest Supplementary table 6.1 shows apprenticeship starts by year for which we have complete data. region, local authority and parliamentary constituency from 2003/04, the earliest year for which we have comparable Table 1: Apprenticeship withdrawals by quarter data. Number 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 Capita Quarter 1 30,900 22,400 20,300 16,200 15,800 Quarter 2 27,600 20,200 17,800 14,000 13,500 Mr. Touhig: To ask the Minister of State, Department Quarter 3 28,600 19,000 17,100 13,500 14,600 for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions Quarter 4 27,300 20,300 18,000 13,200 14,500 Capita Group plc tendered for contracts let by his Unknown 5,700 9,000 4,800 4,300 3,900 Department and its predecessors in each of the last five 803W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 804W years; how many such tenders were successful; how Supplier Total spend (£) much his Department and its predecessors paid to Capita Group plc for the execution of contracts in each Two Ten Communications Ltd. 15.27 such year; how many contracts which terminate after (Capita Communications) 2010 Capita Group plc hold with his Department; and what the monetary value is of all current contracts FY 2008/09 between his Department and Capita Group plc. [303150] Capita 1,014,817.39 Capita Business Services Ltd. 25,187,877.83 Capita Health Solutions Ltd. 138,710.36 Mr. McFadden: Central records indicate that BIS and Capita Resourcing Ltd. 154,562.75 its predecessor element DTI/BERR paid the following Capita Symonds Ltd. 2,166.16 to Capita Group companies in each of the last five years. DCSF has advised similar figures relating to the former DIUS element of BIS could be provided only at Supplier Total spend (£) disproportionate cost. The other details that have been requested could also FY 2004/05 be provided only at disproportionate cost. Capita 46,346.79 Capita Business Services Ltd. 551,145.61 Capital Investment: York Capita Insurance Services 1,220,000.87 Capita Insurance Services Group 66,793,490.14 Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Ltd. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Capita interim management 3,270.00 much capital funding his Department and its business services Ltd. predecessors have allocated to (a) York College, (b) Capita RAS Ltd. 8,500.00 the University of York and (c) the University of York Two Ten Communications Ltd. 25.00 (Capita Communications) St John in each year since 1992. [307318] Kevin Brennan: Total capital funding by this Department FY05/06 for the named institutions are as follows: Capita 78,424.55 (a) York further education and higher education college Capita Business Services Ltd. 5,650.00 £ Capita Health Solutions 411,647.03 Capita Resourcing 16,903.00 2001/02 28,052 Capita Symonds Ltd. 4,126.75 2004/05 162,900 Capita Insurance Services 28,304,682.86 2005/06 21,159,347 Capita Insurance Services Group 48,072,508.27 Ltd. (b) and (c) University of York and university of York St. John Capita Learning and Development 1,620.75 £ University of York University of York St. John FY 2006/07 Capita 716,539.58 2000-01 246,009 171,396 Capita Business Services Ltd. 37,231,189.40 2001-02 5,970,839 0 Capita Hartshead 25,575.58 2002-03 5,618,921 2,206,823 Capita Health Solutions Ltd. 281,676.44 2003-04 10,508,383 480,369 Capita Resourcing Ltd. 314,737.93 2004-05 10,254,589 3,371,602 Capita Symonds Ltd. 1,113.05 2005-06 8,649,369 280,000 Capita Centres UK Ltd. 190.00 2006-07 3,527,349 3,101,758 Capita Insurance Services 30,907,287.15 2007-08 16,182,678 939,152 Capita Insurance Services Group 127,250.00 2008-09 31,442,103 1,308,627 Ltd. 2009-10 26,823,315 1,250,615 Capita Learning and Development 1,379.63 Two Ten Communications Ltd. 2,002.17 Crossrail: Training (Capita Communications) Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department FY 2007/08 for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions Capita 885,008.14 his Department has had with Crossrail Limited on its Capita Business Services Ltd. 45,897,209.30 skills requirements for employees. [308501] Capita Fulfilment Services 32.35 Capita Hartshead 9,682.37 Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Capita Health Solutions Ltd. 2,094,132.53 is working with Crossrail to agree a Skills and Employment Plan for the project from 2010 and is a member of the Capita Resourcing Ltd. 616,010.72 Crossrail Skills and Employment Committee. The LSC’s Capita Resourcing Ltd. t/a Veredus 185,885.48 Interim Management response to Crossrail’s skills needs closely reflects the Capita Symonds Ltd. 485.10 work and planning undertaken with the Olympic Delivery Capita Learning and Development 895.00 Authority for the 2012 games and includes work to ensure careers advisors are aware of the types of jobs 805W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 806W that may be created by the Crossrail project including executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies around 400 new apprenticeship opportunities. for which his Department and its predecessors were The Skills Funding Agency, which replaces the LSC responsible in each of the last three years. [306461] in April 2010, will continue to work with Crossrail on its skills requirements for employees. Mr. McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, East (John Departmental Art Works Mason) on 26 November 2009, Official Report, column 295W. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Departmental Telephone Services Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has spent money on art works in the last 12 months. [308581] Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Mr. McFadden: Works of art displayed in this many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0870, (b) Department are from the Government Art Collection 0845 and (c) 0800 his Department (i) operates and (ii) (GAC), which publishes an annual list of acquisitions. sponsors; how many calls each number received in the The most recent details of acquisitions made by the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers GAC were published on 5 October 2009 and are available charged at the BT local rate are available in each case. on the GAC website: [305207] http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/information/publications.asp Mr. McFadden: The information requested is as follows: Departmental Pay (i) Information is available centrally on eight “08” telephone lines operated by the Department. These are Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department listed in the table with the number of calls received by for Business, Innovation and Skills what bonuses were each line where that information is held and the alternative paid to (a) consultants and (b) contractors engaged by contact numbers where available.

Telephone number Number of calls January to December 2009 Alternative number Notes

0845 015 0010 15,626 n/a 0845 015 0020 637 n/a 0845 015 0030 175 n/a 0845 019 0001 1,393 n/a 0845 600 0678 116,867 n/a No longer published. Since June 2009 calls to this number have been rerouted to the new Pay and Work Rights helpline. 0845 600 9006 180,000 n/a 0845 955 5105 2— No longer published. Since June 2009 calls to this number have been rerouted to the new Pay and Work Rights helpline. 0870 513 4486 2— 020 7215 6880 n/a = not available 1 January to May 2009 2 Not held

(ii) The only information available from central records The Government are developing a new Microgeneration on BIS sponsored “08” telephone lines is for 0800 917 Strategy that will look at the non financial barriers to 2368, the new Pay and Work Rights helpline. Between deployment of household-scale low carbon and renewable May and December 2009 the helpline has received technologies including micro CHP systems. We are due 54,000 calls. There is no alternative contact number for to consult on the Microgeneration Strategy by the summer this service. of 2010. This Strategy should usefully consider supply Energy chain issues in relation to the range of small scale on-site low carbon and renewable energy technologies, John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, for example, the development of skills in design and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what installation of such technologies. In addition, it may support his Department is providing to encourage also consider other areas such as developing a systems micro combined heat and power generation in 2009-10. approach as opposed to a technology approach for [306945] microgeneration technologies, certification and standards and information provision. This strategy should benefit Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply. a range of different technologies, including micro CHP. While the Low Carbon Buildings programme is in theory open to microCHP, the lack of accredited products Through the Carbon Trust the Government have means the Government do not currently provide support funded the microCHP accelerator field trial, details of for microCHP. We are considering support options for which are available at microCHP in the context of the feed-in tariffs consultation http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/emerging-technologies/current- http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ focus-areas/pages/micro-combined-heat-power.aspx elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx 807W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 808W

Through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) we recently Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department held a £7.2 million call for proposals for capital investment for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions to support demonstration programmes. This included (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his fuel cell micro-CHP demonstration. More information officials have had on the merits of the Competition is available from Commission’s proposal for a grocery supply ombudsman http://www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/forthcoming (i) between April 2008 and 3 August 2009, (ii) between competitions/ 4 August 2009 and 1 November 2009 and (iii) since fuelcellsandhydrogendemonstrationprogramme.ashx 2 November 2009. [309304]

Graduates: Work Experience Kevin Brennan: BIS Ministers and officials regularly meet with a range of stakeholders to discuss a wide Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department range of issues including the Competition Commission’s for Business, Innovation and Skills how many vacancies (CC’s) groceries market recommendations such as the have been (a) advertised and (b) filled via the Graduate Grocery Ombudsman as part of the process of policy Talent Pool website in each month since it was created. development. Other topics such as skills, employment [307759] and other business issues will have been covered as part of a wider agenda. The following meetings (where records Mr. Lammy: The total number of vacancies advertised are available) were held during the specified periods: on Graduate Talent Pool since it went live on 29 July is (i) Meetings held between April 2008 and 3 August 12,090, of which, 6,578 are still live on the site. The 2009: other 5,512 will have either been filled or withdrawn. 22 May 2008—Meeting with Sainsbury’s—attended by David The number of vacancies advertised by month is as Saunders (the then Director for Consumer and Competition follows: Policy, BIS) and other BIS officials. 6 June 2008—Meeting with Tesco—attended by BIS officials. Number 11 June 2008—Meeting with Sainsbury’s—attended by BIS June 119 officials. July 3,425 12 June 2008—Meeting with Asda—attended by David Saunders (the then Director for Consumer and Competition Policy) and August 1,547 other BIS officials. September 2,729 26 June 2008—Meeting with Sainsbury’s—attended by Gareth October 2,241 Thomas MP (the then BIS Competition Minister) and another November 1,704 BIS official. December 325 17 July 2008—Meeting with Traidcraft—attended by Gareth Thomas MP (the then BIS Competition Minister) and a BIS Information on filled vacancies is derived from periodic official. surveys of employers. We have information from the 31 October 2008—Meeting with Tesco—attended by Geoffrey first such survey covering vacancies that closed during Norris (Special Advisor to BIS Secretary of State). July and August, before the communications targeted at 10 December 2008—Meeting with Traidcraft and members of graduates began. This indicated that 30 per cent. of the Cross Cutting Group—attended by BIS officials. employers had filled some or all of their vacancies at that stage and that recruitment was continuing in a 11 January 2009—Meeting with Association of Convenience Stores—attended by Ian Pearson, Minister. number of other cases. 11 February 2009—Meeting with Waitrose—attended by BIS Grocery Trade: Competition officials. 18 February 2009—Meeting with National Farmer’s Union— attended by Sir Brian Bender (the then BIS Permanent Secretary) Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department and a BIS official. for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether he has 19 February 2009—Meeting with Sainsbury’s—attended by made an assessment of the potential effects of Sarah Chambers (Director for Consumer and Competition Policy, implementation of the Competition Commission’s BIS) and another BIS official. proposals for a grocery supply ombudsman on (a) 19 March 2009—Meeting with Tesco—attended by Gareth grocery prices and (b) affordability of goods in Thomas MP (the then BIS Competition Minister) and other BIS supermarkets; [309303] officials. (2) what regulatory impact assessment he has made 26 March 2009—Meeting with Tesco—attended by BIS officials. of implementation of the Competition Commission’s 31 March 2009—Meeting with Association of Convenience proposals for a grocery supply ombudsman; [309307] Stores—attended by Gareth Thomas MP (the then BIS Competition (3) whether he has made an estimate of the cost of Minister) and BIS officials. implementing the Competition Commission’s proposal 17 July 2009—Meeting with Tesco—attended by a BIS official. for a grocery supply ombudsman. [309308] (ii) Meetings held between 4 August 2009 and 1 November 2009: Kevin Brennan: An impact assessment will be produced 12 August 2009—Meeting with Asda—attended by Sarah and published alongside any future consultation on the Chambers (Director for Consumer and Competition Policy, BIS) Competition Commission’s (CC’s) proposals for a groceries and another BIS official. supply code of practice (GSCOP) ombudsman. The 13 August 2009—Meeting with Groceries Market Action Group assessment will consider and take into account the members: National Farmers Union, British Brands Group, Traidcraft, effects of the CC’s proposals and include the costs and and Association of Convenient Stores—attended by Sarah Chambers benefits of the implementing the proposal, grocery prices (Director for Consumer and Competition Policy, BIS) and another and the affordability of goods in supermarkets. BIS official. 809W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 810W

9 September 2009—Meeting with British Retail Consortium— Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department attended by a BIS official. for Business, Innovation and Skills what evidence his 15 September 2009—Meeting with Tesco—attended by Lord Department holds on potential effects of implementation Mandelson (BIS Secretary of state) and a BIS official. of the Competition Commission’s proposals for a grocery 13 October 2009—Meeting with ActionAid—attended by Geoffrey supply ombudsman on (a) consumer prices, (b) consumer Norris (Special Advisor to BIS Secretary of State). interests, (c) consumer choice, (d) viability of grocery 15 October 2009—Meeting with Waitrose—attended by BIS suppliers, (e) liability of farmers and food growers, (f) officials. economic sustainability of developing world suppliers (iii) Meetings held since 2 November 2009: and (g) product innovation. [309360] 2 November 2009—Meeting with British Retail Consortium— attended by Simon Fraser (BIS Permanent Secretary) and a BIS Kevin Brennan: The Department has received a large official. number of representations including the above issues as 3 November 2009—Meeting with Groceries Market Action part of the evidence gathered on potential effects of the Group including: ActionAid, National Farmers Union and Competition Commission’s proposals for a grocery supply Association of Convenience Stores—attended by Kevin Brennan ombudsman. MP (BIS Competition Minister). Those representations, along with the Commission’s 3 November 2009—Meeting with representatives from ActionAid, careful analysis, will be taken into account when we National Farmers Union, and Association of Convenience Stores— reach our decision shortly. attended by Kevin Brennan MP (BIS Competition Minister). 4 November 2009—Meeting with Morrisons—attended by Ian Higher Education: Admissions Lucas MP (BIS Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform) and a BIS official. Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister of State, 26 November 2009—Meeting with National Farmers Union— Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how attended by Kevin Brennan MP (BIS Competition Minister) and many and what percentage of white (a) boys and (b) a BIS official. girls eligible for free school meals in their last year at 1 December 2009—Meeting with Food and Drink Federation— school obtained a place at (i) university and (ii) a attended by Kevin Brennan MP (BIS Competition Minister) and a BIS official. Russell Group university in (A) 1980 and (B) the most recent year for which figures are available. [310106] 2 December 2009—Meeting with Consumer Focus—attended by Kevin Brennan MP (BIS Competition Minister) and a BIS official. Mr. Lammy: The following figures show pupils who 8 December 2009—Association of Convenience Stores, plus were in English maintained schools and aged 15 at the NISA, Today’s and SPAR—attended by, Ian Lucas (BIS Minister start of academic years 2002/03 who progressed to HE for Business and Regulatory Reform) and a BIS official. by the age of 19 in 2006/07. 2005/06 is the earliest year 16 December 2009—Meeting with Divine Chocolate and for which these figures are available. Traidcraft—attended by Kevin Brennan MP (BIS Competition These figures have been estimated using matched Minister) and a BIS official. data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher 16 December 2009—Meeting with Tesco—attended by a BIS Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the official. Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner 21 December 2009—Meeting with British Brands Group—attended Record. Figures for 2007/08 will be available in later in by a BIS official. the year.

Estimates of the number and proportion of white female and male pupils aged 15 at the start of the 2002/03 academic year, in English maintained schools, who progressed to HE by the age of 19 in 2006/07 Young persons in UK HE1 of which Russell Group HEIs FSM2 Non-FSM2 FSM Non-FSM Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

White females 2,600 10 71,000 35 200 1 14,200 7 White males 1,800 7 56,800 27 200 1 11,700 6 1 Includes HE level courses at English further education colleges. 2 FSM and non-FSM indicate receipt and non-receipt of free school meals respectively. Note: In 2002/03 there were 81,100 maintained school pupils aged 15 claiming free school meals. This represents around 14 per cent. of all pupils in English maintained schools. Source: Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record. All figures are estimates and numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100.

Higher Education: Overseas Students UK higher education institutions are provided in the table. Figures in the table indicate for what reason a Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Minister of State, student left an institution as recorded on the Higher Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. many non-EU overseas students discontinued an Where information has been classified as missing the undergraduate or postgraduate course at a higher majority of instances are for students who continued education institution in each of the last five academic into their next year of study at their higher education years. [309804] institution. Mr. Lammy: The numbers of non-EU overseas Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at on 14 January 2010. 811W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 812W

Non-EU overseas undergraduate and postgraduate enrolments1 by reason for leaving institution, UK higher education institutions, academic years 2003/04 to 2007/08 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 Reason for leaving UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG

Completion of course 25,865 17,030 26,405 18,620 29,100 21,020 31,975 23,310 31,805 25,675 Other2 4,125 3,140 5,190 3,440 4,790 3,280 4,765 3,560 5,630 3,710 Unknown 250 165 300 240 220 180 180 160 170 115 Missing 65,020 81,655 66,415 82,515 65,100 83,365 65,980 90,645 66,845 95,695 Total 95,260 101,990 98,310 104,815 99,210 107,845 102,900 117,675 104,445 125,200 1 Covers enrolments to full-time and part-time courses. 2 Other includes students who left an institution due to academic failure or left in bad standing; left due to health or financial reasons; left due to other personal reasons and dropped out; left due to other reasons; were excluded, went in to employment or were written off after a lapse of time. Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA Standard Registration Population and have been rounded to the nearest five. 2. UG = Undergraduate 3. PG = Postgraduate. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Hotels Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 8 January 2010: I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 16 December 2009, UIN 309232, to the Minister Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. for Business, Innovation and Skills how many hotel Since 2007 Companies House has not paid any fees to third room nights were booked by officials in (a) his Department party agents in relation to booking hotel accommodation. Details and (b) its agencies in each year since 2007; and how of the number of hotel room nights booked by officials are not much (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies have spent recorded. on fees of third party agents in relation to booking Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 21 December 2009: hotel accommodation in each such year. [309232] I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 16 December 2009, to the Mr. McFadden: Following a machinery of government Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and change the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Skills was formed in June 2009. The following figures The Intellectual Property Office staff book hotel rooms individually relate to the Departments before the merger. within guidelines, as such the information on number of nights is not held centrally and is not available in the current timescales. The number of hotel room nights booked by the The Office does use an approved third party to arrange some Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory accommodation but no fees are paid for the service. Reform was: Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 21 December 2009: 2007/08: 10,104 The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation 2008/09: 11,258. and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, how many hotel room nights were booked by officials in (a) his Department and The number of hotel room nights booked by the (b) its agencies in each year since 2007; and how much (i) his Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was: Department and (ii) its agencies have spent on fees of third party agents in relation to booking hotel accommodation in each such June 2007 to March 2008: 1,455 year. 200809: 2,497. The Insolvency Service uses Hotelsmart as a booking agent. All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the The numbers of rooms booked were: principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury 2007: 4,907 handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Hotel 2008: 6,432 accommodation is provided through a cross-Government 2009 to 16 December 2009: 5,768. hotel booking agent, contracts awarded by Buying Solutions. Records of fees paid are not centrally recorded There are no fees paid to Hotelsmart. and to provide this information would entail Insolvency disproportionate cost. I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Natascha Engel: To ask the Minister of State, Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will many pyramid-selling schemes have been wound up by respond to you directly. his Department after the presentation of petitions Letter from Peter Mason, dated 21 December 2009: under the Insolvency Act 1986 in each year since 1997. [309484] I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 16 December 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation Ian Lucas: Unfortunately the records maintained do and Skills. not contain sufficient detail to provide this information. But I can assure my hon. Friend that the Department Information on the number of hotel room nights that have been booked by officials is not held centrally and to do so would continues to treat abuses which occur in pyramid selling incur disproportionate costs. The National Measurement Office schemes and other similar schemes very seriously, and has not spent any monies on fees of third party agents in relation will continue to petition to wind up those which are to booking hotel accommodation since 2007. trading against the public interest. 813W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 814W

Natascha Engel: Toask the Minister of State, Department Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of publicly for Business, Innovation and Skills how many money funded adults achieving a Full Level 3 qualification in circulation schemes have been wound up by his Department 2004/05 to 2007/08, the latest year for which we have after the presentation of petitions under the Insolvency final information and also for 2008/09 which is not Act 1986 in each year since 1997. [309485] directly comparable given it is estimated on a slightly different basis and is also provisional. Ian Lucas: Unfortunately the records maintained do Table 1: Publicly funded full level 3 achievements by adults (aged not contain sufficient detail to provide this information. 19+), 2004/05 to 2008/09 in the London borough of Bexley But I can assure my hon. Friend that the Department Academic year Number of achievements continues to treat abuses such as money circulation schemes and other similar schemes very seriously, and 2004/05 250 will continue to petition to wind up those which are 2005/06 370 trading against the public interest. 2006/07 440 2007/08 500 Leeds University: Research 2008/091 (provisional) 700 1 Figures for 2008/09 are not directly comparable to earlier years as Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, the introduction of demand led funding has changed how data is Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how collected and how funded learners are defined from 2008/09 onwards. much research funding has been allocated to Leeds More information on demand led funding is available at: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/demand-led- University in each year since 1997. [309383] funding.htm Notes: Mr. Lammy: The university of Leeds has received the 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest ten. following quality related funding for research allocated 2. Age is based on age as at 31 August of the academic year (academic by the Higher Education Funding Council for England: age). 3. Local authority is based on home postcode of the learner. Time series of HEFCE research funding (£ million) for the university of Leeds 4. These data include provision delivered in FE organisations, sixth for academic years 1997-98 to 2009-10: Prepared by HEFCE Analytical form colleges, independent training organisations, local authorities Services Group on 5 January 2010 Figures are in cash terms, and include late and other providers. This includes programmes such as apprenticeships grant adjustments and Train to Gain. Data regarding school sixth forms is not included University of Leeds (£ million) in this publication. Source: 1997-98 26.99 Individualised Learner Record. 1998-99 27.42 1999-2000 27.84 Sector Skills Councils 2000-01 27.83 2001-02 28.52 2002-03 30.97 Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department 2003-04 35.22 for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has 2004-05 36.32 been made on the relicensing of sector skills councils; [308450] 2005-06 42.49 and if he will make a statement. 2006-07 46.01 2007-10 47.24 Kevin Brennan: Good progress is being made with the 2008-09 48.83 relicensing of Sector Skills Councils. The assessment 2009-10 49.50 and relicensing process for Sector Skills Councils formally opened in July 2008 with the launch of the Prospectus, Higher Education Statistics Agency data show that ‘Empowering SSCs—Employer driven skills reform across the university of Leeds received the following income the UK’. By the end of 2009 18 SSCs had successfully from Research Councils (2008-09 data are not yet available): met the performance standard. In the case of Skillfast-UK, Research Council grants the SSC for the fashion and textile sector, Government £ million decided to uphold the UK Commission’s recommendation not to issue a new license. Instead, the intention is for 1997-98 14.37 the coverage of this sector to come within the scope of 1998-99 16.44 another SSC. The UK Commission expect to make 1999-2000 18.79 further recommendations to Government early in 2010 2000-01 21.02 in relation to the remaining SSCs. 2001-02 24.96 2002-03 24.62 Sector Skills Councils: Finance 2003-04 23.01 2004-05 25.59 2005-06 27.44 Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, 2006-07 31.80 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how 2007-08 39.23 much funding has been allocated to each sector skills council in each of the last five years. [308791] Qualifications: Bexley Kevin Brennan: The Department for Business, Innovation Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department and Skills provide grant in aid funding to the UK for Business, Innovation and Skills how many adults in Commission for Employment and Skills to contract the London borough of Bexley completed a level three with Sector Skills Councils for work on areas such as qualification in the last five years for which figures are national occupational standards and labour market available. [308500] information. The funding provided to each Sector Skills 815W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 816W

Council by the UK Commission, and its predecessor Most Sector Skills Councils also receive other funding the Sector Skills Development Agency, in the last five from a range of sources, including other Government years is given as follows. Departments.

£000 Sector Skills Councils 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 2005/06 2004/05

Asset Skills 3,624 4,537 2,365 2,131 1,789 Automotive Skills (IMI) 2,875 3,079 1,966 1,690 2,225 Cogent 2,545 2,499 1,938 1,922 2,080 ConstructionSkills 3,801 4,490 2,972 1,908 3,166 Creative and Cultural Skills 2,947 1,782 2,631 2,193 879 Energy and Utility Skills 2,598 3,211 2,415 1,879 1,782 e-skills UK 3,331 5,039 6,774 5,858 5,594 Financial Services Skills Council 3,755 3,199 1,928 2,033 2,079 GoSkills 3,151 2,373 2,280 2,058 1,827 Government Skills 1,737 2,537 1,802 301 49 Improve Ltd. 2,607 2,229 2,688 2,021 2,538 Lantra 3,653 4,413 2,272 1,847 2,569 Lifelong Learning UK 2,511 1,875 1,954 2,163 1,533 People 1st 3,613 2,790 1,781 1,910 2,422 Proskills UK 2,828 2,575 2,376 2,195 307 Semta 3,610 3,614 3,659 2,198 2,937 Skillfast-UK 2,851 3,487 2,295 2,048 2,208 Skills for Care and Development 2,079 1,444 2,035 1,653 569 Skills for Health 2,799 2,993 2,646 2,342 1,809 Skills for Justice 4,253 3,283 1,714 1,878 2,245 Skills for Logistics 2,438 1,940 2,352 2,127 1,519 SkillsActive 3,314 3,626 2,596 2,270 1,876 Skillset 3,665 3,807 4,243 2,199 3,071 Skillsmart Retail 3,013 2,891 2,553 2,151 2,640 SummitSkills 2,127 2,648 1,760 1,608 1,981

Students: Grants broader further education and skills sector, for 2010-11 financial year has recently been set out in the Skills Ms Buck: To ask the Minister of State, Department Investment Strategy 2010-11 (November 2009). This is for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students available online were in receipt of education maintenance grants in http://www.bis.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/publications/ each London local authority area in each of the last 10 Skills-Investment-Strategy.pdf years. [304517] Investment for the 2011-12 financial year and beyond will not be finalised until the outcomes of the next Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply. spending review have been determined. This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Training Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell, the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, placed in the House Libraries. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to paragraph 16 of Skills for Growth, Cm 7641, what estimate he has made of the proportion of Train to Gain Programme: Finance the £38 billion spent by employers on skills which is spent on statutory training; and if he will make a Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, statement. [308828] Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he expects to allocate to Train to Gain in Kevin Brennan: We do not have a figure for the total each of the next three years. [308965] spend on statutory training by employers. However, we Kevin Brennan: Since its introduction in April 2006, do know from the National Employer Skills Survey 1.4 million qualifications have been undertaken through 2007 that only 11 per cent. of employers say that all of the Train to Gain programme. In the 2010-11 financial their training is in health and safety or induction. year, planned investment in Train to Gain will be £983 Government are committed to encourage employers million, an increase of 6.2 per cent. compared with to invest more in training, which is vital for businesses planned investment for the 2009-10 financial year. Our success and for employees. We already provide, for continuing investment in this programme, and in the example, advice and support for training through Business 817W Written Answers11 JANUARY 2010 Written Answers 818W

Link and the Train to Gain programme. And “Skills for Vocational Training: Finance Growth”, published in November, sets out how we will support employers further: focusing more of the skills Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department budget on growth sectors and the skills that employers for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget is tell us are the priorities; responding to immediate and for (a) the UK Commission for Employment and long-term needs; and encouraging employers to invest Skills and (b) his Department’s expenditure on skills and use the existing skills of their staff. funding to regional development agencies in 2010-11. [309507] Vocational Training Kevin Brennan: The grant in aid arrangements for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in 2010-11 Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, have still to be finalised, but funding amounted to £89 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how million in 2009-10. many organisations have signed the Skills Pledge in The Department is contributing £42 million in total each month since it was announced. [307781] for skills to regional development agencies in 2010-11 as part of their single pot. Its funding for skills brokerage Kevin Brennan: The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public in Train to Gain, which is delivered through Business commitment by the leadership of a company or Link has yet to be finalised, but amounted to £37 million organisation to support all its employees to develop in 2009-10. their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at Voluntary Work least Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs). The following table indicates the number of organisations Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, who have signed the Skills Pledge in each month since it Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what was launched in 2007: funding the Learning and Skills Council has provided to promote volunteering in each local authority area in Month Total employers1 each of the last three years. [308212]

960 Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) June to December 2007 2— did not fund the promotion of volunteering before January 2008 280 2009. Funding is £2 million for 2009-10; and £2 million February 2008 890 for 2010-11. March 2008 460 We do not have funding information broken down by April 2008 500 local authority areas. May 2008 630 Work Experience June 2008 960 July 2008 1,250 Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, August 2008 890 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how September 2008 820 many firms have claimed their weekly entitlement October 2008 1,550 towards the cost of providing an internship since November 2008 1,120 September 2009. [307786] December 2008 970 Mr. Lammy: By March 2010, 20,000 graduate internships January 2009 1,530 overall will have been created in the private, public and February 2009 1,660 third sectors to help young people develop the skills March 2009 1,840 they need to build their employability. There will be April 2009 730 different models for these internships. Up to 10,000 of May 2009 1,030 these places will be delivered in partnership with the June 2009 1,010 Federation of Small Businesses, of which at least 5,000 July 2009 860 will receive an allowance towards the cost of the internship. August 2009 740 That will provide £100 per week towards the wage costs September 2009 1,100 involved and employers will meet the balance. October 2009 930 These places are being provided through the Higher 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10. Education Funding Council for England and the 2 Data not available month by month for this period. universities. Details of the funding awarded will be Notes: 1. Table shows the number of employers who have formally signed the published in January and we expect the bulk of the Skills Pledge in the month shown. employers to be providing internships and receiving 2. Data sourced from Learning and Skills Council December 2009. allowances by the end of March.

3MC Ministerial Corrections11 JANUARY 2010 Ministerial Corrections 4MC

Ministerial Correction Number of releases in error reported

Monday 11 January 2010 2005 43 2006 48 2007 35 2008 58 2009 (to 30 September) 35 JUSTICE These incidents include three cases of mistaken identity; Prisoners Release one in 2006 and two in 2008. In two cases the prisoner was returned to custody the same day and in the third he was returned within two weeks. Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice It should be noted that these figures have been obtained how many prisoners have been released in error as a by a manual examination of paper records covering a result of (a) mistaken identity and (b) other errors in variety of incident types and clearly only includes those each of the last 12 years. [287035] errors that have been discovered. The figures are therefore [Official Report, 11 November 2009, Vol. 499, c. 487-88W.] subject to a margin of possible error. Letter of correction from Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service Agency Errors have been identified in the written answer is alert to the increase in 2008 and has taken action to given to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough tighten process and focus management attention on this (Mr. Garnier) on 11 November 2009. Certain figures in area. Specifically: the table were incorrect. The correct answer should have All Release in Error incidents must now be reported immediately been: by telephone as a serious incident. Formal investigations are required in all cases and the learning from investigations has been acted upon. Maria Eagle: Prison establishments are required to Prison Governors and Regional Custody Managers have been report known releases in error to the Intelligence and required to review sentence calculation and discharge procedures Operations Unit in National Offender Management and ensure additional managerial attention is given to this area. Service Headquarters. However, the Incident Reporting Additional guidance has been given to prisons regarding fixed System does not hold records of these events in a term recall arrangements. format which can be interrogated electronically to More attention has been given to reporting this type obtain the specific information requested. Information of incident and it is possible that some of the apparent on releases in error prior to 2005 could be obtained only increase has been due to more consistent reporting. by examining all miscellaneous incident reports manually Nevertheless, the number of releases in error remains at disproportionate cost. very small as a percentage of total discharges (less than The available information is shown in the following 0.05 per cent, in 2007, the last year for which discharge table. figures are currently available).

ORAL ANSWERS

Monday 11 January 2010

Col. No. Col. No. DEFENCE...... 391 DEFENCE—continued Afghan National Army...... 404 Military Objectives (Helmand)...... 394 Armed Forces Accommodation ...... 401 National Security ...... 391 Body Armour (Afghanistan)...... 395 Nuclear Deterrent ...... 402 Chinook Crash (Mull of Kintyre)...... 398 RAF Regiment...... 402 Conflict Resolution (Afghanistan) ...... 397 Topical Questions ...... 404 Force Levels (Afghanistan) ...... 392 Veteran Support...... 403 Heavy Lift Capability...... 399 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Monday 11 January 2010

Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH...... 15WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 16WS Medical Care (Veterans) ...... 15WS Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre .. 16WS PETITIONS

Monday 11 January 2010

Col. No. Col. No. PRESENTED PETITIONS TRANSPORT ...... 10P Badman Report (Coventry South) ...... 9P Freedom Pass...... 10P Badman Report (Newcastle upon Tyne North)...... 9P Badman Report (Stockport) ...... 10P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Monday 11 January 2010

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 800W CABINET OFFICE...... 710W Apprentices...... 800W Central Office of Information: Expenditure...... 710W Apprentices: Marketing ...... 802W Charity Commission: Internet ...... 710W Apprentices: Nottingham...... 802W Civil Service: Internet...... 711W Apprentices: Preston ...... 802W Departmental Conferences...... 711W Capita ...... 802W Employment ...... 712W Capital Investment: York ...... 804W Offenders ...... 711W Crossrail: Training ...... 804W Official Residences ...... 712W Departmental Art Works ...... 805W Personal Income ...... 713W Departmental Pay ...... 805W Departmental Telephone Services ...... 806W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES...... 718W Energy...... 805W Child Care Vouchers: Yorkshire and the Humber . 718W Graduates: Work Experience ...... 807W Children: Day Care ...... 718W Grocery Trade: Competition ...... 807W Class Sizes: Leeds...... 718W Higher Education: Admissions ...... 810W Departmental Internet ...... 718W Higher Education: Overseas Students ...... 809W Departmental Manpower...... 719W Hotels ...... 811W Departmental Sick Leave ...... 719W Insolvency...... 812W Education Maintenance Allowance: Yorkshire and Leeds University: Research ...... 813W the Humber...... 719W Qualifications: Bexley ...... 813W Entry to Employment Programme ...... 720W Sector Skills Councils...... 814W Free School Meals...... 720W Sector Skills Councils: Finance ...... 814W GCSE: North East...... 721W Students: Grants ...... 815W Leeds...... 725W Train to Gain Programme: Finance ...... 815W Ofsted: Complaints ...... 725W Training ...... 816W Primary Education...... 726W Vocational Training...... 817W Primary Education: Capital Investment ...... 727W Vocational Training: Finance ...... 818W Pupils: Disadvantaged...... 727W Voluntary Work ...... 818W Pupils Exclusions: Disadvantaged...... 728W Work Experience...... 818W Schools ...... 728W Schools: Repairs and Maintenance ...... 733W Col. No. Col. No. CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES—continued ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— Teachers: Training...... 734W continued Departmental Training ...... 681W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 708W Departmental Written Questions ...... 681W Employment Tribunals Service...... 708W Domestic Waste: Recycling ...... 682W Housing ...... 709W Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal ...... 682W Mortgages...... 709W Driving...... 683W Multiple Occupation: Licensing ...... 709W Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal ...... 684W National Policy Statements: Transport...... 710W Fly Tipping ...... 685W Regeneration: Radlett ...... 710W Food ...... 685W Social Rented Housing: Equality ...... 710W Geographical Information Systems...... 686W Immobilisation of Vehicles...... 687W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 648W Poultry: Animal Welfare ...... 687W Departmental Advertising...... 648W Tuna: Conservation...... 687W Departmental Allowances...... 649W Waste and Resources Action Programme...... 687W Departmental Domestic Visits ...... 650W Waste and Resources Action Programme: Departmental Manpower...... 650W Finance...... 688W Ruth Mackenzie...... 649W Water Charges...... 688W Visits Abroad: Olympic Games...... 650W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .... 703W DEFENCE...... 738W Departmental Pay...... 703W Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations ...... 741W Departmental Training ...... 704W Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region ...... 740W Government Hospitality: Wines...... 705W Air Force: Military Bases ...... 741W Iran: Baha’i Faith...... 705W Armed Forces: Uniforms ...... 741W Morocco: Exports ...... 705W Colombia: Military Aid ...... 742W Equipment and Vehicles: Afghanistan ...... 738W HEALTH...... 746W Military Aircraft: Helicopters ...... 742W Alcoholism: Health Services ...... 746W Radioactive Materials: Transport...... 743W Babies: Screening ...... 746W Security Situation: Afghanistan ...... 739W Carers ...... 747W Skill Force...... 739W Carers: Tamworth ...... 747W Southern Afghanistan...... 739W Children: Obesity ...... 747W UK-US Defence Cooperation Treaty...... 740W Continuing Care ...... 748W Veteran Support...... 740W Departmental Domestic Visits ...... 753W Yemen: Military Aid ...... 743W Diabetes: Young People ...... 753W Dieticians: Manpower...... 755W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 735W Doctors: Working Hours ...... 755W Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Drugs: Young Offender Institutions...... 755W Efficiency Scheme ...... 735W General Practitioners: Musculoskeletal Disorders . 756W Climate Change: International Cooperation ...... 735W Health Services: Armed Forces ...... 756W Departmental Conferences...... 736W Home Care Services ...... 756W Departmental Information and Communications Hospital Beds: Dorset...... 757W Technology ...... 736W Hospitals: Waiting Lists...... 757W Departmental Sick Leave ...... 736W Hotels ...... 758W Departmental Training ...... 737W Leeds General Infirmary: Manpower...... 758W Energy: Housing ...... 737W Liver Diseases: Health Services...... 759W Hotels ...... 737W NHS: Data Protection...... 759W Natural Environment Research Council: NHS: Motor Vehicles...... 759W University of East Anglia ...... 737W NHS: Non-Profit Making Associations ...... 759W Tidal Power...... 738W NHS: Standards...... 760W NHS: Training ...... 760W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Patients: Transport...... 761W AFFAIRS...... 674W Pharmacy: Regulation...... 761W Animal Welfare...... 674W Radiography: Manpower ...... 761W Animal Welfare: Circuses...... 675W Biodiversity...... 675W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 689W Christmas Trees...... 675W Departmental Billing ...... 689W Departmental Art Works ...... 676W Departmental Energy...... 689W Departmental Assets...... 676W Departmental Lost Property ...... 691W Departmental Billing ...... 676W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 691W Departmental Buildings...... 677W Departmental Training ...... 691W Departmental Conferences...... 677W Departmental Training ...... 692W Departmental Correspondence ...... 678W Departmental Written Questions ...... 692W Departmental Information Officers ...... 678W Deportation ...... 692W Departmental Internet ...... 678W Employment Tribunals Service...... 693W Departmental Legislation ...... 679W Entry Clearances...... 693W Departmental Official Hospitality...... 679W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 694W Departmental Procurement...... 679W Flanagan Review of Policing...... 695W Departmental Scientists ...... 680W Hotels ...... 696W Departmental Security ...... 680W Human Trafficking: Children...... 696W Departmental Sick Leave ...... 680W Immigrants: Detainees ...... 697W Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT—continued OLYMPICS—continued Intercept as Evidence Review...... 697W Olympic Games 2012: Transport...... 646W Macfarlan Smith...... 697W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 648W Members: Correspondence ...... 697W Olympic Games in 2012: Northern Ireland ...... 647W Northamptonshire Police: Manpower...... 698W Olympic Games in 2012: Scotland ...... 647W Police ...... 698W Olympic Games in 2012: Wales ...... 647W Police: Bureaucracy...... 698W Police: Olympic Games 2012...... 699W PRIME MINISTER ...... 643W Radicalism ...... 699W Domestic Visits: Wales...... 643W Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioners Group...... 700W London Summit on Yemen...... 643W Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000...... 701W Political Broadcasting ...... 643W Right of Search...... 701W Public Consultation ...... 643W Telephone Tapping...... 701W Terrorism: Stop and Search...... 702W SCOTLAND...... 637W Travel: Personal Records ...... 702W Departmental Billing ...... 637W UK Border Agency ...... 703W Departmental Pay ...... 637W Vetting ...... 703W Hotels ...... 638W

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 743W TRANSPORT ...... 659W Hotels ...... 743W Aviation: Security...... 659W Overseas Aid: Uganda ...... 744W Aviation: Snow and Ice ...... 660W St. Helena: Airports ...... 744W Buses: Concessions ...... 661W Tony Blair ...... 744W Corby Station...... 661W World Food Programme...... 745W Departmental Legislation ...... 662W Departmental Training ...... 663W JUSTICE...... 785W Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Databases... 663W Bail Accommodation and Support Service...... 785W Eurostar...... 665W Channel Islands: Electricity ...... 785W Hotels ...... 665W Criminal Proceedings: Autism...... 786W Kettering Station...... 665W Crown Dependencies: National Income...... 786W M6 ...... 666W Crown Dependencies: Prisons...... 786W Motor Vehicles: Safety...... 667W Dartmoor Prison: Ex-servicemen...... 787W Motorways...... 667W Debt Collection...... 787W Public and Commercial Services Union ...... 668W Departmental Publicity...... 788W Railways...... 669W Driving Offences: Disqualification...... 788W Railways: Concessions ...... 669W Driving Under Influence: Gloucestershire ...... 789W Railways: Exhaust Emissions ...... 669W Elections ...... 789W Railways: West Yorkshire ...... 669W Gender Identity Disorder: Prisoners ...... 789W Road Salting and Gritting...... 670W Housing: Valuation ...... 790W Roads: Repairs and Maintenance...... 671W Isle of Man: Health Services ...... 791W Taxis: Licensing ...... 672W Legal Aid ...... 791W Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock ...... 672W Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 ...... 791W Traffic Lights ...... 672W Prisoners: Ex-servicemen ...... 791W Transport ...... 672W Prisoners Release ...... 792W Transport: EC Action ...... 673W Prisoners: Voting Rights ...... 793W West Coast Railway Line: Finance...... 674W Prisons: Drugs ...... 794W Prisons: Food...... 795W TREASURY ...... 762W Prisons: Inspections ...... 795W Air Passenger Duty ...... 762W Prisons: Rape ...... 795W Banks: Iceland ...... 762W Prisons: Religion ...... 797W Child Benefit...... 763W Prisons: Smuggling...... 797W Child Benefit: Overpayments ...... 763W Remand in Custody ...... 798W Departmental Buildings...... 763W Review of the 30-year Rule ...... 798W Departmental Fines ...... 763W Secure Training Centres: Restraint Techniques ...... 798W Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks...... 764W Young Offenders: Reoffenders ...... 798W Financial Services: Advisory Services...... 764W Youth Custody...... 799W Financial Services: Regulation ...... 764W Holiday Accommodation...... 765W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 639W Housing: Solihull ...... 765W Clergy: Misconduct...... 639W Housing: Valuation ...... 765W Departmental Fines ...... 639W Imports: Israel ...... 766W Departmental Internet ...... 639W Income Tax: Pensioners ...... 768W Departmental Official Hospitality...... 640W Inheritance Tax: Housing...... 769W Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission...... 640W National Insurance Contributions: Local Government...... 769W OLYMPICS ...... 643W Non-Domestic Rates: Church Halls...... 769W Electric Vehicles ...... 643W Non-Domestic Rates: Ports...... 770W Olympic Games 2012 ...... 644W Offenders ...... 770W Olympic Games 2012: Finance...... 644W Peers: Domicile ...... 771W Olympic Games 2012: Hotels...... 644W Pre-Budget Report 2009...... 771W Olympic Games 2012: Job Creation ...... 645W Public Expenditure...... 771W Olympic Games 2012: North West...... 646W Public Sector Relocation Independent Review ...... 772W Col. No. Col. No. TREASURY—continued WALES—continued Revenue and Customs...... 772W Second Homes: Council Tax ...... 708W Revenue and Customs: Cost-effectiveness ...... 772W Revenue and Customs: Data ...... 774W WOMEN AND EQUALITY ...... 713W Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland...... 775W Equality ...... 713W Revenue and Customs: Surveillance...... 775W Equality and Human Rights Commission: Public Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services ...... 776W Relations...... 713W Tax Avoidance ...... 779W Equality and Human Rights Commission: Title Tax Evasion ...... 779W Indexing...... 714W Taxation: Empty Property...... 780W Equality and Human Rights Commission: Taxation: Gaming Machines...... 780W Vacancies ...... 715W Taxation: Nottingham ...... 780W Equality: EU Law ...... 716W Transfer Pricing ...... 780W EU Anti-Discrimination Legislation...... 717W Valuation Office ...... 781W Gender Pay Difference ...... 717W Valuation Office: Freedom of Information ...... 781W Homosexuality: Human Rights ...... 717W Valuation Office: Geographical Information WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 651W Systems...... 781W Attendance Allowance: Leeds ...... 651W Valuation Office: Local Government ...... 782W Cold Weather Payments ...... 651W Valuation Office: Pay ...... 782W Cold Weather Payments: Milton Keynes...... 652W Valuation Office: Rightmove...... 782W Council Tax Benefits...... 652W Valuation Office: Training...... 782W Departmental Training ...... 652W VAT: Local Government ...... 783W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 652W Welfare Tax Credits...... 783W Housing Benefit: East of England...... 654W Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments ...... 785W Incapacity Benefit: Bedfordshire ...... 654W Industrial Diseases: Compensation ...... 655W WALES...... 706W Local Housing Allowance...... 655W Departmental Advertising...... 706W Personal Accounts ...... 655W Departmental Surveys...... 706W State Retirement Pensions...... 656W Domestic Visits ...... 706W Unemployment: Leeds ...... 656W Employment Tribunals Service...... 707W Waste Disposal: Safety...... 658W Legislation ...... 707W Winter Fuel Payments: Tamworth...... 658W New Businesses ...... 707W Work Capability Assessment...... 658W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Monday 11 January 2010

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CONTENTS

Monday 11 January 2010

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 391] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Defence

Severe Weather (Transport and Public Services) [Col. 411] Statement—(Mr. Khan)

Children, Schools and Families Bill [Col. 425] Motion for Second Reading—(Ed Balls) Amendment—(Mr. Laws)—on a Division, negatived Motion, on a Division, agreed to Read a Second time Programme motion—(Mr. Blizzard)—on a Division, agreed to

Media Images (Women and Girls) [Col. 529] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 15WS]

Petitions [Col. 9P] Observations Remaining bagged petitions to be published next sitting day

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 637W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 3MC]